STAYING POSITIVE IN A NEGATIVE WORLD

If you focused strictly on the evening news broadcast you would not find much to rejoice about in the world. Newscasters have a way of putting fear in people's hearts. Seems to get better ratings. If you are one who has trouble staying upbeat and fearless you need to direct your energies and attention to positive things. Do not dwell on avalanches if your son skiis and lives in Colorado. Do not dwell on deaths in the war if your son or daughter is stationed in a war zone serving their country. Do not dwell on dying in a fiery crash on an ice covered highway if you have children living in winter weather areas where these road conditions are typical. Do not dwell on an elevator plummeting to the 1st floor from the 80th floor  if your child works in a sky scraper. Just because the doctor orders 'tests' do not speculate that you have  cancer. If you are afraid to fly do not assume every plane is going to drop from the sky. If you are in a convenience store or bank do not start wondering if it is going to be robbed by armed bandits while you are in there conducting your business. Fear can 'paralyze' you if you let it.


    You have to be intentional in thinking on uplifting things. It is easy to focus on tragedy and calamity as that is what the world seems to feast upon. But you have to make a point to get your mind out of the scary depressed worried pit it is in and purposely think on uplifting things. Constantly wondering if you or your loved ones are going to be in some sort of tragedy is certainly not good for maintaining peace now is it?

 There are many things to make us fearful and keep us in a negative mindset. Choose to focus on good things. The enemy will do all in his power to disable your joyful spirit by giving you enough things to worry about. Worry is not a fruit of the spirit but peace is. You say "Well I can not  help it. It's just the way I am."  If you do not have peace you need to work on achieving it. God can help you.

 Philippians 4:8 is  a good verse to commit to memory and it says "finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if there is anything excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things."

Also in John 14:27 it says "Peace I leave you ,my peace I  give to you.I do not give yours the world gives.I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not be afraid."

So will you be prayerful and powerful or pitiful and puny? Take charge today by giving your fears to God.


PRAYER:Lord it is hard sometimes to trust completely. I believe you are able to give me peace, I choose to think on good things and stay away from negative thinking. In Jesus name. Amen.

FOLLOWING GOD BUT STILL IN PAIN

Struggles, problems, heartaches. Just because we are a believer does not mean we are not going to ever have a problem or feel any hurt or pain. We will be better able to cope with it but it will not necessarily be absent from our lives. Yesterdays devotion dealt with this somewhat and today I wanted to mention it again. Things will happen in life and they are not always caused by God. He allows some things in life to shape us. Sometimes we make wrong choices that cause us to end up in bad situations. It is not always God's doing. Most the time it is not. Free will, you know.

You want to forget the past and you feel like God can not forgive you so you continue to  lead a life away from God. Perhaps addicted to porn, watching X rated movies, doing drugs, becoming an alcoholic, having sex before marriage, or looking on someone lustfully. Maybe 'lighter sins' such as gossip, judging, bitterness, and unforgiving spirit plagues you. Whatever it is you have done or are doing God can help you be set free. He can forgive. He can heal. He can mend your broken heart. He can set you free from the pain you are living in if only you will call on Him. Nothing shocks God. And news flash, all sin is sin, period! And we are all sinners!

Jeremiah 33:3 is affectionately known as 'God's phone number' and it says "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." God is not mad at you. As a matter of fact, he loves you. So why not call out to him in prayer today? Psalm 50:15 says "and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

John 8:36 says "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." Isaiah 43:18 says "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."

We do not always understand the whys of things. Job 37:5 says "God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding." We do not always have to 'get it' but trust God in your situation. He is waiting to hear from you. Job 5:9 says "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted."

So where you are at today? God can heal, deliver and set you free if you sincerely want to be. Maybe you have never accepted Christ as your savior. You can do that right now by praying "Lord Jesus come into my heart. I want to live for you and serve you." If you are already a believer but have strayed he can forgive you and get you back on the right path again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Let him clean up your life and set you free today.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus thank you for being just a prayer away. I do not want to let the cares of this world or things I have done stand in the way of getting to know you better and serving you. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link for an 'amazing' song:
http://youtu.be/Jbe7OruLk8I

HELP ME!!.BUT GOD!!

Sometimes we wonder why we have to go through certain things. Somehow many think once you accept Christ you will have no more problems. Problems are what make us strong. No one likes to go through anything. Note the word 'through' indicating you will come out on the other side. Do you ever feel like God is not listening to you and wonder how much more you can take? It says in James 1:3 " Because  you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." "But why God? I can't take much more! Help me!" you might exclaim.

God uses all things in our life to shape our character. He does not cause bad stuff to happen but he uses it for good to mold you into a child of God. Most of us are familiar with the verse in Romans 8:28 which says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Now mind you it is not recommended to approach a friend going through a terrible situation with this verse right on the spot. I have heard of altar calls at funerals where the deceased family uses a death as an opportunity to let others accept Christ.

1 Peter 1:7 carries this theme of trials further when it says "These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Why is it people have a tendency to get mad at God when things go bad or the worse case scenario, when someone dies? It seems it is always God's fault. Everyone is going to die someday. People do not see God's big picture at times and just want to blame Him for after all "He is God and He could have stopped it". In John 11:21 Martha got mad at Jesus and she said "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died." There we go again. God is the fall guy.

James 1:12 tells us "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." Can you hang in there through the storms and uncertainties of life knowing God knows the 'end of the story'?

           God is able to redeem your life from a pit. He is able to comfort you when no one else can. Ephesians 3:20 says " Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." We are the potter and He is the clay and he forms us and shapes us through all sorts of things. Jeremiah 18:6 says "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."

In the movie 'To Save A Life' ,a young man has a bunch of bad stuff happen after he decides to follow the Lord. He has lived a reckless life in high school and hurt people and some of the things has done come back to haunt him. But in the end it is a story of healing and redemption. Rent the movie and see it for a story of hope and promise.

So where are you at? Do you place blame on God when things do not always go your way? Stop today and turn your scars into stars for the Lord and ask Him to forgive you if you have hardened your heart against Him and blamed Him for calamity in your life. He can heal, restore, redeem and set free so why not let Him?

PRAYER: Father in heaven I thank you for each thing in my life which I know helps to mold and shape me to be more like you. Even though it is painful sometimes I know when I hang on things will be better. Help me to trust you and turn to you for things I do not understand. You are God after all. I thank you for loving me and having a plan for my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link and praise God in song. Be set free!
http://youtu.be/2tg9reEvRPM

LOOK FOR GOD'S PURPOSE IN YOUR NEXT INTERRUPTION

There may be a time in your life when something did not go as you would have hoped but eventually turned out greater. God has a plan and sometimes it includes changing our plans, or interruptions. Maybe you can look back on times you were fretting and concerned and in the long run what you were so worried about turned out great. God changed your path and ultimately lets' say you met your future spouse. There is always a reason although we may not see it at that time.

I think of the movie 'The Adjustment Bureau', not a Christian film, but a thought provoking one never the less. In the movie Matt Damon's character was a rising politician who had a 'chance' meeting in NYC with a professional dancer who was not part of his 'plan'. The 'adjustment bureau' were men sent by 'whoever' to try to keep him away from her as it would wreck the ultimate plan for not only his life as a politician but her life as a professional dancer. We know this is Hollywood and not from the Bible but the point sort of was made that each of us has some sort of destiny or as I say it "God has a Purpose".

 The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". In Proverbs 19:21 it says "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."  We can plan a course for our life but before we set out we need to always pray about our decisions.


Proverbs 16:9 tells us "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." 

So wherever you are today be thankful and if it seems wrong just pray and ask God what He has for you and seek to be patient in the process of where He is taking you to.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for the fact that I know you have a plan and purpose for my life. Forgive me for the times I have tried to manipulate things to change the outcome. Help me trust you for what is best and be at peace. In Jesus Name. Amen,.

PUT DOWN THAT HORN!

Do you feel pretty good about yourself and your accomplishments? Maybe you have been to fine schools, have awesome degrees, make lots of money, a wonderful job title, or have received many awards. Perhaps you are in tight circles with important people. Maybe you have done things  that are 'off the charts'. Still God wants us to be humble and not 'toot our own horn'.

The Bible says the humble will be exalted and let another praise you and not your own mouth. Bragging or boasting  is mentioned many times in the word of God. It is tempting to want to prove to someone what you have done, who you may know, and how much you make. It is human nature to a 'proud nature' at times especially as a parent. But we are to have 'God's nature''.

The real mark of a Godly person is to be able to let your virtues speak for themselves and not think you are anyone special. We all have differing gifts and talents. If you feel you are on the braggy side ask God to help you be humble and not prove things to people by boasting.

Proverbs 27:2 says "Let another praise you and not your own mouth, someone else and not your own lips."  There is nothing to be gained by letting everyone know every wonderful thing you have ever done. God knows and that is all that matters.

Proverbs 25:27 says " It is not good to eat too much honey nor is it good to seek one's own honor". If you receive accolades give the glory to God for it is only through him you have your abilities, skills, gifts, and brains. You may think "But wait I did this on my own". Watch out for you may be brought low with that kind of attitude. A humble person is much more pleasant to be around.

Matthew 23:12 says "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Where are you at? Perhaps you are on the other end of envy of others. That too is wrong for each of us has differing gifts. Bloom for Jesus where he plants you, be content,  and give God the glory for your successes. In Deuteronomy 8:18 it reminds us it is God who gives the power to get wealth. Serve Him with the abilities he has given you.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for what you are doing in and through me. Help me never envy others and be thankful for exactly where you have me. Lord I thank you for what you can do through my life. Forgive me if i have ever become proud. In Jesus name. Amen.

Happy Monday! Click on link and praise God in song!
http://youtu.be/D-zk-E55dRk

LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE OR OSCAR THE GROUCH??

When people talk about you would they tend to think of you more as a delightful joy to be around or a 'Little Mary (or Harry) Sunshine or a 'Oscar the Grouch' type constantly being ugly and temperamental? Ponder that for a while. Most of us probably think we are okay but is your demeanor reflective of joy, peace, happiness and love or criticism, judgment, evil and hatred? When people talk about you do you think it is in the positive or negative?

How do you respond to waiters, store clerks, telemarketers, and those that may rub you the wrong way? Do you spout off or do you stay under control treating all people with respect? Do you speak to your spouse the same way you did when you were dating or treat them ugly and vindictive? On the road driving, do you cut people off and angrily look out the window at them as you pass by?When things do not go your way do you respond with grace or do you lose control? It is clear that as a believer we need to have our emotions under control and if the area of words and anger is a problem to ask God to help deliver you from bring mean and hurtful. When you speak to someone it should be with kindness and love. It is so easy to get in an argument. It is a bigger person who finds a way to walk away and stop it . Proverbs 16:32 says "Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." James 1:20 says "Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."

 We are to be Christlike and to do that we need to be trying to show Christlike qualities. These would be love, caring, sharing, selflessness, humility, joy, and forgiveness to name a few. Does your life reflect these both out in the 'marketplace' and in your own home? We are to treat members of our own family as better than outside world but the stories you hear often on the news of family violence do not reflect this. In Psalm 101:2 it says "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."

James 1:19 could apply to all of life and communication but I have mentioned before it is a good one for newlyweds to commit to memory and live by. It says "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry". Ephesians 4:29 says " Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Proverbs 17:1 says "Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife."

So whether you are out in the community, at work or especially at home  you need to tame the anger and the tongue. Make believe you are Jesus and let's say a clerk is rude to you. The saying 'What Would Jesus Do' is a good one to really ponder. What would he do? Try to be like Little Mary Sunshine and let the Oscar the Grouch personality have a rest.

Proverbs 12:16 says "A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult ".

PRAYER: Father it is my desire to treat all people with kindness, love, and respect. Show me where I need work in this area. Help me when I feel like getting mad to stop and pray. Forgive me if I have ever hurt anyone by my words or actions. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link below and enjoy a worship song.
http://youtu.be/uor3TPX0of8

LIGHT A CANDLE OR CURSE THE DARKNESS

It is necessary to take a stand for righteousness.  Do not be so overly off the deep end that you do not try to impact a company, community  or a person who many may think is beyond hope. By this I mean you can do more than scream at them about how bad they are and how they are hurting society. Take Hollywood for instance. Master Media International Ministry  is working one actor, one director, one film executive at a time, behind the scenes, to impact Hollywood and New York City for  Christ. Truck Stop Ministries Inc has reached out to semi drivers across the nation since 1981. With the temptations of the road this is an excellent outreach to these mostly male drivers. 

Even on shows like American Idol you have had your Christian missionaries of sorts who are permeating the darkness of Hollywood by singing their Christian songs. Some Miss America's in the past have been outspoken for Christ and thus have taken His message with them as they wear the Miss America crown for the year they serve .


 Personally I would not feel comfortable saying it is okay to go in a strip club to win people to Christ because the situation may tempt you but I know there are ministries trying to get girls off the streets who are caught in prostitution and I also heard once of a group of women who stood in front of a gentleman's club passing out cookies with their children and supposedly were instrumental in closing this business down. Perhaps the men were too convicted that what they were doing was wrong and degraded women.

Several companies today support agendas that are go against the word of God. You can take a stand against them and not support them with your hard earned money is one way and follow it by writing a loving letter saying why or you can try to possibly influence someone for the good. Notice I used the word 'loving'. Condemnation and hatred are not good witnessing tools normally.

We have to go into the world to make an impact on the world. Staying in Holy huddles will not help spread the love of God. I am not condoning witnessing in strip clubs mind you as you need to use wisdom and discernment to know where to go to make an impact for Christ. With Master Media, even though we may not agree with most of what comes out of Hollywood, instead of condemning all of it, this ministry tries to do friendship evangelism, to change the hearts first then possibly the product will follow.

Usually anger and ugliness is not going to change someone but showing love , grace, and compassion will. It is okay to take a stand, do not get me wrong, but you have to win others by lighting a candle so to speak.  Cursing the darkness may turn some off and not show God's love to those you are trying to win. Above all remember to pray.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 says "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To  the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." Never compromise yourself morally or go against God's word in trying to reach the lost.


PRAYER: Lord use me to make a difference in the world around me. Give me course to speak up in love against things immoral or sinful in order to make a positive change. Help me be guided by your love. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Click on link to worship the Lord with a wonderful song.
http://youtu.be/k-XufRTMLxg

Note:As I was searching You Tube for the song I see where it is also a mission field simply because of the types of videos you see posted there.