One Month to Live

I have been in a class called One Month to Live based on a book of the same name by Kerry and Chris Shook. The question is "What would you do if you were told you only had one month to live?" As you read the book it takes you through different ideas and scenarios, asks questions, etc. to raise your awareness to the fact that none of us is guaranteed any time, let alone a month and that probably we should be doing the things that we think we would do if we only had 30 days to live. It has made me more aware of the present moment and the little things that are so valuable that we take for granted. God's goodness to us every day: The hug of a spouse, time spent with family and friends, the hug of a child, the love for animals and pets, a good, deep, early morning breath of cool air, the smell after a rain, all take on extra meaning to the person with only a month to live. What would you do if you only had 30 days to live? Which of those things could (and should)you do now, anyway? What would you not want left undone if the Lord called you home?

Psalm 90:12 - Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom
Psalm 39:4-5 Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.
Psalm 139:1-24

PRAYER: Lord, my time is indeed limited and I ask that you would place in my heart and mind the things You know that I need to do and not leave undone if my time on earth would end. I praise you for your faithfulness to me and ask that you would make me faithful to You, my family and friends, and any people that you place me in contact with. In Jesus' name, amen.

Success

Success in God's eyes is completely different than success in the world's eyes. God is not impressed by your money, your personal power or your drive to achieve these things. In fact He will be saddened by them if it means lying, cheating and squelching people for you to get there. So how do I become a success in God's eyes? I have long called Proverbs 3 the Success Chapter of the Bible, especially these verses.
Proverbs 3:3-4 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. THEN you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. (He will direct your paths.)
       God wants to be the author of your success. He has a plan for your life but you have to surrender to it. I love the saying "you never see a hearse followed by a U-Haul". All you get to take with you when you leave this earth is your history of your love for God. So then, what is the most important thing in all of life?

The Second Act

       God's first act was creation. His second act was to give man a choice. He let them choose to eat or not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil but He told them not to eat of it. We still have the power to choose. We either choose God or we choose against God.
       How do we choose God? Obedience to His Word.
       How can I do the Word unless I read or hear the Word? How can you can claim to be a Christian and not read or hear God's word. How can you obey what you don't know?

James 1:22   Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (Look up the next two verses and learn how to receive God's blessing.)
Joshua 24:15   But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household , we will serve the Lord.
Proverbs 8:10   Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

PRAYER: Lord God, maker of heaven and earth, owner and master of all that is created, be merciful to me, a sinner. I praise your faithfulness and love to me as I struggle to follow your Word. Teach me your wisdom that is more valuable than gold that I may truly proclaim: As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. In Your glorious name, Amen.

The Basis of Faith

Because God created everything there is nothing He can't do.  We put our trust in Him because He created it all, He owns it all and He is the sovereign, the king, the master.  There are many attributes of God but the basis for our faith is Creation.  If your God doesn't claim to create it all I would say that you really don't have a God.  Because nothing is impossible for God we can pray and believe that He can do anything that we pray for.  (The answer may be "no" but that is a topic for another day)

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 
Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Mark 9:23,24 " 'If you can?' " said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."  Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

PRAYER:  Dear God, I know that You created everything and that I owe my life to you.  I don't always understand the twists and turnings of my life but I believe in your love and faithfulness in those twists and turns.  Help me overcome my unbelief and replace the unbelief with faith in You and Your Word.  Speak to me from Your Word.  In Jesus name amen.