Isaiah 26: 3 PEACE

"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You." ~ (Isaiah 26: 3)

PEACE - 1. a state of tranquility or quiet. 2. freedom from oppressive thoughts or emotions. 

"IT IS WELL!"

Psalms 42:11

"Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God."

Tell yourself today;

"IT IS WELL, OH MY SOUL!!!"

As Christians, we have power to bring about change in our circumstances.

What ends up happening sometimes is that we forgot or simply don't realize the authority we have been giving in Christ!

"LIVE WITH PASSION!"

Philippians 4: 7

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." ~ (Philippians 4: 7)

When life is hard and times are tough we thank You for the perfect peace in Christ the world cannot understand. Amen.

THE DRIVING FORCE IN OUR LIVES!

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing."

"SPIRITUAL GIFTS MUST BE PROPERLY BALANCED!"

"THE BEST BALANCING TOOL IS LOVE!"

"LOVE ALLOWS US TO BECOME GOOD STEWARDS OF THE GIFTS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN!"

"WHY?"

"BECAUSE THE GIFTS ARE MEANT TO BUILD UP THE BODY OF CHRIST!"

"MIS-USING THE GIFTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN IS A SCRIPTURAL VIOLATION!"

"EVERYTHING WE DO, MUST BE DONE IN LOVE OR IT IS NOT MOTIVATED BY THE GOD OF LOVE, BUT RATHER BY OUR FLESHLY AMBITIONS & DESIRES!"

Challenge of the Day:

"LET LOVE BE THE FORCE THAT DRIVES YOU!"

What am I doing?

1 Corinthians 9:24

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win."

Thought of the Day;

"DISCIPLINE!"

3 John 1: 2

"Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually." ~ (3 John 1: 2)

We thank You Father, for the gift of companionship. Lord, bless our friendships and keep them holy. Amen.

3 John 3: 11

"Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God." ~ (3 John 1: 11)

Amen. 

James 4: 4

"Adulteressess! Don't you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God." 

~ (James 4: 4)

"Show me your friends and I'll show you your future." ~ Ronnie Melancon

Belonging!

1 Corinthians 8:6

"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him."

"WE EXIST FOR THE FATHER'S PLEASURE & ALL THIS WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST!"

"THEREFORE, LET US LIVE AS THOUGH WE BELONG TO OUR CREATOR!"

Prayer for today;

"LORD, HELP US TO SURRENDER OUR ACTIONS, OUR MOTIVES & OUR PLANS TO YOU!"

Psalm 119: 63

"I am a friend to all who fear You, to those who keep Your precepts." ~ (Psalm 119: 63)

God bless you, friend. Amen.

Together!

When Jesus came to this earth, He was in search of one kind of people.

Those people were the one's who recognized their need for a Savior.

They did not come to point out the flaws of others.

Nor to discuss theological views.

Instead, those who Jesus came to seek were those who found themselves in a fallen state, those who looked within & were desperate for change.

But it goes further than that;

"JESUS CAME TO OFFER THEM NEW LIFE!"

"LIFE THAT WOULD BE SATISFYING!"

"LIFE THAT THEY WOULD IN NO OTHERWISE HAVE!"

"THAT LIFE WAS ROOTED IN A RECONCILED RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER!"

"THEY WERE RESTORED & GIVEN THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION!"

"THEY WERE SAVED WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF BRINGING GOD GLORY!"

"GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS POWER OVER LIFE, DEATH & SIN!"

"TODAY, AS WELL AS THEN, WE ARE CALLED TO PROCLAIM GOD'S GREATNESS TO A LOST & DYING WORLD!"

"BUT WE MUST DO THIS TOGETHER!"

"WE CAN NOT AFFORD DIVISIONS!"

"THE PHARISEES & SADDUCEES, WHILE THEY KNEW ALL THE RIGHT WORDS & CARRIED OUT ALL THE SPECIFIC RITUALS, THEY FAILED TO EMBRACE THE LIVING WORD THAT STARED THEM IN THEIR FACE!"

All this to say;

"GUARD YOURSELF FROM BECOMING SO CAUGHT UP IN THE LETTER THAT YOU LOOSE SIGHT OF GOD'S LOVE!"

"WE ARE CALLED TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL!"

"LET'S DO THIS TOGETHER!"

You become what you worship!

Psalms 115:8

"Those who make idols are just like them,

as are all who trust in them."

Proverbs 17: 17 FRIEND

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time." ~ (Proverbs 17: 17)

FRIEND - 1. one attached to another by affection or esteem. 2. one not hostile. 3. a favored companion.

Proverbs 27: 17

"As iron sharpens iron, so one friend sharpens another." ~ (Proverbs 27: 17)

Lord, grant us wisdom and guidance in selecting friends that will be honest, build us up, and increase our faith in You. Help us to walk away from those that do the opposite. Amen.

1 Corinthians 1: 27

"God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong." ~ (1 Corinthians 1: 27)

Our shame is gone, we've been set free! May we be unashamedly Christian no matter what. Amen.

Jeremiah 8: 9

"The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and snared. They have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom do they really have?" ~ (Jeremiah 8: 9)

Amen. 

Romans 8: 1

"Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus." ~ (Romans 8: 1)

"Sin has the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages." ~ Thomas Watson

Mark 8: 38

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." ~ (Mark 8: 38)

God bless. Amen.

Psalm 69: 19 SHAME

"You know the insults I endure - my shame and disgrace. You are aware of all my adversaries." ~ (Psalm 69: 19)

SHAME - 1. a painful emotion caused by conscious guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety. 2. humiliating disgrace.

Who but You!

Lord, I thank You that You are Lord!
No one else will do!

Romans 10: 11

"For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame."

~ (Romans 10: 11)

Lord, thank You that in You there is no guilt or shame. In return, may we never be ashamed  to publicly claim Your name. Amen.

Galatians 6: 16

"May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel of God!" ~ (Galatians 6: 16)

Father, help us to not shy away from high standards, but to embrace them. May our Lord Jesus forever be our measuring standard for life. Amen.

1 Corinthians 13: 11

"When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things." 

~ (1 Corinthians 13: 11)

Glory to God! Amen.

John 9: 41

"If you were blind, Jesus replied, 'you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, 'your guilt remains." ~ (John 9: 41)

"I am convinced that the first step towards attaining a higher standard of holiness is to realize more fully the amazing sinfulness of sin." ~ J.C. Ryle

James 4: 17

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them."

~ (James 4: 17)

God bless your day friend. Amen.

Romans 12: 6 STANDARD

"According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophesy, use it according to the standard of one's faith." ~ (Romans 12: 6)

STANDARD - something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example.

Luke 12: 48

"To whom much has been given, much will be required." ~ (Luke 12: 48)

As our faith and knowledge of God grow, so may the standards for living we set for ourselves. Amen.

Matthew 18: 12

"What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep, and one goes astray, won't he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray?" ~ (Matthew 18: 12)

Thank You Jesus for never giving up on us when we stray. Help us always to see the benefits of staying with You and the group. Amen.

Isaiah 53: 6

"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." ~ (Isaiah 53: 6)

Amen.

Repentance & Forgiveness!

Psalms 51
"Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,
And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness,
Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
Hide Your face from my sins
And blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will be converted to You.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
By Your favor do good to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,
In burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar."

1 Peter 5: 8

"Be alert! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." ~ (1 Peter 5: 8)

"Every time I stray away from the Lord's word, I find emptiness and darkness." ~ Tyson Fury

God is for us!

1 Corinthians 2:9

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,

And which have not entered the heart of man,

All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

"GOD IS PREPARING US FOR SOMETHING GREATER THAN US!"

The question is;

"ARE WE WILLING TO EMBRACE IT?"

"THOSE WHO LOVE GOD SHOULD TRUST GOD WITH THE DETAILS OF THEIR LIFE!"

"GOD IS FOR US!"

1 Peter 2: 25

"For you strayed like sheep, but now return to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

~ (1 Peter 2: 25)

Christ be with you, family. Amen.

Make room!

2 Corinthians 7:2

"Make room for us in your hearts."

Here, Paul was pleading with his listeners to embrace his teachings about Christian Living.

Let us keep in mind that:

"He was talking to believers."

They had been striving to please God, but somewhere along the way, they strayed from sound doctrine.

They were in need of proper instruction from a qualified instructor.

They needed clarification about certain issues that they were facing at that moment.

That is where Paul enters the scene;

"HE CAME TO BRING CORRECTION WHERE CORRECTION WAS NEEDED."

But there was resistance;

"The people did not appreciate being told that they were doing the wrong thing for the right reason."

"While they were desiring to please God, they were hesitant to accept His instruction through Paul."

The Corinthians were a people in whom the Lord richly manifested His presence & gifts.

God sent Paul to teach them how to improve their influence for Christ.

So Paul tells them;

"DO NOT CLOSE YOUR EARS OR YOUR HEARTS TO MY INSTRUCTION!"

"LET ME TEACH YOU A BETTER WAY!"

"DON'T HARDEN YOUR HEART TO ME BECAUSE I CORRECT YOU!"

"EMBRACE MY INSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT IS NOT I, BUT GOD WHO GIVES IT TO YOU!"

Family, God has placed people in our live's to give us direction.

I pray that we would make room in our hearts for improvement.

I pray that we would allow God to mold us into vessels of influence for this lost & dying world.

"I PRAY THAT WE WOULD MAKE ROOM IN OUR HEARTS!"

Psalm 119: 118 STRAY

"You reject all who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is a lie." ~ (Psalm 119: 118)

STRAY - 1. to roam about without fixed direction or purpose. 2. separated from the group or not in the right place.

Proverbs 19: 27

"If you stop listening to correction, my child, you will stray from the words of knowledge." ~ (Proverbs 19: 27)

We all stray from time to time. Praise God, there's a Shepherd to call us back! May 2017 be a year of less straying and more clinging to Jesus. Amen.