Good Morning Folks...I'm tired, but makin it...Here's today's devotion, short and sweet!
Today's Topic: Empowered for a purpose
Scripture Text: Isaiah 6:8
"Who will go for us?"
There are two things we need to understand:
#1 Borrowed beliefs have no power: What good does it do to "borrow" the beliefs of someone else? You should have a personal encounter with God to know and understand who He is. Otherwise, your life will have no impact. After they'd been filled with the Holy Spirit, we read: "The apostles testified powerfully...and God's great blessing was upon them all" (Acts 4:33) Don't miss out on the things God has for you because you are too afraid to share him with others.
#2 Unused power has no value: What power has God given you that you aren't tapping into? What resources has he equipped you with that you aren't using to glorify his kingdom. You glorify him by sharing him with others. You must spend time in God's presence, building a relationship with Him, then carry His word to those hurting around you.
The power God gives you is not for storing, it is for sharing.
God has only one reason for filling you with His Spirit, that's to pour you out in service to others. Jesus said: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach...[and] heal the brokenhearted" (Luke 4:18)
God has empowered you with a purpose...so go fulfill it!
Peace and Love!
:: LA ::
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Daily Devotion for 7/18/11 God will bring you through
Happy Monday Everyone! Today's message is a positive push and a great way to start off the week!
Today's Topic: God will bring you through
Scripture Text: Acts 27:25
"I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me"
On his way to Rome, Paul and 276 others were shipwrecked. We learn three important lessons from their story:
#1 You must listen to God: If you don't you'll experience all types of heartache and loss: "Paul warned them: Men, I can see that your voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss'...But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and...the majority decided that we should sail' on" (Acts 27:9-12) Do you notice anything here? Remember, being in the majority does not make it right. So who are you listening to? Are you hearing God's voice? Does the "majority" know God? Are they walking by faith or by human reasoning?
#2 The purposes of God will always overcome the plans of men: God can actually make mistakes work for your good. Through this shipwreck Paul landed on Malta and introduced the Gospel to its people. So don't beat yourself up over your mistakes, or argue about who's right and who's wrong. Instead, try and see the hand of God on it.
#3 Whatever you've lost, God can restore: "[The people of Malta] honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed." (Acts 28:10) Don't limit God. He will use people to bless you--haven't even met yet. Jesus said: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom" (Luke 6:38)
Be encouraged; God will bring you through!
Love me some you!
:: LA ::
Today's Topic: God will bring you through
Scripture Text: Acts 27:25
"I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me"
On his way to Rome, Paul and 276 others were shipwrecked. We learn three important lessons from their story:
#1 You must listen to God: If you don't you'll experience all types of heartache and loss: "Paul warned them: Men, I can see that your voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss'...But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and...the majority decided that we should sail' on" (Acts 27:9-12) Do you notice anything here? Remember, being in the majority does not make it right. So who are you listening to? Are you hearing God's voice? Does the "majority" know God? Are they walking by faith or by human reasoning?
#2 The purposes of God will always overcome the plans of men: God can actually make mistakes work for your good. Through this shipwreck Paul landed on Malta and introduced the Gospel to its people. So don't beat yourself up over your mistakes, or argue about who's right and who's wrong. Instead, try and see the hand of God on it.
#3 Whatever you've lost, God can restore: "[The people of Malta] honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed." (Acts 28:10) Don't limit God. He will use people to bless you--haven't even met yet. Jesus said: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom" (Luke 6:38)
Be encouraged; God will bring you through!
Love me some you!
:: LA ::
Friday, July 15, 2011
Daily Devotion for 7/15/11 God is getting you ready
Happy Friday everyone!! I hope everyone has had a wonderful and productive week...Here's today's lesson :)
Today's Topic: God is getting you ready
Scripture Text: Luke 14:28
"No man builds without counting the cost"
Before God gives you more, He observes you with what you have. He wants to know that he can trust you. Furthermore, when He speaks a word over your life, it's like a seed; it needs time to take root and sprout. If God has planned it for you, don't get into a hurry. "Wait for it; because it will surely come" (Habbakuk 2:3) Patience develops in us the ability to stand up to the pressures that accompany blessing. Look back; aren't some of the things you've been through, the very things that have equipped you to handle what you have now? Had God given them to you sooner you couldn't have handled them, and loves you way too much to let that happen.
Think: If you're having difficulty handling criticism from a few people, how would do if God made you pastor or company president? Hmmm Are you ready to pay the price? And more importantly, are able to pay it? The more God gives you, the more he holds you responsible for. Jesus said: "No man builds without counting the cost." Sometimes we want things because others have them. You say you want a husband and children, but are you ready to start living sacrificially? You say you need a wife, but are you ready to "give yourself for her" (Ephesians 5:25)
Whatever you're going through today, there's great peace in knowing that nothing the enemy does can preempt God's plan. So, "Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing." (Psalms 37:34)
So think about the things that YOU THINK you should have right now. You may not be ready to receive it/them. Wait on the Lord. There's a reason for everything. God designed it that way so trust and wait on him!
Rejoice! God is getting you ready!
Song of Inspiration: "Wait on the Lord" Fred Hammond
http://youtu.be/4wcdY2v5Kio
Love y'all
:: LA ::
Today's Topic: God is getting you ready
Scripture Text: Luke 14:28
"No man builds without counting the cost"
Before God gives you more, He observes you with what you have. He wants to know that he can trust you. Furthermore, when He speaks a word over your life, it's like a seed; it needs time to take root and sprout. If God has planned it for you, don't get into a hurry. "Wait for it; because it will surely come" (Habbakuk 2:3) Patience develops in us the ability to stand up to the pressures that accompany blessing. Look back; aren't some of the things you've been through, the very things that have equipped you to handle what you have now? Had God given them to you sooner you couldn't have handled them, and loves you way too much to let that happen.
Think: If you're having difficulty handling criticism from a few people, how would do if God made you pastor or company president? Hmmm Are you ready to pay the price? And more importantly, are able to pay it? The more God gives you, the more he holds you responsible for. Jesus said: "No man builds without counting the cost." Sometimes we want things because others have them. You say you want a husband and children, but are you ready to start living sacrificially? You say you need a wife, but are you ready to "give yourself for her" (Ephesians 5:25)
Whatever you're going through today, there's great peace in knowing that nothing the enemy does can preempt God's plan. So, "Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing." (Psalms 37:34)
So think about the things that YOU THINK you should have right now. You may not be ready to receive it/them. Wait on the Lord. There's a reason for everything. God designed it that way so trust and wait on him!
Rejoice! God is getting you ready!
Song of Inspiration: "Wait on the Lord" Fred Hammond
http://youtu.be/4wcdY2v5Kio
Love y'all
:: LA ::
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Daily Devotion for 7/14/11 Blessing Comes By Association
Good Afternoon Everyone! Here's today's devotion
Today's Topic: Blessing Comes by Association
Scripture Text: Genesis 30:27
"The Lord has blessed me for your sake"
There is a principle in the Bible you need to learn if you are to enjoy God's best in your life: Blessing comes by association! The Bible says: "He who walks with wise men will be wise" (Proverbs 13:20) The story of Israel entering the promised land teaches us that we can keep company with people like Joshua and Caleb and go in and possess it, or hang around with the other ten spies who believed it couldn't be done and die in the wilderness. When Joseph entered Potiphar's house, he brought great blessings with him. When he went to Pharaoh's palace, the entire nation prospered. When Jacob wanted to return home to his own family, Laban, his father -in-law, said, "Please stay...for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake."
The Phillipian Church had a long partnership with Paul in spreading the Gospel. They supported him financially and he ministered to them spiritually. He writes: "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now" (Phillipians 1:3-5) And what was their reward? Paul says: "All of you share in God's grace with me" (Phillipians 1:7) This word "grace" simply means "all of God you'll ever nee, for every situation you'll ever face." How wonderful!
Paul got it from Jesus, and the Phillipians got it from Paul. Learn to recognize those walk in the blessing of God and get as close to them as you can. Blessing comes by association!
Thought of the day: So who's in your close circle?
God is in the blessing business!
Love ya!
:: LA ::
Today's Topic: Blessing Comes by Association
Scripture Text: Genesis 30:27
"The Lord has blessed me for your sake"
There is a principle in the Bible you need to learn if you are to enjoy God's best in your life: Blessing comes by association! The Bible says: "He who walks with wise men will be wise" (Proverbs 13:20) The story of Israel entering the promised land teaches us that we can keep company with people like Joshua and Caleb and go in and possess it, or hang around with the other ten spies who believed it couldn't be done and die in the wilderness. When Joseph entered Potiphar's house, he brought great blessings with him. When he went to Pharaoh's palace, the entire nation prospered. When Jacob wanted to return home to his own family, Laban, his father -in-law, said, "Please stay...for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake."
The Phillipian Church had a long partnership with Paul in spreading the Gospel. They supported him financially and he ministered to them spiritually. He writes: "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now" (Phillipians 1:3-5) And what was their reward? Paul says: "All of you share in God's grace with me" (Phillipians 1:7) This word "grace" simply means "all of God you'll ever nee, for every situation you'll ever face." How wonderful!
Paul got it from Jesus, and the Phillipians got it from Paul. Learn to recognize those walk in the blessing of God and get as close to them as you can. Blessing comes by association!
Thought of the day: So who's in your close circle?
God is in the blessing business!
Love ya!
:: LA ::
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Daily Devotion for 7/13/11 Start Praying!
Good Morning Folks! Hope your day has been going well...Here's today's devotion
Today's Topic: Start Praying!
Scripture Text: Hebrews 11:7
"Noah, warned by God...[saved] his household"
Are you close enough to God to hear His warnings when danger approaches? Noah was, and saved his family as a result. Are you close enough to your family for them to have confidence in what God has spoken to you? You can change the direction of your family without argument or discussion-through prayer. Your loved ones need to be sheltered under the covering of YOUR prayer life. If you don't have one, get down on your knees and say, "Lord, teach me to pray" (Luke 11:1) We are emotionally overwhelmed and spiritually depleted because we haven't learned the power of prayer. The lack of it has left us weak and anxious. We blindly make decisions for our businesses, our relationships and our ministries without taking time to talk it over with God.
The story of Noah teaches that you can't prepare for trouble-without warning from God. That means staying close to him and hearing what He has to say. you can do great things after you've prayed, but you can do nothing of eternal value until you've prayed. "If my people, which are called by name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14) God promises to intervene on behalf of the person who prays in His will. "If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15)
So how's your prayer life? Are there some things you need to go to God for? If you seek knowledge, understanding, peace, clarity, pray to God. Ask Him to make things plain...He is able to do exceeding abundantly above everything we could ever ahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifsk or think.
Do you need a blessing? Increase? Try the Prayer of Jabez: 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.' (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)
Song of Encouragement: Bless me/Prayer of Jabez (Donald Lawrence)
http://youtu.be/bp5smhDBGH4
Try God today!
Love you all!!
:: LA ::
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Daily Devotion for 7/7/11 Removing the barriers
Hey Folks...I know it's afternoon. Better late than never! Hope everyone has had a productive day thus far...
Today's Topic: Removing the barriers
Scripture Text: James 2:8-9
"If indeed you [really] fulfill the royal Law in accordance with the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as [you love] yourself, you do well. But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favoritism) for people, you commit sin and are rebuked and convicted by the Law as violators and offenders." James 2:8-9 AMP
Thoughts for Today
Most of us tend to prejudge people on the basis of how they dress, what their family members are like, stereotypes built by the media of particular ethnic groups, and on many other superficial and erroneous grounds.
There is a danger in rejecting or misjudging someone because they are different from us. First of all, the Bible tells us thatprejudice is a sin, one that blocks our ability to love others as we should.
We could even miss a blessing from God by rejecting strangers due to prejudice. This was the mistake that the people of Jesus' time on earth made when they rejected him as the promised Messiah and King. Because Jesus did not come in the way they expected, they crucified him.
We can also miss an opportunity to bless others—maybe even an opportunity to help them find Jesus—when we allow these invisible walls of prejudice—even subtle ones—to build.
Consider this …
Ask God to help you see the walls you have built and to begin removing those barriers between you and others. Ask him to help you begin to look on the inside and see people as he does. Only then can the love of Jesus flow freely through you to everyone he brings your way.
Prayer
Father, I do want the love of Jesus to flow freely through me to every person. Forgive me for sometimes blocking this flow by judging others by outward appearances. Help me see each individual as you do and respond to them with your love. In Jesus' name …
Have a blessed afternoon/evening!
Peace and Love,
:: LA ::
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Daily Devotion for 7/6/11 Entangled in sin
Today's Topic: Entangled in Sin
Scripture Text: Psalms 40:2
[The Lord] drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure
AS a child I loved to spend long summer days running barefoot in our backyard. Sometimes briars would take over sections of the yard; and because of my sensitive feet, I chose to frolic elsewhere.
One day, I attempted to cross one of the briar patches. I tiptoed and hopped around, trying to avoid the thorns and thistles. After a few moments, I realized that I had made it only to the middle of the briar patch. My tender toes and I were surrounded. I felt trapped and afraid. Then I did the only thing I knew to do. I cried out, "Daddy!" Soon, I saw my father running through the backyard toward me. He picked me up and set my feet back on the soft grass.
Like me approaching that briar patch, we tiptoe around sin only to find ourselves suddenly entangled, with no way out. Fortunately, we have a loving father who hears our cry. God reaches down, pulls us out of the briars of sin, and sets our feet on the right path.
Mitzi C. Smith (South Carolina, USA)
Prayer
Thank you, God, for saving us. We pray in gratitude, saying, "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.
Prayer Focus
Those who are entangled in sin
Scripture Text: Psalms 40:2
[The Lord] drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure
AS a child I loved to spend long summer days running barefoot in our backyard. Sometimes briars would take over sections of the yard; and because of my sensitive feet, I chose to frolic elsewhere.
One day, I attempted to cross one of the briar patches. I tiptoed and hopped around, trying to avoid the thorns and thistles. After a few moments, I realized that I had made it only to the middle of the briar patch. My tender toes and I were surrounded. I felt trapped and afraid. Then I did the only thing I knew to do. I cried out, "Daddy!" Soon, I saw my father running through the backyard toward me. He picked me up and set my feet back on the soft grass.
Like me approaching that briar patch, we tiptoe around sin only to find ourselves suddenly entangled, with no way out. Fortunately, we have a loving father who hears our cry. God reaches down, pulls us out of the briars of sin, and sets our feet on the right path.
Mitzi C. Smith (South Carolina, USA)
Prayer
Thank you, God, for saving us. We pray in gratitude, saying, "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.
Prayer Focus
Those who are entangled in sin
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Daily Devotion for 7/5/11 Awesome Love
There is a strong chance that I may have to get them taken out and the recovery time as an adult is a lot different from a child. It's been a rough 2 weeks but God has been keeping me.
Here's today's devotion:
Today's Topic: Awesome Love
Scripture Text: Mark1:10
"As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove."
SUMMER storms on Florida's west coast can be intense and frightening. As scary as they may be, I still feel a curious sense of wonder as I observe these storms approaching. Seeing dark clouds angrily churning just before a deluge begins is a scene of beauty to me. Such a display is testimony to the awesome power of the One who created weather.
I imagine something similar when I think of the day at the Jordan River when Jesus was baptized. The scripture says that heaven was "torn open." This wasn't a gentle parting; rather, it was a powerful display to announce the anointing of God's Son, Jesus.
And yet what followed was a tender statement of love from a father to a son: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11). This same God who opened the heavens that day also reaches down to us in love. God is the all-powerful Lord who tenderly loves us and seeks our love in return. How can we resist or reject a love that is so awesomely, and yet gently, offered?
Michael J. Reynolds (Florida, USA)
Prayer
Kind Father, thank you for your amazing, undeserved, and compelling love. Amen.
Prayer Focus
Those who feel unlovable
Have a blessed day!
:: LA ::
Here's today's devotion:
Today's Topic: Awesome Love
Scripture Text: Mark1:10
"As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove."
SUMMER storms on Florida's west coast can be intense and frightening. As scary as they may be, I still feel a curious sense of wonder as I observe these storms approaching. Seeing dark clouds angrily churning just before a deluge begins is a scene of beauty to me. Such a display is testimony to the awesome power of the One who created weather.
I imagine something similar when I think of the day at the Jordan River when Jesus was baptized. The scripture says that heaven was "torn open." This wasn't a gentle parting; rather, it was a powerful display to announce the anointing of God's Son, Jesus.
And yet what followed was a tender statement of love from a father to a son: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11). This same God who opened the heavens that day also reaches down to us in love. God is the all-powerful Lord who tenderly loves us and seeks our love in return. How can we resist or reject a love that is so awesomely, and yet gently, offered?
Michael J. Reynolds (Florida, USA)
Prayer
Kind Father, thank you for your amazing, undeserved, and compelling love. Amen.
Prayer Focus
Those who feel unlovable
Have a blessed day!
:: LA ::
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