Saturday, 2 November 2013

Doing my best with what I have by AD

Exodus 20:17
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

How do you feel about your life? Do you like it, love it, enjoy it or do you hate it and wish you had someone else’s life? Do you look at other people and their lives and wish you had a different one than you have?
In the Bible wanting what others have is called coveting and it is a sin in Gods eyes, its even part of the Ten Commandments. No one has a perfect life but the life we do have God calls us to be content with and do our best. Being content isn’t a feeling but a decision. Contentment doesn’t mean that we can be happy with where we are and never want it to change but it does mean that we can be happy where we are and will do our best with what we have. It also helps us maintain an attitude that allows us to enjoy the season of life we are in.
God will never withhold something that He knows is good for you, we just have to be happy and do our best no matter what situation we are in.

Friday, 1 November 2013

We're not built for guily by AD

Romans 6:6-10
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sinbecause anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

Most times sin leads us to feeling guilty. And guilt makes us miserable and weigh down heavy on us. God never intended His children to be loaded down with guilt. That’s why He sent Jesus to redeem us from guilt. He bore and paid for our iniquities and the guilt they cause. As believers  in Jesus Christ we have been set free from the power of sin. That doesn’t mean we will never sin but it does mean that when we do, we can admit it, receive forgiveness and be free from guilt.
 
Our future has no room for our past. How much time do you waste feeling guilty?
 
It's important to think about this because spending time dwelling on past mistakes is something God has told us not to do.  The good news is Jesus came for those who are sick(imperfect), trust God that when you confess your sins He forgives you and sets you free from the power of sin, walk in that truth daily.

Thursday, 31 October 2013

Sweet Lies by AD

Genesis 3:1-7

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

From the beginning of time we have been attracted to things that look desirable to our eyes and desirable to our senses.  An example is Eve, the serpent approached her using her visual senses and lied to her so she may believe that the forbidden fruit is sweet and will give her good benefits. But it was a sweet lie. She accepted that lie because it spoke to her senses and emotions and ultimately she disobeyed God and lost everything.

The enemy will use the things that interest us, to do lead us into sin.  Even if the object of our interest isn’t sin, he can lead us into total obsession or dependence where we end up spending our time, mindshare and effort in that area, leaving us to ignore God.

But God doesn’t forsake us, He was there for Eve when she sinned and He is there for us today through His Son Jesus-Christ who is faithful and just to forgive us from our sins, all we need to do is confess and repent.

 

 

Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Desires by AD

Psalm 42: 1-2
As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?



Each of us are created with a innate desire to find our creator and love Him. Often times we try fulfill this part of us by searching for things with only a temporary fulfillment.  Things like, food, clothes, money, school, work, friends, relationships. But in all these things our heart is not 100% satisfied, which leads to search further.
The above verse uses the deer as an example to illustrate our souls  desire to long  for God.  When a deer is running through the forest and it is hot or humid and is being hunted, it begins to want and need water.  And when it finds water it begins to gulp it down until satisfied.
Often times my heart longs for other things and I begin to feel distant from God. That is when I turn to the Bible and read this verse and make it my prayer. I ask God to increase my desire for Him or if I desire Him I pray for more of His presence. No  matter where you are in your spiritual walk this verse applies.
Take a moment to reflect in this verse and pray for God to put inside of you a desire to long after Him or increase the desire that you do have for Him.
 

Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Be truthful- Billy Graham



The Bible teaches that purity of conduct includes truthfulness. The Bible teaches that we should be truthful in our representation of ourselves. With what scorn Christ denounced the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees! In the Sermon on the Mount He rebuked all hypocritical giving, praying, and fasting. We should also be truthful in speaking of our past achievements in our particular vocation. God does not ask us to understate the facts—that might even be untruthfulness—but neither does He want us to overrate our achievements or our gifts, either in thought or in speech. A lie is anything contrary to the naked truth.

Daily Prayer

It is so easy, Lord, to embellish the truth. Give me Your wisdom to be completely honest in every phase of my life.

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

A Daily Process: Billy Graham


He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
–Philippians 1:6
Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion. It is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ. When you start out, you start out as a baby. You must be fed on the simple things of the Bible, and you learn to walk in your Christian life gradually. At first you will fall down and make many mistakes, but you are to continue growing. However, there are many people who have stopped growing. They remain spiritual babies all their lives. I am afraid that this experience is all too common today. Perhaps it is yours.

Do you remember the day when you gave your heart and life to Christ? You were sure of victory. How easy it seemed to be more than conqueror through Christ who loved you. Thousands of Christians have struggles with themselves. The great need in Christendom today is for Christians to learn the secret of daily victory over sin.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Father, I fall so many times but how lovingly You give me Your strength to endure.

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Waiting doesn't come easy by Max Lucado

Waiting is easier said than done! Waiting doesn’t come easy for me. I’ve been in a hurry all my life. Pedal faster, drive quicker. I used to wear my wristwatch on the inside of my arm so I wouldn’t lose the millisecond it took to turn my wrist.  What insanity!

I wonder if I could’ve obeyed God’s ancient command to keep the Sabbath holy.  To slow life to a crawl for twenty-four hours? The Sabbath was created for frantic souls like me; people who need this weekly reminder: the world will not stop if you do! Isaiah 40:31 promises, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Fresh strength. Legs that don’t grow weary. Wait on the Lord—He will bring rest to your soul!

Monday, 14 October 2013

Test are Temporary by Max Lucado

All tests are temporary, limited in duration. 1 Peter 1:6 says, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”  Some tests end on earth, but all tests will end in heaven, right?
In the meantime, let God train you.  He watches the way you handle the little jobs. Jesus promised in Matthew 25:21, “If you are faithful over a few matters, I will set you over many.” Do you aspire to great things?  Excel in the small things. Don’t complain.  Let others grumble.  Not you. When you’re given a task, take it. When you see a hurt, address it.  Compassion matters to God.
This is the time for service, not self-centeredness. Cancel the pity party.  Love the people God brings to you. He will work in you what is pleasing to Himself.  And you will get through this!

Thursday, 10 October 2013

God is close by Ricke Warren

“The Lord is near to all who call on him.” (Psalm 145:18)

God is not as far away as the furthest star. He’s as close as your next heartbeat. He’s right there with you every moment. The Bible says in Acts 17:27, “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (NIV).

You might feel like God is a million miles away. But your feelings and reality don’t always match — we all know that’s true. The truth is, God is with you right now.

Because he is a close Father:

God is never too busy for you. That’s how close he is. That’s the kind of love that he has. Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him.” Every time you call, God is near. He thinks about you a lot more than you think about him. He thought about you before you were born. He thinks about you every moment of every day. The truth is that too many times, we get too busy for God. But he never gets too busy for us.

God loves to meet your needs. He doesn’t do it begrudgingly. He loves it! Mathew 7:11 says, “If you ... know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” You can enjoy the fact that God enjoys giving good gifts to you.

God is sympathetic to your hurts. Some of you are going through something tough this week, and you need this verse: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

God is close to you, and he understands. Turn to him.

Talk It Over

  • What do you need to call on God for today?
  • What changes do you need to make in your life so that you are not too busy for God?

Wednesday, 9 October 2013

Revolutionary Love By Kenneth Copeland

– 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

Love never fails. Nothing works without it, and there can be no failure with it. When you live by love, you cannot fail.
It takes faith to believe that love's way will not fail. The natural mind cannot understand that because the natural man and his world are ruled by selfishness.
But when you practice love by faith and refuse to seek your own, you put the Father into action on your behalf. As long as you stay in love, God the Father seeks your own. He sees to it that you succeed. Walking in love is to your great advantage!
Agape love is a new kind of power. It makes you master of every situation. No weapon that is formed against you will prosper. No one even has the power to hurt your feelings because you are not ruled by feelings but by God's love. You are loving as He loves.
This love is revolutionary. If we fully understood the great return from living God's love, we'd probably be competing with each other, each of us trying to love the other more. And without a doubt, everyone would emerge from that competition a winner! For love is truly the only sure secret to our success.

Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Everyone has a story. I have a story. You have a story. And chances are, there are large dark spots in your story, like there are in mine, places where someone we loved disappointed us, even took advantage of us. I’ve been fortune to have grown up in a loving, wonderful household. I was blessed with two parents who loved the Lord and raised with me with love and grace.
But most of the young people I encounter don’t share this good fortune. The canvas of their childhood is marred with ugly spots. An abusive, alcoholic father. A neglectful mother. Verbal abuse. Sexual abuse. Poor teachers, angry coaches, cruel siblings.
This is the baggage, the junk of life in a fallen world. But while your past is part of your story and you’d do well to work through it, it doesn’t have to be the main story. You don’t have to be defined by what happened to you. You don’t have to be a victim.
We have a tendency to want to use the abuses of our past as an excuse for our own failings. And in some ways, the patterns we learned in childhood, the empty places in our souls—these are catalysts for negative behavior.
And yet we don’t have to be defined by what happened to us. God through Christ offers us to the opportunity to rewrite the script. We can be renewed. We can embrace His plan. We can have confidence that we don’t have to stay the way we are simply because that’s the way we are. We can change and grow.
But sadly, here is what I find with many Christians. They grow comfortable in their misery. Rather than face the reality of their own sin and tap into the beautiful cleansing grace of God, they like to swim in the pool of their past, using their circumstances as a weapon against the God who wants to restore them to their original purpose.
In some ways, we’re all victims. We live in a fallen world and so life has handed us many unfortunate things. Some have suffered more than others. But I’m finding that spiritual success is not tied to how much you have suffered, but how you handle it. Do you allow God to use the trial to chisel away at the unredeemed parts of your heart or do you hang onto bitterness so you can have a ready excuse for your sin?
I know some who have suffered extraordinarily and yet they have gone farther in life than they should have. One of my best friends never knew his father, yet he became a terrific father and is now a grandfather. He’s a great leader in our church. He could have played the victim, but didn’t.
You’ll have all kinds of opportunities to blame others for the life you live. And you can do that if you want. But if you really want to experience God’s great joy, you’d release your bitterness to the Lord and allow Him to use your trials for your good and His glory

Thursday, 3 October 2013

Intergrity and Credibility

Matthew 5:34-37  But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one

Have you ever been in a conversation with somebody and you didn't quite believe what he or she was saying? Maybe this person has a history of exaggerating the truth a little bit to make the stories seem cooler. Or perhaps this person is known to make promises that are never kept. Whatever the reason, you believe this persons story lacks credibility. Sensing your disbelief this person says "Right hand to God that's what happened", or, "I swear on a stack of Bible that it's the truth".

Do these phrases annoy you? If so, you're not alone. Jesus doesn't care for stuff like that either. First of all, it's demeaning to God. But Jesus also points out that if you have to resort to calling on God's name as a way to convince people to believe what you are saying, perhaps you're not a person of integrity.

Jesus simply says, "let your yes be yes, and your no mean no". In other words, people should believe what you are saying because you always speak with truth and honesty. People should be able to trust you because you never gossip and you are always faithful to your promises.

Wednesday, 2 October 2013

With all their Heart

God makes certain, special promises to those who determine to seek Him with all their hearts. One such promise is a covenant of His presence.

However, this covenant is strictly conditional. Scripture makes it clear that if we abide by the rule of this covenant, we will enjoy the incredible blessing of God's presence in our lives. And this does not refer only to issues of salvation. It speaks of being such seekers after God that His awesome presence is poured out on us and it is seen and known by all.

God revealed this covenant of His presence through an unnamed prophet who delivered a message to Eli, the high priest of Israel. At the time, Eli was backslidden. The Lord had been speaking to him, warning him against allowing sin and compromise. But Eli had ignored all of God's words. Now this unnamed prophet said to Eli, "The Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed" (I Samuel 2:30).

The phrase "lightly esteemed" has to do with the lifting of God’s presence. This does not mean a person is damned, but rather that he will have to walk in the power of his own flesh. God was telling Eli, "I intended to bless your house, to favor you. But you have scorned me, becoming soft on sin and allowing your lusts to push me aside. Now I will take My presence from you."

Many people come to Christ with a great, initial burst of faith. Yet over time their zeal wears thin, and they begin to neglect the Lord. They “lightly esteem” His commands and turn back to their old, sinful ways. Yet they still believe God's presence remains with them. But that is a lie, a delusion. The Bible makes it clear that if you forsake Him, He will forsake you!

Monday, 23 September 2013

Confidence = Obedience?


‘’7 So Jesus went with them.He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 [...]9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”  Luke 7: 7-9

If you take a look in the bible in the book of Hebrews 11:1, you’ll read that faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. That is the best definition of faith and it’s also the toughest problem that christians deal with everyday. Knowing the truth in life is a the most wonderful gift on earth. But this gift is left unopen when we don’t apply, shout, proclaim, praise, sing, pray this truth that God is God, and Jesus is his son, and he died for us. The gift is useless if you don’t open it. Yes, you know you have a gift, but it’s just there, waiting for you to be open. In this verse, the centurion knows the truth and he applies it. God is asking you for one thing today: will you trust me? To open this wonderful gift, you just have to trust the Lord and he will bless you.

Also, trusting him is easy to say. In life, there will be moments where you have to take decisions, and you might fall. It will be hard, but remember, the eagle was not born flying. As it grows up, the eagle mother take apart the nest so that slowly the eaglet learn to have confidence and it takes off. 

God is not waiting there all day long to bother you with problems in life, He just wants  you to learn and to rely on him. And that is now we obey Him.

Confidence = obedience!

Thursday, 19 September 2013

Tell the World- Lecrae


When I was in school, my values were twisted. The only solution people offered me was a firm talk about changing my behavior. They told me my behavior would get me killed or in jail. They told me to stop doing what I was doing. They wanted me to modify my behavior. That was a pointless effort though, because my behavior was informed by my values. What I needed was new values. My behavior wouldn’t change, unless my values changed, and my values wouldn’t change unless I was somehow transformed into a new person.
I desperately needed what’s called a worldview transformation.
See, worldviews are subtle and deep-seated, and they are usually taken for granted, since we can’t see, hear, or touch them. Worldviews are our culturally structured assumptions, values, commitments, and allegiances that create our perception of reality. Basically, they explain are how and why you view the world the way you do, and then govern how you respond to the world.
My worldview was not my behavior, but my behavior was conditioned by my worldview. The only way I could see things different is if God opened my spiritual eyes to a Biblical worldview. Anyone can read the Bible, but it takes the supernatural power of God to give someone a transformative understanding of it.


In writing to the Ephesian churches, Paul prays this: “…that…God…may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…” (1:17-18 ESV). Paul is praying that the Ephesian churches would be illuminated to the truth – truth which only the Holy Spirit can reveal to them. In order to hear from God through His word, we must be made alive; we must be born again.
Second Corinthians 5:17 reads, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” The Holy Spirit of God not only rebirths us, but continues to transform us and our worldview to His own.

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

HIS RIGHT HAND UPHOLDS ME!

 
Read Psalm 63:8.

My father had huge, very strong hands. Having been a carpenter as a young man, he knew how to build or repair almost anything. His hands are one of the things I remember best about him. He loved to take my hand and hold it in his, especially in church on Sunday morning. My little hand would be engulfed in his. There was such strength in those hands, but also great gentleness. In my childlike weakness, I rested in my father's strength. I knew a place of security.

The hand is the part of the body that enables a man to make tools, build, construct and create. Thus it is associated with power or control. The creative power of our hands is a reflection of the image of God, who intended us to use our hands to lovingly rule creation (Genesis 1:28).

Humanity failed to obey God. But in eternity past, God purposed to make a people renewed in His image for Himself. He saw our sinful pride and rebellion beforehand and determined to make a way for His people to be in relationship with Him.

Out of the depths of His love and mercy, He ordained that He would provide Himself as the payment for our unpayable debt. He knew there would be no other means of rescue. So out of eternity, God reached forth His mighty, loving right hand into the pit of destruction to gather a people unto Himself. He undertook to do for us what we were unable to do.

As He reveals to us our sinfulness and our helplessness, and as we cry out to Him for mercy, we are rescued by His hand and pulled safely out of the darkness into the light. We experience a radical transformation.

The Bible tells us that once we were darkness, now we are light (Ephesians 5:8). Our sin has been forgiven, our debt has been cancelled, and we have been transferred from the kingdom of evil to the kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13-14).

In the pattern of Romans 12:2, what is one scripture from today that the Lord is using to renew your mind and transform your heart? Take this truth to heart and bring it to life throughout your day.

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

You Bled

 

 
You bled your heart out
Now I feel love beat in my chest
How wonderful
You gave your beauty
In exchange for my ugliness
How wonderful

You left your perfection
And embraced our rejection

How marvellous, how boundless
Is Your love, is Your love
How wonderful, sacrificial
Is Your love for me

You put on our chains
Sent us out through the open door
How wonderful
You took our sadness
Crowned us with joy and real peace
How wonderful

You left Your perfection
And fought for our redemption

Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
How wonderful
Yes Jesus loves me
This is love
You gave Yourself




Monday, 16 September 2013

Deep Dive


On Animal Planet the other day, there was a guy who was bitten by an extremely venomous snake somewhere in the bush in Africa. The snake bit him in the ankle and the fast-acting venom hit his bloodstream very quickly. His friends rushed him to the nearest place where he could get a ride to the hospital. It took them several hours to get him treatment. Finally, after a long series of events, the hospital staff identified the type of venom and gave him anti-venom to counteract the deadly poison.

This man's friends knew he was dying, and they did everything possible to get help for his critical condition. In today's passage, you'll see that Jesus did the same thing, except that he was responding to those in critical condition, spiritually. Jesus cultivated relationships with people who were spiritually dying and in need of serious help. His radical lifestyle was marked by love, sacrifice, and reaching out to people who needed salvation.

Today, spend some time thinking about the people in your world (e.g. school, work, neighborhood) that God may be prompting you to reach out to. Many people have never experienced the love of God or the hope that he gives. What are some ways that you can be intentional about sharing Jesus with them? How can you introduce them to this idea of community?


As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Matthew 9:9-12


Friday, 13 September 2013

The Lord is my Shepherd- A Psalm of David



1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  2. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  3. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

We all need guidance in our lives. Imagine a world where anyone can drive in any direction without any rules or purpose. The roads would be very dangerous and messy.
The same applies to our spiritual lives. Imagine living a life without rules, direction or purpose. Like the roads, its a dangerous and messy life. We need a map and rules to follow to reach our destination, safely. 

Like King David knew when he wrote the Psalm, the lord will Shepard us through life. If we follow his word (the bible), we will find the rules of living life the right way, the direction to follow and the purpose of the journey.

He will give us rest and peace within and he will restore our souls to continue for his glory.
Today, take a moment to think of what you are doing for Gods glory. Are you letting the Lord guide you or are you trying to create your own destination?

Read the rest of Psalm 23 and learn how King David conquered fear and built his confidence through his faith.


Thursday, 12 September 2013

Nicodemus- Sho Baraka

He is lord over all... John 3:1-21
Do you struggle to believe Jesus is who He says He is? Do you struggle to believe Jesus is truly LORD overall? Do you struggle to believe salvation is truly yours and that you can fellowship with Him before death? Do you believe that He is concerned with your diet, friendships, purchases and interactions? I think many of us believe that Jesus is concerned with our soul and eternal being. However, I believe many of us also dance on the fence of understanding with regards to submitting all things unto Him, as communicated in 1 Cor 10:31.
Nicodemus sought out Jesus because he understood that He was no ordinary man. He knew that He had to be more than just a prophet and that His teachings were more than just mundane.
Once Jesus hit Nicodemus with the truth of salvation and eternal life, I can imagine him scratching his head in confusion. He probably had a similar response to the father in Mark 9, “I believe but help my unbelief.” The important catch is that Jesus didn’t just speak of an after life, he spoke to Nicodemus about a Kingdom. This Kingdom can only be understood once an individual was born again.
Many of us who frequent the Sunday gathering can find ourselves like Nicodemus. We know Truth is necessary for a life of righteousness. We know this man was more than just a prophet. But part of us can’t fathom forsaking our old ways of thinking. We still want to go on with business as usual. I would ask that you check your bank account and see what you spend the most money on. Evaluate the kind of people you spend time with. What is your favorite past time? What burdens your heart? Once you’ve asked yourself these questions, you can see what your heart truly loves.

When Jesus says He is LORD, that is no passing statement. When He is speaking of this Kingdom, this is a shaking up of everything we once knew. He is saying that you spent many years processing the world and your life through a particular lens. However, He has come so that you may have a more valuable perspective and way of doing things. This is not negotiable. This is definitive.
Many of us want Jesus just to change some stuff in our heart as if we have some things together. We learn a culture of Church, but we don’t adopt a Kingdom mindset. It’s easy to fall in love with the Christian culture and not the Christian Christ. It’s easy to learn Christian lingo and not know the Christian LORD. Pharisees understood a culture, but denied the power of Christ.

The Kingdom mindset is proactive, offensive and not just reactive to outside influences. We are to be a light in dark places.
This is the great issue with creation: we want to be GOD, but we fail miserably at it. The false god (flesh) in us desires to continue to believe that we have our own best interests at heart. We believe we know more than GOD. There is a way that seems right to man, but the end leads to death (Proverbs 14:12). This betrayal has been a thorn in our flesh since Genesis. But praise GOD, for we have a great redeemer who not only came to die for our sins but who also came to establish His Kingdom that is not of this world.
Because of the Kingdom mindset, sin is no longer our master. Money is no longer our lover. Status is no longer our goal. Sex is no longer our crutch. Fear is no longer our snare. Service is no longer a chore. Charity is no longer a burden. Hate is no longer our venom. Differences no longer keep us from fellowship. Love is no longer an option. Peace is our partner and joy is our song. Jesus is our LORD and Savior and that is no passing statement. We filter all we do through this very understanding.
Life will only be ruined when we play lord. We are terrible gods. It’s been proven through history and scriptures. He is the one true LORD and Savior. Once we believe that, our lives will reflect the Kingdom agenda of our Father.

Wednesday, 11 September 2013

The Real Deal

Sometimes cleaning out Grandpa’s attic pays off. For an Ohio man, it paid off in the discovery of a more than 100-year-old set of mint-condition baseball cards. Appraisers placed the cards’ value at $3 million.

One key to the high value of those cards was the fact that they were well-preserved. But beyond that, the true worth of the cards rested in the fact that they were authentic. If they had been fakes or counterfeits—no matter how good they looked—they wouldn’t have been worth the cardboard they were printed on.
The apostle Paul had something similar to say about Christianity. He said that our faith would be completely worthless and counterfeit if Jesus’ resurrection were not the real deal. It took bravery and confidence in God’s plan for Paul to say,
 
“If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty” (1 Cor. 15:14) and “If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (v.17).

The Christian faith rests on the authenticity of this story: Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead. Praise God for the clear evidence of Jesus’ death and resurrection (vv.3-8). It’s the real deal, and we can stake our eternity and our total dependence on God on its truth.
 
 
Lord, we’re eternally thankful for the truth
confirmed in Your Word and in our hearts that
You died and rose again for us. We love You, Lord,
and lift our voices in praise!
God is the only true God.

Tuesday, 10 September 2013

The Joy of Knowing

 

Happy is the man who has learned the secret of coming to God in daily prayer. Fifteen minutes alone with God every morning before you start the day can change circumstances and remove mountains! But all of this happiness and all of these unlimited benefits which flow from the storehouse of heaven are contingent upon our relationship to God. Absolute dependency and absolute yieldedness are the conditions of being His child. Only His children are entitled to receive those things that lend themselves to happiness; and in order to be His child, there must be the surrender of the will to Him. Man does not come to know God through works—he comes to know God by faith, through grace. You cannot work your way toward happiness and heaven, you cannot moralize your way, you cannot reform your way, you cannot buy your way. It comes as a gift of God through Christ.

 

 

Daily Prayer

Thank You, heavenly Father, for the gift of joy which comes from knowing Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Monday, 9 September 2013

The Real You- Billy Graham


It is significant that our first astronauts, while being trained for their moon flights, were required to give twenty answers to the query, “Who are you?” Take the same test yourself. When you have made your list and run out of things to add, ask yourself if you have truly answered. Do you really know who you are? Scientists agree that our desperate search leads all humans to seek heroes and to imitate others, to “paste bits and pieces of other people on ourselves.” We make love as some actor would. We play golf in the style of Jack Nicklaus. Part of this process is natural, for we learn by imitating others. The tragedy is that the person we assemble is not genuine. “Who am I?” you cry as you roam the world looking for yourself. Consider this: there are three of you. There is the person you think you are. There is the person others think you are. There is the person God knows you are and can be through Christ.

Daily Prayer

Lord, help me to break through the façade and know myself as You do. 

Friday, 6 September 2013

Thursday, 5 September 2013

How to repay God- John Piper


What keeps the paying of vows free from the dangers of being treated like a debt payment is that the “payment” is, in reality, not an ordinary payment, but another act of receiving which magnifies the ongoing grace of God. It does not magnify our resourcefulness. We can see this in Psalm 116:12–14.
The psalmist’s answer to his own question, “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits?” is, in essence, that he will go on receiving from the Lord so that the Lord’s inexhaustible goodness will be magnified.
First, lifting up the cup of salvation signifies taking the Lord’s satisfying salvation in hand and drinking it and expecting more. This is why I say that “paying” back to God in these contexts is not an ordinary payment. It is an act of receiving.
Second, this is also the meaning of the next phrase: “I shall call upon the name of the Lord.” What shall I render to God for graciously answering my call? Answer: I shall call again. I will render to God the praise and the tribute that he is never in need of me, but is always overflowing with benefits when I need him (which I always do).
Then the psalmist says, in the third place, “I will pay my vows to the Lord.” But how will they be paid? They will be paid by holding up the cup of salvation and by calling on the Lord. That is, they will be paid by faith in future grace.

Wednesday, 4 September 2013

Christian Life: Flat as a Pancake?

"But many who are first will be last; and the last, first." Matthew 19:30
 
      A mother was preparing pancakes for her 5-year-old son Kevin and 3-year-old son Ryan. When the boys started arguing over who would get the first tasty pancake, she saw a great opportunity to teach them a Biblical lesson.
 
   "Boys" she said, "if Jesus were sitting here this morning, He would say 'let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'"
 
Kevin turned to his brother and said, "Ryan, today you get to be Jesus!"
 
I'm afraid there are far too many 'Kevin Christians' in the church today...sitting at the table of life letting others be Jesus because it might cost them something personally.
 
 We can have the fish on the car, the WWJD bracelet on our wrists, and the Bible on the coffee table, but it's what's inside that counts!
 
 So what are the 'pancakes' in your life that make it difficult to be Christlike? Here are a few that the Bible lists:
 
  "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24
 
  Here is a big lie: when you get what you want you'll be happy...wrong! True contentment can only be found in serving God. If the almighty buck has a hold on you, drop it like a bad habit- because it is!
 
   "Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14
 
  Some people are happy to follow Jesus until they fall in love with the wrong person or get hooked up with the wrong group of friends. Just keep in mind that if Jesus isn't your best friend, He is no friend at all.
 
  "And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me." Luke 14:27  This one pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?
 
Carrying your own cross means you take a intense look at your life to find the things that come between you and your Lord, then nail them to the cross with brutal force...daily!
 
  "The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is the hand over your whole self--all your wishes and precautions--to Christ." - C.S. Lewis--Mere Christianity
 
Trust me on this one: the second pancake is worth the wait. -
 

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Think About What You’re Thinking About- Joyce Meyer


If you're a believer, you probably think some Scripture-based thoughts throughout each day, but think about this: Are you mixing them with negative thoughts or just any random thoughts that come into your mind?

For most of my life, I simply thought whatever fell into my head. Much of what was in my head was either lies Satan was telling me or just plain nonsense.

Read Mark 4:24. It tells us the more time we spend thinking about the Word, the more power and ability we will have to walk in it. It also says the more we read and listen to the Word, the more revelation we will receive to understand it.

In the flesh we are lazy and want to receive from God without any effort on our own part, but that's not the way it works. You will only get out of the Word what you are willing to put into it.

I encourage you to make a decision to meditate on God's Word every day because every moment you spend absorbing it, the more virtue and knowledge you will receive from God.

Prayer Starter: Lord, I make a decision to spend more time in Your Word every day. I know that when I do, I will get more out of it and receive more powerful revelation from You.

Monday, 2 September 2013

What Love is This- Kari Jobe

“Jesus, I want a deeper revelation of You. Thank you for the price you paid so I can have grace and freedom.”

All the things around me can change, but I love the fact that He does not change. He is consistent. He can handle every detail of our lives. When we don’t feel that we have the strength, we can rely on His strength.

Life would be so different if Jesus would never have come to earth; if He would have never died for our sins. I sometimes sit and think about the very day that He was crucified. The day that He gave Himself as a living sacrifice for our sin; for our freedom. We have been given a gift because of Jesus. He thought of us the entire time of His crucifixion. His arms were stretched out on a cross, and He was reaching out to us to receive salvation from Him. An incredible exchange, our sin for His forgiveness. He loves us and wants a relationship with us. That’s so amazing. I want to write from that place of love, a love song back to Him; to Jesus for all that He did on that day. “What Love is This” is that love song.

Ephesians 3:17 “…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend the width, length, depth and height. To know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled.”

Think of a few times you have felt Christ’s love reach to you.


Friday, 30 August 2013

Remaining in Jesus- Jesus Culture

In today’s reading, Jesus continues giving his closest followers invaluable information before He leaves them. Jesus said, “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit.” He is the source of our lives. Through relationship with Him, we will naturally bear fruit in this world, without striving. The life that flows from Him to us is the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to love one another and lead people to Jesus. 

Reflection: What does it look like to remain in Jesus? Jesus chose YOU and appointed YOU so you might go and bear fruit that will last. Today, think about the significant role God has given you in the world.

John 15

Thursday, 29 August 2013

He is Present- Darlene Zschech


When we come to the sanctuary of God, when we gather as His church, what is our posture and attitude?
The psalmist doesn’t just see a ragtag army returning from a victory God delivered; he sees God in front, leading the procession.
I love meeting with God’s people—coming together to celebrate, give, and be fueled for service—but if there is one thing that I truly treasure whenever I enter the house of God, it is His presence. Not a symbolic presence, but the knowledge that God himself is with us. What a constant source of strength and hope for you and me, for all His people. In Psalm 68 we are reminded that Yahweh is not an aloof, austere King who stands afar and is unconcerned for the needs of His people. Rather, He daily bears our burdens, providing us a way of escape from enemies and troubles.
Is it any wonder Jesus was called Immanuel, which literally means “God is with us”?
Do you feel defeated, overwhelmed by troubles on every side? Do you feel there is no way of escape? Does victory seem beyond your grasp? The good news is God is beside you, and even if you aren’t strong enough to prevail, He will do for you what you don’t have the human power to do yourself.
As you enter God’s sanctuary, never forget He himself marches in ahead of you. He is present! Our very present help in times of need.
God, renew my spiritual eyes to see you walk before me and beside me as I turn to you in every situation of life. Thank you for being truly present in my worship to you!