Author: littleflatrockchurch

“Since you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”  2 Corinthians 8:7

History tells us that during the Middle Ages, whenever a soldier was baptized, he would leave his right hand extended above the water.  Why? This was the hand he carried his sword in, and he was not offering it up to God.  Today we might see a person with that same hand extended above the water but with a wallet in it.

Paul challenged the Corinthian believers to drop that hand with the wallet into the water and excel in the “grace of giving.”  Notice he didn’t say the “obligation of giving.” We often miss this.  In the opening words of 1 Corinthians Paul wrote, “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus” (1:4, emphasis added).  Aren’t you glad that when Jesus was baptized, His whole body went down into the water?  Aren’t you glad His whole body went on the cross?

So grab your wallet and baptize it along with the rest of you, so you can excel in offering the same kind of grace Christ offered to you.

— from The 31 Day Believe Devotional by Randy and Rozanne Frazee

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  — Colossians 3:17

The clock is no respecter of persons.  Every single human who has ever lived on earth has exactly 168 hours a week.  And most of us find that after spending time sleeping, working, eating, and commuting, there just isn’t much left over.  So when someone requests a piece of your time, you can feel tension in your gut.

God, however, doesn’t want just a piece of your time; he wants it all.  Yikes!  Now, He is not asking you to go without sleep, quit your job, or stop eating.  He is asking for a total shift in attitude.  As you do the things you need to do, want to do, and are compelled to do because of your faith, offer it up to God in a way that pleases Him.

You see, the time God wants you to offer Him doesn’t have to be spent only sitting in church or serving in a ministry.  If you are peeling a potato, peel it in excellence for God.  If you are holding a baby, hold that baby for God, offering the child love and warmth of a caring heart.  If you run into a friend in the store, offer that conversation up to God and see what a difference it might make.

What are you going to do next?  Offer it up to God.

— from The 31 Day Believe Devotional by Randy & Rozanne Frazee

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.  If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith.”  Romans 12:4-6

“That person has charisma.”  We make this kind of statement about someone who arouses enthusiasm in others.  Did you know that if you are a Christian, you have charisma?  It’s absolutely true.

The Greek word for “gifts” Paul used in the verse above is charismata.  It is literally translated “grace gift,” and it refers to at least one special gift of the Holy Spirit deposited in you when you gave your life to Christ.  Maybe it is the gift of leadership, or mercy, or administration, or teaching, or simply being a good helper.  When we know our spiritual gifts and humbly use them in concert with other Christians to fulfill God’s purposes, good things happen in the lives of other people.  When good things happen in the lives of other people, it arouses enthusiasm in them.  Voilia:  charisma!

So, next time you hear someone say, “That person has charisma,” see who they’re talking about — it just may be you.

from The 31 Day Believe Devotional by Randy and Rozanne Frazee

“All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”  Acts 2:44-47

The members of the early church did not devote themselves to evangelism — leading other folks to Christ.  They devoted themselves first to each other and to God.  They saw each other every day and often shared a meal together.  When they gathered around the table, they ate with “glad and sincere hearts.”  How did they do that?  Between bites they chatted about the wonderful life they now had in Christ, and they praised God for it.

Once they finished their meal, they walked through the neighborhood streets and simply met the needs of the people around them from a heart of gratitude.  Before people knew the doctrine that drove these believing neighbors, they experienced it.  The result?  People were added to the community of Christ every day.  Evangelism resulted.

Happy and kind people are contagious.  You may only be a great meal away from seeing another person come to Christ.

— from The 31 Day Believe Devotional by Randy and Ro

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.”  Romans 12:1

The problem with living sacrifices is that they keep trying to crawl off the altar.  Surrendering to someone else’s will brings about tremendous fear, even when it is God’s will.

What will He ask you to do?  Stay in a tumultuous relationship or marriage for the good of the other person?  Walk away from a relationship that is not honoring or pleasing to Him?  Watch your spouse or child head overseas to serve their country?  Move your family halfway across the country for a new job?

Fear associated with surrendering to uncertainty can cause a living sacrifice to wiggle right off the altar and try to take back control.  Sometimes you can’t even muster the courage to get on there in the first place!

When you are tempted to wiggle off the altar, God asks you to stay on it, rely on His mercy and grace to get you through, and believe His promise that He is working out all things for your ultimate good.

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well.”  Matthew 6:33

Max Lucado tells the story of a little girl who earns enough money to buy a pretty faux pearl necklace.  One night her daddy comes to tell her goodnight and asks her, “Do you love me?”

The daughter replies, “Oh, yes, you know I love you!”

“Then give me your pearls,” he says.

“Oh, not my pearls, Daddy! You know I love my pearls.”

Kissing her goodnight, he says, “I understand.”

Several nights pass, then one evening the dad sees tears filling up his little girl’s eyes.  He asks, “What’s wrong?”

Holding out her hand, she opens it and offers her strand of pearls to her dad, explaining, “I love my pearls, Daddy, but I love you more.”

The dad accepts the pearls and then reaches into his pocket.  He pulls out a beautiful genuine pearl necklace and places it in his daughter’s hand.

Your heavenly Father wants you to open your hand and let go of the temporal things of your world so He can replace them with the genuine eternal things of His kingdom.

— from The 31 Day Believe Devotional by Randy and Rozanne Frazee

“The word of God is alive 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.”  Hebrews 4:12

A surgeon determines that you need surgery by evaluating your symptoms.  He may treat your symptoms, but this only masks them.  When the medicine wears off, your symptoms return.  The illness is caused by a deeper problem.  Until the root of the problem is cut out, the symptoms will not disappear.

The writer of Hebrews says living the Christian life without consistently reading the Bible is like treating symptoms of a disease instead of removing the actual cause.  Symptoms like anger, bitterness, depression, or hatred are indications of a deeper problem and can be masked for a time, but they always return.

Studying God’s Word is like being under the skilled scalpel of a surgeon. During this surgery, however, you’re awake, peering over your draped body in a mirror.  Now you see the deeper problems — insecurity, doubt, and sin.

Engaging in surgery by Scripture daily will bring healing and comfort for deep wounds, reinforce beliefs where doubt has crept in, and lead you in practices that will strengthen your faith.

The very best surgeon in the universe is available to you.  Put your trust in the Great Physician!

from the 31-Day Believe Devotional by Randy & Rozanne Frazee

Advent is not only about preparing for Christmas but also for Jesus’ return.  According to Scripture, that won’t be the calm, silent scene described in Christmas carols.

In 1928, Dietrich Bonhoeffer preached: “It is very remarkable that we face the thought that God is coming so calmly, whereas previously peoples trembled at the day of God …. We have become so accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming should arouse in us. We … [forget] the serious aspect, that the God of the world draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim to us.”

God is love; we’ll be in good hands at the end of time. But during Advent, also be in awe of God. Embrace a reverent fear of the Lord that reminds you how profound it is that God chooses again and again to draw near and lay claim to you.

This Sunday, we prepared our sanctuary for Advent.  We invite you to do the same for your heart.  Prepare Him room and experience the awe and wonder.  Then join us next week as we continue with the Believe series.

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.  Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!”  Psalm 66:8-20

Asking for forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do, mostly because it requires admission of guilt.  If you have wronged a friend — and whether or not your friend knows you have wronged them — you naturally avoid eye contact or avoid their presence altogether.  You certainly would not be calling on them to do you any favors.

If you knew approaching your friend with an apology would mean reconciliation, you might be more likely to attempt the hard conversation, but most of the time your chances are fifty-fifty at best.

With God, you never need to fear rejection if you approach him with a repentant heart.  He’s your loving heavenly Father who wants nothing more than to be in a relationship with you, to hear your requests, and to grant the desires of your heart.  The chances of reconciliation with God are one hundred percent.  He already knows what you have done.  He even knows your motives, and He loves you anyway.  So you might as well come clean.

–from The 31 Day Believe Devotional by Randy and Rozanne Frazee

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.”  Psalm 95:1-2

I love to hear my father share memories of his days as a US Air Force staff sergeant in Morocco during the Korean War.  His duty started at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and sixty years later, I made a point of taking my dad back to that base for a visit.

An active lieutenant colonel graciously offered to provide us with access to the base and to give us a personal tour.  We saw restored fighter planes, from WWI to the present.  When we came to the Korean War plane, the lieutenant colonel stopped us, looked my father straight in the eyes, and said these heartfelt words, “Al, as an officer and representative for the United States Air Force, I want to thank you for your dedication and service to our great nation.”  He finished with a strong salute.

Overwhelmed by this display of honor and respect, my dad saluted back, his eyes filled with tears.

Do you think our heavenly Father becomes overwhelmed, His eyes filled with tears of joy, when we salute Him with our heartfelt worship?

I worship God for who He is and what He has done for me.

— from The 31-Day Believe Devotional by Randy & Rozanne Frazee