TAKE THE FIRST STEP!

8-31-2022. . . .TAKE THE FIRST STEP!

"How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord!"  (Prov 1:7 TLB) 

 A Chinese philosopher once said,"The journey of ten thousand miles begins with a single step."  Have you taken the first step toward becoming wise?  Trust and reverence the Lord and your true journey of life begins today!

PRAYER: Lord, I pray that every person living will become wise and place their trust in you!  Life with you is far better than life without you.  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

A CLEAR CONSCIENCE!

9-30-2022. . . .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 the good news of the gospel with these people in our lives pass.  We wouldn't want that on our conscience, now would we!

Prayer: Lord, guide us by your Spirit into every opportunity to share the gospel with all who cross our path that are lost.  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

BE KIND!

8-26-2022. . . .BE KIND!  

“Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ." (Eph 4:31-32 TLB)  

Of the many things people could say about us, is one of them, ‘He or She is a Kind Person?’ (Friendly, warm-hearted, generous and understanding.)  Being kind and showing kindness does not cost us anything, but it could mean everything to the person or persons on the receiving end of it. The world has enough mean, selfish, evil, insensitive, uncaring and unloving people in it.  Don’t be one of them!  BE KIND!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your loving kindness and for the opportunity of life.  Help me to be a kind person and to show kindness at all times. Amen!

2 Peter 1:5-9. . . . For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV

STOP BEING WILLFUL!

8-25-2022. . . .STOP BEING WILLFUL! 

"Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.  Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. (Ps 19:13 NIV)  

From the moment we are saved and begin to walk in the newness of life, we should see and experience a drastic decrease in the amount of 'Willful" sin in our lives.  If we don't, we are still being too willful!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for new life in you!  Help us to walk continuously in our regenerated lives without deviation.  Amen!

2 Cor 5:17. . . .When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! TLB

LETS DO OUR PART!

8-24-2022. . . .LETS DO OUR PART!

"All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant." (Ps 25:10 NIV)  

No covenant is without requirements.   Expecting to benefit from God's covenant without meeting the requirements of the covenant, is like expecting a paycheck at the end of the week without having done any work!  While God lovingly and graciously shoulders the weight of the covenant He has extended to us, there yet remains a simple requirement for us; Obedience!  God has demonstrated His faithfulness in fulfilling His part of the covenant, now, it's up to us to fulfill ours! 

Prayer: Lord, you are faithful in all things that pertain to your covenant.  As we enjoy the benefits of your covenant let us be equally as faithful in fulling your requirement of obedience.  Amen!

Ps 103:17-18. . . . But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.  NIV

DON'T BE DECEIVED!

8-23-2022. . . .DON'T BE DECEIVED!

"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."  (Rev 20:10 KJV) 

Contrary to popular belief, the devil is not and will not be the supervisor of hell!   It will be his place of eternal punishment.  He'd love to deceive as many as he can so he won't have to be alone as he burns. Please, DON'T BE DECEIVED!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you that hell was not created for any person, but reserved for the devil and his angels. I pray that everyone will accept your invitation and secure their future with you.  Amen!

2 Peter 3:9. . . .The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  KJV

I GIVE YOU ME!

8-19-2022. . . .I GIVE YOU ME!

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"   (Ps 116:12 KJV)  

The greatest gift we can give back to God is the gift of our self. Our time, our talents, our treasure, and most importantly, our completely surrendered will.  Lord, I give you me!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being so good to us.  There is no one like you.  We surrender our will to your will.  Have your way in us.  Amen!

1 Peter 5:5-7. . . . If you will humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in his good time he will lift you up.  Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.  TLB

YOU FINISH IT!

8-18-2022. . . .YOU FINISH IT!

"I bless the holy name of God with all my heart.  Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me.  He forgives all my sins. He heals me.  He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with loving-kindness and tender mercies.  He fills my life with good things! My youth is renewed like the eagle's! (Ps 103:1-6 TLB)  

A good way to start each day is to think about the benefits we enjoy by being God's children. It is certain we won't get to far down the list before we have to stop and bless His name!  When we think of His goodness and all that He has done for us. . . . .you finish it!

PRAYER: Lord, we praise and bless your name for your goodness all the wonderful benefits you daily load upon us!  Hallelujah, Bless your name!  Amen. 

Ps 68:19. . . . Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. KJV

DON'T BE THAT ONE!

8-17-2022. . . .DON'T BE THAT ONE!

"If you are looking for advice, stay away from fools.  The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won't face facts." (Prov 14:7-8 TLB)

Listening to the words of a fool will soon lead one to question, "Who is really the fool?"  Don't be that one!

PRAYER: Lord, lead us daily in the paths of the wise and don't let us be hindered along the way by fools.  Amen!

Prov 15:2. . . .The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.  KJV

Be Ready and Stay Ready!

8-15-2014. . . .Be Ready and Stay Ready!

"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)  

God's thoughts towards us are not just idle thoughts, but thoughts with plans and purpose that will manifest in days to come!  Be ready and stay ready!

PRAYER: Lord, we thank you for always having us on your mind.  We thank you also for your plans and purpose that will manifest in our future.  Thy will be done.  Amen!

Jer 29:10-11. . . . For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. TLB

ALWAYS FAITHFUL!

AT THE END OF THE DAY!

8-12-2022. . . .AT THE END OF THE DAY!

"It is good to say thank you to the Lord, to sing praises to the God who is above all gods. Every morning tell him, "Thank you for your kindness," and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness."  ( Ps 92:1-3 TLB)  

At the end of the day we can all with confidence lift our voices and say in the words of the old spiritual, "It's just another day, that the Lord, has kept me!"

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your goodness and your faithfulness to us.  Keep on keeping us as only you can.   Amen!

Ps 89:8. . . .O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?  You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you. NIV

ONLY A FOOL!

8-11-2022. . . .ONLY A FOOL!

"That man is a fool who says to himself, "There is no God!" Anyone who talks like that is warped and evil and cannot really be a good person at all."  (Ps 14:1 TLB) 

Everyone has the right to think and feel how they think and feel; but a fool, and only a fool could and would ever claim that there is no God!

PRAYER: Lord thank you that we are not fools; we know you exist!  We join in the chorus of heaven and earth daily declaring your glory. Amen!

Ps 19:1-3. . . . The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God.  Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. TLB

CHECK AND CORRECT!

8-10-2022. . . .CHECK AND CORRECT!

"O God, you know so well how stupid I am, and you know all my sins. O Lord God of the armies of heaven, don't let me be a stumbling block to those who trust in you. O God of Israel, don't let me cause them to be confused, though I am mocked and cursed and shamed for your sake."  (Ps 69:5-7 TLB) 

As our age increases, concurrently our stupidity and folly should be decreasing.  Hopefully and prayerfully, any residual is not a hindrance nor stumbling block to others.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to daily mature in you.  Let not any of our residual folly be a hindrance or stumbling block to others.  Amen!

1 John 1:8-9. . . .If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.  But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.  And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins. TLB

HE WILL ANSWER!

8-9-2022. . . .HE WILL ANSWER!

"Hear my prayer, O Lord; answer my plea because you are faithful to your promises."  (Ps 143:1 TLB)  

We need not ever fear to come to God in our times of need.  With assurance we can ask in confidence knowing that in His faithfulness, He will answer us!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for hearing and answering our prayers!  Thank you also for your faithfulness to your promises!  Amen

Ps 92:2-4. . . . Every morning tell him, "Thank you for your kindness," and every evening rejoice in all his faithfulness.  Sing his praises, accompanied by music from the harp and lute and lyre.  You have done so much for me, O Lord. No wonder I am glad! I sing for joy. TLB

A VERY PRESENT HELP!

BE WISE!

8-5-2022. . . . BE WISE!

"The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets."  (Prov 21:20 TLB)  

Save nothing and you will have nothing!  No one will lend to a fool.  Be wise!

PRAYER: Lord, teach us to be wise in our spending and prepare now for our future and that of our families. Amen.

Prov 13:22. . . . A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.  KJV

NOW I UNDERSTAND!

8-4-2022. . . .NOW I UNDERSTAND!

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:7 KJV)  

The peace of God is way beyond understanding until one experiences it!  Then, one understands!  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your peace that is beyond understanding, but so wonderful to experience.  Amen!

Col 3:15. . . .Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful. TLB

COMMAND AND CONTROL!

8-3-2022. . . .COMMAND AND CONTROL!

"And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?  (Mark 4:39-40 KJV)  

In the mist of every storm remember, Jesus can still command peace and cause everything to settle down and be still.  It's called Command and Control!  All that's required of us is faith to believe!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for having command and control over all storms that may arise in our lives.  Help us to have faith that does not weaver and faint.  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

STRENGTH AND PEACE!

8-2-2022. . . .STRENGTH AND PEACE! 

"The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace."  (Ps 29:11 KJV)  

Two things we can expect from the Lord, "Strength and Peace!"  With these we can endure and make it through anything.  With strength we can do the things that need to be done in the situation; with peace we can maintain our sanity while doing it!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for strength and peace!  Amen.

John 14:27. . . . "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn't fragile like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid." TLB