GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH ANY OF US YET!

1-31-2014. . . .GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH ANY OF US YET!

"Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Try always to be led along together by the Holy Spirit and so be at peace with one another."  (Eph 4:2-3 TLB)   Let's face it, none of us are perfect and without flaws.  Therefore, it is inevitable that we will at times come face to face with those flaws as we interact with each other. How we react to the flaws of others should always be filtered through the perspective of how we would like others to react to ours.  So, be humble, gentle, and by all means, be patient!  Remember, God is not through with any of us yet!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for loving us beyond our flaws!  Help us to love others beyond theirs.  Amen!
Ps 138:8. . . .The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures
 forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. NKJV

IT'S MOVING TIME!

1-30-2014. . . .IT'S MOVING TIME!

"The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: (Deut 1:6 KJV)  Although where we are may be good, comfortable, stable and even desirable, it was never intended for permanency.  There is more for us, so we must expand our borders.  Yes, this will require moving out of our comfort zones, but we will be the better for it.  It's been good, but it's also been long enough!  MOVE FORWARD!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing us to our current place.  Give us wisdom to understand there is more for us and the courage to move forward towards it!  Amen.

Deut 2:7. . . . The Lord your God has watched over you and blessed you every step of the way for all these forty years as you have wandered around in this great wilderness; and you have lacked nothing in all that time.' TLB

THANK GOD FOR A HELPER!

1-29-2014. . .THANK GOD FOR A HELPER!

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Rom 8:26 NIV)  We are never alone or at a loss when we pray.  We have help!  The Holy Spirit himself is praying with us and for us.  He keeps us on track with God's perfect will.  We can be so off at times; not even knowing how to pray or what to pray for.  Thank God for a helper!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit!  Thank you Holy Spirit for always interceding on our behalf and keep us on track with the Father's will.  Amen.

Rom 8:26-28. . . . And in the same way-by our faith --the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don't even know what we should pray for nor how to pray as we should, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows, of course, what the Spirit is saying as he pleads for us in harmony with God's own will.  TLB

RESPONSE AND RESPONSIBILITY!

1-28-2014. . . .RESPONSE AND RESPONSIBILITY!

"God blesses those who are kind to the poor. He helps them out of their troubles.  He protects them and keeps them alive; he publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies. He nurses them when they are sick and soothes their pains and worries."  (Ps 41:1-3 TLB)   Who really are the poor?  Are they only those we frequently pass on street corners begging or sleeping under bridges?  Are they also those that have material goods, but are starving for the life giving food of the gospel?   Both groups are the poor!  Yet, God has his eye and hand on them.   The greater question becomes, what is our response and responsibility to the poor?  As we have opportunity, we, like God, should have our eyes and hands on them.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for blessings us and supplying all our need according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  In our prosperity, help us to not be oblivious to the needs of those who are less fortunate then we are; especially those that are desperately in need of your life giving word!  Bless us all Lord!  Amen.

Luke 18:22-25. . . ."There is still one thing you lack," Jesus said. "Sell all you have and give the money to the poor-it will become treasure for you in heaven-and come, follow me."  But when the man heard this he went sadly away, for he was very rich.  Jesus watched him go and then said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."  TLB

HOW'S YOUR HEALTH!

1-27-2014. . . .HOW'S YOUR HEALTH!

"Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is." (3 John 2-3TLB)  How's your health?  As triune beings, we are a spirit with a soul that is housed in a body!  Our exclusive responsibility is to ensure that our earthly house (physical body) is not merely inhabitable , but in its highest state of well being!  This means daily maintenance; eating right, exercise, and proper rest! Anything lest is to do a disservice to our soul, spirit and ultimately, to God!  So then, How's your health?

PRAYER:  Lord, you are the fiver and sustainer of life.  You prosper our spirit and soul and supply food for our bodies.  Help us to make healthier choice as it relates to the upkeep of our bodies which are your temple!  Amen.

1 Cor 6:19-20. . . . What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. KJV

WALK ALL THROUGH IT!

1-24-2014. . . .WALK ALL THROUGH IT!

"Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.  Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. (Gen 13:17-18 KJV)  The blessing of the Lord is before us; arise and walk not just in it, but all through it!  The Lord provides the blessing, but it is up to us to appropriate it in our lives!   

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your manifold blessings to us.  Help us to lay hold fully upon the blessings and appropriate them properly into our lives.  Amen!

Prov 10:22. . . .The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. KJV

PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES MINIMIZED!

1-23-2014. . . .PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES MINIMIZED!

"Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."  (Josh 1:6-7 KJV)  Strength, Courage and Obedience are three key ingredients needed for success.  With these we can move forward into our destiny and  accomplish all God has purposed and promised us!  Where success is guaranteed, problems and challenges are minimized! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making it possible for us to succeed in all you purposed for us!  Our strength is in You, therefore, we can do all things!  Amen.

Josh 1:8-9. . . . Constantly remind the people about these laws, and you yourself must think about them every day and every night so that you will be sure to obey all of them. For only then will you succeed.  Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." TLB

RUN-RUN-RUN!

1-22-2014. . . .RUN-RUN-RUN!

The Lord is a strong fortress. The godly run to him and are safe. (Prov 18:10 TLB)   There is no shame in our game!  We run and we know where to run.  We don't run out of fear, we run because of favor.  God Himself is our security.  Our safe place from every enemy and foe.  So, saints, RUN-RUN-RUN!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our fortress and strong tower.  We gladly run to you and are safe.  Amen.

Ps 61:3-5. . . I shall live forever in your tabernacle; oh, to be safe beneath the shelter of your wings! 5 For you have heard my vows, O God, to praise you every day, and you have given me the blessings you reserve for those who reverence your name. TLB

STAY IN TOUCH WITH GOD!

1-21-2014. . . .STAY IN TOUCH WITH GOD!

"And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD."  (Gen 12:7-8 KJV)  Just because we have heard and obeyed God's initial instructions, does not mean He has nothing else to say or has no further instructions to give!  We must stay in constant touch with God.  We must call upon Him often and allow Him to continuously direct our path!  STAY IN TOUCH WITH GOD!

PRAYER: Lord, it is so necessary to always hear from you!  You have commissioned our journey, now please direct our path.  Amen!

Ps 37:23-24. . . . The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. KJV

LET GOD HANDLE IT!

1-20-2014. . . .LET GOD HANDLE IT!

"And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.  And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?  Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.  And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had."  (Gen 12:17-20 KJV)  Never pretend to be something or someone that you are not!  It is not necessary!  God called us to be who we are and what we are.  We need not feel compelled to justify or defend that to anyone.  God justifies and defends His own.  Let Him handle it!

PRAYER: Lord, you justify and defend your own.  Help us resist the temptation to do your job for you.  Amen!  

Rom 8:30-31. . . . Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us? KJV

A WASTED JOURNEY!

1-17-2014. . . .A WASTED JOURNEY!

"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." (Ps 37:23-24 TLB)  Following God's directed path is good, but it is our development along the path that brings God pleasure!  To simply follow the path and not become who God purposed us to be would most sadly be a wasted journey.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to become all you have purposed us to be as we travel your directed path of destiny.  Amen.

Job 23:11-14. . . . . I have stayed in God's paths, following his steps. I have not turned aside.  I have not refused his commandments but have enjoyed them more than my daily food.  Nevertheless, his mind concerning me remains unchanged, and who can turn him from his purposes?  Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me all he has planned, and there is more ahead.   TLB

HIS GUIDING HAND!

1-16-2014. . . .HIS GUIDING HAND!

"For the Lord watches over all the plans and paths of godly men, but the paths of the godless lead to doom." Ps 1:6 TLB  God is not just some interested spectator peering into our lives to simply see how things are going to turn out.  The plans and paths of our life our His and His guiding hand is upon us to ensure that every detail unfolds as He intended.  Even when bad things come to try and thwart the plan, God yet works in the bad and directs us successfully through it. 

PRAYER: Lord our prayer today is in the words of the hymn: "Guide me oh thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand!  Amen.

Rom 8:28. . . . And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans. TLB

ELIMINATE THE DISTANCE!

1-15-2014. . . .ELIMINATE THE DISTANCE!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:8-9 NIV)  There is a very large difference between the Lord's ways and our ways; His thoughts and our thoughts!  He however, is more than willing to reveal His ways and thoughts to us if we are willing to eliminate the distance between us and Him!

PRAYER: Lord, transform us from self-willed, self-driven creatures into people that are totally submitted and in sync with your thoughts and your ways.  Thy will be done.  Amen!

Jer 33:3-4. . . .Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' NIV

LEARN TO DISCERN!

1-14-2014. . . .LEARN TO DISCERN!

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Prov 14:12 NIV)  What seems good, looks good, and feels good to us is not always good for us!  Learn to discern the ways of God and stay off the path that leads to death!

PRAYER: Lord, lead us beside the still waters where our soul can be continually restored.  Help us to always discern your way and detour from the paths that lead us to death.  Amen.

Ps 23:1-3. . . .The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. KJV

G P S!

1-13-2014. . . .G P S!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  (Prov 3:5-6NIV)  The road of life is much easier to navigate if we depend on God to show us the way!  After all, the one that paves the way certainly knows the way.  Always, and in all ways, trust God for guidance.   He's all about G P S; Guiding People Safely!

PRAYER: Lord, today and everyday we look to you to safely guide us through the road of life.  You know the paths we take and our trust is continually in you.  Amen!

Isa 26:7. . . . But for good men the path is not uphill and rough! God does not give them a rough and treacherous path, but smooths the road before them. TLB

MAKE A DECISION!

1-14-2014. . . .MAKE A DECISION!

"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Josh 24:15 NIV)  Does the world know who's side we are on?  Has there been a clear and unchangeable declaration of allegiance?  Take a stand and make a decision and live by it!

PRAYER: Lord, today we make a declaration to the world that we will serve you!  No turning back or wavering in our decision.  We choose you!  Amen.

Ps 22:29-31. . . . All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him--those who cannot keep themselves alive.  Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn--for he has done it.  NIV

PLEASING GOD!

1-9-2014. . . .PLEASING GOD!

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name.  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  (Heb 13:15-16)  We are not required to offer to God the blood sacrifice of animals; Jesus blood took care of that for us!  Our response to that act should be our continual offering of praise to God and service to mankind!  With this God is pleased!

PRAYER: Lord, our desire is to please you at all times!  We begin by offering you prasie and thanks continually.  We also give our service to mankind in an effort to draw all into your kingdom!  Amen.

Ps 116:12-14. . . . How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?  I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.  I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. NIV

ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

1-8-2014. . . .IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO!

"Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. (Ps 147:1 KJV)  Praising the Lord is the right thing to do.   Be it morning, noon, or night, Praise is always right!  Therefore as the psalmist has said, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!"  

PRAYER: Lord, we praise you continually for who you are and for all you do!  Let our praises bless you forever!  Amen.

Ps 150:6. . . .Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.  Praise the LORD.  NIV

GIVE HIM PRAISE!

1-7-2014. . . .GIVE HIM PRAISE!

"Oh, how grateful and thankful I am to the Lord because he is so good. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord who is above all lords." (Ps 7:17 TLB)  A daily song of praise will freely flow from our spirit once we stop and think of the Lord's goodness to us.   He daily gives everything that pertains to life and godliness.  What more do we need; what better reason to give Him praise!

PRAYER: Lord, you alone are worthy of our praise.  You are good and you do good!  Thank you for make us the recipients of your daily benefits.  Amen!

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

PRAYER AND PRAISE POWER!

1-6-2014. . . .PRAYER AND PRAISE POWER!

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."  (Acts 16:25-26 KJV)  Prayer and Praise has the miraculous power to free us from binding circumstances.   It not only has a freeing affect on us, but also on those around us!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for hearing our prayers and acknowledging our praise!  Thank you for moving suddenly and immediately in our behalf!  Amen!

Isa 61:10-11. . . . Let me tell you how happy God has made me! For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and draped about me the robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.  The Lord will show the nations of the world his justice; all will praise him. His righteousness shall be like a budding tree, or like a garden in early spring, full of young plants springing up everywhere. TLB

REIGN OVER YOUR DOMAIN!

1-2-2014. . . .REIGN OVER YOUR DOMAIN!

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."  (Gen 1:28 KJV)  We were create to reign over our domain!  We been given every thing we need including the opportunity to take control and be in control of every area of our life!  Call things into order; command the crooked to be straight and stay straight.  Now, as the steward of your life, reign over your domain!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for creating us to reign and to be the stewards of our lives.  May our stewardship be pleasing to you and stamped daily by your blessings.  Amen!

2 Peter 1:2-3. . . . Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: KJV