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1295 PARADISE HILL ROAD, CLARKSVILLE, TN 931.645.8785, United States
"WHERE PRAYER AND PRAISE TAKE YOU INTO HIS PRESENCE"

Friday, September 30, 2011

He Still Loves Her!!!

Hosea 1-3






Last week, I engaged in a conversation with the driver of a courtesy shuttle that drove me to an appointment. He was married with several children, but had been separated from his wife for little over a year. When traveling to our destination, the gentleman informed me that his wife’s car was parked at one of the hotels we passed. I was taken aback when he informed me that she was, “laid up again with another man!” When he was driving me back to my car, he confessed that he still loves, misses, and longs for his wife—even after her repeated infidelity and unfaithfulness.



The prophet Hosea had one of the most unique assignments in the Word of God. Because God wanted Hosea to feel His Burden, He commanded the prophet to marry a prostitute. To intensify the situation, He let Hosea know that she would be unfaithful to him and that unfaithful children would be born to the union before she became his wife (Hosea 1:2). When she sold herself into prostitution, Hosea was commanded to go and buy his own wife back (Hosea 3:1-3). Gomer’s unfaithfulness to Hosea was a replica of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. And despite her spiritual adultery, God remained faithful to Israel and He loved her enough to purpose to win her back (Hosea 2:14-20).



Regardless to who you are or what you’ve done, our God loves you with a love that never changes. And there’s nothing that you could ever do that can change the way He feels about you. If you’ve been unfaithful to God, I want to let you know that His Arms are still wide open and He’s waiting for you to repent and come back to Him. If you’ve committed spiritual adultery, The Word of the Lord for you today is this…God still loves you!!!



Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You for loving us with an unconditional love. Remind the one reading who thinks you’ve given up on them that You still love them—today and always, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And fordelivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed



Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'mfocused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day

General Knowledge



1. Name five (5) Scriptures that talk about The Love of God.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

An Unpredictable Praise


Various Passages


As a child, I remember individuals in church who were predictable in their praise. During church service, there would be certain "cues" that would trigger their “shout”. For example, whenever a certain individual would sing, "their song" or the preacher would say a certain cliche, it would cause them to "erupt" into an uncontrollable praise! As children, my friends and I would "count down" the event: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..More often than not, the person we were monitoring would respond just as we predicted.






The Bible records instances where individuals praised The Lord at what appeared to be unconventional times. For example, when an enemy coalition came up against Jehoshaphat in II Chronicles 20, instead of being discouraged, they were ordered to give God praise. When Paul and Silas were beaten and incarcerated, they had a prayer and praise service at midnight. Both of those occasions resulted in The Lord moving in a Great Way and giving His people the victory.



If you were to think about it, the 21st century church has programmed times of praise as well. As a matter of fact, most churches have periods called, “Praise and Worship” where we are encouraged and exhorted to give God praise at a particular time. But I defend that the times of unpredictable praise are the periods when our adversary is the most confused! One of the most popular passages that archives praising God at an unpredictable time is Joshua 6. When Joshua led Israel against Jericho, instead of taking out weapons of war, they gave God praise to defeat their enemy. Like Joshua's campaign as well as the two other accounts, I encourage you to use the weapon of praise against any and all attacks of the enemy.



While some of the religious cliches we use are untrue, there is Scripturual proof to the saying that, "When the praises go up, blessings do come down." The exhortation today is to confuse the enemy by giving God the praise--even amidst the trials, tribulations, and traumas of life.



Let's Pray: "Father, give us a revelation of the power of praise. Give us a mind to praise you amidst our toughest times, in Jesus' Name, amen."



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works

Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed

Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day

Challenge

1. Name at least 5 passages that talk about praise.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Finish Strong

Hebrews 12:2: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”


It’s very easy to overlook the full magnitude of the earthly Ministry of The Lord Jesus Christ. The writings of the four gospel writers—Matthew,


Mark, Luke, and John—only covered a period of roughly three short years of His Life! While we’re fascinated with all of The Miracles He Performed, John stated in the very last verse of his gospel that, “…there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written…” (John 21:25)


What were the keys to Jesus’ Success? One of the most important yet practical keys was the fact that He maximized every moment of His Life. Jesus was The Master of time management. I’ve never read about anyone who was as productive as He was in such a short period of time. But I was even more impressed with the way that He ended His Tenure here on earth. Amazingly, the last moments of His Life proved His tenacity, fortitude, and overall ability to finish strong. Although He was bruised, battered and beaten beyond recognition, The Bible says that Jesus, “…endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) After Jesus was inhumanely executed, He rose from the grave three days later! What a finish!


This past Friday, the green grass and long days of the summer gave way to the picturesque scenery of autumn—the most beautiful season of the year (in my opinion). This time of year, it’s very easy to lose sight of the goals we’d set for 2011 and roll them over to 2012. How easy is it to just “coast” the rest of this year without focusing our efforts, energy, and attention to completing the unfinished assignments we have for this year? Like Jesus, we must exercise the principals of time management and fortitude in order to finish this year on a high instead of a decline. The exhortation today is short and sweet…”Finish the Year Strong!”


Let’s Pray: “Father, help us to finish this year strong. Don’t let us “carry over” things into another year that we are to finish this year, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed

Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day
Challenge



1. Name at least 5 passages that talk about giving.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

An Attitude of Thanksgiving

Various Scriptures





The Bible teaches that one of the characteristics of individuals living in the last days is a lack of thanksgiving (2 Timothy 3:2) Although my children are part of what I believe is the “latter time” generation, they are quite the exception in the area of gratitude. As a matter of fact, they sometimes overwhelm me with their expressions of thankfulness. Whenever either my wife or myself do something for them—from purchasing their school clothes to buying a slush for them at Sonic—they quickly respond by saying, “Thank you.” When we purchased dinner for them after leaving church last night, Calvin (my son and oldest child) began “The Thanksgiving Chant” followed by Carah (our middle child and oldest daughter) and then Ciara (our youngest child). Their attitudes of gratitude make it very easy for us (their mom and me) to respond to their needs and to some of their wants.



As Christians, not only should we be thankful for acts and services rendered towards us, but thanksgiving for us (believers) is to be an attitude. The AMG Concise Bible Dictionary records the following words in regards to being thankful: “The lives of God's people are to be characterized by the offering of thanksgiving to God always, for everything, and in all circumstances.” (Ephesians 5:19-20; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Many believers are only motivated to thank God during the good times and not the bad. But like David, we are to bless God and be thankful, “at all times.” And if we can’t find any other reason to be thankful, we can be grateful that our Heavenly Father has chosen us to be heirs in His kingdom and joint heirs with Jesus Christ! We are children of the King of kings and Lord of lords! Hallelujah!



Let’s touch and agree that God will give us a real revelation of the great privilege we’ve been afforded in being His children. Comprehending this revelation will lead to a life of perpetual thanksgiving.



Let’s Pray: “Father, give us a true revelation of what it means to be saved. We ask for an attitude of thanksgiving today and always, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed



Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day

General Knowledge



1. What are the nine fruit of the Spirit an where are they found?

Monday, September 26, 2011

The Cycle of Life

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.





Last weekend, my family and I went to the movie theater to watch the newest rendition of, “The Lion King.” The movie began with the king of the jungle, The Lion Mufasa, dedicating his son, Simba, to the gods. Although the production had a great plot, the movie ended the same way it started. At the end of the movie, Simba, the newly-crowned king of the jungle and the son of Mufasa, dedicated his son to the gods. I walked away from the movie refocused on the inevitable cycle of life and the responsibility of parents to prepare children to receive and carry the torch to the next generation.



In the movie, Simba didn’t appreciate and neither did he understand the instructions given him by his father. But when his father died and he ascended to the world of maturity and responsibility, he found the words and the wisdom of his father invaluable. Like Simba, I didn’t always agree with the methods of my parents in how they brought me up. But as an adult, I appreciate the upbringing I received from them. When I was a child, I was taken to “the field” at a very young age and taught a work ethic (you know, “An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay). In Lue Henry Lockett’s house, saying “yea” or “naw” to an adult would have gotten me the infamous “back-hand lick” because I was taught to respect those in authority and those older than me. In my community, the generation my senior took pride in the way they dressed and behaved and they lived their lives by a code of ethics, morals, and values.



As parents, my wife and I inherited the task of teaching and training our children to be productive citizens and to make a positive impact the world in which we live. But as pastors, one of our main concerns is, “Who will catch and carry the spiritual baton when we die?” The clarion call for all parents—especially those who are Christian—is to, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)



Let’s Pray: “Father, we pray that You’ll help us to prepare our seed to catch and carry the spiritual baton to their generation and teach them to do the same, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed



Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day

General Knowledge



1. What are the seven sins that God hates?

2. Where are they found?

3. Which one is an abomination to him?

Friday, September 23, 2011

The Right Perspective

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.



The story is told of a young woman who was complaining to her father about how difficult her life was. “Come with me,” he said. “I want to show you something.” He took her into the kitchen where he put three pots of water on the stove to heat. Meanwhile, he cut up some carrots and put tem into the first pot to boil. Two eggs were put in the second pot and ground coffee was poured into the third. After a few minutes, he strained the carrots into one bowl, peeled the eggs and put them into another, and into a cup he poured the strained coffee. He then placed them before his daughter.



The daughter asked her father, “What’s all this supposed to mean?” The father answered, “Each of these items can teach us something about the way we handle adversity. The carrots started out hard, but the boiling water turned them mushy. The eggs went into the water fragile but came out hard and rubbery. The coffee, on the other hand, changed the water into something better.” The father continued, “Honey, you can choose how you will respond to your problems. You can let them make you weak. You can let them make you hard. Or you can use them to create something beneficial. It’s all up to you.”


One of the reasons that we can be optimistic about every day and each situation of life is because The God we serve is in charge of every moment. And during those times when things don’t appear to be working in our favor, we can be assured that our Heavenly Father is working things out for our good. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” The exhortation today is to, “Keep things in their proper perspective…God is working things out!”



Let’s Pray: “Father, help us to keep the right perspective at all times and in all things, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed

Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day

Challenge



Write out all the books in the Bible that were written by the Apostle Paul.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Abundant Life Through Him



Various Scriptures

A couple weeks ago, I heard a real-life account that ministered to me. A young man told me that he was driving a vehicle registered in his father’s name when he was caught on camera going through a red light. When the traffic violation came to their house, it was addressed to the father. The son committed the violation, but the father received the ticket and was responsible for paying the fine—even though he did no wrong.


This account reminded me of what God The Father has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ.




The following Scriptures confirm this fact:


Isaiah 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.


2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.


1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you
were healed.

Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You for all You’ve done for us through Jesus Christ, Your Son, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”


Daily Confession
Thank You for making me the head and not the tail
Above only and not beneath
The lender and not the borrower
The conquerer and not the conquered
Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness
And for delivering my life from death and destruction
So that I might live and not die
To declare Your Works
Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body
For by Your Stripes I am healed
Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed
But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee
Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray
But I'm focused on what You've called me to do
Thank You that there is no lack in my life today
For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus
This is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad in it,\
In Jesus' Name, Amen



Questions of the Day

Challenge



List the 7 “I Am’s” of Jesus

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Only What You Do For Christ Will Last!

Various Scriptures


If you were to ask the goals of the average, everyday individual, most of them would answer with something temporal—save a “nest egg” for retirement, get a better job, build a “dream home,” buy a new car, find a life mate…When was the last time that you heard anyone (Christians of course) communicate spiritual goals in every day conversation—get closer to God, win more souls to the kingdom, give more to support ministry…As Christians, we must remember to prioritize God’s Kingdom above and before anything else (Matthew 6:33). Remember the following as it relates to worldly goals:



-You may build a beautiful house, but eventually it will crumble

-You may develop a fine career, but one day it will be over

-You may save a great sum of money, but you can’t take it with
you

-You may be in superb health today, but in time it will decline

-You may take pride in your accomplishments, but someone will
surpass you



Paul’s exhortation to the church is to, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. “ (Colossians 3:2) As you go through today and this season, remember that, “Only What You Do For Christ Will Last!”



Let’s Pray: “Father, we pray that You’ll help us to remember that we’ll prioritize our lives for kingdom building, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed

Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen






Questions of the Day
Challenge


Give at least five names for God in the Old Testament

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Thank God for the Valley


Various Scriptures




One of the most paradoxical statements in the Word of God is to, “Thank God in all things.” Why should we give God praise during times of pain, persecution, and perplexity? Why praise God when you have more enemies than friends, more sorrow than joy, and more month than you have money? You may not realize it, but hard times are necessary because it’s during the hard times that we truly grow! Your relationship with God wasn’t developed during the mountaintop, but during the valley low! Your valley experiences provided an opportunity for The Lord to prove that He is Who He said He is! In other words, you learned God as A Provider, A Healer, A Restorer…not during the good times, but during the difficult times in your life. The psalmist declared, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. (Psalm 119:71)



The old adage is true: “What doesn’t kill you, does make you stronger.” As you read and meditate on the poem below, let’s thank God for the valley experiences we all go through.



Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You for every valley experience in life, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”




It's in the Valley we Grow

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe

It's then we have to remember

That it's in the valleys we grow.

If we always stayed on the mountain top

And never experienced pain,

We would never appreciate God's love

And would be living in vain.

We have so much to learn

And our growth is very slow

Sometimes we need the mountain tops,

But it's in the valleys we grow.

We do not always understand

Why things happen as they do,

But I am very sure of one thing.

My Lord will see me through.

The little valleys are nothing

When we picture Christ on the cross

He went through the valley of death;

His victory was Satan's loss.

Forgive me Lord, for complaining

When I'm feeling so very low.

Just give me a gentle reminder

That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord

And use my life each day

To share your love with others

And help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord

For this one thing I know

The mountain tops are glorious

But it's in the valleys I grow!




Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed

Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day

Who Am I?

1. I’m the wife of Nabal that became the wife of David

2. I’m the wife of Uriah that became the wife of David

3. I’m the wife of Ahab

4. I’m the wife of Elimelech and the mother of Mahlon and Chilion

Monday, September 19, 2011

KEEP GETTING BACK UP!

Proverbs 24:16 “…a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…”


Last night, I watched a phenomenal football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles. Although the Eagles were favored, the Falcons came away with a 35-31 victory. Even though they won, the Falcons’ starting quarterback, Matt Ryan, took a pounding from the Eagle defense. For a great deal of the game, the Eagles contested Ryan’s throws and hit him either in the act of throwing (the ball) or shortly after. But amidst the pounding, Ryan still threw a career high four touchdown passes. During the post-game interview, a reported asked him, “How did you survive such a pounding?” To this Ryan replied, “I just kept getting back up.”


The life of the believer is one of constant and consistent warfare. The apostle Paul informed the church at Ephesus that, “…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) While we are victorious in “life’s boxing match” with Satan, there are rounds when he gets the best of us. As a matter of fact, there are times when the devil knocks the wind out of us and even puts us on our backs! But when we’ve suffered from the attacks of the enemy, we must have the wherewithal to pick ourselves up and go on. The writer declares that, “…a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…” Proverbs 24:16.

Child of God, if the enemy has gotten the best of you, get up, dust yourself off, and go on. Be encouraged today! In the end, you win!

Let’s Pray: “Father, I ask that You’ll help us to always ‘get up’ from the attacks of the enemy, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Confession Thank You for making me the head and not the tail Above only and not beneath The lender and not the borrower The conquerer and not the conquered

Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness And for delivering my life from death and destruction So that I might live and not die To declare Your Works

Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body For by Your Stripes I am healed Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee

Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray But I'm focused on what You've called me to do

Thank You that there is no lack in my life today For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus

This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it, In Jesus' Name, Amen

Questions of the Day Who Am I?

1. I went with Abraham even though God didn’t tell him to take me 2. I tried to take Sarai as my wife in Genesis 12 3. Abram told Sarai to say they she was his

Friday, September 16, 2011

A Life of Sacrifice

Various Scriptures

Love people who hate you. “Do good” towards folk who “do you bad.” Pray for people who are persecuting you. Give the first tenth of all your income plus an offering to The Lord—regardless of the bills you have for the week. Thank God in every situation…The aforementioned are examples of commandments that all Christians (not just the preachers) are to obey. The fact that these exhortations are opposed to our fleshly desires is the very thing that creates the tug of war between our flesh and our spirit!


As believers, we must always remember that the call to Christianity is a call to sacrifice. One of the greatest problems in all of Christendom is the gross number of individuals who want to follow God and obtain all His Blessings with little to no sacrifice. The following verses are a clarion call back to this great principal (the principal of sacrifice):



Matthew 16:24 (NKJV): Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.“



Luke 9:57 (ESV) As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”



Romans 12:1 (NCV) So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship.



On this final day of this week, spend time contemplating and re-committing to the life of sacrifice that all Christians are called to.



Let’s Pray:
“Father, remind us that being a Christian isn’t about convenience but commitment and sacrifice, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed

Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day

Who Am I?



1. I was Israel’s 1st king.

2. I was Saul’s replacement.

3. I anointed both Saul and David as Israel’s king.

4. I was the prophet who replaced Eli.

5. We were Eli’s sons.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Delegated Authority

Acts 19:13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.



Once upon a time, the naming of children born into the world carried special significance. My wife honored me at the birth of our three children by beginning their first names with the letter “C”(Calvin, Carah, and Ciara). I’ve met people who are named after grandparents, godparents, or even famous people (George Washington…Benjamin Franklin…Abraham Lincoln…). In our society, a name is a label that identifies a person. But in the Hebrew culture, a name indicated far more. The name expressed the essence of the person's being. Now I understand why Abram’s name was changed from Abram (high father) to Abraham (father of a great multitude) and why Jacob’s name had to be changed from Jacob (supplant, undermine) to Israel (one who prevails with God).



In the ancient world, people often pronounced names in hopes that the power of that being would be activated. Thus, in Acts 19, the seven sons of Sceva were trying to exorcise demons by, “…the Jesus whom Paul preached…” (Acts 19:13) These young men were following the tradition of pronouncing names as magic incantations in hopes that there would be a release of supernatural power from their efforts. The disparity in doctrine between their ideology and ours is simply a matter of delegated authority. Even though Jesus ascended back to heaven, prior to His Departure He delegated His Authority by giving us the right to operate in His Behalf and to use His Name (Mark 16:13). We’re authorized and deputized to utilize The Most Powerful Name in the universe—The Name of Jesus! Hallelujah!



Even though He went back to heaven, He sent The Holy Spirit to abide with us forever. And when we call on The Name of Jesus, The Spirit of God—not human or any earthly power—releases The Necessary Power for miracles. Today’s exhortation is simple…Thank God for our delegated authority!



Let’s Pray: “Father, thank You for the authority that You’ve given us—particularly The Authority to use Your Great Name, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed

Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day


**Who Am I?**

1. I promised God that if he’d give me a son, I would give him back
to God and I did. Who am I? Who is my son?

2. I was 90 years old when my son was born.

3. I died while giving birth to my son. I’d given his father a son
prior to birthing my 2nd son. Who am I? Who was my husband?
Who was my famous son? Who was the son who I gave birth to at
death?

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

A Simple Act of Obedience

Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."






This year represents the 10-year anniversary of my exodus from the military. In 2001, I got out of the Army at the peak of my career without retiring and with no other military benefits. To be honest, my sacrifice was not a willing one! I begged The Lord to work things out for me but to no avail. At the time, I didn't understand why God was requiring such a sacrifice from me. But looking in retrospect, I believe that it was that particular act of obedience that has allowed me and our ministry to live under an open heaven of God's Favor and Blessings.



In Genesis 12, The Lord required a tremendous sacrifice of a gentleman by the name of Abram. The Bible says, Some Bible scholars say that at the time that Abram obeyed, he was next in line to take over the family business. But his obedience to God resulted in his being the father of the faith. Abram's willingness to follow The Lord thousands of years ago is producing fruit in his behalf even today (Galatians 3:29).



Is God requiring you to make a move of faith during this season? What has The Lord been pressing upon your heart to do that you still haven't done? A simple act of obedience could very well be the key that shall unlock the door into your new season.



Let’s Pray:
“Father, help us to obey You, even when You’re requiring a great sacrifice of us, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”



Daily Confession


Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed

Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day

Who Am I?



1. I am one of two men that walked on water.

2. The Lord Himself buried me in Deuteronomy 34.

3. I caught my spiritual father’s mantle and received a “double-
portion” of his spirit.

4. I stayed in the lion’s den all night and the lions did me no harm.

5. I tried to seduce Joseph but failed.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Love Vaunts Not Itself, Is Not Puffed Up, And Does Not Behave Itself Unseemly

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;



When Paul wrote First Corinthians 13:1, he alluded to "super-spiritual" people in Corinth who boasted of great spirituality but who exhibited very little love in their lives. He said they were like a "sounding brass" and a "tinkling cymbal." These particular phrases indicate that these people talked incessantly, annoying and aggravating others with their never-ending, self-consumed chatter. In fact, the words "tinkling cymbal" were the very Greek words used to depict the clashing of cymbals that announced the onset of a war. This gives us the impression that the ceaseless talking and bragging of these "super-spirituals" often made their listeners fighting mad!



Could this be the reason Paul makes his fourth point on the characteristics of agape by saying that love "... vaunteth not itself..."? The word "vaunteth" has lost its meaning in today's vernacular, but in Greek it is very powerful! This word comes from the Greek word perpereuomai, which means a lot of self talk. In other words, it describes a person who endlessly promotes himself and exaggerates his own virtues. His self-promotion is so outrageous that he is usually prone to exaggeration that borders on lying. One Greek scholar has said that the word perpereuomai pictures a person who is full of hot air. Another expositor has said this word refers to a windbag!


The word "vaunteth" is Paul's strong warning to let us know:"... Love doesn't go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others...."Even as I write, my thoughts have turned to an individual who fits this description perfectly! If you know anyone like this, you're probably thinking of that person as well, because people like this are such an annoyance that it's hard to ignore or forget them.Regarding the man I'm thinking of, people who see him coming in their direction immediately begin to look for a way to escape. They know that once this man gets hold of them, he's going to start talking endlessly about himself, his projects, his ideas, and his accomplishments. He boasts to such an extreme degree that it is outright obnoxious. The problem is, he doesn't seem to be aware how full of his "self" he is!



Once a mutual friend asked him, "Why don't you ever ask about anyone else? All you ever talk about is yourself and your own feats. Don't you think it would be good to show at least some interest in what others are doing? Do you know how selfish you seem to be to other people?"The man answered, "Is anyone else besides myself doing anything that is worth talking about? I'm the only one doing anything significant." He was so self-consumed that he couldn't even recognize the fact that there are other hardworking high achievers in the Kingdom of God!



Coming from a terrible, insecure foundation in his own life, this man somehow feels that he must stretch the truth to a ridiculous extreme and brag about his own accomplishments. He has sung his own praises so long that no one close to him wants to hear those songs anymore! His total lack of concern for others and his complete preoccupation with himself have become offensive and disgusting to nearly everyone who knows him.



Often people exaggerate and boast endlessly because they have a hidden agenda they want to promote or because they want to gain some higher position or place of authority. Other times they are hoping to make the kind of impression that might give them special status or recognition in the eyes of others. Finally, they may just feel driven to prove their worth. Regardless of the reason that people boast about themselves, this kind of behavior does not demonstrate the way that agape love behaves!



Agape love is so strong, so sure, and so confident that it doesn't need to speak of itself or its accomplishments, even if those accomplishments are greater than anyone else's. Real agape love would never flaunt itself in this way; instead, agape love wants to focus on the accomplishments of others in order to build them up and make them feel more valuable and secure. Remember, agape isn't a self-focused love—it is focused on giving of itself in order to meet other people's needs.



Paul gives the fifth characteristic of agape love when he tells us that love "... is not puffed up." These words are based on the Greek word phusio, which means to be proud, to be swollen, or to be inflated. Thus, this word vividly paints the picture of a person who is filled with pride.Paul warns that agape is never phusio. This means agape love is never deceived into thinking too highly of itself nor does it arrogantly claim that it is better than others. Making this word even more significant is the fact that the word phusio also carries the notion of a person who has an air of superiority and haughtiness or a person who is snooty or snobbish in his dealings with other people.



Paul uses the word phusio in First Corinthians 4:6 to denote the pride and arrogance that was developing between wrangling members of the Corinthian church, each of whom believed that his or her particular leader was more important than other leaders. In First Corinthians 4:19, Paul uses phusio again as he warns these believers to change their behavior; otherwise, he will come to rebuke those who are "puffed up." This arrogance involving leadership was the primary source of division, contention, and rivalry in the Corinthian church.



In First Corinthians 5:2, Paul uses the word phusio yet again. After boldly confronting the Corinthian church for tolerating a grossly immoral situation among its members, Paul expresses his amazement that they could be "puffed up" in light of the ungodly relationship that was thriving right before their eyes. Then in First Corinthians 8:1 (nkjv), Paul uses the word phusio when he tells the Corinthians, "... Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."When you consider the Greek meaning of the words "puffed up," it becomes evident that Paul was letting us know:

"... Love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner."

After Paul tells us that love is not puffed up, he proceeds to give us his sixth point. He writes that love "doth not behave itself unseemly...."



The Greek word for "unseemly" is aschemoneo, an old word that means to act in an unbecoming manner. It suggests a person who is tactless or thoughtless. It also expresses the notion of a person who is careless and inconsiderate of others. Both his actions and words tend to be rude and discourteous, and he exhibits bad manners in the way he deals with people. His language is harsh and brutal, revealing that this person is uncaring insensitive, and unkind. In short, we would say that this is a person who "acts ugly."Because of the word "unseemly" in First Corinthians 13:5, it explicitly means that the Holy Spirit is telling us:

"Love is not rude and discourteous—it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others…."



So how do you fare when you look into the mirror of God's Word today? Do you pass the love test, or have you come up short again? If you see that you have fallen short of the high-level love God wants you to possess and exhibit in your life, it's time for you to go back to the Lord and talk to Him about it again! Never stop going to Him until you know that you are walking continually in the high-level love He wants you to demonstrate in your life!When all these Greek words and phrases are translated together, an expanded interpretive translation could be as follows:

"... Love doesn't go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others; love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner; love is not rude and discourteous—it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others...."



Is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart? Is He showing you areas where you have:

Exaggerated the truth to make yourself look better to others?

Acted in a prideful, haughty, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner?

Permitted yourself to act in a way that is not acceptable for someone who is striving toward excellence in God?



If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it's time for you to take immediate action! You need to spend some quality time with Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you, and let His blood cleanse you; then ask the Holy Spirit to start the process of transforming you into the image of Jesus. Don't stop until you think, see, and act like Jesus Christ—every moment of every day!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I ask You to help me live my life in a way that glorifies You. You are my Lord, and I am Your servant and child. I don't want to do anything with my life that brings disrespect or dishonor to Your precious name! Help me to not exaggerate or embellish the truth. I ask You to correct me when I am lured into snobbery or pride and to lovingly rebuke me when I "act ugly" toward others. I want to be like You, Jesus, and I'm not going to stop pressing ahead until I demonstrate Your life and Your nature in my life!

I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am never going to stop until I have attained the high level of love Jesus wants me to have in my life! I don't go around talking about myself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts. I don't behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner. I'm not rude and discourteous. I'm not careless or thoughtless. As I spend time with Jesus, I am being changed into His image—and I demonstrate His life and His nature to other people!

I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!


QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Have you been guilty of exaggerating or embellishing the truth to make yourself look better in front of other people? Would you feel comfortable telling those same stories if you were face-to-face with Jesus?



Have you ever been guilty of acting in a snobbish or clannish manner? Are you and your friends so tight that others might view your group as an exclusive little clique?


Have you been acting in a fashion that glorifies the name of Jesus? Or are there certain ways you behave that are too "ugly" to be representative of Jesus?


Agape love is so strong, so sure, and so confident that it doesn't need to speak of itself or its accomplishments, even if those accomplishments are greater than anyone else's. Real agape love would never flaunt itself in this way; instead, agape love wants to focus on the accomplishments of others in order to build them up and make them feel more valuable and secure.Sparkling Gems from the Greek.

Love Vaunts Not Itself, Is Not Puffed Up, And Does Not Behave Itself Unseemly

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;



When Paul wrote First Corinthians 13:1, he alluded to "super-spiritual" people in Corinth who boasted of great spirituality but who exhibited very little love in their lives. He said they were like a "sounding brass" and a "tinkling cymbal." These particular phrases indicate that these people talked incessantly, annoying and aggravating others with their never-ending, self-consumed chatter. In fact, the words "tinkling cymbal" were the very Greek words used to depict the clashing of cymbals that announced the onset of a war. This gives us the impression that the ceaseless talking and bragging of these "super-spirituals" often made their listeners fighting mad!



Could this be the reason Paul makes his fourth point on the characteristics of agape by saying that love "... vaunteth not itself..."? The word "vaunteth" has lost its meaning in today's vernacular, but in Greek it is very powerful! This word comes from the Greek word perpereuomai, which means a lot of self talk. In other words, it describes a person who endlessly promotes himself and exaggerates his own virtues. His self-promotion is so outrageous that he is usually prone to exaggeration that borders on lying. One Greek scholar has said that the word perpereuomai pictures a person who is full of hot air. Another expositor has said this word refers to a windbag!


The word "vaunteth" is Paul's strong warning to let us know:"... Love doesn't go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others...."Even as I write, my thoughts have turned to an individual who fits this description perfectly! If you know anyone like this, you're probably thinking of that person as well, because people like this are such an annoyance that it's hard to ignore or forget them.Regarding the man I'm thinking of, people who see him coming in their direction immediately begin to look for a way to escape. They know that once this man gets hold of them, he's going to start talking endlessly about himself, his projects, his ideas, and his accomplishments. He boasts to such an extreme degree that it is outright obnoxious. The problem is, he doesn't seem to be aware how full of his "self" he is!



Once a mutual friend asked him, "Why don't you ever ask about anyone else? All you ever talk about is yourself and your own feats. Don't you think it would be good to show at least some interest in what others are doing? Do you know how selfish you seem to be to other people?"The man answered, "Is anyone else besides myself doing anything that is worth talking about? I'm the only one doing anything significant." He was so self-consumed that he couldn't even recognize the fact that there are other hardworking high achievers in the Kingdom of God!



Coming from a terrible, insecure foundation in his own life, this man somehow feels that he must stretch the truth to a ridiculous extreme and brag about his own accomplishments. He has sung his own praises so long that no one close to him wants to hear those songs anymore! His total lack of concern for others and his complete preoccupation with himself have become offensive and disgusting to nearly everyone who knows him.



Often people exaggerate and boast endlessly because they have a hidden agenda they want to promote or because they want to gain some higher position or place of authority. Other times they are hoping to make the kind of impression that might give them special status or recognition in the eyes of others. Finally, they may just feel driven to prove their worth. Regardless of the reason that people boast about themselves, this kind of behavior does not demonstrate the way that agape love behaves!



Agape love is so strong, so sure, and so confident that it doesn't need to speak of itself or its accomplishments, even if those accomplishments are greater than anyone else's. Real agape love would never flaunt itself in this way; instead, agape love wants to focus on the accomplishments of others in order to build them up and make them feel more valuable and secure. Remember, agape isn't a self-focused love—it is focused on giving of itself in order to meet other people's needs.



Paul gives the fifth characteristic of agape love when he tells us that love "... is not puffed up." These words are based on the Greek word phusio, which means to be proud, to be swollen, or to be inflated. Thus, this word vividly paints the picture of a person who is filled with pride.Paul warns that agape is never phusio. This means agape love is never deceived into thinking too highly of itself nor does it arrogantly claim that it is better than others. Making this word even more significant is the fact that the word phusio also carries the notion of a person who has an air of superiority and haughtiness or a person who is snooty or snobbish in his dealings with other people.



Paul uses the word phusio in First Corinthians 4:6 to denote the pride and arrogance that was developing between wrangling members of the Corinthian church, each of whom believed that his or her particular leader was more important than other leaders. In First Corinthians 4:19, Paul uses phusio again as he warns these believers to change their behavior; otherwise, he will come to rebuke those who are "puffed up." This arrogance involving leadership was the primary source of division, contention, and rivalry in the Corinthian church.



In First Corinthians 5:2, Paul uses the word phusio yet again. After boldly confronting the Corinthian church for tolerating a grossly immoral situation among its members, Paul expresses his amazement that they could be "puffed up" in light of the ungodly relationship that was thriving right before their eyes. Then in First Corinthians 8:1 (nkjv), Paul uses the word phusio when he tells the Corinthians, "... Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."When you consider the Greek meaning of the words "puffed up," it becomes evident that Paul was letting us know:

"... Love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner."

After Paul tells us that love is not puffed up, he proceeds to give us his sixth point. He writes that love "doth not behave itself unseemly...."



The Greek word for "unseemly" is aschemoneo, an old word that means to act in an unbecoming manner. It suggests a person who is tactless or thoughtless. It also expresses the notion of a person who is careless and inconsiderate of others. Both his actions and words tend to be rude and discourteous, and he exhibits bad manners in the way he deals with people. His language is harsh and brutal, revealing that this person is uncaring insensitive, and unkind. In short, we would say that this is a person who "acts ugly."Because of the word "unseemly" in First Corinthians 13:5, it explicitly means that the Holy Spirit is telling us:

"Love is not rude and discourteous—it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others…."



So how do you fare when you look into the mirror of God's Word today? Do you pass the love test, or have you come up short again? If you see that you have fallen short of the high-level love God wants you to possess and exhibit in your life, it's time for you to go back to the Lord and talk to Him about it again! Never stop going to Him until you know that you are walking continually in the high-level love He wants you to demonstrate in your life!When all these Greek words and phrases are translated together, an expanded interpretive translation could be as follows:

"... Love doesn't go around talking about itself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts to make it look more important in the sight of others; love does not behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner; love is not rude and discourteous—it is not careless or thoughtless, nor does it carry on in a fashion that would be considered insensitive to others...."



Is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart? Is He showing you areas where you have:

Exaggerated the truth to make yourself look better to others?

Acted in a prideful, haughty, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner?

Permitted yourself to act in a way that is not acceptable for someone who is striving toward excellence in God?



If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it's time for you to take immediate action! You need to spend some quality time with Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you, and let His blood cleanse you; then ask the Holy Spirit to start the process of transforming you into the image of Jesus. Don't stop until you think, see, and act like Jesus Christ—every moment of every day!



MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I ask You to help me live my life in a way that glorifies You. You are my Lord, and I am Your servant and child. I don't want to do anything with my life that brings disrespect or dishonor to Your precious name! Help me to not exaggerate or embellish the truth. I ask You to correct me when I am lured into snobbery or pride and to lovingly rebuke me when I "act ugly" toward others. I want to be like You, Jesus, and I'm not going to stop pressing ahead until I demonstrate Your life and Your nature in my life!

I pray this in Jesus' name!



MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am never going to stop until I have attained the high level of love Jesus wants me to have in my life! I don't go around talking about myself all the time, constantly exaggerating and embellishing the facts. I don't behave in a prideful, arrogant, haughty, superior, snooty, snobbish, or clannish manner. I'm not rude and discourteous. I'm not careless or thoughtless. As I spend time with Jesus, I am being changed into His image—and I demonstrate His life and His nature to other people!

I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!


QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

Have you been guilty of exaggerating or embellishing the truth to make yourself look better in front of other people? Would you feel comfortable telling those same stories if you were face-to-face with Jesus?



Have you ever been guilty of acting in a snobbish or clannish manner? Are you and your friends so tight that others might view your group as an exclusive little clique?


Have you been acting in a fashion that glorifies the name of Jesus? Or are there certain ways you behave that are too "ugly" to be representative of Jesus?


Agape love is so strong, so sure, and so confident that it doesn't need to speak of itself or its accomplishments, even if those accomplishments are greater than anyone else's. Real agape love would never flaunt itself in this way; instead, agape love wants to focus on the accomplishments of others in order to build them up and make them feel more valuable and secure.Sparkling Gems from the Greek.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Don't Miss Your Season!

John 5:5-8: One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" 7 The sick man answered him, "Sir i have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me."


Several weeks ago, I watched a real-life illustration of what it means to miss your season. While traveling down Tiny Town Road, I passed a woman that was in the turning lane at a traffic light. Although the turning arrow was green, she didn't recognize it because she was engrossed in a conversation. Although the frustrated commuters behind her were blowing their horns, the light turned red with the woman and those behind her still stuck in traffic. She missed her window of opportunity to turn off the main road because of her distraction.



John chapter 5 records a gentleman who almost missed his season of blessings. When Jesus asked the man who'd been paralyzed for 38 years, "Do you want to be healed," the gentleman's reply was, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." Our Miracle-Working Savior was about to make him whole and he almost missed his season! Like this gentleman, many times excuses, doubt and unbelief are all reasons that Christians miss their window of opportunity to move in God's Will and His Promises. It is my prayer today that you won't miss what The Lord is desiring to do in your life during this season.

My prayer are the words of one of my favorite songs..."Whatever God is doing, I pray that He doesn't do it without you!"



Let's Pray: "Father, I ask You to move in the life of my brother and my sister in a great way during this season. I ask, Father, that they will be in the Center of Your Will today and always, in Jesus' Name, amen."



Daily Confession

Thank You for making me the head and not the tail

Above only and not beneath

The lender and not the borrower

The conquerer and not the conquered



Thank You for giving me all things that pertain to life and godliness

And for delivering my life from death and destruction

So that I might live and not die

To declare Your Works



Thank You that no sickeness shall live in my body

For by Your Stripes I am healed

Thank You that I shall not be stressed, oppressed or depressed

But I'm kept in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee



Thank You that I'm not distressed, distracted, or in disarray

But I'm focused on what You've called me to do



Thank You that there is no lack in my life today

For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus



This is the day that the Lord has made

I will rejoice and be glad in it,

In Jesus' Name,

Amen



Questions of the Day

1. Name all of Jesus' 12 disciples.

2. Name the 12 tribes of Israel

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Your Blessing Is Waiting Ahead

Galatians 6:9 Your Blessing Is Waiting Ahead Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

A visit to McDonald’s last week gave me a snapshot of what God has in store for His people. I ordered the wonderful Mango Pineapple Smoothie and then pulled up to the 1 st window to pay. Directly after I paid for the beverage, an interesting thing happened. Before I left the cashier’s window, a young lady at the pickup window stuck her arm out the window with the drink in her hand! All I had to do was drive straight ahead and pick up the drink.

There are times when God’s Promises seem so far away. Just a couple weeks ago, I conversed with a gentleman that told me that because of the warfare he’s battling, he couldn’t see himself ever obtaining what God has promised. Perhaps you’re reading this and you feel like he felt. But I want to encourage you to keep pushing forward in the things of God. Today’s Scriptural exhortation comes from Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Keep pressing forward, Christian soldier…your blessing is waiting ahead!

Let’s Pray: “Father, I pray that You’ll encourage Your people to keep trusting and believing that You’re going to honor Your Word concerning them. Help them to keep pressing forward, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Daily Prayer: “Oh, that You would bless me indeed,

and enlarge my territory,

that Your hand would be with me,

and that You would keep me from evil,

that I may not cause pain!”

The Prayer of Jabez, I Chronicles 4:10

Daily Confession: Father, I thank You for making me the head and not the tail Above only and not beneath The lender and not the borrower The conqueror and not the conquered

I thank You for giving me all things that pertain unto life and godliness And for delivering my life from death and destruction So that I shall live and not die to declare your works

I thank You that no sickness shall live in my body today For by Your Stripes I'm healed I confess that I will not be stressed, oppressed, or depressed Because You're keeping me in perfect peace as my mind is stayed on Thee

I confess that there shall not be any lack in my life today For my God shall supply all my needs according to His Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus Thank You that all things are working together for my good And that You always cause me to triumph

This is the day that you have made I will rejoice and be glad in it In Jesus, Name, amen.

Bible Challenge Who Am I?

1. I am the 1 st bird that Noah sent out after the flood in Genesis 8:6.

2. I am the 2 nd bird that Noah sent out in Genesis 8:8.

3. I am the item that the bird brought back to Noah in Genesis 8:13 which let him know that the ground was dry.

4. I am the sign of the covena