Look At the Ocean So Big and Wide! It Is Filled With All Kinds Of Sea Life.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Amos 7; Amos 8; Amos 9; Psalm 104; Titus 2

Look At the Ocean

So Big and Wide!

It Is Filled With All Kinds Of Sea Life.

Scripture

Psalm 104

LORD, you created so many things!
    With your wisdom you made them all.
    The earth is full of the living things you made.

²⁵ Look at the ocean, so big and wide!
    It is filled with all kinds of sea life.
    There are creatures large and small—too many to count!

²⁶ Ships sail over the ocean,
    and playing there is Leviathan,
    the great sea creature you made.

Observation

Today after Jose and Sandra’s wedding Kathy and I are heading to the beach for a week! I love the ocean. It is always changing. It is full of surprises. You never know what you will see in the water when you are at the beach. And when you have the chance to go fishing you never know what you are going to catch! 

Kathy says that I am a “Jonah” when it comes to fishing, but this year it is going to be different. I am actually going to catch something! I have been fishing every year for this big fish that my grandkids call “Walter”. Every year Walter breaks my 80-pound fishing line and gets away, but this year Walter is mine!

 Last year I did catch about a five-foot shark and when you are fishing in a kayak catching a five-foot shark does give you a little scare for a minute because you are afraid that he is going to drag you out to sea. 

If I do catch Walter this year I will be sure to let you know!

God’s creation is wonderful. We need to enjoy it. It is all around us. Did you notice the moon last night? God put that moon up in the sky just for you and me! It is true. He placed the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars in the heavens just for us! We serve a Mighty God. He is Creator. 

Application

I will enjoy God’s creation this week.  And I will try to catch “Walter”. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your wonderful creation. Thank You for the beach, the ocean, and everything that lives in it. I pray for Jose and Sandra today as they get married. I pray that You bless them. Use them for Your kingdom and for Your glory. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

I Am Praying To You In My Time Of Trouble

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Amos 4; Amos 5; Amos 6; Psalm 86; Titus 1

I Am Praying To You

In My Time

Of Trouble

Scripture

Psalm 86

I am praying to you in my time of trouble.
    I know you will answer me.
⁸ My Lord, there is no God like you.
    No one can do what you have done.
⁹ My Lord, you made everyone.
    I wish they all would come worship you and honor your name.
¹⁰ You are great and do amazing things.
    You and you alone are God.
¹¹ LORD, teach me your ways,
    and I will live and obey your truths.
Help me make worshiping your name
    the most important thing in my life.
¹² My Lord God, I praise you with all my heart.
    I will honor your name forever!
¹³ You have such great love for me.
    You save me from the place of death.

Observation

In this morning’s Bible reading the prophet Amos told of the destruction that was going to fall on various cities and peoples because they did not call upon the Lord.

What a difference when we read Psalm 86 and see how David depended on the Lord for everything!

The Psalms are filled with prayers of King David crying out to his God for help. How often do we call on the Lord for help? God wants us to depend on Him. He does not want us to depend on ourselves, on our own strength or on our own resources. It is an easy thing to begin to do.

I love it in Psalm 86:13 when David says, “You have such great love for me. You save me from the place of death.” I live everyday knowing that God did that for me too! 

Application

I will depend on God today for the big things that come up as well as the small things! 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am praying to you in my time of trouble. I know you will answer me. My Lord, there is no God like you. No one can do what you have done.  My Lord, you made everyone. I wish they all would come worship you and honor your name. You are great and do amazing things. You and you alone are God. LORD, teach me your ways, and I will live and obey your truths. Help me make worshiping your name the most important thing in my life. My Lord God, I praise you with all my heart. I will honor your name forever! You have such great love for me. You save me from the place of death. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

When Troubles Come Accept Them!

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Amos 1; Amos 2; Amos 3; Psalm 80; 2 Timothy 4 

When Troubles 

Come 

Accept Them!

Scripture

 2 Timothy 4

When troubles come, accept them. Do the work of telling the Good News. Do all the duties of a servant of God.

⁶ My life is being given as an offering for God. The time has come for me to leave this life here. ⁷ I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully. ⁸ Now, a prize is waiting for me—the crown that will show I am right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give it to me on that Day. Yes, he will give it to me and to everyone else who is eagerly looking forward to his coming.

Observation

I love this passage! How about you? Paul tells Timothy, “When troubles come, accept them.” Wow! How are we doing when it comes to accepting our troubles? Are we whining? Are we complaining? Are we belly aching?

What are you going through right now? What do you have on your plate? The Apostle Paul says, “Got troubles – accept them!”

I am reading a book that Kathy plans to read while we are at the beach next week. I downloaded it to her Kindle and then I put it on mine.

I have only begun to read the book. It is about a nineteen-year-old girl named Katie and how God called her to serve in Uganda. She went by herself at age nineteen to serve in Uganda! I can’t wait to read more of the book tonight. 

Now the title of the book I have to warn you does not grab a man and give him the desire to read the book, but just ignore the title and read the book. The book is called, “Kisses From Katie”. I warned you about the title. Just over look the title and read the book! Our friend Debi White recommended the book to Kathy, and I am very glad that she did.

Your troubles will seem so small when you begin to read about this girl’s ministry in Uganda. Unbelievable!!!

Your troubles are real and so are mine. But we need to accept them!

Jesus said,

    “I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world." John 16:33

Application

I will thank the Lord for the small difficulties that Kathy and I experience. I will accept them. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are so good to us. Thank You for Smiling on us. Jesus has conquered this world. Thank You for the peace that comes from knowing that You are in control. I pray for people today that are experiencing trouble. May You do a Mighty work in their lives.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Amaziah Did What The Lord Wanted Him To Do, But Not With All His Heart

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
2 Kings 13; 2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3

Amaziah Did What The Lord

Wanted Him To Do,

But Not With All His Heart

Scripture

2 Chronicles 25

² Amaziah did what the LORD wanted him to do, but not with all his heart.

Observation

When you and I die and people talk about us will they make comments similar to what was said about Amaziah, “We did what the Lord wanted us to do, but not with all of our hearts”?

When I die I want people to be able to say about me that I served the Lord with all my heart. And for sure I want God to say this about me! How sad it will be for us if that at the end of our lives the Lord’s commentary about us is that we half-heartedly followed Him.

It is something to think about!   

Since I am finishing this blog one day late (today is June 28^th) today’s Bible reading really speaks to this issue when Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully. Now, a prize is waiting for me—the crown that will show I am right with God.”

Application

I will serve the Lord with all my heart! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I will serve You with all my heart!

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

If You Can Get Upset Over A Plant, Surely I Can Feel Sorry For A Big City Like Nineveh. (And Tampa)

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Jonah 1; Jonah 2; Jonah 3; Jonah 4; 2 Timothy 2 

If You Can Get Upset

Over A Plant, 

Surely I Can Feel Sorry For A Big City Like Nineveh. (And Tampa)

Scripture

Jonah 4

⁶ The LORD made a gourd plant grow quickly over Jonah. This made a cool place for Jonah to sit and helped him to be more comfortable. He was very happy because of this plant.

⁷ The next morning, God sent a worm to eat part of the plant. The worm began eating the plant, and the plant died.

⁸ After the sun was high in the sky, God caused a hot east wind to blow. The sun became very hot on Jonah’s head, and he became very weak. He asked God to let him die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

⁹ But God said to Jonah, “Do you think it is right for you to be angry just because this plant died?”
Jonah answered, “Yes, it is right for me to be angry! I am angry enough to die!”

¹⁰ And the LORD said, “You did nothing for that plant. You did not make it grow. It grew up in the night, and the next day it died. And now you are sad about it. 

¹¹ If you can get upset over a plant, surely I can feel sorry for a big city like Nineveh. There are many people and animals in that city. There are more than 120,000 people there who did not know they were doing wrong.” 

Observation

I wonder if Jonah realized that a worm had killed his shade! He was so upset over the death of the gourd, but he didn’t care anything for the people of Nineveh. God was working on Jonah, but I don’t think Jonah got it even after getting swallowed by the great fish, spending 3 days in his belly, and having a worm eat his favorite shade providing gourd!

God sends “worms” into our lives to get our attention. They come in many forms! Their purpose is to get us to refocus on God’s agenda and His kingdom. This story shows me that my God is very patient. He can send lots of “worms” if He needs to do so. They come into our lives to make us uncomfortable. They come into our lives to direct our attention away from “me” and place our attention on “them”. 

Are we uncomfortable? 

God has the city of Tampa on His heart and that is where He wants our hearts to be focused too!

Application

I will keep my focus off of “me” today and place it on what God wants me to do. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me not to be a Jonah today. I don’t want You to have to send “worms” into my life to get my attention! Give me Your heart for the people around me. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

For God Has Not Given Us A Spirit Of Fear and Timidity, But Of Power, Love, And Self-Discipline

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Joel 1; Joel 2; Joel 3; 2 Timothy 1 

For God Has Not Given Us 

A Spirit Of Fear and Timidity,

But Of Power, Love, And Self-Discipline

Scripture

2 Timothy 1 

⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Observation

I have to remind myself just like Paul had to remind his disciple Timothy that God has not given us a spirit of fear. Fear is a lack of faith and a lack of trust in the One who has saved us. God has given me His Holy Spirit. His Holy Spirit is a Spirit of power, love, and self-control!

Timothy tended to be timid evidently and Paul was reminding him to rely on God’s Spirit and not on his own strength. When we feel weak and powerless and intimidated then we to need to remember who we are – we are children of God. 

On my own I can do very little, but with Christ … nothing is impossible! I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 

This a great verse to think about on a Monday. 

When you contemplate your week and what lies ahead do it with this verse as a reminder that God has supplied you all the power and self-control needed to “getter done”! 

Application

I will rely on God’s power and strength as I go through this week.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to rely on Your Power and not my own. You have not given me the spirit of fear. You have given me Your spirit, which is power, love, and self-control. Help me to depend on You. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Devotion To God Is, In Fact, A Way For People To Be Very Rich

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
2 Kings 11; 2 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6

Devotion To God Is,

In Fact,

A Way For People To Be Very Rich

Scripture

1 Timothy 6

⁶ Devotion to God is, in fact, a way for people to be very rich, but only if it makes them satisfied with what they have. ⁷ When we came into the world, we brought nothing. And when we die, we can take nothing out. ⁸ So, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that.

Observation

Take inventory of everything that you have and ask yourself, “Am I satisfied with what I have?” Jesus said that we should be satisfied in this life if we have food and clothes. Could you and I be satisfied in this life if that is all we had? 

We in America are very blessed with stuff. People in many other countries could not even imagine what it would be like to have what we throw away and consider no longer any good. 

Have you begun to downsize yet? Or are you still accumulating stuff? 

How is our relationship with our Heavenly Father? The only way to be truly rich is to have a close relationship with Him. God needs to be everything, the number priority of our lives, and then we will be content with what we have!

Application

I will be content with what I have and I will look for stuff that I am holding on that needs to be given away.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, keep me close to You. You are all I need. You have provided Kathy and me more than what we need. You have been very good to us. Help us to be content and not want things that others have or things that we see in the store, on television, or in magazines. Show us who we need to help and show us exactly how to help them.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Treat Every Person The Same

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
2 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 22; 2 Chronicles 23; 1 Timothy 5

Treat

Every Person

The Same

Scripture

1 Timothy 5

²¹ Before God and Jesus Christ and the chosen angels, I tell you to make these judgments without any prejudice. Treat every person the same.

Observation

Are you prejudiced?

I bet you are! You probably don’t treat everyone the same. How can I say something like that about you? Because I know how I am and I just figured that maybe you were like me.

The reason why the Apostle Paul had to tell Timothy to treat every person the same is because we all have the tendency to treat people differently. I watch people do it all the time and I catch myself doing it.

You may be prejudiced with people of a different skin color, or maybe people that speak a different language. Maybe you prejudiced shows when you encounter someone that needs a bath, or that has had too much to drink, or that is high or under the influence of drugs. Maybe we treat people differently because they don’t have the mental capacity or physical capacity that we have - people with special needs.

If as you were reading the above three paragraphs thought to yourself, “boy I am glad that he is not talking about me”, let me clue you in, I am talking about you! All of us need work in this area! Don’t kid yourself if you think you are without prejudice!

Who do you tend to avoid on Sunday when you go to church? Who do you try to avoid in your work place? How about spending some time with them this Sunday or a take a few minutes for them during the workweek. Let them know that you care about them. Who do people tend to shy away from? How about doing something nice for them?

Application

I will take extra time to talk to a person this Sunday who tends to be avoided by most people.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me see everyone like You see them. Give me Your heart for the people around me. Don’t let me look down on others or treat people as inferior to me. Help me to treat everyone the same! Give me a servant’s heart and a love for those others tend to put down. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Be An Example To Show The Believers How They Should Live

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
2 Kings 8; 2 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4

Be An Example

To Show The Believers 

How They Should Live

Scripture

1 Timothy 4

“…Be an example to show the believers how they should live. Show them by what you say, by the way you live, by your love, by your faith, and by your pure life.”

Observation

It is so important that you and I live out what we believe. We are to be examples to those believers around us. We are to show them by what we say, by the way we live, by our love, by our faith, and by our pure lives.

How are we doing? Can people imitate you and me? Are we living lives so close to Jesus that others are drawn to the Savior?

You and I have the opportunity to influence people to have a closer walk with the Lord. We can help them be more successful for the kingdom of God. Awesome!

Who comes to your mind that needs your encouragement today? Call them, write them, and pray for them!

Application

I will strive to be an example to those believers that God has brought into my life. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me live a life close to You. I don’t want to mess up. Don’t let me slide into sin. Keep me close to You. Help me be an influence on those around me. I pray that you would give strength to my Christian friends that are having a hard time right now. Use Your word to give them strength. Use Christian friends to encourage them. Help them to never give up!

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Don’t Be Afraid Or Worry Because The Battle Is Not Your Battle It is God’s Battle!

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
2 Kings 6; 2 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3

Don’t Be Afraid Or Worry

Because The Battle Is Not Your Battle

It is God’s Battle!

Scripture

2 Chronicles 20

 

15…“Listen to me King Jehoshaphat and everyone living in Judah and Jerusalem! The LORD says this to you: ‘Don’t be afraid or worry about this large army, because the battle is not your battle. It is God’s battle!

Observation

It is a huge lesson for us to learn, but we need to learn that the battles we fight are not our battles. We are in spiritual warfare and it is God’s battle! He would love to fight our battles for us if we would just step aside and let him. 

Do you have a person that is giving you lots of problems right now? Maybe a boss, a co-worker, a family member, or maybe even a church member is making your life miserable. 

Let me remind you that you are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against principalities and things in the spiritual realm. Those battles are best left up to God to fight. He or she is not your problem! 

Satan would love to use “a person” to win his fight for your life and dilute your effectiveness as a witness for Christ. He is out to get you and he will use people to put you on the sidelines!
I would suggest that we do what King Jehoshaphat did. I suggest that we call on God to help us. 

Whatever battle or struggle is going on right now in your life trust me it is not your battle. It is God’s battle. At least it is God’s battle if you ask Him and let Him fight it for you!

Application

I will ask God to fight for me today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, nothing is too hard for You! My battles are Your battles because I belong to You. I have been bought with a very high price and You delight in me. Help me turn all my battles over to You. They are too big for me and they are just right for You. You are Mighty. You are All-Powerful. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

First Of All I Ask That You Pray For All People Ask God To Bless Them

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
2 Kings 4; 2 Kings 5; Psalm 83; 1 Timothy 2

First Of All

I Ask That You Pray For All People

Ask God To Bless Them

Scripture

1 Timothy 2

2 First of all, I ask that you pray for all people. Ask God to bless them and give them what they need. And give thanks. 

² You should pray for rulers and for all who have authority. Pray for these leaders so that we can live quiet and peaceful lives—lives full of devotion to God and respect for him. ³ This is good and pleases God our Savior.

⁴ God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth. ⁵ There is only one God, and there is only one way that people can reach God. That way is through Christ Jesus, who as a man ⁶ gave himself to pay for everyone to be free. 

Observation

There is only one God, and there is only one way that people can reach God. That way is through Christ Jesus, who as a man gave himself to pay for everyone to be free!

So I ask that you pray for all people! Ask God to bless them and give them what they need.

First of all, they need a personal relationship with Jesus! They need to understand that unless they have Jesus as their Lord and Savior then they can’t reach God.

I realized this morning as I read this passage in 1 Timothy 2 that not everyone who reads my blog knows that Jesus is the only way to God. I am praying for you right now if you fall into that category. I pray that you would understand that Jesus paid with His very life the penalty for your sin.

When you and I pray for people, including those that God has placed in authority over us, (yes – that even includes our President!) we are doing something good and it pleases God our Savior.

Application

I will pray for those that lead us. I will pray for those that need Jesus. I will pray today for those that are sick.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for our President today. I pray that You give him wisdom to lead. I pray for the leaders that surround him that you would direct them. I pray for those that might be reading this blog but don’t yet understand that Jesus is the only way to reach You. I pray that they would surrender their lives to you today. I pray for those in our church that are sick and that are in the hospital (Mac and Lois) and I pray for my cousin Ted who I heard was very sick. Touch them with Your Mighty Healing Power. You are the Great Healer! 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Christ Jesus Came Into This World To Save Sinners, And I Am The Worst Of Them

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
2 Kings 1; 2 Kings 2; 2 Kings 3; Psalm 82; 1 Timothy 1

Christ Jesus Came Into This World

To Save Sinners,

And I Am The Worst Of Them

Scripture

1 Timothy 1

¹⁵ Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them.
 
¹⁶ But I was given mercy so that in me Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. Christ showed his patience with me, the worst of all sinners.

 He wanted me to be an example for those who would believe in him and have eternal life.

Observation

If you would admit it you would have to agree with Paul that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and you are the worst of them! Just kidding! (Sort of kidding!!!)

God saved us; at least He saved me, to show that he has patience without limit. Christ showed His patience with me, the worst of sinners. 

Christ wants you and me to be examples for those who would believe in Him and have eternal life.
In other words, if Christ Jesus can save us then He can save anybody! I think that is what God through the Apostle Paul is trying to tell us this morning! 

Here is a scripture that goes with this thought, “He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. Titus 3:5-6
 

Application

I will take time today to thank God for the salvation I have but don’t deserve.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that since You saved me, the worst of sinners that You can save those around me too. I am an example of Your Grace and Your Mercy. I don’t deserve Your love or Your forgiveness. I don’t deserve it, but I am very grateful. Thank You for saving me. Use my life as an example of Your Grace. Help others see the love of Jesus Christ in me!

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Never Stop Praying - Be Ready For Anything - Be Wise In The Way You Act With Those Who Are Not Believers

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18; 2 Chronicles 19; Colossians 4

Never Stop Praying -

Be Ready For Anything -

Be Wise In The Way You Act With Those Who Are Not Believers

Scripture

Colossians 4

² Never stop praying. Be ready for anything by praying and being thankful. ³ Also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. I am in prison for doing this. But pray that we can continue to tell people the secret truth that God has made known about Christ. ⁴ Pray that I will say what is necessary to make this truth clear to everyone.

⁵ Be wise in the way you act with those who are not believers. Use your time in the best way you can. ⁶ When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should. 

Observation

The Apostle Paul used the word pray or praying six times in these five verses so I think he is letting us that prayer is pretty important. In fact, he says to never stop praying! 

Are you ready for what may come at you today? 

It is Monday you know and you know how Mondays can be! Paul says that we need to pray so that we will be ready for anything. And to be ready for anything we also need to be thankful when we pray, thankful for everything that God has already done in our lives. 

Paul asked for prayer that he would have to the opportunity to be a witness for Christ even though he admits that being a witness for Jesus is why he is in jail. Then he asked for prayer that his message would be clear to those he witnesses to. 

Then Paul tells us how to act when we are with unbelievers so that our witness will be effective!

Application

I will start this Monday off with prayer! How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me never to stop praying. I am thankful for everything that you have done for my family and me. You are so good to us. Help me share the Gospel message clearly as I go to talk to people at Mission Tampa. I pray that I will have the opportunity to help someone come to Christ today. Bless those that take time to read this blog today. Use them in a mighty way for Your kingdom. I pray for Mack Butler today as he has surgery. I pray for healing. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Things To Put Out Of Your Life - Wearing Your New Life - A Life That Is New Everyday!

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
1 Kings 20; 1 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

Things To Put Out Of Your Life

Wearing Your New Life

A Life That Is New Everyday!

Scripture

Colossians 3

⁸ But now put these things out of your life: anger, losing your temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and saying shameful things. ⁹ Don’t lie to each other. You have taken off those old clothes—the person you once were and the bad things you did then.
 
¹⁰ Now you are wearing a new life, a life that is new every day. You are growing in your understanding of the one who made you. You are becoming more and more like him. ¹¹ In this new life it doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, circumcised or not. It doesn’t matter if you speak a different language or even if you are a Scythian. It doesn’t matter if you are a slave or free. Christ is all that matters, and he is in all of you. 

Observation

Paul tells us what we should put out of our lives: anger, losing your temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and saying shameful things. And don’t lie to each other!

We are to wear a new life in Christ. One that is new every day! We are becoming more like Jesus every day and it doesn’t matter what nationality we are or what language we speak. Christ is all that matters!

So how are we doing at putting out the old and wearing the new?  

Application

I will thank God for my new life in Christ that is new every day!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for my new life in Christ. Thank You that it is new every day. Thank You for making me more and more like Jesus. I know that I still have a long way to go to be like Him. Help me to put out of my life the things that don’t please You. You are worthy of Praise! Bless Kathy today on her birthday. Thank You for bringing her into my life! 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Because You Belong To Christ You Are Complete Having Everything You Need

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
1 Kings 17; 1 Kings 18; 1 Kings 19; Colossians 2 

Because You Belong To Christ

You Are Complete

Having Everything You Need

Scripture

Colossians 2 

¹⁰ And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.

Observation

You have heard people say, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it?” The saying more accurately should be said this way, “God said it – that settles it!”

In Colossians 2:10 God says that those who belong to Christ are complete, having everything you need. You can believe that truth or not believe it but it is still true. I don’t know about you, but I plan on believing what God promised me and I and plan to act on it.

 I don’t lack one thing. I have everything I need. I have everything I need because I belong to Christ who is ruler over every other power and authority.

Lets let that sink in to our hearts today! 

Application

I will meditate on Colossians 2:10 today. Every time I begin to worry about what we might seem to lacking I am going to think about Colossians 2:10.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, because I belong to Christ I have everything that I need. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I will trust in You with all my heart and I will not lean on my own understanding and I know that You will direct my path. Help me today as I think about what lies ahead in our future to do it with Colossians 2:10 in my heart. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Severe Consequences For Us When We Refuse To Pray And Ask God For Help

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15; 2 Chronicles 16; Colossians 1

Severe Consequences 

For Us When We Refuse

To Pray And Ask God For Help

Scripture

2 Chronicles 16

¹² Asa’s feet became infected in his 39th year as king. Even though the infection was very serious, Asa did not go to the LORD for help. He went to the doctors instead.
¹³ Asa died in the 41st year as king and rested with his ancestors.

Observation

King Asa in his younger days defeated an army of over one million soldiers. He was able to defeat them because he prayed and asked God for help. Later in his 36^th year as king, Asa made an agreement with another king to protect him from king Baasha. God sent a prophet to tell him that because Asa didn’t pray to him for help and had depended on another king for protection and not the Lord that from now Asa would have wars. Asa was so angry that he put the prophet in prison. 

Then Asa got an infection in his feet and it even though it was serious he did not call on God for help. 

There is a message in this story for us. 

Pray to God about everything! How foolish it is to live our lives depending on ourselves and depending our own resources when we have a God who is on our side and who wants to come to our rescue. 

Consequences are severe when we ignore our Creator.

Application

I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and I will not lean on my own understanding. I will pray to God about the little things in my life as well the big things.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to always trust in You. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13; 2 Chronicles 14; Philippians 4

Always

Don’t

Everything – Three Very Important Words For Us Today

Scripture

Philippians 4

⁴ Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.

⁵ Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon.
 
⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have.
 
⁷ And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.  

Observation

In chapter one of Philippians we learned how to pray for others and in chapter four we learn how to pray for ourselves. 

Here is how Paul says that we should pray:

1.      Don’t worry about anything! Using southern bad grammar we would say - "Don’t worry about nothin"

2.      Pray and ask God for everything you need.

3.      Always giving thanks for what you have.

Worry is a lack of faith in our Heavenly Father. It is a lack of trust in Him. We are commanded not to worry about anything. The word “anything” the last time I checked still means “anything”.

Instead of worrying we are commanded to pray and ask God for “everything” – everything we need!

And in our prayers while we are asking God for our needs we must always remember to thank Him for what we have. 

After we have completed steps one through three then we will experience God’s peace, a peace, which exceeds anything, we can understand.

Application

I will pray today rather than worry. I will thank God for all that He has provided me. I will enjoy His peace that passes all understanding.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are the Mighty God. There is no one like You. Thank You for providing everything I need to live this life here on earth. You have been so good to me. Help me not to worry today. If I begin to worry would You bring these verses to my mind so that I can experience Your peace and so I can walk under the umbrella of Your protection and Your love. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

All Things Are Worth Nothing Compared With The Greatness Of Knowing Christ Jesus My Lord. - You Have To Read This …

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
1 Kings 13; 1 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

All Things Are Worth Nothing 

Compared With The Greatness 

Of Knowing Christ Jesus My Lord. - You Have To Read This …

Scripture

Philippians 3

 

⁷ At one time all these things were important to me. But because of Christ, I decided that they are worth nothing. ⁸ Not only these things, but now I think that all things are worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 

Because of Christ, I lost all these things, and now I know that they are all worthless trash. All I want now is Christ. ⁹ I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in Christ to make me right with him.
 
¹⁰ All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death. ¹¹ Then there is hope that I myself will somehow be raised from death.

Trying to Reach the Goal

¹² I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be.
I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his.
 
¹³ Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me.
 
¹⁴ I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.

Observation


You and I are works in progress … we have not arrived yet!

 I love what Paul says in Philippians 3:7-14! This passage encourages me to focus on this one thing: 

“All I want now is Christ. I want to belong to him. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death.”
I am in agreement with the Apostle Paul when he says in verse ten, “All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and belike him in his death.”  

 I had to stop and think about this verse for a few moments before I said “yes”. 

So many times we read scripture and think that those verses are for someone else, but they are not for someone else - they are for you and me. 

Suffering and following Christ go hand in hand. I don’t think we can get to know Christ without suffering with Him and for Him. Some of my Christian friends sometimes talk about my present suffering. And sometimes they talk about everything that Kathy and I have been through with my heart attack and our having to deal with the daily issues of having a heart that is a little more than slightly damaged. 

I think of it as “inconvenience” rather than suffering. What Jesus suffered for us - I call that suffering! 

I hope one day to be able to suffer for my faith in a country where the people do not know the Lord. (India would be my choice at the moment.) That is the way I want to share in my Lord’s sufferings. I pray that I will get healthy enough in the future to do just that! But if I don’t get well enough then I will serve Him right here where I am in every way that I can. 

The Apostle Paul is at an entirely different level of faith than where I am.  But one day I want to reach his level! How about you? 

Application

I will use Paul’s words as my application: 

“Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me.  I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.” Philippians 3:13-14 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, all I want now is Christ. I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with You, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from You through faith. You use my faith in Christ to make me right with You. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death. Amen.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

The Apostle Paul Tells Us How To Live In Philippians 2 – Check It Out!

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10; 2 Chronicles 11; Philippians 2 

The Apostle Paul

Tells Us How To Live

In Philippians 2 – Check It Out!

Scripture

Philippians 2 

 

“…So you must continue to live in a way that gives meaning to your salvation. Do this with fear and respect for God.
 
¹³ Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it.

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing” 

Observation

Normally after reading Philippians 2 I think I would talk about the humility of Christ that Paul writes about in verses 5-11, but today I want to focus on the verses following this famous passage!

⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

⁶ Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Today I will think about the three things Paul said after he described what Christ did for us. 

First, the Apostle Paul says that we need to live out our lives in a way that gives meaning to our salvation. We were saved not just to go to Heaven, but we were saved so that many others could go to Heaven through our witness. How are we doing helping others find Christ? 

Second, we need to realize that God is constantly working in our lives to help us do the things that please Him. He even provides the power in our lives so that we can be successful in living for Him. 

Number three is the tough one, “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” What makes number three the hardest is the word “everything”!

Application

I will live today in a way that gives meaning to my salvation. I will do it through the power of God working in me. I will go through this day without complaining or arguing. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me do what I just said that I was going to do in applying Your word to my life! You are an Awesome God to serve today. 


Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

This Is My Prayer For You It Is A Three Part Prayer Found In Philippians 1

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Song of Solomon 5; Song of Solomon 6; Song of Solomon 7; Song of Solomon 8; Philippians 1 

This Is My Prayer For You

It Is A Three Part Prayer

Found In Philippians 1

Scripture

Philippians 1 

⁹ This is my prayer for you:

that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; ¹⁰ that you will see the difference between what is important and what is not and choose what is important; that you will be pure and blameless for the coming of Christ; ¹¹ that your life will be full of the many good works that are produced by Jesus Christ to bring glory and praise to God.

Observation

Paul ended the book of Ephesians talking about how important prayer is for us and he begins his letter to the church of Philippi praying for the Philippians. It is a three-part prayer and it is my prayer for you today. 

1.      I pray that your love will grow more and more and that with it you will have knowledge and understanding.

2.      I pray that you will see the difference between what is important and what is not and choose what is important.

3.      I pray that your life will be full of many good works that are produced by Jesus Christ to bring glory and praise to God.  

Application

I will pray this prayer for each one of you that God brings to my mind today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray that my brothers and sisters in Christ love would grow more and more and that you would have both understanding and knowledge. I pray that my friends would be able to discern what is important and what is not and I pray that they would choose to do what is important. I pray that their lives will be full of many good works produced by Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Here Is The Real Reason To Live A Godly Life - So You Don’t Make The Holy Spirit Sad

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!
Ecclesiastes 7; Ecclesiastes 8; Ecclesiastes 9; Ephesians 4

Here Is The Real Reason

To Live A Godly Life -

So You Don’t Make The Holy Spirit Sad

Scripture

Ephesians 4

²⁹ When you talk, don’t say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you.
 
³⁰ And don’t make the Holy Spirit sad. 

God gave you his Spirit as proof that you belong to him and that he will keep you safe until the day he makes you free. ³¹ Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil.
 
³² Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.

Observation

When I am praying for people many times I pray that they would live their lives in such a way that it would make God smile on them. I pray that God’s face would shine on them because of the godly lives that they are living.

You and I can live in a way that brings a smile to God’s face or we can choose to live a life that causes Him to frown.

Trust me … it is going to turn out better for both of us if we cause God to be happy rather than sad.

Think about that for a minute … you and I have the potential for making our Heavenly Father sad. The God who created the Universe, the God who hung the sun, moon, and the stars can become happy or sad over your behavior and mine.

I believe that the Apostle Paul totally understood this and lived a life that brought a Smile to God’s face.

When you or I try to justify our behavior by saying something like, “Well the Bible doesn’t say that I want to do is wrong” then we miss the whole point, we have the wrong perspective. What we should be asking is this, “Will what I am doing or will what I am getting ready to do bring a “Smile” to my Heavenly Father’s face or will it make Him Sad?”

Application

I will try to live my life today in a way that will make God “Smile”. How about you?               

Prayer

Heavenly Father, how we treat other people definitely is a reflection of our relationship with You. Help me to be kind and tenderhearted with people today. Help me to say things to people that will encourage them and build them up. Help me to be a blessing to those around me. 

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!