LIFE'S POTENTIAL!

10-30-2012. . . .LIFE'S POTENTIAL!

"Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was perfect and he was as strong as a young man." (Deut 34:7-8 TLB)  With God, all things are possible even life-long health, strength and prosperity.  Don't allow bad life choices to diminish life's potential!   When we take care of God's business, God takes care of us!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us life-long health, strength and prosperity in order that we may carry out and complete your divine purpose in us!  Amen!

Mark 10:27. . . .And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. KJV

DON'T GIVE AN INCH!

10-29-2012. . . .DON'T GIVE AN INCH!

"For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies-the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world." (Eph 6:12 TLB)  The unseen forces of evil while no match for the power of Almighty God, are nonetheless real and not to be taken for granted.  We should not ever allow them access into our lives by dabbling into what may seem to be benign pagan celebrations.  If we don't give an inch they can't demand a mile!

PRAYER: Lord, you are Lord of our lives!  We exalt you above all and will not surrender even an inch of your sovereign control.   Amen!

Col 2:14-15. . . .He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him. RSV

DON'T GIVE AN INCH!

10-26-2012. . . .DON'T GIVE AN INCH!

"For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies-the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world." (Eph 6:12 TLB)  The unseen forces of evil while no match for the power of Almighty God, are nonetheless real and not to be taken for granted.  We should not ever allow them access into our lives by dabbling into what may seem to be benign pagan celebrations.  If we don't give an inch they can't demand a mile!

PRAYER: Lord, you are Lord of our lives!  We exalt you above all and will not surrender even an inch of your sovereign control.   Amen!

Col 2:14-15. . . .He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him. RSV

LIVE POLLUTION FREE!

10-25-2012. . . .LIVE POLLUTION FREE!

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. (Prov 4:23 NKJV)  Out of a pure heart will flow a pure life.  Be careful then, not to allow anything or anyone to pollute your spring!  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving me a new heart from which flows a new and pure life.  Strengthen me daily to be diligent in guarding my heart from all pollutants and polluters.  Amen!

1 Tim 1:5. . . .  What I am eager for is that all the Christians there will be filled with love that comes from pure hearts, and that their minds will be clean and their faith strong. TLB

HEARTS AND MINDS ON TRIALS!

10-24-2012. . . .HEARTS AND MINDS ON TRIAL!


Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. (Ps 26:2-3 NIV) Our hearts and minds should always be kept in such a state that if put on trial, they will be found innocent of any and all wrong doing.  Conversely, they should be found guilty of being filled with love, truth and righteousness.

PRAYER: Lord, let your precious shed blood cleanse our hearts and minds continually so that we may be found forever innocent upon examination.  Amen!

Ps 51:7-11. . . . Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.   And after you have punished me, give me back my joy again.  Don't keep looking at my sins-erase them from your sight.  Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.  TLB

OLD OR NEW MASTER!

10-23-2012. . . .OLD OR NEW MASTER!

Thank God that though you once chose to be slaves of sin, now you have obeyed with all your heart the teaching to which God has committed you.  And now you are free from your old master, sin; and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. (Rom 6:17-18 TLB)  Old master, Sin; New Master, Righteousness.  Which one will give us the best evaluation?  

PRAYER:  Lord, we are forever thankful to you for saving us.  We will never be found guilty of having done more for our old master then we do for our new master!  Amen.

Rom 6:16. . . .  Don't you realize that you can choose your own master? You can choose sin (with death) or else obedience (with acquittal). The one to whom you offer yourself-he will take you and be your master, and you will be his slave.  TLB

NO SECURITY BREACHES!

10-22-2012. . . .NO SECURITY BREACHES! 

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts. Amen. (1John 5:21 TLB) In our hearts, God's place should be a protected place and it is up to us to do it!  Let there be no security breaches!  Allow nothing or no one to displace Him!

PRAYER: Lord, you have a permanent place in my heart!  I will not allow anything or anyone to displace you! Amen. 

Prov 4:23. . . . Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. NIV

BLESSED AND BEING A BLESSING!

10-19-2012. . . .BLESSED AND BEING A BLESSING!

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:35 NIV)  Everyone likes to be on the receiving end of giving!  Jesus placed greater emphasis on the giving end because in giving we are being a blessing and receiving a blessing simultaneously. 

PRAYER: Lord, how wonderful you are and your ways so unlike our ways.  You have fixed it so that even when we give we receive.  Thank you for your endless supply and flow.  Amen!

2 Cor 8:12-15. . . .If you are really eager to give, then it isn't important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven't.   Of course, I don't mean that those who receive your gifts should have an easy time of it at your expense, but you should divide with them. Right now you have plenty and can help them; then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, each will have as much as he needs.  Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? "He that gathered much had nothing left over, and he that gathered little had enough." So you also should share with those in need.  TLB

THE MORE WE GIVE THE MORE WE GET!

10-18-2012. . . .THE MORE WE GIVE THE MORE WE GET!

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  (Luke 6:38 KJV)  Giving produces giving!  The more we give the more we get!  Giving does not always take on the same form when it returns.  It transforms into our supplied need (whatever that need may be) according to His riches in glory!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to always be givers and let our giving be generously and cheerfully done.  Amen.

2 Cor 9:6. . . .  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  NIV

GIVING OURSELVES INTO FAVOR!

10-17-2012. . . .GIVING OURSELVES INTO FAVOR!

But remember this-if you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much.  Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don't force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more so that there will not only be enough for your own needs but plenty left over to give joyfully to others. (2 Cor 9:6-9 TLB)  The attitude with which we give is as important as what we give.  When we give willingly and cheerfully, we give ourselves right into God's favor!  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your favor!  All our needs are continually met.  Amen!

Phil 4:19-20. . . .  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  KJV

WILLINGNESS TO GIVE!

10-16-2012. . . .WILLINGNESS TO GIVE!

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.   Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44 NIV)  God gave His all for us, should not we, like the widow of this text, be willing to give all to Him?  Whether we have much to give or very little to giving, our willingness to do so should never change!

PRAYER: Lord, may our hearts always be willing to giving to you whether out of abundance or poverty.  You are equally faithful to us in both.   May will always be the same to you.  Amen.

Luke 6:38. . . . Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  KJV

DON'T BE FOUND GUILTY!

10-15-2012. . . .DON'T BE FOUND GUILTY!

"Will a man rob God?  Yet you have robbed Me!  But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?'  In tithes and offerings. (Mal 3:8 NKJV)  Robbery does not happen by mistake; it is intentional!  Imagine how you would feel if someone, (especially someone you know) intentionally robbed you!  How do you think God feels?  Let's not be found guilty of this offense!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for you love and care for us!  May we never be found guilty of intentionally robbing you of what is rightfully yours.  Amen!

Mal 3:8-10. . . ."You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due to me.  And so the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing me. TLB

THE LORD'S RELEASE!

10-12-2012. . . .THE LORD'S RELEASE!

And David inquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. (1 Sam 30:8 KJV)  There is a time when the Lord will release us to go after our enemy!  Let's be sure it's the Lord's release and not our own.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for letting our enemies know we will fight and win, but only when you give us release to do so!  Amen!

Ps 144:1-2. . . .Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.  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

10-11-2012. . . .FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS!

But the Lord said to Joshua, "Jericho and its king and all its mighty warriors are already defeated, for I have given them to you!  Your entire army is to walk around the city once a day for six days, followed by seven priests walking ahead of the Ark, each carrying a trumpet made from a ram's horn. On the seventh day you are to walk around the city seven times, with the priests blowing their trumpets.  Then, when they give one long, loud blast, all the people are to give a mighty shout, and the walls of the city will fall down; then move in upon the city from every direction." (Josh 6:2-5 TLB)  We don't have to understand God's strategy, to understand He has predetermined our victory!  Although, the strategy might seem strange, the outcome will not! Follow His instructions completely to victory!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for predetermining our victories before every battle.  Help us not to question your strategies, but to simply follow them completely to victory.  Amen!

1 Cor 15:57. . . . But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

KJV

STEP UP AND STEP OUT!

10-10-2012. . . .STEP UP STEP OUT!

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." (1 Sam 17:45-47) With the Lord on our side, it matters little how formidable our enemy may be.  With confidence just step up and step out for the bigger they are, the harder they'll fall! 

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being on our side!  We need not fear any enemy no matter how threatening they may be.  With you we always have victory!  Thank you.  Amen! 

Rom 8:31. . . .What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

KJV

REMEMBER YOUR HERITAGE!

10-9-2012. . . . .REMEMBER YOUR HERITAGE!

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 (Isa 54:17 KJV)  The tricks and traps of our enemies will be many, but not one of them will succeed!  Let's not be guilty of having spiritual amnesia the next time we come under attack!  Remember your heritage!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for making us a part of your family and giving us a heritage of victory!  Amen!

2 Cor 2:14. . . .But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  NIV

NOW, LET'S BELIEVE IT!

10-8-2012. . . .NOW, LET'S BELIEVE IT!

But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says, "Don't be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up-the flames will not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel. (Isa 43:1-3TLB)  We are redeemed - we are called by name! He is with us - We will survive - We will come through!  God said it, that settles it!  Now, lets believe it!

PRAYER: Lord, whatever you say, is what we believe and live by.  Thank you for your words to us!  Amen!

Jer 29:11-13. . . . For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a futu re and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest. TLB

THE MORE WE DO THE MORE WE GET!

10-5-2012. . . .THE MORE WE DO THE MORE WE GET!

"His master praised him for good work. 'You have been faithful in handling this small amount,' he told him, 'so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Begin the joyous tasks I have assigned to you.' (Matt 25:21TLB)  Good work opens the door for increase!   The more we do the more we get!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us increase as a result of our good works.  Our intent is to increase our good works and please you!  Amen!

2 Cor 5:10. . . .For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. NIV

CEASE THE MOMENT!

10-4-2012. . . .CEASE THE MOMENT!

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10 NIV)  There is always opportunity to do good to all people, and especially to believers.  The problem is, we don't often cease the moment.   Sometimes unintentionally, but sadly, other times very much intentionally.  It's always right to do right!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for every opportunity you give us to treat others well.  By so doing we demonstrate to the world we belong to you. Amen!

Eph 5:8-9. . . . For though once your heart was full of darkness, now it is full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it!  Because of this light within you, you should do only what is good and right and true. TLB

DOUBLE BENEFIT!

10-3-2012. . . .DOUBLE BENEFIT!

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.  (Prov 11:17 KJV)  There is a double benefit to doing good.  It blesses others and it blesses us as well.  The same is true of doing bad.  It hurts others and will hurt us as well.  Therefore, one should only send out what one would want to receive.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to be prudent in all our actions toward others.  Help us understand that what we do to others we do also to ourselves.  Amen!

Matt 7:12. . . .So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. NIV

HARVEST TIME IS COMING!

10-2-2012. . . .HARVEST TIME IS COMING!

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal 6:9)  What a shame it would be to lose the harvest of our good works because we became weary and gave up before the appointed time.  We come to far to give up now!  Keep up the good work!  Harvest time  is coming!

PRAYER: Lord, give us strength to keep doing well in spite of how we might feel.  Bring forth our harvest! Amen.

1 Cor 15:58. . . .Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

NIV

GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT!

10-1-2012. . . .GIVE THEN SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT!

For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (1 Peter 2:15-16 NIV)  The ignorant speak loudly and often but their words are as a nebulous vapor.  Pay them no attention and focus on doing good to all men no matter what!  That will give them something to talk about! 

PRAYER: Lord, our desire is to do your will and please you. Help us to not be distracted from good works by the idle words of the ignorant.  Amen!

Prov 10:6. . . .Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. NIV