INCREASE THE NUMBERS!

4-11-2019. . . .INCREASE THE NUMBERS!

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Prov 17:17 NIV)  

 A friend’s love prevails through all circumstances. In the toughest of times, the bond is likened to that of a brother. Value these kinds of friends for they are few!  Be this kind of friend and increase the numbers!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving and loyal friends. Help us to be this quality of a friend. Amen!

Prov 27:9. . . . Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. NIV

STAY SHARP!

4-10-2019. . . .STAY SHARP!

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Prov 27:17 NIV) 

Daily we encounter many people.  What impact are they having on our lives and perhaps more importantly, what impact are we having on the lives of others?   The sharpening process is not always comfortable, but is always necessary.   Stay sharp and challenge others around you to be sharp!

Prayer: Lord, continue to make us sharp in order that we 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)

IN ALL THINGS!

4-9-2019. . . .IN ALL THINGS!

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28 NIV)  

In the face of trouble, tragedy, calamity, and chaos, the KJV rendering of this verse (…All things work together for good…) seems ambiguous and contradictory.  The truth of the matter is, many things are actually 'NOT' working for our good, but are designed to take us out, disturb our faith and disrupt our destiny. The NIV rendering of this verse makes it poignantly clear that it is not ‘the things’ that are working for our good, but ‘GOD WORKING IN ALL THINGS’ for our good! No matter how difficult or challenging the circumstance, we can remain encouraged and our faith strong knowing that God is working IN ALL THINGS for our good!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for working in all things for our good! In our times of distress and discouragement; trouble and tragedy, help us to trust you and remember this fact. Amen!

Ps 34:19-20. . . . A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. NIV

WHAT GOD SAYS HE MEANS

4-7-2019. . . .WHAT GOD SAYS HE MEANS!

"Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never, never fail you nor forsake you." That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, "The Lord is my Helper, and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me."  (Heb 13:5-6 TLB)  

What God says, He means!  We can depend on His word.  If He says He is with us, He is there not only in presence, but as our resource and help.  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your abiding presence and for being an ever present help to us.  We are comforted in knowing you will never leave nor forsake us.  Amen!

Rom 8:31-32. . . .What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? TLB

CLARITY AND DIRECTION!

4-4-2019. . . .CLARITY AND DIRECTION!

"If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it.  But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that. If you don't ask with faith, don't expect the Lord to give you any solid answer." (James 1:5-7 TLB) 

A life of significance is a life lived with clarity and direction.  God never intended for life to be an enigma to us, nor for us to simply wander aimlessly through it without purpose or direction.  We know God is the giver of life, but far too often many fail to call on Him and depend on Him as the director of life!  Need clarity and direction. . . .ask the giver and director of life; He will freely give you what you ask!

PRAYER: Lord, you are the giver and director of life!  Give us your wisdom and guidance so that we may live a life of significance and accomplish all your purpose.  Amen!

Jer 33:2-3. . . .Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' NIV

BE WISE!

4-3-2019. . . .BE WISE!

"Say there!  Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink-even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine and milk-it's all free!  Why spend your money on food that doesn't give you strength?  Why pay for groceries that do you no good?   Listen and I'll tell you where to get good food that fattens up the soul!"  (Isa 55:1-2 TLB)  

There are some things that money just can't buy no matter how much of it one has!  The things that money can't buy are far more valuable than the things it can buy.  Money can buy temporal things, but not eternal ones.  Be wise and keep both in their proper perspective!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for temporal things and the money to purchase them.  We are even more thankful for the things you give us that are eternal.  Help us to be wise and keep both in their proper perspective.  Amen!

2 Cor 4:17-18. . . . For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  KJV

JUST LIKE HIM!

4-2-2019. . . .JUST LIKE HIM!

"Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, right now, and we can't even imagine what it is going to be like later on. But we do know this, that when he comes we will be like him, as a result of seeing him as he really is.  And everyone who really believes this will try to stay pure because Christ is pure." (1 John 3:2-3 TLB)

Our confidence for living a wholesome and healthy life is in the fact that we are God's children.  Daily we are developing and being conformed into the very image of Christ.  Although the conforming process may at times cause us to look 'Deformed', be assured the end result will be glorious for we shall be just like Him!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your plans that are being worked out in our lives.  Help and guide us through to  the completion of the conforming process.  Amen!

Rom 8:29-30. . . . For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. KJV