Scripture Reading - Acts 16:19-31
I just love today's passage of scripture. I have been having trouble cutting and pasting the scripture text since I upgraded my Internet Explorer, so, you will have to read the passage from your Bible. I think of what my reaction would be if I were in a similar circumstance as Paul and Silas. We can learn great truths from the way they acted toward the hardship they were facing. Paul and Silas had learned to channel their focus toward the Lord and not toward the obstacle. If we could only learn to do the same. Jesus Christ is the same and deserves the same intimacy and love from us regardless of what we are facing in our lives. When we have an awareness of being in His presence we are almost in a perfect state of mind. We have trust in Him and bask in His glory to where nothing around us even matters. Jesus is what matters. He is our focus and we will never find disappointment in Him. I encourage you to direct your focus toward Him as the obstacles mount up before you. You will be strengthened buy Him and before you know it, the obstacle that was facing you will be well behind you.
Be Blessed and Live in the NOW!!!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Making Permanant Changes
Scripture Reading - Psalms 63:1 " O God,thou art my God, early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is:"
When we are making progress in our relationship with God, that is when changes begin to appear and we are being conformed into the image of Christ, we must realize that there are reasons for this change. We are given the power to change, and that power is in the Holy Spirit when we are first saved and the actual change is based on our efforts toward wanting His qualities to manifest in our lives. Things do not happen by accident. Our growth always centers on the intimacy of our relationship with Christ. In the times in my life where the most change has taken place there is a direct correlation with the closeness of my relationship with Him. When I seek Jesus above all else, everything else becomes better, I hear from Him, I live a more holy life, every decision I make, I make with a consideration of what will bring Him honor. It is when I slack off in my seeking of Him that my growth in Him becomes stagnant. Seek Him first, it will keep you progressing on the path of having His character qualities become evident in your life. Remember what got you to the point you are with Him, and if there has been a period of growth, keep on doing what you are doing. Never slack off. It is too important.
Be Blessed and Live in the NOW!!!
When we are making progress in our relationship with God, that is when changes begin to appear and we are being conformed into the image of Christ, we must realize that there are reasons for this change. We are given the power to change, and that power is in the Holy Spirit when we are first saved and the actual change is based on our efforts toward wanting His qualities to manifest in our lives. Things do not happen by accident. Our growth always centers on the intimacy of our relationship with Christ. In the times in my life where the most change has taken place there is a direct correlation with the closeness of my relationship with Him. When I seek Jesus above all else, everything else becomes better, I hear from Him, I live a more holy life, every decision I make, I make with a consideration of what will bring Him honor. It is when I slack off in my seeking of Him that my growth in Him becomes stagnant. Seek Him first, it will keep you progressing on the path of having His character qualities become evident in your life. Remember what got you to the point you are with Him, and if there has been a period of growth, keep on doing what you are doing. Never slack off. It is too important.
Be Blessed and Live in the NOW!!!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Never Forget How Much You Cost
Scripture Reading - I Cor. 6:20 " For ye are bought with a price : therefor glorify God in your body and spirit which are God's."
We must never forget to look back to Calvary where the great price for our salvation was paid by our Lord and Savior. Today is Good Friday, the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus. We need not only to remember on Good Friday, but, we need to remember the cross every day of our lives and live in a way that agrees with today's scripture reading. We have been bought with a price and that great price was the death of our Lord. We no longer belong to ourselves, we are now His. It is our duty to glorify and honor Him by the way we live our lives. Never forget the great price that was paid for you. You did not come cheap. Take some time today and thank the Lord for purchasing you and always bear in mind the suffering of Jesus.
Be Blessed and Live in the NOW!!!
We must never forget to look back to Calvary where the great price for our salvation was paid by our Lord and Savior. Today is Good Friday, the day we remember the crucifixion of Jesus. We need not only to remember on Good Friday, but, we need to remember the cross every day of our lives and live in a way that agrees with today's scripture reading. We have been bought with a price and that great price was the death of our Lord. We no longer belong to ourselves, we are now His. It is our duty to glorify and honor Him by the way we live our lives. Never forget the great price that was paid for you. You did not come cheap. Take some time today and thank the Lord for purchasing you and always bear in mind the suffering of Jesus.
Be Blessed and Live in the NOW!!!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Walking into Dangerous Territory
Scripture Reading - Psalms 23 "The LORD is my shepherd ; I shall not want . He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies : thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever ."
As we travel along the path that Jesus Christ leads us on, we sometimes have to go through some places and trials that are not very pleasant for us to pass through. This morning I have been thinking about the last evening Jesus spent on this earth before He was taken captive. He very well knew what was in store for Him. I recall His asking Peter, James and John to pray and watch with Him while He prayed in the garden. I can almost see the drops of blood fall from His face as He was sweating in prayer before His passion was to begin. Jesus knew what He had to do to be able to proceed into this part of His life, He had to feel that intimacy with His Father. Although we are not facing crucifixion for the sins of the whole world, we at times are facing with walking into some very dangerous territory. We face cancer diagnosis' , sudden deaths, divorce, financial failure, ect. Walking into these areas is never comfortable, no one wants to do it. But, it may very well be the road we have to travel. We can take great comfort in the fact that Jesus Christ is our Shepherd. If we have trusted Him as our Lord and Savior we do not go through these areas alone. We can actually fear no evil because Jesus' rod and His staff comfort us, He is our protector, Our very lives lie in His hands. We need not only to love Him, we need to trust Him totally. He is trustworthy. He is loyal. He is all powerful. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is with us on the start of these dangerous roads and He will be with us at the end of the road.
Be Blessed and Live in the NOW!!!
As we travel along the path that Jesus Christ leads us on, we sometimes have to go through some places and trials that are not very pleasant for us to pass through. This morning I have been thinking about the last evening Jesus spent on this earth before He was taken captive. He very well knew what was in store for Him. I recall His asking Peter, James and John to pray and watch with Him while He prayed in the garden. I can almost see the drops of blood fall from His face as He was sweating in prayer before His passion was to begin. Jesus knew what He had to do to be able to proceed into this part of His life, He had to feel that intimacy with His Father. Although we are not facing crucifixion for the sins of the whole world, we at times are facing with walking into some very dangerous territory. We face cancer diagnosis' , sudden deaths, divorce, financial failure, ect. Walking into these areas is never comfortable, no one wants to do it. But, it may very well be the road we have to travel. We can take great comfort in the fact that Jesus Christ is our Shepherd. If we have trusted Him as our Lord and Savior we do not go through these areas alone. We can actually fear no evil because Jesus' rod and His staff comfort us, He is our protector, Our very lives lie in His hands. We need not only to love Him, we need to trust Him totally. He is trustworthy. He is loyal. He is all powerful. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is with us on the start of these dangerous roads and He will be with us at the end of the road.
Be Blessed and Live in the NOW!!!
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