​Acting Any Way We Want
 
 
Scripture Reading: Psalms 101:1-4
 
Scripture Quote: “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.” Romans 6:13 (NIV)
 
Prosperous providence is great and we are certainly grateful for God's provision when our cookie jars are full. Adverse circumstances, however, often bring very different reactions from us. Our praise and worship might not be quite as loud or joyful in tough times. It takes discipline and maturity to have faith that difficult circumstances are in some way beneficial to our walk with God. So, once we have salvation as our reality, how can we deviate from that joy, regardless of our circumstances? Don't we still need to model the conduct of Jesus?
 
God's law illustrates a joyous, perfect lifestyle - We need the wisdom to desire to walk in it, to feel and know the indwelling Spirit of God who is with us to guide us. God does favor those who choose His will over their own. How closely does your will align with God's? Do your family and friends see that your life is centered around God's example, which is Jesus? Believers don't get to act any way we want because we are saved. We are saved to act any way God wants.
 
Today’s meditation: Cherish God’s gift of salvation and walk in it.
 
Memory Verse: “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” Romans 6:6 (NIV)
 
 
 
 
 
 

​Accuse No One
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:1-6 (All Scripture quoted is CEV)
 
Scripture Quote: Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things. (Romans 2:1)
 
The Jews thought that they were more righteous than the Gentiles. However, they were guilty of the same things they accused the Gentiles of doing. So like the Jews, whenever we accuse others, we condemn
ourselves because we are also guilty of the same behaviors. God will be as hard on us as we are on others. Can we really think that God won't punish us when we behave exactly like the people we accuse? 
 
The incident about the woman who slept with someone other than her husband is another uncomfortable example of questionable piety. All the people wanted to stone her to death. They may not have all been guilty of committing the same sin as the woman, but they were all sinners. Jesus asked the one who never sinned to throw the first stone. Eventually all the people left without throwing any stones. It’s a good lesson because we must always remember that we are all guilty of sinning against God and have no right to condemn anyone else. Christians must be willing to forgive each other, just as our Almighty God has forgiven and continues to forgive us.
 
Today’s meditation: Be wise and accuse no one, even in the face of dispute.
 
Memory Verse: Sharp words cut like a sword, but words of wisdom heal. (Proverbs 12:18)

​ 
Acceptance and Obedience
 
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:1-9
 
Scripture Quote: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Romans 8:29 (NIV)
 
All Believers are called to be the visible Church and are entitled to all the privileges of the children of God, once we believe the Gospel. Believers of Christ are blessed with the continual watchful care of God and the salvation and inheritance promised by the Father that He guards for us. We are kept in fortified places within the Holy Spirit, who comforts us and helps us endure our hardships until we are united with Christ forever in our resurrected bodies. All that is involved with being called by God is a gift, but it does also rely on our acceptance of it and our obedience to it.
 
Think of Christ's obedience to His calling as Messiah - Through beatings, shameful jeers, rocks thrown, yet willingly He was nailed to a cross. Imagine the torturous pain he endured out of obedience to the Will of God. He could have silenced that crowd and refused those nails. He could have turned that vicious group on themselves, if He had just let his situation prevail over obedience - He had the power to stop His abuse, but He also had the power to choose the greatest love this world has ever known. He chose to be the very intentional Savior of all who would understand His sacrifice and believe.
 
Today’s meditation: Because He lives, we also live – Forever!
 
Memory Verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:4 (NIV) “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,” 

​Abide in Him
 
 
Scripture Reading: Psalms 91:1-16
 
Scripture Quote: “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.” Psalms 27:5 (NIV)
 
God is our refuge and our security. There are tremendous blessings awaiting our faithfulness. If we put all our trust and love in Him, there is no limit to His protection and affection. Believers are privileged to enter the very Spirit of God, where by the blood of Jesus, we are safe from the evil one. Deeply rooted faith shows us how important it is to abide in Him. There can be no fence-sitting when it comes to our allegiance to our God. We must be all-out-crazy-in-love with Jesus.
 
Satan can only prey on the vulnerable. Since we are bound to live in this decadent world, we need a reliable plan to keep us free from worldly temptation’s influence. Yet, we are called to be salt and light to the world and to reach out to the unsaved with the good news of the gospel. Knowing God's Word is imperative to our success. His truth teaches His directives and promises that cover solutions for all circumstances. God's Word will be invariably fulfilled to those who trust in Him. To quote my pastor, “Read the book!”
 
Today’s meditation: He who lives nearest to God suffers least from temptation.
 
Memory Verse: “The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalms 27:1 (NIV)
 
 

​A Kingdom of Children
  
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:25-30
 
Scripture Quote:  Whoever, then, will make himself as low as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 (BBE)
 
What parents most want from their children, besides their love, is their obedience, so that we can teach them how to be safe and content. Though discipline may be in order sometimes when they do naughty things, our hearts forgive them just as soon as they say, "sorry." If obedience is important to us as parents, how much more so is it important for us to learn to be obedient to God in preparation for eternity? For us to live in relationship with God, we must be obedient and dependent, both of which goes against our prideful egos.
 
Only God can forgive us of pride and cleanse us - Only Jesus' sacrificial death is what makes it possible. If we take our focus off Jesus, sin in the form of disobedience is always standing by to claim us. We can study the bible every day, and that's certainly a good thing, but just facing one act of obedience that God wants us to take in a certain situation can bring instantaneous enlightenment and spiritual growth. The key to relationship with God is incremental obedience, until His ways permeate our spirits and we can draw ever closer to His love. Humble obedience is what God wants and deserves.
 
Today’s meditation: Obey God in the thing He shows you.
 
Memory Verse: Truly I say to you, whoever does not put himself under the kingdom of God like a little child, will not come into it at all. Mark 10:15 (BBE)

​A Divided House
 Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:22-30
 
Scripture Quote: Mar 3:23-24 Jesus told the people to gather around him. Then he spoke to them in riddles and said: How can Satan force himself out? A nation whose people fight each other won't last very long.
 
Jesus was accused by the scribes to be using power from the prince of devils to heal a man who had been possessed by demons. Jesus stated the obvious in His reply to them. The welfare of any kingdom, group or family, depends on its agreement. Satan would naturally want his followers not to fight among themselves, thereby securing his uncontested dominion over them. So Satan would not deliberately allow his kingdom to be divided against itself. Jesus further pointed out that He could not be in league with Satan, who's kingdom Jesus constantly opposes and whose destruction is His ultimate goal.
 
It’s amazing to think that all of the kind and merciful things that Jesus did could not dissuade those obstinately determined to disbelieve. Jesus gave everyone ample proof or His omniscience and performed many miracles to demonstrate His great power. Jesus told the Pharisees that when He forced out demons by the power of God's Spirit, it proved that God's kingdom had already come to them. God forbid that coming to His own today, His own will still not receive Him - He was, His is, and He ever will always be, Almighty God!
 
Today’s meditation: Agree with your brother and believe God’s truth.
 
Memory Verse: So if Satan fights against himself, that will be the end of him. Mark 3:26 (CEV)

Good Morning.


I’d like to read from the 116th Psalm, verses 12-14
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?
I will take up the cup of my salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord. Now in the presence of all His people.
 
Let’s pray:
Thank you Father for your Word and for your love. Bless us this morning as we seek wisdom from your word and power from Your Holy Spirit.  In Jesus name, we pray.
Amen
 
David was right when he said that our experience of the past two weekends was rewarding. Actually, that’s an understatement. The people involved with the Lay Speaker’s program are a group of dedicated, truly spiritual people who put together a wonderful program for us.
 
When some of you asked me, “How was school”, all I could say was, “Well, I thought it was very interesting… but possibly out of my league.” That too…was a gross understatement. But, nevertheless, I went and put on what I call my “Paper Lion Suit” and pretended at least partial nonchalance. That’s my survival tactic when I’m really scared witless. So…now you can probably better understand why I titled my talk: 
 
Who Do I Think I Am?
Although I enjoyed the experience of being at Lay Leaders school, after the fact, I really was a somewhat reluctant participant.  If you can picture the old vaudeville image of the truly rotten performer who is yanked off the stage by this huge hook around his neck, that’s a good visualization of how God got me there that morning!
 
The basic group consisted of a bunch of people and so we were divided up…And, of course, David and I were each put into different classes.
 
We were first directed to introduce ourselves and tell a little bit about jobs and families, which I guess was okay…you know, somewhat uncomfortable for us introvert types, but a pretty normal request in a new group and all… But then… as an  “ice breaker”, and I almost couldn’t believe this, our teacher told us to give a five to ten minute impromptu presentation about our the two most important people in our lives that had been the most influential to us through our spiritual growth. Nothing like jumping in with both feet!
 
 In the face of everyone’s testimonies, right off the bat, I was glaringly different from everybody else in my class…. They each had all these lovely recollections of generations of loved family members who had provided them with these wonderfully strong, nurturing backgrounds. We won’t go into my background, but believe me it wasn’t anything like there’s. So, from almost the first hour of class, I felt myself to be somewhat lacking…Somehow less qualified to position myself for leadership than the others because I never had any nurturing type experiences as a point of reference or source of confidence as they had.
 
            But like the psalm I read to you, I still felt gratitude towards God that I needed to express. When I asked what I could do to show my appreciation to God, I had ended up there in that class, so in some way, I did belong there.
                       
So…Though I might have come from a very different childhood and environment than my classmates, it wasn’t really about that… or even about who was less or more qualified. For me, it was just about loving the Lord for what He has done for me and needing to share Him with others.
 
I once had an angry, bitter heart. God healed me of that dark outlook on life and that was a tremendous blessing. But that’s another long story and not what I’m here to talk about today. I’ll just say that God’s ability to heal anything …matters. ...It matters a lot.
 
I learned about forgiveness when it was next to impossible to be forgiving. Because, you see, that lesson was for my benefit.  My forgiveness wasn’t really for those who I eventually forgave. That’s the part of it that is so important  -. That God literally changes us from what we were into what He wants us to become and it’s always better.
 
We are actually transformed by the word of God and the love contained within it…And unless we are willing to proclaim that fact, we are being selfish children.
 
A lot of what Paul wrote to his friends from his confinement in a Roman jail became quite literally, food for my thought. I’m sure you all know the verses I’m referring too, where Paul more or less says,
            Brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one thing more: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others.  Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.
 
Those words… those words inspired by the Holy Spirit did literally change my way of thinking. And so dismal, angry thoughts were eventually replaced with happy, life-giving ones. Christian thoughts… delivered from resentment and shame. All I had to do was accept His healing and simply choose to fill my mind with His goodness through the power of His word.
 
So great…But that has to mean more than just sitting around all day having nice thoughts.  There has to be some effect…some action…that my Christian thinking and living has on the world around me. The beauty that has been disclosed to me is not meant to be held as my own personal secret.
 
 
 
In Matt 5:13-16 Jesus said,
You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
 
You are the world’s light – a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see.  Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see… so that they will praise your heavenly Father.
 
I can’t let my uplifting thoughts go unrealized, which they will if I’m not taking some action to share them and give them life. So then I must do something, take some action. 
 
Serving God with singleness of purpose and putting the concerns of His kingdom first are actions that follow His will and free me from anxiety over any lesser things.
 
Jesus tells us not to accumulate treasures on earth and not to even worry about our lives at all.  He illustrates His point by comparing what He gives us to God’s provisions for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. We may not know them word for word, but we all know those verses:
Basically, He tells us not to sweat the small stuff but to use our energies more wisely. To seek God and His ways and everything else will take care of itself.  But, we so often overlook this instruction.
 
We are progressive people, becoming more and more educated, more and more capable - We acquire more and more prestigious things, all the while puffing our chests out further and further. Either that - or we’re worried sick because we’re not as accomplished as so and so, or we haven’t acquired the new car or overpriced house on the lake.
 
Whether we are situated on the outside or the inside of that treadmill, the resultant anxiety is the same. Worry has become natural to a lot of us - As natural as eating or sleeping. Why I know a lot of people and I’ll bet you do too, who couldn’t possibly get through a day if they didn’t have something to worry about. It’s almost as if worrying was a part of their nature.
 
Does this tendency to worry have anything to do with what Jesus means in the seventh chapter of Matthew were He talks about entering heaven through the narrow gate? He says that the highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow and only a few ever find it. Do you suppose we will find it by worrying?.
 
We are literally required as children of God to abandon concern for anything other then our spiritual growth and the commission given to us of telling the world about Him.  God is God. He knows what we need and only He controls tomorrow. So are we going to actually obey God…or just think about our striving to be obedient? That was the decision I had to make - You know, actually “Walk the talk.”
 
It’s a bit unnerving to consider what Jesus says in Matt 7:21.
Not everyone who says to me Lord ,Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
 
For most of us, it’s easy to designate things like lying or deliberate cruelty, or murder, as sins…Those are pretty clear-cut and we can simply decide not to commit them. But worrying is also sinful. Jesus says it is. And that’s just not something most of us think of when we think of being sinful.
 
For example;
All I could do, from the time we were given the assignment to get up in front of everyone and give a ten minute sermonette, until… well, from that Saturday till the following Tuesday afternoon, was to consider all the possible subjects I could speak about and then worry my heart out about my inability to do it.
 
My thinking went something like this:
How in the world did I get myself into such a predicament?
Whatever possessed me to think myself capable of preaching to anybody else?
I have no credentials or special talents in relation to public speaking – What was I thinking?
 
Who in the world do I think I am?….And on and on like that till I had a knot the size of a melon gripping my stomach. It wasn’t until I forced myself to stop and look at how worried and fearful I had become that I was able to actually start to work on this assignment.  But before I could do it, I first had to hand it over to God - Truly leave it with Him.
 
You see, all the worrying in the world wasn’t going to make me the least bit more capable.  Only God’s grace could do that.  Only when I turned the outcome over to Him could I envision myself speaking clearly and comfortably without having a heart attack from the stress.
 
Again, my answer came from His Word: (Phil4:13)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
 
So when the temptation to second guess my situation – to beat myself up with thoughts of inadequacy comes, I have to see that for what it really is.  Its just another way that Satan has of creeping into my thoughts and stealing my confidence and perverting my good intentions until I think myself foolishly presumptuous.
 
Who do I think I am to stand up and preach the Word of God? Well… I’m predestined to adoption as a child of God, purchased and redeemed by the blood of Jesus and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise who guarantees my inheritance into heaven.  That’s who I am and there is no room for false pride or insecurity in the power of that!
 
All I have to do is ask the Father to give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.  Because then the eyes of my understanding are enlightened and I recognize the nature of His calling in me which is far above any puny negative power.
 
 So I can answer the question of whether I should presume to be here with faith. (Eph 2:8) For by grace I have been saved through faith, and that not of myself, but it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest I should boast. For I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that I should walk in them.
 
So, I put on the armor of God… that I may be able to stand and open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel. I am not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers few. So, like others of us here, I have heard the Holy Spirit call me and I have chosen to be among the few.
 
And I believe that we are called with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. (2 Tim1:9)
 
I’d like to close with one final Bible quote from Matt 12:31
Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
 
When the Holy Spirit calls, we can only obey.
Praise God and may He so richly bless each of you.
 
 
 

                                        tasmothers@gmail.com     www.writingforthemaster.com

​
Emmanuel - God With Us
By, Toni Smothers

Scripture Reading for the day:  Luke 2:5-21

Scripture Quote: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”  Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

Jesus came to us as an infant, born through the power of the Holy Spirit to the Virgin Mary. Joseph, her betrothed, believed when the angel told him that Mary was truly a virgin and that he should take her to be his wife. The faith that Mary and Joseph demonstrated was tremendous. 

Jesus was born in a stable. He was wrapped in bands of material, and was laid where cattle were fed. Shepherds came from all around to see the baby the angels told them had come to be their Savior. 

Jesus had a very poor beginning, yet, because of His life, we have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness - when he sent Jesus to dwell among us, to teach us and show us by His example, how to love in its truest sense. 
Today’s meditation: Celebrate Christ’s birth and what His coming has done for believers everywhere!

Memory Verse: “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)

​                                                                        Communion
by Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading for the day:  I Corinthians 11:23-34
 click here to read the script
Scripture Quote: “As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God’s blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, Take it and eat it, for this is my body. And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. Matthew 26:26-28 (NLT)
 
            As Jesus’ time on earth was nearing an end, He instituted the Lord’s Supper on the night of the Passover meal. Just as Passover celebrates deliverance from slavery in Egypt, so the Lord’s Supper celebrates deliverance from sin by Christ’s death and resurrection.
 
            All Christians basically believe that partaking of Communion is an important element in the Christian faith and that however we understand it, Christ’s presence in us strengthens us spiritually. So it is important that we partake as often as possible. It is also meant to remind us of our Savior and what He gave for our freedom from sin.
 
Meditation for today: “There existed from all eternity a perfect love between the Father and the Son and between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. All that God created is an extension of that love.” Jonathan Edwards
 
Memory Verse: “Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road and how they had recognized Him as He was breaking the bread. Luke 24:35
 

​                                             Charity Instead of Vengeance
by Toni Smothers
 
Scripture Reading for the day:  Genesis 26
 click here to read the scripture
Scripture Quote: “So Isaac prepared a great feast for them, and they ate and drank in preparation for the treaty ceremony.” Genesis 26:30 (NLT)
 
            Isn’t it sad that the most common response to poor treatment from others is to plot something bad to befall them? We automatically seek vengeance to sooth our inevitable pride. We seek public sympathy and privately think hateful things. This kind of behavior really has no place in the life of a follower of Christ.
 
            Actually, if we are honest, we can think of as many wrongs that we have dealt with others as have been dealt with us. We like to rationalize these facts away in the midst of our indignant tempest. Isaac, who had good reason to be bitter, didn’t respond with anger. Instead, he showed mercy and charity to King Abimelech who had previously been jealous of Isaac’s wealth. He had Isaac’s wells filled with dirt and drove Isaac away. Still, Isaac chose Christ’s peaceful way to treat King Abimelech.
 
We can be just as receptive to those who want to make peace with us. Often, God’s influence in our lives draws others to us, even enemies - We can take those opportunities to reach out to them with God’s love.
 
            Isaac compromised for the sake of peace. Would you be willing to forsake your pride to keep the peace? Is it hard for you to humble yourself in front of others?
 
Meditation for the day: The trouble with taking revenge when we are mistreated is that none of us can claim complete innocence.
 
Memory Verse: “We can plainly see that the LORD is with you. So we decided we should have a treaty, a covenant between us.” Genesis 26:28