NEVER YIELD, PUT UP YOUR SHIELD!

12-3-2014. . . .NEVER YIELD, PUT UP YOUR SHIELD!

In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.  (Eph 6:16 TLB)  

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!  We are in a battle!  The enemy, Satan, is not playing.  He is constantly shooting a barrage of fiery arrows at us.  Those arrows may come in many forms and take on different shapes. Nevertheless, no matter how many fiery arrows may come, or in whatever form or shape they may take, we can and will quench all of them with our shield of faith!  We never yield, we simply put up our shield!

Prayer: Lord, we are determined to fight the good fight of faith.  We will never yield in spite of being constantly fired upon by the enemy!  Faith is our shield!  Amen.

1 Tim 6:11. . . .Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  NIV

DEFINITION OF AWESOME!

11-28-17. . . . DEFINITION OF AWESOME!

"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)

At last count in 2016, the population of the earth stood at 7.442 billion people!  What is the likelihood that even one percent or less of those people would have us on their mind constantly?   Not likely at all.  God, who is one God, however, has each one of the 7.442 billion people constantly on His mind both collectively and individually!  Now, that is the definition of AWESOME!  

PRAYER: Lord, you are Awesome!  Only you can do what only you can do!  We praise you continually for your faithfulness unto your people!  Amen.

Ps 139:1-5. . . . O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. 3 You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. 4 You know what I am going to say before I even say it. 5 You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head. TLB

VERY THANKFUL!

11/22/2017. . . .VERY THANKFUL!

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Ps 100:3-4 KJV)  

Consider for a moment who we would be, how we would be, or even perhaps, if we would be had someone other than God made us!  Even if we trusted that responsibility to those we feel really care the most about us, the truth of the matter is, they would make us something and someone different than who we are now!   Whether that would work for our good or not we will never know.  What we do know is that we were made in God's own image and after His likeness; the result is beautiful and wonderful!  For this, we are Thankful and continually bless His name!

PRAYER: Lord, we are thankful that you created us in your own image and after your own likeness.  Yet, you gifted each of us with our own uniqueness.  For this, we remain and will forever be thankful!  Amen.

Ps 139:14. . . .I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.  (NIV)

THANKFUL!

11-21-2017. . . .THANKFUL!

"No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:17-18 TLB)  

Whatever happens to us, for us, even against us, we know that God is at work always for our good.  Bad things will happen to good people and good things will happen to the same.  In both instances, our disposition remains the same; THANKFUL!

Prayer: Lord, in everything and for all things, we remain thankful.  Amen!

1 Thess 5:16-18. . . . Be joyful always;  pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. NIV

MESS UP FESS UP!

11-16-2017. . . .MESS UP FESS UP!

"Let God train you, for he is doing what any loving father does for his children. Whoever heard of a son who was never corrected?  If God doesn't punish you when you need it, as other fathers punish their sons, then it means that you aren't really God's son at all-that you don't really belong in his family.  Since we respect our fathers here on earth, though they punish us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to God's training so that we can begin really to live?" (Heb 12:7-9  TLB) 

When left to our own devices all of us run amok and our human tendencies cause us to run completely off the rails.  Even with God's hand heavy upon us, we still at time veer from the prescribed path.  Out of love, God does not throw us away but He lovingly corrects us.  So when we mess up, fess up and allow God to lovingly straighten us up.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for lovingly correcting us whenever we veer from your prescribed path.  Amen!

Eph 2:1-7. . . .Once you were under God's curse, doomed forever for your sins.  You went along with the crowd and were just like all the others, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air, who is at work right now in the hearts of those who are against the Lord.  All of us used to be just as they are, our lives expressing the evil within us, doing every wicked thing that our passions or our evil thoughts might lead us into. We started out bad, being born with evil natures, and were under God's anger just like everyone else.  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-  and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with him in the heavenly realms-all because of what Christ Jesus did.  And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through Jesus Christ. TLB

WAIT ON HIM!

11-14-2017. . . .WAIT ON HIM!

"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. 

(Ps 27:13-14 KJV)

Waiting on God does not mean one stands idle and disengaged, but literally by faith, we anticipate and expect God to move on our behalf!  The "Facts" ending point is "Faith's" starting point!  Wait on Him!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for praying for us that our faith does not fail.  We trust you and believe you beyond the facts!  Strengthen our hearts as we wait patiently for the manifestation of your promise.  Amen.

Heb 10:37-39. . . .It won't be long now, he's on the way; he'll show up most any minute.  But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy.  But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way. 

DON'T KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

11-9-2017. . . .DON'T KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

"Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people." (1 Chron 16:8 KJV) 

It is important that we always give thanks to God! It is equally as important that we share with others our testimonies about the great things He has done.  In so doing, others will be drawn into awareness of Him and many will be converted and believe!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all things. As I call upon you I also call upon others to know you and praise you for your great and mighty acts. Amen!

Ps 18:49. . . .Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.KJV

WHERE IS YOUR NAME!

11-7-2017. . . .WHERE IS YOUR NAME!

"If you must choose, take a good name rather than great riches; for to be held in loving esteem is better than silver and gold." (Prov 22:1 TLB) 

A good name goes before you, but a bad name will follow you!  Our behavior, actions, and choices will determine what kind of name goes before us or will be constantly lurking behind us.  Where is your name; before you are behind you?

PRAYER: Lord, thank you that we are your people that have been called by your name.  Help us to live in such a way that guards your name and our own name as well. Amen!

Prov 3:4-6. . . .If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.  TLB