October 30

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

an ideal day to remember that if God says it, it must be important.

“And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear; and it was so.”  Genesis 1:9 KJV

We all have known someone who talks incessantly. Sometimes it appears to us that they speak for no other reason than because they love the sound of their own voice.

This is definitely not the case with God. He never speaks unless He has something important to say, so when He speaks we should listen. We would be quite foolish to do otherwise, but it often appears as if that is exactly what happens.

We may tune out the aforementioned individual simply because we are confident that nothing is coming out except for air in the shape of meaningless words, but we dare not tune out God.

God’s Word comes to us in two ways. First and foremost, of course, is the Bible. We all know that the Bible represents one of the largest books most of us will ever read, and yet not one of its many thousands of words is wasted.

The Bible contains history, life lessons, wisdom, encouragement, advice, consolation, strength, motivation – the list of ways in which the Bible teaches, guides, and nourishes our spirits, our hearts, and our minds is long.

Look at God’s Words throughout the story of creation. God didn’t just slap the earth together with no vision and no design. He had a plan from the outset. Each day He added to His creation, using words to direct the placement of each plant, animal, bird and bug that all go together to help make this place in which He put us a truly beautiful and remarkable place in which to live.

The Words of God created the earth and all that is in it. The Word of God tells us how we should live in the world He created and how we should treat each other. The Word of God is important, and not a single word is untrue. Each word has meaning and we are intended to find that meaning. The Bible guides us and enables us to live lives that are righteous in God’s eyes; lives that are unselfish and full of concern, consideration, and compassion for our fellow brothers and sisters.

The instructions are clear and are repeated throughout the Bible: “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your word.” (Psalm 119:9 NLT).

Take care today, and every day, when reading the Bible. It is the Word of God and it is very important.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God" | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

October 29

Posted on October 29, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

a great day to feed the sheep.

“He said to them, ‘Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.’”  Mark 1:38 NASB

That was no idle statement that Christ made. It was no casual comment thrown out there because He had nothing else to say. When Jesus said, “For that is what I came for,” He was unequivocally stating His purpose. He came to teach people how to obtain salvation and establish a relationship with God that would lead them to an everlasting life in His kingdom. This was Good News for all of mankind and it was important that the Word be shared with the world.

Obviously, Christ knew that His time on earth was limited. He made excellent use of it and taught a great number of people how to put the Good News to work in their lives, but He also stressed the importance of sharing it with others. The message that Christ delivered was one of incalculable worth and He wanted those who received the message from Him to share the wealth with others. “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.” (Mark 13:10 NASB).

Jesus gave directions to share this Good News not just to His disciples. It was an obligation that went along with receiving it, no matter who it was. Even a man who had been demon possessed was told by Jesus to share with others. He first asked Jesus if he could travel with Him. “And He did not let him, but He said to him, ‘Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you!” (Mark 5:19 NASB).

The lessons taught by Jesus Christ were nothing less than immeasurably valuable.  Experiencing His healing touch and being the direct recipient of His mercy were also experiences of tremendous value.

Christ spoke often about sharing material wealth with those who are less fortunate than we are. People who were poor, children and widows were mentioned often. Offering clothing, shelter, and food to those who did not have any was a very important issue with Jesus. Sharing the wealth on a material basis is clearly an obligation to others that we should all eagerly welcome.

But we must never forget the importance Christ placed upon sharing the wealth of the message of Christ. Surely that importance was displayed when He admonished Peter three times to “Feed My Sheep.” (John 21:17 NIV). This reference, of course, was to feeding them the words Christ had spoken to them. Sharing the wealth of knowledge. “The third time He said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ He said, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed My Sheep.’” (John 21:17 NIV).

Today is a great day to do just that.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God" | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 28

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

a fine day for victory.

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.”  1 John 5:4 NLT

War carries with it a high price, whether on the winning side, or on the losing side. World War II was no exception in its cost in the lives that were lost fighting it, the damage done to cities, towns, and villages where it was waged, and the enormous task of recovery in its aftermath. Of course, as far as Germany’s involvement, the war was made even more horrific upon learning the truth about the extent of the treatment, and wholesale slaughter, of millions of Jews by those who followed Adolf Hitler.

In the end, many would claim they were simply soldiers following orders, many would claim they really weren’t aware of the extent of the treatment, and many others would claim they had no idea at all. Their countryside was devastated by the effects of the war and the people themselves were a far cry from the cheering hoards that marched in unison to conquer the world in the name of unspeakable evil.

The cost to the victors was high as well. Many families were left emptier because of children who fought against that evil and paid for its defeat with their lives. The sadness of death was overcome a little by the emotional uplift that victory brought.

Even though both sides paid an enormous price, it is always better to be on the side of the victor rather than the vanquished.

This is especially true when the enemy is as evil and hateful as Hitler’s Nazis.

Evil walks this earth on a daily basis. There is much good that walks the earth as well and since evil’s intent is always to conquer and control, the battle between them is ongoing.

The first thing each one of us must do is decide which side we wish to be on. Unfortunately, the army of evil is a flashy one with a slick recruiting campaign that is far too successful. But do not be one of those who is drawn in by its false promises. God promised that, in the end, evil would be defeated forever. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10 KJV).

It will surely be an epic battle. “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:5 NIV). Our faith that this is so puts us on the side that will claim victory.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God" | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 27

Posted on October 27, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

the day to seek shelter.

“Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him.’”  Psalm 3:2 NIV

Skeptics abound, that much is certain. Perhaps some of us have people who say that very thing about us. Perhaps the way we have lived our lives in the past might tend to lend a little credence to that line of thinking, but God will never refuse to rescue any of His children who come to Him for help.

It simply is not in His nature to say ‘no.’

It is true that people have to seek God’s shelter, but not everyone does. For some, “Sin whispers to the wicked deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all.” (Psalm 36:1 NLT). Someone stuck in a lifestyle that is sinful and is making no effort to seek God’s forgiveness and love will not find it thrust upon them. For some “The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good.” (Psalm 36:3 NIV). Who knows? Perhaps they never knew or allowed themselves to be anything else.

God will never lose sight of these people, but He can only wait until they somehow get the message that they need the shelter that He so willingly provides all who ask for it.

God helps those who call out to Him no matter how they have lived. He scours the earth seeking out His lost sheep and wants to bring them safely home. His ears await the sounds of His children’s voices when they call out to Him, “Show the wonders of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes.” (Psalm 17:7 NIV).

When we realize that sin and temptation are our foes; when we understand that arrogance, pride, anger, lust, and greed are our enemies; when we finally acknowledge that we cannot battle the armies of hate, deceit, sexual promiscuity, and the worship of money, without help – God will be right there ready to help us. How His heart swells with joy when He hears us cry out, “Let me live forever in Your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of Your wings!” (Psalm 61:4 NLT).

Firemen, policemen, emergency medical personnel are all standing by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week waiting for someone to call for help. They take no pleasure in the pain, loss, and discomfort that prompted the call that moved them into action, but they stand ready to act.

God does for our souls what all of those brave men and women do for our physical beings here on earth.

Do not be afraid. Do not be embarrassed. Call out for help today and see just how quickly He will respond.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God", Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 25

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

a great day for obedience.

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”  Philippians 2:8 NIV

The obedient nature of Christ cost Him His life. It could be argued that He knew beforehand that He was going to rise up from the dead three days later, but that knowledge would in no way diminish the pain, humiliation and the sacrifice Christ endured on our behalf because of that obedient nature. He was, after all, as able to feel pain as any of us, and the pain of a death from crucifixion must have been horrible to endure.

When Christ exhaled His last breath, the curtain that separated us from God was torn. “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Mark 15:38 NIV). This was not some cheap trick meant to elicit a lot of “ooh’s” and “ahh’s” from people witnessing this event that changed the world. The tearing of the curtain signified that through His obedience, Christ had completed the work that God had sent Him here to do and each and every living person now had direct access to God.

Christ’s obedience to God took away our sins, but it did not take away our obligation to be obedient. For some of us, the term “obedience” seems to almost carry a negative connotation. It’s as if being obedient is a very difficult act we must perform. Obedience is not something we do; it is the way in which we live. Obedience to God is simply understanding how He wants us to live our lives, and then living them in that manner.

Jesus told His disciples that obedience was a way of showing love, and that’s how we should view it; as an act of love, not as an obligation or a task. He said, “If you love Me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15 NIV).

And what, exactly, was He commanding? What were His commandments? Was He instructing His disciples to do anything difficult? Was He telling them to do anything that would cause them, or anyone close to them, to be harmed? First and foremost, of course, was the commandment to love and worship only God. And the rest of it? It all boils down to this: Be good to each other. “…love thy neighbor…” (Matthew 22:39b).

We can make any of this as complicated as we want, but that doesn’t mean that it is. The truth is that our obedience to the Lord is an act of love that should come naturally to us and without any effort at all.

Christ did the hard part. He does not ask any of us for obedience quite like His, so let’s not make work out of something that should be a simple act of love.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God" | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 24

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

a good day to ask, “Will I find it?”

“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:14 NASB

There are over seven billion people living in the world today, so it is not necessary to become nervous about the statement Jesus made. In the grand scheme of things, “few” is certainly relative. In any case, worrying will not get us through the gate, and the number of people who will get through should not be of concern. The only thing we should be concerned about is “Will I find that narrow opening into God’s kingdom?”

What do we need to do to guarantee that we are allowed to walk through the gate that leads to everlasting life in God’s kingdom? Is it complicated? Is it difficult?

It must be if Christ says that “…there are few who find it.”

Let’s look at the complexity first. Jesus explained the way in one simple sentence, so it can’t be complicated. Thomas had asked for clarification so “Jesus said to him, ‘I Am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” (John 14:6 NASB).

How amazingly uncomplicated! Not only does Jesus tell us how, but He tells us where the gate is located. It is He, Christ, who is the Way. It is Christ who is the Gate. The answer is not complicated at all. But is it difficult? Now there is where the problem lies for so many unfortunate souls.

But then, perhaps this part is not as challenging as people make it either. If Christ is the way, then all we need do is look back at what He said when He first came upon each of His disciples. His words were invariably the same, He said, “Come, follow Me…” (Matthew 4:19a NIV).

Simple enough, don’t you think? “Follow Me.” All we have to do is follow Jesus Christ.

Do what He did.

Be like Him.

Imitate – and emulate – the Son of God, who will not only lead the way, He is the way.

Obviously we cannot perform all of the miracles that Christ performed, but we can live our lives in a humble manner with love and concern for our fellow man and we can love, praise and worship only God. That’s it; that’s all; that’s the secret.

Why, then, do so many fail to find it? Because, while the way may be uncomplicated and not difficult on its own, it is made complicated and difficult by the temptations of sin and the temptations of this world.

Now, we all know the way. The new question that we must ask ourselves is, “Can I do what must be done to get there?”

Accept nothing less than “Yes!” for an answer.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God", Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 23

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

an excellent day to keep the fire burning.

“The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.  Leviticus 6:13 KJV

Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself on the cross to eliminate the need for people to offer sacrifices at the altar to God. In God’s instructions to Moses, He made it clear that the fire on the altar must never go out. The fire was started by God and represented His ongoing presence within the system that was used to gain God’s forgiveness for sins that were committed.

Today, knowing that God is continually present is important in maintaining our enthusiasm for living a life that is pleasing to Him. When we consult with the Lord before everything we do, and when we look for the Lord in everyone we meet, we are continually adding fuel to the fire God put in us through the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.

We should always be looking for ways to help us keep our relationships exciting and fresh. Our spouses and loved ones need to know that we are enthusiastic about them. Unfortunately, doing the same thing day after day tends to become a bit monotonous and boring. When that happens, we begin to do things simply out of obligation and do not display much in the way of excitement. Our spouses and loved ones deserve better than that, so we need to try to find ways to keep things ‘new’ and ‘fresh.’

Our relationship with God is no different. We should always be looking for ways to add fuel to the fires of our enthusiasm for the Lord. Once started, we never want the fire in us to burn out, so how do we keep it burning brightly and with intensity? By making sure that God is a constant part of our lives. Keeping God in our thoughts can be accomplished no matter where we are or what we are doing. Even at work, as Paul teaches: “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Ephesians 6:7 NLT).

Even when we are at play with our children, we can add fuel to the fire by letting God hear the laughter of our love rise up to His ears. Those around us will hear it as well. “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’” (Psalm 126:2 NIV). Hearing our children laugh and sing is a reward for the Lord, in a way. Consider it repayment to Him because, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” (Psalm 127:3 NASB).

Use everything and everyone at your disposal to remind you of all that God has given you, and all that He does for you. Keep Him close in your daily living and show Him that the fire He put in you still burns as fiercely as ever.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God" | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 22

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

a spectacular day to think big!

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”  Ephesians 3:20 NLT

We are powerless without God, but we are limitless with Him. Our ability to exist comes from God, but He wants us to do more than just exist. Many people go through life never fully appreciating or understanding what they could be capable of if they were only to call upon the power of God for help. With the right motivation, God will help us to accomplish great things.

Many of us can identify the power of God working in our lives. Some of us have called upon God to help us endure seemingly unendurable situations. Our confident prayers have not only given us the ability to survive difficult situations, but a great number of us also know that God’s power gave us the ability to thrive during those situations.

Paul tried to impress upon the Corinthians just how remarkable the power of God was. Being a believer in those early times often presented danger to those who would try to share God’s light with those who lived in darkness. God gave Paul and others the power to share this light even though they themselves were fragile and powerless. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV).

As we all know, Jesus Christ walked among us in human form. We are also taught that it was God’s power, in the form of the Holy Spirit that filled Christ, enabling Him to do wondrous things. Before going out into the wilderness, where He faced temptation by the devil for 40 days, Jesus was baptized by John. It was at that moment that the Holy Spirit descended and entered Jesus, filling Him with the power He would need in the wilderness and afterwards. “Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about Him spread quickly through the entire region.” (Luke 4:14 NLT).

God knew exactly how Jesus would use the power that He now had. While it is doubtful that any of us will ever be able to claim quite the same abilities as the Son of God, we must be very cautious not to underestimate God’s power or His desire to use it through us for the good of all of His children on earth.

When we pray to God and our prayer is true and comes from our heart, He knows this. His power cannot be fathomed, and He can use it in any way He wishes. Ask Him to do wonderful things through you. Just remember, when you are asking for His help in serving others, think BIG!

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God" | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 21

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

a fine day to believe the unbelievable.

“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”  Luke 1:45 NASB

Unfortunately for mankind, belief does not come readily, or easily, to a great many people. It is a sad fact of life on earth that millions of people will not discover the joy of everlasting life because of a conscious decision to not believe that which they consider to be unbelievable.

God sent the Angel Gabriel to visit a man, Zechariah, and – later – a woman, Mary. The reception he received was a little different each time.

Zechariah was a priest, as we know, and both he and his wife, Elizabeth, had devoted their lives to obedience to God. They were childless and were getting on in years, but God sent Gabriel to inform them that Elizabeth would give birth to a son who would have the power of Elijah, would be filled with the Holy Spirit, and would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

Because of their ages, Zechariah, even though he had devoted his life to God and was a priest, did not believe that this would happen. His failure to believe God’s messenger did not change what would happen, but Zechariah was informed, “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe My words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” (Luke 1:20 NASB).

When Gabriel visited Mary when Elizabeth was about six months pregnant with John, she was certainly surprised that such a thing could happen to a woman who was a virgin, but Gabriel assured her that she had found favor with God and had, indeed, been chosen to be the one who would present the savior sent by God to the world. “’I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answers. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.’” (Luke 1:38 NIV).

Obviously Zechariah was convinced as soon as Elizabeth became pregnant, but he remained unable to speak until the child who would prepare people for the arrival of Christ was born. Mary, on the other hand, believed the unbelievable as soon as she was told.

God has placed within each one of us, the ability to believe that which, at first glance, might be a little difficult for us to accept. Many, many people are fortunate and find that ability early in life. Many – too many – others never find it. Then there are those of us who take a while, but after years of searching finally unlock that place that holds our ability to believe in the unbelievable.

If you know someone who has not quite found that ability yet, encourage them to keep on looking. It is there just waiting to be found.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God", Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 20

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Tony Casson

TODAY IS…

a wonderful day for a dinner party.

“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: ‘Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?’”  Mark 2:16 NIV

Much like today, a tax collector in the time of Christ was disliked. In Jesus’ time, there was rampant corruption among them making them even easier to despise. Levi, who became Matthew, was called by Jesus to follow Him and went on to write the first of the four Gospels covering the teachings of Jesus Christ.

When he was first called by Jesus, Matthew (then called Levi) got up from his tax collector’s booth and joined Him. Later, he invited Jesus and the other disciples to a dinner party at his house. In addition to Jesus, the disciples, and Levi, there were many of the friends of Levi who were tax collectors as well as others simply classified as ‘sinners.’

The teachers of religious law thought it odd that the man everyone was saying was the Messiah would sit down and eat with such people. Apparently their idea of a ‘savior’ and a ‘king’ was quite different from the truth. By their thinking, Christ should avoid “riff-raff” and only associate with those who comprised the upper echelon of society in that day. An ancient ‘A’ list, if you will. “On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Mark 9:17 NIV).

Jesus came to offer us salvation. To show us how to establish a relationship with God that would help us to live our short time on earth in a manner that reflected God’s loving and benevolent character. He came to lead us from the darkness of our lives into the light of service to others and to God. He came to sacrifice His life for our sins so that we could all have the opportunity for a renewed and restored relationship with God that will lead us to His promise of everlasting life.

He came to fix those who were broken, not to socialize with those who thought they were above the need for His help. He came to demonstrate His love for all of God’s children, not just for those who felt they were special.

There is an extremely valuable lesson to be learned from the story of that dinner party. It shows the Messiah to be a truly humble, loving, and compassionate man who loves everyone, not just those who think they are special. He wants us all to treat each other as He treated those He ate with. We should all keep these lessons in mind the next time we have people over for dinner.

Reach out to those who know they need it, not to those who think they deserve it.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God" | Tagged , , | Leave a comment