LET THE RECORD REFLECT!

8-31-2011. . . .LET THE RECORD REFLECT!

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Rom 5:19 KJV)  Our obedience and/or disobedience has an affect upon others either for good or evil.  Which will our record reflect today?

Prayer: Lord, let our record reflect that through our continued obedience to you, we affected people for good.  Amen!

Matt 5:16. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. KJV

OBEDIENCE IS A CHOICE!

8-30-2011. . . .OBEDIENCE IS A CHOICE!

"Obey God because you are his children; don't slip back into your old ways-doing evil because you knew no better.  But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to be his child.  He himself has said, "You must be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16 TLB)  Obedience is a choice!  As God's children, we are without excuse when we choose to follow our old nature and do things that dishonor who God is!  Remember: We were made in His image and after His own likeness.  We are God's visible image in the world.  When the world sees us, what is their impression and opinion of God?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating us in your own image and likeness.  Help us daily to represent you to the world in a way that draws them to you and not drives them from you!  Amen.

Col 3:10-11. . . . You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you. 11 In this new life one's nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all. TLB

THE CHOICE IS OURS!

8-28-2011. . . .THE CHOICE IS OURS! 

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."  (Isa 1:19-20 KJV)  Choose to be blessed by being willing and obedient; experience the best life has to offer.   The alternative is to be cursed and devoured!  The choice is ours!

Prayer: Lord, your desire is to bless us and to have us experience the best life has to offer.  All you require is our willingness and obedience!  We give both to you now and forever.  Amen!

Ps 35:27. . . .Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. KJV

YOU ARE DOOMED!

8-26-2011. . . .YOU ARE DOOMED!

"They will be mighty warriors for God, grinding their enemies' faces into the dust beneath their feet. The Lord is with them as they fight; their enemy is doomed. (Zech 10:5 TLB)   Let all our enemies be fair warned!   Fight us as you must, but know this enemy.......YOU ARE DOOMED!   We will grind you into to the dust beneath our feet as we march to victory!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always being with us as we fight!  May all our enemies be vanquished and know that the battle is yours and the victory is ours.  Amen!

Rom 8:31. . . .

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

KJV

SMILE....GOD IS BRING US OUT!

8-24-2011. . . .SMILE....GOD IS BRING US OUT!

"For see, today I have made you impervious to their attacks. They cannot harm you. You are strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar and heavy gates of brass. All the kings of Judah, its officers, priests, and people will not be able to prevail against you.  They will try, but they will fail. For I am with you," says the Lord. "I will deliver you." (Jer 1:18-19 TLB)  The enemy will and in fact, 'IS' attacking us it seems on every side yet, we are still standing!  Why?  God has made us impervious to every attack.  No matter the position or the power of the enemy, they will not prevail against us.  Smile. . . .God is bringing us out!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing us out.  The enemy's position and power will not prevail and his attacks are rendered ineffective.  Amen!

 Isa 54:17. . . .No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. KJV

  

TRAINED BY THE BEST!

8-24-2011. . . .TRAINED BY THE BEST!

"Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:  My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. (Ps 144:1-2 KJV) Fighting without training is futile!  A good fighter, is a well trained fighter!   We're being trained by the best! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for training us to be good fighters.  Direct us in every fight so that we always emerge victorious!  Amen!

Ps 144:1-2. . . .Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.  2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.  NIV

DECLARED THE WINNER!

8-23-2011. . . .DECLARED THE WINNER!

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." (1 Tim 6:12 KJV)  The good fight of faith is fought on a daily basis.  Don't be caught off guard.  The word 'Fight' suggest that there will be opponents contending for our faith.   Let faith then, stand it's ground and be declared, the winner!

Prayer: Lord, our faith is firmly in you.  Although, opponents may attack us, we will stand firm and not be moved!   Amen.

1 Cor 2:4-5. . . .And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  KJV

HOLD YOUR PEACE!

8-22-2011. . . .HOLD YOUR PEACE!

And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. (Ex 14:13-14 KJV)  Holding our peace in the face of our pursuing enemies is much easier when we realize the Lord is fighting for us!   Soon, we will see them no more forever!  HOLD YOUR PEACE!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for dealing with all our enemies!   We will continue holding our peace and trusting you as you vanquish every one.  Amen!

Ps 27:1-3. . . . The Lord is my light and my salvation; he protects me from danger-whom shall I fear?  When evil men come to destroy me, they will stumble and fall!  Yes, though a mighty army marches against me, my heart shall know no fear! I am confident that God will save me. TLB

HERE AM I; SEND ME!

8-19-2011. . . .HERE AM I; SEND ME!

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." (Isa 6:8 KJV)  God is yet in need of someone who is willing to step up to the plate, so to speak, and say, Lord, send me!  Send me against the moral decay of our society --send me against political correctness -- send me against the false, the fake, and the phony.  Send me to proclaim the good news of the gospel to the world!  Here am I; send me!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the opportunity of life!  Use me Lord to be a living breathing change agent in the world.  Amen!

Matt 5:13-16 . . . . Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.   Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.   Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.   Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  KJV

WALK IN AUTHORITY!

8-18-2011. . . .WALK IN AUTHORITY!

"Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.  See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant." (Jer 1:9-10 KJV)  God will never give us an assignment without equipping us for the assignment.  Not only will He provide the skill and resources needed, He will give us the authority to execute the charge to it's completion.   Without fear, WALK IN AUTHORITY!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for equipping us with everything that is needed to complete our assignments.  Without fear we now execute and walk in your authority.  Amen!

Eph 1:3. . . .Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: KJV

ACCEPT HIS ASSIGNMENT!

8-17-2011. . . .ACCEPT HIS ASSIGNMENT!

"Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,  Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD."  (Jonah 1:1-3 KJV)  We may not always like or even desire the assignments God gives to us.  We don't however, have the option of rejecting them!  God knows what He is doing and who He wants to use to accomplish His will!   He has not made a mistake.  ACCEPT HIS ASSIGNMENT!

Prayer: Lord, you are in control and you have everything under control.  Help us to trust you especially in those times where we really would rather do something other than what you've assigned us to do.  Amen!

Rom 8:28. . . .And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. KJV

OPT FOR A BETTER FUTURE!

8-16-2011. . . .OPT FOR A BETTER FUTURE!

"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:..."(Gen 12:1 KJV)  Destiny sometimes requires us to make some tough choices.  Just know and remember, God's plan for our future is far bigger and better than the attachments and comforts of now!  Opt for a better future!

Prayer: Lord, your will is what is best for us.  Help us to always opt for a better future within your plan!  Amen!

 Jer 29:11. . . . For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. KJV

GO WITH GOD!

8-15-2011. . . .GO WITH GOD!

Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.  Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.  (KJV Josh 1:2-3)  There are some places that are ordained for us!  We need only have faith and courage enough to move forward in spite of past failures; move ahead in spite of adversity;  stand strong in the mist of the struggle!    God is in control and has ordered our steps and our stops!  Go with God!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the courage to move forward into the places you have ordained for us.  You are in control!  Amen. 

Ps 37:23-24. . . .The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take.  If they fall it isn't fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand.  TLB

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!

8-12-2011. . . .TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!

"Listen now! The Lord isn't too weak to save you. And he isn't getting deaf! He can hear you when you call!  But the trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God. Because of sin he has turned his face away from you and will not listen anymore".  ( Isa 59:1-2 TLB)  No need to look left or right nor point a finger at anyone else.  Take responsibility!   If God is not responding or listening, (although He can hear, but chooses not to listen) remove the sin that is creating the barrier.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for always hearing us and responding when we call.  May we never allow sin to create a barrier between us and thee.  Amen!

Isa 55:7. . . .Let men cast off their wicked deeds; let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy upon them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon! TLB

GO TO WORK!

8-11-2011. . . .GO TO WORK!

"For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,  nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it.   On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.   For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (2 Thess 3:7-10  NIV)  To receive a handout when needed is a blessing; to look for a handout continuously is dependency.   GO TO WORK!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for supplying all our needs especially our jobs.  Help us to help others in their time of need but never aid nor facilitate their dependency.  Amen. 

Prov 13:4. . . . Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering. TLB

BE FAIR!

8-10-2011. . . .BE FAIR!

"The Lord demands fairness in every business deal.  He established this principle." (Prov 16:11 TLB)  To 'Get Over' on someone is to knowingly take unfair advantage of them for selfish gain.  This practice has little or no regard for anything or anyone other than self.  Warning: you might get by, but you won't get away.  Whatever one sows is what one reaps!  What goes around comes around.  BE FAIR!

Prayer: Lord, help us to be fair and honest in all our dealings with each other.  Amen!

Gal 6:7. . . .Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. KJV

THE CLOCK IS TICKING!

8-9-2011. . . .THE CLOCK IS TICKING!

"Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years." (Gen 6:3 NIV)  God certainly is longsuffering, merciful and loving.  He is not however, blind nor oblivious to our continued disobedience.  He sets a time and when that time expires, swift justice comes in!  The clock is ticking!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for you mercy and patience.  Sensitized our ears to the sound of your ticking clock in order that we might mend our ways.  Amen!

HOW DO YOU SPELL RELIEF!

8-8-2011. . . .HOW DO YOU SPELL RELIEF!

“Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” ( NKJV Isa 55:7) Should we ever find ourselves in a place of separation from God because of sin, God’s way out for us is simple: REPENT! Turn from our sin and turn back to God. He promises to show us mercy and not just simply pardon, but ‘abundantly pardon’ us! The burden of condemnation is a heavy load to continue to carry! How do you spell relief? R E P E N T!

Prayer: Thank you for your overwhelming love towards us. Even when we slip up and mess up, you yet offer us a way out through repentance. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Amen!

Jer 33:8-9. . . .And I will cleanse away all their sins against me and pardon them. 9 Then this city will be an honor to me, and it will give me joy and be a source of praise and glory to me before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for my people and will tremble with awe! TLB

BE PATIENT!

8-5-2011. . . .BE PATIENT!

Now as for you, dear brothers who are waiting for the Lord's return, be patient, like a farmer who waits until the autumn for his precious harvest to ripen.  Yes, be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5:7-8 TLB)  Living in this modern microwave society it is easy to develop an attitude of impatience.  Impatience however, most often results in frustration and disappointment.  Remember this: Impatience has no control over or influence upon time! We can't rush the process.  The time it takes. . . . is the time it takes!  Be Patient!

Prayer: Lord, teach us to wait!  Amen.

Heb 10:35-39. . . .Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.  KJV

DON'T GIVE UP!

8-4-2011. . . .DON'T GIVE UP!

"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded."  (2 Chron 15:7 KJV)  There is no reward for giving up or giving in.  To do so is to nullify the energy and effort expended in beginning and to forfeit the satisfaction and ecstasy of finishing.  Your reward is waiting; Don't Give Up!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for every opportunity you send our way.  In spite of challenges and difficulties, we will finish and not give up.  Amen!

Gal 6:9-10. . . . 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. TLB

BE DIFFERENT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

8-3-2011. . . .BE DIFFERENT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

So be careful how you act; these are difficult days.  Don't be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good.  Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to. (Eph 5:15-17 TLB)   In one of his final speeches Dr. Martin Luther King said, "I just want to do God's will."  Doing God's will had become the major priority in his life.  It didn't make him perfect and without mistakes, but it did give him focus during some difficult days.  We too are living in some difficult times.  One need not look very far to find people living thoughtlessly and squandering opportunities to be good and do good.  This is not what God wants!  As believers, we are called to be different and to make a difference.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for every opportunity to do good and make a difference in the world.  In spite of difficult days, may we live always thoughtfully and not thoughtlessly.  Amen!

1 Peter 2:9. . . . But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: KJV

LET'S DO OUR PART!

8-2-2011. . . .LETS DO OUR PART!

"All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant." (Ps 25:10 NIV)  No covenant is without requirements.   Expecting to benefit from God's covenant without meeting the requirements of the covenant, is like expecting a paycheck at the end of the week without having gone to work!  While God lovingly and graciously shoulders the weight of the covenant He has extended to us, there yet remains a simple requirement for us, Obedience!  God has demonstrated His faithfulness in fulling His part of the covenant, now, it's up to us to fulfill ours! 

Prayer: Lord, you are faithful in all things that pertain to your covenant.  As we enjoy the benefits of your covenant let us be equally as faithful in fulling your requirement of obedience.  Amen!

Ps 103:17-18. . . . But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.  NIV

BE KIND!

8-1-2011. . . .BE KIND!  

“Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ." (Eph 4:31-32 TLB)  Of the many things people could say about us, is one of them, ‘He or She is a Kind Person?’ (Friendly, warm-hearted, generous and understanding.)  Being kind and showing kindness does not cost us anything, but it could mean everything to the person or persons on the receiving end of it. The world has enough mean, selfish, evil, insensitive, uncaring and unloving people in it.  Don’t be one of them!  BE KIND!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your loving kindness and for the opportunity of life.  Help me to be a kind person and to show kindness at all times. Amen!


2 Peter 1:5-9. . . . For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV

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