THE CHOICE HAS BEEN MADE!

9-30-2021. . . .THE CHOICE HAS BEEN MADE!

"Don't you realize that you can choose your own master? You can choose sin (with death) or else obedience (with acquittal). The one to whom you offer yourself-he will take you and be your master, and you will be his slave.  Thank God that though you once chose to be slaves of sin, now you have obeyed with all your heart the teaching to which God has committed you.  And now you are free from your old master, sin; and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. (Rom 6:16-18 TLB)  

The choice has been made!  Righteousness is our master to obey!

Prayer: Lord, thank for making us free to choose our own master.  You are our choice.  Amen!

Rom 6:21-23. . . .But now you are free from the power of sin and are slaves of God, and his benefits to you include holiness and everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. TLB

A GOOD TEACHER!

9-29-2021. . . .A GOOD TEACHER!

"And even though Jesus was God's Son, he had to learn from experience what it was like to obey when obeying meant suffering."  (Heb 5:8-9 TLB)  

Obedience is not always convenient or comfortable, but it is a good teacher!

Prayer: Lord, although obedience to you may sometimes require suffering and sacrifice, help us to learn our lessons well.  Amen!

Philem 21. . . . Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. KJV

9-28-2021. . . .A CLEAR CONSCIENCE!

For see, the day of the Lord is coming, the terrible day of his wrath and fierce anger. The land shall be destroyed and all the sinners with it.  (Isa 13:8-10 TLB)  

"Life now is sweet and our joy is complete cause we are saved!"  While this is true for believers, just think of all the people we know that shall experience "The Day of the Lord!"  Good people with well intentions; friends and perhaps even family members.  Be certain not to let an opportunity to share with these people in our lives the good news of the gospel.  We wouldn't want that on our conscience, would we!

Prayer: Lord, guide us by your Spirit into every opportunity to share the gospel with all who cross our path.  Help us live in such a way that when "The Day of Lord" comes, we'll have a clear conscience.  Amen!

2 Peter 3:9-10. . . . He isn't really being slow about his promised return, even though it sometimes seems that way. But he is waiting, for the good reason that he is not willing that any should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent.  The day of the Lord is surely coming, as unexpectedly as a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the heavenly bodies will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be burned up.   TLB

WATCH WHAT WE SAY AND DO!

9-24-2021. . . .WATCH WHAT WE SAY AND DO!

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:11-12 KJV)  

As believers, we should always be cognizant of our behavior especially around unbelievers.  One wrong statement or comment that we perceive as innocent, could very well be the thing that causes someone to miss an opportunity to believe.   We should at all times, watch what we say and what we do!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the people you allow to cross our path.  Helps us to always be alert and aware of what we say and what we do!  Amen.

1 Peter 2:11-12. . . . Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;  Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  KJV

PRESENT AND PERSISTENT!

9-23-2021. . . .PRESENT AND PERSISTENT!

"For the Lord watches over all the plans and paths of godly men, but the paths of the godless lead to doom." (Ps 1:6 TLB)  

Daily the Lord scrutinizes the plans and paths of His own to ensure their successful completion.  No detail is left to chance.  His guiding hand is ever present and persistent to prevent deviation from His desired path.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you!  When we would go astray, the presence of your guiding and persistent hand is there to prevent our deviation.  Thank you again.  Amen!

Ps 139:7-10. . . .I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God!  If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there.  If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. TLB

ABSOLUTELY GUILTY!

9-22-2021. . . .HEARTS AND MINDS ON TRIAL!

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. (Ps 26:2-3 NIV) 

Our hearts and minds should always be kept in such a state that if put on trial, they will be found innocent of any and all wrongdoing.  Conversely, they should be found guilty of being filled with love, truth, and righteousness.  Absolutely guilty!

PRAYER: Lord, let your precious shed blood cleanse our hearts and minds continually so that upon examination we may be found forever innocent .  Amen!

Ps 51:7-11. . . . Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.   And after you have punished me, give me back my joy again.  Don't keep looking at my sins-erase them from your sight.  Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.  TLB

STAY ENCOURAGED!

9-21-2021. . . .STAY ENCOURAGED!

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

Circumstances change and most certainly, people change. God, however, remains the same no matter the circumstance, no matter the people.  If God is for us, (and He is for us) who then can be against us and succeed.  Stay encouraged!  He's always working for our good!

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for being there for us when circumstances and people around us change. Your constant unchanging commitment and faithfulness to us is our vindication!  Amen.

Ps 138:8. . . .

   The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; 

  

 Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; 

  

 Do not forsake the works of Your hands. 

  NASU

THE PERFECTING PROCESS!

9-17-2012. . . .THE PERFECTING PROCESS!

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 24-25 KJV)  

Our failures are not final or fatal because the perfecting process will continue on to completion!  With great joy, Jesus our Savior, will Himself present the finished work to the Father at the appointed time.  Oh what a glorious work that will be!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your commitment to our perfecting process!  We look forward to being the finished work you present to the Father at the appointed time.  Amen!

Phil 1:5-6. . . . 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

DON'T MISS TODAY'S APPOINTMENT!

9-16-2021. . . .DON'T MISS TODAY'S APPOINTMENT!

"You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion!  You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!" (Ps 139:15-16 TLB)  

God has us on His schedule today, but the question becomes, do we have God on ours?  If not, we should, because God had something very specific in mind for us when He put us on His schedule.  We must never allow our agendas to take precedence over His.  Don't miss today's appointment!

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for scheduling every day of our lives.  Help us to be in sync with your plans and purpose.  Amen!

Ps 25:8-10. . . .The Lord is good and glad to teach the proper path to all who go astray;  he will teach the ways that are right and best to those who humbly turn to him.  And when we obey him, every path he guides us on is fragrant with his loving-kindness and his truth. TLB

EMBRACE THE NEW!

9-15-2021. . . .EMBRACE THE NEW!

"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)  

God doing a new thing in us facilitates new things happening for us!  Let the old pass and embrace the new!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for saving us and giving us new life through Jesus Christ!  Help us to let the old pass and to embrace the new with joy!  Amen.

1 John 5:13-14. . . .I have written this to you who believe in the Son of God so that you may know you have eternal life.  And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. TLB

STAY IN HEALTH!

9-14-2021. . . .STAY IN HEALTH!

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."  (3 John 2 KJV) 

 Good health is a healthy desire to have for others as well as, for our self!  We must however, work to achieve it and encourage others to do the same by eating right, getting proper rest and exercise!!!!  Get in health - Be in health - Stay in health!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for good health!  Help us to be in health and stay in health as we prosper both spiritually and physically.  Amen! 

Ps 42:11-43:1. . . .Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.  KJV

LIVE LAUGH LOVE!

 9-10-21. . . .LIVE LAUGH LOVE!

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years.... So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."  Psalms 90:10a & 12 kjv

Time is winding up and we are winding up with time.  With the time we have left make sure to LIVE, LAUGH, and LOVE!  LIVE life to the fullest and make the best of it: don't hold back!  LAUGH: never allow life's circumstances to rob you of your joy and don't take yourself so seriously; LAUGH!  LOVE: carry out this commandment as your number one priority!  Even when it seems hard to do so, Love hardest when it's the hardest to Love!

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for giving us life!  Help us to make the most of it and to LIVE, LAUGH AND LOVE. Amen!

James 4:13-14 nkjv. . . .Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

SO ARE WE!

9-9-2021. . . .SO ARE WE!

First, I want to remind you that in the last days there will come scoffers who will do every wrong they can think of and laugh at the truth.  This will be their line of argument: "So Jesus promised to come back, did he? Then where is he?   He'll never come!   Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly as it was since the first day of creation."  (2 Peter 3:3-4 

 Increasingly these days, we see and hear stories about people that refute the existence of God and the validity of His word!  They even laugh and scoff at believers; calling us gullible and weak minded.   While their opinion s may be irritating at times, they are entitled to think and feel how they think and feel!   SO ARE WE!   Therefore, we stand strong in our belief and hold fast to the truth and faith!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you that we know the real truth.  Strengthen us in these last days to stand firm in our beliefs!  Amen.

2 Peter 3:3-7. . . .First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."  But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.  By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.  By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. (NIV)

RIGHT IS RIGHT!

9-8-2021. . . .RIGHT IS RIGHT!

"And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right."  (2 Thess 3:13 NIV) 

It is always right to do what is right; especially when no one is looking!  Never tire of being right, doing right and living right!  Right is right and will always be right!  So be right and do right!

PRAYER: Lord, lead us daily into to the paths of what is right.  Help us to do right, be right, and always live right.  Amen!

Prov 4:10-13. . . . My son, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.  I would have you learn this great fact: that a life of doing right is the wisest life there is.  If you live that kind of life, you'll not limp or stumble as you run.  Carry out my instructions; don't forget them, for they will lead you to real living.  TLB

MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT!

9-7-2021. . . .MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT!

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."  (1 Cor 15:58 NIV) \

Serving the Lord will not only pay off by and by, but it pays dividends day by day!  Put your work in and make every day count!

PRAYER: Lord, may the work that we have done and are doing for you daily make a difference and have lasting kingdom impact!  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

GOD'S HAND!

9-3-21. . . .GOD'S HAND!

"This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him." (Ezra 7:6 KJV) 

God's hand upon us is God's favor upon us!  Expect doors to be opened - ways to be made - and request granted by those in charge.  God's hand is upon us for good!  Expect the unexpected and believe that the impossible is possible!

PRAYER: Lord, let your hand forever be upon us for good. Amen!

Ezra 7:6. . . .As a Jewish religious leader, Ezra was well versed in Jehovah's laws, which Moses had given to the people of Israel. He asked to be allowed to return to Jerusalem, and the king granted his request; for the Lord his God was blessing him. TLB

BLOW UP -TURN UP!

9-2-2021. . . .BLOW UP -TURN UP!

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor 12:9 KJV)  

Our areas of deficiency are doorways of opportunity for God to manifest His power in us.  Never allow the enemy to enter into the doorway first; he will only magnify and amplify the deficiency, so that one will doubt and deny their potential.   God on the other hand, will magnify and amplify His power so that one's potential is achieved in spite of their deficiencies.  

PRAYER: Lord, we glory in our weakness and turn it over to you to blow up and turn up your power in us, through us, and for us.  Do it God!  Amen. 

Eph 3:20. . . . Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, KJV

GOOD CONSEQUENCES!

9-1-2021. . . .GOOD CONSEQUENCES!

"I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.  I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame."  Ps 119:30-31 (NIV)  

Our choices have consequences!  The nature of the consequence is contingent upon the nature of the choice.  Bad choices bring bad consequences; good choices bring good consequences.   What's your choice?  Choose the ways of truth and hold fast to them!  So shall we experience good consequences.

Prayer: Lord, lead us daily in the ways of truth and help us daily to make that choice our own.  Amen!

2 Chron 6:30-31. . . . Hear from heaven where you live and forgive, and give each one whatever he deserves, for you know the hearts of all mankind.  Then they will reverence you forever and will continually walk where you tell them to go. TLB