I Quote

I felt one point of happiness and one point of sadness:

Extension of Time granted and approved with cost 😊

My colleague’s mom passed away this afternoon😢

Meg, 4th of July 2019

Share the unchanging, unending love you have found with someone else today!

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The LORD appeared to him from far away.  I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. --Jeremiah 31:3 Did you know that the most incredible love known to man can be yours?  It’s the unconditional, unchanging love of God! The problem with most of us isn’t that we don’t love God enough.  It’s that we don’t let God love us enough. If we could only understand how much God loves us, we could be set free from disappointment in ourselves… and from the slavery of sin and rebellion. God who is omnipotent and all-powerful loves you!  His love is unconditional and unchanging.  In Jeremiah 31:3, our verse for today, He said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”     If you ever doubt that God loves you, just look at the cross and remember His love.  Jesus defines and demonstrated the love of God.  Calvary is the heart of God beating for you.  He loved you enough to step out of heaven and offer His sacrificial blood. Did you know that the precious blood of Jesus has the power to cleanse… to wipe away sin… and to conquer death and hell?  The blood gives power for freedom and the power to love others. And not only can the blood place God’s love in us, but it can also share God’s love through us.  Have you experienced that love?  You can.  Just say this prayer: Lord, I know that I am a sinner and separated from Your love.  I believe that You provided a way for me to experience Your unchanging, unending love through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I believe in and I accept your love today.  If you prayed that prayer of faith, you have just accepted God’s unending love.  Congratulations! Share the unchanging, unending love you have found with someone else today!

The Salvation of Sodom

Wednesday, July 03, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.”

Matthew 11:20-23

As our world rushes headlong in the normalization of evil, we should not forget that this is not new. Throughout history there have been societies that were characterized by their promotion and praise of that which was morally repugnant to God. It is easy for us to become discouraged and think that living in such a wicked society means that there is no hope. But, as Jesus told us in the verses above, even places that are best known for wickedness, such as Sodom, would have repented and been spared if there had been a powerful and effective witness of truth.

Tragically, however, the few in Sodom who did know God and the truth kept it to themselves. Lot’s focus was on not making waves and improving his financial and political future. He had so damaged his witness that when he did try to sound the alarm, even those closest to him were not convinced. “And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law” (Genesis 19:14). Yes, we do live in a wicked society. But rather than being like Lot with an inconsistent testimony and non-existent witness, may we point those around us to the salvation they need through Christ.

Today's Growth Principle: 

Rather than despairing at the wickedness of the world, we should focus on proclaiming the truth.

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Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. --1 Peter 1:8 What’s your definition of a holy life?  You might be surprised to find out that God is not only holy; God is happy! And when we talk about living a holy life, we are talking about living a life full of energy, life, power, and joy. As our verse for today says, we have “joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory!" That’s a joy that’s so incredible you can’t even express it!  It is because of salvation through Christ. So when I talk about holiness, I’m not talking about being pious or religious. Rather, pure holiness is a beautiful expression of the very character of God.  We are separated unto God that we might live positive, joyful, exuberant lives… as well as disciplined and dedicated lives. The upward call of every Christian is to live with a purity of heart and a purity of life that comes from the soul and is unpolluted because the presence of God is there. You and I have been called to live a godly life… no exceptions.  And it all begins with our minds.  According to Proverbs 23:7, “As a man calculates in his soul, so is he.”  Have you ever thought about how so many of our spiritual struggles begin when we allow our minds to wander aimlessly? Today, I want to encourage you to make sure your thinking is controlled by the grace of God.  Exercise self-discipline.  Second, eliminate anything that weakens your mind or distorts your thinking or your judgment.  Third, stay focused on the purposes and plan of God.  And fourth, continually put your future hope in God. These four things will help you keep your mind focused on what is good, true, and right! Keep your mind focused on the joy of God . . . And the hope of your salvation today! A Tender Heart Tuesday, July 02, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.” 1 Samuel 24:3–5 The jealous Saul took an army of three thousand men out, not to fight Israel’s enemies, but to kill David. The threat was so great that David had to hide his family outside the country, and he and a small group of men lived in the mountains and caves. If they went to a city, spies would tell Saul, and he would show up. On one occasion, David was hiding in a cave with some of his men when Saul’s army came near. Saul went inside the cave, not knowing that the very man he was trying to kill was there. David’s men advised him to kill Saul while he had the chance, but David refused, instead cutting a piece off the bottom of Saul’s robe. After Saul left the cave, David revealed himself, and showed Saul the piece of his robe he had cut off—proof that Saul’s life had been in David’s hands. Even though it was only David’s restraint that kept Saul alive, David still felt guilty even about the small step he had taken against the king. Despite all that he had endured and the unfairness of his circumstances, David’s heart was still tender. He had not seared his conscience by justifying evil toward others because of the evil done toward him. There is plenty of hurt in the world around us. We need to be aware of the impact we have on others. Today's Growth Principle:  We must remain sensitive to the way our words and actions impact others.

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And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10 Are you struggling today? God never tells us that we won’t experience grief or sorrow in this life.  There will be tears.  And, to be honest, sometimes life will just suck the air right out of you. But we must remember that trials do have a purpose.  Trials can fortify us.  They can prove us, test us, and prepare us. As today’s verse says, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” The fact is, if you’re a Christian, you’re in a spiritual battle.  Which means you have a very real enemy.  And trials prepare you for this battle and make you stronger.  In fact, you may be going through a spiritual boot camp of sorts today, which is preparing you for the battle ahead! Think about it this way.  When gold is made, all the impurities must be removed.  The same process of refining takes place in our lives before genuine gold can come forth. Whatever you may be facing today, keep in mind that God is forming your character, bringing out the gold in you.  Everything has a reason.  You may not see it… you may not understand it… but God isworking in your life. Remember that no matter what you may be going through, you can build your life on the certainty and confident expectation that God is in the midst of it.  Rejoice because He is working in your life and your future! THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE TRIALS IN YOUR PAST.  WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THEM?  HOW DID THEY PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT WAS AHEAD? The Sinful Census Monday, July 01, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.” 1 Chronicles 21:2–4 David largely followed God during his time as king, and as a result he was blessed and Israel became more powerful. It appears that for a time, however, David became somewhat proud and self reliant, rather than depending on God as he had before, and that is why he decided to count the number of people in his kingdom. Despite receiving good advice against the plan, David insisted on having his way…and brought death and destruction on Israel as a result. While we are supposed to count our blessings, we should never make the mistake of counting on our blessings as our source of security or as the result of our own doing. When we lift up ourselves in pride, we miss out on God’s grace: “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). We are utterly and completely dependent on God for every good thing in our lives. Whatever we have and accomplish is not to our credit, but to His. Jesus made our dependence on Divine power clear when He said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Today's Growth Principle:  When we exalt ourselves rather than glorifying God, we risk losing the blessings of which we are so proud.

Quote of the day

"Tunay na Ligaya"

Rejoicing in Advance

Sunday, June 30, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”

John 8:54–56

When we talk about the faith of Abraham, we often think of a few ways he demonstrated trust in God: his willingness to leave his home for a new country, his long wait for a promised son, and then his obedience to God’s command to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. The faith of Abraham is most clearly seen in the things he still believed even though he never saw them. “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). The permanent nation in the land we know as Israel did not become a reality until hundreds of years after Abraham’s death. And the most important promise—Jesus—did not come until thousands of years had passed. Yet Abraham rejoiced in God’s promises, even those he did not personally experience.

There are hundreds of promises in the Word of God. Many of us have claimed those promises and found them to be true in our own lives. But the promises that we have not yet seen fulfilled are just as certain as the ones in the past. God has never failed to keep His promises, and we will not be disappointed in receiving all He has promised to us. It is right and fitting for us to be thankful and rejoice in God’s future promises today. Jesus said, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

Today's Growth Principle: 

We do not need to have already received God’s promises to rejoice in them with confidence.