"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household." Acts 16:25-34

This morning I spoke to the FCA at Captain Shreve on one of my favorite topics: "Worship Worth Giving Your Life For".

You always hear your kids grow up fast but I am not sure any parent ever truly realizes there is truth to that statement. The next thing you know, they come home and they are talking about drivers ed. I have said that some of the closest moments I have had with the Lord has been riding shotgun in the front seat while my 15 year old navigates the interstates and busy streets of Shreveport. There are moments where I think, "You know, he has got this. He is doing great!" And then there are those moments where I am bracing for the impact as he smacks into two of those large road construction cones placed on the side of the road, flattening out my side door mirror.

We have those same moments in our own lives. Moments where we have it all under control and then there are those moments where we are bracing for impact and closing our eyes because we know the decisions we have made or the choices we have chosen are not going to end pretty.

Paul and Silas found themselves in a similar situation in Acts 16 but their response to chains, flogging and prison is simple: worship. Jesus says in Matthew 12:34, "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth will speak..."

A great analogy that was shared to me was to press your nose against a stained glass window. When you look at a stained glass window that closely you see a myriad of colors but nothing in detail. But when you step back, the full picture of the window comes into full view.

I don't know where you are today but can I just encourage you? Worship."Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) You are not alone. "The Lord is near." (Philippians 4:5) Have hope! "We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield." (Psalm 33:20)

Be strengthened, be encouraged!

Special Delivery...

Been spending more time in the Word lately. It shouldn't surprise me that when I feel like I haven't heard a word from God, I can almost always recognize that I have not spent time in the scriptures. It truly is a necessary daily devotion.

So we are studying the letters of Paul in our Disciple 3 class at church and my reading this week has come from 1 Thessalonians. My heart was captured by chapter 5 verses 23 - 24 that reads, "May God sanctify you through and through... The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it."

One thing I notice about Paul is how he is never afraid to be bold in his faith with all he encounters. And I love this message to the church of Thessalonica. "Be sanctified. Inside and out. God is faithful and he will deliver." praise God that today, this moment, this very second, He still meets us when we cry out to Him. After all. Maybe this is why Jesus said, "Ask. Seek. Knock. And it shall be given."

So today, what do you need from God? Be bold. Be sanctified and be reminded that He is always faithful and He will deliver.

Amen, and AMEN!




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Good news. It's not about you.

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be lifted up among the nations. I will be exalted among the earth.” Psalm 46:10


I must confess. Sometimes I am guilty of only knowing half of the story. Maybe I should explain.

I recently was reminded of a passage that God brought to my attention found in Psalms 46:10. If you know me then it shouldn’t surprise you to know that I have always been known to be a bit hyperactive. It just takes a glance at my hairstyle to see that (it doesn’t lay down. Ever.) So I have always loved the verse that reads, “Be still and know that I God.” Slow down. Be still. Reflect on His goodness. But a friend asked me one day if I knew the rest of that verse. Upon further investigation it reads, “I will be praised in all the nations; I will be praised throughout the earth.” (NCV) Then it hit me. Being still and reflecting is only half of it. The other half, and possibly the most important part: it’s not about me. This life, this purpose we have on earth really isn’t about creating a name for ourselves. It is solely about lifting up the name of Jesus and knowing who all the glory goes to.

When I meditate on that passage, I must admit. It makes me feel small, but in the same breath it is amazing to know that the Creator of the universe, the one who breathed the stars into existence and created me, has called me to make His name great in my lifetime.

So today, hear the “rest of the story”: Be still and know… that it is not about you.

Let’s pray.
Father, may we find comfort in knowing that amidst the busyness of our lives, we all need to slow down enough to know not just who we are, but whose we are. Amen.