THE END GAME!

4-14-2016. . . .THE END GAME!

"Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete." (James 1:2-4 TLB)  No problem, challenge nor difficulty will last forever; so patiently go through in order to get through.  It's all about the end game!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for times of testing that come to strengthen and grow us!  Help us to stay focused on the end game!  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

COVER!

4-13-2016. . . .COVER!

"The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore be earnest, thoughtful men of prayer.  Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love makes up for many of your faults." (1 Peter 4:7-8 TLB)  Faults....we all have them!  Instead of seeking to expose every fault we find in others while at the same time making every effort concealed our own, let's allow love to cover other's faults until they, and thereby, we are healed!

PRAYER: Lord, continue to cover us in your love as we seek to cover others in our love until we all are healed! Amen.

Luke 6:41-42. . . . "And why quibble about the speck in someone else's eye-his little fault --when a board is in your own? 42 How can you think of saying to him, 'Brother, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the board in yours? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board, and then perhaps you can see well enough to deal with his speck!"  TLB

DO IT AND DO IT RIGHT!

4-12-2016. . . .DO IT AND DO IT RIGHT!

"Don't just pretend that you love others: really love them.   Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good.  Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other." (Rom 12:9-10 TLB)  Why bother pretending to love!  Everyone knows what love really looks like and feels like, so no one is fooled.  Loving for real blesses both the receiver and the giver!  So just do it, and do it right!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to love each other the way that you love us.  Amen.

1 John 4:7-8. . . . Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  KJV

GET BUSY....GET TO WORK!

4-7-2016. . . .GET BUSY....GET TO WORK!

"Whatever you do, do well, for in death, where you are going, there is no working or planning, or knowing, or understanding.  (Eccl 9:10 TLB)  Anything worth doing, is worth doing well!  If we are going to do anything, the time to do it is now, without delay.  Death is coming to us all.   Lets die without regret over what we could have or should have done.  So write the book; the song; start the business; change the career; accept the calling! Whatever it is in your heart, Get busy.....Get to work now!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us the time we need to accomplish all that is in our hearts to do.  Help us to never get distracted, sidetracked, or offer excuses. Then when our appointed time comes, grant us rest without regret.  Amen!

John 9:4. . . .I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. KJV

LET THE WORK STAND!

4-7-2016. . . .LET THE WORK STAND!

"No one who has become part of God's family makes a practice of sinning, for Christ, God's Son, holds him securely, and the devil cannot get his hands on him.  We know that we are children of God and that all the rest of the world around us is under Satan's power and control." (1 John 5:18-19 TLB)  Having been justified, we are saved immediately from the penalty of sin.  In sanctification, we are being saving continually from the power of sin.  Until glorification, where we will be saved from the very presence of sin, we must do our part not to chose to sin!  The finish work of Christ at Calvary dealt with our sin problem.   Let that work stand!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for dealing with the sin issue for us!  Help us to make the right choices and to walk in the righteousness you have provided.  Amen!

2 Cor 5:20-21. . . . God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. NIV

A DO OVER!

4-5-2016. . . .A DO OVER!

"But God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead-only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved."  (Eph 2:4-5 TLB)  Life does not offer us many "Do Overs."  We have to play the hand we have been dealt so to speak.  Christ however, by dying on the cross for our sins, has in effect, given us a 'Do Over!'   The question is, what will we do with it?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us another chance.  Help us to make the best of it by being the best and doing the best we can!  Amen.

Gal 2:20. . . .I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. KJV

CAUSE FOR PRAISE!

4-1-2016. . . .CAUSE FOR PRAISE

"He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven.  Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! (Ps 107:29-31 NKJV)   The words of Thomas Hastings' hymn comes to mind: "Guide me oh thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land; I am week but thou art mighty, hold me with thy powerful hand."  Through every storm of life we have the assurance of God's hand guiding us to safety.  Surely this is cause for praise!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your guiding hand that brings into safe harbor from every storm of life.  To you we give thanks and praise!  Amen.

Prov 18:10. . . . The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.  KJV