So let's stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. — Romans 14:13
How do we cause other people to stumble? The answer is very simple. We cause other people to stumble by not caring about them.
Jesus said, "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet" (Matthew 18:8). He basically was saying that we should get rid of anything in our lives that would be a bad example. If there is something in our lives that would cause us to stumble, then we need to deal with it, because it could cause someone else to stumble as well.
I think of couples who decide to get divorced and say things like, "Oh, don't worry about the kids. They are resilient." That divorce will hurt them—trust me. I know from the personal experience of being a child of divorce and seeing my mother married and divorced seven times. I know what that is like, and I know what it is like for a child. Parents are to be an example to their children. Be something they can emulate.
Younger believers are watching what we do as well. Sometimes we will take our so-called liberties and flaunt them, and then we cause younger believers to stumble in their faith. But the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 14:21, "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble."
You might think, Well, that is their problem. No, not really. It is your problem. It is our problem. We don't live and die to ourselves. What we do affects other people (especially our children). So be a good example.
(Via Greg Laurie)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Waiting for Answers to Prayer
Read ~ Psalm 33:20-22
Scripture makes it clear that our heavenly Father hears and answers prayer. Yet we all experience times when, though we pray for God to act right away, He does not. What are some reasons for the delay?
At times the Lord sees that our attention is misdirected. Our relationship with Him should have priority over any earthly matter (Mark 12:30). Yet minds and prayers can become so fixed upon a need that our gaze shifts away from Him. The Father may delay His answer until we refocus on Him. In other situations, God waits because the timing is not right for granting our request. Perhaps certain events must happen first, or people’s thinking needs to be changed.
There are also seasons when the Lord wants to stretch and grow our faith. One of the ways He accomplishes that is by having us watch for His response. The Holy Spirit will work in these times of waiting to mature us and bring forth righteous fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).
Other reasons are a wrong motive for our request (James 4:3) and the practice of habitual sin. We all fall short when it comes to God’s standard of holiness, but some of us persist in a lifestyle of disobedience. The Lord may delay His answer so He can prompt us to confess our sin and turn back to Him.
Waiting on the Lord isn’t easy—faith and trust are needed (Heb. 11:1). If His answer is delayed, check that 1) your focus is on Him, 2) your motive for asking is God-honoring, and 3) you aren’t practicing habitual sin. Then believe that His response will be for your good and His glory.
(Via Charles Stanley)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Scripture makes it clear that our heavenly Father hears and answers prayer. Yet we all experience times when, though we pray for God to act right away, He does not. What are some reasons for the delay?
At times the Lord sees that our attention is misdirected. Our relationship with Him should have priority over any earthly matter (Mark 12:30). Yet minds and prayers can become so fixed upon a need that our gaze shifts away from Him. The Father may delay His answer until we refocus on Him. In other situations, God waits because the timing is not right for granting our request. Perhaps certain events must happen first, or people’s thinking needs to be changed.
There are also seasons when the Lord wants to stretch and grow our faith. One of the ways He accomplishes that is by having us watch for His response. The Holy Spirit will work in these times of waiting to mature us and bring forth righteous fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).
Other reasons are a wrong motive for our request (James 4:3) and the practice of habitual sin. We all fall short when it comes to God’s standard of holiness, but some of us persist in a lifestyle of disobedience. The Lord may delay His answer so He can prompt us to confess our sin and turn back to Him.
Waiting on the Lord isn’t easy—faith and trust are needed (Heb. 11:1). If His answer is delayed, check that 1) your focus is on Him, 2) your motive for asking is God-honoring, and 3) you aren’t practicing habitual sin. Then believe that His response will be for your good and His glory.
(Via Charles Stanley)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Training to See God
24) You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. 25) You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, 26) for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Proverbs 3:24-26 (NLT)
David was confident that the Lord was always at his right hand (Ps. 16:8). His psalms reveal that in surveying his life, he saw God’s fingerprints all over it. Like David, we must train our spiritual eyes to notice the evidence of our heavenly Father’s presence.
Seeing with spiritual eyes isn’t a now-and-then kind of thing—it’s a lifestyle. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Those who walk before the Lord with a clear conscience will take captive unholy thoughts, habits, attitudes, and words. They cast out sin and live in righteousness. As a result, such believers have a spiritual clarity that sharpens their awareness of God’s presence and involvement in their lives.
I developed a habit years ago that has helped me to focus. When I lie down and talk to the Lord before going to sleep, I try to recall the events of my day. What I’m really doing is looking for evidence of God at work. How did He guide this decision? Answer this question? Protect me in this situation? Help me in this relationship? Appreciating the Lord’s handiwork a second time (even when the initial experience was difficult) etches the reality of His care deeper on my heart.
The evidence of God’s great power is all over your life, if only you will see it. Viewing the world with wide-open spiritual eyes changes one’s perspective. Instead of saying, “I can’t,” say, “I can because the Lord always enables me.” Live confident in our loving, omnipotent God, who dwells within every believer.
(Via Charles Stanley)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
David was confident that the Lord was always at his right hand (Ps. 16:8). His psalms reveal that in surveying his life, he saw God’s fingerprints all over it. Like David, we must train our spiritual eyes to notice the evidence of our heavenly Father’s presence.
Seeing with spiritual eyes isn’t a now-and-then kind of thing—it’s a lifestyle. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). Those who walk before the Lord with a clear conscience will take captive unholy thoughts, habits, attitudes, and words. They cast out sin and live in righteousness. As a result, such believers have a spiritual clarity that sharpens their awareness of God’s presence and involvement in their lives.
I developed a habit years ago that has helped me to focus. When I lie down and talk to the Lord before going to sleep, I try to recall the events of my day. What I’m really doing is looking for evidence of God at work. How did He guide this decision? Answer this question? Protect me in this situation? Help me in this relationship? Appreciating the Lord’s handiwork a second time (even when the initial experience was difficult) etches the reality of His care deeper on my heart.
The evidence of God’s great power is all over your life, if only you will see it. Viewing the world with wide-open spiritual eyes changes one’s perspective. Instead of saying, “I can’t,” say, “I can because the Lord always enables me.” Live confident in our loving, omnipotent God, who dwells within every believer.
(Via Charles Stanley)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Monday, June 27, 2011
Put it into Action
And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ” Philemon 1:6, (NLT)
The Bible tells us that faith without works is dead. If we don’t put our faith into action, it’s not really faith; it’s just nice ideas. You see, when God truly does a work in our lives, it affects everything about us. It affects our words, our thoughts and our actions. How do you know someone is generous? By their generous actions. How do you know someone is kind? By their kind actions. How do you know someone is gentle? By their gentle actions. How do you know someone is a follower of Christ? By their Christ-like actions.
Can people tell by your actions that you belong to God? We all have areas where we can come up higher, but as believers in Jesus, we can be confident that God is at work in us. He is faithful and will complete what He started. As we invite Him to search our hearts and minds, as we surrender every area of our heart to Him and put our faith into action, He will finish His perfect work in us!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for changing me, for making me more like You. I invite Your love to do a work in my heart so that You are reflected in everything I say and do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(via Joel & Victoria Osteen)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
The Bible tells us that faith without works is dead. If we don’t put our faith into action, it’s not really faith; it’s just nice ideas. You see, when God truly does a work in our lives, it affects everything about us. It affects our words, our thoughts and our actions. How do you know someone is generous? By their generous actions. How do you know someone is kind? By their kind actions. How do you know someone is gentle? By their gentle actions. How do you know someone is a follower of Christ? By their Christ-like actions.
Can people tell by your actions that you belong to God? We all have areas where we can come up higher, but as believers in Jesus, we can be confident that God is at work in us. He is faithful and will complete what He started. As we invite Him to search our hearts and minds, as we surrender every area of our heart to Him and put our faith into action, He will finish His perfect work in us!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for changing me, for making me more like You. I invite Your love to do a work in my heart so that You are reflected in everything I say and do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(via Joel & Victoria Osteen)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Dealing with Disappointment
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Read ~ Habakkuk 3:17-19
After preaching a sermon on disappointment, several men and women approached me with the same reaction: “I desperately needed to hear those words.” Countless people feel defeated and let down by disappointing situations. But our response can make all the difference. Frustrations can be either an opportunity for spiritual growth or a destructive blow.
A right response to disappointment begins with resisting the natural tendency toward bitterness. If someone else was involved in the situation, don’t be quick to judge his or her conduct. We can’t fully understand what is going on in others’ lives or what motivates them to act as they do. Our second step should be to ask the Lord, “How am I to respond?” God can guide us to a wise and righteous reaction because He has all the facts.
Third, follow His direction, even if it isn’t what you want to do. Oftentimes the Lord’s way contradicts our own desires and the advice of friends. However, His plan is the one that will bring about growth and result in our greatest good.
And finally, keep your focus on God and His higher purpose in your life. People are prone to dwell on their hurts and the harm that comes to them, which is what makes disappointment so destructive.
There is only one healthy method for dealing with letdown—pursue the Lord’s way and His will. Though human plans can be derailed, nothing alters God’s purpose. No matter how deep your hurt goes, He will shepherd you through setbacks and sorrows while growing your faith.
via Charles Stanley
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Read ~ Habakkuk 3:17-19
After preaching a sermon on disappointment, several men and women approached me with the same reaction: “I desperately needed to hear those words.” Countless people feel defeated and let down by disappointing situations. But our response can make all the difference. Frustrations can be either an opportunity for spiritual growth or a destructive blow.
A right response to disappointment begins with resisting the natural tendency toward bitterness. If someone else was involved in the situation, don’t be quick to judge his or her conduct. We can’t fully understand what is going on in others’ lives or what motivates them to act as they do. Our second step should be to ask the Lord, “How am I to respond?” God can guide us to a wise and righteous reaction because He has all the facts.
Third, follow His direction, even if it isn’t what you want to do. Oftentimes the Lord’s way contradicts our own desires and the advice of friends. However, His plan is the one that will bring about growth and result in our greatest good.
And finally, keep your focus on God and His higher purpose in your life. People are prone to dwell on their hurts and the harm that comes to them, which is what makes disappointment so destructive.
There is only one healthy method for dealing with letdown—pursue the Lord’s way and His will. Though human plans can be derailed, nothing alters God’s purpose. No matter how deep your hurt goes, He will shepherd you through setbacks and sorrows while growing your faith.
via Charles Stanley
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Knowing God's Will Is Not Always Easy
Let me say something that may surprise you: The will of God is not always easy to discern.
Most of my Christian life is one of faith, where I read Scripture and pray for wisdom. Then I make decisions and act on them, hoping that I am in His will. I hope that is not a disappointment to you.
You may have thought that I get a message from God every day, just like on Mission: Impossible (cue theme song). "Good morning, Mr. Laurie. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves leading a person named Joe Smith to Christ. He will be pumping gas at the station across from the church at 1:35 P.M. today. This message will self-destruct in five seconds."
In real life, the chances are that I will see my "idiot light" come on, and then pull over to get some gas. Old Joe will be standing there and say, "How ya doing?" And I will find myself smack dab in the middle of the will of God as I share Christ with him.
This is also true of the Christian life, in general. Emotions will come and go. Some days, you "feel" more spiritual than others. Some days, you are very encouraged, and other days you are discouraged. The best thing to do is just hold your course.
It's not unlike marriage. You cannot expect to have a euphoric high every day, where your heart flutters whenever your mate walks into the room.
I have been married to my wife Cathe for 37 years now. If I still felt the way around her that I did when I was first getting to know her, it would be absurd. Imagine this: your spouse walks in the room and your heart flutters, your mouth goes dry, and your mind goes blank. My wife would think I was having a heart attack!
No, we have been married all these years and we have made a life-long commitment to each other. The same is true of our commitment to God. Those emotions come and go, and come again. The Christian life is one of faith, not mere feeling. Scripture says "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17).
So hold your course today!
(via Greg Laurie)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Most of my Christian life is one of faith, where I read Scripture and pray for wisdom. Then I make decisions and act on them, hoping that I am in His will. I hope that is not a disappointment to you.
You may have thought that I get a message from God every day, just like on Mission: Impossible (cue theme song). "Good morning, Mr. Laurie. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves leading a person named Joe Smith to Christ. He will be pumping gas at the station across from the church at 1:35 P.M. today. This message will self-destruct in five seconds."
In real life, the chances are that I will see my "idiot light" come on, and then pull over to get some gas. Old Joe will be standing there and say, "How ya doing?" And I will find myself smack dab in the middle of the will of God as I share Christ with him.
This is also true of the Christian life, in general. Emotions will come and go. Some days, you "feel" more spiritual than others. Some days, you are very encouraged, and other days you are discouraged. The best thing to do is just hold your course.
It's not unlike marriage. You cannot expect to have a euphoric high every day, where your heart flutters whenever your mate walks into the room.
I have been married to my wife Cathe for 37 years now. If I still felt the way around her that I did when I was first getting to know her, it would be absurd. Imagine this: your spouse walks in the room and your heart flutters, your mouth goes dry, and your mind goes blank. My wife would think I was having a heart attack!
No, we have been married all these years and we have made a life-long commitment to each other. The same is true of our commitment to God. Those emotions come and go, and come again. The Christian life is one of faith, not mere feeling. Scripture says "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17).
So hold your course today!
(via Greg Laurie)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Monday, June 20, 2011
Just Checking In
An oldie but goodie!
A minister passing through his church In the middle of the day, decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle, the minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was kinda shabby, and his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head, then rose and walked away. In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap, each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap. Well, the minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear, he decided to stop the man and ask him, 'What are you doing here?' The old man said, he worked down the road. Lunch was half an hour. Lunchtime was his prayer time, For finding strength and power. 'I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kinda what I say:
The minister feeling foolish, told Mike, that was fine. He told the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime. Time to go, Mike smiled, said 'Thanks.' He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before. His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Mike's prayer: 'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO
PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.'
Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Mike hadn't come. As more days passed without Mike,
He began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, but he'd given them a thrill. The week that Mike was with them, brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious. Changed people, were his reward. The head nurse couldn't understand
Why Mike was so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had. The minister stayed by his bed, he voiced the nurse's concern: No friends came to show they cared. he had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Mike spoke up and with a winsome smile; 'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
that He's in here all the while everyday at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me:
'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, MIKE,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY
YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO Mike, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.'
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart
May God hold you in the palm of His hand and Angels watch over you. So, FRIEND, this is ME ... "Just Checking In Today"
A minister passing through his church In the middle of the day, decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle, the minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was kinda shabby, and his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head, then rose and walked away. In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap, each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap. Well, the minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear, he decided to stop the man and ask him, 'What are you doing here?' The old man said, he worked down the road. Lunch was half an hour. Lunchtime was his prayer time, For finding strength and power. 'I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kinda what I say:
'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS MIKE CHECKING IN TODAY.'
The minister feeling foolish, told Mike, that was fine. He told the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime. Time to go, Mike smiled, said 'Thanks.' He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before. His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Mike's prayer: 'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO
PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.'
Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Mike hadn't come. As more days passed without Mike,
He began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, but he'd given them a thrill. The week that Mike was with them, brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious. Changed people, were his reward. The head nurse couldn't understand
Why Mike was so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had. The minister stayed by his bed, he voiced the nurse's concern: No friends came to show they cared. he had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Mike spoke up and with a winsome smile; 'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
that He's in here all the while everyday at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me:
'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, MIKE,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY
YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO Mike, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.'
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart
May God hold you in the palm of His hand and Angels watch over you. So, FRIEND, this is ME ... "Just Checking In Today"
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Friday, June 17, 2011
Repentance and Prayer
6) But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7)And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8)Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.... 12) And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” —Matthew 6:6-8, 12.
Prayer is entering God’s presence. It’s boldly going where we wouldn’t dare go unless Christ went with us (see Hebrews 4:14-16). One way to know you have stepped into God’s presence is the irresistible desire to confess. Our sin is always apparent when we are truly exposed to God’s holiness. If you’re not aware of unworthiness then you’re not actually aware of God. This is why it’s important to ask, “Is my prayer repentant?” when we spend time talking with God.
In Matthew 6:12 Jesus taught us to say “…And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. Now that’s not a credit card prayer. It’s not lighthearted forgiveness. Its’ talking about the sin against us that isn’t easy to overlook. If some one strikes you verbally, physically, or emotionally, that creates a debt; an obligation. They owe you now. And what we’re praying here is, “God, we acknowledge we have offended You, God. We have slapped You, as it were. And we have created an offense. And we are asking God that You would forgive us the same way we forgive other people who create offense with us.” Really?! Is that what you thought you were praying? That’s a hard prayer to pray—and mean! “Forgive me the way I forgive my sister, God. Do it just like that.” “Take my high water mark in forgiveness and apply that standard to me, God.” Talk about your prayer changing you!? “I want to be forgiven the way I forgive other people.” You see, because in prayer, I expand my sense of how I have offended God. And I thereby begin to minimize my sense of how others have offended me. And that’s prayer changing me.
Is my prayer repentant?
So, don’t come to church with an attitude toward somebody as if your back is turned toward them. “We may have gotten here in the same car, but we are not on the same program.” “If you come to worship,” Jesus said, “and you remember that you have something against someone, leave your gift at the altar. Go be reconciled to the person and then come and bring your worship” (Matthew 5:23). Are you practicing radical forgiveness?—James MacDonald
Journal: What are some matters that I may be holding against others that I now realize I must forgive because those things are damaging my relationship with Christ? What will forgiveness require? (For help on this, the short series from Harvest Bible Chapel entitled “Have the Funeral” can be a great help.)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I do want to forgive others because I realize that holding things against them keeps me tied to them and prevents me from fully participating in all You have for me. Show me anything I’m failing to forgive in others and give me the strength to hand those things over to You in forgiveness that I might be free! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
(Via James Macdonald)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Prayer is entering God’s presence. It’s boldly going where we wouldn’t dare go unless Christ went with us (see Hebrews 4:14-16). One way to know you have stepped into God’s presence is the irresistible desire to confess. Our sin is always apparent when we are truly exposed to God’s holiness. If you’re not aware of unworthiness then you’re not actually aware of God. This is why it’s important to ask, “Is my prayer repentant?” when we spend time talking with God.
In Matthew 6:12 Jesus taught us to say “…And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. Now that’s not a credit card prayer. It’s not lighthearted forgiveness. Its’ talking about the sin against us that isn’t easy to overlook. If some one strikes you verbally, physically, or emotionally, that creates a debt; an obligation. They owe you now. And what we’re praying here is, “God, we acknowledge we have offended You, God. We have slapped You, as it were. And we have created an offense. And we are asking God that You would forgive us the same way we forgive other people who create offense with us.” Really?! Is that what you thought you were praying? That’s a hard prayer to pray—and mean! “Forgive me the way I forgive my sister, God. Do it just like that.” “Take my high water mark in forgiveness and apply that standard to me, God.” Talk about your prayer changing you!? “I want to be forgiven the way I forgive other people.” You see, because in prayer, I expand my sense of how I have offended God. And I thereby begin to minimize my sense of how others have offended me. And that’s prayer changing me.
Is my prayer repentant?
So, don’t come to church with an attitude toward somebody as if your back is turned toward them. “We may have gotten here in the same car, but we are not on the same program.” “If you come to worship,” Jesus said, “and you remember that you have something against someone, leave your gift at the altar. Go be reconciled to the person and then come and bring your worship” (Matthew 5:23). Are you practicing radical forgiveness?—James MacDonald
Journal: What are some matters that I may be holding against others that I now realize I must forgive because those things are damaging my relationship with Christ? What will forgiveness require? (For help on this, the short series from Harvest Bible Chapel entitled “Have the Funeral” can be a great help.)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I do want to forgive others because I realize that holding things against them keeps me tied to them and prevents me from fully participating in all You have for me. Show me anything I’m failing to forgive in others and give me the strength to hand those things over to You in forgiveness that I might be free! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
(Via James Macdonald)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Friendship
Someone shared this with me, so I had to share it with you guys as well!
"There are friends who 'pretend' to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Many definitions have been given to describe friendship. Some time ago an English publication offered a prize for the best one, and, "A friend is one who understands our silence" was one of the thousands of entries. But the one that took first prize was this: "A friend—the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out."
To me, a true friend is one who knows all about you and loves you still, who gives you his or her presence, who listens with his or her heart and actually hears what you are saying—who accepts you for who you are and not for what you have or haven't done. A good friend is one who doesn't judge you, try to fix you, or tell you what you should do. He or she will appreciate your friendship and tell you so, will rejoice with you in your successes and weep with you in your sorrows. And, at times, a good friend will confront you and graciously point out a fault, but no matter what, he or she will stand by you. These friends are rare and precious.
But the greatest friend of all is the One who stepped out of the ivory palaces of heaven and came to earth as a man—clothed in a garment of human flesh—to identify with us, and who died on the cross to save us from our sins, to give us a free pardon and the gift of eternal life. He is "a friend who sticks closer than a brother" and will "never, not ever, no never leave us or forsake us." His love is absolutely total, unconditional, and eternal. His name is Jesus.
Be Blessed!
Dawn
"There are friends who 'pretend' to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Many definitions have been given to describe friendship. Some time ago an English publication offered a prize for the best one, and, "A friend is one who understands our silence" was one of the thousands of entries. But the one that took first prize was this: "A friend—the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out."
To me, a true friend is one who knows all about you and loves you still, who gives you his or her presence, who listens with his or her heart and actually hears what you are saying—who accepts you for who you are and not for what you have or haven't done. A good friend is one who doesn't judge you, try to fix you, or tell you what you should do. He or she will appreciate your friendship and tell you so, will rejoice with you in your successes and weep with you in your sorrows. And, at times, a good friend will confront you and graciously point out a fault, but no matter what, he or she will stand by you. These friends are rare and precious.
But the greatest friend of all is the One who stepped out of the ivory palaces of heaven and came to earth as a man—clothed in a garment of human flesh—to identify with us, and who died on the cross to save us from our sins, to give us a free pardon and the gift of eternal life. He is "a friend who sticks closer than a brother" and will "never, not ever, no never leave us or forsake us." His love is absolutely total, unconditional, and eternal. His name is Jesus.
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Life As It's Meant to Be
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. — Matthew 16:24–25
In Jesus' day, if you saw someone walking through the city carrying a cross, it meant one thing: that person was going to die.
So when Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24), it meant that we are to die to ourselves. We are to deny ourselves. The word "deny" means to say no to. It means to put God's will and desires above our own. Selfish people will find this outrageous, even offensive.
Maybe that is why the church is so weak and anemic today: we don't know that much about cross-bearing. Maybe if Christians stopped trying to be so much like the world, the world would start wanting to be more like us. Are we really carrying our cross today? Are we really dying to ourselves? This is what Jesus is calling us to do.
To deny ourselves and take up the cross means many things. It is as simple as reading your Bible when you get up in the morning. That is taking up the cross and denying to yourself. It means praying. It means bowing your head over a meal and giving God thanks, even in a public place. It means speaking up for Jesus Christ, even when it is uncomfortable or a bit awkward. It means being regularly involved in the church. It means giving of your finances to God. It means that in your marriage, you put the needs of your mate above your own. It means putting God first and yourself second.
Jesus said, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 16:25). That is living life as it was meant to be lived.
(Via Greg Laurie)
Be Blesed!
Dawn
In Jesus' day, if you saw someone walking through the city carrying a cross, it meant one thing: that person was going to die.
So when Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24), it meant that we are to die to ourselves. We are to deny ourselves. The word "deny" means to say no to. It means to put God's will and desires above our own. Selfish people will find this outrageous, even offensive.
Maybe that is why the church is so weak and anemic today: we don't know that much about cross-bearing. Maybe if Christians stopped trying to be so much like the world, the world would start wanting to be more like us. Are we really carrying our cross today? Are we really dying to ourselves? This is what Jesus is calling us to do.
To deny ourselves and take up the cross means many things. It is as simple as reading your Bible when you get up in the morning. That is taking up the cross and denying to yourself. It means praying. It means bowing your head over a meal and giving God thanks, even in a public place. It means speaking up for Jesus Christ, even when it is uncomfortable or a bit awkward. It means being regularly involved in the church. It means giving of your finances to God. It means that in your marriage, you put the needs of your mate above your own. It means putting God first and yourself second.
Jesus said, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 16:25). That is living life as it was meant to be lived.
(Via Greg Laurie)
Be Blesed!
Dawn
Friday, June 10, 2011
Unshakeable
10) But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.[a] 11) Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12) looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13) But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 2 Peter 3:10-13
With each passing year, the instability in the world seems more and more obvious. Natural and man-made catastrophes claim countless lives; political balance shifts; wealth and status come and go. It all causes us to ask, Is anything unshakeable?
As overwhelming as these things seem, let me give you an even bigger example. In today’s passage, we see that the heavens and earth will be shaken. It will all be destroyed—burned, to be exact. Thankfully, we have the promise that God will create new heavens and earth, but in the meantime our world will undergo great turmoil.
Instability can create feelings of insecurity and fear unless we focus on truths we can stand upon with certainty. The Bible refers to Jesus as a rock and firm foundation (1 Cor. 3:10-11; Eph. 2:20). And we know that God is unchangeable and sovereign; nothing can undermine or move Him. His Word is truth, and it will last forever.
As Christians, we know that our eternal relationship with God is secure. We’ve been adopted as His children, and nothing can rob us of this position. What’s more, believers are assured of an eternal home with Him. Though we may at times feel unsettled by our circumstances, we can rejoice when trials bring us humbly to the cross of Jesus—there, we will find true peace and safety.
What assurance we have as God’s children! We can rest in peace and full confidence, knowing that our hearts are secure in Jesus Christ. King David said, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Ps. 16:8).
(via Charles Stanley)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
With each passing year, the instability in the world seems more and more obvious. Natural and man-made catastrophes claim countless lives; political balance shifts; wealth and status come and go. It all causes us to ask, Is anything unshakeable?
As overwhelming as these things seem, let me give you an even bigger example. In today’s passage, we see that the heavens and earth will be shaken. It will all be destroyed—burned, to be exact. Thankfully, we have the promise that God will create new heavens and earth, but in the meantime our world will undergo great turmoil.
Instability can create feelings of insecurity and fear unless we focus on truths we can stand upon with certainty. The Bible refers to Jesus as a rock and firm foundation (1 Cor. 3:10-11; Eph. 2:20). And we know that God is unchangeable and sovereign; nothing can undermine or move Him. His Word is truth, and it will last forever.
As Christians, we know that our eternal relationship with God is secure. We’ve been adopted as His children, and nothing can rob us of this position. What’s more, believers are assured of an eternal home with Him. Though we may at times feel unsettled by our circumstances, we can rejoice when trials bring us humbly to the cross of Jesus—there, we will find true peace and safety.
What assurance we have as God’s children! We can rest in peace and full confidence, knowing that our hearts are secure in Jesus Christ. King David said, “I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Ps. 16:8).
(via Charles Stanley)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Numb To It
Scripture Of The Day: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." - Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
It’s a very hard thing to admit or accept. But the truth is that sometimes we can be very insensitive and thoughtless when it comes to realizing how blessed we are. There are so many blessings that we overlook and take for granted that cause us to miss the great opportunities to express gratitude and appreciation.
A few years ago, as I was going about my daily routine, I immediately began having sharp pains in my abdomen area. After a few minutes they would leave. A few hours would pass and no pain. Then out of nowhere, they’d come back again.
This process went on throughout most of the day until it became unbearable. I drove myself to the local health facility and called my wife to meet me there. After a few hours of being examined, I was told what the problem was and then told that there was no immediate solution. My cecum had flipped over. This muscle is a body part that connects the small and large intestine together and allows the body to process waste. At the risk of explaining too much, let’s just say that nothing that I’d eaten or drank moved – for days! And what was even more frustrating was that there was nothing that could be done. I had to deal with this inconsistent pain and discomfort for days. Fortunately, my cecum decided to be nice to me and after about four days decided to flip back over. But I learned a few valuable lessons through all of this.
1.) I learned that there are parts of the human body that we may never hear about that have to work in order for us to go about our daily activities with no thought whatsoever.
2.) I learned how awesome and unique God is as a creator that He could design such a beautiful masterpiece as the human body to function in ways that only He could have orchestrated.
3.) I learned to take a moment and express gratitude not just for the things that are happening in our lives, but also for the things that we may not be aware of, but that we’re protected from.
4.) I learned to appreciate the ‘unknown’ blessings.
These ‘unknown’ blessings can include blessings that we have overlooked for generations. Some of our families are blessed with generations of good health, solid academic successes, highly talented individuals, creative ideas, and steady relationships. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you were to take the time to reflect today, you would probably be able to write a page length’s work of blessings that have made its way through multiple generations in your family. Have you ever stopped to simply say, “thank you” for this?
In our focus scripture today, the psalmist recognizes that everything that we experience and enjoy in life can easily be dismissed or destroyed from our lives. So he simply asks God (paraphrase), “Lord, teach us to enjoy what we have and enjoy it well…” That’s a nice way to ask God not to allow you to ever become numb, cold or overlook the blessings that are right in front of you. I couldn’t appreciate the work that my cecum was doing until it decided to flip one day (no pun intended). Now, there are some days that I remember those four days of pain and I appreciate God that today my cecum is working properly.
Before something flips on you, I’d encourage you to recognize it, not be numb to it, and simply say, “Thank You.” You’ll feel better about it. I know I do.
(Via Overseer Christopher J. Harris)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
It’s a very hard thing to admit or accept. But the truth is that sometimes we can be very insensitive and thoughtless when it comes to realizing how blessed we are. There are so many blessings that we overlook and take for granted that cause us to miss the great opportunities to express gratitude and appreciation.
A few years ago, as I was going about my daily routine, I immediately began having sharp pains in my abdomen area. After a few minutes they would leave. A few hours would pass and no pain. Then out of nowhere, they’d come back again.
This process went on throughout most of the day until it became unbearable. I drove myself to the local health facility and called my wife to meet me there. After a few hours of being examined, I was told what the problem was and then told that there was no immediate solution. My cecum had flipped over. This muscle is a body part that connects the small and large intestine together and allows the body to process waste. At the risk of explaining too much, let’s just say that nothing that I’d eaten or drank moved – for days! And what was even more frustrating was that there was nothing that could be done. I had to deal with this inconsistent pain and discomfort for days. Fortunately, my cecum decided to be nice to me and after about four days decided to flip back over. But I learned a few valuable lessons through all of this.
1.) I learned that there are parts of the human body that we may never hear about that have to work in order for us to go about our daily activities with no thought whatsoever.
2.) I learned how awesome and unique God is as a creator that He could design such a beautiful masterpiece as the human body to function in ways that only He could have orchestrated.
3.) I learned to take a moment and express gratitude not just for the things that are happening in our lives, but also for the things that we may not be aware of, but that we’re protected from.
4.) I learned to appreciate the ‘unknown’ blessings.
These ‘unknown’ blessings can include blessings that we have overlooked for generations. Some of our families are blessed with generations of good health, solid academic successes, highly talented individuals, creative ideas, and steady relationships. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you were to take the time to reflect today, you would probably be able to write a page length’s work of blessings that have made its way through multiple generations in your family. Have you ever stopped to simply say, “thank you” for this?
In our focus scripture today, the psalmist recognizes that everything that we experience and enjoy in life can easily be dismissed or destroyed from our lives. So he simply asks God (paraphrase), “Lord, teach us to enjoy what we have and enjoy it well…” That’s a nice way to ask God not to allow you to ever become numb, cold or overlook the blessings that are right in front of you. I couldn’t appreciate the work that my cecum was doing until it decided to flip one day (no pun intended). Now, there are some days that I remember those four days of pain and I appreciate God that today my cecum is working properly.
Before something flips on you, I’d encourage you to recognize it, not be numb to it, and simply say, “Thank You.” You’ll feel better about it. I know I do.
(Via Overseer Christopher J. Harris)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Call of God
13) As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first[a] to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 14) He called you to salvation when we told you the Good News; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15) With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter. 16) Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, 17) comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “the call of God,” but maybe you don’t know exactly what it means. Is the Lord still calling people, or was that something He did only in Bible times? Does He speak only to a specific few or to everyone? Although He may not use an audible voice, He’s still in the business of seeking followers.
Called to Salvation—Because sin has created a barrier between us and God, He first reaches out to establish a relationship with us by offering salvation through Christ.
Called to Sanctification—Once we have been reconciled to the Lord, He then calls us to sanctification or holiness. This means that He sets us apart for His purposes. It’s not a perfect life, but one that is bent toward righteousness and obedience. Although this is an act of God that begins at the moment of salvation and continues until our physical death, it also requires a commitment from us. If we choose not to cooperate with the Lord in this process, our growth in Christ -likeness will be hindered.
Called to Service—God has chosen to carry out His work in the world through those who are saved. He has determined the tasks He wants each of us to do; our job is to serve Him by accomplishing what He’s planned for us.
How are you responding to the Lord’s various calls? Remember that someday we will all stand before Him and give an account of our lives. Habitually saying no to His voice will result in loss, but those who have lived for Him instead of themselves will be richly rewarded.
(Via Charles Stanley)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
You’ve probably heard the phrase “the call of God,” but maybe you don’t know exactly what it means. Is the Lord still calling people, or was that something He did only in Bible times? Does He speak only to a specific few or to everyone? Although He may not use an audible voice, He’s still in the business of seeking followers.
Called to Salvation—Because sin has created a barrier between us and God, He first reaches out to establish a relationship with us by offering salvation through Christ.
Called to Sanctification—Once we have been reconciled to the Lord, He then calls us to sanctification or holiness. This means that He sets us apart for His purposes. It’s not a perfect life, but one that is bent toward righteousness and obedience. Although this is an act of God that begins at the moment of salvation and continues until our physical death, it also requires a commitment from us. If we choose not to cooperate with the Lord in this process, our growth in Christ -likeness will be hindered.
Called to Service—God has chosen to carry out His work in the world through those who are saved. He has determined the tasks He wants each of us to do; our job is to serve Him by accomplishing what He’s planned for us.
How are you responding to the Lord’s various calls? Remember that someday we will all stand before Him and give an account of our lives. Habitually saying no to His voice will result in loss, but those who have lived for Him instead of themselves will be richly rewarded.
(Via Charles Stanley)
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Monday, June 6, 2011
Our Sign to a Lost World
For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. — 1 Corinthians 1:22–24
Sometimes we may think, If only I could perform a miracle for my friends, I know they would all become Christians. But I don't think that is true. Even when Jesus walked this earth and performed so many miracles—so many signs—so many still did not believe.
In fact, on one occasion, Jesus was present with Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead, and people flocked to see them. Lazarus was a living, breathing miracle man who had been dead and was alive again. So the leading priests wanted to kill Lazarus too (see John 12:10–11).
As a Christian, you are a miracle man or woman. You have a testimony of what God has done for you, and that is why people oppose you and ridicule you. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a threat to them.
Our sign to a lost world is Jesus crucified, risen again from the dead, and alive. The apostle Paul said, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:1–2). We don't need to add to this message or take away from it. We don't need to apologize for it. We just need to proclaim it and watch what God will do.
Paul also said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16). That word "power" speaks of explosive, dynamite power. There is explosive power in the message of Christ. This is our sign to a lost world.
(via Greg Laurie)
Be Blessed!
Dawm
Sometimes we may think, If only I could perform a miracle for my friends, I know they would all become Christians. But I don't think that is true. Even when Jesus walked this earth and performed so many miracles—so many signs—so many still did not believe.
In fact, on one occasion, Jesus was present with Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead, and people flocked to see them. Lazarus was a living, breathing miracle man who had been dead and was alive again. So the leading priests wanted to kill Lazarus too (see John 12:10–11).
As a Christian, you are a miracle man or woman. You have a testimony of what God has done for you, and that is why people oppose you and ridicule you. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are a threat to them.
Our sign to a lost world is Jesus crucified, risen again from the dead, and alive. The apostle Paul said, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:1–2). We don't need to add to this message or take away from it. We don't need to apologize for it. We just need to proclaim it and watch what God will do.
Paul also said, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek" (Romans 1:16). That word "power" speaks of explosive, dynamite power. There is explosive power in the message of Christ. This is our sign to a lost world.
(via Greg Laurie)
Be Blessed!
Dawm
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