He does everything soooo extravagantly! The people of Israel needed water. Do he give them a cupful? A gallon? A well? A river? NOOOOO... "He split the rocks in the desert and gave them an OCEAN of fresh water." Pslams 78:15 ERV
Jesus is just walking from town to town with his followers and he asks two interesting, parallel questions: "Who you PEOPLE say I am?" and then, "Who do YOU say I am?" And one of those answers is more important than the other... Take a guess which one?
This is 100th Devotional! So let's READ THE WORD, THINK ABOUT IT, TALK TO GOD ABOUT IT and ACT ON IT together! Today let me just encourage you as you face problems, troubles, setbacks and obstacles that HE DOES EVERYTHING AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME!
Last part of My Story U share that my life is not perfect even now. I have a whole new set of problems while still trying to overcome old issues and hurts. But I love what Philippians 3:12 says because it’s so my thoughts exactly: “I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his.”
Over and over again, God has shown me that no matter how damaged,broken, messy I am or how incredibly awful I have ruined everything, HE still has a purpose and a plan for our lives! And “He will bring someone alongside of us so we can be there for them like HE was there for us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4 MSG
I’ve disappointed a lot of people. I’ve hurt a lot more. I’ve experienced freedom and breakthrough only to mess up and be in bondage again to hurts, habits and hang ups. If you’re like me, throwing in the towel is a real tangible temptation. But I tell you today: Don’t Give Up!
Just using these five epeisodes leading up to Devotional number 100 to share my story... And using my life verse to encourage anyone who is listening: “He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4
Just taking a fresh look at Philippians 4:19 where it says "My God will use his glorious riches to give you EVERYTHING you need." And when HE says EVERYTHING, he doesn't just mean the material things, the visible stuff. HE means EVERYTHING!
How is 2020 treating you? Guess what, despite the problems and troubles that followed you from the previous year, OVERWHELMING VICTORY IS YOURS! the bible says so in Romans 8:37... "Despite all these things [hunger, death, trouble, calamity, persecution] overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."
The end of the first full week of 2020! How are you doing with your goals? Resolutions? Promises? Just here to encourage you today to BE BALANCED. As 3 John 1:2 tells us, "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as HEALTHY IN BODY as you are STRONG IN SPIRIT."
Wrapping up the little series #BeTheLight with an encouraging note: Share the light God has given you to those around you! Philippians 2:14-15 reads, "Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world."
Come on, be honest: Do you get tired of doing the right thing? Of doing good? The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:9 to "not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don't give up."
Continuing on with #BeTheLight and talking about how EASY it is to be a light in this world. We make it more complicated. Isaiah 58:10 tells us to , "Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon."
It's like an extension of devotionals 12 and 13... However, instead of IN THE LIGHT, now we are talking about BE THE LIGHT. John 8:12 Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." So today's challenge is BE THE LIGHT!
The Savior of the world, God's son, Jesus Christ himself lives in you?!?!? "Don't you realize that Jesus Christ lives in you?" (2 Corinthians 13:5 ERV) That means HIs power, His Presence, His healing, His love, His mercy, His joy, His strength, His wisdom and so much more is inside of you!
Philip has been walking, living, learning, growing with Jesus for close to three years now. That's 24/7 with the Son of God himself. And yet Philip still says to Jesus, "Show us the Father. That is all we need." And Jesus answered him, "Philip, I have been with you for a long time. So YOU SHOULD KNOW ME."(John 14:8-9 ERV). Guys, WE SHOULD KNOW HIM! And one of the best ways to get to know HIM is doing these four things daily: READ the WORD. THINK about it. TALK to GOD about it. And ACT on it....
Man-Oh-Man! It's New Year's Day! With a new year comes new resolutions or goals or whatever you want to call it. And maybe you're setting the target a little lower because you think you can achieve what GOD actually wants you to do... But guess what? YOU CAN DO IT! Why? Because HE is with you. Says so in Exodus 3:12. Moses says, "I'm not a great man." And God replies, "You can do it because I will be with you."
There's that gospel song that says "Trouble won't last always" and it's not just a feel good thing to say. HIS WORD tells us that "Nevertheless that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever." Be encouraged!
It's a resounding chorus of people yelling out loud "Don't hurt yourself! We are all here!" No matter how dark or lonely or hard it is.
Although today we will concentrate on Ecclesiastes 4:12, we will read through verses 9-12 to get a better idea as to why #LifeIsBetterTogether... "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of t...
Kicking off a three-part devotional on the importance of brotherhood/sisterhood/friendships aka accountability partner. Using the two guys walking to Emmaus after Jesus was crucified and rose again as a jumping off point. Luke 24:13-15 reads, "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[ a ] from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came ...
Ephesians 3:20 says, "With God's power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of." Why live a life unplugged from the source of love and power and creativity and knowledge and greatness? Let HIS power work through you so HE can do MUCH, MUCH MORE! (w/song "Waymaker" by Sinach)
It's time to do some SELF-EXAMINATION and REFLECTION. As Matthew 7:5 so joltingly tells us "Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." (w/song "Here's My Heart" by Casting Crowns)
Philippians 4:12-13 ERV "I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation—when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do." Be encouraged today! HE is the secret to making it through any situation. (w/song "He's Always There" by CeCe Winans)
We are going into the HOLIDAY SEASON and it's not always easy for some... but James 1:2 says "Dear Brothers and Sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." Be encouraged today! (w/song "Joy" by For King And Country)
Love Proverbs 16:3 because it gives us a simple instruction and a HUGE blessing... "Turn to the Lord for EVERYTHING you do, and you will be successful." (w/spontaneous worship by Steffany Frizzell Gretzinger)
Just a little something different the Friday before Thanksgiving... Pronouncing a blessing over someone is important and powerful because our words are powerful... I pray Psalms 20:1-5 ERV over your life: May the Lord answer you in times of trouble. May the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from his Holy Place. May he support you from Zion. May he remember all the gifts you have offered. May he accept all your sacrifices. Selah May he give you what you really want. May he make all y...
Psalms 23:4 tells us that "EVEN IF I WALK THROUGH A VALLEY as dark as the grave, I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me."
Just a short two part devotional on being IN THE LIGHT. Luke 11:36 NLT really hit me hard... well, specifically just three little words sent me into deep reflection: NO DARK CORNERS... "If you are filled with the light, with NO DARK CORNERS, then your whole life will be radiant, as thought a floodlight were filling you with light."
One last part to the series THE MIND... Ephesians 4:22 says, "LET THE SPIRIT RENEW YOUR MIND and attitudes."
