Friday, January 30, 2015

Encouragement

  • We all need encouragement sometimes. Perhaps you need encouragement. Perhaps you can be an encourager. Either way, use what God has given you, what He has done for you, and what you have to give or do for someone.

    One of the simplest things to do is to let the love of God show through your smile. Everyone can do that. Think about this: Your smile may be the only encouragement someone receives today.

On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year. (Exo 13:8-10 NIV)

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Give in to Him!


  • Surrender. Submit. Obey. Kneel. Worship. All alien concepts today.

    Our modern, independent culture conditions us to think that embracing these shows weakness. We are taught to think that we have to always be in control, have all the answers, show no weakness, make no mistakes... 

    And I believe any control we think we have is illusory.

    God's ways are opposite: Admitting weakness is how we gain true strength, surrender is how we become truly free, and confessing failure is how we will become perfect in Him.

    So, "Come, let us bow down in worship..."

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did. (Psa 95:6-9 NIV)

Monday, January 26, 2015

Be a Witness


  • Introducing God to someone who does not know about Him has never been easy. Just ask Moses!

    I remember being taught the textbook way to "witness" to people. It was like a memorized sales presentation with "right" things to say and clever answers to objections. (Never worked very well for me.)

    I believe the best introduction to God is the way we live our lives, because if people do not see Him in us first, they probably will not listen to what we say.

    If we really reflect Him--obey His Word, live according to His ways, character, and values--we are going to be different. Very different. And people will want to know why.

    Then we can tell them... and they will listen.

Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" (Exo 3:13-14 NIV)

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Prayer


  • No one can deny that there are many difficulties in the world today. Some believe they are the signs Jesus spoke about. Others do not. Either way, I believe the proper response is to pray.

    It sounds like rhetoric. It sounds cliche. However, it is ALWAYS true: "Prayer changes things." It can change your life. It can change the world.

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken." ..."Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:25,26,34-36 NIV)

Friday, January 23, 2015

Attitude


  • A critical or judgmental attitude can make us feel superior; it can lead to a feeling of "I know more than you do.". It is subtle, but powerful... and it is also very wrong according to God's Word.

    We should not, however, be oblivious to danger to error. God's Word calls that "foolish". We are accountable to God to use the wisdom and discernment He gives us.

    It is a balance to maintain, a "fine line" to walk, for certain! So, how do we walk that line successfully? By depending on His wisdom over our own. God knows what we do not, which is why He alone is ultimately qualified to pass true judgment on anyone (everyone!).

While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They said, "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Hasn't he spoken through us, too?" But the LORD heard them. Then the LORD descended in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. "Aaron and Miriam!" he called, and they stepped forward. And the LORD said to them, "Now listen to me! Even with prophets, I the LORD communicate by visions and dreams. But that is not how I communicate with my servant Moses. He is entrusted with my entire house. I speak to him face to face, directly and not in riddles! He sees the LORD as he is. Should you not be afraid to criticize him?" (Num 12:1,2,5-8 NLT)

Thursday, January 22, 2015

God is good!


  • Have you ever been in true anguish? Some have not, and I am both glad for them and feel regret for them.

    I have learned much in such times. I would not want to go through it again, but then, neither would I, if given the opportunity, undo it if I had to give up what I learned.

    One thing I learned is that God will certainly answer me. I may not feel it or see it at the time, but the answer will come. I know that now. And knowing that brings me great peace.

    I hope the same for you. I believe the psalmist would agree.

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psa 118:5-6 NIV)

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Amen!


  • When we confess sin to God, it really is forgiven and gone. He no longer holds it against us. Just let that sink in... We are free!

    Yet, we struggle to walk in that freedom because we remember our failures. And, of course, we have an enemy who uses our past to keep us in bondage and from the freedom and future God has for us.

    It has been said, "When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future."

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. First he says, "This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them." Then he adds, "I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds." (Heb 10:15-17NLT)

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

But God!


  • No matter what has happened in your life or what you have or have not done, do not give up hope... like I did.

    There was a time when I believed I had ruined my life beyond repair as far as ever being what God had for me to be. I had given up.

    I vividly remember the very moment He "gave me my life back He ignited a faint spark of hope in what had been, for all practical purposes, a lifeless heart--a hope that I could still be what He had called me to be. I was alive again.

    God promised new life for Israel in today's Scripture. He brought me back to life and gave me hope again. And if He could do it for me, He can do it for you. If you are willing, He is willing. He promised.

"Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler. (Isa 60:15-17 NIV)

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Time Management

  • Some days, I "know that I know" that the Today's Seed message I am writing is specifically for someone somewhere in the world. Today, however, it is for me; it hits me right where I am.

    Did you know that ministers struggle with "busy-ness"just as you do? No one is immune. It is difficult to plan time for prayer and study when, as you are doing one absolutely-necessary-for-survival thing, there are thirteen more just as important that are not being done. 

    It is not just going to happen. I have to do what today's message says: plan time for prayer and study, and make it my first priority.

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:39-42 NIV)

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Focus

  • In a bad situation, I believe that the solution is more important than the reason. Meaning: Do not dwell on regret over why you are there; focus on how you are going to get out because while you cannot go back and change the past, you can influence the future.

    The best place for that focus to begin in with God, in prayer, listening for His wisdom and direction.

Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." (Isa 30:20-21 NIV)

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Application!


  • I had a childhood friend who became a "professional student". He has prestigious degrees in several fields--and last I heard, he has not worked in any of them. It compels me to ask: "What good is that?"

    I know Believers who do the same. They are always learning, but not applying what they learn. Same question: "What good is that?"

    Whether you know a little or a lot, put in practice what you know. Jesus said you will get more.

So be sure to pay attention to what you hear. To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they think they have will be taken away from them." (Luke 8:18 NLT)

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Control your Reaction


  • Newton's third law:

    "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."

    Actions have consequences. It is unavoidable--in the physical realm and in the spiritual. Scripture expresses the same concept: "A man reaps what he sows." (Gal 6:7b NIV)

    So, best to carefully consider what we set in motion by our words and actions... or lack of them. (The "equal and opposite reaction" pendulum could swing right back and bonk us!)

The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a pit to trap others and then fall into it themselves. They make trouble, but it backfires on them. They plan violence for others, but it falls on their own heads. (Psa 7:14-16 NLT)

Monday, January 5, 2015

The same Jesus

  • I hope the new year is off to a great start for you! For many, this is the week things "get back to normal". It is a time to reflect on last year, and set the plans for this year in motion.
    I look forward with great anticipation to all that He has in store for us in 2015!

Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves. He said, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a place of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!" (Mat 21:12-13 NLT)

Friday, January 2, 2015

Start Fresh


  • We hope you had a safe and joyous New Year. 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (Psa 111:10 NIV)

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Years!


  • Happy New Year!

    We measure time in years on a calendar, but eternity is timeless. We all have a purpose to fulfill in God's eternal Kingdom, and we have time to work now while we are here. 

    I feel this way: If I am going to work hard in this life, I want to make sure it is meaningful, not meaningless. I believe that can only be so with God.

    In this new year, I pray that you will set your heart to do whatever you have to do to discover and become what He has for you to be.

    (And what can you do today, Jan. 1, 2015? A great way to begin the new year would be to sincerely ask God to do whatever He needs to do in your life to cause you to be what He needs you to be.)

I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (Eccl 2:9-11 NIV)