You Don't Eat Enough!

Alan shares a devotional from Matt Erbaugh at Crosswalk:

When you stop and think about it, it’s amazing how often people need to eat. In a time and place where food is so readily available, we sometimes fail to notice how peculiar it is that people require so much food. Why would God design things this way? After all, God could have created us to need only one meal during the course of a week or month, but if I go much more than few hours without taking in some sustenance, my body lets me know it’s not happy.

You Are The Light Of The World

Our Thursday Devotion comes to us from, Pastor Fred and Heather:

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

When Jesus says we are the light of the world, He is encouraging us to share our faith with others. The responsibility to witness as the Spirit leads presumes that we understand that He literally lives in us and wants us to open the door and let Him out as sure as we opened the door and let Him in. We cannot justify not witnessing and not evangelizing and not sharing the Good News with as many as possible. But I am the Pastor, so what else would you expect me to say?

Faith and Storms

"One day Jesus said to His disciples, Let's go over to the other side of the lake. So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, Master, Master, we’re going to drown! He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. Where is your faith? He asked His disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another. Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him." Matthew 8:22-25

In this passage are two great questions and two amazing statements. Let's deal with the statements first. Jesus simply says that they should go over to the other side of the lake. Don't you think He knows there is a squall coming up on the lake? He knows that when He lays down to catch a nap too. The purpose of the boat ride is to test their faith. They didn't do very well. What Jesus wanted was for them to have the same kind of faith that allowed them to readily and willingly get in the boat in the first place to be the same obedient, trusting faith they utilize when the storms come. Just trust and obey, no matter the circumstance. Easy to say huh?

What is it Really About

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" James 4:1

Ten times or more in the last week I have given counsel that says, "I think this is really about you, or, Sounds like they might be dealing with some other issues." Seriously folks, doesn’t it seem that most stuff is about something else? Play along with me for a moment. Consider the following:

There's Got To Be A Morning After!

Our Monday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Lahoma:

"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’" Mark 16:1-7

The events that took place immediately following the death of Jesus must have been so chaotic to the followers of the Messiah. Jesus died at 3:00 p.m., Nicodemus and Josephus went to Pilate to ask for His body so that they could bury it before sunset and the beginning of the Sabbath and in their haste to give dignity to the broken bloody body, they had not had time to embalm Him with the spices and wrappings that were traditionally used for the deceased in Israel at that time.

Holy Ground

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Kim:

I have been thinking these past few weeks about what I can share with you all the week before Easter Sunday. And this song has been so heavy on my heart so I am going to share this song with you……..please take time to read the words and really think about what it means to stand on Holy Ground……..

Wonderful Waves and Fantastic Fins - Part Two

"And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, '"Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning--the fifth day." Genesis 1:20-23

On the fifth day, God created the birds and fish. I recently wrote a devotional about birds, promising someday to share about fish. So, here we go. I have made my affection and connection for and with the ocean no secret. I am absolutely mesmerized by the sea, the things in it and everything about it, including the smell. Yep, somebody guessed it, even the smell of the fish. However strong, even putrid it can be, it just reminds me of the ocean, and that is a good thing.

Wonderful Wings and Fantastic Fins - Part One

"And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, '"Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning--the fifth day." Genesis 1:20-23

I awoke today with this devotional in my heart. Why you may ask? Today was the first day that my mockingbird was back. Each spring, for several years now, somewhere around Easter; I am awakened by the early morning songs of a certain mockingbird. At first my reaction was that he was a nuisance, especially when he started imitating the sound of my alarm about an hour before it was set to go off.

How Do You Spell Joy?

"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11

Whenever the opportunity arises to talk about Joy, I find it an easy assignment. If you have truly experienced the "Joy of your Salvation", you can easily get in touch with what the meaning of joy is. When faced with the task of writing a song about Joy, I once came up with this verse that really captures the essence of Joy.

Be Bold for God!

Our Monday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Lahoma:

"The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day." Acts 4:1-3

Do you struggle with sharing your faith with others? Do you tend to hesitate when you know you should speak up if someone is speaking against what you know about God? As a student, do your teachers sometimes make comments that challenge your beliefs and you wonder if you have the right to challenge their antagonist commentaries about the Christian worldview? My precious brothers and sisters, NOW is the time for God’s People to rise up and not be silent.

Strength and Power

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Pastor Fred

"Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might." Psalm 21:13

Let’s discuss strength and power. There is a true connection between these words that should help clarify how they work together. Strength comes from power. We will never be strong enough by ourselves or in our own strength to be powerful. But, if we indeed have the power, we will be strong and have the strength we need in any circumstance or situation.

The Purity Problem

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you His Holy Spirit." 1Thessalonians 4:7-8

I have a rather difficult question, "Is there any purity anymore?" Thank God for grace, huh? Without His forgiveness and mercy, how can we even begin to address purity, or better yet, impurity? So much of which our families are exposed, is increasingly vile, profane, unholy and impure. Strong words, but the antidote for the poisons of living in a sinful, morally bankrupt world can only be the strongest dose of absolute truth. The Word of God warns us of exposure and, even more, overexposure to the things that are not of God.

The True Life and the Light

Jesus said, "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

Now for something a little different. We have recently focused some on character traits and Godly attitudes, but this time we will tune in to a very real aspect of our faith... The True Life. In the world we live in, we are constantly exposed to a false life that, on the surface, seems exciting and fulfilling but, in reality, is shallow and empty. Advertisements often claim to bring meaning to life and living but always offer only temporary or even ungodly solutions to the troubles and problems of life. Only the Word of God and Jesus Himself have the answers to living life. Since He is the Way the Truth and the Life doesn't it follow that He would be the source of true life? If I did not know Christ as my Savior, I don't know that my life would have any meaning.

Holy, Holy, Holy

"Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?”" Psalm 77:13

I picture that in heaven the word Holy will be a lot more comfortable to use. After all, in His divine presence, the song for eternity of all in heaven will be “Holy, Holy, Holy Is The Lamb”.

God Will Light Up Your Sky

Our Monday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Lahoma:

"You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! " Psalm 139:5-6

Do you know that you are precious to God? You are! He formed you in your mother’s womb and knew the number of your days before you even took your first breath. You were not a glob of cells, you were not an accident, you were created with a purpose and a destiny, and our loving Heavenly Father will go before you and follow you all the days of your life. He is an AWESOME God, not some far away deity in the sky unconnected to His creation, He has not left us here on earth to fend for ourselves, He wants to know you and be with you and commune with you and share intimate times with you. Our God is a God of wonders. He created everything: heaven, earth, sky, sea, and YOU.

The Chief End (Aim) of Man

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Ray:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" Psalm 103:1

The most famous of the questions in the Westminster Shorter Catechism is the first:

Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

In my brief experience at Grace Harbor Church, I have come a lot closer to this reality! Our amazing pastor has opened my eyes to what is truly the course that all Christians should be taking! But let me compare a very popular book, and its message of truth in the business of life, to our spiritual reality. The book is Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", and I will borrow from his principles to prove my point. So, here's RIV translation (Ray's Inventive Version), comparing Covey principles to Christian principles:

Teach It!

"Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching." Proverbs 1:8

Teaching is such an integral part of who we are as believers. This topic summons up all kinds of important illustrations of how important it is that we communicate the character of God in everything we teach. We all teach in one way or another. The
scripture is clear; to be a teacher is serious business. We must take very seriously the content of what we present to others as the truth. Of course, the only accurate source of truth from which to teach is The Word.

New Measuring System

"You are my portion, Lord" Psalm 119:57

You are my portion, O Lord
By: Roy Lessin

Let the grace of the Lord be the measure of your sufficiency;
let the peace of the Lord be the measure of your quietness;
let the power of the Lord be the measure of your strength;
let the goodness of the Lord be the measure of your contentment;
let the love of the Lord be the measure of your service;
let the faithfulness of the Lord be the measure of your trust;
let the beauty of the Lord be the measure of your worship;
let the fullness of the Lord be the measure of your joy;
let the sovereignty of the Lord be the measure of your confidence;
let the promises of the Lord be the measure of your expectations;
let the coming of the Lord be the measure of hope.

What Do You Think?

"O Lord you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down, you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." Psalm 139:1-4

Let’s think about our thoughts and thinking. I can guarantee this; everything that has ever been said has been thought first. You know all the well-worn sayings such as, "Think before you speak". Well, I contend that you literally must. As “intelligent” as my lips, tongue, mouth, and vocal chords might be, if my brain doesn’t function first, they wouldn't have much to say. Here is another tried and true saying, "God gave you two ears and one mouth for a good reason". We should listen far more than we speak (at least twice as much eh?)...perhaps giving us more time to shut up and take the time to think.

SINS!!!!!!!

"Surely the eyes of the Sovereign Lord are on the sinful kingdom. I will destroy it from the face of the earth--yet I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob." Amos 9:8

Shhhhhh.... It is not very tactful to talk about sin. Although gossiping about the sins of others can be kinda fun, huh? As for my sin, that is a personal matter, between me and God. After all, only He can and should judge, right?

Be An Overcomer with Good!

Our Friday Devotion comes to us from Council Member, Lahoma:

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

Beloved brothers and sisters, we are living in an evil world with people committing evil acts, and at times it may even feel as if evil is winning and darkness is pressing in on all sides to engulf us and pull us down. As a believer in Jesus Christ, what is our response to be when we sense evil is attempting overtake us? What should we do when others wrong us and do harm to us and do evil things?