Don’t Be Proud, But Be Willing To Be Friends With People Who Are Not Important To Others.

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Proverbs 16; Proverbs 17; Proverbs 18; Romans 12

Don’t Be Proud, But Be Willing To Be Friends

 With People 

Who Are Not Important To Others.

Scripture

Romans 12

So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him.
 Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way. ² Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.

¹⁶ Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else. 

Observation

I will touch on Romans 12:1-2 and then move on to verse sixteen! I thought I would write about Romans 12:1-2 because it is so good but then I read verse sixteen this morning and it jumped out at me.

I don’t think you can do what it says to do in verse sixteen without being the living sacrifice that God wants you to be. A living sacrifice, can because it is alive get up and move off the altar - so everyday we must decide to be a living sacrifice.

Who do you know? Who can you think of that is not very important to other people? Maybe it is someone in your neighborhood, maybe someone at work, or someone in your church that not many people care much about - this is the person that you can give some extra time to this week. 

Instead of talking about them to others why not talk to them and show them that you care about them as a person that Christ died for!

Application

I will spend time with someone that has been pretty much forgotten by others.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me You heart for people - especially people that other people don’t think are important!

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Everything Comes From God Exists By His Power And Is Intended For His Glory – Therefore …

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Proverbs 13; Proverbs 14; Proverbs 15; Romans 11

Everything Comes From God

Exists By His Power

And Is Intended For His Glory – Therefore …

Scripture

Romans 11

36 For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Romans 12

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Observation

The last time I checked the word “everything” meant “everything”. I think that you and I are included in that all-inclusive word “everything”. God created us. We exist only by His power and we are intended for His glory.

How are you doing at bringing Him glory? How am I doing? God created us. We continue to breathe and live because of His power. I think it would be a smart idea to accomplish what God created us for while we are still breathing and taking up space here on planet earth!

Paul tells us how we should live out our lives in the following verses that are found in chapter twelve. I will probably write something about those verses tomorrow since they are part of tomorrow’s daily Bible reading.  

Application

God needs to be the main focus of my life if I am going to bring Him glory. I will seek to put Him first in my life today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to live the life that I was created for. Help me to bring You Glory and Honor. I know that I exist only by Your Mighty Power. All glory to You forever! Amen.

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Why Go To Haiti? Is It Necessary To Send Out Missionaries? Are You Willing To Go? Are You Willing To Support Crystal?

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Proverbs 10; Proverbs 11; Proverbs 12; Romans 10

Why Go To Haiti?

Is It Necessary To Send Out Missionaries?

Are You Willing To Go? Are You Willing To Support Crystal?

Scripture

Romans 10

“… And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: ⁹ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.”
 
¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 

¹⁵ And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” 

Observation

Was it important to the Kingdom of God that our church sends a mission team to Haiti? 

ABSOLUTELY!!!

I hope you are praying for them right now as they give out shoes to hundreds of men, women, and children in Haiti. They will also be sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ as they give out those shoes. 

Crystal Snow plans to go work in the Amazon jungle. She leaves for the mission field January 2013. Wouldn’t you like to help support her as she takes the Gospel to the unreached tribes in the Amazon?

 Crystal has planned to be a missionary since she was 8 years old, but she won’t get to fulfill that calling unless we help send her. Kathy and I are already committed to helping Crystal beginning December 2012 with a small gift of support each month.

 If you would like to help her please let me know and I will help you connect with her and the organization that is helping to send her. She is praying for 100 people willing to partner with her financially @ $26 a month or 50 partners @ $52 a month! She needs to raise $2,630 a month support.

What a neat opportunity for us to help minister in the Amazon jungle!

Our church also has a mission team that will be going back to Cuba in September. They also could use our help financially and they definitely need our prayer support.

Application

I will continue to support missions every way I can. Hopefully Kathy and I will be able to return to working overseas soon.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for our Haiti team right now. I pray that You keep them safe. I pray that You use them in a mighty way in the lives of the Haitian people. I pray that each team member comes back transformed and fired up about Missions, about reaching our world for Jesus. I pray for Crystal Snow. I pray that people would respond to help send her to the mission field. I pray that You take care of every need she has as she prepares to go. Amen.


Pioneers Missionary Sending Agency On Facebook

Pioneers Web Site

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How Do You Feel About The People Surrounding You? Are You Willing To Lose Your Salvation So They Could Be Saved?

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Proverbs 7; Proverbs 8; Proverbs 9; Romans 9

How Do You Feel 

About The People Surrounding You?

Are You Willing To Lose Your Salvation So They Could Be Saved?

Scripture

Romans 9

² I have great sorrow and always feel much sadness ³ for my own people. They are my brothers and sisters, my earthly family. I wish I could help them. I would even have a curse on me and cut myself off from Christ if that would help them.

Observation

Paul and Moses had the same kind of attitude about the people that God placed them with. Both of them had to deal with stubborn sinful selfish people that refused to worship the only True God. Both the Apostle Paul and the Redeemer Moses were willing to be cut off from God for the sake of the people that they were trying to save. 

Do we have that kind of compassion for the people in our neighborhood? Do we feel any sadness or sorrow because most of them are going to spend an eternity in a place called “Hell”? 

Would you be willing to give up your salvation so someone else could go to Heaven?

Application

I will ask God for a sensitive heart like the Apostle Paul’s and the great leader Moses’. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as I go about my day today help me see people that are without Christ as lost and going to Hell. Give me Your heart for them. Help me to be more like Paul and more like Moses as I serve the people that surround me. 

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Be Happy With Your Own Wife. Enjoy The Woman You Married While You Were Young. She Is Like A Beautiful Deer, A Lovely Fawn

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Proverbs 4; Proverbs 5; Proverbs 6; Romans 8

Be Happy With Your Own Wife. 

Enjoy The Woman You Married While You Were Young.

 She Is Like A Beautiful Deer, A Lovely Fawn

Scripture

Proverbs 5

^15 “Now, about sex and marriage: Drink only the water that comes from your own well, ¹⁶ and don’t let your water flow out into the streets. ¹⁷ Keep it for yourself, and don’t share it with strangers. ¹⁸ Be happy with your own wife. Enjoy the woman you married while you were young. ¹⁹ She is like a beautiful deer, a lovely fawn. Let her love satisfy you completely. Stay drunk on her love, …”

Observation

Kathy and I went out on our first date on Saturday, October 5th 1968. We went to see the movie, “Gone With The Wind.” We got married November 1, 1969. We were both 18 years old when we got married.

We have a great marriage! God blessed me with Kathy. She is a wonderful wife. I would not dare to compare her to a deer like the writer of Proverbs did, but I will say that she is beautiful. I might compare her to a beautiful lovely fawn, but it would have to be one knock out fawn!

For the past 42 years we have enjoyed being in this relationship that God calls marriage! She is God’s greatest gift to me.

Application

I plan to be happy with my own wife. I plan to continue to enjoy the woman I married when we were young. I will stay drunk on her love, …” :)

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me such a wonderful gift. I surely have never deserved it. She is beautiful. Help me to treat Kathy always as a gift from You. I know she is and I don’t know why You were so good to me, but You were. I pray that my sons and my daughters can enjoy a relationship with his or her spouse like I have been able to have with their Mom.

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Guys Check Out Proverbs 5:15-19 I Am Going To Blog About This Passage Later Today

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Proverbs 4; Proverbs 5; Proverbs 6; Romans 8

Guys

Check Out Proverbs 5:15-19

I Am Going To Blog About This Passage Later Today

Scripture

Proverbs 5

^15 “Now, about sex and marriage: Drink only the water that comes from your own well, ¹⁶ and don’t let your water flow out into the streets. ¹⁷ Keep it for yourself, and don’t share it with strangers. ¹⁸ Be happy with your own wife. Enjoy the woman you married while you were young. ¹⁹ She is like a beautiful deer, a lovely fawn. Let her love satisfy you completely. Stay drunk on her love, …”

Observation

I have to get ready for church. I will have to write my blog S.O.A.P. later today! You guys could write your own blog (S.O.A.P.) about your wife!

Application

Prayer

Heavenly Father, 



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Here Are Two Great Verses For All Of Us To Help Make This Day Successful

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Proverbs 1; Proverbs 2; Proverbs 3; Romans 7 (Easy-to-Read Version)

Here Are Two Great Verses

For All Of Us 

To Help Make This Day Successful

Scripture

Proverbs 3

⁵ Trust the LORD completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. ⁶ With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 

Observation

I have been reading for the past several days using the “Easy-to-Read Version” of the Bible. As I was reading this Proverb these verses caught my attention, but it didn’t even dawn on me that I had just read Proverbs 3:5-6 because I have Proverbs 3:5-6 memorized in the “King James Version” of the Bible. 

It is a great idea to use a different version of the Bible to read every once in awhile to get a fresh meaning of what God is saying to us. I usually read from the New Living Translation of the Bible, which has now become my favorite version!

I love how this version says, “With every step you take, think about what He wants, and He will help you go the right way.” 

Think about what He wants … that is great advice for us today! Check in with the Lord and see what He wants us to do today! 

You want to see how those verses read in the King James, “ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 

Application

I will trust in, lean on, and acknowledge the Lord today. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to trust You completely, and not depend on my own knowledge. With every step I take, I will think about what You want, and You will help me go the right way. Amen.

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Baptism Is A Beautiful Picture Of Our New Life In Christ … Have You Been Baptized?

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1 Kings 10; 1 Kings 11; 2 Chronicles 9; Romans 6

Baptism

Is A Beautiful Picture Of Our New Life In Christ …

Have You Been Baptized?
 

Scripture

Romans 6

6 So do you think we should continue sinning so that God will give us more and more grace? ² Of course not! Our old sinful life ended. It’s dead. So how can we continue living in sin?
 
³ Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ Jesus when we were baptized? In our baptism we shared in his death. ⁴ So when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and took part in his death. And just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father, so we can now live a new life.

Observation

I have noticed that quite a few people making decisions for Christ at our church are missing out on being baptized. Baptism doesn’t save us but it is the first command that Jesus gives us as new Christians.

It is hard to live a life of obedience to Christ if you don’t follow your decision to accept Christ with the decision to be baptized. Maybe as you read this you realize that you are one of those Christians that need to follow through with believer’s baptism.

I actually got baptized twice, once when I was nine years old and again when I was in my twenties. At nine years old an evangelist scared me down the aisle and I think every kid in the church got baptized that following Sunday. At nineteen years old I realized that I was a sinner and I prayed and asked God to save me. It wasn’t until a few years later that I was obedient in following Christ’s first command to be baptized.

So at nine years old I just got wet! Maybe that describes your baptism too!

Baptism doesn’t save us. It doesn’t save us, but it allows us to walk in obedience with Jesus.

Do you need to be baptized? Let me know and we can make plans for a baptism party!

Application

I will continue to talk to people about following Christ in believer’s baptism after they make a decision to follow Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray that every Sunday we would see people giving their lives to Christ and following Him in believer’s baptism. 

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Troubles, Troubles, Troubles Here Is How To Be Happy With The Troubles You Have!

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1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 136; Romans 5

Troubles, Troubles, Troubles

Here Is How To Be Happy With The Troubles

You Have!

Scripture

Romans 5

5 We have been made right with God because of our faith. So we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through our faith, Christ has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are very happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory.
 
³ And we are also happy with the troubles we have. 

Why are we happy with troubles? Because we know that these troubles make us more patient.

  ⁴ And this patience is proof that we are strong. And this proof gives us hope. ⁵ And this hope will never disappoint us. We know this because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts through the Holy Spirit he gave us.

Observation

How you look at the situation that you find yourself in says a lot about your faith in God! The Apostle Paul said that he was happy with troubles (Easy To Read Version).

What is your attitude about the troubles you find yourself in? Do you look at them as an opportunity for spiritual growth? The Apostle Paul did!

Think about this verse, “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. Romans 5:2 NLT

So if you are up to your eyeballs in alligators, and when your life and my life are full of troubles - we should rejoice!

So are you feeling down in the dumps this morning because your life is full of troubles? Take Paul’s advice … Rejoice! 

Try it and just see if it doesn’t change your attitude!

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!

Application

 I will be happy with the troubles that I have! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me the Apostle Paul’s perspective about life. Help me see the big picture. Don’t let me walk by sight and not by faith. Thank You for the troubles that I have. I know that they are teaching me things that I lack in my life. You don’t waste a single hurt. I know that You will use all of them to teach me what I need to learn about walking with You!

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Have You Recently Really Blown It? Can’t Forgive Yourself? Don’t Believe That God Will Forgive You Either?

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2 Chronicles 6; 2 Chronicles 7; Psalm 135; Romans 4

Have You Recently Really Blown It?

Can’t Forgive Yourself?

Don’t Believe That God Will Forgive You Either?

Scripture

Romans 4

⁷ “It is a great blessing
    when people are forgiven for the wrongs they have done,
    when their sins are erased!

⁸ It is a great blessing when the Lord accepts people
    as if they are without sin!”

Observation

When God forgives us He accepts us as if we had not sinned … Amazing! There are a lot of people that can’t believe that God would be so forgiving! They can’t forgive themselves and yet God is willing to totally forgive them.

It is a great blessing when people are forgiven for the wrongs they have done, when their sins are erased! When something is erased … it is gone!

Application

I am a sinner. I still sin today. I am a forgiven sinner. God accepts me as if I were without sin! I will thank Him for His forgiveness all day today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, my sins are forgiven. It is because of Your Great Mercy that I am forgiven. It is nothing that I have done to deserve Your forgiveness. Help others understand that You are a God full of mercy and compassion. You are a God of Grace.   Your love for us is as high above us as heaven is above the earth.  And You have taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. Amen.

 His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:11-12

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If It Is Free It’s For Me (And You) We Are Made Right With God By His Grace! This Is A Free Gift.

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1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

If It Is Free

It’s For Me (And You)

We Are Made Right With God By His Grace! This Is A Free Gift.

Scripture

Romans 3

²² God makes people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. He does this for all who believe in Christ. Everyone is the same.
 
²³ All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness.
 
²⁴ They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. 

Being made free from sin through Jesus Christ makes them right with God. God gave Jesus as a way to forgive people’s sins through their faith in him. God can forgive them because the blood sacrifice of Jesus pays for their sins.

Observation

How many people attending our church know the correct answer to this question:

If you were standing at Heaven’s gate and God asked you, “Why should I let you into my Heaven?” What would you say?

Monday, when I was talking with people at Mission Tampa and I asked them that question I think maybe 2 people knew the correct answer. Most of the people would say something like, “I hope I have done enough good things to get into Heaven.” I had an interesting response from a guy named David who said, “I think that I have done enough good things to keep me out of Hell.” 

We had a good laugh together at his answer then I explained to him Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23 and he realized that he couldn’t do enough good things to keep himself out of Hell!

David lives close to our church and he and his girl friend said that they plan to visit our church and I believe that they will! 

A gift is something that is free for the person receiving it. The person must receive the gift before it becomes theirs. God laid down a gift for us 2,000 years ago. The gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ. It is a gift that cost God His only Son. It was very costly to Him, but it doesn’t cost you and me anything to receive it.

Have you received the Gift? Do you have eternal life? Surrender your life to Christ today and receive His free gift of forgiveness! 

Application

I will pray for David and Danielle and Rosa this week. They all promised to attend our church and they all need a relationship with Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open the spiritual eyes of David, Danielle, and Rosa so that they may receive Your free gift of salvation. I pray that they will be in church this Sunday. If they don’t attend our church I pray that they attend some church that preaches Jesus! Thank You for allowing me to talk with them about You. I pray that You do a Mighty Work in each one of their lives. 

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New Songs Nine Times I Found Where Scriptures Exhorts Us To Sing “New Songs” To The Lord!

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1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2

New Songs

Nine Times I Found

Where Scriptures Exhort Us To Sing “New Songs” To The Lord! 

Scripture

Psalm 98

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things;

Observation

I found nine different passages where we are called on in the Bible to sing a “new song” to the Lord. I did a search to see if the scriptures requested for us to sing “an old song” to the Lord but I couldn’t find a place where it did. You might find a reference but in the quick search I did I couldn’t find one.

Isn’t it interesting how we tend to want to hear the good old songs and how we are tempted to criticize the new songs that are being sung to our God. Is that human nature … our old nature … or what? I don’t know but I think it is very interesting!

Some folks consider many new songs that we sing in church “noise”! I heard someone use that term the other day to describe our music … imagine that!

I know someone in our church who is always writing new songs to the Lord. Linda Renner is so gifted and so right on target with what this Psalmist says to do, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things”.

I like the old hymns that I heard when I was younger, but I don’t find in scripture where I am to cherish those old hymns over the new songs being sung to the Lord in our worship services today.

Think about that … if and when you are tempted to criticize the new songs that are being sung in churches today!  

Application

I will listen on Joy FM this week and in church this coming Sunday for a new song to sing to the Lord! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am glad that You want to hear “new songs”. I pray that You give our praise team new songs to teach us this week! Use the music in our worship services to reach new young people. I pray that the music brings glory and honor to Your name. Help us not get in a rut with the songs that we sing to You, but that we would always be creating “new songs” to sing to You! You are Worthy of Praise!

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Encouragement! How Many People Can You Encourage This Week?

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1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; Psalm 97; Romans 1

Encouragement! 

How Many People 

Can You Encourage This Week?

Scripture

Romans 1

¹² When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. 

Observation

The Apostle Paul looked forward to encouraging the believers in Rome and he looked forward to being encouraged by them. You and I need to encourage people this week and we need for people to do the same for us!
Who will be on your list?  

Application

I will encourage someone each day this week. How about you?

  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me be an encourager this week. Help me focus on the needs of those around me rather than just thinking about myself. Give me Your heart for those that I will meet and see this week! 

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Will You Make Promises To God To Live Your Life … So That It Counts?

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1 Kings 4; 1 Kings 5; 2 Chronicles 2; Psalm 101; 2 Thessalonians 3

Will You Make 

Promises To God 

To Live Your Life … So That It Counts?

Scripture

Psalm 101

... I will lead a life of integrity
    in my own home.
³ I will refuse to look at
    anything vile and vulgar. 

Observation

The word “will” can be found fifteen times in Psalm 101, at least in the New Living Translation! David is making some serious promises to God about how he is going to live. What promises have you and I made to God? 

Here are two promises that David made that I have also made to God:

1. I will lead a life of integrity in my home.
2. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. 

I needed to make those promises to God for the sake of my marriage and for the success of my ministry. 


 It is my desire to be a man of integrity.
I don’t want garbage (things that are vile and vulgar) getting into my heart through my eyes that will mess up my marriage and my ministry. 

How about you?  

Application

I will continue to make promises to God about how I live my life and what I allow my eyes to focus on!  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me always be a man of integrity. Don’t let me yield to the temptation of looking at things that would mess up my heart. Keep me strong. Don’t let me mess up. You are Worthy of Praise. Great is Your Faithfulness! 

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Biblical Storytelling So Important To Know And Retell The Stories Of The Bible

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1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 78; 2 Thessalonians 2 

Biblical Storytelling

So Important To Know 

And Retell The Stories Of The Bible

Scripture

Psalm 78

O my people, listen to my instructions.
    Open your ears to what I am saying,
²     for I will speak to you in a parable.
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
 
³     stories we have heard and known,
    stories our ancestors handed down to us.
 
⁴ We will not hide these truths from our children;
    we will tell the next generation
 
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
    about his power and his mighty wonders.

Observation

Last week Kim in our small group told the story found in Luke 11:1-13 where Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. He gives them the “The Lord’s Prayer” or “The Model Prayer”. Then he tells them a story to show how important it is to persevere in prayer and not give up. 

She did a great job and everyone that heard her probably could retell the story! 

When someone tells a story from the Bible rather than reading it the story can have a huge impact on the listeners. 

Just think about it … Jesus told stories … lots of them! Many of them you might be able to retell right now! 

Don’t forget that the Bible is God’s Love Story to us!  

Application

I will continue to tell and retell the stories that God has placed in His word. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us some many wonderful and powerful stories that we can use with the people around us. Those stories are for our children and grandchildren but they are also for us adults too. Use Your Word to change lives this week as people meet together in small groups. Use Your Word this Sunday as Pastor Bruce preaches … use Your Word to transform lives! 

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Everything We Have Has Come From You, We Give You Only What You First Gave Us!

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1 Kings 2; 1 Chronicles 29; Psalm 95; 2 Thessalonians 1

Everything We Have

 Has Come From You, 

We Give You Only What You First Gave Us!

Scripture

1 Chronicles 29

¹⁰ Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly:

“O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! ¹¹ Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.  

¹² Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.

¹³ “O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! ¹⁴ But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! ¹⁵ We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.

¹⁶ “O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you! ¹⁷ I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. 

Observation

King David was at the end of his life when he shared this prayer of praise to God! He was so rich. There was probably no one richer than he was at this moment in time yet he realized that none of what he had was really his. It all belonged to God.

Everything that you own from your car to your microwave none of it belongs to you. It all belongs to God. It is on loan from God. You and I are just stewards of what He has loaned us. He is the Owner. 

If that is the case then why aren’t we more generous with what He has provided for us? 

In fact, God tells us that if we will give back to Him just a small portion of what He has given to us then He will shower on us His blessings! He tells us to test Him by giving Him back a tithe (a tenth) of what He has loaned us. 

Do you believe the above paragraph? 

You only believe it if you put it into practice! If every person in our church believed and put into practice Malachi 3:10 our church could reach our entire city for Christ!

Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. Malachi 3:10

Application

I will give to the Lord and I will let Him open up heaven and pour out blessings beyond my wildest dreams! 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You do own everything. Help me be a good steward of what You have allowed me to have. Don’t let me be stingy. Help me to be a giver like You!

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Three Very Important Words To Remember Today!

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1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 28; Psalm 91; 1 Thessalonians 5

Three Very Important Words

To Remember 

Today!

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Observation

I remember when I first came home from the hospital. I didn’t have the strength to walk to the end of the street on our short block.  I remember dealing with blood pressure that would just crash for no apparent reason and the home health nurse wanting to rush me back to the hospital. Those were rough days. It was during those days that these verses went up on our living room wall because I was in a desperate need of an attitude adjustment!

Here are the three very important words that you need to remember: Always; Never; All! Then you need to place those three words with these three things, put them into practice and you will be doing great!

Always be joyful.  Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

Does this seem impossible for you today? Perfect … with God nothing is impossible!
Maybe you need to put these three verses up where you will be reminded of how you should live and how you should act. Maybe you need an attitude adjustment today! 

I know that if my attitude goes downhill in the future these verses will reappear on my living room wall and they will reappear as quick as a heart beat! My nurse (Kathy) will make sure of that!

Application

I will strive to Always be joyful.  Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for me because I belong to Christ Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me live out these verses. Help me have a good attitude today. Help me to stay focused on the needs of those around me rather than on myself. I pray for Randy. I pray for healing. I pray that you take care of every need that Randy and his family have. Amen
 
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Here Is Something You Ought To Do Live In A Way That Please God!

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1 Chronicles 25; 1 Chronicles 26; 1 Chronicles 27; 1 Thessalonians 4

Here Is Something 

You Ought To Do

Live In A Way That Please God!

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 4

4 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you.

Observation

How are you living out your life? Are you living just to please yourself or have you learned that you are to live in a way that pleases God?

I watch people that are struggling with substance abuse and I notice that most of them are living to please or satisfy themselves. They are only concerned about themselves. I know that is a generalization and not every addict may fit into that category, but for the majority it does. They are living for what brings them pleasure, comfort or numbs his or her pain.

If a person that is struggling with substance abuse would just realize how much God loves them and how much God wants to use them to serve and help others then they could walk in victory over the addiction.

I talked with a woman yesterday at Mission Tampa that has been living on the street and surviving by eating food out of dumpsters. She is 13 days sober and she is excited because she is now living in a recovery house. As I counseled with her I told her that God loved her and that God wants to use her to help others have victory over alcohol, but as longs as she only thinks about herself she was going to continue to yield to the temptation of having another drink.

God has a plan and purpose for our lives and it includes helping others. We serve God by serving others. Pleasing God is when we serve others.

The next time I see this lady I hope and pray that she tells me that she is still walking in sobriety and she is helping others to do the same thing.  

Application

I will strive to live this week in a way that pleases God. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for Judy and others that struggle with substance abuse. Set her free. I pray that her life would be transformed and that she would be able to serve You by helping others to come to put their faith and their trust in You. Help her to serve You by serving others! Help me to please You this week by the way I live. Don’t let me mess up!


Pastor Bruce and Heather’s book was released today! Order it today … reWritten


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May The Lord Make Your Love For One Another Grow And Overflow!

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1 Chronicles 22; 1 Chronicles 23; 1 Chronicles 24; 1 Thessalonians 3

May The Lord 

Make Your Love For One Another 

Grow And Overflow!

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 3

¹² And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

Observation

What kind of love should we have for one another? We should have love that overflows! When something overflows it gets all over everything that is close by! This is how our love should be for everybody that comes in our path. 

Paul’s blessing to the church in Thessalonica was that their love would grow to the point where it overflows. This is a great prayer for those that come to your mind today. Pray that they would love people and that their love would grow and overflow.

Pastor Bruce used the illustration of the “Good Samaritan” in his message yesterday. It was the Samaritan who had compassion on the Jewish man that was left half dead on the side of the road. His love overflowed the boundaries of prejudice to save the life of someone that he would have normally despised.   

Application

I will pray for the people today that come to my mind and I will pray that their love for people grows and overflows just as my love for them overflows. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for the people that make up our church. I pray that their love for the people around them would grow and overflow, just as my love for them overflows. Thank You for leadership team. Thank You for our pastor and his family. I pray that their love for one another and for all people would grow and overflow, just as our love for them overflows.

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When You Have Been In Difficult Situation Has Any Of Your Friends Shared A Scripture Passage With You That Helped You Get Through That Bad Time?

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2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1 Thessalonians 2

When You Have Been In Difficult Situation

Has Any Of Your Friends Shared A Scripture Passage

With You That Helped You Get Through That Bad Time?

Scripture

Psalm 30

¹ I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.
    You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
² O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you restored my health.
³ You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
    You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

⁴ Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
    Praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

⁶ When I was prosperous, I said,
    “Nothing can stop me now!”
⁷ Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
    Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

⁸ I cried out to you, O Lord.
    I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
⁹ “What will you gain if I die,
    if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
    Can it tell of your faithfulness?
¹⁰ Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.
    Help me, O Lord.”

¹¹ You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
¹² that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! 

Observation

My best friend Hugh Roberts called me up one day after I had come home from the hospital and gave me several passages of scripture to hold on to as I began my recovery from my heart attack. I remember how difficult it was for my friend to even get these verses out of his mouth; he was struggling (without success) to hold back his tears. He is as emotional as I am!

Our friendship with Hugh and Millie Roberts goes all the way back to the time in my life where I gave my life to Jesus Christ. God called Hugh and Millie to the mission field at the same time God called us. Our two families moved together to Texas to finish out our College and Seminary preparation for ministry. We moved in the same moving truck – we piled our stuff in with Hugh and Millie’s stuff in their moving truck, and we towed our 1952 Chevy behind their moving truck and off we went.

Since those early days and through all forty plus years of friendship our two families have weathered lots of storms together. I couldn’t begin to list how many times Hugh and Millie have been there for us during a crisis. I couldn’t begin to list how many fun memories we have – doing incredibly fun things together with the Roberts family. I am tearing up right now just thinking about how much Hugh and Millie, their kids and their grandkids mean to us.

So when someone like Hugh calls you up to share a scripture with you that God has given to him - it makes an impression! When I read Psalm 30 this morning as part of my morning daily Bible reading I immediately thought of Hugh and Millie and the day he called me on the phone and shared this Psalm with me. 

Psalm 30

¹ I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.
    You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
² O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you restored my health.
³ You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
    You kept me from falling into the pit of death. 

Application

I will do like my friend Hugh and share God’s word with people that need to hear it.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for friends. You have blessed Kathy and I with so many great friends. There is nothing more important to us than the people that You have placed in our lives. Bless all of our friends today. May Your face shine brightly on each one of them!

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How Does God Feel About You? The Answer To That Question May Be A Pleasant Surprise For You!

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2 Samuel 21; 2 Samuel 22; 2 Samuel 23; 1 Thessalonians 1

How Does God Feel About You?

The Answer To That Question 

May Be A Pleasant Surprise For You!

Scripture

2 Samuel 22

²⁰ He led me to a place of safety;
    he rescued me because he delights in me. 

Observation

David could not contain his praise for His God. This is a Psalm that is found in 2 Samuel 22 which could have been placed in the book of Psalms. 

So many Christians don’t know how God feels about them. They have some very messed up ideas about the character of God. I don’t know how you think God thinks about you, but I agree with David in 2 Samuel 22:20, “He delights in me!”

I make God smile. He loves me. He not only loves me He delights in me. 

I delight in Kathy. I delight in my children and I really delight in my grandchildren. Last night two of our grandchildren came over to see their Grandma for Mother’s day a little early because they weren’t going to get to see her on Sunday. We totally delighted in them last night!

I understand how God could delight in me even though I am the sinner that I am. He overlooks all of that as He sees my heart for Him. 

If you have a heart for God then God delights in You! 

Application

I will praise God today because He delights in me! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are my rock, my fortress, and my savior; You are my rock, in whom I find protection. You are my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. You are my refuge, my savior, the One who saves me from violence. I called on You, who is worthy of praise, You led me to a place of safety; You rescued me because You delight in me.O Lord, you are my lamp. You light up my darkness.   

In Your strength I can crush an army; with You I can scale any wall.
Your ways are perfect. All of Your promises prove true. You are a shield for all who look to You for protection.  For who is God except You?  Who but You is a solid rock? You are my strong fortress, and You make my way perfect. Amen (Taken from 2 Samuel 22)

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