FW Thought of the Day with Missionary J

FWM

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Nehemiah 1: 2-5

That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

As God’s children it is easy to stand on the sidelines and watch what is happening in the world and remain detached. We are not of the world and we are therefore not responsible for the problems the world is facing; nevertheless as children of light, we have an obligation to do whatever we can to make things better here on earth. If there is ever going to be any change in this world, we cannot remain detached. We must begin to internalize the problems of this world, make them our own and ask for God’s forgiveness. We can then shoulder up the burden, pray through, and by faith move to do whatever is necessary to make a change.

Lord, I praise you and beseech you to have mercy on us today. Forgive us of our sins and show me what I must do to effect change in this world.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friday, October 02, 2009

Haggai 1: 4-7

Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

Everything that we have is a gift from God – our salvation, our intelligence, our families, our money, our friends, even the breath in our lungs – all gifts from God! (“Rich Nathan”) And we are to be good stewards over what God has given us. Stewardship simply means management. A steward is a person who understands that they are not owners, but are rather called to manage their gifts, their time, their money and opportunities on behalf of God. Our gifts and treasures are to be used to His glory and for the good of His people. When we begin to mismanage our gifts or become irrational in our use of money, it is just like having holes in our pockets. We can have a $1,000 in our pocket today and nothing tomorrow. God is not going to continue to pour out His blessings upon us if we are not good stewards of what He has given us. Everything we have is for a purpose and if we don’t use it for that purpose, we run the risk of having it taken away from us. As believers we must grow to understand everything in our lives belongs to God and we are simply called upon to manage what God has given us on His behalf.

Lord teach me to be a good steward over everything you have given me -- my time, my talents and my treasures -- so that I might glorify you and be a blessing to others.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friday, October 02, 2009

Haggai 1: 4-7

Lord teach me to be a good steward over everything you have given me -- my time, my talents and my treasures -- so that I might glorify you and be a blessing to others.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Psalm 117

O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

For years, Dr. Spock was the authority for new mothers and one day, after all the years of advice he had given out, he discovered that his theories were incorrect. Researchers in highly acclaimed colleges and universities gather form think tanks to refute one theory after the other. But God’s Word stands. No matter how man tries to deny God and refute Biblical truths, they can’t. His truth withstands the test of time. The more you learn of God, the closer you come to a knowledge of yourself and your role in God’s plan.

Lord I praise you because your Word is true and endures from generation to generation. As I seek to know you better give me a greater understanding of who I am and who I am in you. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wednesday, October 6, 2009

Ezekiel 37:10-14

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

One of the greatest tools of the devil is discouragement. He will dispense his imps and create confusion to make the believer feel dried up, useless and all alone. If we are not careful, we will begin to feel that our ideas are outdated, worthless and we will become spiritually dead. As believers, however, we must encourage ourselves in the Lord and seek a constant refreshing. We can stay fresh and productive by seeking new ways and new opportunities to be of service to God -- thanking Him, rejoicing in whatever comes our way. God will reignite His spirit in us and we will live again and discover that we are not alone but an exceeding great army.

I thank you Lord for your living waters that flow throughout my spirit and keep me motivated, refreshed and excited about this life you have given me. I ask that you open up the doors for me to be of service to you on this day.

As all of the Chicago readers know, we have experienced a great outpour of violence -- especially with our children -- in the last year. Those of you here in Chicago that are interested in getting together for prayer and to seek out some solutions to reverse this trend, please respond back to the email with “I’m in.” I will then find a mutually convenient date for us to meet at one of the churches represented to come together. Thank you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Psalm 8

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

It is impossible to understand how God in His infinite wisdom made us to be His representatives and to have dominion over the world. And we delight in taking advantage of all the happiness and comfort this world affords. But just as we have access to the good things, we also have to accept responsibility for the bad things. Clearly we have not done our job. Just as we readily accept responsibility for the beautiful earth, the good deeds, the great successes, we also have to accept responsibility for the pain, the suffering, the evil deeds here on earth. As God’s stewards, we have responsibility for the works of God’s hands and must do whatever is in our power to maintain them in good order. We must begin to take authority over this world and move to make it the world God intended for it to be.

Dear Lord I thank you for entrusting me with the responsibility for oversight of your kingdom. Teach how to take care of the people and the things of this world.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friday, October 9, 2009

Luke 21:34-36

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

God wants us to enjoy all of the good things that He has placed on this earth for us, we have to be careful we don’t allow ourselves to overindulge. On an intellectual and spiritual level we condemn the world for being self-centered and geared toward excess, but we nevertheless still find it attractive. The reality is that we have to always keep ourselves in a position to be of service to God. Overindulgence, takes our mind off of Christ and focuses it on the thing in which we have chosen to indulge ourselves -- whether it’s food, money, alcohol, partying, etc. Overindulgence in food is unhealthy physically; overindulgence in the cares of the world is unhealthy emotionally. Thus, God warns us to be careful because, if not, the consequence is that the Day will come on us unexpectedly and we won’t be in mental or physical condition to withstand the wiles of satan. This is sobering!

Dear Lord, teach me to employ moderation in everything I do and to find myself prepared, effective and ready to act positively in any situation.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Monday, October 12, 2009

Lamentations 3:24-26

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD

God wants us to live a rich and bountiful life and has a life of abundance in store for us. Unfortunately, too often we miss out because of our inability or unwillingness to wait. We jump ahead of God for our spouses, our careers and even our ministries and because of it we never receive the fullness of the joy God has meant for us. Even though things may not be quite the way we want right now, we must continue to have hope as God prepares us to receive the bountiful blessing He has for His children. Otherwise we may simply just miss out.

Lord you have told us that if we wait on you, you will renew our strength and give us blessings that there shall not be room enough to receive them. Teach me to wait on your leadings and your guidance in every phase of my life and to rejoice in the wait.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Luke 18:15-17

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

The Kingdom of God is the realm in which Jesus rules and to which only those who trust Him belong; and infants illustrate what trust is all about. They love unconditionally and posses a trusting spirit. They want to be loved and to rest upon and be dependent upon their parents. Children will follow their parents into any situation -- even walk off a cliff if their parents went first. This is the type of spirit our Father desires of His children -- unconditional love, trust and faith in His ability to provide for us.

Dear Lord I love and trust you to take care of all of my life’s issues. Let me grow in my knowledge of you and walk in your Will always. Thank you Lord.

Continue to pray for our children.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thursday, October 15, 2009

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

In this busy world we live in, communication has been reduced to texting, emailing, and using the social networks. Picking up the phone or talking to someone face to face has been greatly reduced and, because of it, relationships have become more strained. We are finding that we are even beginning to take and abbreviated approach in our communication with God. We wake up and say “thank you Jesus” and get ready for work and think nothing more about God until we are out the door and we might throw up a quick “Lord keep me throughout the day.” As believers, our relationship with God is the most important aspect of our lives and it must be guarded. No matter how busy we may get, no matter how crowded our day, we must keep a healthy relationship with Christ and must find time for rich and constant conversations with Him. Through prayer and meditation, God is able to hear our requests, receive our thanksgiving and give us necessary guidance for the day. We must always stay prayerful and strive to have a rich and true relationship with our creator.

Dear Lord you are the most important person in my life and I thank you for the gift of prayer. As you have so graciously allowed me to come before the Throne of Grace, let me never take my relationship with you for granted. May I continue to grow in grace and in a knowledge of You.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friday, October 16, 2009

2 Kings 5:9-13

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clea

I attended a Breast Cancer Awareness event last night and Kellita Smith of the Bernie Mac Show was one of the guests. And in the process of emceeing the panel discussion, she made the comment that we shouldn’t be fearful of anything that comes in our life but to allow God to reveal Himself through other people and other situations. Sometimes we believers consider it a sign of weakness or a lack of faith to go to doctors, counselors or even lawyers; or we are too conceited to realize someone “beneath” us can in fact be or help. We have to remember that God can and will use other people, events and situations to effect his healing and to solve our daily cares. We just have to be open and receptive to whatever means God sends to accomplish His purpose. It may be a doctor, a lawyer, washing in the river, the homeless man on the street or an actress… they are all God’s creations and He can use them anyway He please to do anything He wants.

Lord let me ever mindful of that fact that as I seek and ask for your help and guidance, that it may come from the most unexpected source. I thank you Lord for calling us to your purpose.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Monday, October 19, 2009

Galatians 5:19-26

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

When I was a kid in Sunday School many moons ago, I learned a song -- “What you are speaks so loud that the world can’t hear what you say. They’re looking at your walk, not listening to your talk. They’re judging by your actions every day.” We have an obligation to live the kind of life that is pleasing to God and that provides a moral template for those who are exposed to us on a daily basis. To paraphrase Bishop Regan Lubuzo -- everyday we are writing a book and each day is another entry. Even though our book may not be written down, someone is reading it. If you are not writing the type of book you would be comfortable with anyone reading you need to stop and re-write your book. God is depending on us to show the way.

Lord let me live a life each day that you would be proud of; that is in line with sound moral and spiritual principles. Let my light so shine that men will say my good works and glorify you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Monday, November 2, 2009

2 Chronicles 7:14-16

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

What pleases God is an open and honest relationship with His children. His desire is that we would seek Him and allow Him to lead and guide us on our daily journey through life. If we do not have a strong prayer life we need to do so immediately. In return we receive blessings of salvation, health and prosperity untold.

Dear Lord, I humbly seek you and acknowledge you as my Lord and Savior on this day and from this day forth.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Isaiah 43:15-19

I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King. Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow. Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

In order to deal with the problems of the earth and to effect our salvation, Jesus had to step outside of His comfort zone in glory and do something radical -- coming to earth in human form and dying for our sins. Radical times require radical solutions. Today we are living in such times. Homosexuality is common place, even the “Saints” are shacking, young people have no concern for life, murder and drug addiction is only getting worse. While what we are doing is good, it simply is not enough and not adequate for the times we live in. It is now time that we seek new avenues to utilize all of our God-given gifts and talents to effect change in the world. We have to expand our minds to visualize new ways and means to spread God’s love and that may well require us to step outside our comfort zones and to do something we never envisioned ourselves doing. We are good Sunday School teachers, pastors, youth workers, deacons… but we can be so much more. We must take stock of ALL of our God given talents, re-commit them to God and then do a mental and spiritual exploration of our capabilities in Christ. God will then begin to chart new paths for our ministries -- all He wants to know is that we are willing to go with Him on a new and exciting spiritual journey.

Dear Lord, I am ready, willing and can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Psalm 111

Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

I remember many many years ago when I was just a babe In Christ, I was on my way to work and had stopped at the door to pray. Well, I couldn’t get out of the house because I kept remembering things to pray for -- “Lord, provide me with food for the day, Lord, grant me safety as I walk the street……” The Lord stopped me dead in the middle of my prayer and said “why do you keep asking me for things I have already promised you?” As believers, we live a very blessed life. By accepting God’s salvation we are automatically put into the “blessed” category and become the recipients of God’s divine protection, mercy and grace. We no longer have to beg God for everything we need but just praise Him because it is already done.

Lord, I thank you for being my protection, my shelter and providing all of my daily sustenance. I will forever praise and magnify you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Proverbs 3:5-7

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from

evil.

A few years ago a young lady on my job told me that she thought I was so brave because I totally leaned on God. I told her that to me, she was the brave one for not.

Leaning on and trusting in God is the single most important thing in our daily lives. It is dangerous for a person to rely upon mere human wisdom or understanding because it is likely to fail him. Acknowledging the Lord in all our ways means keeping Him in mind in every event of our lives. Godly living is not to be confined to the Sundays for God is involved in each moment of each day. His instruction covers our lives from waking up in the morning to going to sleep at night. He wants us to remember Him all the time and to trust and obey Him to guide our conduct in everything we do. That "He shall direct your paths" is a promise that God will go before us and guide us in making correct choices. He wants us to be successful, so if we trust Him and follow His instructions, He will lead us forward, sweeping many of our potential problems to the side. (Forerunner Commentary) How can we not accept such a great salvation.

Lead me Lord in Thy righteousness and truth as I acknowledge you in my daily living.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friday, November 6, 2009

Matthew 5:33-37

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Tomorrow we are having guests in the office and I told my boss before I left that I would be in at 8:15. As soon as I said that, I thought to myself that it was highly unlikely that I would be there that early. And it probably doesn’t make any difference to my boss whether I’m there at 8:15 or 8:45 but it does make a difference to God. You’ve heard the expression, from your mouth to God’s ears. That is actually a true expression in that God hears everything we say. And as children of God, we are responsible to Him for every idle word or expression that proceeds out of our mouths. Just as God honors every promise that He makes we are to be the same way in our lives. We have to learn to weigh every word we say carefully because we are bound by it and not to honor our word is a lie.

Lord teach me to be careful in every thing I do and say. Let my words be tempered with honesty, verity and a reflection of your truth.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Monday, November 9, 2009

Isaiah 43:2-6

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

As long as we are here on earth, the question is not whether or not we will have trials and tribulations but when. However, as children of God, He has a unique claim on us not only as our Creator but as our Redeemer. And as our Creator and Redeemer, we then have hope in the knowledge that through every problem, through every stronghold, through every danger, our Creator will be there with us, protecting, leading and guiding us and bringing us out unscathed. His love for us is strong and has no bounds as He is willing to sacrifice our enemies and draw forth power from every corner of the earth if necessary to keep us safe and protected. There is no limit to God’s faithfulness, love and devotion to those who have accepted His salvation and have chosen to be called by His name

Dear Lord, thank you for your daily protection, guidance and unlimited love and affection for me. Let me strive daily to be worthy of all that you have given me.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

II Corinthians 4:7-11

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

There are problems and misery all around us. The ills of today’s society have touched us all in some form or another and most of us have at some point felt like not going on. But we can either decide to be consumed by our circumstances or we can choose to allow the love of God to shine through despite our sufferings and discomforts. Our personal insufficiency and sufferings are so insignificant when we look at the big picture. Not only has God promised to be right there beside us and bring us out victoriously but the present sufferings that we find ourselves in lead on to eternal glory so we have confidence in view of the promise of glory. As His earthen vessels we have dominion over the things of this world. We must then lean on the strength and power of God and move on, despite our circumstance, to claim the prize of the High Calling in heaven and on earth.

Dear Lord I refuse to be overcome by the world but to overcome the world through You. I am Your vessel and I claim dominion over the things of this earth and accept all of the benefits that go along with being your child. I die daily that you might be manifest in me and through your strength and your power I will make it.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Ephesians 4:26-27

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.

As Christians in our effort to avoid conflict, we oftentimes allow negative or problematic situations to go on unaddressed. It is impossible to avoid anger and conflict but there is a way to address it with dignity, maturity and the spirit of Christ. Nursing anger and allowing our feelings to fester gives Satan the toehold that he needs to turn it into bitterness or a sinful conduct. Simply ask God to temper your words and actions with grace and confront the situation head on. When we don’t deal with a situation promptly and instead find ourselves concentrating on the negative and imagining worldly approaches to dealing with the situation, our emotions can get worked up and we can be pushed in the wrong direction. We must learn not to be afraid of conflict but to deal with it promptly and swiftly with the love of Christ.

Dear Lord, in all things, let me be led by the Spirit of God. Let me not be afraid to address negative situations but to handle them as a child of God.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Romans 6:22-23

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Most of us have some type of habit or something that we like that we just can’t imagine doing without. While it may seem hard to do without; if the doctor told us that if we didn’t stop we would die, I think we would all muster up enough “intestinal fortitude” to do away with it. We understand the concept of life and death so well when it applies to our natural selves but we are not so good when it comes to our spiritual selves. Some of those same habits that we would give up to save us physically, are killing us spiritually and we can’t seem to garner up the strength to stop. Those little white lies or exaggerations, that filthy mouth or those nasty thoughts are against the will of God and are therefore sin. We must daily ask God to reveal those things in us that are not in accordance with His will and then stop it. It’s as simple as that -- a matter of life or death.

Dear Lord forgive me of all of my sins, known and unknown. I ask that you show me the things in my life that are not in line with your will. Take them away from me so that I may live forever with you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friday, November 13, 2009

John 14:1-3

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

A few years ago I worked for an attorney who loved to challenge me on black v. white/Jew v. gentile issues. One day he called me in his office and said “Janis, why is it that if you Christians are supposed to have the keys to the kingdom that it is the Jews who have all of the money and influence.” I said you know you’re right -- Jewish people seem to have really mastered the law of the land governing sowing and reaping. I told him that the only problem was that the laws of the land had no jurisdiction in heaven. And the goodness of the land does not translate into a lifetime of joy in Heaven. In other words, if Jewish people or any other people for that matter died without accepting Christ as their personal savior, the things of this world was all they could lay claim to-- what you see is what you get.

As Christians we sometimes find ourselves wondering why the world has more than we do when in fact we have everything -- sustenance, peace, joy and…. an eternity full of no more sorrow, joy unspeakable joy, peace like a river -- life with Christ with a mansion to boot. So when I see someone flourishing on earth who is obviously not in the will of God, I always said that I hope they are enjoying themselves because, as the song says, this is it.

Lord I thank you for the life I have here on the earth but I am even more grateful for the hope that I have for eternal life with you. Thank you Lord.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Monday, November 16, 2009

Romans 5:17-18

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Our church soloist sang “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” for the morning solo. A simple song -- with a simple message of Christ’s love for us. During difficult times when life becomes complicated and when we are not all together lovely, it may be hard to understand how God could possibly love us. What have I done to deserve His love? Why does He continue to bless me? While we may never come to grips with why Christ loves us -- the Bible said that He does. A simple song… abide in it and live.

Lord I thank you for loving me. I don’t understand why so great a love was bestowed upon me but I’m glad that you did.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Matthew 25:6-8

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

I heard a pastor say last night that since he has been pastoring his church -- which hasn’t been a long time -- the crime rate in his immediate community has gone down 95%. In this day and time the presence of God is needed more than ever. The only answer to a dying world… the only solution that will change things is Jesus. As His Saints, we are the ambassadors. We are the ones that spread the powerful gospel that is so necessary for this world. We must keep a firm relationship with God, stay the course and be prepared. If we are careless and allow our lamps to go out, how will the world see Jesus? The Bridegroom is calling and we must be ready to answer.

Dear Lord make me an instrument of your peace and let my life be a beacon light for all the world to see.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Romans 7:14-20

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

Monday morning one of Chicago’s most respected and influential residents was found dead apparently by a self-inflicted wound. I talked to several people who knew him well and they all agreed that he was a genuinely decent man. I can only assume that he found the inner turmoil caused by the stresses of this life too overwhelming to bear. No one, including the Saints, is exempt from stress. As long as we are in the flesh, we will never be entirely free of this struggle. The flesh does not go down without a fight. The difference, however, is that we are covered by the blood of Jesus through His Holy Spirit; and unlike the spirit of this world, God wants us to conquer and not to be conquered. When we find ourselves weak, stressed or overwhelmed by this world, we can simply call on Jesus and delight in His law. We will then find the strength to endure whatever problems we face and be strengthened mentally and spiritually. He will keep us in perfect peace if we keep our mind stayed on Him.

I thank you God for covering me with your love, your grace and your mercy. I thank you that when others would give into the daily stresses of life, you give me the strength and the ability to stand. Let me always abide in you and grow in grace and in the knowledge of You, my Lord and Savior.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Mark 6:31-32:

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

I came home last evening and was so tired, sleepy and starting to get a cold, but I had a whole list of tings that that needed to be done. After several attempts, I gave in and went to bed. As soldiers for Christ we always need to be on our “A” game. Alert physically, mentally and spiritually -- ready to be of service to God. When we are tired we don’t think clearly, make rash decisions, our bodies are weak and we are prone to sickness. Our earthly bodies are feeble but while we are here on earth they are the only things we have to operate through. It is not a show of our strength and durability to go without sleep but might very well be a show of our lack of wisdom. Pull away and rest.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friday, November 20, 2009

Isaiah 54:16-17

Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

My supervisor said something to me in front of a co-worker that was untrue and she acted in a very unprofessional manner. Even though it angered me, I decided just to hold my peace because it really wasn’t worth it. I thanked God for His promise but still I kept thinking about the incident and I realized that there was a second part to that verse which said that every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shall condemn. As Saints of God, we not only have the authority but the obligation to refute unfounded and unjust words that are railed against us. Not to scream and holler and cuss someone out but if they are wrong, we have the backing of the righteous God to stand up for ourselves and not accept everything that is thrown out at us. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.

Dear Lord, thank you for power and authorities given your Saints. Help me to live a righteous and holy life.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Monday, November 23, 2009

Ephesians 4:1, 10-12

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Although most of us have many gifts, talents and experiences, we have only one calling in Christ. Even with these varied gifts and talents, however, it doesn’t mean that we are to spread ourselves too thin trying to accomplish too many tasks and be involved in too many ministries. While God wants us to perfect all of our gifts and talents, through prayer, experience and faith in God, we have to discover God’s perfect will for our life and keep focused on that calling. Time is short and we will find ourselves ineffective and undisciplined in our attempt to be all things to all people. God does not waste any of our gifts and talents; and you can be assured that there will be an opportunity to use all of them, but we must see our gifts as assets to our ministry and not a ministry in themselves. We have to stay focused on God’s high calling for our life and prepare ourselves, spiritually, mentally and naturally, to perfect it. As one State Supervisor put it, you must “stay in your lane.”

Lord, my desire is to be worthy of my calling in Christ Jesus. Lead me and guide me so that I am able to perfect the gifts and talents that you have given me use them to perfect my ministry.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

1 Timothy 6:9-12

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

It was never God’s intention that we should seek after riches, but that we should seek after righteousness. The complete focus of the Believer should be on becoming closer to Christ and attaining a greater understanding of His will for our lives. But with so many ministries emphasizing wealth and material prosperity many Saints have turned their focus on becoming materially rich and are losing their spiritual strength. When we keep focused on the prize in Christ Jesus and live the life He has proscribed for us, we have the assurance that everything we are supposed to have on this earth we will have. As we find ourselves active in our ministries, if God opens the door for us to gain great riches, go for it. Some believers will be millionaires, some won’t … but we will all be blessed and satisfied in Christ.

Lord I hunger and thirst for your righteousness. I will always put you in the forefront of my life and will accept your will for me.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

November 25, 2009

Colossians 3:15-17

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Thanksgiving Day is a time that we have set aside to get together with family, celebrate and collectively thank God for all of the blessings we have received throughout the year. But instead of devoting the time to thanking God for all of His goodness, we spend most of the time doing things that He doesn’t like -- overeating, over drinking and arguing with our family members. When we truly give thanks to God, we are lifted out of self and the peace of God will rule in our hearts and create a spirit of praise within us. As we laugh with our family, our spirit is thanking God for life; when we share stories, our heart is consumed with love for family; when we enjoy a meal, our souls are thanking Him for daily sustenance; and as we depart from one another, we give thanks for His divine protection. If we enter His courts with Thanksgiving in our heart, we find ourselves consumed with the Spirit of Christ and all of our enjoyment and pleasure is anointed with praise.

I thank you Lord for being who you are and who you are to me. Everything.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Psalm 150

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

All creation is called upon to use their unique talents in praise to God despite the circumstances. While we are on this earth, we will have some pleasant days and some days that we wish we had never gotten out of the bed. But through it all, God is faithful, unchanging, in control and worthy of our praise. So we must continue to cultivate a love for God that is so great that even in the midst of unpleasantness or great pain we can reach down within the depths of our souls and find the strength and desire to praise God. Praise is not an option… it is a command.

I thank God for all of you and the support you have given me throughout the last three years in my daily ministry of “Thoughts.” I didn’t always understand why God would give me certain things to say but then I would get an email or two or three from someone saying that God was speaking directly to them. I strive to be obedient to God so pray with me that I will always keep self out of the way. Happy Thanksgiving!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friday, November 27, 2009

Psalms 34:1

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Even though we set aside a special day to offer up thanksgiving to God, praising God should be a continuous exercise of our love for God and faith in His ever presence in our lives. Praise is powerful and strengthens us to endure the dark times in our lives. It is good to think on God but we also need to keep His praise in our mouths. At all times, in every situation, under every circumstance, before, in and after trials, in bright days of glee, and dark nights of fear, before friends, before family.. we can never give God all of the praise that He deserves. “What a blessed mouthful is God's praise! How sweet, how purifying, how perfuming! If men's mouths were always thus filled, there would be no repining against God, or slander of neighbors. If we continually rolled this dainty morsel under our tongue, the bitterness of daily affliction would be swallowed up in joy.” (Bible Study Tools) When our mouths are full of praise to God, all of our utterances are blessed.

Lord you are worthy of my continuous praise. Your praise will always be in my heart, my soul, my spirit and my mouth.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Monday, November 30, 2009

Psalm 100

1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

While a friend of mine was enjoying her family during the Thanksgiving holiday, her home was burning. Her loss was devastating -- not for things that could be replaced but for pictures, important papers, etc. But through it all, she was thanking God for sparing her life and the life of her family and for just being God. Even though the loss was devastating she realizes that as long as she is in God’s will, whatever happens is for her best. She is seeing her loss as a chance for a new beginning.

God is calling for new beginnings in our lives and in order for us to begin anew, some things in our lives have to be destroyed. Some things may be physical, some emotional, and in some cases, our associations… but we can’t move forward until some things are out of the way. God made us. We are His sheep and we have to understand that the changes He makes in our lives are for a reason. As the year winds down, we need to begin to wrap up the old and not be afraid to make new beginnings in Christ.

Dear Lord I know that you are in control of my life and that everything you do is good. Let me look at the past devastations as a vehicle to new beginnings in you. I will always bless you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Romans 12:12

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

I overheard a woman talking on her cell phone this morning. She was commiserating with, I presume, a fried and she told this person “I’m going to pray for you when I go to church.” Church is a certainly a necessary part of the believer’s life. It is a place and time of refreshing for the Saint -- for fellowshipping and gaining strength from other believers and a time to learn more about God from the minister. “But patience in tribulation and a joyful hope in Christ surely presuppose a life in close communion with God ((Dr. Henry Morris). Our relationship with God should not be based on a one day a week occurrence but from constant communication with God through His Holy Spirit that dwells within us. The Holy Spirit allows the believer to be in constant communication with God in mind, body and spirit. When we are in a constant prayer mode, we gain the strength in Christ that gives us the confidence to know that our prayers are being heard and being answered by God.

Dear Lord thank you for the ability to stay instant in prayer and supplication to you. Let me continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as I seek a closer relationship with you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Proverbs 28:13-14

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

If we try to hide or ignore our faults, our chances for success in life are dim, but if we admit them and put them behind us, God will forgive us and we will find favor. All of us have problems and make mistakes in life and the tendency is to try to hide them and hope that we are not discovered. We labor under the assumption that if nobody knows about it, we are okay. But God shows us our shortcomings not to hide them, but to deal with them. We have to be honest and move to correct our problems and ask God to forgive us of our sins. If we are not honest with ourselves about our sins and shortcomings, we will not reach our full, God-given potential. “God can show us our sins, but He cannot and will not force us to overcome—that decision is ours.” (Forerunner) We must see ourselves for what we are and have the desire to make the conscious choice to change.

Dear Lord, you know my down-settings and my uprising. Show me my errors, forgive me of my sins and let me move to live a life that is pleasing unto you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thursday, December 3, 2009

EXODUS 4:10-12

And Moses said unto the LORD, O my LORD, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Too often fervent believers back off of assignments and refuse to take positions in our church or community because we feel that we are not talented enough, or not smart enough. God made us and can and will use anything and everything that we have. What we see as small talents, or not being “smart” enough means nothing to God. Our wisdom comes from God and is not dependent upon man’s knowledge.

Not only can God use our gifts and talents, but He can also use our past forgiven sins and indiscretions as ministerial tools. The bad mother in God’s hands can become a counselor of abusive mothers. The ex-con in God’s hand can become a mentor and help turn around the lives of young men and women on the road to a life of crime. The recovering drug addict, the former gangbanger in the Master’s hand can become great Sunday School teachers adding life and vigor to their lessons. The bottom line is that, whatever you have, God can use it. Moses was a murderer with a speech problem and a lack of confidence, but God used Him to save a nation. He can and will do the same with you. Don’t worry about your past or your abilities or what you don’t have. The only thing God requires is a made up mind to serve Him and do as He commands.

Dear Lord I am not a great intellect and I think you skipped me and gave my talents to my children. I don’t have a stellar past and my credit report can use a boost. But what I do have is a love for you and a desire to do your will at all cost. So what I have, I give to you. Use it to your will and your glory.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

December 4, 2009

Ephesians 5:15-17

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

As the year winds down the tendency is to dwell on all of the things we planned to do but didn’t do. The test of a good year is not how much one accomplished but the quality of what was accomplished. Were people helped? Was God glorified? God wants us to take ownership of each day He has given us and make the most of our time. Redeem means to take back ownership of and when it comes to time, we do that by taking advantage of each opportunity that God presents to us. If an opportunity is missed, it cannot be recalled. We’ve got 24 hours in each day, and what we do with it is our business. But God is calling on us to make wise choices and wise decisions. He is not concerned with the quantity of things accomplished but the quality, depth and meaningfulness. If God gives you one task and you do it well, He is pleased.

Lord, teach me to redeem my time here on earth, one day at a time and deliver a quality product so that you are glorified.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Monday, December 7, 2009

I Kings 17:12-16

And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

As the Christmas season is upon us, many of us are turning our thoughts to others. We are volunteering in soup kitchens, passing out baskets to the poor and giving blankets to the homeless.

While these things are certainly good and needed, God is not calling His Saints to be one-shot wonders on this earth; but to be a sustaining power, helping others to cope and survive in this world on a daily basis. God said that He would never leave or forsake us. He grants us new mercy and new grace every morning and as His children, He expects us to do the same. God meets our needs on a daily basis. He is a constant force in our lives and He wants us to be the same to others. Everyday we should seek new ways and new opportunities to help humankind. God gives us daily bread and we, as His servants, must help others meet their daily needs.

Lord, let me use my time, talents and treasures to help others live more meaningful, productive and healthy lives.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Judges 14:1-4

And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

As parents and leaders, it is our nature to want to protect our children or those over whom we have authority. We want what is best for them and are concerned that they will do what is right in the sight of God. However what we believe to be best for our children, no matter how good, is not always God’s will for their lives. As parents and leaders it is our job to lead and guide our children in the way of righteousness and to expose them to good things. However, we have to understand that if we have done the best we can and have allowed God to lead us as we lead them, our job is done. We now have to let the Lord do His work in their lives because what seems like a mistake to us may just be an opportunity for God to use them.

Lord give me the knowledge and understanding to raise my children and to lead those you have given me in the proper admonition of you and the wisdom to know when to let go.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Exodus 15:1-3

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

Chicago had its first major snow storm last night and walking home was treacherous. I was walking and praising through the snow and sleet, sliding on the ice, stepping in puddles of water where the snow had melted … by the time I got to my house I felt thoroughly beat and felt like crying. But after I took off the wet clothes, made a cup of hot cider and sat down to relax I felt fine. After a while I didn’t even remember what I had gone through to get home.

We are all going through rough times now. Financial woes, problems with families, and they all are intensified during the Christmas season. We are stressing trying to figure out how to buy everything for everybody with little money, family issues always seem to intensify during the holiday seasons and the devil and his imps are out in full force trying to make things as bad as possible. But just thank God now because we will get through the muck and the mire and all of life’s problems that seem impossible. And when we look back over the situation, we’ll discover a lesson learned and will be strengthened from the process.

Thank you Lord for taking me through all of life's impossible situations. You always bring me out unscathed and I am strengthen from having gone through.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Ezekiel 16:11-17

I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

The United States adopted a pledge of alliance that had the words “under God” and our currency even used the phrase “In God We Trust.” -- all in demonstration of our reliance on God for our strength and direction. We grew and flourished and were feared throughout the world. Then something changed. We stopped trusting in God and trusting in the abilities that God had actually given to us. We have become braggarts, sin has overrun our country, humanity has been replaced by greed and we are no longer the greatest world power.

Just like our country, we as believers will sometimes confuse God’s favor with our own abilities. Everything belongs to God. He has lavished us and made us beautiful with an abundance of physical and spiritual blessings. All He requires is that we continue to serve Him and trust in His Word. As the year winds down, let’s make a new commitment to serve God and make Him Lord over our time, our talents and our treasures.

Lord I realize that accepting your salvation puts me in a unique position as a beneficiary of great blessings. I thank you for where you have brought me and re-commit my life to you.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Friday, December 11, 2009

Acts: 20:22-24

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

We started the year off with so many plans and goals. Some of us even wrote down resolutions -- go back to school, lose weight, start a business. But somewhere along the line many of our dreams were dropped and forgotten. It is a time to revisit our plans. Some of them were frivolously made, some were unattainable because they were our lofty desires and not something God wanted us to do. But for those that were given by divine inspiration, we need to revisit them and if there is time complete the task do so and if not, recommit to do them for the coming year. Just as Paul realized, those tasks and ministries that were given to us by God are an obligation and must be finished. And remember that if God gave them to you, He will stay right beside you and help you finish.

Lord let me hold on to the dreams that you have given me and finish the course with joy and thanksgiving as I minister unto your people.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Monday, December 14, 2009

Psalm 118:6-10

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

For the last several days, the biggest story in the news media, all of the tabloids is the Tiger Woods scandal. He is the greatest golfer, had a squeaky clean image and had been put on a pedestal. But he “fell from grace” and let his family down, the game of golf down, his sponsors down and all of the children who looked up to him down. Everyone loves a star and there is really nothing wrong with looking up to people and honoring their accomplishments; but any time you put your complete trust in anything or anyone besides God, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Man, even at his best, is limited and incapable of being everything to everyone. No matter how hard we try we are going to make mistakes and those mistakes are going to hurt people and let them down. But God in all of his awesomeness never fails us. It is okay to honor or look up to someone but when it comes to hitching our wagons to a star, that star had better be Jesus.

Lord I am so happy that I can put my trust in an unwavering, unfailing, all righteous God. I thank you for being in control and always being there for me.

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