So Go Down To The Lake And Throw In A Line. Open The Mouth Of The First Fish You Catch, And You Will Find A Large Silver Coin.

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2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17

So Go Down To The Lake And Throw In A Line.

Open The Mouth Of The First Fish You Catch,

And You Will Find A Large Silver Coin.

Scripture

Matthew 17

²⁴ On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.
But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”

²⁶ “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! ²⁷ However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

Observation

I can just picture Peter going down to the lake. As he is walking down there I bet he is wondering if the fist fish was really going to have a coin in its mouth? He throws out his line and sure enough the first fish that he caught had a large coin in its mouth. I wonder how long he kept fishing looking into the mouth of every fish to see if more of those fish would be filled with money.

Here is the lesson that I get out of this story. Maybe you will take away a different application. I am sure that there could be many lessons from this story. But here is mine:

Jesus wanted Peter (and Eddy) to realize that He could provide for him.

It is interesting that Jesus didn’t tell Peter to go and get the money from Judas Iscariot who was the team’s treasurer. Jesus wanted to show Peter that He was not limited in any way to provide for His followers.

Application

 I will not doubt that my Heavenly Father will take care of us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is so easy to look around at circumstances and begin to doubt, but I know that You will take care of us. You have always taken care of us. You are Mighty. You are the Creator God. You love us. You delight in us. Thank You for taking such good care of me. Everything that I have is Yours. I don’t own one single thing. I will fix my gaze on You and not on the circumstances around me.

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But Who Do You Say I Am?

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2 Samuel 4; 2 Samuel 5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16

But Who

Do You

Say I Am? 

Scripture

Matthew 16

¹⁵ Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

Observation

Who is Jesus Christ to you? But who do you say Jesus Christ is? Is He just a great teacher to you? Is He more than that to you? I would love to hear your answer!

I may start asking people that question just to see how they would answer me.

I know who Jesus Christ is!

He is my Lord and my Savior. He is the great I AM! He is the Messiah. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is also my Friend.

How about it? Who is Jesus to you?

Application

I will ask the people that I meet today that question. So I can hear their response. Their response should include at least a hint that they have a personal relationship with Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing to me that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He is the Son of God. He is Savior and Lord. He is my Savior. Thank You for allowing me to hear and understand the Good News. Thank You for the privilege of being one of Your children.

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But The Words You Speak Come From The Heart – That’s What Defiles You.

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2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15

But The Words You Speak

Come From The Heart –

That’s What Defiles You. 

Scripture

Matthew 15

¹⁸ But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. ¹⁹ For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.

Observation

I just read something like this in chapter 12 and here it is again in chapter 15 – I think we have a Heart problem!

My physical heart problem has been described as progressive coronary artery disease.

Some synonyms for the word progressive are: increasing, growing, developing, accelerating, escalating, and that is just to name a few.

They use the word “progressive” when they describe my heart problem. These same words could describe our “spiritual hearts” as well.

Without Jesus coming into our lives and giving us a new spiritual heart we are progressively going to get worse and worse.

We desperately need “spiritual open heart surgery” and the only Surgeon that can perform the operation is Jesus!

Application

I will do a word search this morning on the word “heart” and see what else the Bible has to say on the subject.

Prayer

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalm 51:10,17

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Then I Pray To You, O LORD. I Say, “You Are My Place Of Refuge. You Are All I Really Want In Life.

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2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14 

Then I Pray To You, O LORD.

I Say, “You Are My Place Of Refuge.

You Are All I Really Want In Life. 

Scripture

Psalm 142

⁵ Then I pray to you, O Lord.
    I say, “You are my place of refuge.
    You are all I really want in life.

Observation

This was the key to King David’s greatness. God was enough for David. Nothing was more important to David.

What is most important to you? What is most important to me? If nothing is more important to us than our relationship with God then we will do just fine is this life and the one after that!

God wants to bless us. He wants to walk through life with us. He wants to help us.

But He also demands to be number “One” in our lives He doesn’t not accept being number 2 or 3 or 15^th.

Is He everything to you?

    And he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. Matthew 6:33

Application

God is all that I need today. He is all I really want in life.

Prayer

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my every thought when far away.  You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know! I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there.

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day.  Darkness and light are both alike to 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—and 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 are innumerable! 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! Psalm 139:1-24

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Jesus Always Used Stories And Illustrations Like These When Speaking To The Crowds.

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2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13

Jesus Always

Used Stories And Illustrations Like These

When Speaking To The Crowds.

Scripture

Matthew 13

³⁴ Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.

Observation

Biblical storytelling is one of the best ways to get the Word of God into the lives of those in our small groups yet we tend to think that the telling of Bible stories is only for those who work with children.

The Bible is God’s love story to us.

What is one of your favorite stories in the Bible?

Some of my favorites would include: David and Goliath, The Feeding of the Five Thousand, The raising of Lazarus, and The Parting of the Red Sea.

Application

I will use Biblical Storytelling every chance I get.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to never grow tired of the stories found in Your Word. The Bible is Your love story to me. Thank You for giving me Your Word. Help me to share it with those around me. I pray today for those struggling with relationships. Help them to look to You and to Your Word for help.

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For Whatever Is In Your Heart Determines What You Say.

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1 Samuel 30; 1 Samuel 31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12

For 

Whatever Is In Your Heart

Determines What You Say.

Scripture

Matthew 12

³⁴ You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? 

For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.
 
³⁵ A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
 
³⁶ And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.

Observation

Do you want to know what a person’s heart is like just listen to what comes out of their mouth?

So convicting and so true!

Do you want to know what someone is really like? Just listen to everything they say and they will reveal the condition of their heart.

Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh, I know that he or she said that but they are not really like that”? Don’t kid yourself that is exactly what they are like!

On the mirror in our bedroom Kathy has this verse plastered for us to see, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and keep my lips sealed. Psalm 141:3

How about this verse that we memorized in one of our life groups, “Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing.” Proverbs 12:18

    "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9

  Application

I will guard my heart today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me keep a clean heart so the words that come out of my mouth will be pleasing to You and those around me.

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Come To Me, All Of You Who Are Weary And Carry Heavy Burdens, And I Will Give You Rest.

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1 Samuel 28; 1 Samuel 29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11

Come To Me, 

All Of You Who Are Weary And Carry Heavy Burdens,

And I Will Give You Rest. 

Scripture

Matthew 11

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Observation

It is so easy to become overwhelmed with life and all of its issues. It is so easy to become weary.

Jesus says, “Come to me.” I will give you rest.

What is stopping us right now from going to Jesus? What is holding us back?

The yoke of Jesus is easy to bear and the burden He gives us is light.

Lets swap out our heavy loads with Jesus. Why not let Jesus carry the heavy hard loads and let’s take His light and easy loads and carry them.

Application

I will get in the yoke with Jesus this morning and I will swap loads with Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You know that I woke up this morning carrying burdens that were not meant for me to carry. I can’t fix any of the broken relationships that I know those around me have. I can’t carry the burden of all of their fighting and I am weary of trying to help them to no avail. Take this heavy burden and give me a light and easy burden today. Do a work in their lives that only You can do. All I can do is pray for them and I ask You to fix those broken relationships. Change their hearts Lord.  Nothing is too hard for You.

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And The Very Hairs On Your Head Are All Numbered. So Don’t Be Afraid; You Are More Valuable To God Than A Whole Flock Of Sparrows.

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1 Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1 Chronicles 9; Matthew 10


And The Very Hairs On Your Head Are All Numbered.

So Don’t Be Afraid;

You Are More Valuable To God Than A Whole Flock Of Sparrows.

Scripture

Matthew 10

²⁹ What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin?
But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.
 
³⁰ And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. ³¹ So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Observation

What are you worried about? What has you all messed up today? Read Matthew 10 and think about it for a while. In fact, just meditate on this passage all day long!

Nothing that happens to me goes unnoticed by my Heavenly Father. I am very valuable to Him. He says in His Word that He delights in me. He knows everything about me and He still loves me. “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23

During everything that is going to happen to me today my Heavenly Father has my back. He is taking care of me. How do I know that? Because I read His Word everyday and He tells me over and over again not to be afraid.

So lets go out and live today with everything we’ve got!

Application

I will live today knowing that my God is taking care of me and He is taking care of every detail of my life. 

 Prayer

 O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry!
    Listen when I cry to you for help!
² Accept my prayer as incense offered to you,
    and my upraised hands as an evening offering.
³ Take control of what I say, O Lord,
    and guard my lips. Psalm 141:1-3

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The Harvest Is Great, But The Laborers Are Few. So Pray To The Lord Who Is In Charge Of The Harvest; Ask Him To Send More Workers Into His Fields.

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1 Samuel 25; 1 Samuel 26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9


The Harvest Is Great, But The Laborers Are Few.

So Pray To The Lord Who

Is In Charge Of The Harvest; Ask Him To Send More Workers Into His Fields.

Scripture

Matthew 9

³⁷ He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. ³⁸ So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Observation

Look around you this week and check out the Lord’s harvest. People are everywhere. There is nothing wrong with the harvest. The problem is a lack of workers to bring in the harvest.

Are we workers in the Lord’s harvest or just spectators?

Every time someone steps up and joins a serve team at Christ Fellowship more and more of the Lord’s harvest is reached.  

I encouraged a young man this past Sunday who was visiting our church to plug his life into Christ Fellowship where he can grow in Christ and help us reach people for Christ.

I sure hope he does!

Application

I will pray to the Lord of the harvest today to send more workers into His harvest. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I do pray right now for that young man. Speak to His heart and help him realize that he needs to commit his life 100%. Show him the importance of being anchored to a local church and committed to serving You at that church. Transform his life and many others just like him so we can reach many more for Your Kingdom. Thank You for all the young men and women at our church who are growing in Christ. 

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My Heart Is Confident In You, O God; My Heart Is Confident. No Wonder I Can Sing Your Praises!

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1 Samuel 24; Psalm 57; Psalm 58; 1 Chronicles 8; Matthew 8

My Heart Is Confident In You, O God;

My Heart Is Confident.

No Wonder I Can Sing Your Praises!

Scripture

Psalm 57

⁷ My heart is confident in you, O God;
    my heart is confident.
    No wonder I can sing your praises!

Observation

No wonder I can sing Your praises!

Yesterday, Easter Sunday was an unbelievable day at Christ Fellowship! So many people in attendance and so many people making decisions to make Jesus Christ their Lord and their Savior. It was a quite remarkable day!

I am so proud of the leadership that God has put in place at our church. They did a very good job yesterday.

May God receive all the glory! May God receive all the praise!

My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing Your praises!

Application

 I will give God praise for what happened yesterday at Christ Fellowship!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to be a part of a church that is focused on reaching people for Christ. I pray that this week You will help us prepare for next Sunday. Help us to do even better at helping people find You. I pray that Your Holy Spirit would continue to guide and direct our staff. May they continue to put Your kingdom first. Be glorified through Your church this week. We pray for all of those that made decisions yesterday. Put on their hearts a desire to grow in their new faith. Don’t let them slip away.

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Can All Your Worries Add A Single Moment To Your Life?

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Can All Your Worries

Add

A Single Moment To Your Life? 

Scripture

²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

²⁸ “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Observation

Worry! Do you ever worry? God tells us that worry is a lack of faith.

Has our focus this week been on the Kingdom of God? Are we seeking it more than anything else? Or has all our attention been on things that only bring us worry and concern?

Application

I don’t know about you, but I am going to focus on Matthew 6:33 this week.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me not to worry. Don’t let my focus be on trivial stuff that You promise to take care of for me. Give me the faith to trust You with the details of my life and help me to keep my attention on what You would have me to do.

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I Prayed To The LORD, And He Answered Me. He Freed Me From All My Fears. Those Who Look To Him For Help Will Be Radiant With Joy;

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1 Samuel 20; 1 Samuel 21; Psalm 34; Matthew 5

I Prayed To The LORD, And He Answered Me.

He Freed Me From All My Fears.

Those Who Look To Him For Help Will Be Radiant With Joy;

Scripture

Psalm 34

⁴ I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
    He freed me from all my fears.
 
⁵ Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

Observation

Monday night Kathy came to me right before our life group meeting started and tearfully told me that her diamond in her wedding ring had fallen out and was lost.

At the end of small group she told the ladies what had happened and they began to search our house for the diamond with no success. Kathy and I looked high and low for that little diamond. I was a senior in high school when I bought that for her 45 years ago. Kathy and I both prayed and asked God to help us find that very small diamond.

I gave her that diamond ring on June 3, 1969!

We looked everywhere, outside and even in the garage with no success. I had stopped looking and had pretty much given up on the idea of ever finding it when Kathy came and told me that she found the diamond. It was in our bedroom closet in the carpet. The closet was dark but when she opened the closet door the light from the bedroom shined into the closet and that little diamond began to sparkle and she found it.

We were beyond excited! We knew that God helped us find that diamond. And we continue to marvel at His goodness. We were radiant with joy!

Application

I will continue to ask my God for help all the time!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness and Your unfailing love. You amaze me. Something so small as a lost tiny diamond doesn’t go unnoticed by You. Help me today please You with the way I live. Help me encourage the people around me today!

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Prove By The Way You Live That You have Repented Of Your Sins And Turned To God.

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1 Samuel 18; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3

Prove By The Way

You Live

That You have Repented Of Your Sins And Turned To God.

Scripture

Matthew 3

⁸ Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

Observation

If we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ then we ought to act like it. The actions of my life should not be a contradiction to what I say I believe.

Repentance and obedience go together!

    Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them." John 14:21

Application

I will live today in a way that shows that I have repented of my sins and am living for God. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to live today in such a way that those around me would know for certain that I love You. Help us to get the project a church finished and ready for Easter Sunday. You are worthy of honor and praise.

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You Come To Me With Sword, Spear, And Javelin. But I Come To You In The Name Of The LORD Of Heaven’s Armies -

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1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2 

You Come To Me 

With Sword, Spear, And Javelin.

But I Come To You In The Name Of The LORD Of Heaven’s Armies -

Scripture

1 Samuel 17

⁴⁵ David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! ⁴⁷ And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

⁴⁸ As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

Observation

I am sure that this is one of your favorite stories too! Don’t miss the meaning of this story for you and for me.

What is the point of this story?

Glad that you asked!

We all have battles to fight in life. You are probably in the middle of one right now. We can shake in fear and worry that the opposition is too big and too powerful or we can trust in the LORD of Heaven’s Armies to fight our battles for us.

Hmmm … let me think about that for about 2 seconds … okay for me I choose to let God fight my battles. I will trust in Him.

How about you?

Application

I will trust in the name of LORD of Heaven’s Army to fight my battles today.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You put the story of David and Goliath in Your Word to encourage me. I know that I can trust You. You are all that I need. You have given me everything that I need to live a victorious life. I pray for those who are in the middle of fierce battles right now. I pray that they will cry out to You. And I pray that You rescue them just like You rescued David from Goliath. Show Yourself powerful in their lives so they can praise You and so they can give You honor and glory. Nothing is too hard for You.

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Listen! Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice,

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1 Samuel 15; 1 Samuel 16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1

Listen! 

Obedience 

Is Better Than Sacrifice,

Scripture

1 Samuel 15

²² But Samuel replied,
“What is more pleasing to the Lord:
    your burnt offerings and sacrifices
    or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
    and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
²³ Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft,
    and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.
So because you have rejected the command of the Lord,
    he has rejected you as king.”

Observation

 Sometimes we think that just because we do things for God that we are okay, but what God wants is our obedience. Saul knew what God had told him to do, but Saul decided to do it his way and not God’s way.

When we choose to disobey God’s instruction and do things our own way it is rebellion and God says that rebellion is just as bad as witchcraft and being hardheaded is just as bad as worshiping idols.

Let’s think about that as we go about our week!

Application

I will seek to be obedient to God’s voice this week and not do things on my own. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me as I go about this week to listen to Your voice and help me to obey You. Don’t let me be hardheaded. Don’t let me disobey You. I want to hear and obey You. I pray right now for a friend who has a son that needs to turn his life over to You. Would you work in that son’s life and would You change his heart. Give him the strength to say no to things that are going to destroy him. Help him turn his life around and help him to live his life for You.

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Be Joyful. Grow To Maturity. Encourage Each Other. Live In Harmony And Peace.

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1 Samuel 14; 1 Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13 

Be Joyful.

Grow To Maturity.

Encourage Each Other. Live In Harmony And Peace. 

Scripture

2 Corinthians 13 

¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Observation

Good words for me today. Be joyful. It is my choice today.

Grow to maturity. I don’t ever want to stop growing.

Encourage each other. As I go to church in a few minutes that is exactly what I intend to do.

How about you?

Application

I will strive to be an encouragement to people today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, this is Your day! Help me to worship You with all of my heart. Help me to encourage those that I come in contact with today. You are worthy of our praise! Help me to praise You today with all of my heart!

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My Grace Is All You Need. My Power Works Best In Weakness.

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1 Samuel 13; 1 Chronicles 2; 1 Chronicles 3; 2 Corinthians 12 

My Grace

Is All You Need.

My Power Works Best In Weakness.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 12 

⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Observation

In the Message translation 

“My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” Message 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I can’t say that I take limitations in stride, but everyday as I live with the small aches and pains that I experience it does require me to depend more on God’s strength and less on my own.
I want to be able to honestly say, “the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”

When I came home from the hospital 2 years ago after my heart attack this is one of the verses that I taped up on the wall in our living room close to where I have my quiet time everyday. Not a bad verse for me to think about today. 

No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:18

Application

I will praise God today. I will focus on Him and not on myself. How about you?  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I realize that not a moment goes by that You are not thinking about me. It is amazing. I don’t know how You keep up with all of us but You do. Today help me focus on everything that You are doing and not on myself. Help me focus on what is most important today. Thank You for taking such good care of me. I am blessed. You are so good.

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I Don't Use Human Plans And Methods To Win My Battles.

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1 Samuel 8; 1 Samuel 9; 1 Samuel 10; 2 Corinthians 10

I Don't Use

Human Plans

And Methods To Win My Battles.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 10

³ It is true that I am an ordinary, weak human being, but I don’t use human plans and methods to win my battles. ⁴ I use God’s mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil’s strongholds.     

Observation

I am an ordinary weak human being just like the Apostle Paul. And I have the same arsenal that the Apostle Paul had at his disposal to fight the enemy. If you are a Christ follower then so do you.

    For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. Philippians 4:13 

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Application

I will pray today for someone that is dealing with oppression using these scriptures to knock down the devil’s strongholds.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You know the person who I am thinking of right now. I pray that You would remove the strongholds in this person’s life. You are far more powerful than anything that is bothering them.

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So Two Good Things Happen As A Result Of Your Gifts – Those In Need Are Helped, And They Overflow With Thanks To God

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1 Samuel 6; 1 Samuel 7; Psalm 72; 2 Corinthians 9 

So Two Good Things Happen As A Result Of Your Gifts – 

Those In Need Are Helped,

And They Overflow With Thanks To God

Scripture

2 Corinthians 9 

¹¹ Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much, and when we take your gifts to those who need them they will break out into thanksgiving and praise to God for your help. 

¹² So two good things happen as a result of your gifts—those in need are helped, and they overflow with thanks to God.

Observation

This is so true. We have so many people who have helped us over our lifetime and this has caused us to overflow with thanks to God. And then when we help others and they respond with thanksgiving to God then God receives more and more glory!

So it is very important for us to be generous! I don’t know about you but for me it is a lot easier to be stingy.

Generosity – it should be our goal today!

Application

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

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be generous today. Give me Your heart for the people that I spend time with today. You are a Mighty God. You are Worthy of Praise. You have been so generous to me. 

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Whatever You Give Is Acceptable If You Give It Eagerly.

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1 Samuel 3; 1 Samuel 4; 1 Samuel 5; Psalm 77; 2 Corinthians 8

Whatever You Give

Is Acceptable

If You Give It Eagerly.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 8

Give in proportion to what you have. ¹² Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

Observation

Giving to be acceptable must be done “eagerly”! And how about tomorrow’s Bible reading from 2 Corinthians 9 

…But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.

6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 

 9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

When I hear a person complain about a pastor preaching and teaching on “giving” I think to myself, “how sad”, this person doesn’t understand the law of the harvest. They have never experienced the “joy” of giving!

It is not the amount that we give that matters to the Lord, but it is how we give. It is our attitude. Are we generous?

Application

I will think today about my attitude about giving and I will ask the Lord to help me be a “cheerful giver”. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, my giving and my generosity are both indicators of the condition of my heart. My giving reflects how much I trust You.  Help me to remember that the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. I must decide in my heart how much to give. Help me not to give reluctantly or in response to pressure. I know that You love a person who gives cheerfully.” I know that You will generously provide all that I need so that I will always have everything I need and plenty left over to share with others. I know that You will provide and increase my resources and You will produce a great harvest of generosity in me.

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Come And See What Our God Has Done, What Awesome Miracles He Performs For People!

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1 Samuel 1; 1 Samuel 2; Psalm 66; 2 Corinthians 7

Come And See

What Our God Has Done,

What Awesome Miracles He Performs For People!

Scripture

Psalm 66

⁵ Come and see what our God has done,
    what awesome miracles he performs for people!

¹⁶ Come and listen, all you who fear God,
    and I will tell you what he did for me.
¹⁷ For I cried out to him for help,
    praising him as I spoke.
¹⁸ If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened.
¹⁹ But God did listen!
    He paid attention to my prayer.
²⁰ Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
    or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

Observation

 Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles He performs for people! Come and see what our God is doing at Christ Fellowship!

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He did for me.

There is so much that He has done for me that it might take a few minutes, but I would love to tell you!

This morning I woke up thinking about what a Powerful God I serve. Nothing is too hard for him. He encouraged me with His Word as I thought about things that are concerns to me.

Application

 I will share with everybody that I talk today what God did for me!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I cried out to You for help, praising You as I spoke. I know that if I had not confessed the sin in my heart, You would not have listened. But You did listen! You paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, You did not ignore my prayer or withdraw Your unfailing love from me.

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Even Though On The Outside It Often Looks Like Things Are Falling Apart On Us, On The Inside, Where God Is Making New Life, Not A Day Goes By Without His Unfolding Grace.

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Judges 19; Judges 20; Judges 21; 2 Corinthians 4

Even Though On The Outside It Often Looks Like Things Are Falling Apart On Us,

On The Inside, Where God Is Making New Life,

Not A Day Goes By Without His Unfolding Grace.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 4



¹⁶ That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day.

16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. 

These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. Message

Observation

If you are going through a rough time right now then this chapter is for you.  I love verse 16 and even though I have never experienced any of the hardship that the Apostle Paul experienced I do understand that my body is dying. Just in case you haven’t ever thought of it so is yours!

I love this entire chapter! Take time to read it today and it will encourage you to never give up!

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

Application

I will never give up. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I will never give up. Though my body is dying, my spirit is being renewed every day. For my present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for me a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So I don’t look at the troubles I can see now; rather, I fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things I see now will soon be gone, but the things I cannot see will last forever.

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

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