Master's Hands Deaf Church Swartz Creek, Michigan

Monday Morning 1/30/2012

2012-01-30T11:49:00.002-05:00

Monday morning, January 30, 2012, it is the last Monday in January. Did you make promises for 2012 a month ago? Do you remember what they are? This is your test for today: Do you remember what your Pastor preached about yesterday? Is it easier to remember yesterday or last month? In 2012 we need to remember passwords to the internet, cell phone numbers, email addresses, and so on.

In 2 Timothy 2:8-10 Paul challenges the young Pastor, Timothy, that with everything he needs to remember, there is one thing that is to be remembered above all else. That one thing is to have a relationship the Savior Jesus Christ.

“8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.
9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained.
10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.” (2 Timothy 2:8-10 NLT)

Remember Jesus. He is God’s Son, God in the flesh, God with us, the Messiah, the Promised One. He was crucified, He died, He was buried and He rose again to sit at the right hand of God. He is alive today. He died on the cross to pay off our sin to God and for us to have eternal life. That is our future. Remember your future!

Remember God’s Word. There is nothing that will stop God’s Word from making an impact. When we truly witness and remember Jesus Christ, God’s Word WILL cause a reaction! This is why the world rejects the truth of Jesus Christ, and the truth of God’s Word. Why? It is because ever since sin entered the world, the world has been focused on itself and not on the Creator. Sin entered the world with Adam and Eve and the world has been going downhill ever since. God’s Word says the earth and everything in t belongs to Him. God’s Word says that we are HIS best work, His Masterpiece. Trust God’s Word. Not even being chained in a prison could stop Paul from preaching and witnessing about Jesus Christ.

Recently, in a memorial service held in Orange County, California, Red Cross officials told the participating High School Choir that they would not be allowed to sing “America the Beautiful” or “God Bless America” because those songs mention “God” and might offend someone. This fear of disturbing someone with the mention of God is nothing new. I don’t know whether you’ve thought about it or not, but our country is no longer sure what to do with Christmas or Easter. In fact, some people have a hard time with any Christian holiday because there is concern about being politically correct. In recognition of this, a new politically correct version of the Bible has even been printed. In it we are no longer to pray to "Our Father who is in heaven," but to "Our father/mother who is in heaven." And Jesus is not referred to as "The Son of God," but as "the human one." This is a sad thing that is happening in our world today. God's Word is not meant to be "politically Correct." Remember the never failing truth of God’s Word will endure!

Remember God’s people. The word Paul uses here is the same as “elect.” This year we are voting. This means we must choose a person to be the leader of our city, our state, or our country. We must decide. God has already decided. The Gospel of John says the God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son that ALL who believe and trust in Him will never die, but have eternal life! God has already decided that He wants ALL his children in heaven with Him. God has chosen. God has elected. God has decided. The Jews are His favored people, but you and I have also been chosen because of our relationship with Jesus. We are all God’s people. However, not all will accept the Gospel. Does that stir your heart? It should.

If God has saved you and Jesus is your Savior, THIS IS YOUR GOSPEL. Let nothing stop God from using you to share His Good News. Paul’s heart’s desire and prayer was for everyone to be saved in Jesus. That’s a great desire and prayer for anyone! Do you have that desire and prayer for others or for anyone else? IS THERE SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT YOU WANT TO BE SAVED IN JESUS?

God wants all men to be saved! God has, in a sense, chosen all men to be saved. Does this mean that all men or all people will accept? No, but He has chosen them to be saved in that HE WANTS ALL TO BE SAVED! Is this what you want today? Do not delay. Ask Jesus into your heart and life as Savior.

Do we have needs in our lives? Remember What Jesus has done. Do we feel depressed and confused? Remember Christ’s love. Do we feel hurt and lonely? Remember Christ’s sacrifice. Do we feel far from Him and spiritually dull? Remember Christ’s return.

To God be the Glory,
Great things HE has done.
So loved He the world,
He sent us His Son.
Who gave up HIS life,
As forgiveness for sin.
And opened up heaven,
That all may go in.
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear His voice.
Let the people rejoice.
Oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son.
And Give HIM the glory, great things HE has done!

Monday Morning 1/23/2012

2012-01-23T12:30:00.002-05:00

Monday is here. Our worship is not limited to Sunday. Our service is not limited to Sunday. The week starts with worship and it ends with worship. The week starts with service and ends with service.

The dictionary defines “trust” as the “dependence on or confidence in the strength and character of a person or thing.” When you go to sit in a chair do you trust its strength? Do you trust its character? That means the person who put the chair together used the right tools, enough glue, nails, etc. God is all powerful. Jesus is the Son of God. Neither of them has ever failed. Do you trust Jesus?

Some people will immediately say, “YES!” Some will need to think about it. Some will deny Him. Trust is one of those things which either you do or you don't do. You cannot halfway trust something. To not fully trust is to doubt. So there is yet another group of people who will say, “I trust Jesus, but …” You either trust Him fully with everything or you do not trust Him at all.

“Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16 NLT)

Jesus describes two groups of people. He bluntly tells each group what they can expect for their current course of life.

Jesus sends us as disciples to go into WHOLE world, preaching the gospel. Those who believe the good news of Jesus Christ and publicly profess their faith are forever saved by the Grace of God. It cannot be lost or taken away.

This was nothing new. Jesus had been telling people this throughout his ministry. He had already declared “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:15) and “he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life,” (John 3:36a) and “he that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, hath everlasting life.” (John 5:24)

Likewise, Jesus had told people just how serious it is to reject His message, saying, “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son,” (John 3:18) also “Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment,” (John 3:36b) and “if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” (John 8:24).

Some people will reject this saying, “God would never do that.” Well, He is a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS God.” He will judge us based on His RIGHTEOUSNESS, not ours. There is nothing we can do to BECOME righteous. We are MADE righteous by the Blood of Jesus Christ.

However, you may notice that there is a third group whom Jesus seems not to mention. It is the group that says they believe but still have doubts. What about these “secret” believers, who joyfully receive the gospel but never follow Jesus outside of church on Sunday?

It seems Jesus leaves them wondering what will happen to them, and perhaps that is the way we should leave them as well. NO! We are to love them, tell them, pray for them, and let our life show them Jesus’ strength and character. We need to share with them just how much we trust Him!

What about you? Does Jesus’ description of those who will be saved describe you?

Monday Morning 1/16/2012

2012-01-16T11:20:00.002-05:00

Good Monday Morning! Yes it is Monday. I pray you had a great Sunday full of worship and praise of our awesome God, our almighty Creator, and Living Savior. Remember…when you walk out of the church doors, worship is not finished! It is only beginning!

Did you make a decision today? Let’s see…so far….
1. Get out of bed. (not so sure about this one)
2. Shower (yup)
3. Brush teeth (Thank you)
4. Pick clothes (Gotta look good)
5. Breakfast (a. coffee, b. bagel, c. doughnut, d. ALL OF THE ABOVE)
6. Etc., etc., etc.

Do you know that God is involved in EVERY decision we make? And that EVERY decision we make is a TEMPTATION?

But wait Pastor John … temptation only happens when Satan wants me to do something bad. I respectfully disagree.

A temptation is an opportunity for decision. A decision is an opportunity for temptation. With EVERY decision we are faced with TWO choices: Obey God or NOT Obey God. To not Obey God is to Obey Satan.

We are tempted to obey God and His Word because we know that is right and we know that it pleases God. It shows we are committed to Him and His Word

We are tempted to NOT obey God and give in to OUR OWN desires and plans. We think our way is better than God’s way. Satan wins! Satan lets us think we are separated from God. We can still be committed to God and His word and allow Satan to make us think otherwise.

Temptation is all around us. Temptation is not anyone’s fault. It is the constant battle between Good and evil. But what we DECIDE to do with the temptation is our responsibility. It is no one’s fault but our own if we make the wrong decision. If we make the right decision God is glorified.

When we face any decision God is there, but also there is the opportunity to replace God with ourselves.

Here are 7 ways to know that God is involved:

1. People say it can’t be done … God says you CAN do all things through Christ!
2. You feel you aren’t qualified, trained, or prepared … Jesus said He has gone ahead and prepared the way. He is THE way, THE truth, and THE life!
3. People say we do not have enough money, people, time, or room … Jesus said,” My grace is more than enough for whatever you need.”
4. People think it does not make sense … The apostles did not think it made sense for Jesus to wash THEIR feet.
5. People call it (or you) stupid … People called the sick and the blind and the cripple they could never expect to be healed.
6. It would give God all the glory… In our weakness, He is our strength. In our need, He gives us everything we need. In our failure, He is our Savior. In our sin HE is our salvation.
7. It honors God and is true to His Word… Jesus said He will never leave us or forget us. Jesus said our sin is as far from God as the east is from the west.

Let the week begin by letting God be involved in your week. In your temptation follow God. In your temptation worship and praise God! In your temptation Let God take control!

Then watch God go to work!

Monday Morning 12/26/2011

2011-12-26T12:19:00.002-05:00

Yes it’s true. It is December 26, 2011. I remember as a kid seeing the movie “The Poseidon Adventure.” In there was a song: “There’s got to be a Morning After.” Well here we are on the morning after. What do you remember from yesterday? Did everyone get the gift they wanted? Did the house get cleaned up? Was it a good Day? With all the celebration about gifts and giving, how many stopped just for a moment to thank God for His greatest gift? On this Monday Morning is Christmas done and over for another year? Or is Christmas something to be lived all year? God is still God, Jesus is still the Savior, and He will come again.

But Pastor John, it’s CHRISTMAS! Christmas is all about family, gifts, and giving. It’s about getting up at the crack of dawn to see excitement on the faces of our families and friends. It’s about gathering for worship. It’s about gathering for celebration and food, and football. That is all very true and good. Think about this: God is all about families too. He is about giving gifts. He never sleeps and longs to see our face light up with excitement when he gives us unexpected blessing. How many of us invited God into our celebrations? On a side note: Does God even have a favorite football team?

Now it’s the week between Christmas and New years. Our focus seems to put Christmas behind us and we start looking at the New Year. How will I pay the bills for Christmas? I spent more than I should have. I had an argument with someone at dinner, but I was right and I don’t care what anyone thinks. I know I have not seen my friend in church for a long time, but I will do better next year. Are you worried about making promises for the New Year and then failing?

Are you worried my friends? Jesus asked, “Where is your faith?” I have heard people say they worry about their faith. Really? Faith is the opposite of worry. Worry destroys faith. Think about this: If you are worried about your faith then you are putting faith in your worries. If you focus on worrying about having enough faith then you are focusing on the wrong thing.

Peter says in his letter that we are to “cast” (give up, let go of, set free, release, send away) our burdens ,worries, and those things which hold us back, up to God because He loves us and will take care of us. Jesus said to Peter one stormy night, “Come.” Jesus says, “Trust me, not the world.” Why Worry?

So, if we are worried about faith and put faith in worry how can we have faith and keep from worrying?

Simply, WORRY LESS AND TRUST EVERYTHING TO JESUS!

Many of us do go to God and tell him all about our worries, don’t we? But that is all we do. We don’t leave them with Him. When we get through praying, we reach over and take them back, then spend the rest of the day worrying. When we go to prayer, we must learn to leave our worries with Him.

We look at the problems in our lives and think they are so big and insurmountable, but in reality, our entire lifetime doesn’t last long enough to even be a blip on the radar screen. The devil makes us concentrate so much on the here and now, we forget about the there and then.

Worry meets faith at the place where heaven touched earth: The Manger. Faith meets worry at the place where earth meets heaven: The Cross.

But to be able to even go before God with our worries, we must first have been saved from this world by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior; the Son of God; the only way for worry to meet faith.

Monday Morning 12/19/2011

2011-12-19T10:37:00.002-05:00

"You cannot give God a definite maybe. It has to be a definite "yes" or a definite "no." The issue is you responding to Christ, not Christ responding to you."
~ Billy Graham ~

Word Power – Our communication influences others. How does your speech, your Sign language, your Facebook, Twitter, or Videophone reflect the power of Jesus Christ – The WORD – in your life?

Words for Life – “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NLT) The Cross is our connection to God and Eternal Life. Are you connected to the source of power to be a light to the world? Do you need an extension cord? It does not matter what road you are on in your life. All roads lead to the Cross.

Words for Unity – Is your communication Christ-like? Jesus set aside the crown and glory of heaven to become one of us. God came to experience what we experience. God came to walk among us. Unity means together, one, finished, and complete. Jesus on the Cross made us one, together, finished and complete in God. Jesus said, “It’s done.” “It’s finished.” It’s signed, sealed, and delivered.” What more do we want? He rose from the grave to overcome sin and death and lives that we too can have eternal life.

Action Words – “The issue is you responding to Jesus Christ, not Christ responding to you.” (Billy Graham) So what are you going to do now? We have work to do. So if you tell Him, "I can't do that, Lord—what if I fail?" you're really saying, "God you are not able. If you are not able I am not willing.” The truth is about us responding to Christ not Christ responding to us. Or we can say the same as the prophet Isaiah, “Here am I send me.” It’s a “yes” or “no” question. It is not a “maybe I will” or “maybe I won’t” question. God wants us to obey His leading and then let Him work out the details. To say, “Okay God….you work out the details AND THEN I will obey” is backwards.

You might feel that you do not have enough faith to obey,
But the Lord isn't asking you to have faith good circumstances.
He's asking you to have faith in ALL circumstances and trust that He is who He says He is.
Do you believe that God is Faithful? Know that God is faithful to HIS WORD – Jesus Christ. He is faithful to HIS PROMISE – Eternal Life, deliverance from sin, past present and future. He is faithful to you and me – He will NEVER leave us alone or forget us.

God is in control. Live like we have the Power of God’s Word in us. Share the Words for Life for all those who are lost. Seek Words of Unity that show our unity with God and with each other. Get into ACTION.

Then we can stand before the world and say, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 NLT)

Monday Morning 12/12/2011

2011-12-12T08:19:00.004-05:00

We’ve talked about how our words have power. We’ve found the Words for life. But now these words need to be brought into unity. Unity means coming together. It means having a connection. It means thinking about things the same way because we know the truth.

If we understand the power of our words, how we use our words, our internet, our Video Phone, our Facebook and Twitter we know we need unity. If we understand the words of Life we would run to Jesus in every situation and seek how Jesus would do something BEFORE we think we can solve anything without Him.

In a perfect world all people would cooperate. In a perfect world there would be no argument, no obsessing about what someone else says. In a perfect world God would be in control.

Guess what…WE ALREADY LIVE in a perfect world! WHAT???? Pastor John is drinking too much Starbucks and its making him think not right. But IN TRUTH we ALL know God created the universe perfectly. God created you and me perfectly. God created our world perfectly. If this was not true, then God is not God. God only does things perfectly.

So why is the world not perfect? It is because we have turned our backs on God. When we turn our backs on God we turn our backs on each other.

Remember perfect means no blame, perfect means mature. Perfect means things are complete or finished. Many people are skilled at saying the world is not perfect because of other people. “Surely it’s not me!” They say Adam and Eve messed it up for everyone!

Where did we go wrong? It starts with you and me when we broke unity with God. Adam and Eve are only the example because they were the first. And we have been trying ever since to get the unity back. We cannot do it ourselves. Only Jesus Can! We must change our perspective back to God.

I don’t know if you have ever thought about it, but I have often wondered what it was like in heaven before the first Christmas. I have wondered what the conversation must have been within the perfect unity of the Trinity. It must have been difficult to watch from heaven and see the mess we were making. Our relationships with each other and with God are less than perfect because we are selfish. Not only that, God’s children over and over again reject God’s offer of unity with Him. How would that make you feel? I wonder if God thought, “Enough!” “It’s time to go and do something!” “It is time to straighten out this mess!”

Think for a moment…What was life like for Jesus before he came to earth?

Jesus is the Co-creator with the Father and Holy Spirit. Life in heaven was a picture of all that is perfect. It was a way of life characterized by true joy. Jesus had a limitless life with all the glory of heaven. And what did Jesus choose to do? Jesus had the courage to leave all that to be born a baby, to touch the earth, to experience how it felt to be one of us, living without unity. Because of the love He had for us, and to bring us together with heaven, He decided to come to earth for you and me. And He died so that you and I could be brought together for Eternal Life. He said from the Cross, “It is finished.” “It is perfect.”

In the person of Jesus, God experienced flesh and bones.
He suffered and grieved.
He got thirsty and hungry.
He was frustrated and disappointed.
He could no longer be everywhere at one time.
He had to have clothes to wear.
If you hit Him, it would hurt.
If you cut him, He bled

Jesus is God with us.
Jesus is God.
God lived and walked among us on the earth.
And we rejected Him.
Many still reject Him today.
Rejection is not unity.

Do you feel rejected? How do you think Jesus felt? Do you feel people ignore you? Jesus is involved in all creation. But He is interested in YOU. He has a plan for YOU. He loves YOU. He loves you enough that He put aside heaven for a short time and came to us to bring unity.

Let your heart declare today that Jesus is the Lord of your life.
Serve no other.
Love the One who loves you with unending love.

Monday Morning 12/5/2011

2011-12-05T14:40:00.002-05:00

“And then he told them, “Go into the entire world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15 NLT)

Jesus is speaking. Are we paying attention? This is a command. It is NOT a suggestion or a choice. It is NOT a command to go to some of the world and preach to all the people there. In the same way it is NOT a command to go to all the world and share the Gospel with some people and not with others. It clearly says Jesus TOLD them, “GO,” “ALL,” “SHARE GOSPEL,” “EVERYONE.”

What part of that is so hard to understand? There should be nothing hard to understand. So, either we do as Jesus says or we do not. We cannot do some of it, or parts of it, nor can we go only to some people. It is all or nothing.

Missionary/Evangelist Jim Sloan preached yesterday at Master’s Hands Deaf Church. He has spent more than 50 years traveling the world sharing Jesus Christ with Deaf. Many times he would go to a place where Deaf had never seen the Gospel shared in their own sign language or they had NO PLACE to worship or learn about the Gospel. Many times there was no one trained in sign language willing to teach things about Jesus. Many times Deaf were just there “doing what everyone else was doing.” They would stand, sit, kneel, raise hands, clap, because they saw people doing it around them. But they still did not know what was going on.

Bro. Jim estimates there are 400 million Deaf in the world. Estimates say 90% either have not been told the Gospel story, or do not understand it when they read it. It’s not because of being limited. NO WAY! Can you imagine a member of your family or your best friend with no one to tell them about Jesus, salvation, or even Grace? God asked the question several times in the Bible, “Who will go for us?” “Who is willing?”

What we fail to see sometimes is that it is not about being ABLE to do something. It is about saying YES and being AVAILABLE. “AVAILABLE” means “open,” “free,” “ready.” Are you AVAILABLE when God says to you, Will you “GO,” “ALL,” “SHARE GOSPEL,” “EVERYONE?”

Do you realize there are places in the United States, even in your own city or state, that has places where Deaf want to go to church but cannot because there is no one to come along side them and reach out to them. I know there are churches all over the place, but who will go to the Deaf?

Our answer should be that of the prophet Isaiah: “Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8 NLT)

Master’s Hands Deaf Church believes this is the call God has given us. We have been asked, “Who will go?” Our answer is, “We will go. Send us.” God answers in the hands of Jesus Christ in Sign Language, “Go into the entire world and preach the Good News to everyone.”

Our Holy Spirit command is to GO. “WE HAVE WORK TO DO!” This is not only for the members and friends of Master’s Hands. This is for each one of us especially now at Christmas.

Share the Savior. Share the Gospel. Share the story. “WE HAVE WORK TO DO!”

Monday Morning 11/28/2011

2011-11-28T11:22:00.002-05:00

Have you ever thought to yourself, “There has to be a better way” to say something or to express a thought that words just cannot seem to say the right way? That happened to me. I was thinking about Thanksgiving.

I was thinking about the holiday. It’s the last Thursday in November. Then the day after is known as “Black Friday.” It’s not called that because of the weather, or the attitude of people waiting to claw their way to the front of the line to get the after-Thanksgiving Christmas specials. It is a business term. When a business is in the “red” they are earning less than they need for a profit. When they are in the “black” they are earning profits. “Black Friday” is the day many businesses earn most of their profit for the year. I saw this posted on Facebook and I shared it yesterday at church: “Black Friday is a day people go crazy buying things we do not have just one day after giving thanks for the things we do have.” We have truly lost our Thanksgiving perspective.

Thanksgiving is not only a holiday on the last Thursday in November. It is not the “start” of the Christmas season. Giving thanks is not a one-day event. Giving thanks is a way to live. Thanksgiving becomes “Thanks-living.”

In the Bible the Apostle Paul, and many others said more than one time that we are to give thanks in ALL situations: Good, bad, planned, unexpected, joys, sorrows, tears, and a Starbucks that is closed. Do you know if you translate the word “everything” from Greek or Hebrew or Aramaic in the Bible what it means? It means “EVERYTHING!” ALL means all. Forever means FOREVER.

So this is where a “special” word comes in. I used it yesterday at church and those paying attention asked me if I had forgotten to use spell-check on my computer. The word is “THANKSGLIVING.”

THANKSGLIVING is the combination of giving thanks, living our thankfulness, and celebrating the blessings God has for each of us. How many blessings do we receive each day? The answer is ALL of them. There are more blessings than we can count but not too many so we cannot count each one. We are blessed to have blessings of life, burdens of life, and benefits of life.

THANKSGLIVING has blessings also because it changes our view of a “normal” Thanksgiving.

- It helps us focus on what God provides more than what we want or what we DO NOT have.
- It helps us focus on God’s free gift of GRACE.
- It helps us to focus on the positive results of negative things.
- It gives us hope for the future. God has something BETTER planned for us.
- If we are “living” and “giving” our “thanks” in ALL things, Our THANKSGLIVING will affect and help those around us.
-
Our thanks is to be lived and thanks is to be given. Everyday should be spent in an attitude of THANKSGLIVING.

Christmas is the season of Jesus Christ. THANKSGLIVING is done in HIS name. Celebrate THANKSGLIVING every day.

Thanksgiving Morning 11/24/2011

2011-11-23T22:39:00.004-05:00

I am in England for Thanksgiving this year where it is presently 339am. This devotion is based on a devotion that I read today.

How quickly do we forget God's blessings when bad things happen?

When we lose our jobs, do we thank God for a loving family? Do we thank God for a loving church family? This is why God created the church. Do we thank God that He has a better plan for us?

When we lose our health, do we thank God for the comfort of His Word? Do we thank God that he can use us to show others how to minister? Do we thank God that He can use us to show others how to pray for each other? Do we thank God that when we receive bad health news, that His promise of eternal life and glorified bodies has not changed one little bit? This is why Jesus needs to be Lord and Savior of your life. Trust Him.

When we lose a loved one to sin, do we thank God for His forgiveness? Sons, daughters, parents, friends, have all made mistakes and disappointed us in some way in the past. But God forgave you first. So why not forgive others? I remember an old saying: “Hate the sin. Love the sinner.” Separate the sin from the person. Forgive because we are forgiven. The sin is dead. It went to the Cross with Jesus. The Bible says that while we were still sinners Christ died for us and gave his life for us. Can’t we see past a person’s sin and see the person God created?

Sadly, our eyes can often focus on the trials of life rather than on God's blessings in life.

Matthew 6 shows us Christ's words about God taking care of His children. Jesus' simple answer was, "If I care for the smallest of birds, don't you think I will care for you?" Jesus tells us not to worry about what will come tomorrow. He tells us not to be concerned about how we will get through a difficult time. He tells us not to focus on what we think others are doing to us in their sin or how that person has hurt us by their sin. How many times did Jesus say, “Your faith has healed you? He has promised to provide for our every need.

Many Christians fail to trust God because they cannot see Him working. As human beings, we like to have a plan. We want to know what to expect. We do not like surprises in life. We like to know ahead of time how things will work out, and what will happen. For example, how many of us often peek to the end of a good book? We like to know the ending. How many of us will plan a trip down to the last minute of detail?

But when it comes to things that happen in everyday life, God often requires us to trust Him without knowing how He is going to work out the things He has planned for us. Notice that does NOT say how WE want Him to work things out in HIS plan. He requires us to place our faith in Him alone for what we need.

Do you have some need that must be met? Are you stuck worrying about how things will work out? Don't bother worrying; God already has a plan! Take time to give God your worries, and allow Him to take care of you. Remember Jesus' words, "Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things." Thank God that He knows our needs and promises to provide for them in His time.

Monday Morning 11/21/2011

2011-11-21T09:06:00.001-05:00

We live in a society where most times we allow others to label us by what we say and what we do. We are easily controlled by some and easily impressed by others. Likewise, we often allow others to tell us what to do and how to live. But as children of God, we need to develop a lifestyle that lines up with the Word of God.

Think about an electric lamp. By itself it is nice to look at. But it needs three things to give us light. First it needs a connection: a plug and a place to plug it in. Second, it needs some source of power: electricity. Third it needs someone who knows what to do: knowledge. If you have a plug and a cord but cannot find a place to plug it in, it won’t work. If you have the cord and you know where there is a place to plug it in, but there is no electricity, it won’t work.

So it is in our life every day. Yes this would include those days that end in the letter “Y”. Yes it would include all the days on the calendar from Monday to Sunday. We need a connection to God, our Creator, and our Salvation.

The place we find our connection to God is the Cross. What happened there changes lives. We are forgiven. We are made new. We are redeemed. Our debt is paid. When we connect with Jesus Christ, all of heaven opens up and God’s power can flow into our life. But we must make the connection.

The source of power is God: One God period. Because He is God He is ALL power, ALL knowing, ALL around us, and He loves us ALL more than we can understand. God is the source of everything. Everything begins and ends with God.

The person with knowledge is you and me. Yes, it’s YOU. Many of us have been told how to have eternal life, but we never make the connection. Maybe we know about Jesus and Eternal life, but nobody has told us how. God knows YOUR name. Jesus died for YOU.

Sometimes we set up a lamp and the cord is not long enough to reach the outlet. What can we do? We go and we find an extension cord. God has that planned for us too. In fact we don’t need to look far. Our extension cords are those people that God places in our lives for the purpose of helping us connect with the Cross. The Holy Spirit is an extension Cord. When we cannot quite connect with the Cross because of pride, because we think we cannot because of being Deaf, or because of rebellion, the Holy Spirit will show us the way to a person chosen by God to help us to connect. And the Holy Spirit will show the other person the way to get to us. That, my friends is a connection made in heaven.

And so the question is, what does your life look like when you make the connection? What does it look like without the connection? It is the difference between light and dark. It is the difference between future and past. It is the difference between gain and loss. It is the difference between heaven and hell.

You ARE forgiven. You ARE made new, You ARE redeemed. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

Now you KNOW. You have the POWER. Now go and make the CONNECTION.

Monday Morning 11/14/2011

2011-11-14T11:15:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we heard God’s preaching from James Chapter 3. James was tired of hearing people talk about his brother Jesus in a way that brought shame to Jesus. He was trying to tell people to control their tongues. He is not telling us what to say. He is telling us to think about what we say. Why? He used the word “tame” in the same way we talk about trying to tame a wild animal. We need to bring our tongues under control, teach it limits, and change its use from acting without thinking of what happens to using our “tongues” in a way that glorifies God.

Sounds easy, right? Not so much…..

The word James uses for “tongue” is the word γλῶσσα “glossa.” If one studies the word it has three meanings.

1. The physical tongue in our mouths.
2. What we use to communicate.
3. Language

We need to realize that we not only use words or Sign Language to communicate. Our “tongue” gives a “voice” to what we are thinking. Think of how we do that. Some people use their voice, some people use their hands. Is that all? No, there is also body language and facial expression. Think about it. Usually our bodies will tell others what we are thinking even before we use any words.

Again, is that all there is? Let’s go to another level. When we cannot “talk” to another person, what do we do? We use computers, laptops, cell phones, video phones, and yes even Facebook. All of these things become our “tongues” in one way or another.

Do you say one thing on Facebook to someone and then say something different on the videophone?

You see, our tongue can either burn the Kingdom of God, or it can build it. Simply by what comes out of our mouths can destroy what God is trying to accomplish in and through a ministry, or it can build it. So this morning I want to ask you, “Is your tongue productive or destructive?”

The Bible compares an untamed tongue to hell’s fire. But there is another fire. It is the burning fire of the Holy Spirit. That is the kind of fire God’s church is hungry for and desperately needs.

I have always heard that “the best way to fight fire is with fire.” So we are going to worship the Lord, and ask the Holy Spirit to burn out all the junk and restore relationships, friendships, marriages, and yes restore HIS church.

This week, focus on how God can use our “tongues” not to destroy or discourage, but to build up and encourage. In that way God is glorified.

Deaf Devotion 10/18/2011

2011-10-18T12:52:00.002-04:00

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NLT)

James says when our faith is tested our endurance will grow. Do you remember we learned how James talked about not wavering? He talked about having faith that does not show doubt. The more we depend on Jesus in faith the more our faith becomes solid. Endurance is being patient and staying focused knowing that God is working in the background to help us. That is really cool! Because God is working sometimes in ways that we do not even know, we are free to focus on sharing the Gospel with others. We do not even need to worry about the situation that is causing the trouble. God is taking care of it. All we need to do is obey what God says and then let God work out all the details.

James also says we will be perfect. Most people think perfect means that a person does not sin. My friends, we are all sinners. NONE of us are "perfect" in the sense we do not sin. However, in the Greek, the word means to be complete. It means to experience everything alongside God, then to let that experience become wisdom and the wisdom to become patience. Wisdom is taking what we learn and using it in a way God wants us to use it.

What does God want of us? He wants us to experience everything that is Jesus Christ. We learn from His love for us, His sacrifice for us, His joys, His tears, and His character. The way for this to happen is to experience times of trouble and testing. Can we be patient during this process? If we are like most people, we want what we want and we want it now. We become like children who don’t know the difference between “no” and “not yet.” If you say to a child who wants a cookie now, “Wait a while,” to them it is the same as saying “no” because they want it now. But God is interested in developing our rock solid faith in Him alone. Times of trouble and testing bring patience, and patience teaches us wisdom and wisdom makes our faith rock solid.

Is there something you are waiting on? Is there something you are struggling with? Give it to Jesus. Trust in His timing and if you need wisdom just ask.

Deaf Devotion 9/21/2011

2011-09-21T06:46:00.002-04:00

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” (James 1:5-8 NLT)

Notice two words James uses in his letter that some people have a hard time understanding. The first is “rebuke.” To “rebuke” means to criticize or to show disapproval. When God invites us to ask Him for wisdom He does not get upset with us or shows disapproval for us asking. As the verse points out, God wants us to ask.

The other word is “waver.” James says we cannot let our faith in God “waver.” This means our faith in God needs to be rock solid. To “waver” is to show doubt. We are always faced with living in two worlds: The spiritual and the flesh. We are to show those around us that our faith is in God alone. We cannot show that we cannot decide between what God says and does and what the world offers.

If we believe that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He has promised, why, when we pray, do so many of us back away from God’s throne like a shy child asking for something he is afraid to ask for? Instead of coming before our Heavenly Father with bold faith, we come to the Lord "hoping" He will hear us and answer our requests, but we're just not sure He will. With this kind of thinking, we cannot expect to receive anything from Him.

Once when Jesus was visiting Cana in Galilee, a man from Capernaum came looking for Jesus with an urgent request. The man's son was dying, and the man begged Jesus to come heal him. Instead Jesus told the man to return home, for his son is healed. The Gospel of John says the man believed Jesus’ Word and left to go home. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. This man had heard Jesus speak, immediately turned and walked away by faith, and Jesus had already done as He said he would do. You and I can only imagine the amount of faith and trust this man had in Jesus to just turn around and go home only with Jesus’ words in his mind.

One reason we are sometimes doubt too much is that we fail to see God at work in our circumstances. We asked, and nothing happened. But God is not some order taker who is just waiting to fill our order when we pray. God sees past, present, and future and knows the right time for every answer. His invisible hands are working on our request before we even ask. We may not know it. He is arranging our situations to reach the goals He has for us. He is opening hearts, and at the same time, preparing us to receive what He wants to give.

Another cause for doubt is lack of knowledge. If we don't know God's ways, we will be disappointed in His answer. All too often when we pray we also tell God how we expect Him to deliver what we ask for. Then, when He fails to act at the time and in the way we expect Him to answer, we start to doubt. But placing our faith in the Lord and trusting in His good and perfect ways gives us strength and peace as we wait for His answer.

To get past our doubts, we must let God lead us. Spend time in reading the Bible to learn what’s important to God, and not so much important to me. Then we can begin to understand what He wants to achieve in our life and how He plans to do it. Examine the past from the point of view of what God says in the Bible. Faith will grow as we see the unexpected ways God has already answered prayers. This will also show how He plans to do it in the future.

Deaf Devotion 8/29/2011

2011-08-29T09:47:00.002-04:00

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!“ (Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT)

Suppose someone asks you to choose between a million dollars and a candy bar.
That seems to be an easy decision to make.
Suppose you are asked to choose between a million dollars and two million dollars.
Again, the answer seems pretty obvious.
Easier yet!
Now suppose someone asks you to choose between a million dollars and a penny, or choose between a candy bar and a penny.
One would say that is a “no-brainer.” The answer would be automatic. We would not need to put much thought into our response.
It’s no big deal.

But suppose someone asks you to choose between two of your favorite candy bars? Now we would need to think a little harder about that. How many choices do we make every day?

If you could estimate how many choices the average person makes per day, what would you say? 5? 10? 100? 1000? Probably the higher one goes, the closer we get to the correct number of decisions are required every day. Sometimes our choices even have choices! When did it get so complex?

There are big choices and little choices. Sometimes we make big decisions about little things and easy decisions about something important. No matter how big or small, each choice will affect us in some way.

Now, God fully knows that we face choices every day. The Bible makes it very clear that we have some decisions to make, and that the decisions you make will very much affect you.

Pastor Adrian Rogers writes:

“Years ago I was witnessing to a young lady in Florida. I asked her if she had received Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She became teary-eyed and said, “I just don’t seem…no…I can’t do it today.” I asked her, “Don’t you realize that if you don’t receive Him, that you’re going to deny Him?” She said, “Oh, I wouldn’t deny Him for anything.” I said, “But there’s no middle ground.” And yet she refused.

I said, “Before you go, would you shake hands with me?” And she said, “Well, certainly.” And so I said, “If you’ll take Christ as your Savior, take my right hand. If you’ll take hell and refuse Christ, take my left hand.” She refused to take either of my hands.”

Choosing between life and death is like choosing between a million dollars and a candy bar. It seems like the decision is obvious, right? As obvious as the answer may seem, no matter that the answer is right in front of our faces, there are those who are still waiting to make a decision between life and death. Waiting can be the same as refusing or denying what is right in front of us.

So, there it is. To choose life, is to have a relationship with the Savior. Jesus said in John 10:10 “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

So, in choosing Jesus, we do not just have an ordinary life, but we have a life that is tremendous, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough, plentiful, extraordinary, above the ordinary, and more than sufficient. Choose life. Choose Christ.

Don’t waste the life we have in Jesus Christ. Don’t settle for second best. Don’t go through life just existing, coping, or getting by. We are not put here on earth to just get by. God created each of us for a reason, for a mission, a purpose. That starts by asking the question, “Is this the best use of my life?”

Deaf Devotion 8/22/2011

2011-08-22T10:12:00.002-04:00

“I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the LORD your God!” (Numbers 15:41 NLT)

At times, I have heard someone say, "I've made Jesus a part of my life." But this statement really misses the point. The truth is, Jesus can never be simply a part of life. At salvation, Jesus becomes our life. Everything revolves around Him and His finished work at the Cross, once and for all people, all because He is the central focus.

For the believer, the real meaning of living is to follow Jesus with the simple un-questioning faith of a child. We must fully trust Jesus and what He has done. That means we point toward His righteous life simply by living by faith in Him. To do this, we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit for showing us God’s plan for us, and God’s grace for forgiveness when we stumble. And we will make mistakes because we live in between two kingdoms that are in constant conflict. On the one hand, there's the pull of the world, and on the other, the pull of God. In other words, Satan throws temptations our way, but from God comes the appeal of holiness, peace, and joy in Christ. You and me are somewhere in the middle.

That's why Jesus taught as written in Matthew 6:33, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

And what is God’s desire for us? “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT)

The battle is ongoing. And it is not happening just in the areas of education, science, politics, and finances but also within every human heart. The only way to sort out what is happening in the universe is to keep Christ at the center of our universe. He is not a part of the universe. He is the universe. He is the breath and life and salvation of the universe. There is simply no way to make it in life if Jesus is not the center.

Jesus is not a part of our life. JESUS IS our life. JESUS IS our today and our tomorrow. JESUS IS our eternal life.

If Jesus is your Savior, He is everything. There is no other. It has already been done. If Jesus is not your Savior, He may only be a “part.” What are the other “parts” doing? Jesus says to come to Him and give Him your everything. He has already said He is THE way, THE truth, and THE LIFE. Not one of many, but THE only. Once Jesus is Savior and Lord, we cannot lose what He has promised.

It's critical that we keep God's priority as our own seeking His will and His righteousness to keep us focused on the center of our universe: Jesus Christ Alone.

Deaf Devotion 8/15/2011

2011-08-15T10:20:00.001-04:00

“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”
Hebrews 9:27 NLT

Jesus came to save all people but it’s a sad reality that only “many” will choose to accept the offer of God’s grace and salvation through Jesus Christ.

One of the most important things to remember about life as we know it is this: We are not living the life God created us to live. After Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden due to their sin in Genesis Chapter 3, everything changed. And no change is bigger than death. Mankind was created to live eternally; but that eternal life is to be interrupted by death as the ultimate result of sin, followed by resurrection to eternal life. The question is, "Where will one's eternal life be spent?"

What is death? Death is eternal separation from God. Eternal life is living, breathing, and worshipping in the presence of the creator and Savior Forever!

Again, the Garden of Eden is the model. God created mankind to fellowship with Him for eternity. Therefore, the Bible speaks of only two options for eternal life: with God (heaven) or not with God (hell). The question is not "if" we live eternally, but "where."

I received an email from a good friend:

“Hi John,
I have those rare mom/daughter times sometimes. Ever since she got home from her mission trip to WVA, she has totally changed (for the better!), and of course I swell with pride...and oh yeah, of course, love. :)

Anyway, after I picked her up from her friend's, we got home and just sat in the car, parked in front of my building. It happens every now and then for us to just sit there and enjoy. You know? So we were just chatting and she shared with me how she's changing so much for the better, growing in her relationship with Jesus (she has stopped listening to certain types of music!!!) and how she's been having a couple friends (atheists) coming to "Uth Night" (Youth Group) with her on Weds....and she said, "I'm workin' on 'em mom. They need Jesus!"

Then I shared about going to a funeral and how sad it is to know that the person wasn't saved and hard to stand there looking at the empty shell of the body but knowing where his soul might be right now. If one truly know the person was NOT saved, they are in hell. Eternal.

The question she asked, "Mom, wasn't there somewhere where you are given a 2nd chance? Anyway, her question was if a person not saved, but shows up before God, he/she will still be sent to hell, because they haven't accepted Christ, right? Isn't there another place they go? If they were really sincerely sorry? I did say there are only 2 places--- Heaven or hell. No ifs or buts about it.

I told her I'd ask you to clear that up a bit, to make sure I was clear about that, and she is clear and we all are clear!

Thanks, Pastor John. “

Wow. Can you imagine forever separated from God? Here is my response:

That's a tough question because we all want hope. Doctrine teaches there is no "second chance."

The story Jesus told about the rich man and Lazarus point to this. The rich man in hell was looking for the "second chance" to save himself and find the "water" to quench his thirst and thus save himself and also to warn his family and others about hell. All this while Lazarus was safe in the "bosom" of God. God pointed out that basically Dead people can't talk. God pointed out that he did nothing about salvation while he was alive and had the chance, what makes him think anything would be different now. The man protested and said then let me go tell my family. God said that because people (including the rich man) would not listen to the truth when they were alive, they most certainly will not listen to a "ghost."

Also, if there were a second chance, then it would mean one could lose their salvation over and over again. Jesus died one time for all people. In that same thought, If there were a second chance, then it would mean that Jesus died only for the people needing the "second chance" and not for all people as God had originally planned. Jesus came to save all of God's creation from hell.

A "second chance" is based on people's own idea and interpretation of righteousness. I will change so I DESERVE the "second chance" and God should give it to me. God does not see it that way. Everything was finished BY GOD, BY JESUS, AT THE CROSS. Righteousness is based on God and what He does through grace and what Jesus Christ did through love. We cannot become righteous. We are MADE righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Some religions preach "Purgatory" as the second chance. This is defined as the place someone's soul goes until things are made right by those who are still living. The living can "buy" what are called indulgences. They pay to light a candle. They donate to this or that. Once they feel that God is satisfied, then they can be assured that their loved one has entered heaven. This also is not true. No one can buy their way into heaven or can buy forgiveness from God. Again this is based on people "buying" their way into heaven. It is based on people's works rather than God's gift and Jesus finished work at the cross. The problem is, there is never enough "assurance." And also, how much is enough to "buy" God's forgiveness?

God's cost of forgiveness was His Son. Our cost of forgiveness is obeying in faith and trusting our lives to the risen Savior. Jesus' cost was His life, given for us not taken from Him, to satisfy once and for all the sin-debt mankind owes to God. Once it is satisfied by faith and trust in Jesus, while the person is alive and has the opportunity to respond and act, it is a done deal. It is sealed by God's Word.”

What are you and me to do now? Make sure you and those you know have answered the question of "where" you and they will spend eternity by believing in Jesus Christ.

Pastor, writer, and evangelist J.C. Ryle said, “The beginning of the way to heaven is to feel that we are on the way to hell.”

Deaf Devotion 8/1/2011

2011-08-01T13:02:00.002-04:00

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT)

Even though the Bible clearly states that every believer receives a spiritual gift, some people nevertheless think they were overlooked. So these men and women wander through life refusing opportunities to serve. Other folks are so busy wishing they had a different ability that they do not use the one bestowed by the Holy Spirit. Both of these attitudes are sinful.

God has a specific purpose and ministry for every Christian. Our spiritual gifts help us to fulfill His plan. Our spiritual gifts are also meant to keep us busy until the day Jesus calls us home. We learn which gift we have been given by getting involved in the life of the church. Sometimes it is more than one gift we are given. What a blessing! In other words, a believer will know their God-given abilities when they begin to use them in the life of the church and in service to others.

Moreover, God has a general purpose for handing out spiritual gifts.

Christians are to use their special skills for the common good. “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT) Everyone profits when believers do God's work though the power of the Holy Spirit.

We're to use our gifts for equipping, teaching, and encouraging one another. “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT)

To appreciate how this works, it may be helpful to better understand words like evangelist, prophet, and teacher. Biblically, these terms describe co-laborers who share Christ with others. They are spiritual mentors who explain biblical truths to new believers. They are friends who uplift the discouraged, and others doing similar work. Butthe "titles" can be used for any person also. You do not need to be a Pastor to spread the Gospel. You do not need to be a teacher to tell someone about Salvation in Jesus Christ. You just need to be willing.

Every member of the Christian fellowship is important, and each one has a work to do. There are no excuses for ignoring God's plan for us. Where He has gifted us and opened doors of opportunity for ministry, He also provides the strength and courage when He calls us to use our abilities.

The gifts He gives us are not to be used to build us up, but to serve others. His purpose is not that we should use our gifts to please ourselves or to hide, but to help and bless other people.

As we wait for Christ to return, keep using whatever gift or gifts God gave us to help and bless others.
What can we do until Jesus comes back?
We can stay focused and keep praying.
We can love others with our attitude and actions.
We can serve God by using the gifts He has given us to help and bless others.

Jesus has given us plenty to do. He does not want us to be sitting around, complaining about how we wish He would hurry and get here. He wants us about our Father’s business, until it is time to go home.

What are you doing for God and how are you using the gift or gifts He has given you as you wait for Jesus to come back?

Deaf Devotion 7/28/2011

2011-07-28T13:15:00.002-04:00

“Truly I tell you; today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43b NLT)

Are there any other words that can bring peace and relief to the soul of the sinner? Jesus did not say today you CAN be in paradise. He did not say wait until baptism. He did not give out a list of rules and requirements to have eternal life. Jesus, based on one person’s simple confession said, today you WILL join me in paradise. That’s all! Jesus went on to say, “It is finished.” It’s done. It’s complete.

God's grace is revealed in His willingness to welcome anyone at anytime into His kingdom, even at the moment of death. The thief who hung on a cross next to Jesus had absolutely nothing to offer the Lord—no good works, no faithful service. He couldn't even be baptized. In his utterly helpless condition, the only thing he could do was believe. But that was all it took, because faith is the only way to be saved.

Remember that there were two thieves were crucified with Jesus. Both thieves began their crucifixion by hurling verbal abuse at Jesus. As the minutes passed, one of them had a change of heart. His anger against the Savior turned to criticism of the other criminal, and then to defense of Jesus, the admission of his own guilt and a helpless plea for a place in Christ's kingdom.

It wasn’t by accident that those men were in that place in the presence of Jesus. It wasn’t by accident that Jesus was crucified in the middle of these two men. It was the divine plan of God. God arranged the meeting of Jesus with these two men. Both of the thieves hanging on the cross were still thieves when one of them cried out to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” But this man was no longer a thief when Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise.”

What was it that turned this mocker into a believer? Even if he himself had even heard about the name Jesus Christ, the crowd's mocking of Jesus supplied him with the information he needed to be saved. Scornful onlookers accused Jesus of being exactly who He was: the King of Israel, the Savior of others, and the Son of God. As the condemned man watched and listened, he turned in faith to the only One who could save Him. Not the one dying with him, but the One dying FOR him.

What happened to the other man? The other thief, although he knew who Jesus was, never asked Him for salvation and because of his decision he is right now crying out for mercy in hell.

On the hill that day, one man died in his sin, one Man died for sin, and the other was saved out of his sin. There are only two responses to the inevitability of death. We can either accept or reject Christ's payment for our sin. There is a change that takes place when we are in the presence of God. What has been isn’t what always has to be. The despair and helplessness melts away in the presence of God. The problems that confront our lives become possibilities. The fear that sometimes grips us melts into strength and courage in the presence of God. And the filth of sin is washed away in the presence of Jesus.

MAY GOD BRING US INTO HIS PRESENCE TODAY. GOD BLESS!

Deaf Devotion 7/18/2011

2011-07-18T13:44:00.001-04:00

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

If someone thinks they are going to get to heaven by good “works,” it is pretty clear that one will always wonder if they’ve done enough. It will not be a “know-so” salvation. It will be a “hope-so” salvation.

Rather than standing up straight in confidence like an exclamation point, you will be bent over and wondering like a question mark. That is, until we understand that it’s all by grace. Suppose everybody who wanted to be saved had to run around the block. Some can’t run. What if you had to read a chapter in the Bible to be saved? Some can’t read. But there is one thing that can make the promise sure, and that is grace.

When we are saved we are transformed. Most people think we become righteous before God. That is impossible for us to do. Becoming something means we change something about ourselves. When I was younger I wanted to become an airplane pilot. Some want to become Doctors, Pastors, Moms or Dads. Each of these is important but we must change something to get there. School, marriage, etc. are all things we change in our lives to become something “different.” But it is something done on OUR part.

Righteousness is another thing. God is the only one righteous. Therefore we cannot become righteous. Adam and Eve tried that and we have been separated from God ever since. Since God is the only one righteous, and we have no hope of ever “becoming” righteous, something must change and it is something we cannot do ourselves.

In Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone are we MADE righteous. Doctors are not “made.” Moms are not “made.” But in the image and likeness of God are we all created and we are made righteous through Jesus Christ.

Who can we share this Good News with today? Think of at least one person, and ask God to give us a bold love and a divine opportunity to do just that.

Deaf Devotion 7/11/2011

2011-07-11T12:01:00.003-04:00

Greetings from the high desert Antelope Valley region of southern California. I am at the Spiritual Leadership Conference hosted by Lancaster Baptist Church. I am meeting many wonderful people. I will be back in the Flint area on Saturday July 15.

We are on the edge of the Mojave desert and there is not much grass, many trees or much shade. Makes me think of things "more or less."

I love you all and miss you dearly!

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NLT)

When you stop to think about it, "Less" plays a big role in our lives. On the one hand, it's good to be fearLESS, wireLESS, ageLESS, cordLESS, errorLESS, guiltLESS, painLESS, and odorLESS.

On the other hand, we don't want to be jobLESS, friendLESS, homeLESS, penniLESS, fruitLESS, spineLESS, aimLESS, careLESS, or lifeLESS--especially lifeless! But of all the things we don't want to have less of, none is as important as hope. We definitely do not want to be hopeLESS!

In Romans 5:3-5 the apostle Paul had a way of explaining why hope is so important in our life. It is so important because hope comes from a strange place. It comes from tribulation or times of trouble.

Paul wrote: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

When we lose hope in the face of trouble, it means we need to strengthen our faith in God's love that was poured out in our heart. To be afraid can mean we should check just how much we trust God. It can be that we are becoming faithLESS. FaithLESS becomes hopeLESS because we feel God has given up on us. To be faithless diminishes how much we understand and believe that God really does love us. And to lose touch with God's love--to be loveLESS--is to lose touch with the greatest thing of all. “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Hope, then, is a measure of our realization of God's love. Grasp His love today, and you will grasp hope as well! If we are faithFULL, we are made hopeFULL, and when God’s love fills us and we overflow in the FULLness of His love we have a love that is MORE than we can understand.

God knows nothing of hopeless people or situations.

Become “faithMOREFULL,” “hopeMOREFULL,” and God will “loveMOREFULL” than we can understand or even question.

Deaf Devotion 6/6/2011

2011-06-06T13:41:00.002-04:00

“The people whom I formed for Myself will declare My praise.” (Isaiah 43:21 NASB)

When was the last time that we praised God for the blessings in our life?
• Our family - spouse, children, grandchildren;
• Our home - car, furniture, appliances;
• Our job - the ability to work, the place at which we work, our co-workers;
• Our life - the air that we breathe, food that we eat, the ability to walk.

But wait Pastor…..I am divorced, I don’t have a job and cannot find one, I’m unable to have children, I’m old, I’m Deaf. How and why should I praise God? What’s the point?

We should be thankful to God for everything we have, but how often do we praise God for the things we do not have? Some of us are given things that others are not. Yes, thank God for the blessings, but praise and worship Him for the things we do not have. When we say we cannot do something because we do not have it, God tells us to obey Him first and trust Him with the details to provide what we do not have. Each thing we do not have is an opportunity to look to God for the opportunity to share His greatness.

This is hard for us humans to understand.

Why is it so important to praise God? Why is it so important to worship God? What does it accomplish for us?

Worship is what we do when we offer ourselves over to reveal our love for God. It is an essential part of being a Christian, offering our praise, love and our life to God. Worship is not just an act that happens in church on Sunday mornings. It is a lifestyle that drives us to desire becoming more like Jesus.

We have been called to lift up the name of God, to humble ourselves and adore Him. The problem is that we come to worship with other concerns that have nothing to do with genuine worship.

The Lord has made us a special people in order that we may fulfill a special purpose. An important part of worshiping the Lord is proclaiming His greatness. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT) Notice there is nothing left out of this statement. This means the things we are blessed with and those things which God has not yet revealed.

To praise our Father is to celebrate Him for who He is and what He has done. This involves the release of our emotions, which frees us to express wholehearted adoration of the Lord. When someone loves another person, the most natural response is to speak highly about the cherished one. In the same way, those who love Christ find that praise comes easily to their lips.

Praising the Lord is good for us. In our self-centered society, people are mostly interested in getting their own needs met. Sadly, this same attitude has found its way into some churches. But God doesn't want us to come to church concerned only about ourselves. Praise lifts our eyes to Christ and fills our hearts with the praise and worship of God that we cannot find when we focus only on what we do not have and what others do have. This can mean anything from cars and clothing to relationships and spiritual “gifts.”

Although praise and worship are usually associated with church services, they should be something we show wherever we are. Some of the most cherished and precious experiences of worship can happen during times spent alone with God.

If one were to find that their praise lacks energy, all we need to do is seek God. Tell the Lord we want to learn to praise and honor Him above all and with our whole heart. The focus of worship is the key.

Remember how God has cared for you, and look every day for Him to show His hand on your life. Then tell Him how great He is.

Worship calls the world to a choice - worship God or worship self. We have become too busy worshiping ourselves to truly be focused on God.

True worship is not about you or me. It’s about God and His grace and mercy and it’s about Jesus Christ and His finished work at the Cross. True worship is centered, focused and intent on revealing Jesus. We are all called to come back to the heart of worship. We are called to bring what we have and what we do not have.

Come back to the personal close relationship with God we have been missing. Come back to worship with an audience of one. Come back to genuinely seeking something deeper with Jesus.

Deaf Devotion 5/23/2011

2011-05-23T15:31:00.002-04:00

“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17 NLT)

Well it looks like we all missed the end of the world. The parties, the money, the focus on “What if…” seems like it was all for nothing. All because one man stirred up a nation of people that He was right and we just do not understand. Oh well.

My daughter called me on Saturday and said she was going to a friend’s house. I asked when she would be home. She said, “Does it really matter? The end of the world is today anyways.” It was a funny joke. Many people treated “the end of the world” as though it was a joke.

Jesus was very serious and was not joking when He warned the Disciples, and us in the same way, about the end of the world. Read Matthew Chapter 24. The Disciples were questioning Jesus about the signs that would signify the end times. Jesus responded with comments on those coming in His name telling about the end of the world and claiming they are the Messiah. He said there would be wars and rumors of wars. He said there would be famine and earthquakes. Jesus said all of these things must happen before He returns.

It seems everywhere we look we can see clear examples of everything Jesus said. There have been earthquakes. Believe it or not, there are people in America that do not have enough to eat. The President announced He thinks Israel should be “downsized.” Psalms 108:8 says, “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people.”

But the point is that no matter how much we think we are right, no person on this earth can tell God what to do. What God says in His Word, the Bible, He means. It is up to God and God alone. Jesus was saying, unless God says it, do not believe it. Compare what we see and hear against God’s Word. God will either confirm it, or He will not reveal the truth to us until we are ready.

From the opening line of Genesis to the final words of Revelation, all of Scripture is divinely inspired. And every word has purpose and importance.

The Old Testament introduces us to God's nature, ways, and power; it lays the foundation for us to understand the Lord's holiness and humanity's desperate need for a Savior. The New Testament explains that when Jesus gave Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, He became our "bridge" to the Father. Its writings make clear why we must trust Christ for salvation, how to live as God's children, and what to expect in this life and after death.

Through the Scriptures, almighty God reveals Himself to us. He also says that His Word is important for teaching, warning, correction, instruction, and preparation for what we will face in life. No other book holds such value for living.

Ephesians 6:13-17 compares the Word to armor, and for good reason: in the battle of life, we have a real enemy who wants to destroy us. But God's power is greater, and "dressing" in war gear daily prepares His children for the temptations, lies, deception, and decisions they will face. We ought to be excited about the Word of God, for it is the only hope for mankind—and the only instruction that leads to victory both in life and after physical death.

The Bible predicted that many people would reject the truth, and a quick look at our culture shows that to be the case. Let’s not fall into the same trap. Meditate daily on Scripture, and ask God to reveal Himself. Life without His truth is destined for failure.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5 NLT)

Deaf Devotion 5/16/2011

2011-05-16T15:01:00.001-04:00

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12 NLT)

Has something bad ever happened and our first thought goes to: “Oh me. What did I do? I must have done something terrible. Otherwise, this wouldn’t have happened”? And before we knew it, we fell headlong into a pity party, taking ourselves apart piece by piece to see where we went wrong. We have all done something similar. It’s our human nature to do so.

But has the thought ever occurred that maybe we have done absolutely nothing wrong, and God is simply testing our faith? This is an important truth for us to understand, because if we don’t, we may get discouraged.

In the varied experiences of life, at one point or another, I’m sure we have all uttered the words which are no doubt in the heart of most every person experiencing trouble or temptation: "WHY ME?"

God leads us in another direction. God wants us to ask: "WHY NOT ME?"

Being a Christian does not in any way protect us from the very real unavoidable problems of life. In fact sometimes it would almost seem that the OPPOSITE IS TRUE!! The Christian at times seems to experience more than their fair share of problems and troubles.

We must constantly remind ourselves of the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:7, "We walk by faith and not by sight." If we try and reverse it and try to walk by SIGHT instead of faith, we will fail miserably!

Think about it. Many experiences of life make us more able to help others in their similar difficulties.

In any situation, God offers to give us His beauty in exchange for our ashes. He offers His faith for our fears, healing for our brokenness, joy for our sadness! He wants to swap His Success for our failures, and peace for worries.

He is inviting us to “cast your heavy burdens onto Him” and allow Him to lighten the load.

What others may want to use to harm us, God wants to turn around to use it to bless us and others! He wants us to put His positive next to our negative so that we can live abundantly IN HIM! This empowers us to live the abundant life He came to give!

Paul says that nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ. So when we start wondering why God allows something to happen TO ME, remember, He never said we would not face difficulties along the way. Trials, hardships and challenges will come into our lives. The Book of James does not make the point, IF the trials come, but James says WHEN they come, we can be prepared.

God says that we will never be outside of His care. So don’t Judge God’s love based on our situations; instead look for Him in the midst of them. Just like God was with Shaddrach, Meshach & Abednego in the fiery furnace, just like he was with Jonah in the belly of the whale, or Daniel in the lion’s den – He will be there for us!

Holding on to our faith in God in the face of disappointments, discouragement and difficulties allows God to empower us for victory!

Deaf Devotion 5/9/2011

2011-05-09T14:18:00.001-04:00

“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” (Matthew 25:23 NLT)

If we want to take root and to grow in our faith, and have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, it is necessary to branch out in service. Serve God in the “little” things and He will be glorified. It's wonderful to accomplish great things for Christ, but sometimes God’s greatest works happen when we join Him in the “little” things.

It is not enough just to want to be a servant. We must be determined to be servants. We must be willing to step out in obedience and determined to help wherever God calls us to go.

There is a story of an angel who, at the start of a church building project, announced there would be a prize to the person who made the most noteworthy contribution to the finished project. Everyone worked hard, wanting to win--the architect, the contractor, the craftsmen, the artists, the carpenters, and even the Pastors and staff of the church. The winner turned out to be a poor elderly widow who every day carried hay to the ox that pulled the stones for the stonecutters.

Our faith grows as we serve, and we serve best when we're faithful in little things. Try branching out in a new area of Christian service, however small; and be faithful, so that one day the Lord of the Harvest will say, "Well done!"

We recognize the power of service in the world because it always makes a difference. It changes the situation.

Jesus looked at the leper and said, “Be clean” and instantly he was made clean,
Jesus spit into the dirt, made a little mud ball, rubbed it into a blind man’s eyes and said go wash in the pool of Siloam. This man, who had never seen flowers or looked into his mother’s eyes came back with perfect sight.
Jesus looked at the storm when others had lost faith and said, “Peace be still.”
Jesus knelt before the Disciples, including the one who would betray Him, with a basin of water and a towel and washed their feet.
Jesus looked at death and said let there be life.

“Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” (Psalm 110:3a KJV)

What we do in service to our Lord and Savior should be done willingly. Even in the middle of our struggles, our pain, our sorrows, God still loves us and we should have the heart willing to serve our brothers and sisters. It’s not because we must do it. It’s because of the gift we have been given. We should have a desire to serve whatever way God calls us to serve. No service done in the name of Jesus Christ is ever wasted.

We freely give of our time, resources, praise, money, expertise, etc., because God freely gives His grace and mercy and Jesus freely gave His life so that you and I can live forever with Him.

You know it says in 2 Corinthians 9:7 “God loves a cheerful giver.” Serve without limit and with the attitude of glorifying God by how we serve. Then we celebrate the goodness of God together.

God is good, all the time!
All the time, God is good!

Deaf Devotion 4/30/2011

2011-04-30T15:39:00.002-04:00

“When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” (Luke 4:16-21 NLT)

Jesus was quoting Isaiah 61:1-2. And what he had to say about it caused a stir among those present.

There is a story about a man who had been in prison for twenty years. He had now completed his sentence and was preparing to be released back into society. After twenty years he was about to be a free man. Would society accept him? How much has the world changed in twenty years? Before leaving, he makes a strange request: "Please take this cell door off its hinges and strap it to my back." The jailers comply, and the freed man chooses to spend the rest of his life this way.

This man’s story sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? Yet many of us carry around guilt like a prison door strapped to our back. Jesus Christ freed us from the burden of sin on our back, but we have trouble leaving the old jail completely behind. The problem is that we don't believe God has really forgiven.

Brenda and I learned recently of a friend of ours who is now in prison. He and I have been friends since High School and he was the best man at our wedding. He left a bar drunk, hit a motorcycle, and then left the scene. The man on the motorcycle later died from his injuries. Our friend was caught, tried, and sent to prison.

The only way to explain how Brenda found this is to say that it is part of God’s plan. I am attempting to make contact with our friend to let him know that we are still his friend and that God loves him still. I have been burdened with trying to reach him. I do not yet know how he feels about forgiveness. I am sure forgiveness from society and from the motorcycle rider’s family may be hard to accept if it were given. I want to make sure he understands that God has already covered the sin. What happened is tragic and terrible, but we all make mistakes to some degree and the results catch up to us one way or another. And the truth is, God still loves us.

When we hear stories like this we tend to think, “Yeah, right….” Or even “Yes…..but….”

There is no "but." Either God forgives or He doesn't. If we trust Jesus Christ as Savior, then we are free of sin. It is covered with the blood of Jesus Christ. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:14 KJV)

The Lord promises that He will not hold our wrongs against us or even remember them. The writer of Hebrews quotes from Jeremiah 31. “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17 KJV)

No good can come of carrying around old failures and sinful habits that He has put behind His back. “Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” (Isaiah 38:17 KJV)

Jesus Christ has purchased our freedom with His blood. It was finished at the cross. Accept and believe. Get the prison door off your back, lay down your guilt and live free. Praise God for His grace and mercy that has no limit and no end.

When God looks upon a believer, He sees a spirit washed clean of all sin. Don't allow guilt over past wrongdoing to hold us captive a second longer.

Take God at His word, and believe that He has removed it from us as far as the east is from the west. “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12 NLT)

Deaf Devotion 4/3/2011

2011-04-03T07:06:00.000-04:00

“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” (Proverbs 20:7 KJV)

This is an interesting verse in the Bible. It really causes a person to think: “Who is the ‘just man?’” Or it may make us wonder just what exactly “integrity” is. The New Living translations says it this way, “The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.” It’s the same verse. It means the same thing. But we are left with these words “godly” and “integrity.”

To be “godly” is to seek the same things God seeks. We should want not our righteousness, but God’s righteousness. We should seek to become the person that God created and not the person the world expects us to be. We should rise above the beliefs and false security of the world and seek what God has planned for our life. We are created in God’s image. Therefore, we are capable of things like love, anger, forgiveness, and sacrifice. We are being shaped into the person like Jesus. But it’s not just that easy.

Integrity, on the other hand, goes a little deeper. Not only are we to become “godly” and see how God acts and how God expects us to act. But we are to use what God has given us and live a life that shows God’s plan of salvation, not only for ourselves, but for everything and everybody He created.

The word “integrity” comes from the Latin word “integer.” Any person familiar with math will remember that the word “integer” means a whole number. It is not a decimal or fraction. Integrity is the same idea. Integrity is our whole person. It is our whole life. It is how we think and how we act. What we believe, our faith, our knowledge of God, our salvation should be shown in the way we live both privately and when we face the world. This means the way we think is the same as how we act. How we act in front of others at church is the same as how we act when we are at the grocery store.

The world says if we could just arrange our circumstances where we never have any sorrow, pain, or hurts then people will change. If we can change our circumstances, our situations, our plans we can change one’s character. We become more “godly” toward each other.

But the Bible teaches just the opposite. The world puts the emphasis on one’s situation. God puts the emphasis on character. Someone has well said water does not become pure if it is put in a fancy glass. And yet that's what we try to do. We think that if we can change the exterior or make a situation such that we never have any hurts, then we're going to be okay. But Jesus put the emphasis upon character, on what we are in God’s eyes, and not what we have or don’t have.

Integrity is influence. Character is influence. Influence is not pressure, power or control. Influence is affecting other people with what they see us doing. What is important to the leader will be important to the follower. Whatever is important to God will be important to us. Don’t ever desire that something be important in someone else’s life that isn’t important to God. We need to be an example and desire for others what God desires for us.

If we are able to live by God’s standard, and not the world’s lives will be changed. “… blessed are their children who follow them.” Children watch and children learn. We are all God’s children. We are all created in the “Image and likeness” of God. We should be watching Jesus to learn. Jesus is the example of integrity.

Ours is a “pro-active” faith. It means that we are doing something from what we know and not “re-acting” after the fact. In other words, one of the surest ways we can keep from doing the wrong thing is if we are focused on doing the right thing.

Husbands and wives encourage and lift up each other in godly ways. Mothers and fathers act with integrity to teach children godly ways. Seek God’s plan for integrity. Children look to godly role-models to learn what god has planned. The world does not provide role models. Only God provides role models and that is in the person of His Son, Jesus.

Pray together. Encourage each other. Study together. Seek God’s character together. Then worship together. Thank God that He is the source of our “integrity.” God does not want to save part of His creation; God wants to save ALL of His creation. God is not only our creator, but Jesus, fully God and fully man, is our Savior. Trust Him.

Deaf Devotion 3/26/2011

2011-03-26T09:39:00.001-04:00

In the last several months the earth has seen some major examples of the power of nature. There have been earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, volcanoes, and the like. While each of these has been said to be caused by nature, it is really a glaring example of the amount of power God has put into the world He created. God certainly is not and was not surprised by any of these events.

God is sending a wake-up call. Hello? Is anybody home? Where have my children gone? Why do they turn their back on me? Why do they pay more attention to arguing with each other than worshipping me? There are those who will blame global warming, blame Christians and Muslims, blame Republicans and Democrats, will blame the Tea Party. But there is one truth. God does not choose sides. Jesus is coming back to take over God’s creation in His rightful place as King.

Jesus is the King of creation and He comes to give us a message of victory over sin. We will never know this victory until we lay our life at His feet and bow before His throne. Before we can be conquerors, we must be conquered. But how?

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” (James 4:8 NLT)

Do we realize what this says? It says God is willing to meet us first where we are. He will meet us where we are in our life. He will meet us where we are spiritually. He will meet us where we are with our faith, our doubts and our fears.

The feeling of God being distant even affects those who have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Many times we hear people using this line, "I just don’t feel close to God right now." Or, "God doesn’t seem very real to me right now." We all struggle with that sometimes. “Are my prayers just bouncing off the walls?” So, what can we do about it? How can we overcome those feelings? How can we get to the point of experiencing and enjoying God’s presence and power consistently in our daily life?

There are three key words for feeling God’s power in our life: Approach; Submit; and Separate.

Approach - Yeah, right? How? When I don’t know if He’s there, can’t see, smell nor touch Him. If we look to what God says in His Word, it seems to say we can begin to feel God’s power by having a sense of confidence. What God did by sending Jesus to us, is to send out a wake-up call. Jesus made it possible for us to approach God, draw close, to a close personal relationship, to have our prayers heard and answered and based on historically reliable record, on a real person, not just a ghost or an alien.

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:5-8 NLT)

Submit – Yeah, right? We must allow God to do His job and what He promised by allowing God’s power present in us to weaken the control of sin. By faith we come to God through Christ and as we come close to God, allow some room for God’s Spirit to maneuver in your lives. This is what James is talking about when he calls his readers to sensitivity about our sin and shortcomings. “Wash your hands, you sinners”

Separate – Yeah, Right? "Purifying your hearts" refers to refining our motives, attitudes, our very thoughts that are against what God wants for us. Sin blinds us. Sin burdens us with worry, guilt, and fear. Sin hardens our hearts. Sin deceives us. Sin separates us from God. It’s not about sin separating us from God. It’s about God separating us from our sin. It’s about us separating ourselves from our sin by faith in Jesus Christ and the power in His Death and Resurrection.

Turning to God and changing from those actions or attitudes that God does not want us to have requires us to allow God to deepen His work in us. By examining thoughts, feelings, and convictions, we allow God to show Himself powerful and mighty through us. We will break down those barriers to feeling God’s presence and power in our life, when we give up and simply admit our hearts are totally evil.

Now, there is an old question that adds an important perspective to this verse. It asks, "If you feel distant from God, who moved?" The answer is "you". You see, God doesn’t move. He doesn’t come and go. He doesn’t show up for a while and then disappear. He doesn’t go on a vacation. He doesn’t take summers off. Scripture says that God never sleeps [Psalm 121:3]

To experience God’s power, claim His promises.
To experience God’s power, operate on faith.
To experience God’s power, repent in faith.
To experience God’s power, pour yourself into service in Jesus’ name.
To experience God’s power, remember everything God has done.

We need to understand it has always been the grace of God, in Jesus’ blood, that God has brought us near to Him. God’s activity in Christ guarantees us purity in the sight of the holy and awesome God. It is in Jesus where we feel more of God’s power in our life. We need every day to remember this. It’s all because of the precious and wonderful favor of God that we can draw near and have Him draw near to us.

Deaf Devotion 3/19/2011

2011-03-19T09:51:00.001-04:00

“Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.” (2 Timothy 4:9-14 NLT)

The apostle Paul knew the value of having good friends. Barnabas encouraged him in his ministry. Silas partnered with him in establishing new churches. Timothy became like a son to him. Paul also knew the heartache of co-laborers turning away from him when times got tough. We may experience something similar in our life.

People will react differently to our struggles. Some feel they are not able to help and hold back because they are uncertain about what to say or do. Others are so protective of their time that selfishness causes them to turn away. And sometimes our friends and co-workers do not want to be identified with us in our trials. Even as a Pastor this sometimes happens to me. Other Pastors and friends reach out and help while others hold back for some reason. This experience taught me the importance of reaching out to and serving brothers and sisters in need of God’s Word or in times of trouble.

Our primary purpose on earth is to worship and glorify God, exalt Jesus Christ the risen Savior, and to “watch over” or be caretakers of God’s creation. Look at God’s plan for Adam and what God did next: “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” (Genesis 2:15 NLT) God then warned Adam of the tree and the danger of Him not thinking himself above God or not needing God. Then God had a plan for us: “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” (Genesis 2:18 NLT) This is Eve being created. The name “Eve” means “mother of all.” Therefore, We are here as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve to first, take care of what God created, and secondly, to be here to help each other.

This final section of Paul’s letter to Timothy offers some specific instructions as well as some final pieces of advice that Paul is passing on to Timothy. Paul’s main objective is for Timothy to learn that he must allow God to be his strength. Timothy’s and Paul’s effectiveness as Christian leaders depended on it as does our effectiveness as Christians in today’s world. We must allow God to use others, friends and enemies, to strengthen us if we are to be really effective in His service.

There are many different occasions when we will have a need for strength, whether it is physical, mental or emotional. We need strength to accomplish a specific task. We need strength to overcome an addiction. We need strength to cope with the death of a loved one. But, sadly, friends will abandon us and enemies will try to distract us. We must step in and support each other.

Even Jesus had this problem. Matthew 12:14 has the shocking statement that the Pharisees went out looking for a way to kill Jesus. They were planning a murder. Jesus had just healed a man with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were looking for a way to trap Jesus in his own teachings or actions. Jesus’ healing of this man and then the way Jesus criticized the Pharisees only added to their fierceness in opposing him.

Yet, where did Jesus go for help? He trusted God so completely to bring people faithful to His mission that He knew God’s plan would continue even though He would soon die on the Cross.

The Lord gives us strength. He alone is our source of strength.

Helping others requires an investment of time and energy. We start by praying for them and asking the Lord how we can help. He may have us to come alongside another person to lend emotional support, provide spiritual guidance, offer assistance in a physical or financial way, or find others who can. In the same way God will bring someone alongside us in our time of trouble. Standing with people will encourage them.

When friends abandoned him, Paul asked God not to hold their actions against them. He followed the example of Jesus, who prayed for the Father to forgive the people who abandoned Him, the people who mocked Him, the people who tortured Him and more importantly, the people who killed Him. What's our response when friends let us down? Forgiveness is the choice that pleases God every time.

God is willing and more than able to rescue us and make us strong in our times of weakness. He alone is our source of strength. He will reveal His strength through the blessings and talents of the brothers and sisters He will bring alongside us.

Today are we walking with Christ? Not walking ahead of Him. We walk with Him. We follow Him as our example. Is He our strength? Or are we trying to walk it alone? Is there someone who is burdened that we can come alongside with the strength of God to lift them up? I challenge all of us to let God be the strength. Let Him take over the load in our life. Trust Him with the ups and downs of our life. In all things God is glorified.

Deaf Devotion 3/12/2011

2011-03-12T09:56:00.003-05:00

“Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew 21:21-22 NLT)

In the Gospel of Mark it is written that Jesus was approached by a father whose son was possessed by a demon. The man came to Jesus, asking Him to heal the boy, if it was possible. The Lord lovingly shared that He could accomplish anything if the man had faith. The dad responded, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

“Help my unbelief.” Are there any greater words of faith? What a revealing statement.

Even mature Christians will sometimes experience some doubt with regard to God's ways, truth, or ability. Thankfully, He is gracious and meets His children where they are.

But the Bible is clear that doubt causes difficulty. First, it affects the believer's fellowship with God. Second, disbelief blocks one's prayer life. The Lord will answer a doubting heart, but God’s answer will never be the right answer, nor will the answer satisfy. Third, uncertainty can lead to dependence upon the flesh and, therefore, can get in the way of fruitful service. All of these can lead to discouragement.

Let's explore how to overcome a lack of assurance. Prayerfully consider what causes us to question. For example, when we were growing up were we taught something other than what God teaches? Or we were told what we should believe by someone other than God? Now, recall a time when we trusted the Lord and He responded; remember how it felt to rely totally upon Him. And, most importantly, study Scripture and learn exactly what God is saying to us. The Bible says it is better to depend on the Lord than to trust in people. (Psalm 118:8)

God wants us to walk in the freedom of faith. God calls each of us to live our lives with full confidence in Him. This removes fear and worry because the almighty, all-knowing, loving Father is able to guide, strengthen, and lead His children to victory.

What is the biggest thing we have ever asked God to do for us? I have learned most of the prayers are good and right, but not bold. About the biggest requests are for physical healing. I believe God does heal in response to our prayers, but surely God wants to do more than “fix” us. God is looking for someone bold enough to ask Him for something big. This is not about a home on the beach or a new car, although these are nice blessings. We are talking about spiritual things! Where are the people who are asking God to invade their lives with His power, to transform a community, to break the curse of racism, to send missionaries around the world?

There was popular book about the prayer of a man named Jabez. Jabez’s prayer was surprisingly simple. “He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NLT) Notice the end of the verse: “And God granted him his request.” Faith asked and God answered.

What mountain do we need God to move? Today God calls us to bring our mountain to Him and ask Him to move it. Stop wishing, wanting and hoping and start asking in faith without doubt, because that is what Jesus commands us to do.

The next time those feelings of doubt begin to rise, remember that God does move mountains. Along with the everyday prayers that we offer to God, try adding a mountain to the list, let God out of the box, and see what great and mighty things God will do!

If you haven't been living with belief, start today. Don't miss out on His best!

Deaf Devotion 2/26/2011

2011-02-26T10:10:00.003-05:00

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. (John 15:4-6 NLT)

I do want to add a personal note to thank Officer Paul Green of the Flint Township Police Department, one of my friends at Starbucks on Miller Road, who is retiring in exactly 74 minutes after 32 years of service. He is moving to Tennessee. Thank you for your service and God Bless You!

As usual, it has been a week of ups and downs. We all have days, weeks, and even months like this. Last Saturday morning as I was preparing to leave for Louisville, KY for a Deaf Pastor’s Prayer meeting, I opened an email that, well, shocked me. Knowing I could not keep this from my wife, I had to wake her up and tell her some news I knew was going to upset her as well. It is something we cannot talk about right now, but we ask your prayers for our family.

Then we left for Louisville and experienced a unity of prayer and spirit joining with other Deaf Pastors and leaders for worship and prayer. It was a wonderful experience. Thank you to Pastor Steve Dye and the family at SECC Deaf Church in Louisville.

We flew home Sunday only to have 11 inches of snow after we arrived home which prevented me from going to work on Monday. Then Tuesday through Friday were rough days each one in their own way.

Through it all, though, I just looked to my Heavenly Father and thanked Him for His unending grace, mercy and love that are poured out for each one of us. I thanked God for the honor of Him allowing me to Pastor a Deaf church and work with Deaf to spread the Gospel. I thanked Him for a loving wife, good children, and all that He provides for us. I thanked Him for friends and the fellowship of other Pastors and believers.

Above all, I thanked God for His Son. This is because if we are without Jesus Christ, we are nothing. Today's passage encourages us to stay connected to Jesus.

The image of Him as the vine and believers as the branches helps us understand that apart from Him, we can do nothing. It is possible to accept His salvation yet still act out of the "flesh," not able to focus or even separated from His direction and power. All believers find their focus wandering at times, but some have strayed so far that it's hard to see their way back.

If someone finds their heart focused on something besides Christ, it is very important to admit that this has happened. The Holy Spirit will help us identify which attitudes or activities are drawing us away from Jesus. Then He will draw us to repent and get whatever help is necessary to set aside interruption, insecurity, worldly desires, or anything else that draws our attention away from the Lord.

Once the distraction is gone, we can refocus on Jesus by reading the Word, praying, learning from biblical messages, and spending time with godly friends who will encourage us. Sometimes it can be hard to obey as the Lord desires but He promises to walk by our side to strengthen us and supply all our needs. “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NLT)

Hebrews 12:1 urges us to give up whatever may be slowing us down and continue the obedience to God for His plan that He planned for us before He created the universe.

Don't delay. Recognize any area, sin, or stronghold that is keeping us from living passionately and fully for Christ. We cannot do this for another person. We can join them in prayer, but what another person does, is between them and God. Following His plan—with His strength—is the only way to peace, joy, and contentment in life. Ask for His help and commit to action.

So, the question becomes, “Where are you right now? Are you connected to the vine, feeling the life of God flowing through you as you remain in Him? Or are you disconnected, slowly dying, trying to stay in control of life and manage things in your own strength? Keep in mind that there are seasons of pruning, where even some parts that seemed to be growing are cut off so that other parts can be more fruitful. There are times in our lives where maybe we are not seeing the fruit, but we know we are remaining in the vine. If that describes you, remain. Paul would say, stand firm. Hold fast, keep the connection, continue to let Jesus’ words dwell in you, allow the gardener to prune, and cling to the promise that you will bear much fruit.

Deaf Devotion 2/19/2011

2011-02-19T23:13:00.004-05:00

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)

One day God will get our attention one way or another and will change our plans. It is only faith that can carry us through the change. God calls each of us to develop a faith that is exciting, energetic, alive, deep, and essential.

GOD KNOWS HOW TO GET OUR ATTENTION!

This happened to a man who was on his way to Damascus with one thing on his mind: Stop the spread of the Gospel.

God showed up and interrupted Saul’s plans. God shot a laser beam of light out of the throne room of Heaven and knocked Paul to the ground.

Suddenly all of the education, the plans, and the hatred that had been controlling Saul was erased in one quick flash and Saul became the guilty and the hopeless.

In his previous life Saul had not really heard the voice of God, he had listened only to the voice of religion and of the world.

But now he heard a different voice. This was a voice with power and authority that shook him to the core of his soul.

This same voice had spoken the world into existence.
This same voice had called to Adam in the Garden.
This same voice had spoken judgment upon Satan, the serpent and all of creation as a result of sin.
This same voice had spoken to Moses on Mt. Sinai and given the Law
This same voice had spoken to Lazarus and raised him from the dead
This same voice had cried out, “it is finished” as he paid the price of redemption on the cross
This same voice cries out to us today – follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
This same voice speaks to each of us – this is my will for your life, now do it.
This same voice will someday say to us “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Paul had developed a strong faith commitment to know and serve Jesus Christ. His dedication and love for the Lord was obvious. Jesus was always central in his thinking, whether he was working as a tent maker, preaching to the crowd, or even sitting in chains at prison. What caused his love for the Lord to carry on?

When Jesus called out to Paul when he was on his way to Damascus his way of life changed forever. Grateful for the gift of grace he had received at salvation, Paul went and told as many people as possible about his encounter with the resurrected Christ and its impact on him. We, too, have a story to tell of God's mercy in saving us and of the new life we have in Him. How many people are waiting to hear our stories of salvation?

Paul's enthusiasm also came from his firm conviction that the gospel message was true and available to everyone. The more we understand what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, the greater will be our desire to share the gospel.

Developing a faith that is exciting, energetic, alive, deep, and essential requires time and energy plus a commitment to obey God. Regularly studying the Bible will strengthen our faith and give us the courage to speak. Caring about the relationship others have with Jesus Christ as Savior moves us into action.

This may be the day of new beginnings for someone – if we are willing to pay attention.

Deaf Devotion 2/12/2011

2011-02-12T11:16:00.001-05:00

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT)

Okay…Yes, Monday is Valentine’s Day. Have you told those in your life that you love them? Have you told God you love HIM? For some Valentine’s Day is cheesy and silly. For some it is another chance for expressing one’s love. Yes I said, “ANOTHER CHANCE.” It is not the ONLY chance. For some it is very, very painful.

A good group game asks this question: "If you were told to leave your house immediately and given only one hour to pack only one suitcase to hold your belongings, what would you take?" The point of the game is to force people to think about priorities; answers usually include things like family photo albums, keepsake jewelry, a valued gift, important documents, and today one would probably include their laptop and cell phone!

Everything in life is not equally important, nor is everything in the kingdom of God on the same level. Of three important virtues, faith, hope, and love, Paul said that love is the "greatest." And Jesus pointed out that loving God and loving each other are the first and second most important commandments out of the hundreds of commandments in Israel's Law. Various influences have caused many people to think afresh about what is most important in their life.

When funds are limited, when things are not going right in our families or circle of friends, or the future looks scary, we begin to make choices: God, spouse, family, neighbors, health, savings. In truth, we tend to live differently when all things are not possible.

We need to constantly be on guard and aware of changes and choices we are making when things get challenging. It is then very difficult be true to ourselves and hold on to the priorities that God has for us: Faith, Hope, and Love.

“And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:30 NLT) God sees us. God is with us in the Holy Spirit. God is with us in the Savior Jesus Christ. He knows all about us. He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. He knit us together in our mother’s womb. And I guarantee you on the authority of the Word of God, that He loves us.

This is amazing when we realize that we are just specks on a globe that’s about the size of a grain of sand or less compared to the size of the universe. And yet our Lord looks down and He sees us as cherished individuals that He loves one by one. The great God that runs the universe is concerned about us as though we are His only priority. Well, we are HIS top priority.

Paul lists fifteen characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13. But it’s what he says in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that seem to sum it up.

First, Love will never fail. When all the things in which men glory have passed away, love will still stand. “Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned. (Song of Solomon 8:7 NLT) The one thing which cannot be defeated is love.

Secondly, love perfects us. Love makes us complete. (I John 4:12-18) Love matures us. It allows us to see ourselves as we truly are and God for who He truly is. Love grows us: it keeps us from acting like children only concerned for our own desires. It is a process which will not be complete until Christ’s return.

And then, love is supreme. Great as faith and hope are, love is still greater. Faith without love is cold, and hope without love is lonely. Love is the fire which kindles faith and it is the light which turns hope into certainty.

Paul makes a rather bold statement when he says, "Love never fails." Paul is saying that on the stage of life, love is bound to win. It is certain to succeed. And those who would practice it will never be defeated no matter how poorly someone may appear to be playing their part on the stage of life.

O Lord our God, source of all blessing, in happiness and joy we thank you for the gift of love, which we celebrate today and every day. Give us the ability to rejoice always in your love for us. Open our eyes to the beauty and the mystery of the love you hold for us and which we hold for each other, every day as today. And may our lives embrace and value the promise of your love which does not know any limits. Then all will see we are your children and your name will be honored and exalted. Amen.

Deaf Devotion 1/29/2011

2011-01-29T10:57:00.001-05:00

“The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen. (2 Timothy 4:16-18 NLT)

It is sad to say, but if we honestly examine ourselves, many of us have experienced times of abandonment just when we needed that other person the most. It could have been a spouse withdrawing emotionally, a co-worker who is ignoring us, or a close friend who seems to be too busy even to listen. The life of the apostle Paul teaches us how not to become discouraged in these situations.

As he writes these words, the Apostle Paul is in prison, charged with rebellion against the Roman Empire. He has spent almost 4 years in prison, 2 back in Israel, and nearly 2 more in Rome. He has already appeared in court at least once, & now the court is waiting for more evidence to arrive from his accusers. So he writes these letters to Timothy about the way God stands with Him no matter what and how this makes a difference in our lives.

Paul says that God gives us grace when we face life’s disappointments. And that grace is sufficient.

You know how we usually deal with the disappointments we experience? We get angry. We seek revenge. We wonder why God let’s things like this happen. But we also need to keep one thing in sight. God is God and He does love us and is interested wants the best for us. All of it, good and bad, works together to show HIM as mighty, as righteous, and as God.

Remember that the Lord is always with us. When we trust in Jesus as our personal Savior, we enter into a permanent relationship with Him, and His Spirit comes to live in us. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus remains with us at all times, regardless of the circumstance. He is our friend—one who will never leave us. And His is the most important friendship we have. He promised in His Word to never leave or forsake us. Reading our Bible will help us to remember this.

We are invited again and again to draw on God's strength. Through the Holy Spirit, we have access to divine power every minute of the day. When we let go of control and depend on the Lord, we will be able to draw on His strength. Then, if family or friends cause hurt, His presence will provide comfort and help us to forgive them.

God gives us the strength to face whatever “life” throws at us. Look expectantly for God's deliverance. Paul testified that the Lord had rescued him and would continue to deliver him from every evil situation. He knew he could always trust God.

God has not promised us smooth sailing, or a free pass or even a “Get Out of Jail Free” card like in the game of Monopoly. What He did promise is a safe landing. He has a purpose in allowing every circumstance into our life, good AND bad.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6 NLT)

Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South African writer, teacher, and Pastor. He once said, “God is willing to assume full responsibility for the life totally yielded to Him.” One of these days your destiny will be fulfilled. And soon and very soon, He is going to step down from the mountain of His glory, and the trumpet will sound. Our little ship will leave the sea of time and immediately we’ll be on the shores of eternity. When He comes, He’s coming for you! He’s coming for me!”

Can we say this morning: “Yes, I do love the Lord Jesus Christ with an enthusiastic love. I have a hunger to know His Word. My heart longs to please him, and it grieves me to think of disobeying His commands. My delight is to live for Him. Whatever he brings into my life I know he is using it to conform me to the image of Christ.”

If this describes any one of us then there is evidence that God has already begun a good work. I pray that each one of us can join the great Apostle Paul in saying, “What God started He will finish. He will stand with me and deliver me. When He decides, not me, He will bring me into HIS everlasting presence. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.”

Deaf Devotion 1//22/2011

2011-01-22T14:11:00.001-05:00

“So all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things. “Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness. Let the earth open wide so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together. I, the Lord, created them. “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’” (Isaiah 45:6-9 NLT)

Many times people want to place God in a “box” and only pull Him out for show on a Sunday or on Christmas or Easter. I remember my mother always pulling out the “good china” when company was coming over. It was not used any other time. It was kept in a box and never used unless someone special was coming to the house. Just imagine how much more special it would have been to enjoy those dishes other times.

Believe it or not, we do this to God. God is not meant to be put in a box. God is not meant to be hidden. In fact, God is deeply involved in everything from natural disasters to family disputes. Nothing touches a believer's life unless it comes through His permissive hand. And He will bring about good from even our worst experiences if we do not limit Him and put him away in a box. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)

But believing in God’s control over all the events of earth can mean there is a connection between holy God and our sin. Then, just how are they related?

Read this carefully: God neither starts sin nor does He lead anyone into temptation.
He is holy, so He can't be in the presence of sin.
He is just, so He demands payment for wrongs.
And He's loving and merciful, so He desires that all people know Him and His saving grace.

To lure people into wrongdoing and then judge those same people for disobedience would be opposite to His nature and character.

At times people point out some translations of Isaiah 45:7, which says that God makes good times and bad times; or that He makes peace while at the same time creates evil. Some people will use this to blame God for when things go wrong. God is aware of what is going on but the responsibility for our decisions still rests with us.

Even before we make a wrong choice, the Lord knows what the consequences will be. And He uses the evil circumstances related to our sin as a tool to teach us and show us just how mighty, powerful, and merciful He is. But we refuse to let God out of the box.

We do have a certain amount of free will. God allows us to step out of His will and pursue our own agenda. He knows that sin reveals the flesh's weakness and pride. Once we realize just how weak we are in our flesh and just how strong we are wrapped in His love, He teaches us to give up on our own plan and focus on His face.

We can then fully depend upon Christ's strength. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 KJV)

God is ready for us to let Him out of the box in which we keep Him whether that box is labeled as “pride,” “sin,” or “embarrassment.” He is ready and willing to break through to our spirit. He is ready to break through our spiritual filtering systems, and He is ready to break through and cleanse us from a past that limits Him and gives us a future that, according to His plan, has no limits or restrictions.

Paul says that the life He has now is by faith in Jesus who loves us, gave Himself and died. This means that Paul let God out of the box.

The Bible says many places that the tomb could not even keep Jesus inside. God let Jesus out of the box.

John saw in God’s revelation to Him a church in Sardis. A good church but a church that kept God in a box. John writes that Jesus is saying to the church at Sardis, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20 KJV) Jesus is saying to let God out of the box and let Him come into our lives.

Today, let God out of the box. He is waiting patiently for us to let Him out and then let Him into our lives. What are we going to do to let God out of the box and get to know Him and His Son more closely?

Today’s challenge is for all of us to blow the lid off whatever box we have that is keeping God limited and experience to fullness of His Grace, mercy, and Love.

Deaf Devotion 1/15/2011

2011-01-15T19:06:00.002-05:00

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” (John 15:16 NLT)

Before we study today’s verse, let’s take a look at a promise Jesus made in John 14:14. “Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (NLT)

Too often people take the verse to suggest, "If you ask anything, I will do it." We tend to overlook the most important part of this verse: "in My name."

Asking in Christ's name has two meanings.

First, believers are welcome to make requests that line up with God's purpose and plan. To do that, we need to ask Him if our prayers match what He already has planned for us. God has several ways of assuring followers that they are on the correct path. For instance, He may increase right desires or decrease wrong ones. Another possibility is that He will use His Word to redirect a Christian's steps or confirm that he is going the right way. God always makes His will plain to the man or woman who seeks to know it. And we know from Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus said if we were to seek first HIS Kingdom and HIS righteousness, all “these” things will be added.

Second, invoking Christ's name means that we desire to glorify Him instead of ourselves. James gives this warning: "And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure." (James 4:3 NLT) To understand that, let's consider those who are trying to pray their way out of a financial hole. The question is really whether a person wants to get out of debt so that he has more for himself or so that he can use the excess in God-honoring ways? Motives are apparent to God. He will not offer help until our heart is right.

But at the same time when there is glory in that which God will use us to work out His plan for another person, and we are willing, then all we do is not for ourselves, but focuses the attention on God. We cannot heal people. God heals people and He will use HIS people to show HIS Healing power. God will use HIS people to bring others to salvation. But it is only the risen Savior Jesus Christ who has defeated sin and death. God will use HIS creation to display HIS work.

In the name Jesus Christ, there is abundant power. However, calling upon Him in prayer is not a magic charm to get what we want. Rather, it is a signal that we are laying down our personal desires and our own way of getting things done. In so doing, we commit to follow God and bring honor to Him.

Obey God’s call and leading. Step in faith to see what God has planned. Trust God to work in the background to work out all the details. He already knows! Whatever happens when it is done in the precious name of Jesus Christ, God is glorified and HIS NAME is magnified.

Deaf Devotion 1/8/2011

2011-01-08T09:59:00.002-05:00

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT)

On two separate occasions, the Bible records that Satan petitioned the Lord to test a believer.

In Job 1:6-12 God and Satan discuss Job’s apparent wealth and divine protection. Notice that Satan acknowledges that God is Job’s protector. Also notice that God acknowledges Job’s faith in Him. But what is also interesting is seeing God’s faith in Job.

In Luke 22:31-34 Jesus and Peter are discussing faith. Peter had a habit of speaking before he really thought about what he was saying. Jesus says to Peter that He has faith in Peter but Peter’s humanity will take over no matter what Peter believes. Jesus, in honest truth says, “Peter, I hear what you are saying but when you are tested, you will fail. But go ahead and give it your best shot.” Jesus essentially let Peter’s bring his weak earthly courage to the table and see what happens. Of course Satan took advantage of that.

In both cases, God agreed to let Satan have some leeway. God knew the outcome ahead of time, but you must give Satan credit. The Devil did his best to break the faith of first Job and later Peter, but he failed both times.

Then Satan tried his best test. Just after Jesus was baptized, He went into the desert. Satan, who more than likely heard God saying at the baptism, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased,” decided He would go after Jesus. It was an epic fail. It was failure in a big way. One would think Satan would give up.

Satan failed with Job. Satan failed with Peter. Satan failed with Jesus. Satan failed at the cross.

Have we ever thought that Christ and Satan have ever had a similar discussion about you or me? I think most people are too humble to assume such a conversation has happened. So let me ask the question a different way. Does our life make an impact worth talking about? Is our life making a difference for Jesus Christ that causes our name to pop up on Satan’s computer as a possible threat? Or are we easy for Satan to take advantage of? We must ask ourselves whether or not we are serving God sufficiently to make Satan feel threatened?

Pastors, preachers, Sunday School teachers, and missionaries aren't the only people who make Satan nervous. Any believer who is determined to obey the Lord is a threat to the Devil, particularly when sharing the gospel. God calls on us to witness to certain people because we have just the right knowledge, story, or temperament to reach some person who needs to hear the Gospel. Fearing that the unbeliever might choose salvation because of our testimony, Satan gives plenty of opportunities to fail.

Satan hopes we will be too discouraged to continue serving the Lord. The Enemy would like nothing better than to put a stop to God's plan for believers' lives by undermining their faith. That being the case, we might all be surprised how often our names pass between Jesus and Satan!

Although we may think we aren't important, God knows your true value. When HE was on the Cross, WE were on HIS mind.

Friends, as a Spirit-filled believer, we have amazing potential to serve the kingdom. Satan sees that, and he will try to make us stumble. Sometimes while we try to stay focused on God, our humanity will take over. Most times God has more faith in us than we sometimes have in Him. Satan knows this. But God holds each of our lives in His hand and not even Satan can snatch our life out of God’s hand.

Satan does not have much faith in our faith. If one were to fail and fall, the smart move is to lean on the Lord as we get to our feet and carry on.

If God is for us, who can be against us? It’s certainly not Satan. Satan tries to make us think God is against us. Satan will not give up until he achieves his goal of destroying everything God has created.

I imagine Satan coming crawling back to God for a follow-up discussion. “Well I tried to break (insert name here)’s relationship with you. I could not do it. Their faith in you is as strong as your faith in them. I will not give up. I will find others.”

God says, “Me too. I will not give up. I will find others. I have too many people who will tell the story. Now go away.”

Satan has no choice but to leave. You see He must obey God also.

Deaf Devotion 1/1/2011

2011-01-01T10:38:00.001-05:00

“‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4 NLT)

Okay. It is January 1, 2011. It is New Year’s Day. It is the day we all look back and say, Thank goodness it’s done and gone and we can forget it.” But what is done, gone and being forgotten? It is a span of time. There were 365 days; 8,760 hours; 525,600 minutes; and 31,536,000 seconds. They are gone, spent and we cannot get them back to do over again. This means the good and the bad. We want to relive the high points but forget the mistakes, mess-ups, and the times we were less than what we should have been. What did we do with the time? Was it so terrible that we want to stop the calendar from turning to 2011? Or did we see miraculous things happen to give us hope for a future?

I am here to tell you that God was with us in the best of times and God was right there with us in the worst of times. God is still in control and God is still the God that created the universe and named the stars. Jesus is still Savior and is still living at the right hand of God in heaven.

So what has changed? God has not moved or changed His address. Not Jesus: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NLT)

We have changed. We made promises at the beginning of 2010 which were meant for self-improvement. Most of them were broken by January 2, 2010. We gave up. When we give up it invites more hardship. Some had successes. They became more than what they were in 2009. They overcame the hardship and frustrations. Now it’s not “what changed,” but “what’s the difference?”

A lot of negative emotions accompany hardship: frustration, feelings of hopelessness, fear, and doubt. People ruled by those feelings often make poor choices. This is why God’s Word says that we are to decide right now to respond to troubled times the way the Israelites did: with praise. Even in the darkest hours, worshipping God fills the heart with joy and the mind with peace. A believer who is filled in this way can wisely keep a commitment to obey the Lord no matter what.

But wait, Pastor, You said, “OBEY the LORD no matter what.” Yes, that’s right. I said it and I said it because it’s the truth.

Worshipping the Lord enlarges our vision. By doing so, we begin to see how He is at work in the world, perhaps in ways and places we never noticed before. More particularly, we see what God is doing in our situation and notice areas where He requires our obedience.

Our human tendency is to plot a course through a situation toward the easiest solution. But believers who strike out on their own do not mature in faith. Moreover, they miss out on the blessings of following the Lord's plan. Stopping to praise can divert us from the easy way out and direct us to the right path—namely, the way of God's will. Taking a step forward in obedience and faith can be frightening. However, believers are completely safe risking their whole future on the Lord's faithfulness. He has never disappointed anyone!

It's hard to feel hopeless while honoring the Lord for His love and strength. We can dispel doubt by recalling His past faithfulness—and ease frustration by committing our future plans to Him. Praise is not the obvious reaction to hardship, but it is the wisest response.

So, here it is 2011. Are we going to make more empty promises to ourselves? And then become frustrated when we fail? Or do we step out in faith and obedience to what God has planned, let Him take over control, and then actually let God work out the details of how to work HIS plan in our life instead of us trying to figure out how we can to work God’s plan into our life.

It comes down to a statement people sometimes have backwards. People say “I will trust you Lord to work out the details then I will obey.” Nope. If we do that we are delaying God’s plan. If we wait for God to work out the details on our terms, there will never be obedience. If, on the other hand we say, “Obedience then trust,” and we commit to this, then God can and will show exactly how glorious and powerful He really is. God does not want our ABILITY. God wants our AVAILABILITY. “Ability” is what we are able to do. “Availability” is letting God do what He does through us.

Let 2011 be a year of praise and worship of God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yes that means 365 days; 8,760 hours; 525,600 minutes; and 31,536,000 seconds worth of praise, worship, lifting up, and encouragement, blessing, and yes, obedience. It means we cannot let anything else stop us from focusing on God and His plan for us.

Then as Paul said to the Church at Philippi, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

Happy New Year!

Deaf Devotion 12/25/2010

2010-12-25T20:48:00.001-05:00

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20 NLT)

Today is Jesus’ Birthday. It was not a surprise party. And what’s more, you and I received the gift. You and I do not deserve any gifts, but still there was one gift wrapped on that day that brought eternal life to all.

What a wonderful giver. The angel came and first came and told Mary she was chosen as the Mother of God’s Son. The angel came to Joseph and told him what he needed to do. The angel came and told the shepherds they would find a gift, wrapped and ready to be revealed.

What’s interesting is that God had planned this birthday party even before He planned the universe. In His wisdom and power He wanted to live among us. He walks with us. He talks, laughs, cries, and fellowships with us. He arrived as a gift and the gift continues for eternity.

That first Christmas, the heavens declared the glory of God! By looking into a night sky filled with stars, the shepherds learned about God. The night sky so limitless was suddenly filled to capacity with angels shouting and praising God. About that same time some Magi or “King-makers” also looked into the sky and saw God. They knew they had a long road ahead of them and they would not stop until they found the gift. Since the universe appears almost limitless, so God must also have no limits. God does not live in time and space. God lives in eternity.

The universe God created literally pulsates with energy, He must be all powerful.
Since the universe is wonderfully complex and contains intelligent life, God must possess all knowledge. Since the universe contains feeling and emotions and love and human relations, God must have a love that knows no limits. It is a personal love.

It is the love of a baby in a manger. He was born to die. No person took His life. He gave up His life for you and me. He died so you and I could have our re-birth day. We are new creations.

How do you explain the meaning of Christmas in just a few words? Well the best way I know is this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 KJV)

Marvel at THE GIFT He has given today!

Deaf Devotion 12/18/2010

2010-12-18T09:56:00.003-05:00

I have one word on my mind this morning. It is the word “gratitude.” It comes from the adjective “grateful.” Other words for this are: “appreciation;” “recognition;” “credit;” and “acknowledgement.” The dictionary defines being grateful as “warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful.” It is being so full of thanks that we are sometimes not able to put into words how thankful we are.

We are led to feel like this: “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Corinthians 9:15 KJV)

There was a movie a few years ago called “Pay It Forward.” A young man had something given to him. He knew he would never be able to repay the person who gave him the gift. He also knew that the person gave the gift out of love and they would never accept repayment anyways. It was a gift and not a loan. Instead of trying to repay the person who gave him the gift, he started with one person and with gratitude in receiving the gift, gave a gift to another person. This person was expected not to repay, but to also pay it forward. It is blessing someone else with a blessing one has received. This was done in the spirit of love in the person who gave the young man the gift in the first place. The gift was not re-gifted, it was not “see who could do more, and it was not hidden. The gift was paid forward. This is why repaying a loan is called paying it “back.”

The point is that “You do not need to repay me, just pay it forward.” Do something to make someone else’s life better. We are thankful for the gift and the giver, but the gift and the giver are honored if the blessing is passed along to someone else.

Note to those who blessed us this week: You know who you are. God knows who you are and how much you have blessed someone else. We may not be able to ever pay you back. We also know what you have done is out of love and you would never expect to be paid back. Please know that the blessing God enabled you to pass along to us will be used to bless someone else at the time God decides and in the manner God chooses. Thank you.

We do not give to draw attention to ourselves. Remember God gave to us first and we can never ever give more than God. We give to draw others to God. We love because He first loved us and died for us.

Isn’t this the way it is with God? Our salvation has been won. Sin and death are overcome and defeated. Jesus said, “It is finished.” I believe Him. There is no more paying "back." only paying "forward." The gift is ours. The victory belongs to Jesus. The glory is God’s. And this truth sets us free.

Jesus said we are to go into ALL the world to make disciples. To me this is God saying that He does not want us to repay Him. It is God saying, “Now go and pay it forward.” The gift of Jesus Christ and the Giver who is God are honored and glorified if the gift we have been given is passed along to others.

This is why Mary and Joseph rejoiced. This is why the baby John the Baptist jumped in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary and Elizabeth met. This is why the sky was filled with angels the night the angel appeared to the shepherds. This is why the shepherds left the stable rejoicing. This is why the wise men showed up around two years later. All of them knew they had been given a special gift that was beyond description, beyond anything they had ever dreamed of. And the list goes on and on.

We have received a gift that was paid forward. It is a gift from eternity to eternity. It is a gift that is the perfect gift for any person. It is a gift that keeps on giving.

Suddenly we realize that God has been so good to us that we can’t keep it inside any more. From the depths of our being we shout our joy to God. In 2 Corinthians 9:15 Paul is clearly speaking about the gift of Jesus Christ. But with any blessing from any person by any method, our response should be, “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”

Our response should be to now pay it forward and not pay it back. The debt is paid. It is a gift not a loan.

Pay it forward.

Deaf Devotion 12/11/2010

2010-12-11T10:11:00.002-05:00

“Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty. You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens.” (Psalm 104:1-2 NLT)

We have a God who is simply presented in all of creation. He was born a baby on a cold night in a stable. He was laid in a manger. Shepherds were told to look for Him. They were told they would find Him in a stable wrapped in cloth. They found the Savior. We should recognize Him.

We have a God who is sovereignly powerful. How many of us have been out at night and looked up at the starry night sky? How many stars are there up there? Are there millions? Are there billions? Are there even trillions? Who put each one in place? Who holds them all in their place? It does not matter how many stars there are. There is only ONE light. God is the only one. Is that not amazing, extraordinary? Yes, of course- think, imagine. Who is this God we worship? We should respect Him.

We have a God who is surely purposeful. He said we have eternal life. He said our sins are forgiven. He said we already have a place to live with Him forever. He said He will never leave or forsake us. In fact, He said it’s already done for us. All if we accept His Son Jesus Christ as Savior. It was all confirmed and completed at the Cross. All of heaven’s angels announced His birth. Mary and Joseph obeyed. The Shepherds did as they were told by the angel. They searched, found, and worshipped. Two years later, after a long and dangerous journey, the wise men from the east did not rest until they found Him. They cut the red tape of government and found Jesus. They entered the house and worshipped. All of these were given a purpose and plan directly from God. We should worship and adore Him.

We have a God who is able to save personally. Christ is with us. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:10b-11 NLT) “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NLT) Now every day of our lives is an invitation.

It is an invitation to a birthday party. Jesus Christ was born once to die once for all sin. Yes there will be mistakes. We are human and will mess things up. But God is faithful and just to forgive through the blood of His Son who died once for all.

We need only turn to Him and open our hearts and eyes. Look full into His wonderful face. Bask in His presence and share in His life. Yield to His Lordship; celebrate the glory and wonder of His birth, of His life, of His death and resurrection, and of His victory over sin and death. Just like children on Christmas morning, just like the shepherds coming from the field to the city searching, just like the wise men on a long journey, we need to become a child again looking afresh at our Savior. We should receive Him.

All of that is in Genesis 1:1 which says, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, the Word was God.” The Word became a baby in a manger. The Word became a baby, born to die. We have an obligation to God. We are twice His. First, we are His because of creation and secondly, we are His because of redemption. He made us, and then He bought us back.

We need to celebrate Christmas with Joy and Thanksgiving.

Deaf Devotion 12/4/2010

2010-12-04T10:53:00.001-05:00

“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” (James 4:7-10 NLT)

"Come close to God and God will come close to you." The King James Bible says if we “draw near” to God He will “draw near” to us. That is an amazing promise! When we open ourselves up to the Lord He opens heaven up for us. When we come to Him in surrender, repentance, and brokenness, He hurries to answer with forgiveness, love, and faithfulness. God, His love, His faithfulness, and His forgiveness have been there since before the universe was created. We are the ones who sinned against God and ever since He has been calling us to “draw near” to Him.

Many people have this “get close,” but “not too close” attitude. Closeness to some people has a limit. But with God there is nothing ever too close. There is also nothing that is too far away. Have we ever thought about giving God all control in our life? Wait a minute Pastor, that’s toooooo close for comfort. Satan wants to deceive us and have us to believe that we cannot do that. That means God will know everything and see everything that happens in my life. Trust me He already sees and knows. What could be closer than that? Everything that happens to us has already come across God’s desk. He is not surprised.

There is no room for self-sufficiency or self-protection in this interaction. Only in the humility of helplessness will we discover the all-consuming peace and love of His presence.

At first glance, we may seem to be the ones who begin this open relationship, but in reality, it is all God’s idea. We are merely responding. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.” (John 6:44 NLT) Many times He uses situations and difficulties to get our attention and motivate us to seek Him.

What appears to us to be a painful or desperate situation is His invitation to draw near. When we feel overwhelmed and there is no hope or no way out, He invites us to draw near. Imagine what would happen if we accept God’s invitation to draw near and then actually let him take over. With God nothing is impossible.

Even our greatest failures and mistakes can lead us to Christ. We seek to make up for our mistakes with an attitude of humble repentance. Hopefully we learn and we can enter into a more cherished relationship with God.

However, if you and I continue living in rebellion and are unwilling to confess and repent, He will not open up and reveal more of Himself to us. Satan can step in and use this to his advantage to draw you and me AWAY from God. Sin always blocks our ability to know the Lord.

Have we let hardship or failure make us feel like we are pulling away from God instead of moving toward Him? Or do we believe God has forgotten us and pulled away from us? When there is this feeling of moving away or being left alone, God is still there. He is still God and He is still in control.

Satan knows this and will remind us and will misuse any situation to deceive us into thinking that we are abandoned and there is nothing we can do because after all, we are human. And we are all sinners. But I affirm, on the Word of God, we are redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Christ. But these are the very situations that the Lord can utilize to draw us to Himself. Don't let the enemy, his deceit, and his lies win the battle. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NLT)

Accept the invitation. Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you.

Deaf Devotion 11/26/2010

2010-11-27T11:53:00.002-05:00

I will be honest. You would expect nothing less than that from any person, right? I try very hard to keep the devotions focused and that anyone can use for their personal situations. Sometimes my own feelings and thoughts collide with that and overflow so I write devotions to preach at myself too. Today is one of those.

I have been struggling with some issues in my so-called “life.” Things are not going exactly the way I would like them to go. Maybe I am experiencing my own mid-life crisis. (Don’t worry. I am not going out to buy a motorcycle!) Things are not happening the way I want them to happen nor are they happening fast enough for me. I ask God, “Why?” “Why not?” “When?” God responds with an answer that says that it’s not about what I want or what I expect to happen. It’s all focused on Him and His plan and purpose for me and the purpose for which HE created me. Still sometimes those words seem empty.

Do I need “more faith?” I thought I was faithful in quiet confidence. What is “more faith?” I pray my faith stays strong while at times it seems difficult and at other times seems not to make sense.

”All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT)

God's care for us extends to the smallest and most hidden details of our lives. He knows when His children hurt and longs to offer comfort “Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. (Isaiah 49:13 NLT)

The Lord's compassion is personal, continuous, and always available. We receive His comfort through the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. There is no situation or time when He is inaccessible to the believer. We can be consoled and reassured at any time, day or night.

Consider how the compassion of God was demonstrated through Jesus' life. He interacted even with the "untouchables"—people whose bodies were infected with a contagious disease. And no sickness of ours will prevent Him from caring for us.

Jesus had compassion on people with medical conditions. He not only healed them physically but also gave an even greater comfort. Each and every time He gave new life through the forgiveness of sins. And while our infirmities may remain, the Lord lovingly strengthens us to carry on into the future.

And what about the messes we get ourselves into? Peter's betrayal of Christ was met with forgiveness. Thomas' doubts were answered by Jesus Himself. Our mistakes won't stop Him from loving us. Even to His enemies, Jesus left the way open for repentance.

God's comfort and care are adequate for anything we face, whether it's declining health, insufficient finances, or family trouble. Then, once we've experienced His consolation, we are to become bearers of comfort to others. People everywhere are in great need of His compassion.

Whenever feelings of low self-worth threaten us with discouragement, we need to rely on the truth of God's Word rather than our emotions.

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT)

“A Chosen People” – God chose you and me to be part of His kingdom and family because He wanted us. No one who has been specially selected by almighty God can call themselves insignificant or even forgotten.

“A Royal Priesthood” – As believers, we are children of God and, therefore, part of a royal family. In other words, we are "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:17 KJV) Just as Jesus fulfilled the roles of both king and priest, so God has also entrusted us with priestly responsibilities of worship and intercession for others.

“A Holy Nation” – The church—or body of Christ—is a group of people who are holy, which means "set apart" for God’s specific plan and purpose individually. Our lives are never meaningless, because living for the Lord is the greatest purpose one can have.

A People for “God's Own Possession” – You and I are the personal possessions of God. He so values each of us that He sent His Son to die in our place in order that we could be His.

Each of these descriptions shows the high value God places on us. Satan may whisper lies of condemnation and criticism, but he can't change who we really are. Begin today to demonstrate the truth of Scripture by remembering our real identity and living out our high calling from the Lord.

God gives to us so that we can give to others. God comforts us so that we can comfort others. The Christian life is about loving, giving, caring, comforting, etc. How can we help hurting people? How can we help one another? After all, we are to love one and bear one another’s burdens. What can we do? We don’t know what to say or how to pray or what to do.

I’m convinced that there are many people in the world who are hurting unnecessarily because they refuse to turn for the source of all compassion and comfort. Here’s the hope for the hurting this morning: when there is discouragement and hurting, and comfort is what we seek, go to the source. There’s only one source, and that is God.

He is called the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort. God wrote the book on compassion and comfort, because He is the creator of it. That is the best self-help book one could buy.

Deaf Devotion 11/19/2010

2010-11-19T20:38:00.001-05:00

“Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22 NLT)

God's grace has no limits. This is an easy statement to make. But do we really understand the meaning of “no limits?” Wherever we go God is already there. If we are worried about the future, God is already there. Whatever trouble we experience God is right there with us.

If we think of God in heaven, remember God is everywhere. If we think God is Wise, remember there is nothing that God does not know. Whatever problem we have God is bigger and more powerful. His name is the name above all names. The depth of His love is so great we cannot copy it here on earth.

His mercy can reach the darkest part of our hearts. What's more, the forgiveness Jesus completed on the cross stretches back to earth's first day and projects forward to its last. Christ not only erased our past, present, and future sin; He also paid for the wrongs of every generation.

When the ancient Israelites brought a goat or a lamb to the temple for a sacrifice, they placed their hands on its head and confessed their sins. The priest then killed the animal and sprinkled some of its blood on the altar of atonement. The ritual symbolized a person’s payment for sin. But that is all it was, a ritual, a habit, a tradition, or a procedure. The problem was that the lamb could not actually take on the sin and die in place of the Israelite (Heb. 10:4).

If an animal's blood could actually bring forgiveness and erase a sin-debt, you and me would still be offering those frequent sacrifices in a temple, and Jesus' death would have been unnecessary. Yet we must remember that, though the act itself had no saving power, the ritual of sacrifice was God's idea. He established such offerings as a powerful image of the seriousness and penalty of sin. The act of sacrifice also pointed to Christ's perfect sacrifice and death on the Cross for you and me and the salvation He offers.

Modern believers practice certain biblical rituals too. But God does not forgive us through prayer, Bible reading, or even the act of confession. Like the Israelites, we must also look to a lamb—the Lamb of God. When we receive Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, we are forgiven forever.

It is only through accepting Jesus Christ as Savior that our debt is paid in full and the payment was made at the Cross one time for all people.

If someone or someone we know of doubts that God has forgiven them, make it right immediately.
If someone or someone we know of needs to hear the truth of the Gospel, tell them now.
If someone or someone we know feels that they are unworthy or unable to be saved, remember that God loves us so much and thought us important and worthy enough that He sacrificed HIS OWN Son once and for all to forever erase the sin-debt we owe Him.

Right now stop and praise God for His unlimited grace and mercy. Exalt Jesus Christ the sacrificed Lamb of God who gave His life so that you and I can have eternal life. That’s forever. That means a future with no limit. And God is already there. Amen.

Deaf Devotion 11/14/2010

2010-11-14T20:48:00.002-05:00

“Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” (James 1:17-18 NLT)

There is a saying that says, “The more things change the more they stay the same.” We live in a changing society. A society that says:
If you don’t like yourself, change.
If you don’t like your job, change.
If you don’t like your wife or husband, change.
If you don’t like your church, change.
If you don’t like your God, change.

But, Praise God James says GOD DOES NOT CHANGE

God's character is often distorted and changed by the world. To those who do not know God, or those who say there is no God, He can appear as a harsh ruler who is quick to condemn any act of disobedience. Or He is some mysterious being who holds out salvation as a prize only to be taken away or lost the next time we make a mistake. Somehow that false view has infected our churches as well. There are believers who approach the Lord as if He were a stingy old man who gives out bits of love, grace, and forgiveness when things are good and then turns His back and disappears when things go wrong. But spiritual poverty is not the Father's plan for His children!

At salvation, God gives and we receive every good gift that God intends to give us: forgiveness, redemption, righteousness, a place in His family, and a room in His house, access to His richness and wisdom, and so much more. There is a mistaken notion among some believers that the Lord's grace to us increases as our faith matures. If that were accurate, we would be earning His blessing though works. The truth is that spiritual growth makes us better able to recognize and enjoy His grace in our lives.

Sadly, plenty of people feel unworthy to enjoy the Lord's blessings. Thankfully, we do not have to earn His goodness, because none of us would be able to do so. In fact, Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV underscores the fact that God operates on the basis of His grace rather than our works. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Think of how big, wide, deep and limitless is God’s love. We are His masterpiece. His best work. He honors, blesses, and showers us with grace because He wants to, not because He must, and not because we earn it.

Our heavenly Father is so generous. He opens His hand wide to pour out grace upon us. Instead of sampling meager bites of His Word and His presence on Sunday, we ought to devour whole "meals" every day. Follow the psalmist's advice to "taste and see that the LORD is good." (Psalm 34:8)

Praise and thanksgiving be to the Lord our God for all His countless gifts and blessings. Amen.

Deaf Devotion 11/02/2010

2010-11-02T11:28:00.003-04:00

“O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.” (Psalm 71:17 NLT)

Today is Election Day around the country. Have you noticed? Does it stir your heart to do something? Have you voted? If not, why not? If not, get up and go. Many people are saying this will be an Election Day to change history. It seems to be the same thing they say every two years. Some people say, “Well I am one person and my vote will not matter.” “I don’t have time.” “Why vote? Nothing will change anyways.” These excuses are sad, but people have actually said them.

Satan wants us to forget one simple truth. One thing is missing. We tend to forget that many men and women have given their lives so you and I can have the freedom and the right to vote. To not vote is to say all these heroes have died and their families sacrificed for nothing.

One of the things Brenda and I dislike about voting is the group of people who stand outside handing out papers and stuff about their candidate. You must go through them to get in to vote. Today was different. There was a group of people there representing several different candidates. None of them tried to hand us a pencil, a pin, or even a piece of paper with someone’s name on it. What happened is that when we were going in and coming out someone in this group shouted simply, “Thanks for coming out to vote!” That impressed me.

Understand when we do not vote because we do not feel like it or because we don’t think our vote matters or makes a difference actually dishonors God. God established government in the post-flood era with the family of Noah. They messed it up then, and because we are all sinners, it is still not a perfect system today. But in the end it belongs to God. The only perfect system of government is that which God lays out in His Word.

We need to understand that voting is a way for God to show Himself mighty and powerful through the votes HIS people cast on Election Day. Only God through HIS people can bring about the change HE wants to see.

Understand that Satan is on a killing spree. He wants to kill our memory and wants us to become forgetful, so that we will not remember our Christian heritage as a nation. Tragically, he’s aiming his artillery at our children, and particularly in the place where they used to grow, mature and become the future leaders of this country: The Schools.

Prayer is out. Police are in.
Bibles are out. Political correctness and tolerance is in.
The Ten Commandments are out. Social programs and trusting the government for everything is in.
Creation is out. Evolution is in.
History is out. Rewriting history to match a political agenda or “revisionism” is in.

God says we need to remember the generation to come. That is our children. Do we want children to not care about the future or think that the government will take care of it? No, the answer lies in today’s verse. “O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.”

The universe as we know it and everything in it, leaders and followers, time, space, the past, the present, and the future are all in God’s hands. That includes voting and the right to vote. Let’s think about God as we vote. How would He view our choices? Would our choices show what God has taught since our birth? This is not an easy question. It does not have an easy answer. It requires prayer. It requires seeking God’s wisdom in voting, and not the wisdom of a newspaper writer, or a person on CNN or Fox.

I do not support politicians going into a church and speaking anything other than God’s Word. I will not use this devotion as anything other than that for which God wants it used. Today when we vote, let God lead our hands as we mark the ballot. “O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.” Let our votes show what God has taught us.

Deaf Devotion 10/25/2010

2010-10-25T11:12:00.001-04:00

“But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness; he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” (Psalm 9:7-10 KJV)

There is much talk today about trust. What is trust?

The dictionary says trust is “reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence; confident expectation of something; the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed.”

The Bible is full of verses calling us to trust in God, in His Love, in His ways, in His protection. The word trust shows up mostly in the Book of Psalms. The Old Testament revolves around the Hebrew word “batach.” This means to act boldly with security. This is shown in Psalm 91:2: “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” (KJV) It is also reflected in the New Testament with the Greek word “pepoithēsis” which has the meaning of submitting with confidence. “We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 3:4 NLT)

This is all nice and well. But how much are we really willing to commit our trust to God? Before answering, consider these situations. Do we really trust the Lord when everything seems out of control and He appears absent? Do we commit our trust when He's called us to move in a certain direction that seems risky and does not seem to make sense? Or are we willing to trust when painful circumstances continue, making us wonder if the Lord really cares at all?

We all have times of doubt when our expectations of God are crushed by the reality of our situation. Many of us want to trust Him more but aren't sure how to do so.

In verse 10 of today’s passage David reveals that the key lies in knowing the Lord. Distance in our relationship with Jesus results in a lack of faith, but those who are in close relationship with Christ find it easier to trust Him wholeheartedly.

Whenever we are tempted to doubt, remember these three essential truths about the Lord:

He is completely sovereign. “The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.” (Ps. 103:19 NLT) God has everything in His control even when we can't see it or recognize it.

He is infinitely wise. “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” (Rom. 11:33 NLT) The Lord knows every side of the situation, the up side and the down side, inside and out. And every He knows every event past, present, and future.

He loves perfectly. When God came and met Moses, He declared His love for His people. “The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6 NLT) “Love and faithfulness” focused on whom? Is it Himself? No, His love and faithfulness is focused on you and me. Without exception, He always chooses what is best for us, even if it's not easy.

We grow in faith, not by trying harder to believe but, rather, by seeking God’s face in all we do. We trust the Holy Spirit will lead us to what God has planned for us. But we must submit with confidence knowing that God is in control and act boldly in all we do so that what we do exalts the name of Jesus Christ. This involves doing all we can to get to know Him--in particular, spending time in His Word and talking to Him in prayer. Then our trust in Him will grow as we learn that He never forsakes those who seek Him.

The early American Indians had a particular way of training young boys to become Indian braves. On the night of a boy’s thirteenth birthday, after learning hunting, scouting, and fishing skills, he was put to one final test. He was placed in a thick forest to spend the entire night alone. Up until then, he had never been away from his family and the tribe. But on this night, he was blindfolded and taken several miles away.

When he took off the blindfold, he was in the middle of a thick woods and he was scared to death! Every time a twig snapped, he would think that a wild animal was getting ready to pounce. After what seemed like an eternity, and the sun began to rise the next morning; the boy looked around and saw flowers, trees, and a path.

And then, to his complete amazement, he saw the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow and arrow. It was his father. And he had been there all night long.

God is like that. Even when we don’t see Him, He’s there. He is faithful and true. He has promised, and He has kept His promise. He is our refuge in times of trouble, and we can trust Him on that.

Deaf Devotion 10/18/2010

2010-10-18T10:15:00.002-04:00

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 KJV)

Anyone who studies the way God does things soon realizes the way God does things is quite different from the way we humans do things. Worldly wisdom says that extraordinary people and abundant resources are needed for great success. But God often chooses the small and insignificant to achieve His purposes on earth. The King James translation of today’s verse uses the words “unlearned and ignorant” and at the same time there was amazement at Peter’s and John’s boldness in their testimony.

“Unlearned and ignorant” are not pretty, positive, or uplifting words in the English language. Most of us would be offended if someone said that about us. But let’s go back to the original language. The real context of this is that Peter and John were ordinary men with no special training in theology or spiritual things. Yet they spoke with authority, and the council “marveled.” This means they were amazed, even shocked. This is the same amazement the Pharisees had when Jesus at a young age was teaching the teachers in the temple. He spoke with an authority that only God can bring. This is the same amazement the Rabbis had when Jesus preached in church in His hometown.

Think about it. Jesus called a rather unimpressive group of men as disciples, yet after being filled with the Spirit, they literally changed the world with their testimony. During His ministry on earth, Jesus fed thousands with an unknown child's meager everyday lunch, and He viewed the lonely unnamed widow's two small coins as a greater offering than all the other generous offerings.

God specializes in using people who aren't naturally qualified to accomplish His tasks. Moses was an 80-year-old shepherd with a speech problem who brought an oppressed nation out of Israel. After Gideon hid from the enemy, God made him a valiant warrior. David was the overlooked youngest son who killed a giant with a small stone and became Israel's greatest king.

God isn't looking for impressive people. God is not looking for ability. God is looking for availability. He wants those who are willing to bow the knee in humble submission. Being weak and ordinary doesn't make us useless. Rather, it puts us in a place for God to show HIS divine power in our lives. He takes anyone at any level and takes delight in making them great to do great things for HIM.

The religious community during the time of Jesus was given to proud, conceited and snobbish attitudes. The Pharisees boastingly told Jesus: “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” (John 8:33 NLT)

Peter and John had for three and one-half years studied at the feet of the greatest Teacher in the history of the world but their demeanor was one of humility, grace and magnificent simplicity.

Have we ever considered that what we think is our lack of ability, talent, or skill is really the ideal setting for a great display of Christ's power and glory? If we are willing to submit to His leading and move forward into the scary yet rewarding territory of faith and obedience, He will do great things in and through us. We are called as “ignorant and unlearned” to obey, and then trust God with the details, not the other way around.

Deaf Devotion 10/11/2010

2010-10-11T12:47:00.001-04:00

This week I am being called to write about faith and salvation. Salvation is already done. It happened at the Cross when Jesus said, “It is finished.” Faith, on the other hand is not a goal or a place. It is something which we cannot always fully grasp. It is total dependency on God. It is total acceptance of His plan as the roadmap for our lives. I’m not so sure this is always possible. Faith is a journey.

Here is today’s Bible passage in two translations:
“For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:5-7 KJV)

“For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:5-7 NLT)

Most times Christians generally associate faith with their salvation experience, and rightly so. By believing in Christ, we enter into a relationship with Him. But that's not the end--afterwards comes a lifetime of “walking” with Him.

Since the word “walk” is used to describe one’s behavior and the way we do things, we may mistakenly believe that after salvation, the Christian life is all about what we do and how well we do it. But today's verses clearly state that we “walk” with Christ in the same way we received Him--by faith. This means we place our trust in Him for every circumstance of life. To help us understand this, Paul uses some phrases which describe how confidence in God grows:

"Having been firmly rooted" or “Let your roots grow down into Him” --At the moment of salvation, believers are "planted" in Christ. Our roots grow deep as we anchor ourselves in the Lord, drawing our spiritual nourishment and our life from Him.

"Be built on Him" or “Built up in Him” --The believer's life is built on the foundation of the Savior through obedience. God wants us to choose precious and valuable building materials that will last into eternity. “Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-11 NLT)

"’stablished in your faith" or “Grow strong in the truth” --In time, as we begin to understand more about the Lord and how He operates, our trust in Him increases, and we experience stability even in the times of trouble. Jesus must increase and I must decrease.

In our goal-oriented society, it's easy to forget that “walking” in Christ is a really a process. While on earth, we never "arrive" but are slowly transformed along the way. As we trust the Lord, our hearts will overflow with gratitude for all His blessings and the strength He offers in every circumstance.

Living in our faith and living out our faith are two different things. We are called to live in faith that Jesus Christ, at the cross, finished the work of salvation for all mankind. We are called to live out our faith by living in obedience and surrender to God’s plan for us.

In the end these two verses challenge us to:
Grow downward by being “rooted” and anchored to Jesus Christ.
Grow upward by being “built up” in Him as Savior and as the Son of God.
Grow inward so that we can be “strengthened in the faith” and fully trust in Him.
Grow outward as we “overflow with thankfulness” because of His sacrifice that is fully pleasing to God.

Deaf Devotion 10/4/2010

2010-10-04T12:02:00.001-04:00

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)

Nobody gets through life without trials. Realistically, we are either in a storm, just getting out of a one, or about to enter a rough time. That is the bad news. Thankfully, we serve a good God who provides beautifully—especially during the dark periods of life.

If we are not in a difficult time, we more than likely will encounter one soon. Jesus promised that we will have many hardships in this life. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV) And was He right!

As unpleasant as trials are, and as much as we do not like to admit we are in a time of trouble, there's still much reason for giving thanks.

Protection. God doesn't necessarily keep believers from suffering or disappointment. Stopping the storms may be our goal, but from His point of view, the hardship may be necessary to make us more spiritually mature. But the Father offers protection by staying with us in the struggle. Once we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are promised that God indwells us and will never leave. What's more, we have assurance that nothing can separate us from His love. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39) So our ever-present God walks with us through the hardships, providing guidance and speaking nothing but pure truth into the situation. The problem becomes whether are we paying attention to what God is doing in the situation or focusing on what we can do to get out of the situation.

Peace. While difficulties cause many people anxiety, believers have God's peace. This inner serenity does not depend on whether circumstances improve. Rather, it's a result of our relationship with Him. Our main focus shouldn't be on fixing the problem but on our dependence upon God.

As we recognize the Lord's provision during trials, we can genuinely express gratitude. Doing so will enable us to fix our eyes on Him rather than on our circumstance. We often don't know what the purpose is for each ensuing trial, but we do know that our God is good and trustworthy.

No one enjoys trials or hardships. But remember to express gratitude for God's hand in our life and the way He will use the difficult times to bring glory to Himself. Hardships are chances to trust our Creator and to know Him better. Of course, they are painful, but don't waste the opportunity to become all the Lord has planned for us.

Deaf Devotion 9/27/2010

2010-09-27T11:17:00.002-04:00

On a personal level, I have been feeling “under attack” on many different levels. I know and feel that through all the attacks and uncertainty God will bring a breakthrough to something that is greater than I can imagine. And in the middle of the struggle and feeling of defeat, God will glorify Himself in what He does. It’s not about what you or me are going through. God already knows that. But God wants us to let go and let Him turn loose every power He has to draw us closer to Him. In that way God will use you and me to show His power. I may feel forgotten, overwhelmed and even discouraged. Being disappointed will happen. Being discouraged is a choice. But God is our rock, our anchor, and our salvation.

We can be disappointed in ourselves, with others, or with a situation that involves home, ministry, or finances. But that disappointment cannot drag us into discouragement. When we look at God’s Word, one clear example of this comes out: David.

To set this up, the Israelites were trapped against the Sea on one side and the Philistines on the other side. (By the way – did you know the name “Philistine” is the old name for “Palestine?”) The Israelites had all but given up. Their disappointment in their leadership, and in God, to some extent had led them to become discouraged and then unable to act. They were just too afraid of what would happen, could happen, or should happen.

“David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:45-47 NLT)

Life's “Goliaths” come in all shapes, sizes, and strengths. It can be in the form of an unhappy relationship, a difficult job, a rebellious child, a pile of debt, an uncontrollable habit, and so on. David faced what appeared to be a problem too big to overcome. Like Him, we can gain victory through God's power, though we may "suffer and bleed" on the battlefield.

Notice that in verse 46 David declared victory over Goliath before the battle even began by declaring “Today the LORD will conquer you.” It was a done deal. But notice also that this did not stop the Philistines from advancing. They depended on their earthly “Goliath” to win the victory for them. They put all their confidence in the size and power of Goliath. But Goliath was a man. David had the unlimited power of God on His side. David knew his human limitations would not bring victory. David's confidence, on the other hand, was rooted in his past experiences. David credited God with protecting and strengthening him when he killed the lion and bear that had threatened his flock.

Furthermore, David believed he would triumph because he was God's servant. The boy had spent hours alone in the wilderness listening to God's quiet voice. Even a giant's discouraging shout could not shake his convictions about who the Lord was and what He could do through His servant.

David had practical faith habits. He spent time with God, which yielded a strong relationship. In turn, he responded to a problem with the certainty that he was a beloved child of God with full access to his Father's storehouses of power, courage, and wisdom. If David had a moment of doubt, he could recall his own poetic words about the Lord's great faithfulness in past troubles.

Our faith does not depend on the wisdom of men. Our faith depends on the power of God. Sometimes words of encouragement fall empty. Sometimes what others say to lift us up will fall short. But it is the faithfulness of God that will stand strong. I encourage all of us to practice David's faith habits. Spend time alone with the Lord, and keep a record of His work in our life. Then we can act in confidence that God is sufficient, no matter how big a problem looms. He gives victory to those who stand in faith and confront their “Goliaths.”

Deaf Devotion 9/20/2010

2010-09-20T21:14:00.001-04:00

“He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” (Colossians 1:17 NLT)

There is a song some of us learned as children. It goes, “He’s got the whole world in His hands. Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in His sight.” We sing about the Lord having the whole world in His hands. But do we realize what is more remarkable than that? He has the whole universe in His hands.

He's the One who spoke it into existence.
He’s the One who keeps it going.
He's the One who is going to fold it up like a garment and tuck it away in a drawer somewhere.
He has absolute power over it; He rules it, and He runs it.

When we pick up the newspaper and read something alarming, we don't need to panic. It is no surprise to God. That just says "Praise God, I told you so!" God is in control! He who flung the stars in space has the whole universe in His hands!

There is one name that is above ALL names in heaven and on earth: Jesus Christ. The more we realize who He really is, the more we will give Him the worship and praise He deserves. Let’s do that today! “Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.” (Psalm 34:3 NLT)

We tend to lose sight of what was done at creation. God as Father, Son, and Spirit existed before the universe came into creation. God as Creator, Son as the spoken Word, and Spirit as the motivator were present when the universe was called into creation with a single Word. God looked at each step in creation and said, “It’s all GOOD.”

-A single drop of water is filled with so many molecules that if each one was the size of a grain of sand, you could build a road a half mile wide, one foot thick all the way from New York to Los Angeles.
-The surface temperature of our sun is about 11,000 degrees. Fortunately, we are 93,000,000 miles away. -- Just the right distance for life on earth to be possible.
-The earth is tilted just the right way for us to have seasons.
-Right now we are spinning at a thousand miles an hour.
-At the same time we are flying around the sun at a thousand miles a minute. -- But we don’t even have to hold on because the Lord’s design is so perfect.
-Our atmosphere is 21% oxygen. -If it was 45%, then the first time there was a spark -- BOOM -- the whole earth explodes!

Think about our heart. It’s about the size of fist and weighs 12 ounces. -- But in 12 hours your heart will do enough work to raise 65 tons off the ground one inch.

All of these things and countless more give glory to the One who created us -- Jesus Christ! “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:1-5 NLT)

What does this mean for us? It means that our God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is bigger than we can possibly imagine. Nothing is too hard for Him. It also means that God is paying attention to the smallest details of His creation. He cares about all of His creation. He cares about every person. As Pastor Bill Bouknight once said, “Every new baby bears the fingerprint of Christ.”

Give glory to God the Son! We give praise because He is the cause of all creation, and because He has the strength to sustain us. The common thread that holds all of creation together is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the spoken Word of all creation, the reliable revelation of God, and the source of our salvation. But who is Jesus to you? Now is the time to trust in the Lord, follow the Lord, serve the Lord, and worship the Lord. Share His Gospel and lead others to open their heart to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Whenever we go to God in prayer, behold the greatness of God.

Deaf Devotion 9/14/2010

2010-09-14T08:46:00.002-04:00

Pastor's Note: Please forgive my absence for a couple weeks. It has been full of activity preparing for the launch of Master's Hands Deaf Church (See update below). I thank each person involved in the hard work of preparing the building, assisting in worship and uplifting us in prayer as we start a new journey reaching the Deaf in our area. To God be the Glory! Great things He has done! -Pastor John-

Ahead with today's devotion:

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” (Hebrews 10:23 KJV)

Let’s be honest. How often do we catch ourselves feeling "hopeful"?

“Hope” is one of those mysterious feelings. It sometimes comes across as an ”emotion” or “view” that we seem to know more when we don’t think about more than when we do think about it. It should not be that way, but it often is. Most times we may not recall the last time we felt hope-full, but we can probably remember the last time we felt hope-less.

Hope, often taken for granted, is nothing more than rock-solid assurance that what God has said is true and will happen. It will happen even when there is nothing except His Word to back up what He says He will do. Hope does not depend on a person’s circumstances. God says our hope is all about our relationship with Jesus Christ. With Jesus as Savior, we ALL have a place in heaven. Jesus said that in His Father’s house are many mansions. That means a place in heaven with your and my name on the door. (Mine has a Starbucks next door too!!!)

Seeing is not the same as believing. Hoping is believing! We walk by faith and not by sight. Hope is the knowledge and confidence that wells up as a result of our believing God. There's a fine line between the two, and one must take a close look to understand fully the difference. A person must believe before they can hope, and hope happens as soon as you believe. So if today we are walking confidently in our relationship with Christ, if we are at peace about today and the future, if Jesus holds the key to your and my future, we are full of hope. We are hope-“full”. When we are hope-“full” there is no room for doubt. A glass full of water will become full before it overflows.

What happens when we become hope-“full”? Our hope overflows and we tell others about the rock-solid assurance that God has a place for EVERYBODY in heaven through a personal relationship of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.

The Bible says to "hold fast” to the Hope, the assurance, and the promise we already have. It was finished at the cross. When Jesus died, the temple veil was torn. Heaven was opened and God is calling His children to come home through Jesus Christ. Stay hopeful by staying faithful, just as God is faithful.

When we hold fast, it means we are “unshakeable.” It means confidence. It means trust. It means assurance.

When we are “unshakeable” we:
1. Depend on Jesus Christ – It’s not about what we do. It’s about what Jesus did for everyone at the Cross.
2. Plan for Growth – We seek to be the hope-“full” person where the hope we already have overflows to others. It is the growth in a closer relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
3. Meet with friends – We have fellowship with others. We have fellowship with God.
4. Encourage others – Our community strengthens our faith. We see someone struggling we come alongside to encourage. We see someone rejoicing we come alongside and help them share their joy.
5. Stay connected - Too many of us are “off and on” or “hot and cold.” We plug in then we pull out. We’re like yoyos – up and down, up and down. The people who are unshakeable are the ones with the HOPE.

Hope means believing that God is in control when things are otherwise hopeless.

Master's Hands Update

2010-09-14T08:00:00.003-04:00

God is good all the time.
We had a wonderful "Launch Sunday" celebration with 22 in attendance.
It was a time of celebration, praise and worship.
A huge thank you goes out to those who gave up their time to make the Master's Hands building a place of worship to honor and exalt God.
The local ABC News came out and did a story on us also.

Here is the link:
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=7660874

Thank you to all who lift us up in prayer as we start a journey together.

God Bless you!

Pastor John

Deaf Devotion 8/28/2010

2010-08-28T11:31:00.002-04:00

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 KJV)

Notice that we walk through the valley of the SHADOW of death. It is not the “valley of death.”It certainly is not Death Valley in California where the average daily temperature is 112 degrees. The writer is also speaking in the present. Meaning it is happening now. It is as if the valleys are something which we cannot avoid. There is a reason for that.

Think about it. Who doesn't love the mountains? The views, the cool, refreshing air, and no mosquitoes! In ancient times both pagan and real worship were always in "high places," These “high places” are mentioned nearly eighty times in the Old Testament. The temple in Jerusalem was on the top of Mount Moriah. It was on a mountaintop where Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John “Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them.”(Mark 9:2 NASB)

“Transfigured” is from the Greek word “μεταμορφόω” (metamorphoō) which means to change into another form. This is much the same when a caterpillar goes into the cocoon and comes out a butterfly. We go to the cross as sinners and come away from the cross redeemed and forgiven. We go into the valley of the shadow of death with fear and we come out the other side protected and saved. We are new creatures.

As nice as mountaintops are, we live in the valleys below. Even Jesus refused Peter's request to set up shelters on the mountaintop to extend their stay. By their very nature, valleys can be darker with roads that have many bends and turns. Life in the valley has more unexpected twists and turns than life on a high place. We can't see as far or as clearly in the valley, a fact that makes us insecure, even fearful. It is for that reason that God promises to be with us in the valleys of our life. He promises to stand with us even in the valley of the shadow of death.

Breathe deeply of God's goodness on the mountaintop, but when we return to life in the valley, we can know without a shadow of doubt that God goes with us. There is nothing to fear in the valley where we live.

God is God of the mountaintop and God of the valley. This means that God is God on the mountaintop. But He does not stay there. He comes down into the valley to stay with us as the Shepherd and leads us to places of rest and safety. The focus is not the valley or the mountaintop. God calls each and every one of us in a personal way to focus on the Shepherd, the One who is with us.

David says “I will walk, I will not fear, and I will get through…” David did not say, “I walk IN the valley” but “I WALK THROUGH the valley.” That’s why David starts off this Psalm declaring, “The Lord is MY Shepherd.” He does not say “was” or “will be.” Our Shephard is alive in the here and now ready to protect and save. When life blows up in our face and God seems far away and distant, we are not looking for reasons. We need comfort. We don’t need some answers. We need someone. And Jesus does not come to us with an explanation of “why” or “how.” Jesus comes to us with His presence.”

The basic question is not whether we have many or few valleys in life. It is not whether those valleys are dark or not so dark. The question is how we respond to them. How can we get through? Trust in the Shepherd. Depend on Him. We go into the valley at one end and we come out the other end as different people. He is the God of the mountaintop and the God of the valley. Jesus was transfigured on top of the mountain, but He transforms us coming through the valley.

ANNOUNCEMENT - The Deaf Church at Cornerstone

2010-08-20T19:40:00.002-04:00

Praise the Lord!

On September 12, 2010 Deaf Church at Cornerstone will become Master's Hands Deaf Church. You may wonder why. The Deaf Church is a separate mission church Cornerstone is planting. We will no longer be in the Cornerstone Baptist Church building but in the building to the west. The address is 6273 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek MI 48473.

Master's Hands Deaf Church is a congregation of Deaf and Hearing individuals started as a mission of Cornerstone Baptist Church with the purpose of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Flint, Michigan area.

Cornerstone Baptist Church had a Deaf Ministry for many years and will continue to serve the Deaf. The Deaf Church at Cornerstone began three years ago as a separate Deaf Church within Cornerstone Baptist Church. The focus was Deaf Worship, Sunday School and Bible study which is signed and not interpreted.

Master's Hands Deaf Church is a church where you come as you are and are welcome. We do not get hung up on what you look like. We want you to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Come expecting to exalt the risen Savior, praise and worship God, and study God's Word to learn God's plan for each person. The goal is to make sure all Deaf know of the salvation God offers through Jesus Christ and by His grace and how to live a victorious life in His Will.

Sunday, September 12, 2010 will be “Launch Sunday.” Deaf Sunday School starts with fellowship at 945am. Deaf Worship is at 11am. Bible Study is Wednesday at 630pm. If you plan to attend and are in need of a voice interpreter, please contact us and we will do our best to provide accommodation for you. Sunday evenings, the service at Cornerstone Baptist Church will continue to be interpreted at 6pm and the Deaf are welcome to join our Hearing brothers and sisters in worship. Master's Hands Deaf Church does have child care and children's programs available with Cornerstone Baptist Church.

I would encourage you to visit and worship with us. If you have questions or need more information, please feel free to contact me. God Bless You! We look forward to seeing you soon at Master's Hands Deaf Church.

Blessings,
John Bienlein
Pastor
Master's Hands Deaf Church

Deaf Devotion 8/20/2010

2010-08-20T13:36:00.003-04:00

“Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness." (Psalm 145:3 NLT)

Our God is too big to be contained in facts, formulas, or by limited minds. Trying to explain Him is like a child trying to teach about quantum physics to his friends in the first grade. If we could understand God who has no limits, and pack Him up within our soggy brains, there would be no way He could be eternal, limitless, uplifting, and glorious. It is our own minds that put limits on God. God will never limit Himself in any way.

If we could remove the “mystery” of God, He would not be God after all. As theologian Wayne Grudem wrote, "It is spiritually healthy for us to acknowledge openly that God's very being is far greater than we can ever comprehend."

Another scholar, Henry Morris, adds an important point. Speaking of the person of God, he said, "We cannot really comprehend this with our minds, but we can believe it and rejoice with our hearts." We can sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation, the God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation. The characteristics of God cannot be fully known by our limited understanding; we just know He is mighty, merciful, and full of majesty.

Many of us know the hymn “How Great Thou Art.” Psalm 145:3 is from where the song is taken. Think about the words.

“O Lord my God” – You are God we are not. We are sinners through and through. But you reach into history to lift us from our sin. Only from your hands can the universe be created, and controlled.

“When I in awesome wonder” - I stand in awe and respect of my Savior, my Salvation and the Creator of the Universe.

“Consider all” – well almost everything as my mind cannot take in all that you do, Lord. Isaiah said that your thoughts are not our thoughts and your ways are not our ways.

“The works Thy Hand hath made” - by your word the entire universe was brought into existence.

“I see the stars” - you want me to count them? Only you know how many, Lord. And you know every name too!

“I hear the mighty thunder” - My mom always said it sounds like angels are bowling. Really, it is you Lord making your awesome power to be felt.

“Thy power throughout” – there is nothing that exists outside of the limitless power of God. Wow that is some power.

“The universe displayed” - His power throughout the universe displayed. It’s HIS POWER that is on display. It’s HIS POWER that shows our sin and weakness. Thank you Lord for showing your power over sin through your Son Jesus Christ, Our Savior.

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee. “How great Thou art! How great Thou art!” Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee, “How great Thou art! How great Thou art!”

“When Christ shall come” – He said He will be back to bring us all home to heaven. He promised. What He says He will do He will do. God has not yet broken a promise. Can we say the same thing?

“With shouts of acclamation” – Praise, honor, glory, adoration, worship, and approval all belong to your name Lord Jesus.

“And take me home” – We are travelers in a strange land. We long to be home with Jesus.

“What joy shall fill my heart!” – And we mean filled to overflowing. There will be no other thing on which we can focus. Jesus now and always.

“Then I shall bow” – Before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

“In humble adoration” – To worship only you.

“And there proclaim” – “My God, how great Thou art!"

God is great.
His power and His might is more than we can figure out.
His gentle Spirit brings us peace and calm.
His saving Son brings us eternal life, and takes away all our sin.
And His saving power brings us home to an eternity of humble adoration of the great God we worship.

“And there proclaim” – “My God, how great Thou art!"

“If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshipped.”
Evelyn Underhill, quoted by Elizabeth Elliot in “Secure in the Everlasting Arms.”

Deaf Devotion 8/13/2010

2010-08-13T11:47:00.003-04:00

This is a little late. Brenda and I took a short vacation to Amsterdam.

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
(2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT)

I have heard many people say, “I’m at the end of my rope.” What does this mean? To many people it means they cannot take any more negative things happening. They have gone as far as they can and they have now reached the limit of their patience. To others it means there is no more hope. They have exhausted every possibility of help and feel there is no more for them to hold on to.

Most of us do not realize how much we need Jesus until we are burned out from stress. This could be either stress we bring on ourselves or by stress that is caused by circumstances beyond our control.

Why is that?

In today’s verse Paul says it is because we are fragile, but he doesn’t stop there. He says that God made us this way so that His power may be known through us! Maybe someone has said to just tie a knot in the end of your rope and hang on!

We could be at the end of our rope and feel defeated, but we still have Jesus. The joy of knowing Jesus will keep us from being destroyed.

Joy will keep us going when we are at the end of our rope offended by a harsh word or deed. We still have Jesus!
Joy will uphold us when we are at the end of our rope with circumstances and situations. We still have Jesus!
Joy will lift us up when we are at the end of our rope with the actions of friends and family. We still have Jesus!
Joy will make us free when we are at the end of our rope with weeping due to loss and pain. We still have Jesus!

When we are at the end of our rope, when we have lost all patience and hope, we still have Jesus!

Jesus will lift us when happiness is wiped out.
Jesus changes hopelessness to hope fulfilled.
Jesus changes confusion to praise.
Jesus changes questions to truth.
Jesus changes depressed to delivered.
Jesus changes giving up to looking up.
Jesus changes sorrow to joy.
Jesus changes bewildered to strengthened.

All of us know that life is not always fair, bad things happen to good people. Sometimes Christians have financial problems, Sometimes Christians get sick, Sometimes Christians fight personal battles in their marriage, in their minds, even in their flesh, or their appetites. Many times Christians will reach “the end of their rope.” But there is victory in Jesus Christ.

Stop depending on the rope. The rope will not save us. Jesus Christ will save us. It’s time to turn our eyes from how much or how little rope we have left to a faith and trust in Jesus Christ that has no end.

Sometimes God wants us to let go of the rope because it is keeping us tied down to our destructive habits. We are totally dependent on God so that the love of His Son may be made known to the world.

Deaf Devotion 8/2/2010

2010-08-02T21:47:00.002-04:00

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
(Philippians 2:13 NLT)

One of the greatest secrets I have ever learned is this: God doesn’t want us to do anything FOR Him. He wants to do something THROUGH us.

I have heard people say, “Well, I just serve God in my poor, little, old small way.” I feel like saying, “Well, quit it.” He doesn’t want us to serve Him in our own “poor, little, old small way.” God wants our plans, goals, and pride out of the way, so He can flow through us! We need to make ourselves available to God and say, “God, I’m tired of limiting what you can do. I want to be filled with YOUR Spirit. I want you to live your life through me.”

We need to stop and allow God to show us where we have been standing in HIS way instead of surrendering to God and letting HIM live through us.

This can affect how we relate to each other also. Jesus had to deal with this in His Disciples.

“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 16:21-23 NLT)

Believers are called to be compassionate. “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12 NLT)But at the same time we must show sensitivity even when dealing with others. At times, when we step into another person's life with a plan we put together, it puts us in front of God and God cannot put His plan into action. It has to be God's way.

Peter once allowed feelings to cloud his judgment too. Attempting to interfere in the divine plan for Jesus Christ was an experience that he likely never forgot.

Peter knew exactly who Jesus was—namely, the Messiah and Son of the living God, he also held common Jewish misunderstandings about the Messiah's mission. Many Israelites awaited a king who would overthrow Roman rule. Consequently, Peter refused to accept Jesus' warnings of the judgment, mistreatment, and death He anticipated. After trying to convince the Lord that such an end was attempting to upset God's will.

Peter had a narrow view of God's plan. Jesus’ priority was to set free people’s hearts from sin rather than people’s bodies from government authority. Peter's wrong views led him into open rebellion. Do not make his mistake. Seek God's will before offering compassionate aid, lest we block His unfolding plan.

What sometimes we fail to understand is that God’s plans can be different from our plans. The truth is that we should expect that God’s plans will be different than our plans.

Understand that we should never, never, never stop acting in love to help one another. Let’s just do it with God and not ahead of God.

The greatest test of our commitment to God is when God’s plan is different to ours. Peter believed that stopping Jesus was the loving thing to do. No doubt, Peter thought that this would be the greatest display of love to the Savior that could ever be expressed. But, Jesus knew better that the most loving thing would be to follow God’s plan that would take Him to the Cross, to death, to the tomb, and then to resurrection Sunday. That is the love Jesus has for you and me. Peter’s version of love would have stopped salvation’s plan. God’s version of love made salvation available to all who will believe.

God asks us, “Are you willing to make whatever changes might be necessary in your life to follow me?” if not, we will not hear from God and we need to get out of His way. But if we are sincerely willing to let God make changes in our life and work through us to the glory of His perfect plan, then we are in a position to hear God speak!

Deaf Devotion 7/23/2010

2010-07-23T22:06:00.000-04:00

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV)

At first glance it looks like Paul is talking about becoming a person that really follows Jesus from place to place always looking for something else. Like they are looking for something Jesus to do something better, something more exciting, or even something more meaningful. In this verse, if one were to study the Greek means for us to be imitators of Jesus just as Paul became an imitator of Jesus.

Everything Jesus taught, Paul taught. Every insult Jesus took, Paul took. Every step Jesus took, Paul took. Paul became an imitator of Jesus even to the point of death. Paul faced death several times only to be spared because God had a bigger mission in mind for him. For Jesus, His mission was to die for all sin. Only Jesus could do that. Paul could not and knew it. So he became an imitator of Jesus

What does it mean to “imitate?” To imitate is to copy the characteristics of an example as closely as possible. It means to act like someone or something. It also means to do all one can to equal, excel, or match the example.

Paul had a certain attitude that Christians are wise to imitate, follow, or copy. He reveals some of his heart in 1 Corinthians chapter 11.

There is humility. Pride cannot hide in the heart of a believer who understands God’s mercy. Paul spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ because he believed that God’s grace, which was sufficient to save a sinner like him, and is more than adequate for anyone to become saved and have eternal life.

Paul had a sense of responsibility. He never lost sight of how far God's grace had brought him and he frequently reminded believers of his role in persecuting the church. Paul says, “even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief.” (1 Timothy 1:13 NASB) Paul's gratitude for salvation from that former life never decreased. The book of Acts records the almost constant turmoil and heartache of his travels, and yet he kept praising the Lord for the honor of serving.

Paul also knew dependence. To describe the source of his strength, Paul used these words: "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace." (1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT) He knew what it was like to depend upon one's own goodness and work to be religious. It took Jesus to show Paul how foolish this is and then Paul wanted no part of it. Paul desired more dependence on Jesus and no dependence on himself. “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8 NLT)

Paul took on a spirit of absolute confidence. At the end of his life, Paul was as certain as ever that God was real, in charge, and worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. He knew no other Savior because there is no other Savior. He knew no other Gospel because there was no other truth. For Paul Christ is everything, God’s grace is sufficient, and he could rest in the knowledge that God is in control.

Do we see these attitudes in ourselves? If not, sneak a peek here at Paul’s heart for God. Do not be just a follower, but a “doer.” Become a person who takes the humility, responsibility, confidence, and dependence taught by Jesus and copies those attitudes in everything we do. Paul did it. We can too.

Deaf Devotion 7/19/2010

2010-07-19T21:35:00.001-04:00

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 KJV)

Is there any clearer message that God wants everyone in a relationship with Jesus Christ?

Okay...check this out. This past Sunday was one of those days when God really blessed The Deaf Church at Cornerstone. I had finished preaching on becoming soul winners. How our responsibility becomes to reach out to as many people as possible with the Gospel of Salvation – The Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was finished and the only way I can explain this is to say that the Holy Spirit led me to add to my message.

We had three visitors this past Sunday. I simply said that if there was anyone there that did not know Jesus as Savior or if they were not sure that Jesus really is their Savior, to talk to either myself or another believer. We can share the Gospel to show how to have the assurance they can be with Jesus today if something were to happen.

One person is saved and knows it. Another is not yet saved but is not really a “religious person.” They made the comment that they thought the Bible is a nice story to encourage people to act right. The third person raised their hand and said that they always felt they were saved but has made too many mistakes to really be saved.

I have heard many reasons why people are uncertain about their eternal future. "I sin too much," says one. "I don't feel saved, Pastor," says another. Someone else worries that he or she did not follow the "right procedure" to ask for forgiveness. Still others have erroneously learned from their families or churches that no one can be sure of salvation.

My response to all of these has been and will stay the same: “If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that His death on the cross purchased God's forgiveness for your sins, then you are saved. And you can be sure. From this point forward this is not something that will be lost nor can it be taken away.

Why?

God's promises never change. He said that those who trust in His Son would have eternal life. “I tell you the truth. Those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24 NLT) What's more, a believer cannot be snatched from God's hand “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (John 10:27-30 NLT)

The Lord loves us completely. Nothing can separate a believer from God's love “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” (Romans 8:38 NLT) Satan's charges against us can never change how precious we are to our Father.

The Savior's work on the cross is finished. Jesus Christ made one perfect sacrifice—His own life. In this single act, He atoned for every sinful deed, word, and thought. When we receive His salvation, it is ours forever.

God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins so we could live eternally in His presence. It really is that simple. Whatever our doubts, ask the Holy Spirit to confront them with biblical truth. He will quietly assure our hearts that we are God's children forever.

The question is not about how we can reach Deaf with the Gospel. Our prayer should always be, “Lord, lead me and show me how to be a soul winner today.” That is the challenge I put before us. Dare to be a soul winner.

I will tell you this. From Sunday one person is sure, the other had seeds of faith planted and the other prayed and accepted Jesus as their Savior once and for all with the assurance that we all make mistakes and that Jesus knows and will be faithful to forgive. God be praised for an awesome opportunity to witness! It’s not about us witnessing, it’s making sure that everyone has the saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

“I am willing, God is able.
God is able. I am willing.”

Deaf Devotion 7/12/2010

2010-07-12T22:46:00.000-04:00

“But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help.” Daniel 6:10-11 NLT

I send you greetings from the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul. I am here for a training conference and will be home Tuesday evening.

Do we dare to pray? Or does the world say, “How dare you pray?”Or is prayer something that is just so commonplace that it really does not have a special place in our worship of God or our devotion time with God? Paul says in I Thessalonians that we are to always have an attitude of prayer and be ready to pray at the time God calls us to pray. Paul seems to say pray when it seems right and when it just does not seem right. Paul says to, like Daniel, dare to pray when things are good and when things are not so good.

Daniel had three choices. Each choice carries a price tag with a high cost. Daniel could decide not to pray and that would cost him his fellowship with God. Daniel could also decide to hide and pray in secret. This would cost him the ability to influence people around him. Finally, Daniel could decide to continue to pray and that would cost him his life.

We may not face a real lion’s den or fiery furnace like Daniel did. But we will all face trials where we feel the lions are circling looking to devour and there are times when we feel the flames of trouble burning our toes. But we go on. We go on with business as usual. We serve a Savior who is able to go into the lion’s den. We serve a Savior who stands with us in the flames of temptation and denial. We serve a Christ who is able to see us through. We must keep our eyes on the Lord and not on the lions or on the heat from the flames.

Someone we know may be in a lion’s den. It could be a lion’s den of a broken marriage. It may be a lion’s den of a broken family. It may be furnace fueled by the loss of one’s health. God is calling us to prayer for those people that He will show Himself mighty in their situation. Paul said that God’s grace is more than enough for whatever we face. God will stand with us and He will not leave until we are on the other side of the problem.

And we can learn that the difference between Daniel and most of us is, Daniel served God continually. But most of us serve God when it is comfortable and convenient. We serve Him until we can’t get our way anymore. We serve Him as long as everything is going our way. Am I right about it!? But Daniel answers, my God is able. Daniel also knew that God had sent deliverance from the Lions and from the furnace.

Daniel is an incredible person to look at for a life study. He shows us with living example what it is to live in a society wants nothing to do with God and His Word. Looking to his life we learn how to live in the world around us … to separate ourselves from the grip of the world and at the same time make an impact upon it for the cause of the kingdom. Have you dared to be a Daniel this week?

Be a Daniel … dare to pray!

Deaf Devotion 7/5/2010

2010-07-05T08:48:00.001-04:00

Psalm 121:1-2 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth."

It is a holiday weekend here in the United States. Let me ask you this. When you stand for the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance do you still put your hand on your heart? I was taught to do it and still do it with pride. I was surprised recently at those who do not. It also makes me sad.

I have heard people say that it takes one person to make a change. I would like to respectfully disagree. It takes two. It takes us AND God. Without God nothing is successful. But it must start with us and we must include God.

In preparing for yesterday’s sermon, I came across this:

In his book “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,” completed in 1787, British historian and Member of Parliament Edward Gibbon lists the he thought the Roman Empire failed.

1. The rapid increase of divorce; the weakening of dignity and sacredness of the home, which is the basis of human society.
2. Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the people.
3. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.
4. The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within: the corruption of the people.
5. The decay of religion—faith fading into mere form—losing touch with life and becoming impotent to guide the people.

Does that sound like something we are experiencing today? But wait, there’s more.

On a typical day in this country:
- 5,962 couples marry and 2,986 divorce
- drunk drivers do $18 million worth of damage
- 90 million cans of beer are consumed
- 2,740 teenagers get pregnant
- 63,288 cars crash killing 129 people
- 3,231 women have abortions

What’s our hope? Not in government. Not in the military. And not even in the genius of Americans, if they are any! Here is our only hope:

Psalm 121:1-2 (NLT) “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

What do we need to do help turn America around? There is no magic solution to save America. To save America we must share the Gospel. We must share the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.

We must repent. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)
If people cannot see Christ through us in what we do, then we can’t expect anyone else to do what God expects. We have to set the right example for others to follow. Even Paul said “Imitate me in the ways that I imitate Christ.” (1Corinthians 11:1 KJV) Or in other words, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

We must pray and always have an attitude that is ready to pray. “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT)
When we pray and ask of the Lord. He will do things that we cannot do! And we need to ask Him to do something in America! We need to pray for our leaders, if nothing else we must pray for them to come to their senses and seek the Lord!

We must be people that show trust in God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)
We obey God in what He has already planned. Then we trust that He will work out the details. God knows what He s doing and He knows far better what is best than you and me know what is best.

We must tell others about Jesus Christ. The Institute for American Church Growth asked over 10,000 people this question: “What was responsible for your coming to Christ and this church?” This is how they replied:
(1) I had a special need 2%
(2) I just walked in 3%
(3) I like the Minister 6%
(4) I visited there 1%
(5) I like the Sunday school 5%
(6) I attended a Revival service 1/2 of 1%
(7) I liked the programs 3%
(8) A friend or relative invited me 79%

Acts 8:4 says of the early Christians: “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

Can we do less than they did? I really think Christians in America have lost this passion for sharing the Gospel. Did they believe more than we do? Was their faith stronger? What’s the difference?

I don’t believe there is any hopeless situation and certainly not, when the Lord is involved.

We are all individuals. There really is only one person who can make things right when things go wrong. Things do go wrong in life. We’ve seen things go terribly wrong in America and the Lord is only hope of changing things and making life better.

Pray and ask Jesus to show us how we can make a difference for His name in America today. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13 KJV)

Deaf Devotion 6/28/2010

2010-06-28T12:28:00.000-04:00

“Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.” (Ephesians 2:16 NLT)

“Hostility” – unfriendliness; resentment; lack of sympathy; anger; animosity.

I had to ask the question, “Why are people so hostile against God?” Some people are downright mean in how the approach God, treat God, and in what they expect from God or expect God to do. Is it because He is righteous and we are not? Is it because He is holy and we are not? Is it because He is in control and we are not? Is it because He is God and we are not?

No, that’s not it. The answer my friends, is with us. It is pride. It is plain and simple pride. We want to believe we can do more than God and get ahead of Him in His plan. It’s not going to happen. We cannot give more than God and we cannot give up more than God gave up.

Pride’s primary fruit is HOSTILITY.

The word is only found in the New Testament, here in Ephesians 15 and 16 and once in Luke 23:12. We’re told there that Herod and Pilate did not get along too well. It was a political thing. They were hostile toward one another. That ended when Pilate sent Jesus to be judged by Herod, and Herod having his ego properly stroked, softened toward Pilate and after that they were best buddies. Awww... how sweet.

It is interesting that the three times this word is used in the New Testament, Jesus the one who is somehow involved in erasing it.

Up in heaven is the holy God; down below is the sinful man. And sin is what separates us from God and God from us. We have an empty void in our soul, so we are constantly trying to reach God. But he cannot get past the sin barrier.

Then God, who wanted to have mercy on us and our hopeless situation said, “I will do something.” God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to make a way. And upon the rough sawn timbers of a cross, Jesus gave His life so you and I could not only live forever, but also live forgiven forever.

All of our sin for all time was judged, condemned, and came under the fire of God’s wrath, in the body of His Son, Jesus Christ there on that cross.

There’s a song that goes, “There’s a bridge to cross the great divide. There’s a cross the bridge the great divide.” Jesus built that bridge between man and God with His life and His blood. It’s a bridge man could never build and a bridge that man can never take away. God made a way that we couldn’t make — for you and for me. Since Jesus built a bridge of love for us to be reconciled to God, it's our turn to build a bridge of love to someone who is lost and searching.

Drop the pride. Drop the Hostility. Right now we all know a person who needs to accept Jesus as Savior. Tell them now how to live forever forgiven.

Deaf Devotion 6/21/2010

2010-06-21T08:15:00.001-04:00

“How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.” (Hebrews 11:32 NLT)

I’m letting you know. I’m going to get personal.

Last week was a tough week for me personally. I saw my job of eight years given to somebody else. I saw my office closed. I saw my friends and co-workers laid off. It was tough. I saw the reality that if I want to continue working, I must transfer to an office in another city.

But the focus is not me. Personally, I would like to focus more on God’s work. I sometimes wonder just how bi-vocational Pastors do it. There is so much work, but not that much time. Frankly, I would rather be a Pastor full time teaching Deaf and hearing how to share Jesus Christ. I would rather do that than anything else, but it’s up to God to prepare me for that.

My goal is to obey God’s call, and let Him work out the details to lead me to what He wants me to do. My responsibility is to be obedient. It is the same for all of us.

God led me in my personal devotion time to the verse in Hebrews and what I realized is that even the writers of Scripture ran out of time. The author of Hebrews 11, who is assumed to be Paul, wanted to list the Old Testament heroes of faith, but by the time he covered the ones in Genesis, he was almost out of space. He snuck in a handful of examples of Godly faith from the early books of the Bible, and then regretted that it would take too long to tell ALL the stories he wanted to tell. Do you have a story to tell?

In heaven, we'll have no limitations; but here on earth we have only so many years, days, hours, and seconds. The Bible tells us to "number our days" and to "redeem the time" because, frankly, life here is short.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. “ (Psalm 90:12 KJV)
“Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” (Ephesians 5:16 NLT)

We can't do everything, so let's ask God to show us day by day the work He has assigned us. A good prayer upon awakening each morning is: "It’s your plan today, Lord!" A good bedtime blessing is: "I have finished the work you gave me to do today."

With my new schedule at work, I regret to say that I will need to cut back the devotions from two times a week to once a week. I am planning to publish the devotions on Mondays, one of my days off. I feel like maybe I am letting down some people or even letting God down in some way.

But I’m not. Satan wants me to think I have let you down or let God down. But I don’t have time to listen to Satan’s lies. I am going to continue teaching and preaching from God’s Word the grace, mercy, and love that God has for all. I will continue reaching people with the Gospel by this devotion. There is so much God has blessed me with and I want to teach and I want to use this devotion to teach as well as teaching at preaching at church. But it’s not about what I want. It’s about what God wants

In the end God is still God, Jesus Christ is still Lord, Savior, and the King of Kings. Keep it that way. Use the time God allows us to glorify Him, expand His Kingdom, spread His Gospel, and tell people about Jesus.

Remember, if you have Jesus, you have the prize. There is a place in heaven for you. Now the goal becomes to bring as many people with us as possible. Use the time to tell friends, family, and those God sends our way about eternal life with Jesus Christ. Get personal with people. Don’t let anyone live another day without Jesus Christ.

How much more do I need to say?

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 6/15/2010

2010-06-15T07:35:00.002-04:00

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV)

There was no Deaf Devotion this past weekend. Did anyone notice? If anyone noticed did anyone ask or say anything? If anyone did not notice the devotion was missing did God prompt you to have time with Him? It is not important what I write or say. It is important what God says AND writes.

God’s Word constantly points out that we should be on watch and we should be prepared at any time for the return of Jesus. If we cannot make time with God or make time to study some ting is wrong with our priorities. If God’s Word becomes such that we do not even notice when He is trying to tell us something, then we need to do a better job of preparation. That only happens with a closer relationship with God. The way to have this close relationship is to ask God to reveal Himself in His Word.

My words in this Devotion are not for my purpose, pride or even a pat on the back. This is writing directly from God’s Word to help anyone, Deaf or Hearing, to make sure we are all able to share the Gospel and have a deeper relationship with God. It is not to influence or force anyone to do anything. It is God’s way of teaching all of us the truth contained in His Word. It is God’s way of telling us that He wants ALL his children in heaven with Him. It is God’s way of telling us that we, that is you and me and not somebody else, need to tell everyone we know that Jesus Christ is Lord, King, and Savior and the only way to Heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul is writing to a group of Christians who were struggling with the issue of what happens after the physical death of the body. Although they were living about twenty years after the resurrection, their thinking about life and death were being influenced by their culture. I am afraid that is also a plight that we may share.

We tend to take things for granted. Some of us could care less about what happens to our body after we die. We are just hoping to find enough aspirin, icy/hot and duct tape to keep us together now. Even though we have everything we need right in front of us, at our fingertips, it is something that we think applies to somebody else. Do we speak up? Do we say anything? When God calls it’s all going to happen in the blink of an eye.

In the end it will not matter whether or not we write or read a weekend or mid-week devotion. In the end it will not matter all the good things we do. In the end all that matters is Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In the end, in the twinkling of an eye we will be transformed.

In the end, it will be the beginning. It will be the end of our earthly journey and the beginning of eternity. Do not take God’s Word for granted. Look up, say “thanks” and give praise. My point is DON”T MISS IT. Do not take it for granted.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 6/8/2010

2010-06-08T09:25:00.002-04:00

“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25 NLT)

There are so many excuses people use for NOT going to church. Frankly, all of them are lame and weak. “People will judge me.”
“It’s boring.”
“I don’t have any way to get to church.”
“I don’t have the right clothes.”
“Somebody said something mean to me many years ago.”
“Sunday is my only day off.”
“I’m not going to that church if so-and-so will be there.”
“If so-and-so shows up, I will leave.”

Why do we do this? “Why do we put our petty gripes and complaints ahead of worshipping God? Why can’t we set aside for just a short time our pride and plan and focus on God and all He is doing? When will we learn that it’s not about us and what we do. It’s about God and what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Do we realize that time spent remembering an offense from years ago, or focusing on being bored, or any other excuse we can come up with is taking our focus off of God? Church is a place of learning God’s plan through studying His Word in preaching and teaching.

Do you know what is happening in America today? People who claim to be Christians are not getting involved. People are choosing not to become faithful to a church which is the local fellowship of believers.

Such a thing was unheard of in the Bible. If you were a Christian, you were faithful to the fellowship. You attended when everyone gathered together. If you stopped attending, they would find out why. They would not let any division come into the body of the church. This is why Paul puts love above everything in 1 Corinthians and talks about leadership to Timothy. He talks about the Body of Christ throughout His letters. And he says the Body needs to come together in service and worship.

What is more important than the local gathering of the body of Christ to worship God? It is the way we stay “plugged in” to the needs of the body of Christ. It is the way we show honor to Him in worship. It is simply the way.

What is on the schedule this week that is more important than being a part of the blood-bought body of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Even in Jesus’ day people gave excuses why they could not commit themselves to Him. Jesus’ call to the people of his day was that the kingdom of God was at hand, repent of sin and follow Him. And yet people made excuses, reasons why they could not follow Him.

A man replied, “Lord first let me go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Another said, “I will follow you Lord, but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.
Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Many may think that Jesus’ repose seems rather cold, odd, and cruel, but Jesus was not concerned about social or political correctness. Jesus offended people. But guess what. Jesus was right!

These people were ready and able to commit, but on their own terms!

They would commit, but as long as the cost was not too high. Jesus was testing them to see how serious they were about their commitment.

Why is it so difficult for some people to commit themselves to Christ and His Church? The cost of commitment is still a problem for the church today. Yes we are willing to commit, but on our terms and if a lot is not expected out of us. But the Bible teaches maturity. Reading through God’s Word shows us that a wise person isn't easily angered, doesn't spread gossip, and refrains from harsh words.

So why should we give our whole self to God?

What has he done for us? In a single word, it is GRACE.

Thank God for His grace!

God has given us something that we cannot earn by ourselves.

It is something that we cannot go downtown and buy at the local grocery store.

He has given us a gift a very special gift.

And He is the only one that has the ability to give us this priceless gift of grace.

It is a gift that goes beyond measure or any monetary value.

And when we think of how little we have to bring and how much He offers and that He invites us to share with him, we should be shouting His Name in praise from the rooftops.

We do not have enough love, or faith, or grace, or mercy or wisdom.

But God does.

Get Right.

Get over it.

Get to church.

Don’t let excuses stand between you and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Deaf Devotion 6/5/2010

2010-06-05T10:31:00.001-04:00

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

There are times in our life when most people experience some feelings of inferiority. This means we feel that we are “not as good” as other people or that other people are better than us for some reason. When I was growing up, my mother was the main “breadwinner” for the family. Sometimes we struggled financially. We did not live in the fanciest house in the “rich people” neighborhood. We did not have the latest and trendiest clothing. Even in school, I felt that I did not measure up academically to the other kids. The sense of failure and embarrassment at not being good enough is something that still stays with me today in some ways.

The misery of inferiority or not being “good enough” is never what God intends for His children. This feeling of low self esteem usually starts in the hearts of the young and becomes stronger when people start comparing what they have with what they do not have. This kind of emotional “baggage” can cause someone to focus too much on things and can also cause one to be totally focused on what other people expect. Feelings of inadequacy may cause one to avoid challenges. Low self-esteem cripples personal relationships and comparison steals happiness.

Feeling that we are “not good enough” to God is a lie. Satan tells us that to make us believe that God is ready to give up on us or that we are “not good enough” for God to save. DO NOT BE DECEIVED. God loved EVERYONE so much that Jesus died, rose, and lives today that you and I will have eternal life. Satan wants us to believe that we are “not good enough” for God, and Jesus’ work means nothing. Do not listen to Satan’s lies. Satan wants to destroy God’s masterpiece. But the truth is that God loves us more than we understand.

We need to understand how God sees us. Then, when we start feeling that we are not good enough, we can cling to God’s truth that we are His masterpiece and not to our faulty picture of the broken crystal vase that cannot be repaired.

God says we are His best workmanship—His masterpieces. Each person is specially and uniquely designed by the Creator for His purpose. The differences that cause us to make comparisons and feel discouraged are the very qualities that the Lord "programmed" into us to bring Him glory. Where we feel inadequate or “not good enough” is the place where God shows He is mighty and glorious.

Feelings of inferiority block us from becoming the people God designed us to be and fulfilling His purpose for our lives. When it comes to our value, we either accept the truth of our value and worth to God or we decide not to believe Him and instead rely on our own feelings.

So what is our answer? Do we let Satan deceive us and lie to us or do we follow God’s Word that says we are His best work, we are worth dying for, and we are the people He wants with HIM forever in heaven? Has God ever broken a promise? I think we all know the answer.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 6/1/2010

2010-06-01T20:50:00.001-04:00

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:5 NLT)

God is full of surprises. Every miracle is made especially for us to marvel at His power. He individually designs every life. Every day is different, and every way He chooses to show His majesty is unique. He always keeps His promises, and we can fully depend on Him. He is never erratic, or unstable. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. While His ways may seem complex and we cannot understand the depth of His love, His love is the solid foundation that is given to each person in Jesus Christ.

We can always count on that. The Bible longs for us to understand "what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge" (Ephesians 3:18-19). According to the apostle John, the more we understand that the ocean of God's love has no shores, the less we'll fear the choppy waters of life, because "perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18).

If someone feels that life is unpredictable and unstable right now, the answer is to focus on His steady, unchanging love. Thank Him for giving us "the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:5 NLT)

The Holy Spirit has poured out the love of God in our hearts. This means that we have the ability to love like God. Unleash God’s love on the world and watch God work. Go ahead. Let it out. God’s love needs to be free and unhindered in anyway. 1 Corinthians 13:8 says that “Love never fails.”

Resting in the predictable and perfect security of God's love will bring revival to our souls. We are loved by one whose love for us is greater than anyone can ever explain. And because of that love we can endure and can hope not only in tomorrow but also in eternity. Because of that love we can live, and live abundantly.

The love of God has been poured out for us and all we need to do is open up and allow it to fill us. The love of God has changed everything. It changed everything once and for all. The desire of God’s heart is that we will allow it to change us.

Deaf Devotion 5/30/2010

2010-05-29T08:40:00.001-04:00

“You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT)

It is Memorial Day 2010. Take a moment to remember those serving our country in military service. Remember their families. They give up so much so we can have so much. No matter how much we may disagree with something our government leaders do, our military and their families are the ones on the front line ready to sacrifice for you and me. Some of us have family in the military, but for the most part, we do not know the names of those serving now. We do not know all the names of those who died for our country. There are pictures and faces, but we can take comfort in knowing that God knows the hairs on their head. Take a moment now to thank God for them.

Grace is God's goodness and kindness toward us which we really do not deserve. It does not matter about our merit or worth. It is freely given as a gift to all who believe the good news that Jesus is the Son of God, and He died for their sins.

Grace is free, but it isn't cheap. There was a high price that was paid to obtain this blessing for us. Jesus left the wealth of heaven to come to earth so that He could redeem us and give us the riches of His celestial home.

Think of what that meant in terms of Jesus' earthly life:

The One who is Creator and Owner of all things lived on earth without possessions. He was born in a borrowed stable, had no place to lay His head during the years of His itinerant ministry, and borrowed not only a donkey for entering Jerusalem but also an upper room for the last supper. Even the tomb was not His own.

Christ also laid aside the glory He had with the Father. Although He never stopped being God while He was on the earth, His dazzling God-like glory was veiled with human flesh. Being born as a helpless baby, Jesus went through all the stages of human growth and development. The Son of God descended from reigning on the Father's throne to washing the dirty feet of His disciples.

Christ became poor but lost nothing. Jesus regained the glory of heaven and brought us along. In following Him, believers likewise lose nothing and gain everything. We die to self and gain our souls; give away riches and receive heavenly treasures; and humble ourselves to be exalted in God's time.

God is simply presented in all of creation. We should know, acknowledge, and appreciate Him.
God is supreme and all powerful. We should respect Him.
God is focused on using us in His plan and loves us more than we know. We should worship Him.
God is personal and interested in our salvation and redemption. We should receive Him.

All of that is in Genesis 1:1 which says, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” We have responsibility to God. We are twice His. First, we are His because of creation, and secondly, we are His because of redemption. He made us and He bought us.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 5/26/2010

2010-05-26T08:02:00.001-04:00

“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.” (Jeremiah 15:16 NLT)

Last summer, a worker at the AT&T office in San Jose, California decided it was time to clean out an old refrigerator that was in a break room. It was stuffed with lunches, snacks, fruit, drinks, and leftovers that had been there so long nobody could remember what belonged to whom. People had avoided opening the door to this refrigerator due to the smell. But nobody was willing to take the lead to clean it out. Finally this one woman could not stand it anymore.

People were warned. The break room was scheduled to close for the time it would take to clean this refrigerator. Finally, she opened the refrigerator door. This woman couldn't smell the stench due to allergies, but the smell from the rotten food was so toxic that it spread quickly and caused someone to call 911. Ambulances came and firefighters evacuated the building. Seven coworkers were taken to the hospital, and it took a hazmat team to clear out the mess.

One might say, “Pastor John, That’s gross!” I agree. It is gross. It’s nasty. It’s not pleasant to think about. But think about our relationship with God. We try to keep secrets from God thinking that we can get away with something. We keep things locked away in our hearts and minds until they spoil. Nobody is willing to come near us. But it is only Jesus who can open the door to our heart and let out the smell of the sin that is inside that has spoiled and become useless.

Our lives, like refrigerators, can suffer spoilage if we don't keep them cleared out and cleaned up.

Things can go bad quickly when lukewarm. “But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:16 NLT)

Make sure the sincere milk of the Word is on a shelf we can reach every day, along with solid food for the soul. “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.” (1 Peter 2:2 NLT) “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.” (Hebrews 5:12 NLT)

Treasure the words of His mouth more than our daily bread, and make sure the manna of daily Bible study doesn't become stale and wormy. “I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.” (Job 23:12 NLT)

Keep the oil of joy fresh. “You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” (Psalm 45:7 NLT)

We need to look inside our hearts and our lives to throw out anything that doesn't contribute to our overall spiritual well-being. We need to become aware of anything that is going stale or is already rotten. We need to stay plugged into the current of heaven through prayer, and then we will become a source of nourishment to others.

Deaf Devotion 5/22/2010

2010-05-22T09:25:00.000-04:00

“But Daniel was determined not to defile himself …” (Daniel 1:8a NLT)

Daniel had a problem. He was captive in a foreign land. He still wanted to worship God and live like God expected him to live. But in reality the King and his people had a lot of authority and wanted their own way. Daniel was expected to eat what they ate, learn what they learned, and even have a name they chose. All of this was so that Daniel and some others would be groomed for “service in the royal palace.” (Daniel 1: 4 NLT)

But Daniel already knew in his heart what is right. Daniel had “purposed” (KJV) “determined” (NLT) what he was going to do. He had already decided. The Hebrew word here is “suwm.” That may look like a strange word. It sounds like “zoom.” The definition is to “to put, place, set, appoint, make.” It means to be “focused” or “fixed” on something.

Daniel had unshakable faith. His belief in the Lord kept him going when everything around him seemed to be going wrong. Daniel was uprooted from his home, taken into captivity, and sent to a foreign country. It strengthened him as he served under the authority of four different kings and faced many challenges.

Knowing God and trusting Him are the two key elements of deep faith. Daniel, who was part of the Israelite nobility, apparently learned about the Lord from a young age. While he was in captivity, his words and actions demonstrated that he knew the Scriptures and wanted to obey God. When offered a meal that had been sacrificed to idols, he took a great risk by requesting other food. God caused Daniel’s enemies to show favor to him. Like Daniel, we are to stay focused on what God expects of us and spend our lives learning and carrying out what pleases our heavenly Father.

Not only did this young man know what the Scriptures said, but he also trusted God to do as He had promised. Every time Daniel took a stand for what God wanted, he was demonstrating his confidence in the Father. And his friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—had unwavering belief as well. They did not know for sure that the Lord would rescue them from the fiery furnace, but they trusted that He would do what was right.

There are things that block unshakable faith.
Pride – “I won't admit I need God's help.”
Arrogance – “I know a better way—I don't have to ask God.”
Self-sufficiency – “I can do it myself without God’s help.”

God is always with us. Jesus is alive. The Holy Spirit has made His home in our hearts. What is stopping us from becoming people of strong faith that God knows what He is doing? Confess it and turn toward the Lord.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 5/18/2010

2010-05-18T19:30:00.001-04:00

“Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” (Isaiah 44:21-22 NLT)

Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel after wrestling with the angel, was chosen by God for a specific reason. But it was not because he was sinless or above blame from man's point of view. The descendants of Jacob/Israel were just like us. They are real people with real problems making real mistakes. But God used this group of people to bring Jesus into the world and to give us a relationship back to God.

Even though we have been dealing with the same sin issues since creation, God does not separate Himself from us because of our sin. Jesus made a way for us to be united with God forever. We do not have the ability to become perfect while on earth but we can be shaped into God's image because of Jesus Christ.

It is because of the cross that all things are made new. We need to cling to the cross because it is there that we have been set free. We are forgiven, reconciled back to God and called out to spread the Gospel. We need to do nothing more than to accept that our sins have been cleansed and be willing to accept how the debt has been paid. It is because of Jesus Christ that we have been called. We are His witnesses established for His glory and set apart from the world for His purposes.

God says there is nothing we do can separate us from Him. But the same is not true of us. We tend to hang on to our sins, which lead us away from the Lord. Jesus has cleansed us from all sin—past, present and future. Our thoughts should not be on the Savior and not the sin. We need to be thanking Him for how good God is that He made a way for us to be with Him forever.

Relax.
Take in a deep breath.
Think about how much unlimited grace has freely given as a gift to us.
Talk to the Lord about the sin issues that keep pulling us away from Him.
Thank Him for never pulling away from us.

Now REJOICE!

God calls His people to remember who He is and what He has done for them. And then God calls His people to act in a way that will reflect His glory. The sin is forgiven once and for all. He proclaimed He would deliver us from our captivity. Because He is a God that can proclaim the future before it occurs.

Deaf Devotion 5/15/2010 A Day Late Read On

2010-05-16T14:53:00.002-04:00

“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

Let me be blunt – Satan kicked my butt this week. He tested my faith. He tempted me to give up. He wanted to destroy all the work God has for me to do. In fact, Satan did not want me to finish this Devotion. But God, in His wisdom and truth led me to the Prayer of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles.

Jehoshaphat, a king whose name means "Jehovah is judge," was one of only a few godly kings in Judah. He tore down the pagan worship sites and dispatched priests and Levites throughout the nation to teach people the laws of God.

Jehoshaphat is best known, however, for how he handled a crisis that could have destroyed the country he ruled. When several surrounding nations gathered against Judah to destroy it, Jehoshaphat knew he was no match militarily. So he called the people and leaders of Judah together to pray. The last sentence of his prayer summarizes his heart. He prayed, “We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” God answered his prayer for help and gave Judah the victory. The armies that rose up against him and Israel turned on each other and destroyed themselves.

If we are facing similar situations today that seem hopeless, something for which we have no answers, pray Jehoshaphat's prayer: "Lord, we have no clue what to do, but our eyes are on You." Stay focused on Him until the answer comes.

Are we experiencing some type of problem today? Is today the day Satan decided to kick our butt? Maybe today is the day he chooses to throw his best temptation our way. Does this describe what we are experiencing? Yes? Well there is one word for us: “Congratulations!”

I don’t want to make it sound like a joke, but the comment is a serious one. You see, problems really are an opportunity in disguise. If we have no problems we are doing something wrong. We need to learn that God wants us to see our problems and enemies as opportunities. A Christian is not someone who sees a problem in every opportunity. God wants us to think differently. God says that His children are the ones who see an opportunity in every situation.

Think of a problem we are struggling through today. Notice that the sentence says “WE ARE STRUGGLING THROUGH.” There is no “maybe struggling” in that sentence. Problems are a fact of life. Now, we need to get on our knees. Ask God to show us the opportunity that is hidden away in the struggle that will bring Him glory.

Jehoshaphat prayed, “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
That is exactly where God wants us to be.
The encouragement of worshipful heart is important in the midst of problems.
Worship is our response to God’s presence.
Worship is our response as we return to Him in our helplessness.

Jehoshaphat and His people worshipped before the battle during the battle and after the battle.
Worship is a way of life. Worship of God makes God bigger than any problem we have. Let God kick Satan’s butt for a while.

Thank you to Pastor Paul Arnold for His ministry. We will miss you.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 5/11/2010

2010-05-11T19:23:00.002-04:00

“Jesus said unto them, "Come and dine." And none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who art Thou?" knowing that it was the Lord.” (John 21:12 NKJV)

Is Satan whispering that God is not for us in our daily battles? Is he whispering lies that God is going to erase our name from the Book of Life for something we’ve done, yet repented over?

Satan never had it so wrong! And Jesus never had it so right!

Salvation in Christ is not a funeral, but a feast! It is not an ending, but a beginning.

The Bible is a continual feast from Genesis right through to Revelation. Covenant meals and meals of fellowship are frequent occurrences in Scripture. Our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, has given many examples of His open invitation to be replenished and restored, to remember, and to rejoice at His table.

Spend just a few moments to think about the setting of today’s verse. God has become flesh and dwelt among His creation. He has temporarily laid aside the glory of heaven to become human like us, and become totally dependent upon and obedient to the Father, in all things.

He taught His apostles and the people of Galilee, Judea and other regions, even across the Jordan, about the Kingdom of God. He has performed miracles. There were healings, driving out demons, and demonstrations of authority over time and nature. He had caught the religious leaders in their own hypocrisy. He confronted every one of their challenges and came out on top in every case. In humility and obedience He went to Calvary’s cross, poured out His blood and died to pay the penalty for our sin, and He did it for all. Now He has risen from the tomb where He defeated death and the grave, and one by one, two by two, appeared to those who have loved Him. He gave them promise that not many days later they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

So now what do we expect from this Man Jesus Christ? This One who is declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead? I mean, how can anyone do more than that?

Now here we are at John chapter 21. Peter (the coward), Thomas (the doubter), Nathaniel, and the two boys who had thought they could drink the cup with Him, James and John; and two unnamed disciples, have gone back to their fishing.

And the risen, glorified, Lord of the universe, appears on the shore to cook them breakfast.

Doesn’t that just say it all? Whatever is our concept of God; however we tend to respond to Him, hold it up to the light of what we see happening in the verse. Let this picture shape our thinking of Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior, Messiah. He cooked them breakfast!

Have we sinned? Have we missed the mark in our obedience to God’s plan? Does our past come back to haunt us? Are we confused with the pains of guilt, rejection, failure and personal shame? Do Satan’s lies leave us beaten, abused, weak and tired? Have we lost our focus and are we left longing and lonely?

Look toward the shore.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah; the One who went down into death and conquered it; the One whose voice the wind and the waves still obey; the glorious, risen, Lord of all wants to serve us breakfast. He’ll feed and strengthen us, assure us, accept us, and give us focus and a purpose. Jesus goes one step further by then promising to be with us forever. He died to pay the price for our sin. He rose to give us life.

Don’t look down. Don’t look back. Look up Jesus is coming back. Don’t look down. Don’t look back. Look at the shore. Bread and fish are on the fire being prepared by a nail-scarred hand.

The Disciples knew it was Him. This time they knew for sure.

Some are so caught up in other stuff in life and expect Jesus just to keep waiting on them. They wonder why others are getting blessed while they are still struggling. It’s because those who know Jesus are swimming toward Him and the others are afraid to get their feet wet.

Knowing Jesus means we can’t wait to get to Him. Knowing Jesus means we will forget what we used to do. Knowing Jesus means leaving behind our old life. Knowing Jesus means we love Him more than anything.

Satan wants us to think we are failures and unlovable. The Master of the universe is making a meal for us. What more can He do? Nothing. His Grace is sufficient for all we need.

Deaf Devotion 5/8/2010

2010-05-08T09:49:00.000-04:00

“Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.” (Matthew 20:20 NLT)

Mothers are teachers. Mothers give out correction. Mothers are cleaning ladies. Some mothers are gardeners and some will mow the lawn. And most mothers understand that baking cookies is more important than washing windows, too.

Mothers are nurses, doctors, psychologists, counselors, drivers, and coaches. Mothers are developers of personalities, molders of vocabularies, and shapers of attitudes. Mothers are soft voices saying, "I love you." And mothers are a link to God, a child’s first impression of God’s love.

Mothers are all of these things & much, much more.

We might very well criticize the mother of James and John for her pride. But since this is Mother’s Day weekend, maybe we ought to think for a few moments concerning some positive things. We need also to recognize that when she came to Jesus, while Jesus did not grant her request, neither did he deny it. He simply reminded her of the cost of being seated on the right or left and then told her that only God decides who will be seated there.

Now, what are some of the good things about James and John’s mother? First of all, she came to the Lord, praying that her sons might be a part of His Kingdom. This really is the most important task of motherhood. That is to seek to make sure that children are a part of the Kingdom of God.

Many mothers pray. We would hope that most mothers pray. Sometimes they pray out of need. Sometimes they pray because motherhood is not easy, but extremely difficult.

Being a parent is not easy. Sometimes it is filled with joy and sometimes with sadness. Sometimes children make a mom so proud she can’t stop talking about her children. At other times she can’t find enough Kleenex to dry her tears.

What good is it if our children are successful in making money, driving fine automobiles, and living in good neighborhoods, but they don’t know God? What does it matter if they gain the whole world, but lose their souls?

Secondly, not only did their mother pray that her children would be a part of Jesus’ kingdom, but she prayed that they would be actively involved in the work of His kingdom.

Maybe it is not enough just to be saved. Churches are full of people content just to fill a pew on Sunday mornings. There are plenty of people willing to sit back & receive the blessings, but seldom do they get involved in doing any of the real work of the church.

But where does the spirit of service begin? It begins at home, with mothers & fathers setting the example & praying that their sons and daughters might be involved in the work of the kingdom as teachers and leaders. That they might be the ones going out into the world, finding the lost, and to seeing that the church continues on until Jesus comes again.

Thirdly, Mom had had big expectations for her two sons. She didn’t just pray. She didn’t just pray that her boys would be involved in the work of the Kingdom. She also wanted them on the right hand and left hand of Jesus.

When working in a kingdom, there are no higher positions than those on the right and left of the King himself. That’s what she wanted for her sons.

We may consider this mother to be thoughtless and rude think only about this for her own children. But we also want to admire her boldness. Too often we have settled for something less than the best in the church. For too long we have been content with just barely making it through the door. For too long we have been content to sit back and let things happen.

It is time for some of us to take our positions of leadership molding and fashioning the outreach of the church, encouraging others to make sure the message of Christ goes into the entire world.

It is time to strive for excellence and to reach for the very best there is. There is nothing better than Jesus Christ.

That is why Mother’s Day is always very special. It is because we recognize that a mother’s love is probably the closest example we have to God’s love. It is a love that goes through the valley of the shadow of death to bring life into being. It is a love that sacrifices itself over and over again and would even dare to lay down its life.

Mothers, God Bless You. This is your day. If you have felt that you have had to walk through that valley alone so many times, that you will recognize that there is a hand reaching out to you, saying, "There is nothing to be afraid of. I’ll go with you." You will recognize that that one has already gone through the valley of the shadow for you, and made it possible for you to live forever.

God extends His loving invitation in much the same way that a mother opens the doors of home and invites her children to come back again. God invites all His kids to come home by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. But sometimes we need to humble ourselves, bow before Jesus and ask a favor.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 5/4/2010

2010-05-04T21:38:00.001-04:00

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT)

Look up the word "comfort" in a dictionary or some other reference and one will find a definition like this: "Something that promotes a state of ease or provides freedom from pain and anxiety."

But God's Word has a different solution when comfort is needed. Comfort is found in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In Greek, He is called “parakletos,” which means "he who stands at one's side; he who comes to one's aid." Believers don't have to seek outward answers or trends to ease their mind, because help is available within.

Even before the Spirit was sent to live in the hearts of believers, The Bible identifies God as the one who comforts His people. The Lord personally provides comfort and reassurance because no one knows our hurts the way He does.

God lets us pass through hardship to make us stronger believers, wiser servants, and more humble people. But He stays right by our side through the entire experience, holding us up and limiting the force and extent of our trial. The Holy Spirit's reassuring whisper to our heart gives more comfort than the support of family or the encouragement of friends.

People who fail to understand that the true source of comfort is God try to find their own escape from their pain. They seek out pleasures, material wealth, or drugs and alcohol to soothe their heart. Only God can offer lasting relief from the crushing pressure of heartache. He even brings joy into periods of mourning.

So, one of the things that Paul teaches us here in his letter to the Corinthians is that pain, whether it be physical pain, or any kind of emotional pain, should drive us to trust God for help. This is because He’s the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort. And He’s the God of all comfort because He’s been there. He’s done that. He’s experienced more than you and I will ever experience.

He’s known sorrow. He’s seen the pain of losing a loved one. He’s suffered physical pain. These experiences are what make Him able to comfort us as no one else can.

Anyone know the shortest verse in the Bible?

John 11:35: “Jesus wept.”

Why is this verse important?

This verse is important because it reveals the depth of His compassion for us.

The source of all comfort (note the word ALL) is God Himself. However, Paul also reminds us that, spiritual gifts are not intended solely for the recipients’ benefit, but are to be used in turn for the service of others.

1 Peter 4:10 says that each one should use whatever gift he or she has received to serve others, faithfully being stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

God’s grace also includes this comfort, received from Him, which enables us to comfort others. We can channel that comfort through prayer, we can channel that comfort through practical service, but God uses us – you and me, to provide comfort, to be the tools of His compassion, to a hurting world.

That’s who we come to today, and every day, to draw on the comfort of the one who comes alongside us. Here and now, God is with us. Isaiah 41:10 says: “So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

God’s grace and comfort is sufficient. That’s all we need.

Deaf Devotion 5/1/2010

2010-05-01T12:01:00.002-04:00

“Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.” (Acts 9:35 NLT)

What had these people witnessed caused them to immediately believe? They had seen how one person, when they focus on the power of God, can have a miracle. The person is Peter and he had just healed Aenas who could not walk. Peter’s simple act in the name of Jesus Christ changed and entire community. It changed more cities than we know! People in the next city had heard of Peter and called him there for another miracle. The Name of Jesus was spreading quickly.

Can an entire community be transformed for Jesus Christ? The book of Acts reveals that at least one city was.

What does God want us to do to change communities to have faith in His Son Jesus Christ? What are we willing to do?

There are four key ingredients required to see a city transformed. These include prayer, humility, unity, and knowledge of God's ways.

Prayer
In every community in which change needs to happen, believers come together to pray specifically for their community. Prayer changes the spiritual focus. Some of the main areas of influence that must be the focus of our prayers includes churches and businesses; the legal, political, educational and medical fields; and the media/entertainment industry. All believers must be in prayer for the lost souls of their city. All believers should pray for the opportunity to share the Gospel in their community.

Humility
God uses men and women who recognize that they need each other and who do not seek glory for their work. "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way" (Psalm 25:9). God’s servant-leaders only will give glory to God.

Unity
Jesus said, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23). God calls each of us individually and as a member of a larger community to represent Christ to the world. But what happens is that we become rebellious. Our independence, pride and egos often prevent us from becoming unified in the purposes of Christ. It is not about us. It is all about the free grace offered by God and for the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross once and for all.

Knowledge of God's Ways
Sometimes leaders can move in what they think is best instead of in faith that God knows what is best. Such was the case of David, who wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the city of Jerusalem. He was zealous for God and celebrated as he brought the Ark into the city. However, the ark was being carried into the city on a cart instead of by priests on poles, as God required. When a man named Uzzah reached out to catch the Ark when the oxen stumbled, he was immediately struck dead by God. David was devastated. He lacked knowledge of God's ways.

Do we want to see our communities changed? There is power in the Name.

The results of Peter using the powerful name of Jesus caused not one but two entire cities to turn to Jesus. Often we praise God when three or four people accept Jesus for salvation. But why stop at three or four people? What about a community, a state, a nation? But in the Book of Acts we find two communities turning from their old ways and discovering a life in Christ. There is power in the Name.

This is what can happen when we take ourselves out of the equation and allow the Lord to have His way. I know we were taught in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, but sometime we need to call on the marvelous name of Jesus Christ alone. There is power in the Name.

We sometimes call on His name with doubting and wondering if it is in His will to do what we ask. But when we put our focus wholly on Jesus and take the human factor out of it, wonderful things happen.

If God’s people ever got serious about praying, communities and lives can be changed. There is power in the Name.

When Peter was traveling, he was not on a day trip to Key West. He went with a purpose. He wanted people to know the power that comes in the name of Jesus Christ. So because Peter put Jesus’ name first and foremost and left himself out of the picture, the results were amazing. Two communities turned to the Lord.

There is awesome power in the name of Jesus.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 4/27/2010

2010-04-27T17:47:00.002-04:00

“I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of your great wisdom! It is far beyond what I was told.” (2 Chronicles 9:6 NLT)

Because God has no limits in anything or in any way, we do not always understand just what God can do. We underestimate Him. When we stop to think, it is something which we cannot avoid doing. No matter what we just cannot have a handle on how big God really is. God cannot be put in a box. The Lord has no boundaries or barriers, no limits or restrictions. He is endless in direction and duration, in space and time. His vast qualities are like bottomless oceans without shores. Our human minds cannot understand the depths of His presence, majesty, power, glory, and grace. There's no ceiling to His love, anger, wealth, and intelligence. Our minds are surprised with what God does, and we can no more fit Him into our thoughts than we could fit the water from every ocean into a thimble.

There is no way for us to comprehend just how big God is in His limitless self. So it would seem logical to say that because we can never understand just how big God is, we always think God can do less than He is really able to do.

Nothing is a surprise to God, because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He sees the past, the present, and the future in one glance. Whatever our thoughts are about the return of Christ and our eternal home with Him, the reality will be even better.

The verse from 2 Chronicles is the Queen of Sheba’s response when she first saw Solomon’s wealth. She had no idea something like that even existed. What she saw was earthly wealth given by God. But Solomon took the credit.

Lives are changed with the Gospel. Who gets the credit? Does the person accepting salvation get the credit? No, God gets the credit. Can you imagine what God has in store for believers? We'll say with the Queen of Sheba that the half was not told. We have no idea what waits for us in heaven.

“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NLT)

But, Satan has deceived people into believing that Heaven is a boring place. It is one long Church service, where ghostly spirits with sad faces float around playing the harp!

But Heaven is a place full of God’s glory and full of the glory of everything that is God. It is a place where the atmosphere is full of glory and as we breathe in all of God’s glorious presence all of our senses are filled with His glory. When we catch a glimpse of heaven, we see things in an eternal point of view.

When Satan was forcibly removed from heaven, he became bitter against God, and against man, and against heaven. He is no longer welcome there. He became God’s enemy. Believers remind Satan of the time that he used to be not only in heaven but in the very throne room of almighty God. Satan wants to destroy everything connected to God. That would include you, me, and our promise of heaven.

So when God’s people start to seek God’s eternal point of view, and God’s view of heaven, let’s just say Satan gets upset. That is putting it mildly. He can’t stand it. He knows that the moment someone sees heaven and tastes its atmosphere, he has lost souls, because that person will be transformed by glory. This is the key reason people oppose the move of glory. The opposition is not inspired out of heaven but out of Satan’s mind.

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2 NLT)

Focus on the things of heaven and not the things of earth. What waits for us in heaven? God knows. We can only imagine.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

Deaf Devotion 4/24/2010

2010-04-24T21:07:00.001-04:00

“Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.” (Matthew 21:21 NLT)

Some of us come to church week after week, and we feel like we have been in the sights of the devil’s big guns. It’s like all of the powers of hell have been unleashed with one thing in mind, to take us down.

We question ourselves and those around us, “What’s the point?” “Nothing I will do can ever make a difference.”

Guess what. God says if we have faith and do not doubt we can do anything. Jesus gave the Disciples the authority to heal and cast out demons. They faced a mountain of doubt. But the first time they did it, that mountain of doubt moved out of the way.

Mountains come in many forms in our lives and it seems that there isn’t a day that goes by when a new mountain appears in our path. It can be a mountain of doubt, fear, or even overwhelming worry. The only thing we can see is this mountain. We cannot see over it and we cannot see around it. We know we must either go around or go over. We can even try to tunnel our way through. All we know is that we need to get to the other side.

All of life is a struggle. We can thank God for the good days. Those are the days when everything runs smoothly, nothing breaks down, there’s no arguing going on in the family, the church is doing well, the weather is fine, and we feel like we are sitting on top of the world.

But those good days seem to be so few and it doesn’t take long until the world seems to be sitting on top of us. How many of us can say AMEN to that!

Job was certainly inspired by the Holy Spirit when he penned the words, "a man’s life is of few days, and full of trouble." (Job 14:1)

There are some people that can be called “true Christians” who seem to have a dead spirit. They can’t worship the Lord in freedom. They don’t sing the songs of praise along with the rest of the church. They don’t testify when the opportunities come. Is it because they are possessed or oppressed by the devil, or is it just that they can’t get past the mountain that stands in their path?

There are some who just let the devil lead them around by the nose, taking them anywhere he wants to go. Then they allow the devil to tear away their love for the church, their love for other Christians and their love for God, while he gives them a love for the things of this world and not a love for God and His ways.

Finally, one day those Christians will wake up, by the mercies of God, and realize where they are. Then they will begin to weep for their situations. They will sit there, with that mountain of faults and failures blocking their path back to God. And there they will stay for a while, just whining and complaining that life just isn’t fair.

Well, whoever said that life was going to be fair in the first place?

It’s time to wake up. Time is passing.
It’s time to look up. Jesus is coming.
It’s time to sober up. Satan is working.
It’s time to pray up. Mountains need moving.

That’s the answer to moving our mountain! That’s what we must do if you want to see that mountain moved. We must bring the mountain to Jesus!

“Jesus, here is my mountain. I’ve tried to overcome it, but I can’t! I’ve tried to climb over it but it’s too steep and too high. I’ve tried to tunnel through it but it’s just too hard. I’ve tried to push it out of my life, but it’s just too heavy. I’ve tried to carry it away but I can’t carry enough of it to make a difference. I’ve tried the best I know how, but the mountain is still there.”

The answer lies in the story of the man with the demon-possessed child. “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24 NLT)

It’s not us and our faith in what we can do that moves the mountain. It’s faith in Jesus, to believe that He can and will move the mountain.

Is there a mountain that seems too big? Is there a need that needs to be met right now? Jesus is the answer. Take whatever it is to Him in prayer and then expect an answer. We are God’s children and He wants to give us the answer to our prayer.

So pray and believe that the answer is already ours right now!

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 4/20/2010

2010-04-20T19:52:00.001-04:00

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. 13 And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NLT)

The Bible portrays the Christian life as a walk. It speaks of “walking” in the Spirit, “walking” in God's ways, “walking” in love, and “walking” in truth. No matter how we understand it, the word “walking” always involves action. Our lives, then, shouldn't be stale and lifeless. Our lives ought to move and develop to be increasingly becoming more like Jesus. The Bible calls this "sanctification."

But what if we feel that we are going backward instead of forward? Do we know how to turn around? Only by faith in Christ can any of us move in the right direction. If we feel ourselves sliding backwards, here is the solution:

- First, have assurance that God keeps every promise. The Bible contains an amazing number of guarantees for believers, including wisdom for the asking, God's constant presence, and peace when we focus on Him.

- Second, wait for God’s response. In other words, prepare for what He will do because of your confidence in His promises. Remember God sis already involved in tomorrow’s plan and is waiting for us to catch up.

- Third, be aware daily of His involvement in our life. By spending time in the Word, prayer, and meditation, we will become sensitive to what He is doing.

- Fourth, pray boldly because we are God's children. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT) Approaching the Father in such a manner isn't a prideful confidence, but an overflow of our love for Him as creator and our faith in Him as God.

- Finally, obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is the true test of our belief. In fact, the Bible says that without action, faith is dead. “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” (James 2:17 NLT)

Is there a sense that our life is progressing and we are maturing into Christ's likeness? Or do circumstances and our character flaws seem to hold us back? God promises to continue making His children beautiful throughout their lives. We can resist Him or cooperate with His gracious work in us.

When we consider how great God is, our desire is to obey His word. We realize that the Word that God gives us is for our own good. And we cannot help but obey God because we love Him.

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:9-12 NLT)

We serve and worship an awesome God. Worship Him - trust Him, love Him, serve Him and obey Him. May our reverence of God, our sense of awe at who He is and what He has done be the basis of all we do.

Praise Him. Bring glory to His name.

Deaf Devotion 4/17/2010

2010-04-17T10:22:00.002-04:00

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” (2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT)

God repeatedly calls to His children, but it is what is in each one’s heart that determines the result. Those with soft and tender hearts hear His voice and yield to Him in obedience, but those with hard hearts resist His warnings and instructions. They tend to think they are right and everyone else is wrong.

Surprisingly, when believers and non-believers sense the Holy Spirit moving, some are motivated to a deeper and more obedient relationship with God. They seek His plan and seek to be Christ-like in their daily life. The others will reject and refuse Him. They will use revenge and bad action to try to make themselves look better.

Who are we to compare ourselves to a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS God?

Since hardening is a slow process that often comes with weak explanations and excuses, it may not be easy for us to see the danger signs. Often times other people see the signs first. We as individuals are usually the last to admit there is a problem. When other people are patient and try to help, do we puff up our chest and say, “I know I am right?” Or do we humbly accept what is being said and ask forgiveness and help in doing better to do what GOD expects and act how God expects us to act?

How does one respond when the Lord speaks through His Word, our conscience, or on messages which are based on the Word of God?

Carefully consider the following characteristics of a hardening heart:
- Insensitivity or resistance to what God says in HIS WORD.
- Refusal to put ourselves under God’s authority or the authority God has established on earth.
- Disobedience to what we know the Lord is telling us to do and what He says is right.
- Excuses for our own sinful conduct and then blaming others for our own actions.
- Resistance to the correction and constructive criticism of others
- Obsession with the things of this world (career, relationships, and possessions)
- Little interest in spiritual things, or using spiritual things in the wrong way to destroy others.
- Absence of private devotion (Bible reading and prayer)
- Avoidance of public worship (joining a local church for fellowship with other believers)

A hard heart does not have to stay that way. Once anyone sees in their own daily life any of the above traits, today is the day to stop and ask, “are my actions glorifying or hurting the Name of Jesus Christ?’ His is the Name above all names.

Begin today to return to the Lord. Ask Him to change our hearts that we can know Him. “I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” (Jeremiah 24:7 NLT)

Remember, God specializes in making all things new. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

And then Paul ends Chapter 5 in 2 Corinthians this way: “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[e] so that we could be made right with God through Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NLT)

We are “ambassadors.” God will use us to teach others the truth about Jesus Christ. Paul says that Jesus Christ Himself became sin for us. Yes we will answer for what good or evil we did on this earth, but the end result is that if Jesus Christ is our Savior, we will have eternal life.

Let me ask this. Would it be better to act as though the only thing we know is Jesus Christ? Or is it better to act as though we, as individuals, are the only ones worthy enough to judge each other and not care at all what God says?

Stay fixed on Jesus Christ. Do not use revenge or gossip to tear down what God has created and built up.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 4/13/2010

2010-04-13T18:24:00.001-04:00

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1 KJV)

God asks the question: Do you trust me?

We have trusted many people and many things.
It is the way we are as humans. We often trust our families, we trust our friends.
It is our earthly habit. We trust cars, trains, planes, and other drivers. We trust politicians with our security and banks with our money.

What do all of these things have in common? Sometimes they fail our trust.

God asks the question: Do you trust me?

God wants us to trust only Him.
Moses trusted God to deliver the Israelites at the Red Sea.
Joseph trusted God while he suffered in the Pharaoh’s prison.
David trusted God for a victory when he was facing down Goliath.
Jonah trusted God to answer his prayer in the belly of the whale.
Peter and John trusted God as they stood before the Sanhedrin and gave their defense of the Christian faith.

What does it mean to trust?
Trust is to depend on someone or something. It is the belief that something will happen or someone will act a certain way.
Trust is found in our solid belief that the God of Heaven will indeed work for us and show us His perfect will for our lives.

Far too often in life we become completely focused on the times of trouble we have and we lose our focus on Christ. When Peter walked on the water with Jesus he was doing well until he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the waves. The same is true of us today. God can get us through any impossible situation but we must keep our focus and trust on Him. How can we ever expect to find help and healing when we are still focused on our difficulties and not our deliverance?

God asks the question: Do you trust me?

Jesus was calling the disciples to trust God through any and every circumstance of life. He was about to be crucified and they would be scattered. Jesus was telling them to trust even when they did not understand because God was still at work

Trusting God means we believe can and will do something when we cannot see Him working and sometimes we may not understand.

Trusting God means that we have to admit that we are not in control of our lives.

We need to place our trust in something or someone and we do it every day. We trust our cars to get us to where we are going. We trust our doctors to heal our medical problems. How much more should we trust God?

God asks the question: Do you trust me?

Trouble will happen in our lives. Life can indeed be hard. Life is beyond our control. In times like this, life is beyond our understanding. We are left with no answers to hard questions. Answers are beyond us as we struggle with the question of why.

God asks the question: Do you trust me?

There is nothing and I mean nothing that we go through in life that is a surprise to God. The truth is that we can and must rely on God in every situation in life. The more that life does not make sense, the greater our need to trust in God.

God asks the question: Do you trust me?

God wants us to trust even when we don’t understand. It is only when we completely trust God that He gives us the power of His direction and the power of His presence.

When we feel weak, God is our strength.
When we are pressured by life, God is our relief.
When we need security, God is our shelter.
All of God’s power, presence, wisdom, grace, and love are there for us when we place our trust in Him.

God asks the question: Do you trust me?

God has made a promise that He will never forsake those who seek Him. The promise that God made so long ago is still valid today because God has never broken a promise yet. He is true and faithful to His people.

Our treasure is love from the God who created love.
Our treasure is grace and peace from the God of all comfort.
Our treasure is security from the God who never changes.
Our treasure is protection and provision from the God who is all powerful.
Our treasure is acceptance from the God who knows everything.
Our treasure is eternal life from the God who sacrificed His own Son that we could gain it.

Today, God is asking only one question.

God asks the question: Do you trust me?

Deaf Devotion from Quebec Canada 4/9/2010

2010-04-09T22:19:00.001-04:00

“As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)

Where does Paul get his quote? Of Course he gets it from Scripture. “Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! (Psalm 14:1-3 NLT)

Why Does Paul quote from Psalms? Because it’s true! It is so true that when the Psalms were written it is repeated twice! Check it out! Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3 are the same focus and the same emphasis.

Did anyone ever play the board game Monopoly? Outside of having houses on Park Place and Boardwalk, the most prized possession was the “Get out of jail free” card. When we have that card we can do many things. It is freedom in a time of capture. It is something we can bargain with to gain advantage in making a deal with someone else. That card is like cash in the bank. And we are most willing to use it when it is necessary.

Some people believe that good works are like a "get out of hell free" card. What they do not realize is that an individual isn't separated from God because of the things they do. A person is separated from God because of what they are—a person with a spirit that thinks they are better than God and do not need God in order to survive. We choose to sin because it is our nature to do so.

Our sinful human desires lead us to decide for impurity over purity, selfishness over service or lust over agape love.

To find proof that mankind does not naturally obey, all one has to do is observe any two-year-old child. Why does a toddler tug on the lamp cord after his mom says, "Don't touch!"? His impulse to do what he wants is greater than his desire to please Mother.

Obeying authority is a choice that we learn to make. In the meantime, we may not even realize it, but we rebel against God. Not one single person is good enough or wise enough on their own to remain sinless and pleasing before the Lord. Therefore, we have all sinned and are under a death sentence.

The Word of God says that until the moment of salvation, we are dead in our trespasses and sins. This means that although the body has not yet undergone physical death, the spirit is lifeless apart from the Lord. We are helpless to save ourselves.

We are a people in need of rescue. That rescue happened at the Cross. It happened once and does not need to be repeated. It promises eternal life to those who accept Jesus Christ as Savior. The heart of the Savior was transplanted into each and every believer to replace an old, weak, and sinful heart.

The instant we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, our spirit is brought to life and our heart undergoes transformation. In the moment that God saves us, He makes us into a new person—His plan becomes our plan. His heart becomes our heart.

We all can claim victory over sin. There are no works we do that can do this. Only God and His love for us can do this. Only Jesus dying on the cross can do this. Only the resurrected Savior can do this.

There is abundant grace and mercy for all. Obey, believe, trust, have faith, follow, tell. We can only replace ourselves with God’s wonderful amazing grace. Through Jesus we are now children of God.

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.” (1 John 3:2 NLT)

Our “Boardwalk” and our “Park Place” will be in heaven because we have been saved from eternal hell by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And Jesus did it freely for everyone.

Praise His most Holy name.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 4/6/2010

2010-04-06T22:56:00.001-04:00

“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17 KJV)

A sad group of women walked to Jesus' tomb on the Sunday morning after His death. Their Savior—the Lord of Lords and King of Kings—had been brutally beaten and then crucified. The women's hearts must have been heavy with disappointment and grief.

Yet in an instant, mourning was turned to joy. An angel greeted them to offer comfort. He said, "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said."

So many of the confusing things Jesus had said now suddenly made sense. Not only had He spoken about His own death and resurrection, but He had also explained His relationship with God as a "oneness." The grave could not and cannot hold the Almighty. The resurrection put to rest any doubt Christ's followers may have harbored about exactly who He is.

At what seemed to be the end, Jesus was buried in a rich man's tomb. However, Jesus did not stay in the grave.

Jesus conquered death and is now seated at the Father's right hand, acting as a mediator for believers. He knows each of our names, where we are, and what we need and desire. The comfort of the empty tomb is that our Savior is alive and watching over us—just as He said He would.

It is an unthinkable question: what if there had been no Resurrection Day?

Suppose Jesus had not risen from the dead? Our faith would be pointless, death would hold power over us, sin would take over control, and the future would be hopeless.

His death without His resurrection cannot save anybody. Our faith is worthless if He is still on the cross or still in the grave.

How do we know that Jesus Christ was not just a religious fanatic, someone with a martyr complex who happened to get crucified? How do we know He is the Son of God, God incarnate? Romans 1:4 says He Is “shown to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.”

How do we know that God accepted the sacrifice of Calvary? It is because of the resurrection. The Bible says He was delivered for our sin and raised again for our pardon.

One woman arrived at the tomb at a loss for words and tears. Her Savior was dead. What was she to do? Then He called her by name and told her to go and tell her friends.

Sorrow became joy. Tears became excitement. Death became life. Death for ever became life forever. Separation became presence. Silence became Good News.

No resurrection, no Savior. No Savior, no forgiveness.

But Jesus went into the tomb and three days later walked out like a butterfly bursting from a cocoon.

He is a risen Savior. He is Lord. He is God.

Worship and Praise the Living Savior.

Deaf Devotion 4/2/2010 - Good Friday

2010-04-02T14:03:00.002-04:00

Matthew 26:36-46

“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39 NLT)

“Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 NLT)

“So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.” (Matthew 26:44 NLT)

Go back with me. As I am writing this it is about 2:00pm Friday, April 2, 2010. It is Good Friday. The Savior, The Son of God has been hanging on a cross for over an hour. The sacrifice has begun. Why doesn’t he come down? Why doesn’t He call on God to send armies of Angels to save Him? Why are they killing Him?

Nobody killed Jesus. Nobody on earth took His life. Jesus is on the cross because He loves us and chose to die for us. He gave everything so you and me could have eternal life.

The tomb is empty only because of the victorious power of God’s grace and mercy over sin and eternal death. Jesus Christ died one time for all people. Jesus’ life is the final sacrifice for your and my sin. Jesus Himself said, “It is finished.”

The tomb is empty because the Redeemer is alive. The tomb is empty because sin has no power over us. There is only grace and forgiveness with Jesus Christ.

Jesus journeyed into the deepest pit of grief hours before His crucifixion. Not grief for Himself, His situation, or what He was going to face the next day. It was grief for those who still would reject God’s offer of mercy, grace, and eternal life.

Here is Jesus approaching the betrayal and the cross as he enters this garden to pray. One cannot help but sense the anxiety in His words. What is that would cause the very Son of God to sweat as it were great drops of blood? What is it that would cause the Son of God to return to that spot in the garden three times to pray the same words? Five Words come to mind: “Sin,” “Suffering,” “Sacrifice,” “Separation,” and Salvation.”

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus repeatedly prayed that "the cup" would pass away. His grief was for the wrath and judgment of God that we all were facing as a result of our rejection of Him. “Wake up, wake up, O Jerusalem! You have drunk the cup of the Lord’s fury. You have drunk the cup of terror, tipping out its last drops.” (Isaiah 51:17 NLT)

Mankind heaped the grief on Jesus' shoulders with the most wicked and evil deeds and thoughts they could think of. According to Scripture, Jesus Christ did not just die for our sins; He became our sin. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT) The holy, perfect Lamb took on Himself all that was evil and dark in mankind.

Furthermore, Jesus knew the cost of accepting mankind's evil. God's holiness prevented Him from being in the presence of sin. Therefore, the Father would have to separate Himself from the Son. Jesus had always enjoyed perfect oneness and relationship with God. For Jesus, the thought of God turning His back on Him and separation that would follow must have been terrifying.

There was no question that Jesus would do God's will. He would become sin and be separated from the Father, if that's what was required to save mankind. For a while in the garden, He pleaded for another route to our redemption. However, when it was clear that the Father's answer was "No, this is the only way," Jesus freely, willingly, and obediently sacrificed Himself.

Jesus Christ sacrificed more than His life. He exchanged perfection for wickedness and holy union for separation. The Savior did this so we could be transformed into righteous men and women with an eternal future.

Is it no wonder, then, that all of heaven exalts Him?

“Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered - to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.” (Revelation 5:11-14 NLT)

We must do the same.

In about another hour Jesus Christ, the Son of God will stop breathing. He will cease to live. People will take down His lifeless body and place it in a borrowed tomb. People will walk away wondering, “Why?” The answer lies in His love for you and me and for God’s love for His creation.

But Glory Be to God, Resurrection Sunday is coming!!!!

Whenever you may be reading this stop and thank God for Jesus Christ freely giving His life as the final sacrifice our sin. Lift up the Name of Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, Son of God an promised Messiah. He is THE Way, THE truth, and THE Life. There is no other Name under heaven by which we are saved.

Amen and Amen.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 3/31/2010

2010-03-30T21:35:00.001-04:00

“Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant. “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!” (2 Samuel 7:21-22 NLT)

Whom do you trust?

These days, it's not easy to find many people who are true to their word. At some point, we all learn the hard way that anyone other than almighty God can disappoint us. God will never ever disappoint us. Let's look at the Lord's character to discover why He can be trusted.

First, He is the one true God. Back in Old Testament times, it was common for people to actually carve and worship a false god. Today, people will make a false god out of something we cannot see or touch, such as wealth, power, fame, or relationships. These can consume our passion, money, and time—and in the end leave us fruitless and empty. Jehovah – God Almighty, on the other hand, is alive and real, ready to be personally involved in our lives.

Second, God is truth, and He is always faithful (John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 10:13). Unlike sinful man who we cannot trust, we can trust God—and everything that He says will happen is already done. Our sovereign God has all power and is in control of every situation.

Third, Christ loves us without limits. How can we ever doubt His love when He willingly gave His life in our place? And His love is based not on our behavior or importance, but rather on His Name alone.

Fourth, the heavenly Father is unchanging. All of the above are timeless qualities that will forever be true.

God can be trusted. So don't give Him just the easy concerns or things that do not seem that important. Nothing is too big or too small for God. We can confidently and boldly call on our Creator for everything. He desires a personal relationship with His beloved and is able to guide each believer through life victoriously.

Worship is not about what we have done for God, what we can do for Him or what He can do for us.

Worship is experiencing what God can do in us, through us and with us. God wants to do something in us, make something of us and pour Himself into us. Who we are means much more to Him than what we have. How we repay Him with what we do is of more value than how much we could ever repay Him with our checkbook, and how we can honor Him seven days a week is far superior to how we honor him only one day a week. It’s been said, “If you do not live it, you do not believe it.”

What place does God have in our lives today?

In a changing, doubting world, we have a Friend who is 100 percent reliable.

Believe it?
Live it.

Deaf devotion 3/27/2010

2010-03-27T13:26:00.001-04:00

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT)

Abraham is one of the people in the Old Testament who have has a great impact on our spiritual life. In Abraham’s life, we see the necessity of obeying God and living by faith.

Separation is often times a part of our development as Christians. Before we can take on something new, God may ask us to let go of something we already have.

In Genesis 12:1-3, God told Abraham he was going on a journey that would require leaving his country, his people, and his father's household. Obedience meant saying goodbye to relationships and things dear to him. The only family that traveled with him was his wife and nephew. The life he knew in his homeland was left behind. But this godly man did not hesitate. His strong faith enabled him to say yes.
Moving ahead in the midst of uncertainty is an aspect of obeying God.

Abraham was told to travel without knowing his destination. Try to imagine explaining to friends that you're moving away but have no idea where you are going. This lack of detail did not stop Abraham. Unwavering obedience and trust in his heavenly Father enabled him to answer the divine call wholeheartedly. This is in spite of the fact that Abraham did not have specific details of what God wanted him to do. Abraham was spiritually ready to say “yes” when God called.

We don’t know where God will bring us next. We don’t know what else God has in store for us. Probably in another five or ten years, we will look back and be amazed at from where we have come. But like Abraham, we must be willing we must be willing to follow God wherever it is he leads us. We must commit to follow his plan for us, no matter what.

When we look at the story of Abraham leaving his home in Genesis we notice something. Wherever Abraham goes, God meets with him. This was a big part of the reason that Abraham was able to venture into the unknown. He wasn’t going alone, but God was going with him. It wasn’t just Abraham who followed God without seeing the fulfillment of the promise. His son Isaac and his grandson Jacob also followed. And when God repeats the covenant with Jacob that he had made with Abraham, God concludes by saying: “What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:15 NLT)

That is a promise that Has God’s Word behind it and still holds true for us today.

Obeying God requires living by faith, which means:

Trusting the Holy Spirit to guide us when we don't see how all the pieces fit together; “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” (John 16:13 NLT)

Believing that God always works for our good and His glory; “And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT)

This really means our obedience becomes an act of worship to God. One crucial question demands an answer. “If obedience and faith are so great why do so few people live it?” The reason is that most people would rather do anything than take a risk.

If we cannot trust God to work out the details, who can we trust?

Will we be ready when He calls?

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 3/23/2010

2010-03-23T14:27:00.001-04:00

“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10 NLT)

Recently this passage was preached in our church and the Pastor made the comment that most times this is preached in a negative way. He is right. But he said further that while this is true, it is also a powerful and positive message of encouragement.

Our convictions define who we are. They guide our decisions and determine our character. Those who live by their convictions are not swayed by personal preferences or popular opinions. They live by Biblical attitudes that have long been established by God’s Word. Strong, biblically-based values are essential for everyone who wants to lead a godly life.

But what is a conviction? It’s a belief we hold to be true, no matter what. In today’s culture, you and I need to base our standards on biblical truth.

Then we will be firmly anchored in God’s Word, ready to face whatever challenges come our way. Only by acknowledging our dependence on God for His guidance and protection can we survive in a culture that is increasingly hostile to Christianity.

Noah needed strong faith to build an ark, despite the ridicule of his neighbors. But he trusted God when God said there would be a flood. Although Paul was persecuted, stoned, imprisoned, beaten, and eventually martyred, he didn’t give up his convictions. When the authorities told Peter and John to stop preaching about Jesus, they replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20 NLT)

The Lord wants us to live by conviction. Unfortunately, most people live by preference. They ask themselves, “What do I desire? What is the easiest or best for my life? What will bring the most satisfaction or acceptance?”

For a believer, our decisions should be based on personal convictions—strong beliefs we hold based on the truth of God’s Word—and not on our own preferences.

Remember that we reap what we plant. If we follow after our fleshly convictions and what gives us the most pleasure, then what follows will come from those convictions. If, however, we obey God and His plan, then what follows will be abundant blessing.

What can believers expect when the live by their convictions?

First there will be God’s protection. God will cover each situation we face with HIS glory and Grace. Paul himself said God’s grace is sufficient for him? It should be for us also.

There will be pain and testing. Those who want to live according to their convictions will be tested. When we are falsely accused and mistreated, we need to stick to our moral standards. The history of our faith is filled with men and women who refused to deny their convictions, even to the point of death.

There will be promotion. God will honor and bless those who hold firmly to godly beliefs.

Those who choose to sow and follow the leading of the flesh will see God’s work in the lives of others. People today want to know if our life is consistent with biblical values because too many times they have seen other “Christians” say one thing and do another. We must focus on being a believer who lives according to godly standards wherever we are whether it is at home, work, play, or in the community.

Instead of allowing society to set our values and priorities, you and I should base our convictions on the Bible. We need to aim not to show the wrong thing to others with ungodly choices and behavior. Ask God to grant us the desire and the courage to be a man or woman who lives by our convictions, no matter what.

Deaf Devotion 3/19/2010

2010-03-19T22:24:00.000-04:00

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 KJV)

They did not know it at the time, but the original disciples of Jesus enjoyed a status that many people today could learn to appreciate more. They were the personal friends of Jesus Christ. On the night before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples, "No longer do I call you servants . . . but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My father I have made known to you." (John 15:15)

Jesus and His disciples became the example of the relationship pictured in Proverbs 18:24: "a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Another real-life example of that kind of friendship in the Old Testament was David and Jonathan, the son of Saul. They formed a covenant relationship by which they shared their possessions, their needs, and their future welfare.

Jesus even experienced his own brothers being distant from Him. “For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.” (John 7:5 NLT) In the end, it was His disciples—His friends—who stayed closest to Him. Jesus was first close to them and they became close to Him.

Why would someone want to be the friend of Jesus Christ? Does He have the qualities that we desire in a friendship?

Friends are dependable in good times and in bad times. A good friend will tell us that we have something in our teeth. A friend will laugh with us and cry with us. They will share joys and sorrows. They will be brutally honest even when it is something painful to hear.

In the same way, God tells us where we come short of His glory. God was dependable to send a Savior. God was dependable to raise the Savior from the dead. God is fully dependable to save our souls from hell. This is all because, for each one of us, Jesus Christ is dependable unto death. He will not leave us or forsake us. He is God’s only Son born to die so you and I can have eternal life.

God never lies. Jesus never lies. What he says, He will do. He has promised to judge the world in righteousness. He has promised to cast the wicked into hell. He has promised to finish what he started. He has promised to come again.

Jesus is the loving friend. – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)

Jesus is the faithful friend. – “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20 KJV)

Jesus is the true friend. – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV)

A woman, named Dorothy C. Retsloff, once said, "A friend is a person who will help you in the hour of sickness; who will lend you a dollar without deducting the interest; who will help you uphill when you are sliding downhill; who will defend you in the hour when others speak evil of you; who will believe in your innocence until you admit your guilt; who will say behind your back what he or she says to your face; who will shake hands with you wherever he or she meets you, even though you wear patches; and, who will do all these things without expecting any return."

Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1819 - 1886) said it well, in 1857, when he penned these words, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.”

Do we seek to have a friend who will always comfort us? Do we seek to have a friend who will always love us? Do we seek to have a friend whose love is stronger than the bond of love we understand? Look to Jesus Christ. His is a love and friendship that will bind us together with Him for all of Eternity.

The Apostle Paul tells the Roman people and us, in Romans 5:8 (KJV): "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." While we are still sinners Jesus Christ died that you and I can have eternal life. While we were living in the dirt and ugliness of our sin, Jesus remained and still remains our friend.

The disciples and others asked the question, “What manner of man is this?” We have our answer. Jesus Christ is a friend closer than a brother.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 3/16/2010

2010-03-16T14:33:00.001-04:00

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10 NLT)

Does it make sense that some people need a reason to stop and take time out of their day to praise and worship God? Why can’t we praise and worship God just because He is … well … GOD!

There are even some people who think that they can lose their salvation once they have it. There is one truth that will chase away that idea. Whether or not someone can lose salvation depends upon how they got it. If a person believes they are saved by good works, it would naturally follow then that they also believe salvation can be lost by bad works.

But this is not the case. God’s Word is very clear on this point. Titus 3:5 (NLT) says, “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” How is someone saved? We are saved by grace. We are saved by God’s grace. And if we are saved by grace, then we are then kept by grace. Salvation is not rooted in the worth of man, but in the mercy of God.

God's message to His children is consistent: We've been accepted by Him and belong to Him forever. In this acceptance, we discover a sense of security, adequacy, and love that frees us to live for Him.

At the cross, God revealed how very much He loves us as individuals and as His children. He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place. We deserved death as punishment for our wrongdoing but received a pardon instead. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”(Romans 6:23 KJV)

By becoming our substitute, Christ experienced God's wrath for our sins, and His sacrifice opened the way for our adoption into God's family “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians. 1:5 NLT)

As children of the heavenly Father, we are not only deeply loved but also highly valued. Our worth does not happen because of anything in our character or performance but rather depends solely on our relationship with Jesus. What it cost the Father to save us indicates the worth He has placed on us. He has even made us co-heirs with Christ in heaven. “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” (Romans 8:17 NLT)

Our adoption into God's family also gives us security and ability. Our heavenly Father has promised to protect us from the Evil One, give us with spiritual gifts, and provide what we need to carry out His work effectively. The Holy Spirit will equip us with the knowledge, understanding, and divine power we need to serve as His messengers.

The world thinks love and worth are tied to performance, while security rests in material possessions. But God showed His love by sending Christ to die for us. “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8 NLT) In Him, we find value, ability, and peace. Consider whose message we believing—God's or the world's.

Praise God for the work of His Holy Spirit who restores us, for the atoning blood of His Son, and for His calling upon our life.

How can we do anything but worship Almighty God and give thanks for His mercy, love, and grace?

WORSHIP
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
the humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt His name together.
(Psalm 34:1-3 NLT)

Deaf Devotion 3/13/2010

2010-03-13T13:44:00.000-05:00

(Young Lawyer speaking) “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10:29 KJV)

We recognize this as the young lawyer’s response to Jesus when Jesus challenged him about the most important commandment. This then leads Jesus to tell a story about a certain person. We know this story as the “Good Samaritan.”

Get your Bible and read Luke chapter 10. Then come back. I’ll wait.

Did you read it? Great. Now do that every day with a different passage in the Bible. Study God’s Word daily and God will draw you closer to Himself.

Mother Teresa was one of the most admired women in the world. She was a woman who devoted her life to the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta, India. The world's greatest leaders wanted to meet her and to experience her love and her try to understand her moral authority. He was just a tiny woman with a heart the size of the world who made such a difference in the world just by obeying God.

Some years ago, a young man wrote a letter to Mother Teresa, asking her how he could make his life worthwhile as she had with hers. He waited six months for a reply from this very busy lady. He never thought she would answer his letter. When the answer came, it was just a postcard with four words on it - four very powerful words - "Find your own Calcutta."

If we do just what comes naturally, we will live the kind of life most people do. It will be a life that is self-focused, self-centered, self-serving. But a life that's only as big as we are is too small to live in. And we may be feeling restricted by those emotional and spiritual limitations we think we have. Business as usual just isn't satisfying that restlessness in our hearts. Our life is full, but not really fulfilling. We need to find our own “Calcutta.” God tells us to find some people who need HIM and start pouring HIS life out for them. Then the lid will come off any limitations in our life.

Jesus gave us a beautiful and unforgettable picture of the two ways to live life in His classic story of the Good Samaritan. It's in Luke 10, beginning in verse 30.

There in that simple story is a picture of our lifestyle. Is ours a life that is focused all about us, and ignoring the needs of people in our path? Or is ours a life that is not all about us, stopping for people's needs, and bearing in the name of Jesus Christ the burdens of a bleeding world?

I believe we all know the kind of life we want. We need to learn to wake up each morning asking God, "What can you and I do together today to change the world?" not "What can you do for me today?" There are people in our personal circle - people in our communities - who desperately need Jesus Christ and someone to tell them about Jesus Christ. We must be ready and willing to be there for them.

And remember, there is no greater difference we can make in someone's life than to introduce them to Jesus Christ and to take them to heaven with us!

With however many or few years we have left, we must stay focused on living our lives to make the greatest possible difference in other people’s lives for Jesus Christ.

The community and world that we live in is full of people who are empty and searching for some type of meaning. There are days are filled with desperation and they can’t seem to find relief.

They may put on masks of happiness, to appear fine to everyone, but when they return to their homes at night they cry themselves to sleep because their life is pointless and they long to find something in life to make them happy and give them a sense of meaning. They look at their lives and wonder what it is all about.

God has given the people in HIs “church” and the members of His Body the responsibility to reach these hurting people. Evangelist Charles Wendell Winkler tells us that the church is to be a “hospital for the hurting and not a museum for the saved.” We need to understand that we are to reach out to all people who need the grace of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We need to reach out to the single mother who works two jobs to support her kids.

We need to reach out to the drug addict who can’t stop his habit.

We need to reach out to any person who struggles with self esteem.

We need to reach out to couples who live together and may never have been exposed to the best way to build a home.

We need to reach out to the alcoholic who is ready to admit he needs help.

We must be ready to obey God and step out in faith to follow His command to “go and do the same.”

Ezekiel 34:16 we see God saying that He will, “Search for the lost, bring back those that stray away, put bandages on those that are hurt, and make the weak strong."

Those of us who claim to be believers followers of Jesus Christ are the ones who God sends out to bring the lost home. This is because we understand that God wants all people saved, not just us. God wants ALL people to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is our response to be? I am going to let Jesus answer that. “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” (Luke 10:36-37 NLT)

If we have accepted Jesus as Savior, We have a place in heaven. Jesus said so. Our mission, our passion needs to become bringing as many people as possible to heaven with us by telling others about Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” Go and find your own “Calcutta.”

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 3/9/2010

2010-03-09T20:15:00.001-05:00

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Really? Are we expected to obey this? In EVERYTHING give thanks??? That seems completely unreasonable. It just does not make sense.

Paul is very clear in his letter to the Church at Thessalonica. The Greek here is “pas” (πᾶς ). It is defined as “each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything, and something of all types.” What is left? Nothing – Zip – Zero – Zilch. Everything means EVERYTHING.

So this means we are to give thanks for the good, the bad, the ugly, the success, the failure, the hard, the easy, the trouble, the inconvenience, the joy, the tears, the laughter and so on?

Well, YES!

God’s Word says EVERYTHING.

There is a story told of a 14 year old boy in September 1966. He was home watching “I Dream of Jeannie” on television when the program was interrupted by a news bulletin: "Three prominent local businessmen have died in a plane crash in the mountains of Tennessee." That's how the 14 year old boy learned of the death of his father.

It was difficult and painful for the boy growing up without a father. He loved and needed his dad. He couldn't understand why God would take his father away from him so suddenly. The boy certainly didn't see the death of his father as a "blessing" in any sense of the word.

Yet as the boy grew into a man there were blessings that came out of that terrible tragedy. In the years since his father had died, God brought a number of men across this boy’s path that also had lost fathers at an early age. Because of his own loss, he had an instant connection with others who suffered similar losses. He was able to share an experience that other people couldn't fully understand. At the time it did not make sense to “give thanks.” But the boy allowed God to use his situation to help others and thanked God for the opportunity. He obeyed when it did not make sense.

In today’s economy there are many experiencing major financial problems. It is not easy to admit it is a blessing to go through troubled times. But God has in the past and will continue to use our trials to bring blessing to other people. It actually is a means to move us into a whole new calling.

When we meet someone who is going through a time of trouble, a time of joy, or whatever God can see in the “bigger picture” there's an instant bond between those who have shared experiences.

God can take our adversity—a heart attack, cancer, an automobile accident, violent crime, bankruptcy, a marriage crisis, the loss of a loved one—and transform that pain into encouragement for the people around us. We come out of those experiences stronger and better able to comfort others.

Although adversity may never be a blessing, God in His grace and only with HIS GRACE can bring blessing out of our adversity. The key is releasing the hurt and pain to the Lord so He can bring the needed healing to our lives. Why not give all of our circumstances to the Lord today and let Him use it in the lives of others? This will be the first step toward healing.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT)

Remember that what happens in our situations is no surprise to God. He knows. He is already in the midst of ALL situations waiting for us to join Him and give thanks for Who He is and What He will do. God is right there with us and when our pain or joy does not seem to make sense, we cannot take our eyes off our Almighty God and Savior.

God is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort because He’s been there, and done that. Jesus experienced life just like us. That enables Him to enter into our grief, our joys, our hurting, or any situation in a way that no one else can. Whatever does not seem to make sense to us is perfect in God’s plan, timing, and response.

All we need to do is to let go and let God be God.

Deaf Devotion 3/6/2010

2010-03-06T20:53:00.001-05:00

“Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” (Philippians 4:5 NLT)

What is going on?

This past week was a full moon. When there is a full moon people can become…well…weird. Attitudes change. People become cranky. Stress levels go up. There were people this week so stressed out because of something negative going on with them. It affected the way they thought, the way they made decisions and it affected what they did. Their attitudes and emotions changed because of the effect the full moon has on the people of earth.

We tend to focus on the weird and negative stuff going on around us and look forward to when the moon goes out of its “full moon” stage and life returns to “normal” whatever that is. It is a true fact that hospitals and police departments see an increase in activity during a full moon.

Negativity will affect us both physically and spiritually. Spending time with a person with a negative frame of mind can take a toll on us.

On the other hand, positive emotions—particularly Godly confidence—can empower us to live fully, as the Lord intends.

Facing each day with the knowledge that our strength comes from Jesus Christ will drive away doubt and anxiety. Yet many things can interfere with a healthy outlook. For example, we often allow wrong advice and negative attitudes to drain us. Sin, too, will keep our hearts from finding full confidence in God. And sometimes false guilt creeps into our minds and robs us of assurance.

Instead, we can purposefully develop confidence in almighty God by maturing in our faith. Meditating on the Word, drawing near to the Lord in prayer, and choosing to believe Him are all ways to strengthen our relationship with Him. The more our friendship with the heavenly Father deepens, the more unshakeable trust in Him will become.

As Christians, we have every reason to live with assurance—we have the very presence of God living within us. But in addition, we also have God’s peace, God’s power, and God’s provision.

We have to remind ourselves that the Apostle Paul was not writing this letter from his vacation in Disneyland. And if anyone had a reason to be bitter and pessimistic, it was Paul. But instead of giving into a negative attitude, he counters it with a powerful antidote: Gentleness. “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.”

It is vitally important that we do not allow the pressures of this life to harden our hearts. Sounds pretty hard to do wouldn’t you say? How do we do it? How do we prevent the negative attitudes, problems and pressures of this life from hardening our hearts? I think the secret is found in Philippians 4:5. “Jesus is coming soon.”

There are those who fear this. But we should rejoice that Jesus will come back for His bride, the church. We know He will because He said He will. Until He comes we are to reflect His character and actions for the glory of God.

Our world is full of distrust, fear, and uncertainty. With God’s help we cannot allow ourselves to pay attention to negative messages, which can make us lose the confidence God gives His children. Instead, focus on the truth in Scripture and the glory and victory of Jesus.

Let His perfect love cast out our fear. “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” (1 John 4:18 NLT)

Paul said, “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.” But don’t forget the rest of this verse which states “the Lord is coming soon.” He is near in the sense that He is very close to returning again to this earth. But he is also near in the sense that He is right here with us today.

We do not need to get wrapped up in the negative things in the world. We should look to Jesus Christ who WILL return. In the meantime, remember to tell people about Jesus and the salvation and victory He won for us at the Cross.

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 3/2/2010

2010-03-02T11:54:00.001-05:00

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 NLT)

What to do – What to do – What to do.

God has called us to do something and it seems impossible. He tells us simply to tell others, in fact tell the entire world about Jesus Christ. But God does not see that as such an impossible thing to do.

God only knows “CAN.” With God what is “POSSIBLE” is “SUCCESSFUL.”

God has opened heaven’s door and is willing to pour every last drop of His wisdom, riches, grace, and mercy into whatever He calls us to do. He is willing to pour out His Son’s blood in love into a sinful world so that all His children and all His creation will come home to live with Him forever in heaven.

Okay…sounds good; sounds great. What is so impossible with that? What is so impossible is us. It’s you and me. God’s plans, God’s work, God’s power for salvation all come to a screeching halt in you and me. We take what is possible with God and make it impossible with each other.

Think about David. He was the youngest and the smallest. He was the shepherd. He was the runner. David was the one called to run errands for everyone else because He was the not the strongest, not the best looking, not the most king-like, not the most mature. But He was the one chosen to become King. He was the one who volunteered to go up against Goliath when everybody else ran the other way because it was so impossible.

The Philistines giggled at this “boy” coming to confront their champion, Goliath. David’s own brethren hid in fear because of what Goliath and the Philistines would do if they were victorious. The Israelites did not even believe they could be successful and had already planned on giving up. Goliath taunted David with mockery of Jehovah God. But, David had one thing on his side. He knew that what God thought was possible is going to be successful because God was on his side. David knew that what did not make any sense to those around him, what seemed impossible to his brethren, his enemy, his king, and his family made sense to God. God would bring the victory and God would glorify Himself in the process.

His own brother didn’t think this whole thing was really cool to begin with: “But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!” (1 Samuel 17:30 NLT)

His own King Saul tried to help David to see this whole thing just did not make sense: “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33 NLT)

His enemy tried to scare David into understanding the impossible thing he was up against: “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.” (1 Samuel 17:43 NLT)

All of them saw a young, inexperienced man instead of someone God could work through. Why? They looked at David from man’s perspective instead of God’s.

We do the exact same thing with ourselves and what God can do with us.

As the story of David demonstrates, some of our worst opposition and discouragement may come from those who should be on our side, from those we trust to stand beside us, such as family members or fellow believers.

Can we describe how we respond when others give us worldly counsel instead of encouraging us to obey God no matter how much it does or does not make sense?

Whatever enemy we face, the real enemy is Satan. He wants to defeat us and discourage us from serving God. Satan wants us to think that with God everything is IMPOSSIBLE. That is not what God says. God says, when we allow HIM to get involved what He has planned can and will be accomplished.

But we keep putting God in a box and limiting HIM. LET GOD BE GOD!

David knew it wasn’t his own reputation on the line. David also knew it was not his strength that would win the battle. Glory and victory belonged to God and God alone.

Every challenge that we see as impossible presents an opportunity for God Almighty to display His faithfulness and love. Instead of yielding to thoughts of fear, failure, and the impossible, make a commitment to trust God. This is even when we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. This is even when things God wants us to do don’t seem to make sense to us.

Yes, we may experience failure, and life may not always turn out as we planned. But hey, it’s not our plan to begin with. It is God’s plan and He wrote His plan before the beginning of time. Ultimately, God will be glorified, and we will be blessed.

We need to take our most impossible burdens to the Lord in prayer. Thank Him for working on our behalf, and rest in His supernatural peace. When we place your trust in God, we tap into an unstoppable force that nothing and no one can successfully oppose.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

Deaf Devotion 2/26/2010

2010-02-26T22:13:00.001-05:00

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. (For we walk by faith, not by sight) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8 KJV)

In the Christian community, we often hear the term “faith.” However, when such a word is used too much, it can become familiar. Then we sometimes grow unaffected by its great depth of meaning.

All people have faith. For example, it takes a measure of confidence to sit down in a kitchen chair without first testing its strength. Yet belief in the fact that furniture will hold our weight is quite different from entrusting almighty God with our lives. A wrong judgment concerning the kitchen chair may result in a physical bruise, whereas a decision to reject faith in Jesus Christ determines not only our success in this life but also our eternal existence.

So what, exactly, is a biblical definition of faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us that it is the substance or assurance of things hoped for, and the evidence or conviction of things not seen. And we know that it is impossible to please the Lord without faith (Hebrews 11:6). In fact, there is nothing we can do that will earn salvation; the only way to heaven is by accepting Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross in our place, which paid the penalty we owed for our sin. What's more, faith is nothing we can create within ourselves. Scripture is clear that it is a gift of God (Rom. 12:3).

The clear message from God in His Word is for each person to accept God’s gift of faith and embark on the wonderful journey that He invites us to share with Him. God responds to searching hearts. If someone is unclear whether our lives are in God’s control and that we trust Him with full confidence, ask Him to guide us and reveal truth.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5:1 KJV)

It’s faith that enables us to live the Christian life.

To better understand faith, there are things faith is NOT. Faith is not a feeling. It is not positive thinking. Faith is not responding to emotions, feelings, or goosebumps up and down our spine. It is not miracles, signs and wonders. Faith is not believing that God can do something. Faith is knowing that God can and will fulfill His plan. Faith is taking God at His word. Real faith does not doubt. It does not know discouragement. It is blind to the impossible. This is the kind of faith we need.

Living by faith means that we know our Heavenly Father is watching us and watching over us even though we can’t see everything clearly. This holds true for every aspect of our lives. It is true in our churches, our homes. our families, our marriages, our finances, and so on.

How do we live by faith in these matters? We commit them all to God to use to glorify Himself. And then we let Him handle things since He sees everything clearly.

We must seek God with all of our Heart Mind, Soul, and Strength.
We must listen to God.
We must spend time with Him.
We must learn to recognize God’s Voice.

The problem is that most of us are not willing to wait.
We want to run out ahead of God and usually we are heading in the wrong direction.
PSALMS 46:10 SAYS: “Be still and know that I Am God.”
MATTHEW 5:6 SAYS: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after Righteousness for they shall be FILLED.”

Let us continue to walk by faith and not by sight and enjoy, YES I said ENJOY, the plan that God has for us.

Give God the Glory