Scripture Of The Day:
Numerous articles and studies, both Christian and secular, show me a disturbing trend. In just one of them, well-known pollster George Gallup, Jr. has concluded, "Fewer than 10% of Americans are deeply committed Christians."
What disturbs me about that statistic is that far more than 10% of Americans claim to follow Christ when asked about faith or about their beliefs. But studies go on to reveal how most people who claim to believe in Jesus are just as likely to engage in unethical behavior or fall prey to the latest religious fad.
Far too many Christians are not deeply committed to their faith. And if you find yourself struggling today, then I have a suggestion for you. Make prayer a habit of your life!
Nehemiah had a deep and vibrant relationship with God. And that relationship was founded on prayer. In fact, as the book of Nehemiah opens up, we see Nehemiah petitioning God for days because his heart was troubled over his homeland of Judah. And as you read throughout the book of Nehemiah, prayer made all the difference in Nehemiah's life.
Without prayer, you will never stand apart from the world. And if you are to grow in your walk with God, you need to constantly be in communication with Him! So make prayer a priority in your life today!
A fervent prayer life with deepen your relationship with the Lord!
[By Dr. Jack Graham ]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Giving GOD Thanks
"And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 'How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. Say to them, 'As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and all of your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I will make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected.' ' "
Life is all about choices.
Attitude is our first one. When I encounter a situation that is not what I think it should be, I must choose to see it like the proverbial glass half-full or the glass half- empty. Those two perspectives take me to two very different places depending on my attitude.
God cares very much about our choice between a negative attitude full of complaining and a grateful attitude full of faith. Apart from the Cross of Christ itself, I believe the most radical thing that He ever did in Scripture is in Numbers 14 where He said to a whole generation of His own children, "I can't take your grumbling anymore. Go on back into the wilderness and die." He loved these people; He miraculously and dramatically rescued them. But no matter what He did for them, they flat-out refused to stop their chorus of whining.
So, God decided to give their kids the blessing that they wouldn't let Him give to them. All because they refused to look at their situation with a grateful attitude. Very simply, God would have been pleased if they had listed all the ways He had protected and cared for them and then shouted a heart-felt, "Thank You, Lord." Their gratitude would have changed history.
Even pagans see the impact of a thankful attitude. Tune in to the talk show circuit and you'll hear this same word on the top of everyone's list on how to have a better life. A God-centered, faith-oriented, grateful life is a healthier, happier life—this from people who don't even know the Lord. Just imagine the joy available for those of us who are His own.
Yes, joy flows when you stop harping on the present, perhaps difficult circumstances and turn your attention to the blessings that are yours in Christ Jesus. How? Start by giving thanks for all that you have received from Him. Be personal and specific, rehearsing His faithfulness from big things to small. Like a fragrant offering, your gratitude rises to God and blesses Him and in turn, His blessing fills you with such faith that the pattern of your life turns from complaining to thankfulness.
[via James MacDonald]
Be Blessed!
Dawn - Numbers 14:26-3
Life is all about choices.
Attitude is our first one. When I encounter a situation that is not what I think it should be, I must choose to see it like the proverbial glass half-full or the glass half- empty. Those two perspectives take me to two very different places depending on my attitude.
God cares very much about our choice between a negative attitude full of complaining and a grateful attitude full of faith. Apart from the Cross of Christ itself, I believe the most radical thing that He ever did in Scripture is in Numbers 14 where He said to a whole generation of His own children, "I can't take your grumbling anymore. Go on back into the wilderness and die." He loved these people; He miraculously and dramatically rescued them. But no matter what He did for them, they flat-out refused to stop their chorus of whining.
So, God decided to give their kids the blessing that they wouldn't let Him give to them. All because they refused to look at their situation with a grateful attitude. Very simply, God would have been pleased if they had listed all the ways He had protected and cared for them and then shouted a heart-felt, "Thank You, Lord." Their gratitude would have changed history.
Even pagans see the impact of a thankful attitude. Tune in to the talk show circuit and you'll hear this same word on the top of everyone's list on how to have a better life. A God-centered, faith-oriented, grateful life is a healthier, happier life—this from people who don't even know the Lord. Just imagine the joy available for those of us who are His own.
Yes, joy flows when you stop harping on the present, perhaps difficult circumstances and turn your attention to the blessings that are yours in Christ Jesus. How? Start by giving thanks for all that you have received from Him. Be personal and specific, rehearsing His faithfulness from big things to small. Like a fragrant offering, your gratitude rises to God and blesses Him and in turn, His blessing fills you with such faith that the pattern of your life turns from complaining to thankfulness.
[via James MacDonald]
Be Blessed!
Dawn - Numbers 14:26-3
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Foundation of Wisdom
7) Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. 8) So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. 9) Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. 10) Fear of the Lord is the foundation (beginning) of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. 11) Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. 12) If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer. Prov. 9: 7-12 (NLT)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10). Initially, the connection between these two concepts may be difficult to grasp: How can fearing God make us wise?
First, we need to understand what it means to fear the Lord. This term is used to describe an awesome reverence for God that moves us to acknowledge Him as the sovereign ruler of heaven and earth, submit to His will, and walk in obedience. The result of such a response will be the acquisition of wisdom.
Those who commit themselves to living for God’s purposes rather than their own will gain greater understanding of Him. The Holy Spirit will enable them to see circumstances and people from His divine perspective. This kind of wisdom reaches beyond human perception and gives us discernment to make decisions that fit into the Lord’s plans for our lives. Knowing that He always works for our best interests, we are empowered to walk confidently through both good and bad times.
But those who reject God’s instructions dishonor Him with their refusal to acknowledge His right to rule their lives. It’s foolish to rebel against His authority and think you can ever win. Those who won’t fear God will never know real wisdom.
What is your attitude toward the Lord? If you truly reverence Him, you will listen for His directions and heed His warnings. A desire to honor and please Him will motivate you to turn from evil and seek to live in obedience. And the result will be wisdom beyond human understanding.
{Pastor Charles Stanley}
Be Blessed!
Dawn
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10). Initially, the connection between these two concepts may be difficult to grasp: How can fearing God make us wise?
First, we need to understand what it means to fear the Lord. This term is used to describe an awesome reverence for God that moves us to acknowledge Him as the sovereign ruler of heaven and earth, submit to His will, and walk in obedience. The result of such a response will be the acquisition of wisdom.
Those who commit themselves to living for God’s purposes rather than their own will gain greater understanding of Him. The Holy Spirit will enable them to see circumstances and people from His divine perspective. This kind of wisdom reaches beyond human perception and gives us discernment to make decisions that fit into the Lord’s plans for our lives. Knowing that He always works for our best interests, we are empowered to walk confidently through both good and bad times.
But those who reject God’s instructions dishonor Him with their refusal to acknowledge His right to rule their lives. It’s foolish to rebel against His authority and think you can ever win. Those who won’t fear God will never know real wisdom.
What is your attitude toward the Lord? If you truly reverence Him, you will listen for His directions and heed His warnings. A desire to honor and please Him will motivate you to turn from evil and seek to live in obedience. And the result will be wisdom beyond human understanding.
{Pastor Charles Stanley}
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Walking Wisely
Read ~Ephesians 5:15-17
When Paul exhorts us to walk wisely, he gives three instructions to help us make godly choices. First, he says to “be careful how you walk” (Eph. 5:15). Because we live in a morally corrupt society, we must be vigilant about the way we think and act. Unless we deliberately choose to guard ourselves, we will simply do what comes naturally and go along with cultural influences.
Next, in verse 16, the apostle instructs us to make the most of our time. The Lord has entrusted each of us with 24 hours per day and various opportunities to participate in His plans for us. But so often we are tempted to squander our time and energy on our own pursuits without a thought of what our heavenly Father may have in mind for us.
In verse 17, Paul lays out the final exhortation: to “understand what the will of the Lord is.” In its broadest sense, God’s will for us is that we would each become the person He created us to be and do the work He planned for us to accomplish (Eph. 2:10). Knowing this, we should look at every decision with consideration of whether our choice will further or hinder our heavenly Father’s purposes for us. To live thoughtlessly outside of His will is foolish.
The Lord wants us to walk wisely so that we can enjoy all the marvelous benefits that He’s promised in His Word and longs to give us. Wasted opportunities and time misspent can never be reclaimed. Let’s commit to make our lives count for Christ instead of merely living for ourselves.
[By Pastor Chalres Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
When Paul exhorts us to walk wisely, he gives three instructions to help us make godly choices. First, he says to “be careful how you walk” (Eph. 5:15). Because we live in a morally corrupt society, we must be vigilant about the way we think and act. Unless we deliberately choose to guard ourselves, we will simply do what comes naturally and go along with cultural influences.
Next, in verse 16, the apostle instructs us to make the most of our time. The Lord has entrusted each of us with 24 hours per day and various opportunities to participate in His plans for us. But so often we are tempted to squander our time and energy on our own pursuits without a thought of what our heavenly Father may have in mind for us.
In verse 17, Paul lays out the final exhortation: to “understand what the will of the Lord is.” In its broadest sense, God’s will for us is that we would each become the person He created us to be and do the work He planned for us to accomplish (Eph. 2:10). Knowing this, we should look at every decision with consideration of whether our choice will further or hinder our heavenly Father’s purposes for us. To live thoughtlessly outside of His will is foolish.
The Lord wants us to walk wisely so that we can enjoy all the marvelous benefits that He’s promised in His Word and longs to give us. Wasted opportunities and time misspent can never be reclaimed. Let’s commit to make our lives count for Christ instead of merely living for ourselves.
[By Pastor Chalres Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Climbing or Slipping?
[By Greg Laurie]
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:9–10)
A father was talking with his daughter and her five-year-old-friend, Kristin, about birthdays. As it turned out, Kristin's birthday was just three days after his birthday. So he said to the little girl, "You know what, Kristin? Our birthdays are only three days apart!"
She looked at him for a moment and said, "Yeah, but you grew much faster than I did."
Why is it that we see more spiritual growth in the lives of some followers of Jesus and less in others? Every believer is either progressing or regressing spiritually. We are either growing, or we are drawing back. We are either gaining ground, or we are losing ground. It has been said the Christian life is like a greased pole: you are either climbing or slipping.
The bottom line is that it is really up to you as to whether you will grow spiritually. While it is true that God wants us to grow in our faith and wants us to deepen our knowledge of Him, He has also given us a free will. When we get ourselves aligned with the will of God and start walking accordingly, spiritual growth will begin to take place. So if you want to do the things that lead to spiritual growth, you will do them. You will make time for what is important.
And what is God looking for in our lives? He wants to see spiritual fruit. That is what it is all about: being a fruitful Christian, a growing believer. Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain . . . " (John 15:16).
So how are you doing in that regard? Are you bearing fruit? Are you growing spiritually?
* To know God is to know His Word
* To trust God is to trust His Word
* To love God is to is to love His Word
*The Word of God is revealed through His Son
( the Living Word) and the Holy Scriptures!
Be Blessed!
Dawn
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:9–10)
A father was talking with his daughter and her five-year-old-friend, Kristin, about birthdays. As it turned out, Kristin's birthday was just three days after his birthday. So he said to the little girl, "You know what, Kristin? Our birthdays are only three days apart!"
She looked at him for a moment and said, "Yeah, but you grew much faster than I did."
Why is it that we see more spiritual growth in the lives of some followers of Jesus and less in others? Every believer is either progressing or regressing spiritually. We are either growing, or we are drawing back. We are either gaining ground, or we are losing ground. It has been said the Christian life is like a greased pole: you are either climbing or slipping.
The bottom line is that it is really up to you as to whether you will grow spiritually. While it is true that God wants us to grow in our faith and wants us to deepen our knowledge of Him, He has also given us a free will. When we get ourselves aligned with the will of God and start walking accordingly, spiritual growth will begin to take place. So if you want to do the things that lead to spiritual growth, you will do them. You will make time for what is important.
And what is God looking for in our lives? He wants to see spiritual fruit. That is what it is all about: being a fruitful Christian, a growing believer. Jesus said, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain . . . " (John 15:16).
So how are you doing in that regard? Are you bearing fruit? Are you growing spiritually?
* To know God is to know His Word
* To trust God is to trust His Word
* To love God is to is to love His Word
*The Word of God is revealed through His Son
( the Living Word) and the Holy Scriptures!
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Monday, February 21, 2011
Love’s Hidden Enemy
9) Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10) But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. 11) When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12) Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.[a] All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 13) Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1Cor. 13:9-13 (NLT)
The apostle Paul wrote that he once reasoned like a child, but he had now put childish ways behind him (1 Cor. 13:11). He was referring to the spiritual maturity process, whereby a believer’s self-centered ideas are replaced by a healthier perspective. But maturation is just that—a process—so some immature thinking may linger with the Christian. Based on our childhood experiences, we may wrongly believe . . .
• Lie #1—God’s love for us depends on how good we are. We act as if our behavior can positively or negatively impact His affection for us. But Scripture tells us that the Lord’s love is constant; it never varies.
• Lie #2—Acceptance by others has to do with performance, not who we are. With this mindset, we constantly try to please other people. But we can rest in the truth that God has adopted every believer into His family; we are fully accepted.
• Lie #3—Our security rests in social status, material things, or some other worldly prize.
This leads to anxiety and manipulation as we attempt to acquire what we lack. The truth is, we’ll experience peace when we realize Christ is our true source of security. These erroneous ideas represent a “hidden enemy of love,” because godly affection can’t flourish with immature attitudes. We must replace such beliefs with biblical truth.
Paul calls us to move toward maturity in our thinking and behavior. Clinging to immature ways can interfere with our sense of peace, security, and joy. But knowing the truth about God’s acceptance and recognizing that our security is in Him alone will lead to relationships characterized by His love.
[Via Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
The apostle Paul wrote that he once reasoned like a child, but he had now put childish ways behind him (1 Cor. 13:11). He was referring to the spiritual maturity process, whereby a believer’s self-centered ideas are replaced by a healthier perspective. But maturation is just that—a process—so some immature thinking may linger with the Christian. Based on our childhood experiences, we may wrongly believe . . .
• Lie #1—God’s love for us depends on how good we are. We act as if our behavior can positively or negatively impact His affection for us. But Scripture tells us that the Lord’s love is constant; it never varies.
• Lie #2—Acceptance by others has to do with performance, not who we are. With this mindset, we constantly try to please other people. But we can rest in the truth that God has adopted every believer into His family; we are fully accepted.
• Lie #3—Our security rests in social status, material things, or some other worldly prize.
This leads to anxiety and manipulation as we attempt to acquire what we lack. The truth is, we’ll experience peace when we realize Christ is our true source of security. These erroneous ideas represent a “hidden enemy of love,” because godly affection can’t flourish with immature attitudes. We must replace such beliefs with biblical truth.
Paul calls us to move toward maturity in our thinking and behavior. Clinging to immature ways can interfere with our sense of peace, security, and joy. But knowing the truth about God’s acceptance and recognizing that our security is in Him alone will lead to relationships characterized by His love.
[Via Pastor Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Friday, February 18, 2011
Biblical Love
I was watching Joyce Meyer last night and she was talking about really loving one other, deciding that you won't be bitter and angry & just letting go & letting GOD. Choosing to love. Then I get this devotional this morning, so I think, maybe God is trynna tell ME something.........well, I'm listening!
Love Is the Greatest
1) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2) If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3) If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;[a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5) or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6) It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7) Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8) Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[b] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! ~ 1Cor. 13: 1-8 (NLT)
In today’s passage, Paul talks about love and its preeminence over speech, knowledge, generosity, and self-sacrifice (vv. 1-3). The apostle then describes the nature of biblical love, which is patient, kind, humble, and slow to anger (vv. 4-7).
However, we often struggle as we try to practice this model of unselfish affection. One reason is that the godly expression of caring doesn’t come naturally to us. Pure Christian love puts the other person ahead of our own interests, even when our human inclinations clamor to place self first (v. 5).
A second challenge is the temptation to withhold affection until others apologize or change their behavior. We remember their offense long after it has occurred. That’s not what our Lord did—He loved us while we were still sinners and forgave us for everything (Rom. 5:8; Luke 23:34).
Furthermore, it is easier to point out someone else’s unkindness toward us than to see where we have fallen short. Perhaps a close friend has spoken impatiently to us and we responded with angry words. How easily we can use Scripture to point out her mistake, but how hard to admit our own.
We are called to be loving towards God as well as those around us (Mark 12:30-31). We’ve received the Holy Spirit, who will help us learn how to care deeply for others.
Experiencing God’s affection and demonstrating it to others are to be two of our greatest joys. Take time to memorize the attributes of biblical love, and look for ways to practice them in your relationships. In times of stress, think about the list, and let the power of love transform your response.
[By Dr Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
Love Is the Greatest
1) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2) If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3) If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;[a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5) or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6) It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7) Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8) Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages[b] and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! ~ 1Cor. 13: 1-8 (NLT)
In today’s passage, Paul talks about love and its preeminence over speech, knowledge, generosity, and self-sacrifice (vv. 1-3). The apostle then describes the nature of biblical love, which is patient, kind, humble, and slow to anger (vv. 4-7).
However, we often struggle as we try to practice this model of unselfish affection. One reason is that the godly expression of caring doesn’t come naturally to us. Pure Christian love puts the other person ahead of our own interests, even when our human inclinations clamor to place self first (v. 5).
A second challenge is the temptation to withhold affection until others apologize or change their behavior. We remember their offense long after it has occurred. That’s not what our Lord did—He loved us while we were still sinners and forgave us for everything (Rom. 5:8; Luke 23:34).
Furthermore, it is easier to point out someone else’s unkindness toward us than to see where we have fallen short. Perhaps a close friend has spoken impatiently to us and we responded with angry words. How easily we can use Scripture to point out her mistake, but how hard to admit our own.
We are called to be loving towards God as well as those around us (Mark 12:30-31). We’ve received the Holy Spirit, who will help us learn how to care deeply for others.
Experiencing God’s affection and demonstrating it to others are to be two of our greatest joys. Take time to memorize the attributes of biblical love, and look for ways to practice them in your relationships. In times of stress, think about the list, and let the power of love transform your response.
[By Dr Charles Stanley]
Be Blessed!
Dawn
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