DO A SELF-CHECK!

4-28-2017. . . .DO A SELF-CHECK!

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (2 Tim 1:5-6 NIV)  

Some things are taught, others are caught!  What are our children catching from us?  Are they as fortunate as Timothy was to see faith modeled by his mother and grandmother in such a way that it caused him to be drawn into it?  Or, are they catching directions that are leading them down that road that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death!  Let's do a self-check and make sure! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for our children and the opportunity to parent them.  Help us train them up in your ways and model faith for them to the degree that they catch it and run with it.  Amen!

2 Tim 1:5-6. . . . I know how much you trust the Lord, just as your mother Eunice and your grandmother Lois do; and I feel sure you are still trusting him as much as ever. This being so, I want to remind you to stir into flame the strength and boldness that is in you, that entered into you when I laid my hands upon your head and blessed you. TLB

TAKE TIME WHILE THERE IS TIME!

4-27-2017. . . .TAKE TIME WHILE THERE IS TIME!

"I will judge each of you, O Israel, and punish or reward each according to his own actions. Oh, turn from your sins while there is yet time. Put them behind you and receive a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, O Israel?  I do not enjoy seeing you die," the Lord God says. "Turn, turn and live!"  (Ezek 18:29-32 TLB)  

Nowadays, no one wants to talk about are even hear about sin.  God, on the other hand, has not changed his position on it!  He will judge it and punish us for it if we don't repent.  Take the time while there is yet time to get it right and make it right!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy!  Help us to never take it for granted and continue in our sins.  Amen!

Ezek 36:26-27. . . . And I will give you a new heart-I will give you new and right desires-and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love.  And I will put my Spirit within you so that you will obey my laws and do whatever I command. TLB

CLARITY AND DIRECTION!

4-26-2017. . . .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 wander aimlessly through it without purpose or direction.  We know God is the giver of life but far too 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

INCREASE THE NUMBERS!

4-21-2017. . . .INCREASE THE NUMBERS!

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Prov 17:17 NIV)  

 A friend’s love prevails through all circumstances. In the toughest of times, the bond is likened to that of a brother. Value these kind of friends for they are few! Be this kind of friend and increase the numbers!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving and loyal friends. Help us to be this quality of a friend. Amen!

Prov 27:9. . . . Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. NIV

STAY SHARP!

4-19-2017. . . .STAY SHARP!

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Prov 27:17 NIV)  

Daily we encounter many people. What impact are they having on our lives and perhaps more importantly, what impact are we having on the lives of others?  The sharpening process is not always comfortable but it is always necessary.   Stay sharp and challenge as well as, others around you to be sharp!

Prayer: Lord, continue to make us sharp in order that we 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)

THE LESSON IS OURS TO LEARN!

4-18-2017. . . .THE LESSON IS OURS TO LEARN!

"There is a saying, 'Love your friends and hate your enemies.' But I say: Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way you will be acting as true sons of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too."  (Matt 5:43-45 TLB)  

If we are honest, this is one of the hardest biblical imperatives to carry out. The last thing we want to do is be good to someone who is being a low down dirty dog to us; let alone pray for them!  However, as true sons and daughters, we are called to do exactly that!   The lesson is ours to learn; and not so much for the benefit of the offenders.

PRAYER: Lord, your ways are best and will benefit us greatly if we follow them.  No matter how difficult it may be, help us to follow your ways concerning those that offend us.  Amen!

Matt 5:46-48. . . . If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much.  If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?   Even the heathen do that.  But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.  TLB

4-14-2017. . . .FORGIVEN AND NOT FORGOTTEN!

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"  (Matt 27:46 KJV)  

God and sin cannot coexist.  Sin has and always will bring about separation from God!  No need to single out this sin over that sin, ALL unrighteousness is sin!  It was necessary for Jesus to be forsaken because He became sin for us although, He knew no sin.  Thankfully, He was forsaken, but not forgotten.  He rose from the grave with all power to save!  In our sins we are separated and forsaken. . . .In His Grace we are forgiven and never forgotten!

PRAYER:  Lord, how grateful we are for your grace!  Were it not for your grace, we would forever remain separated from you.  Where sin abounded, however, your grace did much more abound!  Amen!

2 Cor 5:21. . . . For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us!  TLB

IN ALL THINGS!

4-13-2017. . . .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 it is 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

HE IS WITH US!

4-12-2017. . . .HE IS WITH US!

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Ps 23:4 NIV)  

Whether in times of trouble or tranquility, there is no greater comfort than to know that God is with us.  No matter the situation, (good or bad) with both rod and staff He is lovingly shepherding our steps and our stops.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for lovingly guiding us through the ever-changing circumstances of life.  We will never walk in fear with you by our side.  Amen.

Ps 37:23-24. . . . The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. 24 If they fall it isn't fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand. TLB

WHAT GOD SAYS HE MEANS!

4-11-2017. . . .WHAT GOD SAYS HE MEANS!

"Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never, never fail you nor forsake you." That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, "The Lord is my Helper, and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me."  (Heb 13:5-6 TLB)   

What God says, He means!  We can depend on His word.  If He says He is with us, He is there not only in presence but also as our resource and help.  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your abiding presence and for being an ever present help to us.  We are comforted in knowing you will never leave nor forsake us.  Amen!

Rom 8:31-32. . . .What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? TLB

DO IT AND DO IT RIGHT!

4-7-2017. . . .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 we should!  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

YES I AM

4-6-2017. . . .YES, I AM!

"We know what real love is from Christ's example in dying for us. And so we also ought to lay down our lives for our Christian brothers.  But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him-how can God's love be within him? (1 John 3:16-17 TLB)  

We can never pay the Lord back for giving His life for us!  What we can do is live out this new life in service to others!  Someone once asked,  'Am I my brother's keeper?'   There is only one answer for believers; "YES I AM!"

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your example of love.  Help us to demonstrate that love daily through our service to others.  Amen!

1 John 4:21. . . .And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.  KJV

FIND REAL PURPOSE!

4-5-2017. . . . 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

STANDARD BEARERS!

4-4-2017. . . .STANDARD BEARERS! 

"Anyone who says he is a Christian but doesn't control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself, and his religion isn't worth much."  (James 1:26-27 TLB)  

Words have power and have the potential to leave a lasting impact. Therefore, it is vitally important that people in general pay attention to what they say and how they say what they say!  It is even more so important for Christians!  We of all people should be the standard bearers for good and controlled speech.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the ability to communicate with words.  Help us to realize that our words have power and never to abuse the uses of them.  Amen!

James 1:26-27. . . .If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. NIV