Those Who Love Their Children Care Enough To Discipline Them

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Those Who Love
Their Children
Care Enough To Discipline Them




Scripture

Proverbs 13

²⁴ Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
    Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

Observation

For some reason what God has said in scripture, in the eyes of some Christians, is now no longer the correct thing to do.

The rod of discipline has now become taboo as a way to correct your child and the parent or grandparent may even be punished if they try to obey what God says in His Word.

Now I will be the first to admit that when I spanked my children I didn’t always do it the right way. I would sometimes spank them in anger and they got more than they deserved!

And spanking them was not always the best form of correction because each one of our children was so different.

My Mom, who was not a Christian when we were growing up, her favorite form of punishment, was sending us out to get a switch off of the cherry bush. I can remember getting switched with that cherry switch and my legs were bleeding from the scratches left by the switch! 

My Mom didn’t mess around when it came to correction! And it didn’t (permanently) hurt me one bit!

Remember this: Whatever form of correction we decide to use for correcting those we love must be done in love!

It must be consistent.

If you threaten correction you must follow through and do what you said you were going to do. Don’t just keep making empty threats! It drives me crazy when I hear parents do that!

Don’t correct in anger.

But please … do care enough to discipline your children! 

 Application

I care enough to discipline. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it seems like our world is out of control. Chaos in the classroom and no respect for those in authority seems like the order of the day. I believe what You say in Your Word. Help all of us to care enough to discipline those we love. Help us to discipline in the right way. Show us when we do things out of anger and help us to control our emotions when we need to discipline our children and grandchildren. I pray for our young couples that are raising their children in such difficult times. Give them wisdom and strength!

Daily Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 33,34,35; Revelation 18; Psalm 13, Psalm 113, Proverbs 13

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But Even If He Doesn’t, We Want To Make It Clear To You, Your Majesty, That We Will Never Serve Your gods Or Worship The Gold Statue You Have Set Up.

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But Even If He Doesn’t, We Want To Make It Clear To You, Your Majesty,
That We Will Never
Serve Your gods Or Worship The Gold Statue You Have Set Up.

Scripture

Daniel 3

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. ¹⁸ But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

²² And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. ²³ So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

²⁴ But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”

“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.

²⁵ “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

Observation

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego took a stand. Their decision not to bow down to the statue of Nebuchadnezzar got them into more than just hot water it got them thrown into a fiery furnace!

The prophet Daniel took a stand and it got him thrown into a den of lions.

God wants us to take a stand!

God wants us to live differently than the rest of the world. He wants us to stay away from sin and ungodliness. God wants us to bring Him glory. He wants us to honor

Him with the way we live.

Does this honor God? Does this bring Him glory?

Whatever it is, whatever we are doing or getting ready to do this should always be the underlying principle that guides our lives, “Does this honor God and does it bring Him glory?”

Sometimes the decision to honor and glorify God with our lives may be costly. It may get us into a fiery furnace or thrown into a den of lions, but we can be sure of this, God will be with us and He will never forsake us. 

 “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.” Isaiah 41:10 

^“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God,” Isaiah 43:2-3

Application

I will strive to honor and glorify God by the way I live. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want to honor You. I want to bring You glory by the way I live. Help me not to do stupid sins. Help me make good decisions and choices. Guide my life in the way that You want me to go. Give me the boldness and the courage of Daniel, and the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Daniel 3,4; Psalms 81; Revelation 17

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He Controls The Course Of World Events

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He
Controls
The Course Of World Events

Our team just got back from a week in Crystal River working with other teams of Baptist Churches from all over the state of Florida. Flood surge from Hurricane Hermine caused major damage to hundreds of homes in the area where we worked. Our job was that of clean up and recovery! God is in control of world events and Hurricane Hermine would definitely fall in that category. We are certain that God directed us to the homes of those we helped. God was at work in each one of their lives. Three people in two of the homes made decisions for Christ. Hopefully some of them will be in church at First Baptist Church Crystal River this morning!


Scripture

Daniel 2

¹⁹ That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. ²⁰ He said, 

“Praise the name of God forever and ever,
    for he has all wisdom and power.
 
²¹ He controls the course of world events;
    he removes kings and sets up other kings.

Observation

Our team just got back from a week in Crystal River working with other teams of Baptist Churches from all over the state of Florida.

Flood surge from Hurricane Hermine caused major damage to hundreds of homes in the area where we worked.

Our job was that of clean up and recovery! God is in control of world events and Hurricane Hermine would definitely fall in that category.

We are certain that God directed us to the homes of those we helped. God was at work in each one of their lives. Three people in two of the homes made decisions for Christ.

Hopefully some of them will be in church at First Baptist Church Crystal River this morning!

Tears of gratitude were what we received when we finished working in the home of Taylor and Susan.

We had just helped them remove all the sheet rock, insulation, appliances, ruined possessions and all of their kitchen cabinets from their beautiful home.

They were overwhelmed with gratitude that we, as total strangers, would come and help them. It was that way with every family that we helped.

“And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42

Application

I will write and follow up those families that we helped and I will continue to encourage them to get in church and grow in Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, this week has been an experience that I hope I will never forget. I don’t want to forget all of the people that we helped and I don’t want to forget all the other people that worked along side of us. It was an incredible week. You are Awesome. You are All-Powerful. You control world events. You can take and make something good out of something bad. I pray for those we helped and for all the others that are still waiting and hoping for help. Use all the other teams that just arrived and that will arrive this week to help those affected by this storm. I pray that many more people will put their trust and their hope in Christ because of the volunteer teams helping these flood victims.

Daily Bible Reading:  Daniel 1,2; Revelation 16

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Guard Your Heart Above All Else, For It Determines The Course Of Your Life.

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Guard Your Heart
Above All Else,
For It Determines The Course Of Your Life.
 

Scripture

Proverbs 4
²³ Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

Observation

This will probably be my last blog I post for a week!

We leave this morning after the 9 am worship service and head for Crystal River to help with the flood victims from Hurricane Hermine. 

I think we will be in the Cedar Key area where the Hurricane caused the most damage. Not sure if we will have WiFi where we are staying and I have decided not to take my laptop anyway.

“Guard your heart above all else” it is so easy to let things penetrate and get into our hearts.

Words are deadly! Guard your heart!

Sin is so destructive. Guard your heart!

Your spouse or significant other may talk down to you with vicious hurtful words. Don’t let those words into your heart. Don’t believe them. Don’t accept them as true.

Speak God’s truth into the hearts of your children and into the heart of your spouse. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Change how you talk to people especially your spouse and your children.

Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing. Proverbs 12:18

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9,11

   

Application

I will try to speak truth into the lives of the people around me. I will guard my heart. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to go on this Disaster Relief trip. Protect Kathy while I am gone. I pray for the people that we will help. I pray that they would be open to the Gospel. I pray that they will see Jesus in us. I pray for the couple that may be reading this blog that has forgotten how to speak to each other in love. Help them put into practice Proverbs 12:18. Help me to guard my heart. Don’t let me do stupid sins. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 22,23,24; Revelation 9; Psalm 4, Psalm 104: Proverbs 4

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Seek His Will In All You Do, And He Will Show You Which Path To Take

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Seek His Will In All You Do,
And He
Will Show You Which Path To Take



Scripture

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.

⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.

Observation

I was supposed to be on my way to Louisiana this morning with James Hartley and our disaster relief team, but Hurricane Hermine has caused a detour in our plans.

We are now waiting to hear where they need us here in Florida. Waiting is not what I do best!

I am packed. I am ready to go. Kathy calls me “Chief Hurry up and Wait”!

Proverbs 3:5-6 seems appropriate for this morning!

No matter what decision you and I need to make it is always best to ask God and seek His will in what we do. 

He can and He will show us what to do. Big decisions – little decisions – seek His will and He will show us which path to take.

Trust Him … with all your heart!

 Application

I want to be where the Lord wants me to be and I want to do what the Lord wants me to do and I will seek His direction. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, as I sit here this morning with my bags packed and ready to go I know that this change in plans is all under Your direction. We want to do what You want us to do. Direct our path. I want to do Your will. I will trust in You with all of my heart. I will not depend on my own understanding. I know that You will direct me exactly where You want me to go.

Daily Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 20,21; Psalms 111; Revelation 8; Psalm 3, Psalm 103; Proverbs 3

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Repent, And Turn From Your Sins. Don’t Let Them Destroy You!

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Repent,
And Turn From Your Sins.
Don’t Let Them Destroy You!




Scripture


Ezekiel 18

³⁰ “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. 

Repent, and turn from your sins. Don’t let them destroy you!
 
³¹ Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?
 
³² I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!

Observation

 Over the past few weeks I have been watching some men make some dramatic changes in their lives. 

There is a spiritual battle being waged over their lives. 

God loves them and has a special purpose for them, but Satan wants to destroy them. Satan knows where we are weak and he will use our weaknesses to keep us living in sin. 

I see God at work in these men’s lives. Will they truly repent, and turn from their sins, or will they continue in their sin and let it destroy them?  I am praying for them. 

I want to see them become men of God, men that lead their families with integrity and honor. I want to see them be the very best husbands and the very best dads. 

I want to see these men become leaders in our church and in our community! 

Maybe you are one of the men that I have been praying for and if you are then here is my word to you, “Turn from your sins, don’t try to justify them. Don’t try to make excuses for them. 

Don’t let those sins destroy you and all that God has planned for your life. Let them go. Ask God to give you the strength to turn away from them! 

Application

I will continue to pray for these men and I will not give up. How about you? Who are you praying for? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that You say in Your Word that You do not want anyone to be destroyed, but You want everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:9) I want to see these men make the decision, the choice to live for You. I want to see them be the great husbands and fathers that You intended for them to be. I want them to bring You glory and honor with their lives. I want these men to be men of influence in the lives of other men. I pray for the women in their lives that they would be godly examples to these men. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 17,18,19; Revelation 7

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O LORD, I Am Calling To You. Please Hurry!

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O LORD,
I Am Calling To You.
Please Hurry!



Scripture

Psalm 141

¹ 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.
⁴ Don’t let me drift toward evil
    or take part in acts of wickedness.
Don’t let me share in the delicacies
    of those who do wrong.

Observation

King David had a very close personal relationship with God. He was a man after God’s own heart! {1 Samuel 13:14}

There were many times in David’s life when he was desperate, in big trouble and his life was in danger. This was one of those times.

Maybe you are having a “King David big trouble desperate urgent moment” right now!

If you are living a godly life (which means striving to live your life in obedience to what God says in His Word) then crying out to your Heavenly Father when you are in a crisis is exactly the normal thing to do. 

Just as our children when they are scared, or when they realize that they are in danger and are in deep trouble cry out to us expecting us to hurry because we are their parents.

We can and should cry out to our Heavenly Father for help with the same kind of urgent confidence when we find ourselves in big trouble – “in a swamp knee deep in alligators”!

“Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.” Psalm 86:3

“You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him.” Psalm 4:3

“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.” Psalm 34:17

“Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” Psalm 50:15

Application

I will not hesitate to call on the Lord when I am in trouble. I will pray first! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to pray first. Don’t let me try to do things on my own and pray to You when things don’t work out. Don’t let me do stupid things that mess up my relationship with You. I pray for our leadership team at our church. Give them wisdom. Help them to rely on You. I pray for those who are facing the brunt of the storm that will hit our coast today. I pray for protection for them. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 15,16; Psalms 70; Revelation 6; Psalm 1, Psalm 141, Proverbs 1

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For You Have Seen My Troubles, And You Care About The Anguish Of My Soul.

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For You Have Seen My Troubles,
And You Care
About The Anguish Of My Soul. 


Scripture

Psalm 31

7 I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
    for you have seen my troubles,
    and you care about the anguish of my soul.

Observation

Don’t expect your spouse to understand exactly what you are going through and are experiencing. 

There are times when your husband or your wife just isn’t able to grasp what is going on. 

And what we usually do is try to fix the problem or we get totally frustrated with our spouse because we can’t understand what is going on with them. 

Our Heavenly Father never has that problem. He understands and He cares about the anguish of our soul. He knows the trouble that we are going through and He cares.

^“ How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence,” Psalm 31:19-20a

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalm 31:24

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.”  1 Peter 5:7 

“And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you, O men of little faith?” Matthew 6:30

Application

The Lord always understands what is going on in my life and He cares about me and He cares about you too!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I will pray these verses back to You this morning from Psalm 31:

¹⁴ Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! Hour by hour I place my days in your hand,

^19-22 What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, Ready and waiting all who run to you to escape an unkind world.

²³ Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone.

²⁴ Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. 

Expect God to get here soon.  {MESSAGE}

Daily Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 12,13,14; Revelation 5; Psalm 31, Psalm 131; Proverbs 31

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I Am Counting On The LORD: Yes, I Am Counting On Him. I Have Put My Hope In His Word.

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I Am Counting On The LORD:
Yes, I Am Counting On Him.
I Have Put My Hope In His Word. 

If you and I put all of our trust in people they will eventually let us down. Only God can always be counted on to keep His Word. He is the only One that we can always count. As soon as I got up this morning He was ready to listen to me. In fact, before I got out of bed He was already listening to my prayers.  You and I can count on Him 24/7. He never gets tired. He never gets weary. He always keeps His promises. Why not pray Psalm 130:5-6 back to the Lord today/

Scripture

Psalm 130

⁵ I am counting on the Lord;
    yes, I am counting on him.
    I have put my hope in his word.
⁶ I long for the Lord
    more than sentries long for the dawn,
    yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

Observation

If you and I put all of our trust in people they will eventually let us down. 

Only God can always be counted on to keep His Word. He is the only One that we can always count. 

As soon as I got up this morning He was ready to listen to me. In fact, before I got out of bed He was already listening to my prayers.  

You and I can count on Him 24/7. He never gets tired. He never gets weary. 

He always keeps His promises. We can put our hope and confidence in His Word. 

Will you trust Him today? 

Will you talk to Him about your problems? Why not pray Psalm 130:5-6 back to the Lord today/ 

Application

I will pray Psalm 130:5-6 and Revelation 4:11 back to the Lord today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am counting on You; yes, Lord, I am counting on You. I have put my hope in Your Word. I long for You Lord more than a night watchman longs for the dawn, yes, more than guards that guard at night long for the dawn. You are worthy, O Lord my God, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased. Psalm 130:5-6; Revelation 4:11 {Personalized}
 


Daily Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 8,9,10,11; Revelation 4; Psalm 30, Psalm 130: Proverbs 30 

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Look! I Stand At The Door And Knock. If You Hear My Voice And Open The Door. I Will Come In

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Look! I Stand At The Door And Knock.
If You Hear My Voice And Open The Door.
I Will Come In

Scripture

Revelation 3:20

²⁰ “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Observation

God wants an intimate relationship with us. He is knocking at the door of our hearts. He wants to come in.

This verse is not talking about salvation even though we could think of this verse in that way, but what this verse is really talking about is intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Anything that keeps Jesus Christ from having the Number One place in our hearts is an idol or a small god. This could be anything.

Kathy said to me recently, “Anything that we do and are unable to stop has become an “idol”.” It is taking God’s rightful place on the throne of our hearts.

He wants to be Number One in our life.

What is it in my life and in your life that we desire to keep on doing and can’t seem to stop?

Lets ask God to give us strength to let it go. Lets ask Jesus to come into our hearts and take control of every detail of our lives so we can have fellowship with Him.

Application

I will ask the Lord to show me anything that is replacing Him in the Number One spot of my life. How about you? Who or what is Number One in your life? What needs to change?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I love You. Don’t let anything come into my life that takes Your place as Number One. Show me and give me strength to let go of anything that is not bringing You glory and honor. I want to be right in my relationship with You. I don’t want to be lukewarm. I want to be on fire for You. I pray for others that may be reading this blog that are struggling with addictions and who are tempted with Satan’s lies that those little sins won’t hurt them. Give them the strength to let them go. Help them to surrender their lives 100% to You holding nothing back!

Daily Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 4,5,6,7; Revelation 3




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I Pray To You, O LORD, My Rock, … For If You Are Silent, I Might As Well Give Up And Die.

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I Pray To You, O LORD, My Rock, …
For If You Are Silent,
I Might As Well Give Up And Die. 


Scripture

Psalm 28

¹ I pray to you, O Lord, my rock.
    Do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you are silent,
    I might as well give up and die.

Observation

You and I could learn a lot about prayer just by reading what King David shared when he wrote the Psalms. 

Most of the Psalms are his prayers to God. 

And most of the time he was caught in desperate life and death situations! 

Just listen to the confidence that he has in his God a few verses later when he writes, 

“Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. The Lord gives his people strength.” (vv 6-8) 


 Maybe you and I just need to camp in the Psalms for a few days and pray them back to the Lord.

Application

I will pray parts of Psalm 28 back to the Lord this morning. How about you?

Prayer

I pray to you, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you are silent,
I might as well give up and die.  Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary. I will praise You Lord! For You have heard my cry for mercy. You are my strength and shield. I will trust You with all my heart. You help me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. The Lord gives me strength. 

Psalm 28:1-2, 6-8 Personalized

Daily Bible Reading:  Ezekiel 1,2,3; Revelation 2, Psalm 28, Psalm 128; Proverbs 28

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Wait For The Lord; Be Strong And Courageous. Wait For The Lord.

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Wait For The Lord;
Be Strong And Courageous.
Wait For The Lord.


Scripture

Psalm 27:14

Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord.

Observation

Going through a rough time? Is your life is taking a beating? 

Then dive into the book of Psalms and learn the secret of King David’s life. His life, a good majority of it was spent hiding in caves and in the wilderness. 

Never knowing when his enemies would find him and kill him. Through a life of adversity he learned to trust in the Lord. He was strong and courageous. 

He learned to wait on the Lord. 

So if we have physical pain, a devastating disease, facing a legal mess, experiencing a financial crisis, in the middle of a broken relationship, or if we are dealing with enemies in the place where we work King David has a word for us, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord.”

 Application

Jesus says that we are to pray and never give up. (Luke 18:1)

I am going to continue to pray and I will wait for the Lord. I will be strong and courageous. I will wait for the Lord. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word. Every promise in Your Word is for us. And You keep every one of them. Over and over and over again in Your Word you tell me to trust in You. You tell me over and over and over again to be strong and courageous. So I will take You at Your Word. I pray for those close to me who are going through very difficult times. Help them to draw close to You. Help them trust You. Help them to grow closer to You during this time of adversity. Show them Your Mighty Power and Your Strength.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 52; Revelation 1; Psalms 143,144, 27, 127; Proverbs 27

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Dear Friend, Don’t Let This Bad Example Influence You.

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Dear Friend,
Don’t Let This
Bad Example Influence You.

Scripture

3 John

11 Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

Observation

Diotrephes was bad! He was a terrible influence. He was bad to the core! The Apostle John warned people not to be influenced by him. 

The Apostle Paul warned us about being influenced by the wrong people when he said, “bad company corrupts good character.” 

At our church, Christ Fellowship, the leadership team is working hard to get everyone into “community groups” so they can be surrounded by godly influences and grow in Christ. 

It is the 2 Timothy 2:2 principle, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 

Here is both a warning and some advice: Stay away from negative, angry, divisive people. Instead hang with people that love the Lord and with people that can help you be more like Jesus!

Application

I will spend time with people that can help me grow in Christ and with people that need my encouragement. I will stay away from negative, angry, divisive people! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us influence others to live godly lives and don’t let us be influenced by ungodliness. Help me to be strong in the Lord. I want for people to see Jesus in me. Don’t let me do stupid sins. I pray for all of our community group leaders. I pray for our leadership team. Help all of us to live in a way that honors You and brings You glory. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 50,51; 3 John

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O LORD, I Give My Life To You.

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O LORD,
I
Give My Life To You.

Scripture

Psalm 25

¹ O Lord, I give my life to you. ²  I trust in you, my God! …

Observation

I surrender. LORD, I give my life to you.

Have you ever stopped, humbled yourself, and prayed those words to the Lord?

I was 19 years old when someone shared with me that God loved me and God had a wonderful plan for my life. He also shared with me that all of us are sinners and our sin has separated us from a relationship with God, who wants to be our Heavenly Father.

This friend also went on to share with me that God loved me so much that He left Heaven and came down to earth to save me. Jesus Christ, God Himself died on a cross to pay the penalty of my sins and He died to pay the penalty for your sins too.

When I heard all about God’s plan for my life it made sense to me and I prayed and I gave my life to the LORD.

I surrendered my life to Him. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins. I asked Him to be my Lord and my Savior.

At 19 years old I became a follower of Jesus Christ. He is my Lord. He is my Savior.

How about you? Have you surrendered your life to Jesus? Have you given Him your life?

Yes or No. There is no middle ground!

 Application

I yield my life to You today Lord not for my salvation but I yield to allow You your rightful place to the throne of my life, putting You first before everything else. 

Matthew 6:33

    But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray today for any person that may read this blog that has not yet surrendered his or her life to You. Open up their spiritual eyes and help them to understand the Good News that You want to have a personal relationship with them. Help me to keep You first in my life. Don’t let me let other things take Your place in my life.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 37,38,39; Psalms 79; 2 John; Psalm 25, Psalm 125; Proverbs 25



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Every Child God Defeats This Evil World

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Every Child God
Defeats
This Evil World


Scripture

1 John 5

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.
 
² We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.
 
³ Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.
 
⁴ For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
 
⁵ And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Observation

Packed! 

This chapter is packed with great stuff for you and me – we have to take time to read and re-read 1 John 5 today. 

It will only take a couple of minutes, but lets give ourselves time to think about what we are reading and reread it a couple of times! 

Read it in a translation that you can easily understand! 

I just read it I am still thinking about it! 

This world is evil and corrupt to the core. Who is the only person that can have victory in this evil world? 

Only a child of God – only those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God! 

We are the only ones that have victory in this “dog eat dog” evil world! And we achieve this victory through our faith!

This great verse was also in today’s Bible reading! 

Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3   HCSB 

 Application

Everyday I am engaged in spiritual warfare. Every day is a battle. I have victory through my faith in Jesus Christ. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we have already won the victory because You live in us and You are greater than the one who is in the world. Help me to walk in that victory today. Keep me away from anything that might take Your place in my heart. I pray for those that are sick today and are going through difficult treatments. Give each one of them strength and bring them healing and relief.

Daily Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 33,34; Psalms 74; 1 John 5

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I Am The Lord, The God Of All The Peoples Of The World. Is Anything Too Hard For Me?

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I Am The Lord,
The God Of All The Peoples Of The World.
Is Anything Too Hard For Me? 


Scripture

Jeremiah 32

²⁶ Then this message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²⁷ “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?

Observation

It is Tuesday and some of us are already overwhelmed and bummed out!

I know because life has a way of doing that!

If that is the case then this verse is for us!

Nothing is too hard for our God! Nothing!

Broken relationships, a serious life threatening disease or sickness, a death of a loved one, our lack of finances, problems at work, maybe lack of work, and even troubled kids or grandkids – Nothing is too hard for our God! NOTHING!

Pray right now and turn everything over to Him. Surrendering first your life to Him, asking Jesus to be your Lord and your Savior, and then as one of God’s children turn everything else that overwhelms us over to Him.

Got it … then do it … and … do it right now

Application

I will trust in my All-Powerful God to take care of every detail of my life. How about You?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I agree with Jeremiah when he prayed,  “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” So many things going on in the lives of so many people that I care about and I cannot do anything to fix their problems. I can’t fix them, but Lord I can give them to You in prayer. I can pray for each one of them. And I can put them in Your hands and in Your care because there is not anything too hard for You. So I will pray with confidence knowing that You hear me and I know that You will give me what I ask for. 

You have given me that promise:

    And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. [15] And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:14-15

   

Daily Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 31,32; 1 John 4

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You Will Always Have Everything You Need And Plenty Left Over To Share With Others.

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You Will Always
Have Everything You Need
And Plenty Left Over To Share With Others.



Scripture

2 Corinthians 9

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.

Observation

Generosity! “God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give--large or small--will be used to measure what is given back to you." Luke 6:38

You and I are most like God when we are generous with our money that God has loaned to us!

Everything we have is His and He did not loan it to us for us to hoard it on ourselves!

This week – will we be stingy or generous – will we plant a few seeds or will we plant generously?

 Application

I am going to get Kathy to give me a $10 dollar bill and I am going to look for a way to bless someone with it! Maybe I will get 2 $5 Starbuck gift cards to give away! How about you? Stingy or Generous this week?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show me ways to be generous this week. Help me to be a cheerful giver. Help me to be more concerned for the person that You place in my path than anything else this week. Help me to live out John 3:30 “He must increase but I must decrease”. Help me to be more generous with what You have allowed us to be stewards over. I want to be a cheerful giver!

   

 

Daily Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 28,29,30; 1 John 3; Psalm 22, Psalm 122, Proverbs 22; 2 Corinthians 9

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Those Who Say They Live In God Should Live Their Lives As Jesus Did.

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Those Who Say
They Live In God
Should Live Their Lives As Jesus Did.





Scripture

1 John 2

6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Observation

Hypocrites!

Yes, those rascals kept my father-in-law from church for most of his life. Kathy’s Dad, Clayton Bearden saw men from the church doing things that were morally and ethically wrong and yet on Sundays these men acted “Holy” and “Dignified”.

But wait a minute … you and I are sometimes “Hypocrites” too. And when is that you may ask? When we live a life on Sunday that doesn’t match our conduct Monday through Saturday!

It is true. When our lives don’t match the life of the Master, we cause people to stumble.

Our children look up to us. Our grandchildren need to see Jesus in us. Our coworkers and our neighbors don’t need to see a contradiction in our lives. No what they need to see in us is Jesus!

You and I need to live our lives as Jesus did. Here is the test: Is what I am doing something that would please Jesus? Will it bring Him glory?

If the answer is “no” then don’t do it!

 Application

I want to live my life as Jesus did. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are Holy and You have called me to be holy too. I know that You want me to live my life as Jesus did. Help me to do just that. Keep me away from stupid sins. Help me to confess my sins as soon as I commit them. Don’t let me be a stumbling block to my children, my grandchildren, or anyone else. I pray for those who are sick. Give them strength today. Heal their bodies. Show them Your Power. Help them to trust in You through the storm in their life. Nothing is too hard for You. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Jeremiah 21,24,27; Psalms 118; 1 John 2

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