PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

8-31-2021. . . .PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

"Work brings profit; talk brings poverty!" (Prov 14:23 TLB)  

What one says one will do means little.  Only what one does counts!  Put up or shut up!

Prayer: Lord, help us to be doers and not talkers!  Amen!

Prov 21:25. . . .The lazy man longs for many things, but his hands refuse to work. He is greedy to get, while the godly love to give! TLB

DON'T GO WRONG....LISTEN!

8-27-2021. . . . DON'T GO WRONG....LISTEN!

"Listen to me, you wise men.  We can choose the sounds we want to listen to; we can choose the taste we want in food, and we should choose to follow what is right. (Job 34:2-4 TLB)  

A wise person will always listen!  A wiser person chooses what to listen too.   The valuable knowledge obtained through listening will serve as a guide in following the ways that are right!  Don't go wrong.....Listen!

Prayer: Lord, help us always train our ears to listen and choose what is right.  Amen!

Job 34:16. . . . "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. (NIV)

GUARD WHAT YOU HEAR!

8-26-2021. . . .GUARD WHAT YOU HEAR!

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom 10:18 KJV) 

 What we "HEAR" has a direct correlation to our faith.  It would be wonderful if the only thing we ever heard was the word of God; then, our faith would experience uninhibited growth.  The truth is, there are many things that enter into the realm of our hearing daily.  Some good, some not so good.  Some things we hear are unavoidable.  We would do well nevertheless, to guard what we voluntarily allow ourselves to hear .   Remember, what we hear affects our faith, and thus, our lives.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word and the faith that comes by hearing it!  Help us filter out every unnecessary thing so that our ears and our faith may remain pure.  Amen.

Matt 13:16. . . .But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. NIV

EVIDENCE!

8-25-2021. . . .EVIDENCE!

"So also is my Word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to and prosper everywhere I send it." (Isa 55:11-12 TLB)  

If the Word of God were prosecuted in a court of law, it would always be found guilty because it always leaves evidence where ever it has been!  How much evidence can be found in us?

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your proceeding and prevailing word.  May there be much evidence of its presence found in our lives.  Amen!

 Ps 119:15-16. . . .I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.  KJV

WHO IS WILLING!

8-24-2021. . . .WHO IS WILLING!

"Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk.  Lead me; teach me; for you are the God who gives me salvation. I have no hope except in you."( Ps 25:4-6TLB)  

Left to our own devices, most certainly we would run-a-muck.  We've all demonstrated this in times passed.  God however, is not only able, but He is also more than willing to guide and direct our steps if we ask and submit our will to His will.  Now, who is willing?

PRAYER: Lord, guide and direct our steps into the way you desire for us to go.  Keep our feet from stumbling and from wandering off in directions you have not ordered.  Amen!

Job 23:10-11. . . . But he knows every detail of what is happening to me; and when he has examined me, he will pronounce me completely innocent-as pure as solid gold!   "I have stayed in God's paths, following his steps. I have not turned aside. TLB

FLOW WITH HIM!

8-20-2021. . . .FLOW WITH HIM!

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV) 

Promotion will come when we submit to God's way,  God's plan, and God's timing!  Impatience only hinders the process!  Don't fight against Him, flow with Him!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for having everything under control.  Help us stay submitted to your way, plan, and timing!  Amen.

Ps 75:5-8. . . . For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another. TLB

FAITH ACTIONS!

8-19-2021. . . .FAITH ACTIONS!  

"When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." (Mark 2:5 KJV)  

Faith always has a visible manifestation!  One can't simply say "I have faith" and not add actions with it.  Even though the object and or objectives (end results) of our faith may not be seen, the actions of what we believe will!  Faith actions will overcome great obstacles to achieve it's desired end.  How could Jesus not respond to seeing the roof where He was, literally torn off by the faith actions of the individuals bearing their friend!  Will He not also respond when He sees the visible manifestation of ours?

Prayer: Lord, thank you in advance for responding when you see the actions of our faith.  Amen!

James 2:26. . . .For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.  KJV

A LOSING AFFAIR!

8-18-2021. . . .A LOSING AFFAIR!

"And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up."  (Gal 6:9-10 TLB)

One of the easiest things in the world to do is give up; especially when one losses hope and becomes discouraged!  The thing about giving up is, not only do we lose the time and effort it took to get us to that place of decision, we also lose the reward and satisfaction of seeing a thing through to the end!  Keep on doing what is right and don't let your efforts become a losing affair!

PRAYER: Lord, strengthen us in our struggles as we strive to do what is right and complete our life assignments.  Amen!

Heb 10:35-37. . . . Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember your reward!   You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised. TLB

A CLEAR CONSCIENCE!

8-17-2021. . . .A CLEAR CONSCIENCE!

For see, the day of the Lord is coming, the terrible day of his wrath and fierce anger. The land shall be destroyed and all the sinners with it.  (Isa 13:8-10 TLB) 

"Life now is sweet and our joy is complete cause we are saved!"  While this is true for believers, just think of all the people we know that shall experience "The Day of the Lord!"  Good people with well intentions; friends and perhaps even family members.  Be certain not to let an opportunity pass to share the good news of the gospel with these people in our lives.  We wouldn't want that on our conscience.

Prayer: Lord, guide us by your Spirit into every opportunity to share the gospel with all who cross our path that are lost.  Help us live in such a way that when "The Day of Lord" comes, we'll have a clear conscience.  Amen!

2 Peter 3:9-10. . . . He isn't really being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But he is waiting, for the good reason that he is not willing that any should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent.  The day of the Lord is surely coming, as unexpectedly as a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the heavenly bodies will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be burned up.   TLB

ONLY A FOOL!

8-13-2021. . . .ONLY A FOOL!

"That man is a fool who says to himself, "There is no God!" Anyone who talks like that is warped and evil and cannot really be a good person at all."  (Ps 14:1 TLB)

Everyone has the right to think and feel how they think and feel; but a fool, and only a fool could and would claim that there is no God!

PRAYER: Lord thank you that we are not fools; we know you exist!  We join in the chorus of heaven and earth daily declaring your glory. Amen!

Ps 19:1-3. . . . The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God.  Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. TLB

BE WISE!

8-12-2021. . . . BE WISE!

"The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets."  (Prov 21:20 TLB)  

Save nothing and you will have nothing!  No one will lend to a fool.  Be wise!

PRAYER: Lord, teach us to be wise in our spending and prepare now for our future and that of our families. Amen.

Prov 13:22. . . . A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.  KJV

STRENGTH AND PEACE!

8-11-2021. . . .STRENGTH AND PEACE! 

"The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace."  (Ps 29:11 KJV)

Two things we can expect from the Lord, "Strength and Peace!"  With these, we can make it through and endure anything.  With strength we can do the things that need to be done in the situation; with peace we can maintain our sanity while doing it!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for strength and peace!  Amen.

John 14:27. . . . "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid." TLB

AT THE END OF THE DAY!

8-10-2021. . . .AT THE END OF THE DAY!

"It is good to say thank you to the Lord, to sing praises to the God who is above all gods. Every morning tell him, "Thank you for your kindness," and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness."  ( Ps 92:1-3 TLB) 

At the end of the day we can all with confidence lift our voices and say in the words of the old spiritual, "It's just another day, that the Lord, has kept me!"

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your goodness and your faithfulness to us.  Keep on keeping us as only you can.   Amen!

Ps 89:8. . . .O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?  You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you. NIV

NO STUMBLING BLOCK!

8-5-2021. . . .NO STUMBLING BLOCK!

"O God, you know so well how stupid I am, and you know all my sins. O Lord God of the armies of heaven, don't let me be a stumbling block to those who trust in you. O God of Israel, don't let me cause them to be confused, though I am mocked and cursed and shamed for your sake."  (Ps 69:5-7 TLB) 

As our age increases, concurrently our stupidity and folly should be decreasing.  Hopefully and prayerfully, any residual is not a hindrance nor stumbling block to others.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to daily mature in you.  Let not any of our residual folly be a hindrance or stumbling block to others.  Amen!

1 John 1:8-9. . . .If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.  But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.  And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins. TLB

NOW I UNDERSTAND!

8-4-2021. . . .NOW I UNDERSTAND!

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:7 KJV) 

 The peace of God is way beyond understanding until one experiences it!  Then, one understands!  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your peace that is beyond understanding, but so wonderful to experience.

Col 3:15. . . .Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful. TLB

HE WILL ANSWER!

8-3-2021. . . .HE WILL ANSWER!

"Hear my prayer, O Lord; answer my plea because you are faithful to your promises."  (Ps 143:1 TLB)  

We need not ever fear to come to God in our times of need.  With assurance we can ask in confidence knowing that in His faithfulness, He will answer us!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for hearing and answering our prayers!

Ps 92:2-4. . . . Every morning tell him, "Thank you for your kindness," and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness.  Sing his praises, accompanied by music from the harp and lute and lyre.  You have done so much for me, O Lord. No wonder I am glad! I sing for joy. TLB