Devotions For The Reconciled Life

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you Matthew 5:44 How much love do you have for Emanuel Kidega Samson who shot several at a church service at Burnett Chapel Church on Sunday?  How much love do you have for members of ISIS?  Those are philosophical questions for most because like me you don’t know anyone directly impacted.  That is not always the case. On the evening of September 15, 1999, just before 7:00 pm, a crazed gunman entered Wedgwood Baptist Church and opened fire, killing seven and wounding seven. Among those were youths who were attending a youth activity, a “Saw You at the Pole” prayer rally. From the time he entered the building, the gunman fired over 100 rounds from two different handguns and exploded a homemade pipe bomb in the Worship Center where the youth activity was being held. The gunman then sat down in the back of the Worship Center and ended his own life. 1  Friends of Karen and I were members of Wedgewood when t

Galatians 5:19-25 Going to a small university, you get to know almost everyone on campus.  Since it is a Christian university, I know people in multiple areas of ministry and missions.  It is also a Southern Baptist university, so the individuals that I know that are in the mission field are with the International Mission Board.  Two of my friends that are with the IMB are in Kurdish Iraq.  This area, also known as Kurdistan, had an election on Monday for secession from Iraq to form their own country.  There are a lot of international and local politics involved in this election.  I received an update from my friend today as an answer to prayer, “After a day of voting, all is calm here.  Thankful.” The Kurdish people are the largest nation on earth without a country to all their own.  The Kurds say they have, “no friends but the mountains.”  The Kurdish people today are primarily Islamic, but this nation was some of the first Gentile believers.  They are scattered all over the

I’m not proud of it, but I am an admitted salt-a- holic. To me, salt makes almost any food taste better. There are certain foods I love to eat salted–that without salt, I don’t even like! A pinch of salt? Yes, please. Health-wise, too much salt in a person’s diet can definitely be problematic. But in moderation, salt brings a food’s natural flavor to life. Salt contains nutrients that are not only beneficial, but essential to the human body. Did you know that if you drink too much water, it can flush the sodium out of your system and cause a fatal condition called Hyponatremia? In the book of Colossians, Paul uses salt to illustrate the importance of being gracious in conversation. Just as salt provides a desirable seasoning for the food we eat, grace should season the words we speak. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

4 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 5 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." Colossians 4:5-6 Benjamin Disraeli was a British statesman of the Conservative Party who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as well as a novelist. He played a central role in the creation of the modern Conservative Party, defining its policies and its broad outreach. He made the Conservatives the party most identified with the glory and power of the British Empire. He is the only UK Prime Minister to have been of Jewish birth.  His father turned from his Jewish belief to Christianity when Benjamin was 12.  In Disraeli’s novel Endymion, there is a character, Nigel Penruddock, a believer who is a lively and accomplished sportsman. In describing Nigel, Disraeli said, “his Christianity was muscular.” I like that phrase.  “Christianity was muscular”.  I would love for my faith

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:5-6 While in middle school, my family moved in with my grandmother.  She had an attic fan.  I loved the attic fan.  We would open the windows on nice evenings, turn on the attic fan, and it was like the outside had moved in.  Since I haven’t seen or heard of an attic fan since her home, I assume that most of you are confused.  An attic face is a large fan that blows from the inside of the house into the attic, creating a low pressure inside.  This causes the outside air to rush in through all the windows.  It is wonderful on nice evenings.  If you know what I’m talking about, then you know. If we don’t walk with wisdom, then our mind is like my grandmother’s house with the attic fan on.  Every form of idea is sucked  into your mind and is embraced without question. When a thought blo

3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:3-8 I had a great best friend growing up.  He lived within walking distance of my home.  There was pasture land along with forest and a stock pond.  Since his family had pasture land around his home, he and his

Genesis 1:1-31 I have a friend that studied to be a Roman Catholic Brother.  (That means a monk.)  In that process you have to go for an extended period of time in silence.  The different orders have different links of time, but they are all long. I struggle to remain silent even when by myself. Scriptures that speak of remaining silent always convicted me.  Scriptures like Proverbs 13:3 , Proverbs 17:28 , and Proverbs 10:19 .  But, there is more to our tonge than just holding it. We have to speak every day.  To our teachers, our employees, our bosses, or spouse, our friends, and on bad days to policemen.  What is in a word spoken?  Words flow so freely that it is easy to forget the power they have.  I remember things that were said to me by friends, coaches, my father growing.  Some of them good that built me up.  Some of them that were painful that still cause me problems today.  We all have issues with words.  Words have power; they have always had power. From the very b

"They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do." Psalms 1:3 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10 Made to Thrive Life is tough, or it can seem that we.  Every day it seems we face an uphill climb, pushing a boulder that wants to rollover us and crush us.  We get up, get dressed, and count down the days until the weekend, a day off, vacation, school break, school starting back, etc.  We go through the motions just try to survive.  I know that life was not meant to be lived this way, but it is so easy to follow this path. God wants so muc more for us and through us.  Christ came to give us life.  Not just life but abundant life.  LIfe to its fullest  Life with purpose and desire.  Life that radiates and affects everyone near us.  In Genesis we are told of Jacob’s favorite s

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them! Genesis 17:1-6 This past Sunday as I interviewed Emily (now Ember) I asked her about her name change. I have known Ember since 2004 but I knew her as Emily. When I first found out about her name change I thought “well, that’s interesting”. Most of the time people change their name because the are trying to run away from something. Yo

4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 1 Peter 2:4-5 When I was in 5th - 8th grade it was called junior high.  It seems today that those grades are referred to as middle school.  Hemlock by another name is just as deadly.  Those years in school were not my favorite.  Actually, they still are some of my worst school memories.  Finding acceptance was difficult.  Often being chosen last and told, “Your not good enough.”  Or, “You stink.” We all struggle to find our place.  At work.  In the community.  At home.  In the church.  The struggle for feeling accepted, for having a place, for having a meaning is a lifelong struggle.  At different times in my life I have felt rejected by

12 "“All right, you may test him,” the LORD said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the LORD’s presence. ... 15 ”when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” ... 19 ”Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”" Job 1:12,15-17,19 10 ”"No one can take my life from me. I