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Showing posts from March, 2021

People Are Contagious!

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  Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) People Are Contagious People are contagious. You’re going to catch what they have. If your friends are prejudiced, you’re going to become prejudiced. If they compromise, you’re going to compromise. If they have no goals and little motivation, that narrow-minded thinking is going to corrupt you. You will become like the people with whom you associate. Don’t hang around people who don’t have anything you want. If they’re not making you better, inspiring you, and causing you to grow, you need to make changes. Be nice to everyone, but don’t spend time with negative, critical, jealous, small-minded, bitter people. God has given you a gift that will flourish and grow in the soil of good character. Your seed is full of potential, has greatness in it, and can set a new standard for your family. Your seed can break generational curses, could have the cure for cancer, and could impact this world. What God has entrus

We are Pilgrims and Strangers in This World!

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  We are Pilgrims and Strangers in This World Scripture: Psalm 84:5–7 “ Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. ” Because we live in a temporary, perishing world, we need to constantly remind ourselves we are on a pilgrimage here. We are blessed to realize our sufficiency is in God alone, and that all we need is sourced in him. Most of us find ourselves in the Valley of Baca from time to time. That is a place of drought or need. It is then we find our provision in the Lord himself as we allow him to teach us. Many times these “valleys” can be places of blessing where we can experience revelation from God and sense his presence. Of the heroes of faith it is said, “ All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promi

It’s on the Way!

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  …looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) It’s on the Way What you’re believing for, the promises you’re standing on, the dreams you’ve been praying about, they’re already en route. The healing is coming, the promotion is coming, and the right people are coming. You may not see any signs of it yet; everything looks the same. What you can’t see is that behind the scenes, God is moving the wrong people out of the way, pushing back the forces of darkness. He’s arranging things in your favor, lining up the breaks you need. He’s called the author and the finisher of our faith. He’s going to finish what He started in your life. God didn’t bring you this far to leave you. You may have big challenges, but we serve a big God. Your enemies may be powerful, but our God is all-powerful. That dream may look impossible, but God can do the impossible. Even when you don’t think you have the connections, the resources, or the talent, God is for you, and He’s saying, “F

The Christian Life is a Giving Life!

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  The Christian Life is a Giving Life “ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8, ) The Christian life is a giving life. This is the direct opposite of what the world dictates to us in order to be happy. Most of the messages of the world are directed at self-consuming activities saying you need to have certain possessions and experiences in order to be fulfilled. These messages tend to make us “getters” instead of “givers.” When we speak of giving, we are not talking about just money. We have the 3 Ts:  Time, Talent,  and  Treasure . Time and talent are just as important as any treasure we might have. God loving the cheerful giver is a statement of God’s action. By giving, believers place themselves in the position where God, subje

Sit Down!

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  Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will bring me safely through them. (Psalm 138:7, TLB) Sit Down In Psalm 138, David was saying, “Even though everything has come against me, I won’t be worried because the battle is not mine. The battle is the Lord’s, so I’m going to take my seat.” When you try to make everything happen in your own strength—pay people back, worry about your finances, try to get someone to like you—you are standing up. As long as you’re working, God will rest. But when you sit down, God will stand up and go to work. When He says, “Be still, and know that I am God,” He is saying, “Sit down. I’ve got this.” It’s not that we sit back passively. We have to fight the good fight, but we do that from a place of rest. When you do your best, you can work hard with a rest inside, knowing God will get you to where you’re supposed to be. God is saying, “Take your seat. My favor is on your life. Live from a place of rest.” A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that the battle

Giving: Your Investment for Eternity!

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  Giving: Your Investment for Eternity Scripture: Matthew 6:20 & Matthew 6:33 “ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ” (Matthew 6:20) “ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ” (Matthew 6:33) The world gets it backwards.  It says to earn as much as you can, save as much as you can, and then sit on your can. Spend it on yourself and have a good time while you can. Jesus Christ came to reveal the opposite: “…But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”  (2 Timothy 1:10) He has revealed to us true life in addition to the reality of eternity or immortality. He tells us to prepare for eternity. Eternity is the real world and the one lasting forever! We can actually store up treasures for ourselves in heaven

PRAY!

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  I praise you, Lord Jesus! You are my King and my Savior. Reign in my heart forever. Amen.

The Sowing and Reaping Principle!

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  The Sowing and Reaping Principle “ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ” (Galatians 6:8) The sowing and reaping principle is a key spiritual concept we need to incorporate in our lives. In the secular world we understand the more we invest in a good investment, the greater returns we can expect. The same is true in a spiritual sense. “ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ” (2 Corinthians 9:6) The returns for investing properly in the kingdom of God are going to be HUGE! It makes sense for us to be wise and invest as much as we can when we have the opportunity to do so. Once our time, talent, and treasure are invested or given, they cannot be taken away by anything or anyone. They are kept in heaven for us along with our salvation. “ And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fad

Fishing for Spiritual Riches!

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  Fishing for Spiritual Riches Scripture: Matthew 4:19 “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’”  (Matthew 4:19) Have you ever asked yourself, “What am I fishing for?” Everyone is fishing for something, whether that’s fulfillment, peace, pleasure, material sufficiency, or contentment. Unfortunately, in striving for these things, many miss out on God’s plan for their life since they pay little or no attention to him. Actually, God is the source and provider of all of these things. When Jesus called the disciples, he said he would make them fishers of people. Note the difference in fishing for the  produce of the sea  and fishing for  people . The fish of the sea are perishable. When they are caught in a net and brought to land, they are literally dead meat. In the context of fishing for  people , though, the person who is spiritually dead before being “caught” suddenly becomes spiritually alive. That person has the guarantee of a wonderful eternal de

PRAY!

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  Sovereign Lord, I have heard of what you have done, and I am filled with awe. Strengthen my spirit to remember the ways you are revealed in my life. Be present with me today that I may find comfort and hope in the sure knowledge of your everlasting love. Amen.

Unchanging Value!

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  I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace. (Philippians 4:13) Unchanging Value If you’re always depending on others for your approval and self-worth, counting on somebody else to make you happy, you’ll become needy and a burden. If you’re basing your value on how people treat you or what they give you, when they don’t measure up to what you expect, you’re going to feel devalued. But when you go to God for your approval and value, nobody can take that away. You are a child of the Most High God, and He has already approved you. That’s where you get your value. The apostle Paul said he was “self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.” When we know that the God who created the universe lives in us, that He’s equipped and empowered us, and that He approves us, we don’t have to have other people’s approval. If you’re not getting what you expect from others, let that be okay. Yo

Acknowledging God’s Mighty Power!

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  Acknowledging God’s Mighty Power Scripture: Psalm 62:11 “ God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. ” (Psalm 62:11) Power belongs to God. This is confirmed throughout Scripture. No wonder the Psalmist said, “ My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him ” (Psalm 62:5). The psalmist learned in his life experience with God, “ By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far-off seas ” (Psalm 65:5). Do we as believers have the same expectation as the Psalmist in our everyday living? The answer should be a resounding “YES!” Where can we find the power of God? Scripture tells us, “ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God ” (1 Corinthians 1:18). We find the power of God in the cross, which is manifested in the person of Jesus Christ: “ …to those who are

How High You Can Go!

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  How High You Can Go We all have people who have done us wrong. It’s easy to hold on to the hurt, to be vindictive and try to pay them back. One test we have to pass is to not only forgive people, but to be good to those who have not been good to us. When they betrayed you, when they left you out, when they said things that weren’t true, that put you at a disadvantage. It wasn’t fair, but God is a God of justice and will turn the tables at some point. You’ll be up, and they’ll be down. When you’re in a position of power, the real test of how high you can go is what you do to people who hurt you. Jesus says, “When somebody takes your shirt, give them your coat too.” That’s a test. That’s God seeing if you’re ready to be promoted. When God can trust you to handle favor, influence, and power without using it to be vindictive, He can take you to new levels. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You that You have been so merciful, loving, and forgiving of me, and thank You that You are working

Living a Power-Driven Life!

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  Living a Power-Driven Life Scripture: Colossians 3:1–3 “ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ” (Colossians 3:1-3) If you are a serious practitioner of Kingdom of God, you are living a  power-driven life . The person of Jesus Christ has become the power within your life to bring you into conformity with the will of God for his purpose in this world. You are also seeking the things above. Your life is also becoming increasingly hidden in Christ as you strategically invest your  time, talent, and treasure  into advancing the kingdom of God. What are some of the characteristics of the person whose life is hidden in Christ? “ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work’ ” (John 4:34). You will be focused on doing the will of God and accomplish

Words of Life!

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  Who have sharpened their tongues like a sword. They aim venomous words as arrows. (Psalm 64:3) Words of Life David referred to some people’s mouths as sharp swords and their words as venomous arrows. Are you building people up, or are you cutting people up with your words? Are you encouraging people, making them stronger and more confident, or are you putting others down, leaving them wounded and scarred? Many times, we can recover from a physical wound quicker than an emotional wound. If you’re a parent, speak words of life, faith, and encouragement into your children. Yes, you must correct them, but don’t do it in an angry, disrespectful way. Don’t say derogatory things that are going to damage their self-esteem. Correct them in love with a kind spirit. Don’t cut them up with negative, hurtful words at any age. Let’s be parents who speak words of life, who push our children into their destiny, and who help release their dreams. Our children are a gift from God. He is counting on yo