2 Corinthians 9:10-12, 15
10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;
11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.
15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (NAS)
Happy Thanksgiving!! You are probably celebrating today the wonderful “American Holiday of Feasting.” As you eat your turkey and dressing and pumpkin pie remember that God supplies all your needs. He does so for a reason. He gives to you in order that you may give to others. You not only meet the needs of people, but you bring an overflowing of thanksgiving to God.
You are bringing Thanksgiving to God by your love and words of encouragement to me and Sandy. We are indeed thankful for the opportunities we have had to minister across the United States and in Thailand and Canada. You made that possible. We are thankful to you and to God.
We are all most thankful for His indescribable gift that produces thanks from all His children. His greatest and indescribable gift was His Son Jesus Christ.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
My Best Friend #38
John 15:12-13 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (NAS)
Who is your best friend? How would you describe them? What makes them your best friend? Jesus describes friends in words of sacrifice and commitment. He also says that it is His command that we love one another. A friend is someone who loves you so much that they place your life ahead of their own.
Are you the kind of friend that is willing to sacrifice and place another person’s life ahead of your own? To have a friend and to be a friend is truly one of the greatest blessings in life.
Jesus was referring to Himself as He describes friendship in terms of laying down your life for someone else. He truly is our best friend. He laid down his life on the cross and died for our sins in order that we might have complete forgiveness. That is a true friend. Are you someone’s best friend? Do you have a best friend? Do you have Jesus in your life as your absolute best friend?
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Who is your best friend? How would you describe them? What makes them your best friend? Jesus describes friends in words of sacrifice and commitment. He also says that it is His command that we love one another. A friend is someone who loves you so much that they place your life ahead of their own.
Are you the kind of friend that is willing to sacrifice and place another person’s life ahead of your own? To have a friend and to be a friend is truly one of the greatest blessings in life.
Jesus was referring to Himself as He describes friendship in terms of laying down your life for someone else. He truly is our best friend. He laid down his life on the cross and died for our sins in order that we might have complete forgiveness. That is a true friend. Are you someone’s best friend? Do you have a best friend? Do you have Jesus in your life as your absolute best friend?
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Preparations Can Hurt #37
Hebrews 12:11
11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (NAS)
Have you ever struggled to do just one more wind sprint, or one more pushup, or maybe one more mile, or maybe even one more Bible study, or sermon, or one more worship service, or witness to one more person and you think to yourself, “Why am I doing this?”
Every athlete who has trained to compete in the games has known the struggle of getting in shape, working on the basics, and constant discipline. As you discipline yourself in order to prepare for the game of life you will discover the discomfort that it brings. The writer of Hebrews calls it not joyful but sorrowful.
On the day of the race you will discover that although the discipline was difficult at the time it was worth it all. So it is in the Christian life. It may seem tough to be disciplined, but the results will bring meaningful purpose in your life.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (NAS)
Have you ever struggled to do just one more wind sprint, or one more pushup, or maybe one more mile, or maybe even one more Bible study, or sermon, or one more worship service, or witness to one more person and you think to yourself, “Why am I doing this?”
Every athlete who has trained to compete in the games has known the struggle of getting in shape, working on the basics, and constant discipline. As you discipline yourself in order to prepare for the game of life you will discover the discomfort that it brings. The writer of Hebrews calls it not joyful but sorrowful.
On the day of the race you will discover that although the discipline was difficult at the time it was worth it all. So it is in the Christian life. It may seem tough to be disciplined, but the results will bring meaningful purpose in your life.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Confidence #36
Acts 18:9-11
9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent;
10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city."
11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (NAS)
Has God ever spoken to you? You received great confidence when you get a word from the Lord? God is a revealing God and delights in giving to His children encouragement and hope. The Apostle Paul was used to being afraid of what was coming next from those to whom he ministered. He never knew if it would be a receptive ear or a beating and imprisonment. So when God gave him the word to not be afraid but to continue his ministry Paul was renewed in his mission.
From time to time God gives us very clear instructions from His word and from the Holy Spirit. You are energized, encouraged and receive great strength from knowing God’s direction. Stay focused on the scripture. Read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and then apply it to your life situations.
Paul’s normal length of stay was from a few days to maybe a few months, but this time he stayed a year and six months making disciples by teaching the word. Confidence to do ministry comes as God gives assurance that He is in charge and His word is true. You can gain true confidence by receiving God’s word for your life.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
9 And the Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent;
10 for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city."
11 And he settled there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (NAS)
Has God ever spoken to you? You received great confidence when you get a word from the Lord? God is a revealing God and delights in giving to His children encouragement and hope. The Apostle Paul was used to being afraid of what was coming next from those to whom he ministered. He never knew if it would be a receptive ear or a beating and imprisonment. So when God gave him the word to not be afraid but to continue his ministry Paul was renewed in his mission.
From time to time God gives us very clear instructions from His word and from the Holy Spirit. You are energized, encouraged and receive great strength from knowing God’s direction. Stay focused on the scripture. Read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and then apply it to your life situations.
Paul’s normal length of stay was from a few days to maybe a few months, but this time he stayed a year and six months making disciples by teaching the word. Confidence to do ministry comes as God gives assurance that He is in charge and His word is true. You can gain true confidence by receiving God’s word for your life.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Attitude Check #35
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NAS)
Scores of books and articles have been written by authors concerning attitude. Charles Swindoll declared attitude as the most important criteria of a positive life. Norman Peale wrote the classic, The Power of Positive Thinking to encourage everyone to express a positive attitude.
It was the Apostle Paul long ago who admonished the Thessalonians toward an attitude of thanksgiving and rejoicing. He speaks to them of rejoicing always and giving of thanks for and in everything. How to accomplish this feat of constant gratitude and joy truly is an adventurous endeavor, and only to be fulfilled through prayer.
That is why in the middle of the sentence Paul says, “Pray without ceasing.” Only through prayer can you truly express your heart of rejoicing and thanksgiving. God is concerned about everything in your live and knows that with prayer you can have an attitude of gratitude.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NAS)
Scores of books and articles have been written by authors concerning attitude. Charles Swindoll declared attitude as the most important criteria of a positive life. Norman Peale wrote the classic, The Power of Positive Thinking to encourage everyone to express a positive attitude.
It was the Apostle Paul long ago who admonished the Thessalonians toward an attitude of thanksgiving and rejoicing. He speaks to them of rejoicing always and giving of thanks for and in everything. How to accomplish this feat of constant gratitude and joy truly is an adventurous endeavor, and only to be fulfilled through prayer.
That is why in the middle of the sentence Paul says, “Pray without ceasing.” Only through prayer can you truly express your heart of rejoicing and thanksgiving. God is concerned about everything in your live and knows that with prayer you can have an attitude of gratitude.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Watch Out! #34
Philippians 3:2
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. (NIV)
The song says, “Who let the dogs out.” No matter who it was, the Bible warns us to, "Watch out for the dogs." For you who have grown up around animals you may be concerned that the Bible is a little critical of man's best friend. However the scripture is not speaking of dogs as an animal but as those people who are out to destroy your freedom and your joy that you have found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The dogs the Bible speaks of here were the Judaizers or the legalist that would have you live by the Law in order to have a relationship with God. You know your salvation is based on grace and faith, yet there are those wellmeaning religious people who would have you believe that rules, regulations and trying to keep the Law of Moses would somehow provide you with a personal
relationship with God. This was characterized by circumcision or as the Bible calls it mutilation.
Be assured the dogs want you to be controlled by something other than the Holy Spirit. The Bible warns you to watch out for those dogs. God's purpose is for you to have the joy of the Lord and purpose in life by grace through faith. Thank God for the freedom from the Law and its demands. Remember the Law shows you what sin is but has no power to produce a Godly life. Only God’s Holy Spirit can do that. The ‘dogs’ are everywhere. Watch out for the dogs.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. (NIV)
The song says, “Who let the dogs out.” No matter who it was, the Bible warns us to, "Watch out for the dogs." For you who have grown up around animals you may be concerned that the Bible is a little critical of man's best friend. However the scripture is not speaking of dogs as an animal but as those people who are out to destroy your freedom and your joy that you have found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The dogs the Bible speaks of here were the Judaizers or the legalist that would have you live by the Law in order to have a relationship with God. You know your salvation is based on grace and faith, yet there are those wellmeaning religious people who would have you believe that rules, regulations and trying to keep the Law of Moses would somehow provide you with a personal
relationship with God. This was characterized by circumcision or as the Bible calls it mutilation.
Be assured the dogs want you to be controlled by something other than the Holy Spirit. The Bible warns you to watch out for those dogs. God's purpose is for you to have the joy of the Lord and purpose in life by grace through faith. Thank God for the freedom from the Law and its demands. Remember the Law shows you what sin is but has no power to produce a Godly life. Only God’s Holy Spirit can do that. The ‘dogs’ are everywhere. Watch out for the dogs.
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
How Much Love? #33
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NAS)
The little boy in Sunday School was asked how much God loved him. He stretched out his hands as if to measure the biggest fish he could imagine and said, “This much.” I don’t know how you measure God’s love but God’s love is so great that it is hard for us to even imagine. The Apostle Paul was so convinced that God’s love was so amazing and powerful that he penned the great words which proclaim that ‘nothing can separate us’ from His great love.
There is something wonderful to be said about love that nothing can destroy. Jesus’ death and resurrection prove He is a God of love. He reached out to you and forgave your sin and gave you freedom and a peace that passes understanding. Only love can achieve those ends.
God loves you because you are His creation, His child, and His inheritance. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, He expressed His love that can never be taken from you. Would you praise God right now that Jesus is your Savior and Lord?
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NAS)
The little boy in Sunday School was asked how much God loved him. He stretched out his hands as if to measure the biggest fish he could imagine and said, “This much.” I don’t know how you measure God’s love but God’s love is so great that it is hard for us to even imagine. The Apostle Paul was so convinced that God’s love was so amazing and powerful that he penned the great words which proclaim that ‘nothing can separate us’ from His great love.
There is something wonderful to be said about love that nothing can destroy. Jesus’ death and resurrection prove He is a God of love. He reached out to you and forgave your sin and gave you freedom and a peace that passes understanding. Only love can achieve those ends.
God loves you because you are His creation, His child, and His inheritance. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, He expressed His love that can never be taken from you. Would you praise God right now that Jesus is your Savior and Lord?
I hope you find purpose for your life today as you grow in Christ. May God bless you as your spiritual life prospers in Jesus.
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