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

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

Scripture

1 Corinthians 16

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

Observation

Some things in God’s Word are repeated over and over and over again.

One reason I think why God exhorts us to be on guard and stand firm in the faith is because we are in a spiritual battle. The enemy is real. His name is Satan. He knows our weaknesses and he exploits them.

Satan’s goal for your life and my life is to destroy us, destroy our families, and to destroy our influence. That is why God warns us over and over and over again to watch out.

God also tells us repeatedly in scripture to be courageous and to be strong. Why does God need to do that? He needs to do that because He knows us better than anyone else!

And why do we need to be exhorted to do everything with “love”? It is because our natural tendency is to do everything to benefit me, myself, and “I”! We are naturally “selfish” and God wants us to put others first!

If you are a Christian and you are not reading God’s Word everyday then you will miss all of these warnings and you will fall prey to Satan and his schemes. He will, if left unchecked, destroy you and your family.

I sadly watch what Satan does in the lives of people everyday.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

Application

I will be on guard. I will stand firm in the faith. I will be courageous. I will be strong. And I will strive to do everything with love    How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to stay in Your Word. Don’t let Satan destroy my family. I pray for my children and my grandchildren today. I pray that they would walk in a close relationship with You so that Satan would not have the victory in their lives. Help them to be on guard. Help them to stand firm in the faith. Help them to be courageous and strong. And help them to do everything with love.

Daily Bible Reading:  Judges 9,10; Psalms 49; 1 Corinthians 16

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

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

Scripture

Psalms 42

¹ As the deer longs for streams of water,
    so I long for you, O God.
 
² I thirst for God, the living God.
    When can I go and stand before him?
 
³ Day and night I have only tears for food,
    while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
 
    “Where is this God of yours?”

⁴ My heart is breaking
    as I remember how it used to be:

¹¹ Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

Observation

Discouragement, depression, sadness, and even loneliness are all part of this thing called “Life”.

It is what we do when we are depressed, discouraged, sad, or lonely that makes the difference in our lives.

Drugs (legal or illegal), alcohol, sexual immorality, gambling, pornography, and even being a work alcoholic may bring temporary, momentary relief, but there is only one thing that really works!

And that one thing is a Person, a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

I watch people struggle all the time and my prayer for them is that they could turn to God and allow Him to take care of their needs.

When I am depressed. When I am sad. When I am discouraged. I turn to God’s promises to me in His Word, the Bible.

And He always gives me “Hope”.

If life finds you bummed out this morning, why not turn to the only One that can really help you and ask Him for help. Why not open up His Word this morning and let Him show You just how much He loves you?

Try reading some of the Psalms or the book of Philippians. They are both packed full of hope!

Let’s quit being hard headed, going through life like God doesn’t exist. Let’s put how hope in God and nothing else!

Application

I will take extra time this morning to read in Philippians. I will put my hope in God and nothing else. How about you?

Prayer

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ —for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

I will not worry about anything; instead, I will pray about everything. I will tell You what I need, and I will thank You for all You have done for me.  Then I will experience Your peace, which exceeds anything I can understand. Your peace will guard my heart and mind as I live in Christ Jesus.

I will fix my thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. I will think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. I will keep putting into practice all I learned and received from godly men and women—everything I heard from them and saw them doing. Then You, the God of peace will be with me.


Philippians 1:2-6,9-11; Philippians 4:6-9 (Personalized)


Daily Bible Reading:  Judges 8; Psalms 42; 1 Corinthians 15


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Mighty Hero, The LORD Is With You!

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Mighty Hero,
The LORD
Is With You!

Scripture

Judges 6

¹² The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”

Observation

God certainly does have a sense of humor! 

When the angel of the Lord made that proclamation to Gideon, Gideon was hiding from the Midianites! No way did Gideon feel like a mighty hero! 

I love to watch God transform lives. I see it every week at our church. New people come to our church, they hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and God takes and transforms their lives and makes “heroes” out of them. 

They become “salt and light” to the people around them. Lives are changed. God gets the glory!
What was the secret of Gideon’s success? 

As long as Gideon was obedient to the Lord he was the “hero” that the Israelites needed. 

When you and I walk in obedience to what God says in His Word then we will be God’s heroes to those around us. 

Application

I will strive to walk in obedience today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be faithful. Help me to walk close to You. Don’t let me mess up. Keep me away from stupid sins that will dishonor You. Don’t let me blame others for my weaknesses and my sins. 

I pray that You raise up many in our church like Gideon, mighty warriors, mighty heroes at Christ Fellowship. Help our men and our women to be strong and mighty in Your Power and in Your Strength. 


Daily Bible Reading:  Judges 6,7; Psalms 52; 1 Corinthians 14

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Love Is Always Hopeful

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Love
Is
Always Hopeful

Scripture

1 Corinthians 13

⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Observation

Now that it is over and we are facing a new week and today is Monday, what did Resurrection Sunday mean to you? What does it mean to me?

You would think that, as you get older that life would get easier, but Kathy and I have realized and maybe you have too that life only gets harder with age and the crises only get bigger!

Easter Sunday is a strong reminder me that there is Hope!

Love (God’s love) never gives up; never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Application

Today I am holding on tightly to 1Corinthians 13:7. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray these verses back to You this morning,

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. ³ If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
¹³ Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.   
Help me; give me the faith and the courage to live out these verses this week. Amen

Daily Bible Reading:  Judges 4,5; Psalm 39,41; 1 Corinthians 13


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The Spirit Of God, Who Raised Jesus From The Dead, Lives In You.

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The Spirit Of God,
Who Raised Jesus From The Dead,
Lives In You.

Scripture

Romans 8

¹¹ The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. 

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
 
³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation

Hallelujah what a Savior! Jesus Christ has risen from the grave! He is alive! He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Lets celebrate our risen Savior!

Get to church! Sing with all your heart! He is Alive!

And the Power that raised Christ from the dead lives in me! And if you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ then that same Power resides in you!

Give me a Shout Somebody! Hallelujah! He Lives!

Application

I know that my Redeemer lives!  How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from Your love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from Your love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love that You have revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (Personalized)

Daily Bible Reading:  Judges 1,2,3; 1 Corinthians 12; Psalm 27, Proverbs 27, Romans 8

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Then Jesus Shouted, “Lazarus, Come Out!” And The Dead Man Came Out

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Then Jesus Shouted,
“Lazarus, Come Out!”
And The Dead Man Came Out

Scripture

⁴³ Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

Observation

One of the most powerful stories in the Bible and one of my all time favorites is found in John 11! Take a minute and read John 11 today! And why don’t you take an extra minute or two and read 1 Corinthians 15 while you are at it!

²⁵ Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. ²⁶ Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this “Eddy”?  John 11:25-26 (Personalized)

Yes I do!

3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.  1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The Apostle Paul speaking of our resurrection says, 

⁴³ Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 1 Corinthians 15:43

53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:53

Application

I know that one day this old beat up body is going to wear completely out. The moment it does is the moment that I really begin to live! How about you?

Prayer

Thank You God! You give me victory over sin and death through my Lord Jesus Christ. I will be strong and immovable. I will always work enthusiastically for You Lord, for I know that nothing I do for You is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (Personalized)

Daily Bible Reading:  Joshua 23,24; Psalms 44; 1 Corinthians 11, 15; Psalm 26, 126, Proverbs 26; John 11



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Whatever You Do, Do It All For The Glory Of God.

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Whatever You Do,
Do It All
For The Glory Of God.

What do you and I plan to do today? Lets do it all for the glory of God. Paul tells us in these three verses about one of the secrets to living a life full of purpose and meaning. Are you ready? Here it is found in verse 33: “I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.” Me, Myself, and I are my biggest hindrances to living a godly life. How about you?

Scripture

1 Corinthians 10

³¹ So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
 
³² Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.
 
³³ I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.
 

Observation

What do you and I plan to do today? Lets do it all for the glory of God. 

Paul tells us in these three verses about one of the secrets to living a life full of purpose and meaning. 

Are you ready? 

Here it is found in verse 33: “I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.”

Me, Myself, and I are my biggest hindrances to living a godly life. How about you?

Application

It is a great reminder to me that life is not all about “ME”. It is all about those that God brings into my life and I need to do what is best for them and God will take care of “me”.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me put others’ needs above my own. I know that You are aware of everything that I need and even everything that I want. It is my desire to live out this day in a way that best honors You and brings You glory. So help me put You first, others second, and Eddy last. Remind me the moment I get this out of order so I can live a life blessed by You. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Joshua 21,22; Psalms 47; 1 Corinthians 10

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An Honest Answer Is Like A Kiss On The Lips

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An Honest
Answer
Is Like A Kiss On The Lips

Scripture

Proverbs 24

26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. NIV

Observation

I like the way the MESSAGE Bible shares the meaning of this verse when it says:

“An honest answer is like a warm hug.”

Maybe you are in a situation where the truth is in rare commodity. If so then you could easily echo an “Amen” to what the writer of Proverbs is saying about honesty.

Once you start down the road dishonesty, turning around and being a person of integrity is not an easy task.

Did you know that lying is lumped right up there with the worst of sins?

“The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching” 1 Timothy 1:10 

The opposite of being a liar is to be a person of integrity. 

How does a person go from “liar, liar pants on fire” to be a person that people can once again trust and count on? 

The person needs to repent. He or she needs to ask God to give them the strength, courage, and boldness to be the person that God has called them to be, and the strength to be totally honest. 

The same God that rescues us from drug addiction, sexual addiction, alcohol addiction, and gambling can rescue us from lying. It is just as destructive!

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 

Once we repent of dishonesty then Psalm 25:21 can be a promise for us to hold on to:

“May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25:21

Application

I will strive to be a person of integrity. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be a person whose “yes” is “yes” and whose “no” is “no”. I realize that I am just as capable as anyone else of not telling the truth. Help me to be honest even when I know that telling the truth is going to cause pain. I know that when I am honest and totally truthful I am more like You. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Joshua 18,19,20; 1 Corinthians 9; Psalm 24, 124, Proverbs 24

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

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

Scripture

1 Corinthians 8

But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. ² Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. ³ But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.

Observation

It is easy to criticize. It is easy to act like a know it all. It is easy to blame people.

But it is love that strengthens the church, the body of Christ!

Finding fault, trying to worry about the speck in someone else’s eye when you have a log in yours, is no way to strengthen the church.

Don’t do it and don’t listen to other people who do!

I caught myself listening to a negative person one time early in my Christian life and before I knew it I was having negative feelings toward my pastor and none of what the fellow was saying was true. I have learned to steer clear of people like that and/or confront them in love when I see that they are on a mission to tear down and destroy.

May I add that you better learn to steer clear of people like that too!

It is love that strengthens the church.

When was the last time you went out of your way to write your pastor and his wife to let them know how much you loved, supported, and appreciated them? Maybe they need a hug from us today!

I very much appreciate and love our Pastor, Pastor Bruce Moore and his wife Heather and their 3 beautiful children. I know and understand just how difficult the ministry is for them.

It is love that strengthens the church!

Application

I am a not a know it all. I will try to love those at church and those in my sphere of influence rather than finding fault with them. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show me the log or the beam in my eye before I try to help someone with the speck in his or her eye. Give me the capacity to love people just because I am supposed to love them and help me not to expect them to necessarily love me back. Help me to love them like You love. Give me Your Heart for them.

I am reminded of what You said in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

 “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud

[5] or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.

[6] It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

[7] Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

   

Daily Bible Reading:  Joshua 15,16,17; 1 Corinthians 8

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How Can I Know All The Sins Lurking In My Heart?

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How Can
I Know
All The Sins Lurking In My Heart?

Scripture

Psalm 19

¹² How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?

Observation

Keep me from stupid sins, sins that will completely destroy my relationships, my family, my influence, and even my health. 

Stupid sins lurking in our hearts! How do we get rid of them? How can we have victory over all of our stupid sins?

I am reminded of what Jeremiah says about our hearts in Jeremiah 17:9, 

    "The heart is the most deceitful thing there is and desperately wicked. No one can really know how bad it is! 

Here are two verses I memorized when I first gave my life to Christ and was learning how to walk as a new Christian. 

“How can a young man stay pure? By reading your Word and following its rules. I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin.” 

Psalm 119:9,11

The definition of the word “lurking” is  … “to lie in wait in a place of concealment especially for an evil purpose”. 

Hiding in a place of concealment for an evil purpose … Wow … that is exactly what sin does in our hearts.     

Application

I will confess my sins as the Lord reveals them to me and not let them pile up or let them hide in my heart. How about you? 

1 John 1:9

    But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. [And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.]

Prayer

Heavenly Father, how can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 

Psalm 19:12-14 Personalized

Daily Bible Reading:  Joshua 12,13,14; 1 Corinthians 7; Psalm 19



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So You Must Honor God With Your Body

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So You
Must
Honor God With Your Body

Scripture

1 Corinthians 6 

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

Observation

The verses immediately preceding this verse tell us what we are not to do with our bodies:

.
¹⁵ Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? …  ¹⁸ Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.
 
¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? 

You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

.
If you and I need a higher motivation not to sin with our bodies then this is it:

Our bodies are the temple of God’s Holy Spirit! “We have been bought with a high price!”

Dieting or at least eating in a way that honors and brings glory to God, exercising at least enough to keep our bodies in good shape, and not involving ourselves in sexual sin all make a lot more sense when we realize that our bodies are not our own! 

Lets stop ignoring God’s Word. Let’s get serious about taking care of God’s temple!

Application

I will exercise. I will eat in a way that honors God. I will allow involve myself in sexual sin. 

How about you? Are you willing to make a new commitment to God about your body?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, don’t let me involve myself in sexual sin. Help me to get my body in the shape that You intended for it to be. Give me the strength, the discipline, and the self-control to honor You with my body. Help anyone that is reading this blog today to do the same. Help us to run from sexual immorality. Help us to keep Your temple clean and well maintained for Your Glory and for Your Honor.

Daily Bible Reading: Joshua 9,10,11; 1 Corinthians 6 



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

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

Scripture

Psalms 69

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

Observation

God said of King David, “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.” (Acts 13:22)

As I read the Psalms I can see just how much David loved his LORD.

Where is the evidence that I am a man after God’s own heart? How about you?

Will we bother to set aside time each day to spend in His Word? Look back on this past week and ask the question, “How much time did I give my Lord””

Is church a priority for us? Are we setting the example for our families?

Are we part of a small group? Are we serving the Lord during the week and at church on Sunday?

David had made a commitment to put God first. And because of his relationship with his Heavenly Father David could pray and cry out to his God with the confidence that we see in Psalm 69:16.

Application

Today I will worship my God. I will sing to Him. I will give thanks to Him. I will praise Him. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, let this be my prayer to You this morning from Psalm 69:30-33

… I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves. The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people. Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them.

Daily Bible Reading:  Joshua 7,8; Psalms 69; 1 Corinthians 5

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For The Kingdom Of God Is Not Just A Lot Of Talk; It Is Living By God’s Power.

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For The Kingdom Of God
Is Not Just A Lot Of Talk;
It Is Living By God’s Power.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 4 

20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

Observation

Talk is cheap! The Apostle Paul was talking to a bunch of spiritual babies when he wrote 1 Corinthians.

They were whiners. They were bad mouthing the Apostle Paul, putting him down and bragging that they were followers of his friend Apollos and some other Christian leaders.

To every person reading this blog this morning and to myself I say, “Let’s Grow Up”.
Let’s learn how to fight the good fight of the Christian faith and be tough.

Let’s not whine, complain, and blame everybody else for the lack of integrity and the lack of spiritual maturity in our lives!

In verse 16 of 1 Corinthians 4 the Apostle Paul said this,

“So I urge you to imitate me”

Can I say that to people? Can you?
Am I living my life is such a way that I could tell my grown children, my grandchildren, my neighbors, and all of my friends, “Imitate me”?

Can you say that to those around you?

Does our talk match our walk?

Application

I will strive to live by God’s power this week. I want what I say to match how I live. I want people to see Jesus in me.

How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that the buck stops with me. I know that I am responsible for how I live my life. I can’t blame others for my bad behavior, my shortcomings, or the sin in my life. You know it is always tempting for me to do that. Help me to be a man of integrity and man up when I fall short of what or who I should be. 

I know that I am a sinner. I know that I am not perfect. But help me to live in a way that allows those around me to see Jesus in me. Don’t let me blame anyone for where I am not at spiritually. You have brought godly men into my life to challenge me. I know that they were not perfect, but I was able to see Jesus in them. They were and still are powerful men of God because of their faith and their consistent walk in You.

Daily Bible Reading: Joshua 3,4,5,6; 1 Corinthians 4

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Once I Was Young, And Now I Am Old

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Once
I Was Young,
And Now I Am Old

.

Scripture

.Psalm 37

²⁵ Once I was young, and now I am old.
    Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
    or their children begging for bread.
²⁶ The godly always give generous loans to others,
    and their children are a blessing.

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Observation

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My grandson Louie informed me a couple of weeks ago as we were playing a very serious game of UNO that I was old and elderly! We have had a lot of fun laughing about that comment!

Today I am officially old and definitely quickly moving in the direction of elderly.

I am 65 years young today.

Believe me it is no bother for me to turn 65 at all. In fact, I am very grateful for everyday I get to wake up next to Kathy and everyday I get to enjoy my family and friends.

It has taken almost 5 years for me to get back to where I was before my heart attack. I am almost there.

Looking back over my life I can agree with the Psalmist when he says, “I have never seen the godly abandoned.”

God has always taken such good care of me and He has always taken great care of Kathy.

Kathy and I are so blessed!

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Application

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I am going to enjoy today! I am going to enjoy my birthday. In fact, I am going to celebrate all week long! 

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Prayer

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Heavenly Father, Psalm 37 is a great Psalm to express my thoughts to You this morning. I know that You direct the steps of the godly. I know that you delight in every detail of my life. Even though I stumble, I will never fall, because You hold me by the hand. You will rescue me because You are my fortress in times of trouble. You help me and will rescue me from the wicked. You will save me and I will find shelter in You. I will trust in You and do good. I will delight in You. I will commit everything I do to You, Lord. I will trust in You.  
(Psalm 37:3-5, 23-24, 39-40 Personalized)

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Daily Bible Reading: Joshua 1,2; Psalms 37; 1 Corinthians 3 

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So That Your Faith Would Be In God’s Power, Not In Human Wisdom

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So That Your Faith
Would Be In God’s Power,
Not In Human Wisdom

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2

5 I did this so that your faith would be in God’s power, not in human wisdom.

Observation

Faith in God’s Power, not in human wisdom, is what you and I need to today! And we have God’s Power if we are followers of Jesus Christ! 

We have the mind of Christ because of the Spirit of Christ, God’s Holy Spirit, lives in us!

We have the mind of Christ! You and I, if we have been born into the family of God have wisdom that is not available to those who are not believers. 

God’s Power is working in us and through us

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27

Application

My faith will be in God’s Power as I go through this day. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to walk by faith today and not by sight. Give me Your Wisdom and give me Your Perspective on everything that happens today. Don’t let me operate in my own strength when You have given me Your Power. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. You have not given me a Spirit that makes me timid, but You have given me Your Holy Spirit that gives me power, love and self-discipline. (2 Cor. 5:7, Phil. 4:13, 2 Tim. 1:7 Personalized)

Daily Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 32,33,34; 1 Corinthians 2



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For Troubles Surround Me – To Many To Count! My Sins Pile Up So High I Can’t See My Way Out.

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For Troubles Surround Me – To Many To Count!
My Sins Pile Up So High
I Can’t See My Way Out.

Scripture

Psalms 40

¹ I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry.

² He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.

³ He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.
¹² For troubles surround me—
    too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
    I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
    I have lost all courage.
¹³ Please, Lord, rescue me!
    Come quickly, Lord, and help me.

Observation

Maybe you find yourself in a “pit of despair” this morning. Maybe your sins are piled up so high that you can’t see your way out. Maybe those sins outnumber the hairs on your head and you have lost all courage.

If you are nodding your head because this describes you then open up your Bible and join me at Psalm 40 this morning!

You really might need to take the time to read the whole short Psalm for yourself and ask God to speak His truth into your life.

When we think of King David we usually only think of his successes and we never think that he also had failures and weaknesses. He was just like we are. He was a sinner and he messed up just like we do.

His successes in life came from his dependence on His God. He was a man after God’s own heart. He was far from perfect. He committed murder and adultery at weak points in his life.

God loves you and me just the way we are but He loves us way too much to leave us just the way we are.

Maybe we need a new song to sing from the Lord?

Application

I will pray this Psalm back to the Lord this morning. Why don’t you do the same?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray this Psalm back to You.

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

Oh, the joys of those who trust You, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that You have made me listen, I finally understand — you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.

Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. 

I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness. Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. 

For troubles surround me—too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage. Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame.

May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”  As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay. 

Psalm 40 (personalized)

Daily Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 30,31; Psalms 40; 1 Corinthians 1

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

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

Scripture

Galatians 6

⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Observation

These days I wake up tired, and I go to bed tired. Maybe that is why these verses got my attention this morning. Or maybe it is because Kathy and I have become so weary trying to help and pray for those we love with struggles that seem to be destroying them.

The Word that I take from these verses today is, “At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Giving up. Is there someone you are ready to give up on?

Maybe they have hurt you, maybe they have even hurt you over and over again … don’t give up on them. I am not saying that you live with abuse. I am not saying that you are to be a “door mat” for people to walk all over you.

We do need to set boundaries with theses people we love who because of their behavior, because of their actions are no longer easy to love. For sure we need to learn how to love them with a “tuffer” love. We don’t need to enable them to keep on with their destructive life style, but we don’t give up on them either.

Love is a choice not just a feeling or an emotion.

I don’t love him anymore, or I don’t love her anymore really means that I am choosing not to love that person anymore.

God loves us unconditionally. We are to do the same.
They don’t deserve be treated with love. You are right.

You and I don’t deserve God’s love, but He pours out His love on us anyway!

Don’t give up! At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Application

I will not give up on people who are struggling. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know at least a little how You must feel when people decide to destroy their lives with sinful and selfish living. It hurts to watch people you love make bad choices that only causes hurt and destruction not only to themselves but to everyone around them. You have given us the ministry of reconciliation. We must not give up on people. You know who I am praying for. You know who is on my heart. Don’t ever let me give up on them. Don’t let me get too tired, too weary that I give up. I want to reap the harvest of blessng. Give folks that are tired the strength that they need to walk in victory today. You are Almighty God. Nothing is too hard for You. 


Daily Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 28,29; Galatians 6

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