TALKING POSITIVE IS POSITIVELY WONDERFUL

 Is anyone out there a fan of people who constantly are in a negative mood or mindset? I mean nothing they say brings much joy or positive affirmation. At times it makes you want to scream. People who are a certain age, for instance, start saying that they are too old for things. Now that, my friend, is negative talking. You are never too old. Do not talk down to yourself. I have heard stories of people starting many adventures later in life.  Recently there was a story in a paper I read about a lady over 50 being on the top of a water skiing pyramid. If you start in the 'old negative mindset', guess what? You are going to convince yourself by your negativity that you are no good and have nothing left in life to contribute and the enemy loves that.I have met a few flight attendants in my travels over 50 and some started after 50.  Satan  would like you to sit in a rocking chair and feel sorry for yourself. If you are in good health you can do whatever you want. This is only one example of negativity. I am sure you can add to the list. But the point is you have to stay focused on thinking of good things.

 

Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Your mind needs to be set on the positive to stay uplifted. Thinking negative defeating thoughts will keep you downtrodden. Look up and rejoice! Philippians 2:5 says "Let this mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus." Christ is not negative. Try to be like Him why don't you.

 

Practice saying the following things out loud and see if you do not feel more positive:

I am redeemed.

I am a child of God.
I am loved by God.
I am special to God.
Jesus will restore the years locust has eaten.

God can and will heal and set me free.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
I am valuable to God.
I will resist Satan and he has to leave me alone!!

I do not dread the future for I know God is in charge and has great things in store for me!

I can do what I set my mind to.

 

Are you a half full or a half empty sort of person? Start today to be aware of when you slump into a negative mindset. Do not allow it to happen. You are not here by accident. Start thinking of good things that lift your spirit. Think of dreams you have that are not met. Try to go after some of them. What is stopping you? Do not say you are too old! Stop that negative talk right here and now.

 

It is sort of like the quote in the Hollywood film 'The Help' where the maid said to the  little girl she took care of "You is kind, You is smart, You is important." Not the best English in the world but the thought and meaning is certainly sincere. She was affirming this small child of her value because the childs' own mother neglected to do so. If you have children make sure to tell them daily how you much you love them, that God has a special plan for their life and that they are special.

 

And one more thing. Try smiling. It helps keep things more positive. Do not give the enemy glory by being a sour puss.Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

 

PRAYER: I want to try to stay positive Lord. I know it brings no glory to you nor does god for me when I have wrong thoughts.Help me keep my focus on good  things and on you.I will not allow situations or people to drag me down into their negative pitiful pit.  In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link below for a worship song to lift your spirits:

http://youtu.be/SXaSWUvTb8w

CHARGE ON DESPITE SETBACKS

Everyone has gone through something one time or another in their life. No one is perfect. The enemy likes to get us to dwell on our problems and makes us feel at times there is no way God could love us or even people for that matter. If we let our mind fester with these poisonous thoughts then we will be defeated and lose our peace. Keep pursuing Christ.

We are into the 2nd month of a brand new year so make this the time to get serious about letting go of sins that drag you down or wrong thinking that hinders you. When the world runs out God is there. When friends misunderstand you God is there. When you feel like no one cares, God is there. When you feel self pity creeping up, God is there.

Run to Him. He is the God of second chances, third chances and on it goes. Nothing you can do shocks him. He has not said,"This person is a real scum bag and beyond hope. Get them out of my sight!" No He wants sinners to come and sit at His feet. "We all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." (Romans 3:23) We all have occasionally said the wrong thing and hurt someone or were misunderstood. The people we hurt may not want to forgive but God will always forgive. Let it go and let God heal you from the inside out.

So when life throws you a curve ball, so to speak, you do not quit, you do not run and hide but you pick yourself up and keep going. God can use everything in your life to get you closer to Him. Charge on and keep going. Ask God for help. He will never fail or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5-6 says "Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things that you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you,' so that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me."

PRAYER: Lord I thank you that when I fall you are there to pick me up. When the world runs out on me you do not. Thank you for being my forever friend. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below to worship the Lord in song.

http://youtu.be/rg89UOAftXM

SIMON SAYS

If we claim to be a Christian we should want to try to be like Christ. We need to be on guard to not get sucked into the cultures way of thinking and doing things. This is not to say you can not have fun and have to go sit in a monastery somewhere but in things we say and do we should try to be Christlike.For instance how many of us have hurt someone with things that we have said that you would never think of saying if Jesus were standing right there? News flash...Jesus is always there. Jesus himself would never say hurtful or rude things to people. We are to strive to be like Him so there is your assignment. Be nice!

To be Christlike we need to be approachable and not so 'holier than thou' which turns people off. There are two extremes. The first is the  being 'baptized in vinegar' where a person can not even seem to crack a smile and is a pretty self righteous person too thinking their way is best or their church knows it all. Next is the person that just goes right on with the flow of the modern culture and uses no discernment in their activities. The first way is extreme in people trying to act  'religious' and better than people  but they  are ineffective witnesses for Him because of their attitude The next scenario is when it is hard to really tell the person is a believer at all because they are really no different than the world. There is a balance.

 We know 'this world' is not our home and we are to be set apart for holiness. If you claim to be a Christian do people even know you are a Christian? Do you try to hide it? Are your actions any different from those who deny Christ? Do you chime right along cussing,drinking, gossiping and doing things you know would bring dishonor upon the name of Christ or do you seek to be his witness where He has placed you?

You know the kids' game called Simon Says where the person says "Simon Says put your hand on your nose" and we are to put our hand on our nose? This goes on until the part with 'Simon Says' is left out and if you still do it then you lose. Jesus is like Simon except bigger, of course. In His word it has allot to say about following Him and being like Him. 1 Corinthians 4:16 says "Therefore I urge you to imitate me". 1 Corinthians 11:1 says "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." Philippians 3:17 says "Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you." Philippians 3:10 says "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."

We are in a battle between heaven and hell. Ephesians 6:12 says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places". If we are not on our guard we will believe deceiving voices and get sucked into the schemes of the enemy. Satan himself appears as an angel of light it says in 2 Corinthians 11:14. He is a trickster out to 'take us out' and make us ineffective for kingdom work. Be alert for we are not ignorant to his tactics. Say "Get thee behind me Satan!"

In Mark 4:18-19 it says  pertaining to believers that "Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.” The enemy does not want you to read the Bible or imitate Christ. In 1 Peter 1:16 it says "For the scriptures says -Be ye holy for I am holy." Pretty clear cut wouldn't you say? Are you trying to conform to the worlds ways more than God's ways? Satan is an enemy of the cross of Christ and he is trying to mess with our minds and make us think bad is good and good is bad. That is why you have to be grounded in the word of God to clearly know the truth.

If you have messed up and gone your own way and know you have done things that displease God and bring discredit to Him and hurt you and your walk with Christ,  the good news is that He is a loving and forgiving God. His arms are wide open waiting for you to come back to Him. He forgives. Psalm 86:5 says "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you." John 15:18-19 reminds us "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."

So it is your choice. Do you do as God says or follow the ways of the world and lies of the enemy?

PRAYER: Father in the things I say and do I want to be conformed to your image. Use me Lord to help draw others closer to you and not further away. Help me light up the world around me with the love of Christ. Forgive me Lord when I have let the worlds ways influence me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Happy Sunday! Click on link below for a worship song.
http://youtu.be/UqQ7-sxFEw0

GROWING SPIRITUALLY

We welcomed in a New Year a little over a month ago. A new year is when many people start to think about New Years resolutions. Some people want to lose weight, some to focus on staying positive, some say to read the Bible more. What do you have for your New Years resolution? Did you even make one back on January 1st?

Why not resolve in your heart to grow spiritually and to become more spiritually fit? Not more religious, but closer to God. 'Religion' often turns people off to Jesus and His love. So many legalistic rules that some churches make up cause many people to want nothing to do with 'religion'. I have news for you! I am not talking about being religious but about being in love with Jesus and desiring to know Him better. Sometimes certain churches might scare us away from wanting to get closer to God, which is sad. If you are one of these people who has been turned off by a holier than thou 'churchy experience' that was more strict and condemning than full of grace and love perhaps it is time to find a new church home.

A suggestion would be to start on the casual non denominational level which usually has less man made restrictions that people dislike. If you are reading this and go to a denominational church I am not saying your church is bad but often times the more casual non denominational ones seem to make those seeking to know Christ better more at ease. Make sure they preach the uncompromising word of God and do not change it to fit societal changes and an unBiblical culture.

To grow spiritually you have to read God's word, there is no other way. To grow physically you have to have food and to grow spiritually you have to have God's 'meat' which is the word of God. The Bible is not boring nor is getting closer to God. Perhaps if you are disinterested you have not truly asked God into your heart. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says "the preaching of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

You can get excited about Jesus and hunger and want to be closer to him in 2012. Stop what you are doing and ask Him to take the controls of your life and be Lord of your life. Once you do this you become a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says " therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, the old has gone and the new is here."

Start now by 'thinking' on God's word. Next try to find a good church home to fellowship in. Perhaps find a Bible study with other believers to help disciple you in your new walk. Spend some alone time with God praying or simply talking to Him.

If you are already a believer perhaps you have stagnated and need to be renewed in your mind. Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform 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, pleasing and perfect will." You can not grow without spending time with God. How important is being close to Jesus to you?

Start today to grow spiritually. You will feel better for it, I guarantee it.

PRAYER: Lord I want to have you in my life and live for you. Forgive me when I have not spent time with you. I desire to grow spiritually so keep me on this path. In Jesus name. Amen.

 Click on link below to worship God in song:
http://youtu.be/b-oZbBS_OhM

CHANGES WILL HAPPEN

The first month of 2012 is behind us and we are now into month number two of the New Year. How are those resolutions coming along?  Many propose to make big changes when the new year rolls around and may for a week or so then fall back into old ways. With a New Year brings new hopes, new possibilities, new weight, you get the idea. Change in and of itself is hard and sometimes not fun. For instance, Facebook decides to change the format for no apparent good reason and now we folks set in our ways of the old way have to learn the new way. I have moved a good deal in my 35 years of marriage due to the military and changing locations can be hard. People change churches. Some folks change friends. Sad to say some folks trade in their spouses for a newer model. Change is part of life. Changes in life are inevitable. At times they are no fun and very hard to adjust to. There are changes in the weather, changes in jobs, friends change, computer programs change, the leaves change colors, and elections bring change of who our leaders are.

One thing that we can count on that never changes is God. He does not wake up in a bad mood. He does not manipulate you with his emotions. He doesn't act nice one day and ugly the next. He does not wake up 'on wrong side of the bed'. He does not have some people he likes more than others or a circle of friends he is close to and forget everyone else. He does not exclude people because they are not well educated or of a certain social stature.

The Bible says in Malachi 3:6 "I am the Lord. I change not."  The word of God never changes nor are we to add to or take away from the Holy Bible to suit our own needs. We are not authorized to edit the Bible. Proverbs 30:5-6 says " The word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Further in Revelation 22:19 it says "And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

Matthew 24:35 says "Heaven  and Earth shall pass away but my words shall not pass away." So try to be like Christ. Do not let people try to guess which personality you will be today. Keep a cool and calm spirit and live like Jesus!

PRAYER: Lord God I thank you that you never change nor do your words change. I desire to try to stay unchangeable in my personality so people can approach me and know the same person is there and not be worried about who they are talking too. I thank you for being totally unchangeable. In Jesus name. Amen!

GOD IS 24/7:UP ALL NIGHT

God never slumbers or sleeps.  24 hours around the clock He is there for us. He does not have business hours. He does not say, "do not bother me I have to go to bed now." No, He is ever present ready to listen to your prayers. He is like a 'spiritual drive thru window'. Come to him all you who are weary. He is there for your every need. He never gets tired and never gets bored with His job. He loves you and is waiting to hear from you.

Psalm 121:3-4 tells us " He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber;indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Imagine that! Non stop service from a loving God ready to listen to you and take care of your needs. Your round the clock counselor! Jeremiah 33:3 says "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

At Christmas, well meaning parents who change the meaning of Christmas to honor Santa over baby Jesus, may sing the song "You better watch out you better not cry, better not pout I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town". It goes on "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake". Say what? I do believe they must mean, Jesus sees you when you are sleeping. That is what I would think you would want to teach children in a Christ centered home. Never mind the Saint Nicholas thing but he is not seeing you 24/7, but God in fact is. So parents there is your challenge for next Christmas.

 In 2 Chronicles 16:9 it says "The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war." I love that picture of his eyes roaming and watching us. Hebrews 4:13 says "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." He knows it all. He is there for you when others may abandon you. Proverbs 15:3 goes on to say "The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." He is fair. He gives everyone a chance to accept Him into their hearts.

Have you asked Jesus to be Lord of your life? Do you know if you died right now you would be in heaven with Him? If not why not stop right now and say "Lord Jesus I need you. Forgive me of my sins. Forgive me for ignoring you. I want you to come into my heart and create a new clean heart. I want to live for you and serve you and no other." When you pray and accept Christ you will go to heaven. It is not about a church membership or denomination but simply asking Jesus to be Lord of your life. Let Him into your heart today.

PRAYER: Lord I need you every hour and I am thankful you are there for me. Forgive me for the times other things took more priority than serving you and getting to know you better. Thank  you Lord for being there for me around the clock. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link below to enjoy a worship song to go along with this devotion. Be blessed!
http://youtu.be/tZIMDcgrF-Q

BIG RESPONSIBILITY

As a believer we have a huge responsibility to be examples for Jesus Christ where he places us in life. That means even if you are the only one in your office who is a believer you still need to stand up for what is right. Don't hide your light under a basket but shine for Jesus! If you are with people who want to go in a questionable establishment and you know it is not right, you need to dismiss yourself in a kind way. For teens under peer pressure to do wrong, such as stealing a road sign for 'fun' (still a crime) or drinking underage, you need to be firmly grounded and ready to speak up and run from evil. No one is going to make fun of you and if so, so what? There many other examples. Do not be forced or coerced into doing some thing you know is wrong.

2 Corinthians 5:20 says "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." If you were the United States Ambassador to a foreign nation you would not want to do anything to bring shame upon your country.Likewise as Christians we do not want to bring dishonor upon the body of Christ. Big task,  wouldn't you say? Amos 5:14 says "Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the LORD God of Heaven's Armies will be your helper, just as you have claimed."

Ephesians 6:19 says "as for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel." Our mouth can be our downfall to as we seek to be Christlike and his 'minister' out in the world. If we act so 'holy' then can't get a grip on our mouth and what we say it can backfire on us. James 1:26 says "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." Ouch! Our mouth should also be a representative of Jesus Christ. Does it spew forth gossip? Does it rattle on saying meaningless things? Does it hurt people? Does it boast? Does it spread lies?

Remember you may be the only Bible some people ever 'read' so be alert to how you represent Christ.  You are His ambassadors and his missionaries wherever He has you in life. Let your actions and your speech reflect that.

PRAYER: Thank you father for the opportunities you give me to be a witness for you. Forgive me when I mess things up by not watching what I say or do.  Help me be an excellent ambassador for you. In Jesus Name. Amen.