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