Be On Guard. Stand Firm In The Faith. Be Courageous. Be Strong. And Do Everything With Love.

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Judges 9; Judges 10; Psalm 49; 1 Corinthians 16

Be On Guard.

Stand Firm In The Faith. Be Courageous. Be Strong.

And Do Everything With Love.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 16

¹³ Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous.  Be strong. ¹⁴ And do everything with love.

Observation

This is a good word for Monday. As we face this week lets be on guard. Let’s stand firm in the faith. Let’s be courageous. Let’s be strong. And let’s do everything with love.  

Application

I will strive to put 1 Corinthians 16:13 into practice this week. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be on my guard this week. Help me to stand firm in my faith. Help me to be courageous and to be strong. And help me to do everything this week with love. You are alone are worthy of praise. You are the Mighty God.

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Always Work Enthusiastically For The Lord

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Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1 Corinthians 15

Always

Work

Enthusiastically For The Lord

Scripture

1 Corinthians 15

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Observation

Did you wake up this morning full of energy and ready to go? I didn’t. In fact, my body is trying to go on strike this morning. It did not want to get up out of bed.

As I read I Corinthians 15 this morning and came to verse 58 I was challenged to be strong and immovable. I was challenged to work today enthusiastically for the Lord. 

That is why I get up first thing and read my Bible. If I hadn’t read this morning I may have been tempted to continue feeling like I did when I first got up – LAZY!

How will you and I serve the Lord today? It is our choice!

Application

 I will serve the Lord today enthusiastically! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to live out this day in a way that pleases You. Give me the energy and desire to serve You with enthusiasm. Don’t let me be lazy today. Don’t let me be indifferent to the things of God. Help me see today from Your perspective. Give me Your Heart and Your eyes to see people today as You see them.

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Let Love Be Your Highest Goal!

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Judges 6; Judges 7; Psalm 52; 1 Corinthians 14

Let 

Love

Be Your Highest Goal!

Scripture

1 Corinthians 14

Let love be your highest goal!

Observation

What are your goals for 2014? Our highest goal should be love! Not making money, not being successful, not being popular, no our highest goal should be love!

Love that the Apostle Paul is talking about is not a noun it is a verb.  

Yesterday I read I Corinthians 13 as part of my daily Bible reading / my quiet time. I was thinking about the funeral service that I was about to do and I realized that I Corinthians 13:4-7 described Elmer Varnes life perfectly:

     [4] Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud [5] or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. [6] It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [7] Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 

I hope that when I die someone could say that about me! 

I was so proud yesterday of Elmer’s grandson Adam Beasley, his son Wayne, and his daughter Debbie Beasley, who all spoke about their dad and all three urged the people listening to put their faith in Jesus Christ. It was a powerful service. It was so different than most funerals. It was a real celebration of a life well lived. 

Application

I will strive to make love my highest goal. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that yesterday You were smiling at the Varnes family. They did so good. I am so proud. They glorified You and they voiced their total trust in You. I pray for them as they continue to grieve during this time of loss. Give them strength. Help them to be strong. Help me make love my highest goal. Don’t let me live a self-centered life. You are Worthy of Praise!

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A Spiritual Gift Is Given To Each Of Us So We Can Help Each Other.

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Judges 1; Judges 2; Judges 3; 1 Corinthians 12

A Spiritual Gift

Is Given To Each Of Us

So We Can Help Each Other. 

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12

⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

Observation

You and I have been given at least one spiritual gift and the purpose of the gift is to help someone else. You and I are supposed to put our spiritual gift to work for the benefit of those around us. 

The selfish misuse of spiritual gifts in the church in Corinth caused a huge problem in the church. 

But when we begin to use our spiritual gifts in a way that helps the body of Christ to grow it is a wonderful experience. 

I am watching this happen at Christ Fellowship as more and more people serve each other. 

The army of orange shirts that mark those serving continues to grow each week. There are so many different ways to serve at Christ Fellowship! It is so exciting!

Let’s use our spiritual gift(s) this week to help someone else.

 Application

I will look for someone to serve today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me love You by serving others today.

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Neither Man Or Woman Can Go It Alone Or Claim Priority.

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Joshua 23; Joshua 24; Psalm 44; 1 Corinthians 11

Neither Man

Or Woman

Can Go It Alone Or Claim Priority.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 11

^10-12 Don’t, by the way, read too much into the differences here between men and women.
Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. 

Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God—that is true. 

But the head on a woman’s body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her “head,” her husband. 

The first woman came from man, true—but ever since then, every man comes from a woman! 

And since virtually everything comes from God anyway, let’s quit going through these “who’s first” routines.

Observation

The church at Corinth had some pretty strong conflicts going on. It was a mess. Evidently some women in the church didn’t understand spiritual authority and Paul decided to go over everyone’s role as males and females one more time.

I love the way the Message translation sums it all up when he says, “let’s quit going through these “who’s first” routines.”

Males and females are equal in God’s sight but there are definitely roles given to each in Scripture.

I am saddened by the news that World Vision has decided to allow same-sex couples to work for them. For the life of me I can’t understand how they leaped over scripture to make that decision. 

This decision was not a decision based on the word of God. All I can say is that all of their leadership must have stopped reading their Bibles. How can Bible believing Christians continue to work with this organization or support them financially?

Application

I will continue to follow the Biblical roles set by God for men and women. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, in a day where men and women are choosing to make decisions that seem right in their own sight. Help me make decisions based on Your word and Your direction. I pray for the leaders of World Vision. I pray that they change course and return to You and the Bible.

http://billygraham.org/story/franklin-graham-statement-on-world-vision/

Come, Everyone! Clap Your Hands! For The LORD Most High Is Awesome.

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Joshua 21; Joshua 22; Psalm 47; 1 Corinthians 10

Come, Everyone!

Clap Your Hands!

For The LORD Most High Is Awesome.

Scripture

Psalm 47

¹ Come, everyone! Clap your hands!

    Shout to God with joyful praise!

² For the Lord Most High is awesome.

Observation

Are you looking forward to Sunday already? This verse makes me think about worship at Christ Fellowship! How about you?

Does your church shout to God with joyful praise! Do you clap your hands? 

I love to watch people who are free to worship. So thankful for our praise team that helps us worship every Lord’s Day. 

I am so thankful for Randy and Ladell’s faithful leadership. So glad to have Ladell back with us!

Application

I will clap my hands and I will shout to God with joyful praise today! I won’t even wait for Sunday. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I SHOUT OUT to You for You are an AWESOME GOD! YOU ARE WORTHY OF MY PRAISE!

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So Run To Win!

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Joshua 18; Joshua 19; Joshua 20; 1 Corinthians 9

So 

Run

To Win!

Scripture

1 Corinthians 9

²⁴ Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? 

So run to win!
 
²⁵ All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. ²⁶ So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. ²⁷ I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Observation

The Christian life is a race! It is not a wind sprint it is a marathon. At the end of the race we don’t receive a prize that will sit on and gather dust. We run for a crown. We run for an eternal prize!

I like what the writer of Hebrews says about this race:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2

So let’s strip off anything that has been holding us back!

Don’t let discouragement sideline us this morning. Let’s get up. Let’s get back into the race.
I know that it is Monday! We are looking ahead at a new and challenging week. 

Let’s run well!

Application

As I run the race called life today I will keep my eyes on Jesus, the champion of my faith. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I have to admit that I have been discouraged by the details of life. So many things seem to work against me that slow me down in this race of life. Help me keep my eyes on Jesus as I run this race. I want to finish well. Give me the strength I need to stay in this marathon called life. 

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But While Knowledge Makes Us Feel Important, It Is Love That Strengthens The Church.

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Joshua 15; Joshua 16; Joshua 17; 1 Corinthians 8

But While 

Knowledge Makes Us Feel Important,

It Is Love That Strengthens The Church.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 8

“1b…But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.”

Observation

You and I can have a lot of head knowledge and a lot of experience, but it is love that strengthens the church.

Being “right” isn’t always the most important thing, showing how much you care for people that should be our goal.

This week how will we strengthen our church?

Application

I will focus on someone this week that needs to be encouraged in his or her faith. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I have been a Christian for a long time. I have lots of knowledge about a lot of stuff, but I know that it is love that strengthens Your church. Show me how to show Your love to someone this week. Help me be an encourager. I don’t want this week to be about me. Guide me and direct me this week so I can help You change someone’s life. 

Bless my brother Rick today on his birthday. May Your face shine on him and on Karen his soon to be wife. 

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A Wife Must Not Leave Her Husband A Husband Must Not Leave His Wife

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Joshua 12; Joshua 13; Joshua 14; 1 Corinthians 7

A Wife Must Not Leave Her Husband

A Husband

Must Not Leave His Wife

Scripture

1 Corinthians 7

¹⁰ But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord.
A wife must not leave her husband.
 
¹¹ But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him.
And the husband must not leave his wife.

Observation

Kathy and I have been married a long time. This November 1^st will be our 45^th wedding anniversary! Amazing that she has stayed with me through everything that I have put her through. 

She is definitely a Keeper!

One of the things that we have never had to worry about was divorcing each other. We were told during our pre-martial counseling to take that word out of our vocabulary and we did. In our best/worst fights we have never threatened each other with the “D” word.

If you haven’t taken that word out of your vocabulary now is the time to do it.

No matter what I do Kathy will never divorce me – she might murder me but she won’t divorce me and no matter what Kathy does I will never divorce her.

Love is a verb. It is a decision, a choice I make everyday. Today I choose to love Kathy. Today I also choose to love the LORD. It is always a choice. When a guy says, “Oh, I just don’t love her anymore,” he is really choosing not to love her anymore.

Kathy is and will always be God’s greatest gift to me next to my salvation.

I tell couples when I do pre-martial counseling with them that they need to realize that Satan will bring someone else into their life that is attractive and attracted to them and it will be just at the time that you and your spouse are having a rough time in your relationship. If you are not careful you will allow that extra – relationship(s) to destroy your marriage. 

Satan is a destroyer. He wants to destroy your marriage. He wants to mess up your life. Don’t believe his lies. Your spouse is not your enemy. Satan is your enemy.

Let’s make a choice today to really love our spouse!

Application

I will let Kathy know several times today how much she means to me. I choose to love her today with all my heart! 100%

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for providing me with one wonderful wife. She is my lover and my best friend. Give her strength today. Help her as she seeks to walk with You. Give her wisdom and understanding. May Your face shine on her brightly today. She is the best gift that You could have ever given me. I pray for men who don’t realize that Satan has gotten a foothold into their lives and he has messed up their relationships. They believe his lies. Show them Your truth. Give them strength to live godly lives. 

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Don’t You Realize That Your Body Is The Temple Of The Holy Spirit, Who Lives In You And Was Given To You By God? You Do No Belong To Yourself, God Bought You With A High Price.

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Joshua 9; Joshua 10; Joshua 11; 1 Corinthians 6

Don’t You Realize That Your Body Is The Temple Of The Holy Spirit, 

Who Lives In You And Was Given To You By God?

You Do No Belong To Yourself, God Bought You With A High Price.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 6

¹⁸ Run from sexual sin! 

No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.  

¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,  

²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Observation

Run from sexual sin! Are we running from it? Don’t kid yourself. Don’t rationalize.

RUN!

Why? Because you and I are the temple of God that’s why!

We must honor God with our bodies! Are we doing that?

RUN!

Application

I will honor God with my body today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to honor You today with the way I use my body. Give me strength to run from sexual sin. Show me any area of my life that I am holding back from You. I want You to have complete control of my life today. You are Worthy of Praise. You are my God.

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Answer My Prayers, O LORD, For Your Unfailing Love Is Wonderful. Take Care Of Me, For Your Mercy Is So Plentiful.

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Joshua 7; Joshua 8; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5

Answer My Prayers, O LORD, For Your Unfailing Love Is Wonderful.

Take Care Of Me,

For Your Mercy Is So Plentiful.

Scripture

Psalm 69

¹⁶ Answer my prayers, O Lord,
    for your unfailing love is wonderful.
Take care of me,
    for your mercy is so plentiful.

Observation

David was in the pits. It was not a very good day. David said in verse 12 of Psalm 69, “I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me.” 

Maybe you and I are having a day or week like David was having and if you and I are then what we should do is just what David did. 

David remembered the character of God and cried out to the God that he knew.

Here is what he said, “Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.”

Having a rough week? Why not pray to God and as you pray tell God why you know that He hears you and will come to your rescue?  

Application

I will pray to God today knowing that He is a God of unfailing love and a God of mercy that is overflowing.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, because Your unfailing love is wonderful and Your mercy is so plentiful I know that You will take care of me. I know that You will hear me and answer me because I am Your child and You care about me.

 

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… You Won’t Be Proud Of One Of Your leaders At The Expense Of Another.

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Joshua 3; Joshua 4; Joshua 5; Joshua 6; 1 Corinthians 4 

… You Won’t 

Be Proud Of One Of Your leaders

At The Expense Of Another.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 4 

⁶ Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.
 
⁷ For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? 

What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

Observation

There is always a danger of giving too much attention to one of your leaders at the expense of another.

As former senior pastor of the old church that existed where Christ Fellowship church now worships I sometimes hear people say some very kind things about me and my wife Kathy. While I appreciate those words of love and words of encouragement I don’t ever want them to come at the expense of any of our present leaders.

Pastor Bruce Moore and his wife Heather are now leading our church and they are doing an outstanding job of growing our church and reaching people for Jesus Christ. 

  

Application

I will support my pastor and his leadership team 100%! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me that I am just as the Apostle Paul said about himself a mere servant of Jesus Christ. I pray for our church today and every leader that you have placed in leadership to lead us. Use them in a powerful way in our lives so we can be more effective witnesses for You. I thank You for each and every one of them.

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The LORD Directs The Steps Of The Godly He Delights In Every Detail Of Their Lives.

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Joshua 1; Joshua 2; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 3 

The LORD Directs The Steps Of The Godly

He Delights

In Every Detail Of Their Lives. 

Scripture

Psalm 37

²³ The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.

Observation

Did you know that God delights in every detail of your life? I like what the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:

    [13] You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. 

[14] Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. 

[15] You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 

[16] You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.    Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 

[17] How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! [18] I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!

God delights in me. How precious are His thoughts about me! They outnumber the grains of sand! 

Application

I will go to bed thinking about how God delights in every detail of my life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to have another birthday here on planet Earth. One day I know that You will take me home. When You are ready I am ready. Thanks for taking such good care of me. Thanks for all the people that You have brought into our lives. We are blessed. May Your face shine on each one of them. I pray that they will all understand just how much You love them. 

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“No Eye Has Seen, No Ear Has Heard, And No Mind Has Imagined What God Has Prepared For Those Who Love Him.”

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Deuteronomy 32; Deuteronomy 33; Deuteronomy 34; 1 Corinthians 2

“No Eye Has Seen, No Ear Has Heard, And No Mind Has Imagined

What God

Has Prepared For Those Who Love Him.”

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2

9 … “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.”

Observation

The Apostle Paul really knew the scriptures. He is quoting Isaiah 64 when he wrote I Corinthians 2:9.

This is a great verse to think about on a Monday. 

Maybe you woke up like I did this morning … a little tired and blah! 

Okay! It doesn’t matter how we feel! 

We know that God has prepared something super special for us. So special that we can’t even begin to imagine how good it is going to be! 

Every week is a new adventure! Let’s see what God has in store for us this week! 

Application

I will optimistically face this week because I know that God has my back. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, this is the day (Monday) You have made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

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“Oh, The Joys Of Those Who Trust The Lord”

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Deuteronomy 30; Deuteronomy 31; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1

“Oh,

The Joys

Of Those Who Trust The Lord”

Scripture

Psalm 40

⁴ Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, …

Observation

Today in both Deuteronomy and in Psalm 40 I read about the same thing! If you and I follow the Lord then our lives will be filled blessing and joys, but if we don’t then we choose life full of curses and disaster. 

Hmmm! What a hard decision but I choose joy and prosperity. Today I choose to follow the Lord. I choose obedience rather than disobedience. 

To me it is a no-brainer – how about you?

¹⁵ “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. ¹⁶ For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. Deuteronomy 30

Application

 I choose to obey the Lord today. How about you?

Prayer

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.  

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. Psalm 40:1-5

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So Let’s Not Get Tired Of Doing What Is Good. At Just The Right Time We Will Reap A Harvest Of Blessing If We Don’t Give Up.

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Deuteronomy 28; Deuteronomy 29; Galatians 6

So Let’s Not Get Tired Of Doing What Is Good.

At Just The Right Time

We Will Reap A Harvest Of Blessing If We Don’t Give Up.

Scripture

Galatians 6

⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Observation

There must be a tendency for us to get tired of doing what is good. I know that there is always a downward pull for us to be concerned for only ourselves. 

When I hear someone say, “but what about me?” or when I think to myself, “well what about me?” I think of what Rick Warren said in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, “It’s not about you?”

There is a harvest of blessing waiting for us if we don’t give up and stop doing what is good. 

Let’s think of something “good” that the Lord has placed on our hearts and let’s do it!

 Application

I will do something good today for someone other than myself. How about you? 

 Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me put into practice today what Paul said in Galatians 6:
 
⁴ Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. ⁵ For we are each responsible for our own conduct. 

Today help me focus on doing things that will make You smile.  

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But The Holy Spirit Produces This Kind Of Fruit In Our Lives: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,, Gentleness, And Self-Control.

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Deuteronomy 25; Deuteronomy 26; Deuteronomy 27; Galatians 5 

But The Holy Spirit Produces This Kind Of Fruit In Our Lives:

Love, Joy, Peace, 

Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,, Gentleness, And Self-Control.

Scripture

Galatians 5 

²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control.

Observation

Squeeze a lemon and you get lemon juice. Squeeze Eddy Williams and you should get the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I wish that I could say that everyday you would get the fruit of the Spirit out of my life. The truth is it depends on who is in charge of my life that day.

There is a struggle everyday that you and I must participate in and that struggle is a spiritual battle to see if the Holy Spirit or our old nature is going to rule over our hearts. Every day it is a choice that you and I must make whether we are going to live for Christ or live for self. The old nature (sour like lemon juice) or the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, one of the two will be obvious to those around us today.

Kathy loves to tell this story. It goes like this. I changed it and shortened it because I am telling the story.

“There was a man who used to have to dogs that he would use to make a living. One dog was white and the other was black. He would have them fight and he would have people bet on which dog would win the fight. The man would always know which dog would win the fight and so he was able to make a living on these dogfights. Someone asked him one time how did he know which dog was going to win. The dog owner replied, “Oh, that is very easy, it is the one that I feed the most.” So it is with our lives, the nature that we feed the most will win the battle and be in control of our lives.”

So let’s get up every morning and dig into God’s Word. Let’s feed our souls! Let’s allow the Holy Spirit total access to our lives. Have you taken time to read God’s Word today?

Today when squeezed by the pressures of life may those around us experience the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and not lemon juice!

Application

I will think about Galatians 5:22-23 as I go through this day.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me live under Your control today. I know that I am free to choose whether I yield to that old nature of mine (which is not pretty at all) or yield to Your Holy Spirit. Help me win that battle today.

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Remember That You Were Slaves In The Land Of Egypt. That Is Why I Am Giving You This Command.

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Deuteronomy 22; Deuteronomy 23; Deuteronomy 24; Galatians 4

Remember That You Were Slaves 

In The Land Of Egypt. 

That Is Why I Am Giving You This Command. 

Scripture

Deuteronomy 24

²² Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why I am giving you this command.

Observation

I don’t think that we should ever forget what our life was like without Christ. We were slaves to sin. This passage is a reminder to the Israelites to be generous with those less fortunate.

We are most like God when we are generous.

Application

I will find a way today to be generous. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to never forget where I came from. Help me to always remember what my life was like before I surrendered my life to You. Help me to look around today and be generous with someone who doesn’t know You as Lord and Savior. Help them see Jesus in me.

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All Who Put Their Faith In Christ Share The Same Blessing Abraham Received Because Of His Faith.

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Deuteronomy 19; Deuteronomy 20; Deuteronomy 21; Galatians 3

All Who Put Their Faith In Christ

Share The Same Blessing 

Abraham Received Because Of His Faith.

Scripture

Galatians 3

8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.

⁹ So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

Observation

Do you remember in the Old Testament when God blessed Abraham? The same blessing is repeated in Galatians 3:8. You and I because of our faith in Christ can be a blessing to those who have not yet heard of Jesus Christ.

Every time we share our faith in Christ with those around us we share in Abraham’s blessing.

I like the sound of that!

And finally we have a reminder in verse 26 that we are God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus!

²⁶ For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Application

 I am blessed because of my relationship with Jesus Christ, but I am to share that blessing with those around me. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, don’t let me be selfish. Put on my heart the needs of those around me. Give me Your heart, Your hands and Your feet to take the Good News to those who have not heard. Help me appreciate all that I have in You. You are all that I need.

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For If Keeping The Law Could Make Us Right With God, Then There Was No Need For Christ To Die.

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Deuteronomy 16; Deuteronomy 17; Deuteronomy 18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

For If Keeping The Law

Could Make Us Right With God,

Then There Was No Need For Christ To Die.

Scripture

Galatians 2

²⁰ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
 
²¹ I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Observation

Galatians 2:20 is the verse that I would normally write about, but today verse 21 caught my attention!

Many people and maybe even you believe that by living a good enough life they will somehow be good enough to get into the kingdom of Heaven. Many believe that if we do more good things than bad things then we are in but if we don’t then we are burning forever!

A large number of people that have attended church for years would give you a works answer if you asked them how they were going to Heaven.

You and I cannot do enough good things to get us into the kingdom of Heaven. The only way you and I can get into the Heaven is by have a relationship with the God of Heaven. If you are not one of His children then you don’t get in. Living this life the way God intended for it to be lived and having the privilege of living forever with God depends 100% on our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Is He your Lord and Savior? If He is not then you are lost and you are headed for a sinners Hell and life here on this earth will be the pits too!

Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Application

Today I will live powered by Galatians 2:20? How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to live today under Your power. Help me to die to self and let Christ live through me.

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But Even I Was Born, God Chose Me And Called Me By His Marvelous Grace.

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Deuteronomy 13; Deuteronomy 14; Deuteronomy 15; Galatians 1

But Even I Was Born,

God Chose Me

And Called Me By His Marvelous Grace.

Scripture

Galatians 1

¹⁵ But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him ¹⁶ to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.

Observation

If you and I are Christ Followers and I know that I am then what Paul said about himself is certainly true for us too! God both chose us and has called us and it is all by His marvelous grace. He did it for a purpose. So you and I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to those around us.

 Application

I will look for opportunities today to share the Good News about Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I remember what Jesus said in John 15:16 “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” Help me to produce lasting fruit. Give me strength for this week. Help me to accomplish the tasks that You have laid on my heart. Help me do them with all of my heart.

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Look, Today I Am Giving You The Choice Between A Blessing And A Curse!

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Deuteronomy 10; Deuteronomy 11; Deuteronomy 12; Mark 16

Look, Today I Am Giving 

You The Choice

Between A Blessing And A Curse!

Scripture

Deuteronomy 11

²⁶ “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse! ²⁷ You will be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. ²⁸ But you will be cursed if you reject the commands of the Lord your God and turn away from him and worship gods you have not known before.

Observation

This is very true for us today! Do you and I want to live under the blessing of God or under a curse?

Hmmm ….let me think about that for a moment … I choose a blessing rather than a curse.

If you curse me that is one thing, but I don’t want to be under the curse of God. I am not that stupid. Are you?

Application

I will go through this day knowing that I am blessed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am so glad that You chose to bring me to place of repentance a long time ago and I made the decision to follow You. Jesus Christ is Lord of my life. Today I serve You and You alone. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are worthy of my worship and my praise! Thank You for allowing me to live such a blessed life. What an awesome God You are!

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“Beware That In Your Plenty You Do Not Forget The LORD Your God …”

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Deuteronomy 7; Deuteronomy 8; Deuteronomy 9; Mark 15

“Beware That In Your Plenty

You Do Not Forget

The LORD Your God …”

Scripture

Deuteronomy 8

¹¹ “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today.
¹⁸ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

Observation

Two things we for sure ought to get out of these two verses:

1. Remember the LORD your God. He is the One who gives you power to be successful.
2. Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God.

Application

 Today I will remember that only by God’s power I will be successful and I will not forget the LORD in the abundance of all that He has provided for my family and me.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thanks for reminding me this morning that life is not all about “Me”. It is all about You. Help me to live this day trusting in all of Your promises and not relying on my own strength. You are the Holder of my future and I am in very good Hands. You will never leave me or forsake me! You are always with me!

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Why Am I Discouraged? Why Is My Heart So Sad? I Will Put My Hope In God! I Will Praise Him Again—My Savior And My God!

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Deuteronomy 5; Deuteronomy 6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

Why Am I Discouraged? Why Is My Heart So Sad?

I Will Put My Hope In God!

I Will Praise Him Again—My Savior And My God!

Scripture

Psalm 43

⁵ Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

Observation

Have you ever had a day where everything seemed to be going wrong? Yesterday was one of those days for me. Nothing I was trying to do seemed to be working out the way I had planned. Plus it was raining and my repair job that I had done earlier in the week to fix a leak that came from the top of our windshield only seemed to make the leak worse in yesterday’s downpour!

Maybe I was more bummed out than discouraged but this verse has a lot of meaning for me today and it jumped out at me this morning as I was having my Quiet time!

Today is a new day!

Application

I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God! 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You alone are Worthy of Praise! No matter how bad my day goes today I will praise You.  You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Psalm 139:13-18 

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