January 29

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Tony Casson

January 29

TODAY IS…

the day to think about the glory of God that was revealed in Jesus Christ.

“Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.”  Luke 9:32 NASB

Everywhere we look, we see proof of God’s hand in creation, but nowhere is the beauty God created more spectacularly evident than when viewed from high up in the mountains.

It is no wonder that Jesus liked to go there often to pray. Peter and the brothers James and John were the three disciples who were closest to Jesus and He invited them to accompany Him up a mountain one day to pray with Him.

Imagine the incredible honor of being one of these men who has already seen Jesus walk on water, heal many people and feed thousands of others with just a few fish and loaves of bread. Now imagine accompanying Him to a high mountain to pray and witnessing His clothes transform to a dazzling, blinding white as He is joined by Moses and Elijah. And if that were not enough, further imagine the bright cloud overshadowing them, out of which comes the voice of God proclaiming, “…This is My Son, My Chosen One. Listen to Him.” (Luke 9:35 NLT).

Let us all try to imagine ourselves there at that moment, experiencing the glory of being surrounded by the physical beauty of the world that God created while in the presence of Moses, who represented the law, Elijah, who represented the prophets, and Jesus, whom God’s voice has just singled out as being the long-awaited Messiah!

The Chosen One. What glory! What an honor!

Each one of us has been chosen to share in the glory of God that was revealed in Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept the invitation and accept Jesus Christ as our savior.

*******

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

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

January 28

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Tony Casson

January 28

TODAY IS…

a perfect day for sharing.

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”  1 Timothy 6:17 NIV

The Roman statesman Seneca once said, “This is the law of benefits between men; the one ought to forget at once what he has given, and the other ought never to forget what he has received.”

Sharing what we have with another who is in need is something we can do which God finds extremely pleasing. Some of us may find it awkward or difficult at first to reach out to others and share with them. We may be uncomfortable because we are unaccustomed to it. Perhaps we are uncertain of what to share or how to share. We may find ourselves holding back because we are afraid that it is too little or the wrong thing or the wrong time.

What we may be doing is complicating something that is actually not complicated at all. We simply need to follow the instruction given in the Bible which says, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16 NIV).

The fact is that, with a little patience, a little practice and a little prayer, we can all become experts at pleasing God through sharing with others, helping ourselves to mature as Christians at the same time.

Whether it is food, clothing, money or simply our time, giving a gift of ourselves to another is giving a gift of love to God.

In this busy world, many of us would place our time at the bottom of that list of things we have available to share, but take the time and give it to someone else who needs it. We may just find that the Lord will reward us by helping us enjoy the time we have left even more.

Volunteering to help the blind or the elderly, to work in a thrift shop, at a church mission that feeds the poor, or by simply mowing an elderly neighbor’s lawn or helping to repair a broken fence can send a message of God’s love that will be clearly heard and deeply appreciated.

All one need do is look around and it is easy to find ways to share with others. Reading the Bible daily will help to motivate us and to find other ways to share as well, such as sharing God’s glory.

Joining and being active in a church is the best way to accomplish all of the above methods of sharing, for as the Bible says, “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.” (Acts 2:44 NLT).

Food, clothing, money, time and the glory of Jesus Christ. Use God’s gift of today to share yourself with others.

*******

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

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

January 27

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Tony Casson

January 27

TODAY IS…

a good day to find courage in God.

“…for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, ‘Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.’ ”  Mark 6:50 NASB

No one makes it through life without experiencing fear. There is no shame in it, nor is it a sign of weakness. It is a human response to something unknown or dangerous. Fear – like all who encounter it – comes in all shapes and sizes. For some, it is small and comes in the shape of a spider. For others, it may be as large as, and in the shape of, an airplane.

It can be fear of a specific thing or of a particular situation such as a job interview, moving to a new city, speaking in public or starting in at a new school.

The question is not the size, shape or source of our fear. The question is how we confront it. The question is where we draw the courage to deal with it.

Let’s place ourselves in the boat with the disciples in the middle of the Sea of Galilee as they rowed toward Gennesaret. They were more than likely discussing the incredible events of the day. They had just witnessed the man they had chosen to follow – a man they did not fully understand or believe yet – as He fed thousands of people from a meager supply of five loaves of bread and two fish.

As they discussed this miraculous event in the darkest of night three or four miles from shore, a fierce storm descended upon them, tossing their little craft about and filling them with fear. Suddenly, out of the darkness, they see this same man walking toward them – on the water! Now they were terrified. They thought they were seeing a ghost.

But Jesus told them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.” Whereupon He climbed into the boat then calmed the wind and the sea. With calm restored, the disciples took courage from the presence of the Lord.

And so it is with each one of us. We must know that we can all rely on the Lord for courage no matter what fear we are facing and no matter what sudden storms crop up in our lives. And although new things can be exciting, they can be frightening as well. Imagine the trepidation Joshua must have felt when he succeeded Moses as Israel’s leader. How would any of us feel if our new job description included leading two million people into a strange land? A land that would need to be conquered to boot! As Joshua looked out on that sea of expectant faces, one can imagine the fear he could have felt were it not for the assurance of God when He said, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous.” (Joshua 1:5-7a NLT).

The rest of the book of Joshua chronicles the fulfillment of Joshua’s obligation and God’s promise to him to help fulfill it. The reading of it reveals the courage Joshua exhibited as he faced the daunting task before him by trusting God and following His direction.

When we are afraid, we need to look to God. When we think we are alone to face our fears, we must turn to God. He will not fail us and He will never abandon us.

Take your courage from God and you will have everything you need to face your fears.

*******

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

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

January 26

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Tony Casson

January 26

TODAY IS…

a good day to set the world on fire.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Romans 12:2 KJV

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” With these words, St. Catherine of Siena summed up the purpose of the life of each and every human being.

How do we know who God meant us to be? The best place to look for that answer is in the Holy Bible, of course. The Bible tells us first and foremost that “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27 NASB). Since God has no physical body, when Moses was telling the story of creation to the people of Israel, he was trying to teach them that God created us to reflect the goodness of His character. We do this by showing others the love, patience, kindness, compassion, faithfulness and forgiveness that God has placed in each of us.

Up to the latter part of the 1800’s, the ability of any individual to influence large numbers of people was limited by the primitive modes of travel and communication that were available. In today’s world, what we say, what we do and who we are can have an almost instantaneous impact around the world. This capability makes it crucial that we take the time to reflect on what our behavior tells others about who we are and what we believe.

If we are dedicated to being who God meant us to be, our behavior will mirror the true character of God and our ability to ignite the desire in others to reflect that character will be assured. As neighbor sees neighbor reflecting the character of God, the world will be set on fire with the passion of everyone striving to be who God meant them to be.

A world inhabited only by people who lived, acted and behaved as God meant us to would surely resemble heaven on Earth.

Impossible? As the angel of the Lord informed Mary, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37 KJV). It is very easy to look around us and become discouraged. But it is just as easy to look within at what God has placed inside each one of us and be who He meant us to be. If each of us becomes that person, we will be amazed at what we can do.

We could very well be the match that sets the world on fire with a passion for God.

*******

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

Posted in "TODAY IS....A Gift From God" | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

January 25

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Tony Casson

January 25

TODAY IS…

a good day to pursue godliness.

“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”  1 Timothy 6:11 NASB

Paul’s instruction to Timothy to “pursue… godliness” was no casual use of words, nor should it be taken as such by those of us seeking to grow in our faith as maturing Christians.

We should aspire to become living examples for others to follow and if we expect that to happen, we must actively pursue the knowledge, wisdom and guidance that the Bible contains and apply all that we learn to our daily lives. Learning is not a passive act, nor is it possible to attain godliness without actively pursuing it.

A nationally published survey once estimated that 75% of all American households were in possession of at least one Bible. While it is a definitive first step, owning a Bible is only the first small step in what ideally will turn into a lifelong walk with God.

One need only look around, read the newspaper and popular magazines, watch the news and examine what constitutes the highest rated television programming to get a very real sense that the first small step is the only step that many of us have ever taken.

It does no good to proclaim to being in possession of the Word of God unless it is being used to help us find God’s hand in order that He might hold tightly onto ours and show us where to walk safely and in a manner that reflects His gentle, loving manner.

To help us know if we are pursuing godliness, we can ask ourselves the following questions: Do I live my life in a manner that reflects my desire to share my faith with others? Do I live in a manner that enables me to proudly hold my life up to others as an example of the peace, joy, happiness and fulfillment that comes from living a godly life? Am I an individual that others look to in times of trouble to provide comfort, strength, compassion, fellowship and understanding as only godliness can provide?

Hopefully our answers are all “yes.” But if not, we need only be more active in our pursuit of godliness.

Read the Bible daily for the help it will provide and pray to God asking for guidance, for the Bible says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7 KJV).

*******

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

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

January 24

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Tony Casson

January 24

TODAY IS…

the perfect day to celebrate God’s gift of Hope.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

The dictionary offers one definition of “hope” as “a desire supported by confidence of fulfillment.”

God offers each one of us hope as well as a future. With God as the One offering it, we can definitely have confidence in its fulfillment.

The question is, do we really desire what God is offering? We must also ask ourselves if we are ready, willing and able to pay the price.

First of all, we need to clearly understand what is represented in the hope that God plans to give us. It is the hope for our salvation and eternal life in His Kingdom. The future is one of indescribable peace, joy and happiness if we are only ready and willing to accept it and are able to pay the price. Part of the price for the salvation of our sinful souls and an eternal life of indescribable peace, joy and happiness is blood. But the blood was the blood of Jesus and it has already been paid on our behalf.

Since Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, what sort of payment, then, is required of us? Belief. Our payment is the belief that Jesus Christ is our savior and only Jesus can lead us to a good relationship with God. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 NLT).

That’s it? We simply need to believe? Yes. That is all we need to do to receive God’s gift of hope and His plan for a future. It is not hard, expensive or complicated. It can be a little overwhelming at times, though, because once we accept that Jesus Christ is Lord, we will find that the desire to change the way we think, act and live will be powerful. What we must do, then, is become faithful followers of God. Read the Holy Bible daily to look for God’s guidance on how to fulfill His plans for us.

Not to worry, though. God’s patience is legendary. He will help us with our struggles and support us through our trials. He promises to give us hope and a future and we can be assured that He will fulfill that promise.

Enjoy God’s gift of Today and thank Him for the hope and the future that He is holding out to all of us who are ready to accept 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

“It’s Been a Long Road to Damascus”

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Tony Casson

“For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it..” Galatians 1:13 ESV

The name of the movie I was watching the other day was “Unconditional” and, unlike many Christian-themed movies, this one was actually pretty good. While the messages are most often worth the time invested in watching these films, there are numerous problems with the production of many faith-based films, the most common of which is usually lack of adequate funding, but there are other issues as well.

Prominent among them is what appears to be an unwillingness to portray sin as provocatively, seductively, pleasurably and alluringly as it most assuredly is. From what I have seen, there is often a central theme of sin, but the films in which the sin is portrayed usually do a poor job of making it attractive, which takes away from the realism.

After all, sin is slickly packaged and difficult to resist, which is why it is so popular. I think it is important to portray it that way and then peal away the mask and expose the destructive evil that lies beneath the surface. Mind you, I am not calling for a glorification of sin. However, it is important to ‘tell it like it is’ when we are trying to keep others from sinning, or when we are trying to lead others out of it.

For example, there is no denying the pleasures that can be experienced while engaged in sexual acts, nor should such a denial be offered or inferred, but it must be pointed out that it is selfish acts of instant gratification society now views as ‘normal’ which constitute the sin that is being packaged, not the pleasure itself, and far too often the message is handled poorly, particularly in faith-based movies.

I lived a life allowing myself to be tricked into believing the lies that were packaged and presented to me in the most seductive, alluring ways. For 40 years I wallowed in a sewer of sin that didn’t appear to me to be a sewer at all. Quite the contrary. I thought I was swimming in a a pool of beautiful, crystal-clear water. That is, until I awoke in the hospital the day after my nearly successful suicide attempt. “And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight…” Acts 9:18 ESV

Of course, the clarity with which I would come to view the life I had lived would not come fully into focus for some time yet, but my ability to see my sin for what it was, and to see the way out of sin was clear. I first needed to shut my eyes to the sinful life I had lived, and it would take a little time, and a lot of prayer, before I could open them up to my past and learn from it.

“But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.”  Galatians 1:15-17  NLT

For me, “Arabia” was the federal prison in Oakdale, LA and it appears that my ‘Damascus’ turned out to be Washington, DC.

How many people travel on their own “Road to Damascus” without incident or interruption? Would I have wanted to continue down the same road I was headed without that confrontation? The scars on my neck, and the way God is using me today in Washington, ‘D’-is-for-Damascus C, speak to that quite loudly and quite clearly.

If my life were to be made into a movie, it would have to be ‘R’ rated, because my life was rated ‘X’ (at least) and the only way to adequately understand and appreciate the Victory of Christ over sin, is to portray the sin as provocatively as possible and then rip the scales off peoples’ eyes, let them see it in all of its bloody, destructive, life-stealing truth, and then compare it to the new life that can follow when the dust settles and the road becomes clear again.

Take a couple of minutes to enjoy the following video. I bet there are words in there that will resonate with you, and images that will seem familiar. For me, some of those words are, “I’m finally here. It’s been a long Road to Damascus.”

Posted in A Thousand First Steps | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

From “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Tony Casson

                                                          January 23
TODAY IS…
a good day to see God at work.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…” Romans 8:28 KJV

God has a hand in everything that takes place around us. Nothing escapes His attention. His eye is constantly on His purpose, and not necessarily our happiness, so we might not always be completely satisfied with everything that happens in our lives.

If we are fortunate enough to have accepted Jesus Christ as our savior and are willing to place our very existence in God’s hands, we will know that regardless of what may happen around us, or to us, God is working for the good of all who love Him and trust in Him. Perhaps we need to hang a sign in our homes to remind us: “GOD AT WORK – PATIENCE REQUIRED”.

As true children of God, we must accept the fact that what we want may not be what is good for those around us and may not fit in with God’s plans. We must constantly remind ourselves that God works for the good of everyone, and what He sees may be different from what we would like to see. As Christians, we have freedom, but we need to be sensitive to the freedom of others as well.

It is part of our nature as human beings and as God’s children to ask for things from the Father, but as maturing Christians we also need to realize that we need to ask God for guidance in helping us see how we fit into His plans, and how we fit His purpose.

We should also be aware that evil is all around us in today’s world. It should come as no surprise that occasionally some harm may befall us. It is during these times that we must fully trust God and know that He can make good things come from evil. As evidence of this, we only need to look to the Bible to the story of Joseph and the hardships he endured. Betrayal by his brothers; being imprisoned for doing the right thing when he resisted sexual temptation: it would have been easy for him to throw up his hands in frustration and say, “Why me?”, but Joseph always looked forward and tried to hold God’s hand in order that God would lead him through his troubles. When he finally came face to face with his brothers, they feared retribution by him. Instead, Joseph showed them love and told them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50:20 NLT).

We need only to have faith in God’s wisdom and trust His love for us. That way we will know that He will always be working for the good of all of us. It may take some effort on our part now and then to understand, but if we ask God for the patience to wait for His purpose, we will see that His purpose is good and we will know He is working for the good of everyone.
*******

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

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

Build A Boat

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Tony Casson

Following are words written well that I find particularly helpful at this moment. Sometimes I don’t feel smart enough or capable enough for the task that stretches before me. I know I am not worthy of it. And yet, these are the things I think and think I know.

When God wants us to do something, we simply have to understand that what we ‘think’ and ‘think we know’ are not relevant. What we must do is think outside the ‘box’ that our brain comes in and realize the power that created the entire universe is behind each one of us.

“Yep. That’s big.”

The author is known simply as “Beejai” and his blog is worth following.

The River Walk's avatarTHE RIVER WALK

build a boat

So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him. (Genesis 7:5)

Read: Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19

Relate: “Build a boat.”

“But God, I don’t want to move. My family is pretty settled here and the coast is an awful long way off. They don’t even speak the same language down there.”

“I didn’t tell you to move. I said build a boat.”

“A boat.”

“Yes. Build a boat. A big one.”

“Ummmm… how big is big?”

“450 feet long, 75 feet wide, 45 feet high.”

Gulp. “Yep. That’s big. Why does it need to be so big?”

“It will contain a zoo.”

“A zoo, inside a boat, in the desert…”

“Yes. Because it is going to rain. A lot.”

“Ummmm God? What’s rain?”

React: “You’re insane?” Has anyone ever said that to us when we begin to step out in obedience to what God has called us to do?…

View original post 144 more words

Posted in Scenic Turnouts | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Resolutions

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Tony Casson

Following are two excerpts from my daily devotional “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”. The first is the entry for December 27, and contains some resolutions that might be helpful to us all. The second is from January 1, which contains sentiments that might be helpful as we embark on this journey through a brand new year.

TODAY IS…                    December 27

a wonderful day to look at things differently.

“How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me?”  Psalm 116:12 NIV

As the New Year approaches, many of us look forward to the end of the current year saying, “I hope next year’s a lot better than this one!” As if the stroke of midnight that changes one day to another holds a magical allure to us, we look at the approach of midnight December 31 as a chance to “start over.” Of course, the only true way to start over is to accept Christ into our lives, repent of our sins, and ask God for His forgiveness which really wipes our slate clean.

Be that as it may, perhaps God doesn’t mind a tiny bit of indulgence, so let us look at January 1 as a new beginning. There is no better time to prepare for the future than to use the Gift of Today to do it. As the New Year approaches, the pen and paper come out and ‘resolutions’ are made with which we hope to truly change in a positive way for the next year.

The most common resolutions are to lose weight and quit smoking. While these are both extremely important things to consider for our health and well-being, why don’t we look at things differently for next year, especially if we are among those who are glad this year is ending?

Let’s begin by looking back over the past year and taking note of all of the blessings we have received from God. Many of us will discover that some of God’s blessings accompanied those events which contribute to our looking forward to a new year. But if we think about it, we can see that we learned and grew as a result of those things and that God demonstrated His love for us time and time again. We should be less thankful that the year is ending, and more thankful that God was with us every step of the way.

If we really want to change, we will need God’s help, so how about considering some of these suggestions for resolutions?

· I resolve to thank God every day for all He does for me.

· I resolve to look for Christ in every person I meet.

· I resolve to do something significant in service to God and my brothers and sisters each day.

· I resolve to spend less time on the couch and more time on my feet doing the Lord’s work.

· I resolve to pray for other people every day.

· I resolve to think more about God so that I am less inclined to think about things I shouldn’t.

· I resolve to think less of myself and more about those around me.

These are a few suggestions you can claim as your own and then say, “I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of His people.” (Psalm 116:14 NIV).

*****************

TODAY IS…                          January 1

the beginning.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 NLT

A new day. A new month. A new year.

So what are you going to do with it? In the beginning, God did something good. He created something of infinite wonder and beauty. Should you not do something good with the beginning that you have stretched out before you right now?

Of course you cannot do anything as remotely spectacular as what God did, but then, He doesn’t expect that. If you feel unsure or tentative about your ability to do anything that will have any impact, perhaps the words of Helen Keller will serve to reassure you:

“I am only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything. But still, I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I CAN do!”

God is love, and He showed us His love by creating the world and the life that was to inhabit it. A good way for you to begin would be to return that love with a commitment to try a little harder each day to make His creation a better place. You can do this by spending a little time each day reading the Bible and asking God for help in understanding His Word and putting into practice the simple concepts repeated throughout its many inspiring pages.

None of us will ever be perfect, but we do have the ability to mirror God’s character by the way we conduct ourselves in daily life. It is far too easy to slip into bad habits and mirror the crudeness, immorality, and inconsiderate character that today’s society so often exposes us to. But with the determination to begin something beautiful and full of meaning, it will soon be apparent that what people see when they look at you is a mirror image of God’s love, patience, kindness, and forgiveness.

You see, you cannot do everything. Only God can do that. But you can do something to take advantage of today.

Make it the beginning of something good.

Posted in Beginning The Journey | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment