James 2:19 - You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
Satan (and his demons) never denied God's existence, just His sovereign power. It's easy for anyone to believe, but to accept His sovereign power, and to seek His presence and blessings is what makes us different.
I love this passage. It reminds me of where I used to be in my faith, and where I need to be heading. No, I wasn't a demon (despite what my ex-wives might say), but I didn't have any kind of relationship with God. I was saved over 15 years ago, but didn't even attempt to develop a relationship with Jesus until 4 years ago. It was common for me to say, "I don't have to read the Bible or go to Church to believe." I didn't need them to believe, but I need them to develop my relationship with Him. Anyone can sit and say that they believe, as this passage says even the demons believe, but failing to work on our relationship with God will prevent us from being blessed. God will always love us, but if we aren't in a right relationship with Him, He won't bless us.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for Your blessings in my life. Thank You for reaching my heart and showing me that You had so much more for me than just the lip service I was giving You. Your love and protection means more to me than words could ever say. I pray that I will continue to remain strong in my faith, and show You in my daily walk with You. Please use me to bless others as I have been blessed. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Who Needs Luck?
Psalm 60:4 - But you have raised a banner for those who fear you - a rallying point in the face of attack.
When God is on our side, we have nothing to fear. The beginning of this Psalm talks of how they had been defeated, as if God was punishing them for their lack of faith. But then God rescued them. When they were reeling from their defeat, they sought God with their heart as their rallying point, and He saved them. They trampled their enemies with God's help.
How often do we say to someone, "Good luck." Who needs luck when we have God on our side. How often do we say, "I need all the luck I can get right now." No we don't. We need to be on God's side. Abraham Lincoln once said, "My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." He is always right, and He has always been on our side.
This is something I need to make sure my heart is after, being on God's side. I need to make sure my heart is right and seeking His favor. God has always promised to be on my side. He has always loved me regardless of whether or not I deserved it (I still don't). I need to be focused on being on His side. I don't need luck when I have a right heart.
Dear Lord, thank You for always being on my side. I pray for the strength and wisdom that can only come from You, that I will be on Your side. I don't need luck since I have You, and I pray that my heart will remain strong for You. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
When God is on our side, we have nothing to fear. The beginning of this Psalm talks of how they had been defeated, as if God was punishing them for their lack of faith. But then God rescued them. When they were reeling from their defeat, they sought God with their heart as their rallying point, and He saved them. They trampled their enemies with God's help.
How often do we say to someone, "Good luck." Who needs luck when we have God on our side. How often do we say, "I need all the luck I can get right now." No we don't. We need to be on God's side. Abraham Lincoln once said, "My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right." He is always right, and He has always been on our side.
This is something I need to make sure my heart is after, being on God's side. I need to make sure my heart is right and seeking His favor. God has always promised to be on my side. He has always loved me regardless of whether or not I deserved it (I still don't). I need to be focused on being on His side. I don't need luck when I have a right heart.
Dear Lord, thank You for always being on my side. I pray for the strength and wisdom that can only come from You, that I will be on Your side. I don't need luck since I have You, and I pray that my heart will remain strong for You. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Meant For Good
Genesis 45:7 - God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.
What men intend for evil, God uses for good. The different stories throughout the Bible are great displays of God using bad situations for His glory. Joseph, Esther, Daniel, and the Apostle Paul are great examples of His love and grace. Paul is one of the best examples (in my opinion). He spent a lot of time persecuting the followers of Jesus, and he enjoyed it. Some people may ask what good could possibly have come from this? Well, God using Paul was an outstanding example of God showing unfailing love and grace to who some may consider unloveable or unsaveable. Paul referred to himself as a sinner who was, "The worst of them all" (1 Timothy 1:15). God had great things planned for Paul. Just like He had great things planned for Joseph - to bring His chosen people into a greater relationship with Him. And all because He loved them and wanted to save them.
Is God using me for His glory? He sure is! I may not always see it, but that's because I'm not capable of seeing the big picture of God's plan. No one is. I have to trust in His way and His timing. The more I am surrendered to God's will and plan for me, the more of His great and mighty things He will show me.
Dear Abba Father, please continue to give me the strength and courage to stay faithful and obedient to You despite the obstacles I face on a daily basis. I want to be used by you to bring people into a closer relationship with You. It is so easy to fall away from Your truth, but I know that I can stay locked into Your love with faithful prayer and Your amazing grace. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
What men intend for evil, God uses for good. The different stories throughout the Bible are great displays of God using bad situations for His glory. Joseph, Esther, Daniel, and the Apostle Paul are great examples of His love and grace. Paul is one of the best examples (in my opinion). He spent a lot of time persecuting the followers of Jesus, and he enjoyed it. Some people may ask what good could possibly have come from this? Well, God using Paul was an outstanding example of God showing unfailing love and grace to who some may consider unloveable or unsaveable. Paul referred to himself as a sinner who was, "The worst of them all" (1 Timothy 1:15). God had great things planned for Paul. Just like He had great things planned for Joseph - to bring His chosen people into a greater relationship with Him. And all because He loved them and wanted to save them.
Is God using me for His glory? He sure is! I may not always see it, but that's because I'm not capable of seeing the big picture of God's plan. No one is. I have to trust in His way and His timing. The more I am surrendered to God's will and plan for me, the more of His great and mighty things He will show me.
Dear Abba Father, please continue to give me the strength and courage to stay faithful and obedient to You despite the obstacles I face on a daily basis. I want to be used by you to bring people into a closer relationship with You. It is so easy to fall away from Your truth, but I know that I can stay locked into Your love with faithful prayer and Your amazing grace. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Real Leadership
2 Samuel 24:17 - When David saw the angel, he said to the Lord, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep - what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family."
David epitomized what a real leader should be - accountable. He made mistakes (plenty of them) from time to time, and when he did, he confessed his sins to God and asked for His forgiveness. What is great about this passage, is David's desire to take the punishment for his mistakes. He didn't want any of his people to suffer for his shortcomings.
Am I this type of leader? David was a man after God's heart, and that is what I should be desiring to be as well. When I make mistakes (one of my specialties), I must make sure that I am not only confessing my sins to God, but that I am demonstrating accountability to my subordinates as well as my superiors. I can only pray that I will remain true to my Lord and Savior in all that I do, and that I am a man after his heart.
Dear Lord, thank You for this reminder that I need to stay true to You and Your calling for me. Thank You for reminding me to show the accountability that is necessary when I fall short, and that You get the glory for all of it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
David epitomized what a real leader should be - accountable. He made mistakes (plenty of them) from time to time, and when he did, he confessed his sins to God and asked for His forgiveness. What is great about this passage, is David's desire to take the punishment for his mistakes. He didn't want any of his people to suffer for his shortcomings.
Am I this type of leader? David was a man after God's heart, and that is what I should be desiring to be as well. When I make mistakes (one of my specialties), I must make sure that I am not only confessing my sins to God, but that I am demonstrating accountability to my subordinates as well as my superiors. I can only pray that I will remain true to my Lord and Savior in all that I do, and that I am a man after his heart.
Dear Lord, thank You for this reminder that I need to stay true to You and Your calling for me. Thank You for reminding me to show the accountability that is necessary when I fall short, and that You get the glory for all of it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
No Intimidation
Nehemiah 6:9 - They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
Nehemiah is a great example of a leader that refuses to be intimidated. When opposition tried every trick in the book to get him to stop or back down, he refused. He saw through all of their tricks. He knew that he was doing the will of God, and the harder they tried, the more determined he became. That is the strength of God. Nehemiah's heart was so attuned with God's, he knew that God would never let him fail as long as he remained courageous and faithful.
God will do that for all of us. He will never let us fail when we are faithful and courageous. When we are surrendered to His will for us, and allow Him to work through us, He will give us all the strength and determination we need to succeed. This doesn't mean that everything will be easy. It means that we will succeed. The intimidation factor will be there, but if we stay strong in our trust in the Lord, that factor won't dissuade us from our goal of doing God's work and bringing Him the glory.
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that the kind of strength and determination I need to be a successful leader comes only from You. I ask for You to continue to fill me with Your Spirit as I go into the world today and every day. I want to bring You the glory in all I do. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Nehemiah is a great example of a leader that refuses to be intimidated. When opposition tried every trick in the book to get him to stop or back down, he refused. He saw through all of their tricks. He knew that he was doing the will of God, and the harder they tried, the more determined he became. That is the strength of God. Nehemiah's heart was so attuned with God's, he knew that God would never let him fail as long as he remained courageous and faithful.
God will do that for all of us. He will never let us fail when we are faithful and courageous. When we are surrendered to His will for us, and allow Him to work through us, He will give us all the strength and determination we need to succeed. This doesn't mean that everything will be easy. It means that we will succeed. The intimidation factor will be there, but if we stay strong in our trust in the Lord, that factor won't dissuade us from our goal of doing God's work and bringing Him the glory.
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that the kind of strength and determination I need to be a successful leader comes only from You. I ask for You to continue to fill me with Your Spirit as I go into the world today and every day. I want to bring You the glory in all I do. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Our Best Hope
Psalm 42:11 - Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - my Savior and my God!
This is such a great message. The writer remembers a different time, when things in his community were better. But now, things have taken a turn for the worse. Through it all, the writer knows that God is with him. He feels God's presence all the time. He knows that God is always taking care of him. He has no reason to be discouraged or sad, because his hope is in God. No matter what he is going through, or may go through, God will always be with him, and he will praise his Savior over and over again.
Am I keeping this in mind when things get bad? He is not just my best hope, He is my only hope. I need to remember to turn things over to God and let Him work in my life. Total surrender is the only way to receive His blessings in my life. God will always love me, but if I'm not doing everything for Him and according to His will, He won't bless me. I need to keep that in mind next time things take a turn for the worse.
Dear Lord, thank You for this reminder to keep my focus on You. I know that You are the where the blessings come from, and I want to remain in Your favor. I ask for Your continued guidance and strength in my life, so that I may show others what You are really like. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
This is such a great message. The writer remembers a different time, when things in his community were better. But now, things have taken a turn for the worse. Through it all, the writer knows that God is with him. He feels God's presence all the time. He knows that God is always taking care of him. He has no reason to be discouraged or sad, because his hope is in God. No matter what he is going through, or may go through, God will always be with him, and he will praise his Savior over and over again.
Am I keeping this in mind when things get bad? He is not just my best hope, He is my only hope. I need to remember to turn things over to God and let Him work in my life. Total surrender is the only way to receive His blessings in my life. God will always love me, but if I'm not doing everything for Him and according to His will, He won't bless me. I need to keep that in mind next time things take a turn for the worse.
Dear Lord, thank You for this reminder to keep my focus on You. I know that You are the where the blessings come from, and I want to remain in Your favor. I ask for Your continued guidance and strength in my life, so that I may show others what You are really like. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Friday, October 25, 2013
Getting Filled
Luke 3:5 - The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth.
John the Baptist describes Christ's power within us so amazingly. When we open our hearts to Jesus and give our lives over to Him, He fills our empty valleys with His love and grace. He levels the mountains and hills we have to climb to make them passable. He straightens the curves that twist our path to make them straight and narrow, and He smooths out our rough edges so that the love of Christ that is in our heart will rub off smoothly onto others that we encounter every day.
This is such an encouraging passage for me. Jesus has definitely done this for me. I have felt His love and grace in my heart so much. I don't feel like there is any obstacle that I can't overcome, because I know that I can accomplish anything by His strength. My focus on my life is very clear and straight, and I believe that I am following God's path for me. And He has CERTAINLY smoothed out my rough edges. "Does not play well with others" used to be the best way to describe me. Not anymore. Now I have such peace in my heart that I am eager and anxious to share it with everyone. That is what the Power of Christ has done in my heart.
Dear Lord, thank You for keeping all of Your promises. You have really transformed my heart and my life, and I have such great clarity. I pray that I will continue to grow in Your wisdom and courage, and that my love of You will be seen by others so that they will seek You and find You as I have. Thank You Abba Father for filling me when I felt so empty. Thank You for making the obstacles easier to overcome by Your power and strength. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
John the Baptist describes Christ's power within us so amazingly. When we open our hearts to Jesus and give our lives over to Him, He fills our empty valleys with His love and grace. He levels the mountains and hills we have to climb to make them passable. He straightens the curves that twist our path to make them straight and narrow, and He smooths out our rough edges so that the love of Christ that is in our heart will rub off smoothly onto others that we encounter every day.
This is such an encouraging passage for me. Jesus has definitely done this for me. I have felt His love and grace in my heart so much. I don't feel like there is any obstacle that I can't overcome, because I know that I can accomplish anything by His strength. My focus on my life is very clear and straight, and I believe that I am following God's path for me. And He has CERTAINLY smoothed out my rough edges. "Does not play well with others" used to be the best way to describe me. Not anymore. Now I have such peace in my heart that I am eager and anxious to share it with everyone. That is what the Power of Christ has done in my heart.
Dear Lord, thank You for keeping all of Your promises. You have really transformed my heart and my life, and I have such great clarity. I pray that I will continue to grow in Your wisdom and courage, and that my love of You will be seen by others so that they will seek You and find You as I have. Thank You Abba Father for filling me when I felt so empty. Thank You for making the obstacles easier to overcome by Your power and strength. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Thursday, October 24, 2013
His Plans - His Hope
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
God's promises are awesome. He loves to overwhelm us with His love. He has promised to give us a future and a hope and our hope is found in Him. His plans and His hope are to give us great and mighty things (Jeremiah 33) to work for His glory and His Kingdom. As long as we continue to seek His wisdom and guidance, and stay obedient to His calling and purpose, His reward of life eternal in His Glorious Kingdom awaits us.
Every time I come across this passage in Jeremiah, it renews my strength. I love when God speaks to me, because He always gives me what I need to be renewed and refreshed. His blessings of love are so amazing. I know that I need to work on staying obedient to His call and His purpose. But I have been hearing Him speak and guide me so much lately, I trust in my faith in Him to remain obedient and follow His plan for me.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for having me in mind so long ago. I am so blessed by Your love and strength. I pray that my obedience to You will increase. If giving up the control my human mind desires means that I will see more great and mighty things in my life and in Your creation around me, I am happy to do so. Thank You. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
God's promises are awesome. He loves to overwhelm us with His love. He has promised to give us a future and a hope and our hope is found in Him. His plans and His hope are to give us great and mighty things (Jeremiah 33) to work for His glory and His Kingdom. As long as we continue to seek His wisdom and guidance, and stay obedient to His calling and purpose, His reward of life eternal in His Glorious Kingdom awaits us.
Every time I come across this passage in Jeremiah, it renews my strength. I love when God speaks to me, because He always gives me what I need to be renewed and refreshed. His blessings of love are so amazing. I know that I need to work on staying obedient to His call and His purpose. But I have been hearing Him speak and guide me so much lately, I trust in my faith in Him to remain obedient and follow His plan for me.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for having me in mind so long ago. I am so blessed by Your love and strength. I pray that my obedience to You will increase. If giving up the control my human mind desires means that I will see more great and mighty things in my life and in Your creation around me, I am happy to do so. Thank You. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Come As You Are
Acts 15:11 - We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.
How often have we been at church and seen someone that looks like they just don' belong there? How many times have we said to ourselves, "Did he make a wrong turn at the traffic light? I think he got lost somehow." We have ALL gotten lost, which is why we are at church in the first place. God could care less about how we look. He wants our heart. I heard my Pastor say once, "We don't change so we can go to church. We go to church so we can change." Such true words.
I've been to plenty of churches where I was the one they were mumbling about. With my shaved head, goatee, and tattoos, I look like I belong on an episode of Sons of Anarchy as opposed to an auditorium worshipping my Lord and Savior. Those churches really turned me off of all churches for awhile. Once I went to a church on an invite thinking, here we go more of the same. But this place was different. One of the men greeting people as they walked up reached out his hand. When I went to shake it, he pulled me in for a big hug. I can be a touchy-feely guy, but only with people I know and I had no idea who this guy was. For a second I though to myself, 'Should I punch him?' Fortunately I didn't, because this guy and his bear hug were God's way of showing me that He was overjoyed that I had come back to church. God wanted me to see that I was going to be loved no matter what I looked like, because He knew my heart. He knew I was seeking Him. He didn't need me to look a certain way when I got there, because He knew His Holy Spirit was going to have me feeling a different way when I left.
Dear Lord, thank You for accepting me as I am. Thank You for the bear hugs You have given me through the years. Even though I didn't recognize it was You for awhile, I am beyond blessed that I finally realized it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
How often have we been at church and seen someone that looks like they just don' belong there? How many times have we said to ourselves, "Did he make a wrong turn at the traffic light? I think he got lost somehow." We have ALL gotten lost, which is why we are at church in the first place. God could care less about how we look. He wants our heart. I heard my Pastor say once, "We don't change so we can go to church. We go to church so we can change." Such true words.
I've been to plenty of churches where I was the one they were mumbling about. With my shaved head, goatee, and tattoos, I look like I belong on an episode of Sons of Anarchy as opposed to an auditorium worshipping my Lord and Savior. Those churches really turned me off of all churches for awhile. Once I went to a church on an invite thinking, here we go more of the same. But this place was different. One of the men greeting people as they walked up reached out his hand. When I went to shake it, he pulled me in for a big hug. I can be a touchy-feely guy, but only with people I know and I had no idea who this guy was. For a second I though to myself, 'Should I punch him?' Fortunately I didn't, because this guy and his bear hug were God's way of showing me that He was overjoyed that I had come back to church. God wanted me to see that I was going to be loved no matter what I looked like, because He knew my heart. He knew I was seeking Him. He didn't need me to look a certain way when I got there, because He knew His Holy Spirit was going to have me feeling a different way when I left.
Dear Lord, thank You for accepting me as I am. Thank You for the bear hugs You have given me through the years. Even though I didn't recognize it was You for awhile, I am beyond blessed that I finally realized it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
His Shining Light
John 5:35 - John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.
What an awesome testimony that Jesus gives here about John the Baptist. He answered his calling from the Lord with total surrender and obedience, and it was not his own light that was burning and shining, but God's light through him to the world. That's what God is desiring from us all. That we would listen and obey Him, and let His light shine through us so that others will see it, and seek Him.
Am I letting God's light shine through me to others? Have I been obedient and totally surrendered to God and His purpose and calling for me? How awesome would it be when I get to Heaven, face to face with my Creator, and He tells me, "You were a shining light." That is something I should be striving for - to find favor with my God, and be a beacon for His light to others.
Dear Lord, thank You for allowing me the privilege to serve You and be a beacon of Your shining light to those within my sphere of influence. I thank You for using me for Your glory, and not allowing me to work for my glory. It's all about You, Lord. In Jesus' precious and Holy name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
What an awesome testimony that Jesus gives here about John the Baptist. He answered his calling from the Lord with total surrender and obedience, and it was not his own light that was burning and shining, but God's light through him to the world. That's what God is desiring from us all. That we would listen and obey Him, and let His light shine through us so that others will see it, and seek Him.
Am I letting God's light shine through me to others? Have I been obedient and totally surrendered to God and His purpose and calling for me? How awesome would it be when I get to Heaven, face to face with my Creator, and He tells me, "You were a shining light." That is something I should be striving for - to find favor with my God, and be a beacon for His light to others.
Dear Lord, thank You for allowing me the privilege to serve You and be a beacon of Your shining light to those within my sphere of influence. I thank You for using me for Your glory, and not allowing me to work for my glory. It's all about You, Lord. In Jesus' precious and Holy name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Monday, October 21, 2013
Be Still
Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.
God's got this. We have absolutely nothing to fear, because He is in control. God has promised to comfort, protect, and provide for every one of His children as only a loving Father can do. All of our anxieties will be handled when we quiet our minds, and turn them over to God. When we are still and vigilant in prayer, He will be active in handling our problems.
My biggest fear prior to accepting Christ and following Him, was death (as I'm sure it is for a lot of people). My anxiety about dying used to be so terrible. I would have anxiety attacks when I was shaving (not good when you have a razor in your hand). I would have anxiety attacks when I was driving to the point where I'd have to pull over off to the side of the road. Once I really took the time to be still and turn everything over to Him, my anxiety disappeared. I don't fear death or anything else, because I know that in the end, God wins. I've read the final chapter, and I know that we will all achieve the final victory through Christ. Nothing that man can do to me will ever change that.
Dear Lord, thank You for promising to always be there. Thank You for the reminder to be still and trust in You for everything. I pray that I will remain faithful and vigilant and continue to turn everything over to You for guidance, wisdom, and comfort. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
God's got this. We have absolutely nothing to fear, because He is in control. God has promised to comfort, protect, and provide for every one of His children as only a loving Father can do. All of our anxieties will be handled when we quiet our minds, and turn them over to God. When we are still and vigilant in prayer, He will be active in handling our problems.
My biggest fear prior to accepting Christ and following Him, was death (as I'm sure it is for a lot of people). My anxiety about dying used to be so terrible. I would have anxiety attacks when I was shaving (not good when you have a razor in your hand). I would have anxiety attacks when I was driving to the point where I'd have to pull over off to the side of the road. Once I really took the time to be still and turn everything over to Him, my anxiety disappeared. I don't fear death or anything else, because I know that in the end, God wins. I've read the final chapter, and I know that we will all achieve the final victory through Christ. Nothing that man can do to me will ever change that.
Dear Lord, thank You for promising to always be there. Thank You for the reminder to be still and trust in You for everything. I pray that I will remain faithful and vigilant and continue to turn everything over to You for guidance, wisdom, and comfort. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
God Is Love - Real Love
1 John 4:10 - This is real love - not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Even though we didn't deserve it, God sent His only Son to pay our debt and die in our place. Only a God of total and unfailing love could do that. We are a fallen people, but just because He loves us, He picks us up and stands us back on our feet again and knocks the dust off our backsides like a loving parent. He is our Abba Father, and He loves and cares for us as only a parent can love a child - unconditionally.
I liked how John put it in this passage when he said, "Not that we loved God." If we loved God and served Him like we were meant to do, then Jesus wouldn't have needed to pay our debt and die on the cross for us. But we didn't. We screwed it up by loving this world more than our Creator. We did it by loving the things He gave us, instead of the Giver. But God still redeemed us. He gave us an amazing gift, we said thanks, and then kicked Him in the shin. But God still redeemed us. He still loves us, and wants nothing more than to have an intimate and loving relationship with you and I. That is something that we should cherish more than anything this world could ever provide. He is the real Provider.
Dear Lord, thank You for being the amazing Creator, Giver, and Provider of everything I could ever need. I pray that I will continue to draw close to You during my Quiet Times and stay close to You in every other minute of my life. I want to know You and know the love You have for me more than I want anything in this world. Thank You for being my Abba Father. In Jesus' precious and Holy name I thank You, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Even though we didn't deserve it, God sent His only Son to pay our debt and die in our place. Only a God of total and unfailing love could do that. We are a fallen people, but just because He loves us, He picks us up and stands us back on our feet again and knocks the dust off our backsides like a loving parent. He is our Abba Father, and He loves and cares for us as only a parent can love a child - unconditionally.
I liked how John put it in this passage when he said, "Not that we loved God." If we loved God and served Him like we were meant to do, then Jesus wouldn't have needed to pay our debt and die on the cross for us. But we didn't. We screwed it up by loving this world more than our Creator. We did it by loving the things He gave us, instead of the Giver. But God still redeemed us. He gave us an amazing gift, we said thanks, and then kicked Him in the shin. But God still redeemed us. He still loves us, and wants nothing more than to have an intimate and loving relationship with you and I. That is something that we should cherish more than anything this world could ever provide. He is the real Provider.
Dear Lord, thank You for being the amazing Creator, Giver, and Provider of everything I could ever need. I pray that I will continue to draw close to You during my Quiet Times and stay close to You in every other minute of my life. I want to know You and know the love You have for me more than I want anything in this world. Thank You for being my Abba Father. In Jesus' precious and Holy name I thank You, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
No In Between
Matthew 12:30 - "Anyone who isn't with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against Me."
There is no in between with God. We are either for Him or against Him. Jesus' words here remind us of that. And to make sure we get the point, He reminds us again in Revelation 3:16 when He tells us that He will spit us out for being lukewarm. Jesus has done so much for us, how could we be lukewarm for Him? He died to set us free from our slavery to sin, how could we oppose Him?
For so long, I lived my life indifferent to God. No one ever really shared the Gospel with me (or at least I didn't pay attention when they did). I never really cared one way or the other, and I payed the price for it. It wasn't God punishing me, it was me punishing myself. God never gave up on me, and when I finally realized that I needed Him and invited Him into my heart, He welcomed me with open arms and Heaven rejoiced. He never wanted me to be against Him, He always wanted me to be for Him. He always wanted me to be with Him. But I had to make that choice.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for waiting for me. Thank You for Your everlasting patience and love, and for being ready with open arms when I finally accepted You into my heart and life. I don't want to live another day of my life without You in it, guiding me and protecting me, and being the light on my path. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
There is no in between with God. We are either for Him or against Him. Jesus' words here remind us of that. And to make sure we get the point, He reminds us again in Revelation 3:16 when He tells us that He will spit us out for being lukewarm. Jesus has done so much for us, how could we be lukewarm for Him? He died to set us free from our slavery to sin, how could we oppose Him?
For so long, I lived my life indifferent to God. No one ever really shared the Gospel with me (or at least I didn't pay attention when they did). I never really cared one way or the other, and I payed the price for it. It wasn't God punishing me, it was me punishing myself. God never gave up on me, and when I finally realized that I needed Him and invited Him into my heart, He welcomed me with open arms and Heaven rejoiced. He never wanted me to be against Him, He always wanted me to be for Him. He always wanted me to be with Him. But I had to make that choice.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for waiting for me. Thank You for Your everlasting patience and love, and for being ready with open arms when I finally accepted You into my heart and life. I don't want to live another day of my life without You in it, guiding me and protecting me, and being the light on my path. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Friday, October 18, 2013
Victory!
Romans 8:37 - No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
We win! This passage basically sums up the New Testament in 14 words. No matter what we are going through in our lives, as long as we stay true in our faith in God, we have the final victory through Jesus Christ. I particularly love Paul's choice of words here. It isn't just a win. A 3-2 score in baseball is a win. We have overwhelming victory. We get the 15-0 blowout no-hitter! That is what God has done for us because of His unfailing love and unending grace.
So two nights ago at church, the Pastor's message was centered around this passage and how we are champions in Christ. It was an awesome message. I had submitted a couple of proposals at work a few weeks ago, and finally got word back yesterday that they were not going to happen. I worked hard on these proposals, and to find out that they were no-go's was a definite downer. In a meeting a couple of hours after I received this notification, my boss asked me how I was doing. I had a one word answer - defeated. Having my proposals rejected was a definite let-down, and I felt that we were going to be worse off because of it. This morning, as I'm having my Quiet Time with God, this passage from Romans from the other night kept coming into my head. God was speaking to me. I needed to be reminded that it didn't matter that my proposals had been rejected. I did everything I could, and despite the results of my work, I still had overwhelming victory in Jesus Christ. That is where my focus needs to be.
Dear Lord, THANK YOU so much for the messengers You send and the messages You give them. Thank You for speaking to me when I need to hear You the most. I am so grateful and blessed by Your unfailing love and grace, I pray that I will stay focused on You and my overwhelming victory through Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for humbling me. In Jesus' precious and holy name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
We win! This passage basically sums up the New Testament in 14 words. No matter what we are going through in our lives, as long as we stay true in our faith in God, we have the final victory through Jesus Christ. I particularly love Paul's choice of words here. It isn't just a win. A 3-2 score in baseball is a win. We have overwhelming victory. We get the 15-0 blowout no-hitter! That is what God has done for us because of His unfailing love and unending grace.
So two nights ago at church, the Pastor's message was centered around this passage and how we are champions in Christ. It was an awesome message. I had submitted a couple of proposals at work a few weeks ago, and finally got word back yesterday that they were not going to happen. I worked hard on these proposals, and to find out that they were no-go's was a definite downer. In a meeting a couple of hours after I received this notification, my boss asked me how I was doing. I had a one word answer - defeated. Having my proposals rejected was a definite let-down, and I felt that we were going to be worse off because of it. This morning, as I'm having my Quiet Time with God, this passage from Romans from the other night kept coming into my head. God was speaking to me. I needed to be reminded that it didn't matter that my proposals had been rejected. I did everything I could, and despite the results of my work, I still had overwhelming victory in Jesus Christ. That is where my focus needs to be.
Dear Lord, THANK YOU so much for the messengers You send and the messages You give them. Thank You for speaking to me when I need to hear You the most. I am so grateful and blessed by Your unfailing love and grace, I pray that I will stay focused on You and my overwhelming victory through Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for humbling me. In Jesus' precious and holy name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Lip Service
Mark 7:6 - Jesus replied, "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.' "
Jesus warns us about paying lip service to our faith in Him. We cannot just talk the talk, we have to walk the walk. Since humans are generally prone to routine and habit, it is easy to get in the habit of just going to church on Sunday, sing, listen, and go home. We are commanded to do so much more. Jesus warns us in Revelation to not be lukewarm, or He will disregard us.
Have I been paying lip service to my Savior? Is my heart a reflection of what I say I believe? I know I am prone to habit and routine just like anyone (see: OCD), but I pray that my heart will not become stale. I don't want to be lukewarm for Jesus, I want to be on fire for Him. I know I will occasionally have lulls, but I know that if I maintain my trust and faith, He will bring me through them.
Dear Lord, thank You for this reminder that I need to stay on fire for You and not just go through the motions and give lip service to Your commands. I pray that You will keep me strong in my faith when I do hit those lulls so that I don't become lukewarm. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Jesus warns us about paying lip service to our faith in Him. We cannot just talk the talk, we have to walk the walk. Since humans are generally prone to routine and habit, it is easy to get in the habit of just going to church on Sunday, sing, listen, and go home. We are commanded to do so much more. Jesus warns us in Revelation to not be lukewarm, or He will disregard us.
Have I been paying lip service to my Savior? Is my heart a reflection of what I say I believe? I know I am prone to habit and routine just like anyone (see: OCD), but I pray that my heart will not become stale. I don't want to be lukewarm for Jesus, I want to be on fire for Him. I know I will occasionally have lulls, but I know that if I maintain my trust and faith, He will bring me through them.
Dear Lord, thank You for this reminder that I need to stay on fire for You and not just go through the motions and give lip service to Your commands. I pray that You will keep me strong in my faith when I do hit those lulls so that I don't become lukewarm. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Well-Meaning
Matthew 13:7 - Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.
In this parable, Jesus is talking about how we receive the Word of God and the condition of our hearts. Recently, I heard it explained that the thorny soil was representative of a well-meaning heart. Jesus later explained it as someone who hears and receives the Word of God, but allows the problems and cares of this world to choke out the seed. They failed to trust in God, and therefore produced no crop.
God wants me to produce a god crop. He wants my heart to be the good soil that produced 30, 60, or 100 times in abundance. When I meet Him after I've passed on, he will not be saying, "Well done, my well-meaning servant." If I'm not trying to be fruitful and produce abundant crop, I won't be hearing any of that. I need to work to make sure that my heart isn't allowing the problems and cares of this world to choke out the good seed that God has planted in my heart with His Word. I should be striving to hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Dear Lord, please continue Your work in me so that I am producing an abundance of fruit from the good seed You have planted in my heart. I know that I can be fruitful if I keep my trust and confidence in You, and don't allow the problems of this world to affect my sowing. This is world is fleeting, and You are eternal. You are the prize I am striving for. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
In this parable, Jesus is talking about how we receive the Word of God and the condition of our hearts. Recently, I heard it explained that the thorny soil was representative of a well-meaning heart. Jesus later explained it as someone who hears and receives the Word of God, but allows the problems and cares of this world to choke out the seed. They failed to trust in God, and therefore produced no crop.
God wants me to produce a god crop. He wants my heart to be the good soil that produced 30, 60, or 100 times in abundance. When I meet Him after I've passed on, he will not be saying, "Well done, my well-meaning servant." If I'm not trying to be fruitful and produce abundant crop, I won't be hearing any of that. I need to work to make sure that my heart isn't allowing the problems and cares of this world to choke out the good seed that God has planted in my heart with His Word. I should be striving to hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Dear Lord, please continue Your work in me so that I am producing an abundance of fruit from the good seed You have planted in my heart. I know that I can be fruitful if I keep my trust and confidence in You, and don't allow the problems of this world to affect my sowing. This is world is fleeting, and You are eternal. You are the prize I am striving for. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Turnaround
2 Chronicles 33:12-13 - But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that that the Lord alone is God!
That must have been some prayer! Not only did God listen and restore Manasseh, but his prayer moved God! It touched God's heart. Manasseh, at first, was not a good man (to say the least). He was evil and followed the detestable practices of pagan worship. Going so far as to practice it in God's temple! That's not JUST blowing God off, that's thumbing his nose at Him. That's challenging God, and basically saying, "Bring it!" God orchestrated Manasseh's capture and imprisonment, but when he humbled himself, he touched God's heart with his request and God restored him. That is what unfailing love and forgiveness look like.
What an awesome reminder of how much God loves me, and all of us. He doesn't care what I've done, just that I humble myself before Him. He knows my heart, and He has promised not to hold my past sins against me. I am blessed that it didn't require me to go to prison for me to realize God's greatness, but it did require some great humbling. I know there is nothing I could have done to deserve God's love and forgiveness. Quite the opposite, I've done plenty for him to blow me off and thumb his nose at me. However, He never has, and he never will. How could I not humble myself before him...
Dear Abba Father, thank You for this passage today. Thank You for reminding me that You are ready to forgive and bless me when I humble myself before You. I hope that my prayers will move You and touch Your heart like this. I cannot thank You enough for everything You have done for me, and continue to do for Your humble servant. All praise, honor, and glory to You, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
That must have been some prayer! Not only did God listen and restore Manasseh, but his prayer moved God! It touched God's heart. Manasseh, at first, was not a good man (to say the least). He was evil and followed the detestable practices of pagan worship. Going so far as to practice it in God's temple! That's not JUST blowing God off, that's thumbing his nose at Him. That's challenging God, and basically saying, "Bring it!" God orchestrated Manasseh's capture and imprisonment, but when he humbled himself, he touched God's heart with his request and God restored him. That is what unfailing love and forgiveness look like.
What an awesome reminder of how much God loves me, and all of us. He doesn't care what I've done, just that I humble myself before Him. He knows my heart, and He has promised not to hold my past sins against me. I am blessed that it didn't require me to go to prison for me to realize God's greatness, but it did require some great humbling. I know there is nothing I could have done to deserve God's love and forgiveness. Quite the opposite, I've done plenty for him to blow me off and thumb his nose at me. However, He never has, and he never will. How could I not humble myself before him...
Dear Abba Father, thank You for this passage today. Thank You for reminding me that You are ready to forgive and bless me when I humble myself before You. I hope that my prayers will move You and touch Your heart like this. I cannot thank You enough for everything You have done for me, and continue to do for Your humble servant. All praise, honor, and glory to You, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Monday, October 14, 2013
Abundantly More
Ephesians 3:20 - 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.
God certainly can do it. He does it way more than we could possibly imagine. Abundantly more...infinitely more. Whatever we ask for, God is willing to provide as long as it is according to His will and purpose for us. If He says no, it is because He has something even better in mind for us. I read it recently this way: A 'no' from God is His way of directing you to a greater purpose in your life. Accepting His 'no' requires as great a faith as carrying out His 'yes'. We have to be willing to carry out His yes.
Am I listening to God's 'no' and accepting it, or am I trying to change His mind to give me a 'yes'? There is no way I am ever going to change God's mind, no matter how hard I may try. If I get a 'no', I need to accept it as just as big of a gift from my Heavenly Father as His 'yes' is. Ignoring His 'no' and going after it anyway could have serious consequences for me. I have the free will to choose, and I need to make sure that I am choosing properly so that I will bring all the glory to God.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for saying NO...a lot. There have been so many times that I have asked You for something only to have You say 'no'. No one likes to be told 'no', but part of Your perfect discipline for me is giving me what I need. I will trust Your plan and will for me, because I know that You don't make mistakes. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
God certainly can do it. He does it way more than we could possibly imagine. Abundantly more...infinitely more. Whatever we ask for, God is willing to provide as long as it is according to His will and purpose for us. If He says no, it is because He has something even better in mind for us. I read it recently this way: A 'no' from God is His way of directing you to a greater purpose in your life. Accepting His 'no' requires as great a faith as carrying out His 'yes'. We have to be willing to carry out His yes.
Am I listening to God's 'no' and accepting it, or am I trying to change His mind to give me a 'yes'? There is no way I am ever going to change God's mind, no matter how hard I may try. If I get a 'no', I need to accept it as just as big of a gift from my Heavenly Father as His 'yes' is. Ignoring His 'no' and going after it anyway could have serious consequences for me. I have the free will to choose, and I need to make sure that I am choosing properly so that I will bring all the glory to God.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for saying NO...a lot. There have been so many times that I have asked You for something only to have You say 'no'. No one likes to be told 'no', but part of Your perfect discipline for me is giving me what I need. I will trust Your plan and will for me, because I know that You don't make mistakes. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Renewed Strength
Isaiah 40:31 - But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
God promises to give renewed strength to those who put their trust in Him. He has promised to provide for His faithful people what they need to continue. We often get weary in our daily lives. Things of this world can easily drag us down if we let them. Our faith in God is what makes the difference. We have all heard or used the term, "I got my second wind." That's God's Holy Spirit breathing new life into us so we can pick up and carry on our work for His glory and His Kingdom.
I like naps. For those who know me well, they know that I love to take naps whenever I can. I wish I had appreciated them when I was younger like I do now, but there are a lot of things I wish I had done differently when I was younger, so I won't dwell on those. I believe that the naps that I love to take are God's way of refreshing me. Some days, I can be worn out by lunch time at work. One of the (many) things that God has blessed me with is my own office. Often during lunch after I eat, I will close the door and turn the light off for half an hour. I feel so much better after that half hour power nap. I really do believe that this is God's way of renewing my strength for the afternoon and evening to come. I have been so blessed by God. I pray for God's refreshing strength for each and every one of you so you can soar high on wings like eagles.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your amazing blessings. I know sometimes I don't see them that way, and I might take them for granted. For that I am truly sorry, and ask for Your forgiveness. Thank you for renewing my strength in You whenever You see that I need it. There is no way I could carry on without You guiding me every step of the way. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
God promises to give renewed strength to those who put their trust in Him. He has promised to provide for His faithful people what they need to continue. We often get weary in our daily lives. Things of this world can easily drag us down if we let them. Our faith in God is what makes the difference. We have all heard or used the term, "I got my second wind." That's God's Holy Spirit breathing new life into us so we can pick up and carry on our work for His glory and His Kingdom.
I like naps. For those who know me well, they know that I love to take naps whenever I can. I wish I had appreciated them when I was younger like I do now, but there are a lot of things I wish I had done differently when I was younger, so I won't dwell on those. I believe that the naps that I love to take are God's way of refreshing me. Some days, I can be worn out by lunch time at work. One of the (many) things that God has blessed me with is my own office. Often during lunch after I eat, I will close the door and turn the light off for half an hour. I feel so much better after that half hour power nap. I really do believe that this is God's way of renewing my strength for the afternoon and evening to come. I have been so blessed by God. I pray for God's refreshing strength for each and every one of you so you can soar high on wings like eagles.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your amazing blessings. I know sometimes I don't see them that way, and I might take them for granted. For that I am truly sorry, and ask for Your forgiveness. Thank you for renewing my strength in You whenever You see that I need it. There is no way I could carry on without You guiding me every step of the way. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Don't Keep It A Secret
1 Chronicles 16:8 - Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done.
We should all be anxious to spread the Gospel. The Good News of Jesus Christ is what led us to salvation. Proclaiming His greatness and His love and salvation is what the Great Commission is about - to go into the world and make disciples (Matthew 28), and we are also told that God doesn't play favorites (Acts 10) - He loves us all. We are all quick to spread the news when good things happen to us at school, work, or family. Why would we shy away from spreading the Great News of our eternal salvation? It was not meant to be kept a secret.
I know I have been guilty of not following Jesus' call in the Great Commission. By doing this, I have committed a sin of omission. I have heard people say that their faith is a private matter, and they like to keep it to themselves. I'm not a stupid man, but I just don't get that. I have improved about spreading the Good News, but I know I can do better. I am excited whenever someone asks me a question about my faith that I wasn't ready for them to ask. It gives me the opportunity to proclaim His greatness, and not keep it a secret.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your greatness. Thank You for working on my heart so that I am not afraid to share the Great News of Your promised love and salvation. I pray that as I seek You more everyday, I am encouraged to share You more every day. I know that they are Your words not mine, and that You will continue to use me as a messenger of Your Gospel. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
We should all be anxious to spread the Gospel. The Good News of Jesus Christ is what led us to salvation. Proclaiming His greatness and His love and salvation is what the Great Commission is about - to go into the world and make disciples (Matthew 28), and we are also told that God doesn't play favorites (Acts 10) - He loves us all. We are all quick to spread the news when good things happen to us at school, work, or family. Why would we shy away from spreading the Great News of our eternal salvation? It was not meant to be kept a secret.
I know I have been guilty of not following Jesus' call in the Great Commission. By doing this, I have committed a sin of omission. I have heard people say that their faith is a private matter, and they like to keep it to themselves. I'm not a stupid man, but I just don't get that. I have improved about spreading the Good News, but I know I can do better. I am excited whenever someone asks me a question about my faith that I wasn't ready for them to ask. It gives me the opportunity to proclaim His greatness, and not keep it a secret.
Dear Lord, thank You for Your greatness. Thank You for working on my heart so that I am not afraid to share the Great News of Your promised love and salvation. I pray that as I seek You more everyday, I am encouraged to share You more every day. I know that they are Your words not mine, and that You will continue to use me as a messenger of Your Gospel. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Friday, October 11, 2013
Not Above Correction
1 Chronicles 15:13 - "Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly."
Despite David's occasional slip ups and shortcomings, he often displayed one of the two key ingredients for a true leader after God's heart - accountability. Not once did he blame the Levites for doing wrong, but he said that they were a team that rose and fell together when he said that God's anger was against THEM, and THEY didn't ask God for guidance. Even though it was originally his idea to move the Ark, he understood that they were all in it together. He accepted the punishment from God for the first incident, and sought to correct it according to God's will and instruction so there wouldn't be a second.
I have worked for and with many people who would never accept accountability for their actions. When something went wrong, instead of trying to correct the problem, they were only concerned that someone else was to blame so they wouldn't look bad. Accepting accountability and seeking a better solution that includes the feedback and input of others doesn't mean that we are weak. Quite the contrary! When we show that we are not above correction, we show that Christ is at work in our heart. We show that we don't have all the answers, and that success is a team effort. He didn't come to save the righteous, but the ones that know they are sinners and need Him. Am I seeking God's will and instruction? I will make mistakes, particularly when I am not seeking His counsel first. But when I make mistakes, am I seeking His counsel to ensure that I don't make the same mistake twice?
Dear Lord, thank You for Your great counsel and instruction. I pray that I will continue to seek Your guidance in all that I do, so that I may serve the ones I lead according to Your will and purpose for their lives as well as my own. Please continue to give me the strength and courage to be the leader You want me to be. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Despite David's occasional slip ups and shortcomings, he often displayed one of the two key ingredients for a true leader after God's heart - accountability. Not once did he blame the Levites for doing wrong, but he said that they were a team that rose and fell together when he said that God's anger was against THEM, and THEY didn't ask God for guidance. Even though it was originally his idea to move the Ark, he understood that they were all in it together. He accepted the punishment from God for the first incident, and sought to correct it according to God's will and instruction so there wouldn't be a second.
I have worked for and with many people who would never accept accountability for their actions. When something went wrong, instead of trying to correct the problem, they were only concerned that someone else was to blame so they wouldn't look bad. Accepting accountability and seeking a better solution that includes the feedback and input of others doesn't mean that we are weak. Quite the contrary! When we show that we are not above correction, we show that Christ is at work in our heart. We show that we don't have all the answers, and that success is a team effort. He didn't come to save the righteous, but the ones that know they are sinners and need Him. Am I seeking God's will and instruction? I will make mistakes, particularly when I am not seeking His counsel first. But when I make mistakes, am I seeking His counsel to ensure that I don't make the same mistake twice?
Dear Lord, thank You for Your great counsel and instruction. I pray that I will continue to seek Your guidance in all that I do, so that I may serve the ones I lead according to Your will and purpose for their lives as well as my own. Please continue to give me the strength and courage to be the leader You want me to be. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Give Credit Where Credit Is Due
2 Samuel 5:20 - So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. "The Lord did it!" David exclaimed. "He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!"
David was quick to give God the proper credit for the defeat of His enemies. I love how David went about his business here. He consulted God first, agreed to do what God told him, and then gave God the glory for it. Not only was he a godly man, but he was a godly leader. He made sure that the soldiers under his command knew who should be getting the credit and glory for the victory. He made sure they knew who was guiding their steps. He did not want them to fall into the sin of taking God's glory from Him, so he was quick to avoid letting it happen.
Am I giving God the glory for the things I achieve? Proverbs 16:9 reminds me that I can make my plans, but the Lord determines my steps. He also determines my success/failure based on my faithfulness and His plan. I can plan to do anything, and being hard-headed enough I have. But if I'm not seeking His guidance first and then giving Him the glory for it afterward, I have nothing. I need to make sure I am doing that for everything. I have to give credit where credit is due.
Dear Lord, thank You for everything. Thank You for my success and my failures. They are never failures in Your eyes, because they are not part of Your plan for me. Thank You for guiding my steps that keep me out of so many pitfalls. You are truly the light to my path, and I praise You and thank You for that. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
David was quick to give God the proper credit for the defeat of His enemies. I love how David went about his business here. He consulted God first, agreed to do what God told him, and then gave God the glory for it. Not only was he a godly man, but he was a godly leader. He made sure that the soldiers under his command knew who should be getting the credit and glory for the victory. He made sure they knew who was guiding their steps. He did not want them to fall into the sin of taking God's glory from Him, so he was quick to avoid letting it happen.
Am I giving God the glory for the things I achieve? Proverbs 16:9 reminds me that I can make my plans, but the Lord determines my steps. He also determines my success/failure based on my faithfulness and His plan. I can plan to do anything, and being hard-headed enough I have. But if I'm not seeking His guidance first and then giving Him the glory for it afterward, I have nothing. I need to make sure I am doing that for everything. I have to give credit where credit is due.
Dear Lord, thank You for everything. Thank You for my success and my failures. They are never failures in Your eyes, because they are not part of Your plan for me. Thank You for guiding my steps that keep me out of so many pitfalls. You are truly the light to my path, and I praise You and thank You for that. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Great and Mighty Strength
Philippians 4:13 - For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
God's power and strength doesn't just give us the strength to persevere and carry on through our daily grinds, but it also gives us the strength and courage to accomplish things we never thought possible for ourselves. In Jeremiah, He tells us He has great and mighty things for us. Although sometimes just getting out of bed and making it to work on time do feel like a great and mighty accomplishment, He has so much more planned for us when we step out in faith and trust in His plan and His power.
A position in my company, in another department, recently opened up, and I had been praying (and asking for prayer) as to whether or not I should apply for it. I asked God to give me some sort of a sign or whisper that this was where He wanted me to go next. I spoke to a coworker who is a close friend about what she thought. She said she believed I could do the job, but that I would struggle to fit in, in the corporate environment. While there is certainly some truth to her statement, I have always thrived on challenge. During my Quiet Time this morning, I was praying and once again asking God to speak to me about the job. While I was praying, the conversation with the coworker kept running through my head, and then this verse popped into my head. God spoke to me through His word. I love when He does that.
Dear Lord, thank You for speaking to me. I am so grateful for everything You have done for me and given me, I pray that I will remain faithful to You in return. Thank You for Your strength and wisdom to know when I am hearing from You, and for giving me exactly what I need, when I need it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
God's power and strength doesn't just give us the strength to persevere and carry on through our daily grinds, but it also gives us the strength and courage to accomplish things we never thought possible for ourselves. In Jeremiah, He tells us He has great and mighty things for us. Although sometimes just getting out of bed and making it to work on time do feel like a great and mighty accomplishment, He has so much more planned for us when we step out in faith and trust in His plan and His power.
A position in my company, in another department, recently opened up, and I had been praying (and asking for prayer) as to whether or not I should apply for it. I asked God to give me some sort of a sign or whisper that this was where He wanted me to go next. I spoke to a coworker who is a close friend about what she thought. She said she believed I could do the job, but that I would struggle to fit in, in the corporate environment. While there is certainly some truth to her statement, I have always thrived on challenge. During my Quiet Time this morning, I was praying and once again asking God to speak to me about the job. While I was praying, the conversation with the coworker kept running through my head, and then this verse popped into my head. God spoke to me through His word. I love when He does that.
Dear Lord, thank You for speaking to me. I am so grateful for everything You have done for me and given me, I pray that I will remain faithful to You in return. Thank You for Your strength and wisdom to know when I am hearing from You, and for giving me exactly what I need, when I need it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
The Greater News
1 John 5:9 - Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about His Son.
Well I read it on the internet, so it must be true. How often do we hear that?! How quick are people to believe things they hear from what could be considered, at best, questionable sources? Yet when presented with the truth about Jesus Christ, they are quick to say, "Oh no, that can't be true." Is it because they are misinformed about the nature of God? Quite possibly. A lot of people find it hard to believe that God is so loving and forgiving, and because of that they won't accept Him. They know deep down that they have done some bad things, and God couldn't possibly forgive them, as if they are the exception to the rule. The great news is that they are wrong. No one is the exception to the rule. Everyone can be forgiven when they accept the Greater News of Jesus Christ.
Before coming to Christ, I was so hard-headed. Okay, maybe I still am a little. I NEVER took anything on faith, especially what people told me. Someone could tell me the sky was blue, and depending on who they were, I was going to go check. I had very few people ever share the Gospel with me. I am convinced that this was God's plan. He knows how stubborn I was, and that I needed to hear it from Him. And, as usual, He was right. When people tried to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I shined them on. I had a hard time believing that I was forgivable. It wasn't until I finally felt that nudging inside of me to pick up a Bible and start to read. It's been an amazing ride ever since.
Dear Lord, thank You for being patient with my stubbornness. Thank You for showing me that I was not the exception to the rule. I have been so blessed by You, and Your love for me just blows me away. I pray that I will continue to be in Your favor, and that You will use me to spread the Great News of Your Son Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Well I read it on the internet, so it must be true. How often do we hear that?! How quick are people to believe things they hear from what could be considered, at best, questionable sources? Yet when presented with the truth about Jesus Christ, they are quick to say, "Oh no, that can't be true." Is it because they are misinformed about the nature of God? Quite possibly. A lot of people find it hard to believe that God is so loving and forgiving, and because of that they won't accept Him. They know deep down that they have done some bad things, and God couldn't possibly forgive them, as if they are the exception to the rule. The great news is that they are wrong. No one is the exception to the rule. Everyone can be forgiven when they accept the Greater News of Jesus Christ.
Before coming to Christ, I was so hard-headed. Okay, maybe I still am a little. I NEVER took anything on faith, especially what people told me. Someone could tell me the sky was blue, and depending on who they were, I was going to go check. I had very few people ever share the Gospel with me. I am convinced that this was God's plan. He knows how stubborn I was, and that I needed to hear it from Him. And, as usual, He was right. When people tried to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I shined them on. I had a hard time believing that I was forgivable. It wasn't until I finally felt that nudging inside of me to pick up a Bible and start to read. It's been an amazing ride ever since.
Dear Lord, thank You for being patient with my stubbornness. Thank You for showing me that I was not the exception to the rule. I have been so blessed by You, and Your love for me just blows me away. I pray that I will continue to be in Your favor, and that You will use me to spread the Great News of Your Son Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Short-Term Memory
Hebrews 10:17 - Then He says, "I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds."
Once we accept Christ as our Savior and confess our sins to Him, they are forgotten. God will never remember them again. That's how grace works. He is just to punish us, but out of love, He gives us mercy because of His grace. When we start to remember things of the past and worry that God will certainly never forgive us for something, we need to remember He already has. That reminder of our sinful past is from Satan, who only wants to bring us down.
I have been so blessed since I finally understood that God has promised to never remember the things of my past once I confessed them to Him. I used to dwell on them so much, and those words, "Certainly He will never forgive me for that", used to come out of my mouth frequently. Once I understood that those thoughts weren't from God, but Satan attacking me, I felt so much better. I was able to give myself more completely to God at that point, which was the best thing I ever did.
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that You are not dwelling on my past, but our future together in Your Glorious Kingdom. Please keep my heart focused on that today and every day as well. I pray that I will please You in what I do everyday. Please use me to be a light to others so that they may see Your path for them. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Once we accept Christ as our Savior and confess our sins to Him, they are forgotten. God will never remember them again. That's how grace works. He is just to punish us, but out of love, He gives us mercy because of His grace. When we start to remember things of the past and worry that God will certainly never forgive us for something, we need to remember He already has. That reminder of our sinful past is from Satan, who only wants to bring us down.
I have been so blessed since I finally understood that God has promised to never remember the things of my past once I confessed them to Him. I used to dwell on them so much, and those words, "Certainly He will never forgive me for that", used to come out of my mouth frequently. Once I understood that those thoughts weren't from God, but Satan attacking me, I felt so much better. I was able to give myself more completely to God at that point, which was the best thing I ever did.
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that You are not dwelling on my past, but our future together in Your Glorious Kingdom. Please keep my heart focused on that today and every day as well. I pray that I will please You in what I do everyday. Please use me to be a light to others so that they may see Your path for them. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Lead By Example
Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Jesus was such a great example setter. He was a true leader in every sense of the word. When the disciples were arguing over which of them was greater, Jesus let them know that no one is great if their intention is not to serve their fellow man. He used Himself as the example that He didn't come to be served and treated like a king, but to serve us all through His death on the cross.
The first leadership training I ever learned was more Christian than I realized at the time. I wasn't a Christian then, so I didn't realize just how Scripture-based it really was. They taught us to lead by example, and never expect or ask a subordinate to do anything you were not willing or able to do yourself. Isn't that what Jesus tells us too? He was willing to serve us by laying down His life at the cross. He said we should be willing to pick up our cross and follow Him, and be willing to lay down our lives for our fellow man. Isn't that what He did? He is a leader I will happily follow.
Dear Lord, thank You for speaking to me all those years ago even though I didn't recognize it at the time. I am beyond blessed by Your teaching and leadership, and I pray that I can be an example of true leadership to my staff at work and everyone else I encounter. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Hard To Handle
Matthew 11:30 - "For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
Jesus promises to never give us more than we can handle. He has also promised to always be with us for eternity (Matthew 28). More often than not we feel over matched with problems we are dealing with in our every day lives. Stress at work, home, marriage, etc. seems to be more than we can handle. During these times is when we need Jesus the most. Nothing in this life is too hard to handle if we involve Jesus. He will always make sure that He does the heavy lifting like He did when He carried the cross for us at Calvary.
There was a time very recently where I was dealing with some heavy issues and stress. Since I wasn't looking at things with the right perspective, I was finding it difficult to lift my problems up to God. It was difficult to pray. Trying to understand and solve the problems on my own only made them greater, so I finally stopped where I was at, and just started praying. During that prayer, which lasted quite some time, I was kind of mad at God and said, "I thought You said that You wouldn't give me more than I could handle." Right after I said that, I felt an amazing calm come over me, and a gentle whisper in my ear simply said, "I haven't." It all clicked for me at that moment. He wasn't giving me more than I can handle. He was strengthening me. He knew that I could overcome the issues I was dealing with, but He knew that I needed to know that. He gave me exactly what I needed to overcome. I love when He does that.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for never giving me more than I could handle. You have indeed kept my burdens light so that I may serve and glorify You every day. Thank You for using me to shine Your light through me to others, and I pray for Your strength and wisdom to bear Your yoke. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Jesus promises to never give us more than we can handle. He has also promised to always be with us for eternity (Matthew 28). More often than not we feel over matched with problems we are dealing with in our every day lives. Stress at work, home, marriage, etc. seems to be more than we can handle. During these times is when we need Jesus the most. Nothing in this life is too hard to handle if we involve Jesus. He will always make sure that He does the heavy lifting like He did when He carried the cross for us at Calvary.
There was a time very recently where I was dealing with some heavy issues and stress. Since I wasn't looking at things with the right perspective, I was finding it difficult to lift my problems up to God. It was difficult to pray. Trying to understand and solve the problems on my own only made them greater, so I finally stopped where I was at, and just started praying. During that prayer, which lasted quite some time, I was kind of mad at God and said, "I thought You said that You wouldn't give me more than I could handle." Right after I said that, I felt an amazing calm come over me, and a gentle whisper in my ear simply said, "I haven't." It all clicked for me at that moment. He wasn't giving me more than I can handle. He was strengthening me. He knew that I could overcome the issues I was dealing with, but He knew that I needed to know that. He gave me exactly what I needed to overcome. I love when He does that.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for never giving me more than I could handle. You have indeed kept my burdens light so that I may serve and glorify You every day. Thank You for using me to shine Your light through me to others, and I pray for Your strength and wisdom to bear Your yoke. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Friday, October 4, 2013
Test Him
Malachi 3:10 - "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in My temple. If you do," says the Lord of Heavens Armies, "I will open the windows of Heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Put me to the test!"
God's response to the Israelites is awesome. They were cheating Him of their tithes and offerings. But instead of punishing them, as He would have been justified to do, He offers them the chance to be blessed...and blessed abundantly. God knows our minds. The human mind often needs to see to believe, it's just the way we process things. Instead of blowing them off and punishing them, God stoops down to their level. He says, "I will prove it to you." He doesn't HAVE to prove Himself to anyone, but He does. He does it because He is an amazing, awesome God of love that wants nothing more than to bless His chosen people.
Before I gave my life to Christ, I was one of those people that couldn't see the good in things. I didn't want to believe because I needed God to prove that He was there. Through a series of events, He proved Himself...abundantly. He didn't have to do it, but He did it because He loves me. He did it because He wants me to be with Him. I was cheating Him of my faith and love, but He didn't blow me off and let me suffer a life of eternity without Him. He stooped down to my level, and showed me what I needed to see.
Dear Abba Father, I am blessed so abundantly by Your love. I tested You when I had no business doing so, but because of Your unfailing love and unending grace, You allowed it and You showed me what I needed. I am indeed honored and blessed to serve a God like You. I pray for Your continued blessings on me and everyone. I pray that I will be a beacon of Your light to others that need to know You. Thank You so much for every second chance you give. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
God's response to the Israelites is awesome. They were cheating Him of their tithes and offerings. But instead of punishing them, as He would have been justified to do, He offers them the chance to be blessed...and blessed abundantly. God knows our minds. The human mind often needs to see to believe, it's just the way we process things. Instead of blowing them off and punishing them, God stoops down to their level. He says, "I will prove it to you." He doesn't HAVE to prove Himself to anyone, but He does. He does it because He is an amazing, awesome God of love that wants nothing more than to bless His chosen people.
Before I gave my life to Christ, I was one of those people that couldn't see the good in things. I didn't want to believe because I needed God to prove that He was there. Through a series of events, He proved Himself...abundantly. He didn't have to do it, but He did it because He loves me. He did it because He wants me to be with Him. I was cheating Him of my faith and love, but He didn't blow me off and let me suffer a life of eternity without Him. He stooped down to my level, and showed me what I needed to see.
Dear Abba Father, I am blessed so abundantly by Your love. I tested You when I had no business doing so, but because of Your unfailing love and unending grace, You allowed it and You showed me what I needed. I am indeed honored and blessed to serve a God like You. I pray for Your continued blessings on me and everyone. I pray that I will be a beacon of Your light to others that need to know You. Thank You so much for every second chance you give. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Keep Praying...and Then Pray Some More
Mark 1:35 - Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus takes a lot of time to pray, to be intimately close to His Father. He told His disciples to pray all the time. If it was important for Jesus to pray, it should be important to us as well. Prayer is when God speaks to us the most. He might give us signs or use others to reach us, but when we quiet our minds and reach out to Him in prayer, that is when He communicates to us most often.
I love how God works and speaks to me sometimes. The last few days I have been telling myself that I need to pray more. Don't misunderstand me, because I do pray. But lately, I've just felt as though I don't do it enough. So this morning, as I'm having my Quiet Time with God and reading the Bible and various devotionals, that feeling that I need to pray more just kept getting stronger. Sure enough, in the last devotional I read this morning I came across this passage. If this wasn't God reaching out to me to get my attention, then I don't know what is, short of slapping me in the face with it. I love when He speaks. Now, I need to make sure I listen and obey.
Dear Lord, thank You for speaking to me this morning. I know I need to be more faithful in my prayer time with You. You have always been faithful to me in everything, and Jesus was such a great example of how important it is to spend time in prayer and communication with You. I love when You speak. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus takes a lot of time to pray, to be intimately close to His Father. He told His disciples to pray all the time. If it was important for Jesus to pray, it should be important to us as well. Prayer is when God speaks to us the most. He might give us signs or use others to reach us, but when we quiet our minds and reach out to Him in prayer, that is when He communicates to us most often.
I love how God works and speaks to me sometimes. The last few days I have been telling myself that I need to pray more. Don't misunderstand me, because I do pray. But lately, I've just felt as though I don't do it enough. So this morning, as I'm having my Quiet Time with God and reading the Bible and various devotionals, that feeling that I need to pray more just kept getting stronger. Sure enough, in the last devotional I read this morning I came across this passage. If this wasn't God reaching out to me to get my attention, then I don't know what is, short of slapping me in the face with it. I love when He speaks. Now, I need to make sure I listen and obey.
Dear Lord, thank You for speaking to me this morning. I know I need to be more faithful in my prayer time with You. You have always been faithful to me in everything, and Jesus was such a great example of how important it is to spend time in prayer and communication with You. I love when You speak. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
All Worth It
Philippians 3:7 - I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
In Paul's message, he lets them know just how good his life was before he came to know Christ (at least according to earthly standards). He truly had it all, at least that's how he saw it. But once he came to know Christ, he realized it was totally worthless. No matter how much he followed the law, or was exalted because of his position as a Pharisee, it was all meaningless because he didn't have the spirit and love of Christ in his heart.
When I finally surrendered to Christ and started working to develop a real relationship with him, I was in pretty good shape as far as things are considered. At least that's what I thought. But I had a real void. An emptiness that I had been unable to fill. I tried to fill it with drugs, but that didn't work. I asked myself a question that changed my life forever. Had anything I'd done made my life any better? No it did not. When I turned to Jesus, I found that He would make it all better. I struggled with feelings of inadequacy (still do sometimes), but Jesus has shown me that everything He did for me was worth it, because He loves me. He has shown me that I was all worth it. He doesn't care what I have done, He is concerned with what I am doing. And what I am doing, is living my life for Him. He really is all worth it.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for loving me when I couldn't love myself. I thank You for forgetting what I have done, and focusing on what I am doing. I pray that my life will be a beacon of Your light to shine on those who need to know You and develop a relationship with You. I pray for their healing and comfort above my own, because it is all for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
In Paul's message, he lets them know just how good his life was before he came to know Christ (at least according to earthly standards). He truly had it all, at least that's how he saw it. But once he came to know Christ, he realized it was totally worthless. No matter how much he followed the law, or was exalted because of his position as a Pharisee, it was all meaningless because he didn't have the spirit and love of Christ in his heart.
When I finally surrendered to Christ and started working to develop a real relationship with him, I was in pretty good shape as far as things are considered. At least that's what I thought. But I had a real void. An emptiness that I had been unable to fill. I tried to fill it with drugs, but that didn't work. I asked myself a question that changed my life forever. Had anything I'd done made my life any better? No it did not. When I turned to Jesus, I found that He would make it all better. I struggled with feelings of inadequacy (still do sometimes), but Jesus has shown me that everything He did for me was worth it, because He loves me. He has shown me that I was all worth it. He doesn't care what I have done, He is concerned with what I am doing. And what I am doing, is living my life for Him. He really is all worth it.
Dear Abba Father, thank You for loving me when I couldn't love myself. I thank You for forgetting what I have done, and focusing on what I am doing. I pray that my life will be a beacon of Your light to shine on those who need to know You and develop a relationship with You. I pray for their healing and comfort above my own, because it is all for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
A Grand Entrance
2 Peter 1:11 - Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How much does God love and celebrate us? It would be difficult to really put it into words. But we are told that all of Heaven rejoices when one person comes to know the Lord. He we are also being told that God Himself give us a grand entrance into His eternal Kingdom! How totally awesome is this?! Most of us will never walk the red carpet or be part of some ticker-tape victory parade (maybe I watch too many movies). But our grand entrance into Heaven will be like both at the same time. A party thrown by God Himself for each of us!
Reading things like this just totally renews my faith in God. It warms my heart to see how much He loves me and cares for me and celebrates me. I know that I haven't done anything to deserve this, but He does it anyway. I know that I could never do anything to earn it, but He does it anyway. How totally awesome is this God I love and serve. Words could never express it accurately.
Dear Lord, thank You for just being awesome. You love and celebrate me like no one ever could. And all for no reason other than just being in love with me. I feel such a renewed sense of love for You this morning. I pray for Your light to radiate from me this morning so that everyone would see it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
How much does God love and celebrate us? It would be difficult to really put it into words. But we are told that all of Heaven rejoices when one person comes to know the Lord. He we are also being told that God Himself give us a grand entrance into His eternal Kingdom! How totally awesome is this?! Most of us will never walk the red carpet or be part of some ticker-tape victory parade (maybe I watch too many movies). But our grand entrance into Heaven will be like both at the same time. A party thrown by God Himself for each of us!
Reading things like this just totally renews my faith in God. It warms my heart to see how much He loves me and cares for me and celebrates me. I know that I haven't done anything to deserve this, but He does it anyway. I know that I could never do anything to earn it, but He does it anyway. How totally awesome is this God I love and serve. Words could never express it accurately.
Dear Lord, thank You for just being awesome. You love and celebrate me like no one ever could. And all for no reason other than just being in love with me. I feel such a renewed sense of love for You this morning. I pray for Your light to radiate from me this morning so that everyone would see it. In Jesus' name, Amen!
God Bless!!!
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