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It is your choice

April 30, 2012 in Devotionals, Featured, Life with 0 Comments

turner falls

Deuteronomy 30:19 – “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessing and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make.  Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”

Everyday God gives us a chance for a great life, but we have to choose it.  We have to awake and choose to love and obey God.  We have to awake and choose to listen and learn from God instead of the world.  We have to awake and choose to be firm in our devotion to God.

Years ago I went to a waterfall with my family.  As we walk down the creek to where the waterfall was located I was amazed.  Before I ever saw it, I could hear it.  Then as we got closer I could see it.  Finally we arrived and people were swimming in the pool that the waterfall poured down into.  As I stood on the shoreline I could feel the midst of the waterfall.  Eventually my family and I joined the others and got into the water and swam up into the waterfall.  It was amazing the power that poured down on us as we swam under the actual waterfall.  Such power, such enjoyment!

In order to enjoy the full power of that waterfall we made a decision to do so.  We made the choice to enter into the water and swim to the place where the waterfall came down.  We could have stayed down creek or even on the bank, but we decided to get into the water and enjoy this great creation.

This is the way of the blessings of God.  They are always flowing for each one of us, but we will not enjoy the full blessings of God today unless we make a decision to do so.  You can hear about them and even feel a bit of them by being around others that are blessed, but until you get into the water and swim you will not experience real life.  The evil one Satan wants to steal and kill and destroy your opportunity for life and blessings.  Yet Jesus promised us in John 10 that he wants to give us life and the blessing of abundance.

Today, you have a chance to be blessed or cursed, to find life or death; it is all in the way you decide.  As Deuteronomy 30:19 states, “Oh, that you would choose life…” Get into the water and swim out to the fullness of what God wants for you today.  The waterfall of God’s blessings is always pouring out for whoever will come and choice to swim in them.  Today is your day for life and blessings so step into the presence of God.

What Attitude?

April 25, 2012 in Devotionals, Featured, Life with 1 Comment

stop_complaining-saidaonline

Are you a person of Joy? Or are you a person who complains? I find it interesting that it is hard to do both.

So many people would rather live their life complaining than receive the great joy of the Lord. In John 6, people complained. Jesus was offering these people a life that was satisfying and fulfilling, yet all they wanted to do was complain. So what did Jesus say? In Verse 43, it states, “Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said.”

Complaining never changes a thing. Instead all complaining does is help you to remain in your mess. When you fill your thoughts and your life with that which is negative, you continue to move toward those negative things. As you continue to read John 6 you find out that Jesus time and time again tries to lead these people to life in Him, but at the end they all leave complaining. Complaining is a sin that keeps us in bondage instead of moving us toward change and life

Today, if you want to be fulfilled and satisfied, stop complaining about your situation, your life, or your position. Instead, take joy in your lot and trust in the Lord. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.” God wants to give you Joy today. You have to delight in Him and not complain about your current situation.

In Psalm 40:8 David reminds us what Scripture says, He states, “I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” Today, wait on the Lord, trust in His words, and before long you will be amazed at the Joy in your heart. The Joy of the Lord is your strength.

Love is what???

February 29, 2012 in Devotionals, Featured, Life with 0 Comments

patience 2

Jesus said the greatest thing you could do with your life is to Love God and Love others (Mark 12:31-32).  I think the biggest challenge in loving others is learning to be patient and kind.

For the most part, each of us wants what we want when we want it.  And if we do not get what we want, we get upset, we get frustrated, and we get rude.  When there is no patience, there is no kindness!  And when you don’t show patience and kindness; there is no real love.

Because 1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient and kind!”

So who does God want you to be patient with today?  Oops, I mean love today?

What will be said?

February 21, 2012 in Featured, Life with 0 Comments

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I know you probably do not want to think about this, but someday you and I will die.  When we die, someone is going to stand up at our funeral and tell all about our life.  I wonder often: what will be said?  When you die what do you want people to remember?  What do you want people to say about how you lived your life?

Maybe someone will tell about how funny you were during your life?  They will tell about all the crazy things you did and people will laugh.  While people are laughing at your funeral about how funny you were; what will be said about you in eternity?

Maybe someone will stand up at your funeral and talk about how good you were at your job.  They will tell how you solved problems, made money, and how professional you were.  People will leave your funeral filled with respect for you.  Maybe they will even buckle down and work harder.  You will be viewed successful here, but in eternity, what will be said about you?

Maybe someone will stand up at your funeral and talk about what a great mom or dad you were.  They will tell how you took care of them and provided for them.  They will shed some tears and people at your funeral will vow to be better parents.  Yet you will be in eternity; what will be said about you there?

Maybe someone will stand up and talk about how much money and time you gave to people and causes.  And at your funeral, you will be respected for the contribution you made to many.  But, you will be in eternity, what will be said of you there?

I could go on and on about things that might be said at your funeral, but the question is; will they really matter?

You see, each of us can do many great things here on earth and be admired by people, but we can still miss the mark in heaven.  In heaven, things will be judge differently.  They will not be judge by the surface or the look of things, instead in heaven; we will be judge by our motive.  The reason we did what we did.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 and hopefully all my words will make sense.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Today, all that matters is how you love.  Go out and love God and love others.

Forget it…

February 8, 2012 in Featured, Life with 0 Comments

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Forget about your circumstances for a moment.  Most of the time you have very little control over what is happening around you.
Forget about your self imagine and weight for a moment.  We all struggle on this, but neither will give you what you really desire.
Forget about your finances for a moment.  Money is nice, but it will not buy you a fulfilled heart.
Forget about all the petty pursuits that make you feel good on the outside.  Hobbies only bring momentary happiness.
Forget your sin issues.  This is too big for you; only Jesus can help you here.

Forget it all…

Today allow God to change you on the inside.

When God changes your heart, he changes your life.
God always does an inside work before He cleans up the outside.

Forget your agenda, Remember Him, and you just might GET everything you desire today.

Matthew 16:25 “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

The Time is Now

July 7, 2011 in Featured, Life with 2 Comments

Time is now shirt

Psalm 90:12 – “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Our days are numbered!  Everyday is like a clock ticking down toward your final day on earth.  You do not have forever.

I was reminded of this recently as I was watching the NBA Finals.  Did anybody watch the Finals?  I was somewhat cheering for Dallas because the OKC Thunder did not make it to the finals.

Anyways, as I watch this series, I was amazed when the game series went back to Dallas from Miami for Game 3.  As I watched the pre-game show, I noticed that on the chairs were the same shirts that had been placed there during the Lakers’ series.  They were blue and they had the same saying on them.  IN OKC, we change it up every game, but not in Big D.  These shirts were the same, but then it hit me as I read what was written on the front of these shirts: “THE TIME IS NOW.” What a statement.

Dallas has never won the whole thing.  Jason Kid and Dirk have been to the finals, but they had never won.  Those guys are getting older.  If they are to get a ring, “The time is NOW.”  It had to happen.  So the owner made a brilliant statement, “The time is now.”

For some of us today, this is God’s message; “The Time is NOW.”  Today, you got to choose, are you going to win or are you going to continue to lose?  God wants you to win.  He is calling you to make a choice to love Him, obey Him, and commit your life to him.  Yet it is your choice.

For some, your marriage is about to totally be a loss.  You need to make a choice.  For others, you are about to lose the dream God has given you.  You have to choose.  Then there are those reading this and your finances are falling apart.  You have to make a choice.  The most powerful thing you can do everyday is make a choice to love and obey God.

Remember what Moses said in his Final words: Deuteronomy 30:19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses…” You have to choose wisely.

I’ve been mistreated :(

March 30, 2011 in Featured, Life with 0 Comments

Hurt Heart

One thing I have learned in life is this: people will hurt you at times. Whether it is the pain of a broken friendship or family. The sting of rejection by someone, the lose of peace, or the frustration of a harmful word spoken. We have all been mistreated by someone or something in this life.  So how should we react to being mistreated or hurt by someone?

Jesus taught us in Luke 6:28 to “pray for those who mistreat you.”

 

It is so hard to pray God’s blessing on someone that has mistreated you.  Yet it is even harder to “Love God and love others” the way God tells us too and hate someone else at the same time. Matter of fact, I would say it is impossible. So Jesus said in order to bless and not curse, you have to pray. Praying frees you and your offender.

Let me encourage you to pray the following ways for those who mistreat you.

  • First you pray that they would know the love of God.No change happens outside of God and His love. So you pray for God’s love to come into their life.  It has been said “Hurt people hurt people.”  When someone isn’t living in the love of God, they will mistreat others.  We have all been there.
  • You also pray for God to prosper them. This is very hard, but so effective.  When you pray for someone to prosper you are really praying for what you want in your life. Listen, the secret behind Jesus teaching us to pray for others is to think; what would I want if I were in their shoes. I would not want what I deserve, I would want better. So you pray for good in their lives. You pray for God’s best in there life because that is what you want in your life.
  • Finally, pray for their happiness. Anyone that hurts people outwardly is not happy inwardly. So you pray that your enemy would know happiness.  That they would find true joy in their heart and mind and life.  Joy is the strength of the Lord; so for someone to know joy is to find Jesus.

 

Why are you praying this way? Well, one Jesus says too; but that isn’t the only reason.  If you do not learn to pray for those that mistreat you, you will hold onto that hurt. Eventually years from now that hurt will hurt you, and then you hurt others. Prayer frees you and your offender.  I know this is radical, yet this is God’s way.

What do you pray when others mistreat you?

Live 511 Now

February 28, 2011 in Featured, Life with 0 Comments

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”

I love this!  Encourage and build up others; in other words, stop putting people down.  Today, you have the chance to make a huge difference in someone’s life by speaking great things to them.  Maybe your spouse, your child, a co-worker, or a friend; it really does not matter who, it matters what (you say or do).  What you do today matters to someone somewhere.  Think about ways to encourage and build up others.

Who do you need to encourage right now?

Make the phone, write the email, send the text, or go visit them.  You never know, you can be the reason that they continue a work or a marriage or a friendship or even a life.  Encourage and build up others!

What are you growing?

January 11, 2011 in Life with 0 Comments

When I was a child, my dad would often take me out to someone’s farm to get hay for our horses.  Many times when we would go, the farmer would have a crop planted.  And eventually in the conversation the question would emerge; “what are you growing?” Funny thing is that what ever the farmer sowed, he always reaped.  This reminds me of a great verse in the bible that applies to life.

It is Galatians 6:7  ”Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.”

So today, what are you growing?

I got an email from a friend last week and within a story she sent, the following was written:

*If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

*If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

*If you plant humility, you will reap greatness

*If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment

*If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

*If you plant hard work, you will reap success

*If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

Think about it today:  What are you growing in your life?

Words

January 10, 2011 in Devotionals, Life with 0 Comments

Proverbs 29:20 “Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

Way too often what we say gets us in trouble.  Words are the most powerful tool we have each day.

We can either use our words to…

destroy or to lift up,

lie or to speak the truth in LOVE,

hurt or to sooth others,

hinder or help,

discourage or encourage.

Who needs you to think about the words you use in their life today?

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