I Will Excercise Tomorrow

The end of January is upon us and begs the question, how are you doing with those New Years Resolutions? For those of you who are still reading there is hope. Some of you are doing very well and others, like our friend here, have very good intentions. We will do it tomorrow. I remember seeing a sign on a seafood restaurant that said "Free Crab Tomorrow." The problem with that is ...Tomorrow never comes. Which brings me to today. What are you going to do today? Start now with the Resolutions. Clean the house, go to the gym, call an old friend, prepare the taxes, paint, read your bible, walk around the block, eat better, go on that trip, find a Church and attend Sunday, stop smoking, start living. So we are faced with decisions and only we can make the change. What are you going to do Today? Tomorrow never comes.

James 4:13-14 (New American Standard Bible)

13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."

14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

Smile

Proverbs 15:13
A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

How can you not smile when you see that picture. I wonder what people see when they look at our face today? A smile, or an expression of gloom and doom. Sometimes we just need to be reminded to smile a little more. One day I was sitting at a traffic light deep in thought. I realized that the car next to me was honking so I turned to see what was the matter. The man in the car was looking at me and took his fingers and pulled up on each side of his mouth to make a smile. I must have had a sad look on my face sitting there. Light changed and he drove away but, I never forgot it. Smiling is contagious. So, go out and spread a little Joy today. It will make you and all those who see you a little more joyful today and God knows we could use a little more of that. Smile....come on.

I welcome your thoughts, comments, devotional ideas, and prayer requests. nc_jeff@hotmail.com

What Really Happened?

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Ever since the airliner went down in the Hudson River I have heard thousands of words trying to explain what happened. I know this is a drawing but I think it says more than all the news reports combined. They did have it right though when they called it "Miracle on the Hudson."

Job 12:10 (Contemporary English Version)
Every living creature
is in the hands of God.

I welcome your comments, thoughts and, prayer requests nc_jeff@hotmail.com

Whats Missing?

Does this picture bring back memories for anyone? Do you ever remember sitting on a porch like this on a spring day with a glass of iced tea or lemonade? Just sitting there slowly rocking back and forth with a cool breeze gently blowing, only your thoughts to keep you company. Maybe Even the smell of fresh cut hay or grass and the sound of...well nothing.

We all need these times. We live in such a fast paced society. You barely have time to read this and are already thinking about all the things you must do after this daily thought. STOP! Just for a minute close your eyes and spend a little time with God. Find a quiet place. If you don't have a swing like this you might have to go to the car put on a a little music and pray for a few minutes and then listen. Listen for the sound of God speaking to you. Try it. God wants to spend time with you every day. That is why He created us...for fellowship with Him. Even Jesus had to take time out and pray and be still a little each day. You might not hear the sound of a gentle breeze but you might hear the sound of your creator whispering to you and telling you how much He loves you, so much that He would die for you and maybe just maybe you might have something to say to Him in return.

Mark 1:35 (New American Standard Bible)
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Ordinary Miracles

(Photo by Hazel King)

It was a day of wild winter weather: gusty winds, squalls of rain, a cold front moving in. On my way home I noticed a red glow behind a stand of trees. It looked like a fire, so I followed the glow to see what was burning. It turned out to be the sun, blazing brightly as it sank in the western sky. It looked like a huge, burning ball of fire which, in fact, I suppose it is. I watched for a few minutes until the sky began to darken and the glow lost a bit of its intensity. Before I made it home, I saw a perfect rainbow arching over a small shopping center. The entire rainbow was visible, end to end, with a pink aura between the two arcs. Two amazing demonstrations of God’s hand on our world in the span of a few minutes. The rainbow reminded me of God’s promise that the earth would not be destroyed by flood a second time. The brilliant sunset reminded me that as surely as the sun set it would rise again the next morning. I knew I could count on it, because somewhere over the rainbow God maintains order in the world he created. Sunrises, sunsets, and rainbows are more than just natural events that we take for granted. They are reminders of the supernatural…tokens of eternity.

“Earth's crammed with heaven,and every common bush aflame with God. But only those who see take off their shoes. The rest sit around and pluck blackberries.” --Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

By Hazel King
© 2009
Hazel811@embarqmail.com

Snowy Sabbaths

(Photo by Hazel King)

Snow is a rarity in the South, so even a dusting excites the children and ensures a mad rush to the supermarket to stock up on bread and milk. It is as though we anticipate a blizzard and expect to be snowbound for weeks. The truth is we all look forward to these serendipitous holidays when we can miss work without guilt. Snow days are like Sabbaths—a period of enforced rest from the day to day rush. When the Israelites were in the wilderness, God provided food by raining manna down from heaven for their daily bread. They were allowed to gather enough for only one day because the manna spoiled if left over. But the day before the Sabbath, they gathered extra and the manna remained fresh and nourishing for two days. God established the Sabbath as a day of rest, knowing that after six days of labor we humans need a time of relaxation. To ensure rest, the Israelites were forbidden to leave their tents on the Sabbath day. Today many people ignore the true meaning of the Sabbath and spend it in the same activities as the rest of the week. When we’re snowbound, we are made to rest because it isn’t possible to carry on as usual. And if there’s enough snow to make snow cream, well, that’s like manna from heaven.

“It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?” (Psalm 127:2, The Message)

By Hazel King
© 2009
hazel811@embarqmail.com

Like a Fish Out of Water

Look at the fish in this picture. They were swept away by a force stronger than they were and ended up in a place they did not want to be. In this case it was a storm by the name of Katrina. In our case it is usually the storm known as Satan. A force stronger than we are that is able to sweep us away ,by our own lusts, and mistakes, to a place we do not want to be that often spells destruction. It happened to Adam and Eve, It happened to King David and, it happened to Simon Peter. Am I saying that we are not strong enough to stand up to Satan? That is exactly what I am saying. We must depend on a power stronger than us to withstand this force that wants to carry us away in our sins. There is hope however and that hope is Christ.

1 John 4:4 (New American Standard Bible)
4You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Christ is our Hope, our strength, our anchor. You say well I will just try harder...really, how has that worked in the past for you. Instead of trying harder why not try Trusting more. Trust Christ to help us identify the storms and withstand them, flee from them. Otherwise we will find ourselves looking and feeling a lot like these poor fish.

I welcome your comments, thoughts and prayer requests. nc_jeff@hotmail.com

Center Stage at the Inauguration

Today the United States will Inaugurate our 44th President. There will be a great deal of fanfare and tradition. At High Noon Barack Obama will take the oath of office. At center stage, just like the first Presidential Inauguration, will be the Bible. Things may change, different parties may be represented, the names are different but the one constant is the presence of God's Word Center Stage. There is a great deal of good advice contained in that Book for the incoming President. But perhaps the greatest advice of this book that takes center stage is at the center of the book. The middle passage of the Bible.

Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the lord than to trust in man.

Good advice for all of us. God Speed Mr. President, so help you God.

The Future of Planet Earth

(Photo by Hazel King)

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness… it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…”

These words were penned by novelist Charles Dickens in 1859, yet the words fit equally well in these modern times. Many people are near despair, thinking there are only dark days ahead. Others are filled with hope, believing that positive change is coming. Which viewpoint is right? Probably both are right in some ways. Someone has said that the only constant in life is change. Someone else said that the more things change, the more they stay the same. There is a higher authority than Charles Dickens, a greater literary masterpiece written by God himself. The one thing we can count on is the one who never changes, who remains constant and faithful regardless of the circumstances. In a world filled with uncertainty, it is easy to become fearful and discouraged. The antidote to fear is faith in the one who has remained faithful to us since before the world began and is with us always, even unto the end of the world. We don’t know what the future holds for Planet Earth, but we know God holds the future in his hands. This truth will never change.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, KJV)

By Hazel King
© 2009
Hazel811@embarqmail.com

As You Are Going

A Ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for
Grace Hopper

Jesus told His Disciples that they should go into all the world and share their faith. They should preach, teach, and baptize. He told them sometimes they would be persecuted, and they were. Most of them were killed as they went about trying to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. The verse I am referring to is in the Book of Matthew.

Matthew 28:19-20 (New American Standard Bible)
19"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

In the Greek the passage begins, "as you are going." It was assumed that as they went they would share their faith with those they came in contact with. We should follow their example. You may not be a missionary in a third world country speaking another language, but you are a missionary. It would be safe to stay in the harbor, to never venture out to share your faith and risk rejection. But, that's not what we were created for. I once went out sailing with a friend of mine many miles off the North Carolina coast. It was an awesome experience. I will never forget what he told me that day. He said, "sailing is not about the destination, it's all about the trip." I believe life is like that, its all about the trip. The adventure, the lives we touch, experiences we have, stories we accumulate, difference we make in peoples lives. So, as you are going today take a chance and share your faith it may change someones eternal destination. What could possibly be more exciting than that?

I wecome your comments, thoughts, prayer requests.... nc_jeff@hotmail.com

Seeing is Believing, or is it?

Matthew 13:13 (New American Standard Bible)
13"Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

Sometimes our eyes fool us, like in these pictures. We think we see someone we know and wave only to find out we don't know them at all. Our spiritual sight is the same way. God helps us to see things in a different way. Someone might see a homeless person and think, why don't they get a job they are a drain on society. Someone else might see the same person and think, maybe they need a helping hand they are down on their luck right now, but they are still a child of God. It depends on our perspective. God helps us to see beyond the surface.he looks so much deeper. Today ask God to let you see people and situations through His eyes not yours.


1 Samuel 16:7 (New American Standard Bible)
7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Prayer of Jabez

This prayer will be the focus of my Bible Study tonight at our Church, Anchor Baptist Church. The Bible Study begins at 6:45pm. If you would like to attend and do not know the way I will provide my e-mail below or you can check our web-site, anchorbaptistwilmington.com. Each person who attends the study receives one of the Prayer of Jabez books. So why is this so important? It is not because it is a recited prayer promising to bless your life if you say it. So what is the secret? Well, the attitude of a persons heart is the key but the prayer does several things for us. First it places our focus on God. That is where our focus should be everyday. There are basically four parts to the prayer. Collectively these four points move us in the direction of fellowshipping with God on a daily basis and seeing things from His perspective. This is what we were created for. That we would know God and make Him known. If you want the details of the verses I will see you tonight. I have had three people call me this week and tell me the prayer has changed their life. A life changing event moving us closer to God and His Will for our lives. Who would want to miss that? Also a lady in our Church Pam Williams will be singing a solo entitled "He'll Do It Again" It would be worth attending just to hear the song.

Check out the prayer. It is printed for you in the box above. Read it, think about it, pray it.

nc_jeff@hotmail.com

Are You Listening?

I used to know a Pastor that would lean up over the pulpit and whisper in the microphone slowly...."Are you Listening?" Sometimes when I am preaching I look out at some members of the congregation and wonder the very same thing. I also believe God wonders that about us many times. He tries to tell us how to live through His Word but often times we ignore it. He speaks to us in our prayers but do we pay attention? I remember my dad used to lecture me and right in the middle of the lecture would stop and ask, "are you listening to me young man?" Maybe we are ADHD or preoccupied, but listening to God is very very important. Notice the Deer in this picture. It is clear they are alert and listening. If they were not they would not last long. Is God trying to speak to you today? Maybe through His Word, or a prayer, or a friend, a book or maybe even a devotion that you might be reading. What is God saying to you today? Are you listening?

Psalm 78:1 Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I welcome your comments, thoughts, prayer requests. nc_jeff@hotmail.com

Sunrise

(Photo by Hazel King)

Okay, I admit it. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to be responsible for four dogs while my daughter’s family took a much-deserved short trip. Driving into the country twice a day to feed them was just another chore on my “to do” list. But I love my daughter so I agreed. When I left home that first morning, it was still dark and I had the road to myself. The radio was on and the drive passed quickly. The dogs were delighted to see me and cooperated nicely with the plan, so I was soon on the road again. By then, the sun was rising, turning the sky into a beautiful rainbow of color. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw a sunrise. I had my camera with me, so I captured the moment in the photograph above. The second morning was foggy and I took misty pictures of fog-shrouded houses and fields. The third day was rainy. I detoured down side roads to snap old barns and ramshackle houses under a cloudy sky. Thanks to my daughter and her dogs, I was in the country with rare time to indulge my love of photography. I said all that to say this: there is a blessing in everything if we just learn to recognize it. All we have to do is look up or around to see how God blesses our service to others in so many large and small ways. To paraphrase the scripture, we truly are more blessed (more rewarded) by giving—our time, our service, our love—than by receiving from the hand of others. I have the pictures to prove it.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah.” (Psalm 68:19, NKJV)

By Hazel King
© 2009
hazel811@embarqmail.com

Getting Clean

1 John 1:9 (New American Standard Bible)
9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sometimes after a long day at the beach when you are heading home covered in sand and suntan oil it feels so good to get in the shower and get clean. When you have been working in the yard on a very hot and sticky day there is no better feeling than jumping in a pool of water and just let the water refresh and revitalize you. It feels so good to get clean. The only thing better than getting clean is coming clean. What do I mean by that? Well we come clean when we confess our sins and let God cleanse us. The word for confess in the Greek simply means to agree. So when we confess we are not revealing secret sins to our God but admitting that we are guilty of committing them. Then and only then can God cleanse us and make us truly clean. We can not BEAR our sins alone.

I welcome your comments, thoughts, prayer requests..... nc_jeff@hotmail.com

Good Morning Lord

Lamentation 3:

22The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Are you one of those people who wake up and say "Good Morning Lord", or do you wake up and say "Good Lord it's morning." No matter what happened yesterday it is comforting to know that God's Loving kindness, and Compassion is new every morning. As the sun rises today God meets you with new hope, new opportunities, and new vision. Approach this day knowing that God has great plans for you. Open your eyes and heart and look for them. Do not be so focused on yesterday or worried about tomorrow that you miss what God has in store for you you Today. Abraham Lincoln said "People are just about as happy as they decide to be." Wake up, smell the coffee, you have decisions to make and and the God of the Universe wants to spend the day with you.

I welcome your comments, thoughts, suggestions, prayer requests.

nc_jeff@hotmail.com

Don't Lose Your Focus

Sometimes the world looks a little crazy. When we watch the news we see and hear things that just do not make sense. We also live in a very fast paced world. We often suffer from information overload. Add to that the growing number of children and adults who suffer from ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and it is a wonder we can function at all. In Matthew chapter 14 we have a story of Jesus walking on the water. Simon Peter saw Him and got out of the boat and started walking towards Christ. Then he was distracted,lost his focus and as he turned away from Christ he noticed the waves and the storm. At that moment he began to sink beneath the waves. It is very important that we maintain our focus on Christ. When we turn away and begin to notice all the problems and distractions we many times begin to sink. How do we maintain our focus. Well, what you are doing right now is a good start. Take time each day to read from God's Word, to meditate on God's Will, and to talk with Him through Prayer. If we do it will help us to stay focused and keep our heads above water. Watch out for Polar Bears I saw one just yesterday.

Matthew 14:

28Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
29And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

You can also contact me at nc_jeff@hotmail.com

Just Do It

I am sure you recognize this as Nike's slogan. It is also good to apply to out daily lives and it is also Biblical. The Greek word "Nike" means victory. If we want to have victory in our lives we have to "Just Do It", which begs the question....Do What?

James 4:17
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Do the right thing. The question is not what should I do but, what will I do when faced with a choice. So, when we are presented with that choice and know the right thing to do we need to "Just Do It" We are presented with choices daily, actually many times a day. A few years ago there was a popular saying WWJD, which stood for What Would Jesus Do? That is a good question but a better question is WWID, What Will I Do? As we develop the mind of Christ we are able to discern what Jesus would do in a situation. Once we know that we then need to translate that into action. So today when you see an opportunity to help someone, pray for someone, witness to someone, encourage someone.......
Just Do It.

I welcome your comments. It lets me know someone is reading these devotions
nc_jeff@hotmail.com

Light and Shadows

(Photo by Corliss Sinclair)

Conventional morality used to be pretty clear. Right was right and wrong was wrong and society as a whole seemed able to tell the difference. In the modern world, however, what once was clearly black or white has turned to shades of gray. It is called “situational ethics,” meaning that whether a thing is right or wrong depends on the situation. Little “white lies” are deemed okay but no one seems willing to define a “black lie.” A large percentage of college students admit to regular cheating on schoolwork. They justify cheating because they feel entitled to receive a benefit they have paid for, even if it isn’t earned. People have become their own final authority, refusing to honor or answer to God. Despite the justifications and rationalizations and outright abominations, there remains a standard, a code of conduct handed down from God to his people. When Moses brought the Ten Commandments down from the mountain, his countenance shone so bright he had to cover his face. The Israelite people could not look upon him because he reflected the glory of God. Despite changing morals and customs and opinions, God has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is no new revelation but instead a revolution against God. The truth is that man cannot break the commandments of God; he can only break himself upon them. Walking daily in the light of God’s word makes it easier to clarify the ethics in any situation and reflect the glory of God in a world shadowed by sin.

“Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.” (Deuteronomy 12:8, KJV)

By Hazel King
© 2009

hazel811@embarqmail.com

Quiet Time

Mark 1:35 And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there.

We all need some quiet Time. We are facing a new year. The accomplishments and disappointments of 2008 are behind us now. The potential and possibilities of 2009 lay ahead. It is important each day that we pull aside and have some Quiet Time Time to reflect, think, pray, focus. Spend some time with God. Seek His face and His will for your life. So many voices call to us each day. We must listen closely for the voice of God and it can best be heard when we are still. Make a commitment, a Covenant, to spend 15 minutes alone every day this year with God. It will be a great investment of your time. He will be waiting for you in that quiet place each day. Don't let Him down. We were created to fellowship with Him each day.

Happy New Year

Here it is, the year 2009. A blank calendar, a clean slate, another chance to get it right, to achieve all those goals and plans we didn’t quite get to last year. We humans live by clocks and calendars, planning our days well in advance, filling every possible date and hour with activity. There is something reassuring about structure and busy-ness. Every item we check off the “to do” list somehow helps to justify our existence and validate our worth. I can’t speak for God, but I think he might think that we need to be less concerned with tasks and more concerned with our relationship with him and other people. God lives outside time and the Bible says that when we all get to heaven, God will wipe away all tears from our eyes and time shall be no more. No more clocks and calendars. No “to do” lists. No appointments or schedules. Nowhere to be an hour or a year from now except in the presence of God. Sometimes we forget that we are human beings, not human doings. As you’re making your plans for this new year, don’t forget that it isn’t what you do for God that matters most; it is what you do with him. He longs for fellowship with you. Don’t just pencil him in. Invite him into your daily life and make yourself available for an intimate relationship with him. If you do, you'll have a heavenly year.

“He [Jesus] has a right to interrupt your life. He is Lord. When you accepted Him as Lord, you gave Him the right to help Himself to your life anytime He wants” --Henry T. Blackaby--Experiencing God (Lifeway Press)

By Hazel King
© 2008