1 Corinthians 3:13 “…each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” NKJV

Life Lesson: Live, in the light of eternity.

I fondly remember my youthful days at the beach running back and forth with the meter of the waves. Seashells were joy-finds that held mysteries of the deep, willing to whisper their secrets to the ears of children open to being amazed. How many sandcastles did I build too close to the pounding of the surf only to watch them wash away as the tide crept in. Even the most glorious, well built castle eventually crumbled.

We all face days of testing.

Sometimes, our perspective is diminished by dependence on our own understanding. In the light of eternity, our understanding is the sloppy sand mortar of childhood castles. In the light of eternity, there is a day coming when you will give an account to Jesus for the impact you had or did not have in life.

“I can’t do this,” “I don’t have the time, “I don’t have the money, or “I’m afraid.” These, my friend, are the grains that make up failure. God created you for boldness and for Kingdom moments. You were not created for timidity or fear. You were created for victory and eternal rewards. One day all you see will be destroyed and all you will be left with is what you sent before you. The tide is coming in. Are you ready?

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for speaking to me through Your Word. Lord, I get distracted so easily at times. I want to accomplish all of what You have called me to do, and leave an eternal impact on others around me. Help me, Lord, to let go of things and make decisions to live for you. I want to live my life in the light of eternity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,

Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” NKJV

Life Lesson: We will all give an account of what we did or did not do for the Lord.

God blesses our acts of service. God fills us and prepares us for service. God doesn’t act for vanity; instead, He is purposeful in everything He does. You, my friend, are a part of God’s plan and purpose. You are the breathing, walking and talking result of His Word. God’s Word will not return void. This means that when God invests in you, He expects multiplication of return. That’s not self-serving. Our salvation is a gift from God. What we do with our lives after that is our gift back to God.

Genesis 22:8 “And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So, the two of them went together.” NKJV

There are rewards stored up in heaven for your serving. It is by God’s grace, you are allowed into heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once there, you will be rewarded or not rewarded for your serving. Intentions will not be rewarded.

It goes even beyond that. Do you know someone who is not serving? If so, then you are accountable, in love, to call them on it. Appeal to them. Perhaps due to your boldness to hold them accountable, they will not stand before Jesus with a heart full if intentions and hands full of air.

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving me so much and being so good to me. Lord, I want to give You my life. I want to give back to others because You have blessed me so much. I am sorry I haven’t been as kingdom-minded as I should have been. Help me to store up heavenly rewards. Help me to be a world-changer and to make a difference. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

Hey guys,

Here’s a link to the Penn video that was referred to in the teaching today. I am unable to embed it here, but this link will take you to the youtube video.

Penn Video – A Gift of a Bible

- PD

1 Chronicles 19:2 “Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the people of Ammon to comfort him.” NKJV

Life Lesson: We should seek to comfort others.

One of the great joys of being a Christian is bringing comfort to others. Sometimes though, it feels like the weeds of our own bad decisions choke out our ability to do so. Sure, we must deal with earthly consequences of our sins, but that in no way prohibits us from being able to show God’s peace to others. In the throes of our own pain, we are comforted with God’s words saying:

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” NKJV

Because of our past experiences, we are uniquely qualified to minister to others. According to the Bible, God has specific plans for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 2:10). Our Father God carries the title of “Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). He is training us to be comfort for others.

2 Corinthians 1:4 “…who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” NKJV

So friend, don’t count yourself out of ministry because of your mistakes or your past. The same merciful embrace God gave you in your day of distress could become the hug you share with others in their day.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the grace You give me. Lord, I don’t want to play tug-of-war with You. Help me not to carry around the wounding of my past, but to lay them down at Your feet. Lord, I want to extend the same grace You have given me, to others. I need You. Please work in my life and in my heart. I surrender it ALL to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

This evotional from June of 2005, though somewhat vintage is especially important, so wanted to share here at the blog as well as the website, facebook and twitter. Would love to hear everyone’s comments …

John 4:15 “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me some of that water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to haul water.” NLT

Life Lesson: We should be pouring out to the world what God has poured into us.

The Israelites and Samaritans lived in a dry, thirsty land; in a desert. It is hard for many of us to imagine how valuable water is in such a desperate place. Yet, we live in a spiritually dry and thirsty land; we are often oblivious to the lack. I wonder how many times a day someone tells us they are thirsty. Perhaps not, ‘please give me some of that water’ but they put it another way. When they speak of problems with their children, troubles in their marriage, trials in their life, they are really saying, “I am so thirsty.” When they are short tempered, worn out and angry they are saying they don’t know how to quench their thirst. I also wonder how many times we don’t really understand their plea and their thirst. How many times we walk past opportunities to minister to them. Be filled up this morning and go give it away. Look for the thirsty and look for the dry. Hear their cries and offer them living water.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me so much that You allow me to serve You. Lord, I lift this land up to You and ask You to raise up workers for the harvest. You offer the water that completely quenches our need and You offer it abundantly and freely. Open the hearts of this world to Your gift and allow me to play a part in the quenching of this thirsty world. I thank You that the results are in Your almighty hands. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Corinthians 3:1-2 “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.  I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;” NKJV

Life Lesson: God is in the process of changing us.

Paul has written that there are two kinds of people; believers and unbelievers. Now he writes of two kinds of believers, mature or immature (carnal).

Carnal is from the word, Carna, which means flesh. You have an old nature and a new nature. Your old nature is carnal. You have probably heard the word Carnival (Carna Vale) which literally means farewell to the flesh. Originally, parties were held before the week of Lent to usher in this time of dying to the flesh. Mardi Gras, a much less spiritual party celebrated in New Orleans and other places around the world, was originally a “farewell to the flesh” party ushering in the period of Lent.

God is in the process of changing us. The way we grow in God is by doing the things He has told us through His Word.

1 Peter 2:2 “…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” NKJV

Jesus told us that, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). It would seem that Jesus placed great importance on His followers learning the scriptures. Many contemporary Bible teachers would do well to make note of this.

As we read and draw our nourishment from God’s Word, we begin to grow in our new nature. Our lives begin to reflect changes by saying “yes” to the Holy Spirit. We are being conformed to the image of Jesus. Personal time in the Bible, in prayer, in faithful attendance of a Bible teaching church are all indications of spiritual maturity and are all important for our continued spiritual growth. Do you see these things in your life? Take a close look …maybe even ask a friend or family member. Are these things apparent in your life? God does not want us to remain babes in Christ, but to enjoy the full blessing of walking in His will.

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your desire to use me in the Harvest. Lord, I know I have made excuses and yet You and Your Word is still willing to guide me even in my selfishness. Thank You for teaching me. Forgive me for any envy, strife ore division I have caused against others. I desire to know more and more of You. Thank You for loving me and for having a great plan for my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,

Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

Matthew 13:9 ”He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” NKJV

Life Lesson: We should do the Bible not just hear the Bible.

Pastor John Chinelly, from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, gave an awesome and insightful teaching tonight from the parables of Jesus. Thanks Pastor John for sharing with us.

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus would often teach a moral truth by connecting natural things to make incredible spiritual points. Too often; however, the people did not want to hear the Truth He brought. Jesus was fond of saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Obviously, God gave us ears for listening. Do we always? If we were honest with ourselves, we would have to say no.

“The teaching was on point today” or “I just wasn’t feelin’ it today”…Things overheard from people leaving countless churches across this land. Why do we come to church? Is it to grade the teacher? Is it to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching? No. We come to church to hear from God.

The Apostle John wrote that the same Holy Spirit that instructs the teacher also instructs the Christian. The Bible tells us that scripture is God-breathed, and it is a discerner of the heart’s intentions which does not return void (doesn’t fail) (1 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:11). So, whose fault is it when we go to church, listen to a teaching from the Bible, and don’t receive? Here’s a hint: It’s not the teacher, it’s not the Bible and it’s not God. That’s right. It’s our own fault. We don’t hear because we don’t like the challenge.

We should never walk away from church (no matter who the teacher is) without realizing a change or recognizing a step we need to take. Make it your personal commitment to find the life-challenge, the life lesson within each teaching and apply it to your life. Share it with a friend or a family member. Ask them to hold you accountable for making that change.

James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. NKJV

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. I know I am incapable of paying the debt of my sins. Thank You for providing Your Son, Jesus, to forgive the debt of all my sins. I am grateful that You delight in having a relationship with me. Lord, help me to apply Your Word in my daily life and live out a life of peace and faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Living to tell what He died to say,

Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
ReachtheTriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” NKJV

Life Lesson: God wants us to reveal His goodness to people that don’t know Him.

The Lord wants to reveal Himself to people; His goodness to people that don’t know Him. Unless God reveals Himself to someone they won’t get it. The fact that we get it is not because we are so wise but because God has shown us. He opens our hearts to His Word … It’s His gift by grace through faith and not by our own works.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” NKJV

The world tries to separate man from God. When modern man tries to explain God from worldly perspectives, it ends up in a foolish mess. The cross is foolishness to those who don’t understand. People cannot “get it” until God reveals it to them. Does this mean we should quit sharing and just let people figure it out themselves? Of course not! Our calling is to share and leave the rest up to God.

If your motivation in sharing the gospel is to have people accept Jesus, then you will become discouraged. If your motivation is obedience to God, then when someone accepts Jesus, you get to revel in the joy of obedience. It’s an obedience issue and not a quota to be met. When God shows up, things happen! Share with expectation and know that whether someone accepts Jesus or not, you are a faithful steward of the love of Christ.

Romans 10:14 “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” NLT

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You that in Your vastness as creator of the heavens and earth, You desire to know me. You call me to share with others. Lord, give me the mind of Christ so that I may see You and myself more clearly than I ever have. In your grace and mercy, I am comforted to know that You have offered me forgiveness. Empower me the with a passion to tell others about You so I can reveal Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Chronicles 18:1 “After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines.” NKJV

Life Lesson: A life of faith is a battle.

If this statement is shocking to you my friend then perhaps, in love, you need to take a closer look at your life. Jesus promised that there would be trials and trouble for those who follow him. Paul referred to Christians as “soldiers of Christ.” Because Satan has set himself against the Lord, it stands to reason that as a soldier of Christ, you are in the battle. You cannot be active in the battle and be seated on the sidelines. There are no couches on the front lines; foxholes and fighters are only found there.

David was not hiding and asking God to keep him safe. He understood there were battles in his life. Instead, David was praying and stepping out in faith. God wants to keep us and give us the victory. Sometimes, we think that the worst thing that could happen to us is if we fail. In Christianity, the worst thing is failing to try. God has declared victory in your life. Friend, don’t argue with God about it…live it! Be victorious.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your Word and the desire to use me as a vessel to bless others. Lord, empower me with boldness to put Your kingdom first. I don’t want to be a spectator in the battle. I want to see lives changed for Your glory. Help me to step out and be a kingdom builder. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man. The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.’” NKJV

Life Lesson: When you are not sure of things or circumstances, go back to what you do know.

In the verse above, I have many times heard pastors teach verse nine but fail to move on to verse ten. When one teaches only verse nine, it gives the impression that we cannot know what God has prepared for us. But continue to verse ten, and we learn that we do have access to the mysteries of God through His Holy Spirit. God has not left us stranded on the rusty and rickety old bridge of uncertainty.

When you are not sure of things or circumstances, go back to what you do know. Remind yourself…”God, I know You love me. I know my sins are for given. I know You will use all things for my good. I know You have a plan for me.”

The moment you realize God loves you and has forgiven you, other mysteries of life don’t have to strike fear in your heart. Instead we can boldly step out into those things He created for us to do. When God reveals Himself to you, He gives you the responsibility to share Him with others.

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your kindness and grace to reveal yourself to me. Lord, draw me close to You and show me in Your plan for my life. Give me the strength to share Your simple message to reach others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,

Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880