Today is my incredible wife’s birthday. She is the grace in our home, the coach and biggest fan of our children, the mentor of her siblings, the unfailing sister of her friends, and my amazing Christian partner. Every day she brings glory to God by her life. God has blessed her, and all of us through her.

Solomon wrote about her in Proverbs 31:28-31, “Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”

Happy Birthday Liz. I love you.

Today is also my brother Matt’s birthday. Happy Birthday Brother!

Dear Lord, thank you for the blessing we have in Liz and Matt. Give them courage and strength as they grow in your service and bring joy, hope, comfort and confidence to those around them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This is one of those “counter-intuitive,” things about Christianity. The knowledge that when we honestly lay all of our disobedience to God out in front of him with honest remorse, God forgives us the moment we ask.

Psalm 103:12 writes, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

The challenge many people have is that they have trouble accepting the forgiveness God is offering, for the simple act of sincerely asking.

Carrying the guilt and shame of un-confessed sin can make people physically ill as they dwell on it and are unable to overcome.

Psalm 32:1-3, says, “What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record. There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration.” TLB The NET version translates the last verse, “When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long.”

And Paul writes in Romans 3:23, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

It is so important for each of us to spend time confessing our disobedience to God’s will and just as important, to accept the forgiveness that God promises.

Dear Lord, We are sorry that we constantly fail to live up to your standard. Give us the strength to strive to do what you would have us do, and forgive us when we fail to do so. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Some years ago there was a popular business book with the title, “Hope is Not a Method,” and a few years later there was another business book on the shelves called, “Hope is not a Strategy.” At the time I thought that these concepts made sense from a practical point of view. If all we do is hope for something to happen, it doesn’t really accomplish anything.

However, just because Hope is not a method, doesn’t mean hope is not an important part of our lives. Hope is an attitude, and a way of living. Particularly as Christians, hope is essential to our way of life.

Hebrews 6:18-19 writes, “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.”

Dear Lord, you teach us to have hope in your promises. It is the positive hope in those promises, mostly the promise of eternal life that makes us optimistic and confident as we live our Christian lives each day. Strengthen our hope so that we may live boldly for you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I heard this quote recently, and it stuck with me. “Many books can inform you, but the Bible can transform you.” It reminded me of the passage in Romans.

In Romans 12:2 Paul says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

When we read the Bible and let the Holy Spirit work in our hearts and minds, more than just learning, we are transformed into new people, who see things in life differently.

Dear Lord, transform us, so that we may know and do your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Though it is wrong, I’ll bet we all have looked at some people and thought, “Those people need to fix their lives, it is disgraceful how they behave.”

How did Jesus approach this issue of “bad” people?

Matthew 9:10-12 says,”Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”

I think we often get the sequence of events backward. Whether consciously or not, we think people need to fix their behavior first, then they can be loved and saved. Jesus teaches us the opposite; Show people Gods love first, through our example, and approach. God will work in their heart’s on his timing. Sometimes it may be just a matter of saying a prayer for the person, rather than carrying on our critical thoughts.

Dear Lord, You gave us the example to love first and lead others to the grace of God in Jesus. Help us look at others with love rather than criticism and then let you work in their heart’s. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.