KEEP THE PRIORITIES STRAIGHT!

5-31-2016. . . .KEEP THE PRIORITIES STRAIGHT! 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” (Matt 6:25-26 NIV)     Food, water and clothing while essential for sustaining life, should never be elevated to a level of priority above life itself!  The clothes one wears does not make the person. . . .it’s the person (life) that makes the clothes! Keep the priorities straight!  Place emphasis on the essence of life rather than the things of life!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the privilege of life! Help us keep our priorities straight and put more emphasis on the essence of life rather than the things of life! Amen! 

Matt 6:25. . . .Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? KJV

REMEMBER WHAT YOU KNOW!

5-27-2016. . . .REMEMBER WHAT YOU KNOW!

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.  (Isa 40:27-28 KJV)  It is not uncommon for us to experience times of weariness, exhaustion, and even become exasperated about our struggles and challenges that seem will never change.  God, however, experiences none of these things!  He remains sovereign, faithful, powerful, in control and has every thing under control!  Don't give up, out, over or in!  Remember Who you know and What you know!

PRAYER: Lord, from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God!  May our feeble minds never in frustration forget who you are and fail to rely and call on you for strength!  Amen.

Ps 90:1-2. . . .LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.  KJV

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 fully live out that purpose 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

ASK GOD!

5-25-16. . . .ASK GOD!

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jer 33:3 NKJV)  When circumstances and challenges continually plague and perplex our mind, and in spite of exerting our best efforts to resolve and find solutions, none can be found; ASK GOD!  He will hear, He has the answers, and He will answer!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for always hearing and answering our cries to you!  In spite of us trying to fix things on our own before we turn to you, You are still there ready to hear and respond to our cries for help.  Thank you.  Amen!

Ps 61:1-2. . . .Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You,

When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  NKJV

DO BETTER!

5-24-2016. . . .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, perhaps we didn't know any better; but now that we know better, we should be doing better, being better, living better and loving better!

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for our parents!  Help us live life in ways that bring them and you 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 

HOE YOUR ROW!

5-20-2016. . . .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 of 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

ALLOW HIM TO LEAD!

5-19-2016. . . .ALLOW HIM TO LEAD!

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts.   Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."  (Ps 139:23-24 TLB)  There are things within all of us that are not pleasing to God.   If we are willing to confront them, God is able to change them.  It's time for a new direction.  Allow Him to lead!

PRAYER: Lord, reveal to us everything within us that is not pleasing to you.  Lead us always in the direction that leads to life everlasting.  Amen.

Heb 4:12-13. . . . For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. NIV

CLARITY AND DIRECTION!

5-18-2016. . . .CLARITY AND DIRECTION!
"If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it.   But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that.  If you don't ask with faith, don't expect the Lord to give you any solid answer." (James 1:5-7 TLB)   A life of significance is a life lived with clarity and direction.  God never intended for life to be an enigma to us, nor for us to simply wonder aimlessly through it without purpose or direction.  We know God is the giver of life, but far to often many fail to call and depend on him as the director of life!  Need clarity and direction?Ask the giver and director of life and He will freely give you what you ask!

PRAYER: Lord, you are the giver and director of life!  Give us your wisdom and guidance so that we may live a life of significance and accomplish all your purpose.  Amen!

Jer 33:2-3. . . .Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' NIV

STAY FOCUSED!

5-17-2016. . . . STAY FOCUSED!

"Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward — to Jesus.  I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back." (Phil 3:13-14 MSG)  We are all still a work in progress and reaching our desired goal will require FOCUS!  Distractions and Attractions are two things that will most certainly cause our focus to shift.  Distractions are external things that cause momentary shifts from our central focus; attractions, on the other hand, are internal things we intentionally shift our focus to.  Be wise and stay on course.  Stay focused on the main goal!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for working in us both to will and to do of your own good pleasure.  Complete the work that you started in us and help us to stay focused.  Amen.

 Phil 1:6. . . . And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. TLB

GOD WILL HAVE IT NO OTHER WAY

5-13-2016. . . .GOD WILL HAVE IT NO OTHER WAY!

"Give your burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly to slip or fall." (Ps 55:22 TLB)  A word of encouragement to give hope to the hopeless, help to the helpless, and rest to the weary.  We're going to make it!  Secure that in your spirit and stay encouraged!  Know that for the godly, God will have it no other way!

PRAYER: Lord, you are so awesome!  You care for us in so many special ways!  Thank you for carrying our burdens and securing our feet so we will never slip or fall!  Thank you!  Amen.

Ps 121:1-3. . . . Shall I look to the mountain gods for help?  No! My help is from Jehovah who made the mountains! And the heavens too!  He will never let me stumble, slip, or fall. For he is always watching, never sleeping. TLB

LET HIM HANDLE IT!

5-12-2016. . . .LET HIM HANDLE IT!

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don't forget to thank him for his answers.   If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:5-7 TLB)    Why worry about things that are out of our control. Worry increases stress while doing nothing to facilitate a solution to the pressing problem.  The things that are out of our control are never out of God's control.  Tell Him about it, thank Him for it, and let Him handle it!  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you that you are in control and you have everything under control!  We give you are stress and receive your rest.  Amen!

Phil 4:6-7. . . . Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NIV

WHO WANTS TO BE A STAR?

5-11-2016. . . .WHO WANTS TO BE A STAR!

"And those who are wise-the people of God-shall shine as brightly as the sun's brilliance, and those who turn many to righteousness will glitter like stars forever. (Dan 12:3 TLB)  Although, in this present world, we may endure persecution and ridicule for taking a stand for righteousness, but don't be discouraged. There is coming a day when we will shine as brightly as any star!  Now, who wants to be a star!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for our coming glory.  Stay with us as we endure our test and trials in this present world.  We look forward to being one of your stars!  Amen.

Rom 8:18-19. . . . Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.  For all creation is waiting patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect his children. TLB

THE NEXT MANIFESTATION!

5-10-2016. . . . THE NEXT MANIFESTATION!

“How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!” (Ps 139:17 TLB)  The question is raised in Psalms 8, “What is man that thou art mindful of him. . .”? Put another way, What is man that he is always on your mind?  This very moment, we are in God’s mind and on God’s mind.  What an awesome revelation to know that God is constantly thinking of us.   His thoughts of us are always good and never evil. ( Jer 29:11) God’s thoughts are also His plans;  His plans are His manifested will!   Everything good that happens to us is a result of God’s thoughts in eternity being realized and carried out as our lives unfold.  Approach each day with excitement and the expectation of seeing what God has planned for us next!   Get ready for the next manifestation!

Prayer: Lord, I am so glad you are always thinking of us and that we are never off your mind! You are so awesome and all your works are marvelous. Thank you for the privilege of experiencing them.  Amen!

Ps 139:1-5. . . . O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head. TLB

PROVEN WORTHY!

5-6-2016. . . .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 to 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!

5-5-2016. . . .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, (whatever they may be) 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

LET THE SHOW GO ON!

5-3-2016. . . .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!  So, 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