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September 3
Hebrews 11:13
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

That sounds kind of rough.  Basically, we are being told that many faithful people have died without seeing their earthly hopes fulfilled!  The reality is that that will happen to most of us in some areas of our lives. Places we don’t see, careers we never quite get to try, creative things we never have a chance to finish…it would seem so tragic if there wasn’t a much bigger picture to consider.

Many died without seeing all their earthly hopes and dreams fulfilled, but they understood that they were pilgrims passing through this world.  Their faith was based on what they saw in the spiritual realm and on the knowledge of what lies beyond the physical world. Faith is SEEING the invisible, knowing the impossible is possible.

For example, I have seen Jesus Christ—in prayer, in the Word of God; in my brothers and sisters, my wife and children.  Yes, the apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13 that, “for now we see in a mirror, dimly….” So now I see Jesus through my faith.  I hear His voice.  Since that day when I heard one of His servants give an invitation to receive Jesus into my life, God has continued to speak.  He promises me daily through His Word, prayer and other believers, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” I also know that someday, I will REALLY see Jesus, up close, in person, in heaven.  I know that I will have all my hopes dreams fulfilled beyond anything I can imagine.  

You know, being a Christian can be a paradox.  We see that which is invisible.  We hear that which in inaudible.  We are taught to humble ourselves so that we can be lifted up.  We die so that we may live.  It seems upside down, but I think it’s really the world that has turned everything upside down and walking by faith helps turn everything right side up.  

“We live by faith, not by sight.” —2 Corinthians 5:7

September 5
Hebrews 11:14-15
“…they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.”

It’s our human nature, I guess.  We try so hard to create a heaven here on earth, only to be disappointed and unhappy after all.  But when Abraham and his wife Sarah struck out on their great adventure, following God into the unknown (Genesis 12), their lives became devoted to seeking a spiritual homeland, where God would be at home in their hearts and they would be at home with their Lord.

In this life, true happiness comes not from arriving, but from heading in the right direction, seeking and pursuing God’s will.  

Leaving the past behind and pressing ahead takes faith.  Many of us don’t walk by faith because the past keeps dragging us backward. Abuse, pain, grief, childhood memories, bitterness, and false security can turn the past into an obsession.

2 Corinthians 5:17 promises us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”  If you are struggling with the past, there may be one of two things you need to do:  you need to forgive someone, or you need to allow yourself to be forgiven.  If you need help in reaching these goal, seek wise counsel, and pray for God to help you realize that your past can be healed and washed clean by the blood of Jesus.  But don’t be afraid to move forward, seeking the homeland God has for you, and living the adventure called Life that He has in store for you!

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  —Philippians 3:13-14.

September 6
Hebrews 11:16
“But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

These early saints DESIRED a better place than this world. They longed to be where God wanted them to be, not to just settle for whatever came along.  And God wants that for each of us – in fact, “He has prepared a city for them”—and us!

In the Greek language, “desire” means “To stretch oneself, reach out after, long for, covet after.”  It’s good to desire, stretch and reach for what God has prepared for us.

In the 1992 Olympics, Gayle Deavers, a woman of faith, finished her hundred meters race with four other competitors appearing to have tied on the line.  It was so close that the race couldn’t be called until film was scrutinized. Gayle Deavers won by one one-hundredth of a second.  The deciding factor?  She had stretched her head down and forward, just enough to reach for that goal and win the gold!

That’s a desire to win, to finish the race.  Desire to walk by faith means that you are reaching for it, grasping for it, with all your heart, mind, and soul. You are reading God’s Word and praying, and you know, by faith, that He will recognize the desires of your heart.

If you tired—perhaps sick and tired—of your rut and routine, if you are weary of the same failures, mistakes, and fears, it’s time to start walking by faith.  Faith is an adventure, a quest. And once you have traveled the journey of faith, you’ll never regret it!


September 7
Deuteronomy 10:11
"Go," the Lord said to me, "and lead the people on their way, so that they may enter and possess the land that I swore to their fathers to give them."


Over and over, God gave Israel a revelation:  they will “possess the land.”  He gave them a vision of the Promised Land, to which they clung for centuries, but how often, I wonder, have they asked over the many years, how will it come to pass?  Even now, when they HAVE the land, they are embroiled in a continuous battle to hang on and must wonder how it will all end.

I have learned that when the Lord opens our eyes by revelation to something in His Word, or something we will SEE coming to pass, He hides many of the details. I’ve received promises which I see and claim. But then my mind works hard at trying to conceive how they will come to pass. Then come to find out there are always surprises to the fulfillment of the promise. No amount of prayer, meditation or dreams or visions will ever give us all the details, which is where we often make the mistake of thinking we know more than we actually have been shown.

Even the best and brightest of the prophets, when the actual prophecy began to be fulfilled, were surprised by the actual outworking of events. God
really, really likes drama, suspense, and all of this adds up to the romance and revelation of His being in control and not us.

Invariably, I think certain things should happen in a particular way, only to be wrong! But when this happens, we are in good company. Even John the Baptist questioned Jesus after baptizing, hearing, and seeing Him in the flesh. Some things just didn’t quite fit what he had pictured out there in the desert while in prayer and meditation. And yet, even so, by Jesus own words, there was none greater than John!

We can get into trouble by thinking we know too much. Sometimes we have to give up the preconceived ideas that have become so familiar and real to us that we cannot imagine any other way… until it does! God is a great lover of suspense, and surprise. As I have grown in the Lord, rather than squeezing myself to figure out all the details, I am trying to learn to relax a little, and prepare myself for the reality some of my 'visions' may not turn out as I thought. But always in the end, God fulfills His Word, and His Promises, invariably in ways I hadn't even considered. So many of the prophesies of
first Coming of Jesus were like this. No amount of reading and praying and meditating could have prepared the people for manner in which God "became flesh" in Jesus Christ.

All can do in the end is stand back, smile, and say, "Lord, you are truly amazing! I never would have thought of that! Wow, you are wonderful. You have done what You said in such a beautiful and sensitive way, beyond anything I could have dreamed or imagined. In fact, the only word for
How You have done this is… Perfect!”

September 8
Psalm 145:9
“Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.”

Tender mercies.  I love those words.  

Thomas hooker, the English preacher who came the new world and eventually founded the state of Connecticut, lay dying.  Gathered around his bedside were well-meaning people who sought to comfort him.  “You are going to your rest,” they said.  The old preacher turned and responded, “I go to receive mercy.”

Mercy is its own reward.  If we were to be held accountable for our sins, heaven would indeed be far away and unreachable.  But God is good to us.  He gives us love, joy, forgiveness.  He comforts us through His Holy Spirit. He shows us the way to a life of adventure and discovery through faith. He gives us prophecy to understand the future.  He gives us prayer as a source of power.  He gives us eternal life.

Like a fragrant flower adorning a gift; like the caring touch of a loved one; like the gentle assurance of a father to a child, there is this quality of love that over all of God’s good works.  There is mercy—tender mercy.

Undeserved favor from God. And there is nothing we can do to earn it.  We can only receive it.

The Bible says of Jesus, “But as many as have received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God…” (John 1:12).  Receive Him.  Accept His love.  Then you will know what it means to live under the protective arm of God’s tender mercy.

September 9
Isaiah 42:1
"Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, and I am pleased with Him. I have put my Spirit upon Him. He will reveal justice to the nations. He will be gentle—He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope. He will bring full justice to all who have been wronged. He will not stop until truth and righteousness prevail throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for His instruction."

Jesus was given many titles.  He is Savior, King, Prince of Peace, Christ the Lord, Son of God.  But perhaps the title He bore most graciously is “servant.”  Jesus came to save humanity by becoming a servant.  He teaches us that to serve another is to truly see that person as someone made in the image of God, precious to God.  

To serve other people is to honor them, respect them, and love them.  Isaiah prophesied that God’s greatest servant, His very Son, would “not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope;” He would care about those who have been wronged, and He would come as servant, strengthened by His Father.

There is many ways to impart truth.  From a position of ego, and pride which trumpets our knowledge and crushes the less knowledgeable.  Or we can speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), and give our time with the heart of a servant.


September 10
Micah 7:1-7
“What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net. …Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- a man's enemies are the members of his own household. But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

Oh the consequences of sin!  The land fails, friends fail, and even beloved ones cannot be trusted when there is climate of sin.

There is a famous lawsuit brought by a baker against a farmer in the courts of England.  In the suit, the baker charged the farmer with continually giving him less butter for the price.  He said, “When he first started selling me butter, he gave me a true pound, but gradually he has been giving me less and les butter for the pound, until now I am actually only getting twelve ounces but paying for a full pound!”

The farmer, in his defense, said to the judge, “Sir, I only have a balance scales to measure the butter.  So I always put the baker’s pound loaf of bread on the scales and match it with equal amounts of butter.  My pound of butter equals his pound of bread!”

If we begin to cut corners and cheat in life, trying to skirt God’s laws and hoping to get away with it, we find the scales tipping against us.  The weight of our sin eats away at the blessings God desires and plans for us. Sin brings consequences of tremendous sorrow and sadness.  Sin is always a journey to loneliness and emptiness.

In your life you will experience one of two pains.  The pain of discipline or the pain of regret.  The pain of regret is far worse.  If God disciplines you, calling you back to Him, listen, respond, take your consequences with a grateful heart, then allow Him to heal and bless you.

No matter what your sin may be, or how far you have strayed – even if it’s just a little ways off, repentance will always result in God’s forgiveness and not only bring the scales back into balance, but cause you to overflow with God’s abundance and blessings!  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 1:9


September 11
Micah 7:8-9
“Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord's wrath, until He pleads my case and establishes my right. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.”

Though I have fallen, I will rise.  Powerful words.  Words of hope and redemption, spoken by a prophet who intimately knew God’s heart, and God’s desire to take His fallen children and raise us up.  To take us when we are in darkness and be our light.

Micah saw the children of Israel rebel and fall away from the Lord. And he knew their fate.  But he also knew the loving character of God, and His long-suffering patience.  Micah prophesied that Israel would be restored, spiritually and physically. Of course we have seen that happen over and over in ancient history—and then there were centuries of darkness when Israel as a nation did not exist, but the faith remained buried in their hearts, scattered throughout the world.  And now, they are restored as a nation in a modern day miracle.

A Scottish theologian named George Adam once wrote, “Other nations have been our teachers in art and wisdom and government.  But Israel is our mistress in pain and patience.”

We learn from Israel the amazing depth, consistency, and passion of God’s pursuing love.

September 12
Titus 2:11-12
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…”

Grace did not come into existence with the birth of the Christian church.  God has always been gracious, and dealt with His children with vast amounts of patience, long suffering…and grace.  But grace appeared VISIBLY for the first time in the person of Jesus Christ.  God’s saving grace, given before the beginning of time, was revealed to the world through the appearing of Jesus Christ.  His coming is an epiphany of saving grace.  His beautiful words, His healing miracles, His teaching, His compassion, forgiveness, and love all make grace a living reality.

Grace teaches us how to live, and is a beautiful teacher.  All believers learn through the “school of Grace.” Jon Stott says, “Grace bases her teaching upon the great facts in which her first grand revelation of herself was made, and finds all her reaching power in those mighty memories.

Grace teaches us to say not to the world and worldly passions, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.  God’s grace give us the ability to live without condemnation, but with the strength…the grace…to live within His will.

September 13
Deuteronomy 26:18
“And the Lord has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession…”

We are God’s treasure, His beloved.  To Him, despite all our failings, weaknesses, disobedience, and acts of rebellion, He treasures us enough to send His Son to sacrifice Himself for us. O, that we could experience such faithful love here on earth!

Throughout the Old Testament, constant examples of God’s persevering love are portrayed.  Creation, the great Exodus, Passover, the giving of the Law, forgiveness, redemption over and over again throughout the centuries.  Then Jesus came and He embodies every act of love that played out in the years preceding Him.  He is the Creator of our new lives in Him
(“new creatures in Christ”), He is our Exodus to freedom, our Passover from wrath, our Sinai, our redemption.  And all of it, every move of His Holy Spirit, even when we are being chastised, is motivated by grace, compassion, and love.  Jesus endured Calvary so that we can live an abundant life.  It’s that simple.

“Through the western window a solemn light streams from Mt. Calvary.  Through the eastern window shines the light of sunrising, the herald of a brighter day. Thus the school of Grace is well lighted; but we cannot afford to do without the light from either the west or the east.” —Canon Hay Aitken

September 14
Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

Two of the most profound words ever spoken were given to a tired, hurting man one night in a desolate prison.

Paul had come to Jerusalem with the hope of massive acceptance of the Gospel by his fellow Jewish people.  He even underwent the traditional seven days of purification rites with several of his Jewish friends and paid for all the expenses.  But his hopes were dashed when near the end of the seven days some visiting Jews from Asia recognized him and spread the word:  “Men of Israel, help us!  This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our laws and this place” (Acts 21:28).

A violent mob broke our, Paul was beaten and bloodied, until he proclaimed his Roman citizenship.  That stalled the ugly mood of the crowd and he took the opportunity to preach the resurrection!  But another violent riot broke out and the commander in charge was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces, so he put him in jail.  This was one of the darkest days of Paul’s life.  

Sitting in his cell, bruised and bleeding, Paul was visited by the Lord Himself, and received the words above.  “Take courage!”  Tharseo, the Greek word for courage here, means, “take heart.”

Jesus used the word frequently. To the paralytic He said, “Take heart, your sins are forgiven (Matthew 9:2).  To the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, He said, “Take heart [courage] daughter, your faith has healed you” (Matthew 9:22).

To the frightened disciples on the Sea of Galilee, He said, “Take courage, it is I.  Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).  On the eve of His crucifixion, He told his disciples, “…take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

This is His word to all of us who serve him, no matter how feebly or flawed, whatever the difficulties and circumstances.  “Take heart,” for He is always with us and will give the strength to carry on.

September 15
2 Timothy 4:22
“The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.”

Famous farewells, recorded for history, tell us a lot about the human condition and our wishes for each other.  There are many notable ones, such as:

“Until we meet again, may the good Lord take a liking to you.” —Roy Rogers

"This is the last of earth!  I am content." —John Q. Adams, sixth U.S. president

“I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” —Lou Gehrig, saying good-bye to baseball

"O, holy simplicity!"—John Huss, a priest burned at the stake in 1415

"I still live."—Daniel Webster


"I've always loved my wife, my children, and my grandchildren, and I've always loved my country.  I want to go.  God, take me." —Dwight D. Eisenhower, thirty-fourth President of the United States.

You can do an internet search and find hundreds of touching and fascinating last words, but I think there are probably no more caring, poignant, and inspired ones than what the apostle Paul wrote to his young friend, Timothy: “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.”

“The Lord be with your spirit” is addressed in the singular.  It was meant for Timothy alone, a blessing Timothy would carry with him until the end of his own days.  At the very end of this final letter, Paul bids farewell with his favorite word.  “Grace be with you,” was addressed to a plural readership.  It was meant for everyone, all of his beloved Christian community—and no doubt, everyone else whom he loved and prayed for.  Every one of Paul’s benedictions contain the word “grace.”  

At the end of his life, Paul’s concern was for those he left behind, and for the many who would follow over the years.  He longed for what God desires for us—grace.  

I pray that I will die with love in my heart and grace on my lips. I pray that we can all know, in those last hours of life on earth, amazing grace.

Now may God’s unmerited favor, forgiveness, and enabling power be poured out upon His children.  Grace be with you.


September 16
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The inner life of a believer is an odd mixture of motivations, some spiritual, some selfish, as interwoven as the “joints and marrow” of our own bodies.  Even when we aspire to good things our motives may be flawed.

The Hebrews attributed power to words.  Once spoken, a word existed independently.  It became more than the sound of vowels and consonants.  Words went forth and did things.  “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth....  and God said, light be...and light was.”

The Word of God is living and full of energy and possesses the power to expose the intentions of our hearts and to reveal what is motivated by the Spirit and love and what is not.  “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

Anyone can read the Bible.  Many do.  But to experience the Word as the holy eyes of God, peering into our hearts, allowing Him to see our true thoughts, intentions and motivations—that’s another thing altogether.  We may find ourselves exposed and naked before Him, defensive, desperate to avoid humiliation, dodging truth rather than admit our poverty of spirit.  

If only we could see how unnecessary all this pretense is!  The embarrassing and humiliating reality we run from is the very thing Jesus said is a virtue!  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

We can take off the masks.  God loves us as we really are, behind our facades—because He sees the real us, the children He created to love and cherish. He sees His us as His beloved.