Wednesday December 1, 2010
'It's beginning to look alot like.....HUMP Day'!
Hello Lifers and Friends! I hope you are living and thriving in the Word of God this week. Well, we're here again. We've finally arrived for the Christmas holidays. I know you've already seen the commercials. And if you look around, decorations of every style and flair are at a premium. It is truly beginning to look alot like Christmas.
The Christmas season changes the atmosphere doesn't it? It sets us up for new things. We make new commitments, find new hope, and pursue new dreams. Is it because of the sales? Is it because of the trees, or the lights? No. It's because a Son was given. Yes, that's right, something was GIVEN. When a person receives a gift, newness comes into their life. And therefore, something inside them is made alive again. See, the gift of the Christ-Child gave that newness to the world. Because of Him, hope was restored, redemption was applied, and His coming signified we could have a relationship with the Father again. So as believers, we give gifts for that same purpose. We want people to hope again, believe again, and be directed back to the heart of the Father.
So as you prepare your lists this year, put someone on it who wouldn't normally be on it. Maybe it's an uncle that has been forgotten. Maybe its an incarcerated loved-one that has seemingly been thrown away. Giving these souls a reason to believe again is the very reason for the season. Happy HUMP Day!
Prayer: Father, I need You to do 3 things for me this holiday season. One, help me show Your love. And two, help me show Your love. Oh, and three, help me show Your love. In Jesus' name....Amen
Who Dropped the Ball?
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010
Today's Passage: Jeremiah 29: 11-14
Memory Verse: Jer. 29: 13-14
I heard a story today about a player who attempted to catch a ball while standing in the end zone on Sunday, hoping to score a touchdown. Instead, the ball slipped out of his hands, resulting in his team losing the game. The next day, he ranted and raved at-- guess who?-- God! This football player decided to blame God for causing him to drop the ball during that game. He even went on to accuse God of greedily accepting his praise everyday, then letting him down when it mattered the most.
Are you really serious? You've got to be kidding me! Anyone who is halfway familiar with God's ways knows that He doesn't raise our hopes just to dash them to the ground again because it amuses him. One sports announcer even took the liberty of responding the way he thought God would've in these words: "I put the ball right in Your hand, stupid. You're the one who let the ball drop! ". Which leads me to ask this question: who's really doing the ball-dropping in this relationship?
I don't even have to prove to you Lifers why our God is the most reliable Person Who ever existed. Even knowing before the foundation of the world how unfaithful we would be, He still created and placed us in His garden. By the time man fell (ball-dropping event number one out of countless others), He'd already figured a way to redeem us because of His great love for us. What hasn't He already done to show us His love is real?
But before we spend too much time criticizing this man, it occurs to me that we, too, have a habit of praying for the impossible, then not seeing it through. Whether out of fear of failure --which means we don't really trust His Word in the first place-- we freeze and give up before we even begin. Blaming God is very easy because it frees us from the accountability of applying our faith with works. That player didn't want to own up to what He failed to do, so He just strung a group of words together. But everything about God says, "Prove me. Do YOUR part, and I am more than able to fulfill mine.". Unfortunately, my friend the football player may never read this. But I nevertheless stand upon the INFALLIBILITY of God no matter WHERE on the playing field we happen to be standing.
Prayer: Father, You've NEVER let me down no matter how hard the situation may be. I take another opportunity to receive the promise You made to me. You know exactly what You're doing. And when I make the lifelong decision to serve You EVEN through disappointments, I'll never BE disappointed. Because I have the eternal promise of YOU. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Jeremiah 29: 11-14
Memory Verse: Jer. 29: 13-14
I heard a story today about a player who attempted to catch a ball while standing in the end zone on Sunday, hoping to score a touchdown. Instead, the ball slipped out of his hands, resulting in his team losing the game. The next day, he ranted and raved at-- guess who?-- God! This football player decided to blame God for causing him to drop the ball during that game. He even went on to accuse God of greedily accepting his praise everyday, then letting him down when it mattered the most.
Are you really serious? You've got to be kidding me! Anyone who is halfway familiar with God's ways knows that He doesn't raise our hopes just to dash them to the ground again because it amuses him. One sports announcer even took the liberty of responding the way he thought God would've in these words: "I put the ball right in Your hand, stupid. You're the one who let the ball drop! ". Which leads me to ask this question: who's really doing the ball-dropping in this relationship?
I don't even have to prove to you Lifers why our God is the most reliable Person Who ever existed. Even knowing before the foundation of the world how unfaithful we would be, He still created and placed us in His garden. By the time man fell (ball-dropping event number one out of countless others), He'd already figured a way to redeem us because of His great love for us. What hasn't He already done to show us His love is real?
But before we spend too much time criticizing this man, it occurs to me that we, too, have a habit of praying for the impossible, then not seeing it through. Whether out of fear of failure --which means we don't really trust His Word in the first place-- we freeze and give up before we even begin. Blaming God is very easy because it frees us from the accountability of applying our faith with works. That player didn't want to own up to what He failed to do, so He just strung a group of words together. But everything about God says, "Prove me. Do YOUR part, and I am more than able to fulfill mine.". Unfortunately, my friend the football player may never read this. But I nevertheless stand upon the INFALLIBILITY of God no matter WHERE on the playing field we happen to be standing.
Prayer: Father, You've NEVER let me down no matter how hard the situation may be. I take another opportunity to receive the promise You made to me. You know exactly what You're doing. And when I make the lifelong decision to serve You EVEN through disappointments, I'll never BE disappointed. Because I have the eternal promise of YOU. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Under the Father's Covering
Monday, November 29th, 2010
Today's Passage: Psalm 139:1-6
Memory Verse: Ps. 139: 1-2
Have you ever watched the way a mother and her toddler interact? It's amazing. At first glance, you'd think that mother wasn't really paying attention to her child at all. But if you looked closer, you'd see that although she gives him or her room to move around, she's always watching out of the corner of her eye. Even if she's carrying on a conversation, she would never get too distracted to let her precious child out of her sight.
Reading today's passage sort of gave me that feeling about what the psalmist was thinking when he wrote this psalm. The Message Bible captures it this way:
"God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too--- your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful--- I can't take it all in!"
When you think about it, a toddler wants to be able to explore as far and as much as he or she can without the presence of that parent standing in its way. But, just like a loving parent who sees the dangers that child doesn't see, Mom will be standing right there, guiding him or her gently in the right direction and away from the danger. Have you heard the toddler protest at not having the freedom to do what he or she wants? Oh, sometimes it might be just a whine. Other times, it comes much more loudly. But that won't stop Mom from doing what she does anyway.
Isn't that just like God in our lives? We may think we're big enough to do what we want to do. But God's merciful LOVE doesn't let us get far enough away to hurt ourselves. He can see us trying to reach for those things that might ultimately destroy us. So He reaches down and picks us up, moving us to safety in spite of our protests. Then all frustration fades as we are wrapped in His arms, all frustrations quickly forgotten in the shadow of His love. Makes you wanna just stay close, knowing we won't lack for anything as long as He is near. May we all live in this place of covering everyday.
Prayer: Father, like the psalmist, I'm proud to say that the knowledge of You never being far away from me is too wonderful for me. My tiny mind couldn't begin to conceive how You do it. But with all of me, I greatly appreciate how You cover me. I repent for the times when I think I can be independent and do things on my own. Then You allow me to falter just a little, and I realize I can never be without You. Teach me to be content to live in and stay always under Your covering. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Psalm 139:1-6
Memory Verse: Ps. 139: 1-2
Have you ever watched the way a mother and her toddler interact? It's amazing. At first glance, you'd think that mother wasn't really paying attention to her child at all. But if you looked closer, you'd see that although she gives him or her room to move around, she's always watching out of the corner of her eye. Even if she's carrying on a conversation, she would never get too distracted to let her precious child out of her sight.
Reading today's passage sort of gave me that feeling about what the psalmist was thinking when he wrote this psalm. The Message Bible captures it this way:
"God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too--- your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful--- I can't take it all in!"
When you think about it, a toddler wants to be able to explore as far and as much as he or she can without the presence of that parent standing in its way. But, just like a loving parent who sees the dangers that child doesn't see, Mom will be standing right there, guiding him or her gently in the right direction and away from the danger. Have you heard the toddler protest at not having the freedom to do what he or she wants? Oh, sometimes it might be just a whine. Other times, it comes much more loudly. But that won't stop Mom from doing what she does anyway.
Isn't that just like God in our lives? We may think we're big enough to do what we want to do. But God's merciful LOVE doesn't let us get far enough away to hurt ourselves. He can see us trying to reach for those things that might ultimately destroy us. So He reaches down and picks us up, moving us to safety in spite of our protests. Then all frustration fades as we are wrapped in His arms, all frustrations quickly forgotten in the shadow of His love. Makes you wanna just stay close, knowing we won't lack for anything as long as He is near. May we all live in this place of covering everyday.
Prayer: Father, like the psalmist, I'm proud to say that the knowledge of You never being far away from me is too wonderful for me. My tiny mind couldn't begin to conceive how You do it. But with all of me, I greatly appreciate how You cover me. I repent for the times when I think I can be independent and do things on my own. Then You allow me to falter just a little, and I realize I can never be without You. Teach me to be content to live in and stay always under Your covering. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Prayers That Prevail!
Sunday November 28, 2010
Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst--not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life". John 4:14 (Mess.)
Father, You are worthy of all I offer You. My time, my gifts, and my heart are all Yours. You are my portion and more than I need. Every breath I take is given by You. Your name is Awesome, You are the Most High and I love You so much.
I know my life can get hectic. Things come up and I suddenly get distracted. Evenso, I'll not allow myself to become dry and thirsty. I realize thirst means I've gone too long without Your touch. So touch my heart. Touch my mind. And touch my life so I'll never thirst again. My life is nothing about You. Cover me with Your love and grace. Establish that well of living water inside me.
I also want it to overflow. There are people in my community that need Your touch too. People I work with need it as well. Point me in the direction in which to show Your awesome glory. Let Your healing waters wash over me and my loved ones. Rain on us God. We need You now, and for evermore...in Jesus' name Amen.
Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst--not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life". John 4:14 (Mess.)
Father, You are worthy of all I offer You. My time, my gifts, and my heart are all Yours. You are my portion and more than I need. Every breath I take is given by You. Your name is Awesome, You are the Most High and I love You so much.
I know my life can get hectic. Things come up and I suddenly get distracted. Evenso, I'll not allow myself to become dry and thirsty. I realize thirst means I've gone too long without Your touch. So touch my heart. Touch my mind. And touch my life so I'll never thirst again. My life is nothing about You. Cover me with Your love and grace. Establish that well of living water inside me.
I also want it to overflow. There are people in my community that need Your touch too. People I work with need it as well. Point me in the direction in which to show Your awesome glory. Let Your healing waters wash over me and my loved ones. Rain on us God. We need You now, and for evermore...in Jesus' name Amen.
Thirsty Anyone?
Saturday November 27, 2010
Today's Passage: Judges 15:18-19
Memory Verse: John 7:38
Did you know you can live without food much longer than you can live without water? Food maintains life, water gives life. Our bodies are made up of mostly water. As a matter of fact, the brain couldn't form a single simple thought if it didn't have enough water.
What about our spirit man? Our spirits need water too. And we need that water just as much. We can't take the chance of letting ourselves go without the Living Water. We must keep ourselves from living dry and parched lives by doing the same thing all the time without contact with the Father. We need the fountain of living water; which is the very presence and power of God. Jesus told the woman at the well if she knew who He was, she'd ask Him for a drink and NEVER thirst again. He told them He was the Living Water. I reiterate, you cannot live without water.
Living without water in the natural will cause Dehydration. Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the loss of body fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. With dehydration, more water is moving out of our cells and then out of our bodies than the amount of water we take in through drinking. We lose water every day in the form of water vapor in the breath we exhale and as water in our sweat, urine, and stool. Along with the water, small amounts of salts are also lost. When we lose too much water, our bodies may become out of balance or dehydrated. Severe dehydration can lead to death. Spiritual dehydration also comes when we constantly give out (service, meetings, work, responsibilities, etc.), but never take anything back in. Subsequently, our spiritual lives become out of balance, leading to spiritual death. Ever wonder why some pastors, leaders, writers, singers, and teachers, all of a sudden burn-out and leave the church? It's because they've allowed themselves to be cut-off from their water supply. They remembered the platform, but forgot The Well. There are so many accounts of people being given living water in the Bible, but I like Sampson's. Sampson had just slain 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. When he was finished, he was obviously tired. That happens to us alot doesn't it. Our "to-do" lists for one day can be a mile long sometimes. Work, work, work. Then ministry, ministry, ministry, and then family, family,....well you know the deal. With everything that is required of us, it's hard to find time to settle down and just "be with God". And then, the spirit attached to our religious habits tells us what we're doing is enough. It tells us we don't need to stop and experience a time of refreshing with the Lord. Anyway, Sampson was doing what God ordained him to do; kill Philistines. But while he was doing it, he forgot to draw his strength from the Lord. So when he was finished, the thirst he felt almost killed him. In Judges 15:18, the Bible says "now he was suddenly very thirsty. He called out to God. You have given Your servant this great victory. Are You going to abandon me to die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised? So God split open the rock basin in Lehi; water gushed out and Sampson drank. His spirit alive--he was revived again".
Just like Sampson, you need God's water. Don't try to live without it. God freely gives it to all who asks. He won't withhold it from us. If your marriage is experiencing dryness, ask for the water. If your walk is experiencing dryness, ask for the water. It doesn't matter if its your faith, family, or finances. God has what you need.
Prayer: Father I need Your living water. I'm tired of this dry, thirsty life. Fill me with Your presence. I need so much more of You. Rain on us God. Let me bathe in Your healing waters. I don't ever want to thirst again.
Today's Passage: Judges 15:18-19
Memory Verse: John 7:38
Did you know you can live without food much longer than you can live without water? Food maintains life, water gives life. Our bodies are made up of mostly water. As a matter of fact, the brain couldn't form a single simple thought if it didn't have enough water.
What about our spirit man? Our spirits need water too. And we need that water just as much. We can't take the chance of letting ourselves go without the Living Water. We must keep ourselves from living dry and parched lives by doing the same thing all the time without contact with the Father. We need the fountain of living water; which is the very presence and power of God. Jesus told the woman at the well if she knew who He was, she'd ask Him for a drink and NEVER thirst again. He told them He was the Living Water. I reiterate, you cannot live without water.
Living without water in the natural will cause Dehydration. Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the loss of body fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is taken in. With dehydration, more water is moving out of our cells and then out of our bodies than the amount of water we take in through drinking. We lose water every day in the form of water vapor in the breath we exhale and as water in our sweat, urine, and stool. Along with the water, small amounts of salts are also lost. When we lose too much water, our bodies may become out of balance or dehydrated. Severe dehydration can lead to death. Spiritual dehydration also comes when we constantly give out (service, meetings, work, responsibilities, etc.), but never take anything back in. Subsequently, our spiritual lives become out of balance, leading to spiritual death. Ever wonder why some pastors, leaders, writers, singers, and teachers, all of a sudden burn-out and leave the church? It's because they've allowed themselves to be cut-off from their water supply. They remembered the platform, but forgot The Well. There are so many accounts of people being given living water in the Bible, but I like Sampson's. Sampson had just slain 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. When he was finished, he was obviously tired. That happens to us alot doesn't it. Our "to-do" lists for one day can be a mile long sometimes. Work, work, work. Then ministry, ministry, ministry, and then family, family,....well you know the deal. With everything that is required of us, it's hard to find time to settle down and just "be with God". And then, the spirit attached to our religious habits tells us what we're doing is enough. It tells us we don't need to stop and experience a time of refreshing with the Lord. Anyway, Sampson was doing what God ordained him to do; kill Philistines. But while he was doing it, he forgot to draw his strength from the Lord. So when he was finished, the thirst he felt almost killed him. In Judges 15:18, the Bible says "now he was suddenly very thirsty. He called out to God. You have given Your servant this great victory. Are You going to abandon me to die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised? So God split open the rock basin in Lehi; water gushed out and Sampson drank. His spirit alive--he was revived again".
Just like Sampson, you need God's water. Don't try to live without it. God freely gives it to all who asks. He won't withhold it from us. If your marriage is experiencing dryness, ask for the water. If your walk is experiencing dryness, ask for the water. It doesn't matter if its your faith, family, or finances. God has what you need.
Prayer: Father I need Your living water. I'm tired of this dry, thirsty life. Fill me with Your presence. I need so much more of You. Rain on us God. Let me bathe in Your healing waters. I don't ever want to thirst again.
Thanks for The WORD!!!
Friday, November 26th, 2010
Today's Passage: Joshua 1:7-9
Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 15:29
Okay, Lifers. So we've had a couple of days off from work. For me, that means hanging out with my hubby and watching movies. We stumbled upon "The Wiz", which I've never really watched from beginning to end. It doesn't take long for me to receive revelation from what I watch, so a particular scene caught my attention. When Dorothy and her friends get to the Emerald City, they're mesmerized by its inhabitants, who are busy rejoicing over the color green. On one accord, they declare that this is the only color worthy to be worn, and no-one had better be caught dead wearing anything else.
Five minutes later, they are called to attention by The Wiz himself, who suddenly decides the color green is tired, and red is now "in". Immediately, the inhabitants of Emerald City embrace a whole new mindset. Their passion becomes to declare the new color and denounce the old. The Wiz flits from one color to another, but his subjects are unmoved. Whatever he likes, they like. Without hesitation, they grab hold of his every word, and need no persuasion to do so.
I saw an instant parallel between what the Emerald City inhabitants did and what we as God's children should be doing. They showed total devotion to his every word by committing to it before it ever came out of his mouth. But as for the Wiz, here's where the parallel stops. By no means is God wishy-washy and inconsistent in His Word. God's ways are perfect, and they are true. His laws that He requires us to follow are for our good, and they do not change. He doesn't wake up one morning and decide He wants us to go another way. Since Adam and Eve fell, those laws have been the same.
As we get ready to close out yet another year, our heart's desire should be to listen for God's Word daily. When we receive it, there should be no hesitation to follow. Most of us struggle with trusting God because we don't really believe that His answers can be applied to our lives personally. We want our problems solved all at once, so we reject His Word because it fails to bail us out the way we expect it to. It's time for us to make up our minds once and for all that God's Word has the final authority in our lives. Never again should we doubt its place in our lives. Every day, it's gotta be His Word or bust!
Prayer: Father, I want to give thanks for Your Word. Since I gave my heart to You, It's been there to guide and direct me. I am so sorry for not always seeing Your Word as the final authority in my life. Now I pray that my passion and devotion will grow, and that my life will reflect total devotion to every word You utter. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Joshua 1:7-9
Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 15:29
Okay, Lifers. So we've had a couple of days off from work. For me, that means hanging out with my hubby and watching movies. We stumbled upon "The Wiz", which I've never really watched from beginning to end. It doesn't take long for me to receive revelation from what I watch, so a particular scene caught my attention. When Dorothy and her friends get to the Emerald City, they're mesmerized by its inhabitants, who are busy rejoicing over the color green. On one accord, they declare that this is the only color worthy to be worn, and no-one had better be caught dead wearing anything else.
Five minutes later, they are called to attention by The Wiz himself, who suddenly decides the color green is tired, and red is now "in". Immediately, the inhabitants of Emerald City embrace a whole new mindset. Their passion becomes to declare the new color and denounce the old. The Wiz flits from one color to another, but his subjects are unmoved. Whatever he likes, they like. Without hesitation, they grab hold of his every word, and need no persuasion to do so.
I saw an instant parallel between what the Emerald City inhabitants did and what we as God's children should be doing. They showed total devotion to his every word by committing to it before it ever came out of his mouth. But as for the Wiz, here's where the parallel stops. By no means is God wishy-washy and inconsistent in His Word. God's ways are perfect, and they are true. His laws that He requires us to follow are for our good, and they do not change. He doesn't wake up one morning and decide He wants us to go another way. Since Adam and Eve fell, those laws have been the same.
As we get ready to close out yet another year, our heart's desire should be to listen for God's Word daily. When we receive it, there should be no hesitation to follow. Most of us struggle with trusting God because we don't really believe that His answers can be applied to our lives personally. We want our problems solved all at once, so we reject His Word because it fails to bail us out the way we expect it to. It's time for us to make up our minds once and for all that God's Word has the final authority in our lives. Never again should we doubt its place in our lives. Every day, it's gotta be His Word or bust!
Prayer: Father, I want to give thanks for Your Word. Since I gave my heart to You, It's been there to guide and direct me. I am so sorry for not always seeing Your Word as the final authority in my life. Now I pray that my passion and devotion will grow, and that my life will reflect total devotion to every word You utter. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving! May God bless and keep you through this holiday season. As you are spending time with your families today, remember to be thankful to God for His faithfullness. Also, remember the less fortunate, or those who may be without family today. On behalf of Pastors Chad & Antoinette, the Staff, and Leadership of Abundant Life Ministries, we pray you have a great holiday season....
H.U.M.P. Day!
Wednesday November 24, 2010
On this day before Thanksgiving, we'd like to take time to reflect on God's goodness. Whereas we're not where we want to be, we're surely not where we once were. For one thing, we have ceased to be "self"-worshippers; being only concerned about our 4 and no more. And now, through God, we've developed hearts to grow in Him, and stay totally devoted..
This season not only calls for us to be grateful, it also calls for us to be givers. By definition, the word Thanksgiving simply means "grateful giver". That being said, we cannot truly celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday without being grateful to God for His faithfullness, and "sharing" His love through the giving of ourselves. Our mission this holiday season is to seek opportunities to be a blessing to someone's life. Is your child getting new games or toys this year? If so, try to see if some of their old ones can be refurbished and turned into a blessing for someone else's child. Or, pick up a new item to bless the kid on your street who probably won't get anything this year. Share your Thanksgiving meal with someone who has lost a loved one and subsequently will be alone this holiday season. All of these ideas can be explored so God's glory can be on display this holiday season. God bless you....Happy H.U.M.P. Day!
On this day before Thanksgiving, we'd like to take time to reflect on God's goodness. Whereas we're not where we want to be, we're surely not where we once were. For one thing, we have ceased to be "self"-worshippers; being only concerned about our 4 and no more. And now, through God, we've developed hearts to grow in Him, and stay totally devoted..
This season not only calls for us to be grateful, it also calls for us to be givers. By definition, the word Thanksgiving simply means "grateful giver". That being said, we cannot truly celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday without being grateful to God for His faithfullness, and "sharing" His love through the giving of ourselves. Our mission this holiday season is to seek opportunities to be a blessing to someone's life. Is your child getting new games or toys this year? If so, try to see if some of their old ones can be refurbished and turned into a blessing for someone else's child. Or, pick up a new item to bless the kid on your street who probably won't get anything this year. Share your Thanksgiving meal with someone who has lost a loved one and subsequently will be alone this holiday season. All of these ideas can be explored so God's glory can be on display this holiday season. God bless you....Happy H.U.M.P. Day!
Thank God for Hope!!!
Tuesday, November23rd, 2010
Today's Passage: Proverbs 23:17-23
Memory Verse: Proverbs 13:12
What was your life like ten years ago? What were your hopes and dreams? Did everything you envisioned come to pass yet? If not, the thief must have come by your house too. When I was dating Pastor Chris, he told me a story of how exciting Christmas would be for him and his brother every year. Their grandmother, who raised them, did her best to get them what they wanted. So come Christmas morning, their hearts would swell with joy to see all that stuff she'd managed to purchase on a single parent's salary.
But they weren't the only ones watching. Not many days after Christmas, someone would wait until they all left to go to church. Then they'd come in and clean house, taking everything Miss Carter had saved up to buy. Year after year, the same thing would happen over and over until they no longer looked forward to Christmas. Eventually, one of the thieves was caught stealing from their aunt's house down the street. But that didn't help bring back all the things that had already been stolen and sold. And it didn't stop the boys from feeling the despair of losing what they'd dreamed of.
As believers, we must remember that even as we hope and dream for the things we'd like to be and do for the Lord, the thief that comes only to steal, kill and destroy is always watching. He doesn't care if you've been nurturing that dream for years, or if you've just received that promise while in the Lord's presence. He wants to steal what God sacrificed His Son to provide for you, and he waits until you're not looking to snatch it. He wants you depressed and wallowing in despair with no hope of your dreams ever coming to reality.
But THERE IS HOPE. Hope that is seen is not hope. That's why you must fight with everything on the inside of you to believe in hope. Our Father had made it available to us, and we must access it. The enemy will never stop doing his job of keeping us blind to all the possibilities of our future; therefore, WE must never stop looking for those possibilities. So today, look up. Let's be thankful for hope. With it, we'll never drown in the sea of despair Satan threatens to surround us with. And we'll always be victorious over him.
Prayer: Father, thank You for that blessed hope that is found only in Your arms. You sing it over me when I am overwhelmed with issues that threaten to take my focus off of everything that You are. I'm grateful that the life everlasting that You offer is something the enemy can try to steal, but will never be able to take away. And I'll forever sing of this hope to all who will listen. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Proverbs 23:17-23
Memory Verse: Proverbs 13:12
What was your life like ten years ago? What were your hopes and dreams? Did everything you envisioned come to pass yet? If not, the thief must have come by your house too. When I was dating Pastor Chris, he told me a story of how exciting Christmas would be for him and his brother every year. Their grandmother, who raised them, did her best to get them what they wanted. So come Christmas morning, their hearts would swell with joy to see all that stuff she'd managed to purchase on a single parent's salary.
But they weren't the only ones watching. Not many days after Christmas, someone would wait until they all left to go to church. Then they'd come in and clean house, taking everything Miss Carter had saved up to buy. Year after year, the same thing would happen over and over until they no longer looked forward to Christmas. Eventually, one of the thieves was caught stealing from their aunt's house down the street. But that didn't help bring back all the things that had already been stolen and sold. And it didn't stop the boys from feeling the despair of losing what they'd dreamed of.
As believers, we must remember that even as we hope and dream for the things we'd like to be and do for the Lord, the thief that comes only to steal, kill and destroy is always watching. He doesn't care if you've been nurturing that dream for years, or if you've just received that promise while in the Lord's presence. He wants to steal what God sacrificed His Son to provide for you, and he waits until you're not looking to snatch it. He wants you depressed and wallowing in despair with no hope of your dreams ever coming to reality.
But THERE IS HOPE. Hope that is seen is not hope. That's why you must fight with everything on the inside of you to believe in hope. Our Father had made it available to us, and we must access it. The enemy will never stop doing his job of keeping us blind to all the possibilities of our future; therefore, WE must never stop looking for those possibilities. So today, look up. Let's be thankful for hope. With it, we'll never drown in the sea of despair Satan threatens to surround us with. And we'll always be victorious over him.
Prayer: Father, thank You for that blessed hope that is found only in Your arms. You sing it over me when I am overwhelmed with issues that threaten to take my focus off of everything that You are. I'm grateful that the life everlasting that You offer is something the enemy can try to steal, but will never be able to take away. And I'll forever sing of this hope to all who will listen. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Thank God for that Upbringing!!!
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
Today's Passage: 2 Timothy 1:1-6
Memory Verse: Proverbs 22:6
In a world of so much rebellion against God, where so many seem content to do and say their own thing, it's refreshing to know that many more have not bowed their knee to the god of this world. Which gets me wondering what the background of these devoted may have been.
How did they grow up, and how did that help them become the godly men and women we see today?
I remember my own upbringing as a religious one. We were Lutherans, and my parents were devout Christians. Consequently, we were in church everyday, which is how I fell in love with singing. But what really sticks out in my mind is the way my parents found time to have devotions with us. The Word was read, with lots of singing in between, and we would kneel and pray to this God that I love so much today.
The Word tells us to train up a child in the way he should go, so that when he is old, he will not depart from it. And so there's no wonder that when I became older and came face to face with right and wrong, I knew what I was doing was wrong without having to be told. Although I didn't remember much of what we had read in those nightly devotions, I did remember feeling how disappointed in me God was for not living right.
So for those of you who were raised like me to fear God and His ways, pause with me and say a prayer of thanks for the ones -- parents, Sunday school teachers, and anyone else who played a part in making us sensitive to the things of God without even being aware of their impact. It also gives me a deep desire as a Sunday school teacher myself to do everything I can to impact children with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you and I are any evidence of this, it's safe to say that the impact of whatever seeds are sown will continue to be felt for years to come. Thank God for our godly foundation!!!
Prayer: Father, thank You with all my heart for drawing me to You from my childhood. You knew whom You would use to plant the seeds. As they sprouted over the years, sometimes threatening to be destroyed, You never wasted a moment in worry. You simply watched over my life and ordered my steps to find my way to You. I'm just glad You didn't give up on me. May I continue to plant my own seeds in the lives of others who will also be raised up to bring You glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: 2 Timothy 1:1-6
Memory Verse: Proverbs 22:6
In a world of so much rebellion against God, where so many seem content to do and say their own thing, it's refreshing to know that many more have not bowed their knee to the god of this world. Which gets me wondering what the background of these devoted may have been.
How did they grow up, and how did that help them become the godly men and women we see today?
I remember my own upbringing as a religious one. We were Lutherans, and my parents were devout Christians. Consequently, we were in church everyday, which is how I fell in love with singing. But what really sticks out in my mind is the way my parents found time to have devotions with us. The Word was read, with lots of singing in between, and we would kneel and pray to this God that I love so much today.
The Word tells us to train up a child in the way he should go, so that when he is old, he will not depart from it. And so there's no wonder that when I became older and came face to face with right and wrong, I knew what I was doing was wrong without having to be told. Although I didn't remember much of what we had read in those nightly devotions, I did remember feeling how disappointed in me God was for not living right.
So for those of you who were raised like me to fear God and His ways, pause with me and say a prayer of thanks for the ones -- parents, Sunday school teachers, and anyone else who played a part in making us sensitive to the things of God without even being aware of their impact. It also gives me a deep desire as a Sunday school teacher myself to do everything I can to impact children with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you and I are any evidence of this, it's safe to say that the impact of whatever seeds are sown will continue to be felt for years to come. Thank God for our godly foundation!!!
Prayer: Father, thank You with all my heart for drawing me to You from my childhood. You knew whom You would use to plant the seeds. As they sprouted over the years, sometimes threatening to be destroyed, You never wasted a moment in worry. You simply watched over my life and ordered my steps to find my way to You. I'm just glad You didn't give up on me. May I continue to plant my own seeds in the lives of others who will also be raised up to bring You glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Prayers That Prevail!
Sunday November 21, 2010
'Prayer of Thanksgiving'
"I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High". Psalms 9:1-2
Father God I rejoice in You today. As I think of Your goodness, my eyes can only see how You've mercifully cared for me. Thank You for giving me the things that help me. And thank You for withholding what could hurt me. No one takes care of me like You do. I repent wholeheartedly for the times I've treated You like You haven't done enough. Forgive me for my pride. What You've done for me, I couldn't ever do for myself.
As I arise to see this brand new day that You have made, I can only thank You for the new mercies You have made for me. And therefore, I offer new mercy to my family, friends, and neighbors. Which means I will forgive all wrongs done to me. Lord I will seek to repair broken relationships in my life. While You're loving on me, I'll share that love with others.
Throughout this day, I'll seek opportunitiesto offer You praise and worship. So as I attend church, I'll make my heart ready for Your presence and Your Word. Praise will wait for You my King. You won't have to pump me up to declare Your greatness. Who I am, where I live, what I do, and where I'm going, will not hinder me from touching You. My worship is Yours....all Yours. Thank You for the opportunity to be in Your presence. You are the Greatest of All, in Jesus' name. Amen
'Prayer of Thanksgiving'
"I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High". Psalms 9:1-2
Father God I rejoice in You today. As I think of Your goodness, my eyes can only see how You've mercifully cared for me. Thank You for giving me the things that help me. And thank You for withholding what could hurt me. No one takes care of me like You do. I repent wholeheartedly for the times I've treated You like You haven't done enough. Forgive me for my pride. What You've done for me, I couldn't ever do for myself.
As I arise to see this brand new day that You have made, I can only thank You for the new mercies You have made for me. And therefore, I offer new mercy to my family, friends, and neighbors. Which means I will forgive all wrongs done to me. Lord I will seek to repair broken relationships in my life. While You're loving on me, I'll share that love with others.
Throughout this day, I'll seek opportunitiesto offer You praise and worship. So as I attend church, I'll make my heart ready for Your presence and Your Word. Praise will wait for You my King. You won't have to pump me up to declare Your greatness. Who I am, where I live, what I do, and where I'm going, will not hinder me from touching You. My worship is Yours....all Yours. Thank You for the opportunity to be in Your presence. You are the Greatest of All, in Jesus' name. Amen
Already Saved The Day!
Saturday November 20, 2010
Let me ask you a question: Who was your childhood hero? As you take time to think, let's consider the definition. Hero is defined as "of distinguished courage or ability; a person who has performed heroic acts". So whether your hero was Superman, Wonder Woman, your mom, an aunt, or an uncle, you chose them because they (in your eyes) displayed distinguished courage and ability. Now, who's hero are YOU?
How did your hero become your hero? I'll tell you. They became your hero because they stood out. Their character/behavior caught your attention and you subsequently watched them. You studied them. With that being said, don't get confused when I ask you whose hero you are. I'm not suggesting you've been perfect or trying to get you to go on a pride walk. All I'm saying is since you've been totally devoted to God, someone's been watching you. Oh yeah, you don't know it. You may not ever know unless they win a prostigeous award or something like that. But they're watching you my friend. They see what you do when you're on the mountaintop, and likewise, they watch you when you're in the valley. If you're 30+ years of age, you might remember the old Batman episodes. Remember how every episodes ended? Batman (and Robin) were always tied up or knocked out somewhere. Their enemy seemed to have the upper hand. It was all I could do to wait for next week's show. When it finally aired, Batman would use that famous line that I feel Christians should add to their vocabulary. He said "If I could only reach my utility belt". Yes! See, that belt contained everything they needed to assure freedom. Instead of crawling into a hole and giving up when we're in danger, we need to say "If I could get to my praise. If I could get to my Word. We would be able to assure our freedom. Also, if you chose a realistic person (Mom, Grandmother, Father, Grandfather), you chose that person because they performed heroic acts. They made the most out of a little. They showed love in the face of persecution, or they provided out of their lack. All these things are what heroes do everyday.
So whose hero are you? You don't have to leap off tall buildings, or run faster than locomotives. All you have to do stay totally devoted to God. Love Him always, and seek to walk in the supernatural. Develop a passion to see the sick healed. Have a passion to see the lost redeemed. In doing these things, you'll be some child's, some co-worker's, or some family member's hero. It's that simple. Have a great weekend!
Prayer: Father, You are my hero. You have saved the day for me more than I can remember. Now, let me walk in Your likeness. Let me be what You made. And as I follow You, let someone follow me. I'll do my best to lead them straight to You...in Jesus' name Amen.
Let me ask you a question: Who was your childhood hero? As you take time to think, let's consider the definition. Hero is defined as "of distinguished courage or ability; a person who has performed heroic acts". So whether your hero was Superman, Wonder Woman, your mom, an aunt, or an uncle, you chose them because they (in your eyes) displayed distinguished courage and ability. Now, who's hero are YOU?
How did your hero become your hero? I'll tell you. They became your hero because they stood out. Their character/behavior caught your attention and you subsequently watched them. You studied them. With that being said, don't get confused when I ask you whose hero you are. I'm not suggesting you've been perfect or trying to get you to go on a pride walk. All I'm saying is since you've been totally devoted to God, someone's been watching you. Oh yeah, you don't know it. You may not ever know unless they win a prostigeous award or something like that. But they're watching you my friend. They see what you do when you're on the mountaintop, and likewise, they watch you when you're in the valley. If you're 30+ years of age, you might remember the old Batman episodes. Remember how every episodes ended? Batman (and Robin) were always tied up or knocked out somewhere. Their enemy seemed to have the upper hand. It was all I could do to wait for next week's show. When it finally aired, Batman would use that famous line that I feel Christians should add to their vocabulary. He said "If I could only reach my utility belt". Yes! See, that belt contained everything they needed to assure freedom. Instead of crawling into a hole and giving up when we're in danger, we need to say "If I could get to my praise. If I could get to my Word. We would be able to assure our freedom. Also, if you chose a realistic person (Mom, Grandmother, Father, Grandfather), you chose that person because they performed heroic acts. They made the most out of a little. They showed love in the face of persecution, or they provided out of their lack. All these things are what heroes do everyday.
So whose hero are you? You don't have to leap off tall buildings, or run faster than locomotives. All you have to do stay totally devoted to God. Love Him always, and seek to walk in the supernatural. Develop a passion to see the sick healed. Have a passion to see the lost redeemed. In doing these things, you'll be some child's, some co-worker's, or some family member's hero. It's that simple. Have a great weekend!
Prayer: Father, You are my hero. You have saved the day for me more than I can remember. Now, let me walk in Your likeness. Let me be what You made. And as I follow You, let someone follow me. I'll do my best to lead them straight to You...in Jesus' name Amen.
Thanks for the Body!!!!
Friday, November 19th, 2010
Today's Passage: Ephesians 4:11-16
Memory Verse: Eph. 4:14-16
If you've ever had a drag-down, knock- out fight with the enemy, you'll agree with me that you've probably felt alone more than once in your Christian life. The enemy is skilled at separating us in our most vulnerable moments. He's got a strong knack for playing with our minds and making us feel as if there's no other person on the planet who understands what we're going through.
But a closer look will get you to see that his strategy is nothing but a sham-- a smokescreen of fake evidence appearing real. I, for one, have personally experienced the blessing of having Christian brothers and sisters around for love and support. I believe one of the reasons God allows us to be subjected to feeling alone for a season is so we can learn to depend completely on Him.
No matter how you look at it, there should never be another human being on the face of this earth who should be able to fill the void in our lives where God should be. And yet, when we're going through, we expect others to answer that call in our hearts, becoming dejected when they cannot perform up to our expectations. Today's passage helps us understand once and for all what the true purpose of the body is.
Let me give you some examples. At ALM, there is a group of praisers and worshippers who don't even have to know my situation to know the situation to understand that they need to pray for me at any given time. They form part of the body of Christ's immune system, erecting a barrier around others as they lift up the name of Jesus. Then there's the lifeblood of the ministry-- the circulatory system made up of men and women who spend the little extra time they have left finding ways to encourage and bless the body. So while we're busy feeling sorry for ourselves, we're missing out on meaningful friendships and relationships the Lord has set up for us. It's time to appreciate the body how and why God has knit us together for such a time as this. Thanks, God, for the body.
Prayer: Father, thank You that everyone has their place. You've thought of everyone's gifts and everything. You left nothing out when designing Your answer to the questions we would have. Please help me to grow in my faith so that I, too, can function as part of the well-oiled machine that You made. I love You forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Ephesians 4:11-16
Memory Verse: Eph. 4:14-16
If you've ever had a drag-down, knock- out fight with the enemy, you'll agree with me that you've probably felt alone more than once in your Christian life. The enemy is skilled at separating us in our most vulnerable moments. He's got a strong knack for playing with our minds and making us feel as if there's no other person on the planet who understands what we're going through.
But a closer look will get you to see that his strategy is nothing but a sham-- a smokescreen of fake evidence appearing real. I, for one, have personally experienced the blessing of having Christian brothers and sisters around for love and support. I believe one of the reasons God allows us to be subjected to feeling alone for a season is so we can learn to depend completely on Him.
No matter how you look at it, there should never be another human being on the face of this earth who should be able to fill the void in our lives where God should be. And yet, when we're going through, we expect others to answer that call in our hearts, becoming dejected when they cannot perform up to our expectations. Today's passage helps us understand once and for all what the true purpose of the body is.
Let me give you some examples. At ALM, there is a group of praisers and worshippers who don't even have to know my situation to know the situation to understand that they need to pray for me at any given time. They form part of the body of Christ's immune system, erecting a barrier around others as they lift up the name of Jesus. Then there's the lifeblood of the ministry-- the circulatory system made up of men and women who spend the little extra time they have left finding ways to encourage and bless the body. So while we're busy feeling sorry for ourselves, we're missing out on meaningful friendships and relationships the Lord has set up for us. It's time to appreciate the body how and why God has knit us together for such a time as this. Thanks, God, for the body.
Prayer: Father, thank You that everyone has their place. You've thought of everyone's gifts and everything. You left nothing out when designing Your answer to the questions we would have. Please help me to grow in my faith so that I, too, can function as part of the well-oiled machine that You made. I love You forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Good, Defined!
Thursday November 18, 2010
Today's Passage: Genesis 1
Memory Verse: Matthew 25:23
Morally excellent; virtuous, righteous; satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree; right. These words serve as the definition for "Good". Good people, good things, good taste, good day. So many things can be described as good. If something or someone is truly good, what or where does it come from?
The first ever thing that was called "good" came from God. That thing was called light. One of the many reasons God called light good was it became the substitute for something void, empty, and desolate. It served a purpose. Light instantly became something that yielded to God's use. It obeyed Him. It only wanted what God purposed for it. It never sought to be something else. It was virtuous, or good. The next thing that was originally called good was the earth and the seas. He made the earth and the seas so that the Heavens would have a reflection. The light from the sun and stars lit up the dry land, and the stars glistened off the waters at night. They didn't contend with each other. They became a team of God's creation. The earth didn't want to be the sea, nor did the sea want to be the earth. The sea didn't get mad when God gave the earth grass. And the grass didn't quit when the sea got its waves. They were satisfactory in quality, quantity, and/or degree. They were good.
After calling the fish and fowl, beast and bird good. And after establishing that it's good for day to rule over the night. God made man. Man is the ONLY thing God made in His own image. The stars weren't, the beasts weren't, the birds weren't, nor the seas. He made man to look, be, and act like Him. Also, man was the only created thing to recieve His breath. He gave man a capacity to be filled with Him. No animal got that. No star or mountain can boast that. But with all that, He didn't call man "good". The reason is, all the other created things immediately begin to fulfill their purpose after they were created. Lights did what light does. Water did what water does. And animals did what animals do. But man...Man has to CHOOSE his purpose. To become good, man has to yield himself. Man has to become what God wants him to be through obedience. Therefore, when all other things got their endorsement upon creation, man will get his only upon "fulfillment". Remember the parable about the talents? The Master gave all the servants talents (purpose, direction, a mission), one servant buried his and the Master cursed him. The other servant however, took his two talents and brought the Master four talents. The Master responded to him saying "Well done GOOD and faithful servant....enter into the Master's joy". You want to be good? Fulfill God's purpose on your life. Don't live being only concerned with your own well-being. Being good is not what people think about you. It's not even what you think about yourself. Being good is a label that only comes from God when He sees His creation fulfilling its purpose. I'm not saying you have to live saved and pass away to be good. I'm saying to be good you have to be purpose-driven. You have to be kingdom-minded. Just think, when God saw light being light, He said "That's good". When He saw the earth and the seas functioning as He designed, He said "That's good". And when He sees you praying, praising, loving Him, obeying Him, and blessing your neighbor and the poor, He won't be able to help but say "Now he/she's good"! Blessings....
Prayer: Father every good gift comes from You. So let me come from You. I don't want my beginnings to lie anywhere else. I am newly created by You. Give me a passion for Your purpose. Let me be what You created me to be. I'm ready. And when the enemy offers me the spoils of the world, give me the strength to tell him "Nah, I'm good!" In Jesus name. Amen.
Today's Passage: Genesis 1
Memory Verse: Matthew 25:23
Morally excellent; virtuous, righteous; satisfactory in quality, quantity, or degree; right. These words serve as the definition for "Good". Good people, good things, good taste, good day. So many things can be described as good. If something or someone is truly good, what or where does it come from?
The first ever thing that was called "good" came from God. That thing was called light. One of the many reasons God called light good was it became the substitute for something void, empty, and desolate. It served a purpose. Light instantly became something that yielded to God's use. It obeyed Him. It only wanted what God purposed for it. It never sought to be something else. It was virtuous, or good. The next thing that was originally called good was the earth and the seas. He made the earth and the seas so that the Heavens would have a reflection. The light from the sun and stars lit up the dry land, and the stars glistened off the waters at night. They didn't contend with each other. They became a team of God's creation. The earth didn't want to be the sea, nor did the sea want to be the earth. The sea didn't get mad when God gave the earth grass. And the grass didn't quit when the sea got its waves. They were satisfactory in quality, quantity, and/or degree. They were good.
After calling the fish and fowl, beast and bird good. And after establishing that it's good for day to rule over the night. God made man. Man is the ONLY thing God made in His own image. The stars weren't, the beasts weren't, the birds weren't, nor the seas. He made man to look, be, and act like Him. Also, man was the only created thing to recieve His breath. He gave man a capacity to be filled with Him. No animal got that. No star or mountain can boast that. But with all that, He didn't call man "good". The reason is, all the other created things immediately begin to fulfill their purpose after they were created. Lights did what light does. Water did what water does. And animals did what animals do. But man...Man has to CHOOSE his purpose. To become good, man has to yield himself. Man has to become what God wants him to be through obedience. Therefore, when all other things got their endorsement upon creation, man will get his only upon "fulfillment". Remember the parable about the talents? The Master gave all the servants talents (purpose, direction, a mission), one servant buried his and the Master cursed him. The other servant however, took his two talents and brought the Master four talents. The Master responded to him saying "Well done GOOD and faithful servant....enter into the Master's joy". You want to be good? Fulfill God's purpose on your life. Don't live being only concerned with your own well-being. Being good is not what people think about you. It's not even what you think about yourself. Being good is a label that only comes from God when He sees His creation fulfilling its purpose. I'm not saying you have to live saved and pass away to be good. I'm saying to be good you have to be purpose-driven. You have to be kingdom-minded. Just think, when God saw light being light, He said "That's good". When He saw the earth and the seas functioning as He designed, He said "That's good". And when He sees you praying, praising, loving Him, obeying Him, and blessing your neighbor and the poor, He won't be able to help but say "Now he/she's good"! Blessings....
Prayer: Father every good gift comes from You. So let me come from You. I don't want my beginnings to lie anywhere else. I am newly created by You. Give me a passion for Your purpose. Let me be what You created me to be. I'm ready. And when the enemy offers me the spoils of the world, give me the strength to tell him "Nah, I'm good!" In Jesus name. Amen.
H.U.M.P. Day (The GOOD Edition)
Wednesday November 17, 2010
Today's Passage: Malachi 3:8-12
Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:26
What is GOOD? What would be considered a good thing, or a good person? I often think good is the absence of doing wrong. I mean, people who label themselves as good, use deeds as the measuring stick. Well, we know NOT doing something wrong may be considered a good quality, but what about the omission of doing the RIGHT thing? For instance, you may see a neigbor or a co-worker in a painful situation. Maybe they're going through a divorce, or a financial downturn. Here you have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. You know it's within you to be an encouraging voice, but you don't take the opportunity. Now you didn't do anything wrong, but you ommitted the right thing. So, are you GOOD? Think about Robin Hood. We've all heard the stories and/or seen the movies (there's only been 100's of them). Robin Hood was made famous by robbing the rich and giving what he had stolen to the poor. Is he good? I guess it depends on what tax bracket you're in. Let's look at it through God's eyes.
God owns the cattle of a thousand hills. Which means by natural standards, He's rich. He has everything one could ever want. He doesn't need money, or property, or a job to maintain His economic status. Yet, He requires us to "cheerfully" bring 10% of our income to His kingdom. He even says refusing to do so is "robbing" Him. Well, the truth is, it is robbing Him. It's robbing Him because the harvest we get comes from the seed in His ground ("the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof"). Also, it robs Him of the love and devotion (there's our word again Td Nation) He deserves. A statement was made in one of our meetings that we should take our tithes and designate them to feeding the hungry instead of bringing them to the church. What a great concept. As Christians, feeding the hungry should always be a priority. But we can't be Robin Hood folks. We can't rob God to do it. God said "Bring ALL the tithes into the storehouse, so that it can be meat in My house". Meaning, feeding the poor, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, and caring for the broken, would all be easily done IF GOD'S STOREHOUSE WERE FULL! When His storehouse is empty ministry is more difficult. Now you might read this and say "but I'm a tither so I'm okay". Which is true to some degree. But we're the body. We are one. God said "You are cursed with a curse, because you have robbed Me, EVEN THE WHOLE NATION". So, even if one person (or member of the body) decides God's not worthy of the tithe, all of Td Nation is cursed because we're short of the ALL He is requiring. So if we rob God to feed the hungry is that GOOD? I don't think so. But you ask God for yourself.....
Our assignment is to strive to become habitual tithers. That's right, habitual. A habit is something you don't have to put thought into doing. You just do it. The need to do it is so strong, you feel uneasy if you don't. You don't have to be persuaded, nor do you need to be reminded. You wake up everyday looking forward to it. Yeah, like an addict. Also, pray that the revelation of God's love comes to those who aren't tithers. We can't judge them. We can only let them see the manifestation of God's favor on a life TOTALLY devoted to Him. Let's serve notice to the devourer this is not Sherwood Forest. And we are not a band of thieves or robbers. This is the Kingdom of the Most High. And we are His sons and daughters. Prosperity lives here. Obedience lives here. Favor lives here. And blessing lives here, because HIS STOREHOUSE IS FULL!
Today's Passage: Malachi 3:8-12
Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:26
What is GOOD? What would be considered a good thing, or a good person? I often think good is the absence of doing wrong. I mean, people who label themselves as good, use deeds as the measuring stick. Well, we know NOT doing something wrong may be considered a good quality, but what about the omission of doing the RIGHT thing? For instance, you may see a neigbor or a co-worker in a painful situation. Maybe they're going through a divorce, or a financial downturn. Here you have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. You know it's within you to be an encouraging voice, but you don't take the opportunity. Now you didn't do anything wrong, but you ommitted the right thing. So, are you GOOD? Think about Robin Hood. We've all heard the stories and/or seen the movies (there's only been 100's of them). Robin Hood was made famous by robbing the rich and giving what he had stolen to the poor. Is he good? I guess it depends on what tax bracket you're in. Let's look at it through God's eyes.
God owns the cattle of a thousand hills. Which means by natural standards, He's rich. He has everything one could ever want. He doesn't need money, or property, or a job to maintain His economic status. Yet, He requires us to "cheerfully" bring 10% of our income to His kingdom. He even says refusing to do so is "robbing" Him. Well, the truth is, it is robbing Him. It's robbing Him because the harvest we get comes from the seed in His ground ("the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof"). Also, it robs Him of the love and devotion (there's our word again Td Nation) He deserves. A statement was made in one of our meetings that we should take our tithes and designate them to feeding the hungry instead of bringing them to the church. What a great concept. As Christians, feeding the hungry should always be a priority. But we can't be Robin Hood folks. We can't rob God to do it. God said "Bring ALL the tithes into the storehouse, so that it can be meat in My house". Meaning, feeding the poor, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, and caring for the broken, would all be easily done IF GOD'S STOREHOUSE WERE FULL! When His storehouse is empty ministry is more difficult. Now you might read this and say "but I'm a tither so I'm okay". Which is true to some degree. But we're the body. We are one. God said "You are cursed with a curse, because you have robbed Me, EVEN THE WHOLE NATION". So, even if one person (or member of the body) decides God's not worthy of the tithe, all of Td Nation is cursed because we're short of the ALL He is requiring. So if we rob God to feed the hungry is that GOOD? I don't think so. But you ask God for yourself.....
Our assignment is to strive to become habitual tithers. That's right, habitual. A habit is something you don't have to put thought into doing. You just do it. The need to do it is so strong, you feel uneasy if you don't. You don't have to be persuaded, nor do you need to be reminded. You wake up everyday looking forward to it. Yeah, like an addict. Also, pray that the revelation of God's love comes to those who aren't tithers. We can't judge them. We can only let them see the manifestation of God's favor on a life TOTALLY devoted to Him. Let's serve notice to the devourer this is not Sherwood Forest. And we are not a band of thieves or robbers. This is the Kingdom of the Most High. And we are His sons and daughters. Prosperity lives here. Obedience lives here. Favor lives here. And blessing lives here, because HIS STOREHOUSE IS FULL!
Thanks for Our Kids!!!!!
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
Today's Passage: Psalm 103
Memory Verse: Ps. 103: 10 and 17
For millions of women, the miracle of childbirth happens everyday. But perhaps millions more have never carried a baby to full term. They may never know the thrill of feeling a baby grow inside them, nor will they feel the discomfort of the birthing process. And so I'd like to dedicate this blog to giving thanks for my children.
I've been blessed to accomplish a lot of things in my life, but absolutely nothing apart from giving my life to Christ comes close to being compared to having a child. One minute, there is no other evidence of this tiny life inside of you than what you've been told by the doctor. The next minute, you start feeling this giddy, indescribable movement inside you. The only thing I can compare it to is driving down a steep hill at 60 miles per hour. Now am I saying it always feels good? Of course not.
But then that moment comes when you're holding your baby, and every pain you feel before--and after-- becomes totally insignificant. What's even more amazing is that I was given this opportunity three times, when I am the last person who would deserve to carry a baby. The more my children grow, the more I understand how much of a part of God's kingdom plan it is to have a child. When I see them say or do anything that has to do with God, I see in them everything I didn't know I was at that age.
I am so grateful to the Father for not rewarding me according to my iniquities. I renew my commitment to being the best mother I can be, no matter how tiring it may get. My children are the greatest hope I have for the future, and raising them to serve God is the most important calling of my life. I want to live each day being the godly example to my daughter that my mother was to me, and I praise God everyday that my sons have their father to look up to when they have questions about the world we live in. For that, I will forever be thankful.
Prayer: Father, as long as I live I'll never forget the promises You've fulfilled in my children. I thank You for entrusting them to us. May we take advantage of every opportunity to love, cover and teach them about You. And may their children's children be forever blessed in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Today's Passage: Psalm 103
Memory Verse: Ps. 103: 10 and 17
For millions of women, the miracle of childbirth happens everyday. But perhaps millions more have never carried a baby to full term. They may never know the thrill of feeling a baby grow inside them, nor will they feel the discomfort of the birthing process. And so I'd like to dedicate this blog to giving thanks for my children.
I've been blessed to accomplish a lot of things in my life, but absolutely nothing apart from giving my life to Christ comes close to being compared to having a child. One minute, there is no other evidence of this tiny life inside of you than what you've been told by the doctor. The next minute, you start feeling this giddy, indescribable movement inside you. The only thing I can compare it to is driving down a steep hill at 60 miles per hour. Now am I saying it always feels good? Of course not.
But then that moment comes when you're holding your baby, and every pain you feel before--and after-- becomes totally insignificant. What's even more amazing is that I was given this opportunity three times, when I am the last person who would deserve to carry a baby. The more my children grow, the more I understand how much of a part of God's kingdom plan it is to have a child. When I see them say or do anything that has to do with God, I see in them everything I didn't know I was at that age.
I am so grateful to the Father for not rewarding me according to my iniquities. I renew my commitment to being the best mother I can be, no matter how tiring it may get. My children are the greatest hope I have for the future, and raising them to serve God is the most important calling of my life. I want to live each day being the godly example to my daughter that my mother was to me, and I praise God everyday that my sons have their father to look up to when they have questions about the world we live in. For that, I will forever be thankful.
Prayer: Father, as long as I live I'll never forget the promises You've fulfilled in my children. I thank You for entrusting them to us. May we take advantage of every opportunity to love, cover and teach them about You. And may their children's children be forever blessed in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Something Praiseworthy
Monday, November 15th, 2010
Today's Passage: Ephesians 1:1-14
Memory Verse: Eph. 1:11-12
For believers who love God and enjoy a fulfilling relationship with Him, we should be experts on giving thanks to the Lord, right? So how come we have to be reminded over and over in the Word to rejoice, think on praiseworthy things, and always praise? Because, to be honest, it's extremely easy to forget all the awesome things God has done for us. Most times, it's sad to admit that we're too busy remembering the things that make us sad to be in a praising mood.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, some of the next few blogs will be dedicated to remembering how mighty and faithful our God is. Today, I'm thankful for the specific plan and purpose He has for each of us who call ourselves His children. I remember back in 1991, when I finally accepted Christ as my Savior. I didn't get everything right, but I had a heart to serve Him completely.
That being the case, I had always had the desire to sing. As a result, one of my sisters, who resided in the States at that time, sent me an application packet for a school in Florida. Now, mind you, she lived in New Jersey, so what are the chances that she would pick the particular school that she did? She heard the concert choir from that school, Bethune- Cookman, and it was confirmed in her spirit that I needed to go there. So I filled out the paperwork, got the necessary documents, and was accepted there for the Fall semester of 1993.
The rest, as they say, is history. I will never tire of telling how God brought me into the exact choir where a young man by the name of Christon Lee introduced himself to me as the man who would be my husband. Of course, I didn't know it at the time, but I was set up by God to meet the man of my dreams. How am I so sure God ordained it? Because we are now ministering together in the Word, music, and the field of education. For the past 16 years, the Lord has blessed us to spend time growing in love with Him and one another. He has given us four beautiful children, and a life that I wouldn't trade for anything in tins world. Now THAT is something praiseworthy.
Prayer: Father, I am so grateful that You chose my life before the foundation of the world. I praise You for my husband, my babies, and the ministry You have called me to. May my life reflect everything You intended when You placed me in my mother's womb. I'll forever praise You for my destiny. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Ephesians 1:1-14
Memory Verse: Eph. 1:11-12
For believers who love God and enjoy a fulfilling relationship with Him, we should be experts on giving thanks to the Lord, right? So how come we have to be reminded over and over in the Word to rejoice, think on praiseworthy things, and always praise? Because, to be honest, it's extremely easy to forget all the awesome things God has done for us. Most times, it's sad to admit that we're too busy remembering the things that make us sad to be in a praising mood.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, some of the next few blogs will be dedicated to remembering how mighty and faithful our God is. Today, I'm thankful for the specific plan and purpose He has for each of us who call ourselves His children. I remember back in 1991, when I finally accepted Christ as my Savior. I didn't get everything right, but I had a heart to serve Him completely.
That being the case, I had always had the desire to sing. As a result, one of my sisters, who resided in the States at that time, sent me an application packet for a school in Florida. Now, mind you, she lived in New Jersey, so what are the chances that she would pick the particular school that she did? She heard the concert choir from that school, Bethune- Cookman, and it was confirmed in her spirit that I needed to go there. So I filled out the paperwork, got the necessary documents, and was accepted there for the Fall semester of 1993.
The rest, as they say, is history. I will never tire of telling how God brought me into the exact choir where a young man by the name of Christon Lee introduced himself to me as the man who would be my husband. Of course, I didn't know it at the time, but I was set up by God to meet the man of my dreams. How am I so sure God ordained it? Because we are now ministering together in the Word, music, and the field of education. For the past 16 years, the Lord has blessed us to spend time growing in love with Him and one another. He has given us four beautiful children, and a life that I wouldn't trade for anything in tins world. Now THAT is something praiseworthy.
Prayer: Father, I am so grateful that You chose my life before the foundation of the world. I praise You for my husband, my babies, and the ministry You have called me to. May my life reflect everything You intended when You placed me in my mother's womb. I'll forever praise You for my destiny. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Sunday Prayer
Sunday November 14, 2010
"Hallelujah! Praise God from Heaven, praise Him from the mountaintops; praise Him all you His angels, praise Him all you His warriors. Praise Him sun and moon, prasie Him you morning stars; praise Him high Heaven, prasie Him heavenly rain clouds; praise, oh let them praise the name of God--He spoke the Word, and there they were"! (Psalms 148:1-5)
Father God, our praise is truly Yours. You are so worthy of every hallelujah we offer You. No situation or circumstance will distract us from this great opoortunity. So if we're high atop the mountains; You are worthy. If we're trapped low in the valley; You are worthy. Arise oh God, and let Your enemies be scattered. The sound of appreciation and adoration will fill Your house today. We want more, so much more of You today. Yesterday was good, but today requires something different. Rain on us today Lord, God. Rain on our hearts so we can see more clearly. Rain on Your Word so we can never be the same again. As we pursue You today, meet us with mercy and love; in Jesus' name. Amen....
"Hallelujah! Praise God from Heaven, praise Him from the mountaintops; praise Him all you His angels, praise Him all you His warriors. Praise Him sun and moon, prasie Him you morning stars; praise Him high Heaven, prasie Him heavenly rain clouds; praise, oh let them praise the name of God--He spoke the Word, and there they were"! (Psalms 148:1-5)
Father God, our praise is truly Yours. You are so worthy of every hallelujah we offer You. No situation or circumstance will distract us from this great opoortunity. So if we're high atop the mountains; You are worthy. If we're trapped low in the valley; You are worthy. Arise oh God, and let Your enemies be scattered. The sound of appreciation and adoration will fill Your house today. We want more, so much more of You today. Yesterday was good, but today requires something different. Rain on us today Lord, God. Rain on our hearts so we can see more clearly. Rain on Your Word so we can never be the same again. As we pursue You today, meet us with mercy and love; in Jesus' name. Amen....
Saturday, November 13, 2010
So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk (1 Peter 2).
Greetings everyone! Today our church family will be meeting to do some cleaning in and around our church. We call it our "All-Church Work Day". It's going to be a daunting task because there's so much to do. But we are well-able to accomplish it. There will be cleaning and vacuuming, painting and repairing going on all at the same time. I pray that as we come together to clean God's house naturally, He'll begin to clean ours spiritually.
As beautiful as God's sanctuaries are, if they go unkept, that beauty can quickly fade. Over time, things can just become cluttered and overused. When they do, we have to take responsibility for its upkeep. God expects us to be good stewards over what He's entrusted us with. So we have to remove old things and replace them with new things. We have to refurbish what has been overused, and we also have to repair what has been broken.
Likewise, as beautiful as our "temples" are, if they go unkept, they also can fade. Over time, our lives become cluttered with the cares of life. Because of that, we become driven by our emotions instead of our faith. Comfort is achieved by how we feel, not Who we know. Therefore, our faith becomes dusty, our hope gets broken, and our dreams need to be replaced. But we can find hope in that fact that God wants to do some 'house' cleaning of His own. He'll fix brokenness. He'll replace hopelessness with new visions and dreams, and sweep out idle thoughts and old habits. So let's clean house. It's time for a fresh, new way to praise. It's time for fresh oil and new wine to be poured out in God's house, and in His temples. Come be a part of this new beginning today.
Prayer: Father, I open myself to Your cleansing power. Holy Spirit, shine the light on every dusty area left untended to by my carelessness. Let the water of Your Word wash over every part. Revive me and consecrate me anew, so that my praise is fresh and full of sweet-smelling savor like the morning dew. I'm ready for Your refreshing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk (1 Peter 2).
Greetings everyone! Today our church family will be meeting to do some cleaning in and around our church. We call it our "All-Church Work Day". It's going to be a daunting task because there's so much to do. But we are well-able to accomplish it. There will be cleaning and vacuuming, painting and repairing going on all at the same time. I pray that as we come together to clean God's house naturally, He'll begin to clean ours spiritually.
As beautiful as God's sanctuaries are, if they go unkept, that beauty can quickly fade. Over time, things can just become cluttered and overused. When they do, we have to take responsibility for its upkeep. God expects us to be good stewards over what He's entrusted us with. So we have to remove old things and replace them with new things. We have to refurbish what has been overused, and we also have to repair what has been broken.
Likewise, as beautiful as our "temples" are, if they go unkept, they also can fade. Over time, our lives become cluttered with the cares of life. Because of that, we become driven by our emotions instead of our faith. Comfort is achieved by how we feel, not Who we know. Therefore, our faith becomes dusty, our hope gets broken, and our dreams need to be replaced. But we can find hope in that fact that God wants to do some 'house' cleaning of His own. He'll fix brokenness. He'll replace hopelessness with new visions and dreams, and sweep out idle thoughts and old habits. So let's clean house. It's time for a fresh, new way to praise. It's time for fresh oil and new wine to be poured out in God's house, and in His temples. Come be a part of this new beginning today.
Prayer: Father, I open myself to Your cleansing power. Holy Spirit, shine the light on every dusty area left untended to by my carelessness. Let the water of Your Word wash over every part. Revive me and consecrate me anew, so that my praise is fresh and full of sweet-smelling savor like the morning dew. I'm ready for Your refreshing. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Think On These Things
Friday, November 12th, 2010
Today's Passage: Philippians 4:4-13
Memory Verse: Phil. 4:8
Have you noticed how many commercials for depression medication there are lately? It's a vicious cycle: spend your life pursuing things that will make you happy. Get an education so you can get a good job that will buy you a house and car. Then you get those things and realize they're not enough to give you the happiness you were looking for. So you keep searching and getting, thinking maybe if you can just obtain a little more, it will fill the void in your heart.
When we become believers, we are taught that only Christ can fill that void-- and He does. The joy of knowing that Christ's sacrifice purchased our freedom from death, hell and the grave stays with most of us only long enough for us to start looking for that "more" again. Somehow we don't really believe that God, Whose ways are not ours, can satisfy our longing for the things of this world.
But take a closer look. That spirit of discontentment isn't coming from our Father. The only thing He never wants us to be satisfied with is remaining on the same spiritual level. Other than that, God knows the danger of letting our minds linger on worthless things like what we don't have, and where we want to be. It takes our minds off of our purpose in life: to please God and accomplish His will on this earth.
I finally figured out why depression is so rampant: the enemy has created a world where all people think about is themselves. The less you are consumed with self, the more value and self- worth you find. That's why God invites us to think on things that bring Him glory. He wants us to rejoice in the fact that our lives are accomplishing something for the kingdom at any given time. This is what the enemy doesn't want us to focus on. That's why we must make it our life's goal to think on only these things that our Father has established for us. That's where the true joy is.
Prayer: Father, You are my Joy. Every attempt I make to focus on Your kingdom takes me away from the enemy's grasp and closer to Your purpose for my life. I love You, need You, and look forward to encounters with You that will draw me ever closer to Your will for my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: Philippians 4:4-13
Memory Verse: Phil. 4:8
Have you noticed how many commercials for depression medication there are lately? It's a vicious cycle: spend your life pursuing things that will make you happy. Get an education so you can get a good job that will buy you a house and car. Then you get those things and realize they're not enough to give you the happiness you were looking for. So you keep searching and getting, thinking maybe if you can just obtain a little more, it will fill the void in your heart.
When we become believers, we are taught that only Christ can fill that void-- and He does. The joy of knowing that Christ's sacrifice purchased our freedom from death, hell and the grave stays with most of us only long enough for us to start looking for that "more" again. Somehow we don't really believe that God, Whose ways are not ours, can satisfy our longing for the things of this world.
But take a closer look. That spirit of discontentment isn't coming from our Father. The only thing He never wants us to be satisfied with is remaining on the same spiritual level. Other than that, God knows the danger of letting our minds linger on worthless things like what we don't have, and where we want to be. It takes our minds off of our purpose in life: to please God and accomplish His will on this earth.
I finally figured out why depression is so rampant: the enemy has created a world where all people think about is themselves. The less you are consumed with self, the more value and self- worth you find. That's why God invites us to think on things that bring Him glory. He wants us to rejoice in the fact that our lives are accomplishing something for the kingdom at any given time. This is what the enemy doesn't want us to focus on. That's why we must make it our life's goal to think on only these things that our Father has established for us. That's where the true joy is.
Prayer: Father, You are my Joy. Every attempt I make to focus on Your kingdom takes me away from the enemy's grasp and closer to Your purpose for my life. I love You, need You, and look forward to encounters with You that will draw me ever closer to Your will for my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Snake Bit!
Thursday November 11, 2010
Today's Passage: Acts 28:1-6
Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 2:3
Amidst the blessing and favor we enjoy as people of God, misfortune always seems to find its way into our lives. Oftentimes, it'll even come in bunches. My mother used to say "if it ain't one thing it's another." And when I played baseball, our coach would describe a loss as being "snake bit."
What do we do when we're snake bit? How does a christian respond to loss? Naturally, we all respond to different things different ways. Some of us can shake things off with ease, while others need time to process before responding. Either way, how we respond will determine our success, or our failure. In Acts chapter 28, The Bible reveals what Paul did. It says "Once everyone was accounted for and we realized we had all made it, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The natives went out of their way to be friendly to us. The day was rainy and cold and we were already soaked to the bone, but they built a huge bonfire and gathered us around it. Paul pitched in and helped. He had gathered up a bundle of sticks, but when he put it on the fire, a venomous snake, roused from its torpor by the heat, struck his hand and held on. Seeing the snake hanging from Paul's hand like that, the natives jumped to the conclusion that he was a murderer getting his just deserts. Paul shook the snake off into the fire, none the worse for wear. They kept expecting him to drop dead, but when it was obvious he wasn't going to, they jumped to the conclusion that he was a god!" Most of us (like me) couldn't imagine enduring such a thing. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl. But this account is true even about christian life. The fact is, sometimes unexpected snake bites happen. And when they do, our first inclination is usually to curl up in a ball and die. We stop believing, stop dreaming, stop hoping, and stop progressing. The reason we do that is because it's what people around us expect us to do. I have a praise choir member who tragically lost her husband in a violent way several years ago (snake bit). Everyone (including me to some degree) expected her to fall apart in some fashion. I was already prepared to accept her resignation from the choir (I even feared she'd leave us entirely). But, like Paul, she shook it off. Yes, it hurt deeply; she had her moments. But she became even more determined in her faith. She started seeking God even more. And today, Yas and I consider her to be one of our personal heroes.
So let's learn to endure hardship like a good soldier. Paul shook off the thing that was set up to destroy him. Also, he did it with such faith and confidence, the people thought he was a god. I can only hope my faith will one day be demonstrated so effectively that it resembles the power of the Father. Anyway, what will you do when the devil tries to steal, kill, and destroy you? Will you roll over and die, or will you shake it off, knowing your life is in God's hands? So c'mon, let's let these things go. I know it hurts. But hanging on to it is keeping you stagnant. It's holding you back. How silly would it have looked if Paul had walked around with that snake still hanging on his hand? Very silly. Well, it looks the same way in the spirit when we allow ourselves to walk around hanging on to pain and failure. SHAKE IT OFF!
Prayer: Father I trust You to guide me into this next stage of my life. I have to release these things that weigh me down. I know in order to offer forgiveness though, I have to first be forgiven. So forgive me for the wrong I've done. Now I have the grace to shake off the "snake bite". Therefore, I will live and not die. I will be above and not beneath. Because You are my Hope and my Joy, and I give You praise in Jesus' name. Amen
Today's Passage: Acts 28:1-6
Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 2:3
Amidst the blessing and favor we enjoy as people of God, misfortune always seems to find its way into our lives. Oftentimes, it'll even come in bunches. My mother used to say "if it ain't one thing it's another." And when I played baseball, our coach would describe a loss as being "snake bit."
What do we do when we're snake bit? How does a christian respond to loss? Naturally, we all respond to different things different ways. Some of us can shake things off with ease, while others need time to process before responding. Either way, how we respond will determine our success, or our failure. In Acts chapter 28, The Bible reveals what Paul did. It says "Once everyone was accounted for and we realized we had all made it, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The natives went out of their way to be friendly to us. The day was rainy and cold and we were already soaked to the bone, but they built a huge bonfire and gathered us around it. Paul pitched in and helped. He had gathered up a bundle of sticks, but when he put it on the fire, a venomous snake, roused from its torpor by the heat, struck his hand and held on. Seeing the snake hanging from Paul's hand like that, the natives jumped to the conclusion that he was a murderer getting his just deserts. Paul shook the snake off into the fire, none the worse for wear. They kept expecting him to drop dead, but when it was obvious he wasn't going to, they jumped to the conclusion that he was a god!" Most of us (like me) couldn't imagine enduring such a thing. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl. But this account is true even about christian life. The fact is, sometimes unexpected snake bites happen. And when they do, our first inclination is usually to curl up in a ball and die. We stop believing, stop dreaming, stop hoping, and stop progressing. The reason we do that is because it's what people around us expect us to do. I have a praise choir member who tragically lost her husband in a violent way several years ago (snake bit). Everyone (including me to some degree) expected her to fall apart in some fashion. I was already prepared to accept her resignation from the choir (I even feared she'd leave us entirely). But, like Paul, she shook it off. Yes, it hurt deeply; she had her moments. But she became even more determined in her faith. She started seeking God even more. And today, Yas and I consider her to be one of our personal heroes.
So let's learn to endure hardship like a good soldier. Paul shook off the thing that was set up to destroy him. Also, he did it with such faith and confidence, the people thought he was a god. I can only hope my faith will one day be demonstrated so effectively that it resembles the power of the Father. Anyway, what will you do when the devil tries to steal, kill, and destroy you? Will you roll over and die, or will you shake it off, knowing your life is in God's hands? So c'mon, let's let these things go. I know it hurts. But hanging on to it is keeping you stagnant. It's holding you back. How silly would it have looked if Paul had walked around with that snake still hanging on his hand? Very silly. Well, it looks the same way in the spirit when we allow ourselves to walk around hanging on to pain and failure. SHAKE IT OFF!
Prayer: Father I trust You to guide me into this next stage of my life. I have to release these things that weigh me down. I know in order to offer forgiveness though, I have to first be forgiven. So forgive me for the wrong I've done. Now I have the grace to shake off the "snake bite". Therefore, I will live and not die. I will be above and not beneath. Because You are my Hope and my Joy, and I give You praise in Jesus' name. Amen
H.U.M.P. Day!!!!
Hey there, Friends and Lifers! Today is a good day to show God we're ready to be totally devoted to Him, giving Him all or nothing. The challenge is to consecrate yourself in a fast of some sort. It must be something sacrificial that will be pleasing to the Lord. The goal here is to get in a place with God that will make it easier to hear His voice. Our ultimate desire is to truly be so in tune with God that we have no reason to choose anything but obedience to Him?
Wouldn't you just love to live without struggling with the flesh all the time? Die to self and give your spirit man some superfood? Walk in power over the enemy's lies? Actually be able to put God's will over what we see or want right now? This kind only comes by prayer and fasting, Saints. There are no shortcuts to process, but self-denial IS the sure way to bringing the rain.
Expect God to show You things you didn't know before as you consecrate yourself this week. Remember,this is how we show Him it's all or nothing. Be blessed, TD Nation.
Wouldn't you just love to live without struggling with the flesh all the time? Die to self and give your spirit man some superfood? Walk in power over the enemy's lies? Actually be able to put God's will over what we see or want right now? This kind only comes by prayer and fasting, Saints. There are no shortcuts to process, but self-denial IS the sure way to bringing the rain.
Expect God to show You things you didn't know before as you consecrate yourself this week. Remember,this is how we show Him it's all or nothing. Be blessed, TD Nation.
All or Nothing II
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
Today's Passage:1Samuel 15
Memory Verse: 1 Sam. 15:22-23
I always find it interesting that many believers really mean it when they say that they love God and want to serve Him wholeheartedly. Then weeks or months go by and you realize their lives don't show the fruit of what they previously professed. On the other hand, there are some who don't make any waves at all. Yet, everytime they turn around, they're doing something to make God famous.
What makes the difference, I wonder? The difference is found in the decision we make concerning what we will do when a compromising situation presents itself. I guess that's why God doesn't leave anything to the imagination when He gives us His Word. He tells us over and over again to stay in the Word, refuse to look to the left or to the right, and meditate on it day and night.
Why such desperation, you may ask? Because the greatest enemy is not even the devil, who hates us with a passion. It's the enemy within that lurks beneath the image we try so hard to present to other believers that we fail to properly confront those issues and feelings we're having. I wonder whether the outcome would've still been the same if Saul had stopped to shore up those weak places in his heart. What if he had stopped to be honest with himself and said, "Dude, you've got a problem with man-pleasing. Watch for that when you get to the battle. Remember what God said. No matter what, obey HIM above all else."
We can all take a lesson from Saul's mistake. It's possible that, deep down inside, we may be more concerned about how others feel than how God feels. After all, He's gracious and forgiving, right? His love is unconditional and won't change towards us no matter WHAT we do. But we must never forget that God's ways are His ways. He doesn't think the way we do. He sees what we don't see. We have to trust and obey Him, no matter what we think it might cause us to lose from others. The key is we can't lose our desperation to obey God, and that must always be at the forefront. It truly is all... Or nothing.
Prayer: Father, here I am. I am nothing without You. Apart from You I am totally helpless to stand up to the enemy. But by Your great grace, nothing shall be impossible for me to accomplish. May I always remember that You purchased my soul, and You own me. I am not my own, so I depend on You to guide me and protect me from the enemy's traps. I love and trust You forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage:1Samuel 15
Memory Verse: 1 Sam. 15:22-23
I always find it interesting that many believers really mean it when they say that they love God and want to serve Him wholeheartedly. Then weeks or months go by and you realize their lives don't show the fruit of what they previously professed. On the other hand, there are some who don't make any waves at all. Yet, everytime they turn around, they're doing something to make God famous.
What makes the difference, I wonder? The difference is found in the decision we make concerning what we will do when a compromising situation presents itself. I guess that's why God doesn't leave anything to the imagination when He gives us His Word. He tells us over and over again to stay in the Word, refuse to look to the left or to the right, and meditate on it day and night.
Why such desperation, you may ask? Because the greatest enemy is not even the devil, who hates us with a passion. It's the enemy within that lurks beneath the image we try so hard to present to other believers that we fail to properly confront those issues and feelings we're having. I wonder whether the outcome would've still been the same if Saul had stopped to shore up those weak places in his heart. What if he had stopped to be honest with himself and said, "Dude, you've got a problem with man-pleasing. Watch for that when you get to the battle. Remember what God said. No matter what, obey HIM above all else."
We can all take a lesson from Saul's mistake. It's possible that, deep down inside, we may be more concerned about how others feel than how God feels. After all, He's gracious and forgiving, right? His love is unconditional and won't change towards us no matter WHAT we do. But we must never forget that God's ways are His ways. He doesn't think the way we do. He sees what we don't see. We have to trust and obey Him, no matter what we think it might cause us to lose from others. The key is we can't lose our desperation to obey God, and that must always be at the forefront. It truly is all... Or nothing.
Prayer: Father, here I am. I am nothing without You. Apart from You I am totally helpless to stand up to the enemy. But by Your great grace, nothing shall be impossible for me to accomplish. May I always remember that You purchased my soul, and You own me. I am not my own, so I depend on You to guide me and protect me from the enemy's traps. I love and trust You forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
All or Nothing
Monday, November 8th, 2010
Today's Passage: 1 Samuel 15
Memory Verses: 1 Sam. 15: 22-23
It always amazes me how often God has had to put up with disobedience from humanity. I think, deep down inside of us, we really have this weird conception that because God loves us, we can do whatever we want without consequences. But a look at Saul's life ought to give us all a tough reminder of how serious God is about obedience.
Saul had it all going on. He had the looks, the height, and the personality that made him an obvious fit as Israel's first king. So what was it about him that was so wrong? It wasn't something you could see on the outside. It was his heart. From the moment he was chosen, Saul had no intention whatsoever of following God's commands. Isn't it interesting that even with Samuel the prophet right beside him, telling him exactly what God said, he still didn't get it right?
Let's look a little closer at the story. Saul was told the Amalelites would be given into his hands. They were the people who had come against the Israelites when they were their most vulnerable. So God wanted every single one of them destroyed. When God tells us He wants something done, He shouldn't have to explain why. Don't we tell our children the same thing? Anyway, God knew that if any of the Amalekites remained, they would take revenge on the Israelites years later. But what did Saul do? He left not only the king alive, but kept all the unblemished livestock alive.
Whenever I read this story, the first thing I'd be tempted to say is, didn't this dude hear God at all? ALL means ALL. Then I'm quickly reminded of the many times when I had the opportunity to show God that I know how to obey Him. The Holy Spirit, my interpreter and teacher, made it clear to me what god' Word said. But I shut out that voice. Why did I do that? Because, like my brother Saul, I took God's love for granted and thought that disobedience had no consequences. If we want to walk victoriously, we must begin to hear God's heart and take what He said seriously. Even more importantly, our destiny is at stake. Let me put it to you like this: wouldn't it have been nice for Saul not to be known all throughout history as the first king who lost his kingdom just because he loved popularity more than obedience? Saints, it's got to be all or nothing.
Prayer: Father, thank You again for allowing me to take a glimpse into Your Word and be reminded of how important it is to obey You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, my keeper and teacher. I repent for the times I've let You down, being more concerned with the opinions of others than pleasing You. Fill me with a burning desire to be completely Yours -- not out of fear, but out of true love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: 1 Samuel 15
Memory Verses: 1 Sam. 15: 22-23
It always amazes me how often God has had to put up with disobedience from humanity. I think, deep down inside of us, we really have this weird conception that because God loves us, we can do whatever we want without consequences. But a look at Saul's life ought to give us all a tough reminder of how serious God is about obedience.
Saul had it all going on. He had the looks, the height, and the personality that made him an obvious fit as Israel's first king. So what was it about him that was so wrong? It wasn't something you could see on the outside. It was his heart. From the moment he was chosen, Saul had no intention whatsoever of following God's commands. Isn't it interesting that even with Samuel the prophet right beside him, telling him exactly what God said, he still didn't get it right?
Let's look a little closer at the story. Saul was told the Amalelites would be given into his hands. They were the people who had come against the Israelites when they were their most vulnerable. So God wanted every single one of them destroyed. When God tells us He wants something done, He shouldn't have to explain why. Don't we tell our children the same thing? Anyway, God knew that if any of the Amalekites remained, they would take revenge on the Israelites years later. But what did Saul do? He left not only the king alive, but kept all the unblemished livestock alive.
Whenever I read this story, the first thing I'd be tempted to say is, didn't this dude hear God at all? ALL means ALL. Then I'm quickly reminded of the many times when I had the opportunity to show God that I know how to obey Him. The Holy Spirit, my interpreter and teacher, made it clear to me what god' Word said. But I shut out that voice. Why did I do that? Because, like my brother Saul, I took God's love for granted and thought that disobedience had no consequences. If we want to walk victoriously, we must begin to hear God's heart and take what He said seriously. Even more importantly, our destiny is at stake. Let me put it to you like this: wouldn't it have been nice for Saul not to be known all throughout history as the first king who lost his kingdom just because he loved popularity more than obedience? Saints, it's got to be all or nothing.
Prayer: Father, thank You again for allowing me to take a glimpse into Your Word and be reminded of how important it is to obey You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit, my keeper and teacher. I repent for the times I've let You down, being more concerned with the opinions of others than pleasing You. Fill me with a burning desire to be completely Yours -- not out of fear, but out of true love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
A Prayer That Avails Much
Sunday, November 7th, 2010
Today's Passage: Joshua 1
Memory Verse: Josh. 1: 8, 14 and15
Father, I arise this morning grateful that You have set me up to be blessed. Before the foundation of the world, You decided that You would leave an inheritance for me and my children's children that would make You famous in the earth. I want to acknowledge that You are not slack concerning Your promise, but through Your mercy have had to slow down the process so that You can teach me to walk in dominion over the enemy in all things.
Today, I declare that I will be strong and courageous. I will unite with my brothers and sisters in preparation for the rain. I embrace whole-heartedly the mandate to follow every Word in Your law. I will meditate in it day and night, consuming it like bread and drinking it like water in order to live abundantly. I will honor the place Your Word has in my life, guarding its truths from the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy so that it will be carried down from generation to generation in my family.
Father, I also recognize that You do not honor personal destiny above corporate destiny. In other words, You will not allow me to "get mine" first, knowing that my tendency may be to forget about the ones who fought alongside me to help me get there. So I will remain in battle formation with my brothers and sisters, fighting for and with them until we ALL come into this promised land. Let Your Spirit remind us all of our need for one another as part of Your body. Before we even get to Your sanctuary this morning, cause us to be drawn to You in worship so that our individual droplets of rain may connect to speed the process of condensation and precipitation.
We're excited about how mightily You will show Yourself in our midst today. We live to ever glorify You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!
Today's Passage: Joshua 1
Memory Verse: Josh. 1: 8, 14 and15
Father, I arise this morning grateful that You have set me up to be blessed. Before the foundation of the world, You decided that You would leave an inheritance for me and my children's children that would make You famous in the earth. I want to acknowledge that You are not slack concerning Your promise, but through Your mercy have had to slow down the process so that You can teach me to walk in dominion over the enemy in all things.
Today, I declare that I will be strong and courageous. I will unite with my brothers and sisters in preparation for the rain. I embrace whole-heartedly the mandate to follow every Word in Your law. I will meditate in it day and night, consuming it like bread and drinking it like water in order to live abundantly. I will honor the place Your Word has in my life, guarding its truths from the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy so that it will be carried down from generation to generation in my family.
Father, I also recognize that You do not honor personal destiny above corporate destiny. In other words, You will not allow me to "get mine" first, knowing that my tendency may be to forget about the ones who fought alongside me to help me get there. So I will remain in battle formation with my brothers and sisters, fighting for and with them until we ALL come into this promised land. Let Your Spirit remind us all of our need for one another as part of Your body. Before we even get to Your sanctuary this morning, cause us to be drawn to You in worship so that our individual droplets of rain may connect to speed the process of condensation and precipitation.
We're excited about how mightily You will show Yourself in our midst today. We live to ever glorify You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!
Expectations!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Don't you think His concern extends to us? Of course. Farmers plow and thresh "expecting" something when the crop comes in. 1 Cor. 9:10
Do you ever wonder why your life has gone the way its gone? Ever wonder why the people who are in your life are there, and why the one's who aren't left? And how many times have you had to hold on to your last strand of positive thought just to make it through the day?
If you've survived through all that mess, then you're in prime position for rain. Listen, I know all those things were painful, but all those things were also seeds planted in the ground for your blessing. There's no need to pray for God's rain if you have no seed in the ground. All those painful events have taken your faith to all-time levels. You've endured through the worst, and you know all the devil's tactics. Now prepare yourself. Make your soil ready for rich, nourishing rain. Like our text says, you know God cares for you. It says His concern is extended to us. Meaning, there's no situation or circumstance God's love and redemption can't reach. Does that give us a pass to walk away and do what we want? No. It does however give us a right to expect. We have a right to have a confident expectation for what God promised. Have you ever traveled by plane, train, or bus? If you have, having no expectation is like buying a travel ticket only to leave the terminal without believing your mode of transport will show up. If you don't expect, you'll never pack, you'll never book, and you'll never LEAVE. Keep your eyes on the sky, my firends. When you come to church tomorrow, expect God to do everything He promised. Praise Him because He's already done it. Worship Him because He's been able all along. This is your chance, "farmers". Your seed is in the ground, so get ready. Expect great!
Prayer: Father, You are a God of Your Word. What You say, You mean. You don't make idle promises to Your children. As we look to You, being serious about pursuing You, we are assured that we will not be disappointed. Thank You for honoring Your Word in our lives. We'll forever live to bring You glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Don't you think His concern extends to us? Of course. Farmers plow and thresh "expecting" something when the crop comes in. 1 Cor. 9:10
Do you ever wonder why your life has gone the way its gone? Ever wonder why the people who are in your life are there, and why the one's who aren't left? And how many times have you had to hold on to your last strand of positive thought just to make it through the day?
If you've survived through all that mess, then you're in prime position for rain. Listen, I know all those things were painful, but all those things were also seeds planted in the ground for your blessing. There's no need to pray for God's rain if you have no seed in the ground. All those painful events have taken your faith to all-time levels. You've endured through the worst, and you know all the devil's tactics. Now prepare yourself. Make your soil ready for rich, nourishing rain. Like our text says, you know God cares for you. It says His concern is extended to us. Meaning, there's no situation or circumstance God's love and redemption can't reach. Does that give us a pass to walk away and do what we want? No. It does however give us a right to expect. We have a right to have a confident expectation for what God promised. Have you ever traveled by plane, train, or bus? If you have, having no expectation is like buying a travel ticket only to leave the terminal without believing your mode of transport will show up. If you don't expect, you'll never pack, you'll never book, and you'll never LEAVE. Keep your eyes on the sky, my firends. When you come to church tomorrow, expect God to do everything He promised. Praise Him because He's already done it. Worship Him because He's been able all along. This is your chance, "farmers". Your seed is in the ground, so get ready. Expect great!
Prayer: Father, You are a God of Your Word. What You say, You mean. You don't make idle promises to Your children. As we look to You, being serious about pursuing You, we are assured that we will not be disappointed. Thank You for honoring Your Word in our lives. We'll forever live to bring You glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
No Compromise
Friday, November 5th, 2010
Today's Passage:1 Samuel 28
Memory Verse:1 Sam. 28:18-19
Today, as I look into the Word, I see that the Lord wants us to be aware of the matters of the heart that keep us from completely selling out to Him. Here we see Saul, one whom God agreed to make king in spite of His own will, willfully disobey by being inconsistent in carrying God's commands. Because of his inability to stay obedient to God, he could no longer hear from Him. And with Samuel dead, he found himself in much the same situation as we find ourselves.
In a desperate situation, do I compromise, or do I stand and seek God for the answer? The convenient thing to do would be to find a quick-fix solution. And of course, having fallen into this pattern many times before, this is what Saul did. On one of his "good days", when he was determined to obey God's law, Saul had gotten rid of the mediums and spiritists in the land. He forbade them to practice at all. However, in his deluded state of mind, Saul went back to the very thing God told him to reject.
In order to accomplish this act of disobedience, I find it interesting that Saul has to disguise himself. Which gets me thinking... What old ways that I've said I'll no longer resort to am I still turning to in a moment of desperation? My desire today is is to call those things out: as the rain gets closer, we must allow no substitutes to take the place of God's counsel in our lives. Every act of compromise is a crack in the door to our promise. The enemy can come in anytime he wants, slowing down our rain cycle.
If we want that restoring rain, which is only coming for those who choose to remain faithful in the face of temptation, the sacrifice to avoid shortcuts will be rewarded with God's favor. Stay close to His heart, and the blessings of His hand are sure to follow.
Prayer: Father, I realize that the decision I make to obey compromise is very much a matter of the heart, just like Paul. Quicken me to the things that please You. No mAtter how inconvenient it may seem, I choose to trust You and leave the results at Your feet. Teach me total devotion daily. May I never choose my will over Yours. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage:1 Samuel 28
Memory Verse:1 Sam. 28:18-19
Today, as I look into the Word, I see that the Lord wants us to be aware of the matters of the heart that keep us from completely selling out to Him. Here we see Saul, one whom God agreed to make king in spite of His own will, willfully disobey by being inconsistent in carrying God's commands. Because of his inability to stay obedient to God, he could no longer hear from Him. And with Samuel dead, he found himself in much the same situation as we find ourselves.
In a desperate situation, do I compromise, or do I stand and seek God for the answer? The convenient thing to do would be to find a quick-fix solution. And of course, having fallen into this pattern many times before, this is what Saul did. On one of his "good days", when he was determined to obey God's law, Saul had gotten rid of the mediums and spiritists in the land. He forbade them to practice at all. However, in his deluded state of mind, Saul went back to the very thing God told him to reject.
In order to accomplish this act of disobedience, I find it interesting that Saul has to disguise himself. Which gets me thinking... What old ways that I've said I'll no longer resort to am I still turning to in a moment of desperation? My desire today is is to call those things out: as the rain gets closer, we must allow no substitutes to take the place of God's counsel in our lives. Every act of compromise is a crack in the door to our promise. The enemy can come in anytime he wants, slowing down our rain cycle.
If we want that restoring rain, which is only coming for those who choose to remain faithful in the face of temptation, the sacrifice to avoid shortcuts will be rewarded with God's favor. Stay close to His heart, and the blessings of His hand are sure to follow.
Prayer: Father, I realize that the decision I make to obey compromise is very much a matter of the heart, just like Paul. Quicken me to the things that please You. No mAtter how inconvenient it may seem, I choose to trust You and leave the results at Your feet. Teach me total devotion daily. May I never choose my will over Yours. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Let It Rain!
Thursday November 4, 2010
I've been trying to prepare myself for the rain we've been praying, singing, and preaching about. I know God wants to rain on us, but I refuse to believe He's going to rain on the areas of our lives we've not submitted to Him. So what should we do?
First we must confront those "hidden" areas. Coming face to face with the things that keep us from being totally devoted to God will help prepare our 'soil' for His rain. It's not easy to deal with our shortcomings in this manner. Some things are quite painful to deal with, and very few of us have the strength to admit we were wrong. However, leaving those things in our lives causes our soil to be dry and brittle. It also produces a desert-like spiritual climate, keeping God's rain from falling on us. Before it rains a region has to undergo 2 different states of change: temperature & atmosphere.
Spiritually, we must also experience these changes. In regards to temperature, we can't be too hot or too cold. Being too hot means always being angry about something. God's word teaches us a soft answer turns away wrath, but we would rather quarrel than use words of love. Forgiveness, peace, hope, and love are hard to come by when our 'temperature' is too hot. God's rain can't fall in desert climates. Likewise, how can seeds in a freezing hard ground be watered by rain? Some of us are too cold. Being too cold makes us isolate ourselves from the body. With our hearts being cold as ice, God's Word cannot penetrate to our inward parts. Also, we can't connect with other "joints" in the body because we're emotionally frozen. In regards to our atmosphere, we can't have things around us that hinder the water cycle process. Certain people, places, habits, music, and mindsets all keep the rain from falling in our lives. Removing them would be most beneficial. Don't allow things to come into your atmosphere and present an unholy situation. You want God's rain? Ask for it. But don't just ask with words, ask with a life that shows you are devoted to Him. Get ready My Friends. The rain's coming soon!
Prayer: Lord make me ready for Your rain. Give me the grace to love, forgive, embrace, accept, and endure in this life again. You are my portion and my hope. Everything I am rests in You, God. Rain Lord, I'm ready....let it rain. In Jesus' name. Amen
I've been trying to prepare myself for the rain we've been praying, singing, and preaching about. I know God wants to rain on us, but I refuse to believe He's going to rain on the areas of our lives we've not submitted to Him. So what should we do?
First we must confront those "hidden" areas. Coming face to face with the things that keep us from being totally devoted to God will help prepare our 'soil' for His rain. It's not easy to deal with our shortcomings in this manner. Some things are quite painful to deal with, and very few of us have the strength to admit we were wrong. However, leaving those things in our lives causes our soil to be dry and brittle. It also produces a desert-like spiritual climate, keeping God's rain from falling on us. Before it rains a region has to undergo 2 different states of change: temperature & atmosphere.
Spiritually, we must also experience these changes. In regards to temperature, we can't be too hot or too cold. Being too hot means always being angry about something. God's word teaches us a soft answer turns away wrath, but we would rather quarrel than use words of love. Forgiveness, peace, hope, and love are hard to come by when our 'temperature' is too hot. God's rain can't fall in desert climates. Likewise, how can seeds in a freezing hard ground be watered by rain? Some of us are too cold. Being too cold makes us isolate ourselves from the body. With our hearts being cold as ice, God's Word cannot penetrate to our inward parts. Also, we can't connect with other "joints" in the body because we're emotionally frozen. In regards to our atmosphere, we can't have things around us that hinder the water cycle process. Certain people, places, habits, music, and mindsets all keep the rain from falling in our lives. Removing them would be most beneficial. Don't allow things to come into your atmosphere and present an unholy situation. You want God's rain? Ask for it. But don't just ask with words, ask with a life that shows you are devoted to Him. Get ready My Friends. The rain's coming soon!
Prayer: Lord make me ready for Your rain. Give me the grace to love, forgive, embrace, accept, and endure in this life again. You are my portion and my hope. Everything I am rests in You, God. Rain Lord, I'm ready....let it rain. In Jesus' name. Amen
H.U.M.P Day!!!
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
Hello, Friends and Lifers! Another opportunity to carry out His Ultimate Mission and Purpose. It's really awesome when God gives us a glimpse into what He's calling us to do and be. This week, Pastor Chris and I had the privilege of talking with a couple who feel God has spoken to them and confirmed what they are to do in the form of ministry. While very excited, I noticed that their worship time had intensified over the last couple of months. The confidence that they had heard from God certainly came from that place of worship and submission.
So, here's our HUMP Day challenge. Make a commitment to spend a little more time in His presence, to hear His voice and get in a place with Him we've never been before. As we do that, God will begin to overflow in our lives and show us what He's calling us to do. Especially with the holidays so close by, you may find that there are a multitude of needs God wants His people to meet. Keep your eyes and heart open for His move. And get ready to see things and people change around you. Have a blessed, mission-filled day!
Prayer: Father, today I make myself available to You. Allow me to hear Your voice as I worship You. Then, when you speak, may I be willing and ready to hear and receive Your command. I remain as always--totally devoted to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Hello, Friends and Lifers! Another opportunity to carry out His Ultimate Mission and Purpose. It's really awesome when God gives us a glimpse into what He's calling us to do and be. This week, Pastor Chris and I had the privilege of talking with a couple who feel God has spoken to them and confirmed what they are to do in the form of ministry. While very excited, I noticed that their worship time had intensified over the last couple of months. The confidence that they had heard from God certainly came from that place of worship and submission.
So, here's our HUMP Day challenge. Make a commitment to spend a little more time in His presence, to hear His voice and get in a place with Him we've never been before. As we do that, God will begin to overflow in our lives and show us what He's calling us to do. Especially with the holidays so close by, you may find that there are a multitude of needs God wants His people to meet. Keep your eyes and heart open for His move. And get ready to see things and people change around you. Have a blessed, mission-filled day!
Prayer: Father, today I make myself available to You. Allow me to hear Your voice as I worship You. Then, when you speak, may I be willing and ready to hear and receive Your command. I remain as always--totally devoted to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Stay in That Light!!!
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
Today's Passage: 1 John 1
Memory Verse: 1 John 1:5-7
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who sounded like they just knew they had a relationship with God, but their lifestyle didn't back it up? Then they turned around and blamed God for the reason they couldn't accomplish anything? I have. The next time you talk to one of those people, here's some basic things to keep in mind.
Today's passage makes it really easy to see why we DO need Him. First of all, the knowledge of His holiness should be enough to fill us with joy. We are not serving a God Who is bound by human restrictions. Our God is a Spirit. He's outside of time and space. Therefore, if we need Him to go somewhere in our past and bring healing to a situation we are ashamed of, He is able to do it. But in order to have access to such grace and mercy, there are some conditions.
First and foremost, the Word tells us to be truthful and admit there are places in our lives where we need His light to shine. Why is it so hard for some people to accept that God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him? If we claim to walk in His ways, call ourselves saints, and desire His blessings, we MUST be willing to accept His holiness and pursue it. Why? Because it's what brings us back into right standing with Him when we stray. No matter how many years we've known God, if there is darkness anywhere in our lives, the only way we can get rid of it is by exposing it to His light. That's the only way we can walk in Him.
A lifestyle of constantly walking in God's light will first keep us desiring to press toward that standard of holiness that never changes in spite of circumstances. I guess that's why some get so mad at God: he doesn't lower His standard for us just because people or things change around us. The next thing it will do is make it easy for us to unite with others who love God and His ways like we do. It provides the accountability we so desperately need from our brothers and sisters. As a result, when we run into problems, we are not alone. We have someone there to agree with us in prayer and keep us lifted up. When you weigh God's way against human independence, it's simply in our favor to keep walking in the light.
Prayer: Father, words will never begin to describe how much I appreciate Your holiness. Thank You for setting the standard and lovingly requiring me to trust You to help me meet it. Thank You for forgiving me when I go wrong, cleansing me whenever I confess my sins, and bringing me back to right standing with You. Help me show compassion and pray for those who may not be ready to admit their dependence on You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Today's Passage: 1 John 1
Memory Verse: 1 John 1:5-7
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who sounded like they just knew they had a relationship with God, but their lifestyle didn't back it up? Then they turned around and blamed God for the reason they couldn't accomplish anything? I have. The next time you talk to one of those people, here's some basic things to keep in mind.
Today's passage makes it really easy to see why we DO need Him. First of all, the knowledge of His holiness should be enough to fill us with joy. We are not serving a God Who is bound by human restrictions. Our God is a Spirit. He's outside of time and space. Therefore, if we need Him to go somewhere in our past and bring healing to a situation we are ashamed of, He is able to do it. But in order to have access to such grace and mercy, there are some conditions.
First and foremost, the Word tells us to be truthful and admit there are places in our lives where we need His light to shine. Why is it so hard for some people to accept that God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him? If we claim to walk in His ways, call ourselves saints, and desire His blessings, we MUST be willing to accept His holiness and pursue it. Why? Because it's what brings us back into right standing with Him when we stray. No matter how many years we've known God, if there is darkness anywhere in our lives, the only way we can get rid of it is by exposing it to His light. That's the only way we can walk in Him.
A lifestyle of constantly walking in God's light will first keep us desiring to press toward that standard of holiness that never changes in spite of circumstances. I guess that's why some get so mad at God: he doesn't lower His standard for us just because people or things change around us. The next thing it will do is make it easy for us to unite with others who love God and His ways like we do. It provides the accountability we so desperately need from our brothers and sisters. As a result, when we run into problems, we are not alone. We have someone there to agree with us in prayer and keep us lifted up. When you weigh God's way against human independence, it's simply in our favor to keep walking in the light.
Prayer: Father, words will never begin to describe how much I appreciate Your holiness. Thank You for setting the standard and lovingly requiring me to trust You to help me meet it. Thank You for forgiving me when I go wrong, cleansing me whenever I confess my sins, and bringing me back to right standing with You. Help me show compassion and pray for those who may not be ready to admit their dependence on You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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