When the leaves start falling you know that summer has ended. The youth of the leaves either change into a dirty brown or a beautiful deep red (Isaiah 64:5-7). But then, even with the gentlest of winds – it is all over. Ever so gently, the once vibrant useful leaf flutters one last time and then falls to the earth.

Spring was a time of growth and learning to cope with the world. It was filled with new life. The new young leaves provided life to the trees and cover to the baby birds and squirrels.

But soon Summer came, and life swung into a routine. At first, it was a party – squirrels filled their days chasing each other up and down the trees (Jeremiah 8:20). But then the wisdom of the aged warned of an end and the age-old preparatory production began. The true nature of the trees became evident as ripe fruit appeared. Squirrels quickly gathered and hid their stash.

Then, as quickly as everything had sprung into life, it was all over. Overripe fruit and leaves both died and fell to the earth (James. 4:13-14).

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted (ESV).

Friend, are you closer today to the day you were born or to the day you will die?

Most Holy God, give us the strength to live each day to its fullest – not as fulfilling the desires of the flesh but as a blessing to others.

 

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. — Ephesians 4:1-3

At last week’s Summit Men’s Retreat I asked the group to write down the things they are willing to die to defend.  Without hesitation they wrote down the things that mean the most to them.  Faith, family and country were rightly at the top of most lists.  Next, I asked for a list of the things they would live for.  Through our discussion we realized that living is the highest measure of devotion, not dying.  There are many people who would willingly leave this world in a blaze of glory for a noble cause.  There are not many, however, who will choose day by day to live for a purpose.

Yet, that is just what Jesus asks of us – “live a life worthy of the calling”, “take up your cross daily”, “Be faithful to the point of death”.  Sometimes living for Jesus leads to a martyr’s death.  More often it leads to a life full of daily choices that reveal our true faithfulness.  God is glorified in our struggle to follow him.

This week’s challenge is to make your own list of things you would die for and then ask yourself if you are living for the things on that list.

God, please use our lives moment by moment to be the hands, feet, voice, and heart of Jesus in all the places we go.  Our lives are lived in Jesus’ name, AMEN.

 

Anyone who thinks Christianity is not fun has never tried it. It is like going for a second helping of dessert. This weekend the men are going to treat themselves twice. It is called ReTreat.

As His children, we will WALK IN LIGHT (Ephesians 5:8–14). This will enable us to:

• Produce good fruit. We will be generous to each other while doing right, and holding up God’s truth, 5:9.
• We will discern what pleases the Lord, 5:10.
• Through repentance & confession, we will expose shameful deeds to the light, 5:11-14.

As Christ’s disciples, we WILL WALK CAREFULLY (Ephesians 5:15–17). This will
enable us to:

• Wisely walk the talk, as revealed by God’s Word, instead of recklessly hurting each other, 5:15.
• Make the best use of the limited time we will be together, instead of
  squandering our time for evil, 5:16.
• Understand the will of the Lord, rather than ranting foolishness, 5:17.

And as Christ’s Holy Warriors we will MARCH IN STEP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (Ephesians 5:18–20). This will enable us to:

• Be filled with the Spirit, instead of being part of a drunken party, 5:18.
• Praise God by addressing each other with songs that originate from melodious hearts, 5:19.
• Thank God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, every moment and for everything, 5:20.

Father God, thank you for your light that helps us to walk a careful & holy walk in the limited time we have in this world.

 

The cell phone is a tool that can help or hurt communication. You probably heard of the young lady who was ironing when her phone rang. Thinking the iron was her phone she burned her ear. But what puzzled the Doctor was that both ears were burned. “Well obviously the slick salesman called back”, she explained.

We might laugh at this, but aren’t we guilty of the same thing? You see, a cell phone can either be a form of communication or a hot iron that is repeatedly burning us.

I remember the days of the “landline only” communication. We hardly ever missed or ignored a call. Also, the batteries did not run out and we did not misplace our stationary home phone. I can vividly remember running to answer the phone. And if perchance we did miss a call, the answering machine would take a message. Communication was something of value. And so, families were closer.

Similarly, Disciples can take prayer and the Bible for granted – and thereby miss incredible communication opportunities to grow closer to God.

Paul gives Disciples a great example in Philippians 1:3–4 (ESV) — 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy.

Father God, thank you so much for granting us access to your throne through your Son. Help us never to miss an opportunity to communicate with You. Through Him do we pray, amen.

 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

We are all encouraged by a leader who motivates us to move ahead. Someone who believes we can do the task he has given and who will be with us all the way. God is that kind of leader.

He knows the future, and his plans for us are good and full of hope.  As long as God provides the agenda and goes with us as we fulfill His mission, we can have boundless hope.

If we could live our faith as an act of worship or service to God, such an attitude could take some of the struggles out of it by treating our problems as the price of discipleship.

 

How many times should we forgive someone?  Once or twice should be plenty!  We should give them the benefit of the doubt, shouldn’t we?  But do we have to forgive them if they do it again?

Peter asked Jesus this question, “Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

That seems like a lot of turning the other cheek.  How much punishment should a man take? Wow, just think if you were the one that needed to be forgiven, how many times would you like to be forgiven?  We all do things we know we shouldn’t, or sometimes don’t realize that we have hurt someone.

When we look at scriptures we see that even holy men of God needed forgiveness.  Look at David, how many times did he need forgiving?  Moses was not allowed in the Promised Land.  What did Jonah’s disobedience of God cost him?  How many times did Peter deny his Lord?  We all need the Lord’s healing hand.

What does God do when we confess our sins to him:

-Psalms 103:12 “as far as east is to west is our sins removed from us.”

-Isaiah 1:18 “He cleans our stains and makes them as white as snow.”

-Isaiah 38:17 “He put all of our sins behind his back.”

-Jeremiah 13:34 “He remembers them no more.”

-Micah 7:19 “He crushes our sins in the dirt.”

-Micah 7:19 “He hurls them into the ocean”

Brothers and sisters, when someone sins against us, let us strive to forgive them like our Heavenly Father forgives us. Let us be sure to tell others of the forgiving love of our Lord God.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  Colossians 3:13

WWJD

 

You are warned! A vicious storm is descending on the Atlantic Coast of America. More than 1 million souls are under a mandatory evacuation. We have an entire country believing a warning of a temporary physical storm yet ignoring an imminent eternal spiritual storm.

One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus to test him – asking for a sign from heaven. Jesus’ reply was: “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:1-3).

A storm, much more powerful than anything this world has ever imagined, is coming. When it arrives every molecule in the universe will be burned up and dissolved (2 Peter 3:10).  So, test yourself to see if Christ is living in you. If an accusation against you has already been established by 2 or 3 witnesses – you are doomed, unless you repent (*2 Peter 3:9; **2 Cor.13:1-5).

Friend, here is your test: If Christ is living in you then evil isn’t because you are heeding the voice of the Spirit. Don’t wait for the hurricane … we are all just a breath away from a fixed eternal state.

*2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) — 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

**2 Corinthians 13:1–5 (ESV) — 1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!