"Here Comes Your Second Chance" by Tony Evans 

If you’re like me, you have areas of regret in your life—areas where you know that if you could go back and do it over again, you would. Such is the case of Moses. He made a miscalculation when he killed an Egyptian, and it came with a price tag because sin brings consequences. But the beautiful thing is that doesn’t have to be the last word in your life, my life or the lives of the people we love and care about.​

If you look back and wish things were different, even though you know can’t change them, I want you to know that God is the God of second chances—even third, fourth and fifth chances. When you come clean with Him, you allow Him to do what He wants to do in your life now for where He’s taking you later. You will find that He can take the misery of the past and turn it into the miracle of the future because you’re dedicated to Him in the present.​

Don’t let discouragement rule. Don’t let it take you down. God has a way of using you in spite of yesterday.

Be encouraged,
Tony Evans 

"Rebirthday Gifts" 

Roman's 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The first few words of this verse are so stark that it presents a challenge to even consider or receive the blessing of the rest of it. My home church during my teen years, The First Baptist Church of San Fernando was across the street from J.T. Oswald Mortuary. The Cadillac hearse that sat in the driveway had these words emblazoned on both sides of the car in huge letters...."The wages of sin is death." That always struck me as odd. No comma, a period, and no promise of any hope. We used to finish the verse every time the hearse drove by. This verse is actually more about our rebirth day than it is our death day.

Salvation is a gift from God. Eternal life is a promise that adds meaning and joy and purpose to this life. The threat of judgment is real, but the hope of heaven forever supersedes and cancels that threat. Our rebirthday gift is so wonderful and perfect that it takes away the pain, fear and worry about the wages of our sin. His work on the cross pays a dividend that overrides the wages of our sin. Good news. Our rebirthday gift is way better than any birthday gift you have ever or will ever receive. Let this encourage you today.

In Him with you,
Pastor Fred 

"Do You Believe?" 

And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
Mark 9:23-24 

If you are on this devotional e-mail you likely believe "IN" God and Christ. Certainly, if we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior we believe in Him.

I have been challenged in a Bible Study to not only believe "IN" God, but BELIEVE God. Believe Him when he says He will never leave us or forsake us. Believe Him when He says He will provide our needs. Believe Him when He says He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to handle it. Believe Him when He says He is sufficient for us.

Do we act like we believe Him? I don't always. Lord, help my unbelief.

Humbled,
Angie Wahl

“Sorrow & Joy”
 
John 16:20
“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”
 
I love this quote a friend shared recently...”Shared sorrow is half sorrow. Shared joy is double joy.” The verse from John and quote go hand in hand for me. In this world we will have trouble and tears, but joy does come in the morning.
 
So how do we ride the rollercoaster of joys and sorrows? For me, I do it with mathematics. Adding and subtracting are easiest, right? So let us add joy and subtract sorrow. Joy can add what sorrow subtracts.
 
For an even more powerful equation try multiplying and dividing. Like the quote says, sharing joy doubles it and sharing sorrow divides it in half. Whatever we are feeling, we need to share, because sharing lightens the load and spreads happiness. So we can do both by sharing. Sure, the world sometimes rejoices over what grieves us, but when we share that sorrow we can turn sorrow into joy and double that joy when we do.
 
I found all this encouraging. Hope you do too. Let’s half our sorrow and double our joy. The world needs us to do both. More joy and lighter sorrow. Yes Lord Yes.
 
In Joy,
Pastor Fred

“Waiting”
 
Psalm 62:5
“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him.”
 
There is definitely something about waiting on God that silences me. When I empty myself before Him and focus solely on Him without distraction or thinking or trying to pray…just being in His presence for the sole purpose to listen, He always raises my hope. No matter what mood, attitude, frame of mind or condition I am in, if I can consider Him alone, me alone with Him, just as focused on Him, something happens in me every time.
 
As I write this devotional it is literally beginning to happen. Peace is flowing, trust is growing, waiting is effortless and my soul is quiet and filling with hope. His love and grace and mercy and contentment are washing over me in waves of His goodness. Tears and a smile, mixing together as I bask in His Presence. I have no words, no needs, no worries, or fears, just His hope.
 
I love this definition of hope…
“Hope is waiting with expectation for the good and miraculous things God will unfold.”
 
Three keys for hope to rise:
            1. Focusing on God alone.
            2. Waiting silently.
            3. Receiving hope.
 
It is Friday night May 18^th at 8:18 p.m. I am praying alone at Grace Harbor, focused on Him, waiting silently, receiving hope.
 
Tears and a smile,
Pastor Fred

 

“Gentleness” Philippians 4:5 “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Gentle words. Gentle touch. Gentle actions. We seem to have misplaced our responsibility and call to be gentle. Proverbs 15:1 says “A gentle word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” We should consider a gentler tone, a gentler spirit, a gentler attitude too. I remember when my children were little, always saying to them, “Be gentle, be gentle”. Not just because things and people are precious and fragile, but because we are too harsh with words and actions, with looks and with motions. My mom took an additional tact with me as a boy. She in a very gentle tone often told me not to be “rammy”, meaning rough or harsh with words or actions. We need to be softer, more caring. There is a time to be firm or righteously angry, just not every time you open your mouth or touch something. We should think more gently, therefore speak and act on our thoughts appropriately. After all, the Lord is near. Do we really want to have Him hear us rip things apart, physically or verbally? Choose your words and actions wisely. People are especially precious. Treat them so. Where did the notion of “Speaking the truth in love go?” Buried in our Bibles with so much other Christlikeness. Food for thought. Chew slowly, I know I need to too. Gently please, Pastor Fred

"Jehovah Elohim Ab"

Joshua 18:3 " Then Joshua said to the children of Israel, 'How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord (Jehovah) God (Elohim) of your fathers (Ab) has given you?'"

When praying, it is so vital to keep in mind Who you are talking to. In doing so it can be helpful to consider all the various Names of God. Recently l have been sharing some of those names and writing short devotionals about how to connect more personally with God. Thinking of Him as being the Lord God of our fathers causes me to consider the generations.

I have lately been mindful of the generations in my family that l have knowledge of and the forefathers and mothers and preceded those too. We all have roots that trace back to Adam and Eve, right? And... We all have the same Father in Heaven too. There is a connectedness in humanity that cannot be denied. There is also a rich heritage each of us has in our own family roots. Let us not neglect the treasure of our common roots, nor the specific blessing of our personal history. What is common and what is unique both have great value. God our Father wants to bless and teach us through our common and unique heritage. As we receive that blessing let us also share it.

In His Family,
Pastor Fred