The After-Oakdale Chronicles

Today is…

an excellent day to check our progress.

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.”  2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT

From the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and welcome Him into our hearts and our lives, we begin to go undergo change. The rapidity with which individuals change varies from person to person, of course, since we are all different. It is important that we understand and be patient with ourselves.

The transition from a life of sin and living for ourselves, to one of living for God and working to learn how to avoid the pitfalls of our pasts can be a difficult one.

No matter where we may think we are as Christians, it is important to each one of us to sit quietly now and again and check our progress on this wonderful path that we have all chosen.

We need to give ourselves a spiritual progress report, so to speak.

For those who are new to Christ, it is important because it enables them to see how far they have come. It may be that they still have a long way to go, but that is true for all of us.

For those who have traveled farther and longer on the road to salvation, a periodic look back will help to keep us aware of the constant need for prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and worship.

Those of us who think we have matured as Christians sometimes need greater reminders that being like Christ means constantly making efforts to live better lives and have more of a positive impact on those around us.

If nothing else, a periodic progress report will reinforce our progress and give us an opportunity to thank God for keeping us moving in the right direction.

Take time to reflect on a regular basis and make sure your relationship with Christ continues to grow and flourish. No matter who we are, or how long we have loved God, a periodic progress report can only benefit our relationship with Him.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

the ideal day to conquer embarrassment.

“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.”  Galatians 2:11 NIV

Many of us have come to Christ from situations and life-styles that were far from Christ-like.

Perhaps we are still acquainted with those who shared that life style. In many instances, we may hide our love of Jesus Christ when we are around those who have not yet made the journey. For some reason we are embarrassed about the feelings that are beginning to grow within us, and we are often afraid of what those who knew us “before” will think of the new and glorious direction we have decided to take in our lives.

As uncomfortable as we may feel, it is important that we ask God for the courage to hold up our faith to all of those around us so they may feel the warmth of its light and in the hope that they, too, will want to share in the joy that comes into us when we accept Christ as our Savior.

It is perfectly understandable that any of us would feel awkward expounding on something in which we feel we have no expertise. We are not expected to run when we haven’t even stopped crawling. However, we do not want to be embarrassed to the point of hypocrisy as Peter was when he refused to eat with the Gentile Christians when some Jewish friends of James were around.

Opening our hearts to the salvation that Christ offers was not an easy task for many of us.

We understand how increasingly hard our hearts had become before we began to chip away at them to reach the soft center. If we, or someone we know, is struggling to become free of a burden, we must not be embarrassed or act in a hypocritical manner. It is important to remember that all of the reasons to be strong and secure in our faith can be found in the Bible.

The best day of our lives was (or will be) the day we said (or will say) “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NIV).

Say that again, and again. Soon you will find that there is no embarrassment and there is no hypocrisy.

There is only the abundant joy that comes from faith.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a good day to think about how we should act towards those who do not believe.

“Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord?  And do I not loathe those that rise up against You?”  Psalm 139:21 NASB

Can any of us think of anyone who needs God more than those who do not believe in Him?

Those of us whose love of the Lord is great instinctively want to stand up for God and defend Him. Perhaps our defense of Him may include hating the one who does not believe or – even worse – hates God.

But is this an acceptable way to act towards individuals who desperately need God in their lives but just have not realized it yet?

If the action we take is to ignore or isolate these individuals then we are helping to spread the negative message that spills from their lips. If we do not act differently, we give them additional power to spread the wrong message. The last thing we want is for others to fall victim to thoughts and beliefs that will deprive them of the promise of the kingdom of God.

We do not have to put ourselves in physical danger or subject ourselves to any verbal abuse by confronting these individuals directly, but we do need to take positive steps that can help either change their hearts, or shield others from the venom of their disbelief.

The first way we help to affect change in the way others act is by setting an example in the manner in which we live our lives and conduct ourselves. A belief in God that is deeply rooted within us, will be evident in the friendly, outgoing, pleasant and helpful way in which we live. Perhaps we cannot influence them directly, but there is always someone whom they are trying to convince who just might sit up and take notice of a better way to live.

Our faith can be worn with a smile and a helping hand that can be seen by all.

Another way to act towards those who need God the most is to use the power of our prayers for their benefit. Jesus says “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44 NASB).

A simple way to do this is to pray, “Father thank You for working in the hearts of those who hate. Please continue to soften them that they may one day accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and join those who have secured a place with You that will be filled with everlasting peace, joy, and love. Amen.”

That is how we should act towards those who do not believe, and today is a good day to start.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a superb day to follow the fiery cloud.

“On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire.”  Numbers 9:15 NLT

Discerning the direction God wants us to go is not always easy. Very often we have to choose a path and each one seems as if it could be one God wants us to follow.

How do we know which one to take?

When God instructed Moses, He was very clear that He would guide them. He was also very clear they were to follow. Fortunately for them, He provided a clear marker to know when to move and which direction to move in. When the cloud lifted over the Tabernacle and began to move, that was the signal for the people to break camp and follow. When the cloud stopped, they stopped. And at night, the cloud appeared as a pillar of fire. This let the Israelites know they were going the right way, and that they were protected.

Since we are all individuals moving in what seems to be millions of different directions, it has gotten harder to determine which direction God wants us to go. The reality is that we are all headed to the same place. At least God wants us all to be headed to the same place. Unlike the Israelites, we may not each have a clearly defined object to follow, but God has promised to guide us.

“I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8 NLT).

It is impossible for God to lie to us so if He said it, it is true.

So where is our fiery cloud?

The Holy Bible is all we need to travel safely to the final destination God has prepared for us. The path we are to take is clearly spelled out with His love and wisdom and it is up to us to use that love and wisdom to direct us to the specific place we are to set our feet as we move closer to Him.

Can it be as simple for us as it was for the Israelites?

It truly can be if we are focused on the everlasting life that God has promised us and we read the Bible daily for specific instructions on how to safely arrive at that glorious final destination.

The fiery cloud that will guide you and keep you safe is right at your fingertips. Get your bearings daily and keep your life on course. It’s not a yellow brick road and it’s not a bouncing ball. It’s your own fiery cloud and God wants you to follow it today.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a fine day for a little home improvement.

“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?”  Haggai 1:4 NASB

Life is a rat race, this much is certain.

There is always a desire for more money for more things to make us comfortable and provide us with a higher standard of living. We think we must work harder and longer to obtain more physical comfort for our days on earth.

That new car, boat, RV, or swimming pool certainly does beckon to us.

There is nothing wrong with having a desire to live a comfortable life and reap the rewards of our labor, but in our effort to make our homes more enjoyable, our lives more comfortable, and our leisure time more fulfilling, are we neglecting God?

After King Cyrus dreams that the people of Israel who had been exiled could return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, work was begun but opposition to the work, as well as indifference on the part of the people, caused the work to come to a halt. People became more focused on their own needs and their own desires than on God.

Haggai was very good in pointing out the seriousness of their mistake. Placing God anywhere but first affects everything else in our lives in a negative manner, whether it is immediately apparent or not.

If we don’t think of God first, how can we make decisions? How can we identify which is the right path? If our concern for God comes after our concern for ourselves, how do we expect Him to put us first?

The Jews were negligent in not making the rebuilding of the temple a priority. Through that negligence, they were making a statement, and it is not a statement that we want to make.

God comes before everything else. With God in front of us, we can count on Him to lead us in the right direction. We can count on Him to warn us of danger heading our way. We can count on Him to enrich us in ways we cannot imagine.

It is time to do a little work on our relationship with God.  A little help in improving God’s house will go a long way to improving ours.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a great day to give a gift to our children.

“And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”  1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT

In order to know someone intimately, it is necessary to spend considerable time with that person, talking and listening.

We give our children life through the grace of God. This act should never be taken lightly. Our ability to create life is a gift from God, and that makes the children born as a result of that gift, a gift as well. Our responsibility as parents does not end when the child is born.  In fact, as we all should know, that responsibility is just beginning. We are responsible for clothing, feeding and teaching our children. And of course, as parents of our children, we want them to listen to us, follow our instructions, and adhere to our rules and regulations.

We are also responsible for sharing with them the gift of intimacy with God through Jesus Christ. Sharing that gift is the most important thing that we can ever do for our children. In order to do that, it is important to have such a relationship with God ourselves so there is never any question where the guidance we give them, and the morality we try to instill in them, comes from.

In order to fully accept and appreciate this gift we are trying to give them, they must be able to clearly see the positive impact that our own intimacy with God has had on our lives, or else the message we want them to receive will have no impact.

We must teach them from the day they are born, and much of our instruction needs to be in the form of a living example of how the gift of intimacy with God makes us happier, healthier, kinder, gentler and more loving people.

If we want the very best of everything for our children, then we must begin with the very best gift we can give them. Of all the things we could possibly give them, the gift of an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ is the best gift we could ever give.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a good day to remember that God knows when we are unfaithful.

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”  Revelations 2:10 NASB

While God rewards faithfulness, some of us mistakenly think that if we are faithful, we will avoid suffering and that is simply not true. God never promises any of us that we will not suffer in some way, at some time in our lives. Our reward will come when we endure our suffering, as Jesus endured His, and still remain faithful.

In John’s vision, Jesus instructed him to write a letter to the church in Smyrna. In that letter He told them not to fear suffering, and instructed them to remain faithful during the suffering. Our instructions are the same today.

But God looks at faithfulness in several different ways. Not only are we to live our lives completely faithful to the Lord, but we are also to live our lives, if we are married, being faithful to our spouses.

Just as many Christians turn away from God when trouble enters their lives, many married people turn away from their spouse when difficulty and trouble enter their relationships.

“Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and who commit adultery.” (Hebrews 13:4 NLT).

Being a Christian is to know about commitment: Commitment to God, to our spouses, to our children, and to everyone around us. We cannot claim to be faithful to God if we are unfaithful to our spouses. We cannot claim to be faithful to God if we are not faithful to our children. We cannot be faithful to our children if we are not faithful to our spouses.

God sees us and knows if we are living up to our commitments. There is no hiding, there is no pretending. If we live secret, separate lives, we are being unfaithful to our children, our spouses, and to God.

There are no excuses to be made, just corrections to our behavior that are required. We should always endeavor to use the troubles and the suffering in our lives to make us better people, and to draw us closer to those we love: Our children, our spouses, and God.

Today is a good day to ask ourselves if we are being faithful to everyone we love.

If we are honest, and we find that the answer is, “No,” remember that God knows too. If you hand the “No” over to Him, He can help you change it to, “Yes” and today is a good day to remember that.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a terrific day to satisfy our hunger.

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.”  John 6:35 KJV

If we are hungry, simply staring at a piece of bread or thinking about a piece of fruit will do nothing to satisfy our physical hunger.

The only way to do that is to eat. Eating is an active act. Simply wishing the food was in our stomach will not make it so. Dreaming about how we would feel after a big meal will not produce the desired feeling of fullness, nor will it provide the nourishment we need for physical life.

Throughout the Bible, various translations often use different words to interpret the same sentence, but there is not much difference in the interpretation of the words spoken by Jesus when He said, “I am the bread of life.”

We need what Jesus Christ has to offer us in order to satisfy our spiritual hunger, but we must actively partake of what He offers us.

Merely thinking or wishing will not make our hunger go away.

Approaching Jesus Christ in a half-hearted manner will not produce the desired results. We must ‘consume’ His teachings. We must look forward to our next ‘meal’ with the same enthusiasm we have for our favorite restaurant or home cooked dinner. We must savor each and every morsel that the words of Jesus represent and draw from them the nutrients to help us become spiritually satisfied.

Eating requires effort in order to receive the benefits derived from it. Far too many of us think that we need only sit down at Jesus’ table one time, or on special occasions. It is true that we do enjoy special meals at various times throughout the year, but in order to live, we must eat daily.

And so it is with the life that Christ offers us. We must partake of it on a daily basis so that we grow strong in faith and in character, and build up a defense against the disease of sin.

Fortunately, satisfying our hunger with the bread of life is not like when we were little and we were forced to eat our peas. The bread of life is wonderful to consume and makes us feel better inside immediately.

If you haven’t already, make the bread of life a part of your daily diet, and today is a terrific day to start.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson

Today is…

a great day to understand why things are allowed to happen as they do.

“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.”  Nahum 1:3a NASB

It is very likely that most of us have experienced times in our lives in which we have felt frustration with God over things that we see around us, read about in the newspaper, or see on television.

Great harm befalls innocent victims. People are slaughtered by a deranged gunman or are systematically eliminated by vicious dictators or rulers. Crimes of unspeakable horror are wrought upon children, women, and even men and we sit and cry, asking God for answers.

As difficult as it is to accept sometimes, we must not allow ourselves to ever think that God’s silence is approval for evil.

The Bible makes it very clear that, “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him. But He will sweep away His enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue His foes into the darkness of night.” (Nahum 1:7-8 NLT).

In other words, no evil act, or sin, escapes God’s notice, nor does God forget them.

It is important that we try to understand that even the life of the most despicable, hateful, murderous individual on earth is but a brief moment in time to the One who has seen all that has transpired since before time began.

In the end, those who prey upon the innocent and wreak havoc wherever they go will face an eternity of unbelievable pain and punishment. Our humanity demands justice now, but that is not always God’s plan, and it really is not our place to question His plan.

We are instructed to believe in Him and we are required to trust Him.

Unfortunately, there are those of us who fail to realize this and sometimes adopt an attitude that is not wise. Some may think that if God can allow horrible things to happen, He must not care. And if He doesn’t care, then, “It doesn’t matter what I do.”

Do not fall into this evil trap.

It does matter, and we all need to have faith that it matters. It may be very difficult sometimes, but we must remain trusting and faithful to God and we must resist temptation in spite of anything that takes place around us because God never lets the guilty go unpunished.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson