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Showing posts from September, 2019

An Exceptional Future

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"But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day..." (Proverbs 4:18) An Exceptional Future We all face challenges. We all have obstacles to overcome. But if we can keep the right perspective, it will help us stay in faith so that we can move forward into victory. You may feel right now as though the challenges you face are too big or too overwhelming. One thing I’ve learned is that average people have average problems. Ordinary people have ordinary challenges. But remember, you’re not average. You’re not ordinary. You are extraordinary. God breathed His life into you. You are exceptional, and exceptional people face exceptional difficulties. But the good news is that we serve an exceptional God! When you have an extraordinary problem, instead of being discouraged, be encouraged, knowing that you’re an extraordinary ...

Plug in to the Power Generator!

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Plug in to the Power Generator “… that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ”   (1 Corinthians 2:5) Faith operates only when it is placed in the right object. Power flows through a power line only when it is plugged into a proper power source. There is no power in faith itself. Faith is the power line that transmits the power flowing from the power generator:  God . Believers must place our faith in God, the source of power that sparks us to do his work in our world. We have no power in and of ourselves. For it is God himself who is at work in us, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. According to Isaiah 26:12, it is God who does our works in us. This is a core  Kingdom  of God principle: unless God operates in our lives, our efforts will fail to stand the test of fire in the future. A foundation built on self will burn up. But when we build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ, our faith will s...

PRAY!

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Compassionate God, hear my prayer. I place my hope in your promises and I know you are near to me. Help me today as I seek to be obedient to your commands. Amen.

Work While We Have the Opportunity!

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Work While We Have the Opportunity “’ But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ ” (Haggai 2:4–5) Opportunity is one of the greatest blessings that can be given to a person. Whenever we have opportunity to do something that advances the kingdom of God, we want to take advantage of it. Sometimes we have only one opportunity to do something. We never know if the same opportunity will come by again. The Lord tells us to be strong and to work, for he is with us in our endeavors. His Spirit gives us the capacity, the talent, and the treasure, if needed, to accomplish his purposes. We do not want to miss out on opportunities he offers – opportunities such as bringing glory to his name, blessing in this ...

Open Our Eyes!

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Open Our Eyes! “ Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. ” (Psalm 119:18) Scripture has a lot to say about eyes. Where we focus our eyes is important; they can lead us astray or they can keep our attention of the goals God has places in front of us. We are counseled to look neither to the right or the left. Like the runner in the race, we are to keep our eyes focused on the goal. As we focus our eyes on the Word of God, we will get to know God better: “ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him…. ” (Luke 24:31) God’s Word will communicate with us, and we will recognize the truth he wants us to experience. We will grow to know Christ as he reveals himself to us. The first step of experiencing all that Christ has for is coming to know him. Only then do we come to the point, “ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ” (Luke 24:45) The concepts in the Word of God are spiritually discerned. We understand as the Spirit enlightens...

PRAY!

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Righteous God, I honestly want to know everything you teach. I trust in your goodness and mercy. Keep me close to you and don’t let me stumble, so I can obey your laws. Amen.

A Lifetime of Favor!

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"Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime..." (Psalm 30:4-5) A Lifetime of Favor Let this truth sink down into your spirit today: God’s favor is not for a season; it’s for a lifetime. How do we obtain God’s favor? Proverbs 3 tells us that when we honor His Word, when we obey His commands and walk in mercy and truth, that’s how we find favor in God’s sight. When we do our part, God will do His part. Today, if you are believing God for something, maybe a turnaround in a relationship, career or your health, stand firm that God’s Word is true. When you put Him first place in your life, when you follow His commands, He promises to pour out His favor on you. When those thoughts try to tell you, “It’s not going to happen. It’s too good to be true,” turn it around and say, “Father, I want to thank You for Your favor on my life, on my children, on my career, on my future. I ...

What Controls You – Earthly Desires or Heavenly Ones?

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What Controls You – Earthly Desires or Heavenly Ones? “ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. ” ( Romans 5:20 )  We must be careful about what we desire. Desiring only earthly things, with no thought of the eternal implications, is a formula for disaster.  “ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ ” (Philippians 3:18–20).  It is critical that the resurrection power of Christ be at work in our life. As this power grows in the heart of the believer, the spiritual desires to invest our time, talent, and treasure in the Kingdom will overcome desires of a perishable nature.  We ...

He Has Mercy!

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"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows..." (Galatians 6:7) He Has Mercy Have you ever looked at a large old tree and wondered how long it has been there? The thing to remember when you see a tree like this is that at one time, it was merely a little seed. Just like a mighty oak tree, if you want to grow tall and strong in your faith, you must plant the good seeds of faith so that you may reap a great harvest! All through the Scripture, we find the principle of sowing and reaping. Farmers may get discouraged sometimes, but they know that if they want good results, they must keep planting and watering the good seeds. This is true of you as well. Notice, we reap what we sow. If you want to reap happiness, you have to sow some “happiness” seeds by making other people happy. If you want to reap financial blessings, you must sow financial seeds in the lives of others. If you want to reap friendships, you should sow a seed and be a friend. Kee...

Our Source of Help!

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Our Source of Help “ I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure. ” (Psalm 16:8–9) The Psalmist made it his life habit to set the Lord before him. This is an important lesson for us from an application standpoint. When we face problems, it is easy to focus on the problem. Focusing on the problem alone can sap our energy and lead us down the path to depression. Problems can be the tools of the CONSUMERLATOR if we are not careful how we treat them. By focusing on the Lord, we can CONVERTERLATE the problem, using it to strengthen us in our relationship with the Lord. By focusing on the Lord we make the great discovery: “ For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. ” (Psalm 36:9) The Lord is the source of our life. Strength, joy, and help flow from the Lord. If we focus on the problem, it can consume our life. When we look to the Lord, we ...

A Spirit Of Unity!

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"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had..." (Romans 15:5) A Spirit Of Unity Do you find that you are surrounded by people all the time, yet you still feel disconnected from them? In your family, is everyone going in different directions, always busy, always doing their own thing? I've found that we really have to make a conscious effort to walk and live in unity with the people in our lives and not allow distractions to pull us apart. Walking in a spirit of unity goes beyond just getting along, it's about going the extra mile to support and lift one another up. If you want to get the most out of life, you've got to draw a line in the sand and say, "I'm going to slow down and connect with the people I love. I'm not going to take my relationships for granted." Start today by calling a friend or family member whom you haven't talked to in a while. Reac...

The Converterlator!

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The Converterlator “ I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. ” ( Luke 16:9 )  Yes, I know. There is no such word as “converterlator.”  It is a figure of speech to make a point. We know we cannot take anything with us when we enter the “real world” after our demise in this one. We live a perishing life in a perishable environment. Everything about us is perishing, including our time, talent, and treasure. Even our bodies are perishing; they are “on loan” to us, and we’ll “turn them in” on a date known only by our Creator.Yet, we are given the opportunity to convert these perishable items into kingdom investments that will last forever, with ever-increasing returns in the real world to come. The “converterlator” is the process by which we convert the perishable into eternal investments. We do this by investing our time, talent, and treasure in the eternal values treasured by God....

His Timing!

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"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart..." (Galatians 6:9) His Timing I’d love to tell you that if you stay in faith, if you believe, God will always answer your prayer within twenty-four hours, or at least within the first week. But we know that’s not reality. God promises He will be true to His Word, but He never puts a timeframe on it. In fact, He tells us that we need patience to see the promises come to pass. Sure, it would be a lot easier if God told us when we were going to get well, when we would meet the right person, or when our child would straighten up. But the truth is, that wouldn’t take any faith. It takes faith to say, “God, I don’t know when You are going to do it, but I trust You enough to believe that You will do it, that the answer is already in my future.” Today and every day let this be your prayer: “God, give me the grace to accept Your timing.” That means you’re asking for God’s str...

Our Designer Has the Power!

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Our Designer Has the Power! “…Visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ” (Colossians 1:16) This passage Scripture helps us become familiar with the Word of God. We have been created for Jesus Christ. I want to know what he created me for, and what his purpose is for me. Only through the Word of God can we find the answers to these questions. He is the grand designer; everything has been created for his purposes. Faith and power are a big part of this equation: “… So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ” (1 Corinthians 2:5) The power involved in creating everything, both visible and invisible, is incomprehensible. The powers human agencies exert are nothing compared to the power God. As we begin to comprehend the scope of this truth, we can see why Paul said, “ Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency i...

A Heart At Peace!

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"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones..." (Proverbs 14:30) A Heart At Peace The best thing you can do for health is to set your heart at peace with God. Peace is such a powerful position. It is a position of life and strength. Peace literally means "to set at one again." In other words, we have peace when our minds and hearts are "at one" with the Word of God. It's so easy to let the pressures and distractions of life pull our thoughts away from the heavenly Father. It doesn't take long before we are so focused on earthly things that we feel overwhelmed and all stressed out. We weren't meant to live filled with anxieties, we were meant to live in peace. Today, keep your heart at peace by staying focused on God the Father. Sow life to your body by staying in agreement with Him. Let His peace guard your heart so that you can be equipped to live the abundant life He has promised to you! A Prayer for Today ...

Make a Habit of Expressing Gratitude!

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Make a Habit of Expressing Gratitude “ He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”   (Psalm 50:23) We live in a world where gratitude is a rare commodity. Most people spend their time asserting their rights or demanding more and more for doing less and less. The focus of the  Kingdom  of God thinker is sharply different. The Kingdom of God thinker works to be an effective instrument of God. The focus is on  making an impact for the advancement of the kingdom of God , not on asserting personal rights and ambitions. This passage from Psalm 50 tells us we honor God when we express gratefulness. Not only does a grateful heart honor God, but it prepares the way for God to move in the life of the believer. When we express gratitude to God, we are also expressing faith in him and in his provision for us. This causes God, subject to his sovereign will, to prepare the way for his saving a...

PRAY!

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God of life and freedom, let your teachings breathe new life into me that I may experience your perfect freedom by learning to live according to your will with justice, mercy, and compassion. Amen. PRAYER CONCERN

Converterlators are Creators!

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Converterlators are Creators “ Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”  (Isaiah 42:9) God is in the creation business. When you become a CONVERTERLATOR, you are a new instrument of God. God uses you to convert time, talent, and treasure into the imperishable values of the kingdom. He also works through you to bring about the “new” in others’ lives. “ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Our new worldview empowers us to live for the one who died for us. The CONVERTERLATOR is on the lookout. “ Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ” (Isaiah 43:19) We live in anticipation of seeing the hand of God at work in us and in our circumstances. He is always in the process of changing us, and doing new things that ca...

Convictions are Key!

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Convictions are Key “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Scripture: Romans 4:20–21)  Abraham is a prime example of one who was fully persuaded that God would perform what he had promised. That is conviction. Conviction was a controlling factor in Abraham’s life, and he ordered his life accordingly, experiencing the blessing of God. Conviction is a key component of faith. When a person lacks conviction, their faith wavers and the promises of God may not be fulfilled. Scripture tells us, “ When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6–7).  We must have the conviction that the Word of God is living and powerful, and that it works in those who receive and trust ...

PRAY!

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Holy God, I worship you with all my heart. I eagerly seek to understand your teachings and obey your commands. Guide me this day to be obedient to your will. Amen.

Angels Move On Your Behalf!

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"Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word..." (Psalm 103:20) Angels Move On Your Behalf Did you know that when you speak words of faith, angels are dispatched to move on your behalf? The Scripture tells us that God gives His angels charge over us. That means, when God hears you declaring His Word, He says to the angels, “Do you hear My child speaking words of faith? He believes I can do great things. Angels, I have an assignment for you. Go to work and begin to turn the situation around.” And the angels obey His Word! If we could pull back the curtain on the unseen realm, we would see a host of angels and heavenly beings watching over us. That’s why it’s so important to guard what we say because with our words, we either open a door for God and His angels to move on our behalf, or we open a door for the enemy and the forces of darkness.” Make the decision today to only speak words of faith and life over you, your hom...

New Life!

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New Life! “ …Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! ” (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is what relationship is all about when we trust Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Everything becomes new, and we are given a new lease on life. We discover that Christ himself is our inheritance, our treasure. As we SOAK and SOW in his living and powerful Word, and then FLOW with the Spirit, we are transformed. When we are down, he restores our soul and he leads us in the way we should go. He becomes the strength of our heart. With increasing confidence we develop a strong sense that “ The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. ” (Psalm 138:8) We experience the reality of this when we cast our burdens on the Lord. We discover this amazing truth: “He will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. ” (Psalm 55:22) It is wonderful to d...

Kindness and Goodness!

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"See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people..." (1 Thessalonians 5:15) Kindness and Goodness In Galatians 5, the Scripture talks about the nine fruits of the Spirit or the spiritual qualities that manifest in our lives when we allow Him to work in us. The more we invite God to move in our hearts and follow His Word, the more those characteristics will manifest in us. Kindness and goodness are two of those fruits of the Spirit. The Scripture tells us that His kindness leads people to repentance. In other words, kindness advances the kingdom of God. The more kindness and goodness we show other people, the more we are acting like God. The Bible also tells us that what we sow, we shall reap. When we seek to do good to others, we will reap goodness in our own lives in return. Today, look for ways to show kindness and goodness to the people around you, even when they aren’t kind to you. Don’...

He is Our Defense!

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He is Our Defense “ Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. ” (Proverbs 30:5) We are influenced by both the world we see and the unseen spiritual world: “ For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ” (Ephesians 6:12–13) Many times what we see in this world is the result of spiritual battles being fought in the unseen world. The Psalmist prayed, “ My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. ” (Psalm 62:5–6) Scripture makes it clear that all power belongs to God: “ God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. ” (Psalm 62:11)...