Start Where You Are!

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Robert Springer

2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV)
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Paul was writing to Timothy who was his disciple. Paul poured his teaching into Timothy because he wanted the legacy of the Gospel to live on. Paul wanted to multiply his teaching through others so that the Gospel would be taught throughout the world as Jesus commanded. He expected Timothy to teach others.

The Church to which I belong says we are to make disciples who make disciples. We are to multiply our efforts in sharing the good news with everyone who will listen. Many are hesitant to teach because they say they don’t yet know enough. My Pastor Don says “Discipleship is just teaching people what you do know. Start where you are.” Whatever you know, you are in a position to teach. There is also no shame in saying I don’t know but I will find out for you. The note in my study Bible says “If the church were to consistently follow Paul’s advice, it would expand geometrically as well taught believers would teach others…..” Are you teaching what you know to others or will you go to your grave with your music still in you? When would be a good time to start teaching? Are there things that you know and do that would be valuable for others to continue? Teach them those things.

We are called to make disciples.  I was in a men’s group about 15 years ago and the question came up of “What would you do if someone asked you about how to establish a relationship with Christ?” The men said they would get the Pastor. In Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) Jesus tells us all “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Each one of us is to be prepared to tell the story. Just tell them your own story about how you came to know Him. It does not have to be well scripted or contain certain words. What were you like before? What led you to accept Christ? What difference has it made in your life? That is all you need do. This link takes you to the process which is simple. http://www.4stepstogod.com/

Don’t be selfish and keep your knowledge hidden. Share with others. There is synergy when we work with others. Teaching someone what you know creates that synergy and blesses you both in the process. Be a blessing to someone else today and share what you know about things you do and about your Lord.

Father, thank You for Your blessings and grace. Help us to multiply that blessing by giving it away to others in Your name. When we share You with others, all are blessed. Teach us Your ways and send us out as a blessing that we may glorify You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

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Work is an act of Worship!

Posted on July 17, 2016 by Robert Springer

Psalm 90:16-17 (NKJV)
16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, And Your glory to their children.
17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.

This Psalm was written by Moses. Moses is asking God to reveal His work to His children. Also, God has plans for us. Moses is asking God to lead us to the work He has for us. When we do the things God ordains for us, they go well. It is always best to be in God’s will.

Last week, I worked with our youth group on a stay-cation kind of work trip. Our Church participates in a local endeavor where we stay at the Church and travel locally to do repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy. It was amazing to watch 40+ teenagers really pitch in and make things happen. I was struck by the fact that these 14-18 year olds really stepped up and did the work. They did not need to be told what to do. They were there to serve others and serve they did!

Sometimes, we sign up to do something because it will look good on our resume’. There were a few kids there who needed community service hours. I got the feeling they were there to check something off their list. But the majority were there to build relationships. They worked hard because they wanted to make life better for someone they don’t even know. On the site where I worked, we did not get to meet the homeowners. That was a little sad. I like to meet the people I serve. I want the chance to tell them why I serve. I serve because of all God has done for me. And our StudentLife Pastor has taught our youth the same thing. They are awesome young people. James 2:17 (NKJV) says “17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Our youth have faith. And that faith in evidenced by the works they do in the name of Christ. Out of the overflow of blessings God has given them, they are blessing others including me. It is pure joy to watch them work. One of the funny parts to watch is them all fall asleep as soon as the van starts moving on the way to and from the worksite. That is my quite time. But it was a real blessing to work side by side with these awesome young people. I am discouraged when I look at the world at large. But I am revitalized when I get to see our youth step out in faith!

They are who they are because we have invested our time in them to share our faith. We planted seeds and God has given increase. His Holy Spirit has dwelled richly in their hearts and brought about spiritual growth. There is a fire in these kids. Now let us continue to fan the flames and encourage them in their walk with God. May it help grow us all!

Lord, thank You for establishing the work of our hands. You give us meaning and purpose through that which You ordain for us. Give us the talents and the strength we need to produce the fruits of our labors to Your glory. In Jesus name we pray!

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Come Boldly Before the Throne!

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Robert Springer

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We have learned that all things are possible with God. We know He can do all things. After all, He created the universe and all that is in it. Yet we do not go to Him with our requests. He might be busy running the universe or something. We wouldn’t want to bother Him. We go through life trying to do things in our own power. But didn’t Jesus say that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly? Yes, He did! So it is clear that God wants to bless you. But He wants you to ask for His blessings. James 4:3 says “You have not because you ask not.” Why not ask?

God tells us that if we tithe, He will open the floodgates of heaven. Jesus tells us He came that we may have an abundant life. Blessing after blessing is stated yet we do not accept them. Is it a question of worthiness? Are we afraid that we don’t deserve the blessings? Why not? Your Creator says you do and offers them. The writer of Hebrews suggests we come boldly before the throne of grace. God’s throne is a throne of grace. He desires to bless you! He wants to give you gifts. But a gift that is not accepted is not a gift at all. You see, the giver receives their blessing when you accept the gift. If you don’t accept, they are slighted and do not receive the blessing of giving. The giver and receiver are blessed by the process. What if you don’t accept the gift? Do either receive a blessing? Your Father in Heaven wants to give you a gift. Take it so that you and He can be blessed by it. He loves you and wants what is best for you. He will send good things to you if you will let Him. Will you?

James 1:17 (NKJV) says 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. We know all things are from You Father. Help us to accept these blessings in the spirit of love in which they were given. Help us to share with others that which You give us. May we accept these blessings and become a blessing to everyone we meet. In Your name we pray!

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All things are possible! Dry Bones shall Live!

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Robert Springer

Ezekiel 37:4-6 (NKJV)
37 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”

My friend David wrote me with this verse. Thank you David for reminding me what our God can do! Many times we face situations that seem hopeless. Our dreams have died. It doesn’t look like there is any way to revive the situation. But then again, we do not know what God knows nor can we do what God can do.

The book of Ezekiel is full of prophecy from beginning to end. God speaks through Ezekiel to the people of Judah in exile in Babylon after ignoring God’s word to them. They were in exile about 70 years so things looked hopeless. But with God, all things are possible. God speaks to Ezekiel and tells him to speak to a valley of dried bones and these bones came back to life as the whole House of Israel. Is there anything more hopeless than dried bones? And yet, the Lord God Almighty can bring them back to life.

What are you facing today? The end of a dream? The loss of a loved one? The loss of a job? Are you in a valley surrounded by dry bones? Well take heart. One word from the Lord can bring dead dry bones back to life. Considering that, what do you think God can do with your hopes and dreams? But you must believe in Him for it to take place. Lack of faith will bring lack of results. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see! (Hebrews 11:1) Do you believe? I mean, really believe that God can do these things? Without faith, these things are not possible. But when you believe, when you trust God, he will bring dead things back to life. He did it for Lazarus! He did it for Jesus! Why wouldn’t He do it for you? He who promises is faithful. And He loves you enough to give Himself up for you. That is how much He cares. He raised Israel from the dead and returned them to their own land. What do you need Him to do for you? Ask!

Father, Your power is beyond our comprehension. Show Yourself as the Lord God Almighty of Israel. Teach us Your ways and strengthen our faith in You. With You, all things are possible. May our prayers be bolder as our faith and trust in You grow. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

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Justice or Mercy – You Decide!

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Robert Springer

James 2:8-13 Selected (NKJV)
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all…… 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Do you want to be shown justice or mercy? Many people complain that things are not fair. To be truly fair, we would have to invoke full justice. Justice requires judgment and I am not sure anyone wants to face judgment. We all want justice but most would not want to be held accountable for their actions. Do you offer fairness to everyone else? Scripture tells us that, if we break one point of the law, it is as if we guilty of all. That is a very high standard which we cannot meet. But, thank God, there is Grace!

Our Creator knows how we were formed and what we can do. He knows that we cannot keep the whole Law. The standard is too high for us. With that in mind, He made a way for us to give it our best and, when we don’t measure up, to try again. Our Lord is a Lord of mercy. He loves us! He asks us to love our neighbors as ourselves. That includes offering them grace when they fall short of the mark. Are you gracious? Do you allow others to recover from mistakes? Do you hold them to standards you know you cannot meet? This passage tells us we will be judged without mercy if we show no mercy. Matthew 7 (NKJV) “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Are you generous?

How do you want to be judged? Do you want mercy? If so, you are asked to offer mercy to others. It is not our job to judge; it is our job to love. Part of that job is speaking the truth in love. That means that you will share with people that what they are doing is contrary to God’s Law but you will leave open a path of restoration. You might ask “are you sure you want to do that?” Showing mercy does include telling the truth. But it is to be done with a gentle spirit and with restoration as the intention. Be loving and kind to those who have strayed because you will be among them sooner or later. Remember, mercy triumphs over justice. Be merciful today!

Father, we thank You that Your mercy triumphs over Your justice. It is only by Your Grace that we live! Help us to speak the truth in love when others stray. Help them to be gentle to us when we stray. May we offer mercy over judgment by the example You have set for us through Jesus. Your grace is incomprehensible! In Jesus name we thank You and pray. Amen!

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Why do you compare yourself to others?

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Robert Springer

Galatians 6:4-5
Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others.  Assume your own responsibility.

I am not as good as Joe. I wish I had his voice. I wish I had her creativity. My question is what would you do with someone else’s talents if you are not doing all you can with your own? Theodore Roosevelt said “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Wishing for something someone else has will steal your joy. You were not made to use talents given to others. You were designed to run your own race. You were born in this place and time for a reason. It is your job to discover that reason and purpose. You will not figure that out if you keep trying to live someone else’s life.

Are you a parent? Have you ever compared one of your kids to another? Have you ever said “why can’t you be more like your brother?” Is that a question that will bring out the best in each child? Children who are compared grow up to compare and question themselves. Don’t let the “comparison thief” in to your lives.

Galatians tells us we can be proud of our accomplishments. God designed us to bloom where we are planted and to live with the gifts He has given us. When you try to use gifts given to others, it is like trying to put on size ten shoes when you have size twelve feet. It just isn’t going to work out well. Zig Ziglar says you were designed for accomplishment, engineered for success and endowed with the seeds of greatness. You are God’s masterpiece. Be who you were called to be. The Caller designed you to be great in the place He put you. Be wonderful! Be yourself! Be Happy! Be His!

Lord, thank You for creating each of us just as You designed us to be. Thank You for the gifts You have given us. Help us to use them to Your glory. Thank You that Your plan for us is for our good. Thank You that You call each of us by name and love us just the way we are. Help us to be who You call us to be. In Your name we pray!

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People of Vision!

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Robert Springer

Prov 29:18  Where there is no vision the people perish.

Are you a person of vision? Do you see things others do not see? God has blessed me with a different kind of vision. He allows me to see things His way and gives me insights that I don’t have on my own. Without vision, what would the world be like? New things would not be developed. There would not be new ideas. Our verse tells us that the people perish. They might even die of boredom.

There are people out there who have no vision. They can just suck the life right out of you. No matter how nice a day it may be, they can come up with a list a mile long why things will be bad. Those are not the people you want around. You were made for great things. You won’t soar to new heights surrounded by negative people. Look for people of vision; people like yourself! When He created you, God put vision within you. That vision works when it is linked to others with vision. You encourage one another. Positive people create an atmosphere of creativity that can produce incredible things when we are able to follow God’s lead. In fact, this atmosphere draws in God’s power. He wants to shower you with blessings and all things good. Test Him in this and see if He will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out His blessings upon you. So much so that you will not have storage enough to hold them.

Thank You Lord that you bless us with vision. Help us to use that vision to Your glory. Help us to see what You see and lead us to what you would have us do. Bring others with vision to us so that, together, we can help bring about the kingdom of heaven with Your help and in Your name.

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Are you a good read?

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Robert Springer

1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV)
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

When a book is really enjoyable, people say it is a “good read.” People say that your life may be the only Bible a person ever reads. If they read your life, would you like the review? Would it be encouraging? Paul tells Timothy to be an example in word, deed and spirit. What does it mean in “spirit”? I think it means we are to have a right attitude toward whatever we do. With a poor attitude, you will set the wrong example. What example do you want to set?

I came to Christ later in life. I was 46. I had always known of Him but never taken it any further than knowing (head knowledge). One of the blessings I have had is friends of all ages. One such friend was Ed. I met him through my wife’s family. Jean had become friends with Jim and Ed was his dad. Ed had physical challenges that limited his ability to do many things but he had a strong spirit. I later learned that was the Spirit of the Lord that burned within him. Ed was a doer even if he could not physically do it himself. He had five kids and he taught them (probably) more than they wanted to know at the time about how things are done. Ed set an example. It was his book I was reading because I had not yet come to reading the Bible. I watched how Ed conducted his life. How he faced difficulties and challenges and navigated through them. He had a confidence. He knew where he was going. No, he wasn’t perfect. None of us are. But there was a confidence and determination that was unmistakable. He knew who he was and whose he was. And, slowly, patiently, Ed planted seeds of how life should be lived even though he never mentioned the Gospel. He lived it! He was an awesome friend and mentor to me. I loved him. I’d say he was a good read. He went to be with the Lord in 1989 before he got the chance to see those seeds take root and grow. But he knew what he was doing. Ed followed what his Lord requested. He planted seeds. He watered and he waited. But God gave the increase. Those seeds led me to the Lord.

What seeds are you planting? Do you share the Good News with others in word and deed? Are you leading people closer to or further from the Lord? Are you a good read? Go out and show the world what it means to serve a Risen Lord! Plant seeds!

Lord, help us to be the good news to others. Give us opportunities to share You with a hurting world. Let our actions speak louder than our words and our story draw people closer to You. May we live in such a way that others want to learn why. Let us be the example and conduct ourselves in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. In Jesus name we pray! Amen

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Flawless

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Robert Springer

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Sometimes we sit and look at ourselves as if we are completely lost and worthless. We have had an awful day and everything we touch has turned out badly. We feel as if nothing is going to go our way. We think everyone is against us; that we can do nothing right. Momma said there would be days like this and here they are. But all is not lost. There is a God and He is still on His throne. And best of all, you are His heir; made in His image and likeness!

It all happens when you invite Christ into your heart. At that moment, you become a new creation. The light of Christ is so overwhelming that it overshadows any faults that you may have. They are hidden by the glory of amazing Grace. Your flaws have passed away and you become flawless in the sight and light of Christ. Behold, all things, including you, have become new. So whatever faults you have, they will be erased. Those shortcomings, gone! Anger, doubt, pain, unworthiness all washed away by the flood of grace. You are flawless in the eyes of your Creator. That is quite an inheritance to live up to, isn’t it? With that in mind, how will you show you new status to those you meet? Will you have a renewed confidence? Will you be kinder? Will you be more gracious toward others? Shouldn’t you be passing on what you have received? Then go out and praise the works of others! Become a good finder. They already know what they are doing wrong! You tell them what they are doing right and praise them for it. People will repeat activity for which they are praised. What would you like to see from others? How can you praise them in a way that will lead them to repeat that good behavior?

Below are the lyrics to Flawless by Mercyme and the link to the video. Learn the chorus and sing it to those you love. They will become so much better in your eyes. And your positive expectancy will lead them to go up higher and accomplish much more. Love them into their destiny by extending the grace you have received. Remember, the Cross has made you flawless.

Father, thank You for Christ and Your Grace which makes us flawless. You have wrapped us in the righteousness of Christ so that our faults are no longer visable to You. While You are in the process of making us new creations, take away all the old faults and make us more like You. Give us Your eyes to see our brothers and sisters through the lens of love; Your love! For in You, we are new creations. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjLlLPZderk

No matter the bumps No matter the bruises
No matter the scars Still the truth is
The cross has made The cross has made you flawless
No matter the hurt Or how deep the wound is
No matter the pain Still the truth is
The cross has made The cross has made you flawless

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Are you hungry for more?

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Robert Springer

Matthew 5:6-16 (NKJV)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,  For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,  For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,  For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,  For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,  For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Where are you in your walk with Christ? Is it good enough? Are you satisfied to attend Church on Sundays? Is the Kingdom of Heaven yours? How about your walk of faith? If you seek a deeper relationship, the Lord is available and wants to meet you where you are.

I have come to a place in my spiritual walk where I desire a more intimate relationship with my Lord. I seek Him in my life through His word. I hunger for a better world knowing that He can make that happen. I am unhappy that the world is such a dark place where people just do what is good for themselves. It is very frustrating. But every now and then, I am pleasantly surprised by something. In late June, I met a Brother in Christ. I was at a seminar and heard a man speak about his ministry and how it was impacting lives and benefiting his community and I had to know more. During the break, I approached Rev. Clarence asking him if he would share details of how this ministry worked. Clarence invited me and my Pastor to visit with him to learn about what they do and how they do it. The visit was extremely helpful. When I arrived, Clarence greeted me like we were long lost brothers. This was not of my doing. The Holy Spirit arranged that meeting and the relationship and I am blessed by both.

I have sought revival in our community. It is my feeling that we need to draw closer to God to rebuild our morals and values to live the good life God intended. I believe it will take outreach to the community around us. All the things that have been revealed in my heart are things Clarence has done and he is willing to share them with us. I think it is time for Disciples who become Apostles. Clarence told us of their training programs that help make that possible. Now, we have a plan to reach every man in our Church for Christ leading them closer to spiritual maturity. Once there, we can go out to the surrounding community. We hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness. That righteousness will bring incredible blessing to us and those who walk with us. For ours is the Kingdom of heaven!

Father thank You that You bless us in our efforts to draw closer to You. Thank You that You have given us the calling to share Your Good News with those around us. We seek revival Lord. By Your Spirit, draw people closer to You through our words and deeds. Let Your love be evident to others in our actions. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

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Which are you?

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Robert Springer

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)
24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Some people say Good morning Lord; others say Good Lord it’s morning. Which are you? Abraham Lincoln said “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” So it seems that it is a choice. What choice will you make?  It is my contention that attitude is everything. The attitude with which you start the day makes all the difference. How will you start your day?

The Lord made all our days. It was his intention that we be blessed in all our days. He made them so we could rejoice and be glad. Are you glad in the morning? Shouldn’t you be? If you focus on the blessings God has given you, you will be able to enjoy each day as it comes. What will today bring? Will it bring happiness? Will it bring joy? It can if you decide that is what you want! You can be as happy as you make up your mind to be. The battle begins in your mind. Make the decision to be positive. It is your choice. Make the choice to rejoice!

Good morning Lord! Thank you for this day and every day. Help us to rejoice in the day You have given us. In Your name we pray!

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Be Still and Know!

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Robert Springer

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

How still are you during your waking hours? I just heard a sermon by my Pastor Don Feuerbach about being still. Are you good at that? I’m not! My mind is always racing to the next thought. In fact, I tell people that my mind is a scary place. It can be overwhelming. I am a visual person. My ideas (or the ideas God gives me) appear all at once in a flash. It happens so fast that I have to record it or lose it. I see things quickly and sometimes things others don’t see yet. I have come to appreciate the gifts God has given me. That doesn’t mean they don’t scare me. But being still is difficult for me. I keep saying I want to take a day off but when I try to be idle, my mind races about things I could or should do. It is frustrating. When I’m busy, I want to relax. When I try to relax, I want to get busy.

How can we learn to be still? The Wall Street Journal has an article on Hurry Sickness. Why are we in such a hurry? Where are we going? Have you ever had someone race around you on the road only to have you pull up right behind them at the next traffic light? Albert Einstein said “There are only two ways to live life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is.” If you go too fast, you won’t be able to see the miracles. Sometimes, when I wake up, I just watch my wife sleep and notice all the special things about her that God created. Have you ever taken the time to really look at a baby and see that miracle? Why wouldn’t you want to take time to smell the roses?

But how do we slow down? I have a wild and crazy idea. It came from some book called Exodus and it says “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy.” What a crazy thought. Pastor Don says busyness kills the soul. He also said love and hurry are incompatible. Do you think this Exodus story has some merit? What does it mean to remember the Sabbath day? Could you actually schedule time to be unscheduled? Do you have a category in Outlook named “Nothing”? Maybe you should create one. What if you put open time placeholders into your Outlook calendar called “Nothing” and set them to “Busy”? Would that fool you or others? Do you really need to fool yourself or would listening to God’s plan for us just be a good thing to do? I am sure there are other suggestions counselors and therapists may have but God’s word gave us the plan thousands of years ago. If we would just listen we would be so much better off. Below is a little exercise that comes from Psalm 46. Read it sloooooowlyyyyy and see if it works for you.

Be still, and know that I am God;
Be still, and know that I am
Be still, and know that I
Be still, and know
Be still,
Be

Lord, we thank You for Your Sabbath Day which was Your gift to us. Help us to bask in Your Peace and Grace one day a week as you planned. Let Your Spirit quiet the voices inside that scream hurry. Help us to just be! In Your name we pray. Amen!

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Singing the Blues.

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Robert Springer

Psalm 30:11-12 (NKJV)
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

For those of us who have faith in God, weeping may last for the night but joy comes in the morning. Our God works out all things for our good. Even though we go through trials, we have the strength to face those trials and be transformed by them. The Lord our God will walk with us through the trouble and bring us out on the other side. And when we come through the trial, we will rejoice and praise Him who gave us strength.

Are you going through a difficult time? When things seem their darkest, we tend to think we are alone and will not make it through. But faith can strengthen us. It can help us to endure knowing that this test can become our testimony. Our God will use what we face to refine and transform us into the people He designed us to be. He will never leave nor forsake us! No matter what, God is there for you. Reach out to Him when you are afraid. He will be your strength and shield. You do not have to go it alone. He walks with you and will carry you when need be.

Lord, we thank You that You are always there for us no matter how dark the night appears. Help us to remember that the dawn always follows the dark of night. After all, You are the light of the world and you come to each of us to calm our fears and bring us through whatever challenge we face. Be with us today Lord. We need you. Turn our mourning into dancing. In Your name we pray.

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What is it you seek?

Posted on July 7, 2016 by Robert Springer

John 6:26-27 (NKJV) 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His [God’s] seal on Him [Jesus].”

When you look to Jesus, for what do you look to Him? Is He some sort of cosmic vending machine to give you what you want? Do you look to Him to provide for your needs; the needs of this world or for what He wants for you? Yes, Jesus wants to provide for your current needs but He really wants to have a relationship that can provide for your eternal needs. He is the way and the truth and the life now and forever. How can you have that relationship?

For more than two thousand years, people have been trying to figure out that relationship. Many religions have been formed in an attempt to answer the relationship question. Just who is this Jesus and what does He want from us? Does He seek certain tasks from us? How do we know if we are good enough? What is it He requires? Is it religion or relationship that Jesus wants? It is relationship! Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27). It is also a right relationship with Jesus. Once you build that relationship, Jesus will give you everlasting life. This is the food which endures.

There is nothing you can do to be good enough! Works of kindness on your part are out of the overflow of the blessings God gives you freely through Christ. These blessings are because God loves you and not because of anything you can do. He wants to be in relationship with you. All you need do is invite Him into your heart and your life. You will never be the same. Jesus changes everything! His love is so overwhelming that you cannot remain the same. You will become a better person for just the knowledge of Him. And all it takes to receive this food that endures to everlasting life is to open the door and invite Him in. Will you open the door? You know He is there. You might be afraid of the changes He will make. So was I! I opened the door May 31, 1998 after months of trepidation. It is quite a story. But what would people think? Would I be betraying my roots? What would my family say? Now, nothing else matters! Christ alone is my cornerstone. Sure, I still have my faults. Ask Jean. I get grumpy when I don’t get my way. But I recognize my faults and I ask Jesus to remove them. Rub off the rough edges please Lord. And that rubbing hurts. I fall down but I get up again. He dusts me off and says “you’ll do better next time.” And He gives me a next time. Thank You Lord!

Why do you seek Him? I seek Him because I want to become all He has designed me to be. I know I cannot be my best me unless Jesus remakes me in His image. I am willing Lord. Come Lord Jesus.

Come Lord Jesus! Feed us with food that lasts. By Your Spirit, guide us in Your ways. Your ways are truth and love. Help us to love one another as You have loves us. Give us this abundant everlasting life. In Your name we pray! Amen!

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I’m independent!

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Robert Springer

John 6:68-69 (NKJV)
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

So you think you can do all things on your own. You don’t need anyone. You can do it yourself. Have you ever faced a challenge that was so large that you couldn’t see your way around it let alone find a solution? Have you ever faced cancer? I have heard the “C” word from my doctor. Fortunately, it was skin cancer and it was caught early. But my friend had breast cancer and it rocked her whole world. She was so distraught that she and her husband were paralyzed with fear. They could not think about a solution. Do you run toward God or away from Him in times of trouble? I wonder what people without faith do in a crisis? I run toward God. As Peter says, He is the One with the answers. Knowing God is better than knowing the answers.

Jesus had just fed the five thousand. After that, He walked on water to reach the boat with the disciples. It was becoming clear He was not of this world. He asked people to believe and follow Him. What He was asking seemed too difficult to understand or too costly to some and they turned away. But there were those to whom it became clear Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus asked the twelve if they were going to turn away also. Peter said “Lord, to whom shall we go?…….” The twelve were beginning to understand that Jesus was the Creator God. There is nowhere else you can go. He is the beginning and the end and everything in between. When there is nowhere else to go, what do you do? Do you rely on your own intellect? Are you the Captain of your own ship? Is it all up to you? I hope not! Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV) says 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Is that the desired source for your future? Do you really want to live in a world ruled by mankind’s heart and not God’s truth? Do you want to do it yourself? If following God and His ways seems right to you, how will you do that? Is He in your life? He is willing. Invite Him in. He will bring you comfort. He loves you!

Lord, thank You for being there whenever we need a place to turn. We can always count on You. Help us to know and trust You when things get tough. Also, be there in our joy that we might know every good gift is from You. In Your name we pray. Amen!

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I’m Not Sure I Can Go On! From Mountain to Valley….Success to Panic!

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Robert Springer

1 Kings 19:4New King James Version (NKJV)
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

Elijah had just come off one of the biggest victories of his career. He had just asked the Lord to send down fire to consume his sacrifice. He prayed in 1 Kings 18: “37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God,…..” And the Lord did just that; He consumed every trace of the sacrifice. The people saw this, believed and executed the 450 prophets of Baal the false god and turned back to the God of Israel. Elijah was a hero because of this. This was his mountaintop experience.

But we often go from success to panic. What if I can’t do that again? What if this was a freak accident? What if I just got lucky? What if…What if? Shortly after his huge success (which was God’s hand), Queen Jezebel threatens to kill him and Elijah runs for his life into the wilderness. Now he is feeling sorry for himself. He asks the Lord to take his life. Why? Didn’t he just prove that the Lord was the only true God through his prayers? Had God not established Elijah as His Prophet? It looks like complete success to me! What is it about human nature that there is such a big letdown after a tremendous success?

I think there is a clue in the text. Isaiah says “…for I am no better than my fathers!” Isaiah is assuming that he made these things happen. Yes, he did pray and his prayers were answered because God loved him and the prayers were in God’s will. But Isaiah makes the mistake of comparing himself to his ancestors as if any of them could have accomplished this feat alone. It was God who consumed the sacrifice, not Isaiah. Isaiah lost sight of that. When we take our eyes of the One who controls the universe, we take things out of context. With great power comes great responsibility. If Isaiah had the power to affect this miracle, he would be responsible for the outcomes. I have made that mistake.

I used to be terribly depressed around Christmas time. I thought I had the power to improve my corner of the world. As I looked around, there were people stealing other people’s Christmas gifts and a host of other nasty things. I could not bear to face the anniversary of my Lord’s birth. I was embarrassed that I had not cleaned up things as if I could. I forgot that God is the One with the power and all I was responsible for was what He asked me to do. I cannot change the actions of others but I can change my heart to be obedient to my Lord. I had to let go and let God! A friend gave me a button that says “It’s not my Fault!” I learned to do what I could and let God do what I cannot. Once I learned this lesson, I was able to enjoy the holidays and do what I can; not what I can’t! I learned to acknowledge the power Source.

Do you ever feel it is enough? Most of us do at times. I ask you to step back and look to the Source of the power. Focus on Him and you can relax and do only what He asks. He never gives you more than you can handle. And if you are overwhelmed, write to me. ([email protected]) Let me remind you how much God loves you. For, just as He did for Elijah, He will come to you. Listen for His still small voice and watch for His provision. You are His child and loved!

Lord, You know how fragile we are. Remain with us in the failures and the successes. When we succeed, we lose sight of the source of the power that created the success. We think we caused the success and become unsure we can repeat or continue that success. Please have Your Spirit remind us of all we are and what we are not. Help us to let go and let You. In your name we pray.

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I Don’t Believe in God!

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Robert Springer

James 2:19 (NKJV)
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

So you don’t believe in God. That’s OK! He believes in you. But what about the fact that Satan’s demons believe in God? The heavens declare the glory of God. Why don’t you believe? Did you have some sort of bad experiences? Sometimes, the same person who waves to you real friendly in Church on Sunday gives you a different kind of wave when you cut him off in traffic on Monday and he is not telling you that you are number one. That is not setting the right example. I read the following quote from Brennan Manning and it really struck me. “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” ― Brennan Manning

How do you show the world what it means to follow a Risen Lord? How do you live? Is your life setting the example you want to set? Many of us are short tempered and can be downright nasty to others. A friend once said that some of the nastiest people he ever me were those who had attended many Bible studies. Do you think they learned what God really wanted them to know? In the Old Testament, God gave us the Law hoping we would follow it. That did not work out that well. Then, God sent Jesus to show us how to live the Spirit of the Law since we failed at the letter of the Law. Do you understand the Spirit of the Law? Love the Lord your God…..and love your neighbor as yourself. It is all about love and relationships. That is what God expects of you. He wants you to do justly and love mercy and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8). Can you do that? If you do, people will notice. They will want to see what these “Christians” are about. They will want to know more about relationships and how they can develop one with the Lord. Isn’t that the example we are supposed to set? Wouldn’t that be loving your neighbor as yourself? So today; wave to people with your Church wave with all the fingers together in the air. Oh yes, and smile too! Show them what it means to follow a Risen Lord!

Father, help us to follow You in a way that others will notice and admire. May we be examples of Your Son and show the Spirit of the Law. May we share the Good News with all those with whom we come in contact. Help us to shine Your light into all the dark places we encounter. In Your name we pray!

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/27405.Brennan_Manning

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Speak the Truth!

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Robert Springer

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of God stands forever.

Isaiah tells us that the only constant truth is the Word of God. All else fades away. But these days, people are trying to change the Bible only reading the parts that they like. The Bible talks about things that we are to do and a way of life that pleases God. It is discipline and most of us don’t like discipline. But are we to only follow the parts we like? Will we have a fruitful life if we do what we think is best? The Old Testament calls that “doing what’s right in our own eyes.” Whom do you want to please; man or God?

Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV) says “15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ….” If we know that someone is not following God’s word and is headed for trouble, should we tell them or mind our own business? We always run the risk of offending someone when we point out their departure from God’s will. But should we just let them go? Isn’t it our duty to speak the truth in love? Many churches water down the Gospel to make it more palatable to people. The Gospel is offensive to those who are perishing. God wishes that none should perish. With that in mind, I am supposed to speak the truth as kindly as I can but it needs to be the truth. Know this! God loves you enough to give Himself up for you. But you still need to follow His ways for your own good. His Spirit will guide you in His ways.

Lord, thank You for Your truth. Your Word is truth. Help us to know Your Word and speak its truth in love to those who need to hear that truth. In your name we pray! Amen!

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The Presence of God Within Us!

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Robert Springer

Revelation 21:3 (NKJV)
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Do you want to experience the Presence of God in your life? Revelation speaks of God dwelling with us. The Bible goes even further saying your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit which means God dwells within you. So how come we have trouble feeling His presence and hearing His voice? Could it be we are not tuned in correctly?

In the old days (when I was a kid), we had transistor radios that had a tuning dial for selecting stations. When you tuned to a station, you had to make fine adjustments to get it just right or you would get static and distortion. It was hard to hear if it was not set right. The same may be true in your life. You may not be tuned in just right. The static is keeping you from hearing clearly the call and feeling the Presence. So what can we do about this issue? We can do a better job of tuning in to God. By focusing in on God, through His Word, we will be better equipped to observe His hand in our lives. We are asked to pray unceasingly. We can listen to Christian Radio praise and worship music. This will give us a better focus but how can we manage this. In the 1990s, people wore WWJD bracelets to remind them of Jesus and ask “What Would Jesus Do?” We all need reminders. What can you use as a reminder to help you focus on Jesus? Is it a bracelet? Is there something in your life that you can use as an “anchor” to tie you to thoughts of Christ? Below is St. Patrick’s prayer. It is a bit long. I have my own version that helps. It goes like this: Christ before me; Christ behind me; Christ beside me; Christ within me. Let Christ within you, by His Holy Spirit, burst out like radiant diamonds you cannot contain. And let the world see what following a Risen Lord looks like played out in you! To God be the glory!

Father, thank You that You have come to live within us! Send Your Holy Spirit to show us Your Presence and remind us of You in our daily lives. Thank You that You are our God. Help us to be your people. Write Your story on our hearts. Make us Your people. In Your name we pray!

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”   ― St. Patrick

Multiplied song, “Your love is like radiant diamonds”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGF-MGGLpB0

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Spread Your Wings!

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Robert Springer

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NKJV)
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Have you ever wanted to do something but did not because of what others would think? Do you lack the confidence to try? Have you been told you are too young? Without trying, there would be no innovation! As it says in South Pacific, “You’ve got to have a dream if you are going to have a dream come true.”

 

Do you have dreams? Are you taking steps on a daily basis to move closer to those dreams? If not, why not? There are always setbacks and disappointments. Remain focused on the gifts and talents and dreams given you by your Creator. He has given you those dreams and all that you need to accomplish your destiny. Joel Osteen says a setback is just a setup for a comeback. If you focus on the dream and not the setbacks, the Dream Giver will help you try again and succeed. “Even the young men shall utterly fail! But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.”

 

What does it mean to wait on the Lord? Here are the meanings I want you to consider now:
to remain inactive until something expected happens
to perform the duties of an attendant or servant
to halt and wait for another to join one or catch up

With these possible definitions in mind, we have several ways to interpret “waiting on the Lord”. You can wait for the Lord to make a way. You can be patient knowing the He will bring you everything you need. You can serve the Lord while you are waiting for your dream. Many an actor has waited tables while waiting for their big break. You can halt and wait for God to join you which would be His timing. None of these seem like bad options.

So what do you do while you are “waiting”? This is not passive but active waiting. Love and serve others while waiting. Keep the dream alive in your mind. Always be thinking about steps you can take. Pray and listen. God speaks in a “still small voice.” The world will tell you that you can’t. God will reveal the way! Listen for clues as to how others fit into the dream. Many times, you were not meant to do it alone. Someone else might have the piece of the puzzle you have been missing. Are you familiar with the names Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard? Is this the right time for the dream? Is God closing doors to slow you down? Is there another invention that will make your dream possible? Is there a need? All these things have to be considered. Are you in His timing or your own? You either have everything you need or something is on the way. Most of all do not become weary. Your renewed strength is coming as you wait on the Lord!

Thank You Lord that you give us dreams and all that we need to live them. Help us today to live the dream! Give us patience to wait on Your timing and serve You while waiting. Remind us that You have given us a destiny but it is on Your schedule. In Your name we pray! Amen!

Founding HP: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-information/about-hp/history/founders.html

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How Do You Accept Compliments?

Posted on June 28, 2016 by Robert Springer

Luke 18:18-19 (NKJV)
18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

Jesus just met the rich young ruler who wants to learn about eternal life and how to earn it. Jesus does not focus on the question asked but on the compliment given him. Jesus rebukes him for the compliment telling him only God is good. Is this setting a precedent? Are we supposed to reject compliments? Are compliments only for God? I don’t think so. I believe it all depends on how you handle them.

If you take the compliment as boasting about your gifts and talents, that is pride. But if you take them as praise of the gifts God has given you, you are giving Him the glory. Do you think God is glorified when you use the gifts He has given you?

Do you have children? What if your son or daughter came to you and said “I am a loser, I am a nothing, I am a nobody. Nothing good ever happens to me.” How would that make you feel? Would it make you feel proud? Would you tell them you are glad they finally figured it out? Or would it break your heart? It would break mine! How do you think your Heavenly Father feels when you reject a compliment that highlights the gifts he has given you? That’s right. The gifts He has given you! Are you worthy? Probably not. But God, by His grace, says you are. He says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. If He says so, I believe Him. Why don’t you? When given a compliment, do you say thank you or do you give some sort of excuse? Are you going to argue with God? Are you going to disrespect your Creator by not acknowledging the gifts he has given you? That is what you are doing. When you refuse a compliment on a gift God has given you, you are disrespecting the Giver of those gifts.

So when someone says you did a good job, say thank you. Don’t be arrogant about it but acknowledge the gifts you have been given and use them to the glory of the Giver. Don’t be ashamed of doing a good job. God is the one who created the work of your hands and gave you the talents to do them. Please practice the words “thank you”! Acknowledge the Giver and accept the compliment. Make Him proud of you. He loves you. Let Him enjoy your success. It was Him who gave you the tools.

Father, we thank You for establishing the works of our hands and giving us the talent and opportunity to use them. Help us to bring glory to You through our good works. Help us to remain humble in our acceptance. In Jesus name we pray!

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Just as I am!

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Robert Springer

Romans 8:1 (NKJV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

What do you need to do to be accepted by God? Are there steps you need to take to cleanse yourself from the sin that permeates all of our lives? Are you worthy of forgiveness? Peter denied Christ three times and still received grace. Who decides one way or the other? What does it mean to be in Christ Jesus and how do you know if you are? This verse tells us that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. How can I be in Christ?

Just As I Am, the Song, was written in 1835 by Charlotte Elliott and became the official ‘altar call’ song of the Billy Graham Crusades. Many souls have found Jesus as Savior in response to the simple beauty of this song. It warms my heart every time I hear it. It reminds me of the incredible gift offered to all of us. The gift I have accepted.

Have you accepted the gift? You see, there is nothing you could do to earn grace. It is a free gift. All you need do is ask. To be in Christ is to invite Him into your heart to abide with you. Open the door and let Him in. He will do the cleansing and preparation and will remake you in His image from the inside out. You don’t deserve it. You can never earn it. You can never pay Him back. But you can enjoy grace because of what Jesus has done and because He says you are worthy. He says you are holy, righteous and redeemed! You are His and He wants you to be with Him where He is and to remain with Him always. He accepts you just as you are! He invites you into His presence. He wishes that none should perish. Will you accept the gift? Invite Him in to abide with you! He is calling. Answer the door!

Jesus, we hear Your call. You offer us grace in our wretched states. You invite us to come to you just as we are. Please help us to overcome the unworthiness of our souls and bid us come to Thee.  Give us strength so we can say Lamb of God, I come and take those steps! In Your name we pray. Amen!

Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovYPQl93zro

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Bring Forth Good Things!

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Robert Springer

Matthew 12:33-37 Selected (NKJV)
33 “…….for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things……. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Be careful what you say and how you say it. Your words are powerful. Also, many are watching you to see how you live. They want to see how followers of Almighty God live and behave. You have a chance to speak blessings into the lives of others. Will you do it? Where will those blessings come from? They must come from your heart.

Today’s verses (which include one of my life verses) speak about your speech and its source. It tells us that that source is what is in our hearts. What type of speech do you want coming out of your mouth? If you want it to be wholesome and edifying, what would need to be in your heart? Would good thoughts need to be in your heart? Would you have to get rid of all rage and bitterness? When the stresses of life press in on you, that which is in your heart will come out. You cannot hide your true feelings. What is inside of you will come out. You can be the encouraging person God made you to be. The Holy Spirit will help you. I have an anger problem. I get angry about the silliest things like the drawers not being closed. I am asking God to remove this from me so I can be more of a blessing to my family. He is helping me to put less emphasis on things that don’t really matter. What do you want to lose? If there are things within that scare you, ask God to take them away or give you the tools to lessen them. The Potter will remake you if you are willing to get back on His wheel! What is in your heart? Do you like what you see? You are not stuck with who you are. You can change or, more accurately, God can change you. Ask for help and He will answer.

Lord, you made us in Your image but sometimes that image gets tarnished. Please polish us so we can be more like You. Help us to get back on Your Potter’s wheel so You can remold us to be the blessings You intended for us. We cannot change on our own but You can change us. Change us Lord! Make us more like You! In Your name we pray. Amen!

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Speak Blessings!

Posted on June 25, 2016 by Robert Springer

Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)
9 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

No unwholesome talk should come out of your mouth. Instead, we are supposed to use our words to build people up. Words are powerful. God spoke all of creation into being with words. Use your words to bless someone today!

Do you listen to the news? Are you enjoying the stories they offer? Everywhere you turn, there is more hate, cruelty and denigration. Our world is a dark place. What if you could change that? What if you could be the source of encouragement in your part of this world? You have the power and that power is the power of your tongue. James Chapter 3 talks about all the bad things that the tongue can do. What about the good things? You can speak blessing into someone’s life. You could tell them you are proud of them. You could say theirs was a great idea. You could say you appreciate them. You could say thanks for being there for me. So why don’t you? Also, what do you say to yourself? Do you celebrate your wins?

It is time for a change. We spend too much time on the bad news. Let us turn our eyes in a different direction. Let us look to the author and perfecter of our faith and ask Him what He sees in us and others. My Mom told me “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” I think there is a better way. Practice saying nice things. Look for the good in all situations and people. Speak blessings into the lives of others and yourself.

Lord, change the lens through which we look at the world. Give us your eyes to see things as You see them. You see what we can be rather than what we are. You see the great creation you have made. Help us to see ourselves and others as You see us. In your name we pray.

Brandon Heath- Give Me Your Eyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mhpLjPslbM

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How Shall We Live?

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Robert Springer

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

How are we supposed to live? Is there some way for us to know what to do? Why I’m glad you asked. God gave us a book He called the Bible.  Some have said it is an acronym for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. It does tell us how we are supposed to live.

As you go through life, there are so many distractions. It is easy to get sidetracked. So how can we keep our focus on what really matters? We can remain focused on God’s Word, the Bible. Joshua told the Israelites to always be reciting the contents of the Book of the Law. He was speaking of the Five Books of Moses. We have 66 Books of the Bible now and they contain much wisdom. The best way to live is to know God’s wisdom through His Word and to follow what you know. James 1:22 (NKJV) says “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” We are created to follow His plan. He gave us the instruction manual. He also promised we would be prosperous and successful if we followed it. Do you want to be prosperous and successful? OK! Read the Book and do what it says! You don’t have to do it alone. John 14:26 (NIV) tells us “26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” We have help that will remind us of what we need to know and guide us in God’s ways. He will help keep the Book of the Law on your lips. Speak it too!

Thank You Lord for Your Book of the Law. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who will keep that Book on our lips. May it lead us to be prosperous and successful and bring glory to You.  In Your name we pray!

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What Shall We Do?

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Robert Springer

Micah 6:6-8 (NKJV)
6 With what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Our sin is great! For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But does that mean we are beyond redemption? Not at all! God worked out a plan of redemption before the beginning of the world. And His plan will not be thwarted. His love for you is beyond your comprehension. Even you can’t mess it up.

So how can you pay for your sin? In the times of Moses, God established a sacrificial system where animals could be sacrificed to atone for the sins of the people. Hebrews 9:22 (NKJV) says “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission [of sin].” So something has to die to atone for sin. Since all of us sin, a lot of animals have to die. But God did not want for all these animals to have to be sacrificed. It is His will that we live better lives. He has given us an example to follow in Jesus. The example is to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. To be courageous men and women of God. Do you think you are capable of this on your own? I know I am not. That is why God provided a way for us to be redeemed through the sacrifice of His Son. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, bought our redemption at a very high price. He gave it all so you can walk with your God. Do you walk with Him? Do you show mercy to those God loves? Do you seek justice for God’s creation? It is not sacrifice that God wants but love! He wants you to love Him and love who He loves. He has placed His love inside you. He has written His word on your heart. If you love, will you be just? Will you be merciful? Will you share the love He has given you? If so, you will be able to walk humbly with your God. Will you start today? Be courageous for Him!

Father, we thank You that You have given us all things and have made the way clear for our redemption. Let Your Spirit remind us daily of Your love that we are supposed to share with others. Help us to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you. In Your name we pray.

Casting Crowns; Courageous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkM-gDcmJeM

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A Union to Last!

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Robert Springer

Genesis 2:18-24 Selected (NKJV)
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” ……23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

God created Adam (man) and placed him in the garden. Immediately, it became clear that it was not good for Adam to be alone. (God must have known he would do something stupid.) We were not designed to be alone. Fellowship with God is our primary purpose but God knew we needed fellowship with someone comparable to us. He decided to make woman and Adam called her Eve. This was the first marriage and the design for the future. This was a union of two people that would become one. They were joined on the physical and spiritual levels. We too were joined together on this day!

Marriage has always been something special. It is a friendship and so much more. The bonds created are what make the two one flesh. Too many people put more planning into the wedding and not enough into the marriage. It is difficult, in the beginning, to realize that all other relationships have to take a back seat to this new relationship. Many times, when this dynamic changes, relationships are strained. Everyone is trying to figure out their status and noses get out of joint. My wife and I fought our first Christmas and ended up being apart. That was a mistake on my part but I learned that we need to stick together. After 40 years of marriage, she is my best friend. We still disagree but my hearing is not as good so I don’t realize she is disagreeing with me. She smiles when she says no! We have become one flesh. There is no one else in the world with whom I would rather spend time. Sure, I would like to meet Billy Graham as long as I can take Jean with me. I have left my father and mother and Jean’s mother. It is just us now and it is a powerful us! We are strong in the Lord. He equips us for things that scare me. We are considering accepting a seven year old foster son. What were we thinking? Well, with my life partner by my side and the Lord our God with us, we can do all things! Invite God into your marriage and see how He will bless your lives too.

Father, bless our marriage and all marriages in Your name. Help us to live for You bringing glory to You in all that we say or do. Lead us in Your ways. Let Your love shine through us and around us and from us to those You put in our lives. Thank You for my bride, partner and friend! Hold her in the palm of Your hand as she is a blessing to me. Bless us that we may be a blessing to those we meet. In your name we pray.

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Pray how?

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Robert Springer

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NKJV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

You want me to what? Pray without ceasing? How can I do that? I have to work. I have a lot on my plate. How can I pray without ceasing? I don’t really even know how to pray! What do I say? It is difficult for some people to pray let alone pray without ceasing. Are you one of those people?

Prayer is not that difficult. It is supposed to be a conversation with God. In Adam and Eve’s time, they were face to face with God in the garden so they were able to just talk. Why can’t it be the same now? It can! All God ever wanted was a relationship with His creation which is you. He does not need fancy words or even many words.  “God help me” is a prayer. “Jesus” is a prayer. “Thank You Lord” is a prayer! It is not so difficult. I talk to myself; I answer myself and sometimes I find myself saying huh. But I have found a better conversation. I talk to the Lord instead. It is a much better conversation. I do most of the talking but that doesn’t surprise any of you who know me personally. And He does answer me. But God is a doer, not a talker. His answers come quietly but I know they are from Him. No one else could give me these miracles or the peace that goes with them. You should try it! You can do it all day.

Another thing you can do is listen to Christian radio. I listen to my local Christian radio station that plays praise and worship music all day long. I drive with my hand in the air in praise of my God. I admit that I do take some time during the day to work but I don’t let that interfere with my praise and prayer. After all, I try to do everything as if unto the Lord. The work I do is a form of worship. I employ the gifts and talents given me to the glory of the Giver.

So it is possible to pray and worship without ceasing. I didn’t think so either but I was wrong. Prayer comes in many forms. I sing many of my prayers. You can too. You will please the Holy Spirit and create joy and peace in yourself. It all sounds good to me. See if it works for you.

Help us to pray Lord. You promised that Your Holy Spirit would teach us how to pray and would give us the words we need to speak or even no words at all. We need you! With You, all things are possible. Even praying without ceasing becomes possible. Thanks be to God!

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All Things Are Possible With God!

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Robert Springer

Matthew 16:18
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

So Peter just experienced epic failure. He had denied Christ three times. Peter was very sad over his failure but that did not stop his destiny. God’s plan would not be thwarted by the mistakes of one man. No, God can bring something good out of something bad. He told Peter that He would build His Church on Peter as the foundation. No matter how bad it looks, God can make a way. He will work things to your benefit. What challenges do you face? Is it the loss of a job? Is it the loss or betrayal of someone close? Is it the loss of health? Jesus understands.

In 2000, I was fired from my job as National Account Manager for a software company. I won the Vice President’s award for Outstanding Service in January and was fired in July. From champ to chump in six months. I had a new boss who saw things differently and we did not get along. The loss of this job hurt! In fact, I went into a time of depression that would last several years. I could not see any good that might come out of this.

God has a funny way of working things out for our good. When I left the company, they agreed to give me back my reseller status to sell the software on my own. Our largest client agreed to buy through me resulting in large commissions. I also learned that I was not designed to work in the corporate environment. But this might be the best part of it all. I learned what it means to face depression and the darkness and hopelessness that follow. I also learned that my Lord walks with me through the darkness and leads me back to His glorious light! I learned empathy. When someone else speaks about a hopeless situation, I can say with certainty that it is not hopeless. Been there! Done that! Got the tee shirt! And, by the Grace of God, I’m still standing. Jesus is my anti-depressant!

So what do you face today? You are not alone. Others have walked that path. Firstly, your Lord walks with you even if you don’t see Him. He will never leave nor forsake you. Secondly, God “works all things for the good” of all people. It does not appear that way at the time. The evil one is in the world looking for whom he can devour. That is why so many bad things happen. God can be your Shield if you trust in Him. Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) says God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Do you seek Him or do you try it on your own?

I was at coffee hour one morning after Church speaking with someone I did not know well. He spoke about the weather at first but I had a sense there was something deeper he wanted to discuss. I asked how he was since he seemed sad. At that point, he told me he suffered from depression and was struggling at the current time. I knew how he felt and told him I had been through that valley but managed to get through with God’s help. You see, even though you are in the valley, God has prepared a table of blessing for you, in the presence of your enemies (Psalm 23), on the other side. And He will guide you through that valley. Do not give up. Keep walking! Epic failure (in your mind) can turn out to be the springboard to launch a new success. Weeping may last for the night but joy comes in the morning. Weep if you must. It cleanses you. But remember, joy comes in the morning. Look to the Lord, the source of all blessing, and He will work all things out according to His gracious plan. He loves you!

Lord, thank You that You always work out things for our good. Even when we mess up, You can turn it around! Thank You for always walking with us and helping us through the struggles. It is comforting to know You are there and will answer us when we call. In Your name we pray!

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What Defines You; Success or Failure?

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Robert Springer

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.”……..
25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”
He denied it and said, “I am not!”
26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

Are you going to let past failures hamper your future? What defines you? Do you focus on your failures or on your successes? One of the biggest epic failures ever was Peter denying Christ. He didn’t do it once; he did it three times the same night! Epic failure! And it was recorded so we read of it two thousand plus years later.

God seems to talk in threes. “You will deny me three times.” “Feed my sheep.” “I am the Lord your God.” When it is important, the Lord tells us repeatedly. Jesus told Peter that Peter would deny Him three times. Jesus knows the future and knew of the denials. And yet, Jesus also knew the He would build His Church on the Rock called Peter. Peter knew as soon as he heard the rooster that he had failed miserably and he focused on that failure. But Christ looked into the future to see the fire and passion that would emanate from Cephas as soon as he sorted it all out. We have the Bible and hindsight to show us that Jesus was the Christ and that the prophecies were true. Peter did not. And the claims of the prophecies were way beyond possible as Peter saw them. Jesus knew that, given time to understand, Peter would take the good news of God’s grace to the world. Jesus believed in Peter! Too bad Peter didn’t believe in himself.

What about you? We all struggle with belief in ourselves. We don’t always understand the gifts that God has placed within us. Are you a winner or a loser? Who determines that? Do you focus on your successes or do you dwell on your failures? God has a great destiny for you and has equipped you with everything you need to achieve that destiny. If you focus on your failures, you won’t reach your destiny. So what will you do? Will you use the gifts He has given you or will you focus on all the reasons why not? You are equipped, empowered, anointed, gifted, capable, favored, and destined for greatness. The battle is in your mind. Why not allow God to be your encourager and believe what He says? Then, you will be the success that He destines.

Father, You have equipped us for great things but we focus on what we cannot do. You have given us gifts and talents for our destiny and we ignore them. By Your Spirit, break the chains that bind us in disbelief and carry us to where You planned us to go. Let our success in Your eyes be great and bring glory to Your Holy Name. In Jesus name we pray!

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Built Up by Love!

Posted on June 18, 2016 by Robert Springer

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11 (NKJV)
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Do you build others up or tear them down? Our culture thinks it is cool to denigrate one another. It is funny to be sarcastic. Many of us have this passive aggressive thing going on. It is not good. Many people walk around barely getting by feeling poorly about themselves. Each negative comment is another jolt. Why don’t we build each other up instead?

This passage speaks about putting on faith and love. We could all use a little more love. Shouldn’t our speech be glorifying to God and edifying to all those who hear it? I know many people who still struggle with the after effects of being told they are worthless and would never amount to anything. What if you told a child you are a winner? You can do anything to which you put your mind. There is nothing that can stop you! Would that child attempt great things?

We had a foster child who would say they could not do things and then get frustrated and angry. I was aware of this issue before they came to visit. When we got to a point of frustration, I asked if he had assembled a similar toy. He said he had done it with my help. With that in mind, I asked if he thought I would help him again and he said yes. My conclusion was that you can do this then with my help and I am willing to help. I asked him to stop saying “I cannot do this”. Instead, ask for help and I will be there. That is the model our Heavenly Father wants us to follow.

Your heavenly Father is the same only better. In fact, He is the best at helping because His help teaches us His ways which are always a blessing to all. He is always willing to help if you will just ask. It doesn’t need to be a fancy prayer. “Help me Jesus” will do. God loves you so much, He longs to come by your side. Ask Him! He won’t disappoint. He will send someone to your aid.

Just a few kind words can change everything. Many people have done amazing things because someone encouraged them. They have moved forward because someone said “I know you can do this”! Be that person. Speak words of encouragement! Speak words of praise! Speak blessings into the lives of the people around you and watch them blossom into the destiny God created for them. It will bless you as well.

Lord, help us to build up rather than tear down! Help us to use our words to bless people and encourage them to do great things in Your Name.

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