Raising teenagers has got to be THE hardest thing on the face of the planet for parents! And I admit it's not easy for the teen as well!

For the teen it's coming into your own learning new things pushing the envelope on what is right to see what you can get away with!

For the parent it's wanting more for your child than what you had and wanting them to miss the potholes you hit in life!

The clash is this, they want to experience it for themselves and we want them to miss the heartaches we've experienced!

My teenage daughter is at that place in her life! She thinks she knows everything and is coming into her own with her own decisions and actions!

She refuses to listen to reason and instruction and is at a very rebellious stage! She's ungrateful and and uses the phrase I think every teen uses, "I hate you".

She told me not too long ago that she didn't want me to be involved in her life! I didn't know how to deal with that! At first I was mad then upset then hurt then mad again!

After talking with my heavenly father I decided to grant her that request! I thought about my own life and how rebellious I was toward God! And even the one time I told God when I was younger to leave me alone!

So I gave my daughter some space and left her alone! I didn't ask her about her day, I didn't stick my nose in her business, I didn't go out of my way to be involved in her life!

She really seemed to like this new detatched relationship but it was killing me! I want to be involved in her life I want to know what's going on not because I'm a control freak but because I love her, I'm her Father and she's my child!

After a few days she came into my office and asked me for something! For the first time I told her no, I think that broke my heart more than it did hers!

I sat her down and told her that my absence from her life meant the abence of my blessings as well! She couldn't demand me to leave her alone and still want to have my blessings in her life!

My blessings come with my presence and my presence comes with my involvement in her life because I love her so much! But my presence comes with a cost and the payment is simply, repect and obedience!

Obedience doesn't mean she is going to be perfect it means she is going to do her best to live by the guidelines we set before her!

She sat there for a little bit and then said, Dad I understand! Those three words meant she had seen more than she wanted to!

It's the same thing with us, we must cooperate with our Heavenly Fathers involvement in our lives in order to have His blessings!

It's not putting up with God in order to get his blessings it's wanting His involvement in your life and understanding that with His involvement comes His blessings!

God is teaching me so much as a Father! I'm learning more everyday about the Love of God! He is so patient and loving with me and I'm learning to do that with my kids! Thank God for his unconditional love toward us!

1 Peter 4:2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Have you ever driven your car when it was out of alignment! If you have you’ll identify with me that when tires on are not properly aligned, they cause the vehicle to drift which forces us to work harder to keep the vehicle straight and control the direction of travel.

A simple realignment of the wheels will remedy this problem for us. Hear me friend prayer is very much the same way. It is a spiritual realignment of the wills not WHEELS, but WILLS, so that as we submit to God, God’s thoughts, plans and desires become ours.

When I surrender my will and receive God’s will in return, that transaction properly aligns me to receive His blessings in my life! I cannot suggest a better remedy for insuring that we travel in the right direction than when we engage in this intimate transaction of the wills called prayer!

God’s desire for us to succeed IS much stronger than our desire to be successful. And when we mature to the place in our prayer life where we hide that simple but powerful reality in our hearts it aligns us with open door of God’s blessings!

Our thought for today: It’s a lot easier to drive a car that is aligned perfectly then to constantly fight one that wants to veer off course

Matthew 15:8 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me”

Outward appearances can be deceiving when it comes to what people do. When a person puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion or when a person acts contrary to his or her own stated beliefs, we call that person a hypocrite.

Our English word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word, which means “to be an actor.” An actor is merely playing a part and pretending to be something he or she is not.

Appearances can also be deceiving when it comes to what people say as well. It’s not hard to find hypocrisy at every level of government and sadly enough even behind some pulpits in our churches today.

While we may be fooled by outward appearances and by what people say, God’s inspired word states clearly that Jesus isn’t fooled by outward appearances, He can see through our masks of hypocrisy and He certainly isn’t fooled by lip service.

While we might be fooled by what people do and their fine-sounding phrases, God is not. Let God’s unconditional love give you an opportunity to speak from the abundance of the human heart, which can’t be disguised by holy actions or hidden from God behind a lot of pious-sounding words.

Challenge for Today: You may fool your friends, your co-workers and even your pastor, but you can not fool God!

Matthew 14:25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

Matthew 14 takes place after a long day of tragedy, ministry and miracles, In the life of Jesus. In verses 1-12 Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist has been beheaded.

In verses 13-21 Jesus hears about his cousin’s death and gets in his boat to got to a private place to grieve, but while he finds a quiet place a crowd gathers, the Bible tells us that there were 5000 men not counting women and children.

After the miracle feeding of 5000, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and go to the other side! I noticed something about Matthew 14, one third of Jesus’ disciples were professional fisherman, why would Jesus have to make them get in the boat.

Could it be they could read the weather, a storm was brewing and they probably knew this isn’t sailing weather, but none the less they went. Hear me, sometimes the will of God will lead you right in the middle of storm.

While on the water, a storm came and no doubt the disciples were scared, they cried for help, their hope was gone, they had exhausted every avenue of rescue. But in the fourth watch of the night Jesus came walking on the water.

The fourth watch is between 3am & 6am, it represents just in the nick of time. Hear me friend you may be in the middle of storm right now, it might feel like all hope is gone, but don’t give up, don’t jump ship, because in the fourth watch of your night, Jesus is coming.

Our Prayer challenge: He may be late according to your watch, but He’s always on time according to His.

Matthew 10:31 “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”

People spend a lot of time waxing a car, weeding a garden, talking to their spouse or children, chatting with friends, working at a computer, or watching television.

People do what is important to them. And you can tell what is important to them by the amount of time and money they spend on any activity.

God’s creation is important to Him. So much activity goes on every day without any human taking notice. In the deepest parts of the ocean there are fish that live their whole lives never seen by man.

A waste? Absolutely not my friend because God is interested in them. They don’t have to be seen by others or cared for by others, because they are there for His pleasure and His pleasure only. Their lives have value because they are valuable to God.

Jesus reassured people, because He knew they worried about many things.

He wanted them to know that the One who was best equipped to do something about their needs was also the One who cared the most about them.

Even though God is concerned about all of His creation, He is more concerned about you!

Thought for Today: You are important to God, never forget that!

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”

Everyone has experienced loss. Maybe it was the physical death of a loved one or pet. Maybe it was the “death” of a marriage, dream, or promotion.

Expected or unexpected, pain runs deep and the weight of the loss may be devastating.

There are many losses, but little mourning in our society. We crave consolation but skip the mourning process.

Instead, we seek to replace our losses, by adopting a new pet, remarrying, or taking a vacation. Did you know that we often take the same approach to sin as well.

Jesus is talking about those who mourn their sin. It is not enough to simply acknowledge spiritual bankruptcy with an unfeeling heart.

We must show sincere sorrow for what we have done in order to receive the comfort of forgiveness.

As you strive to live for God, reflect on your past mistakes. Experience the loss the sin in your life has brought. Grieve it.

Release it through prayer, tears, and honest conversations with accountable friends. Then Jesus will bring you the comfort He promised.

Challenge for Today: Learn to walk through the pain, not around it.

Zechariah 14:9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name

Abraham Lincoln. Elvis Presley. Tiger Woods. Mother Teresa. Martin Luther King, Jr. All famous people. All make headlines still today.

We read about them in books. We watch them on television. We google them on the Internet. Their names outlive their existence on this planet.

Each name offers a vision of the varied vocations and contributions to society of each individual.

Whether you support their cause, their sport, their music, or their vision one thing is true. You visualize their faces. You know their names.

Presidents, celebrities, athletes, and innovators may affect change, but no one brings change like Jesus Christ the King above all kings.

God’s word tells us that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord that means every name, whether famous or not-so-famous, will bow before Him.

Whether you do it now, willingly, or later, forcefully, you will bow before King Jesus!

Challenge for Today: Jesus is the name above all names. Keep it that way in your heart.

Zephaniah 3:9 “Then will I purify the lips of the people, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder”

An old-fashioned “cure” for using bad words or lying was to wash a child’s mouth with soap. The lingering taste served as a reminder to keep their speech clean.

God has a better solution. He purifies lips by cleansing first the hearts of those who call on Him. Only after sins are confessed and forsaken, will hearts and what flows out from them, be pure.

The Lord performs a complete renovation, not just a cover-up to hide faults. He eradicates sin and the decay it brings. His cleanup also removes sin’s punishment and its accompanying guilt and shame.

When God’s purifying work is complete, the redeemed will seek Him and serve Him in unity. Meekness, humility, honesty, and joy will be hallmarks of this holy remnant.

Thought for Today: God delights in and rejoices over His work in your life.

Amos 8:11 "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

About 750 B.C., an obscure farmer and shepherd was called by God to be a prophet…The man's name was Amos. His mission: to warn Israel of God's coming judgment if they did not repent!

Sadly, the nation did not heed the call to repent...As a result, they were led into Assyrian captivity. Part of Amos' prophecy that was fulfilled concerned an unusual famine that would come upon the people: Not a famine of food or water but of the Word of God.

Today, there is also a famine for the Word of God...Different in some ways. Yet very similar in other ways, and producing similar results!

The present famine for God’s word was not sent by God but is imposed by man. On the contrary, it is evident God has provided for us "feast", not a "famine"!

We enjoy an abundance of Bibles in our homes and offices even on our phones. Never before in the history of mankind has the world enjoyed such free access to God's Word.

But all the bibles in the world are doing no good if they are only collecting dusk sitting on the shelf. Nothing changes your life like God’s breath penned on the pages of His word!

I love Christian television and radio, but watching a bible study and listening to songs is not a substitute for spending time with God and communing with Him through His Word on a daily basis.

Prayer thought today: Put the Word of God into when you don’t need and it will be there when you do!

Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me

We live in a society driven by materialism, people live beyond their means—feeding their wants rather than meeting needs and placing personal gain above service to others.

Greed leads to corruption and oppresses the poor. This also describes Micah’s world twenty-seven centuries ago.

No matter how bad things get, Micah’s example of seeking God’s help and deliverance is practical and wise.

The Lord will hear and answer. Evil will be judged, with the goal of bringing repentance. Then God will heal and restore.

Micah not only watches for God, he does so with hope and trust. Hope waits willingly and with confidence. Micah had hope because of his personal relationship with the Lord.

Although modern times may seem like a mixed-up mess with no solution in sight, we can call on God to intervene.

The God of our salvation delights to show mercy and will bring victory in His time and His way. We can be sure of that my friend.

Prayer Suggestion: Lord, help me seek your solutions to problems, rather than trusting the wisdom of the world.

Amos 2:7 “They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed”

In Amos 1 and 2, the prophet reads a list of charges against Israel and pronounces the sentence. The nations must face the wrath of Almighty God because of the sins such as killing babies, slave-trading, and perhaps surprisingly, ignoring the poor.

Ya see in the eyes of God, mistreating the poor and powerless is just as offensive as sexual immorality, idolatry, and murder.

During His short ministry on earth, Jesus repeatedly moved among society’s fringes, emphasizing His love for the weak and impoverished.

Over and over He commanded His followers to remember “the least of these”

Too often we focus so much on the obvious, sins of violence and immorality that we lose sight of an equally heartbreaking sin: such as hungry and abused people being ignored.

The church today needs to ask God to open it’s eyes to see the oppressed and the weak among you, and extend a compassionate hand to help.

Challenge for Today: Remember when you have ministered to the least of these you have ministered unto God!

Joel 3:16 The Lord will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel

Not too long ago we had a new addition to our family. A friend of mine had given us a 1 year old English bulldog, named Cheddar.

Shortly after that we noticed that our yard was not the make shift football field it used to be. One of the neighborhood boys finally admitted that he didn’t come around much anymore because of our dog. Just the sight of Cheddar was enough to scare kids away.

We soon introduced them to the big and scary watchdog and they were shocked at how loving he was. He was more interested in eating the after school snacks than he was hurting them. They soon realized you could by Cheddar by offering him a good belly scratch.

Even though the day of judgment has not yet arrived the world already cowers before God. Unbelievers see God as an oppressive and wrathful

cosmic killjoy that is waiting to bash them when they do wrong, while we as His children run to His loving embrace.

And why is that, maybe because someone has shown them the wrong image God’s love. We can demonstrate God’s love and convince the world to embrace God’s grace now by following the commands of the Master.

Prayer thought: Are unbelievers in my life seeing authentic Christianity or a caricature of it!

Hosea 10:4 They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.

A nation that has turned its back on God is a nation without unity. Rejecting the perfect peace of the Creator, opens the door to a life of lies, disagreements, and strife.

They build walls to isolate themselves from God but in doing so they also isolate themselves from one another. Unable to interact in Godly love, they are torn apart by their sin.

When our hearts are set on the Lord we can be a people unified, a people who can deal with one another in love without the poisonous rhetoric of the world.

Our common life in Christ should draw us together, so that we don’t see each other as litigants or opponents but brothers and sisters.

That’s not to say that we’ll always agree or get along! Who does? But if we truly live in Christ, we won’t lie to each other or destroy reputations. We will do nothing but love one another, just as Jesus loved us.

Thought for Today: People who do not see eye-to-eye with God cannot see eye-to-eye with one another.

Hosea 6:2 “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence”

This is my favorite time of year because the leaves seem to paint the landscape of God’s handiwork with vibrant greens, oranges, yellows, and reds.

But the beauty of fall passes quickly, as the leaves fall from their branches and become debris under our feet, that’s has no purpose but to be raked up and thrown away.

But the dead, falling leaves are a precursor to something beautiful. They form a carpet on the ground that slowly decays, enriching the soil and feeding the trees they just abandoned. The death of the leaves makes it possible for new leaves—new life—to appear in the spring.

God’s judgment had ripped Israel to shreds, but Hosea assured the nation new life was on its way. The trials would kill off those things that stood between the nation and its God.

The trials would allow God to breathe new life into Israel. As you observe this fall, consider what needs to die in your own life in order to renew you in Christ.

Prayer Suggestion: God, show me what must die so that I can live in Your presence.

Daniel 12:10 “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand”

Have you ever been, “Stuck”. One of the definitions of stuck is remaining in a static condition, or failing to progress. Our scripture details a group of people that are stuck in a wicked state.

People get up everyday of their lives stuck in a job, stuck in a relationship, stuck in their marriage. Being Stuck is not what God desire for his children. God designed everything to move and not stand still, including your relationship with him.

Here’s an alarming fact, two-thirds of those released from prison will be arrested again within a few years. Many prisoners reform, but sadly, most—are stuck in a life that will ultimately destroy them.

The Word of God tells us that we have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, and until we are made spotless by the redemptive work Jesus did on Calvary for our sins, we will continue to do so. God’s love purifies and refines us.

If we are wise enough to accept that gift, He can and will free us from the destructive patterns of our sin.

Thought for Today: The Cross of Calvary is the key that unlocks the cell where sin has imprisoned us.

Daniel 9:15 “Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong”

We live in a society where CEOs and politicians want to acknowledge wrongdoing but don’t want to accept blame. They’ll point fingers as long as no fingers are pointed at them.

Daniel, crying out to God on behalf of all Israel, made no excuses about who made the mistakes that destroyed Jerusalem.

Daniel made no attempt to “pass the buck,” freely admitting that Israel collectively had made mistakes. Still, the prophet appealed to the Lord’s “great mercy” knowing by faith that God would provide rescue.

Our rescue came in the form of Jesus, who died to ensure that we would no longer have to bear the burden of sin alone. Scripture tells us that if we confess our sins—accepting the responsibility for our wrongdoing—our God promises forgiveness.

Challenge for Today: God can not forgive that which we are not willing to confess!

Daniel 6:20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

The Old Testament prophet Daniel, as chief counselor to the Persian king Darius, aroused the envy of the other royal ministers. Conspiring against the young Hebrew, they forced the king into condemning Daniel to a den of lions.

King Darius had given no thought to Daniel when he was tricked into signing the decree that would put Daniel in danger. It was the ultimate offense, being unjustly sentenced to death.

As Daniel approached the lions’ den he had a choice to make: become embittered by the injustice and state his own case to the King or rest in God’s defense and vindication. He chose the latter.

Daniel’s vindication came overnight when God delivered him from the mouth of the lions.

Thought for Today: Trust in the fact that God always takes care of those, who honor him.

Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God”

The three Hebrew boys did something that no one else had the guts to do. They refused to bow down and worship another God. When the decree was given these boys had a spirit of rebellion. A spirit that said we will not bow down to you image.

A spirit that said, Our God is able to deliver us out of the fiery furnace, but even if he doesn’t we’re still not worshipping the image you have set up. The church today needs that kind of spirit once more. Not a spirit of rebellion against God, your pastor, or even your parents, but a Spirit of rebellion against the temptation of the enemy.

God was honored by the stand taken by these three young men. In response God protected them in a furnace that had been heated seven times hotter than usual.

This same fire had taken the lives of those who threw the three young men into the fire. Yet in the midst of that fire, they were miraculously kept safe.

We need to never forget that when we honor God at the cost of personal risk, God will protect us from the enemy’s threat and bring glory to himself.

Challenge for Today: Sometimes we have to go through the fire in order to see the Savior.

Ezekiel 44:28 “I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession”

Unfortunately in our world, mourning the loss of a loved one who has died is often interrupted by disagreements concerning the distribution of an inheritance. Wills are sometimes contested, lawyers are obtained, and court battles that divide families ensue.

There was one group of people, the priests, that the Lord determined beforehand would never have this concern. God declared that they were not to be given an inheritance in the land.

He wanted to give this group of people whom He had called to minister in His sanctuary something far greater. He wanted to give them himself.

Listen friends as believers in Christ, we are told in 1 Peter 2:9 that we are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God”. Therefore our inheritance stored up in heaven is far greater than we could even begin to fathom.

Prayer Suggestion: Dear Lord, I pray that You will open my eyes to see the rich inheritance I have in Christ Jesus.

Ezekiel 39:25 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name”

Did your parents ever say, or have you as a parent ever said, “This is going to hurt me more than it does you?” Even though it hurt, the discipline was carried out for the child’s own good, and today most are grateful for the correction it provided.

Sometimes, God had to discipline the Children of Israel for their unfaithfulness by allowing them to be taken into captivity.

However, that was never the end of the story for Israel, neither is it the end of the story for His children today. When God’s prescribed discipline has fulfilled its purpose in our lives

He will once again demonstrate His compassion and provide for the restoration of those things withheld during the season of correction.

God’s name will receive glory as we walk in obedience to His Word, and delight in the mercy and compassion He extends to us when we repent.

Thought for Today: By responding to God’s correction, I will experience His comfort.

Ezekiel 43:22-23 “On the second day you are to offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering, and the altar is to be purified as it was purified with the bull. When you have finished purifying it, you are to offer a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect”

Do you recognize a familiar theme sewn throughout these verses? Whatever the sacrifice, the requirement was the same. It had to be offered “without defect.”

This requirement was demanded by God with good reason. The sacrifice was to be a “type” or a “picture” of the perfect sacrifice that would come as the atonement for the sin of all people.

In the fullness of time God would reveal His only begotten Son to the world. Jesus was the only perfect sacrifice that could be offered on behalf of humanity, to restore us to a Holy God.

Today, it is because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, the pouring out of His own innocent blood, that we have access to God through faith in Jesus’ work on the cross.

Because of that access you can go boldly to the Throne of Grace without fear of rejection. Thanks to Jesus we who have faults can go to a God with none.

Thought for Today: God loved me so much that He gave, a sacrifice without defect, His Son Jesus.

Ezekiel 37:5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life”

I’ve often wondered what went through Ezekiel’s mind when God asked him, “Can these bones live?” It must have seemed hopeless. Nothing is as hopeless as a bone yard.

Ezekiel’s only answer was, “You know.”

Ezekiel’s sense of reality was limited. What mankind experiences is real, but it is still limited. God’s reality is infinitely greater than ours

He is not hindered by the limited perception of humanity. The bone yard seemed hopeless to Ezekiel, until God got involved. God can and will infuse new life into any situation if we only believe.

We cannot be discouraged by what appears to be a hopeless situation. We must have faith in God. Faith opens the door to the greater reality, a reality augmented by God’s direct involvement.

God involves himself in unseen ways. While God’s breath was invisible, the result was obvious when the bones came back to life.

Prayer Suggestion: Lord, breathe fresh insight, encouragement, and creativity into me today.

Ezekiel 34:12 “As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on the day of clouds and darkness”

Not too long ago, my son had come home from school and was worn out. His little body was not used to going to school all day without a nap. I remember him coming home and lying on the couch wanting to go to sleep.

As my daughters did them homework and we resumed our normal activity we noticed it was real quite in the house. I called to my wife and asked her if she had seen him, and she hadn’t. We called his name and no answer, we panic, thinking he might have gone outside without us knowing.

We ran outside desperately looking for him. Fear began to set in when we could find him. Then my wife said, here he is. My son was found in his bed under the covers sound asleep. He was Oblivious to us calling and diligently seeking for him.

For a brief moment I thought I had lost a child, but then I was quickened that God has many lost children. The way we look for our children when their lost is the same way God looks for His. Listen my friend you and I have an opportunity to be involved in helping bring God’s lost children home.

Knowing God’s great love for the lost should motivate every believer to reach out to the lost with the love of Christ.

Prayer Suggestion: Lord, help me reach one more of your lost children.

Ezekiel 24:14 “I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord”

Does it ever seem to you that God ignores the evil around us? News accounts show murders, spousal and child abuse, and a general disregard for human life.

It can become very easy to be discouraged and wonder if God is aware of these things or if He even cares. Ezekiel discovered that God is aware of injustice in the world and will act.

Christians can trust that God will be just; He will not ignore sin nor the righteous acts of His people. Those who reject God’s Laws will be held accountable for their actions.

Listen my friend, Our God is caring, He is loving, He is faithful, but he’s also Righteous, and when he says he will deal with the wicked, rest assure he will deal with the wicked!

But before that time comes God will reach out in mercy, asking people to receive His free offer of salvation through His son Jesus Christ. He wants the world to hear the gospel and wants us to proclaim the good news to them through our lives and our words.

Thought for Today: Believers should consider that God is perfectly just in His dealings with all people.

Ezekiel 22:7 “In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; in you they have oppressed the alien and mistreated the fatherless and the widow”

Early in my ministry I got to see a lot of churches and meet a lot of people. I remember this one church in particular I was preaching at, a woman had walked in off the streets obviously needing some kind of assistance.

At the end of the service the woman walked out and we never saw her again. Later that evening I was talking with the Leadership, and they said, “We don’t need people like that in our church!” I can tell you that my heart was broken!

My friend we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ. Who are we to pick and choose who comes to Jesus! Every nation, Every tongue, Every Creed deserves the opportunity to have a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ.

God always has and always will expect His people to show respect to their parents and treat aliens, the fatherless, and widows with compassion. Believers today have the opportunity to reach out to people with the love of Christ.

When believers look past their own personal bias, they can begin to see people with a love only God can give them. Showing love and compassion to people who might otherwise be looked down upon will demonstrate to the lost that God really loves them.

Prayer for Today: God help me to see through your eyes, touch through hands, walk through you feet, speak with your mouth and love with your heart!

Ezekiel 21:26 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says, Take off the turban, remove the crown. It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low”

There was a time in my life when I full of my own importance that I did not notice those around me. I remember working for a Communications company as a business developer.

My job was to fly into an untapped city and begin developing a business market for our product. The company was sponsoring a sales contest for the most new markets created. I was competing against other business developers across the nation.

I thought for sure I had the sales contest in the bag, when the results were tabulated at the end of the contest, I was shocked to discover I had finished near the bottom in total sales.

I learned a difficult lesson about humility. Listen Humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.

Judah learned humility through their conquest at the hand of the Babylonians. Their position of power gave way to their new status of captives.

God spared some of the most humble citizens by allowing them to stay with their fields and vineyards.

God wants His people to practice a lifestyle of humility. We as believers should live in such a way that our lives point others to salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer Suggestion: Ask God to help you exalt Him to those around you.