A Celetial YES Feb.29

A Celestial Yes

Christians have been given a heavenly YES.  [2Cor.1:18-19]

Behavior Feb.28

Behavior

As Christians, sometimes it’s better to behave your way into new feeling than to feel your way into new action.

Behave the Kingdom principles when you don’t feel them.

Persistence Feb.27

Persistence

In striving for the Kingdom of God:

The persistence of a nobody became a somebody forever.

Luke 8:43

Thirst Feb.26

Thirst

When little souls cry out on beds of sickness;

When a man finds no rest and daily existence seems more than he can stand;

When a woman feels her crushing responsibilities of work and family;

When a young person stays bewildered by culture;

Jesus cries, “I thirst.”   [John 19:28]

We need to relieve suffering where we can.

Life Control Feb.25

Life Control

What if ALL our life events are protected and controlled by God?

1.   Everyone met . . . not by chance.

2.   Every action arranged by God.

3. Every experience planned by God.

Impossible?

“The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.” [Psalm 121:8, NASB]

As joint heirs in the Kingdom . . . it is possible.

What Faith? Feb. 24

What Faith?

27 times in Hebrews 11 the word faith is listed. [NASB].

Running history-like, the chapter is a story of people who exercised faith that led to significant action.

Faith leads to action.

What you faith, you become.

When you faith God to do what He says, you receive a title deed to behavior.

Faith energizes your hope, the things that have not happened yet, but could.

A Healthy Mind Feb.23

A Healthy Mind

Just as the body needs our healthy concerns, the mind follows also.

We are made in such a way, that it is hard to bury even a lie without it jumping back up to haunt us. We may think we can push something into the subconscious and it be forgotten, but the very something will translate itself into something else that rises to the awareness level.

So if you bury a lie in the unconscious realm, it will get stimulated by something in the awareness realm and bring it up.

If you believe that the physical and spiritual influences are connected like a chain-link bracelet, then what you bury will retranslate into some tolerance you can endure in the awareness area.

A negative happens to the mind when you bury a negative and it shoots a condition back up to the conscious with something you think you can endure. For example, you bury a lie so in the conscious area you live with a half-lie which seems more tolerable.

What we should bury more is faith and love. [1 Tim.1:14].

A Confessional Insight Feb.22

A Confessional Insight

Life gets stretched and growth takes place when holy insights stir the mind.

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  [Mt.16:16]

Truth confronts a man.

God’s revelation happens.

A person becomes a witness.

When the confession is made, an irrevocable awareness gets made.

That awareness is the blessing, not the confession in itself.

Even the gates of Hell cannot beat it. [Mt.16:18]

Do You Believe? Feb.21

Do You Believe?

       A friend of mine was asked why he believed the Bible.

He simply responded: “I know the author.”

A Lasting Bridge Feb.20

A Lasting Bridge

Many bridges need repair today because bridges stay important connections.

But God provided a bridge that lasts forever.

God did not promote humanity’s true destiny with nations dependent on decisions of Congress or Parliaments.

His true power lays not in the hands of rulers and kings.

Instead, God glanced through the tunnel of time at all the persons and little families who could daily pray together.

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.” [Mt.18:19, New American Standard Bible, NASB]

An uncomplicated two can make bridge.

Losing Joy Feb.19

Losing Joy

If you lose your Christian joy, you lose the ability to celebrate.

Happiness is an emotion based on circumstance.

Joy is a deeper experience, grounded in God’s love, which gives us a new quality with our new nature in Christ Jesus.

Pray for joy increase by remembering God’s hope and Peace that comes from above.

Then, start looking for more life events to celebrate. Even celebrate the little things: food, family, and friends.

Spiritually Prosperous Feb.18

Spiritually Prosperous

The Apostle Paul quotes a Psalm in Romans 5:7-8.

       “Blessed are those whose disobedience is forgiven, and whose sins are pardoned. Blessed is the person whom the Lord no longer considers sinful.”

[God’s Word Translation, GWT]

Any who have sins forgiven stay prosperous in the spiritual realm.

Any who are prosperous in the spiritual, the Lord does not count sin against.

Accept your blessing.

A Pilgrim's Progress Feb.17

A Pilgrim’s Progress

Renounce: Oh, Lord, I give you my Self.

Receive: I accept your amazing love.

Restore: I believe in your do-overs for me.

Prayer: O God, I do affirm. I often live too long on denial. Now I live on the positive truth that You are indeed love unfathomable; that I can bank on that Love; that your love will not let me down; that I can draw on it for all I need. O God, I am in your hands forever. I am glad to be there.  AMEN

A Child's Arms Feb.16

A Child’s Arms

An Oklahoma oil field worker was the picture of a rough and tumble man. He could out work, out drink and out fight any who crossed his path. No one could bring him to his knees.

One night his 4 year old daughter became ill. He stood by the bed and felt helpless. His daughter lifted up her arms to him and said, “let’s pray.”

By her bed, with arms around his neck, the oil man knelt.

What's a Rut? Feb.15

What’s a Rut?

If you find yourself just doing the same old stuff you did last year, you may be in a rut.

Someone said, “A rut is just a grave with both ends knocked out.”

“But Jesus said to him, ’No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”  [Lk.9:62, NASB].

And Jesus said again, “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has become tasteless…”  [Mt.5:13].

Get your flavor back! Get out of the rut.

God's Gifts Feb.14

God’s Gifts

“But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.”  [1 Cor.12:31] NASB

Do you suppose, in our heavenly mansion, there might be a room full of gifts we never even asked for while on earth?

One Joy in Heaven Feb.13

One Joy of Heaven

One Joy of heaven MIGHT be all the good you wanted to see happen while you were still on earth.

Mt6:33, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”    

A Personal Prayer

A Personal Prayer

I do not think.

I do not strive.

Your peace burns me alive.

O Father, these words proclaim what I feel. Yet, I do not depend upon my feelings alone. I depend upon the faith that YOU ARE and that I AM.

We journey together to unite a common purpose and a changing life. This is now the rock beneath my feet.

Amen

Do Both And Feb.11

Do the Both And

When the Herodians and Pharisees wanted to catch Jesus in a trick question [Mt.22:15-21], they asked him if they should pay a poll tax to Caesar.

See, if he said yes [which by the way was a correct answer], he would be in trouble with the Hebrew people.

If he said No, he would be in trouble with the government but in favor with the people.

Jesus had them look at a coin with Caesar’s picture on it. Then he responded with what they thought an amazing answer. Basically, he said, do both; give Caesar what he is due and give God what He is due.

The “Both And” became more significant and accurate than one choice or the other.

Remember Every Source Feb.10

Remember Every Resource

A daughter was trying to finish a school project and became overly frustrated. Her Mother said, “Daughter, you are not using all your resources.”

“But Mom”, she responded, “I’m spending all the time and money I have. That’s all I can do.”

“But”, the Mom said, “You haven’t asked me to help.”

We may be depending too much on our own resources and we need to ask God to help. [Gal.2:20]

This One Thing I Do Feb.9

This One Thing I Do

When the Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” [Phil.4:13, NKJV], I don’t think he meant we could just choose one thing to do and ask God to honor it.

I suppose there is nothing wrong with asking God to honor anything we do (except sin). Sometimes a random approach to God’s will does work.

However, I think Paul means we are to pay close attention and do what God instructs us to do and then, the Holy Spirit will give us the strength needed for any task.

A Wonder Feb.8

A Wonder

I wonder:

If we will have such a magnificent new name in heaven that it will be something like music. We may then have a new song and sing our spiritual pilgrimage to the angels---never getting tired---our own audience always paying close attention, wrapped in the heavenly sound of our pulsating soul.

The truth will be heaven is even greater than this.

Consider Feb.7

Consider

       Our yesterday was the internet, our tomorrow the browser, 

but our today is the link that holds the strain together.

Growth Stages Feb. 6

Growth Stages

Think on these:

What are the stages for transpersonal growth? [Growth that moves you away from self toward Kingdom principles].

How do we fill our need to transcend the stagnation? [Allow the excitement to come that Holy Spirit can generate.]

What are the specific techniques, that having done them, we can know we are in the process of increasing our Holy Spirit power even 10%?

[Moving step by step through Sermon on Mount guides. Don’t move to another until you have done principle before it.]

Small Efforts Matter Feb.5

Small Efforts Do Matter

“And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.” [Mark 12:42, English Standard Version.]

Notice in this scripture:

Jesus was watching the contributions.

He noted the amount.

He paid attention to motive.

He measured the relative importance of a contribution, not by the amount only, but by the unselfish sacrifice in the donation.

“Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.”    Verse43, ESV.

The widow put in what she had, meaning that was actually what she had to live on, not any abundance. Her faith caused her action.

We need generosity to power our faith and faith to power generosity. 

Things to Forget Feb.4

Things We Need to Forget

~Wrongs done to us by others.

~Failures,

~Desires not of God.

~Successes.

13“Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and

14 I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 3:13-14, God’s Word Trans., GWT]

Live with Non-answers Feb.3

Living with Non-answers

Mt.27:46,”And about the ninth hour (3 o’clock) Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?’” [God’s Word Translation, GWT].

Even Jesus, the Son of God, made an appeal to the Father and it appears there came no response.

But the Father did respond- - -in silence.

Sometimes God responds to us in silence and there is always a good reason.

We can grow our faith when we learn to live with the non-answers.

Realization Prayer Feb.2

Realization Prayer

Take a moment and say this prayer with me:

“Heavenly Father,"

"I know there is nothing better than what I find in you, except more of what I can find in you. Help me to open every cell of my being to your incoming life that heals, sustains, renews and empowers. I do so now……come in, Your Life of my life, Your Being of my being.”   Amen

Love Negatives Feb.1

Love Negatives

1Cor.13:4

Love:

Does not envy.

Does not boast.

Is not arrogant.

Is not rude.

Is not self-seeking.

Is not irritable.

Is not resentful.

Does not rejoice in wrongs.

We may not love God enough. How do we get love?

WE learn it.

Negative Surprises Jan.31

Negative Surprises

Read Matthew 26:7-10

God may be working in your life through negative surprises.

Keep Faith.