Month: October 2014

Evangelism

Posted on October 31, 2014

THOUGHT:

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Challenge

Plan to have a kind word for everyone you encounter today. No matter how small the compliment, it will work miracles. Pray your actions become habit forming.

Verse

God’s Love and Christian Life. Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.

Reference

1 John 4:7-8

Forgiveness

Posted on October 30, 2014

THOUGHT:

God has a BIG eraser!

Challenge

If you've made mistakes in your past (and we all have), God will forgive you. All you have to do is ask him with a repentant heart. There's nothing you've done that God doesn't know about for which He has already forgiven others. Take a minute and ask

Verse

And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Reference

Luke 24:46-47

Empathy

Posted on October 29, 2014

THOUGHT:

A great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.

Challenge

Slow down today and take the time to truly empathize with others. Use your new understanding of where they are coming from to offer help in a meanngful way.

Verse

The Benefits of Finding Wisdom - Happy the one who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding! Her profit is better than profit in silver, and better than gold is her revenue;

Reference

Proverbs 3:13-14

Guidance

Posted on October 28, 2014

THOUGHT:

Be good, keep your feet on solid ground, your eyes open, your heart at peace and your soul in the joy of Christ.

Challenge

Look daily for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in everything you do. If you can’t hear Him, find a peaceful quiet place to meditate and pray, He’ll find you, and you’ll find the joy of Christ in this time well spent.

Verse

Declare them guilty, God; make them fall by their own devices. Drive them out for their many sins; for they have rebelled against you.

Reference

Psalm 5:11

Comfort

Posted on October 27, 2014

THOUGHT:

To know the strength of the anchor, you need to feel the storm.

Challenge

God’s strength is best felt during troubled times. When you hurt the most, He will be there to comfort you. Anchor yourself to Him today through the study of His word.

Verse

He hushed the storm to silence, the waves of the sea were stilled.

Reference

Psalm 107:29

Service

Posted on October 24, 2014

THOUGHT:

We stand tallest when we stoop to help others.

Challenge

Jesus showed us that to be a servant to others is the greatest act of love. Stand tall today by serving someone in need.

Verse

Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Reference

Mark 9:35

Wisdom

Posted on October 23, 2014

THOUGHT:

There are two ways of exerting one's strength - one is pushing down, and the other is pulling up.

Challenge

Every day you will have the opportunity to help or hinder those around you. Use your strength wisely today. You won't have to go far to find someone who's down. Pull them up with an encouraging word.

Verse

The Fall of Judah. Early and often the LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent his messengers to them, for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place.

Reference

2 Chronicles 36:15

Attitude

Posted on October 22, 2014

THOUGHT:

Jesus, please teach me to appreciate what I have before time forces me to appreciate what I had.

Challenge

Live life in the present - right now! Be grateful for what you have. Tell God how much you appreciate His blessings. What are you waiting for?

Verse

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thanksgiving. I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge,

Reference

1 Corinthians 1:3-5

Wisdom

Posted on October 21, 2014

THOUGHT:

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

Challenge

Take stock right now of who/what is really important in your life. Enjoy them now and avoid the regrets later.

Verse

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Reference

Matthew 19:14

Gratitude

Posted on October 20, 2014

THOUGHT:

Take life for gratitude, not for granted.

Challenge

As you gather with family and friends tomorrow, make sure you take nothing for granted. Remember to thank God often for your many blessings.

Verse

But when you have eaten and are satisfied, you must bless the LORD, your God, for the good land he has given you. Be careful not to forget the LORD, your God, by failing to keep his commandments and ordinances and statutes which I enjoin on you today:

Reference

Deuteronomy 8:10-11

Discipleship

Posted on October 17, 2014

THOUGHT:

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Challenge

Listen carefully this week at church. Sermons are always full of ideas of how we can be better Christians. Take one or several of those ideas and practice them throughout the next week. Stop back next Sunday and receive your next assignment.

Verse

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.

Reference

1 Peter 2:21

Vocation

Posted on October 16, 2014

THOUGHT:

Responsibility is our response to the ability God has given us.

Challenge

Be responsible to God's call. Spend as much time this week honing your skills as a christian as you do developing your skills as a professional.

Verse

Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers, especially for strangers;

Reference

3 John 1:5

Prayer

Posted on October 15, 2014

THOUGHT:

Prayer is not a way to get what we want, but the way to become what God wants.

Challenge

Take a deep breath and clear your mind. Now prayerfully ask God what He wants of you today.

Verse

Entreat him and he will hear you, and your vows you shall fulfill.

Reference

Job 22:27

Evangelism

Posted on October 14, 2014

THOUGHT:

Don’t have anything to be thankful for? Check your pulse.

Challenge

Your life is the most precious gift from God. Tell someone today how thankful you are that the Lord gave you life by giving up His.

Verse

And he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

Reference

Luke 20:38

Priorities

Posted on October 13, 2014

THOUGHT:

The best things in life aren’t things.

Challenge

In a world that is in a constant pursuit of things, know that you are blessed with the best thing in the world – the Grace of God. Stop right now and thank God for this wonderful blessing you have received through Jesus Christ.

Verse

For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Reference

2 Corinthians 8:9

Courage

Posted on October 10, 2014

THOUGHT:

Being defeated is often a temporary condition.  Giving up is what makes it permanent.

Challenge

We all suffer temporary setbacks in life.  Ask God to give you the strength to stay the course.  Never give up!

Verse

I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.

Reference

Philippians 4:12-13

Faith

Posted on October 9, 2014

THOUGHT:

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!

Challenge

As Christians we are called to have faith and believe.  Trust in God even when times are darkest. 

Verse

God indeed is my salvation; I am confident and unafraid. For the LORD is my strength and my might, and he has been my salvation.

Reference

Isaiah 12:2

Courage

Posted on October 8, 2014

THOUGHT:

Prepare and prevent rather than repair and repent.

Challenge

Although there is nothing you can do to fall from God’s grace, it is better to avoid temptation and sin rather than to succumb and seek forgiveness. Ask God today and every day to strengthen you for the battle against the temptations of the world.

Verse

Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground.

Reference

Ephesians 6:13

Attitude

Posted on October 7, 2014

THOUGHT:

Be careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence you can reach for; perfection is God’s business.

Challenge

No matter how high you climb, be humble and thank God for showing you the way.

Verse

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.

Reference

Philippians 4:13

Wisdom

Posted on October 6, 2014

THOUGHT:

When you feel you're not close to the Lord, ask yourself, "Who Moved?"

Challenge

If you have distanced yourself from God's way, all you have to do is ask with a repentant heart and He will forgive you. Christ will always accept you back.

Verse

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” The Call of the First Disciples.

Reference

Mark 1:15

Wisdom

Posted on October 3, 2014

THOUGHT:

Worrying is arrogant because God knows what He's doing.

Challenge

Are you still trying to run your day as if you know better than God? Relax knowing that the creator of the world has your life under control. Let Him guide and protect you.

Verse

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

Reference

Matthew 6:26-27

Faith

Posted on October 2, 2014

THOUGHT:

Faith, with its justifying, sanctifying, and saving power, is independent of science and learning, and may be kindled even in the heart of a little child.

Challenge

It is good to read the Bible and take to heart its lessons. However, you don't need to be a scholar to have faith. Faith is in your heart, planted their by the creator of the universe and cultivated by the Holy Spirit. Choose to believe and allow your faith to grow.

Verse

For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.

Reference

Romans 10:10

Attitude

Posted on October 1, 2014

THOUGHT:

Happiness doesn't depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.

Challenge

Keep a positive attitude throughout your day. Bumps in the road will arise. When they do, tackle them with an optimistic view. You can overcome them with God at your side.

Verse

For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.

Reference

-Romans 15:5