"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth." Proverbs 27:1
Today is always the day. The moment is always now. We should be careful about our “great big plans” for the future. I do not even know what today will bring. Twenty-four hours from now everything could be totally different. These kinds of sayings should be on our lips often to remind us of how little control we have over what can happen so fast in our lives.
"Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found." Daniel 5:27
Nebuchadnezzar's son, Belshazzar was not the same kind of man as his father. Although he did not finish well, for a season Nebuchadnezzar had basked in the favor of God's blessing and then succumbed to his own pride and arrogance. Belshazzar was never humble, even though he knew his own father's plight. He worshiped gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood and stone. He drank wine with his concubines poured into the temple goblets.
"Unless God builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1
It is God alone who is the primary builder of everything in the universe. He created everything out of nothing, and continues to sustain everything. Nothing that was made was made without Him.
"I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps My Word, he will never see death" John 8:51
There is absolutely nobody better than Jesus at telling the truth. After all, He is The Way, The Truth and The Life, right? Right!!!
"We love Him because He first loved us." I John 4:19
This was the scriptural sentiment printed on the inside cover of the most recent birthday card I received from everybody's, Grandma Shirley. Of course, she is more of a Mom to me than a Grandma, and only my own Mom used the word love as many times in the card she sent me this year. My Mom and Grandma Shirley have a few things in common, not the least of which is that they both really love me very much. I believe this, know this and feel this.
I recognize sincere love because it is so similar to the love that Jesus loves me with. Of course the love of Jesus is the ultimate and truest love. Even though this is so, I can honestly say that my Mom and Grandma Shirley both love, with a precious love.
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21
These words of Paul are certainly true for him, and should be true for all of us who follow Christ.
"If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." Ecclesiastes 10:10
Once again, multi-level meaning from our wise teacher, Solomon. This piece of wisdom is a well-spring, brimming with rich opportunities to harvest more truth than can be addressed in one devotional.
Dear Grace Harbor Family,
I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the Christmas Letter of Aurelio Barreto, the founder and CEO of C28 Clothing Stores.
"Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgement." John 7:24
Ever had to make one of those difficult judgement calls? Ever been wrong? If you answered the last question "no", please stop reading because I am not worthy of your time.
"Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become the children of God." John 1:12
What a wonderful verse, full of promise and grace. God promises to make you His child, when by faith you receive Him as Lord of your life. He would never mislead you. God is trustworthy and His Word is trustworthy. So if this is indeed true, why are His children so different?
"And a voice from Heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17
How appropriate. Can you picture the sequence of events that precede this statement? Jesus comes from Galilee expressly for the purpose of having John the Baptist baptize Him. John resists out of respect and deference. Jesus explains that this is what He and John have to do and now.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you." 1 Corinthians 16:23
Today I want to share with you a comment posted by Heather Gent in response to a recent devotional submitted by Alan Severin, written by Dr. James Emery White. My reason for sharing this comment is to encourage you to keep reading the daily devotionals.
"It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us." 2 John 1:4
As John gets older his great joys come from the most important things. How encouraging it must have been for him to report to the woman whom this letter is written to, when it came to his attention that some of her children, either her specific children or the children from her house church or fellowship where this short letter is first read.
"Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." 1Peter 3:11
Peter is quoting Psalm 34:14 in this verse as He draws on David's words to make his point about how to live in harmony with one another. He uses those wonderful words in verses 8-10 to encourage peace; "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because of this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." Now, apply these words to the following old parable and ask yourself what you need The Carpenter to help you do.
With His Grace, Pastor Fred
"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen." Revelation 22:21
If I were to have asked you today to quote the last verse of the Bible, would you have guessed this? Seriously, maybe something about the Alpha and Omega or not changing a dot or even a title of any of the words in The Book, or that He is coming again. Nope, it is John's closing remark after he has recorded The Revelation given to all readers as a little word of encouragement, but vitally important.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John1:9
A big if, a humongous if. Maybe the most important if ever written. If you can't respond to the if, then the rest of the verse is superfluous. Doesn't make any difference. For the sake of illustration let's rewrite this key verse so that we can sense what we miss if we can't by the if.
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13
When I was in my twenties and about as zealous as a young believer could be, I was invited to a denominational meeting at Baptist headquarters in Los Angeles because the Executive Minister and several other key staff wanted to hear my perspective on the future of Youth Ministry in SoCal. The letter that invited me was so official it both thrilled and scared me a little. So the handful of us upstart Youth Directors from the San Fernando Valley went downtown to share our hearts with the denominational execs, not really knowing what to expect. After they talked about a few serious concerns regarding the typical complaints about music, fashion (we forgot to wear ties :) and why so many youth were gathering at events we were planning, the conversation turned to asking us what we thought and why. Well, myself included, we boldly explained our love for Jesus, and passion for young people, and desire to share the truth about Jesus, and that it didn't seem to us that in light of what we were doing-- that how we were doing it wasn't important as long as it didn't conflict with the Word of God.
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" 1 Timothy 6:6-10
Wow!! You go Paul!! What an indicting treatise on our credit addictions. We want it, whatever it is, and we want it now!! I have been a fool in this manner. Have you? I once took a necessary pay reduction a couple years back and presumed it would hopefully be able to be returned soon and did not adjust my lifestyle accordingly and used credit to live beyond my means. With the creeping debt I already had and a few surprises and BOOM!!! I was way upside down. The pay reduction continued and I still had the credit debt, with rising interest costs. Not the first time either. I had done this twice before without the noble justifications and here I was in the same pickle, just not wondering why. The third time really was a charm. I have adjusted the lifestyle, stopped the credit spending and am midway through a sacrificial repayment program. The new austerity and sensibility has been rewarding. One of the keys to my grief relief has been my total commitment to tithing, frugality and good stewardship. I can't say I can really tell that anything is so terribly different, but combining responsibility with restraint, without changing my heart for generosity has somehow blessed me immeasurably. I have peace and contentment and even with my heavy payment obligation I seem to be doing better month to month than ever. Who would have ever thought that self-control and discipline could solve anything? Needless to say I am feeling just a little self-conscious about my transparency here and will try to be a better example from now on. How about you? Are you convicted about this? Are you out of control? Are you in denial? Are you willing to let God be the Lord of your Almighty Money? I have attached an email that I read regularly; "Matt about Money" for your consideration. You can subscribe if you want to if you want Biblical advice about all things financial.
"..."These who have turned the world upside down have come here too."" Acts 17:6
The ministry and message of Easter does not end after Resurrection Sunday. Today, for example, is Resurrection Wednesday, the day the Lord made for His purposes and glory. He wants to redeem each day and every moment of time. We have hardly even begun to accomplish all He has planned for us. I will love Him day by day until He calls me home. Read this compelling report on the early disciple’s loves and deaths. May it inspire you to live for Him as if every moment was the moment He wanted it to be. Amen!!
Alive for Him, or die for Him, Pastor Fred
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.
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