DOING BETTER!

5-29-2014. . . .DOING BETTER!

"The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!" (Prov 23:24-25)  Is the life we are now living bringing joy to our parents?  If our life is not pleasing to our earthly parents, it stands to reason we are not at all pleasing to our heavenly Father.  In our formative years we perhaps didn't know any better; but now that we know better, we should be doing better!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for our parents!  Help us live in such a way that it brings them joy continuously.  Amen.

Ex 20:12. . . ."Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."  NIV 

CATCH IT AND HOLD IT!

5-28-2014. . . .CATCH IT AND HOLD IT!

“Turn away from evil and do good. Try to live in peace even if you must run after it to catch and hold it!” (1 Peter 3:11-12TLB)   Evil that is blatantly evil is not difficult to turn away from. However, evil appearing to be good on the front end, not so much!  What was that the Apostle Paul said, “the good I would, I do not and the evil I would not, that I do!)  What seems good on the front end is nothing more than a robber of your peace in disguise!   Don’t let your peace get away! Catch it and hold it!!!! Never let go of it, no matter how good the evil may appear to be.

Prayer: Lord, even as Jabez prayed, keep evil from me and help me to pursue peace at all times. Amen!

Heb 12:14. . . . Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: KJV

PEEK-A-B00 - -GOD SEES YOU!

5-27-2014. . . .PEEK-A-B00 - -GOD SEES YOU!

“For the Lord is watching his children, listening to their prayers; but the Lord's face is hard against those who do evil. (1 Peter 3:12 TLB)   As a faithful and loving parent to their child, so the Lord is watching His children and listening to their every prayer!  In the words of Martin and Gabriel, "His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me."     He not only watches His children, but His eye is also on the evil doers!!!!     Peek-a-Boo. . . .God sees you!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always watching over your children and hearing our prayers. Thank you also for keep your eyes on the evil doers. We know you will reward both accordingly. Amen!’

Ps 34:15-17. . . .For the eyes of the Lord are intently watching all who live good lives, and he gives attention when they cry to him. But the Lord has made up his mind to wipe out even the memory of evil men from the earth. TLB

HE'S LISTENING!

5-23-14. . . .HE'S LISTENING!

"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 future and a hope.  In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest." (Jer 29:11-13 TLB) Although, we may not be able to see in the future, we can anticipate it with great expectation (hope) because we know that it shall be good!  God is more than willing to reveal this information to us if we earnestly seek Him and ask!  He's listening!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the plans of good you have laid out for us in our future!  We earnestly seek your guidance so that we never stray from the path of our hope!  Amen!

 1 Cor 2:9-10. . . .But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. KJV

PROVEN WORTHY!

5-22-2014. . . .PROVEN WORTHY!

"Everyone's work will be put through the fire so that all can see whether or not it keeps its value, and what was really accomplished. Then every workman who has built on the foundation with the right materials, and whose work still stands, will get his pay." ( 1 Cor 3:13-15 TLB)  Integrity should be the bases and foundation upon which our work should be built.  Tested under fire or otherwise, it will always be proven worthy.  

Prayer: Lord, help us have integrity in all we do.  Amen!

1 Cor 15:58-16:1. . . . Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. KJV

PEACE, BE STILL!

5-21-2014. . . .PEACE, BE STILL!

"And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him,"Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"   And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"    (Mark 4:37-41 NKJV)   When everything around us is in distress and turmoil, peace on the inside keeps us from panic and fear on the outside.  Speak Peace, then command the circumstances to be still!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us the power to speak to our circumstances and yet remain in peace on the inside.  It is a much needed help to us.  Amen.

Mark 11:22-23. . . . And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  KJV

HOE YOUR ROW!

5-20-2014. . . .HOE YOUR ROW!

"Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?")  When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"  Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."  (John 21:20-23 NIV) We all have our charge to keep and God to glorify.  Everyone's charge is important although, how they are carried out may differ.  Don't get caught up in the "What and How" of someone else; stay focused hoe your own row.

PRAYER: Lord, you are the God of us all!  Thank you for giving each us purpose.  Help us to stay focused on all that has been assigned to our hands to do.  Amen.

John 9:4. . . .I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.  KJV

A POWERFUL RESOURCE!

5-16-2014. . . .A POWERFUL RESOURCE!

"Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results." (James 5:16 TLB)  The righteous always have a powerful resource at their disposal; Prayer!  Not nebulous words falling from our lips, but powerful declarations and request that reach God's ear and prompt His response!  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being on the side of the righteous.  Thank you for hearing and responding to our prayers.  Amen!

Jer 33:3. . . .Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. KJV

LEARN TO DISCERN!

5-15-2014. . . .LEARN TO DISCERN!

"Go out and stand before me on the mountain," the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain; it was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake, there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his scarf and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. (1 Kings 19:11-13 TLB)   Never allow yourself to be move, shaken, or taken by anything except the certain presence of the Lord.  Learn to discern!

PRAYER:  Lord, you are not in the business of playing hide and seek.  You make your presence clearly known to all that have learned to discern.  Amen!

Ps 16:11. . . .You have let me experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasures of your own eternal presence. TLB

BE AWARE, BE PREPARED!

5-14-2014. . . .BE AWARE, BE PREPARED!

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (Eccl 3:1 KJV)  In life, things change and nothing stays the same.  To live life without anticipation and expectation of such, is to live life being constantly caught off guard and unprepared for any future opportunities and inevitable opposition.  Therefore, be aware and prepared mentally, physically, financially, and most importantly, spiritually.  In all things trust God who controls our times and seasons!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us wisdom to understand that all things in life change!  Help us to always be aware and prepared for change when it comes.  Amen!

Dan 2:20-21. . . ."Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." (NIV)

5-13-2014. . . .LET THE SHOW GO ON!

"But this precious treasure-this light and power that now shine within us --is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own." (2 Cor 4:7 TLB)  How ironically wonderful that our flawed humanity should be the stage on which God manifest and demonstrates His mighty power and glory!  It is not about us, but all about Him!  Let the show go on!

PRAYER: Lord, play out your glory and your mighty power on the the stage of our lives!  It is not about us, but all about you!  Amen.

Ps 106:8. . . .

  Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. 

 KJV

STAY SHARP!

5-9-2014. . . .STAY SHARP!

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Prov 27:17 NIV) The sharpening process is not always comfortable, but is always necessary.  What impact are the people around us having on our lives and perhaps more importantly, what impact are we having on the lives of those around us?   Daily we will come in contact with many people.  Therefore, stay sharp and challenge others around you to be sharp!

Prayer: Lord, continue to make me sharp in order that I may have a positive and sharpening impact on the lives of others. Amen!

Prov 27:19. . . . As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man. (NIV)

LIVE IT OUT!

5-8-2014. . . .LIVE IT OUT!

"It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." (Eph 2:10 TLB)  God created us on purpose and with purpose.  We live out that purpose fully by extending ourselves to help others.  Live it out!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for creating us on purpose and with purpose!  Help us live out that purpose by helping others.  Amen!

Eccl 4:9-10. . . . Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. 10 If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he's in trouble. TLB

LIVE THE LIFE!

5-7-2014. . . .LIVE THE LIFE!

"For Jehovah God is our Light and our Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk along his paths.   O Lord of the armies of heaven, blessed are those who trust in you." (Ps 84:11-12 TLB)  No apologies necessary and no explanation required for your blessings!  If people really want to understand the favor on your life, invite them to live the life!  What He's done for others, He'll do the same for all who put their trust in Him!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your favor.  We honor you Jehovah Sabaoth!  Amen.

Ps 37:4-6. . . .Be delighted with the Lord. Then he will give you all your heart's desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will.  TLB

BEHOLD!

5-6-2014. . . .BEHOLD!

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.  (Isa 43:18-19 KJV) Never allow the great things God has done for us in the past (and He has done great things for us) to restrict and constrain our expectation of what He can and will do for us in the future.  God says, "You can't imagine what I am going to do for you and in fact, I am already doing it!  BEHOLD!"

PRAYER: Lord, you are great and all you do is great!  Open our eyes to behold the fresh and new!  Amen.

Ps 86:10-13. . . .For you are great and do great miracles. You alone are God. Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there. May every fiber of my being unite in reverence to your name.  With all my heart I will praise you. I will give glory to your name forever. . . TLB

STOP IT!

5-2-2014. . . .STOP IT!

"This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours!  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours. (Isa 55:8-9 TLB)  Stop it, just stop it right now!  Stop all the negative self-talk and silence any negative voices around you. Cut off all negative influences that are preventing you from believing that God wants the best for you!  Since the beginning (our beginning) His plan for us has not changed; only our thoughts about it have.  It's time to rise to His level of thinking.  So again, STOP IT: JUST STOP IT RIGHT NOW!  Allow God to reveal His plan and manifest His will in your life!

PRAYER: Lord, reveal your plan to us and manifest your will in our lives!  Your way is the best way and your thoughts so much higher than our thoughts.  Brings us to your level of thinking.  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

ALL WILL BE WELL AND GO WELL!

5-1-2014. . . .ALL WILL BE WELL AND GO WELL!

"Then the Lord said: "The good figs represent the exiles sent to Babylon. I have done it for their good.  I will see that they are well treated, and I will bring them back here again. I will help them and not hurt them; I will plant them and not pull them up.  I will give them hearts that respond to me. They shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with great joy." (Jer 24:4-7 TLB)   God's full commitment to His people is unquestionable.  His divine purpose will be completed in spite of times of displacement, disappointment, and down right disobedience on our part.  When we turn to Him with fully surrendered hearts, He will ensure that all will be well and go well with us!

PRAYER: Lord, thank for your unquestionable commitment to us and our well being.  Your mercy and grace is amazing!  For this we continually give you praise.  Amen!

Lam 3:21-24. . . . Yet there is one ray of hope:  his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction.  Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day. TLB