Sunday, April 22, 2012
People Will Hurt Us
People will hurt us, more often, the ones we love the most. Nonetheless, it is because of Gods amazing love that we bless them and love on them all the more in spite of it. God bless.
Fat Head
John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30. I think about the fact that Jesus said among those born of woman, there is none greater than John the Baptizer. Matt 11:11. John knew that his ministry was important. He knew he had been prophesied about hundreds of years earlier. If there was anyone with reason to have a big fat head about his ministry and what he has accomplished, it was John the Baptist. But no, he knew who was to be glorified. He knew Jesus was to be high and lifted up! He humbled himself even more than he had already because it was the Christ who was come to forgive the sins of man. Let us never forget that it is Jesus we live for, it is He that should be placed first above all else. It is not us, it's not about us or what we have done. So many think they got it all together. I've been at this a long time they say, or I have been spoken over for this or that. Success in ministry does not equal success with God. There are many people spiritually dying because of arrogant men and woman that claim to be of God who think they know it all. Christian, if your not living according to what Jesus teaches, then please ask Father to help you realize Jesus in your life. God bless.
Never Going Back!
I think about the battle we as Christians fight everyday - the one against ourselves. When once we were born of the Spirit of God, we have become new creations (2 Cor. 5:17). A creation fashioned to think differently, to act differently, to live differently - to live by the Spirit. Why then do most of us continue to live as though we are the same old person? God has accepted us to be His child, a child that can come to His throne room and operate in confidence, in boldness, with wisdom and with strength. Do not let the old you sneak up on you and prevent you from experiencing Father's best in your life. I read, anything that God allows to happen in your life is the best thing for you. So what if I lose my job, my house, my family? If we are children of God walking by the Spirit and in obedience, then that is the very best thing. Accept it and praise Him! Don't revert back to your old self and your old ways of thinking, instead, take every thought captive that goes against God and make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). We as Christians face so much opposition everywhere we go. The world hates us because of Jesus in us. The last thing we need is to allow our minds and thoughts to get the best of us. Remember, "It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows." Gal 5:13. Love you guys, God bless.
Live Right for God
Because we belong to the day, (belong to God through Jesus our Lord) we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy - Romans 13:13 NLT; rather, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength...Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these - Mark 12:30-31. God bless.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Pray for the Unsaved
It is of vital importance we pray for our unsaved family, friends, and anyone we know. When we pray for the unsaved in our lives we must remember a few key points: 1) the devil keeps them blind to the truth of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). 2) we have been given power and authority to bind the devil (Matt. 12:29) 3) faith comes by hearing, so we need to have the unsaved hear the Word (Rom. 10:17) 4) we need laborers (including us) to deliver that Word (Matt. 9:37). So then, combine these truths and you have a powerful prayer by which to pray for the unsaved. Below is a prayer taken from KC Ministries, I thought it was very good (fill in the blank with name(s)).
“Father, I come before You in prayer and in faith, believing. Your Word says You desire all men to be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth, so I bring ________ before You this day.
“I break the power of Satan from his assignments and activities in ________’s life in the Name of Jesus. Now, while Satan is bound, I ask that You send forth the perfect laborers to share the good news of the gospel in such a way that ________ will listen and understand it. As the truth is ministered, I believe ________ will open his/her eyes to the gospel, come out of the snare of the devil and make Jesus Lord.
“Father, I ask that You fill ________ with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. As I intercede in his/her behalf, I believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is activated, and from this moment on, I shall praise and thank You for ________’s salvation. I am confident that You are alert and active, watching over Your Word to perform it. It will not return to You void. It will accomplish that which You please and prosper in the thing whereto it was sent.
“Therefore, my confession of faith is: ‘God has begun a good work in ________’s life and He will perform it and bring it to full completion until the day of Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ Name.’”
God Bless.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
No Matter What
No matter what, you be the person God has made you. You be the one to
obey God regardless of what happens or what others think; regardless of who does what to you.
Regardless of the many let downs and screw ups. Regardless of the
wrongs done to you. Regardless! It is then you understand the love of
Christ and can fully appreciate being a child of the Most Holy God. God
bless.
God is Faithful
God is so faithful! He always come through just when you need Him. He never ceases to amaze me. I love you Papa, so much!
One Life
We get one life. That's it! How will we spend it? Growing old chasing
what the world tells us we should have or do? Or will we dare live life
as we were meant to? If you didn't know, we were meant to live for God
through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and by the grace of the Holy
Spirit. Guys, with Christ is the only way to be sure we are living life
to the fullest - a life filled with genuine
love. I am blessed today with a beautiful family because of the
decision I made to make Jesus the center of my life. Will you make a
decision to stop being a slave to the world and become a friend of God?
See "A Simple Prayer Can Change Your Life" Post. God Bless.
Trust [Wait on] God, Not Man.
When you know in your heart of hearts that God is telling you to make a move and He has confirmed it - go for it! Wait only on God, not man. Sometimes; however, God waits for you to act first. Don't wait to feel powerful
or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in
spite of your fears and feelings. -Rick Warren (Thanks Bro for sharing). At times we get hung up on waiting for Leaders or Pastors or Brethren
to give us the green light to do this or that when we know emphatically
that God is telling us - Go! Not everyone is going to catch your
vision, you have to trust God and make a move in spite of yourself and
others. As long as you know that you're walking right with God in Spirit
and obedience, have had clear unction from God and have had
confirmation from God's Word or other trusted source, then Go Child, Go!
God bless.
False Accusations
Thing is, when as a Christian, you're out and about doing the will of
the Lord in your life - don't be surprised by the false accusations made
about you. In fact, count it a blessing. The enemy is the accuser of
the brethren (Job, Revelation). His aim is to bring discord and mistrust
so we feel alone and/or incapable. Jesus was falsely accused at every turn. But we press in with the Word of God
and the reality that we are being constantly
interceded for by the great intercessor, Jesus Christ! If we stand true
and obedient before the Almighty, God our Father - nothing can touch
us. Oh death, where is thy sting? (1 Cor. 15:55), What can mortal man do
to me? (Psa. 56:4). God will always see to it that justice is served.
Our job is to pray Gods grace on our accuser(s) and keep on keepin on in
the important task of ministry and reaching the lost for Christ. God
bless.
The Love of God
To
all my Simple Devotionals friends who have not yet experienced the
amazing and awesome love of God in their life. I want to tell you, God
loves you so much - He gave His son Jesus to die on a cross and pay the
penalty of death we so deserve as sinners. A penalty that would keep us
forever separated from God. But God desires that all of us would be with
Him for eternity in the most beautiful of places
- heaven! And not only that, but that we would enjoy Him here and now.
Living life for God is an unforgettable adventure that fills the heart
with joy and gladness - more than anything else in this world ever can.
Believe me when I say, God loves you and desires a relationship with
you. He desires to help you through everything you experience in life
and looks forward to eternity with you. And it all starts with believing
in and receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I can help you
if you have any questions. God Bless.
Take Those Thoughts Captive
I think about the battle we as Christians fight everyday - the one against ourselves. When once we were born of the Spirit of God, we have become new creations (2 Cor. 5:17). A creation fashioned to think differently, to act differently, to live differently - to live by the Spirit. Why then do most of us continue to live as though we are the same old person? God has accepted us to be His child, a child that can operate in confidence, in boldness, with wisdom and with strength. Do not let the old you sneak up on you and prevent you from experiencing Father's best in your life. I read, anything that God allows to happen in your life is the best thing for you. So what if I lose my job, my house, my family? If you are a child of God walking by the Spirit and in obedience, then that is the very best thing for you. Accept it and praise Him! Don't revert back to your old self and your old ways of thinking, instead, take every thought captive that goes against God and make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). We as Christians face so much opposition everywhere we go. The world hates us because of Jesus. The last thing we need is to allow our minds and thoughts to get the best of us. Remember, "It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows." Gal 5:13. Love you guys, God bless.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
I Will Praise Him No Matter What!
I was on an elevator with my wife. I was as pleasant as spring sunshine and singing praise. A few people get on. A guy about my height was among those that entered. I say God bless you. I'm looking at him straight in the eyes and ask if he's ok, he didn't seem to be. I get, "I'm not in the mood." with a a stare that could kill. At that, I could have responded in one of two ways ~ stay quiet and let his mood and attitude dictate the rest of the elevator ride and show the people who heard me praising God that I was afraid of him, or continue to praise God and love on this angry man and verbally bless him in spite of what he said and did. Well, I most certainly did the latter. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I love all people, and I felt bad that the guy was in a funk but that will never stop me from being who I am. I am a Christian, a Son of the Most High God! And I am certainly not afraid to to do what I did. God bless.
Sharing the Gospel
Was at a Mexican restaurant with my wife, I had never been so I asked a couple behind me if they had; they said yes. My next question was were the beans refried or whole (I don't like refried beans). They obliged my question and I thought they were very helpful. I contined chatting with them as we moved forward on the line. I asked if they went to church. Turns out the couple was from two different faiths, Christian and Muslim. I was going to ask them to join us but there was no where for them to sit, they were doing take out anyways. Before they left I told the guy that what his lady tells him about Jesus Christ is true; He is the way, the truth, and the light, there is no other way to right relationship with God and no entry into heaven without Him. My wife saw what was happening from behind us. His girl was holding his arm as though to prevent him from doing something (have no idea why she would have done that) I was sharing the gospel with someone I may never see again and I may have made him angry. That's going to happen, some people don't want to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, but I will continue to share my faith and the love of God. That's what we as Christians are supposed to do. I know I planted a seed or did some watering, God will cause the increase. God bless.
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