GOD WILL HAVE IT NO OTHER WAY!

4-30-2019. . . .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 help to the hopeless, hope 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

LEARN QUICKLY!

4-26-2019. . . .LEARN QUICKLY!

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV)

No man is an island and no man stands alone.  Don't allow pride to stand in the way of promotion!  Humility before God is demonstrated through our humility and submission to those He has place in authority over us.  This teaching and learning process places us on a fast track to promotion.  The quicker we learn, the shorter the length of the lesson!  Learn quickly then; don't be a candidate for remedial training!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for our process to promotion.  Although at times we may become impatient, help us to humbly submit to the process and to those you are using to perfect us through it.  Amen!

 Prov 16:18. . . . Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall. TLB

BE AWARE BE PREPARED!

4-25-2019. . . .BE AWARE, BE PREPARED!

"To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (Eccl 3:1 KJV) 

 In life, things change and nothing stays the same.  To live life without anticipation and expectation of such is to live life being constantly caught off guard and unprepared for any future opportunities and inevitable, opposition.  Therefore, be aware and prepared at all times mentally, physically, financially, and most importantly, spiritually.  In all things trust God who controls our times and seasons!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for giving us the wisdom to understand that all things in life change!  Help us to always be aware and prepared for change when it comes.  Amen!

Dan 2:20-21. . . ."Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." (NIV)

THE OMNIFICENT GOD!

4-24-2019 . . . . THE OMNIFICENT GOD!!

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isa 43:18-19 KJV) 

When we think about the attributes of our awesome God, three commonly known ones come immediately to mind. OMNIPOTANT.. . .having all power and authority. . .OMNISCIENT . . . .having all knowledge. . . .OMNIPRESENT. . . .continually and simultaneously present everywhere.  A forth attribute is OMNIFICENT. . . . unlimited in creative power! Our God who created everything, even in this present age, processes the power to create. We take for granted that because all we see and know of has already been created, that there is nothing else left to be created!  By doing so however, we limit God and we limit ourselves from the possibilities of allowing God to create something totally new and different in our lives. No circumstance or situation can be deemed hopeless on the basis that we have exhausted all humanly possible options. The ‘OMNIFICENT’ God can still, as the old adage goes, “Make a way out of no way!”

Prayer: Lord you are awesome in all your ways. Who You are is who You have always been and will always be.  We need never find ourself in a place of hopelessness and helplessness. You are our all and all! Amen.

Ps 145:1-6. . . .I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. KJV

LIVE THE LIFE!

5-23-2019. . . .LIVE THE LIFE!

"For Jehovah God is our Light and our Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk along his paths.   O Lord of the armies of heaven, blessed are those who trust in you." (Ps 84:11-12 TLB)

No apologies necessary and no explanation required for your blessings!  If people really want to understand the favor that is on your life, invite them to live the life! What God has done for others, He will do the same for all who put their trust in Him!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your favor.  We honor you Jehovah Sabaoth!  Amen.

Ps 37:4-6. . . .Be delighted with the Lord. Then he will give you all your heart's desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will.  TLB

FORGIVEN AND NOT FORGOTTEN!

4-19-2019. . . .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

HE LIVES!

4-18-2019. . . .HE LIVES!

“ . . . Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Rev 1:17-18 KJV)  

HE LIVES!!!! Notice here that Jesus didn’t say, I was dead, but now I live, He declared, “I am He that liveth and was dead!” For those who still don’t believe, Jesus verified that He was indeed dead, but behold, I am alive forever more!   He Lives – He Lives – Christ Jesus Lives Today!  The good news is, that because He lives, we too shall live!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Son of God, Thank you for dying for all my sins, Thank you that you did rise from the grave and are alive forever more! Thank you for saving me!!!! Amen.

Rom 10:9-10. . . .That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. KJV

MAKE THE DETERMINATION!

4-17-2019. . . .MAKE THE DETERMINATION!

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  (2 Cor 5:17 KJV) 

Walking in the newness of life can be challenging if we are not willing to let go of the old life. Christ's finished work at Calvary made it possible.  Now, what we have to do is determine in our hearts that it's "Out with the Old and in with the New!"  Make the determination!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for new life in You.  Help us to release the old and walk in the new!  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

POWER AND OPTIONS!

4-16-2019. . . .POWER AND OPTIONS!

"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."  (John 10:18 KJV) 

The power to lay down His life and take it up again hinged upon His choice to do so.  While love limited His options to one, let us be mindful that He had the power and options, but chose us!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for choosing us when You had the power and options to do something different. There is no greater love.  Amen!

 John 15:13. . . .Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

IT IS NECESSARY!

4-12-2019. . . .IT IS NECESSARY!

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:" (Eph 4:11-13 KJV)  

Purpose is only fulfilled through process.  Each of us has a purpose and God has equipped and gifted special people that will help perfect (bring to completion) our purpose if we are willing to submit to the perfecting process.  Admittedly, it is not always easy or comfortable, but it is necessary.   

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for placing in each of us your divine purpose.  Thank you also for those you have placed in our lives to help perfect our purpose.  Help us to willing submit to the perfecting process.  Amen!

1 Peter 5:10-11. . . . But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.   To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.  KJV

INCREASE THE NUMBERS!

4-11-2019. . . .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 kinds 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!

4-10-2019. . . .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 is always necessary.   Stay sharp and challenge 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)

IN ALL THINGS!

4-9-2019. . . .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

WHAT GOD SAYS HE MEANS

4-7-2019. . . .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 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

CLARITY AND DIRECTION!

4-4-2019. . . .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 on Him and depend on Him as the director of life!  Need clarity and direction. . . .ask the giver and director of life; 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

BE WISE!

4-3-2019. . . .BE WISE!

"Say there!  Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink-even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine and milk-it's all free!  Why spend your money on food that doesn't give you strength?  Why pay for groceries that do you no good?   Listen and I'll tell you where to get good food that fattens up the soul!"  (Isa 55:1-2 TLB)  

There are some things that money just can't buy no matter how much of it one has!  The things that money can't buy are far more valuable than the things it can buy.  Money can buy temporal things, but not eternal ones.  Be wise and keep both in their proper perspective!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for temporal things and the money to purchase them.  We are even more thankful for the things you give us that are eternal.  Help us to be wise and keep both in their proper perspective.  Amen!

2 Cor 4:17-18. . . . For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  KJV

JUST LIKE HIM!

4-2-2019. . . .JUST LIKE HIM!

"Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, right now, and we can't even imagine what it is going to be like later on. But we do know this, that when he comes we will be like him, as a result of seeing him as he really is.  And everyone who really believes this will try to stay pure because Christ is pure." (1 John 3:2-3 TLB)

Our confidence for living a wholesome and healthy life is in the fact that we are God's children.  Daily we are developing and being conformed into the very image of Christ.  Although the conforming process may at times cause us to look 'Deformed', be assured the end result will be glorious for we shall be just like Him!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your plans that are being worked out in our lives.  Help and guide us through to  the completion of the conforming process.  Amen!

Rom 8:29-30. . . . For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. KJV