NOT BAD AT ALL!

2-26-2015. . . .NOT BAD AT ALL!

Love does no wrong to anyone. That's why it fully satisfies all of God's requirements. It is the only law you need. (Rom 13:10 TLB)  A genuine love for others is not optional; it is required of all of us who are truly God's children.  God loved us at our worst. The quality of that love should give us perspective in times when it seems difficult to extend that same love to others.  How bad could loving our neighbors really be?  Not bad at all; just try it! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving us at our very worst.  Your love for us gives us perspective in times when it seems difficult to extend love to others.  Help us to love others with the same quality of love that you extended to us!  Amen.

1 John 3:14-15. . . .We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.  Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. NIV

HE'S WORKING IT OUT!

2-25-2015. . . . He’s Working It Out!

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. (Prov 16:9 NIV) Although sometimes our plans don't quite work out and even fail, God directs our steps back on course toward the future He has in store for us.  So, don’t worry. . . .don’t get overly discouraged. . . .don’t get frustrated or become impatient. Just remember, “He’s Working It Out! And what a wonderful life it is!!!!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the plans you have for us!   We give you our all. . . .have your way in our life and with our life!  Amen!

Heb 10:35-38. . . . Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember your reward! You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised. His coming will not be delayed much longer. And those whose faith has made them good in God's sight must live by faith, trusting him in everything. Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them. TLB

OUCH....THE TRUTH HEALS!

2-13-2015. . . .OUCH.....THE TRUTH HEALS!

"Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves." (Eph 4:25 TLB) Lying benefits no one and hurts everyone involved. Lying to a brother or sister is like lying to one's self, in that we are all connected.  Would one in their right mind intentionally hurt one's self?  Certainly not.  It has been said that "The truth hurts" and true that may be in some cases, but it doesn't cause damage like a lie!  The hurt of truth ultimately heals whereas, the hurt of a lie continually brings harm.   Tell the truth!  OUCH....THE TRUTH HEALS!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your healing truth.  Help us spread the healing by always speaking the truth in love with no lies.  Amen.

Prov 8:6-9. . . .Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.  For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.   All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.  They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. KJV

LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS!

2-12-2015. . . .LOVE WITHOUT LIMITS!

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  (John 15:13 KJV)  Real love knows no limits!  loving with no limits requires vulnerability, not gullibility!   Love is no one's door mat, but everyone's doorway into life and happiness!  Love without limits!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for loving us without limits!  Keep loving us into life and happiness.  Amen!

Eph 3:17-18. . . . And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love;  and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it.  TLB

TRANSPORT AND TRANSMIT!

2-11-2015. . . .TRANSPORT AND TRANSMIT!

"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.  It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.  If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the cost. You will always believe in them, always expect the best of them, and always stand your ground in defending them." (1 Cor 13:4-7 TLB)  Love, one song writer wrote, "Is a many splendored thing!"  When in full operation, it's the only thing!  We should all be transporters and transmitter of it!

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for the gift of love!  It is what the world needs now and what the world needs most!  Use every believer to be transporters and transmitters of it!  Amen.

John 13:35. . . . By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. KJV

MORE!

2-10-2015. . . .MORE!

 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ( Phil 4:13 NKJV)  Past and current accomplishments (though they be great) are not an indication of the end, but the culmination of circumstances and experiences aligning and positioning one for their next great thing!  Don't stop now, there is still more!

PRAYER: Lord thank you for fearfully and wonderfully making us in your image and likeness.  Their is no limit in you and no limit to the potential in us.  Help us maximize our potential.  

Dan 11:32. . . . but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. KJV

DISCERN THE RIGHT TIME!

2-6-2015. . . .DISCERN THE RIGHT TIME!

"Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.  For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him."( Eccl 8:5-6 NIV)  Never let emotions provoke bad decisions!  While one's current position, relationship, job and/or employer may be undesirable for the moment, don't be impulsive and leave before it is time!  Such actions will cause more harm than good.  Discern the right time!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for discernment.  Help us discern the times and wait patiently on you.  Amen!

Heb 10:35-36. . . . Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. KJV

A BETTER LIFE!

2-5-2015. . . .A BETTER LIFE!

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:14 KJV)  Equally as important as developing our five natural senses, is the need for believers to develop our spiritual discernment. Spiritual discernment enables us to distinguish between 'God things' and 'Other things!  The keener our spiritual discernment, the better our choices and ultimately, the better our life!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of discernment.  Help us to develop our gift so that we may know and choose the things that you have freely given to us!    Amen.

1 Cor 2:12. . . .Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.   KJV

WHAT GOD REQUIRES!

2-4-2015. . . .WHAT GOD REQUIRES!

"It was by faith that Abel obeyed God and brought an offering that pleased God more than Cain's offering did. God accepted Abel and proved it by accepting his gift; and though Abel is long dead, we can still learn lessons from him about trusting God. (Heb 11:4TLB)  What we offer to God may be excellent and a sacrifice.  However, the question becomes, "Is it acceptable to God; Is it what God really wants and requires?  Cain's sacrifice was more than likely an excellent one, however, Abel's sacrifice is described as "More Excellent!"   Why? It was what God required!  When sacrificing to God consider first, is this what we desire or is this what God requires!  Make it what God requires and He'll be pleased.

Prayer: Lord, may our sacrifices unto you always be what you require and let what we desire be the same. Amen.

Heb 11:4. . . .By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. KJV

FORGIVE AND FORGIVEN!

2-3-2015. . . .FORGIVE AND FORGIVEN!

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." (Luke 17:3-4 NIV) The act of forgiving is challenging especially when we are compelled to render it frequently.   However, when we consider the frequency we too must request forgiveness, the challenge to forgive is made easier!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for forgiveness in spite of the frequency of our request! May our daily request diminish until they are no more. Amen!

Luke 11:4. . . .Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. NIV