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Showing posts from February, 2020

PRAY!

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I thank you, Lord God, for your constant love and faithfulness. Great are you, God Most High, and your glory is over all the earth. Amen.

Our Greatest Reward is Knowing God!

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Our Greatest Reward is Knowing God  “….Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”  (Genesis 15:1 ) Having access to, and knowing God through Jesus Christ is the greatest possible blessing we can have. The Lord told Abram that in the above scripture, and it is true for us today.  In today’s world, many people will do almost anything to access what they perceive to be power, thinking people in those positions can do something for them. We learn from the scripture that power belongs to God. He is the one who can open doors for us, gives us opportunities, blessing us with whatever benefits he wants to share with us. Knowing the King is more important than anything else a person can have. This is one of the reasons Jesus tells us to labor for the food that leads to eternal life, and not for the food that perishes. Moses wanted God to show him his ways so that he could know him, and thus find grace or favor in God’s sight.  Why?  Moses knew tha

Blessed in the Dark Places!

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“…Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...” (Ephesians 3:20) Blessed in the Dark Places Have you adapted to a limited environment? You have big dreams in your heart. You know there’s a new business in you, a management position, a book, a better house, but you’ve gone as far as your family members and friends have gone in the past. No, don’t settle there. There is potential in you right now just waiting to come out. You have gifts that will cause new doors to open, talent that will bring new opportunities. Quit making excuses to settle where you are. You may be in a limited environment that includes dysfunction, addictions, and depression. The good news is, you don’t have to stay there. God is saying, “This is a new day. You’re a barrier breaker. I’m going to take you further faster than you’ve imagined. You’re going to defy the odds.” Now do your part. Let this seed take root in your spiri

Busy Doing What?

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Busy Doing What? “ There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ”  ( 1 Kings 19:9 )   Have you ever been in a place and asked yourself, “What am I doing here?”   For the Kingdom of God thinker, this is a very important question. As I make choices daily, this question is in the back of my mind. I need to evaluate what kind of a “giver” I will be during the time I have left in this world. The ways in which I decide to spend the time God has given me will determine how much of my activity will echo into eternity. The spending of my treasure, however great or small, will determine if I have anything stored in the “First National Bank of Heaven.”  By soaking our heart in the Word of God and feeding our soul with the spiritual M and Ms we find in the Word, we will discover what is important to God. He will reveal is will, plan, and purpose for our life as we focus on him and his values. His desires will

Blessed in the Dark Places!

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“…If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God...” (Isaiah 50:10) Blessed in the Dark Places All of us at some point will go through a dark place—a sickness, a divorce, a loss, a child who breaks our heart. It’s easy to get discouraged, give up on our dreams, and think that’s the end. But God uses the dark places. They’re a part of His divine plan. Think of a seed. As long as a seed remains in the light, it cannot germinate and will never become what it was created to be. The seed must be planted in the soil, in a dark place, so that the potential on the inside will come to life. You may not realize it, but it’s only in the dark places that the seeds of greatness in you—dreams, goals, talents, potential—will come to life. These times of darkness are where your character is developed, where you learn to trust God and persevere, and where you gain blessings you cannot gain in the light. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank Yo

Fish Hard! Life is Short!

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Fish Hard! Life is Short! Jesus Christ came to “…purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”  ( Titus 2:14  ) The above sign hit me between the eyes when I first saw it at a dock where many boats left daily to go fishing. It brings to mind many possible spiritual applications Jesus taught that are so relevant for today.  In Titus 2:14, Paul states clearly we have been redeemed as a special people to be zealous for doing good works. This passage helps define the purpose for why we have been left in this world. Jesus came to finish the work that God, the Father, had given him to do. In fact, Scripture says that zeal for his Father’s house would consume him. Jesus also knew his time was limited. There was a sense of urgency about his life and his limited time in this world. This urgent pattern for living should characterize us. I want to “FISH HARD” during the time God has given me to live.  With each passing day, we become aware that life is truly

The Power of “I Am”

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“…A man will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words...” (Proverbs 12:14) The Power of “I Am” Whether you realize it or not, all through the day the power of “I am” is at work in your life, for whatever follows those two simple words will always come looking for you. When you say, “I am so unlucky,” you’re inviting disappointments. “I am so overweight.” Calories come looking for you. It’s as though you’re giving it permission to be in your life. That’s why you have to be careful what follows the “I am” and not wield its power against you. The good news is, you get to choose what follows the “I am.” Get up in the morning and invite good things into your life. “I am blessed. I am strong. I am talented. I am wise. I am disciplined. I am focused. I am prosperous.” When you talk like that, talent gets summoned by Almighty God: “Go find that person.” Health, strength, abundance, and discipline start heading your way, and it costs you nothing! A Prayer for Today “Fa

Stay Focused Daddy!

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Stay Focused Daddy! “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work.’”  (John 4:34)  for the person practicing  Kingdom of God . We need to stay focused on the important things in life. Jesus was on a mission. His will was to do the will of him who sent him, and to finish the work he was sent to do. We should have the same desire and goal. That is, we want to finish the work God has gifted us to do before we leave this world. We are on a mission: a mission to help fulfill the Great Commission. Today, ask yourself: Have I captured the vision of the mission God has gifted me to do? Am I focused in some way in helping to fulfill the Great Commission?

Stay at Peace!

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“…Be still, and know that I am God!...” (Psalm 46:10) Stay at Peace It’s easy to live frustrated because somebody is not doing what we want, discouraged because of a disappointment, upset because our dreams haven’t come to pass. But God doesn’t remove every frustration. He doesn’t change every person we don’t like or take away everything that’s bothering us. When He says, “Be still and know that I am God,” this implies that if we’re not still, if we’re upset, frustrated, and worried, we’re not going to know that He is God. Most of the time when we’re frustrated, we’re trying to change things that only God can change. We’re trying to be God and fix things over which we have no control. You can’t make people do what’s right or make yourself get well. If you’re trying to control everything, you’re going to be frustrated. Do what you can, then turn it over to God and let Him take care of the rest. Stay at peace, knowing He’s in control. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You th

Do You Have a Self-Serve Mentality?

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Do You Have a Self-Serve Mentality? Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  (Luke 6:38) In Luke 6:38 Jesus tells us that as we give it will be given back to us in good measure, pressed down, and shaken together along life’s way.  The principles of  Kingdom of God  teach us life does not consist of the abundance of things, and that we should labor for the food that leads to eternal life. We find an increasing life of fulfillment as we practice giving or investing in what matters to the Lord Jesus Christ.  When the “time bubble” in which we find ourselves pops, and we suddenly find ourselves in realm of eternity, we will be very glad we invested in eternal values while we were in this world. God’s values and priorities should increasingly become our values and priorities. I remind myself from time to time what John the Baptist s

A Flourishing Finish!

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“…There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears...” (Philippians 1:6) A Flourishing Finish How you start is not important. Don’t let what you think is a disadvantage or a bad break cause you to say, “If I’d had a better childhood, if I had more support, if I didn’t have this dysfunction, I could do something great.” That’s where you started, but that’s not where you’re going to finish. The beginning doesn’t determine your destiny. The apostle Paul did not say that God will bring you “to a defeated finish,” “an unfair finish,” “a lonely finish,” or a “bankrupt finish.” God has a victorious finish, an abundant finish, “a flourishing finish.” When those thoughts tell you, “It’s never going to work out. You have too many disadvantages,” let those lies go in one ear and out the other. God has established the end, and He loves to take peo

Be a Signpost!

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Be a Signpost “ And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, ‘If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.’”   (2 Kings 5:2-3, ) Naaman was a great general who handed many military victories to the king of Assyria. But Naaman had a problem: he had leprosy. Fortunately, a young servant girl captured from the land of Israel worked for Naaman’s wife. At an opportune time, the servant girl told Naaman’s wife that Naaman could be healed if he would see the prophet, Elisha. Ultimately, Naaman acted on the information, and he was healed from his leprosy. This “unimportant” servant girl was a signpost who pointed the way for Naaman to experience salvation from this deadly disease. We may feel insignificant and unimportant.  However, as believers, we are messengers who are able to tell people about the cure fo

Amen

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I turn to you in prayer, Lord God, knowing that you hear my words and will answer. You know my heart, and today I ask for wisdom and knowledge of your Word. I thank and praise you for your wonderful love and mercy. Amen.

The Masks Money Wears!

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The Masks Money Wears “But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. ” (Mark 4:19) In  Kingdom of God , we discuss money because Jesus had a lot to say about money and the dangers associated with it. And money is dangerous, like a rattlesnake. It can be so deceitful. Jesus tells us that our excessive concern for money can choke the Word, keeping us from bearing fruit. This happens when we think so much about money that we fail to allow the Word of God to take root. Money can wear many “masks.” Excessive worrying about money is one mask that can hinder us from developing our relationship with God.  Another mask might be an unhealthy desire for money—an assumption that we’ll be satisfied if we have a lot of money.  The mask of desiring the things money may provide can also choke the Word from being effective in our life.  If we allow money to control us in this fashion, we mak

PRAY!

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Merciful and loving God, I pray that you keep me from falling and bring me faultless and joyful into your glorious presence. To you, the only God my Savior, through Jesus Christ my Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, from all ages past, and now, and forever and ever! Amen.

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 actions in our everyday

Out of Season!

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“…Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert...” (Isaiah 35:6) Out of Season There are times when things aren’t going your way, business is down, the medical report isn’t good. It’s not your season. The good news is that God specializes in doing things out of season. He doesn’t wait for the perfect circumstances to line up, for you to have the training, for the right people to believe in you. He does things unexpectedly. He’ll make water pour out in your dry places and cause you to blossom out of season. What happened? God blessed you out of season. Do you feel out of season as though you’re stuck in some area? Stay encouraged. God has you in the palms of His hands. Get ready for an “out of season” blessing, for an “it’s beyond my imagination” healing, for an “it doesn’t make sense” promotion. God is about to do something unusual, something that’s bigger than you’ve dreamed, where you’re going to say, “Wow, God! I didn’t see that coming!” A Prayer f

A New Way of Living!

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A New Way of Living  “ But… the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ ” (Deuteronomy 17:16 )  After the wise men’s encounter with the newborn King, the Lord instructed them to return to their homeland by a different route.  Things change when Jesus Christ assumes control of our lives. We become new creations and are transformed into instruments for service to God. We abandon the old ways of doing things. We no longer try to earn our way to God through works. Instead of living the law of the flesh, we live by the law of faith. We become ambassadors for Christ. As we practice the concepts of  soak, sow,  and  flow  , our attitudes, thinking, and behavioral patterns change. The love of Christ compels us to live in harmony with the will of God. Even though we are wasting away outwardly, we discover we are being renewed inwardly daily.  As we consider this transformation process, the words of John the Baptist come to mind: “He must increase, and I must d

Have a Clean Heart!

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“…For I acknowledge my transgressions…Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts...” (Psalm 51:3, 6) Have a Clean Heart Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance in which David acknowledged a sin he had covered up. His first step was to accept responsibility. You can’t overcome what you don’t confront—a hidden addiction, a failure, a hurt. When you hide things, it’s going to eat away at you like a poison. David went on to say that God requires truth in our inner parts. You can’t pretend and have God’s blessing at the same time. If you’re covering things up, it’s not going to magically go away. When you come to God and ask for His forgiveness and mercy, He’ll begin to restore and put you back on the path to your destiny. David says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Restore to me the joy of my salvation.” He got it out in the open and asked for forgiveness—that was the turning point. God forgave and restored him, and David went on to do great things. A Prayer for Today “Fat

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 survive the test of fire when

Start Some Good Fires!

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“…The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. And the tongue is a flame of fire...” (James 3:5–6) Start Some Good Fires We need to realize that God hears what we say every day. He hears us when we bless people, when we compliment and encourage them, and when we push them forward. He hears when we criticize and stir up trouble. The prophet Isaiah said that we will eat the fruit of our words. If you sow disrespect, sarcasm, discord, and judgment, you’re going to reap those things. But when you sow kindness, encouragement, and mercy, that’s what you’re going to reap. James said that our tongue is like a fire, and one spark can set a whole forest on fire. One word can start a major problem or a major blessing. You can start some good fires. Ignite dreams, ignite hope, ignite passion. Your words can put people on their feet, breathe new life into their dreams. Don’t be a part of the problem, be a part of the

Where’s Your Permanent Home?

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Where’s Your Permanent Home? “ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. ” (Hebrews 11:16 )  Being heavenly minded, but earthly sensitive, is a core principle in practicing  Kingdom of God . What does that mean? It means that we know we’re passing through this temporary world on the way to our permanent home in heaven. With that in mind, we make choices in light of investing the three Ts – time , talent, and treasure – for the advancement of God’s kingdom. Those who came before us did the same thing. Hebrews 11 lists people of faith who, from the beginning of time, chose to listen to God and guided their lives accordingly. The list included Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abram, and Moses. They willingly exchanged many of the temporary pleasures of this world so they could inherit the promises made to them by God. In faith, they looked forward to heaven. We have the same opp

Have Deep Roots!

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“…You can’t find firm footing in a swamp, but life rooted in God stands firm.” (Proverbs 12:3) Have Deep Roots When the ground is saturated, even a big sturdy oak tree with an extensive root system that extends beyond its canopy can be blown over by high winds. That’s because most of its roots are less than twelve inches deep and don’t have anything to anchor to. It’s the same principle in life. We all have things that come against us—a medical issue, a business downturn, a child gets in trouble. What’s going to determine whether or not you stand strong and outlast these storms is the depth of your roots. The reason some people are always upset, offended, and discouraged is that they only have surface roots. They’re moved by what somebody said or did or something unfair. They’re always being tossed to and fro. But when you have deep roots, when you know that God is in control, you’re not moved by what doesn’t go your way. The winds may blow, but you’re still standing. A P

Be on the Lookout!

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Be on the Lookout “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”  (Revelation 22:20) As the Creator, God is always on the move. The landscape of “circumstances” of the world are constantly changing. Opportunities come and go. Scripture emphasizes the brevity of life many times:  “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:11–12) This is an exhortation we had better listen to in order to be prepared! We are to be on high alert:  “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”  (Matthew 25:13) Without question, Jesus Christ is returning to this world. This coming event can happen at any time. Do you have a sense of expectancy? “For our citizens

Be a Peacemaker!

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“…Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Be a Peacemaker It’s easy think, If my coworker wasn’t so disrespectful, I wouldn’t argue. No, you have to be the bigger person. Just because they’re doing wrong doesn’t mean you have to engage. That’s the enemy baiting you, saying, “Argue, fight, set the record straight, prove you’re right.” Don’t take the bait. It takes a mature person to overlook an insult and say, “No, I’m staying in peace.” Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are those who are right.” For the sake of peace, sometimes you have to let the other person think they’re right, even when you know they’re wrong. We think, I’m right, and I’m going to prove it and win this fight. Can we tell you that being right is overrated? You can win every battle, prove your points, but your relationships are being damaged. Put your ego down and let them be right even though you think you’re right. Be a peacemaker and learn to shake it off and move o

An Insatiable Thirst for God’s Friendship and Favor!

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An Insatiable Thirst for God’s Friendship and Favor “ After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ ” (Acts 13:22) God is looking for people of character. If we could grasp the significance of how important this is to God, we could be candidates for fulfilling missions God has appointed to be done during the time we have on earth. David  was such a man – a man after God’s heart. He had an insatiable thirst for relationship with God. He yearned for God’s friendship and favor. When he messed up, he confessed his sin. When He learned what God’s will was, he was prompt in seeing that it was done. By the grace of God, we can determine to be a person after God’s heart. But good intentions are not enough. Someone said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. God needs people who will execute and obey his will wholeheartedly. Elsewhere

PRAY!

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Holy God, your love never fails. Teach me to love with patience and kindness and to love without jealousy or conceit. Thank you for your steadfast and eternal love. Amen.

Remember!

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Remember! “ Put Me in remembrance…. ” (I saiah 43:26 )  We live in a world of challenges and turmoil. But, as believers, we are rooted and grounded in the person of Jesus Christ, the anchor of our soul. To keep things in perspective, we need to remember what God’s Word says: Remember: The whole world is under the sway of the evil one. Remember: Great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. Remember: Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. Remember: He must increase, and I must decrease. Remember: All the promises of God find their fulfilment in the person of Jesus Christ. Remember: Come boldly to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find help in the time of need. Remember: Prayer and the supply of the Spirit will deliver us, empower us, heal us, and reveal God’s will for us. The Kingdom of God practitioner puts God and his promises in remembrance throughout the day. Today, ask yourself: In what ways will I put God and his promises in re

Be a Signpost!

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Be a Signpost “ And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, ‘If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.’”  (2 Kings 5:2–3 )  Naaman was a great general who handed many military victories to the king of Assyria. But Naaman had a problem: he had leprosy.  Fortunately, a young servant girl captured from the land of Israel worked for Naaman’s wife. At an opportune time, the servant girl told Naaman’s wife that Naaman could be healed if he would see the prophet, Elisha. Ultimately, Naaman acted on the information, and he was healed from his leprosy. This “unimportant” servant girl was a signpost who pointed the way for Naaman to experience salvation from this deadly disease. We may feel insignificant and unimportant. However, as believers, we are messengers who are able to tell people about the cure for th

PRAY!

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Your love, O Lord God, is eternal. I thank and praise you for your mighty deeds and for your presence in my life. Your love is eternal! Amen