Choose good today over evil!

This is the day the LORD has made. Let's rejoice and be glad today! (Psa 118:24 GW)

Some where sent and others just went.

Ministers, too, must be serious. They must not be two-faced, addicted to wine, or greedy for money. They must hold firmly to the secret of the faith with clear consciences. But they must first be tested. Then, if they prove to be blameless, they may become ministers. Their wives must also be serious. They must not be gossips, but instead be stable and trustworthy in everything. Ministers must be husbands of one wife and must manage their children and their families well. Those ministers who serve well gain an excellent reputation for themselves and will have great assurance by their faith in the Messiah Jesus. (1Ti 3:8-13 ISV)

See yourself as God see's you

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers--the moon and the stars you have set in place--what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? For you made us only a little lower than God, and you crowned us with glory and honor. You put us in charge of everything you made, giving us authority over all things--the sheep and the cattle and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth! (Psa 8:3-9 NLT)

Without pain there is no gain!

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  Personally, I have never built muscle without resistance. I had to sweat and work hard--and sometimes it hurt. But I was always glad for the result and never resented the sweat, strain, or pain.
  
  If we can see our difficulties as spiritual resistance that will build spiritual strength, we can "rejoice in our sufferings" and not resent them. Paul said essentially that. I agree with him.

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Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Rom 5:3-5 NIV)

Police your mind!

In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you. (Php 4:8-9 GNB)

A dependable God

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming." Do not hide yourself from me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don't leave me now; don't abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close. (Psa 27:8-10 NLT)

Chances

• Have you ever heard, "Everyone deserves a second chance."?
  
  What if you have used up your second, even third, fourth, or more? As for me, I stopped counting. This is what I learned from precious and costly experience, and I believe it with everything in me:
  
  
  • It is never "too late" with God.
    
  • It is only "too late" if I choose to quit.
    
  • Regardless of circumstances, I do not have to quit.
    
  • God will not and the enemy cannot force me to quit if I choose not to.
  
  It is not too late if you choose to believe it. And you can. Today.

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But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. (Jer 18:4-6 NIV)

Love

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Gal 5:14-16 NIV)

What does this make us?

For all of you are God's children through faith in the Messiah Jesus. Indeed, all of you who were baptized into the Messiah have clothed yourselves with the Messiah. Because all of you are one in the Messiah Jesus, a person is no longer a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a male or a female. (Gal 3:26-28 ISV)

Choose a winning team

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Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. (2 Chr 20:2-4 NIV)

Communication

• Have you ever tried to have a relationship with someone who talked and talked, but would not listen? Did you feel like they did not care about you? At some point, you probably stopped listening.

  A healthy relationship is not one-sided; there is two-way communication."

  Some people try to carry on a relationship with God like that. And according to today's verse, He feels just like we would.

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Because they did not listen when I spoke, I did not answer when they prayed. (Zec 7:13 GNB)

God knows what, when, and why

• When things do not go as we want, we are quick to blame God, e.g., "Why did You do let that happen?".
  
  Some of God's promises and prophecies are unconditional. But more than not have conditions that depend on us, as in today's verse: "This will all happen if...".
  
  Like children, we want what we want when we want it, without "if". But as a good parent, He does not just give us everything we want.

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Men who live far away will come and help to rebuild the Temple of the LORD. And when it is rebuilt, you will know that the LORD Almighty sent me to you. This will all happen if you fully obey the commands of the LORD your God. (Zec6:15 GNB)

The Lord asked why!

Then the word of the LORD Almighty came to me: "Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves? (Zec 7:4-6 NIV)

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I looked again, and this time I saw a scroll flying through the air. The angel asked me what I saw. I answered, "A scroll flying through the air; it is thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide." Then he said to me, "On it is written the curse that is to go out over the whole land. On one side of the scroll it says that every thief will be removed from the land; and on the other side it says that everyone who tells lies under oath will also be taken away. (Zec 5:1-3 GNB)

God's Power

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But, sir, what do these mean?" Then he asked, "Don't you know?" "No sir," I replied. So the angel explained that it was the following message of the LORD to Zerubbabel: I am the LORD All-Powerful. So don't depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit. (Zec 4:4-6 CEV)

Ever been upset with someone you love?

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So the angel told me to announce: I, the LORD All-Powerful, am very protective of Jerusalem. For a while I was angry at the nations, but now I am furious, because they have made things worse for Jerusalem and are not the least bit concerned. (Zec 1:14-15 CEV)

He Knows

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  He knows exactly who and what we need, and when, where, and how we need it. Pray for His protection, provision, and direction... and that we keep our eyes of faith where they need to be--always on Him.

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Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead. (Rom 1:21-22 NLT)