‘Hyper-Overcomer’
Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. 3 For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south. 4 Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. 5 Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. 6 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. 7 He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. 8 Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
Other translations have verse 2 as, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”
People holler out for their favorite sports team, for their political party and even brag about their sin. As the children of God Almighty, Creator, Lord and Master of the universe how can we keep silent. 2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.
2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
Today, say SO!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Col 1:3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. 6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. 7 You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. 8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
What captivates your thoughts today? In verse 5 above, Paul encourages his readers that the love and faith they exhibit is generated from their “confident hope” in what God has in store for them. Has it been a while since you thought about eternity? Peter puts it like this:
1Peter 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay… Vs 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
Are you living today with great expectation? Are you living with a confident hope in what Father God has in store for you in Heaven?
Today think about it and let that hope, that expectation drive you to more love and more faith in God above.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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John 17:20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! 25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”
Heavenly Father,
Make us, Your children one in You and Jesus. Bring Your perfect unity to the body of Christ, His church. Shine truth on those things that divide us. Give all of us hearts to receive truth even when if it goes against things we’ve been taught all our lives. Tear down walls of division. Make us shine with Your love in this world that they may see You at work in us. Cause others to be drawn to You as You shine in and through us.
Father answer this prayer that Jesus prayed for His church.
Even so Lord Jesus, Come quickly.
In Christ our Lord, AMEN!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Matthew 22:39 A second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is a subtle phrase in this verse that is often overlooked, “as yourself.” I can’t think of any specific commands telling us to love ourselves. I believe the reason for this is we have a built in desire, or instinct for survival. In short, I’m rather fond of mother’s youngest (That would be me) and I try to take good care of him… Me. I try to make myself comfortable and give myself a peaceful atmosphere. I feed me (too much sometimes). You get the point.
So what God is telling us is treat others how you wish to be treated. Someone asked, “How do I love mean people?” The instructions didn’t change based on the neighbor’s disposition. When you are in a position to love do it, show them the same love you would hope to receive were your roles reversed.
Note the neighbors in the parable of the good Samaritan were the man in need and the Samaritan. Jesus told His disciples if their message was rejected they were to wipe the dust from their feet and move on. Don’t purposely put yourself in the path of someone you know will not receive truth and will only try to hurt you.
Sometimes you can’t help but be in their path. Romans 12:18 says, “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Sometimes, after you’ve done all you can they will still mistreat you. Pray for them. Vs 14 “Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.”
Since all the law and the profits are wrapped in those two commands, the greatest love you can show for yourself is to love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Just do it.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You love us. Today remind us of that love before we open our mouths to speak an unkind word. Remind us before we turn our back on someone in need that we have the means to help. Remind us what we do for the least of these we do for You.
In Christ our Lord, AMEN!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Matt 22:37 Jesus replied, “`You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Luke documented an account of Jesus having a conversation about these two commands. Luke 10:29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus’ response is a story about the good Samaritan. In that story Jesus points out that our neighbor is the one who has a need we can assist with.
My dad would often go out of his way to help others. Once a lady had spun off the road out onto a slightly frozen flooded field. One end of her car settled on a fence post as the other end broke through the ice and sunk. My dad walked out to her breaking through the ice until he was chest deep in the icy water. He then carried her over his head to safety.
When questioned about his own safety in regards to his actions one time he responded, “If I have the means to help someone and do it, I believe God will see to it that if my wife or children ever need help they will be helped.” I have never broken down on the road that help wasn’t there within minutes. God has always met our needs. And I believe that is at least in part, due to my father’s selfless acts of kindness.
Gal 6:6 Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 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 keep your eyes open for God’s opportunities to help others.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Psalm 38:1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude 6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. 7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude 8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” 10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. 11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
If this passage has a key word or a key outcome I would say it is “JOY”. Ask yourself these questions, “Do I exude joy or sadness? Are the words from my mouth chracterized by praise or complaining?”
A few weeks ago we talked about taking a Praise-a-lyzer test. For those of us who are recovering complain-aholics this test should be taken regularly.
Someone might say, “But you don’t know how bad I’ve got it!” To that I say,
1. Are your sins forgiven?
Then Praise the Lord with Joy.
2. Do have clothes to wear?
3. Have you had food to eat in the last 24 hours?
1 Timothy 6:6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
Notice, Paul does not include even shelter in the list of things we need, just food and clothing.
So if the attitude that oozes from you is a negative, woe is me, everybody hates me attitude then confess that as sin and rejoice in God’s forgiveness. He loves you.
Re(joy)joice in that.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
The above is from the NKJV. The NLT translates verse 19 like this: 19 We love each other because he loved us first.
Notice that the NKJV says, “love Him” and the NLT says, “love each other.” The difference bothered me and so I checked with Robert’s Word Pictures. Roberts breaks down the Greek for each verse in the New Testament. The fact is the word translated “Him” and “others” can be translated either way. In other words the verse could just as easily be translated, “We love because he loved us first.” There is no definite object in the Greek.
Our ability to love unhindered is wrapped up in God’s love for us. Cowardice and fear are two things that can keep us from loving. Because God has loved us so generously we are free to boldly, fearlessly love. We should not serve Him or others out of fear, but rather, out of love. That is, we should love out of appreciation for all God has done and will do in and for us and in those around us. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. (Rom 5:8) We were ugly, unlovable sinners yet He loved us. He knew what we would be in Him. He knew His love could be perfected in us. That frees us to love others regardless of where they are or how they treat us for in Christ, they too can be lovable.
Today, thank God for His fantastic love and for seeing potential in you as one of His children. Then seek ways to share that love with others. Ask Him to help you see others through the eyes of love. See them with the potential to be a vibrant child of God.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
Yesterday I talked about the freedom we have to be bold. Now boldness is not always fearless. Recently on a visit to our daughters we had our cats with us. One (Kali) is the mother of the other (Jacque). They were kept up stairs because my daughter has a rather large dog (Pip). Pip managed to get upstairs one day and the two cats headed to opposite ends of the room in fear. He started after Kali first who leaped to higher ground, so Pip changed directions and went after Jacque. When Kali (the mother and yet the smaller of the two cats) saw Pip chasing her baby she became bold. She quickly caught up to Pip and firmly placed all four of her claws in his shoulders, looked him square in the face while growling and hissing. Pip yelped, barked and snapped at her, but she ran to safety again with Jacque.
Kali’s boldness in that moment was generated by her fear for Jacque’s safety. Our boldness before God should be generated by our knowledge and firm faith in His love for us. The more we grasp the truth of His love the less fear is a motivator.
Verse 18 tells us that fear involves torment. When we fear we are anxious about the outcome of our situation. We imagine every possible negative scenario. Fear is the opposite of trust. So when we fear we do not firmly believe that God our Father works all things together for good to those who love Him. (Rom 8:28)
Today, bask in His perfect love for you. Think about what He has done for you. Take every thought captive and make your mind dwell on His love and goodness. And every time a fearful thought enters grab it and then tell God, “You have this in control. I can’t wait to see Your plan revealed. Keep me strong in You until then and I will trust that You are working this out for my good.”
Father, perfect us, Your children in Your perfect love. Create boldness in us out of Your love for us. Help us to trust You. Some who will read this today have suffered traumatic experiences that haunt their minds, things that are hard to see any good from, yet. Help them to see Your providence, mercy and grace even in those situations. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth I pray, Amen!
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Psalm 33:1 Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. 2 Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. 3 Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. 4 For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. 5 He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. 6 The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.
The story is told of a blond lady who went to get her hair done. When the hair dresser got her seated she asked her to remove her mp3 headphones because they were in the way of her work. The client refused saying, “If I take them off I’ll die.” After repeatedly assuring the client that the headphones were not keeping her alive she reluctantly removed them. They were not off her ears long before the girl turned blue and collapsed to the floor. The hair dresser quickly lifted the head phones to her own ears to hear, “Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.”
(You wonderfully inteligent blond recipients, please do not take offense. Follow the point.)
Have you ever noticed that in stressful situations your muscles tense and your breath becomes more shallow. During these times there are many other things that go on in your body that over the long haul can be damaging to your health. Deep breathing helps you to relax.
Our great God and Father gives us many reminders that we need Him like we need to breathe. So again today I remind us to stop everything else for a moment and breathe deeply. It is good for our physical, emotional and spiritual well being to bring in that life giving oxygen and to exhale the carbon dioxide. It is good to do this deeply for a few minutes several times daily. While you exhale let the words of your mouth be praise to Your Creator.
Psalm 33:20 We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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Psalm 104:27 They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. 28 When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied. 29 But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. 30 When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth. 31 May the glory of the Lord continue forever! The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made! 32 The earth trembles at his glance; the mountains smoke at his touch. 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! 34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
Breathe. Stop doing stuff for a few moments and just breathe.
Most people breathe too shallow. This robs parts of your body of life giving Oxygen. In 3 seconds inhale as much air as you can and then take 8 seconds to slowly exhale. Do this about 10 times. This is a relaxation excercise I have found helpful especially in stressful times, but also to help me slow down and think on our wonderful God.
He gives us breath. Just as many breathe too shallow many do not enter the deep with God. They have a surface relationship.
Today breathe deeply in the wonder of Who He is; Creator, Everlasting Father, Peace, Friend, King, Lord, Almighty, Provider, Guide, Comforter, Deliverer, Savior, Shield, Strong and mighty Tower, Holy God, and so much more. Then exhale His praises.
Love in Christ,
Steve Sherwood Sr
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