ONLY THE MINDLESS!

6-30-2015. . . .ONLY THE MINDLESS!

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ( Gal 5:1 KJV)  Being made free by Christ is a privilege and blessing.  Staying free is a choice!  Who willing submits themselves to bondage of any kind?  Only the mindless.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for freedom!  Help us Lord to always be mindful of our freedom and choose to stand firm in it!  Amen.

 Rom 6:16-17. . . . Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?  NIV

STILL SIN!

6-26-2015. . . . STILL SIN!

"No one who has become part of God's family makes a practice of sinning, for Christ, God's Son, holds him securely, and the devil cannot get his hands on him.  We know that we are children of God and that all the rest of the world around us is under Satan's power and control." (1 John 5:18-20 TLB)  The highest court in our land has the power to change the laws that govern our country, but they are powerless to change the laws that govern our souls.  God's laws do not change and ALL unrighteousness is still sin.

PRAYER: Lord, have mercy upon these United States!  Thank you for being faithful and never changing in spite of the changes occurring all around us.  Amen.

1 John 5:18-19. . . . We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.  We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. NKJV

WHAT WILL OUR RECORD REFLECT!

6-25-2015. . . .WHAT WILL OUR RECORD REFLECT!

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Rom 5:19 KJV)  Our obedience and/or disobedience has an affect upon others, either for good or evil.  Which will our record reflect today?

Prayer: Lord, let our record reflect that through our obedience to you, we affected people for good.  Amen!

Matt 5:16. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. KJV

HISTORY AND LEGACY!

6-24-2015. . . .HISTORY AND LEGACY!

"O Lord, you alone are my hope; I've trusted you from childhood. 6 Yes, you have been with me from birth and have helped me constantly-no wonder I am always praising you! (Ps 71:5-6 TLB)  A history of trusting God leads to a legacy of continually praising God!

Prayer: Lord, let each passing day of trusting you lead to a legacy of continually praising you now, and forever more.  Amen!

Ps 71:5-6. . . .For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.  By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. KJV

EVIDENCE!

6-23-2015. . . .EVIDENCE!

"So also is my Word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to and prosper everywhere I send it." (Isa 55:11-12 TLB)  If the "WORD" was being prosecuted, it would always be found guilty because it always leaves indisputable evidence where ever it has been!  How much evidence can be found in us?

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your proceeding and prevailing word.  May there be much evidence of its presence found in our lives.  Amen!

 Ps 119:15-16. . . .I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.  KJV

LIVE POLLUTION FREE!

6-19-2015. . . .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 us a new heart from which flows a new and pure life.  Strengthen us daily to be diligent in guarding our 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

INCREASE THE GOOD!

6-18-2015. . . .INCREASE THE GOOD!

"Don't let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing good." (Rom 12:20-21 TLB)  With evil ever present all around us and evil acts constantly happening to us, our natural inclination would be to respond to evil with evil. Evil however, only perpetuates evil.  Evil must be overcome with good! Evil cannot prevail where love and good are upheld.  Increase the good!

PRAYER: Lord, you are good and you only do good.  We are created in your image and after your own likeness.  Help us also to be good and do good to all men!  Amen.

Rom 12:17-20. . . . Never pay back evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honest clear through.  Don't quarrel with anyone. Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible.  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. ]   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.  TLB

WHAT'S YOUR LIMIT!

6-17-2015. . . . WHAT'S YOUR LIMIT?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.   And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.  (Matt 21:21-22 KJV)  Never under estimate the power of Faith! With FAITH, the impossible is suddenly possible; the immovable, moves!  The possible is only limited by one's faith!  Ask yourself, what is my limit?

Prayer: Lord, you have given to each of us the measure of faith.  With it, may there be on limits to our possible.  Amen!

Matt 21:21-22. . . . Then Jesus told them, "Truly, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this Mount of Olives, 'Move over into the ocean,' and it will.  You can get anything-anything you ask for in prayer-if you believe."  TLB

HONEST TALK!

6-16-2015. . . .HONEST TALK!

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:11-12 KJV)  As believers, we should always be cognizant of our behavior especially around unbelievers.  One wrong statement or comment that we may feel is innocuous and innocent, could very well be the thing that causes someone to miss an opportunity to believe.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the people you allow to cross our path.  Helps us to always be alert and aware of what we say and what we do!  Amen.

Titus 2:6-8. . . . Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.  In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. NIV

STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS!

6-12-2015. . . .STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS!

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chron 16:9 KJV God is keenly aware of every person that is fully committed to Him, and He is constantly seeking opportunities to show Himself strong on their behalf. Although, being fully committed may in some way suggest that we are flawless; we most certainly acknowledge that is not the case.  It is in those very areas of our weakness that God seeks to and in fact, manifest His strength. “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9 KJV

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your strength in my areas of weakness. It is through your manifested strength that I become stronger. Thy will be done! Amen.

2 Cor 12:10. . . . Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. KJV

DON'T NEGLECT IT!

6-11-2015....DON'T NEGLECT IT!

"I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." (Ps 119:16 NIV)  Following God's word is a delight and it brings delight.  To neglect it, is like neglecting to do the things necessary to sustain life.  In the same ways that we need air, water and food, we need God's word.  Don't neglect it!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word.  We cannot survive without it!  Increase our daily appetite for it!  Amen!

 
Job 23:11-12. . . .My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.  NKJV

DON'T GO WRONG....LISTEN!

6-10-2015. . . . DON'T GO WRONG....LISTEN!

"Listen to me, you wise men.  We can choose the sounds we want to listen to; we can choose the taste we want in food, and we should choose to follow what is right. (Job 34:2-4 TLB)  A wise person will always listen!  A wiser person chooses who and what they listen to.   The valuable knowledge gained through listening will serve as a guide in following the ways that are right!  Don't go wrong.....Listen!

Prayer: Lord, help us to always train our ears to listen and choose what is right.  Amen!

Job 34:16. . . . "If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say. (NIV)

NO EXEMPTION!

6-9-2015. . . .NO EXEMPTION!

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” (Ps 34:19 KJV) The righteous are not exempt from life’s afflictions. We need only examine our past experiences to verify the truth of this fact. The advantage of the righteous however, is that we have the assurance of deliverance from every one of life’s afflictions. Knowing this on the front end keeps us from giving in or giving up when the pressure, trials, and struggles intensify. Therefore, we hold on and go on. . . .We go through knowing we will get through! 

Prayer: Thank you Lord for being our help, strength and comfort in  times of our affliction. Deliver us surely, but not before we’ve learned the lessons of the trials. Amen!

Ps 119:71-72. . . .It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. KJV

SENSES BUT NO SENSE!

6-5-2015. . . .SENSES BUT NO SENSE!

"This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: 'They hear, but don't understand; they look, but don't see!  For their hearts are fat and heavy, and their ears are dull, and they have closed their eyes in sleep, so they won't see and hear and understand and turn to God again, and let me heal them." (Matt 13:14-16 TLB)  Senses don't automatically equate to having good sense.  One may have eyes and not see....ears and not hear. (senses)  The result, a complete absence of understanding. (sense) Hardly seems possible, but it's true.  Don't be guilty of having senses, but no sense!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating us with senses.  Help us not be guilty of having senses without sense!  Amen!

Prov 1:5-6. . . . A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.  KJV

FEAST ON THE GOOD!

6-4-2015. . . .FEAST ON THE GOOD!

"Oh, that these men would praise the Lord for his loving-kindness, and for all of his wonderful deeds!  For he satisfies the thirsty soul and fills the hungry soul with good."  (Ps 107:8-9 TLB)  Hunger and thirst are common to the human existence!  Food and water satisfy the flesh momentarily, but then the cycle begins afresh.  Spiritually, when we acknowledge the Lord and align ourselves with His will and purpose, our thirst and hunger will be satisfied continually and we will feast on the good! 

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for filling us and satisfying our souls continually with good! Amen.

Matt 5:6. . . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. NIV

CLING TO IT!

6-3-2015. . . .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 by so clinging to it, we are propelled forward into it's awaiting 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

WILL WE!

6-2-2015. . . .WILL WE!

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"  But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."  Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:39-43 NIV)  If Jesus can readily extend mercy, grace, and forgive, so can we!  The question is, will we?

PRAYER: Lord, help us daily to be merciful and forgive others readily, even as we expect others to readily forgive us.  Amen!

Matt 5:7. . . . Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  NIV