Welcoming the New You

You were taught to leave your old self—to stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self becomes worse, because people are fooled by the evil things they want to do. But you were taught to be made new in your hearts, to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God—made to be truly good and holy. - Ephesians 4:22-24

Think, for a moment, about the "old" you, the person you were before you invited Christ to reign over your heart. Now, think about the "new" you, the person you have become since then. Is there a difference between the "old" you and the "new and improved" version? There should be! And the difference should be noticeable not only to you but also to others.

The Bible clearly teaches that when we welcome  Christ into our hearts, we become new creations through Him, Our challenge, of  course, is to behave ourselves like new creations. When we do, God fills our hearts, He blesses our endeavors, and He transforms our lives.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for creating us a new. For recreating us to become like Your Son Jesus. Help us, so that, our behavior would match the new person we have become.
Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the following passage -

Ephesians 4:17-32

New Century Version (NCV)

The Way You Should Live

¹⁷ In the Lord’s name, I tell you this. Do not continue living like those who do not believe. Their thoughts are worth nothing. ¹⁸ They do not understand, and they know nothing, because they refuse to listen. So they cannot have the life that God gives. ¹⁹ They have lost all feeling of shame, and they use their lives for doing evil. They continually want to do all kinds of evil. ²⁰ But what you learned in Christ was not like this. ²¹ I know that you heard about him, and you are in him, so you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught to leave your old self—to stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self becomes worse, because people are fooled by the evil things they want to do. ²³ But you were taught to be made new in your hearts, ²⁴ to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God—made to be truly good and holy.
²⁵ So you must stop telling lies. Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body.^{[a] 26} When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day. ²⁷ Do not give the devil a way to defeat you. ²⁸ Those who are stealing must stop stealing and start working. They should earn an honest living for themselves. Then they will have something to share with those who are poor.
²⁹ When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. ³⁰ And do not make the Holy Spirit sad. The Spirit is God’s proof that you belong to him. God gave you the Spirit to show that God will make you free when the final day comes. ³¹ Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. ³² Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.

Challenge:
Behave yourselves like new creations.

Popularity Contests

Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10

Are you a people pleaser or a God pleaser? Hopefully, you're far more concerned with pleasing God than you are with pleasing your friends. But face facts: even if you're a devoted Christian, you are still going to feel the urge to impress your friends and acquaintances - and sometimes that urge will be strong.

Peer pressure can be good or bad, depending upon who your peers are and how they behave. If your friends encourage you to follow God's will and to obey His commandments, then you'll experience positive peer pressure, and that's a good thing. But, if your friends encourage you to do foolish things then you're facing a different kind of peer pressure... and you'd better beware.

To sum it up, here's your choice: you can choose to please God first, or you can fall victim to peer pressure. The choice is yours- and so are the consequences.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:
God,
We are a people who long to please someone. Help us, so that, someone would be You and only You. Let everything flow from Your being pleased.
Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the following passage -

Galatians 1:6-10

New Century Version (NCV)

The Only Good News

6 God, by his grace through Christ, called you to become his people. So I am amazed that you are turning away so quickly and believing something different than the Good News. 7 Really, there is no other Good News. But some people are confusing you; they want to change the Good News of Christ. 8 We preached to you the Good News. So if we ourselves, or even an angel from heaven, should preach to you something different, we should be judged guilty! 9 I said this before, and now I say it again: You have already accepted the Good News. If anyone is preaching something different to you, let that person be judged guilty!
10 Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Challenge:
Please God! Praise God! Proclaim God!

God Cares

For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God. - Deuteronomy 10:17

It's a promise that is made over and over again in the bible: Whatever "it" is, god can handle it.

Life isn't always easy. Far from it! Sometimes, life can be very, very tough. But even then, even during our darkest moments, we're worried, God can reassure us; when we're sad, God can comfort us. When our hearts are broken, God is not just near; He is here. So we must lift our thoughts and prayers to Him. When we do, He will answer our prayers. Why? Because He is our Shepherd, and He has promised to protect us now and forever.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:

Heavenly Father, 

Thank You for the promise of protection today, tomorrow, and forever.

Amen.

Digging Deeper:

Read the following passage - 

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

What God Requires

12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul? 13 Keep the Lord’s commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good.14 The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the Lord was devoted to your fathers and loved them. He chose their descendants after them—He chose you out of all the peoples, as it is today. 16 Therefore, circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer. 17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. 19 You also must love the foreigner, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. 20 You are to fear Yahweh your God and worship Him. Remain faithful[a] to Him and take oaths in His name. 21 He is your praise and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome works your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down to Egypt, 70 people in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of the sky.

Challenge:
Hold on to God, His Word, and the promise He has made to care for you.

The Ultimate Armor

Finally, be srong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take our stand against the devil's schemes. - Ephesians 6:10-11

In a world filled with dangers and temptations, God is th ultimate armor, In a world filled with misleading messages, God's Word is the ultimate truth. In a world filled with more fustrations than we can count, God's Son offers the ultimate peace. Will you accept God's peace and wear God's armor against the dangers of our world?

Sometimes, in the crush of everyday life, God may seem far away, but He is not, God is everywhere you have ever been and everywhere you will ever go. He is with you night and day; He knows your thoughts and our prayers. He is your ultimate Protector. And, when you earnestly seek His protection, you will find it because He is here - always - waiting patiently for you to reach out to Him.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:
Father, thank you for Your protection. Jesus, thanks You for salvation, and peace. Spirit, thank You for sealing me from everything that is not godly.
Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the folowing passage -

Ephesians 6:10-20

New Living Translation (NLT)

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we^[a] 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.

¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.^{[b] 16} In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.^{[c] 17} Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.^[d]

¹⁹ And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.^{[e] 20} I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

 

Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RwiXHRZoF0

 

Challenge:

Prepared yourself for battle, put on the full armor of God today.

Self-esteem 101

Tht is why we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" - Hebrews 13:6

Sometimes, it's hard to feel good about yourself, especially since you live in a society that keeps sending out the message that you've got to be perfect.

Are you your own worst critic? In response to that criticism, are you constantly trying to transform yourself into a person who meets society's expectations, but not God's expectations? If so, it's time to become a little more understanding of the person in the mirror.

Millions of words have been written about various ways to improve self-esteem. Yet, maintaining a healthy self-image is, to a surprising extent, a matter of doing a few simple things: 1. Obeying God. 2. Thinking healthy thoughts. 3. Finding things to do that please your Creator and yourself. 4. Finding encouraging friends who reinforce your sense of self-worth, friends who urge you to behave yourself and believe in yourself. When you do these four things, your self-image will trend to take care of itself.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:

Lord,
I am so greatful that I was created in Your image. Help me to see myself through Your eyes.
Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the following passage -

Hebrews 13:1-18

New Living Translation (NLT)

Concluding Words

13 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.^{[a] 2} Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! ³ Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

⁴ Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
⁵ Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,

“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”^[b]

⁶ So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”^[c]

⁷ Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
¹⁰ We have an altar from which the priests in the Tabernacle^[d] have no right to eat. ¹¹ Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. ¹² So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. ¹³ So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. ¹⁴ For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
¹⁵ Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. ¹⁶ And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
¹⁷ Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
¹⁸ Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.

Challenge:
Allow God to determine your self worth.

The Courage to Follow God

Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He wont leave ou or forsake you. - 1 Chronicles 28:20

Because we are saved by the risen Christ, we can have hope for the future, no matter how desperate our circumstances may seem. After all, God has promised that we are His throughout eternity. And, He has told us that we must place our hopes in Him.

Today, summon the courage to follow God. Even if the path seems difficult, even if your heart is fearful, trust God and follow him.Trust Him with your day and your life. Do His work anad share His Good News. Let Him guide your steps. He will not lead you astray.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:
Thank You Jesus, because of You, we have hope for the future, no matter how desperate our situation gets. Thank You for the promise that we would be with You for eternity. Give us the courage to follow the Father, even if the path is hard. Help us to trust Him, do His work, and share His Good News.
Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the following passage -

1 Chronicles 28:11-21

New Century Version (NCV)

¹¹ Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for building the Temple and the courtyard around the Temple. They included its buildings, its storerooms, its upper rooms, its inside rooms, and the place where the people’s sins were removed. ¹² David gave him plans for everything he had in mind: the courtyards around the Lord’s Temple and all the rooms around it, the Temple treasuries, and the treasuries of the holy items used in the Temple. ¹³ David gave Solomon directions for the groups of the priests and Levites. David told him about all the work of serving in the Temple of the Lord and about the items to be used in the Temple service ¹⁴ that were made of gold or silver. David told Solomon how much gold or silver should be used to make each thing. ¹⁵ David told him how much gold to use for each gold lampstand and its lamps and how much silver to use for each silver lampstand and its lamps. The different lampstands were to be used where needed. ¹⁶ David told how much gold should be used for each table that held the holy bread and how much silver should be used for the silver tables. ¹⁷ He told how much pure gold should be used to make the forks, bowls, and pitchers and how much gold should be used to make each gold dish. He told how much silver should be used to make each silver dish ¹⁸ and how much pure gold should be used for the altar of incense. He also gave Solomon the plans for the chariot of the golden creatures that spread their wings over the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord.
¹⁹ David said, “All these plans were written with the Lord guiding me. He helped me understand everything in the plans.”
²⁰ David also said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and brave, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, because the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or leave you until all the work for the Temple of the Lord is finished. ²¹ The groups of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the Temple of God. Every skilled worker is ready to help you with all the work. The leaders and all the people will obey every command you give.”

Challenge:
Follow God no matter what.

 

Finding Comfort

I was very worried, but you comforted me... - Psalm 94:19

If you are a person with lots of obligations and plenty of responsibilities, it is simply a fact of life: You worry. From time to time, you worry about health, about money, about safety, about family, and about countless other concerns, some great and some small.

Where is the best place to take your worries? Take them to God. Take your troubles to Him; take your fears to Him; take yout doubts to Him; take your weakness to Him; take your sorrows to Him... and leave them there. Seek protection from the One who offers you eternal salvation; build your spiritual house upon the Rock that cannot be moved.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:
Heavenly Father,
I worry. I worry about my health, about money, about being safe, about my family, and many other things. Father, I am bringing those worries to You. Thank you for taking my burdens and giving me Your yoke.

Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the folloing passage -

Psalm 94:16-19

New Century Version (NCV)

¹⁶ Who will help me fight against the wicked?
Who will stand with me against those who do evil?
¹⁷ If the Lord had not helped me,
I would have died in a minute.
¹⁸ I said, “I am about to fall,”
but, Lord, your love kept me safe.
¹⁹ I was very worried,
but you comforted me and made me happy.

 

Video:

 

 

Challenge:

Turn all your worries over to God, and be happy He is in control.

The Dangers of Pride

Pride leads only to shame; it is wise to be humble. - Proverbs 11:2

The words from Proverbs 11 remind us that pride and destruction are traveling partners. But as imperfect beings, we are tempted to puff our chests and crow about our own accomplishments. When we do so, we delude ourselves.

As Christians, we have a profound reason to be humble: We have been refashioned and saved by Jesus Christ , and that salvation came not because of our own good works but because of God's grace. Thus, we are not "self-made"; we are "God-made" and "Christ-saved." How, then, can we be boastful? The answer, of course is simple: if we are honest with ourselves and with our God, we cannot be boastful. In the quiet moments, when we search the depths of our own hearts, we know that whatever "it" is, God did that.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:
Lord Jesus,
Everything we have, we have because of You. We did absolutely nothing to earn what we have. Help us to recognize Your gifts as gifts and not works of our hands. Help us so that we give you the praise for what we have, and we will not pridefully boast about what we did not do, and steal Your glory.
Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the following passage -

Proverbs 11:1-4

New Century Version (NCV)

1 The Lord hates dishonest scales,
but he is pleased with honest weights.

² Pride leads only to shame;
it is wise to be humble.

³ Good people will be guided by honesty;
dishonesty will destroy those who are not trustworthy.

⁴ Riches will not help when it’s time to die,
but right living will save you from death.

Challenge:
Give God all the glory that comes your way.

Your To-Do List... and God's

Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure. - James 4:8

Have you fervently asked God to help prioritize your life? Have you asked Him for guidance and for the courage to do the things that you know need to be done? If so, then you're continually inviting your Creator to reveal Himself in a variety of ways. As a follower of Christ, you must do no less.

When you make God's priorities your priorities, you will receive God's abundance and His peace. When you make God a full partner in every aspect of your life, He will lead you along the proper path: His path. When you allow God to reign over your heart, He will honor you with spiritual blessings that are simply too numerous to count. So, as you plan for the day ahead, make God's will your ultimate priority. When you do, every other priority will have a tendency to fall neatly into place.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:
Heavenly Father,
Your Son, my Savior, Jesus, followed Your will. It was the most important thing in His life. While on earth He exemplified a life of making Your priorities, His priorities. Help me to be like Jesus.
Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the following passage -

James 4:1-10

New Century Version (NCV)

Give Yourselves to God

4 Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that war within you. ² You want things, but you do not have them. So you are ready to kill and are jealous of other people, but you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God. ³ Or when you ask, you do not receive because the reason you ask is wrong. You want things so you can use them for your own pleasures.

⁴ So, you are not loyal to God! You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God’s enemy. ⁵ Do you think the Scripture means nothing that says, “The Spirit that God made to live in us wants us for himself alone”?^{[a] 6} But God gives us even more grace, as the Scripture says,

“God is against the proud,
but he gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs 3:34

⁷ So give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you. ⁸ Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure. ⁹ Be sad, cry, and weep! Change your laughter into crying and your joy into sadness. ¹⁰ Humble yourself in the Lord’s presence, and he will honor you.

Challenge:
Make God's priority your priority

Finding Fulfillment in All the Right Places

I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for - will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I come so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life then they ever dreamed of. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. - John 10:9-11

Where can we find contentment? It is a result of wealth or power or beauty or fame? Hardly. Genuine contentment is a gift from God to those who trust Him and follow His commandments.

Our modern world seems preoccupied with the search for happiness. We are bombarded with messages telling us that happiness depends upon the acquisition of material possessions. These messages are false. Enduring peace is not the result of our acquisitions; it is spiritual gift from God to those who obey Him and accept His will.

If we don't find contentment in God, we will never find it anywhere else. But, if we seek Him and obey Him, we will be blessed with an inner peace that is beyond human understanding. When God dwells at the center of our lives, peace and contentment will belong to us just as surely as we belong to God.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:

Heavenly Father, 

We come to you because You are the giver of great gifts. Thank You, for one of those gifts is peace and contentment. Thank You, for salvation, because of what Your Son did for us, we can now enter into Your rest.

Amen

Digging Deeper:

Read the following passage -

John 10:1-18

English Standard Version (ESV)

I Am the Good Shepherd

10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Video Link:
Check out the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coq_grSFlNs

Challenge:
Learn to recognize the Good Shepherd's voice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living With the Unexpected

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. - Proverb 27:1

The old saying is both familiar and true: "Man proposes and God disposes." Proverbs 27:1 remind us that our world unfolds according to God's plans, not our wishes. Thus, boasting about future events is to be avoided by those who acknowledge God's sovereignty over all things.

Are you planning for a better tomorrow for yourself and your family? If so, you are to be congratulated: God rewards forethought in the same way that He often punishes impulsiveness. But as you make your plans, do so with humility, with gratitude, and with trust in your Heavenly Father. His hand directs the future; to think otherwise is both arrogant and naive.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:

Heavenly Father,

We are not guaranteed tomorrow, so when we make plans, let them be directed by You.

Amen

Digging Deeper:

Read the following passage - 

Proverbs 27:1-4

New Living Translation (NLT)

Don’t brag about tomorrow,
    since you don’t know what the day will bring.

² Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—
    a stranger, not your own lips.

³ A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,
    but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier.

⁴ Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood,
    but jealousy is even more dangerous.

Challenge:

Run all your plans for tomorrow with God.

Today: A Day of Celebration

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! - Philippians 4:4

What is the best day to celebrate life? This one! Today and every day should be time for celebration as we consider the Good News of God's gift: salvation through Jesus Christ.

What do you expect from the day ahead? Are you expecting God to do wonderful things, or are you living beneath a cloud of worry and doubt?

The familiar words of Psalm 118:24 remind us of a profound yet simple truth: "This is the day which the LORD has made." Our duty, as believers, is to rejoice in God's marvelous creation. For Christians, every day begins and ends with God and His Son. Christ came to this earth to give us abundant life and eternal salvation. We give thanks to our Maker when we treasure each day. So with no further ado, let the celebration begin.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for creating this day and every day. Help me to see Your beautiful works and also to rejoice in them.

Glory, Honor, and Praise to Your Son Jesus

Amen

Digging Deeper:

Read the following passage -

Philippians 4:2-8

New Living Translation (NLT)

Words of Encouragement

² Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. ³ And I ask you, my true partner,^[a] to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ 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.
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Challenge:
Rejoice in the Lord

Laughing with Life

A joyful heart make a face cheerful - Proverbs 15:13

Laughter is medicine for the soul, but sometimes, amid the stresses of the day, we forget to take our medicine. Instead of viewing our world with a mixture of optimism and humor, we allow worries and distractions to rob us of the joy that God intends for our lives.

So the next time you find yourself dwelling upon the negatives of life, refocus your attention to things positive. The next time you find yourself falling prey to the blight of pessimism, stop yourself and turn your thoughts around. And, if you see your glass as "half empty," rest assured that your spiritual vision is impaired. With God as your protector and Christ your Savior, your glass is filled to the brim and overflowing...forever.

Today, as you go about your daily activities, approach life with a smile on your lips and hope in your heart. And laugh every chance you get. After all, God created laughter for a reason... and Father indeed knows best. So laugh!

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of laughter. When life starts to rob me of the joy which You bring, I ask that you would send me a thought that would put a smile on my face and remind me of You.
Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the following passage -

Proverbs 15:8-13

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

⁹ The Lord detests the way of the wicked,
but He loves the one who pursues righteousness.

¹⁰ Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.

¹¹ Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord—
how much more, human hearts.

¹² A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;
he will not consult the wise.

¹³ A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CUKQxPTjpY

 

Challenge:

Approach life with a smile on your lips and hope in your heart, and laugh every chance you get.

 

 

God's Surprising Plans

But as it is written: What no eyes has seen and no ear has heard, and what has never come into a man's heart, is what God has prepared for those who love Him. - 1 Corinthians 2:9

God has plan for your life, wonderful, surprising plans... but He won't force those plans upon you. To the contrary, He has given you free will, the ability to make decisions on your own. With that freedom to choose comes the responsibility of living with the consequences of the choices you make.

If you seek to live in accordance with God's will for your life- and you should- then you will live in accordance with His commandments. You will study God's Word, and you will be watchful for His signs. You will associate with fellow Christians who will encourage your spiritual growth, and you will listen to that inner voice that speaks to you in the quiet moments of your daily devotionals.

God intends to use you in wonderful, unexpected ways if you let Him. The decision to seek God's plan and to follow it is yours and yours alone. The consequences of that decision have implications that are both profound and eternal, so choose carefully.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the plan You have laid out for my life. Even though I don't understand it, help me to choose and follow it.
Amen

Digging Deeper:
Read the following passage -

1 Corinthians 2

New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul’s Message of Wisdom

2 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters,^[a] I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.^{[b] 2} For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. ³ I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. ⁴ And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. ⁵ I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

⁶ Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. ⁷ No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God^[c]—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. ⁸ But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. ⁹ That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.”^[d]

¹⁰ But^[e] it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. ¹¹ No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. ¹² And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

¹³ When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.^{[f] 14} But people who aren’t spiritual^[g] can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. ¹⁵ Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. ¹⁶ For,

“Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to teach him?”^[h]

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

 

Challenge:

Seek to live in accordance with God's will for your life.

The Problem of Sin

Stay awake and pray, so that you won't enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. - Matthew 26:41

How hard is it to bump into temptation in this crazy world? Not very hard. The devil, it seems, is out on the street, working 24/7, causing more pain and heartache in more ways then ever before. We, as Christians, must remain vigilant. Not only must we resist Satan when he confronts us, but we must also avoid those places where Satan can most easily tempt us. And, if we are to avoid the unending temptations of this world, we must arm ourselves with the Word of God.

In a letter to believers, Peter offers a stern warning: "Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour". What was true in the New Testament times is equally true in our own. Satan tempts his prey and then devours them (and it's up to you- and only you- to make sure that you're not one of the ones being devoured!).

As believing Christians, we must beware because temptations are everywhere. Satan is determined to win; we must be equally determined that he does not.

#alln4Jesus

Prayer from the Blogger:

Protector, Lord, and Savior, Jesus,

Satan, despises You so much, that he is looking to devour and destroy those You love. We look to You for deliverance from temptation, and protection from the schemes of Satan. In You we place all of our trust, confidence, and faith.

Amen

Digging Deeper:

Read the following passage -

Matthew 26:36-46

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch^[a] with me.” ³⁹ And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰ And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴² Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it,your will be done.” ⁴³ And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.^[b] See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-mp_iAtOns

 

Challenge:

Surround yourself with people who will not let you fall into temptation, and do not place yourself where you will fall to temptation.