ALL WILL BE WELL AND GO WELL!

4-29-2016. . . .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

IT'S GETTING BRIGHTER!

4-28-16. . . .IT'S GETTING BRIGHTER!

"Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind.  His life is the light that shines through the darkness-and the darkness can never extinguish it."  (John 1:3-5 TLB)  Jesus our Savior, is our light giver! Our mind, heart, soul and spirit is illuminated daily with the light of eternal life.  We are not simply living out the days of our lives like sand through an hour glass.  Rather, like a fisherman casts out his line into the water and slowly draws it in again, so we have been cast into the sea of physical life and are being slowly drawn back into eternal life.  The closer we get, the brighter the light! Behold: things are getting brighter!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us life and light! Illuminate us daily with the light of eternal life.  May each day we live get brighter and brighter!  Amen.

1 John 5:11-12. . . . This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son.  So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life. 

REGARDLESS!

4-27-2016. . . .REGARDLESS!

"LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.  Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.  But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." (Ps 3:1-3 KJV)   Regardless to what the enemy may think, say, or do, we decree and declare that God is our shield and our help!  Although at times, circumstances may cause our heads to hang down, our God will lift up our heads in vindication!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being our very present help in times of trouble!  Touch, heal, and comfort now your people everywhere and your glory be revealed. Amen!

Ps 46:1-6. . . .God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. 2 And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble!  There is a river of joy flowing through the city of our God-the sacred home of the God above all gods. God himself is living in that city; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help.  TLB

GOD IS ANGRY!

4-22-2016. . . . GOD IS ANGRY!

God is a judge who is perfectly fair, and he is angry with the wicked every day. Unless they repent, he will sharpen his sword and slay them." (Ps 7:11-121 TLB) You don't have to get mad at your haters or even try to get even with them! Just simply remind them, God is angry with you everyday and if you don't change, He is going to get you! I cannot even imagine God, the Awesome. . . .the Almighty. . . .the Sovereign God, being angry with me, not just for a moment, but 'everyday'. When you go to bed at night, He's angry. . . . when you get up in the morning, He's angry. No matter what you do or where you go, He's angry! While His eye of favor is upon the righteous, He fairly gives the wicked their just reward. In fact, the psalmist says "He brakes the teeth of the ungodly."  There's not an orthodontist on earth who can fix that!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being a shield for me, my glory and the lifter up of my head! How I love you Lord. The thought of you brings me joy and your joy is my strength! Amen.

 Ps 3:7. .. . .Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. NKJV

STEP UP STEP OUT!

4-21-2016. . . .STEP UP STEP OUT!

David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands." (1 Sam 17:45-47) With the Lord on our side, it matters little how formidable our enemy may be. With confidence, just step up and step out; for the bigger they are, the harder they'll fall! 

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being on our side!  We need not fear any enemy no matter how threatening they may be.  With you we always have victory!  Thank you.  Amen! 

Rom 8:31. . . .What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? KJV

FIND REAL PURPOSE!

4-20-2016. . . . FIND REAL PURPOSE!

"For the love of money is the first step toward all kinds of sin. Some people have even turned away from God because of their love for it, and as a result have pierced themselves with many sorrows." (1 Tim 6:10 TLB) Money is good and a tool to be used.  The love of money however, can most certainly lead to ruin.  The more one runs after it the faster it runs away.  Stop pursuing it and let it pursue you!  Find real purpose!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for placing in us a higher purpose than the pursuit of material things.  Thank you, and thank you again.  Amen!

1 Tim 6:8-9. . . . But people who long to be rich soon begin to do all kinds of wrong things to get money, things that hurt them and make them evil-minded and finally send them to hell itself.  TLB

COMMEND LOVE TO SOMEONE!

4-19-2016. . . .COMMEND LOVE TO SOMEONE!

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8 KJV)  In our most unlovable and unacceptable state, God caused His love to stand and extend itself towards us.   Who around us is in need of that kind of love?  Although, they may be completely unacceptable and undesirable to us, just think about where we would be if we were left in that same state.   Commend love to someone today!  They may not deserve it or want it, but they certainly need it!

PRAYER: Lord, where would we be had you not commended your love towards us while we were in our worst condition.  Help us to commend our love to those around us who are so disparately in need of it.  Amen!

2 Thess 3:3-5. . . . And we trust the Lord that you are putting into practice the things we taught you, and that you always will.  May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and of the patience that comes from Christ. TLB

IN ALL THINGS!

4-15-2016. . . .IN ALL THINGS!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28 NIV)   In the face of trouble, tragedy, calamity and chaos, the KJV rendering of this verse (…All things work together for good…) seems ambiguous and contradictory. The truth of the matter is, many things are actually 'NOT' working for our good, but are designed to take us out, disturb our faith and disrupt our destiny. The NIV rendering of this verse makes it poignantly clear that its not ‘the things’ that are working for our good, but ‘GOD WORKING IN ALL THINGS’ for our good! No matter how difficult or challenging the circumstance, we can remain encouraged and our faith strong knowing that God is working IN ALL THINGS for our good!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for working in all things for our good! In our times of distress and discouragement; trouble and tragedy, help us to trust you and remember this fact. Amen!

Ps 34:19-20. . . . A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. NIV

THE END GAME!

4-14-2016. . . .THE END GAME!

"Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete." (James 1:2-4 TLB)  No problem, challenge nor difficulty will last forever; so patiently go through in order to get through.  It's all about the end game!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for times of testing that come to strengthen and grow us!  Help us to stay focused on the end game!  Amen. 

Heb 10:35-36. . . .Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  KJV

COVER!

4-13-2016. . . .COVER!

"The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore be earnest, thoughtful men of prayer.  Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults." (1 Peter 4:7-8 TLB)  Faults....we all have them!  Instead of seeking to expose every fault we find in others while at the same time making every effort concealed our own, let's allow love to cover other's faults until they, and thereby, we are healed!

PRAYER: Lord, continue to cover us in your love as we seek to cover others in our love until we all are healed! Amen.

Luke 6:41-42. . . . "And why quibble about the speck in someone else's eye-his little fault --when a board is in your own? 42 How can you think of saying to him, 'Brother, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the board in yours? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board, and then perhaps you can see well enough to deal with his speck!"  TLB

DO IT AND DO IT RIGHT!

4-12-2016. . . .DO IT AND DO IT RIGHT!

"Don't just pretend that you love others: really love them.   Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.  Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other." (Rom 12:9-10 TLB)  Why bother pretending to love!  Everyone knows what love really looks like and feels like, so no one is fooled.  Loving for real blesses both the receiver and the giver!  So just do it, and do it right!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to love each other the way that you love us.  Amen.

1 John 4:7-8. . . . Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  KJV

GET BUSY....GET TO WORK!

4-7-2016. . . .GET BUSY....GET TO WORK!

"Whatever you do, do well, for in death, where you are going, there is no working or planning, or knowing, or understanding.  (Eccl 9:10 TLB)  Anything worth doing, is worth doing well!  If we are going to do anything, the time to do it is now, without delay.  Death is coming to us all.   Lets die without regret over what we could have or should have done.  So write the book; the song; start the business; change the career; accept the calling! Whatever it is in your heart, Get busy.....Get to work now!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us the time we need to accomplish all that is in our hearts to do.  Help us to never get distracted, sidetracked, or offer excuses. Then when our appointed time comes, grant us rest without regret.  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

LET THE WORK STAND!

4-7-2016. . . .LET THE WORK STAND!

"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 5:18-19 TLB)  Having been justified, we are saved immediately from the penalty of sin.  In sanctification, we are being saving continually from the power of sin.  Until glorification, where we will be saved from the very presence of sin, we must do our part not to chose to sin!  The finish work of Christ at Calvary dealt with our sin problem.   Let that work stand!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for dealing with the sin issue for us!  Help us to make the right choices and to walk in the righteousness you have provided.  Amen!

2 Cor 5:20-21. . . . God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. NIV

A DO OVER!

4-5-2016. . . .A DO OVER!

"But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead-only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved."  (Eph 2:4-5 TLB)  Life does not offer us many "Do Overs."  We have to play the hand we have been dealt so to speak.  Christ however, by dying on the cross for our sins, has in effect, given us a 'Do Over!'   The question is, what will we do with it?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us another chance.  Help us to make the best of it by being the best and doing the best we can!  Amen.

Gal 2:20. . . .I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. KJV

CAUSE FOR PRAISE!

4-1-2016. . . .CAUSE FOR PRAISE

"He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.  Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! (Ps 107:29-31 NKJV)   The words of Thomas Hastings' hymn comes to mind: "Guide me oh thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land; I am week but thou art mighty, hold me with thy powerful hand."  Through every storm of life we have the assurance of God's hand guiding us to safety.  Surely this is cause for praise!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your guiding hand that brings into safe harbor from every storm of life.  To you we give thanks and praise!  Amen.

Prov 18:10. . . . The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.  KJV