Monday, April 30, 2018

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.


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
This is not a fishing lesson; it is a lesson about faith!
During His 3 years with His disciples Jesus gave them lesson after lesson to test and to build up their faith. He does the same thing with you and me.
And yes, this week our faith will be tested.
Remember that Simon Peter was a fisherman. As he went down to the lake to fish as Jesus had commanded him to do I know that he had to be wondering about the instructions that His Lord had given him. I am sure that to a fisherman these instructions sounded totally crazy. He had caught fish all of his life, but never one with a large silver coin in his mouth.
He was to catch a fish and in that first fish that he caught he would find a large silver coin in its mouth. He did just what Jesus told him to do and found the coin in the mouth of the fish, enough to pay their taxes!
So what is the lesson in this story for me and what is the lesson in this story for you?
Jesus Christ has a million, no, Jesus has a zillion ways to take care of me and my needs and this same Jesus has a zillion ways to take care of you … you and I just need to be obedient and trust Him.
Application
I will trust the Lord to take care of my needs. How about you?
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
Philippians 4:19
19 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.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for putting stories like this in the Bible. Thank You for showing me that resources are never a problem for You. You are not limited in ways to take care of us. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. I know that I am a slow learner, but I have learned that I can trust in You even when I can't see where help is coming from. This story about Peter catching the fish with the coin is its mouth is an encouragement to me. You will supply all of our needs from Your glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; Psalm 68; Matthew 17



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Sunday, April 29, 2018

Every Day Of My Life Was Recorded In Your Book. Every Moment Was Laid Out Before A Single Day Had Passed.


Every Day Of My Life Was Recorded In Your Book.
Every Moment Was Laid Out
Before A Single Day Had Passed.
Scripture
Psalm 139
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 cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!
Observation
You and I are not going to surprise our God, but we still can make Him proud by the way we live.
I sometimes hear people say that they are not going to worry about what they eat or how they treat their body because when it is their time to die that they are going to die no matter what they do – how stupid is that!
My friend, just because God knows when we are going to die, just because God knows what I am going to say before I even know what I am going to say it, doesn't mean I ignore how God has told me to live my life in His Holy Word, the Bible.
He is All-knowing, we are not! Because we are not “all-knowing” God has told us how to live out our life while we are here on planet Earth; He has given us His instruction manual and it is not a book of suggestions!
The Bible is God's survival manual. It is full of everything we need to live a godly life! God is thinking about us right now! Lets make Him proud, lets make Him smile, by the way we live!
Church starts in a few minutes. You and I can make time … He is watching … He is thinking about us this very moment!
Joshua 1:8
This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.
Application
I will not go one day without spending time in God's Word. How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I love Your Word. You know how much I love the Psalms. And You know that Psalm 139 is one of my favorites. “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!” You are an Awesome God! You are worthy of all praise!
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16



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Saturday, April 28, 2018

For From The Heart Come Evil Thoughts, Murder, Adultery, All Sexual Immorality, Theft, Lying, And Slander.


For From The Heart
Come Evil Thoughts, Murder, Adultery, All Sexual Immorality,
Theft, Lying, And Slander.
Scripture
Matthew 15
19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 
Observation
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Proverbs 4:23
… Garbage in … garbage out!
Taking care of my spiritual heart is even more important than taking care of my physical heart, but if I am not careful I will tend to neglect both of them.
For those who are not followers of Jesus Christ Matthew 15:19 is a picture of their spiritual condition and nothing that they do should surprise us!
But we are warned to guard our hearts and from our lives should flow something totally different if we are committed followers of Jesus Christ. From our hearts should flow: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
So it is time for a heart check up! Lets review what has been flowing from our hearts! Maybe we need a new heart ... a heart transplant. Maybe some major heart surgery is in order.
Remember this verse and lets be on our guard - “The heart is the most deceitful thing there is and desperately wicked. No one can really know how bad it is!” Jeremiah 17:9
Application
I will guard my heart today. I will ask the Lord to show me anything that shouldn't be there. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, it is way too easy to neglect both my physical heart and my spiritual heart. Don't let me do either one. I know the dangers of neglecting both. Show me anything in my life that needs to go and help me to confess those things to You. Give me a clean heart Lord. I want to be able to be used by You. I want to walk in a close relationship with You. Don't let me do stupid sins, sins that would come between us.
I pray for anyone reading this blog who has allowed themselves to be caught in sin. Give them the strength and the courage to confess the sin and to get back in a close relationship with You.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 3; 1 Chronicles 12; Matthew 15 … I added Psalm 28, Psalm 58; Proverbs 28



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Friday, April 27, 2018

“Lord, If It's You,” Peter Replied, “Tell Me To Come To You On The Water.” “Come,” He Said.


“Lord, If It's You,” Peter Replied,
“Tell Me To Come To You On The Water.”
“Come,” He Said.
Scripture
Matthew 14
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Observation
Over and over and over again the disciples of Jesus had their faith tested and built up by one thing or another.
This water walking experience of Peter's was also a faith builder for the other disciples. They were in awe as Jesus dragged Peter back into the boat and when the winds immediately stopped as soon as they got in. At that moment the disciples stopped and worshiped Jesus and said, “Truly, you are the Son Of God.
If you haven't figured this out already let me tell you, “Our life here on earth is made up of walking with Jesus through one faith building trial … one right after another.”
You and I need to recognize, just as the disciples did, and especially just as Simon Peter did, that Jesus is with us, holding us up, and yes, there are going to be times when Jesus has to drag us back into the boat!
Trust Him!
Application
Lord, give me water walking faith!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You know how much I love this story! In so many ways I can identify with Simon Peter, but I don't know if I would have had enough faith to get out of the boat. Maybe I would have been like the other disciples that night. I know that Simon Peter's faith was considered small by You, but at least he did get out of the boat and he tried to walk on the water. Give me the ability to see You at work in the things that happen in my life and in the things that happen in the lives of those around me. I know that You are constantly at work in my life and You never stop working in the lives of those around me either. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14




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Thursday, April 26, 2018

Then They Scoffed, “He's Just The Carpenter’s Son, And We Know Mary, His Mother, And His Brothers – James, Joseph, Simon, And Judas.


Then They Scoffed, “He's Just The Carpenter’s Son,
And We Know Mary, His Mother,
And His Brothers – James, Joseph, Simon, And Judas.
Scripture
Matthew 13
53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country. 
54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” 
55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 
56 All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” 
57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Observation

Who is Jesus to you?

I was talking to a man named Cecil the other day at Mission Tampa and sharing with him the Good News. The Good News that Jesus loved him and had a plan for his life. And Cecil was actually saying “Amen” out loud as I told him about what God through Jesus Christ had done for him.

And even though he was Amen-ing everything I said, when I asked him about where he went to church he told me that he didn't go anywhere, but he said that if he wanted to go to church that he was only a block away from Seminole Heights Baptist church, a block away from where he and I were talking and where Mission Tampa is located. (By the way Mission Tampa was started by Seminole Heights Baptist)

When he told me that he only lived a block away from the church I told Cecil this, “Cecil, when Jesus Christ becomes Lord and Savior of your life you will beat the door down to get into church, nobody or no thing will be able to keep you out of church! You will be the pastor's right hand man!”

To the people in Nazareth Jesus' claim to be the Messiah, His claim to be the Savior of the world, was offensive to them. To those in His home town He was only the son of the carpenter.

Who is Jesus to you? Is He just a man, an historical figure, or is He your Lord and Savior?

Lets prove it by the way we live! Church participation is not optional if you are a follower of Jesus Christ!

Application
I will pray for Cecil and others like Cecil who need to respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, so many people seem to be going in all the wrong directions and if they would only respond to the Gospel it would change everything for them. So many people seem to drift in and out of church without understanding and grasping that You want to be Lord of their lives. If they would just surrender to Your Lordship – Oh! How You would bless them. I pray for Cecil Lord. Open up his spiritual eyes and his heart where He can believe. Change his life and let him truly live.
I pray for anyone that may be reading this blog Lord, that just doesn't quite understand what You are offering them. I pray for his or her salvation and I pray that they would surrender 100% of their life over to you. I want Jesus to be both their Lord and their Savior. Change their hearts Lord, and make it where nothing could ever keep them from church and nothing could ever keep them from growing in Christ.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 1; Psalm 140; Matthew 13



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Wednesday, April 25, 2018

For Whatever Is In Your Heart Determines What You Say.


For Whatever
Is In Your Heart
Determines What You Say.
Scripture
Matthew 12
34 … 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. 
37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
Observation
“The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Our words are so powerful!
Just listen to how we talk ... what words we say and how we say them reveals the condition of our heart. Don't kid yourself … he or she really meant what they said.
When you hear someone say, “I know he or she said that but they really didn't mean it” … baloney ... oh yes they did! Where do you think it came from? Those words came from his or her heart!
God's Word is full of instruction on just how powerful our words are!
We can use our words to build people up and encourage them or we can use our words to rip people up, shred them, hurt them and totally destroy them. It is all determined by what is in our hearts!
Listen carefully to how people talk. It is a reflection of what is in their heart.
And we need to listen carefully to what we say and how we say what we say because it also shows us what is in our heart.
Here are some of the best words that frequently need to come out of your mouth and out of my mouth: “I love you ... I am sorry ... Will you forgive me.”
Proverbs 4:23
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 12:18
18 Careless words stab like a sword,
    but wise words bring healing.
Psalm 19:14
I hope my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock, the one who saves me.
Proverbs 15:4
As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life, but dishonest words crush the spirit.
Proverbs 22:11
Whoever loves pure thoughts and kind words will have even the king as a friend.
Application
I will listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth – How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You. Don't let me say unkind and hurtful things to people. I know that when I use careless words, they stab like a sword, so help me to use wise words that bring healing. Show me when I have allowed my heart to be messed up by sin. Let me know so that I can confess that sin and walk in a close relationship with You.
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 30,31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12



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Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Come To Me, All You Who Are Weary And Burdened, And I Will Give You Rest.


Come To Me,
All You Who Are Weary And Burdened,
And I Will Give You Rest.
Scripture
Matthew 11
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Observation
Are you living through a very difficult time right now, maybe you have experienced the tragic loss of a loved one, maybe you have been clobbered by a financial disaster, or maybe you have been crushed by the death of a relationship?
If not you personally, then maybe you know someone who has! Matthew 11:28-30 is for you or it for the person who needs for us to share it with them. …
Remember, when we can not see God's hand in something that has happened to us or to someone we love we must trust God's heart. God loves us. God cares about us. God is on our side!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 … …
Go to Jesus, all you who are weary and burdened, and He will give you rest!
Application
I am praying for several people right now who need God's comfort. I will share these verses with them. How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is impossible for me to understand the terrible things that happen in life. I can't. There is no way for me to understand them. I must trust Your heart in the midst of all the hurt and pain. I will trust in Your promises. I will hold on to Your promises like Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. And 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.”
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 28,29; Psalm 109; Matthew 11



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Monday, April 23, 2018

Whoever Disowns Me Before Others, I Will Disown Before My Father In Heaven.


Whoever Disowns Me Before Others,
I Will
Disown Before My Father In Heaven.
Scripture
Matthew 10
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Observation
Are you guilty?
Maybe someone told you about Jesus Christ, or you heard His claims on the radio or television, or maybe you even heard about Jesus when you attended a church service and yet you have decided at least up to now to “disown” Him.
Take a minute to read Matthew 10 and you might rethink that decision. God loves me and He loves you.
God wants us to live with Him in Heaven forever. But God allows us the choice to either accept His offer of the forgiveness of our sins, which He paid for with the death of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross, or we can reject the offer and disown Jesus.
Just a reminder: once we are born you and I are always going to exist forever either in Heaven or Hell.
I am so grateful to the person(s) who shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with me when I was 19 years old and that was when I made the decision to acknowledge Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Savior.
How about you – Heaven or Hell?
Application
Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior. I know that I am going to Heaven when I die. And I am going to Heaven not because I am a good person (I am a sinner) but because Jesus Christ died in my place and He paid the penalty for my sins on the cross. Own or Disown … the choice is ours to make!
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that someone may read this blog today who has not yet taken You and Your claims for their life seriously. Open up his or her spiritual eyes so that they can see and understand the message of salvation. Show them their need for a Savior and give them the courage and the boldness to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ. Eternal separation from their loved ones, from those who know Jesus Christ and spending an eternity in Hell suffering … why would anyone choose that? Don't let them continue to disown Jesus. I pray for their salvation right now.
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 27; Psalm 141; 1 Chronicles 9; Matthew 10



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Sunday, April 22, 2018

Do You Believe That I Am Able To Do This?


Do You Believe
That
I Am Able To Do This?
Scripture
Matthew 9
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. 
Observation

It was the question that Jesus asked the two blind men that had come to Him and had cried out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
Now being physically blind must be a terrible thing but there is something that is far worse, and that is “Being spiritually blind.”
If you are spiritually blind you don't even realize it … and … you might even make fun of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.
The blind men in Matthew 9 had faith in Jesus that He could give them sight. Jesus touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored.
Are you a believer? Do you believe that Jesus is able to take care of whatever problem that comes your way? Or are you still unable to see?
Life will only have meaning and purpose when you are able to see it, experience it, and live it from God's perspective!
Application
I will continue to pray for those in my family and others who are living life like God does not exist. How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to see that You have a plan for my life. Thank You for helping me see my need for a Savior and for sending people into my life to tell me about Jesus. I pray for those who just can't see why they should surrender their lives to Jesus and live for Him. Give them spiritual sight Lord. Give them spiritual eyes so that they can see. They are missing out on life the way it was meant to be and they don't even realize it. Help them to see. Give them faith to believe.

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9



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Saturday, April 21, 2018

You Of Little Faith, Why Are You So Afraid?


You Of Little Faith,
Why
Are You So Afraid?
Scripture
Matthew 8
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 
24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Observation
Right now our entire church is going through a 40 day study called “Daring Faith” and we are being challenged by our pastors to be people of great faith!
Our first memory verse of this campaign was Matthew 9:27, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” Jesus said this to two blind men as He healed them and restored their sight!
In Matthew 8 Jesus' disciples were afraid and lacked faith because they still hadn't realized fully Who they had in the boat with them. When Jesus got up from His nap He rebuked the waves, the wind and everything was immediately calm.
The disciples had God in the boat with them but didn't realize it. You and I, if we are followers of Jesus Christ, have it even better than the disciples had it. True, Jesus was in the boat with them, but now Jesus dwells inside of every one of His followers!
Jesus is not just close by, not just standing next to us, He dwells inside of us … if we have been born again!
Nothing happens to me without Jesus' permission!
When we go through the next storm we don't have to worry about waking Jesus up to get Him to protect us. He is always awake and nothing ever surprises Him or catches Him off guard.
Application
I will trust my Lord and Savior in and through the storms of life. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in Matthew 8 we have the amazing faith of the Roman Centurion whose faith amazed Jesus, a Centurion who believed Jesus could heal his servant without even being close to him and then a few verses later we have the lack of faith shown by Jesus' closest disciples who didn't believe that they were safe even though Jesus was in the boat with them. Jesus lives inside of me. I am safe. I know that nothing touches my life without being okay-ed by Your Son Jesus Christ.
I pray for my son Hugh on his birthday today. Bless him Lord. Bless his family. May he experience Your love, Your joy, and Your peace. May this be a very special day for him.
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 24; Psalm 57,58; 1 Chronicles 8; Matthew 8




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Friday, April 20, 2018

Do To Others Whatever You Would Like Them To Do To You.


Do To Others
Whatever
You Would Like Them To Do To You.
Scripture
Matthew 7
12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
Observation
Our problem “Numero Uno” is this: You and I are selfish. Yes, we are!
The fights, fusses, and arguments that you and I get into the with people around us is because of selfishness!
It is down right amazing how Kathy responds to me when I go out of my way to do nice things for her. My problem (since I am so selfish) is that I don't remember to put the Matthew 7:12 principle into practice 24/7!
If only I always had a servant's heart with Kathy … wow … what would life be like then! We do have a great marriage, but it would even be better if I always practiced Matthew 7:12!
And I think that you are probably the same way!
“Self” always messes up our relationships! We want to be served. We don't like to be servants. Kingdom of God living demands that we serve … not be served.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
Lets look for ways that we can serve our spouse today!
Application
I will go out of my way to serve Kathy today. How about you? Will you have a servant heart today?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to love and serve Kathy as I would have her love and care for me. I know that I am selfish and I like to be served and pampered. At the same time I also know that the Kingdom of God is all about serving others and not being served. Show me when I am too wrapped up and consumed with my own needs and with my own wants rather than looking out for the needs of others.
I pray for those who are sick and for those recovering from surgery. I pray for my sister Bea and her husband Norm as Bea recovers from neck surgery. Give them strength and quick healing.
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 23; Psalm 31; Psalm 54; Matthew 7



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Thursday, April 19, 2018

Seek The Kingdom Of God Above All Else, And Live Righteously, And He Will Give You Everything You Need.


Seek The Kingdom Of God Above All Else,
And Live Righteously,
And He Will Give You Everything You Need.
Scripture
Matthew 6
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Observation
If you are going to memorize any verse in the Bible to add to the verses that you might already know then I would suggest memorizing Matthew 6:33 and putting it into practice.
Here's why: When you and I put God first in our lives, when He is our #1 priority, then He promises to take care of everything that we need in this life. Is that a huge promise or what!
People come to Mission Tampa's food pantry for help because they do not have enough food and as I counsel and talk with them I almost always share with them this wonderful promise!
If you are struggling in your marriage or with a relationship, or with finances and you came to me for advice, one of the first things I would share with you is Matthew 6:33.
Life only works right if we do life the way that God designed it to work and that is always making sure that God has first place in our hearts!
How do we put God first? We pray and surrender our lives to Him. If you have never surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, then do that right now.
If you know that you are a child of God but you have allowed other things to take God's number One spot in your heart then confess that right now to the Lord and ask Him to retake the number One spot in your life again.
And yes, get back (or start for the first time) going to church. Church attendance doesn't save us but it helps us keep God where He should be ... in that #1 spot!
Application
I will make sure that God is in the #1 place in my life. How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You are a jealous God. You created me. Everything that I have comes from You. And You want the #1 place in my life. Lord, make sure that I keep You in that spot. Don't let me allow anything to take Your place. I want You to always be number One and Kathy to always be in the number 2 place in my heart!
Give anyone reading this blog today the courage and boldness to pray and yield their lives to You. Bless them Lord as they make You #1!
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 22; Psalm 17; Psalm 35; Matthew 6



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