CATCH AND HOLD IT!

5-9-2013. . . .CATCH IT AND HOLD IT!

“Turn away from evil and do good. Try to live in peace even if you must run after it to catch and hold it!” (1 Peter 3:11-12TLB)   Evil that is blatantly evil is not difficult to turn away from. However, evil appearing to be good on the front end, not so much! What was that the Apostle Paul said, “the good I would, I do not and the evil I would not, that I do!) What seems good on the front end is nothing more that a robber of your peace in disguise! Don’t let your peace get away! Catch it and hold it!!!! Never let go of it, no matter how good the evil may appear to be.

Prayer: Lord, even as Jabez prayed, keep evil from me and help me to pursue peace at all times. Amen!

Heb 12:14. . . . Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: KJV

NO ABATEMENT!

5-8-2013. . . .NO ABATEMENT!

"I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent us on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then!  So I'm asking that you give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as spies we found the Anakim living there in great, walled cities, but if the Lord is with me, I shall drive them out of the land." (Josh 14:10-12 TLB)   To the faithful and obedient, the strength of the Lord is sustainable for our current assignments, tasks and battles, as well as, all future ones, with no abatement! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for strength to meet every challenge both today and in the future. Amen!

2 Sam 22:40-41. . . . For you have given me strength for the battle And have caused me to subdue All those who rose against me.  You have made my enemies Turn and run away; I have destroyed them all.  TLB

DEFINE CONFINE REFINE!

5-7-2013. . . .DEFINE CONFINE REFINE!

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (Phil 3:13-14 KJV)  We should never allow our past hurts, failures and disappointments to define who we are, nor to confine us from reaching the places we are destined to going.  Rather, we should allow the experiences of our past to refine us for future victories that are certain if we continue to press toward them!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness.  Through every test and trial you have strengthened us to be able to keep moving forward toward certain victory!  With your help, we will reach our appointed goal.  Amen!

Job 23:8-11. . . .Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:  On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.  KJV

TAKE THE TIME WHILE THERE IS TIME!

5-6-2013. . . .TAKE THE TIME WHILE THERE IS TIME!

"I will judge each of you, O Israel, and punish or reward each according to his own actions. Oh, turn from your sins while there is yet time. Put them behind you and receive a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, O Israel?  I do not enjoy seeing you die," the Lord God says. "Turn, turn and live!"  (Ezek 18:29-32 TLB)  Nowadays, no one wants to talk about are even hear about sin.  God on the other hand has not changed his position on it!  He will judge it and punish us for it if we don't repent.  Take the time while there is time to get it right and make it right!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy!  Help us to never take it for granted and continue in our sins.  Amen!

Ezek 36:26-27. . . . And I will give you a new heart-I will give you new and right desires-and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love.  And I will put my Spirit within you so that you will obey my laws and do whatever I command. TLB

LET'S CHECK OUR SELF!

5-3-2013. . . .LET'S CHECK OUR SELF!

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (2 Tim 1:5-6 NIV)  Some things are taught, others are caught!  What are our children catching from us?  Are they as fortunate as Timothy was to see faith modeled by his mother and grandmother in such a way that it caused him to be drawn into it?  Or, are they catching directions that are leading down that road that seems right to man, but the end there of is the way of death!  Let's check our self! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for our children and the opportunity to parent them.  Help us train them up in your ways and model faith for them to the degree that they catch it and run with it.  Amen!

2 Tim 1:5-6. . . . I know how much you trust the Lord, just as your mother Eunice and your grandmother Lois do; and I feel sure you are still trusting him as much as ever. This being so, I want to remind you to stir into flame the strength and boldness that is in you, that entered into you when I laid my hands upon your head and blessed you. TLB

STAY SHARP!

5-2-2013. . . .STAY SHARP!

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Prov 27:17 NIV) The sharpening process is not always comfortable, but is always necessary.  What impact are the people around us having on our lives and perhaps more importantly, what impact are we having on the lives of those around us?   Daily we will come in contact with many people.  Therefore, stay sharp and challenge others around you to be sharp!

Prayer: Lord, continue to make me sharp in order that I 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)

EACH ONE REACH ONE!

5-1-2013. . . .EACH ONE REACH ONE!

"There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother." (Prov 30:11 KJV)  If it is true (and it is) that "It takes a whole village to raise a child", then we, 'THE VILLAGE' must do a much better job with this current generation.  Each one reach one!

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for being remiss in our responsibilities to this current generation.  Help us help to them and there by, make our entire society better.  Amen!

Prov 6:20-23. . . .Young man, obey your father and your mother.  Take to heart all of their advice; keep in mind everything they tell you.  Every day and all night long their counsel will lead you and save you from harm; when you wake up in the morning, let their instructions guide you into the new day.  TLB