Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Is Anything Worth More Than Your Soul?

Is Anything
Worth
More Than Your Soul?
Scripture
Mark 8
37 Is anything worth more than your soul?
Observation

When God created us He created us with a human body and with an eternal soul. He designed us to exist forever. His hope is that you and I will live with Him forever in Heaven. But God allows us to make the choice to love Him or to reject Him. We choose either eternal life (Heaven) or eternal damnation (Hell).
The real you and the real me – our souls - we are never going to cease to exist. Heaven or Hell? Jesus Christ (God Himself) died on a cross to give us a choice. Is anything worth more than your soul?
Matthew 10
28“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?  37 Is anything worth more than your soul? 
John 3:16
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Application

Nothing is worth more than my soul! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving Your Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross in my place. I deserve to go to Hell when I die but You have given me what I do not deserve. You have given me Eternal life through Your Son Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the penalty for my sins with His blood. Help anyone that is reading this blog today to understand that they can also place their trust in Jesus Christ and they too can have their sins forgiven. Don't let them think that there is anything more valuable than their soul.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 22; Mark 7,8



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Monday, October 30, 2017

“Don't Be Afraid,” He Said, Take Courage! I Am Here!

“Don't Be Afraid,” He Said,
Take Courage!
I Am Here!
Scripture
Mark 6
46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him.
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,”he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 
Observation

It is when things are going “south”, when things are falling apart, when things are breaking down all around me, when I am overwhelmed, that is when I need to be strongly reminded that Jesus is here right in the middle of the mess that I am currently experiencing!

The disciples were getting yet another lesson on faith out there on that lake at three o'clock in the morning.

It seems like they were getting one lesson one right after another on trusting and having faith in Jesus … maybe that explains why you and I are allowed to go through so many trials and why we get to experience so many difficult situations!

How many times do you and I need to be reminded?

Well I don't know about you, but I evidently need to be constantly reminded that Jesus is right here with me.

Everything that I go through He goes through. Jesus is right here with me.
Jesus is saying to us right now through this story, “Don't be afraid! Take courage! I am here!”
Application
I will trust His heart when I can't see His hand in what I am going through. How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, as I read Your Word every day I see that You are always showing me that I can totally rely on You. Thank You for being 100% reliable and trustworthy. Help me to be strong and courageous. Help me to totally depend on You. I pray for anyone that may be reading this blog today. Bless them Lord. Help them to walk by faith.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 21; Mark 5,6


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Sunday, October 29, 2017

Silence! Be Still! Suddenly The Wind Stopped, And There Was A Great Calm.

Silence! Be Still!
Suddenly
The Wind Stopped, And There Was A Great Calm.
Scripture
Mark 4
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Observation
So why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?


We serve an All-Powerful God. Jesus Christ is Lord over all! Nothing, absolutely nothing is too hard for Him. So why are you and I still afraid?
We are God's children. So why in the world should we be afraid.
People that have never been in a boat during a storm can't appreciate it as much as those of us who have. When the wind is blowing in a storm it takes a long time for those waves to settle down even after the wind has stopped, but that is not the case when Jesus is in the boat!
So since all of us have either just come out of a storm, are presently going through a storm in our life, or getting ready to head into a storm wouldn't it be smart for us to let Jesus take care of all of our storms!
There are 365 “Fear Not” verses in the Bible! One for each day of the year! I think that the Lord is trying to tell us something!
Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! 

Application

I will trust Jesus to take care of all of my storms. How about you?
1 Peter 5:7
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he caresabout you.


Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that You have promised to take care of me. Remind me every time that I am afraid that You are right there to take care of me. I pray for anyone reading this blog that is dealing with a storm right now. Give them faith. Show them that You can and that You are willing to calm their storm. Show them that they can trust in You.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 20; Mark 3,4




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Saturday, October 28, 2017

“Follow Me And Be My Disciple”

“Follow Me
And
Be My Disciple”
Scripture
Mark 2
13 Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.
Observation

Oh, I believe in Jesus … but are you a follower of Jesus Christ?

Jesus' call on your life and His call on my life is a call for us to follow Him and be His disciple.

If you and I are followers of Christ what kind of difference has that made in the way we live our lives?

Levi (Matthew) was a tax collector but when He met Jesus and started to follow Him the direction of his life dramatically changed.

Has Jesus radically changed your life?

He has definitely forever radically changed my life.

Take a second to boldly declare in the comment section below that you are a follower and a disciple of Jesus Christ!

Application

I will boldly declare that I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. How about you?
Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I am not ashamed of being Your child. Help me never to be afraid to tell people about my relationship with You. Give me boldness. Give me courage. Help me to be a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Help me stay away from stupid sins that mess up my relationship with You. I pray for anyone that may be reading this blog today. Give them boldness to declare that they have a relationship with You through the Lord Jesus Christ. Show them that they don't need to keep secret that they are followers of Christ.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 19; Mark 1,2; Psalm 28, Psalm 58; Proverbs 28



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Friday, October 27, 2017

Wait Patiently For The Lord. Be Brave And Courageous. Yes, Wait Patiently For The Lord.

Wait Patiently For The Lord.
Be Brave And Courageous.
Yes, Wait Patiently For The Lord.
Scripture
Psalm 27
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Observation

How good are you at waiting patiently?
Kathy calls me, “Chief hurry up and wait”!
Waiting patiently, I don't know, maybe I am getting better at it in my old age … then again maybe not!
Just in case you haven't figured this out let me tell you, “God lets us wait so that we grow in our faith.”
He is not a Genie in a bottle. He is not Santa Claus. He is God. He is our Heavenly Father. We are His children.
He is teaching us right now and waiting patiently for the Lord to act, I think, is one of His biggest lessons for us to learn and that is why you and I are having to wait!
Jeremiah 14:22
Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the sky by itself? No, you are the one, O Lord our God! Only you can do such things. So we will wait for you to help us.
Psalm 5:1
Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.
Psalm 62:5
Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
Psalm 37:7
Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. ...
Application
I will try my best to wait patiently on the Lord. How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that everyday You are teaching me lessons on waiting and trusting in You. Lord, increase my faith! Help me to totally trust You to meet our needs. You are an Awesome God. You are All-Powerful! Nothing is too hard for You! Help me to be brave and courageous as I wait on You.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 18; Psalms 114; Acts 27,28; Psalm 27, Psalm 57, Proverbs 27



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Thursday, October 26, 2017

Do You Think You Can Persuade Me To Become A Christian So Quickly?

Do You Think
You Can Persuade Me
To Become A Christian So Quickly?
Scripture
Acts 26
27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”
28 Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”
29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”
Observation

What is it going to take for you to become persuaded to become a Christian?

Whether the Apostle Paul was standing before a king or in a jail cell talking to a jailer the conversation always pointed to that person's greatest need … his or her need to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior!

Let me ask you this morning, “Do you know Him?”
If you were to die today where would you spend Eternity? If you were at Heaven's gate and God were to ask you, “Why should I let you into my Heaven?” What would you say to Him?

I pray that you will turn from your sins and turn to God. I pray that you will put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

On May 17th of this year at 4 am in the morning my heart went into fibrillation (quivering and not pumping blood) and I would have died within a few minutes … but my defibrillator/pacemaker shocked my heart back into rhythm. This has happened 3 times since my heart attack 6 years ago.

And no I have never felt the shock (which they tell me is terrible) because so far I have always gone unconscious before the defibrillator shocks me. I didn't even know that my heart had to be shocked back into rhythm that morning until several months later when I went in for a device check and they asked me if I knew that I had received a shock back on May 17th at 4 am to crank start my heart and bring me back to life!

I share all of those details with you to make this point, “One day my defibrillator is not going to work. One day it will not be able to shock my heart back into rhythm.” And the moment I breathe my last breath here on earth is the moment I get to experience Heaven!

How do I know that I will go to Heaven when I die? Because I have placed my faith and my trust in Jesus. He has conquered death. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. He was buried and came back to life on the 3rd day! I am forgiven.

How about you? Where will you spend Eternity when you die?

Where would you like to spend Eternity? Heaven or Hell?

The choice is yours to make right now!
Application
I am praying for everyone that reads this blog. I am praying that you make the right choice!
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that some people never hear about Jesus and don't even have the chance to choose to place his or her faith in Him, but that is not the case for the person that might be reading this blog. I pray for anyone that may be reading this right now. Open up their hearts and their minds and show them their need for a Savior. Help them to place their faith and trust in Jesus so that they will know for sure that they will go to Heaven when they die!
Daily Bible Reading: Job 17; Acts 24,25,26



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Wednesday, October 25, 2017

O Lord, I Give My Life To You.

O Lord,
I Give
My Life To You.
Scripture
1 O Lord, I give my life to you.
2 I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
Observation
Surrender is a daily necessity if you and I want to live life to its fullest!
If you and I want to experience the abundant life that Jesus promises we must yield our lives to Him. Putting God first requires that we put ourselves under His control.
It is called dying daily to our self.
King David understood this, “O Lord, I give my life to You.” The Apostle Paul did too, “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.” (Galatians 2:20)
Lets stop right now and take a minute to say this to the Lord, “O Lord, I give my life to You.” I surrender. I give You first place in my life!”
Application

Lord, I give my life to you. Use me today for Your glory. How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want You to be first in my life today. Don't let me put anything in Your place. Show me when I get my priorities messed up and don't have You and Your kingdom as number one. I pray for those who are sick today. Give them strength and heal them. I pray for those experiencing pain today. I pray that You will help them in their suffering. You are the God of all comfort and all compassion. Nothing is too hard for You.

Daily Bible Reading: Job 16; Acts 21,22,23; Psalm 25, Psalm 55, Proverbs 25



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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

My Life Is Worth Nothing To Me Unless I Use It For Finishing The Work Assigned Me By The Lord Jesus --

My Life Is Worth Nothing To Me
Unless I Use It For Finishing
The Work Assigned Me By The Lord Jesus --
Scripture
24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Observation

Your life and my life will never have the value that it was meant to have unless we are using our lives to tell others the Good News that Jesus saves. Pray with me for a young woman named Kim (not her real name). She shared with me yesterday while I was counseling her at Mission Tampa that she tried to end her life the week before.

I promised her that Kathy and I would pray for her everyday until Sunday. On Sunday she told me that she would be in church. Hopefully she will come to Christ Fellowship! I told her that a relationship with Jesus Christ will change her life!

Application
My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus. How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I have so many distractions that try to keep me from doing the work that you have assigned to me. But I know that telling people about Jesus is my main task. Everybody needs to know. Everybody needs to hear the Good News. Help me to stay focused. I pray for Kim right now. I pray that You meet every need that she has. Give her hope. Show her that she can trust in Jesus Christ for her salvation. Bring strong Christian friends into her life. Help her to be in church this Sunday!

Daily Bible Reading: Job 15; Acts 19, 20



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Monday, October 23, 2017

Because The Lord Is My Shepherd, I Have Everything I Need!

Because
The Lord Is My Shepherd,
I Have Everything I Need!
Scripture
Psalm 23
1 Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!
Observation

Here are two promises that run parallel with each other: 1. The Lord is our Shepherd and He will supply all of our needs. 2. In this world you and I will have trouble! So repeat after me … lets say it together, “Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!” Just because we face trials and experience troubles that does not mean that God is not taking care of our needs.
The Apostle Paul from his jail cell wrote and shared this great promise, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
I worked last week on my son's Tim's car and finally got it running only to have it break down yesterday with a totally different and probably fatal problem. So I am back to driving him to St Pete to work and back each day!
John 16:33
“I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.”
Application
I will trust the Lord through this difficult times and I will hold on to all of His promises. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for taking such good care of us. Kathy and I are blessed. You have always taken very good care of us and I know that You are never going to stop loving and caring for us. You have always met every one of our needs and I know that You always will.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 13,14; Acts 17,18; Psalm 23, Psalm 53, Proverbs 23


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Sunday, October 22, 2017

Sirs, What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Sirs,
What Must I Do
To Be Saved?
Scripture
Acts 16
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.
Observation
Maybe you think, “if I am just good enough, if I can just do enough good things, or if I do more good things than bad things then maybe just maybe I can go to Heaven when I die, friend that is how we humanly think we can save ourselves.
But it is not God's way for us to be saved. God's way to Heaven is for us to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not good people that go to Heaven and bad people that go to Hell. It is only forgiven people that go to Heaven.
You and I are never going to be good enough to get into Heaven on our own!
Acts 13:38
“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Application
I will share this Good News every chance I get! How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, open up our spiritual eyes so that we can understand the important things of life. Give me wisdom Lord. Give me discernment. Show me how to live my life in a way that pleases You. I pray for anyone that may be reading this blog. Help them to believe and trust in Jesus for his or her salvation. Open up their hearts so that they can trust in Jesus Christ and not in themselves.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 11,12; Acts 15,16




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Saturday, October 21, 2017

The Sacrifice You Desire Is A Broken Spirit.

The Sacrifice
You Desire
Is A Broken Spirit.
Scripture
Psalm 51
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Observation

What is it that God wants from you? What does He want from me?

He wants you and me to acknowledge that He is God and that we are not! Are you living like God does not exist?

Pride will certainly keep us from a relationship with God.

King David messed up royally, committing both adultery and then murder. But he came back to God with a broken and repentant heart and God forgave him.

You and I are both sinners. Both of us are in need of God's forgiveness.

Don't let pride keep you from experiencing the abundant life that God promises us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Application
I will confess my sins as I commit them and I will strive to stay close to God. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, don't let me be filled with pride. Help me to stay close to You. You are my Lord and my Savior. As I go through this day help me bring You glory and honor. Help me to please You in all that I do. I pray for anyone that may be reading this blog that lives like You do not exist. Show them that they can put their faith and trust in You. Open up their hearts. Give them understanding. Help them to realize that they need a Savior.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 9,10; Acts 13,14; Psalm 21, Psalm 51, Proverbs 21



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Friday, October 20, 2017

My Body Is Covered With Maggots And Scabs. My Skin Breaks Open, Oozing With Pus.

My Body Is Covered With Maggots
And Scabs.
My Skin Breaks Open, Oozing With Pus.
Scripture
Job 7
5 My body is covered with maggots and scabs.
My skin breaks open, oozing with pus.
Job 1
7 So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.
8 Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”
10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
Observation

Okay, I know that it is gross! I can't imagine dealing with maggots, scabs, and pus, and having to scrape my skin with a piece of broken pottery.
Why did this catch my attention this morning?

I think it was a reminder me that there are lots of people who have it far worse than I do.

Over the course of the past few months I have been trying to figure out why I stay so exhausted and worn out. I go to bed tired and I wake up tired.

My kidney doctor told me that it was either sleep apnea, a thyroid problem, or my heart has just gotten weaker.

I was hoping that it was something fixable like sleep apnea or a malfunctioning thyroid and not my heart.

Well I did find out that I had sleep apnea and I am now on a C-Pap machine. I do sleep better but it didn't fix the fatigue problem!

Next on my list was to have blood work done to check out my thyroid and my plan was to visit my heart doctor last.

My unexpected trip to the hospital a couple of weeks ago changed all that! Yesterday I decided to go by the hospital to get the results of my echo cardiogram that was done while I was in the hospital.

It showed me what I already pretty much knew.

My ejection fraction (how much my heart is pumping) immediately after my heart attack was 45-50 which was pretty normal, has now (6 years later) dropped to 30-35.

An ejection fraction of 30-35 is not good at all ... but it sure beats having a body is covered with maggots and scabs and skin that breaks open, oozing with pus!

So I will enjoy this day and every day until the Lord takes me home!
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Job 13:15
“Even if God kills me, I’ll still put my hope in him. ...”
Application
I will take advantage of every day that the Lord gives me! How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I can't even imagine what it must have been like for Job. Yet You allowed it. I know that everything that I experience has to be filtered through You before it touches me. You care about me. You are on my side. Everything that I experience, everything that happens to me has a purpose. Help me to use my time wisely. Help me to focus on the things that have an Eternal consequence to them. Keep my eyes and my heart focused on the people around me and not on myself.
Daily Bible Reading: Job 6,7,8; Acts 12



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Thursday, October 19, 2017

With God's Help We Will Do Mighty Things

With God's Help
We
Will Do Mighty Things
Scripture
Psalm 108
13 With God’s help we will do mighty things,
for he will trample down our foes.
Observation

“… For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 –
At 11:20 pm last night Tim and I were finally able to get his car back together.
At 6:00 am this morning he drove off to work in it … he hasn't called me to tell me that he is broke down.
God is good! “With God's help we will do mighty things” – even things like tearing a car apart and putting it back together!
As soon as that car cranked up this morning (couldn't start it last night because the battery was dead) I prayed and I thanked the Lord! He will trample down our foes, cars included!
Application
I will trust the Lord and He will take care of all of my “foes”. How about you?
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.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, my heart is full of gratitude this morning. Thank You for helping us get that car back on the road. Thank You for my son Eddie who came over to help me work on the car. Bless him Lord. Thank You for helping me persevere and not give up and for giving me the strength and the energy to do the work. With Your help we will do mighty things and You will continue to trample down our foes. I pray for those who are battling the foe of sickness today. Give them strength. Heal them so that they can give You thanks!
Daily Bible Reading: Job 5; Psalms 108; Acts 10,11



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