Thursday, March 31, 2011

Daily Devotion for 3/31/11 Serve Him Today

Happy Thursday Everyone! I pray your week has been blessed thus far. Leh Go!

Today's Topic: Serve Him Today

Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 8:4-9



Most of us have wanted something so badly that even though we knew it was wrong, we plunged after it anyway. Later we have felt sorrow for our spiritual stubbornness and stupidity. In the aftermath of willfully disobeying God, we may become angry with ourselves, numbed by regret, or resigned to the consequences of our foolish mistake. But there is another choice.

When the people of Israel insisted on having a king despite the warnings of Samuel the prophet (1 Sam. 8:4-9), God allowed them to have their way. But when they realized the tragic results of their choice, they asked for Samuel’s help and prayers (12:19). Samuel told the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart” (12:20).

We can’t undo yesterday, but we can act today to influence tomorrow. Samuel promised to pray for them and teach them the right way. He urged them, “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you” (v.24).

God invites us to serve Him today, humbly acknowledging His forgiveness and His faithfulness.

Sins confessed you must forget;
Look not back to yesterday—
Full of failure and regret;
Look ahead and seek God’s way. —D. De Haan

Don’t let yesterday’s failures bankrupt tomorrow’s efforts.


Peace and Blessings Fam!

:: LA ::

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Daily Devotion for 3/30/11 In Times of Need

Sorry folks, I know I've been slackin. Charge it to my head and not my heart. Have a productive day...


Today's Subject: In Times of Need

Scripture Text: Read Daniel 6:3-10


Three times a day [Daniel] got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
--- Daniel 6:10 (NIV)

WITHOUT warning, I lost my job, and I left work the day my notice was given. That evening, I adopted my usual habit of Bible reading and prayer but was interrupted by a call from a friend whom I had e-mailed earlier with my news. During our conversation, I read her a phrase from the Bible that had caught my attention. "The last thing I expected you to be doing was reading the Bible!" she exclaimed.

Like many people, I guess, I don't trust God unless I have to. As difficulties have come, I've learned not to reject God but to run to God. This has come about through my daily habit of praying and reading the Bible. These actions have deepened my relationship with and my dependence on God. I know that I need to establish the habit of listening to God in my everyday routine so that I will hear God's voice in times of need.

Trust is difficult, especially when our circumstances are hard and our questions aren't answered. Daniel had learned the secret: the habit of daily prayer. That practice offers us help in all of our challenges.

Hilary Allen (Somerset, England)
Prayer
Dear God, help us to realize the importance of spending time with you each day. Teach us to love you more in the time we spend together. Help us to love and to trust you in all circumstances. Amen.


Prayer Focus

New Christians and their growth

Peace and Blessings Fam...I'll be back on my Daily Devotional grind soon enough

:: LA ::

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Daily Devotion for 3/17/11 Drowning?

Good Morning Folks! Today's devotional comes from Andy Baker out of Tennessee. I needed this! Yesterday was a day I felt like I was drowning...I had a really emotional day and I needed God more than I knew...He stepped in and fought all of my battles on yesterday. Thank you God for your continued support. Thank you for being Jehovah Jireh the Lord who provides. Thank you for the new mercies you allow me to see with each new day.

Be encouraged on today Family. I love you all...SN: No phone for the next few days so if you've been trying to reach me, now you know why you haven't heard from me

Today's Topic: Drowning?

Scripture Text: Mark 4:35-41



"Woe to me!" [Isaiah] cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."
-Isaiah 6:5 (NIV


WHILE visiting a public pool recently, I considered the contrast between the lifeguard and those who are in danger. Being the lifeguard is by far the more desirable position. I would prefer something like the role of lifeguard in my daily life as well. But the truth is, I am often more like the one who is drowning.

I am the one who needs the Lord to provide my daily food, clothing, and shelter (Matt. 6:33). I am the one who has sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23). As a result, I am the one in need of daily forgiveness as I confess my sins and my need for God (1 John 1: 9). I am the one drowning. Like Isaiah, I have unclean lips (Isa. 6:5). Like Paul, I do the very things that I do not want to do (Rom. 7:15). Like Peter, I try to help God and act in ways that my human understanding dictates as a better plan (Matt. 16:22; John 18:10-11) -- even though I am the one drowning.

Aren't we all more like the one drowning than like the lifeguard? Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are poor in spirit" -- those who recognize their need for God -- "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3). The more we recognize our desperate need for God, the closer we come to God's kingdom.

Andy Baker (Tennessee, USA)

Prayer
Dear God, help us to remember when we feel like we are drowning that you are close at hand to help us. Amen.



Prayer Focus

Those who fear water



Peace, Blessings and Love,

:: LA ::

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Daily Devotion for 3/15/11 A time to wait

Today's Topic: A Time to Wait

Read Isaiah 40:26-31

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. -Colossians 3:15 (NRSV)

A man's wife was quick to remind him that he was not good at waiting. She had often pointed out that he would make some situations more difficult by pushing ahead before he had all the facts or the cooperation of others. No one wants to be like that -- and the first step in changing a behavior is awareness. Coming into these and similar situations over and over again can get our attention and help us become aware of attitudes or behaviors that hinder our relationship with God or create problems for others.
When we are dealing with worry, anger, impatience, or other signs of anxiety, Christ offers us a sense of peace that can transcend whatever challenge we face. When troubles or situations arise that threaten our peace, we can rely on the strength of our relationship with God by calling on God in prayer and choosing to accept God's peace in place of our anxiety. Remembering Christ's words in John 14 and applying them in our lives help us to practice our faith when troubles come or when we feel impatient

Prayer

Dear God of peace, help us to sense your presence at all times and to seek your peace. Amen.

Thought for the Day
Peace comes from knowing that Christ holds all things together. (See Col. 1:17.


Prayer Focus

Those struggling with anxiety


Peace and Love Family...Keep me in your prayers as you are in mine.

:: LA ::

Monday, March 14, 2011

Daily Devotion for 3/14/11 Treasure Seeker

Happy Monday Everyone! Let's get this week started right!


Today's Topic: Treasure Seeker
Scripture Text: Proverbs 2:1-5


Yes, beg for knowledge; plead for insight. Look for it as hard as you would for silver or some hidden treasure.
-Proverbs 2:3-4 (TEV)


A family was panning for gold in a river near our home. They sloshed into the water at the river's edge and positioned the sluice box (a grooved trough used for separating gold from sand and rocks). The husband scooped in a shovelful of mud from the river bottom. Water flooded the box, washing away grains of sand. Dead leaves and twigs floated to the surface. They cleaned out this debris, along with larger rocks and pebbles, and scoured the bottom of the trough for precious flakes of gold.

As the wife watched, she realized that we are like soil from the river bottom: worth something but also filled with debris. But when we dig into and apply God's word to everyday circumstances, the Lord filters from our lives what is useless. When we seek the treasure in the Bible, God helps us discover it.

As scripture permeates our hearts and minds, it cleanses us of destructive emotions. Ephesians 4:31-32 tells us how to deal with bitterness and anger. Philippians 4:6 helps us confront anxious thoughts. The Bible offers solutions for attitudes that block us from becoming the people God created us to be. As we live the truth from God's word, our lives can shine with substance and lasting value.\

Prayer for the Day:


Thank you, God, for the priceless treasures you reveal to us as we read the Bible. Amen


Thought for the Day:


God builds on the best in us


Stay Positive Family. If I haven't told you lately, I love you. May God bless your week!


Peace and Blessings

:: LA ::

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Daily Devotion for 3/10/11 Don't Lose Heart

Hello Family. I have not forgotten you!! This week is my busiest week of the year, every year, but that's no excuse! Here is today's Devotion. I pray it encourages you like it has encouraged me!

Be blessed Family!

Today's Lesson: Don't Lose Heart

Scripture Text: Phillipians 3:12-16; Isaiah 41:10


Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God. (Isaiah 41:10)


There was a husband and wife that went to see their six-year-old granddaughter participate in a school field competition. One of the events was the 100-yard dash.

Some of the youngsters, including their granddaughter, did not reach the goal or receive a prize because they were constantly looking back rather than concentrating on pushing forward. They were thrown off course; the ground they had gained on those behind them was lost, and they did not reach the goal.

The same thing happens in our spiritual life when we constantly look back and become preoccupied with mistakes of the past. Holding on to memories of past sins can cause us to lose heart, and we do not reach our objective. Paul reminds us in Philippians to leave the past behind and look forward to what lies ahead in order to attain "the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14).

Focus on the path that God has placed before YOU. Your course/race is not the same as the person next to you...They have different pot holes and stumbling blocks. Keep moving forward


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHDrDXLb1Is&tracker=False



Prayer of the day:

Loving God, help us continue without looking back, to move ahead toward the goal of God's calling in Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."* Amen.

Thought for the day:
Life in Christ releases us from the past

Prayer Focus:
Those hold back by their past

Alright family be blessed on today...I'm praying for you!

Peace and Love,

:: LA ::

Monday, March 7, 2011

Daily Devotion for 3/7/11 A Clean Slate

Happy Monday Everyone!!! Let's get the week started right :)


Today's Topic: A Clean Slate
Scripture Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17


"If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17)



There was a man who told of a dream whereby he came to feel the forgiveness of God. In this dream, he told God that he wished to be forgiven for the wrongs he had done. God responded by asking him to list his transgressions on a blackboard. He started writing a list of what he considered to be "minor sins" To his surprise, as rapidly as he wrote, God erased the words. Amazed, my friend wondered what would happen with more "major" sins. He began to add what he though to be more serious offenses. Almost in disbelief, he saw the same erasing occur. No matter what he wrote, God quickly erased it.

Waking from the dream, he thought of the Bible verse above about becoming a new creation and that God's love is like that of the prodigal's father. My friend believes that God welcomes us and erases our transgressions just as he saw in the dream.

We can confess all misdeeds and sins, both large and small, ask for forgiveness, and know that God not only forgives but also erases our sins as if they had never existed. With our slate wiped clean, we are new creations.
Today, I want you to pray these words:

Make us as willing to come to you, O Lord, as you are to receive us. Embrace us. As your prodigals come home, Lord, forgive us and hold us in your love, now and forever. Amen.

Thought of the day:

God promises to remember our sin no more. (Jeremiah 31: 33-34)

I pray that each of you have a wonderful and prosperous weekend on today. Change someone's life today...Yours!!

For those that are in the area, I invite you out to revival on tonight at Shiloh Baptist Church. The guest revivalist is Minister John Gray of Atlanta, GA. Awesome Man of God. Google him!

Be Blessed Family!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Happy Wednesday Folks! Today's Devotion is taken from Bible.com These verses spoke to me today

Proverbs Day 61 (KJV):

Proverbs 10:12-14:(KJV): "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. 13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction."


Thoughts for the Day

These verses in Proverbs are a contrasting picture of hatred and love, and wisdom and foolishness. Those who are hateful are always stirring up trouble and getting in strife with others. People who hate have hostile minds and are full of malice toward others. Their hatred not only leads to the persecution of those they oppose, but it also manifests even toward those who are their friends. Anyone who embraces hatred, will soon find that this emotion does not stop with just hating one's enemies, but it will break out against people they do not want to hurt. The reason is that the very nature of sin is to grow. If we do not resist it, it will overtake us, and we will find that it has become our master. If a person hates another, soon they will find they are unable to selectively hate certain people as they become consumed with the spirit of hate.

On the positive side, those who choose to love and forgive others, will find that will have loving natures. When we ask the Lord to give us love for those who use us and persecute us, we can conquer all hateful thoughts toward others. We cannot do this in ourselves; however, the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome hatred with His love. This love is a wonderful miracle we receive when we receive Christ in our hearts. As Christians, we will not want to expose people's sins, but rather, we will cover them with love. In our world today, it is popular to dig up and expose people's sins. Many good people who are in the public spotlight and have made some mistakes in their lives, are scrutinized unmercifully. Gossip mongers always try to find something that people have done wrong, usually for political reasons. I am not referring to corrupt leaders when I make this statement, as their own sins will find them out, because they sin openly, as well as sin in the shadows. They reap what they sow.

In verse 13 those who lack understanding and are foolish, will bear the "rod of correction." In early times, men who did wicked deeds were openly punished by public whipping. The "rod" used, was sometimes a tree branch or in some cases a stick. All sins come with a penalty attached to them. The greater the sin, the greater the penalty. Jesus died on the cross and took the penalty for our sins. Without His sacrifice, we would all not only face hell, but deserve it as well. If we come to Him and ask Him to forgive our sins, and invite Him into our hearts, we will not go to hell, but heaven will be our home.

Verse 14 says that if we are wise we will store up knowledge. This knowledge is of the things of God. Hosea 4a says: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." The reason so many of God's people are destroyed is because they lack the knowledge of God's Word. They are foolishly speaking the wrong things that are bringing destruction upon their lives. We should speak the things that the Bible declares, and not allow negative things to come out of our mouths that are contrary to the Word of God.

Peace and Love...

Pray for someone today...throw one in there for me as I prepare to enter a very busy season in my life. Pray for my strength through these times.

Love you all...

:: LA ::

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Daily Devotion for 3/1/11 Instead of Complaining, Change!

Hey Family Happy Tuesday...I woke up this morning and I could have sworn it was Wednesday! Nevertheless I am truly thankful for this day? How about you?

Today's Lesson: Instead of Complaining, Change!
Scripture Text: Lamentations 3:40


"Let us examine our ways and test them" (Lamentations 3:40)


So, I saw this title and said to myself...Self, myself said hmmmm "It's time you make some changes, you keep complaining, but you won't do anything about it" I'm so glad I stumbled across this message...So here we go

One child complains about the other: "Mommy, he hit me" [If that doesn't sound like my whining lol] She's convinced its her brother's fault, that he ought to be punished, that she should have sympathy and be absolved of all responsibility. [Yep, sounds right to me] But her brother is equally certain: "She started it. She took my toy." We grow older, but not always wiser! It "just happened" we say, then proceed to blame others for our circumstances. We dance to the tune but we don't want to pay the piper, so we complain about our consequences, saying it wasn't our fault. This is not the way God does business, and it doesn't work. "Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?" (v.39)

What works with God is this:

#1 Acknowledge your wrong behavior: Even though it was initiated by someone, you still played a part in it, and that is your responsibility. Plus, complaining offends God. "The People complained...in the hearing of the Lord, and...his anger was aroused" (Numbers 11:1) Deal with your own sin, and leave other people's sins to God. He's got that...

#2 Look at your behaviors:
"Let us examine our ways" Look beyond this specific event to how you typically act in certain situations. You're supposed to learn from it and change!

#3 Determine whether your ways really work: "Let us...test them" Observe, analyze, and judge how well your ways have actually worked--or not!

#4 If they don't work, change them: "Let us return to the Lord" (Lamentations 3:40) Repeating wrong behaviors guarantees continued failure. Returning to doing things God's way, brings the end of frustration and the beginning of joy and fulfillment!

So stop whining, fussing, and pouting over things you have the power to change. Stop complaining and start working to live better and be better.

Peace and Love Family


:: LA ::