Month: April 2014

Faith

Posted on April 30, 2014

THOUGHT:

Faith is believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse.

Challenge

True faith is relaxing in the present, confident that God is in control of the future. Look back and see that God’s plan played out to your benefit even though you may not have understood at the time. Can you rest in confidence today that God is in control?

Verse

V. Examples, Discipline, Disobedience Chapter 11 - Faith of the Ancients. Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.

Reference

Hebrews 11:1

Faith

Posted on April 29, 2014

THOUGHT:

Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof.

Challenge

Feel the faith in your heart by listening to the Holy Spirit throughout your day. Open the door of your faith to the Holy Spirit and let it show you the righteous path. You’ll feel and know it is the right path; you won’t require proof.

Verse

I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.”

Reference

Mark 1:8

Faith

Posted on April 28, 2014

THOUGHT:

Whether you see it, feel it, or know it, right now you're being provided for. And you always will be.

Challenge

God knows each and every one of our needs. We may have wants, but keeping our focus on God first, we will always have our needs met. Have comfort knowing Him first and foremost and you will see the difference between wants and needs.

Verse

My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Reference

Philippians 4:19

Habits

Posted on April 25, 2014

THOUGHT:

A person places themselves on a level with the ones they praise.

Challenge

Challenge yourself on who you praise. Do they represent good moral and Christian values? Are you praising and supporting with your leisure dollars musicians whose lyrics are hateful or antiChrist, or sports figures who live immoral lifestyles?. Rethink and redistribute your praise and your dollars.

Verse

You shall not have other gods beside me.

Reference

Exodus 20:3

Discipleship

Posted on April 24, 2014

THOUGHT:

Every time you do a good deed, you shine the light a little farther back into the dark. And the beautiful thing is, when you’re gone, that light is going to keep shining on…

Challenge

Shine the goodness of God’s light in everything you do. Be kind, loving and generous to all those you encounter. Leave His lasting light with those you touch today.

Verse

Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Reference

Matthew 5:16

Habits

Posted on April 23, 2014

THOUGHT:

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

Challenge

Not just on the outside: your mind and mouth will follow your body. Reflect on the situations that bring out the dirt in you, and look for spiritual cleansing by spending time with the people who bring out your cleaner side.

Verse

No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.

Reference

Ephesians 4:29

Service

Posted on April 22, 2014

THOUGHT:

Everybody can be great...Because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.

Challenge

Don't make excuses why you cannot be great...Serve someone, somehow, somewhere, today. It doesn't matter who, how, or where. Keep doing it - You will feel GREAT!

Verse

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

Reference

1 Peter 4:10

Habits

Posted on April 21, 2014

THOUGHT:

God wants “Soul custody” not just weekend visitations.

Challenge

God sacrificed His own Son to redeem our sins. Allow the resurrection of Jesus to revitalize your personal commitment to include God in a more meaningful fashion each day on your journey to eternal life.

Verse

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

Reference

John 3:16

Discipleship

Posted on April 18, 2014

THOUGHT:

I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God- it changes me.

Challenge

Make a commitment to find a way to include God more often in the decisions throughout your day.

Verse

Chapter 18 - The Parable of the Persistent Widow. Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said,

Reference

Luke 18:1

Discipleship

Posted on April 17, 2014

THOUGHT:

For the church to grow, found people must find people.

Challenge

It has been said the spiritual curiousity is heightened around Easter. Invite someone you know to attend church with you this Easter. Allow His Spirit to move in them because of your simple gesture.

Verse

For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek.

Reference

Romans 1:16

Habits

Posted on April 16, 2014

THOUGHT:

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything. 

Challenge

Make life easier on yourself by always telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Verse

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Reference

Exodus 20:16

Prayer

Posted on April 15, 2014

THOUGHT:

Christians need to do a lot more praying and a lot less complaining.

Challenge

Put more time and effort into praying for your elected leaders than complaining about their policies - praying for your boss than complaining about your job - praying for your spouse than complaining about their habits. Complaining never changes anything. Praying will change your world!

Verse

Blessed be God, who did not reject my prayer and refuse his mercy.

Reference

Psalm 66:20

Habits

Posted on April 14, 2014

THOUGHT:

True education is concerned not only with practical goals but also with values. Our aims assure us of our material life, our values make possible our spiritual life.

Challenge

Commit enough time each day to nurture your faith and Christian values. Don't allow the material things in life to overshadow your spiritual life.

Verse

Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but justice saves from death.

Reference

Proverbs 10:2

Habits

Posted on April 11, 2014

THOUGHT:

TAG - Think About God #5 of 5 Nothing limits achievement like small thinking; Nothing expands possibilities like unleashed thinking.

Challenge

People who really make a difference think differently from others. How do you unleash the best version of yourself?  TAG - Think About God more often each day.

Verse

IV. The Ideal Christian Life in the World Chapter 3 - Mystical Death and Resurrection. If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Reference

Colossians 3:1

Habits

Posted on April 10, 2014

THOUGHT:

TAG - Think About God #4 of 5 Since your thoughts guide your actions, focus on things that are true, noble, just, and pure.

Challenge

You can change the way you think.  It will change your life. TAG -Think About God more often each day!

Verse

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Reference

Philippians 4:8

Wisdom

Posted on April 9, 2014

THOUGHT:

TAG - Think About God #3 of 5 You are today where your thoughts have brought you.  You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.

Challenge

Where do you want to go?  Will it get you closer to God? TAG -Think About God more often each day!

Verse

Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Reference

Romans 12:2

Discipleship

Posted on April 8, 2014

THOUGHT:

TAG - Think About God #2 of 5 The actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.

Challenge

What we think determines who we are...Who we are determines what we do.  TAG - Think About God more often each day!

Verse

For like something stuck in the throat is that food. “Eat and drink,” they say to you, but their hearts are not with you;

Reference

Proverbs 23:7

Habits

Posted on April 7, 2014

THOUGHT:

TAG - Think About God #1 of 5 Life consists of what a man is thinking about all day long.

Challenge

Everything begins with a thought. You can control your destiny because your thoughts become words; your words become actions, and your actions define who you are.  TAG - Think About God more often each day!

Verse

With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life.

Reference

Proverbs 4:23

Joy

Posted on April 4, 2014

THOUGHT:

You live more fully once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasteful.

Challenge

Are you wasting time?

Verse

I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Reference

John 16:33

Forgiveness

Posted on April 3, 2014

THOUGHT:

It doesn't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

Challenge

But it does take a big person to walk away from one. Spend a quiet moment asking God for the strength to release you from a grudge that you have been carrying.

Verse

If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Reference

Matthew 6:14-15

Discipleship

Posted on April 2, 2014

THOUGHT:

Be a follower of Christ, not just an admirer.

Challenge

To be a follower you must do as Jesus commanded – go into the world and make disciples of all people. Don’t be a secret admirer - reach out to someone who needs Jesus in their life.

Verse

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

Reference

Matthew 16:24

Praise

Posted on April 1, 2014

THOUGHT:

If we don’t feel thankful for what we already have, what makes us think we’d be happy with more?

Challenge

The next time you say to yourself, “I wish I had ____.” Stop and thank God for the blessings in your life. You might find you don’t NEED that for which you are wishing.

Verse

If they listen and serve him, they spend their days in prosperity, their years in happiness.

Reference

Job 36:11