Gracenotes
Daily Thoughts from Jim Stephens
Now Build On It
27 Jul 2010
Now Build On ItJim Stephens07-27-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 50-52; Psalm 92; 2 Peter 1 5 So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, 6 alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, 7 warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. (2 Peter 1:5-7 MSG) Peter lays out a sort of "famous last words" message in this brief letter to Christ followers. He says, "You've been given salvation, forgiveness, new life, fellowship with God and others, a purpose to live for - that's God's grace-gift to you, received through basic faith in Jesus Christ. Now build these blocks on that foundation of basic faith." * Good Character - Teachings of Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Paul's letters, Peter and James' letters.* Spiritual Understanding - Good and evil, Kingdom of God vs Kingdom of darkness, angels and demons, power and authority, submission.* Alert Discipline - Spiritual disciplines, Bible reading, prayer, accountability.* Passionate Patience - Single-minded and total commitment to Christ, encouragement to persevere, how to handle hardships.* Reverent Wonder - God's sovereignty and majesty, worship, creation, heaven.* Warm Friendliness - Right relationships in and out of the Body of Christ, active engagement of others, be nice.* Generous Love - Right priorities about material things, outreach, giving, serving. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. (2 Peter 1:8 MSG) It would be hard to find a better practical instruction on how to build my life for eternity. Foundation of basic faith. Building blocks of Christ's character, Kingdom of God values, heaven's truth, and Spirit's leading in love and right relationships.Prayer: Father, Today's reading prompted me to examine my life to see how I'm doing with these qualities. Peter said I should build on the foundation of basic faith - the foundation I've been given. It's obvious to me right now that I've got a lot to do here. Help me to think your thoughts about these seven building blocks. Help me to make sure I'm building with the right materials. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Special Concern
26 Jul 2010
Special ConcernJim Stephens07-26-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 46-49; 1 Peter 5 1 I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader, in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. 2 Here's my concern: that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. 3 Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. (1 Peter 5:1-3 MSG) Peter was a leader of leaders. Personally commissioned by Jesus himself, he knew what it was like to be honored and used powerfully by God and he knew the price leaders pay - the responsibility, the attacks and criticism, and in his case the actual persecution. Peter had a special concern for the leaders of the church for two reasons; he knew the pressures and challenges of leadership, and he knew that the church would succeed or fail through the ministry of its leaders. It's not that he cared less for the other people, it's that he knew how important the role of leaders really is. But Peter's challenge in these verses is for the leaders to think not of themselves but of the people they were leading and of God whom they were serving. Peter said, "Care for God's flock like a faithful shepherd, leading, feeding, and protecting them. And do it freely and joyfully to please God and not to please yourself or impress others. And don't be mercenary - don't be distracted by self-interest. Just lead and serve and leave the reward up to God. Don't boss people around - first show, then tell." That's good advice to leaders then and now. It's rewarding to be a leader of God's people, but let the reward be in God's timing and by God's plan. It's challenging and often sacrificial to be a leader of God's people. Do it with a willing and joyful heart. Don't boss people around like a military general, but lead them gently like a shepherd.Prayer: Father, Thank you for the privilege of influencing people to follow your son Jesus Christ. Help me to serve by leading and to lead by serving. Please help me and all my fellow servant leaders to lead, feed, and protect your flock as faithful shepherd leaders. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Your Personal God
25 Jul 2010
Dear Readers, Sorry GraceNotes is so late today. The server for our website was down this morning. Thanks for your patience. Blessings, Jim Stephens Your Personal GodJim Stephens07-25-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 43-54; 1 Peter 4 3 Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! 4 That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you. (Isaiah 43:3-4 MSG) Twenty-first century Americans live in a world of personal computers (PC's), personal digital assistants (PDA's), personal bankers, personal financial advisors, and personal trainers. I think this trend has grown out of an "It's all about me!" attitude. But when God says, "I am God, your personal God...", it's a different matter. God isn't my personal God like when I hire a personal trainer who will come to my house at my convenience to help me get physically fit. God is my personal God because he owns me! I don't own him, he owns me! He is my personal God because he knows me, loves me, plans my life and destiny. He is my personal God because I am totally his personal "me." Here's the result, the wonderful result of the fact that God is my personal God and that I am totally his personal "me"... 1 But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: "Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine. 2 When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end. (Isaiah 43:1-2 MSG) * He bought me back from my sin and myself. (Jesus redeemed me)* He named me and called me. (Jim - called for his purpose)* I am completely his. (And he takes good care of what's his!)* In over my head? He's there with me. (I won't drown in the complexity of life.)* Between a rock and a hard place? (been there!), it won't be a dead end (it wasn't!).Prayer: Father, Thanks for being my personal God. Help me to remember that what that really means is not that you're made in the image of my wants and desires, but that you own me outright. You're mine because I'm yours. That's how it is, that's how it should be, and that's how I want it to be - always. Amen! Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Your Job, To Bless
24 Jul 2010
Your Job, To BlessJim Stephens07-24-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 40-42; 1 Peter 3 8 Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. 9 That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless - that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9 MSG) During a season when I was part of the pastoral staff of a large church, I, along with each other member of the staff, had a written, formal job description. The job description broke my wide-ranging responsibilities down into specific daily and weekly tasks. Each task or responsibility was allotted a certain amount of time per week and it all added up to a full week's work that would hopefully get the job done. The job description was helpful in organizing my complex responsibilities in a way that helped me be more effective. The job description not only helped me say "Yes" to the right things, it helped me say "No" to things that clamored for attention but didn't get the work done! Peter says that our God-given job description is "To Bless." That's our job! With that clear job description we can say the appropriate "Yes's and No's!" Yes: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.No: No retaliation, no sharp-tongued sarcasm, no exceptions. It's so easy to excuse being disagreeable, being unsympathetic, being unloving, being uncaring, being un-humble.* I'm under a lot of pressure! I don't have time to be nice!* We've got a lot to do here! Get up and get going!* Hey, check my personality profile! That's just not how God made me!* Try carrying my responsibility and see how agreeable and sympathetic you are! God says, "Your job is to bless! No exceptions. Be a blessing and you'll get a blessing!"Prayer: Father, Please forgive me for not sticking to my God-given job description, "To Bless." Forgive me for excusing bad behavior toward others. You don't excuse it. I can't excuse it. It's my job to bless. By your grace I will. No exceptions. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Ego Indulgence
23 Jul 2010
Ego IndulgenceJim Stephens07-23-10 Today's Reading: 2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalm 75; 1 Peter 2 11 Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. 12 Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives. (1 Peter 2:11-12 MSG) Recently my friend Gregory Fisher, a man who for many years has served the nations as a missionary, posted these words on Facebook; "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door. And I can't feel at home in this world anymore!" These are words from a song I remember singing when I was a kid. It was more than just a catchy tune and lyrics - we really did believe that and think that way - at least a good deal of the time. However, it seems as life gets more comfortable we tend to get more and more content with this world and think less about the "other world." I read in my Old Testament readings in 2 Kings and in Isaiah today about how Hezekiah responded when God told him some day everything of value in his palace would be carried off to Babylon. He was thinking to himself, "It won't happen in my lifetime - I'll enjoy peace and security as long as I live." (2 Kings 20:19 MSG) I don't want to make myself cozy in this world at the cost of "eternity awareness." I don't want to indulge my ego at the expense of my soul and the souls of others. It's so easy to focus a disproportionate amount of my time, my attention, and my energy on my house, my car, my stuff, my comfort. I'm not saying I want discomfort for its own sake, like a self-martyr kind of thing that makes me proud to suffer, but I don't want to lose my perspective of short time here versus long time of eternity. How are you doing with the ego versus soul struggle?Prayer: Father, Please forgive me for the times I indulge my ego at the expense of living with an eternal perspective. Help me keep my values true and my perspective right. As Peter wrote, I want my values to show in my daily living and I want my daily life to be a Good News Missionary message to the "natives" in my home town. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Good and Responsible
22 Jul 2010
Good and ResponsibleJim Stephens07-22-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 36-37; Psalm 76; 1 Peter 1 You call out to God for help and he helps - he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living. Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. (1 Peter 1:17 MSG) I remember years ago listening to a Bible teacher whose name I have long since forgotten, but whose words I will never forget. He said that one of the underlying themes of the Bible is: "Life is hard, but God is good. But life is hard!" Peter begins this encouraging letter reminding Christ-followers that the life of a Christian is both good and hard. We are God's children and he's a good Father who will help us in our need. He is also a responsible Father who will discipline us as required because he's more interested in our character than our comfort! God loves us - he is a good father - and he hears and answers our prayers. God loves us - he is a responsible father - and he will see to it that we face challenges and come through victorious, that we learn to make right choices in hard situations, that we learn to think long-term purposeful thoughts instead of short-term self-gratification thoughts. God wants me to grow up and to become all he created me to be. That will require some decisions, some diligence, and some determination on my part and a whole lot of grace and patience on his part! My life is a journey I must travel with a deep consciousness of God. If I don't keep my heart God-focused and maintain a deep God-consciousness, I will fall into the pattern of short-term, self-gratification thinking and living. That kind of thinking and living will keep me always immature and unfulfilled. Where's your consciousness focused?Prayer: Father, Today I refresh and renew my God-consciousness, my you-consciousness. You are a good and responsible Father and you not only have a plan for me, it is the best of all possible plans for my life, my service, and my eternity. I say "Yes" to everything you have in mind for me. Thanks for your goodness that lovingly meets my needs and your responsible fathering that keeps me moving forward in life's journey. Amen! Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Don't Write Them Off
21 Jul 2010
Don't Write Them OffJim Stephens07-21-10 19 My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back 20 and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God. (James 5:19-20 MSG) I know people who have wandered off from God's truth. Whenever I think of this I remember one guy named John who came to faith in Christ in the Jesus People Days. He was passionate for Jesus, was a great singer-song writer and guitarist and had a powerful prophetic gift. He wandered off from God's truth in the late 1970's. Things had happened in the church, he had been deeply hurt, and it wasn't entirely his fault. My friend Jerry and I went to his house to talk with him, but I'm afraid we didn't approach him with a very Christ-like message. John turned his back on the church, on his faith, and would never talk to me again. We didn't get him back. 12 "Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn't he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? 13 And if he finds it, doesn't he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? 14 Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn't want to lose even one of these simple believers. (Matthew 18:12-14 MSG) I still know of people who wander off from God's truth and sometimes I end up writing them off. I usually don't do it consciously and intentionally, but I write them off functionally. What happens is that because I'm so involved with ministry and personal stuff, I don't notice that they're wandering off 'til they're gone. And then when I do notice, it's hard to fit "going after them" into my schedule because I don't see them at church anymore. Or maybe it's simply that my "One lost sheep versus the ninety and nine" quotient is out of whack. Anyhow, I'm convicted by James' message and by the Holy Spirit that I'm functionally writing wanderers off by not going after them more aggressively and intentionally. Maybe it's just me, but I need to do better. What do you think?Prayer: Father, I want to be a better shepherd and a better friend. Please work in my heart to help me get my values right and my priorities straight. I want to value wandering sheep like you value them. Please adjust my "Going after one lost sheep versus the pressures and busyness of ministry to the ninety and nine" quotient. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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In God's Opinion
20 Jul 2010
In God's OpinionJim Stephens07-20-10 Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 29-31; James 4 1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old and was king in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 2 In God's opinion he was a good king; he kept to the standards of his ancestor David. (2 Chronicles 29:1-2 MSG) Hezekiah's story is the one ray of sunshine in many latter years of Israel and Judah's history. Hezekiah's life-work was evaluated by God as follows: 20 Hezekiah carried out this work and kept it up everywhere in Judah. He was the very best - good, right, and true before his God. 21 Everything he took up, whether it had to do with worship in God's Temple or the carrying out of God's Law and Commandments, he did well in a spirit of prayerful worship. He was a great success. (2 Chronicles 31:20-21 MSG) Everyone has an opinion about something. Some people have an opinion about everything! There is a tremendous pressure on all of us to be influenced in what we think, what we say, and what we do, by the opinions of others. There is pressure on us to allow our own opinions to be shaped by the prevailing values and attitudes of our society and of the sub-culture we are part of. Hezekiah shook off the prevailing attitudes and values of his society and looked only to God for approval. He got it. In God's opinion, he was a good king. If I allow myself to be pressured, influenced, motivated, driven by the opinions of others; if I my desire for approval or my need to fit in molds me and shapes what I think, say, and do; if I seek the approval that affirms my identity and worth from anyone but God, I'll miss my place in God's plan. How am I doing, in God's opinion?Prayer: Father, It's hard not to want to be successful in the opinions of other people more than successful in your opinion. They are so visible and you are so invisible! They are so loud and you are so quiet - most of the time. My heart wants to value your opinion above all other opinions. My mind and my emotions are too much influenced by the opinions of others. Today I reaffirm my desire and my commitment to simply be who I am created to be "...in God's opinion." Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Hard Work
19 Jul 2010
Hard WorkJim Stephens07-19-10 Today's Reading: 2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 28; Psalm 46; James 3 17 Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. 18 You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. (James 3:17-18 MSG) Why does everything valuable have to involve hard work? You'd think that among people who are born again through faith in Jesus' sacrifice for sin, forgiven and cleansed, counted righteous by God himself in spite of all we've done wrong, filled with God's Holy Spirit, given every good and perfect gift for service to others - you'd think that developing a healthy, robust community would be a piece of cake! Unsurprisingly, James says developing and living in healthy, robust, God-honoring and Christ-displaying community is hard work and is the outcome of living wisely. Godly wisdom begins with holy living and is most clearly expressed through getting along with others. Here are the clear signs of Godly wisdom:* Being gentle and reasonable, not pushy and opinionated. * Overflowing with mercy and blessings, not judgment and criticism.* Being steady and dependable, not hot one day and cold the next.* Not being two-faced, being the same in private as in public.* Treating others with dignity and honor.* Getting along with other people, not demanding my own way. It is hard work! Godly wisdom is characterized by "getting along with others" and is demonstrated in how I relate to and behave toward other people.Prayer: Father, I ask you to make me wise with Godly wisdom. I see in your Word that Godly wisdom is characterized by holy living and getting along with others. Help me to become the person I've described above, to treat others with dignity and respect, make allowances for each person's uniqueness, and quickly take the initiative in forgiveness and reconciliation when offenses come. Help me carry through with the hard work of living wisely and well in healthy, robust community. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Judging Others
18 Jul 2010
Judging OthersJim Stephens07-18-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 32-35; James 2 My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. (James 2:1 MSG) Whatever culture we're in and at whatever level of society we live, we're still in a battle between our Spirit-given values and our culturally-learned prejudices. We also live with the struggle between the Christ-nature and the self-nature on the inside. It's way too easy to look at clothes, cars, houses, titles, and personalities and make preferential and prejudicial judgments. Sometimes those preferential judgments are motivated by fear of public opinion, other times by the desire for personal or corporate gain, other times by absorbed cultural values, other times by personal prejudice. 8 You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself." 12 Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. 13 For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time. (James 2:8, 12-13 MSG) Whatever motivates wrong judgments and preferential treatment, it doesn't come from the heart of Jesus. Whenever I let harsh judgment win over kind mercy, I'm out of harmony with the heart of God. I must discipline myself to check every quickly-formed opinion and judgment and ask myself; 1) "Why do I feel this way?" 2) "How does Jesus think and feel about this person or situation?" 3) "What can I do to show kind mercy and not harsh judgment?" Holding myself accountable to check my opinions and judgments will allow God's Spirit and Word to re-program my values and re-shape my opinions, judgments, words, and actions as I "...live out my glorious, Christ-originated faith."Prayer: Father, my opinions and judgments are all over the map. I know I've learned a lot and that I'm doing better, but I'm not satisfied until you're satisfied. I still make far too many quick judgments based on outward appearances and the opinions of others. Please continue to teach me and correct me by your Word, by life experiences, and by the promptings of your Holy Spirit. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Under Pressure
17 Jul 2010
Under PressureJim Stephens07-17-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 29-31; James 1 2 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4 MSG) I don't know about you, but it's really hard for me to consider tests and challenges a gift from God. I tend to think of gifts as things that make me feel good, that satisfy a desire, that make me feel loved and appreciated. The thing that makes it possible to see tests and challenges as a gift from God is to understand and embrace what God really has in mind for us. God is more interested in our character than our comfort. God cares more about who we are becoming than about how we're feeling at the moment. Under pressure, our faith-life is forced out into the open. We get a heart-check and a values-check each time we face a test or a challenge. Good times display our personality; challenging times display our character. Every set of tests and challenges we face, properly responded to, further develop our Godly character and our faith-life. When difficult times come, my tendency is to pray, plan, and try everything I can think of to get out of it or get it over quickly. James says I need to allow it to complete its work in me. Think about that! I just want to get it over as quickly and as painlessly as possible. God wants it to last exactly long enough that I will make the next significant forward step in my journey of faith! What if I could learn to see life's challenges as God sees them? If I embrace the test, and if I allow God to accomplish all he has in mind, maybe I won't have to face that particular set of challenges again. Next time it will be something new to accomplish a further purpose in my life. But at least it won't be wasted!Prayer: Father, I'm awfully sensitive to pain and discomfort. Help me to see the purpose and take the longer view of the things I face from day to day. I do want to become mature and well-developed and for your purpose to be fully accomplished in my life. Please be patient with me, but don't change your plan or schedule for my development just because I whine and complain. Amen! Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Outside Where Jesus Is
16 Jul 2010
Outside Where Jesus IsJim Stephens07-16-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 25-28; Hebrews 13 The altar from which God gives us the gift of himself is not for exploitation by insiders who grab and loot. So let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is - not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. (Hebrews 13:10, 13 MSG) Systems favor insiders. Whether it's about political systems, business systems, social systems, or even (especially?) religious systems, systems favor and tend to be operated by and for the benefit of insiders. One of the first things religious systems do is decide who's "In" and who's "Out." It's way too easy to become Christian "Insiders" rather than Christ-follower "Outsiders." Jesus was an outsider to the religious system. He was God's Son, but he didn?t live like a privileged insider. He went outside where the needs are. He took his message of life and hope to the streets and villages. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice outside the city. Jesus was the consummate outsider. "Let's go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is!" This is a powerful command. It's like a direct prophecy to us. My life can get so wrapped up in "inside stuff," in the part of ministry that involves tasks and meetings and "church stuff" that I have hardly any relationships in my neighborhood and little involvement in my community. ...God takes particular pleasure in acts of worshipa different kind of "sacrifice" - that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets. (Hebrews 13:16 MSG) It takes conscious, intentional effort to fight the gravitational pull of "Inside" and go "Outside" where Jesus is, where the action is. I must take personal responsibility for God's word to me and find a way to act on it. Let's learn to be partners with Christ-followers who are going "Outside, where Jesus is, where the action is!"Prayer: Father, We live our Christ-follower lives against the powerful gravitational pull of "inside." Help me in this season of my life to be very intentional in turning my attention outside, where Jesus is, where the action is. I know that you don't want a knee-jerk reaction and that it's not either-or but in fact is both-and. Please help me with this. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Training Not Punishment
15 Jul 2010
Training Not PunishmentJim Stephens07-15-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12 5 So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. 6 It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. 7 God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, 8 the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? (Hebrews 12:5-8 MSG) Responsible, caring parents develop responsible, caring children. The way to develop responsibility in children is through discipline and training. One of the problems with this, both in the attitude children have toward parents and the attitude Christians have toward Father God, is that we mistake training - discipline - for punishment. Punishment is past-oriented. Punishment inflicts pain or exacts payment for wrongs done. Its only benefit is that, like a child who burns her hand on a hot stove learns not to touch the stove, we learn that doing wrong hurts. And like the child who is burned by the stove, we may carry the scars of the punishment. Training is future-oriented. Training moves us from wriggling helplessly in the crib to crawling on the floor to walking across the room to sure-footedly running the race of life. Training places resistance against our weak muscles to develop strong muscles. Our teachers assign problems that require us to use our limited knowledge to gain new knowledge, and that require us to apply what we already know to challenges we haven't yet faced. Training takes us from comfortable passivity to tiring and painful challenge, and we grow strong, confident, and capable in the process. Life's often-painful challenges are not the petty punishments of an angry God, but the careful training of a loving, caring Father.Prayer: Father, Please help me embrace your discipline and training. Don't stop just because I whine and complain! I'm learning not to think of training as punishment! I long to grow into the mature relationship you want to have with me. I know I've made progress, but there's still a long way to go. I want to keep growing. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Fundamental Fact of Existence
14 Jul 2010
Fundamental Fact of ExistenceJim Stephens07-14-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. (Hebrews 11:1 MSG) There's so much we can't see. There's so much we don't know. There's so much we can't control. We can live in uncertainty and fear or we can believe that there is a God who knows what is going on and who cares about us. The fundamental fact of existence is that faith, this faith, is our foundation when we face the earthquakes of life, it's our anchor in the stormy sea, and our bomb-shelter from the attacks of the enemy of our souls. It's not complicated. Here's where it starts - "...anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6 MSG) Fundamental Fact of My Existence 1: There is a God. There is a God who brought the universe into being by the power of his will and his word. He made it, he sustains it, and he knows what's going on at any given moment. He also knows what's coming next and what's going to happen in eternity! Fundamental Fact of My Existence 2: God cares about me. God is more than an impersonal force. God is more than a law-enforcing judge. God has revealed through Jesus Christ that he is my Father. God cares for me with a Father's providing, protecting, guiding, disciplining love. God has a purpose for me that will grow and mature me to live in love and harmony with him, with his other children, and with the planet home he has provided for his family.Prayer: Father, I believe that you exist and that you care enough to respond to my needs, my questions, and my prayers. I believe that you have forgiven my sins and adopted me into your family. I believe and that you have a purpose for my life that you designed to perfectly fit who you made me to be and the time and place you put me on the planet. I want to live the life you planned for me in the way you planned for me to live it. Faith in you is the fundamental fact of my existence. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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A Sure Thing
13 Jul 2010
A Sure ThingJim Stephens07-13-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10 35 So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It's still a sure thing! 36 But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion. (Hebrews 10:35-36 MSG) The Jewish Christ-followers had taken a beating. Many of them had been thrown in prison, beaten, and tortured for their faith. They had seen loved ones murdered simply because they believed in Jesus Christ. They had lost their jobs, their possessions, and their homes for their commitment to Christ. After some time of suffering pain and loss, after nights of prayer and days of watching for God to answer, some of them began to doubt. They needed someone to remind them that what was true then is true now. "Don't give up! It's worth it!" At some point in every Christ-follower's life, you start to wonder, "Was I right to take such a stand? Was it worth it? Is it really true? Does God really care?" This is a really good reminder for me today, "It's still a sure thing!" We must remember that what was true in the excitement of sins forgiven, new life in Christ, hope for eternity, is still true in the darkness of doubt, the discouragement of delay, and the anxiety of unanswered prayers. 19 So, friends, we can now - without hesitation - walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body. 22 So let's do it - full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. 23 Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. 24 Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, 25 not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25 MSG) Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going! Let's be inventive and passionate at encouraging others who grow weak or weary! It's still a sure thing!Prayer: Father, Help me to hang on, to keep a firm grip, to stick it out. And help me to be able to encourage others not to give up. I know it's still a sure thing. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Accumulated Sins
12 Jul 2010
Accumulated SinsJim Stephens07-12-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9 Only the high priest entered the smaller, inside tent, and then only once a year, offering a blood sacrifice for his own sins and the people's accumulated sins. (Hebrews 9:7 MSG) In this section of the Hebrews letter, the emphasis is on comparing and contrasting the Old Contract God established with the nation of Israel through Moses and the New Contract God established through Jesus Christ with all who will believe, receive, and respond. In the terms of the Old Contract, the Jewish high priest went into the Holiest Place only once a year, on Pay-up Day, and offered the blood of an innocent sacrifice lamb to pay for his sins and the sins of the people. The sins of the people accumulated for a year. When Jesus went into the real Holiest Place and offered his own innocent blood one-time for all-time for all sins, it's all done. No more waiting all year for the one Pay-up Day so that an innocent sacrifice can pay for the accumulated sins of guilty people. The key thought for me today is "accumulated sins." If my sins accumulate, it's entirely because I allow them to accumulate. At the moment I acknowledge my sin - my sins - and turn from them, I can receive immediate cleansing, forgiveness, a fully fresh start. If I allow my sins to put distance between God and me - I know sin separates - it's simply because I don't choose to "16 ... walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." (Hebrews 4:16 MSG) Sin doesn't have to accumulate any more. Unless I am too proud or self-righteous to acknowledge my sins, or unless I prefer to continue in my sins, my sins don't have to accumulate at all. It's up to me to simply respond and receive what it was up to him to provide, one-time for all time. No more accumulated sins! His provision! My choice! Amazing Grace!Prayer: Father, Thank you for loving me so much that you devised a plan - made a way so that my sins don't have to accumulate. I gladly and gratefully receive what you so graciously have given. May others hear this great good news from me and see its good fruit in me. Thanks. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Worries
11 Jul 2010
WorriesJim Stephens07-11-10 Today's Reading: Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8 11 God spoke strongly to me, grabbed me with both hands and warned me not to go along with this people. He said: 12 "Don't be like this people, always afraid somebody is plotting against them. Don't fear what they fear. Don't take on their worries." (Isaiah 8:11-12 MSG) Isaiah addressed the concerns of people in Israel and Judah who were worried about the future. They knew about the political and military threat of the growing Assyrian Empire. They faced seasons of drought and famine. They knew that life is fragile and that things can go wrong. They were anxious and worried. Christ-followers are worried about politics, terrorism, the economy, conspiracy theories, and interpretations of end-time prophecies. Many talk more about the latest conspiracy theories than about insights gained from reading and meditating on God's good word and spending time in his presence. Perhaps we spend too much time watching TV news and too little time reading God's Good News. We shouldn't be "head-in-the-sand" about politics and economics, nor passive and uninvolved, but neither should we allow our energies and emotions to be drained by worries about them. Isaiah told the people of Israel and Judah to fear and reverence God and not to worry about what other people are doing or what may happen. Jesus said to trust Father God and let him take care of making sure we are ready for whatever life brings our way. Jesus said, "31 What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. 32 People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. 33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. 34 Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." (Matthew 6:31-34 MSG)Prayer: Father, I choose to trust you for my present and my future, for my protection and my provision. I don't want to be ignorant or foolish about the things people are worried about, but I don't want to be a worrier. I trust you. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Salvation Stories
10 Jul 2010
Salvation StoriesJim Stephens07-10-10 Today's Reading: Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7 4 "I delivered you from a bad life in Egypt; I paid a good price to get you out of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you - and Aaron and Miriam to boot! 5 Remember what Balak king of Moab tried to pull, and how Balaam son of Beor turned the tables on him. Remember all those stories about Shittim and Gilgal. Keep all God's salvation stories fresh and present." (Micah 6:4-5 MSG) God reminded his people to tell their Salvation Stories over and over, passing them from generation to generation. They told the stories of their deliverance from Egypt, God's path through the Red Sea, God's forty-year care for them in the wilderness, crossing the Jordan River, Jericho's walls falling down flat, David and Goliath, Esther the Queen, an extensive list! God's Salvation Stories formed the basis of their faith, their culture, and marked their year with holidays celebrating God's Salvation for Israel. When our kids were growing up, Jean and I made sure that we told them our Stephens Family Salvation Stories often. We even made special times around seasonal holidays to remind ourselves of the many times God intervened in our lives and provided in miraculous ways. In more recent years, we've developed a practice of "mini-retreats" at times of special need or seasons when our lives are changing course. A key part of those mini-retreats is taking time to recount God's Salvation Stories - both long ago in our history and recent in our experience. God's Salvation Stories remind us of God's power, love, and faithfulness to us. God's Salvation Stories give us something to celebrate, even in the most challenging of times. God's Salvation Stories ground our faith. God's Salvation Stories are powerful testimonies to others. May I encourage you to live your life far enough out of your comfort zone, near enough the edge of your human ability and capacity, that your experiences and God's gracious power will create your own Salvation Stories!Prayer: Father, Thank you for your salvation - historical, future, and daily! Thank you that Jean and I and our children have great Salvation Stories to tell ourselves and others - stories of your faithful love and powerful provision. Today I'm going to tell some Salvation Stories. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Foundational Truths
9 Jul 2010
Foundational TruthsJim Stephens07-09-10 Today's Reading: Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6 1 So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God; 2 baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. 3 God helping us, we'll stay true to all that. But there's so much more. Let's get on with it! (Hebrews 6:1-3 MSG) The point in this section of the letter to Jewish Christ-followers is that by this time in their journey of faith, they should be able to teach and lead others. Instead, they're still approaching the life of faith with the attitude, "Feed me! Help me! Bless me!" Jesus said the key to growing up and surviving life's storms is to learn and live, know and apply, the Basic Foundational Truths. Then with God's help we can get on to all the other wonderful things God has for us to know, experience, and live. I believe this is true. It's not what you know, it's what you do with what you know. Jean and I spent sixteen years living outside the United States establishing Training Centres that taught Christ-followers from many nations the Basic Foundational Truths. We wrote the Foundation for Christian Service course to lead new believers and experienced Christians through a step-by-step process of learning and applying Basic Foundational Truths in daily life. Many students returned to their home countries with a passion for Basic Foundational Truths. We traveled to nations in both West and East Africa to train Christian leaders and provide the FFCS course material for use in their churches and ministries. The FFCS material is available for free download from our website www.resourceministries.org and it is now in use in more than 20 countries. There is still a great need. Many Christ-followers have not yet firmly put the Basic Foundational Truths in place in their doctrine and practice of faith. This means they are unnecessarily vulnerable to being led astray by false teaching and susceptible to severe damage from the storms of life.Prayer: Father, I see the importance of learning and applying simple Foundational Truths. Help me to do my part. Help me to know how best to help other Christ-followers establish a storm-weathering, error-proofing foundation of faith. I know I can't do everything, but I can do something. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Trusting Obedience
8 Jul 2010
My apologies for sending this out so late today. The server we use for GraceNotes was down this morning and only recently is back online. I hope GraceNotes daily eVotionals are a blessing to you. In the love of Jesus, Jim Stephens Trusting ObedienceJim Stephens07-08-10 Today's Reading: Hosea 13-14; Psalm 100, 102; Hebrews 5 8 Though he was God's Son, he learned trusting-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do. 9 Then, having arrived at the full stature of his maturity and having been announced by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek, 10 he became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him. (Hebrews 5:8-10 MSG) Jesus learned trusting-obedience through suffering and this process produced full maturity in him. I'm afraid that we humanly tend to think of full maturity as independence - that if and when I become fully mature, I no longer am accountable to anyone and I can make all my own decisions and I become the master of my own fate. That's not how God sees it. Jesus lives for us the example of what it means to be fully mature in God's eyes. Jesus submitted himself to a painful process of putting God's purposes above his own purposes, God's desires above his own desires, and God's will above his own will. Because he was willing to go through that process, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who believingly obey him. Jesus learned trusting-obedience. There are other kinds of obedience, you know. There is grudging obedience. There is fearful obedience. There is partial obedience. There is outward obedience with inward rebellion. The process of learning trusting-obedience through suffering and submission produces full maturity and becomes an example and encouragement to others. I don't live only for myself. I am privileged to be an example, an encouragement, and an influencer of others who must travel the same road I'm on. My trusting-obedience will help mark out a pathway for others to follow. There's too much at stake for me to settle for disobedience, grudging obedience, or partial obedience. My challenge is to learn trusting-obedience to God's will for my life so that I can help others believingly and trustingly obey God's will for their lives.Prayer: Father, I recommit myself to the lifelong process of learning trusting-obedience. I love you and I love your will and your ways. Help me to live a life of trusting-obedience in trusting confidence so that others may benefit from my example and influence. Amen. Copyright 2010 Resource Ministries InternationalUnsubscribe from GraceNotes here if you no longer wish to receive it. If someone sent this to you and you like it, signup to receive GraceNotes. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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