The things God has prepared
for those who love Him. - 1 Cor 2:9
Within the post “Warnings from Mom”, good advice is given by
the mother of a future king. Wives and mothers are so important in a society
because children are blessed, husbands are blessed, and all who are around them
are blessed.
Wonderful memories come from a
great home. It is unfortunate that all homes are not perfect but there is one home
that is perfect. Be inspired each day that heaven is our ultimate home and
reward.
As the song Home by Chris Tomlin highlights, heaven
is a place where every tear is wiped away and all fear is gone. There is always
something to look forward to when our forever home is a place where the streets
are golden and all chains are broken.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not
from yourselves, it is the gift of God. - Ephesians 2:8
The post “Wisdom’s Call“ highlights the difference
between wisdom and folly. One way leads to much despair and the other way leads
us to God’s blessings.
Many may say that God’s Word is
outdated and not useful in today’s world but it’s a lie. Insight is gained from
reading the Bible and God’s
plan for us is revealed. By accepting what Jesus did for us on the Cross,
we receive the greatest gift of all and we can step out in faith.
Like the song Holy Spirit – Francesca Battistelli
gives attention to, by accepting Christ as Savior we also welcome the guidance
of the Holy Spirit to fill every aspect of our life. We accept the great reward
of God’s presence and guidance.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Corinthians 9:7
As pointed out in the post “Moved by the Spirit to Give”, you can
satisfy that craving deep down inside by being a cheerful giver; feeding your soul by giving your skills, your time,
and your resources. So enthusiastically give from your heart for the needs of
others and the Spirit of the Lord.
The song When Love Sees You by Mac Powell is
about stories of giving. In the Bible, we learn about the blind beggar that is
blessed by the healing power of Christ, the widow that gave all she had as an
offering, and Mary who washed the feet of Jesus.
These are just a few of the
inspiring stories found in the Bible. This day with God, share your story of
giving or receiving and be inspired by the ultimate gift which is Christ who
died on the Cross for you and me.
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and
all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord
blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. - Exodus 20:11
In the post “Filled With His Spirit”, God provided workers
who could reflect His creative activity in order to build and furnish the tent
of meeting; a place for His people to meet with Him.
Worship time is so important
because it is a time to meet with God and be filled with His Spirit. It also is
a day of rest so we can physically be prepared for the challenges faced in the
week ahead.
Several years ago, I began to
think a lot about how God could use me in a ministry at our church. One area
that caught my attention was using my technology background to help with the
tech team during our worship service.
I also wanted to use technology
in getting God’s Word out with this on-line Bible study guide. We live in a
very busy world with busy schedules so my hope was to use this tool to help with
daily Bible reading and study.
As you listen to this video: In Me by Casting Crowns take some time
to identify your strengths and how you can reflect God’s creative activity to a
world in need.
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
The main point as written in the
post “The Greatest Sacrifice Ever” is that God’s
Plan for us makes it much easier today because of what Jesus Christ did on
the Cross for our eternal victory.
We can be a great person but
without Christ, the victory is out of reach. I remember watching the NFL
induction ceremony when Brett Favre was inducted into the Hall of Fame. With
all his greatness, few people know that he is leader in one negative stat. As a
quarterback, he had the most interceptions.
We all make mistakes but we can
turn mistakes into a victory if we take in the lessons learned. Because of the
grace of God, blessings can be received even from our past mistakes. Take
inspiration from today’s video: Your
Grace Is Enough by Matt Maher and believe you have all you need to build
for an amazing future.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and
has no one to help him up! - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
The post “Walk by the Spirit” has some thoughts and
ideas towards blessing others. I also remember a while back when our church did
a Mobile Pack Event for Feed my Starving Children. It was a fun event for
adults and children. There were jobs for everyone to help get all the food
ingredients into 100,000 food pack meals that was sent to various places where
it was needed around the world.
We all need the help of others
from time to time in life. We can all find comfort in knowing that God is big
enough to get us through and He provides many believers to pick us up. Be
inspired by today’s song called How Great
is Our God – Chris Tomlin.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know
what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless
groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because
the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. - Romans
8:26-27
Life is not always easy and we
sometimes question why bad things happen to us but even in our weakest moments
our faith helps us to step ahead. As pointed out in the post “Step Ahead With The Spirit” we have
available to us a power that can take on whatever comes our way.
The Spirit helps us even in our
weakest moments to solve problems at work, at home, and wherever we are. The
key to fulfilling the mission God has for us is knowing how to live life by
applying the intangibles of faith into the tangibles of good deeds.
As emphasized in the song Blessings by Laura Story, have faith
that even in your weakest moments that there is a greater strength inside that
is at work to provide blessings for your future.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5
As noted in the post “Spirit Is Received By Those Who Have Believed
“, we are justified by faith in Christ. Each day, we can count our blessings
and turn our whole life around. Nothing is impossible if we believe that Jesus
is the Vine and we are the branches.
Be one of the branches today. As in the song Be One by Natalie Grant, be the light
in the dark, be the change, and be the hope.
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
Written about in the post “Seek Direction“, was how the leaders of
Israel were fooled by a plan of deception. They were caught off guard by the
misleading plan of the Gibeonites but the biggest mistake was their failure to
seek direction from God to follow the
straight path.
The lesson for us is to always
let God be a part of our decision and approval process. This includes concerns
with our family, business, organization, or job. The good news is that as the
title of the song Grace is Enough by Matt
Maher, we have grace to always fall back on when we make
mistakes. We can take in the lessons, seek God’s direction, and be guided to
better decisions in the future.
The Lord blesses His people
with peace. – Psalm 29:11
The Creator of thunder,
lightning, and the winds of a powerful storm offers this same power to His
people. He also provides calm after the storm by blessing them with peace.
Let us give praise today to the
Source; the ONE who turns intense complexities into ordinary simplicities: The Same Power by Jeremy Camp.
God is our strength in
difficulties. He protects and leads in the right direction so our true
potential is realized. Provided are opportunities for a bright future because
our experiences can be our stepping-stones as the Lord carries us along the path.
Let us be an overcomer even when
things happen that should not or when those you thought you could trust do
something that makes you not trust them anymore. Be able to forgive, step
ahead, and be grateful for what you do have. Like in the song Carry Me by Josh Wilson, the Lord can
carry us from sinking sand to solid ground.
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.
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.
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.
A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. -
Proverbs 11:17
As highlighted in the post
“Invite God in so Kindness Begins”, there are benefits to being observant to
the needs of others and reaching out with acts of kindness. It has what is
called the boomerang effect!
Paul was observant to the needs
of those on the island of Malta and in return was given the needed supplies to
complete the journey as they set sail for Italy. He was committed to doing
God’s work and his acts of kindness went a long way to open up doors. As we go
through this journey called life, let us be observant to the needs of our
neighbor.
What we make happen for others because
of our kindness has a way of coming back to us so this day with God, make it a
point to offer an act of kindness; give a smile or invite someone into a
conversation. If we do, there is a strong possibility that a smile or affirming
thought may be returned.
When we invite God into our
presence to help with our caring actions towards our neighbor, there is strong
possibility that we will receive blessings in return. As we celebrate today,
here is a great song to inspire our actions: The Invitation – Rachel Belman.
Many may think following God’s way is boring and there is no liberty or the ability for amazing success but in reality, there is freedom and great success in obeying God’s way because God cares for us more than we care for ourselves. He understands our needs more than we do.
We should strive to be prepared daily through His Word in order to receive His divine power. The first priority is seeking more patience in making Christ more than an acquaintance which is one thought from today’s video: Lead me to the Cross - Hillsongs.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – Joshua 1:8
