40 Days to Live - Day 15

Luke 18:9-14 - Pharisee

LIVE IT: Confess your sins individually to God - cry out for mercy and humility.

Lord, help me to not be a Pharisee,

comparing myself to others.

Help me to remember the standard

is Jesus Christ, not my brother.

To be holy as You are holy,

I must in humilty,

confess to You my secret sins

that no one else may see.

For when I am truly honest,

I know I fall short of the goal.

Oh Lord, I need You to mold me

and make me completely whole.

Father, I ask for your mercy

and praise You for extending grace.

Conform me to the image of Christ,

and help me to run this race

to the glory of God the Father

in spite of all my sin.

Forgive me, Lord, and cleanse me

that I might begin again.

40 Days to Live - Day 16

Luke 18:1-8 - Enter His Courts

LIVE IT: Enter God's presence and stay there - all day long

On a singles' retreat, the leader instructed us to leave the morning worship and talk ONLY to God until the afternoon meeting. We were told to read the Bible, pray, sing; but whatever we did, communicate only with the Lord. We were to silent unless praying or singing to the Lord. This was a challenge for many of those in attendance because the social aspect of retreats was high on the list of reasons to attend. This "quiet time" lasted from about 9:00 a.m. until about 2:00 p.m., if I remember correctly. That encompassed lunch. I knew right away that I would have to take my lunch tray to the opposite side of the room, away from all people, if I were to keep silent because normally I could talk the bark off a tree! I chose to read in the Psalms because I always feel very close to God and find much to pray about there. I found myself singing Psalms to God, confessing to Him, pleading for friends, etc. The time passed more quickly than I would have thought and the Holy Spirit moved in my life that day in many ways.

I set aside time to spend with the Lord every day, but rarely an entire afternoon, let alone the entire day. When I was younger, I used to go on "Thee and Me" dates...just go someplace like the botanic gardens and spend time with the Lord for most of the day. Although I can't just hop in the car and go right now, there is no reason I can't spend more time with the Lord. I do pray often while I work in my flower beds or clean house. But I need to take time occasionally to just "Be still and know that He is God." It seems that in times of crisis, I am more apt to do this. I need to learn to do it during the calm times as well.

Lord, please keep me on my knees,

because from that position I can see

that You are truly all I have,

yet You are all I need.

Lord, please keep me on my knees.

40 Days to Live - Day 17

Luke 17:20-37 - Lose Your Life

In light of the fact that we do not know when the Lord will return, we should be living each day as if his return will be in the next few moments. Losing my own life by surrendering completely to the Holy Spirit is the way to be prepared. One of my favorite hymns is "Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee." As that hymn says, everything I do should be a result of the impulse of Christ's love for me and for those He would have me minister to. Each breath should be dedicated to His service. Am I there yet? By no means! Each day I need to yield myself anew, and ask the Master to show me how He wants to use me that day.

LIVE IT: Die to your own opinions and desires today for His sake.

The world continues to spin on its axis.

People marry, party, and pay their taxes.

People live in the moment giving no thought

to Jesus the Christ who our pardon bought

by His death on the cross in our place.

They give no thought to the judgment they face.

We who know Jesus should be ready.

We must be serving, calm and steady.

May we dedicate each new day

to serving Christ, dear Lord, I pray.

Show me Your ways, and teach me Your paths,

may I pray with the Psalmis and each day ask

for the strength I need to serve my Lord.

May I daily seek You in Your word.

40 Days to Live - Day 18

Luke 17:11-19 - Give Thanks

LIVE IT: Thank God for every blessing that you can remember today.

Obviously, if I blogged everything I'm thankful for, you would tire of reading it; and I would suffer carpal tunnel syndrome. So I'm going to list broad categories here that may prompt you to think of your own blessings in the same categories.

Thank you, God, for saving grace.

That, of course, must take first place.

The loving family I grew up in.

My children and my grandchildren.

Faithful friends of many years,

sharing joys and sharing tears.

Newer friends and such good neighbors

doing me so many favors.

My mother's roof over my head,

comfortable furniture, comfortable bed.

Plenty of food upon our table.

Health enough to make me able

to care for Mom as she cared for her mother,

not having to trust her care to another.

Clothing to wear upon my back,

through gifts from friends, I never lack.

A beautiful yard for my enjoyment.

This respite from outside employment.

Confidence in Christ for the years ahead.

Nothing to fear. Nothing to dread.

40 Days to Live - Day 19

John 11:1-44 See the Glory of God

Today we took a detour from the Gospel of Luke and turned to the Gospel of John. We read the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The Lord waited two days after being notified that Lazarus was sick before journeying to Bethany. He did this so that His disciples and others visiting Mary and Martha could see the glory of God as he raised Lazarus from the dead. Mary and Martha went through four days of grieving the death of their brother, but I'm sure they thought it worth the temporary sorrow once they witnessed the miracle of Jesus raising him from the dead!

I long to see the glory of the Lord

and to glorify God all my days,

to turn away from my own understanding

and learn to walk in His ways.

I know that following Christ is costly,

for I must surrender my all.

But I can trust in my sovereign Lord

who will not allow me to fall.

When days on earth seem bleak and gray;

and God's glory seems hidden from view,

I pray that I'll stand firm in the Lord.

Then my spirit He will renew.

May I never be satisfied

with only a glimpse of God's power.

May God's will and glory be done in me

as I trust in Him hour by hour.

40 Days to Live - Day 20

Luke 17:5-10 - Use the Faith You've Got

"The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith - that trust and confidence that springs from our belief in God. Andthe Lord answred, If you had faith (trust and confidence in God) even as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you." Luke 17:5-6 (Amplified Version)

You can’t go out on a limb for God
unless you’re climbing the tree!
You cannot possibly walk on water
if you’ve never set foot on the sea!

It has been my experience, that our faith, our trust and confidence in God, grows as we exercise it. Remember God's faithfulness to us in a small matter helps us to have faith in Him for the next, larger challenge. I have faith that God will take care of my needs while I care for mother and later on in my retirement years because I exercised faith when I taught at a Christian school for over 10 years. He provided food, clothing, and shelter even when I was living below poverty level. He still provides. Yesterday, I mentioned to Mom that I would like to have a 2nd pair of jeans before I go to Alaska this summer. Last night, our friend Glida from down the street called to tell me a lady had given her some clothes that didn't fit her and asked if I could use a pair of jeans and several pair of shorts! God provided not only the jeans but also shorts for working in the yard as it gets hotter. I have to believe that the same God who sent me jeans, can give me words to witness to the lost, comfort the grieving, and encourage fellow believers. I simply must use the faith I have, make the first step, and rely on God to propel me to the finish line!

FITNESS TRAINING
I Corinthians 9:24-25 – May 20, 1983

Every runner who strives to win
puts himself into training.
He eats the right foods, sleeps when he should,
and works out with muscles complaining.
If he does all this for a temporal prize,
then how much more should I strive
to eat daily God’s word, rest in the Lord,
and exercise faith to change lives?

40 Days to Live - Day 21

Luke 17:11-4 - Actively Forgive

Lord, keep me from being a stumbling block.

Help me never to stand in the way

by being a poor example

in anything I do or say.

Lord, keep me from being judgmental.

Help me never to cut with my words.

Help me to tame my tongue,

refuse to gossip of things seen or heard.

Lord, keep me from unforgiveness.

Help me never refuse to forgive.

For you have forgiven me freely,

given me a new life to live.

40 Days to Live - Day 22

Luke 16:19-31 - Believe in Hell

The only thing in life that matters is whether or not Jesus is our Lord. Success, education, riches all fade in comparison with where we will spend eternity. Life on earth is just a mist compared with spending eternity either with our Lord in Heaven or in torment in Hell. Christ died to pay for our sin. If His Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart, drawing you to God through Jesus, then you have the opportunity to be completely controlled by a sovereign but loving Father. In Romans 10:9-11, we read, "...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heat that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved: for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever belives in Him will not be disappointed.'" The Amplified version renders the word believes as "adheres to, trusts in and relies on" and confesses as "declares openly and speaks out freely his faith". This is not a light confession made just to get "fire insurance" against hell. It is a complete reliance on Christ which will result in His control of your life. There is nothing you can do to earn Heaven. It is a gift you receive from God. Jesus died to make it possible.

ONE HEARTBEAT FROM HELL
Karen Sue Hale
October 7, 1984

He laughs and he acts merry,
yet he’s one heartbeat from Hell.
When his life on earth may end
no one here can tell.

One heartbeat from Hell he walks
and goes to work each day.
He finds time for recreation,
but he finds no time to pray.

This man may be your neighbor.
He may even be your friend.
Have you invested any time
to warn him of the end?

One heartbeat from Hell he sits
and reads the daily news,
and yet the words of life from God
he’ll often times refuse.

Perhaps you are this man who walks
just one heartbeat from Hell.
Please give me just one moment;
hear the news I have to tell.

One heartbeat from Hell you stand
and listen to me now.
There is a way to change your life.
Please let me tell you how.

Jesus Christ has died for you
that you might be set free.
The debt you owe was paid by Him
that day on Calvary.

Confess you are a sinner
and believe that Christ is Lord,
that God has raised Him from the dead
according to His word.

If you’ll pray to Jesus
and yield to Him your life;
he will save you from the fire,
from Hell’s eternal strife.

One heartbeat from Hell you live
for death may come this hour.
This may be the last time
you can call upon God’s power.

Do not waste one second more…
just kneel to God and pray.
Trust in Christ to change your life
and be Heaven bound today!

40 Days to Live - Day 23

Luke 16:14-18 - Take God at His Word

It seems that each time I read God's word, I am convicted of some wrong thing I've done or some good thing I've neglected to do. I have the responsibility of having friends who look up to me, and I take that seriously. I do not want anyone to stumble because of disappointment in my behavior. Yet, like all of you, I struggle with sin. No, I've not murdered anyone; but I have harbored ill will toward people. I've not stolen from a person, but there have been times that I've stolen from the Lord by not giving Him all He is due. God looks into our hearts, so we cannot hide wrong motives or the fact that we may dwell on inappropriate thoughts. Praise the Lord that He is slow to anger and gracious in His dealings with His children.

Father, look into my heart and reveal the real me.

If there is any blackness there, help me, Lord, to see.

Purify my heart. Refine me in Your fire.

Conform me to the image of Christ...

let that be my true desire.

40 Days to Live - Day 24

Luke 16:1-13 - Be a Wise Steward

My current position as Mom's caregiver gives me added insight into the idea of stewardship. I am a signer on Mom's checking account. I pay all the bills, go to the grocery store, and handle hiring repairmen as needed. Because Daddy was a wise steward of all God provided, our house is paid for, which helps a great deal. However, I must be careful with Mom's money and try to live within her monthly income from Dad's social security and retirement. My sisters and I agree that we need to avoid dipping into her savings as much as possible because we may need it for nursing care or major repairs to the house. My family is counting on me to be a wise steward of mother's funds.

God expects me to be a wise steward as well; and in reality, all that I have is His. Since the decision to give away the dressing table (which by the way has been accomplished), I've been taking stock of other things in my possession that might be given to ministry such as the annual church auction, or donated to the ARC for the use of those affected my mental retardation. I have also decided to begin sending some of my children's books to my grandchildren and giving some to my sisters' grandchildren. I may not be drawing much in the way of salary, but there are still things I can share with others. Because of my parent's good example through the years, I know the importance of tithing even when the amount seems small. God can bless those funds and have them reach farther than I could if I spent them myself.

Sometimes I feel sad that I'm no longer able to give over $300 a month to the church. That's why I really appreciated the "Live It" statement on the study guide today: "Consider that everybreath and moment today belongs to God." It's not just about money. Money is actually a small portion of our stewardship. We need to be good stewards of our LIVES. I am finding more and more ways I can be actively ministering to others with my life right here from home. No excuses! Each breath is HIS!

Each time I breathe, may I exhale praise;

for the air I drew in came from Father.

May I view each moment as a gift from God,

never considering life a bother.

May I be a good steward of the life I've been given,

each step taken to the glory of the Lord.

May I allow Him each day to transform my mind

by spending time with Him through His word.

May the words that I speak edify others,

and never be used to put down.

May the message I share, the seeds that I sow,

fall on listening ears, fertile ground.