OBEDIENCE IS A CHOICE!

2-28-2014. . . .OBEDIENCE IS A CHOICE!

"Obey God because you are his children; don't slip back into your old ways-doing evil because you knew no better.  But be holy now in everything you do, just as the Lord is holy, who invited you to be his child.  He himself has said, "You must be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:14-16 TLB)  Obedience is a choice!  As God's children, we are without excuse when we choose to follow our old nature and do things that dishonor who God is!  Remember, we were made in His image and after His own likeness.  We are God's visible image in the world.  When the world sees us, what is their impression and opinion of God?  Don't distort His image through disobedience! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating us in your own image and likeness.  Help us daily to represent you to the world in a way that draws them to you and not drives them from you!  Amen.

Col 3:10-11. . . . You are living a brand new kind of life that is continually learning more and more of what is right, and trying constantly to be more and more like Christ who created this new life within you. 11 In this new life one's nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and he is equally available to all. TLB

SENSES BUT NO SENSE!

2-27-2014. . . .SENSES BUT NO SENSE!

"This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah: 'They hear, but don't understand; they look, but don't see!   For their hearts are fat and heavy, and their ears are dull, and they have closed their eyes in sleep, so they won't see and hear and understand and turn to God again, and let me heal them." (Matt 13:14-16 TLB)  Senses don't automatically equate to sense.  One may have eyes and not see.....ears and not hear. (senses)  The result, a complete absence of understanding. (sense)   Hardly seems possible, but it's true.  Don't be guilty of having senses, but no sense!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating us with senses.  Help us not be guilty of having senses without sense!  Amen!

Prov 1:5-6. . . . A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.  KJV

YOU'll GET WHAT'S COMING TO YOU!

2-26-2014. . . .You'll GET WHAT'S COMING TO YOU!

"And God has reserved for his children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it because you are trusting him. (1 Peter 1:4-54 TLB) What God has for us, it is for us! What He has and freely gives is eternal life to all who believe in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ! He does not stop there however! By His mighty power He daily blesses, keeps, protects, and ensures that we will get to the place where we will receive what is promised to us! Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for eternal life through your Son, Jesus! Thank you that by your power you ensure that we will get what's coming to us. Praise your Holy Name! Amen.

Jude 24. . . .And now-all glory to him who alone is God, who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord; yes, splendor and majesty, all power and authority are his from the beginning; his they are and his they evermore shall be. And he is able to keep you from slipping and falling away, and to bring you, sinless and perfect, into his glorious presence with mighty shouts of everlasting joy. Amen. TLB

SACRIFICE COST!

2-25-2014. . . .SACRIFICE COST!

“But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." (2 Sam 24:24 NIV) A sacrifice that cost us nothing is not a sacrifice at all. God’s sacrifice cost Him all! Should not our sacrifices be the same?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. There is nothing of value I possess that is not worthy of being sacrificed to you. Amen!

1 Chron 29:12-14. . . . Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. KJV

DON'T BLOCK THE BLESSINGS!

2-23-2014. . . .DON’T BLOCK THE BLESSINGS!

“I, the Lord, have sworn by myself that because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son from me, I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions, like the stars above you in the sky, and like the sands along the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, and your offspring will be a blessing to all the nations of the earth-all because you have obeyed me." (Gen 22:16-18 TLB) The very thing in your life you are unwilling to sacrifice could also be the thing blocking you from God’s choice blessings.

Prayer: Lord, let there be nothing or no one standing between me and thee! Your thoughts for me are for good and not of evil. Therefore, I have nothing to fear. Amen!

1 Sam 15:22. . . ."Has the Lord as much pleasure in your burnt offerings and sacrifices as in your obedience? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. He is much more interested in your listening to him than in your offering the fat of rams to him. TLB

DISCERN THE RIGHT TIME!

2-21-2014. . . .DISCERN THE RIGHT TIME!

"Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.  For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him."( Eccl 8:5-6 NIV)  Never let emotions provoke bad decisions!  While one's current position, relationship, job and/or employer for the moment, may be undesirable and even untenable, don't be impulsive and leave before it is time!  Such actions will cause more harm than good.  Discern the right time!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for discernment.  Help discern the times and wait patiently on you.  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

IN GOD'S POWER!

2-20-2014. . . . IN GOD'S POWER!

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  (2 Cor 12:9 KJV)  Our handicaps do not disqualify us for service to God.  In fact, in many cases, they qualify us for a greater demonstration of His power through us.  Although, the apostle Paul had a handicap in his flesh, his handicap was not a hindrance to God accomplishing mighty things through him.  Like Paul, our accomplishments are not in our own strength, but in God's power!  Trust Him with your handicap.

Prayer: Lord, your ways are certainly not like ours.  What we often think would disqualify for us, is the very thing you use to demonstrate your power in us!  Thank you that our handicaps are not hindrances to you. Amen!

Phil 4:13. . . . I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. KJV