​In the late 1970’s a television commercial for a home emergency paging system made the phrase famous “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” Some of you remember this. I can still see the elderly lady calling out for help from the living room floor.
 
Fast forward to 2023: many people are falling and not getting back up.
 
 What a tragedy that people today in our culture and world have adopted this ad slogan as their excuse for not coming back from setbacks and succeeding after falling or failing. “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” can become a cop out, an easy excuse to stay down in life’s journey.
 
Truth be told, all of us fall down because we take hits in life.
 
Living in a fallen world no one is exempt from taking a fall from time to time. From out of nowhere life hits take the wind out of our sail, knocking our feet out from under us. None of us like to fall. But falls happen. It is sad and disheartening to watch people take a fall and not get up to stand tall again.
 
Staying down when we have fallen down is not a steppingstone to success.
 
Solomon has something significant to say about the righteous man who takes a fall.
 
“For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity.” Proverbs 24:16
           
Life tends to trip up even the best of us. Note that a “righteous man” will fall. Good, godly people fall how many times? At least seven. I am sure I have fallen more than seven times in my lifetime so far! How about you?
 
You and I must nail this down as God’s children: It is inevitable we will fall down from time to time. There is no fall-free life.
 
Believers in Christ are not granted an exemption from falling. If you think Christians are free from falling, read your Bible and think again. From cover-to-cover righteous men and women of God took tumbles and stumbled in life. BUT THEY GOT UP!
 
The righteous man falls. But every single time, he gets up. The righteous man rises above Satan’s hits and his own shortcomings, mistakes, missteps, flops, fumbles, and failures by getting back up. EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!!!   
 

• QUITTERS STAY DOWN. WINNERS GET UP!

 
The unrighteous person (“wicked”) also falls in a time of calamity (testing, trial, or difficulty). But instead of rising up to run another lap in the race of life, his stumble crushes him and causes him to crumble. He lies down and wallows in the misery of his fall. Without faith in God, he falters and fails in his self-centered pursuit of success.
 

• WINNERS NEVER QUIT AND QUITTERS NEVER WIN!

 
What is your attitude to falling down? Winner or quitter?
           
Falls and even failure is neither final nor fatal for those who brush the dust off their britches and get up and go again. Do not, I repeat do not, let the devil keep you down. Boldly and confidently rise up in Christ’s righteousness. Take back what the enemy has tried to steal from you. Remember: What God has given you, belongs to you, not anyone else! Fight the good fight of faith! Overcome in Jesus’ mighty name!
 
 Have you fallen lately? Need some motivation to get back up? Adopt Micah’s inspiring battle cry for success.
 
“But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy; Though I fall I will rise, though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.”  (Micah 7:7-8)
 
I love Micah’s fighting words! Makes me want to charge hell with a water pistol! Micah made his decision. The prophet is telling us from personal experience that if you tumble you do not have to stumble. When life trips you up, get up and get on with living. The Lord will lift you up and light your way. Tell the devil you are ready to rumble in Jesus’ name!
Victory over the enemy is not in never falling. Getting up after a fall is! Getting back up after a fall is not always easy, but it is the path to victory! Recovering from a fall in life requires fortitude, faith and a relentless resolve to rise above adversity every time calamity strikes.
 
Those who fall (that is you and me) are promised victory over falling through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (I John 4:4, 5:4).
 
My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, let us stop whining about life and start winning. Let us stop complaining about falls and conquer them instead. We overcome when we get up after a fall and get right back in Satan’s face in Jesus’ mighty name!
 
2023 is the time for Christians to grow up, step up and lead the way in getting back up after a life fall.
 
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”                                                II Corinthians 4:7-10
 
A Word For Your Week: If you want to stand tall, get right back up after a fall!
 
 
                       

​If you could choose, what would be the DAY of days for you?
I mean the DAY of all days. In 1976 I experienced one of those DAY of days.
Jo Ann and I had been married for just nine months when Uncle Sam and the United States Navy separated us for thirteen months. Back then in what my adult children call the dinosaur days, there was zero technology. No computers. No cell phones. No texting. No Facebook. No Facetime.
Only slow, slow snail mail. Kodak photos. Overseas phone calls were super expensive. So, our attic stores many, many boxes containing hundreds of love letters we wrote across the Pacific Ocean. I have forbidden my children to read them!  
Jo Ann and I cherished a few pictures of each other. But I tell you, pictures are one thing. Anticipating seeing her again was another. What we looked forward to was day 397, THE DAY when I borded the Freedom Bird, swooping out of Kadena Air Force base on Okinawa to land in San Bernadino and see my sweetheart in person, face to face.
Oh my! Indescribable joy overwhelmed my emotions as I took her in my arms, looked into those sparkling blue eyes, kissed her and said “I love you” in person.
That day with Jo Ann was absolutely awesome! But there is a DAY THAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO LIKE NO OTHER. An off the chart day.  
A day, THE DAY IS COMING when the bride of Christ (the church) will see the bridegroom (Jesus) in person when He returns to earth to take His people home to heaven.  
Paul tells us “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:16-18
John writes “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
“Beloved, now we are children of God, and is has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies Himself just as He is pure.” I John 3:1-3
Did you get what Paul and John said? God’s sons and daughters will see Jesus in person. Face to face when He, with the heavenly host, splits the eastern sky to take His followers home.
What a day that will be! No more manmade pictures of Jesus hanging in Sunday school classrooms. No more actors portraying the Lord in blockbuster movies. No more speculation about Christ’s appearance.
We, we who personally know Jesus through faith in Him, will see, yes see, His face. Just as He is. Oh my goodness! Can any day ever compare to THAT DAY WHEN JESUS COMES TO TAKE US HOME!!!!  
 My friend, are you ready to see Jesus face to face? Just as He is… the Lord of glory, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Savior of the world, Son of God who sits at the right hand of our heavenly Father? Have you surrendered yourself to Christ?
 Have you repented of your sin and confessed Jesus Lord of your life?  Have you opened the door of your heart and welcomed Jesus in as Lord and Savior? If you have you are ready for THE DAY OF DAYS!
If you are not ready to meet Jesus in person, get ready. Get ready now. Now is the day of salvation, not tomorrow (II Corinthians 6:1-2). Repent. Turn from sin and turn to Him. Receive Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior.
I cannot speak for you. But I get spiritual and emotional goose bumps thinking of THE DAY when I see Jesus face to face! Whether I see Him in the clouds of the air or I see Him when I have died a natural death (“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” II Corinthians 5:8) I will shout Hallelujah like I have never shouted Praise the Lord before!  
How do you feel about seeing Jesus fact to face?
Honestly, I can only imagine what I will do when I see my precious Lord and Savior. It is going to be really, really good!!!!
My fellow Christian, spend some devotional time this week focusing on seeing Jesus. Study the Word regarding His return for the saints. Welcome the Holy Spirit to stir your soul with joy unspeakable and full of glory as you anticipate the return of the Savior!!!
Jesus is coming back. Soon. Any day now. We will see Him as He is. I hope you are ready and excited to see Him!
“For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.” I Thessalonians 2:19-20
“And though you have not seen Him you love Him; and though you do not see Him now but believe in Hiim, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” I Peter 1:8-9
“He who testifies to these things says “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:21
A Word For Your Week: Look forward with expectant faith to seeing Jesus face to face one day.

​The word glory, according to Webster, means “renown, praise, honor or distinction extended by common consent.”
The world you and I live is intoxicated with extending glory to men and women we highly admire.  
Academy award winning actors/actresses, brilliant business leaders, charismatic politicians in power positions, outstanding athletes and even popular pastors and ministers have glory attributed to them through awards, trophies, plaques, monuments, statues and many other forms of recognition.
Admittedly, in many quarters of America, celebrities are worshipped.  Adoring, awestruck (may I add fickled!) fans pour glorious accolades upon them…. and the recipients soak it up. Who doesn’t desire to be recognized for their achievements? Who hasn’t dreamed of being recognized as Most Valuable Player, Olympic champion, world’s best, business person of the year, salesperson of the month, and on and on.
Glory is something that appeals to our flesh.
Appropriate recognition and rewards are honorable and important. All of us need love, acceptance and approval strokes that contribute to positive, healthy self-esteem and self-confidence 
But I wonder if sometimes we give glory to men above glory to God?
We praise and honor talent, gifting and human performances. But where did the abilities to stand out above others come from? Who is the real one behind man’s glory, the One who deserves all the glory?  
Most of the psalms (scripture songs) are attributed to David. In addition to his musical and lyrical gifts inspired by the Holy Spirit, his resume’ includes serving God as a shepherd boy, a giant slayer, warrior and king of Israel. As king, he received adoration, admiration, accolades and glory for his many victories over God’s enemies.
But David knew who the real King of glory was. 
 “Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:7-10
David is saying two things.
1. The Lord of hosts, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord strong and mighty, He is the King of glory. The God of the Bible is holy and full of glory. No one is renowned like Him.
2. King David declares that Almighty God, the sovereign Creator of the universe and redeemer of creation, that He alone should be revered and worshipped as the King of glory. He talks about gates and doors being opened. For what purpose? To welcome the King of glory in. Lift up your heads refers to looking up to the Lord. You and I are to focus our faith on the King of glory by opening the door of our heart to Him.  
In Philippians 2:9-11 Paul writes “Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Chris is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Jesus’ name is above all names. Every tongue will confess and knees will bow, acknowledging His lordship. Sounds like Jesus Christ is the King of glory, doesn’t it? At least He shares the glory of the Father.
 If you want to have a good day…..

• Give God the glory He deserves. Thank the Holy One for the life you get to live.
• Glorify God through worship and praise. Shout His praises with a joyful heart.
• Honor and glory Him by taking good care of yourself because, through faith in Jesus Christ, your body is His temple.
• Bring glory to God by serving and caring for others in His holy name. In word and deed, may people see that you recognize, follow and serve the King of glory in your life.
• Glorify God’s name by sharing His plan of salvation for mankind. People need the Lord, the Lord of glory who sent His only Son Jesus to die on the cross to save us from sin.
• Give God glory by worshipping regularly with fellow believers at your home church. There is tremendous unity, fellowship, power, peace and joy when God’s people glorify His name together.
• Remember the King of glory is for you, with you and working on your behalf. Lift your eyes above earthly men to the Holy One who sits in unrivaled splendor, majesty and glory on heaven’s throne.

GLORIFY GOD BECAUSE HE IS THE KING OF GLORY!
Sad fact: People who glory in people will always be disappointed and let down. 
Maybe, just maybe, our sad, sin-sick world would be a much better place if we glorified people a little less and glorified God a whole lot more. Just a thought.
 A historic hymn of the church says it just right.
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
 “Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength; ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name, worship the Lord in holy array.” Psalm 29:1-2
“And in His temple everything says, “Glory!” Psalm 29:9a
How about you? Do you say “Glory?” to God.
 A Word For Your Week: Daily open wide the gate of your heart to the King of glory.  
 

​As I mature as a human being, this forgetting routine is becoming up close and personal. 
 
Recently I went into the bedroom to get something and could not remember what I was supposed to be getting! Too embarrassed to ask my wife. My dog Daisy looked at me wondering why I looked confused.
 
Someone said there are three indicators of getting old. First, the loss of memory—and we cannot remember the other two!
 
Natural memory loss inhibits us from remembering things we should not forget.
 
In our verses for this week Jesus’ closest followers were long on forgetfulness and short of memory.
 
“Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up? Or the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many large baskets you took up?” Matthew 16:9-10
 
Setting: the religious leaders were testing Jesus (verses 1-6).  The Lord warns the disciples to watch out for them and their sign-seeking. Their response to His wise warning? A discussion group.
 
They missed the lesson because they focused on not having any bread (verse 5). The disciples failed the bread test (verses 7-8). Enter Jesus into discussion. “You men of little faith.”
 
 My goodness, (my paraphrase!) you watched the miraculous feedings of the 5,000 and 4,000 and their families. And you still don’t get it? Have you forgotten what you should be remembering?
 
Think about it. They personally witnessed with their own eyes and held the bread in their own hands when Jesus fed two crowds that numbered in the thousands. Two major physical miracles in the short span of a few days. “Little Boy’s Lunch Of Loaves Of Bread And Fish Feed Thousands” makes for huge headlines in the Jerusalem daily journal!  
 
And they are talking about “no bread”. How in the world could they be so lame-brained, memory drained, forgetting about all those who “ate and were satisfied” and the overflowing baskets of leftover bread? (Matthew 15:37)
 
The disciples lapsed into SPITIRUAL MEMORY LOSS which is very dangerous to our faith life!
 

• In the battle for the mind, Satan wants us to forget what God wants us to remember!

 
Slick strategy by the evil one. Deception is his game. Hey Christian, forget what God did yesterday. Are you sure you can trust Him to act on your behalf today?
 
Forgetting can easily led to lack of faith and unfaithfulness to the Lord.
 
When we are in need, how easy, frustrating and unproductive it is to forget how God has met our needs in the past. So often the message of Moses and the prophets to Israel was “REMEMBER YOUR GOD!” (Deuteronomy 8:1-18).
 
Forgetting stifles faith while remembering stimulates faith.
 
REMEMBER THE LORD needs to be our banner and battle cry when life turns upside down. Remembering what we should not forget will turn life right side up.
 
An insightful person wrote “God gave us our memories that we might have roses in December”.
 
Remember These Ten Things When Tempted to Forget
 
1. God is Almighty. There is nothing too difficult for Him! (Jeremiah32:16)
 
2. Absolutely nothing can separate you from God’s love.    (Romans 8:35-39)
 
3. What God did for His people Israel; He will do for you because you are His                      people.                                                                                   (I Peter 2:9-10)
 
4. God is a god of deliverances who has delivered you before!  (Psalm 68:19-20)
 
5. God made a way for you in the past when there was no way! (Isaiah 43:19)
 
6. God supplied your need yesterday and will supply today.   (Philippians 4:19)
 
7. God sustained you through a previous crisis and will sustain you now.
                                                                                                            Psalm 55:22)
8. God came through last time and will come through this time. (Joshua 4:23-24)                                                                                                         
 
9. God blessed you yesterday and will bless you today and tomorrow. (Job 42:12)
 
10. God has never failed you and will not fail you today!             (Hebrews 13:5)
 
TRUTH: We should not forget what we should remember.
 
 “Remember to forget your losses, your setbacks, and your defeats. Do not forget to remember your blessings, your triumphs, and your victories!”  William A. Ward:
 
Don’t forget to remember what God has done for you!
 
Experiencing a tough time? Remember--- the same good God who took good care of you last time will take good care of you this time!
 
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, yes and forever.”  Hebrews 13:8
 
A Word For Your Week: Remember today what you should not forget.  

How you ever thought about what makes a person great?


Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-26 that great people in God’s Kingdom are the ones who serve. “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not so among you, but whosoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant.”


Servanthood is a significant sign of greatness according to God’s Word. Humble service makes men and women great in God’s eyes.


In Psalm 18:35 we read another truth that makes you and me great.


“Thou has given me the shield of Thy salvation, and Thy right hand upholds me; AND THY GENTLENESS MAKES ME GREAT.” Psalm 18:35


In his day, David was a great man. David had a heart for God, serving the Lord and God’s people all his life. Before he was anointed king over the nation of Israel, the shepherd boy David slew giant Goliath. King David was a mighty warrior and courageous leader who never lost a battle to Israel’s arch enemies the Philistines.


King David exuded greatness among the Israeli people. Psalm 18, penned by David, is a song of praise for God’s deliverance from enemies. David extols God’s delivering power and exalts His name for rescuing him time and time again. Then, in verse 35, after saying that God has shielded David with His salvation and that God’s right hand upholds him, David declares “And Thy gentleness makes me great.”


Sometimes God’s Word just reaches deep down into your spirit and grabs you! This phrase grabbed me and will not let me go. Do you see what I see?


David said he was great because of God’s gentleness.


God’s gentleness made David great. The mantle of greatness was David’s because of gentleness from God.


Usually, when we think of great men and women, we think of awesome abilities, personal charisma, power and influence. God does indeed empower His people through the Holy Spirit to do mighty spiritual exploits in His name. But gentleness and greatness?


David attributed his greatness to God’s gentleness.
I am blessed with a son, daughter and four precious grandchildren. I remember with fondness and happiness the days when they were newborns and young children. I would spend as much time as possible with them.


As babies, I hugged them up, gently cradling them close to my heart. A soft, caring, compassionate touch from grandpa (they call me Doodah now) always produced a smile on their angelic faces worth a trillion dollars for Doodah! As well as a huge smile in this old man’s heart.    


People of all ages, not just newborn babies, need to receive gentleness from Christians.


We who know Christ possess the gentleness of God that works in our heart and makes us great servants. In Galatians 5:22-23, gentleness is listed as one of the nine fruit of the Spirit. Many believers strive to bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience…but what about gentleness and then of course, the last one on the list, self-control?   


Our brokenhearted, sin-sick, lost world lacks a gentle touch. Let’s face it: life without Christ is hard and cruelly harsh.


The devil knows no gentleness. Roughness, toughness, harshness, and cruelty causes people to become hardened and bitter. As a crisis counselor, I see too many people who are emotionally and sometimes physically bruised, battered and beaten up by harsh words and hard-hearted actions from others.


My friends and fellow Christians, where will hurting people receive a gentle touch unless God’s people who know God’s gentleness share His gentleness with them through serving them?


Please be gentle with God’s gentleness.  Be a great person in the lives of people you know, love and serve by being gentle.


Be gentle with your words and deeds. Make gentleness, compassion, mercy and lovingkindness the marks of your witness, service and ministry to people.


When tempted to be hard or harsh, do not be that way. Choose to be gentle. When someone has been harsh toward you, do not respond in kind. Return gentleness for their harshness. When you have opportunity to show a fellow human being the gentler side of life, show it. When you can soften the hard edge of someone’s situation, go ahead and do it.


Something to think about: God has been gentle with us. Shouldn’t we who bear His name be gentle with people for whom Christ died and rose again so they could find forgiveness and live forever? Just a thought.


Would it not be awesome if people would say of you and me: There goes a great person because they are a gentle servant of Jesus Christ?


Who do you know that needs the gentleness of God through you today?


“Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.”  Matthew 5:5      


“Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”   Matthew 11:28-30
​

A Word For Your Week: If you want to be great…be gentle.

When was the last time you reflected on your past and then rejoiced in the Lord?

It is a sad fact of human behavior that most of us reflect upon our yesterdays with regret and remorse.

Thoughts of the past usually generate bad press. Too often we look back wishing yesterday was different than it was. Instead of singing God’s praises for being with us in the past, we often sigh and even cry over yesterday. We decreed yesterday as bad news. But what about all the good news our yesterdays were made of?
The Psalmist had a holy habit, and I believe a healthy habit, of reflecting upon yesterday WITH JOY!  He habitually remembered God’s great works on His behalf and then rejoiced in God’s goodness to him. (Psalm 71:19, 66: 5-7,16, 105:1-7, 111:1-4, 126:1-3). 

“I remember the days of old, I meditate on all Thy doings; I muse (reflect and ponder) on the work of Thy hands.”  Psalm 143:5

“Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He uttered by His mouth.”   Psalm 105:5

Remembering and reflecting resulted in rejoicing for the Psalmist.
What is your habit when reviewing the past? Is your reflection process holy and healthy like the Psalmist? Do you remember what you should remember with joy?
As fickle people who struggle with remaining faithful to God, we tend to forget things we should not forget and remember things we should not remember.
Psalm 78:11-12 declares of God’s people Israel “and they forgot His deeds, and His miracles that He had shown them. He wrought wonders before their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoar.” Like Israel, we forget God’s good deeds, miracles and wonderful works in our lives.
We forget because we are forgetful.
We forget because the devil does not want us to remember and rejoice. We forget because we are surrounded and influenced by a society of forgetters. We forget because we focus on our failures instead of our successes, our nightmares instead of our dreams, our strike outs instead of our hits and home runs, our defeats instead of our victories, our pains instead of our gains, our lack instead of our provision, and our tears instead of our cheers!
I used to view my past with regret. But I have (and still am) learning to rejoice in yesterday. Why the shift in attitude? Because there are plenty of reasons why I should rejoice when I look back to yesterday.

• God has always been with me.
• God has sustained me.
• God has protected me.
• God generously provided for me, my family and ministry.
• God has directed my steps.
• God has spared me. God has delivered me.
• God has graciously corrected and matured me.
• God has healed, restored and renewed me.
• God has richly blessed every area of Steve Roll’s life.

Above all, God saved me through the sacrificial death of His Son Jesus Christ for which I am eternally grateful.
Christians have every reason to rejoice when they look back to remember what God has done for them through Jesus Christ.   

My fellow Christian, remember and rejoice in all the life you have lived under the watchful, loving, merciful, gracious eye of Almighty God. Your heavenly Father has been Lord over the good, the bad, and yes, even the ugly in our lives.   

We should rejoice in our yesterdays because…

• What God did for us yesterday makes us who/what we are today.
• What God did in and through us proves His love for us.
• Yesterday provides us with a personal testimony of God’s goodness.
• Rejoicing in our yesterdays encourages others to redeem their yesterdays.
• What God did yesterday He will do today and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8)

When we look back to yesterday, we are confronted with a choice. We can remember and regret or we can REMEMBER and REJOICE. Our choice to rejoice in yesterday will inspire us to rejoice in today. And everyday is a better day when we rejoice in the Lord!

Set aside some time this week to reflect on the past. Write down all the wonderful things God has done for you. Then give Him thanks for every single one!

REMEMBER AND REJOICE!!!

“I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate on all Thy work and talk of Thy doings. Thy way, Oh God, is holy; What god is great like out God? Thou art the God who works wonders…”      Psalm 77:11-14a ​

A Word For Your Week: Give thanks today for God’s goodness to you yesterday.

When you and I need something to happen, God often meets that need by surprising us in a way we did not expect.
The above is true. I personally like this truth!
Isaiah 64:1-4 is a prayer request by Isaiah the prophet for God to be merciful to Israel and send help to deliver the nation from adversaries.
“Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains may quake at Your presence. As fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil, to make known Your name to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence.
WHEN YOU DID AWESOME THINGS WE DID NOT EXPECT; You came down and the mountains quaked at Your presence. For from of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides You WHO ACTS ON THE BEHALF OF THE ONE WHO WAITS FOR HIM.
You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways. “
Isaiah asked God to come down in dramatic fashion to deal with His enemies. The Almighty did. A fireworks show that was out of this world. Isaiah recognized that what God did was not what they expected, a surprise if you will in taking care of their adversaries.
God blessed His people in a way they did not expect.
The Bible from cover-to-cover reveals God doing things His people did not expect.
 A shepherd boy slays a giant…A few fish and loaves of bread feed thousands…An uncrossable sea parts to save God’s people and drown an enemy army…A dead brother is raised from the grave…A lame man walks… Blind men see…A godly man is saved from hungry lions…Three boys escape from a fiery furnace…A demon is cast out from a tormented man. An Ark spares a righteous family and humanity. A crucified Savior rises from the dead. On, and on, and on…UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS!
Miracle after miracle after miracle. God has done things and still does things His people do not expect!
So, what about you and me? Does the Lord do things for us that we did not expect? Surprise us? You bet He does!!!!
God the Father loves to surprise His sons and daughters. He specializes in surprising us with things we did not expect. Makes life fun for Him and us!
When you need something from the Lord according to His promises in the Word, do not worry, do not be anxious, do not doubt, do not be fearful. Instead trust Him to deliver what you need according to His will, His way and in His time. Wait on Him to do His thing.
Leave room for a surprise that will knock your spiritual socks off! Without question many of the blessings the Lord has given me were unexpected….and received with great joy!
Expect the unexpected in a good way. As a father and grandfather, I get a tremendous kick out of surprising my offspring with blessings they had no idea were coming. The surprised, happy look on their faces warms the heart of this graying old gentleman.
A Few Thoughts About Expectation

• Our faith journey is so exciting and rewarding when God does WHAT WE EXPECTED and WHAT WE DID NOT EXPECT!
• You and I get what we expect and much more when God does what we did not expect.
• Faith is fortified when God does what we did not expect.
• People take note when God does something we did not expect in our lives.
• God is glorified when we praise Him for doing the unexpected.
• Share with others who need encouraged the unexpected blessings God did for you.

My friend, the next time you need a blessing from the Lord, expect Him to do the unexpected! Do not be surprised when God surprises you with something in your life that you did not expect!
Take a few moments today. Think about things God has done for you that surprised you. Make a list. Relive each item. Reflect on how it blessed you. Pray over each unexpected thing God did, thanking and praising His name.
What are you expecting the Lord to do for you according to His Word? How are you expecting Him to surprise you from time to time? Are you open to a surprise blessing?
EXPECTED OR UNEXPECTED God is always working in our lives to glorify Himself, strengthen our faith and build us up for the next round of life!!!
Are you ready for His next surprise in your faith walk?
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works within us. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations for ever and ever. Amen. “ Ephesians 3:20-21
A Word For Your Week: Expecting the unexpected is an exciting way to walk with God.

Years ago a gentleman called me to make a counseling appointment. When we met, I could see that he was very troubled about something. “Pastor, is it possible to have peace in our hearts? Every turn I take seems troublesome, creating turmoil in my heart. I am upset all the time. I just want to have some peace. Is that possible?”
I responded by saying “Sir, do you love God’s Word?” While he looked at me with a puzzled expression, I turned to our verse for this week.
Those who love Thy law have great peace; and nothing causes them to stumble.”   Psalms 119:165
I told him that people who love God’s Word experience great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
We had an in-depth discussion about how we can experience and enjoy God’s peace daily. After praying together, he left less troubled and more hopeful that life can turn around when we turn to God’s Word and receive His peace.

Peace is important in our lives. Peace is pivotal to healthy and productive living. The more I mature (that means the older I get!) the more I value peace. Peace in my mind and heart.

David endured some very peaceless periods in his life. He was stalked by King Saul, shamed and haunted by his sin with Bathsheba, he warred continually with the Phillistines, was disrespected and driven away by some of his children. No wonder David wrote about “great peace” and how to have it.

The verse starts with “Those.”  Who are those anyway? “Those” are the people who “love Thy Law.” People who love God’s Word and live their lives according to it experience two tremendous blessings in their personal lives.

First, they have GREAT PEACE. Not just peace, but GREAT peace! The peace they experience is the peace of God that comes from the God of peace (Philippians 4:5-9). Great peace is peace that is greater than our problems. When life is hard to understand and makes little sense, the peace of God that passes all understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6) floods our hearts and garrison’s our minds. Great peace is greater than the troubles of life because God is great.

• Great peace, God’s peace, belongs to those who cherish and obey his Word.

Second, they will not stumble in life. The King James Version states “they will not be offended.” The Hebrew meaning is this: life is not a stumbling block to those who love God’s Word and have His peace in their hearts. Life will not offend them in any way. Note the word is “nothing.” I looked up the word and nothing means NOTHING! Nada! Zip! Zero!
There isn’t anything whatsoever that can cause a person to stumble who loves God’s Word. God’s great peace will keep offense at bay because God’s Word produces peace.

This verse has meant a lot to me over the years. It is so easy to stumble. We are so easily offended. Why? It is because we focus on life instead of God’s law. We are robbed of inner peace because we do not take a stand to stand on God’s Word when life tumbles around us. Life outside of God’s Word cannot produce peace.

Loving God and His Word will always produce peace. Great peace. When I guard my peace with God’s Word, I live in a stumble free zone.

I love having God’s peace in my heart. In all honesty, the best moments in my life come when I am walking in His “great peace.”

I am working on growing up in some areas of my life. One is not to be offended by what life brings to my plate. Another is not to stumble over things that God’s Word says I have victory over. This verse says that nothing causes us to stumble.

Nothing includes Satan’s spiritual attacks, people who offend or disappoint me, adverse circumstances that toss me a curve ball, challenging situations that are out of my control, setbacks that delay my dreams, or any of the stuff that life is made up that tries to throw me for a loop as I seek to fulfill God’s will for my life.

I have found that I experience great peace and I do not stumble when I love God’s Word and walk by faith and obedience to that Word everyday.

How about you my friend? Do you crave God’s peace? Do you love His Word? Do you live your life according to His law and promises? Is life a series of stumbling blocks to you? Or is your life stumble-proof in Christ?

Those (that is you and me!) who love God’s law will have God’s peace and will be stumble free! Hallelujah!

“The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee.”
                                        Isaiah 26:3

“Peace I leave with you; My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let be fearful.’’                                         John 14:27 ​

A Word For Your Week: Lasting peace comes from loving and living God’s law.

How many professing Christians do you know who are totally sold out to Christ?

By sold out I mean born-again believers whose belief and behavior are so real they are one hundred percent on board for the Lord, following the Lord fully with all their hearts.
    
Caleb was sold out to God. His rock-solid commitment to God stirs our hearts and challenges our lives.

“Nevertheless, my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the Lord my God fully.”  Joshua 14:8

For the background on this week’s word, study thoroughly Numbers 13:25-14:10 and Joshua 14:6-14.

At forty years of age, Caleb and Joshua went up to recon the Promised Land. Ten other “spies” accompanied them. The land was everything God said it would be. Spacious. Fruitful. Productive. Developed. Ready for occupation by God’s chosen people.

Reporting back to Moses, the ten spies gave a bad report based on fear. Caleb and Joshua gave a good report based on faith. Despite the negative majority report, Joshua and Caleb exhorted the people to go up and take the land God was giving them.

The two positive men of God told the people to not fear, but to have faith in God who had prepared the way for them. Now was the time to rise up, overcome fear, exercise faith and occupy the land of promise.

Sadly, the people followed the ten negative spies, rejecting Joshua and Caleb’s call to go forward. God severely judged Israel’s disobedience. The ten spies died on the spot. All the doubters and pouters over twenty years of age wandered in the wilderness until they all died off.

Forty-five years later, Caleb shows up again in Scripture. Under Joshua’s courageous leadership, Israel has conquered most of Canaan. Eighty-five years young, Caleb reminds Joshua that Moses promised him a piece of the Promised Land. “

Caleb declares that he is as strong now as he was four decades ago. He is a warrior, ready and willing to take out the Anakim (gigantic people!). Caleb’s request “give me the hill country,” the one with the big guys hanging out there, was based on God’s promise to give it to him.

And so it was. The Anakim wished they had never seen this sold-out servant of the Living God in their neighborhood!
    
Caleb’s spiritual legacy is that “he fully followed the Lord.” Three times in Joshua 14 (verses 8, 9, 14) Caleb is commended for his wholehearted commitment to God. For eighty-five years and counting Caleb held nothing back. His faith and devotion to the Lord never wavered.

Caleb could have joined the unbelieving, fearful holdout crowd. He could have thrown in the faith towel waiting in the wilderness for forty years while all the doubters died off. As an elder, he could have held out at age eighty-five and asked for a rocking chair. Not Caleb.

Caleb is the kind of guy that I would charge hell with a water pistol!

Sold out or hold out. Which one are you?

The perilous times we live in (see II Timothy 3:1-12) will eat the lunch of half-hearted Christians. The devil and our unbelieving world enjoy chowing down on those who holdout on serving Jesus Christ wholeheartedly.

Jesus sold out for us. When Jesus hung on the Cross, He was sold out on salvation for you and me. No hint of hold out from Him. Jesus gave it all. God’s Only Son spilled His life-blood to cover and cleanse our sin. Jesus followed fully God’s will for His life.

So how can we even consider holding out on Him? How is it that many professing Christians cannot be counted on when push comes to shove?

I want to ask you what I am asking myself. Are you sold out to Jesus? Do you follow Him fully? Completely. Wholeheartedly. Without reservation or hesitation. Or are you a hold-out? Holding back some part of your heart. Hanging out in the fearful crowd of mediocre Christians who move no mountains for God?

Being sold out for Christ means something like this.

• Jesus is Lord of my life everyday and in everyway.
• I will stand for Christ whether it is convenient or inconvenient.
• I will follow the Lord when the religious crowd stops following Him.
• I can be counted on to count for Christ when it is politically incorrect.
• I will obey God whatever the cost to me personally.
• I will stand tall for Jesus when others fall away.
• I will serve God with all my heart and strength until I breathe my last breath!

    
Sold out Christian’s hearts are on fire for the Lord. Hold-out Christian’s hearts are cold toward the Lord.

I do not know about you, but I like being around people who are sold out for something. I really like being around Christians who are sold out for Someone, the Lord Jesus Christ.
    
When push comes to shove in this sin-sick, lost world, are you sold out for the Lord Jesus Christ? Would people observing your life say that you follow the Lord fully? That you serve God with every fiber of your being? Maybe it is time to evaluate and shore up your commitment to Christ.

Sold out or hold out is your decision that will determine your destiny. Be assured that, like Caleb, God blesses those whose hearts fully belong to Him.

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”                II Chronicles 16:9

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”                                           II Timothy 4:6-7

A Word For Your Week: If you say you have faith, follow the Lord fully!

Have you ever heard yourself thinking things like this: Someday I will get that done. Someday I will clean out the garage. Someday I will spend more time with my family. Someday I will serve at my local church. Someday my dream will come true.


SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY, SOMEDAY!


Someday is out there somewhere.


Procrastinators love someday. Practitioners of procrastination enjoy putting off until tomorrow what they should be doing today. Someone said “Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.” The problem with keeping up with yesterday is that important things do not get done today.     
    
Someday is often the enemy of success because it robs us of what we should be doing today. What is someday anyway? Where is it? Which day in the future is someday? Someday usually ends up being no day.


The truth is: Someday never comes because someday is today. Today’s “To Do” lists are to be done today, not tomorrow.


In God’s Kingdom, someday is always today. There is no procrastination in God’s redemptive plan. Our verse for the week is plain: SALVATION IS TODAY. Not tomorrow, or someday, but TODAY. 


“For He says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you;’ behold, now is the acceptable time, behold now is the day of salvation.”
II Corinthians 6:2


Paul tells us that God listens to us and helps in “the day of salvation” which is today. The gift called today comes from the hands of a good, gracious and generous God. I am so thankful that He is there each day to meet our needs. One day at a time.


The word the Word uses is “now.” And “now” means now! “Now” is today, not tomorrow. Ever since Jesus died on the Cross and rose from the dead, TODAY is the day of salvation. Redemption is finished. God’s restoring work is complete. His great love for us has been manifested in His Son.


Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is ours for the asking. Today is the day of salvation. Someday has arrived. Now, today, is the acceptable time to accept Jesus. Now is the time to be born-again and live for the Lord Jesus Christ.
When it comes to salvation, the Lord exhorts man to never put off until tomorrow what can happen today.


People who have been stirred in their soul by the love God and put off receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior are taking a significant risk. Someday may be too late when salvation is TODAY! Reader, have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior or are you putting Him off for another day?


Abundant life in Christ (John 10:10) is to be lived TODAY. Today is the day where “we walk by faith and not by sight” (II Corinthians 5:7). Today, not someday, is the acceptable and appropriate time to do what God has called us to do. We are not to put off until someday what the Lord has put on today’s agenda for us.
 
Satan loves someday.


Someday can be an easy excuse for doing nothing today. Someday can turn into a long string of somedays. Before we know it, someday is no day and we lose. The devil rejoices when God’s people live for someday instead of today.


Think about it. If you do not do this day what God intended you to do, today’s opportunity could be lost forever. That is a loss none of us can afford.


What do you need to do today that you keep putting off until someday? NOW is God’s time for you and me. TODAY is the day to go and grow forward in our faith walk with Jesus.


Do today what you would do someday. Then when someday comes the task is already done! At the end of today, make this day a “did that, done that, I have the T-shirt Day.”   


Decide to turn from someday and someway to today and His way.


ASSIGNMENT: Take one simple task that you are putting off for someday and accomplish it TODAY. That’s right, do it today. Do whatever you need to do to cross this item off your to do list. You will be glad you did! (And so will others affected by this task!).


By the way, how is your garage looking???


“This is the day that the Lord has made; therefore, I will be glad and rejoice in it.”
                                                 Psalm 118:24


“You choose this day who you will serve...”                          Joshua 24:15a


A Word For Your Week: Do today what you would like to do someday.