Devotion: Graduate Level Christianity
 

Graduate Level Christianity


"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew. 5:44).

There was a man who had become a friend and mentor to me, but a conflict arose between us that we were unable to resolve. I never imagined that this man would go from being one of my best friends to an enemy. I asked God to show me how I should treat this man, and the words of Jesus came to mind, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

"Lord," I said, "surely you don't mean I'm to love this man! Not after the way he's hurt me and refused to reconcile!"

As I argued with God, I remembered that Jesus, before He was betrayed, got down on his knees and washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, His enemy. The moment that scene came to my mind, I knew what God was calling me to do. I had to wash the feet of my Judas. This man who had been my friend and mentor had also been a client of my advertising agency. He was a Christian author and speaker, and I decided to bless this man by continuing to promote his ministry and his books.

Did he ever come back to me and reconcile? Yes, seven years later. But even if he had never reconciled with me, I knew that I did what God called me to do. I washed the feet of my Judas. I passed the test.

God doesn't promise that if we forgive there will be a happy ending. He doesn't promise that the man who refuses to pay a bill will suddenly write a check. He doesn't promise that the one who rejects reconciliation will instantly soften his heart. Jesus forgave his executioners, but that didn't keep them from nailing Him to the cross.

The Graduate Level Test is not about getting the results we want. It's about proving that we trust God enough to forgive our Judases. It's a graduate-level course in Christian obedience. But I believe that every leader whom God uses in a significant way must pass the Judas Test.

God wants to know if we are willing to be imitators of Jesus. How can we say we are followers of Christ if we won't wash the feet of our Judases?

Devotion: Joy of the Lord
 

Joy of the Lord


"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" 1 Peter 1:8 (KJV)

Every Child of God, because of the filling of the Holy Ghost, has inside of their hearts a joy that is SO Great that it is unspeakable! In other words, there is no way to explain it by worldly means or words. Now I agree that there are people, who proclaim to be a Born Again believer, but yet their faces show gloom and their actions show doom! I believe some people instead of being saved, they have got religion instead, and it is for that reason they do not know the Joy of the Lord!

Now, if one has truly been saved, let the world know it by the glow on your face and the words of encouragement from your mouth. Let the redeemed say SO!

Devotion: God is the God of Sucess
 

God is the God of Success


"If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth" (Deuteronomy 28:1-2).

Our God is a God of success. You are created to be a success. Success is rooted in our relationship with God, not in our abilities. When our abilities are separated from our relationship with God, success is short-lived.

"All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock - the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you" (Deuteronomy 28:2-8).

Sometimes God allows you to fail in order for you to succeed. Each of us must first experience our own death and resurrection from our old nature. This is for you to learn Who the source of true success is. You will be amazed how easy success will come when your life is in proper alignment with the purposes of God.

Today, reaffirm your commitment to follow His ways in all that you do. This will ensure God's purposes will be fulfilled in you.

Devotion: Riches of Christ
 

Riches of Christ


Ephesians 3: 8 "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."

"The Unsearchable Riches of Christ!" I truly believe that every child of God underestimates the Riches of their Salvation. Once a person becomes born again, they are adopted into a Royal family, the family of God, who is the Father. The Children of God need to understand that God OWNS IT ALL and we, the Children inherit all that is our Fathers.

Oh, the world may look at me now and say, "What is so royal about him?" Well I can answer that question this way, "Hey, I don't have much that one can see down here, but just wait until I get to Heaven, and you will see just how Royal I am!"

You know, even though Heaven awaits God's Children, I can gladly say that the benefits of being a child of God is real and available today while I am sojourning on this earth. God walks with me, he talks with me, and He takes care of me and provides for me, EVERYDAY! Friends, it is incomprehensible, the Riches of Christ. All I can say is I am glad that I am SAVED!

Devotion: THE FENCE
 

THE FENCE
By Bill Money

Deuteronomy. 4:40 ÔÇ£Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, forever.ÔÇØ
And make straight paths for your feet . . . Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:ÔÇØ (Hebrews 12:13-14)

Now that summer has ended, Mary Lee has put her chickens in the fenced Garden Yard.

Our home and yard are surrounded on three sides by a six-foot chain-link fence; the Garden Yard is a fenced area within the chain-link surrounding the back yard.

A few nights ago, I was awakened by the sound of coyotes singing out in the alfalfa field. There is an animal highway that runs outside our land from the woods along the river to the interior part of our little town, and the coyotes were right along that highway, within feet of the Garden Yard chicken coop.

Her chickens have no concept of how important that fence is to them. If they think about it all, they are probably annoyed that the fence prevents them from getting to the neighborÔÇÖs alfalfa field, where there are lots of bugs!

But that fence also protects them from hungry coyotes. They heard the coyotes, and the coyotes were indeed close by, but the chickens were protected by a fence they did not understand or even comprehend.

We are very much like the chickens. (Compared to God, I am nowhere near as smart as a chicken.)

God erects fences in our lives to protect us from harm, often from harm that we know nothing about.

We don't understand the fences and are usually annoyed by them. We complain about them and seek ways to work around them so we can get to whatever is attractive to us on the other side.

But those fences are for our good and protect us from evil that would destroy us.

This is one of those places where trusting the Lord is so important. We need to choose to trust that He loves us.

We need to choose to trust that He knows what is best and is doing the best for us, personally. We need to trust and respect His fences.

He describes some of His fences in the Scriptures: do not commit adultery, stay out of debt, do not lie, donÔÇÖt cheat anyone, do not be lazy, etc. That is one reason we need to be studying the Scriptures on a daily basis, to know His fences and respect them.

There are other fences, specifically for each of us individually. We need to be in prayer on a daily basis, watching for Him to identify a fence and to tell us "Don't go there". We need to respect and honor the fences He has put up.

So make your prayer life deep and your study of Scripture profound. Pay attention to what God is telling you and obey Him.

And, praise Him for the fences.

Devotion: Going Against Public Opinion
 

Going Against Public Opinion


"On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, 'No! He is to be called John.' They said to her, 'There is no one among your relatives who has that name.'" (Luke 1:59-61)
.
Have you ever had to go against public opinion or advice from family members or peers? Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist. It was time to name the child. Tradition said the name would be in honor of a family member. The family members were insistent. When Elizabeth didn't agree with them, they appealed to Zechariah who supported Elizabeth.

Zechariah was told by the angel Gabriel the name was to be "John." They were being obedient to the Lord's command which went against tradition and public opinion.

We live in a day when leaders are often driven more by public opinion than what is right. We are each called to live a life based on obedience-based decisions, not public opinion. Living a life of obedience will often go against the tide of public opinion. Jesus lived a life based on a purity of purpose and mission. The Pharisees wanted Him to conform to the rules of religious tradition. The result was He died because He lived to obey an audience of One, not public opinion.

Are you challenged to live a life of conviction versus pleasing others? Be true to what God has called you to do no matter the cost.

Devotion: GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL
 

GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL

"Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Looking around the world, watching and listening to the News channels, one would think that everything is out of control and God is NOWHERE to be found. As we look at the behavior of people today of people in America it is clear to see that many have deserted the Lord and His ways. But I am glad to report to everyone, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!

Some may fear that the Lord is somewhere in a corner of Heaven wringing His hands wondering what to do, but friends God knows everything that is going on and God is STILL on the Throne having the last word in everything! So, let your hearts be at ease, the same God that made the world with His hands, He is Still in Control, Praise God.

Devotion: I Can Do It Myself - Lies of the Adversary
 

I Can Do It Myself - Lies of the Adversary
Bill Money

Jesus: "without Me you can do nothing." John 15.5
Us: "Thank You for the guidance, Lord. Now I understand what You want me to do. I can handle it from here. I'll let You know if I need any help."

We would never admit saying this, but this is what our behavior looks like.

Once we get a glimpse of what God wants us to do, we go galloping down the road, leaving the relationship in the dust. Then, a little ways down the road, we find the bridge over a deep canyon is washed out. As we then slowly backtrack, we come to Jesus standing at a fork in the road.

He says to us: "Why do you not believe the Scriptures to be true? Why do you think you can do something of significance for the Kingdom without Me?"
We respond: "Forgive me Lord. What would you want to do through me?" He says: "Take this fork, and I will ride with you, I will give you the capability to cross the deep canyon."

The priority is the relationship, not the completion of the task. Jesus is much more interested in building the relationship with us than He is in having us complete the task. That relationship is so important to Him, that He will remove our ability to complete the task if we are attempting to do the task without Him.

But the adversary lies to us, saying: "You can do this on your own. You don't need any help. Didn't God give you a brain? Use your competence and experience to get this job done And so, he entices us to eat the apple " and you will be like God." (Genesis 3.5)

But the Scriptures teach us the truth, with Jesus telling us: "without Me you can do nothing." (John 15.5) And, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4.13)

The truth is, we can do nothing that matters for the Kingdom unless Christ does it through us. On our own, we can create a lot of dust and activity - but, it has no eternal value and none of it will matter in the long term.
I don't know about you, but I want my life to count for something. I don't want to spend my life doing nothing of value for the Kingdom. And that which is of value must have Christ doing it through me. Don't let the lies of the adversary steer you into the ditch.

In your time of prayer, seek to know the truth of the Scriptures and seek Christ to do His work through you, so that your work matters for all eternity.

Devotion: Asking the Question
 

Asking the Question


"You are not your own, for you were bought at a price." (1 Corinthians 6.19b ÔÇô 20a)

"Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price: do not become slaves of men. (1 Corinthians 7.22b-23)

If we are not our own, whose are we? Who bought us? It is Jesus who bought us, at a very expensive price (our businesses are also part of the package.)

Are we just friends of Jesus (John 15.15) or are we also bond slaves to Christ (Romans 1.1)? If bond slaves, then who controls our schedule? If I have been purchased, who determines how I spend my time? Is it not my owner?

This is very sobering. We are used to setting our own schedules and doing what we want. But I am no longer free to set my own schedule or make my own decisions. Jesus said I had to give up everything to be His disciple (Luke 14.33). That includes my right to set my own agendas and schedules.

This realization calls for three steps we need to take daily. The first is to consciously surrender our schedules to Christ and seek to be His disciple.

The second is to ask Him what He would have us do. Every major decision should be taken to Christ. Third, we must obey what He has told us to do. Our desires, what I want to do, are not of importance or significance. I am not my own, I have been bought with a price, and I gave up everything to follow Christ.

Extensive time in prayer in the morning is so important. We have to have time to surrender our schedule to Christ, ask about the issues and opportunities facing us, and then sit quietly while He impresses on our hearts what He wants us to do.

How else can we be effective for the Kingdom (John 15.5)? How else will we hear Him say: "Well done, good and faithful servant"?

Devotion: Out of Control
 

Out of Control

ÔÇ£When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. . . But Jesus immediately said to them: ÔÇÿTake courage! It is I. DonÔÇÖt be afraid.ÔÇÖÔÇØ (Matthew 14:25-27)
Jesus dismissed His disciples to head by boat to the other side of the lake. He went by Himself to a mountainside to pray. Later, a storm on the lake caused waves to crash against the disciplesÔÇÖ boat. They were terrified when Jesus walked to them on the storm-tossed water. They thought He was a ghost! He spoke soothing words to them: ÔÇ£Take courage! It is I.ÔÇØ

That reminds me of one night when my friend heard the police dispatcher call out instructions for officers involved in a "chase." As a chaplain, he jumped in his car and headed for the scene. A crash had occurred and one of the officers was injured, pinned in his squad car. He asked God to help him with the right words as he walked over to the car. God provided that night as he ministered to the man caught in an out-of-control situation. He and the officer became good friends, sharing faith in the Lord.

When we find ourselves in out-of-control situations, we can go to the One who is always in control and He promises to help us.
When people are driven to the edge, Jesus brings an alternative to the disappointments of life

Devotion: Memories of My Father
 

this is the best one he has written, you need to read it twice to grasp it all.

I hope my children can say this about me:
He had a reputation for integrity and fairness

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Memories of My Father


My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments. (Proverbs 3:1)
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. (Proverbs 4:1)

It is only in the passing of time after death that we understand the value of a life well lived. That is certainly the case with my Dad. He went to be with Jesus in September 1975 and every day as I grow in my faith, I see more of the impact of his life. So, this FatherÔÇÖs Day is a special one to me. Yes, I remember the day our son was born when I became a father for the first time.

Being a father is a special gift and having a father is something that each of us should cherish for a lifetime. I pray that God will help me be a great Dad that my children will remember and that my love for them and God will go forth in them. I ask for forgiveness for the things I did or didnÔÇÖt do and any failure in this responsibility that God gave to me.

My Dad was a Pastor of a small holiness Church and he loved God with all his heart and he not only spoke about his salvation but lived it for everyone to see. There are many who are forever grateful for DadÔÇÖs flexibility and sensitivity to GodÔÇÖs leading. Many lives have been changed by his obedience to God and remember DadÔÇÖs encouragement, prayers, and gifts at just the right time.

He had a reputation for integrity and fairness and was always there when someone in our neighborhood needed prayer, a box of food, or a helping hand, no matter whom, no matter when.

Dad was generous to a fault. While never spending much on himself he loved to give to others. He would quietly give to family members, widows, pastors, missionaries, and those in need that he encountered. He would rarely share this even with his own children, but would give silently behind the scenes to many.

He made his relationship with Jesus and his family a continual priority. He taught all of his children the value of hard work, giving, spending wisely, and most of all his love for God. Dad loved for God caused him to spend many hours in GodÔÇÖs Word in preparation.

Dad never lost his hunger for GodÔÇÖs Word. Cancer may have taken his health but nothing could take his love for God and family. He had a joy and a laugh even up until his last days. He finished well and left a tremendous legacy for his children, grandchildren, and his many great-grandchildren.

A life well lived! What a gift to all of us in the family on this FatherÔÇÖs Day. On FatherÔÇÖs Day my Dad is with his Heavenly Father. That is the greatest gift that any father could ever receive. I am thankful for his life, his legacy, and his influence on my life. I just pray that I will be able to impact those in the future generations as my Dad has influenced me. Thank you, Dad, for modeling to me a relationship with our Creator who is the best Father of all.

To all of you out there with a dad don't waste time. Tell him you love him and give him a big hug and a kiss. Don't wait until he's gone to understand him better. Take the time to understand him now. That's the best gift a dad could ever get.


HAPPY FATHERÔÇÖS DAY TO ALL FATHERÔÇÖS

Devotion: Clipping the Wings
 

Clipping the Wings


"His ways are not our ways" (Isaiah 55:8-9)

A friendÔÇÖs wife, Mary Lee recently moved her small chickens from the portable chicken coop (ÔÇ£chicken tractorÔÇØ) into the main coop and chicken yard.

The chicken yard is not covered. So, before she moved the birds into the chicken yard she clipped the flight feathers from their wings. She clipped just enough off the feathers to prevent flight.

Those feathers will not grow out again until the bird molts. If the birds flew out of the chicken yard into the garden, there would really be no problem. She would simply capture the bird and put it back in the chicken yard. But, there is an alfalfa field behind our house that we do not have easy access to. There is also a major coyote runway through that field.

If a chicken flew out of the chicken yard and over into the alfalfa field at night or early morning a coyote might get it before it could be rescued.

Therefore, Mary Lee performed a significant service to the birds by clipping their flight feathers. But they don't realize that. They are probably simply frustrated that, before they could fly around the chicken tractor and now they can't fly at all. They have no concept of the risk and danger that awaits them in the alfalfa field.

We are often the same way. God will ÔÇ£clip our wings" to keep us from doing an activity that would be very harmful for us, perhaps would terminate our life or the lives of others.

We may complain and struggle over something that has been removed, with no concept of the significance of the danger and the incredible blessing of God's care over us, even in the clipping of our wings.

The key to all of this is trusting God and believing that He really loves us, as shown by Jesus on the cross. If we are really convinced that He loves us, then we won't fight against His clipping of our wings.

If we firmly believe that "God works together in all things for the good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes" then we will rejoice in the clipping of our wings because we know that God is choosing to work it for our good.

This is why it is so very important to be studying the word of God every day and spending time with Him in prayer. Then we come to know Him and begin to grasp His character and His overwhelming love for us.

We begin to appreciate that "His ways are not our ways" (Isaiah 55:8-9) and we begin to trust Him. EVEN when He clips our wings.

Devotion: The Place of Nothingness
 

The Place of Nothingness


"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

Do you find yourself in a place of nothingness? There is a time and place in our walk with God in which He sets us in a place of isolation and waiting. It is a place in which all past experiences are of no value. It is a time of such stillness that it can disturb the most faithful if we do not understand that He is the one who has brought us to this place for only a season. It is as if God has placed a wall around us. No new opportunities - simply inactivity.

During these times, God is calling us aside to fashion something new in us. It is a place of nothingness designed to call us to deeper roots of prayer and faith. It is not a comfortable place, especially for a task-driven workplace believer. Our nature cries out, "You must do something" while God is saying, "Be still and know that I am God." You know the signs that you have been brought into this place when He has removed many things from your life and you can't seem to change anything. Perhaps you are unemployed. Perhaps you are laid up with an illness.

Many people live a very planned and orchestrated life where they know almost everything that will happen. But for people in whom God is performing a deeper work, He brings them into a time of quietness that seems almost eerie. They cannot see what God is doing. They just know that He is doing a work that cannot be explained to themselves or to others.

Has God brought you to a place of nothingness? Be still and know that He really is God. When this happens, your nothingness will be turned into something you will value for the rest of your life.

Devotion: A Reflection on Wisdom
 

A Reflection on Wisdom

And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.ÔÇØ Isaiah

The Bible says that Paul both thanked God for the churches in and around Ephesus and that he prayed for them. Specifically we see that he prayed that they might be given ÔÇ£a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him [God].ÔÇØ

Note that he did not pray that they might learn to be wise or that they might somehow attain wisdom through their own efforts, but that God would give the church a spirit of wisdom and revelation. So we can see that God is not only the source of wisdom, He is the dispenser of wisdom as well.

In Isaiah we read these marvelous words: ÔÇ£And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.ÔÇØ You may recognize that as a prophecy about Jesus, and you will know from your study of Jesus that He did indeed possess a spirit of wisdom and understanding.

You will also notice the similarities in IsaiahÔÇÖs prophecy and in PaulÔÇÖs prayer.

But there is an aspect to wisdom that we often forget, and it is phrased beautifully by C. S. Lewis in his book The PilgrimÔÇÖs Regress. The lines go like this:

ÔÇ£And what is this valley called?ÔÇØ
ÔÇ£We call it now simply WisdomÔÇÖs Valley: but the oldest maps mark it as the Valley of Humiliation.ÔÇØ
Every blessing,

My prayer is that you will find each day's devotions stimulating, inspiring, and thought provoking, and that in some way they will deepen your love for God and your love for GodÔÇÖs children. May your day be about HIM and full of GodÔÇÖs love, grace, mercy, protection and blessings....Glenn

Devotion: Retirement or a New Assignment
 

Retirement or a New Assignment


For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill... (Ecclesiastes 2:21).

He didn't begin this job until he was sixty-nine years old. He had already had a successful Hollywood movie career and decided to try his hand at politics. He would be known by one job more than any other. He would also be known as one of the United State's greatest statesmen. He had a faith that was genuine but not intruding or very public, but you knew where he stood. He always treated people, even his detractors with grace. He was known for his extraordinary love he had for his wife.

His name was Ronald Reagan, and he did not begin his greatest work until he was sixty-nine years old. By this season of life, most are thinking of retirement in Florida. Ronald Reagan decided to run for President of the United States and successfully served two terms as our 40th President.

It was Reagan's faith that led him to see the Soviet Union as an "evil empire." He'll be remembered as the President who brought down communism in the Soviet Union. And it was his Christian faith that gave him the quiet confidence and self-certainty that made him a great leader and earned him the title "the great communicator."

Where did he get his spiritual values? There were a number of influences. First and foremost was his mother, Nelle Reagan. I'm confident that had Nelle Reagan died in the winter of 1918-19, a near-victim of the devastating influenza epidemic that killed millions of healthy, middle-aged mothers around the world, Ronald Reagan very likely would not have become President. It was Nelle who insisted her boy go to church-a request he happily obliged-and it was in church that Reagan picked up not only those core beliefs and values, but also the intangibles so vital to his success: his confidence, his eternal optimism (which he called a "God-given optimism"), and even his ability to speak. Indeed, history has also overlooked the fact that the Great Communicator found his first audiences in a church. He learned to speak in a church.*

(*http://www.heritage.org/Research/Pol...ophy/hl832.cfm)

Consider this: Your greatest work may yet be ahead of you. Don't let age keep you from being used by God, if you young or old.

Devotion: Offense - a Major Hindrance
 

good one, pulled it from back in the archives.
anger is to easy to kindle & keep going.
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Offense - A Major Hindrance

An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. Proverbs 18:19

Offenses (unsolved bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness in broken relationships) grieve the Holy Spirit and undermine the unity and prayer vital to revival. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, the flow of His power, counsel, and comfort is stymied, and the enemy is given opportunity to accuse, torment, imprison, and ultimately defeat us.

This blocks our ability to give or receive GodÔÇÖs mercy because our relationship with Him is compromised, and the church is prevented from presenting the glory of God to a community.

If we repent of our offenses to God and make things right before others, (Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24), we can live in the power of an ungrieved Holy Spirit.

Thus release from anger and bitterness, we can expect continual revival, abounding in the grace of His forgiveness, mercy, and kindness. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins. Mark 11:22-24.

Devotion: Our Words
 

I have this going on at my work right now
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Our Words

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such as a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29)

“A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18: 20-21)

“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)

Is every word you utter useful and constructive, or do you let off steam at times?
Consider each word we utter. Is our motivation to teach, instruct, or help, or are we demonstrating frustration or anger.

Accept the responsibility of every word from your mouth, and accept the responsibility of maintaining personal control at all times.

When we insure each word is constructive, we save time, energy, and maintain positive business relationships. In addition, your staff will become more effective with constructive instruction and at home our families will love it too.

Lord, please help me to think about what I’m saying before I say it. Help me guard what I let come out of my mouth. Help me hear what I sound like to other people, and help me to measure what I say. Amen

1 -e-bible study
 

1 -e-bible study

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Posted: 03 Jul 2016 03:00 AM PDT

Oh, boy, here we go again, back into Isaiah. An interesting application from Isaiaheven though Isaiah knew the ultimate outcome...that the nations would bring about the suffering of Gods people, he continued to preach against sin in Judah. Often as Believers we may know that our witness for Him may fall on deaf ears, we should still continue to witness. Our job is to witness, He takes it from there.

Again in Isaiah 13 we have a foreshadowing of a prophecy concerning the Day of the LordÔÇÖs wrath. (see the book These Last Days for explanations concerning the Day of the Lord). The prophecy of the judgment against Babylon is a multi-layered prophecy. While it is prophetic of the day of the Lord, it was literally fulfilled with the defeat of Babylon. There is mention made in this chapter about the land being desolate, the stars of heaven and their constellations not showing their light. They will be obscured because of the heavy smoke from the burning of the surface of the earth.

Speaking of the people during the Day of the Lord,
Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor.
The closer to delivery, the more frequent and more intense the labor pains are for a woman in labor. This is how it will be as time gets closer to the Day of the Lord.

1Thessalonians 5:3
People will say, "We have peace and we are safe." At that time destruction will come to them quickly, like the pains of a woman giving birth. And those people will not escape.

God commanded that Babylon will never be inhabited again according to Isaiah's prophecies. Saddam Hussein tried to rebuild but was unsuccessful. Look what happened to him!
Isaiah gives us a glimpse into SatanÔÇÖs plans through the king of Babylon. More details concerning Satan are found in Ezekiel 28 .

The Lord gives an admonition through Isaiah in Chapter 21,
"Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees." and "...let him be alert, fully alert."
This admonition is not just for the nations of Old Testament times. It is equally relevant today. If we don't make this personal and relevant, then the Old Testament is just a history book.
Along with a reference to "Babylon fallen" in Isaiah are several in Revelation.
Revelation 18:2
With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.

Babylon is used in analogy to represent the false church during the last days. Unclean and detestable birds are analogous to false teachers in the church. Before the false church becomes a haunt for demons and evil spirits, there must first come a ÔÇ£falling awayÔÇØ or a rebellion. The Christian church will become apostate before it becomes the false church. The seeds of disbelief and unfaithfulness in the church began in Babylon in Nimrod's day. This was from ancient times.

II Thessalonians 2:3
Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

What does this mean for us? We must be on the alert, prepared, and ready. The "labor pains" are becoming more frequent and more intense as we near the last days.

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Devotion: Being Fully Persuaded
 

Being Fully Persuaded


"Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised." - Romans 4:21

Why did God consider Abraham a righteous man? It was because Abraham looked beyond his own limitations of age and strength and considered God as the one who could accomplish His own goals. Abraham came to a place in his life where he realized it had little to do with him and all to do with God. His part was initiating the faith within himself.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead-since he was about a hundred years old-and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God (Romans 4:18-20).

What are the things in your life that are mere impossibilities? What are the mountains in your life? Are these there in order to build your faith in the one who can enable you to ascend to the peak? Once you know that it is His will for you to pursue, do it with faith. Faith requires action when we know it is He who is leading. It may require risk. Faith is sometimes spelled R-I-S-K. Abraham did not limit God. It is this confidence in God that God honored and rewarded. He wants to do the same with you and me

Devotion: Vested Interests
 

Vested Interests

"When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed" (Nehemiah 4:1).

Leaders who attempt something greater than themselves will always get attacked and it often comes from those who have a vested interest in what you are changing. Nehemiah was rebuilding the ancient wall of Jerusalem. It was a major undertaking. Not everyone was pleased with this initiative. Sanballat, another government worker, did not want this to happen.

When Jesus began confronting the Pharisees about religious traditions, He was attacked by the religious establishment because they had a vested interest that would be negatively impacted by His teaching. The apostle Paul confronted a religious tradition that generated income for those in the trade. Opposition arose because he was impacting a vested interest.

"About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen.


He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty" (Acts 19:23-27) .

Whenever you introduce a new product into the market, expect opposition from competitive products that have a vested interest. If God leads you to initiate a cause greater than yourself, expect opposition from those who may have vested interest.

Devotion: Joy of the Lord
 

Joy of the Lord

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" 1 Peter 1:8 (KJV)

Every Child of God, because of the filling of the Holy Ghost, has inside of their hearts a joy that is SO Great that it is unspeakable! In other words, there is no way to explain it by worldly means or words. Now I agree that there are people, who proclaim to be a Born Again believer, but yet their faces show gloom and their actions show doom! I believe some people instead of being saved, they have got religion instead, and it is for that reason they do not know the Joy of the Lord!

Now, if one has truly been saved, let the world know it by the glow on your face and the words of encouragement from your mouth. Let the redeemed say SO!

Devotion: Receiving Only From God
 

Receiving Only From God


"I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me-to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share." Genesis 14:24

Abraham's nephew was a man named Lot. Lot was part of Abraham's household until the land on which they fed their flocks could no longer support their growing families and herds. Abraham allowed Lot to choose the land where he wanted to live. Lot chose the land of Sodom.

Afterwards, four kings invaded Sodom, and Lot's family and goods were taken into captivity. When Abraham learned of this, he immediately gathered his best fighting men and pursued the armies to free Lot and his family. He was successful in freeing Lot's family and the families of Sodom.

The king of Sodom was grateful to Abraham for what he did and wanted him to keep the goods he recovered. Abraham had made a decision before the battle that he would only keep what he recovered for his nephew Lot, and goods as payment for the men who fought.

Abraham understood the principle of receiving from God. He was a man with great integrity in God. He did not want to be known as someone who became wealthy because of the kindness of a wicked king. He wanted others to know that whatever prosperity he gained was a result of the blessing from God's hand alone. Abraham understood an important principle of receiving from God.

Jesus also modeled this principle by receiving only what His Father wanted Him to receive. God's will for Jesus was to receive based on a carpenter's wage even though He was the God of the universe who had access to all things. Imagine the discipline Jesus had to have, knowing what He could have had. He upheld His own financial integrity in God. Each of us must discern what comes from the hand of God rather than the hand of man.

As workplace believers, there are situations that allow us to manipulate, sweat, and toil our way to profit. There is also profit as a result of hard work done in obedience to our calling to the workplace.

Knowing the difference in these two concepts is a sign of integrity before God. Only God receives glory when we receive what God wants us to receive. Are you receiving the fruit of your labor in God? Ask God to show you the difference of these two concepts for your own life.

Devotion: Joy Test
 

Joy Test

1 Peter 1:8 (KJV) "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:ÔÇØ
Today there are many people that have NO JOY! Worst yet, they proclaim to be Christian, Born Again Believers! Now I ask you, are you one of those Christians?

Let's take the Joy Test to see what your condition is; do you have a smile on your face or a frown? Are you judgmental of others and evaluate other's way of living instead of your own? Do you use your telephone for gossip line and a means of tearing others down instead of using your phone to encourage others or for the proper purposes? Have you started thinking negative about everything? Your job means more to you than you husband or your wife? If you answered YES to any of these questions, and you were being truthful and honest, there is a reason that you have NO JOY and that reason is SIN!

In the book of Job 20:5, there is a powerful scripture that says, ÔÇ£That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?" There is only ONE REASON that a Child of God can have a roller coaster attitude and a negative outlook and that is UNCONFESSED SIN IN THEIR LIVES! Christians need to realize that there is a GOD, and it is not THEM! Although a child of God is persecuted and everything just doesn't always go the way we want them to, THAT IS NO CAUSE FOR a loss of Joy and periods of SADNESS!

When Cain's sacrifice was not accepted by God, Cain was very angry and sad. In Genesis 4:6, look what the Lord asked him, "|And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen?" God did not ask Cain this to find out something He did not know, God knew why Cain was angry and sad, He just wanted to see if Cain knew the reason himself.

I ask you today, do you know why that you are so angry and sad today? If Christians, for just one second will look in the mirror and ask yourself, "If I was a lost person looking at me and the way I am acting, would I be able to see Jesus in ME or would I see somebody that I would not want to be like. I beg every one of you; think about it, it makes a lot of difference!

Devotion: The Dangers of Over Control
 

The Dangers of Over Control


"For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king." - 1 Samuel 15:23

A friend of mine who is a jet pilot once told me that whenever a jet goes out of control and begins to spin, the only thing to do is totally take your hands off the controls and the plane will right itself. This goes against our natural inclination to control and manipulate in order to bring things back under control. It is scary to be out of control. Or is it?

Saul was a man out of control. He was losing control of his kingdom to David. He was losing the favor of God and the people. It began as compromises. Eventually he was given a final test to obey the voice of God fully. He was instructed to kill the Amalekites completely; but he failed to follow through. The prophet Samuel delivered a hard word to King Saul, "Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king" (see 1 Samuel 15:26). Saul obeyed partially, but not fully. It was partial obedience that led to his removal as king of Israel and his calling from God. But why did Saul do such a thing? "I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them" (1 Samuel 15:24b). Saul's fear and insecurity made him more afraid of the people and what they thought than of God. At the core of Saul's disobedience was fear of losing control. That fear of losing control led to partial obedience and the loss of his reign as king.

How many of us are in danger of losing God's blessing due to partial obedience? How many of us have such a need to control people and circumstances that we fail to fully walk in obedience to God's voice in our lives? Saul provides a great lesson for us as workplace believers. The need to over control things around us can prevent us from receiving all that God has for us. Today, take an inventory of your control quotient.

Ask God if you are being fully obedient to what He has called you to do this day, and avoid being put on the shelf for disobedience. "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22b).

Devotion: Receiving Bad News
 

Receiving Bad News


"Also our enemies said, 'Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work'" (Nehemiah 4:11).

He opened the letter from the attorney and began to read the contents. The more he read, the sicker his stomach felt. He could not believe the words he was reading. He literally felt sick with fear. Perhaps you've had a similar experience. Maybe you got news that you've got cancer. Or someone has had an accident. Or you are being sued.

Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem. The going was tough. As if things were not tough enough, he got a letter from another corrupt government official threatening to kill anyone involved in rebuilding the wall.

"But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat (Nehemiah 4:7-9 emphasis mine).

There is but one response we should have to bad news. Pray to our God and take the necessary steps to defend ourselves against the threat. This was Nehemiah's response.

Once you begin to take these actions avoid projecting what might happen to you in the future. This is a sure-fire first step toward depression. Ask God's grace for one day at a time only.

"Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" (Luke 12:24-26).

Turn your bad news over to the Lord. He specializes in turning crises into opportunities.

Devotion: Obedience-based Decisions vs. Skill & Ability
 

Obedience-based Decisions vs. Skill & Ability

As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle. (1 Chronicles 14:13).

The Philistines are attacking. David wants to know how to respond. His first inquiry of God reveals that He is to attack the Philistines straight away. God will give him victory. David follows the instruction of God and gains victory. Shortly after, the Philistines are mounting another attack. David inquires again, "So David inquired of God again, and God answered him, "Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees."

This is a most interesting thing that David does. Consider that David is a well-trained warrior. He is a strategist. Yet, we find that David's dependence upon God to direct his efforts is very great. In fact, after he wins the first battle he goes right back to inquire again. This is the most important lesson we can learn from this story. God tells David to attack, but only after he hears the marching in the balsam trees.

How many times have you or I operated in the marketplace based only upon our skill and ability without seeking to know the details of the will of God in the matter? David could have simply assumed since he won the last battle, surely God would automatically give him victory the same way. No. David had learned that communicating with the living God is the only sure way of victory. His skill was not enough. He had to have the blessing of God.

How many times have we worked in our business life the same way each time only because it was the way we did it last time. What if God has a better way for you? What if God has a different plan than ours? "So David inquired of God..." These are the important words that we are to learn from. We must be in such relationship with God that we are constantly inquiring of His mind on the matter. When we do this we can expect the same results that David achieved...success in our endeavor and recognition by God.

"So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him." This is the reward of obedience to God. We don't have to build a name for ourselves. God will see to it that you are honored for your obedience. He wants to make known those servants who are willing to obey Him at all costs.

Devotion: Spiritual Contracts
 

Spiritual Contracts


"In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years." - Daniel 9:2

When you enter a legal contract, it binds the two parties to fulfill the terms of that contract. In Heaven there are legal contracts that, when fulfilled, allow the spiritual to impact the physical.

Israel had been in captivity to Babylon for 70 years. Daniel, when he investigated the history of his nation, found the prophecy of Jeremiah, which revealed there would be 70 years of captivity. He recognized that in order to release his nation from this captivity, there had to be a confession of sin on the part of the nation. Daniel took that responsibility. Although he could not personally repent for his nation, he could acknowledge their sin and repent himself. When Daniel acknowledged this sin before God, something took place in Heaven. God heard this prayer and responded by sending His angel Gabriel to Daniel's side.

We know from history that this was the time when Judah's return from exile began. Daniel's prayer of confession was the spiritual key to the physical manifestation of releasing the nation from captivity to Babylon.

Whenever you want to confront spiritual forces that have dominion over a situation, you must find the source of the problem. Once you find the source of the problem, you must take the necessary steps in the spiritual realm to release God's power into that situation. For Daniel, it meant taking responsibility for the sin of the nation by confessing its sins and asking forgiveness on behalf of the entire nation. This allowed God to begin the process of releasing the nation.

Ask God to show you the source of the problems that may exist in your city, your work, or people you want to see freed to fulfill God's purposes for their lives.

Devotion: Avoiding Conflict
 

Avoiding Conflict


Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. But the king said, "He must go to his own house; he must not see my face." So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king (2 Samuel 14:23-24).

Many people hate conflict to the point they will never confront a wrong. Taking this path will only lead to later hardship, such was the case for Absalom and his father King David.

Amnon, also a son of David, raped his sister Tamar. When this happened, David was furious but he did not punish Amnon for his actions. Absalom saw this as a terrible injustice for his sister. So, Absalom plotted to kill Amnon at the right time. He patiently waited for two years before he set up a situation to have him killed.

David was heartbroken over the death of Amnon and held Absalom responsible. At the same time, David still desired to have a relationship with Absalom, but because he failed to address the situation with Amnon when it happened, it led to more serious consequences in the family. Absalom was banished for three years because of David's anger towards him which allowed seeds of resentment to grown in his heart. Absalom then conspired to overthrow David's kingdom.

It is imperative to confront problems when they arise no matter how uncomfortable it might be. We are called to speak the truth in love. "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ" (Ephesians 4:15-16). Failure to confront in love allows the enemy to sow greater seeds of conflict.

Is there someone in your life that you need to confront in love? Make plans now to get with this person and work through the issues that divide you.

Devotion: BE ALIVE IN CHRIST
 

BE ALIVE IN CHRIST


Psalms 85:6 ÔÇ£Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"

It is my belief, which is based on the Word of God, that God will revive His people when their hearts are in a repent mode, when they have come to themselves realizing that they are not in the will of God. God KNOWS our hearts and He know when we are serious about our spiritually slack condition.

The reason that we don't hear or see Revivals happening like they use to is because Christians today enjoy their SPLIT life style condition, half their heart in the World that the other half in the Church. Many Christians are lying to themselves in believing that there is nothing wrong with the way they are living their lives, but the Word of God will clearly point out that error.

Another reason that we are not seeing or hearing about Revivals taking place is the fact that when the Word of God is preached, our ears and our hearts are hardened and we will not hear it. Many preachers today are not preaching enough of the Word to awaken our dead cold hearts and that is why today America is in the Shape that it is in!

Today, instead of Revival, in many cases we need a MASS RESURRECTION because Churches are DEAD!

Please help us pray for the Revival of America, our nation, our homes and our churches can BE ALIVE IN CHRIST!

Devotion: ÔÇ£Right RelationshipsÔÇØ
 

ÔÇ£Right RelationshipsÔÇØ
by Scott Hunter


He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

You need to see that one of the keys to your success will be your relationships. As in the days of the early church, the same principle applies today. When we are aligned with the right people, we will have the right things. Adversely, when we align with the wrong people, we will have the wrong things. Right relationships in the early church produced, miracles, respect and favor. The key to relationships is the word relate. You cannot have a relationship with someone you cannot relate to. In order to have the relationships that God desires for you, you must have a right relationship with Him. When your relationship with God is off, you will begin to relate to the wrong people; but when your relationship with God is right, you will relate to people who are seeking first the Kingdom of God and who are right for you. Right relationships produce strength, encouragement, and the power of GodÔÇÖs agreement.

In order to fulfill the call of God on your life, you must have these relationships. When the enemy can change what we relate to, he can change who we relate to therefore moving us out of the will of God. We cannot afford to be distracted, distraction will cause fatal errors in your life. We must refocus on what God has for us and allow Him to direct us to the right people that will help us in our walk with God. We must forget the past and press toward the future. This is going to be a great year. Begin building your relationship with God and His assigned people for your life, and as you do you will find the peace and joy of living in His will.

To learn more about how God is using Scott to reach the lost and hurting, check out his website at www.compassionfireandglory.org .

Devotion:TWO TIMERS
 

TWO TIMERS


1 John 2: 15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

There are many Christians that are TWO TIMERS! Now some of you may not understand what I am talking about here. A TWO TIMER was what one was called when they had two boyfriends or Girlfriends at the same time; they were labeled as a two timer.

Many Christians today are just that, they say the love the Lord, but at the same time they love the things of the World. Paul wrote in the book of 2 Corinthians 6: 17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," Christians should be known by the World as a people that are different, those that don't have anything to do with the sinful things of the World.

In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter says Christians are "a peculiar people." The word, "Peculiar" means strange or odd. Now that is the view of a Christians from the WORLDS EYES!

Now the problem is this, Christians are now so entangled in the Worldly things; they are no longer viewed by the world as being ODD! As a matter of fact, when looking at some Christians and some churches, they are so WORLDLY that they have become a JOKE to the World!

If a person loves the Father, they will love His Word and obey ALL OF IT. WHO DO YOU LOVE? DON'T TELL ME WITH YOUR LIPS; TELL ME WITH YOUR ACTIONS.

Devotion: Sweating Outcomes
 

Sweating Outcomes


"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those He loves." - Psalm 127:2

Coming into the Promised Land in business will change the way you and I view our work. No longer will we see getting up early and staying up late as God's way. Living in the Promised Land in work means we know that God is the source of our provision and that our work is an act of worship to Him. Provision is a by-product, not an end in itself. Work is no longer something that must be sweated and toiled upon to make ends meet. "Could this really be true?" you might be saying. God has made it clear that obedience is the assurance of provision. Whenever we go beyond the normal workday due to fear of non-provision, we are operating in unbelief. We are saying that it is up to us to make things happen. Sure, there are times when we work longer hours due to a deadline, but we must be sure the motive is not out of fear of loss or fear of non-provision. If we are obedient to what God has called us to, He will provide our every need. This can be a hard lesson for goal-oriented workplace believers.

I recall coming into this understanding. I had been a workaholic. Long hours were common. Then God shook up my world and I was challenged by a friend to examine my motives for working long hours. I realized the source of those long hours was fear. Once I came into this understanding, I refused to work long hours even though the natural man would tell me I'd never make things happen if I worked a normal work week. Again, this reasoning is based on a lack of faith. If we are obedient to what God has called each of us to, we will not lack. At times it may be less than what we might like; at other times it may be more than we deserve. These are God's ways.

The Bible tells us to come out of Babylon. Babylon is a system of work and philosophy that is contrary to God's ways. Are you operating in any aspect of work from a Babylonian value system? Ask the Lord to reveal this to you. Begin to walk in the freedom He has given us in our work life.

"HAPPY EASTER AND PASSOVER"
 

alertness check...
---------------------------------------------------------

Lord is Risen! He is raised indeed!

Lord, I'm so thankful that I serve a risen Savior, and He live within my heart. I'm thankful that someday I will see You, the One who died and lives again. Amen

Lord, how ironically it was that those who were outraged by a supposed violation of the Sabbath, had no qualms about plotting how they might destroy You. Amen

"HAPPY EASTER AND PASSOVER"


The Lord Jesus Christ said, "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3

When he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:4

Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20
Praise God that death could not stop Him and the Grave could not hold Him, He lives Today. Praying that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable dayGlenn

Devotion: The Gospel of the Kingdom
 

The Gospel of the Kingdom

This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." - Matthew 6:9-10

Imagine that you have never driven a car. You are not aware of all the features of a car. Up to this point, you have had to walk everywhere you go. All you are told is that you are about to receive something that will get you anywhere you need to go. The day arrives and you are given a brand new car. You get in and drive the car. However, the emergency brake is on, preventing you from going faster than 20 miles per hour. No one tells you that you should unlock the brake. Regardless, you are excited because you no longer have to walk to your destination. You are not told that the car has lights, which would allow you to drive at night. Neither are you told about the many other wonderful features of the car. You just know you have a new car that will get you anywhere you want to go at 20 miles per hour. For the rest of your life, you drive this incredible car during the daytime only at 20 miles per hour.

Why would Jesus pray that things in earth would be like they are in Heaven if it were not possible? When Jesus came to earth, He came in order to penetrate the very kingdom of darkness with light. He came to bring healing to sickness, replace sadness with joy, and fill meaninglessness with purpose. He came to change things for the better for a world that had no hope outside of God.

Using the illustration above, Jesus did not come to merely give us a ticket to Heaven (a car that you drive only in the daytime at 20 miles per hour). He came to bring us much more-the Kingdom of God on earth.

Nowhere in the Bible will you find the term, gospel of salvation. The Church does not exist for Heaven, but for earth. If it existed only for Heaven, then each of us would immediately be taken to Heaven. There would be no reason for us to remain on earth. So why has God allowed us to receive this new birth and remain on earth? It is so that we might bring the Kingdom of God into our world-our families, our workplace, and our communities.

God wants you to bring the Kingdom of God into the territory He has given you so that His will can be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Your domain is your workplace, family, and community. Ask God to show you how He wants to penetrate the darkness of your domain with His light. Then you will see and experience all the features of this gift that has been given to you.

Devotion: Country Wide Revival
 

Country Wide Revival


Psalms 85:6 ÔÇ£Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"

Just think for a moment and wonder what it would be like for a Revival to break out in America. I am talking about a United States wide Revival. One that would literally touch the hearts of the Government all the way down to Mr. and Mrs. John Doe. What kind of Changes would there be? There would be less Alcoholism, less Drug Addicts, the divorce rate would go down, the amount of homeless people would drop, the amount of hungry children in America due to godless moms and dads would drop, the battered women shelters would see less and less women coming in that had been beaten by a drunk, demon possessed husband.

Today Crime is out of control! Many Cities and towns are hiring more and more police, trying to control the crime. Just think what a Country Wide Revival would do to that! There is no doubt in my mind that if Revival would take place in every town the Prison Jail occupation would drop to half. Teen pregnancies would drop, Teen Bullying would drop, Teen Suicides would drop. Just think about that, less crime, fewer killings, less people hating one another. WOW, does it not amaze us, with all that I have said, does it not amaze us that people would not want a Revival that would turn things around that are so bad now.

Now I know that many folks reading this devotion would say, IMPOSSIBLE! Revival Country wide is IMPOSSIBLE! The fact of the matter is this, Revival is POSSIBLE!

Folks, what I have said are the Truth! Revival would make such a change for the good and get this, not a law would have to be passed to bring this wonderful change, a change of people getting RIGHT WITH GOD!

Now some people may even say, "Change of that magnitude would take a lot of something! I would say to that, "YOU ARE CORRECT!" It would take something big, and that something big is GOD! Revival comes when people REPENT OF THEIR SIN, Then GOD FORGIVES THAT SIN! THEN CHANGE COMES! Oh dear friends, Revival is promised by God, HE WILL Revive us again, but there are some things that the Born Again MUST DO!

Read 2 Chronicles 7:14 and think on that. Such a wonderful change is there, all God's people must do it follow 2 Chronicles 7:14, the road to Revival, and it CAN HAPPEN!

"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"

Devotion: Shepherd Your People
 

Shepherd Your People

"Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands" (Micah 7:14).

You and I are called to be shepherds in the workplace. Your "staff" (vocation) represents your calling to your work life ministry. Moses' staff represented his calling as a shepherd. God's first words to Moses were: "Remove your shoes. For this is Holy ground." God came to Moses during his workday. His work became holy because God's presence was there.

God used Moses' staff to perform miracles and deliver the people of Israel from bondage. (Exodus 4:17). He is still issuing this same call today to you and I in the workplace. For most of us, this is where our inheritance lies.

As we minister through our work life call, our inheritance will come as a result of letting God use our abilities. Paul tells us in Colossians 3:23, 24: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

What makes our work holy is the motivation by which we do it. If we work to glorify God in it and serve others in the process, that is what makes it ministry. The word ministry and service are derived from the same Greek word, diakonia.

Those in the workplace are like a remnant of a wayward people in a forest awaiting harvest. It is a fertile pasture awaiting a shepherd who can lead them into a life of purpose and destiny. Will you be the instrument of God to shepherd His people out of bondage?

Ask the Lord to use your "staff" to perform miracles and to become a shepherd to those He has called you to lead. Why not start today?

Devotion: Unity
 

Unity

"I pray not only for these but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father are in Me and I am in you. May they also be one in Us so the world may believe You sent Me." John 17.20-21

"I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as we are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me." John 17.22-23

We see Jesus describing how the world will know that God sent Him. We see from the above passages that unity among believers ("those who believe in Me through their message") is very important to Jesus and is a key to the world knowing that the Father sent Jesus.

We often pursue unity for unityÔÇÖs sake, and we share the good news with people (appropriately so) so they might come to believe in Christ. But we seldom connect our unity with each other in God with our witness. Jesus does in vs. 20-21. In these passages He tells us that our unity is how the world will come to believe that the Father sent Him. And note in vs. 22-23 that JesusÔÇÖ prayer is that we become "completely one".

How do we cooperate with these prayers? How do we become "completely one"? Do we strive to define our differences, and then try to find ways to reconcile them? Or do we all simply pursue Jesus?

As two people walk up the mountain on different trails they get closer and closer together as they get near the top. I believe that is the model for unity - everybody involved pressing into a closer relationship with Christ. As we all come closer to Christ, we will come closer to each other and the unity that Jesus spoke of will become obvious to others. That is a work of God and will show others the truth of the Gospel. It is a supernatural unity.

How does this apply to our businesses? If all our team is on the same page, we will be much more effective than if we are pulling in different directions. A key part of this is to make sure the vision of where we are going and our purpose and mission is well communicated to all of the team and that they embrace them.

More importantly is for everyone to see that we work under the leadership and lordship of Jesus in our business. As we place ourselves, as leaders of the business, under the authority of Christ, then the unity Jesus spoke of in John 17 will begin to be manifest in our company as we are all climbing the same mountain. It will be transforming to the business we are running for Christ.

Devotion: Overcoming Our Past
 

Overcoming Our Past


"Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah." - Judges 11:29a

We've all heard stories of individuals who have overcome extreme hardship during their childhood years. Children of alcoholics, orphans who never have parents, loss of parents to a fatal crash, childhood disease - these are all difficult circumstances to overcome.

Jephthah was a man who overcame his obstacles and refused to allow his circumstances to prevent him from becoming great in God's sight. He was born to Gilead, a result of his father's adulterous encounter with a prostitute. Gilead's wife, who had bore more sons, decided to reject Jephthah, and drove him away from their home saying, "You are not going to get any inheritance in our family because you are the son of another woman." Imagine the rejection this young man felt as he was cast away from his own family.

This experience taught Jephthah to become a hardened warrior. Today he probably would have been part of a street gang. As he got older, his reputation as a warrior became known to those in his country, so much so that when the Ammonites made war on Israel, the elders of Gilead went to Jephthah and asked him to be their commander. Jephthah had to fight off those feelings of rejection from previous years.

"Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house?" he responded. He overcame his hurt and pain, and responded to the call God had on his life.

It is said that if we were to help the butterfly remove itself from the cocoon, the butterfly would not be strong enough to survive. It is the struggle that prepares the butterfly to become strong enough to fly. Without the struggle in the cocoon, it could not survive as a butterfly.

The Lord prepares each of us in similar ways. Some of our childhoods seem to have been harsh and born from a seemingly unloving God. However, the Lord knows our struggle and will make our life an instrument in His hand if we will follow Him with an upright heart. He does make all things beautiful in His time if we are willing to be patient.

Devotion: Happy Thanksgiving
 

just in case you had a Turkey Sammich from Subway today...


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HAPPY THANKSGIVING


Lord, may we today be thankful for our faith in You, and the abundant blessings we enjoy today and always, and may we began and ended each day with thankful prayers. Amen

For those of us in the United States, this Thursday, November 26, is our national day of Thanksgiving. Ever since the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621, we have been reminding each other that we have much to be thankful for, and we need to stop as a nation to acknowledge that. And for my friends reading this overseas, let this day be a day of thanksgiving to our Father; and for each and every one of you, IÔÇÖm thankful for you.

May we not forget or take for granted that God is the source of ÔÇ£every good and perfect giftÔÇØ, and He deserves our gratitude every day, not just today! Let us be thoroughly grateful to God for all His mercies to us.

Let us, this day, look up and recognize God as the giver of everything. We should learn to praise Him all the time, remembering that Thanksgiving should be continuous, not simple one day a year. Everyday should be a "Thanksgiving Day". May each day of your life be full of an attitude of gratitude, for everything comes from God.

May your Thanksgiving be a time to enjoy and be thankful for your family and friends and all that God has done for you and blessed you with. May GodÔÇÖs love, grace, mercy, protection, and blessings be with you and your family today and always.

Happy Thanksgiving - Im thankful for you..Glenn

Devotion: Working Versus Striving
 

Working Versus Striving


"So he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord Almighty."'" - Zechariah 4:6

Your greatest obstacle in fulfilling God's purposes in your life is the skills you have acquired to perform well in your work life. One of the great paradoxes in Scripture relates to our need to depend on the Lord; yet at the same time, we're instructed to use the talents and abilities God gives us to accomplish the work He gives us to do. It has been one of the most difficult principles to live out. How do we know that what we achieve is by the power of the Holy Spirit in our life versus our own abilities, and is there a difference? When we reach a level of excellence and performance in our fields, it actually becomes an obstacle to seeing God's power manifest in our work. What we naturally do well becomes the object of our trust. When this happens, God retreats. You see, God allows us to develop skills, but these must be continually yielded to God's Spirit. There will be times when God will use these skills to accomplish His purposes. There will be other times that God will not use any of our skills just to ensure that we know it is by His power that we can do anything.

It is the oxymoron of all oxymorons for Christian workplace believers. Learning not to act until God shows you to act is a sign of maturity in God. "Do not lean on the natural skill which you have been given. Let God manifest Himself in what you are doing," said a mentor who has learned this balance of skill and walking with God. "You must almost restrain from doing those things you know you are prone to do and actually go against them."

Ask God to teach you what it means to walk according to the power of the Holy Spirit in your business life. Develop a listening ear to the small voice inside that wants to direct your efforts by His Spirit.