Tuesday, January 31, 2012

MONEY CANNOT SAVE FROM A DAY OF WRATH


By:  W. Kroll

In a depressed mood, author Thomas Carlyle once said, “God sits in heaven and does nothing.” It may seem that way sometimes, but don’t be deceived. God is busily moving all of human history toward a “Day of Wrath” (see Job 21:30; Prov. 11:4; Zeph. 1:15; Rom. 2:5). Such a day is required because God is just. He cannot allow His laws to be broken and His righteousness flaunted without responding in judgment. Besides, how could a loving God not be filled with wrath towards those things that hurt and destroy us, His prized creation? Don’t be fooled; wrath will come!

But don’t misunderstand God’s wrath. God is not just a peeved deity – a kind of cosmic, ill-tempered Mr. Zap who indulges in violent displays of anger when we do not do what we ought. Wrath is God’s way of saying to man, “Look, you must face the truth. I created you for Myself. If you decide that you don’t want me, then you will suffer the consequences.” God will not withhold His wrath because His moral integrity insists that disobedience be punished and obedience be rewarded.

The day of God’s wrath is not to be taken lightly. Ted Turner, multimillionaire TV mogul, told folks at a Baptist church luncheon, “I’m looking forward to dying and going to hell because that’s where I’m headed.” If he knew anything about his destination, he would not be so eager to go there.

Jonathan Edwards described hell as “that world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell’s wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor anything to take hold of.

It is foolish to take God’s wrath lightly! It is equally foolhardy to think that money can keep us from His wrath. Proverbs 11:4 says, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” Hell is an eternal separation from God (which the Bible calls “death,” as in Revelation 20:6). The only way to be delivered from such death is through righteousness, or a right relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. Wealth cannot buy that relationship. It comes only when we trust Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Only Jesus can save us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10).

Monday, January 30, 2012

DOES MONEY PROVIDES SECURITY?


Security is a big issue these days. Drive-by shootings on our city streets, muggings in broad daylight, murders in the midst of busy restaurants – all these and more have left people understandably jittery. A survey taken in a major metropolitan area found that 53 percent of the more than 13,000 people who returned the questionnaire said they did not feel safe on that city’s streets. Twenty-seven percent of the respondents said they did not feel safe from crime while at home. Owen Hanson rightly observed, “Western civilization has advanced to where we bolt our doors and windows at night while jungle natives sleep in open huts.”

How have people reacted to the curse of crime on our streets and in our homes? They purchased extra locks for their doors, installed elaborate security systems and bought guard dogs. Those with sufficient resources have even hired personal bodyguards. Obviously, these people hope they can buy their safety. God knew all about this. In Proverbs 18:11 it says, “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own esteem.”

Such a hope, however, is fruitless. Political assassinations are common despite armed soldiers present for protection. Well-known personalities have been killed despite their wealth: John Lennon, of the Beatles, was gunned down on a public street; Selena, a young and rising music star, was killed by the woman who had been hired to manage her boutiques; Maurizio Gucci, grandson of the founder of Gucci was shot to death in the foyer of a downtown Milan building. Money can give the illusion of security but not the reality.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

BE A PERSON OF INTEGRITY


By:  J. Osteen


GOD WANTS US TO BE people of integrity, people of honor, people who are trustworthy. A person of integrity is open and honest and true to his word. He doesn’t have any hidden agendas or ulterior motives. He doesn’t need a legal contract to force him to fulfill his commitments. People of integrity are the same in private as they are in public. They do what’s right whether anybody is watching or not.

God will only trust us with more after we have been faithful with a little. Remember, our lives are an open book before God. He looks at our hearts and motives. There’s no limit to what God will do in your life when He knows that He can trust you.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” – Luke 16: 10 (NIV)

Saturday, January 28, 2012

STRENGTH IN MEEKNESS


By:  Blackaby

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” - Matthew 5:5

Generation of comic strip fans knew the inside scoop on Superman, even though the citizens of Metropolis were unaware of it. The startling truth was this: meek and mild Clark Kent was really Superman in a very thin, but apparently convincing disguise that consisted of a pair of eyeglasses. Clark Kent was meek, but he certainly wasn’t weak. In fact, he went to great lengths to hide the superhuman power behind those spectacles. 

What did Jesus mean when he said the meek will inherit the earth? He meant those who surrender their lives to the control of the Holy Spirit will experience God’s matchless power working in their lives.

This is beatitude number three in the eight steps toward spiritually maturity as outlined by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. This is the point in your spiritual climb when your life will start to look like Christ. Through the power of God’s Holy Spirit, you’ll have the ability to forgive others, which takes a much stronger character than getting revenge. You’ll have the moral strength to overcome temptation. You’ll have the self control to resist your own sinful inclinations. Your life will be defined by strength, not insecurity. That’s what Jesus meant by meekness. 

Jesus himself provided the ultimate demonstration of meekness. Though he was the Son of God, he willingly surrendered himself to his enemies in order to save the human race from its own destruction. The irony is heavy: his tormentors mocked him for lacking the power to come down from the cross (Mark 15:30), but Jesus showed infinitely more strength by remaining on the cross rather than crying out to his Father to rescue him from its horror. That’s meekness.

People may try to convince you Christianity is fine for weaklings, and strong people don’t need God. They have no idea what true strength is! Trusting in Jesus doesn’t sap your strength; it empowers you in ways you’d never experience without Christ (Luke 9:1)! Don’t be reluctant to let the Holy Spirit control your life. A Spirit-controlled life is evidence that you know Christ and that you’re growing more and more like him.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” - Matthew 5:5

Friday, January 27, 2012

FIND A PURPOSE


By:  J. Maxwell


More than anything else, having a sense of purpose keeps a person going in the midst of adversity. Business consultant Paul Stoltz did an extensive study on what it takes for individuals to persist through setbacks.

According to Stoltz, the most important ingredient of persistence is, “Identifying your mountain, your purpose in life, so that the work you do is meaningful. I run into people every day who are basically climbing the wrong mountain. People who have spent 20 years or more of their lives doing something that has no deep purpose for them. Suddenly they look back and go, ‘What have I been doing?’”

If you are a purpose-driven person naturally, then you probably already possess an innate sense of direction that helps you overcome adversity. But if you’re not, then you may need some help. Use the following steps to help you develop a desire.

  • ·         Get next to people who possess great desire.
  • ·         Develop discontent with the status quo.
  • ·         Search for a goal that excites you.
  • ·         Put your most vital possessions into that goal.
  • ·         Visualize yourself enjoying the rewards of that goal.


If you follow this strategy, you may not immediately find your ultimate purpose, but you will at least start moving in that direction. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.”

How sure are you that you are climbing the right mountain? – J. Maxwell

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you. – Jn. 6: 27

Thursday, January 26, 2012

IS MONEY EVIL?


Money is not evil. It is morally neutral. Money can be used for good, such as supporting missionaries or building hospitals. It also can be used for evil, such as financing illegal drugs and pornography.

Examine 1 Timothy 6:10 carefully: “The love of money is a root of all sorts of evil.” The Bible does not condemn money itself, only the misuse of or a wrong attitude toward money. Moreover, particularly in the Old Testament, many of the godliest people were among the wealthiest people of the day. Job, Abraham and David were all wealthy, and yet they did not allow wealth to interfere with their relationship with the Lord.

Nevertheless, Scripture warns that riches can destroy a spiritually fruitful life. “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).

Also, it is easy for those who are rich to turn away from God. “For when I bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and are satisfied and become prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and serve them, and spurn Me and break My covenant” (Deuteronomy 13:20). Someone once observed, “For every 99 people who can be poor and remain close to Christ, only one can become wealthy and maintain close fellowship with Him.” It must be human nature to cling to the Lord when it’s obvious that only He can provide our needs. Once people become wealthy, they often take the Lord for granted because they no longer think they have as much need of Hiim.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

THE TRUE MEANING OF PROSPERITY


By:  H. Dayton


It is important to understand that the Lord’s perspective of prosperity is contrary to that of our culture. The Lord evaluates true riches based on His spiritual value system. This contrast is stated most clearly in the book of Revelation. The godly poor are rich in God’s sight. “I (the Lord) know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)” (Revelation 2:9).

Those who are wealthy yet do not enjoy a close relationship with Christ are actually poor. “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

True prosperity extends far beyond material possessions. True prosperity is gauged by how well we know Jesus Christ and by how closely we follow Him.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

APART FROM CHRIST, SUCCESS IS MEANINGLESS


By:  H. Dayton


King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, had an annual income of more than $35 million. He lived in a palace that took 13 years to build. He owned 40,000 stalls of horses. The daily menu of his household included 100 sheep and 30 oxen.

Obviously, Solomon was in a position to know whether money would bring true fulfillment. He concluded, “Vanity of vanities … all is vanity!” (Ecclesiastes 12:8). Nothing, even extraordinary success, can replace the value of our relationship with the Lord. Ask yourself this question: Am I sacrificing a close relationship with Christ in the pursuit of wealth?

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” – Mark 8:36

Monday, January 23, 2012

KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE ROCK – DON’T GIVE UP


By:  John L. M.


DON’T QUIT. There is a big difference between quitting and changing, however. I believe that when God sees someone who does not quit, He looks down and says, “There is someone I can use.”

In Galatians 6:9 (NIV) we are told, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Look at this verse carefully. It urges us not to become weary, assuring us that we will – not might, will – reap a harvest if we do not give up.

God does not quit. It is impossible for Him to do so. In Philippians 1:6 (NIV) the Apostle Paul writes about “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” There are several important points in this verse. The most crucial is the fact that God does not quit. Therefore, we can have great confidence that He will complete the good work He has begun in us. He will see us through every step until we reach our ultimate destination.

One of the best scriptural examples of a person who did not quit is Joseph. He had many reasons to justify giving up. When he was trapped in the pit where his brothers had thrown him because of their jealousy, I am sure he said to himself, “This is not the way I dreamed my life would work out!” Later, he had a marvelous opportunity to become discouraged and quit when he was thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit. Again he could have said to himself, “This is not right; I’m not supposed to be here.” Although Joseph did not understand the steps through which the Lord would lead him, he remained true to his God. Despite the trials he faced, he did not quit. Eventually the dream that God had given Joseph became reality. He was elevated from a prisoner to a prime minister in one day!

There is no greater reward than that which comes as a result of holding fast to the Word and to the will of God. Only you can decide not to lose. Most people quit when they are on the verge of success. Often, success was at their fingertips. There is only one degree of difference between hot water and steam.

In Luke 18 (NIV) Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow. The Bible reveals His purpose in relating this story. Verse 1 says, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them they should always pray and not give up.” The psalmist tells us, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5).

The only way we can lose is to quit. Quitting is the only decision we can make that can keep us from reaching God’s goals in our lives.

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. – Heb. 10: 35-36 (ESV)

Sunday, January 22, 2012

HANDLING YOUR BLESSINGS


By:  Blackaby


It’s not fair. From the time we’re very young, most of us spend a lot of energy making sure things are fair. We watch our parents to make sure they don’t give our siblings more than they give us. We watch our friends to make sure they don’t have better toys, or nicer clothes, or more dates than we do. We do the same thing with God. We look at how He blesses someone else, and we can’t resist the urge to compare it with what He’s given us. We don’t realize the audacity involved in accusing God of being unfair. The Bible leaves no question that God is completely just. Our problem is that we don’t look at things the right way. Our problem is not that we have been given too little. Our problem is what we have done with what we’ve been given. Jesus made clear that we’re responsible for what God gives us, not what he gives others. If any unfairness is involved, it’s in the way we mishandle what God entrusts to us.

Take some time to consider how well you’re handling your blessings. Remember, God holds you accountable for what He’s given you, not what He has given your neighbor. If you’ve grown up in a Christian environment, with years of Bible study opportunities, God expects you to know His Word. He’s not being unfair to expect obedience from you, because you clearly know what He wants you to do. The important thing in life is not who gets what but how well you manage what you get. As a Christian, you’ve received a lot, so be ready to give an account for what you’ve done with it.


From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. – Luke 12: 48(b)

Saturday, January 21, 2012

LOVE OVER BITTERNESS


By:  F. Kong


As no occasion justifies hatred, no injustice warrants bitterness.

I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

Hatred destroys.

If bitterness is a poison then resentment is a cancer.

Bitterness destroys others while resentment destroys the self.

I can surrender every bit of hatred to the God of Love and then, have Him replace all my hate with His love on this brand new day.

A cornered rattlesnake can become so frenzied, that it can actually bite itself with its own deadly fangs. In the same way, a person harboring hatred and resentment in his heart can be hurt by his own poisonous malice. He believes he is injuring his enemies by displaying his wrath, but the real injury is inflicted deep in his own soul.

Anger can also cause us to do and say things we may deeply regret. George W. Martin gives the following account: “I remember a fellow who once wrote a nasty letter to his father. Since we worked in the same office, I advised him not to send it because it was written in a fit of temper. But he sealed it and asked me to put it in the mail. Instead, I simply slipped it into my pocket and kept it until the next day. The following morning he arrived at the office looking very worried. ‘George,’ he said, ‘I wish I had never sent that note to my dad yesterday. It hurts me deeply, and I know it will break his heart when he reads it. I’d give 50 dollars to get it back!’ Taking the envelope from my pocket, I handed it to him and told him what I had done. He was so overjoyed that he actually wanted to pay me the 50 dollars!”

By the way, make sure you don’t do these two things whenever you are angry:

  • ·         Write a letter.
  • ·         Write a memo.


A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. – Prov. 15: 1

Friday, January 20, 2012

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT


By:  J. Meyer


SOME PEOPLE ARE very unhappy, and they have been that way so long that they no longer realize there is another option. I can well remember being like that. I blamed my unhappiness on the way others behaved. I thought my husband and children caused me the most unhappiness. If they would change and just be a little more sensitive to my needs, I knew I’d feel better. If they would help around the house more, volunteer to run errands, or just ask how I was doing, I knew I’d be happy. Of course, I never said anything to them. If they were sensitive and caring, I thought, they would be able to see how they could help me and make my life easier.

I did pray about it, and I often told God how much happier I would be if they cooperated more, but they didn’t change.

One day, God spoke to me – but not with the words I wanted to hear. He said, “Think about what you are thinking about.” I had no idea what God meant. In fact, the words didn’t make sense. How could I think about what I was thinking about?

Then I realized the truth. My mind raced from one thought to another. That was bad enough, but worse, my thoughts centered around myself and my needs. I had thought that if they – the other people in my life – changed, I would be happy. I finally reluctantly admitted that even if they changed, I’d find something else to be unhappy about. I was just unhappy and didn’t need any particular reason. It was first one thing and then another.

As I pondered my condition, I thought of Philippians 4:8, where Paul presented a list of the kind of things we need to focus on. If God did not want me to think about the things I was thinking about, I first needed to know what I should think about. I soon realized I had a lot to learn. Although I had been attending church for years, I could not remember anyone ever telling me how important my thoughts were to God and to my quality of life.

If we concentrate our thoughts on good things – the kind of things Paul mentioned in that verse – we will be built up. We will grow spiritually and become strong in the Lord.

As I continued to meditate on God’s message, I realized how my thoughts affected my attitude – and this is true of all of us. God tells us to do things that are for our good. He wants us to be happy and fulfilled. If we want happiness and fulfillment, we must find it God’s way. If we’re full of wrong thoughts, we’re miserable. That’s not a theory – that’s spoken from my own experience and is found in God’s Word. I’ve also learned that when we’re miserable, we usually end up making others around us miserable, too.

Since those days, I’ve made it a practice to take a regular inventory of my thoughts. I review the way I think. What have I been thinking about? I ask myself.

I stress this because – as I learned from my own experience – Satan deceives us into thinking that the source of our misery or pain is other people or sometimes our situations. He tries not to let us face the fact that our own thoughts are the source of our unhappiness. I would venture to say that it is practically impossible to be happy while maintaining negative, critical, depressing thoughts.

We need to overcome Satan in this area of the battle for our thoughts, and God will help us if we ask Him to.


Dear Lord Jesus, I have determined to think about the things I have been thinking about. I admit that my thoughts are the source of any unhappiness that I experience and not other people. I also know that the source of my victory is in You, and in Your name, I ask You to give me greater victory as I monitor my thoughts through the help of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. – Phil. 4: 8b (NIV)

Thursday, January 19, 2012

LIFE IS ALL ABOUT MAKING PRIORITIES


While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. “That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide. “He’s a fine looking boy” the man said.

“That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress,” the man continued. Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go, Melissa?” Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.” The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content.

Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?” Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.” The man smiled and said, “OK.”

“My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded. The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa. She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch her play.”

Life is all about making priorities, what are your priorities?
Give someone you love 5 more minutes of your time today! 

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

KINDNESS OVER ARROGANCE


By:  F. Kong


I will choose to be kind.

I will be kind to the poor because they are alone. I will be kind to the rich because they are afraid. Today the richer you are, the more worried you become. I will also be kind to the unkind because that was how God treated me. I’ve never been very kind to God, yet He continues to love me. So what gives me the right to be unkind to others?

I will submit to those above me in rank and those below, I will respect and honor.

I will choose servanthood. Service gives me a kind of joy money can’t buy.

I need to remind myself that I may be efficient and highly skilled but this does not give me the license to be arrogant.

I will choose to help those who need help and at the same time refrain from lifting myself up by looking down on them.

In the bathroom, an accountant, a lawyer and a farmer were standing side-by-side using the urinal.

The accountant finished, zipped up and started washing and literally scrubbing his hands … clear up to his elbows … he used about 20 paper towels before he finished.

He turned to the other two men and commented, “I graduated from Harvard and they taught us to be sanitary.”

The lawyer finished, zipped up and quickly wet the tips of his fingers, grabbed one paper towel and commented, “I graduated from the University of Texas with a Law degree and they taught us to be environmentally conscious.”

The farmer zipped up and as he was walking out the door said, “I graduated from the University of Minnesota. They taught us not to pee on our hands.”

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH


There was a phrase floating around Christian circles a few years back. You’d see it here and there, on posters and bumper stickers: “A Christian is just one beggar telling another  beggar where to find bread.” Although it presented Christians as humble people, as indeed we should be, this saying wasn’t totally accurate. Christians are not beggars! Christians are wealthy beyond description – wealthy in a way the world doesn’t understand.

Paul had been the epitome of success. He had climbed the ladder pretty well to the top. He was making a name for himself as a mover and shaker in the Jewish world. He had power, influence, and an impressive reputation. Then he met Jesus and his ambition did an about-face. Worldly success no longer meant anything to him. He was content whether he had money or no money, shelter or no shelter, food or no food, because his contentment came from within.

Our society works hard to keep us discontent. Advertisers have one goal: to convince us that we need something. And we fall for it. We work harder and harder to get more and more – then we spot something else we don’t have. More might be better, but it’s still not enough. It’s said that when Alexander the Great conquered the entire known world, he wept because there were no more worlds to conquer!

We need to learn that outward things will never satisfy our inner longing for contentment ... Only God can do that.

If you’ve been dissatisfied with your circumstances, don’t ask God to change your circumstances. Ask Him to change your heart. 

Monday, January 16, 2012

THE ESSENCE OF SUCCESS


Who in heaven’s name created the idea that success has to do with currencies and jewelry? Lots of people are loaded of that stuff but can hardly be called successful …
 You are a success when you clearly understand that failure is an event, not a person – that yesterday ended last night, and today is a brand-new day.
 You are a success when you know that a success (a win) doesn’t make you and that a failure (a loss) doesn’t break you.
 You are a success when you have made friends with your past, are focused on the present, and are optimistic about your future.
 You are a success when you are filled with faith, hope, and love and live without anger, greed, guilt, envy, or thoughts of revenge.
 You are a success when you are mature enough to delay gratification and shift your focus from your rights to your responsibilities.
 You are a success when you know that failure to stand for what is morally right is the prelude to becoming a victim of what is criminally wrong.
 You are a success when you are secure in who you are, so you are at peace with your Creator and in fellowship with others.
 You are a success when you have made friends of your adversaries and have gained the love and respect of those who know you best.
 You are a success when you understand that others can give you pleasure but that genuine happiness comes when you do things for others.
 You are a success when you give hope to the hopeless, love the unlovable, and are pleasant to the grouch, courteous to the rude, and generous to the needy.
 You are a success when you can look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.
 You are a success when you know that the greatest are those who choose to be the servants of all.
 You are a success when you recognize, confess, develop, and use your given physical, mental, and spiritual abilities for the benefit of others.
 You are a success when you know that you have been a good and faithful servant of the Creator of the universe.
 The Essence of Success:  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. (Prov. 3: 5-6)

Sunday, January 15, 2012

CARRIED TO COMPLETION


By:  Blackaby


In the Book of Revelation, John describes Christ as the Alpha and the Omega, meaning “the beginning” and “the end” (Revelation 22:13). In other words, God is eternal; He is not bound by time. God doesn’t just see the future; He’s in the future, just as He is in the past and the present. When God begins something in your life, He already knows how it will end because He is there.

When you became a Christian, God’s Holy Spirit began the work of making you like Christ. He continues to work in your life to bring about holiness, and He will continue to do so until you arrive in heaven to spend eternity face-to-face with Him. You can be absolutely confident that whatever Christ begins in you, He will finish.

If you’ve received a word from God about something He wants to do in your life, trust that He will make it happen. Don’t let circumstances discourage you; God isn’t intimidated by your circumstances. Obey Him with confidence because God always completes what He starts. If you sensed God telling you He would make you into a missionary one day, believe that He will. He has seen the future. He knows what will happen. If you sensed God saying that He would use your life to encourage others in some way, know that God is perfectly capable of doing what He says. When God says something to you, immediately adjust your life to what He has told you and then watch to see how God makes everything He said become a reality.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Phil. 1: 6 (NIV)

Saturday, January 14, 2012

UNPACK YOUR DREAMS


By:  J. Osteen


WHAT DO YOU want to do with your life? If you could write your best life story this morning, what would it say? Is your first reaction to see and describe yourself in terms of past experiences or present limitations, more in terms of losing or just surviving rather than fulfilling your dreams?

If you’ve packed away your dreams, dare to unpack them today and ask God to rekindle them in your heart and mind. It’s time to enlarge your vision. He wants to pour out His far and beyond favor on you (see Ephesians 2:7). He wants to do big things and new things in your life.


For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. – Isa. 43: 19 (NLT)

Friday, January 13, 2012

JOY



By:  Blackaby


Whoever thinks Christians don’t enjoy life doesn’t know what the Christian life is really about! Jesus didn’t come to earth to take away your happiness but to fill your life with a joy that overflows! Jesus was not interested in the kind of joy that the world gives. In the world, joy depends on how things are going. If life is going well, then you can be happy. If life is difficult, joy evaporates. Jesus wants you to be filled with his kind of joy. His joy doesn’t depend on what is happening around you; it depends on what is going on inside you.

No one could rob Jesus of his joy. They could reject him, beat him, even crucify him, but the certainty that he still belonged to God and would be rejoicing his Father in heaven filled him with joy. Christians ought to have more joy than anyone else in the world. We know the living God! We are assured of an eternity with him in heaven!

Jesus isn’t satisfied with your living only a mediocre life. He said he came so you could enjoy life to the fullest (John 10:10). So rejoice! Celebrate! Don’t let anyone convince you that the Christian life should be dull and somber. You are vitally connected to the Creator of life itself. Focus on him – not on what people around you are doing – and you will have the same joy Jesus had.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

THE WORD TOMORROW



By:  Robert K.


The most life-destroying word of all is the word TOMORROW. The poor, the unsuccessful, the unhappy, the unhealthy are the ones who use the word tomorrow the most. These people will often say, “I’ll start investing tomorrow.” Or, “I’ll start my diet and exercise tomorrow.” Or, “I’ll start reading tomorrow.” Or, “I’ll start serving God tomorrow.” And so on.

The word TOMORROW is the word that destroys more lives than any other single word. The problem with the word tomorrow is that we have never seen a tomorrow. Tomorrow do not exist. Tomorrows only exist in the minds of dreamers and losers. People who put off till tomorrow find that the sins and bad habits of their past eventually catch up with them.

We have never seen a TOMORROW. All we have are TODAYs. Today is the word for winners and tomorrow is the word for losers.

Behold, now is the accepted time. – 2 Cor. 6: 2(b)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

BE BOLD FOR SERVICE



By:  E. Heramia


Since kingdom citizens are declared righteous by grace, we are suppose to be BOLD, unafraid to venture out with the, oftentimes, unfamiliar direction of God in their lives. That’s why they are in business .. that’s why they are in ministry .. that’s why they try the untried .. that’s why they blaze new trails .. that’s why they abhor the status quo, safety and mediocre life .. that’s why they are uncomfortable being comfortable in the comfort zone .. that’s why they never follow the crowd.

In exhibiting their faith, they come to realize, discover, and develop hidden talents and gifts, and untapped potentials which usher them towards serving others and their generation, significantly. 

Monday, January 9, 2012

RESPECT EVERYONE



There was once a young man, a summa cum laude of a prestigious university, who came to a remote village and crossed a wide river via small boat. While travelling, he asked the boatman, “Do you know the exact weight of your boat when it is full to its capacity?”  “I don’t know, Sir”, replied the boatman. “Well, you are a boatman. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT.”  After a few minutes, the young man asked again, “Do you know the exact height of that mountain over there?” The poor boatman answered, “I’m sorry, Sir, I don’t know that, Sir.”  “Well, you are always here boating and YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT,” insisted the young man. Then, suddenly, after few minutes, the wind blew so furiously that it heavily hit the boat. The boatman suggested, “Sir, we need to jump out of the boat immediately and swim to spare our lives!”  The young man fearfully exclaimed, “What!?, I don’t know how to swim! I don’t know that!!” The boatman said, “But, Sir, it is the only option you can do to save your life! You should know how to swim! YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT! .. I’m sorry, Sir, I can’t save you with this kind of heavy storm, and I must now go!”

Indeed, there are things you know that others don’t, and there are things others know that you don’t. So, we don’t need to compare ourselves with anybody else. We don’t even have the license to belittle someone because of our seemingly advantage over them.

Nobody has the monopoly of knowledge and intelligences … not even the monopoly of GOD’s blessings.

GOD gives each person with skills and talents that make him or her uniquely special. That is why we do not have the right to label anyone dumb or stupid. If we help each other discover and explore our own areas of intelligence, then we’d all be happier and more content with ourselves.

Be careful. Respect everybody because we’re all GOD’s creation. You may not admire someone much but nevertheless, GOD loves him. There’s an African saying that goes this way: “The opinion of the intelligent is better than the certainty of the ignorant.”

As Citizen of the Kingdom, we are expected to use our talents, skills, intelligence, or any advantage to serve and to help each other in the spirit of warmth, harmony, and love, for one day we will face the real Judge and shall render an account.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

DO MORE



By:  John L. M.


Do more than exist, live ..
Do more than hear, listen ..
Do more than agree, cooperate ..
Do more than talk, communicate ..
Do more than grow, bloom ..
Do more than spend, invest ..
Do more than think, create ..
Do more than work, excell ..

Do more than share, give ..
Do more than decide, discern ..
Do more than consider, commit ..
Do more than forgive, forget ..
Do more than help, serve ..
Do more than coexist, reconcile ..
Do more than sing, worship ..
Do more than think, plan ..

Do more than dream, do ..
Do more than see, perceive ..
Do more than read, apply ..
Do more than receive, reciprocate ..
Do more than choose, focus ..
Do more than wish, believe ..
Do more than advise, help ..

Do more than speak, impart ..
Do more than encourage, inspire ..
Do more than add, multiply ..
Do more than change, improve ..
Do more than reach, stretch ..
Do more than ponder, pray ..
Do more than just live, live for JESUS!

Waiting on God and His Light in the Heart

By:   A. Murray “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they t...