GO TO WORK!

8-9-2013. . . .GO TO WORK!

"For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,  nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it.   On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (2 Thess 3:7-10 NIV)  To receive a handout when needed is a blessing; to look for a handout continuously is dependency.  No one owes us anything!  We owe it to our self to get out there and make it happen for our self!  GO TO WORK!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for supplying all our needs especially our jobs.  Help us to help others in their time of need, but never aid nor facilitate their dependency.  Amen. 

Prov 13:4. . . . Lazy people want much but get little, while the diligent are prospering. TLB

DON'T GIVE UP!

8-8-2013. . . .DON'T GIVE UP!

"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded."  (2 Chron 15:7 KJV)  There is no reward for giving up or giving in. To do so is to nullify the energy and effort expended in beginning and to forfeit the satisfaction and ecstasy of finishing.  Your reward is waiting; Don't Give Up!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for every opportunity you send our way.  In spite of challenges and difficulties, we will finish and not give up.  Amen!

Gal 6:9-10. . . . And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up. TLB

BE DIFFERENT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

8-7-2013. . . .BE DIFFERENT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

"So be careful how you act; these are difficult days.  Don't be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good.  Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the Lord wants you to." (Eph 5:15-17 TLB)   In one of his final speeches Dr. Martin Luther King said, "I just want to do God's will."  Doing God's will had become the major priority in his life.  It didn't make him perfect and without mistakes, but it did give him focus during some difficult days.  We too are living in some difficult times.  One need not look very far to find people living thoughtlessly and squandering opportunities to be good and do good.  This is not what God wants!  As believers, we are called to be different and to make a difference.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for every opportunity to do good and make a difference in the world.  In spite of difficult days, may we live always thoughtfully and not thoughtlessly.  Amen!

1 Peter 2:9. . . . But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: KJV

BE KIND!

8-6-2013. . . .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!

8-5-2013. . . .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 to 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

LET'S DO OUR PART!

8-2-2013. . . .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 fulling 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!

8-1-2013. . . .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