LOST?

We all lose things don't we? Keys, drivers license, wallet, important papers. It is hard not to sometimes. There was a TV show on a couple years ago entitled simply 'Lost', about survivors from a plane crash trying to find their way back home out of a jungle. Hansel and Gretel were lost and dropped crumbs in hopes of finding their way back home. Losing things and being lost happens in life. We may get lost on a trip driving as we take a wrong turn. Even with a GPS or map it sometimes does not help. Sometimes we just can not find our way.

The Bible mentions the word lost  many times. There are lost coins, lost sheep, parable of lost son. Do you know Jesus as your Lord and  Saviour  or do you often times feel like you are wandering around with no purpose? In Jeremiah 50:6 it says "My people have been lost sheep, their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place." Have you let other more 'important' activities keep you away from the Lord? Are you wandering in the wilderness without turning to God to help you find your way?

The good news is you can find your way with Jesus and the word of God as your compass in life. Isaiah 53:6 says " we all like sheep have gone astray , each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

God can give you direction in life if only you will turn to him. It says in John 14:6 that "I am the way, the truth, yes and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me."  Jesus can ChriDirection,direct your paths and keep you from being lost. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

There is no need to wander lost in life and have no direction. Jesus can be that true light to help you find your way out of the wilderness you am encounter in your journey. Turn to him for guidance.

Let me leave you with two of my favorite Bible verses found in Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."

PRAYER: Lord thank you for guiding me along the path of life. I know when I turn to my own way without you I can make wrong turns in life. I want to use your word as my 'map' to guide me on my journey. In Jesus name.Amen.

Click on link for awesome song of worship.

http://youtu.be/Jo8dgK4RvWM

BE A LIVING BREATHING SERMON

Do you show by your  actions that you love the Lord? I did not say do you have a fish on your car, a big cross around your neck, or a Jesus bumper sticker but do you truly show that you are a follower of Christ. All the Christian bumper stickers in the world won't amount to anything unless you show love to those around you.

Are you kind, generous, happy, respectful, grateful, unselfish, and loving? I did not ask if your went to a certain church or were a member of a church but can you get outside your 'Holy  huddle' and show Jesus' love to those maybe who make you feel uncomfortable or who are not just like you?  Can you stop judging, condemning, and pointing the finger long enough to pray for those people who maybe aren't like you or who do not like you?Can you forgive?

Matthew 5:46 says "If you love those who love you what reward  will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?"  Are you able to show love for those who may be different than you let's say covered with tattoos or body piercing as one example. Remember the Bible says in Matthew 7:1 " Judge not that you be not judged." Have you ever been guilty  of saying "I can not stand her" or " he makes me sick?"  Aren't comments such as those a bit on the unloving, unkind, and unchristian side? I would think so. Do you think Jesus sat around with His disciples and said "He makes me sick" or "I can't stand him?" Probably not. Sure he was displeased with actions but not by the people.

Do you realize you reap what you sow? It says that in Galatians 6:7. Look it up in the New Testament right after the four gospels, Acts, Romans, and 1st and 2nd Corinthians there are the books you can find by saying the acronym 'Gentiles Eat Pork Chops' or 'General Electric Power Company' which are Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Each of those small,but valuable books of the Bible, is packed with so much wisdom. Why not take about 30 minutes and read them all one day.

Let me leave you with this. Once I heard someone say "You may be the only Bible some people ever read."  This simply means that some people who are 'unchurched' or could care less about 'religious' things may see you and you can reflect the love of Jesus. But if you are complaining, calling people names, gossiping and not showing joy you are not a good example for Him. Just some food for thought for your day. Be blessed to be a blessing.

PRAYER: Lord I choose to walk in a manner that brings glory to you and helps show Christian love and is a good witness Convict me if I ever start to name call or gripe and help me instead learn to sing praises. Forgive me for ever speaking ugly about anyone. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below for an awesome song of praise.
http://youtu.be/qrOywJnLj7Y

Note: Dated my devotion wrong yesterday. It should have been Wednesday 29 August 2012. Maybe no one noticed but I caught it too late.

DOWN IN THE DUMPS??TRY GOD.

There are probably times when all of us have had a down kind of day. Circumstances in life, illnesses, and various problems can tend to get our focus off positive things and onto gloom and doom. In many cases a person who is unable to escape from this may need to seek professional help. But many times we are just not focused on happy or positive things. Dwelling on the past has got to stop. Give your worries over to the Lord. If you think about it, much of what you worry about you have no control over anyway so why not get in the practice of being a Bible dweller and not a worry pit dweller.

 Probably everyone has had that kind of day. If things are not going like you want in life and you pray you may wonder why God has not heard. All I know is to stay above the pity pits and gloominess a person has to make a purposeful effort to stay focused on the promises in God's word. It is the enemy, Satan, who wants you to feel all alone and hurt. Don't give the devil a foothold in your life. Stay above the gloom by focusing on God. Read the verses below out loud and see if you do not feel better.

Luke 1:37 Nothing is impossible with God.
Romans 8:28 And we know all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your cares on God for He cares for you.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in time of trouble.
Psalm 27:10 Even  if my father and mother forsake me, you Lord hold me close.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Psalm 56:4  In God whose word I trust. I will not be afraid what mortal man can do to me.

When you have this feeling coming on you don't just run and sit in front of the TV as it may add to the despair by what you view on it. Try reading some of the verses above out loud and then spending some time talking to God. It is the best cure I know.

PRAYER: Lord thank you for your word that gives me hope,freedom,strength,and guidance. I love your word Lord and I know the times I find myself gloomy I need to fix my eyes and thoughts on the promises in your word. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below to worship the Lord in song.
http://youtu.be/0ZFN8TBfgNU

LOVE CAN SET YOU FREE

 I am not talking about romantic love in this devotion but love for those around you on a daily basis. Are you able to truly love like Jesus would love? This means  not saying harsh things to friends and family. This also means putting others before yourself. It means loving when you do not feel like it. Can you forget the mistakes of others? Are you able to let things go, move on,and forgive? It means giving up your 'right' to get back at others. It means loving people who do not show love back.

 Most people are familiar with 'the love chapter' in the Bible which is 1 Corinthians 13. Take a moment and get your Bible and read it. If married couples would adhere to what it says there would a lot fewer quarrels in marriages and probably less lawyers getting rich off splitting up families. I know people who don't quarrel so it is possible. Try to please God and not try to win every disagreement. In verse 5 it says "Love does not keep a record of wrongs."  Imagine  that would you!! Never trying to prove you are right and just letting things go to keep peace. With God it is possible to do that. Maybe if that is your weak area in some relationship you could ask for God's strength to not record every wrong deed done to you. Doing that only makes you angry and bitter and certainly does nothing to fill up your 'love bank'.

Mark 12:30-31 says "Love the lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these."

Try something. Go walking in a mall and silently as you pass shoppers say to yourself "I love you and I love you and you too". Instead of judging people as they pass you, try sharing God's love. Try smiling. The smile is sort of a universal language of love.


 Try to show love to someone today. Be kind to your spouse, perhaps do something extra nice. Do something special for a friend. Whatever it is remember to be a representative of Jesus in all you say and do.

 PRAYER: Father forgive me if I have had times it is difficult to show love and kindness. I know you are sad when I do not love like you love. I want to do that. Thanks for forgiving me when I mess up. In Jesus name. Amen

STOP THINKING NEGATIVE. LOOK UP!

Have you ever noticed how it is easier to complain, gossip, gripe, and basically have a negative mindset than to be positive and uplifting? The  world is filled with hate, bickering, lawsuits, confusion, revenge, fear, misunderstandings, and division but we as believers are to shine the light of Jesus into the darkness and change the negative to positive. But if we are chiming in right along then we do not make much impact.

Sure there are times things make you upset,  but it is reacting in a calm fashion and not exploding that will not only keep you peaceful but will resolve the matters more effectively.

To be able to do this you must be intentional about not being conformed to the things in the world that tend to plant bad thoughts in your head. Try to have the mind of Christ. Let me give you the Bible verse I have used numerous times in these devotions and that is Romans 12:2 which says "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 prove what the will of the Lord is. His good, pefect, and pleasing will."  To do this your mind needs to be focused on God's thoughts to those of the world.  Philippians  4:8 reminds us "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things." Commit this scripture to memory. It will help you stay happy, joyful, and positive in a world of negativity around you.

Let me end with Psalm 34:14 which says "Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it."

PRAYER: Father I thank you that I can choose to be positive and peaceful in a world filled with fear and chaos. When I start to despair and the enemy tries to get me to succumb to the ways of the world help me remember I can turn to you. In Jesus name. Amen

HOW IS YOUR FRUIT?

Are you bearing fruit for the kingdom of God or do you have a bunch of scraggly dead branches and wilted blooms hanging on you? Think about during the drought, for those of us in America living in drought stricken areas, how the corn crop looks. Pretty dried out and basically producing no crop. As a believer, are we like that corn which is dried out and not flourishing due to lack of rain? Our 'lack of rain' would be not saturating ourselves with the word of God on a regular basis. Do not just wait till Sunday to get 'watered' but 'water' yourself daily.

 Galatians 5:22-23 says "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law."

To develop those 'fruits' in our life we have to read and put into practice the word of God on a regular basis. Ask yourself if your life displays those 'fruits' in a good way or do you need some pruning ,which often hurts,  in order to drop the dead branches and old fruit and let the new fruit bloom and flourish?  Get rid of those things in your life which are causing your 'fruit' to not blossom.

 Do it today. Make it a deliberate action to let good fruit grow in your life 'cutting off' those things keeping you from living a dynamic Christian life.

PRAYER: Lord thank you that I can decide to flourish for you I need to cut off things in my life that I  know separate me from you and nourish the things in my life that draw me closer to you. In Jesus name. Amen

THE PRIZE

 Who doesn't like to win a prize? I know I do! I am always signing up for contests. Lots of people tell me I am lucky but I say "no I am blessed" because over the years I have won everything from flowers, movie tickets, tickets to amusement parks, concert tickets, American Express gift card, ice show tickets, sunglasses, flying lessons(which I transferred to my son who is a commercial pilot now), inflatable goal posts, a gold watch, door prizes at coffees and Bunco, and most recently an IPOD Touch which became an instant birthday gift to my younger son!!
 These early prizes and rewards are great but do not compare anything to what awaits those who have made Jesus Lord of their life. James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for where has stood  the test, he will receive the crown of lifer hat God has promised to those that love him." Wow we get to be like royalty!!  A crown is special. It is the best reward of your life. Better than a Grammy, better than an Oscar, better than a Tony!! They do not compare with the reward of being with Jesus in eternity!
 Where are you today? Have you asked Jesus to be Lord of your life and are your walking with Him daily? If not, why not stop right now and say "Lord Jesus I need you in my life. I want to live for you and serve you. Forgive me for doing my own thing and sinning against you. Come into my heart right now. "
The journey ahead is marvelous. Not always a joy ride because trials will come into your life Hang on to Jesus and He will see you through.  Isaiah 43:2 reminds us "When you pass through the waters I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze."  Look to Jesus  for your strength when the world seems to be caving in around you. He indeed will see you through!!
 PRAYER: Father in heaven thank you for being my best prize ever. I do not need earthly rewards and pats on the back I need you in my life Lord. Shine your light through me. In Jesus name. Amen.