In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. - Ephesians 3:12
As shared in the post “Ascending the Mountain of the Lord”, it’s never too late to make a climb higher towards the mountain of the Lord. By accepting Christ as Savior, we become His hands and feet to make significant moments happen not only in our own lives but in the lives of others.
One small step at a time, we can reach a very high point this day. Receive inspiration from today’s video: Lifesong – Casting Crowns and when you reach the highest point of this day, approach God with freedom and confidence and let Him sign off on your day.
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what
happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. - 1
Thessalonians 5:16-18
The memories you make give you a
lift, good weather can give you a lift, but the ultimate lift is knowing that
the future is bright because of the reward God has for all that believe in His
Son.
We get hit with so many negative
thoughts on a daily basis. One idea to overcome is to start and end the day
with uplifting positive music like this one: Hands of God by the Newsboys. This spiritual
exercise gets your mind in the right frame of mind as you start your day or as
you retire for the evening.
And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will
honor me. – Psalm 50:15
As shared in the post “Hope Even in Trials“, David is going through
tremendous emotional and physical difficulty but goes to God in prayer. He hung
in there even during extreme difficulty and events turned around in his favor.
The lesson for us is that God
will bless with strength to face difficulty, a need, or a challenge. Just go to
Him in prayer and ask for shelter through the storm just like in this video: Shelter Me by Bruce Carroll, Billy Sprague
and Bob Bennett. Through our difficulty, momentum will build toward a
brighter future with new hope and joy.
Sharing in the post “Trusting the Lord”, David desired success in
overcoming his enemies and in prayer he asks God for help. He thanks God for
listening and granting his spiritual request and asks for eternal blessings.
When we follow God’s plan for us, we
are assured of gaining victories in various situations throughout life. There
will be challenges but as in this video: We Won’t Be Shaken – Building 429. As we gain victories, our response will be to
give God the glory as we gain momentum each day.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. – Psalm 19:14
Going out in the backyard either
at night before going to sleep or in the morning before sunrise with my dog
Marlee, we can hear the sounds of a night. Marlee loves just lying in the grass,
listening, and enjoying the cool breeze. I look up in the sky and see the stars
and enjoy the amazement as God has painted another masterpiece to communicate
His glory. The time in the back yard gives inspiration and hope; confidence
that that God is with me and will be with me always.
In the post “More Precious Than Gold”, written about was just
how precious God’s Word is and the need to share with others the precious
insight that can be gained. Also mentioned was the exercise of memorizing
scripture so it becomes deep-rooted into our heart and soul. Another way to receive inspiration and hope
is in music as in this video: Light Up the
Sky – The Afters.
In all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - Romans
8:37
As written about in the post “Provision”, David constantly acknowledged
that his victories in battle were due to God’s provision. Just as with David,
God reflects and magnifies who we are. Faith in Him gives us confidence and
hope that we will be enabled with strength, a secure future, and the needed
resources to meet each challenge.
Let us give credit to God for
each victory and give thanks for His love through Christ. We start today with
praise for the sure victory: Grace Wins– Matthew West.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
My God is my rock, in
whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn
of my salvation, my stronghold. – Ps 18:2
In sharing the post “Delivered from Enemies”, noted was how David
faced difficulty but spread his wings in faith to be lifted to a new level as
God fashioned a bright future for David.
We all face difficulties in
life. I once read about actor Sylvester Stallone who not only was the lead
actor but also wrote the script for all the “Rocky” and “Rambo” movies. Before
hitting it big with the movie “Rocky”, Sylvester Stallone went through
homelessness as he struggled to make ends meet as a writer and actor.
If going through a trial in your
life or just having a down day, take inspiration from this video: Lift Me Up by The Afters.
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
–Psalm 17:8-9
As shared in the post “First Down”, David prays
that God would help him in a distressful situation. Life had blocked David from gaining momentum just as life blocks our path at times.
The lesson for us is to remain
optimistic because with God, we are highly favored. We can overcome our enemies
in life by taking in God's Word to fortify. Sometimes the greatest enemy we
face is within our own mind. We may say stuff in our own mind like “It’s too
difficult … I can’t do this”.
I heard a story one time about a
field goal kicker in football who said he recites scripture in his mind when in
a pressure situation like kicking the game winning field goal. A scripture like
Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength” and
other memorized scriptures can be very useful when faced with pressure moments
in life.
Lord, we pray today that you
will protect us. That we will take in Your scripture to fortify us and prepare
us for the challenges of life. The devil tries to break us in life but You
never forsake us. We are thankful for songs like Savior’s Shadow by Blake Shelton
because we gain confidence and inspiration to follow the Way. This day, fill
our minds with thoughts like this one from the song: “Grace leads us to where
we are free”. In Jesus name. Amen.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths
straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6
A moving target makes success
very unlikely. What if the bases where never in the same place in baseball and
we didn’t know where first base was or where second base was? There wouldn’t be a chance to get to home base
and not many runs would be scored would they?
Unfortunately, we constantly
receive conflicting information in this game of life.
Just as it is important to know
where the bases are in a baseball game to win, it’s even more important to know
the rules in life. Fortunately, we have God’s Word as our rule book.
So this day, work together with
fellow believers and build up the kingdom. Know the most important rule is that
you are loved by God because of accepting His Son as Savior. Receive
inspiration from today’s video: Good,
Good Father – Chris Tomlin.
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to
everyone according to what he has done. - Revelation 22:12
The greatest reward in life is
Jesus in our heart. The post “Internalizing His
Principles” describes how to obtain this great reward that allows us to
fellowship with God throughout our day.
This day, believe that God has a
great plan for you and He will set things up so everything will fall into place.
It all starts with receiving a plan from Him through faithful, consistent, and
powerful prayer. Here is a video poem to start you toward an amazing day: This Day with God.
Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As
surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter
rains, like the spring rains that water the earth. - Hosea 6:3
Technology has been developed so
that we can communicate with each other on the other side of the world but at
the same time, humanity can be a fool in not acknowledging God’s part in making
the world amazing. Such was the case when I shared in the post “Evidence of His Existence”.
When God is present, we have purpose,
teamwork, and integrity. Without a focus on God, there is corruption and
failure. This day with God, let us see Him around us and acknowledge His
greatness. As we go throughout the day, let us give thanks.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of
the Lord our God. - Psalm 20:7
The world has a way of making us
feel that we are not quite good enough. We may feel that we are not quite skilled
enough or that we just don't catch on to a new concept. If thoughts like these come
to mind, remember that with God there is no need to get stressed out. He's big
enough to make up the difference and provide the extra needed to finish each
day a step ahead.
Trust in the ONE true
He will always keep you
And always provide for you
Here is a link to a video that
can change the momentum for your day: This
Day with God.
In the post, “Dissipation of a Nation”, the people turned
to idol worship instead of giving credit to God for all they had been given.
Written about were some lessons we can take from this passage which can be
applied today within nations or used by individuals. Many throughout the world
seem to think governments can best provide for needs even though governments have
a way of setting up roadblocks to productivity by setting up regulations that
are impossible to meet or enforce.
In the nation in which I live,
every state is different but united. Within the United States, some states
choose to do things one way and others choose to do things another way. Texas
has just a few natural lakes. Years ago, some smart people noticed that there
were many rivers in Texas but the water just ran into the Gulf of Mexico. During
the hot summers, the state would get low on water so they thought of the idea
of building damns along the rivers to make lakes that stores the water.
The point is that it’s important
to plan using the lessons taught by history. Some states never learned from
history; never built lakes to store rain water, and as a result, have to either
do without or barrow water from other states at a high price.
The Bible has many lessons
taught by history that the United States adopted to form The U. S. Constitution
as a guide to run the nation. Unfortunately, many have decided that it should
no longer be “One Nation Under God” so they’ve instructed to ditch the advantage
that history brings; going instead to the lead of a few unqualified bureaucrats
as the best way to the future.
God’s
Plan for Us is the best way. It’s been proven over and over again. This day
can be amazing because our growing faith can never be taken away or depleted.
The gospel message has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it that sets
us free and never let us down. Be inspired by the song The Way by Jeremy Camp.
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and
petition, present your request to God and the peace of God which transcends all
understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians
4:6-7
God is like a mountain; standing
rock solid over time and protecting you in your time of need. You can take
courage, for God is there for you. If you feel anxious about anything today, go
to God in prayer. Take courage, for He loves you; teaching through lessons and
kindly providing for your needs.
Work with Him in faith, wait for
Him in hope, and fulfill your purpose with a passion. As in the song Whom Shall I fear by Chris Tomlin, the
God of angel armies will always be by your side.
Many people, organizations, and
nations have great potential but one issue can get them off track. In the post
“Step Ahead with Confidence”, written
were some thoughts from the study of Hosea 10 and how Israel got off track with
negative reactions to certain challenges. It is the same with us in our life
today as we react to issues. What we have to do is keep working to stay on
track.
With good habits, we can step
ahead and maximize the potential God has given us. The Bible gives us great
advice and we can have confidence because victory is assured through Jesus
Christ. We can let the past go and know the future is bright because grace wins
every time. Take inspiration from today’s video: Grace Wins – Matthew West.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. - Psalm 147:3
As shared in the post “Need for Great Physician”, sin created a serious
condition for Israel. The quality of life would be in terrible shape with
unclean food, children having difficulties, and insecurity.
But there is always hope because
of the great gift we have in Jesus. God has provided the Great Physician who
has the cure and His Word provides the nourishment needed. Step into the light
of grace and enjoy today’s video: Tell Your
Heart to Beat Again – Danny Gokey.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish,
and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much
fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. - John 15:7-8
One of the main lessons gained
from reading in Hosea 7-8 and writing in the post “Hitting the Target” is the warning of
guarding our hearts against blindness to sin. The way to hit the target is to
repent of our own sin, give up our pride, and work to improve our own character
by developing ways to look for and store up lessons from the Bible.
I’ve found that having a dog is
great for anyone that needs to wake up early and study God’s Word. My Dog gets
hungry very early and wakes me up. Once up, I’m more inclined and have more
time to read the Bible and other devotionals before I start my day.
As was the case with Israel
during Hosea’s time, sometimes we have to be brought down to our knees. We may
think we know what’s best but it is our Father in Heaven who really knows.
Getting into His Word and working to make them stick in our hearts so they
remain in us is what we should strive for.
So the aim is to get into God’s
Word on a daily basis so this action rids us of our way and leads us to the
best Way. Enjoy today’s inspiring video: Lead
Me to the Cross - Hillsong.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths
straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6
In the post “Seeking the Best Direction and Guidance”,
shared was how spiritual decline led to God’s wrath being poured out on Israel.
The Bible gives us a chance to learn from mistakes made in the past and provides
a better understanding of the best way to live.
Only God can transform from the
inside out; making intangibles like faith, hope, and love into tangible
blessings. Today’s video emphasizes this transformation that God can make: Busted Heart – For King & Country.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your
getting, get understanding. – Proverbs 4:7
In the post “What’s the Cure”, explained was how the
incentives were upside down during Hosea’s time in Israel. Isn’t it amazing
that the incentives seem to be upside down in societies throughout our world
today! One thought brought out in the post was that governments throughout the
world go into debt for rewarding the wrong behavior.
There is an incentive for
governments to make people dependent on them rather than God. Even the United
States seems to no longer put an emphasis on being “One Nation Under God”.
Instead of being wise, being efficient, and productive as individuals, the aim
is to promote discontent and chaos. Perhaps the reason is that society is in
disarray and laws are not enforced.
When laws are not enforced,
there is no accountability in society and a lack of morality is pushed
throughout the culture. The worse off the people become, the more government
solutions are pushed. Then to support government solutions, people are taxed to
support the dependence. This only makes the harmful government institutions
grow even larger and more tyrannical.
Over time, governments grow but
go into more and more debt. Then governments tax more and this limits what
people can create on their own; limiting their gifts to churches and
non-profits. The vicious cycle continues from generation to generation.
Unfortunately, people then have fewer opportunities to get out of the
second-rate living conditions they have been forced into by the government.
The only cure is through
accepting God’s grace. The Great Physician diagnosed adultery, stealing, and
murder; the prognosis was emptiness, failure, and disappointment. But by
accepting God’s grace, there is a cure and His people can also acquire the positive
lessons of life through the study of His Word!
God’s way leads to wisdom and
understanding. As in this video, God knows how we should live and His Word
provides the instruction: He Knows –
Jeremy Camp.
See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare;
before they spring into being I announce them to you. - Isaiah 42:9
God wants to make each day
amazing and our tomorrows more amazing than today. In His timing, things are
made right. He is for us so we can be at peace and focus on a brighter future.
Because of His love for us, we are inspired to share about this love with
others.
The good memories we have can give
us a lift and the nicer weather can give us a lift but the ultimate lift is
knowing that the future is bright because of the reward God has for all who believe
in His Son. No matter what is going on in life, we can count on the turning of
the season from winter to spring. We can also count on greater tomorrows
because of our acceptance of Christ in our heart.
We get hit with so many negative
thoughts on a daily basis. One idea to overcome is to begin our day with
uplifting positive music to inoculate the negative thoughts. Take a few minutes
to listen to this uplifting song to get your mind in the right frame of mind as
you begin your day: Forgiven – Sanctus
Real.
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man
the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. - 1 Corinthians 2:9
What is our greatest reward in
this life? Is it nice houses, cars, and cloths, or is it waking up early with
God, studying the Word, praying, and knowing He is with us throughout our day. Unfortunately,
as written about in the post “Our True Reward”,
many look for their happiness, needs, and desires from this world rather than
from God.
Take a moment to watch this
video: Good, Good Father – Chris Tomlin. Let
us keep our eyes on the true reward today for with God, we can sincerely
believe that each hardship we face can be overcome. We can be enthusiastic;
going about this day by taking action to make it our best day ever. Then our
tomorrows will be our best days ahead and we can celebrate progress by giving praise for what He gave.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. -
Proverbs 16:3
As shared in the post Unlimited
Potential with God, Israel was not faithful to God and their future was
not going to be easy. The lesson for us is to reach out and grab the upper hand
of God by setting aside time to study the Word and spending time in prayer.
Here is an idea for today.
Instead of taking breaks today, have a praise the Lord prayer time asking for
direction for the rest of the day. First, watch this video poem and take every
opportunity during pauses throughout the day to watch this video poem; to pray
and ask for guidance: This Day with God.
God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. - 1
Corinthians 6:14
The vision written about in the
post “Life Has Strains but Hope Remains”,
reminds us that there is always hope because Christ brings changes in life.
Just like Israel that was destroyed and then transformed, there is a redemptive
purpose in God’s judgment that changes the future for the better.
Even in hard times, hope remains
because He reigns and we can have joy because of the inspiration we gain in the
events around Easter. Throughout life, there will be difficulty but hope
remains in front of us just as in this video: Hope in Front of Me – Danny Gokey and
we will come out stronger on the other side.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more
and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet
inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
In the post “Reward for the Soul”, the rich and powerful
had oppressed the poor and there was idol worship throughout the land. The time
had come for God’s judgment. Just like in the times of Amos, people today look
for answers to life’s problems in the wrong places.
As the main point in this song: First – Lauren Daigle, the solution to
our challenges each day can be found by seeking God first before anything else.
Enjoy today’s inspiring music and have a blessed day?
Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong. - Job
6:24
We can’t be assured of the
proper guidance from experts or by using apps or maps. Experts can have many misses as they tell us what is best for us in
our life. That’s why the greatest learning in life comes from God’s Word and by
following His Way.
That’s not to say that we can’t
learn from others but many times, the whizzes in certain fields tend to have an
agenda. Keep in mind that those who have our best interest in mind are the ones
to follow; people like our parents and grandparents.
One time, my daughter stayed
with her cousins in my hometown about 60 miles east of where we currently live.
I was going over to pick her up but on the way over, I ran into a
downpour. It was so much rain that a part
of the highway that goes under a railroad track was flooded. Being from that
town, I remembered my dad and grandfather taking another route nearby that went
over the tracks instead of under the tracks and then back onto the highway. I
took the route and noticed behind me about five other vehicles following me.
No map or app showed the way but
experience and following what I had learned growing up got us to where we
needed to go. It is much the same in a life with Christ. The experiences we go
through and learning how Jesus lived as recorded in the Gospels will lead us to
where we need to go.
Some days seem like a fight. We
have doubt and we have things that happen that brings us to our knees. It is
during these times that we need to go to the ONE who knows. The experts in
various fields may have a personal agenda but God has our best interest in mind
so lift up your eyes to Him today and receive inspiration from today’s video: He Knows – Jeremy Camp.
Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where
there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need
it. - Hebrews 4:16
Many times throughout the
history of mankind, nations have gone astray. Such is the case as written about
in the post “Actions to Take Now for the Good
Life”. Amos was telling the people that there is a process that does bless God’s people; a way to change
course away from their sins which included the oppression of the innocent,
taking bribes, depriving the poor of justice, and idol worship to mention just
a few.
Here we are in current times and
the warning from Amos continues to apply in the present. Many nations
throughout the world do not seek the Lord first. Even the United States of
America in which the motto is “One Nation Under God” has lost their way as
leaders no longer put an emphasis on integrity and upholding justice.
Albert Einstein once said “Learn
from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not
to stop questioning”. We must continue
to question: What does God want in the lives of His people? How can each
individual take action now to seek what God has for them?
Learning is a life-long process
so let us take every opportunity to ask questions, seek answers, and share with
others. God wants His people to seek every good thing and glorify His name. Let
us begin at this moment to give praise to the ONE who made this amazing
universe as we are inspired by this video: Lifesong– Casting Crowns.
A person's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone
understand their own way? - Proverbs 20:24
The journey of life without God
can prove to be one big bumpy road. That’s why we should all have a passion to
return to the ONE who has formed the mountains, created the wind, and reveals
His thoughts to us daily. Then the bumps along the journey will not be as
troublesome.
In the post “The Way to Assuring a Great Day” are some
thoughts/ideas on what can be done to live the way God advises in His Word.
Here is a video poem that I produced with these thoughts in mind: This Day with God.
A person's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone
understand their own way? - Proverbs 20:24
In the post, “Doing the Right Thing”, written about was
how Israel was heading down the wrong path and that God’s judgment would come
upon that nation. In many ways, the world today is not that different than
during the time of Amos.
A lesson learned is that we need
to listen, know God’s
plan for us, make adjustments in life if necessary, and take action on
doing the right thing. Here’s a video that highlights these thoughts and
inspires us to do the right thing: Come
Let Us Return to the Lord – Matt Redman.
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers
harm - Proverbs 12:20
As written about in the post, “Build on a Firm Foundation”, there are
consequences when we are associated with those who have turned away from God.
Instead, we should build on the firm foundation of His Word which allows us to accumulate
knowledge and understanding over time. We should also consistently pray for
advice and confidently do what is needed.
I remember one hot summer in
July, my daughter heard that a convenience store was having a special on
slurpee drinks. The Seven Eleven convenient stores were giving out free slurpees
because the date was 7-11. I went into the store and there was a crowd lined up
so I followed the crowd. Well, I got my slurpee but ended up getting the wrong
size just like everyone else and having to pay for it.
When you follow the crowd, it
doesn’t always end up like you want. Instead, let us follow the Lord because He
knows what is best for us as described in today’s video: He Knows – Jeremy Camp.
