DISCERN THE RIGHT TIME!

2-31-2023. . . .DISCERN THE RIGHT TIME!

"Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.  For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him."( Eccl 8:5-6 NIV) 

Never let emotions provoke bad decisions!  While one's current position, relationship, job and/or employer for the moment, may be undesirable and even untenable, don't be impulsive and leave before it is time!  Such actions will cause more harm than good.  Discern the right time!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for discernment.  Help us discern the times and wait patiently on you.  Amen!

Heb 10:35-36. . . . Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. KJV

LIFE AHEAD!

DON’T BLOCK THE BLESSINGS!

2-27-2023. . . .DON’T BLOCK THE BLESSINGS!

“I, the Lord, have sworn by myself that because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son from me, I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions, like the stars above you in the sky, and like the sands along the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, and your offspring will be a blessing to all the nations of the earth-all because you have obeyed me." (Gen 22:16-18 TLB) 

The very thing in your life you are unwilling to sacrifice could also be the very thing blocking you from God’s choice blessings.

Prayer: Lord, let there be nothing or no one standing between me and thee! Your thoughts for me are for good and not of evil. Therefore, I have nothing to fear. Amen!

1 Sam 15:22. . . ."Has the Lord as much pleasure in your burnt offerings and sacrifices as in your obedience? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. He is much more interested in your listening to him than in your offering the fat of rams to him. TLB

SACRIFICE COST!

2-26-2023. . . .SACRIFICE COST!

“But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." (2 Sam 24:24 NIV)

A sacrifice that cost us nothing is not a sacrifice at all. God’s sacrifice cost Him all! Should not our sacrifices be the same?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. There is nothing of value I possess that is not worthy of being sacrificed to you. Amen!

1 Chron 29:12-14. . . . Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. KJV

SENSES BUT NO SENSE!

2-25-2023. . . .SENSES BUT NO SENSE!

"This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: 'They hear, but don't understand; they look, but don't see!   For their hearts are fat and heavy, and their ears are dull, and they have closed their eyes in sleep, so they won't see and hear and understand and turn to God again, and let me heal them." (Matt 13:14-16 TLB)  

Senses don't automatically equate to sense.  One may have eyes and not see.....ears and not hear. (senses)  The result, a complete absence of understanding. (sense)   Hardly seems possible, but it's true.  Don't be guilty of having senses, but no sense!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating us with senses.  Help us not be guilty of having senses without sense!  Amen!

Prov 1:5-6. . . . A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.  KJV

OBEDIENCE IS A CHOICE!

2-24-2023. . . .OBEDIENCE IS A CHOICE!

"Obey God because you are his children; don't slip back into your old ways-doing evil because you knew no better.  But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to be his child.  He himself has said, "You must be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16 TLB)  

Obedience is a choice!  As God's children, we are without excuse when we choose to follow our old nature and do things that dishonor who God is!  Remember, we were made in His image and after His own likeness.  We are God's visible image in the world.  When the world sees us, what is their impression and opinion of God?  Let's not distort His image through our disobedience! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating us in your own image and likeness.  Help us daily to represent you to the world in a way that draws them to you and not drives them from you!  Amen.

Col 3:10-11. . . . You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you. 11 In this new life one's nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all. TLB

GOD'S MERCY & GRACE

BETTER FOR IT!

2-20-2023. . . .BETTER FOR IT!

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." (Ps 34:19 KJV)  

Hard to bare situations are unavoidable and in fact, inevitable.   We are not left however, without hope.  Deliverance too, is inevitable!  The lessons learned while positively dealing with present dilemmas will benefit us greatly when deliverance comes.  We will emerge better for the experience.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the assurance that deliverance from all our afflictions will come.  Help us to be patient and lean the lessons of our present dilemmas and emerge better for the experience.  Amen.

2 Cor 4:17. . . . These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won't last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God's richest blessing upon us forever and ever! TLB

FROM FAILURE TO SUCCESS!

2-19-2023. . . .FROM FAILURE TO SUCCESS!

"And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net." (Luke 5:5 KJV) 

In spite of one's best efforts, even the called by Christ experience failure. Failure however, does not have the final word, God does. In fact, our point of failure positions us for a fresh word of instruction that will lead us to our next success.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being there even in our times of failure. Help us to be willing at our point failure to receive your word of instruction that will lead us to success. Amen!

Ps 37:23-24 . . . .

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

RESERVATIONS NOW AVAILABLE!

2-17-2023. . . .RESERVATIONS NOW AVAILABLE! 

"And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it."  (Eph 3:16-18 TLB) 

 It is a lifelong lesson to comprehend the vastness of God's love!  Only eternity with him will reveal its fullest extent.  Reservations are now available; please see Jesus for confirmation!

PRAYER: Lord, your love is a many splendored thing!  A lifetime is not long enough to comprehend its fullness.   Thank you for eternity!  Amen.

John 3:16-17. . . . For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. TLB

HANG YOUR FAITH ON THIS!

WALK ALL THROUGH IT!

1-13-2023. . . .WALK ALL THROUGH IT!

"Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.  Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD. (Gen 13:17-18 KJV)  

The blessing of the Lord is before us; arise and walk not just in it, but all through it!  The Lord provides the blessing, but it is up to us to appropriate it in our lives!   

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your manifold blessings to us.  Help us to lay hold fully upon the blessings and appropriate them properly into our lives.  Amen!

Prov 10:22. . . .The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. KJV

PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES MINIMIZED!

1-12-2023. . . .PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES MINIMIZED!

"Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."  (Josh 1:6-7 KJV)  

Strength, Courage and Obedience are three key ingredients needed for success.  With these we can move forward into our destiny and  accomplish all God has purposed and promised us!  Where success is guaranteed, problems and challenges are minimized! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for making it possible for us to succeed in all you purposed for us!  Our strength is in You, therefore, we can do all things!  Amen.

Josh 1:8-9. . . . Constantly remind the people about these laws, and you yourself must think about them every day and every night so that you will be sure to obey all of them. For only then will you succeed.  Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." TLB

STAY IN TOUCH WITH GOD!

1-11-2023. . . .STAY IN TOUCH WITH GOD!

"And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD."  (Gen 12:7-8 KJV) 

Just because we have heard and obeyed God's initial instructions, does not mean He has nothing else to say or has no further instructions to give!  We must stay in constant touch with God.  We must call upon Him often and allow Him to continuously direct our path!  STAY IN TOUCH WITH GOD!

PRAYER: Lord, it is so necessary to always hear from you!  You have commissioned our journey, now please direct our path.  Amen!

Ps 37:23-24. . . . The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. KJV

HIS GUIDING HAND!

1-10-2023. . . .HIS GUIDING HAND!

"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

God is not just some interested spectator peering into our lives to simply see how things are going to turn out.  The plans and paths of our life our His and His guiding hand is upon us to ensure that every detail unfolds as He intended.  Even when bad things come to try and thwart the plan, God yet works in the bad and directs us successfully through it. 

PRAYER: Lord our prayer today is in the words of the hymn: "Guide me oh thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand!  Amen.

Rom 8:28. . . . And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans. TLB

YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED!

A WASTED JOURNEY!

1-6-2023. . . .A WASTED JOURNEY!

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

Following God's directed path is good, but it is our development along the path that brings God pleasure!  To simply follow the path and not become who God purposed us to be would most sadly be a wasted journey.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to become all you have purposed us to be as we travel your directed path of destiny.  Amen.

Job 23:11-14. . . . . I have stayed in God's paths, following his steps. I have not turned aside.  I have not refused his commandments but have enjoyed them more than my daily food.  Nevertheless, his mind concerning me remains unchanged, and who can turn him from his purposes?  Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me all he has planned, and there is more ahead.   TLB

LEARN TO DISCERN!

1-5-2023. . . .LEARN TO DISCERN!

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Prov 14:12 NIV)  

What seems good, looks good, and feels good to us is not always good for us!  Learn to discern the ways of God and stay off the path that leads to death!

PRAYER: Lord, lead us beside the still waters where our soul can be continually restored.  Help us to always discern your way and detour from the paths that lead us to death.  Amen.

Ps 23:1-3. . . .The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. KJV

PLEASING GOD!

1-4-2023. . . .PLEASING GOD!

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name.  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  (Heb 13:15-16)  

We are not required to offer to God the blood sacrifice of animals; Jesus blood took care of that for us!  Our response to that act should be our continual offering of praise to God and service to mankind!  With this God is pleased!

PRAYER: Lord, our desire is to please you at all times!  We begin by offering you prasie and thanks continually.  We also give our service to mankind in an effort to draw all into your kingdom!  Amen.

Ps 116:12-14. . . . How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?  I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.  I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. NIV

REIGN OVER YOUR DOMAIN!

1-3-2023. . . .REIGN OVER YOUR DOMAIN!

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."  (Gen 1:28 KJV)  

We were create to reign over our domain!  We been given every thing we need including the opportunity to take control and be in control of every area of our life!  Call things into order; command the crooked to be made straight and stay straight.  Now, as the steward of your life, reign over your domain!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for creating us to reign and to be the stewards of our lives.  May our stewardship be pleasing to you and stamped daily by your blessings.  Amen!

2 Peter 1:2-3. . . . Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: KJV

ALL THINGS NEW FOR YOU!