MAINTAIN A GOOD BALANCE!

12-10-2012. . . .MAINTAIN A GOOD BALANCE!

“The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.” (Matt 27:21-23 KJV) Never be overly inflated by commendation nor deflated by criticism. Maintain a good balance. The same people that sing your praise and commend you one day, may be the some people who call for your crucifixion the next!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to maintain a good balance when it comes to people, so that we are never swayed from our focus whether commended or criticized. Amen!

Matt 27:24-26. . . . When Pilate saw that he wasn't getting anywhere and that a riot was developing, he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this good man. The responsibility is yours!" And the mob yelled back, "His blood be on us and on our children!" Then Pilate released Barabbas to them. And after he had whipped Jesus, he gave him to the Roman soldiers to take away and crucify. TLB

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

As we celebrate and commemorate the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus the Christ, Coretta and I thank you for following and supporting "Excerpts For Living." Your prayers, comments and words of encouragement continue to be a source of blessing and inspiration for us. We wish you and your family all God's choice blessings during the holidays. We pray that the joy of Jesus will fill your hearts and homes to overflowing and that His love will forever embrace and keep you!

From our family to your family, have a Merry and very Blessed Christmas!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the gift of your son, Jesus! I pray for every person that reads this blog. I pray that you will blessed them beyond measure and show them great and mighty things they have not even imagined! I declare health, prosperity, protection and provision in and over their lives as well as, their families and everyone they are connected to. Finally, may your peace that surpasses all understanding keep their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus! In the name of our blessed Lord Jesus I pray, Amen!

Num 6:24-26. . . .The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. KJV

IT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY!

12-7-2012. . . .IT GOES WITH THE TERRITORY!

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe." (1 Tim 4:9-10 KJV) As we labour (work) for the sake of the Gospel, it is true that we will sometimes suffer and be subject to reproach. (ridicule - criticism -opposition) It goes with the territory!   Nevertheless, we continue to trust in the one who is the 'Savior of all men', but more importantly, the Savior of we that be believe!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for salvation! Because I believe, I have an everlasting assurance that cannot be changed or revoked. Amen!

2 Sam 22:31-33. . . .As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. KJV

IT'S ESSENTIAL!

12-6-2012. . . .IT'S ESSENTIAL!

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Ps 119:105 KJV)  As headlights are essential to an automobile, so the word of God is essential to and in the life of believers! During the daytime the illuminated headlights of an automobile enables others to see it coming and during the nighttime, they enable drivers to see where they are going! God's word illuminated in the lives of believers, enables others to see Christ through them, while at the same time, makes the believer's path clear as they continue walking with Christ! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word that illuminates my life and directs my path. Amen!

Ps 119:101. . . .I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. (NIV)

A SIMPLE CHOICE!

12-5-2012. . . .A SIMPLE CHOICE

"Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the command-ment shall be rewarded." (Prov 13:13 KJV) Destruction or reward. . . . .Trouble or success! To despise the word is to know it and not do it! Who in their right mind chooses certain destruction? C'mon now! It's a simple choice, right?

Prayer:Lord, thank you for your word! By it shall we live and by it comes our success. Strengthen us to never deviate. Amen!

James 1:22-25. . . .And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. So don't fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn't obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can't see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God's law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does. TLB

HEARING CHECK!

12-4-2012. . . .HEARING CHECK!

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom 10:17 KJV) How's your hearing? To answer that question one need only check the level of their faith! Little faith is a result of little or not much WORD!  In scripture, the correlation is clear.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  The 'Word' then can be viewed as a spiritual 'hearing aid' of sorts! Therefore, increased intake of the Word equals increased hearing resulting in increased faith! Check up complete.

Prayer: Lord, we love your word for by it we hear and our faith is increased. May your word always be our daily bread! Amen.

Job 23:11-12. . . .My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. 12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. (NIV)

IT WILL HAPPEN!

12-3-2012. . . .IT WILL HAPPEN!

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isa 55:11 NIV) God's word once spoken, proceeds from eternity to it's predestined purpose in time! Because the word is so quick and powerful (Heb 4:12) occasionally, it arrives in advance of time's readiness to receive it! It however, cannot return to God empty; it therefore, prevails (hovers over) until time (and us) is ready to receive it's manifestation! If He spoke it, stay encouraged!IT WILL HAPPEN!

Prayer: Lord, we live not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from you mouth. May your proceeding and prevailing word always find manifestation in my life. Amen!

Jer 1:12b. . . . I will hasten my word to perform it. KJV