Devotions For The Reconciled Life

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" Matthew 11:1-3 Have you ever run into a problem that has "pulled the rug out from under you"? A boss that you have liked at a job you have enjoyed and received awards at comes in on Friday and says, "Clean out your desk. Security is here to escort you out." At a regular physical, your doctor in a very calm and reassuring voices tells you, "I would like for you to see a specialist about something." Or, a spouse that you have been married to for over 20 years comes over on Friday afternoon and says, "I don't love you anymore. I'll be moving out tomorrow. I'm going to a hotel tonight." I would call any of these as struggles. T...

'You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ' John 15:14-16 This vision is key to the success of being God’s Church. The success comes from pursuing the vision and not from the pursuit of success. The vision for the New Testament Church today comes from the most fruitful man, who was also at the beginning of creation, and clearly knows God’s vision, is God made flesh, Jesus. A man of no natural birth but has exemplified the vision of fruitfulness. This is the re-establishment and fruition of the original vision. Redeeming Adam and Eve’s epic fail & the consequences of casting off vision...

'And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself." And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them. ' Genesis 3:8-10,21 (U.S. Army photo illustration) The advice of the US Army and likely optometrists and ophthalmologists is to follow a 20-20-20 rule to ward off digital eye strain by taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes and view something 20 feet away.  Adam and Eve had the opposite problem.  They took their eyes off the truth and the vision God had given them.  When they had done that their entire view was flawed.  They began to see the world through the world's eyes, not God'...

'Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." ' Genesis 1:26-28 'And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You ...

' Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]–blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.' Proverbs 29:18 A vision statement is a one-sentence statement describing the clear and inspirational long-term desired change resulting from an organization or program’s work. Great.  So what does that look like?  I need examples.  So, I went out and looked at some respectable organizations vision statements. Habitat for Humanity : A world where everyone has a decent place to live. Alzheimer’s Association : A world without Alzheimer’s In Touch Ministries : proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people in every country of the world. And the longest that I couldn't leave out, International Mission Board : to partner with churches to empower limitless missionary teams who are making disciples and multiplying churches among unreached peoples and places for the glory ...

Without revelation, people run wild, but one who follows divine instruction will be happy. Proverbs 29:18 I have had excellent vision for most of my life.  My sight was better than 20/20.  When I was in late high school, I was told by my optometrist that I was going to have a hard time as I got older.  I asked, "Why?"  He said, "Your eyesight is going to get worse as everyone's does.  You're going to think you need glasses, but no optometrist is going to give you eyeglasses for 20/20 sight."  My vision didn't last as long as I would have liked due to MS.  I now see an ophthalmologist annually which I visited this past week.  They have the worst games!  "One or two?"  "Which line can you read?"  "Better or worse?"  Augh!  If I could see well I would tell them?  Isn't that why I went to the eye doctor?  To correct my vision that I know is flawed?  And my eyes are fine.  My eye shape and lense...

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, Philippians 1:29 ...and He chose you for something special. I don't know if you are like me, but some mornings it is difficult to even get out of bed.  The bed is so comfortable.  You know that when you sit up and put your feet down, the day will begin and won't be pleased anymore.  Somedays I lay in bed too long and allow my mind to run places it shouldn't go. Sites...

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Psalms 139:13-18 No one can do you the way you do you.  When you are yielded to the Spirit of God wonderous works for the Kingdom can be accomplished.  Remember that you are God’s masterpiece today.  Where you are, as you are, as you look. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ...