- MONDAY -

Good morning forever family,

The Apostle Paul had a deep desire for all of God's people to be doing their best in treating others right.  Much of his writing brings that out.  I find it amazing that this man, who had been so harshly treated by others, constantly taught others to put others first.  Paul certainly was a God driven man.  I also find it interesting that in stark contrast to all the false gods mentioned in the Old Testament our Lord possesses the three H's.  Jesus is HUMBLE, HUMAN, and HELPFUL.  That's also something each of us can be and it's what Paul is asking here in Philippians chapter 2. 

¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!   Philippians 2:1-8 NIV 

Just the fact that Jesus would leave heaven in all its glory and perfection to come to this earth as a human baby and spend 33 years as a person rejected by religious "leaders" and end up being killed by the same...  Well, there is simply no greater love.  And, being God understood it all from the very beginning.  How can we even understand it?  How do we wrap our minds around that?

One thing is sure.  If Jesus loved people so, we need to love them too.  I need to love people more.  More like Jesus. 

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

- TUESDAY -

Good morning forever family,

Last evening Jackie and I went to a facility that helps down and out families get their lives in order and get their children back from such things as child protective services.  These parents, or parent, are usually there as a result of an addiction such as drugs or alcohol.  These addictions tear families apart and many of these people end up on the street, homeless.  The children get taken and put into protective care such as foster care and controlled by the State.

The parents end up in what you may call a half-way house.  This facility calls on Jackie and I to go there and present the ministry we do called Celebrate Recovery.  It gets presented as a recovery class.  Part of the rules of this facility is that certain people must take this class.

I must say that as we minister to these broken people it can be heart breaking.  Last night was as example.  There are moms there who have a lost and beaten down look as they have been separated from their children.  Our class this week occurred the day after Mother's Day.  Imagine not being able to have your children with you because you have lived a life of addiction and you are a young mother.

These are the people I teach.  They are a captive audience so to speak.  They have followed the ways of the world and have fallen into one of Satan's many traps.  I must tread the path of being non-judgmental and lovingly teach them about living a new life.  A life where they no longer have to be slaves of sin.  Lately I just flat-out tell them that Jesus is the only answer. For that is the truth.  As you can imagine, some reject that idea. We share testimonies of those who have decided to give their wills over to Jesus and have been set free.  The chains of their addiction, hurts, or hang-ups can be broken by the love and strength of Jesus.  I use a lot of Scripture in our teaching.

Scripture like this from the Gospel of John... 

³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. ³⁵ A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  John 8:34-36 NLT 

The most magnificent thing ever is watching them finally get it.  The end result is a new son or daughter coming into God's family.  We see chains of bondage being broken, and lives restored. 

Jackie and I get to see God work.  That's what I am addicted to!  My AWESOME God! 

Be blessed, be  a blessing,

Randy

- WEDNESDAY -

Good morning forever family,

I love the book of Nehemiah.  You may remember it.  The Israelites had been in exile from their land due to their turning away from God.  A long 70 year exile.  They had been warned many times from God, and finally God had to act.  It was not unlike the disciplining of a wayward child.  Just try to imagine what that must have been like.  Jerusalem had been ransacked.  The walls of Jerusalem were torn down and the city burned with fire.  All these things are described in Nehemiah chapter 1, specifically verses 5-9.  Nehemiah's heart was heavy for his homeland and his desire to go and rebuild it won the heart of King Artaxerxes (for God had prepared the Kings heart).  With the King's blessing Nehemiah returned Jerusalem and rebuilt the wall and its gates.  This act was not without its own terrors and hardship as there is always opposition to God's plan by God's enemies (see Nehemiah chapter 4).

We fast forward to chapter 8 of Nehemiah.  The wall is now rebuilt.  All the people stand in the square as a dedication and remembrance ceremony takes place with the reading of God's word.  Just try to imagine the gamut of emotions as tears flood the faces of those listening.  They remembered their Holy God and their unholy past.  Thankfulness for God's restoration and the hearing of God's Holy Word triggers this response... 

 ⁵ Ezra opened the book.  All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. ⁶ Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

⁷ The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. ⁸ They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

⁹ Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.  Nehemiah 8:5-9 NIV 

I have often desired that America remember God that way.  All those times that God has helped us in deep ways and how we too have turned away from our Holy Lord and left our first love.  We have, just like the Israelites, rejected God and ran after unholy idols.  We have allowed horrible corruption and sin to prevail.  If you don't feel as I do please tell me how we, as a country, spend $700 million a year funding Planned Parenthood's abortion program.  You may get my point.

We need to have hearts like Nehemiah and come back to the Lord.  We need to pray for this land!

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

- THURSDAY -

Good morning forever family,

This Verse for Today devotion was originally written in February 6th 2006.  A dear friend named Don Bailey from Cambridge, Maine collected the Verse for Today emails.  He printed them out and gave them to me.  He is one of the brothers in Jesus that urged me to put them in a published devotional. 

I like technology, and I like good craftsmanship.  This weekend I was studying about the construction of the Ark of the Covenant.  The Ark was a masterpiece built of acacia wood and overlaid in fine Gold.  It was built according to the perfect specifications given by God Himself (Exodus 37).  God chose and gifted a man named Bezalel, son of Uri, grandson of Hur of the tribe of Judah, to do the work.  God loves good work!  Good work, the use of the technology that God hives us, and work done in our best craftsmanship all honors God and please Him. 

³⁰ Then Moses told the people of Israel, “The Lord has specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³¹ The Lord has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. ³² He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. ³³ He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft. ³⁴ And the Lord has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach their skills to others. ³⁵ The Lord has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth, and weavers. They excel as craftsmen and as designers.   Exodus 35:30-35 NLT 

Whatever skills you have come from the very God that created you.  He planned for you to be skilled and gifted.  Let's put our skills and abilities to use for His work today. 

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy

- FRIDAY -

Good morning forever family,

In 2006 we were involved in an accident while traveling home from visiting my daughter in Utah.  I was on interstate 70 in the Eastern Utah dessert.  I was driving in the left lane passing a slower vehicle when the woman driving that vehicle also decided to pass the slower truck in front of her.  Even though I had my headlights on, and the front of my pickup was already passed the front of her car, she veered into my lane anyways.  She was talking on her cell phone and wasn't even aware of the traffic around her.  She didn't even look to see if the left lane was empty before changing lanes.  I saw her out of the corner my eye.  I blew my horn and drove halfway off the left side of the highway to avoid her but she kept coming.  It was only after folding her mirror up on my passenger door and denting it that she realized her error and pulled back into her lane.  She finally put her phone down!

After it was all over Donna and I talked about how miraculous it was that we didn't get killed.  Driving with my two left tires off the road at 80 miles an hour isn't really safe!  The fact is, after many thousands of miles and 35 years of motorcycle touring across this nation and Canada, this verse has proved itself out to me many times.  Our Lord is so good to us!  He commands His angels to take care of us.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;  Psalm 91:9-11 NIV 

We may never know this side of Heaven how many times an Angel protected us on our way.  It is but one more thing we need to thank God for.  Praise Him from whom all blessings flow! 

Be blessed, be a blessing,

Randy