You Believe That Stuff?

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Why are we on Earth? Why were we created?  It was to glorify God. Everything we say and do should draw people from all walks of life closer to the savior. 

If you are experiencing a down moment in your life, God uses all things for His purposes. He does not cause the tragedy to occur, but can work through things to bring you closer to the Lord. Deaths of a loved one seem to be one of the biggest event that lead people to turn their back on God.  Why God why? Babies die, teens are killed in accidents, thirty something's die from cancer, and on it goes. With life comes death. No one knows when or how. We are to live life to the fullest and not sit around worrying, fearing, or pondering our demise or that of a person close to us. 

Don't turn your back on God and don't neglect His word. Many people who claim God is first place in their life would have a hard time proving that if they were arrested for being a Christian and had to go to court to prove it. How would they know? Because you go to church one hour on Sunday? Try again. 

Today do not harden your heart. If you are far from Him it is you who made it that way.

PRAYER: Lord God I love your word. Forgive me for the days I neglect it and rush into my day without you. I choose today and every day to read my Bible. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below for a song of worship:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GTSzT-3V05Y

KEEP THE FAITH

Have you ever felt we are in the center of a culture war and the
Christian side is losing? That is what our enemy wants us to think. We
are truly in a battle of good and evil but if you read the end of the
Bible you know the "good guy" wins.

God is supreme. He will not be mocked by a corrupt government. He will
not be "redefined" as His word is yesterday, today, yes, forever
unchanging. He will not be ruled "unconstitutional" as He is God. Many
may try to ignore Him trying to defend their way of life but He is
still here and He represents truth and forgiveness for those who
repent of their sins.

I drive home the point allot in my writings of how important it is to
know the word of God for in it lies truth and the answers to many of
life's issues. God is so much bigger and powerful than puny mere men
who try to legislate Him away.

When we ignore him doing our own thing and listen to the lies of the
enemy, Satan, he is sad.

A good Bible verse for this modern "do my own thing" era is found in
the book of Romans chapter 12 verse two and it says simply 'Do not
conform anymore to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind then you will be able to test and approve what
God's will is.His good, perfect, and pleasing will.' In other words
you have to be a non conformist to things you know are not right. This
does not mean start fights but this means to speak up in love and do
not allow God's word to be mocked.

Galatians 6:7(NIV) says 'Do not be deceived. God can not be mocked for
whatever a mans sows that will he reap.'

Whose voice are you listening to today?

PRAYER: Today I pray for a soft pliable heart so that I do not become
desensitized to sins around me or in my own life. Keep my eyes opened
to your truth. Give me Holy boldness to speak the truth in love. In
Jesus' name, Amen.

Click on link for a powerful song.
http://youtu.be/MpWozyQ2QH4

I'M SO HUNGRY!

 How many of you have probably uttered this phrase? If you are in America reading this(recently discovered I had some overseas readers) you probably have never really been truly 'starved'. We are blessed with an abundance of food much of which we eat way too much of and gain weight or it ends up in the dumpster. We never really are needy like some people in Third World nations. There are soup kitchens here in America though but no one eating porridge with their fingers out of a bowl that I hear of. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Those blessings really do flow and we are oh so grateful for three meals a day, snacks, expensive coffee drinks, and more.

A different kind of hunger is for the word of God. Once again in America, a Christian nation, Bibles can be found in abundance but how many people really get into the word of God on a daily basis? If you do not read it and study it you are starving yourself spiritually. What good does a bathtub and bar of soap do if you do not get in it, turn on the water, and bathe? Likewise, what good is your Bible if it is not read? Many Bibles are wonderful dust collectors.

There is a saying I heard once that 'going into a church won't make you into a Christian any more than going into a garage will make you into a car.' You have to study. Would you want a surgeon to operate on you unless he studied his medical school books and completed his five year residency?

The word is referred to as "milk" and as "meat". God is called the "bread of life" in John 6:35. Just like a human baby needs to eventually be weaned off the baby bottle or their mothers' breast, we too, need to grow up and become spiritually mature and eat "meat" and things that will help us grow and get stronger. 1 Corinthians 3:2(NIV) says 'I gave you milk, not solid food, for you weren't yet ready for it. Indeed you are still not ready.' Hebrews 5:12(NIV) also carries this theme when it says 'in fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again.You need milk, or solid food!'

Do you hunger for the word of God? A time may come in this country when evil forces rise up and try to take away our Freedom of Religion. It has started to happen to a certain extent on a small scale across the United States. Don't be deceived and think I am making this up as I am not.Laws have been made that contradict the Bible, sad but true. Would you have much of God's word hidden in your heart if one day your Bibles were confiscated?

Start today to feed the inner man the word of God daily so you have strength to face the challenges life brings your way. You can indeed be strong in the Lord if you get prepared by knowing His word.

'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.' (Matthew 5:6)

PRAYER: Lord you are so wonderful,patient, and kind. I often times find myself getting caught up in life and or forgetting you till Sunday for one hour. I know I cannot stay spiritually strong unless I pick up and read my Bible. Help me not make excuses any more. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link to hear a worship song which goes along with this devotion.

http://youtu.be/2SLHWFpSlq4

Also check out this great Christian family film concerning Freedom of Religion in America.Movie is Last Ounce of Courage.

http://www.standusa.com/last-ounce-of-courage/

ARE YOU DISCIPLINED? REALLY?

Discipline is something I know lots about after a stint of six years in the US Army. You have to be disciplined to follow orders in the Armed Forces or you do not succeed. If you are not disciplined when you go in you surely will be when you get out or they will perhaps put you out earlier than expected.

 Discipline comes in many forms, You must be disciplined to wake up in the morning and get to work or you will get fired. You must be disciplined to control your emotions or words or you could get in serious trouble. You must have discipline to not eat too much or you will become overweight. You must be disciplined to work out to keep in shape. You must be disciplined to follow rules of society or you will get into big trouble.Your parents hopefully instilled discipline in you as a child that if you had children you passed on to them.

The best discipline that many seem to forget about or put off to the side is the discipline of staying in the word of God. I did not say 'going to church' which is important but disciplined to grow in Christ on a daily basis through prayer and reading the word of God. Maybe you have no desire to do something other than Sunday. Then I would ask you to examine your heart and see if you ever truly asked Jesus to be Lord of your life. When you love someone you want to be with them all the time. Do you feel that way about Jesus?

2 Timothy 2:15 says "Study to show thyself approved a workman that needs not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth."  Hebrews 12:11 says " No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace by those who have been trained by it."
If you are not disciplined and feel joyful about reading the Bible ask God to help you. Matthew 22:37 says " love the Lord your God with all your heart,soul, and mind."

PRAYER: Lord I know Satan would distract me from getting into the word and knowing you better. The things of this world may try to lure me away. Give me your strength to make daily Bible reading part of my every day life. In Jesus name. Amen.

I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME

This is a very familiar verse to many and ranks up there as one of my all time favorites. It has special meaning to me. This is found in Philippians 4:13. When I have had  trouble getting through certain things I claim this verse. 28 years ago in June this was the verse I used as my 'focal point' in the birthing room at Lyster Army Hospital at Ft Rucker, Alabama when I was getting prepared to have precious baby number two. Without drugs to kill pain, I would look at this verse, which I had copied and hung up on the wall, and  would sometimes scream out "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!"  But then I would also scream out, "Drugs, I want drugs" as the pain of natural childbirth was so intense. My husband, not in pain,would say "Read your verse" and I did. The nurses would say "you don't want your baby to be sleepy do you?" So on I marched like a good little trooper claiming this verse and it indeed did help.Seems comical now but I knew God would see my through the pain of childbirth. He can see you through any thing you have to deal with too.

 Whatever it is in life you are going through, Christ can help get you to the other side of the difficulty. There is always light at the end of the tunnel or a rainbow on the horizon. Do not get discouraged because God will be your comfort, strength and deliverer.
In 2 Chronicles 20:12 it says "Oh our God will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast Army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do but our eyes are upon you."  Do you ever feel like that where in desperation you just do not see how things will possibly get better? Some, sad to say, take their own lives,when they feel there is no way out. There is a way out and His name is Jesus.

Psalm 25:15 says "My eyes are ever on the Lord for only he will release my feet from the snare." What is bothering you today or weighing you down? Do you feel God can not possibly love you for what you have done in the past? The good news is God does love you and can set you free and forget your sins and remember them no more. He can give you a life of victory. Maybe after you have emerged from your struggle you can be instrumental in helping others get freedom!


Psalm 103:15 tells us "As far as the East is from the West ,so far has He removed our transgressions from us". Isn't that great news! Go now and walk in victory and God's strength to see you through.

PRAYER: Lord I know no matter what I am going through you ate there to carry me over the hump. When friends run out and don't care you always care. Thank you for freedom in Christ. In Jesus name. Amen!

THREE MINUTES PER WEEK

How often do you pick up your Bible, open it, and read it? Many people find the Bible is a nice historical book or perhaps a nice coffee table decoration but for  the Bible to be a useful tool it has to be opened, read, and studied. Seemingly many people may only read the Bible a mere 3 minutes each week. By  this I mean that in church when the verses are flashed upon a screen or the minister says to  open your Bible and read, many do at that time, but how many actually continue reading each of the other days and even remember what was read? The mentality is it is something to do only in church. Other than that there is no interest or desire to even open it. Maybe some feel it is intimidating and do not know where to start. It is in the Bible where we have the power to defeat the enemy so we have to get into the word to know how to do this.

Satan would love to distract you and keep you too busy or making excuses for why you don't take time each day to spend time in the Bible. If you start getting serious about getting to know God through his word Satan will shudder. In the word are many ways to defeat him and cast him down. You are no threat to him if you are ignorant of the word and ill equipped to do spiritual warfare.
2 Timothy 2:15 says "Do yourself to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman that needs not be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."  Psalm 119:11 says "Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:105 reminds us that "your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto thy path."

Without  knowledge of God's word we go into our world weak and powerless to shield ourselves from those fiery darts Satan is sure to fling at us daily. Why not start this week to give God more than 3 minutes? You give the news a half hour, the paper about a half hour, morning shows an hour so why can't you give God quality time? Think about it then make some changes. Your spiritual growth depends on it.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for the truth in your word that lights my path daily. Forgive for the days I have put other things before you or have not talked to you at all. I purpose to out you first. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click link below to enjoy a great song of worship.
http://youtu.be/F0M0NALW7EM

TODAYS ASSIGNMENT: Read John Chapter 1 in the New Testament