STAY IN HEALTH!

9-30-2013. . . .STAY IN HEALTH!

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."  (3 John 2 KJV)  Good health is a healthy desire to have for others and for our self!  We must however, work to achieve it and encourage others to do the same by eating right, getting proper rest and exercise!!!!  Get in health - Be in health - Stay in health!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for good health!  Help us to be in health and stay in health as we prosper both spiritually and physically.  Amen! 

Ps 42:11-43:1. . . .Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.  KJV

SO ARE WE!

9-27-2013. . . .SO ARE WE!

First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will come scoffers who will do every wrong they can think of and laugh at the truth.  This will be their line of argument: "So Jesus promised to come back, did he? Then where is he?   He'll never come!   Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly as it was since the first day of creation."  (2 Peter 3:3-4 TLB)  Incresingly these days, we see and hear stories about people that refute the existance of God and the validity of His word!  They even laugh and scoff at believers; calling us gullible and weak minded.   While their position may be irritating at times, they are entitled to think and feel how they think and feel!   SO ARE WE!   Therefore, we stand strong in our belief of the truth!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you that we know the real truth.  Strengthen us in these last days to stand firm in our beliefs!  Amen.

2 Peter 3:3-7. . . .First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."  But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.  By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.  By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (NIV)

IT'S ESSENTIAL

9-26-2013. . . .IT'S ESSENTIAL!

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Ps 119:105 KJV)  As headlights are essential to an automobile, so the word of God is essential to and in the life of believers! During the daytime the illuminated headlights of an automobile enables others to see it coming and during the nighttime, they enable drivers to see clearly the path they are traveling! God's word illuminated in the life of a believer helps others to see Christ through them, while at the same time, makes clear the believer's path as they continue walking with Christ! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word that illuminates my life and directs my path. Amen!

Ps 119:101. . . .I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. (NIV)

EMBRACE THE NEW!

9-25-2013. . . .EMBRACE THE NEW!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  (2 Cor 5:17 KJV)  God doing a new thing in us facilitates new things happening for us!  Let the old pass and embrace the new!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for saving us and giving us new life through Jesus Christ!  Help us to let the old pass and to embrace the new with joy!  Amen.

1 John 5:13-14. . . .I have written this to you who believe in the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life.  And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. TLB

THE GOD STUFF!

9-24-2013. . . .THE GOD STUFF!

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jer 29:11 NKJV)  God's thoughts about our life is what we should see and experience in our life!  Anything else is not of God nor from God!  Take inventory and clear your life of everything but the God stuff!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for daily loading us with benefits!  You are good and you do good.  Thank you for a future and great expectation!  Amen!

Ps 68:19. . . . Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. KJV

YOU WILL NOT BE GOD'S FIRST FAILURE!

9-23-2013. . . .YOU WILL NOT BE GOD'S FIRST FAILURE!

"The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands."  (Ps 138:8 KJV)  With each new day comes expectation of the greater!  God is committed to it and will see the process through to completion.  Be encouraged!  You will not be God's first failure!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the process towards perfection!  Help us to submit to your process and not fight against it.  Amen!

Phil 1:3-6. . . . And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. TLB

PASS IT ON!

9-20-2013. . . .PASS IT ON!

"What a wonderful God we have-he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us."  (2 Cor 1:3-5 TLB)  Troubles, trials and tragedies don't discriminate, they seem to find us all at some point or other.  Through them all however, God has proven Himself to be our great source of strength and comfort!  The strength and comfort we receive not only helps us in our time of need, but is held in reserve within us so that we can pass it on to others in their time of need!  Find someone in need and Pass it on!  

PRAYER:  Lord, you are the source and strength of our comfort!  No trouble, trial, or tragedy is greater than your power to comfort!  Help us to pass this great resource on to others.  Amen!

Rom 15:13. . . .Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.  KJV

LET IT HAPPEN!

9-19-2013. . . .LET IT HAPPEN!

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  (John 15:2 KJV)   What may appear to us to be a time of bareness, is really a time of replenishment!  Apples don't grow on trees to simply hang there and look pretty!   The fruit is taken from the tree and used for it's designated purpose.  The removal of the fruit from the tree makes room for more fruit to come.    What was produced from the last harvest, is not needed to produce the next.  The pruning process is necessary!  Let it happen!

Prayer: Lord, prune us as you will in order that we may continuously increase our fruit production.   Amen!

Ps 1:1-3. . . . Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men's advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God.  But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.   They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper.  TLB

GIVE THEN SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT!

9-18-2013. . . .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!  This will surely give them something to talk about! 

PRAYER: Lord, our desire is to do your will and please you. Help us 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

LIFE'S POTENTIAL!

9-17-2013. . . .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

PERSONAL PARTICIPATION!

9-16-2013. . . .PERSONAL PARTICIPATION!

"His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.  And they bare it. (John 2:5-8 KJV) There will be no miracle without our personal participation.  The Lord will do His part and we must do ours.

PRAYER: Lord, you are a miracle worker.  Whatever you ask us to do, we will do it!  Thank you for working a miracle for us.  Amen!

Acts 2:22. . . . "O men of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing tremendous miracles through him, as you well know. TLB

CLING TO IT!

9-13-2013. . . .CLING TO IT!

"Fight on for God. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you and that you have confessed with such a ringing confession before many witnesses." (1 Tim 6:12 TLB)  Fight the good fight of faith and keep a strong hold on eternal life!  Not as if we can loose it, but so by clinging to it, we are propelled forward into its doors! 

Prayer: Lord, as we fight the good fight of faith, thank you for giving us eternal life to cling to.  Amen!

Rom 6:22-23. . . .But now you are free from the power of sin and are slaves of God, and his benefits to you include holiness and everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. TLB

GOOD CONSEQUENCES!

9-12-2013. . . .GOOD CONSEQUENCES!

"I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.  I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame."  Ps 119:30-31 (NIV)  Our choices have consequences!  The nature of the consequence is contingent upon the nature of the choice.  Bad choices bring bad consequences; good choices bring good consequences.   What's your choice?  Choose the ways of truth and hold fast to them!  So shall you experience good consequences.

Prayer: Lord, lead us daily in the ways of truth and help us daily to make that choice our own.  Amen!

2 Chron 6:30-31. . . . Hear from heaven where you live and forgive, and give each one whatever he deserves, for you know the hearts of all mankind.  Then they will reverence you forever and will continually walk where you tell them to go. TLB

OUR CHARGE!

9-11-2013. . . .OUR CHARGE!

"If you make the Most High your dwelling--even the LORD, who is my refuge--then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.  "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."  (Ps 91:9-16 NIV)   Although, there is much evil in the world with evil men and women purpetrating evil deeds, we live without fear knowing that the Lord, the Most High is our refuge and protection.  He can, He shall and He will deliver us from all evil! Our charge is to overcome evil with good!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being our God and our refuge.  Thank you for delivering us from all evil. Empower us daily to overcome evil with good.  Amen.

Rom 12:19-13:1. . . . Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it. [Don't take the law into your own hands. ] 20 Instead, feed your enemy if he is hungry. If he is thirsty give him something to drink and you will be "heaping coals of fire on his head." In other words, he will feel ashamed of himself for what he has done to you. 21 Don't let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing good. TLB

PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

9-10-2013. . . .PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

"Work brings profit; talk brings poverty!" (Prov 14:23 TLB)  What one says one will do means little. It's only what one does that 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

THE PERFECTING PROCESS!

9-9-2013. . . .THE PERFECTING PROCESS!

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 24-25 KJV)  Our failures are not final or fatal because the perfecting process will continue on to completion!  With great joy, Jesus our Savior, will Himself present the finished to work to the Father at the appointed time.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your commitment to our perfecting process!  We look forward to being the finished work you present to the Father at the appointed time.  Amen!

Phil 1:5-6. . . . And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. TLB

CONSTRAINT!

9-5-2013. . . .CONSTRAINT!

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God."  (1 Peter 2:16 NIV)  Free does not mean live life with reckless abandon and as the Isley Brothers sing, "It's your thang, do what you want to do!"  On the contray, our freedom in Christ demands that we live a life of constraint knowing, that every thing that is good to us is not necessarily good for us, and more importantly, for those watching us!

PRAYER: Lord, we thank you for our freedom in you.  Help us to live so that others can clearly see you and your transforming power at work within us.  May our lives never be a stumbling block to others.  Amen!

1 Cor 10:23-24. . . . "Everything is permissible"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"-but not everything is constructive.  Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. NIV

MAKE A DECISION!

9-5-2013. . . .MAKE A DECISION!

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."  (Heb 12:14-15 NIV) Living holy is not something that occurs automatically; it requires effort.  We must make a decision to to live and be holy.   Our decision will then affect our behavior.  If our expectation is to see the Lord, we must make a decision!

Prayer: Lord, our decision has been made to pursue peace and to be and live holy.  Thank you for your love, mercy, and patience with us.  Amen!

Heb 12:14-15. . . . Try to stay out of all quarrels, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord. TLB

HIS LIBERTY IS LIBERATING!

9-4-2013. . . . HIS LIBERTY IS LIBERATING!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Gal 5:1 NIV)  With blessings come responsibility!  We are responsible to maintain what Christ has provided for us.  His liberty is liberating!  The choice is ours to make and maintain!

PRAYER: Lord, strengthen us daily to make the choice to maintain and walk in the liberty you have so graciously provided for us.  Thank you for the freedom to choose.  Amen!

1 Peter 2:16. . . .Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  NIV

HOW FREE DO YOU WANT TO BE!

9-3-2013. . . .HOW FREE DO YOU WANT TO BE!

"As he spake these words, many believed on him.  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:30-32 KJV)   Truth, while universally available, must be appropriated individually!  The level of our liberation directly corrilates to the proportion of truth we appropriate.   How free do you want to be?

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for truth that does not change!  By it we are made free!  May we continuously appropriate all you've made available to us.  Amen!

John 8:36. . . .If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. KJV