I will laugh at the world.
Nehemiah 8:10 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16
“For the joy of the lord is my strength and it enables me to rejoice always.”
God is the one who give us our strength and we must remember to rejoice in it always. In the good times and even in the bad times we must know that it is God that will give us the strength to make it through. We can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength right? Let’s always remember that even though every time we turn on the TV or listen to the news on the radio or open up a newspaper, that we operate under the living, breathing will of God and He is the one we must lean on. I can tell you no matter how bad things get that God still loves us, and he loves us so much He gave us the free will to do what we want and if we are not operating in His will then he can not bless us.
Today operate in God’s will and see what happens.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I will laugh at the world Part 2
I will laugh at the world.
Proverbs 15:13
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”
Did you know that it is a proven fact that if you smile for 5 minutes it will actually lift you mood and make you happy. I could just picture other people passing me each morning when I was working in the corporate world with a huge smile on my face. Saying to themselves “why is that guy so happy.” I am not saying it was comfortable but it actually made me in a good mood when I got to work. Now when I opened up my email and pulled my morning reports, it was a different story. But seriously it is written that a glad hear makes a happy face and a broken heart crushes the spirit. I heard recently that you have your mind, spirit and body and if you mind and spirit are in tune with each other then your body will eventually catch up since it is 2 against 1.
Here is your challenge for today, try to smile for a straight 5 minutes and email me back if you did and tell me what happened.
Proverbs 15:13
“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.”
Did you know that it is a proven fact that if you smile for 5 minutes it will actually lift you mood and make you happy. I could just picture other people passing me each morning when I was working in the corporate world with a huge smile on my face. Saying to themselves “why is that guy so happy.” I am not saying it was comfortable but it actually made me in a good mood when I got to work. Now when I opened up my email and pulled my morning reports, it was a different story. But seriously it is written that a glad hear makes a happy face and a broken heart crushes the spirit. I heard recently that you have your mind, spirit and body and if you mind and spirit are in tune with each other then your body will eventually catch up since it is 2 against 1.
Here is your challenge for today, try to smile for a straight 5 minutes and email me back if you did and tell me what happened.
Monday, April 27, 2009
I will laugh at the world
Psalm 16:11
“You will show me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
As David wrote this, does he say that money will bring you joy, a person will bring you joy, possessions will bring you joy? No he actually writes that in the presence of God is the fullness of joy. Too many times we result to fleshly desires to bring us happiness and joy, but as God gives us the desires of our hearts Psalm 37:4. The more we press in to Him the more our desires become His desires for us. We have to realize that not only does God have plans for us but also the enemy has plans for us. We must press in to him in order to continue in the fullness of joy.
Now please don’t get me wrong here as I speak to myself also. I have my good days and my bad days but in Him my days become better because I have to remind myself on my bad days that even my worst day is not as bad compared to what Jesus went through the day of the crucifixion.
Remind yourself of the crucifixion and that He went through that for you and me!
“You will show me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
As David wrote this, does he say that money will bring you joy, a person will bring you joy, possessions will bring you joy? No he actually writes that in the presence of God is the fullness of joy. Too many times we result to fleshly desires to bring us happiness and joy, but as God gives us the desires of our hearts Psalm 37:4. The more we press in to Him the more our desires become His desires for us. We have to realize that not only does God have plans for us but also the enemy has plans for us. We must press in to him in order to continue in the fullness of joy.
Now please don’t get me wrong here as I speak to myself also. I have my good days and my bad days but in Him my days become better because I have to remind myself on my bad days that even my worst day is not as bad compared to what Jesus went through the day of the crucifixion.
Remind yourself of the crucifixion and that He went through that for you and me!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Don't Give Up! Part 4
Mark 5:34
"Your faith has healed you, go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
We see in the book of Mark chapter 5 where Jesus is walking and a large crowd is pressing in around Him. A woman who was there had been subject to bleeding and though to herself if she could only touch Jesus then she would be healed. She did not even have His attention, touched him and immediately she was healed. When Jesus realized what had happened and realized that power had gone out of Him, He turned around and asked, "Who touched my clothes." His disciples probably looked dumbfounded and thought, who did not touch you every one is crowed around us. But Jesus knew it was something else.
This woman was determined to even just touch Jesus, and she knew what she wanted which was to be healed and that happened.
Make up your mind today that you will not be denied. Bartimaeus like we spoke about yesterday was not denied. You will not be denied. Say this today and believe it: I will not tolerate a present condition of discouragement, sickness, poverty, or mediocrity---NOT ANOTHER DAY OF MY LIFE.
"Your faith has healed you, go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
We see in the book of Mark chapter 5 where Jesus is walking and a large crowd is pressing in around Him. A woman who was there had been subject to bleeding and though to herself if she could only touch Jesus then she would be healed. She did not even have His attention, touched him and immediately she was healed. When Jesus realized what had happened and realized that power had gone out of Him, He turned around and asked, "Who touched my clothes." His disciples probably looked dumbfounded and thought, who did not touch you every one is crowed around us. But Jesus knew it was something else.
This woman was determined to even just touch Jesus, and she knew what she wanted which was to be healed and that happened.
Make up your mind today that you will not be denied. Bartimaeus like we spoke about yesterday was not denied. You will not be denied. Say this today and believe it: I will not tolerate a present condition of discouragement, sickness, poverty, or mediocrity---NOT ANOTHER DAY OF MY LIFE.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Don't Give Up! Part 3
Hebrews 12:1-2
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith."
In the book of Mark chapter 2:1-5, we see where Jesus entered Capernaum and began to preach the word to the crowd. It says that the house was so full that there was no room left, not even outside the door. Some men came and brought their friend who was a paralytic but they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd. But that did not stop them from coming to get from Jesus what they came for, to get their friend healed. So they climbed on the roof and lowered their friend to Jesus. And then it says in verse 5, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven."
When He saw their faith, did you catch that? Sometimes when we are going through trials in our lives we give up too soon, but we need to have faith to preserve. James 1:3, "Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
Have Faith in God and He will always be with you and never leave you. Have faith in that situation at work, at home, in school, in your current situation. Have faith to run the race not won, to finish what you have started and to keep doing what God has called you to do. Have faith to finish whatever it is God has you doing right now in this moment, whether it is your job, your health, your financial situation, your marriage, your parenting, but have FAITH and you will preserve!
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith."
In the book of Mark chapter 2:1-5, we see where Jesus entered Capernaum and began to preach the word to the crowd. It says that the house was so full that there was no room left, not even outside the door. Some men came and brought their friend who was a paralytic but they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd. But that did not stop them from coming to get from Jesus what they came for, to get their friend healed. So they climbed on the roof and lowered their friend to Jesus. And then it says in verse 5, "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven."
When He saw their faith, did you catch that? Sometimes when we are going through trials in our lives we give up too soon, but we need to have faith to preserve. James 1:3, "Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
Have Faith in God and He will always be with you and never leave you. Have faith in that situation at work, at home, in school, in your current situation. Have faith to run the race not won, to finish what you have started and to keep doing what God has called you to do. Have faith to finish whatever it is God has you doing right now in this moment, whether it is your job, your health, your financial situation, your marriage, your parenting, but have FAITH and you will preserve!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Don't Give Up! Part 2
Mark 10:42
"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediatly he recieved his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Today we are going to talk about blind Bartimaeus. To shorten the story, Bartimaeus found out Jesus had the power to heal, so he began to cry out, "Jesus, have mercy on me." Many people told him to be quiet and there were many there in the crowd. But he cried out even louder. He refused to accept this condition as God's will. Neither should we.
When you face resistance, add persistence.
We need to be like blind Bartimaes today where we press through the junk of our daily lives to cry out in prayer to Jesus and not accept what the world has for us, but what Jesus has promised to us. Now in this story when he cried out to Jesus, it says Jesus stopped! So don't give up or move away until you have Jesus' attention. When your persistence causes Jesus to stop and notice you, your miracle is on its way!
"Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediatly he recieved his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Today we are going to talk about blind Bartimaeus. To shorten the story, Bartimaeus found out Jesus had the power to heal, so he began to cry out, "Jesus, have mercy on me." Many people told him to be quiet and there were many there in the crowd. But he cried out even louder. He refused to accept this condition as God's will. Neither should we.
When you face resistance, add persistence.
We need to be like blind Bartimaes today where we press through the junk of our daily lives to cry out in prayer to Jesus and not accept what the world has for us, but what Jesus has promised to us. Now in this story when he cried out to Jesus, it says Jesus stopped! So don't give up or move away until you have Jesus' attention. When your persistence causes Jesus to stop and notice you, your miracle is on its way!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Don't Give Up! Part 1
Philippians 3:12-14
"I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Paraphrased)
First of all the author here is Paul and he was awesome! Completely sold out for Christ. He pressed forward! One thing he did face as he pressed was resistance. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-29, he talks about all his trials. To list a few; Five times he was flogged 39 times each, Three times he was beaten with rods, Once he was stoned, Three times he was shipwrecked and if we read on he faced many dangers in his pursuit to fulfill his purpose in Christ.
This week I will be discussing about "Not giving up." What if Paul said, "I'm done?" We would not have two thirds of the new testament. But he did not! He pressed on toward the prize! When he faced resistance he just added some persistence!
Today as you are going through your daily trials remember we need to PRESS on toward where God wants us.
"I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Paraphrased)
First of all the author here is Paul and he was awesome! Completely sold out for Christ. He pressed forward! One thing he did face as he pressed was resistance. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-29, he talks about all his trials. To list a few; Five times he was flogged 39 times each, Three times he was beaten with rods, Once he was stoned, Three times he was shipwrecked and if we read on he faced many dangers in his pursuit to fulfill his purpose in Christ.
This week I will be discussing about "Not giving up." What if Paul said, "I'm done?" We would not have two thirds of the new testament. But he did not! He pressed on toward the prize! When he faced resistance he just added some persistence!
Today as you are going through your daily trials remember we need to PRESS on toward where God wants us.
Friday, April 17, 2009
When bad news hits
I was told yesterday that someone very close to me was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Now even though he is the most stubborn man I have ever met (I still love you Papa), meaning he will fight this off with the healing power of God, I still can get depressed and worried. I have to quickly remind myself in the Word that according to 1 Peter 5:7 it says, “Cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.” Put this verse in the first person and memorize it, “God I cast all my cares upon You, because You care for me.” It also says in Psalm 55:22, “Cast all your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.”
Lately I have been around people with bad news like their family is sick, they lost their job, or they are unable to find a job and it seems so much easier to minister to others. But then I got bad news and it directly affecting me, and after fighting through sadness I had to quickly turn to the Bible. It is there where I can find many verses including these: Psalm 37:5, Psalm 56:4,10,11 and many, many more.
In Matthew 6:25, Jesus reminds us, “therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”
Also look at Matthew 6:27, 28, 31, 33, and 34 and Luke 10:41, 12:11, 22. We are reminded throughout scripture to depend on God and not on man, and not to worry. He says, He will never leave us or forsake us.
Hebrew 13:5 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’” and it goes on to say in verse 6, “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me.’?”
I love you Papa and by His stripes you are healed!
Lately I have been around people with bad news like their family is sick, they lost their job, or they are unable to find a job and it seems so much easier to minister to others. But then I got bad news and it directly affecting me, and after fighting through sadness I had to quickly turn to the Bible. It is there where I can find many verses including these: Psalm 37:5, Psalm 56:4,10,11 and many, many more.
In Matthew 6:25, Jesus reminds us, “therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”
Also look at Matthew 6:27, 28, 31, 33, and 34 and Luke 10:41, 12:11, 22. We are reminded throughout scripture to depend on God and not on man, and not to worry. He says, He will never leave us or forsake us.
Hebrew 13:5 says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’” and it goes on to say in verse 6, “So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me.’?”
I love you Papa and by His stripes you are healed!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Who are you hanging with?
Today I wanted to have a short message to discuss who are the people you are hanging out with? Are they encouragers or are they negative dream squashers? There are people who think they’re doing you a favor by “managing” your expectations or “protecting” you from disappointment. Why do we listen when people are squashing our dreams and hopes? We need to be careful about who we share our dreams and hopes with. Get around people who are full of hope and can dream with you. These types of relationships will encourage you to live in the highest expectations.
Today, refuse to accept people’s advice to not get your hopes up or share in your dreams and make sure you are not doing the same thing to other people.
Hebrews 3:13 says, “Encourage one another daily.”
Today, refuse to accept people’s advice to not get your hopes up or share in your dreams and make sure you are not doing the same thing to other people.
Hebrews 3:13 says, “Encourage one another daily.”
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
What are you committed too?
Today I want to talk about being committed. What are you committed to? In the book of Acts 2:42 and 46 it talks about the early fellowship of believers. It says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.” These people were committed. Too often now, we see where we get committed to different sports, different television shows, eating, computers, email, facebook, our cell phones or other extra curricular activities. And trust me, there are many things I am committed too outside the church. But we need to make sure we have a balance in our lives and not let the things of man overtake the things of God. We need to be committed to a fellowship of believers in order to see God’s work in our lives. So what happens when we commit ourselves to God also??
In this same chapter of Acts 2 it says in verse 43 and 47 what happened when they did the things in verse 42 and 46. Verse 43 says, “”Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Verse 47 says, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Again they were committed.
Today let’s evaluate ourselves to make sure we are being committed to God and to a fellowship of believers (in other words a Church) even more than the other things in our lives.
In this same chapter of Acts 2 it says in verse 43 and 47 what happened when they did the things in verse 42 and 46. Verse 43 says, “”Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” Verse 47 says, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Again they were committed.
Today let’s evaluate ourselves to make sure we are being committed to God and to a fellowship of believers (in other words a Church) even more than the other things in our lives.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The Clay and the Potter
God is the Potter and we are the clay. Jeremiah 18:1-6 gives us a beautiful description of how God is in complete control of our lives. It
portrays God as the potter, someone who is skilled and patient, and us as the clay. He is molding us into the person He has designed us
to be. Trust the Artist to make a masterpiece. Be flexible and adaptable. See yourself as a good work in progress.
Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
God never gives up on us. It says in Jeremiah 18:4 says, the clay was marred (Hebrew translation meaning ruined) in the hand of the potter;
so He made it again.
Romans 8:29 says you are NOW, daily being conformed to the image of Jesus.
portrays God as the potter, someone who is skilled and patient, and us as the clay. He is molding us into the person He has designed us
to be. Trust the Artist to make a masterpiece. Be flexible and adaptable. See yourself as a good work in progress.
Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
God never gives up on us. It says in Jeremiah 18:4 says, the clay was marred (Hebrew translation meaning ruined) in the hand of the potter;
so He made it again.
Romans 8:29 says you are NOW, daily being conformed to the image of Jesus.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday!
I wanted to do something different from my normal devotionals today. We had our Easter Service at Turning Point Church yesterday and it was one of the most amazing services I have ever been a part of. First of all I want to encourage all those AMAZING volunteers who pulled it all together in order to make some awesome things happen. We had a total of 28 people working on our welcome team, 10 people in our parking lot!!, 10 greeters!!, 8 ushers and stage help. We also had 42 different people working in our children’s ministry in order to minister to a record number of children. We had an awesome tech team, we had 4 people who painted on stage (AMAZING JOB), and had 7 people serving on our worship team. We had a life changing message from Pastor Mike. When you put all these things together and then also have God’s presence what do you get? We had a record breaking number of salvations on a single Sunday! PRAISE GOD!
I can’t believe that God allows me to be a part of such an amazing group of people who are willing to put in the time it takes in fulfilling their opportunity to serve in the Church.
Romans 12:4-5
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Each of these people who served have different gifts, talents and contributions, which they all come together to form one body and with that we were able to have an incredible record breaking Sunday in attendance and salvations.
Volunteers: You guys are all amazing!!!
I wanted to do something different from my normal devotionals today. We had our Easter Service at Turning Point Church yesterday and it was one of the most amazing services I have ever been a part of. First of all I want to encourage all those AMAZING volunteers who pulled it all together in order to make some awesome things happen. We had a total of 28 people working on our welcome team, 10 people in our parking lot!!, 10 greeters!!, 8 ushers and stage help. We also had 42 different people working in our children’s ministry in order to minister to a record number of children. We had an awesome tech team, we had 4 people who painted on stage (AMAZING JOB), and had 7 people serving on our worship team. We had a life changing message from Pastor Mike. When you put all these things together and then also have God’s presence what do you get? We had a record breaking number of salvations on a single Sunday! PRAISE GOD!
I can’t believe that God allows me to be a part of such an amazing group of people who are willing to put in the time it takes in fulfilling their opportunity to serve in the Church.
Romans 12:4-5
“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Each of these people who served have different gifts, talents and contributions, which they all come together to form one body and with that we were able to have an incredible record breaking Sunday in attendance and salvations.
Volunteers: You guys are all amazing!!!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Embrace Eternity Part 4
Luke 23:43
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
In the end we all have had two choices in life. Like the two thieves on the cross, one mocked him and the other acknowledges Jesus as the son of God. This scripture shows Jesus answer to the one who acknowledges. We are all given two choices in life, to follow Jesus or not. There are many religions that claim that there are many ways to heaven. But, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one gets to the Father except through me.” Then it comes down to two choices. Do you follow Jesus or not.
Not to confuse you but there are three ways you can view Jesus, Liar, Lunatic or Lord. Either you view him as a liar but there is way too much documented history that proves he did miracles and prophesies he fulfilled from the Old Testament that would deny that he was a liar. He could not be a Lunatic because of all the amazing things He did which brings us to our last conclusion….LORD.
Today lets make the choice are you going to follow Him or are you going to follow the world. Either you are in or out, don’t be lukewarm. Read Revelation 3:14-22 about the Church in Laodicea who was lukewarm. Confess Him as your Lord and follow Him for the rest of your life and never look back. My greatest fear lies in these following scriptures: Matthew 7:21-23 which states: Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” This scripture keeps me on the path to HIM.
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
In the end we all have had two choices in life. Like the two thieves on the cross, one mocked him and the other acknowledges Jesus as the son of God. This scripture shows Jesus answer to the one who acknowledges. We are all given two choices in life, to follow Jesus or not. There are many religions that claim that there are many ways to heaven. But, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one gets to the Father except through me.” Then it comes down to two choices. Do you follow Jesus or not.
Not to confuse you but there are three ways you can view Jesus, Liar, Lunatic or Lord. Either you view him as a liar but there is way too much documented history that proves he did miracles and prophesies he fulfilled from the Old Testament that would deny that he was a liar. He could not be a Lunatic because of all the amazing things He did which brings us to our last conclusion….LORD.
Today lets make the choice are you going to follow Him or are you going to follow the world. Either you are in or out, don’t be lukewarm. Read Revelation 3:14-22 about the Church in Laodicea who was lukewarm. Confess Him as your Lord and follow Him for the rest of your life and never look back. My greatest fear lies in these following scriptures: Matthew 7:21-23 which states: Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” This scripture keeps me on the path to HIM.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Embrace Eternity Part 3
Hosea 10:12
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love and break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.”
Have you ever been stuck in a rut? Ever felt down? Ever felt like why is this happening to me? Well maybe you need to break up your unplowed ground. I really love this verse. How many times have you been going through a storm and in order to make it out, you just have to suck it up and fight through.
Let me encourage you today to know that when you plow this ground you are not doing it alone.
Matthew 11:29 says, “Take My yoke upon you.” A yoke is a harness or instrument placed upon two oxen. It causes them to plow together. So, when one gets weak he can continue by being pulled by the other. When we feel weighed down, we need to TAKE HIS YOKE. He is attached to us and will carry the load. Of course, He ends up doing most of the carrying!
Today believe that you can handle anything. Mark 9:23 says, “All things are possible for him who believes.” Nothing is too difficult for God. Jeremiah 32:17 says “if nothing is too difficult for Him and He lives in you then nothing is too difficult for you.”
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love and break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.”
Have you ever been stuck in a rut? Ever felt down? Ever felt like why is this happening to me? Well maybe you need to break up your unplowed ground. I really love this verse. How many times have you been going through a storm and in order to make it out, you just have to suck it up and fight through.
Let me encourage you today to know that when you plow this ground you are not doing it alone.
Matthew 11:29 says, “Take My yoke upon you.” A yoke is a harness or instrument placed upon two oxen. It causes them to plow together. So, when one gets weak he can continue by being pulled by the other. When we feel weighed down, we need to TAKE HIS YOKE. He is attached to us and will carry the load. Of course, He ends up doing most of the carrying!
Today believe that you can handle anything. Mark 9:23 says, “All things are possible for him who believes.” Nothing is too difficult for God. Jeremiah 32:17 says “if nothing is too difficult for Him and He lives in you then nothing is too difficult for you.”
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Embrace Eternity Part 2
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
What would you do if this was your last day on earth? Have you ever thought about that? Each day is a gift from God and we need to make sure to rejoice and be glad in it. Glad in this text in Hebrew means to brighten up. Let’s go out today and figure out a way to brighten up someone’s day. You never know this could cause a chain reaction and could actually make someone’s day. Today I want us to think of all the good things we have in our life and all we can be thankful for.
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
What would you do if this was your last day on earth? Have you ever thought about that? Each day is a gift from God and we need to make sure to rejoice and be glad in it. Glad in this text in Hebrew means to brighten up. Let’s go out today and figure out a way to brighten up someone’s day. You never know this could cause a chain reaction and could actually make someone’s day. Today I want us to think of all the good things we have in our life and all we can be thankful for.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Embrace Eternity Part 1
Ecclesiastes 11:4
“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”
This week we will be discussing how to embrace eternity. We need to be sure to live every day as if it is our last. Each and every morning say to yourself, “this is the day that the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it.” Because we are not promised a tomorrow and what we really need to be thinking about is there an afterlife?
I want to discuss today the issue of procrastination. Procrastination can be addictive, it does damage to us and others around us, causes pressures and problems and it wastes opportunities, time and money. Today let’s do these 3 things:
1) Stop making excuses!
Too many times, we put off tasks until tomorrow what we can get done today. We live each day as if there is a tomorrow.
2) Face your fears!
Focus on the gain and not the pain it takes to get it done. There are many things that can hold us back but fear should not be one of them. Fear is the absence of faith and we need faith to get the job done.
3) Do it now!
Realize that perfectionism paralyzes performance and there is not going to be a better time than NOW. There is not going to be any better conditions than the present.
What is something you have been putting off that you should not any more? Are you putting off something until tomorrow that can be done today? DO IT!
“If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”
This week we will be discussing how to embrace eternity. We need to be sure to live every day as if it is our last. Each and every morning say to yourself, “this is the day that the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it.” Because we are not promised a tomorrow and what we really need to be thinking about is there an afterlife?
I want to discuss today the issue of procrastination. Procrastination can be addictive, it does damage to us and others around us, causes pressures and problems and it wastes opportunities, time and money. Today let’s do these 3 things:
1) Stop making excuses!
Too many times, we put off tasks until tomorrow what we can get done today. We live each day as if there is a tomorrow.
2) Face your fears!
Focus on the gain and not the pain it takes to get it done. There are many things that can hold us back but fear should not be one of them. Fear is the absence of faith and we need faith to get the job done.
3) Do it now!
Realize that perfectionism paralyzes performance and there is not going to be a better time than NOW. There is not going to be any better conditions than the present.
What is something you have been putting off that you should not any more? Are you putting off something until tomorrow that can be done today? DO IT!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Give Forgiveness Part 4
Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The NLT version states we are to make allowances for one another’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Offense come from the enemy who wants to divide us from the word God has given us. If the enemy can get us off track he will and we need to remember in order to move forward in what God has for us we must forgive and make allowances for one another’s faults. Too many times the enemy wins and we get offended and never speak to that person again. There are many who get offended by a church and never go back to that church or worse, never go back to church. I encourage you today to take an inventory of anyone in your life you need to forgive
Today I want you to ask someone close to you possibly a spouse, a friend or a relative if there is anyone you need to forgive.
Before you can move forward in what God has for you, you need to forgive.
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The NLT version states we are to make allowances for one another’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Offense come from the enemy who wants to divide us from the word God has given us. If the enemy can get us off track he will and we need to remember in order to move forward in what God has for us we must forgive and make allowances for one another’s faults. Too many times the enemy wins and we get offended and never speak to that person again. There are many who get offended by a church and never go back to that church or worse, never go back to church. I encourage you today to take an inventory of anyone in your life you need to forgive
Today I want you to ask someone close to you possibly a spouse, a friend or a relative if there is anyone you need to forgive.
Before you can move forward in what God has for you, you need to forgive.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Give Forgiveness Part 3
Luke 6:37
“Do no judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Too many times we are quick to jump to conclusions when something happens to us, especially when someone does something to us. If we are not spoken to or if we feel like someone did not say hi to us. But we need to remember this verse because we sometimes are too quick to judge and jump to conclusions about someone. It reminds me of a story where two men were riding home on the subway. One of the men had 3 kids who were unruly, jumping around and yelling. The father just sat there and did nothing about it. The other man a businessman trying to read his newspaper kept getting more aggravated minute by minute. The kids kept bumping into him and hitting his newspaper. The father did nothing and just sat there looking down at the ground. Finally the businessman had enough and said to the father, “Aren’t you going to do anything about your kids, they keep bumping into me and hitting my newspaper!” The father looked up and said, “I am sorry but we are just leaving the hospital where their mother died and I have no idea what we are going to do.”
Don’t be quick to jump to conclusions this week. If someone did not say hi to you or give you a proper greeting, say well maybe there is something else there. Bottom line you need to forgive them.
“Do no judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Too many times we are quick to jump to conclusions when something happens to us, especially when someone does something to us. If we are not spoken to or if we feel like someone did not say hi to us. But we need to remember this verse because we sometimes are too quick to judge and jump to conclusions about someone. It reminds me of a story where two men were riding home on the subway. One of the men had 3 kids who were unruly, jumping around and yelling. The father just sat there and did nothing about it. The other man a businessman trying to read his newspaper kept getting more aggravated minute by minute. The kids kept bumping into him and hitting his newspaper. The father did nothing and just sat there looking down at the ground. Finally the businessman had enough and said to the father, “Aren’t you going to do anything about your kids, they keep bumping into me and hitting my newspaper!” The father looked up and said, “I am sorry but we are just leaving the hospital where their mother died and I have no idea what we are going to do.”
Don’t be quick to jump to conclusions this week. If someone did not say hi to you or give you a proper greeting, say well maybe there is something else there. Bottom line you need to forgive them.
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