Turn From Godless Living And Sinful Pleasures

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Turn From Godless Living
And
Sinful Pleasures

Scripture

Titus 2

¹² And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,

14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Observation

Sinful pleasures! You know it and I know it. We know that there is pleasure in those sinful things that we are tempted to do. So why not do them if they are pleasurable?

Here is why!

I will explain with this short story: On Saturday Kathy and I are going out to the beach for a week to be with our extended family. It is an unofficial family reunion!

We have been doing this for over 20 years. It is a great tradition! We are grateful to our two daughters and other family members for helping us with most of the cost of this week at the beach. We couldn’t have gone without their help.

While we are out at the beach I always fish for Walter! (Actually I gave him a break last year and I didn’t take my kayak but this year I am back.)

I have been fishing for that giant fish all of these years and I haven’t caught him yet.

But this year I plan to catch him. I have caught a 5-foot shark in my kayak and cut him loose when I got him reeled in but he was nowhere near the size of famous mythical Walter!

How do I plan on catching him?

I plan to put bait out there that he cannot refuse or resist. I plan on enticing him and tempting him to take the bait. Hidden inside that delicious looking bait is a razor sharp hook waiting for him!

You and I are being enticed just like that every day with sinful pleasures. Satan dangles the bait in front of us and he knows our weaknesses. He knows just where to tempt us. Inside that temptation, inside that sinful pleasure is a razor sharp hook

When we yield to his temptation, when we begin to enjoy the sinful pleasure that he places before us he then sets the hook. Some of us are hooked right now and even though the sin is not as pleasurable as it once was we can’t break free. He has us hooked. We are addicted.

Jesus Christ gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own.

Don’t be a fool! Every sinful pleasure comes with its own special razor sharp hook!

How foolish Walter will be if he looks at that bait and takes it, but oh how even more foolish you and I are if we take the bait!

 Application

I will stay in God’s Word so I don’t sin against Him. I will watch out for Satan and his schemes because he is a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. How about you? Psalm 119:9&11, 1 Peter 5:8

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness. Thank You for rescuing me from my old sinful life. Help me to live a godly life. Help me to live my life in a way that pleases You. Thank You for allowing us this week at the beach with our family. Bless those that helped us be able to go!

I pray for each and every family member. Help each one of them to see and understand that You are real, that You love them and that You have a special plan for their lives. I pray that You soften and that You open their hearts so that all of our family and extended family can accept and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And if You let me hook Walter please don’t let him carry me out to sea!

Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Mark 14:38


Daily Bible Reading:  Amos 7,8,9; Psalms 104; Titus 2



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Listen To Me You Fat Cows …

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Listen
To Me
You Fat Cows … 

Scripture

Amos 4

Listen to me, you fat cows ... 

Titus 1

¹⁶ Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.

Observation

When Amos, the shepherd prophet prophesied against Israel’s neighbors and then against Israel and Judah he did not worry about being politically correct! 

We live in a strange world where national and world leaders are afraid to take a stand on any moral issue or to even call evil – evil! 

I pray that God calls out an Amos or two that will not be afraid to speak out and lead our nation in the right direction. In Amos 3:7 God says, “Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.”

Titus reminds us that some people may claim to know God, but they deny Him by the way they live. And Titus goes on to say that these people are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good. 

Application

Would you join me in asking God to raise up godly leadership across our nation? Will you also join me in making a commitment to live our lives in a way that honors and glorifies our God?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, fat cows, plenty of them running our country right into the ground. I am responsible for voting them into office. I certainly take part of the blame. I ask You to raise up godly leaders that we can support, godly leaders that will lead our country in the right direction. I know that we have sinned. I know that I have sinned. And I know that our country cannot continue in the ungodly direction it is heading without coming under Your judgment and correction. So I cry out to You for help!


Daily Bible Reading:  Amos 4,5,6; Psalms 86,87; Titus 1

 

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Patiently Correct, Rebuke, And Encourage Your People With Good Teaching.

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Patiently Correct,
Rebuke,
And Encourage Your People With Good Teaching.

Scripture

2 Timothy 4

² Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

Observation

The Apostle Paul is now an old man. He knows that he will soon be put to death. He is writing to one of his favorites, his son in the faith, young Timothy. He exhorts Timothy to preach the word of God in every situation – good or bad! Then he says for Timothy to be patient with his people, “patiently” correcting them, rebuking them, and encouraging them with good teaching.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get frustrated and impatient with the people I know who are still being held captive to the old life, living like what God and a godly life offers is not enough.

To be honest I have a hard time being patient with them. I am impatient because I can see how God could use them for His Kingdom if they would just completely give their lives to Christ.

As long as they have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s Kingdom all they are doing is damaging the cause of Christ. 

So here is what I have been doing. I have been asking God to give me patience and I have been asking Him to help me with my attitude towards them. I am not God. God can do a work in their lives if I will just pray for them.

So if you happen to one of those people that have one foot in the world and trying to keep one foot in the Kingdom I want you to know that I am praying for you.

I am turning you over to my Heavenly Father and I am asking Him to do what only He can do! Can’t wait to see what happens!

Application

As a pastor, I will patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage the people that God brings into my life. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are the Shepherd and I am just one of your sheep. Sheep are helpless. They need a Shepherd. I pray today for those that may read this blog today that still are holding on to the old life. Set them free. Help them totally surrender there lives to You. Give them the strength and the courage to be men and women of God today. Set them free. I pray that they could live the rest of their lives totally surrendered to You bringing You much glory. Use them for Your Kingdom Lord. Only You can change their hearts. Only You can set them free!

Daily Bible Reading:  Amos 1,2,3; Psalms 80; 2 Timothy 4

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All Scripture Is Inspired By God

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All Scripture
Is
Inspired By God

Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Hebrews 4:12

God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what. MESSAGE

Observation

Any other book is just a book, but the Bible is not like any other book! It is living and powerful!
It transforms lives. I know because God’s Word changed my life! 

No other book comes close! I looked up on the web Guinness world records and found out that at least 5 Billion copies of the Bible have been printed since 1815 in more than 349 languages; and 2123 languages have at least one book of the Bible in that language! 

And you aren’t reading it everyday?  – don’t be scared of the Bible. Read it every day in a translation that you can understand like the NIV or the NLT versions. 

Start reading the Gospel of John or the Gospel of Mark. Read a little bit each day and ask God to help you understand what you are reading! God’s Word can and will change your life! 

Personally I think it is helpful to write down something that God shows you from what you read each day. That is why I write this simple devotional blog. You can do the same thing. 

 Application

I will read God’s Word everyday this year! How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the Bible. Nothing is more important to me than Your Word. You speak to me every day through it. Help me to always think of Your Word like Job did when he said, “… I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food.” {Job 23:12} Don’t let me ever get tired of reading, studying, and meditating on what You have said to me in the Bible. It is Alive and Powerful! You are Mighty and You alone are worthy of my Praise!


Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3  

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Run From Anything That Stimulates Youthful Lusts

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Run 

From Anything 

That Stimulates Youthful Lusts

Scripture

2 Timothy 2

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

Observation

Drinking, drugging, running around with women or men (sexual immorality), gambling, pornography, anything that stimulates youthful lusts – RUN! Get away from it! And instead make the decision to hang out and enjoy being with people who love the Lord and pursue what has God’s approval.

RUN from anything else!

I remember my high school days. I am not proud of the things that I did. Thank goodness that at 19 years of age God brought someone into my life that told me about Jesus Christ. It was then, when I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior that I was able to begin having victory over those youthful passions.

I am still very much a sinner. I still deal with youthful desires, but I choose to pursue what has God’s approval. How about you?
It is a daily choice!

Application

I am still tempted, but I choose to pursue what has God’s approval. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords, nothing is too hard for You. I pray for those right now who are struggling with youthful evil desires and can’t seem to break free of them. Help them to pursue only what has Your approval. Show them how to have victory over these things that destroy their witness and keep them from being what You planned for them to be. Give them strength today to walk in victory. 

I pray for those who have loved ones close to death. Help them to walk through this difficult time. Give them strength. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Jonah 1,2,3,4; 2 Timothy 2

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God Has Not Given Us A Spirit Of Fear And Timidity, But Of Power, Love, And Self Discipline.

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God Has Not Given Us
A Spirit Of Fear And Timidity,
But Of Power, Love, And Self Discipline.

Scripture

2 Timothy 1

⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
⁸ So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.

Observation

God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 CEV 

You and I might make excuses why we are not serving the Lord like we should but you can be sure of this God has given us everything we need to be His witnesses. 

 God’s Holy Spirit gives us the power, the love, and the self-control. 

God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us!

We can talk and share the Good News about Jesus with people. God has given us everything we need to be His witnesses! 

Look out world here we come!

We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 2 Corinthians 5:20 

So {let’s} never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.  *Italics are mine! -            2 Timothy 1:8

 Application

I will look for opportunities this weekend to talk to people about my Savior! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be a good ambassador for You and Your kingdom. Don’t let me be a coward to share my faith. Give me opportunities to witness this week. I know that Your Holy Spirit gives me the power, the love, and the self-discipline to share my faith effectively. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Joel 1,2,3; 2 Timothy 1

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Godliness With Contentment Is Itself Great Wealth

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Godliness With Contentment
Is
Itself Great Wealth

Scripture

1 Timothy 6

⁶ Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
 
⁷ After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.
 
⁸ So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

Observation

Always wanting more, always wanting something bigger, better, shinier, or newer isn’t that the American way life?

 Don’t deny yourself! You deserve it! 

Your family deserves it! 

At least that is what the advertisers pound into us day after day after day! 

But you know and I know that stuff no matter how much we accumulate it is not satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts! 

It actually seems to work just the opposite - the more I have the more I seem to want. So do our families have enough food and clothes for today? 

If the answer is “Yes” then God’s message through the Apostle Paul to us today is this – Be Content!

Application

I will be grateful for all that God has provided Kathy and I. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I think that what You are reminding me this morning is that my bucket list should not be full of stuff that cost lots of money. I know that my days left on this planet need to be focused on Kingdom stuff – people, relationships, not on myself and for sure not on “stuff”. Help me to keep my eyes off anything that causes me to lust, crave, and/or desire things that take my eyes off the really important stuff in life – the people around me! Thank You for blessing me with so much. I know that I am rich. Now just help me to stay content. 

Daily Bible Reading:  2 Kings 11,12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6

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I Was Glad When They Said To Me, Let Us Go To The House Of The LORD.

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I Was Glad When They Said To Me,
Let Us
Go To The House Of The LORD.

Scripture

Psalm 122

¹ I was glad when they said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Observation

Do we go to church most Sundays? Why do we do that?

Is there anything wrong with attending just once every month or once every 5 or 6 weeks or just every once in awhile?

Why is regular church attendance so important anyway?

Here is why; our church attendance is a reflection of your relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Can you pick up the attitude of the Psalmist in Psalm 122:1? He couldn’t wait until he the chance to be back in the house of the Lord.

It is all about the health of our relationship with your Father in Heaven.

Kathy and I are in love. We have been in love for over 47 years. I would rather be with her than any other person on the planet. And I would rather be in church on Sundays worshiping my Savior with the body of Christ – (His church) than doing anything else. 

I love fishing, but not on Sunday when there is a chance to be at church. I love going to Disney, Busch Gardens and a million other places, but I don’t love those places more than being with God’s people and having a chance to worship our Savior with them.

Why?

Here is why, I know that me worshiping on Sunday morning with my fellow believers is what pleases my Heavenly Father. It is all about attitude and whom do I want to please the most – my Heavenly Father or myself!

Application

I look forward to this Sunday. It is Thursday but Sunday is coming!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for what You are doing in the lives of the people close to me. Thank You for working in the lives of the men that You have put in my circle of influence. Help them to be mighty men of God. Give them the boldness and the courage to make huge commitments to You. Work mightily through them. Help them in their marriages and relationships. Help them to be good Fathers and especially help them to know how to love the mothers of their children. Bless anyone who may read this blog today. Help them with their attitude, especially if they have been missing church without understanding that inconsistency is a reflection of their relationship with You.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 22,23; 1 Timothy 5; Psalm 22, Psalm 122

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Train Yourself To Be Godly. Physical Training Is Good, But Training For Godliness Is Much Better, Promising Benefits In This Life And In The Life To Come

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Train Yourself To Be Godly.
Physical Training Is Good, But Training For Godliness Is Much Better,
Promising Benefits In This Life And In The Life To Come

Scripture

1 Timothy 4

… Train yourself to be godly. ⁸ “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

Observation

How do you and I train ourselves to be godly? Just showing up at church on Sundays is definitely not enough. But faithful consistent church attendance and participation is a good first step.

A godly person is not a perfect, but it is a person striving to put God first in his or her life. Every morning as they start their day they make the daily choice to put God first.

And as they mess up during the day and do something that doesn’t please God (called sin) they don’t hesitate to quickly ask their Heavenly Father for forgiveness.

Do you want to grow in Christ? I hope you answered “yes”! 

If so you and I need to be intentional. We need to train ourselves! We must discipline ourselves for godliness!

The first step is to surrender our lives voluntarily to the Lord Jesus Christ, asking Him to be Lord over our lives.

I know someone very close to me that has just joined the military reserves. I admire him for making that decision especially in today’s crazy world of terror and war. He is making a commitment to the training that they will require, both to the mental and physical training that will prepare him for his assignment.

His life is in their hands. He has voluntarily given his life to them during the time he is in the military. You and I need to make the same kind of commitment when it comes to knowing Christ! We need to put Him first! Only when God has first place in our lives are we able to live lives that are godly and pleasing to Him.

Maybe you have been thinking about becoming a Christ Follower, but so far you have been unwilling to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. I understand your struggle. I have been right where you are.

But I can tell you from personal experience that without a doubt it was the best and the most important decision that I have ever made. It will be the best decision that you ever make in your life too!

Be bold and courageous. Do not be afraid! If God is Who He says He is and I know from personal experience that He is, then You can trust Him with your life!

Application

I will continue to challenge men and women to live for Christ. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help anyone that may be reading this blog that is trying to decide whether or not to put their faith and their trust in Jesus Christ. Open their spiritual eyes so that they can believe. Help all of us grow in Christ. Don’t let me be lazy. Don’t let me go in the wrong direction. I want to grow as a Christian every single day. I want to live a godly life. I know that it will help me in my life right now and I know that it will help me in the life that is yet to come!

Daily Bible Reading:  2 Kings 8,9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4

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Don’t Be Afraid! For There Are More On Our Side Than On Theirs!

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Don’t Be Afraid!
For There Are More
On Our Side Than On Theirs!

Scripture

2 Kings 6

¹⁴ So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city.

¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.

¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. 

“For there are more on our side than on theirs!”
 
¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” 

The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Observation

Ever feel out numbered? 

Ever feel like everybody is against you?

 Ever feel overwhelmed by the odds that are stacked up against you? 

Elisha’s servant looked and saw the enemy. He saw troops, horses, and chariots everywhere and he began to panic! 

Then Elisha asked God to open up his servant’s spiritual eyes so that he could really see the situation and he saw the hillside filled with God’s army - horses and chariots of fire! 

Maybe we need to see our bad situation from an Elisha’s perspective! 

If you and I are King’s kids then the same Owner of those chariots of fire that protected Elisha and his servant surrounds and protects us too! 

So lets not be afraid! “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

Application

I will not be afraid. The very Power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave lives in me!  {Romans 8:11} How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that You surround me with Your love. Even though I don’t deserve it You surround me with Your love and Your protection. Open up my spiritual eyes today so that I can see things from Your perspective!

God, You are my refuge and strength. You are always ready to help in times of trouble. So I will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.  Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is my fortress.
Psalm 46:1-3,11 {Personalized}


Daily Bible Reading:  2 Kings 6,7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3

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I Urge You, First Of All, To Pray For All People. Ask God To Help Them; Intercede On Their Behalf, And Give Thanks For Them.

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I Urge You, First Of All,
To Pray For All People.
Ask God To Help Them; Intercede On Their Behalf, And Give Thanks For Them. 

Scripture

1 Timothy 2

1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

Observation

Here is how to start my week. Not a bad idea for you too, to pray for all the people that God brings to mind and ask God to help them. Who are we going to pray for this week?

If God tells us to pray for people telling us to pray for Him to help them then God must plan on helping them.

When God puts someone on our heart for us to pray for him or her it is because God wants to show that our prayers will be answered.

Why would God tell us to talk to Him on behalf of other people if He wasn’t going to answer our prayers? Lets make sure that we thank God for them too!

Before I got out of bed this morning God had already brought some people to my mind and I had the opportunity to pray for them.

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.               I Timothy 2:1 MESSAGE

Application

I will pray for everyone that the Lord brings to my mind today and I will thank my God for him or her.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, there is so much I don’t know about life, but this one thing I do know and it is this; You love people and You want them all to be saved and I know that You want me to pray for them! Help me to stay focused on people and their needs and don’t let me think only about myself. Give me the strength to live out this day in a way that pleases You. Bring to my mind the people that need for me to pray for them today. I don’t know how You can hear so many prayers from so many believers at the same time but I am sure glad that You can. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayers. 

Daily Bible Reading:  2 Kings 4,5; Psalms 83; 1 Timothy 2

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May God The Father And Christ Jesus Our Lord Give You Grace, Mercy, And Peace.

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May God The Father And Christ Jesus Our Lord
Give You
Grace, Mercy, And Peace.

 Scripture

1 Timothy

2 I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith.
May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.

Observation

Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. Peace is what the whole world is desperately searching for and which can only be found in Jesus Christ. In fact, it is only in a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ that we can find and experience all three!

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. Ephesians 2:8-9

But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Application

I will pray that God gives you grace, mercy, and peace. How about you? Who are you praying for this morning?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are the God of grace, mercy, and peace. Thank You for allowing me to experience all three. You are so very good to me. I pray for anyone who may be reading this blog this morning. Give them all three. Give them the strength and the desire to get up and get to church today. Help us to focus on You and Your goodness. Help us worship You with all of our hearts! You alone are worthy of praise!


Daily Bible Reading:  2 Kings 1,2,3; Psalms 82; 1 Timothy 1

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Wherever Your Treasure Is, There The Desires Of Your Heart Will Also Be.

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Wherever Your Treasure
Is,
There The Desires Of Your Heart Will Also Be.

Scripture

Matthew 6

¹⁹ “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
 
²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
 
²¹ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Observation

What do you have here on earth that you treasure the most? I am not talking about your spouse or your family. What material possession or possessions do you treasure the most like your house, car, boat, hunting lodge, property, 401k, or other savings or checking accounts.

If you and I aren’t careful we will let money and material possessions become the driving force in our lives, they will become the main focus and desire of our hearts.

I hate to say it but I sometimes catch myself wanting something or wanting to do something that financially is totally out of my reach. Where do those thoughts come from?

Lets simplify our lives so we can focus on where our treasures should be stored! Lets quit worrying about what everybody else has and what we don’t have and lets focus on kingdom stuff – lets focus on people and building great relationships with them and helping them know our Savior Jesus Christ!

My most treasured possession is an old King James study Bible that Kathy gave me when God called me into the ministry. It is not much to look at but it is my greatest earthly possession. When I die I want someone to use that Bible or at least the notes that I have written in it to preach my funeral.

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? Matthew 6:25-27

Application

I will strive to be content and I will focus on building stronger relationships with the people that God has brought into my life. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be content with all that You have blessed me with. Don’t let me spend my time thinking about or worrying about stuff that doesn’t matter. Show me what is important. Show me how and where to invest my time and energy. I am blessed. You have been so good to me. You alone are worthy of praise!

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18,19; Colossians 4; Psalm 18, Psalm 118, Proverbs 18, Matthew 6

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Let The Message About Christ, In All Its Richness, Fill Your Lives.

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Let The Message
About Christ, In All Its Richness,
Fill Your Lives.

Scripture

Colossians 3

¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Observation

I hear Christians say, “I don’t read the Bible everyday, or say, “I don’t read the Bible like I should” or “I don’t read the Bible very much” and I am thinking to myself and often I tell them, “You are missing out on what God has for your life!”

No wonder we are struggling with everything.

No wonder we can’t live a victorious Christian life! I wouldn’t have a chance living like God’s wants me to live if I wasn’t in His Word everyday.

Why not make this commitment to the Lord today and say to Him, “I will read Your Word everyday and if I forget to read Your word and I remember after I am already in bed I will get back up and read.

Making a commitment to the Lord is serious business but this is one commitment that you and I have to make!“

Help us Lord to faithfully dig into your Word everyday so we can grow in Christ.”

Application

I will continue to encourage men and women to read God’s Word everyday so they are able to grow into strong vibrant followers of Christ. And I will read God’s Word every day so that I can do the same!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. I love it. Help me not to miss one day this year of being challenged by what You say to me in Your word. Your Word says, “How can a young {and even an old} person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. {Personalized and words in italics are mine} Psalm 119:9,11,105

I pray for Kathy today on her birthday! I am so thankful that You brought her into my life. She is the best. No person on earth is more important to me than Kathy. Nobody even comes close! Bless her today. Continue to bless her with good health. Answer all of her prayers. Give her the desires of her heart. Make all of her plans successful. (Psalm 20:1-4)
   

   


   

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 20,21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

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I Know The LORD Is Always With Me.

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I Know
The LORD
Is Always With Me. 

Scripture

Psalm 16

⁸ I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

Observation

King David was able to deal with his life, a life that was filled with continual crisis, war, rebellion and treachery because he knew that the Lord was always with him.

If we are living our lives like God doesn’t exist then we should be pitied.

Suicide, divorce, drugs, alcohol, murder, fighting, anger, rage, immorality, loneliness, death, financial collapse, if you are living without God by your side then where is your hope?

Jesus Christ is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He lives inside of me! How about you?

Application

I will not be shaken, for Jesus Christ lives inside of me. How about you? 

… And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20

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

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Amen   Psalm 139:7-14 {Personalized}


Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 17,18,19; Colossians 2; Psalm 16, Psalm 116, Proverbs 16

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Though His Disease Was Severe, Even In His Illness He Did Not Seek Help From The LORD, But Only From The Physicians

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Though His Disease Was Severe,
Even In His Illness He Did Not Seek Help From The LORD,
But Only From The Physicians

Scripture

2 Chronicles 14

⁹ Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah, ¹⁰ so Asa deployed his armies for battle in the valley north of Mareshah.


¹¹ Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!”

¹² So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled.
 
2 Chronicles 16

“…Though his {Asa} disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.” 

Observation

King Asa trusted God to deliver and save him from a million man army and God did, but in the later part of his life King Asa wouldn’t even talk to that same mighty God to heal his diseased foot, he only sought help from physicians!

What a fool!

Careful it may be happening to you too! Drifting away from the One who created us. Trusting in everything and in everyone except the One that can really help us is our natural tendency.

In Max Lucado’s book, “Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear” he says, Sin is “God-less” living, centering life on the center letter of the word sIn. The sinner’s life is me-focused and not God-focused.

How stupid it was for King Asa to not to depend on the mighty power of God! It is even more tragic for us to do the same thing.

We have a Heavenly Father who loves us. He wants us to depend on Him for every detail of our lives – the big things, little things, everything.

Application

I will talk to the Lord today about everything. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I don’t want to do like King Asa did and trust in everything else but You. “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help me, O Lord our God, for I trust in you alone.”

Let this always be my prayer. 

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15,16; Colossians 1



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Celebrate God All Day, Every Day. I Mean, Revel In Him!

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Celebrate God
All Day, Every Day.
I Mean, Revel In Him!

Scripture

Philippians 4

4 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!   MESSAGE

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, “Rejoice!” KJV

Observation

I love Philippians chapter 4! I could have written about so much today from this chapter! This is the chapter that I go to when I begin to worry. I have memorized Philippians 4:6-7 and you probably have too. Philippians 4:19 is also one of my favorite verses. Do you know that verse by heart? How about Philippians 4:8?

But this morning I am reminded to “Rejoice in the Lord” and that is what I plan to do!

It is a choice that you and I can make this morning! It is a choice!

The Apostle Paul is sitting in a jail cell not knowing if he will be executed or set free and instead of worrying about it he uses his time to encourage you and encourage me by telling us to “Rejoice in the Lord”. Amazing!

No matter how deep you are in “circumstances”, no matter if today finds you in a swamp knee deep in alligators “Rejoice in the Lord and again I say Rejoice!”

Application

I will celebrate God today. I will rejoice in the Lord. It is what I choose to do. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Thank You for Your goodness. You are worthy of my praise! I will rejoice in you today. I will revel in You.  

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book! How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!” Psalm 139 13-18



Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13,14; Philippians 4

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Forgetting The Past And Looking Forward To What Lies Ahead, I Press On To Reach The End Of The Race And Receive The Heavenly Prize

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Forgetting The Past
And Looking Forward To What Lies Ahead,
I Press On To Reach The End Of The Race And Receive The Heavenly Prize

Scripture

Philippians 3

¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Observation

Mass murder and acts of terrorism were all in the Apostle Paul’s past. It was part of his culture just like it is part of ours. The Apostle Paul became a believer in Jesus Christ and everything changed. It is hard to imagine that Saul with such a past could become Paul that wrote most of the New Testament.  

The Apostle Paul was in jail when he wrote to the church in Philippi, as he was when he wrote most of his letters to the churches. But neither his present circumstances nor his past caused him to be depressed.

His secret – he knew his future! 

He knew what was ahead for him. He knew that there was a heavenly prize waiting for him. His goal was to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, the power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. 

No matter what you and I go through today it is nothing compared to what we will experience when we see Jesus face to face. 

If yesterday’s horrific event scares you and causes you to be depressed. Let me remind you of this promise:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Application

I will stay focused on the finish line today! I have a heavenly prize waiting for me. How about you?

Prayer

Here is my prayer for you today!

 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. Philippians 1:9-11
Heavenly Father, I pray for all of the families that are dealing with grief from yesterday’s terrible tragedy. I pray that these families will turn to You for the help that they need. You are the God of all comfort and compassion. Be with all of the first responders as they deal with the emotional trauma of trying to help so many people and seeing so many that were killed. 

I pray for my son Eddie today on his birthday. I pray that You would help him to be strong and courageous. Help him to be all that You have created him for. Don’t let him settle for anything less than Your best for him. Help him be a positive influence to those around him. May he bring You much glory and honor. Bless him as he puts You fist in his life. 

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

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