Marital Status

(NLT)1 Corinthians 7:7
But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. But God gives to some the gift of marriage, and to others the gift of singleness.

Have you ever thought of your marital status as a gift? I'm not addressing divorce right now, though no doubt some may count that as a gift after a bad marriage.

For the married I wish to challenge you to teat your spouse as a gift, a treasured gift. If you would treat your spouse in this manner you will fall in love all over and your spouse will most likely will fall in love with you again.

If you are single Paul teaches you have the freedom to serve Christ unfettered by the responsibilities of marriage. If you are single and have the desire for marriage hold to (NLT)Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
The problem that many single people run into is they start seeking a spouse and find one who is not seeking the Kingdom of God.

Today rejoice in your marital status. Married? Love your spouse like a treasured gift. Single? Love your freedom like a treasured gift. Either way, seek Him, thank Him, live for Him as He leads.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.

Acceptable Sin

(NLT)Proverbs 16:28
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

(NLT)Proverbs 17:4
Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.

(NLT)Proverbs 26:20-22
Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. [21] A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood. [22] Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one's heart.

Helen, a dear old saint who has gone home to her Lord use to say, "My ears are not garbage cans." She didn't like gossip, didn't participate, didn't spread it and didn't listen to it.

What is gossip? It is information about someone, true or false that is used to belittle that person, hurt a relationship or make the gossip teller appear a better person.

A gossip is a troublemaker who plants seeds of strife and thereby separates friends and even family members.

One who listens to gossip is a wrong doer, perhaps a liar who listens intently to slander.

Rumors, gossip, dainty morsals of information sink deep into the heart. They are not easily forgotten. They generate doubt, fear, mistrust and thereby ruin relationships.

Today, refuse to tell or listen to gossip. (NLT)Proverbs 20:19
A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don't hang around with chatterers.
(NLT)Psalm 15:1, 3 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? [3] Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

And say a prayer for those who have been damaged by this heinous sin that we too often wink at and count as acceptable.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

When.

(NLT)Matthew 6:2, 4-6, 16, 18, 32-33
When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do-blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. [4] Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
[5] "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. [6] But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
[16] "And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. [18] Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

When you give, when you pray, when you fast... not if, but when. It would appear that Jesus assumes His followers will do these things.

I skipped some of the instructional verses that go with each of these on purpose to point out the main similarities.

1. Each is an assumed action of a child of God.
2. Each is to be done without fanfare or in secret as much as possible.
3. Should you choose to do these to be seen of others, then that is all the reward you get... being seen, praised by others. That's right your peers seeing and saying, "Hey look! (Your name) gave a gift, said a prayer, fasted... Hey look! (Someone else's name) gave a. .."   and that's about how long it lasts, but that's what you wanted.
4. Each should be done with these two things in mind...
   A. Your Father Who sees everything is watching everything you do.
   B. Your Father Who sees everything will reward you. 

Your Father, God, Creator of heaven and earth is seeing everything you do. He is watching you and when you give, pray or fast and do it for His glory He will reward you.

(NLT)Galatians 6:9-10
So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. [10] Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-especially to those in the family of faith.

Today and this weekend give some thought to acts of kindness, to prayer and fasting. When you practice these are you looking for mans reward of fame or God's eternal rewards? Let's do what we do for God.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

I'm a murderer.

#DE

(NLT)Matthew 5:21-22
"You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' [22] But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

Anger, name calling and cursing are placed, by Jesus, on the same level as cold blooded murder.

I wish to focus on name calling for the moment. Though there are those who mutter, "Idiot", about every person who annoys them, most of us are not so brash. I'm more inclined toward sarcasm. A sharp humorous remark that raises my seeming intelligence or understanding above my opponents obvious lack thereof is my choice of weapons. Oh yes, and I'm good at it. I can belittle the best banterers... but, does that reflect the love of Christ?

Sarcasm is just another way of telling someone, "You are an idiot. I am smarter." It is often anger cloaked in humor and if the other person fails to see the humor and feels the sting of the demeaning motive it may be a curse. Should they receive the message they may hear in their deepest being, "I'm worthless. I'm stupid. I have nothing to offer." At the moment they believe that they are crippled, disabled, murdered emotionally and mentally and possibly, even spiritually. They cannot be effective in the Kingdom of God if they do not know they are precious, loved and of great worth to their Heavenly Father... and I, with my sarcasm, am the crippler, the disabler, the murderer.

Today let us weigh our words carefully before they leave our mouths. Let us check our motives. Are we here to build up ourselves or to reconcile others to God? Are we here to lift up ourselves, or here to lift up God and His love?

At the end of this day will I have murdered someone? (NLT)Psalm 51:14
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.

Oh dear God of Heaven, keep us from evil.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

Tell them to shut up.

DE20100921
(NLT)Matthew 15:11
It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth."

(NLT)Matthew 15:15-20
Then Peter said to Jesus, "Explain to us the parable that says people aren't defiled by what they eat." [16] "Don't you understand yet?" Jesus asked. [17] "Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. [18] But the words you speak come from the heart-that's what defiles you. [19] For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. [20] These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you."

In our society the "heart" is the seat of emotion. Our emotions are effected by many things including, hormone levels, health and other circumstances. Our thoughts, if left unchecked are then effected by our emotions.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He, His promises, His commands remain constant no matter how bad we feel, no matter how bad our circumstances get, no matter what threats or temptations lay ahead. He is still God, still on the throne, still able to work all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Emotions are fickle. They change fast and often and for those controlled by them their thoughts flip flop between opinions. They are double minded. Today "God is good", tomorrow, "He doesn't love me."

From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.

Today, choose to take control for your thoughts by taking them to God's Word. God's Word is truth. Make and keep your heart pure by the power of the Word. At the gym where I work out there is a sign on the wall that says, "When your body starts screaming at you tell it to shut up." When your circumstances start screaming something other than God's truth, tell them to shut up. Take your thoughts back to the Word.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

Trashing the Temple

(NLT)1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? [17] God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

I've heard many messages about our body being the temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore we need to take care of our bodies. And those messages are correct, but this passage is pointing to the fact that all believers are part of the temple of God. In other words, God lives in, functions, ministers through believers... all of us.

This week we are staying in a condo that belongs to some friends. We praise God for blessing them and for their generosity. It is located on a lake and is fantastic. We are treating each room with the utmost care and respect because we respect our friends and appreciate them.

Now let me tell you, this place is immaculate and decorated beautifully, but lets just imagine that there is one room in which we don't like the decor. (In case you read this, Kara, there aren't any. This is for illustrative purposes only.) So because we find the color scheme not to our liking, or the chairs a little hard we decide to trash that room. How do you think our friends would respond?

Is that not what we do when we choose to mistreat one of God's children? When we work against a brother or sister, rather through gossip, manipulation or some other hateful deed we are trashing part of the Temple of the Most High God.

Today, examine your heart and your relationships with others. Do you see each believer as part of God's temple? How do you treat the ones who make you uncomfortable?

(NLT)1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. [13] May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

Adopt someone

(NLT)Proverbs 17:6
Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.

Though we have three biological grandchildren and one on the way the Lord recently moved in our hearts to adopt a family. It came out of a ministry situation in which Father spoke very clearly to my Spirit to adopt and treat as my own daughter a lady I was counseling. In the process I gained a wonderful son-in-law and 4 delightful grandchildren. Today I get to go on a field trip with one of my new grand daughters.

Over the years I have seen other people do similar things with folks who were either estranged from their biological families or just a great distance from them. In the church in Indiana I presently Pastor there was a dear couple who adopted a family from New York. They would go to school with the children for Grandparents day and other events. It was a blessing to the children.

All of this to challenge you to look around you. Are there people God has placed in your life who need to be loved and treated just like family? Father may not lead you to go the extreme we have gone, but I believe He will lead you to somone He would like you to include in your family.

Today pray, Father, who would You have me include as part of our family and to what extent.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Thinking on Jesus. Think I'm gonna burst.

(NLT)Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

" Are you allergic to anything Mr. Sherwood?" the nurse asked.
" Just pain." I replied. "It causes me to break out... in screams."

When was the last time you were so overwhelmed with joy over the goodness of the Lord that you burst out in songs of thanksgiving?

I've seen this happen in church services when the preacher would bring a charismatic message about the resurrection or heaven or some other topic that touches the heart strings of the believer. There are certain preachers who are good at generating this kind of response from God's people. In this Psalm the writer is praying and in his praying recognizes the blessings of God's protection and then he burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Today don't wait for someone else to point out God's goodness to you. Spend time thinking about Who He is, what He has done, how He has helped and how He has promised to continue doing so. Think on those things until you burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Talking at? Or talking with?

(NLT)Psalm 27:7-8
Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! [8] My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

Is your prayer time a time of talking to or with God or a time of talking at Him?

When I'm distressed I tend to talk at Him. I tell Him, demand of Him, command Him, holler, cry, wail and,... well, you get the idea. But He says, "Come and talk with me."

How does your heart respond to that invitation? If you go and read the rest of Psalm 27 you will see the Psalmist listing promises from the Lord, even though he lays out his requests he looks to God's promises for his encouragement and hope. That is part of talking with God, listening, reading, remembering His promises and holding to them. In order to do this we have to turn towards thanksgiving for the victories we've seen, no matter how small they may seem in the moment.

Today join me in talking with God, not at Him.

Oh Lord God of Heaven and earth, we come to You today proclaiming Your goodness and blessings. Thank You for loving us, saving us, filling us with Your Spirit, and inviting us to a conversation with You. Forgive us when we (especially I) have talked at You, instead of with You. Thank You for the promise of Your forgiveness when we confess our sin.

Father, we invite You to take over the conversation the rest of this day. Take over us, our lives, thoughts, actions, words. Lead us in paths of righteousness for Your great Name's sake.

Through Christ our Lord, AMEN!

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr

Spot Light

(NLT)Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

It would seem that God our Father delights in shining just enough light so we can see where to place our next step. He does not often light the whole way for us. This causes us to look to Him each step of the way. Could we see the entire path and it's outcome we would be inclined to run ahead.

I know this all too well. Many time I've stumbled on the path when I thought I knew best how to proceed and so, without looking up I've surged ahead in my own light and strength. Dim lit weakness is incredibly dangerous on the road of life.

Today, ask God for the light you need today. Ask Him to shine on the next step you should take.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Paranoid

(NLT)Psalm 121:1-8
I look up to the mountains- does my help come from there? [2] My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! [3] He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. [4] Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. [5] The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. [6] The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. [7] The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. [8] The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

Five times in eight verses it says you are being watched by God. So that paranoid feeling that someone is watching you? He is. Let your fear turn to peace.

Read the first line in verse 5 again... The Lord himself watches over you!

Today, thank Him for His constant watch care.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.

A prayer for joy and peace

(NLT)Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Yep! That's my prayer for you today.

Oh Lord God of Heaven and earth fill Your children with Your Joy and Your Peace today. In Jesus name, AMEN!

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr

Hope in His Promises!

(NLT)Romans 12:12
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

(NLT)Romans 15:4
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled.

Do you find encouragement and comfort in the scriptures? Do you look to the Word of God when trouble comes? Many times I have mentioned the importance of leaning on God's promises, but if you do not know those promises how can you lean on them?

At http://www.youversion.com you can choose your favorite translation of the Bible and a reading plan. There are plans for reading through in a year or 90 days, plans for reading the New Testament or the Psalms in a given time period.

Today plan to spend some time in the Word. More than a quick devotion. Plan to read until you know God has spoken to you. Let His Word dwell in you, change you and encourage you. Read His promises, know His promises, put your hope in His promises.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.

Dread or Hope?

(NLT)Romans 5:2
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

1. We stand in a place of undeserved privilege.

2. We can confidently and joyfully look forward.

3. We get to share in His glory.

I want to focus on the second point. Recently God spoke to me about my own expectations. I found myself dreading many things. This was not a paralyzing dread, but an expectancy of trouble ahead. I dreaded conversations, appointments, trips, vacations, days off, church services and the list goes on.

If God is God, in control, working all things out for the good of those who love Him and I am His child then I can confidently and joyfully look forward.

His words to me were, "Approach life with thanksgiving and hope, not dread."

Today, I choose to approach life with confident, thankful hope and joy. Will you join me?

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr.

Forgiven Joy

(NLT)Romans 4:7-8
"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. [8] Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin."

How does knowing you have been forgiven change your approach to everyday challenges? When you hear sermons or songs that talk about your sin record being cleared how do you respond?

The scripture above declares, "JOY!" for us who believe. We have every reason to approach each situation in our lives with Joy.

Today, If your sins are forgiven rejoice. If not turn to Jesus, believe that He is the Son of God, risen from the dead by God's power and then confess that Jesus is Lord, believing it in your heart. Be forgiven. Live like you've been forgiven. Live in Joy.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr.

Family. Rejoice!

(NLT)Ephesians 1:3-8
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. [4] Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. [5] God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. [6] So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. [7] He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. [8] He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

God adopted us into His own family.

Today, if you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ rejoice, you are a part of the family of God. Then keep your eyes open to opportunities God gives you to bless His family and others. (NLT)Galatians 6:10
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-especially to those in the family of faith.

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr

Lone Ranger

(NLT)1 Peter 5:8-9
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. [9] Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.

A friend of mine pointed out this passage yesterday and shared some notes he read on it. Lions come up from behind the pack and search out the abandoned, the lone rangers and weak.

We are commanded in scripture to, "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." (Eph 6:10) Part of our strength comes from being connected. (NLT)Hebrews 10:25 "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

The last two days I've highlighted the passage in Psalm 68:6, "God places the lonely in families", and the families responsibilty to receive the lonely. As in all things there are two sides to this coin. The lonely have to get connected where God places them and they need to work through the tough stuff of relationship too.

Dear reader, if you are one of those lonely individuals wandering about in life disconnected from the group God has placed you in, then watch your back because an evil lion is about to pounce.

God's word makes it clear that we are to be connected to other believers. This connectedness is more than just church attendance. It is body life. It is honesty about our struggles, blessings, doubts, fears, faith, all of it. It is having a group of people we can weep with, rejoice with, who will hold us accountable and whom we may hold accountable to the things of God.

The rest of your flock can only do so much to keep you connected. Should you choose (yes, I said choose) to walk alone you will become lion fodder.

Today, ask yourself, "Am I connected to a group of God's people in this way? Do they have my back? Do I have theirs?"

Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood, Sr