Hearing our older kids reminisce, sometimes leads to some eye opening news to us as parents.
This story reminds me of one incident my daughter recalls. She said "my mom is the only one I know who can make a full meal when the cabinets are empty. Now not literally of course, but she remembered when our cabinets and refrigerator had plenty of food, but to her it looked like there wasn't much there (think maybe because it wasn't what "she wanted)?
 
Just like this story, Jesus blesses in abundant ways. We can all recall times when, whether it was food or something else, Jesus provided. I think our message this week is such a precious reminder that He is still doing that today. The problem; however, we forget to ask him for provision.
 
Life in general, is reason for us to forget to lean in to Him for what we need. We all have issues that distract us from the One and only One who can help us, whether it be food for our next meal, work, family issues etc.
 
Let us remember how Jesus provided with the five loaves and two fish and remember that our Jesus is the same today as he was in their day. If He did it for them, He can, and will do it for us. Hebrews 13:8

Oh, by the way we had leftovers at our house too.

Our job??? Trust and leave it with Him.

Be My Guest

Permission to get personal? Do we live a “welcoming life?” Christ followers say we want to emulate Jesus, yet we routinely defer on one of the most crucial signatures of his ministry…hospitality! Our Savior never showcased a Pinterest-laden expansive home. Grandiose catering spreads with signature charcuterie boards were not required for His hosting efforts either. Instead, Christ chose a welcoming lifestyle ready to bless, serve, and encourage throughout his daily walk. Simple and prescriptive, yet profound! Do we?

My mother taught home economics many years. Obviously, it’s not genetic.  I don’t can goods, make jelly, or hem. I have been known to staple pants that were too long on me! And, I happen to think store-bought salsa works quite well for a Tex/Mex meal. No judging. I did retain that the chilled fork goes with the salad and not to butter the entire roll, just the bite I was eating! (Who knew that was a thing?) Yet, I love and enjoy being around folks minus all the pressures of etiquette grading. I promise not to freeze your fork if you will rave over “my” salsa!  

Observation. People are lonely! Allow these stats to motivate a shift in your scheduling. “One in four Americans rarely or never feel as though people understand them. Two in five Americans feel that their relationships are not meaningful and they are isolated. One in five report they rarely feel close to people they can talk to.” (“Understanding the Loneliness Epidemic” by Theresa Borachard) Could we put down our “devices” long enough to SEE hurting people? Check your screen time. Better yet WWJD? He didn’t run programs or put on events. He gathered at tables.

All too often, we wrongly assign hospitality to others. THEY have the large abode, the bigger income to cover the expenses, or they simply aren’t as busy as we are. May I remind us? Hospitality is a command not a suggestion. You can’t biblically opt out. When you start to link hospitality with extroverts, pay checks, and clean homes, you are deceived. It’s the WHY not the WHAT that makes it ministry. Hear me out. Hospitality requires vulnerability and courage, but the payout is connection, not perfection. I have heard it said that hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even if you wish they were. I believe the bar can be a bit higher and for eternal reasons.

God has given each of us a hospitality heartbeat ("Your Hospitality Personality" by Morgan Tyree). These personalities include extroverts, introverts, and ambiverts. Some are task-oriented while others are people-oriented, but ALL are forms of serving others and glorifying the Father. Just to be clear, if Jesus devoted time for it…is it optional for His followers?

Bottom line. God is generous so we should be generous. (Isaiah 55:1-7) Our hearts often get in the way. We must prioritize compassion over convenience, comfort, cost, and lack of commitment. Pride derails washing feet. Challenge your consumer mindset. Be creative. Carolyn Lacey states, “Persistence in hospitality is one way to be countercultural – taking people by surprise, just as God’s grace does.” For Jesus, welcoming was personal.  Offer the invitation to gather, sit on the couch covered in your pet’s dog hair and lean in to the lives and the eternal destinations of others. There is no generosity without sacrifice. Love outwardly. Open your home and your heart. Be Kingdom minded and make Heaven crowded.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER  7TH Matthew 11:28-30
Labor Day by Shawn Hammontree

Are you tired? Does your job have you exhausted?  Did you lose your job recently and you are trying to find a way to make ends meet?  Does life have you carrying a load of burden?  Chances are life has, or has had, each one of us answering a big “YES!” to at least one of these questions. Life can be difficult.  “Adulting”, (as the millennials often call it.), is just plain no fun often times.  However, there is good news!  There is good news if you are laboring under a yoke of burden- be it an emotional, physical, economical, and especially a spiritual one.  You can bring all your cares and lay them at the feet of the burden lifter, Jesus Christ.  He can carry them.  So, on this Labor Day 2020, may you read these words of Jesus, (some of my very favorite in all the Bible), and find rest for your weary soul for today and every day.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Why not pause, even now, and ask the Savior to take the yoke you are carrying?  He’s waiting and He is willing.  Trust Him.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH 
By Terri Scharn
Bro. Jason, shared this week about a “look alike” he has. Has anyone ever told you, that you remind them of someone?  I have several times. Of course, unlike Bro. Jason’s situation, this person was not near me for folks to get us confused.  It was so funny listening to him share how people mistook them for each other, not to mention how embarrassing it was for the people who thought that.  I too have spoken to someone I thought was another person. I could have crawled UNDER the earth.
On a serious note, it sure is a good lesson for us, me especially, how people look as us.  Unfortunately, I don’t think of that a lot, but maybe I should.  How do I present myself when I go about my daily life?  Even at home around my family.
I have heard people who use the excuse, ”Look how they act, and they go to church”.  Could someone be talking about us? You bet they could.
Let us take heart, and learn from the resemblances, Bro. Jason shared, and make sure that our walk, will be the kind that people will know exactly who we represent.

Father, help us to remember, our life may be the only Jesus, some people see. In Your Sweet Name we pray. Amen

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH 2 Timothy 3:12 (NAS)
Refining by Fire/Persecution by Kerry Stitch
“…all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”-2 Timothy 3:12

Close your eyes and inhale.  Did you get a whiff?  Fall is just around the corner even if your thermometer didn’t get the memo.  While some of you may be ushering in leggings, leaves and lattes; I’m sure we can all agree that the cozy bonfires and pumpkin spice mugs of liquid gold will be welcome retreats, especially in a Covid crazy, chaotic 2020. May I remind us that those “fires” have lots to teach us spiritually as well?  
1.  Fire illuminates.  Even wearing the mask-mandated fashion accessory, we cannot hide our face from the Father. How much investment are we intentionally setting aside to warm up in His presence? It shows…ask Moses. Prayer allows our sight to adjust in the darkness and focus on the light of His leading.
2.  Fire refines.  Examine our responses.  Are the BE-attitudes our default setting?  Burning can serve a godly purpose to slough off the buildup of self and create a new layer that has tenderness toward God’s mindset...one that only the Sonshine can produce. Be sure to apply the SPF! (Spirit-Produced Faithfulness)
3.  Fire produces flexibility.  Ask any jeweler.  Those precious metals need heat applied to redirect their shape and ultimate beauty.  On their own, they tend to be hard, cold, and “set” in their own ways.  Endurance and yielding to the properties of divine heat is crucial for the Master to yield them treasures He can use.
4.  Fire will warm you.  Although it may arrive in the form of persecution, prejudice, or personal struggle; its attributes are bone-deep and totally satisfying.  Ditch the flannel for the Father.  Swap the sweater for the Savior.  Instead of the leaves, jump into the joy of Jesus!  
So…carve the pumpkins, toast the marshmallows, and enjoy that walk in the woods. Just be reminded that more life-changing that s’mores, hayrides, and cider is the captivating life of abundance in choosing Christ.  Haul the wood, enjoy what’s coming…delight yourself not only in this season called fall, but in falling in love with Jesus!

MONDAY, AUGUST 31ST Romans 10:15
THANK YOU, BOBBY TUCKER!
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”- Romans 10:15

For fifty-three years Bobby Tucker has been preaching the good news.  In those six decades, he has spread the news of Christ to thousands.  Whether that be on Sunday mornings/nights or Wednesday nights at the churches he served, or speaking at conferences, camps, and revivals all over the place, many have heard about the grace of God from his lips.  (And many have responded by surrendering their hearts and lives to Jesus.)  Many souls will be around the throne of the Savior because of Bobby Tucker.

Today he begins a new chapter of his journey by beginning his retirement.  And although this man is heading back to his boyhood home in the small eastern town of Minneola, Texas, we know that God is not through using this wonderful man of God.  The LORD will continue to use this wonderful servant in the years ahead.  

Bobby, we, here at Antioch in Conway, Arkansas, are forever grateful for your years of service to our church!  Your passion for people, your love for God, your generous and giving heart, your wonderful giftedness in communicating God’s Word, and your love for everything Texas A&M, (okay, maybe we could have done without this part), have had a huge impact on all of us!  We want to be better followers of Jesus because of you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH LOVES BOBBY TUCKER!  May you enjoy your well-deserved retirement!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Powerfulness When Feeling Powerless by Paula McKee

“May all of us lead lives that point people to Jesus because he’s the only one who can make a difference.”  Bobby Tucker, August 30th, 2020

I was once confronted by the guardian of a child I had directed to go to the office to get a new shirt to wear because hers wasn’t school appropriate. The girl had the word BOOM across her shirt, and she and her friends were laughing about the reference to that word in a song and what the reference meant. God guided my words as I talked to the 21-year-old sister/guardian. She thought I was a racist, unfairly judging her sister, but when she heard my sincere concern for her sister, her anger quickly diffused.  When she left, we hugged.  We had made a connection that could have only come from God.
While Jason preached about living a life worthy of the calling Christians have received (Ephesians 3:20), an image popped into my mind of a group of Christians kneeling in the street between the Black Lives Matter protesters and the gun-toking anti-protesters while police officers attempted to maintain order. I imagined the Christians kneeling and praying and singing hymns. A few of the protesters joined with the Christians. Then a few of the anti-protesters also joined along with police officers, and soon the hate and pain and fear diminished as people came together worshipping and praising God, the only one who can heal.
I am clinging to that image this week. I am powerless, but God is powerful. In all situations, HE IS POWERFUL.  Look past the fear and anger in others and see their humanity; they are God's children. He doesn't desire to lose any of them.  

Dear Heavenly Father, When I feel overwhelmed, fill me with your wisdom, love, and calm reassurance. Thank you for all of the times you have done that for me. All day, every day, guide me so that I lead a life that points people to you. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, Amen.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND Romans 12:4-6
By Cindy Beckman
‘For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…”-Romans 12:4-6

One of the first studies we participated in at Antioch was determining spiritual gifts.  While we are ALL to love God and love others, Jesus gave us these gifts to equip us do those special things that He has called us specifically to do.  God has designed you for a purpose and puts you in places where you can be His hands and feet to show His love to others.
Bobby Tucker taught that class but more so, in the years since I met him, he has lived out the principles he taught there.  He has also quietly encouraged many others, including myself, to cultivate and use the special gifts God has given them.  As he retires, to move on to the next chapter of what God has for his life, I know undoubtedly that he will continue to love God and love others, continuing to serve where he is planted and using the gifts God has given him.

Prayer:  Help us see opportunities each day to show Your love to those around us.  Help us to use the spiritual gifts and special grace You have given us to meet their needs.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD
Our Times by Paulette Herring
 As we look to the future, hoping for a more exciting season ahead, we know that God is in control.  Bro. Bobby said I've never seen God shut us down like this.
Our song Sunday said God is a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, a light in the darkness.  These times could be described as dark or we are on some kind of detour.
Paul said we are to have these things in our heart:  we need to be humble, gentle, patient, truthful, kind, compassionate, and patient.  We need to love God and love others.
God is up to something.  He has the whole world's attention.  We need to get on board for exciting times ahead.
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  Bro. Bobby's favorite song

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)
Cancel Culture by Chris Blacksmith
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”-Ephesians 4:1
 
“Cancel culture” has become two of the most debated buzzwords in recent months.  The mere mention of this phrase promotes fear and anxiety simply because of its potential to erase a nation’s history and heritage.  Thankfully God is not the God of fear and has graciously provided His children with that of, “...power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”   it is for that very reason that we can be part of an everlasting cancel culture that began before the foundations of the earth and culminated in the death burial and resurrection of God’s son.  Jesus truly began a cancel culture like no other.  His act of love and obedience canceled the debt we owed but couldn’t pay, it canceled our condition of spiritual death we couldn’t overcome, and it canceled our bonds of guilt and shame we couldn’t free ourselves from.  The beauty of this cancel culture is that it changes humanity for the good.  Romans 10: 9, 10 & 13 says, “if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ... for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord  will be saved.’”  Our role in this “cancel culture” is to proclaim the message of salvation to those who need it most: people like our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, and anyone else we come in contact with.  Paul, who was a prisoner at the time, urged the church in Ephesus, and more importantly challenges us today, to be an active participant.  This is most effective when each of us follows his charge to: “live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received.”

MONDAY, AUGUST 24TH Matthew 5:9
By Nita Kay Freeman
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God”- Matthew 5:9
 
Peace . . . it’s what we all long for.  I’m enjoying my empty nest.  One thing I can say about it, is it’s pretty peaceful.  As the mother of 3 children that were very close in age, peace wasn’t something that you found around our house very often!  I felt like all I did was long for and try to make peace in our household.  Sometimes, I abandoned truth as Jason talked about in the message.  Sometimes, I just wanted all the conflict and noise to stop so badly that I said whatever I needed to so that we would find peace in our home.  That is not what God intended.  One of the things I read about this scripture really stuck with me: “A peacemaker longs for peace, works for peace and sacrifices for peace, but the attainment of peace may not come.”  Jason told us that true PEACE only comes through Christ.  In order to become a true peacemaker, you must love peace and work for peace.  You must pray for your enemies and do good to them.  But never abandon your allegiance to Christ to ACHIEVE peace.  I’ll end with this quote from Dr. Michelle Bengtson . . . “God’s peace is not the calm after the storm.  It’s the steadfastness during it.”

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH Matthew 5:9 (The Message)
By Toya Aultman
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.”-Matthew 5:9

Well now, that just puts it in a different perspective doesn't it? How many of us often try to play devil's advocate? Whether it's over sports, or politics, or roundabouts (Conway folks get this) or to wear a mask or not wear a mask...way too often I find myself and others trying to prove our points, or just trying to stir things up.
Does that step on my toes? Absolutely! And honestly, I hate that! Not because it hurts, but because I find myself not always being an encouragement in helping people to get along. A peacemaker.
Billy Graham once wrote, "Man's conflict with man has been but an expression on the human level of his conflict with God. Until man finds armistice with God, he cannot know peace with his fellowman. If we are to be peacemakers, we first must make our peace with God."
So there you have it...Know God. Know Peace. No God. No Peace.

Father God, work in my life and help me to be a peacemaker. Draw my heart to Your filling peace every morning. Amen.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26TH Micah 5:5 (AMP)
Guilty by Kerry Stitch
“This One (the Messiah) shall be our peace.”-Micah 5:5

“Dear Everyone, I’m guilty!”  I like to BE right.  Sadly, this isn’t listed in Matthew 5 as one of the Be-attitudes.  I’ve searched for it…not there.  In fact, I’m convinced that there must be an addictive high that comes with thinking we are right to explain its power over us.  We’ve all done it…scrolled some screens to bank a reservoir of support to validate our “rightness.”  Honestly, the more we promote our rightness apart from Christ’s example…the louder our immaturity and ignorance screams. “It ain’t a purty picture!” Trust me.
So how do we shift to the masterpiece only God can paint on our hearts? Let’s start with peacefulness.  It seems to have been deleted from much of our world today.  It starts with our canvas being yielded to the ultimate display of beauty…the mind of Christ. When our clay is relinquished on the potter’s wheel; He is more than able to create a priceless treasure, worthy of His handiwork. When we choose to allow the Heavenly Sculptor to chip away at our warring reactions and transform our responses to something worthy to gaze upon as supernatural; others stop to take in the beauty.  (Much like stopping to enjoy an artistic creation displayed from a lighted, focal point in a prestigious museum).
 Incidentally, our value becomes most evident in His reflection from the “piece/peace.”  By all standards, timeless and beautiful are a given with His signature attached.  Sadly, most of the art forms we manufacture these days are hate-infused, self-sufficient slogans paraded amid chaos that better depict war zones.  Many are puny attempts at self-promoting illicit conflict, arrogance, and division.  Do we really believe that powering up with brute force, manipulation, and propaganda moves us closer to God’s design?  I’m not a math whiz, but the addition of hate, threats, and destruction never adds up to success or God’s version of peace.  Jesus has always been in the business of being the Master Craftsman.  His ways, His presence, His reconciliation, His priorities, His characteristics, His peacefulness are included in the divine tool pouch we should draw from in creating every day masterpieces.  Will it be easy, efficient, and effortless…NO! Ask a diamond.  
But will it be worth it?  Ask Jesus.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27TH Matthew 5:9 (MSG)
By Terri Scharn
“You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.  That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.” -Matthew 5:9

Sometimes, we so often act before we speak. I know, how easy that is to do. We are all human and sometimes forget that it is a constant battle with our inner self.  
As, Bro. Jason said in his message, we are to make peace a high priority.  Strive to live at peace with others....sometimes this will take extreme effort.  Other times it will not be an effort at all, because  things are going well.  But......then there are those times when it takes every effort and more just to keep our emotions in check. This is why it is so important for us to stay focused on Jesus, despite our troubles. He gives us peace, and wisdom for how to minister to someone who is anything but peaceful.
  We must recognize our source of peace, that being Jesus Christ , (NIV) Eph. 2:14 "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one, and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility."
I love object lessons, and one that comes to mind is this....If I sit a pot of flowers on a bed of rocks in a shallow container, then the plant will absorb the water and it will thrive, providing it has proper sunshine, etc., but the point is all the while the plant is there, it is absorbing water... but in reality,  if we are continually grounded daily in His word and work we absorb all He has for us and then we will be ready to meet anyone that comes across our path.
Because the Bible begins and ends with peace it should be our mission to fill in the middle and be an "Agent of Peace" and the only way for us to do that is to abide in the Lord and His guidance.
Thank you Father for trusting us to be an agent of your peace. Help us to recognize how important this is and how much the world needs it. In Jesus Name we ask these things . Amen

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH Matthew 5:9
By Cindy Beckman
“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”-Matthew 5:9

As you are well aware, many are trying to go back to their regular routines after a summer of uncertainties, especially those in our schools and colleges.  They are anxious and worried, for their physical health as well as having to go about their day in a different manner than before.  As children of God—Christians—be intentional this week in pointing those you encounter to the true source of peace in these uncertain times: For He Himself is our peace (Eph. 2:14).  

In the beginning, there was peace but then sin entered the picture as our adversary, the devil, began walking around, seeking whom he could devour (I Peter 5:8), causing division, confusion and uncertainty.  Our God is not the author of confusion, but peace (I Cor. 14:33) and those around you need to be pointed toward Him for the peace they seek.  Jesus is the only one who can fix our broken world.  Social reforms, government interventions, and even all the well-meaning humanitarian efforts cannot without God’s divine intervention.

Prayer:  Help us to be mindful in pointing others toward the true source of peace—a restored relationship with You that only comes by accepting the free gift of Your Son who died for our sins.  

MONDAY, AUGUST 17TH Philippians 4:6-8
By Cindy Beckman
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”- Philippians 4:6-8

As a high school history teacher for 30 years, I sometimes disagreed with the decisions being made about policies/procedures or the education of our students.  Sometimes I was very vocal in my objections and even volunteered for that committee so I could help us move in what I thought was the right direction.  I sat on curriculum committees and personnel policy committees, not because it was fun but because it was important.

But other times, I just had to sit by and watch things play out, knowing that God was in control, no matter what.  Sometimes my concerns were ultimately realized while other times things worked out better than I could have imagined (Rom. 8:28).  Sometimes God closed a door and opened a window.

Through those experiences, I learned that it didn’t help to berate those making decisions or try to discredit them.  God would remind me that wasn’t how we should treat other people, even when we disagree with them or think they are making bad decisions.  We should pray for them to make good decisions rather than destroy them in the teacher’s lounge or social media.  He is still in charge and He loves them and me.

Instead, He gave us the right way to handle life’s difficulties in these verses.  And we are going through some pretty extraordinary difficulties right now!  Lift those challenges and concerns up to God in prayer and follow His instructions in verse 8.  

Prayer:  Thank you Lord that you are with us, even in these extraordinary times.  Place a hedge of protection around us.  May your Spirit remind us to lift our prayers to you and keep our mind focused on what is true, noble, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous and praiseworthy as we encounter challenges in the weeks ahead.  

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18TH Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)
Thinking Straight by Chris Blacksmith
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”- Philippians 4:6-8

If you’ve been around industrial occupations of any kind you’ve heard of O.S.H.A. Basically it’s an organization that implements safety regulations so as to prevent workplace injuries.  Most of which could have been avoided had employers been proactive in making a safer working environment.  Our life isn’t any different.  God has given us instructions that, if followed, will help us live a rich and fulfilling life that honors Him.  One of the principles we find in Philippians pertains to our thoughts.  It’s easy to fill our mind with the garbage of the world, which always leads to grief and certain regrets. Conversely God is honored when we think of things that are pure, noble, right, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy.  The best result of thinking straight is that it helps foster our relationship with God who will in turn, “...guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19TH Matthew 23:28
LIFE IS LIKE A SALAD BAR by Paula McKee
“In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”-Matthew 23:28

Life isn’t like a box of chocolates; it’s like a salad bar. Garbanzo beans, pineapple, ham cubes, and chopped eggs can look good when they’ve actually gone bad.

Parts of our lives go bad if we don’t pay close attention.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us that “blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” If my goal is seeing God, I want to maintain a good “salad bar” so that God doesn’t want to spit me out (Revelation 3:16).

PURE HEART I can’t let that lettuce wilt, I have to change it out daily...or maybe hourly or minute by minute...by going to God in prayer and submitting my will to His will.

PURE EYES: The cheese and eggs and bacon bits must be quality. They must be things that God would approve. If they’ve gone bad in some way, out they must go...not tomorrow but NOW. I must keep my EYES pure by looking to those things that would be approved by God.

PURE ACTIONS: If I am maintaining the salad bar, I choose: what I keep, what I discard, what I add, what I freshen. Your choices lead to the actions that either make your life quality or a toxic mess.  

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20TH Matthew 5:8
Beatitudes by Paulette Herring
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”- Matthew 5:8

Our hearts are muscles that pump blood through the body and sustain physical life.  A cardiac arrest is when the heart stops.  Our hearts are the essence of who we are, our will and our character.
Psalms 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  It is to be uncontaminated. pure, holy, and good.
Proverbs 7:2-3 “Keep my commandments and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablets of your heart.”
Our eyes are very important to what goes in our heart.  We have to be very careful with cell phones, TV, movies, videos, and the internet.  It is so easy, no effort, no challenge, just the tip of our fingers.
Psalm 141:8 “But my eyes are fixed on you Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge- do not give me over to death”.  Hebrews 12:2 “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.”
How are we going to do all this?  Psalms 121:1 “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from?”  Read the rest of the chapter, it is short.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21ST Matthew 5:8
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”-Matthew 5:8

Our Pastor’s sermon this past Sunday was centered around this verse.  He mentioned that in order to see God, (with your spiritual eyes), day-to-day, you must keep your physical eyes pure.  When your eyes wander places they aren’t supposed to go, they lead you away from being able to focus on the heart of God and His working in your life.  Bottomline: your physical eyes affect your spiritual eyes.
As a man who has worked with numerous Christian men who have had a problem with pornography, I have to say that truer words have never been spoken. PORN IS RAMPANT in our society; and trust me, it is way worse than you think! And when this drug enters the Christian’s life it damages and destroys both their ability to view the opposite sex in a God honoring way, as well as being able to see and sense the Holy Spirit in their life.  Encountering a Christian who has lost their purity of heart due to porn is a very sad and unsettling thing to see.  They want to “see” God but they can’t because their want to see the other has become a greater pull.  It truly saddens the one working with them, and I can’t imagine how it must crush the heart of the One who desires they “see” Him.
What is the answer to such a sight problem?  How does one struggling with what they are seeing and what they need to be “seeing” get victory? Here is where to start:

1. Come clean with God.  Confession and repentance must enter the equation.  You must come to the point where you genuinely desire God to change you.
2. Come clean with a trusted Christian.  You need a person who is walking with and seeing God in their daily life to help counsel you, direct you, and hold you accountable in this area.
3. Think and rethink the Gospel daily.  When you begin to second-by-second, minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day recall the price Jesus paid for your sins, you sense His incredible love for you and you begin to want to live a life of total appreciation and surrender to Him.  When you focus on the cross with all your spiritual sight, you will find that your physical eyes will begin to focus on what pleases the One who went to that cross 

MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH Matthew 5:7
By Shawn Hammontree
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”- Matthew 5:7

I have to make a personal confession.  There was a time in my late teens where God showed incredible grace and mercy towards me.  I was convicted of my sins. (And I’m ashamed to say that they were more than I care to admit.) I confessed those sins. I turned from those sins. And God totally forgave me and cleansed from each and every one of them.  I was shown incredible grace and mercy.  I was so overwhelmed by the love and mercy God had shown me, that I displayed love and mercy to others. I just wanted to show them the same love and kindness that I had been given.  One that was free of charge, with no need to ever try and pay me back.  It was a wonderful time in my life.  Unfortunately, things changed.  I began to lose some of the mercy factor in my life.  I gradually began to do things out of a sense of obligation to God rather than out of a sense of appreciation to Him.  What was once a mercy filled life, slowly became a legalistic one.  I was miserable…and misery loves company.  So, where I once showed mercy to others, I became more demanding that they too “go by the rules”.  Mercy had gone out the window of my heart and a works-based faith had barged through the front door.  It was a monster…a big ugly monster…that stayed waaaaay too long.

Praise God that has changed in me!  Although the change has been gradual and slow, and still continues to this day, Jesus, (patiently, mercifully kind as always), has reminded me of the incredible gift of his mercy.  This reminder has helped me to return to the late teens Shawn who was shown such incredible mercy.  And in this process, I am discovering/rediscovering several things:
-God has forgiven me of so much more than I can ever fathom.
-Since His mercy has been freely give to me, I must also freely dispense it.
-His mercies are new for me, and you, every day.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH Matthew 5:7
ByNita Kay Freeman
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy”-Matthew 5:7

Our Pastor opened with this question Sunday morning, “are you a person who shows mercy?”  God’s expectation is that because of the mercy he showed toward us, we should be merciful!  Webster defines mercy as follows:  A compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender . . . showing leniency.  Here are some examples of mercy in the Bible:
M -- Merciful God.  Deuteronomy 4:31 tells us ‘the Lord your God is a merciful God.  He will not abandon you, destroy you or forget the promise to you ancestors that he swore he would keep.”
E -- East to West.  In Psalm 103 David writes, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us”
R -- Refusal.  Matthew 6:15, “If you REFUSE to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
C -- Never Ceasing.  “The faithful love of the LORD never ends!  His mercies never cease.”  Lamentations 3:22
Y -- You.  “You once were not a people but now you are God’s people.  You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:10.

Thank you, Father, for your unending mercy!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12TH Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV), 
Intentions By Kerry Stitch
“His mercies never end…They are new every morning.”-Lamentations 3:22-23

What grabs your attention…headlines, hobbies, homeland security, hate, heroes, or hypocrisy?  Hit pause. Are we sleep-walking through attention or intention?   Is it labeled purposeful, reactive, or urgent? Who will benefit from knowing you this week…just you? When we choose to board a mindless carnival ride of a self-imposed schedule, we will “busy” our best intentions into evaporation. Margaret Thatcher wisely noted, “No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions…”  Perhaps the BE-attitudes give us an enlightening nudge that a huge helping of MERCY needs to be folded in to our daily recipe for a God-honoring lifestyle.  
The creative genius in Thomas Edison reveals, “A good intention with a bad approach, often leads to a poor result.” That statement needs to “simmer” on many of us for a while.  The “how” we approach intentions is answered with MERCY.    
 So how do we recalibrate many of our human, factory settings and increase our band width of “to be” benevolent instead of “to do” indulgent?  Look for the Father’s face in others.  Are you game?  First, rewind to the personal reflections of our less than stellar past or present. Does a mirror bring into focus our lack of graciousness, decency, and concern?  Life doesn’t always introduce us to the people we want to meet.  Offering grace is a testimony of seeking a greater good than deserved…of tossing the prison cell keys to others on our journey out of those restrictive walls.  
An awareness of God’s infinite mercy will cancel any pity party we care to throw.   Not long ago, I released many prayers and balloons at the gravesite of a family member who modeled compassion (kindness with clothes on) for decades to me.  As those purple globes of color cleared the trees, their flight soared skyward.  Consider how much farther we might soar for the Kingdom if we extended mercy through intentional acts of service, exercising forgiveness, believing the best in others, choosing to be clothed in humility and anonymity, and listening for God’s whisper. Untethering resentment, anger and bitterness, frees these toxins to lift and lighten your load and spirit.  Spreading mercy through service and encouragement might be a “virus” worth catching.  Those stats would directly impact the death rate for eternity.   Wouldn’t that be something worth grabbing our attention these days?  That vaccine is already available and proven through accepting Jesus…schedule that heart procedure as well; the Great Physician is available for diagnosis, and overflowing with positive cases of mercy.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13TH Matthew 5:7
By  Toya Aultman
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”-Matthew 5:7

Grace: getting what you don't deserve.
Mercy: not getting what you do deserve.

I've never had much of a problem showing grace. It, quite frankly, comes so much easier to me than mercy. It doesn't matter if it's a stranger on the street or one of my kids, giving a gift of grace is, most of the time, quite easy.
BUT mercy?? Oh mercy! That one is a struggle. I'm guessing I may not be the only one who struggles with it. The other day I read a Facebook post of a friend that said she had rushed into a grocery store and forgot her mask. Some lady (a complete stranger) told her "I hope you get the virus and die!" I was like, "WHAT??!!"
Perhaps our lack of mercy isn't quite that harsh, but let someone cut me off in traffic, or be going 45 in the fast lane and grrrr! My kids will often tell me they deserve something and my reply is "The only thing we deserve is death and hell." This week, I'm praying God reminds me of that daily...that while I deserve death and Hell, He offers me mercy, new mercies every single day, and eternal life in Heaven with Him!

Father, thank You for viewing me through the blood of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for those precious new mercies given to me every single day. Amen.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
Show Mercy by Chris Blacksmith
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”-Philippians 2:5

What’s the quickest way to reconcile a relationship? Show Mercy.
What’s the hardest thing to do when you’ve been wronged?
Show Mercy.
What was the example set before us by Christ?
Show Mercy.
How exactly does one show mercy?  Paul said in Philippians 2:5, “...let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” This verse in its context clearly challenges us to relate with each other just as the Lord relates to us.  We are to be like minded, walk in love, show humility, and value others above ourselves.  Amazingly enough this can’t happen if we fail to show mercy. If you’re like me and you struggle with this facet of life try following these effective steps and before you know it you’ll have extended the biblical principle of mercy to someone who desperately needs it.  
M- Manage to forgive
E- Expect nothing in return
R- Replace the hurt and anger with love and peace
C- Change your mind to be like minded with Christ
Y- Yield to the will of God concerning you