Family Bonds

Visiting family in a time of sadness can be good for the soul. when there is a tragic loss, the companionship, camaraderie, compassion and closeness that family members can bring to you can be a big help in dealing with the grief process. Reminiscing about happy and sometimes funny events can bring joy and comfort in these time of sorrow and sadness. Of course we need not and should not wait until there is a loss to celebrate and strengthen these family times. We need to make the effort frequently and consistently to stay in contact, whether that is in person, via phone or E-mail or by internet. we need to bring comfort and peace in good times and bad to a world where that is many times sorely lacking.

Ephesians 3:14-16
Jude 1:19-21

Be a Blessing

Deuteronomy 28 speaks of us being blessed in the city and Blessed in the field. Blessed coming in and blessed going out. But why are we to be Blessed? So that we can be a blessing to everyone we come in contact. God will pour so much blessing into us that it will pour out of us. We don't need to reservoirs, to store and hold the blessings, but rivers instead to flow the blessing out to bless all. Be a blessing to those you come in contact with today!

Deuteronomy 28:1-15

Never Give Up!

Stand Firm. Never Give Up! What gives us the strength to carry on in the midst of trial? What gives us that dogged determination to hold on no matter what? God Does! He give us his word to encourage us and His Holy Spirit to empower us. We can only do so much on our own, then we have to look to God, the author and finisher of our faith to intervene on our behalf. We do have to be determined to follow God in his Word so that we can reap the rewards as a good soldier in army of God

Hebrews 12:1-3

Exodus 15:2

Psalm 18:1-3

Psalm 84:6-8

2 Timothy 2:2-4

Apples of gold in settings of silver

A word fitly spoken. Let's contemplate on that. What does that mean? Words as we know can build up or tear down they can bless or curse. So it really does matter what we say. We need to think first, well actually we need to listen first. What is the person saying? Do they need help? Do they just need to vent? Men especially are good at fixing things, sometimes that do not need fixing. if someone just needs to air out their feelings we need to listen, without judgement to them. We can then offer help or good words if needed. Or not. Notice how that was 2 sentences. sometimes help is not needed. Sometimes it is best just to pray. if we have the opportunity to offer words fitly spoken they will bless the hearer and the speaker at the same time. Be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit to be that setting of silver offering your apples of Gold

Proverbs 25:10-12
Proverbs 18:21
Proverbs 15:22-24
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Ecclesiastes 3:6-8

His Grace Amazes Me

Gods Grace. Ever wondered why God shows his grace to us. I do. after all, He is God and we are merely human. But he loves us! Yes no matter what we do, He loves us and helps us to live in this world of ours. His precepts are direct and to the point. Be willing and obedient. But if we step out of line we don't get struck immediately by lightning. His grace is sufficient for us. Now that does not mean we can go on sinning or living in disobedience. God instructs us by his Word on how we must live. A coach I used to work with had a saying he would have the football team quote every day, "Every day, in every way, we get a little better. Hey!" God does not demand perfection the word is to be used for the perfecting of the saints. it is a daily journey to get closer to God as we live in this world

2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Isaiah 1:18-20
Ephesians 4:11-13

Power in Praise

There is power in praise. Merlin Carothers wrote a powerful book on that subject. the power comes from praising God in the midst of the circumstances. this is not to be confused with praising God for the circumstances. He did not bring them. Circumstances are brought on by the enemy and also many times by decisions we make without God's leading and guidance. But God will give us the power and plan to overcome and be victorious in them. Praise also prepares our hearts to receive the word. Praise gives us comfort and relieves stress. Praise is a useful tool that is often overlooked by many Christians. Try using praise today, and everyday and you will receive strength and power from on High!

Psalm 18:2-4

Psalm 27:5-7

Psalm 150:5-6

Recharge!

The weekends are to recharge. We take a lot of wear and tear during the week in our jobs, families and by life in general. we need time to recharge and restore our Body's batteries so to speak. Whether that means relaxing. visiting friends or relatives or planning that special day or evening, it is important that we take that time to recharge. without rest our bodies break down and are more susceptible to sickness, fatigue, anger and aggression. Even God Rested on the 7th day! Work will be there on Monday and so will life so take time to restore, relax, recreate and recharge today.

Genesis 2:2-4

Psalm 23:2-4

Hebrews 4:9-11

That's all I can stands I can't stands no more

Been there? I think we all have at one point in our lives, or is it something that happens weekly? Are the circumstances in your life hiding or covering up the good things and blessings from God? you know God does not bring tests upon us, the enemy does. God does give us the strength to get through the tests if we trust and rely on Him. The Word say he will never give us more than we can bear. By drawing closed to God in our prayer time and study time we draw power from God for the day to be able to rise above the circumstances and be victorious in Him

James 4:6-8

1 Corinthians 10:12-14

Hopeless?

There may some times in your connected walk with God that you feel hopeless. Maybe things are not going just the way we planned or something got in our way. We cannot lose hope. Hope is the essence of our faith Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. We need hope to build our faith. We cannot just sit around “a Hopin and a prayin” either. We need to look and see what the scriptures says about what we are standing for. We need to find scriptures that back up God’s will for our lives. We need to stand on those scriptures, knowing that God has already done it in our lives and believe we receive. You hope will grow, your faith will grow, and God’s will shall come to pass in your life

Psalm 39:7

Psalm 78:6-8

Lamentations 3:20-22

Romans 5:1-3

Hebrews 11:1-3

Our Beautiful Lord

Ever stop to look and see how wonderful God is? This world he made for us has so many beautiful and fantastic views and panoramas. And God made just for us to enjoy. Sometimes we forget how good God really is to us. God is a big God and he wants to be involved in our lives, to bring us joy and peace and beauty as well as salvation, healing, deliverance and prosperity. Trust God to give you whatever you want need and desire today

Psalm 16:1-3
Psalm 25:12-14
Psalm 139:13-15

Gone Too Soon

When a brother goes to be with the Lord in his 50's. It is way too soon. It is a shock to all who knew him of knew of Him. You think of all the anecdotes you remember of his life and you smile, as if but a break from the sadness you really feel. You miss them, but know they are in Heaven, but you still miss them. You want them to be back with you, not gone too soon. You think of all the things left undone. The woulda coulda shoulda. Take advantage of the time you have with those who are still with us and make the most of the time you have. Enjoy the moments now.

Hebrews 4:9-11

Ephesians 3:14-16

Be A Receiver!

With Football season now looming, we hear talk of great receivers catching awesome fingertip catches. Why do they make these catches? Because that is their job. They are receivers! As Christians, We need to be receivers, not just in the football sense, but to receive all the gifts of God for us. If you were at a birthday party you we think it quite odd if the honored guest saw all the presents. No I am not worthy of all these gifts, I cannot open them. As Christians that is often what we do unless we know and believe that the Word is true. Gifts of divine health and healing, divine provision and Abundance and God's peace are often turned away by humble (not) Christians. We need to search the scriptures to see all that the Word says we have so we can receive all that God has for us to receive.

Proverbs 4:9-11
Matthew 7:7-9
Matthew 11:4-6
Matthew 19:28-30

Make A Stand

What do you really believe in? There is a quote out there that says, "If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" If we don't make a stand on the word of God, we are nothing. It is all up to what we believe. Do we believe all the Word or only parts of it? If you can believe for your salvation, but not for healing, how can that be? We can not select what we believe and don't believe. It is all or none with God as it should be. Check your heart and the scriptures to make sure they line up. Then your actions will fall into place.

Psalm 119:65-67

Isaiah 53:1-3

Mark 5:35-37

Mark 9:22-24

A God of Surprises

Just watched a great Jerry Savelle video called the "God of Surprises" that taught me a lot. God clearly tells us in his word the he will take care of all our needs want and desires. But sometimes we can interrupt what God has for us by trying to figure out how God will do what he has promised. We don't have to know how a jet flies through the air to get to our destination, we just get on the plane and go. So why do we have to know how God will do what the word says he will do. We know what the Word says and as we study each day we learn even more. It just becomes a faith and trust thing for us to apply to our lives and daily walk with Him. He is faithful to do as He Promised.
Don't worry about the HOW or the WHEN, just Know that He WILL
Ephesians 2:6-8
Ephesians 3:19-21

Reflections

As you look back on the week, you can easily see your successes and failures. We think of the words we wish we had not said, or the things we wish we had not done. Hindsight is 20-20 they say. It is true, but if we are quick to repent when we fall out of the will of God. Then God is quick to forgive and forget our sin. God knows we are not perfect. Our goal is the daily perfecting of the saints not perfection of the saints, for only God is perfect. Just remember God loves you and He sees you through His eyes, not yours.

Micah 7:18-19

Ephesians 4:11-13

Psalm 34:14-16

Don't Chicken Out!

Remember in Joshua 1:8,9 it says be strong and courageous? Why? Because daily we are faced with situations that we need to handle and many times that takes a little courage. taking time to talk or pray with someone in need, witnessing to the neighbor you have known for years, standing in faith for something the word of God has promised. These all take a little courage and are things God wants us to do willingly. Ahhh, now there's a catch. we have to willing and obedient? yep, Gods Word says so! So don't chicken out, be willing and obedient today!

Joshua 1:6-8

Isaiah 1:18-20

2 Chronicles 32:6-8

It's A Beautiful Day!

Having trouble saying that today. try it! It's A Beautiful Day! though it may be hard to do sometimes, it is our outlook on life that often determines our outcome. if you go into the day knowing it is going to be a dull or bad or hard day, it will be. But, if you go in to the day asking God to help you see the good things in the day, it will be a better day. All God asks is that we be obedient to His Word and we will be blessed. that right there should put a smile on your face. and if you look at all the blessings God has sent you in the past, that should keep you smiling. Try your new put look on life today. you will like it!

Deuteronomy 28:1-3
Proverbs 15:13

Standing Firm

Life can be interesting and unpredictable, but a lot depends on what kind of foundation you have. If you have little or no support, it becomes a matter of precarious balancing to keep from falling. If however, you have a good foundation in the Word, spend time in prayer each day and refresh yourself throughout the day with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, you have strength in time of calamity and peace in the eye of the storm. it is a matter of proper preparation and determination to stand and keep standing no matter what!

Matthew 7:24-27
Ephesians 5:18-20
Colossians 3:15-17

Mondays

Mondays have a bad rap. You have just finished a hopefully restful restorative weekend. you are supposed to be recharged and ready for a new week. but then that alarm clock goes off and you say, "Argghh, it is Monday morning again!" Why not get up saying, "Good morning Lord, its gonna be a great week and a great day in you. What great things do you have in store for me today?" Can you see how this will change your outlook on Mondays? Now you may have to start out saying this in faith. you may not feel like saying this at first. but if you make it part of you daily routine, it will work wonders. the more positive word you interject into your life the better. So have a great Monday! And Tuesday! And Wednesday! And Thursday! And Friday! and Saturday! and, of Course, Sunday!

Proverbs 13:2-4

Proverbs 6:1-3

Isaiah 28:12-14

Ready, Set, Go!

To be Successful in sports you have train hard to prepare your body, mind and senses for the event. When the starting gun goes off, you don't want to be standing in the blocks, you want

to go, go, go. It is the same way in our spiritual lives. We have to train our spirits and our minds and emotions to be ready when circumstances come our way. God told Joshua to "not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." But then he told Him to be strong and courageous. Why because the circumstances of life were coming his way. we get ready by filling our hearts with the Word and spending time with God In Prayer. We get set by confessing the scriptures over our lives to build up our courage and strength. Then when life comes at us, as it always does we are ready to run into victory and be prosperous and successful
Joshua 1:8-9
1 Corinthians 9:23-25
Hebrews 12:1-3

God takes care of us

The bible says God knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb. It also say the He will preserve those who love Him. the connected man is safe because of Gods protection. This does not mean he will never have any problems. It does mean he will have the strength and direction to overcome the problems. we will overcome because we are born of God. so no matter how small you feel in this big universe remember God created it and if he can tend to the universe He can surely take care of us!

Jerimiah 1:5
Psalms 145:20

1 John 5:4

Watch Your Tongue

Ever said something and wish you could retrieve it before anyone else hears it? Scientists have found excerpts from TV shows from the 1950's still floating out in space. one you utter a word a sentence it is out there. So be careful of your tongue. It can get you in trouble with people, with your life and with your faith. If you negate the Word by what you say with your mouth, you get no where fast. We need to make sure the Word, our speech and actions all line up so that we don't defeat or delay the good things God has for us.

Proverbs 21:23

James 1:26

James 3:5

Watch your But. . .

But I . . ., your right ,but . . . i know i should do that, but . . .

We have all used these phrases and we need to start watching the "but". when you see that in a sentence or hear it used in daily speech. you can safely disreagard everything that is before the "but" no matter how much truth, faith or sincerity is in it. you can just pay attention to what comes after it, for that is where the truth lies. If someone says I believe what you say but that won't work for me, it won't. if the says i am rich but your know how today's economy is, they won't be rich. We need to start speaking the word over our lives and start now to eliminate the "buts".
Start watching your But today.

Mark 11:22-24
Proverbs 6:2

Keep Looking Up!

Keep looking up! No matter what you are facing. Keep your eyes on God and His Word. it is so easy to look at the circunmstances. we all do it at times and it does us no good. Of course, you have to use your physical senses to see where you are going. But when you focus on the circumstances you can go no higher than those circumstances. You can rise above them if you keep focusing on them. It does not matter how big the circumstances seem. they are small in God's perspective and if we view them through God's eyes they will be small to us also. Even if you don't see immediate resolution. the answer is clear in God. Daniel did not see an immediate answer to his prayers but he had the answer in God. Faith opens the door to the manifestation of what we are believing for.
Daniel 10:12-14

Philippians 3:13-15

Be Transformed

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

God tell us in his word not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by renewing of your mind. how do we renew our mind? by feed the word to it on a daily basis. you could take a pot full on sludge and by mearly running tap water into it, the pot will get clean. Yes there may be some spots that need a little scrubbing, but eventually it will shine clean as new. That is what the Word will do in our lives if we let it. We can be like a fresh running stream that can irrigate and refresh everything it touches. As we clean ourselves by the washing of the Word, our faith grows from the same Word so that we are equipped to touched others.

Romans 12:1-3

Eph 5:26

Grab a Hold of Life

Grab a hold of your life. Don't let circumstances rule you. You need to rule and not be ruled. be on the offensive not the defensive. Put the Word of God in your heart on a consistent basis. that means daily. Don't let anything get in the way. the enemy will put circumstances in your way to block the input of the word into your heart. you cannot go through life alone. You need God daily to build you up. Spend time in prayer, in the Word and in mediation of the Word. It is a day by day journey that can take you from the lowest low to the highest high. the connected man or woman needs to stay connected to stay blessed. It is so easy to get away from the truth by not planting the seed in you daily and spending time with God. after all that is really all God wanted when he created Adam, someone to talk to and spendtime with each day. Start spending time (or more time) with God today

Luke 21:34
Acts 2:42
Romans 12:12

Chill Out

Chill Out!
Ok the weekend is here and it's time to relax. Forget about all the things that happened this week, reflect on the good things that you have. Count your blessings. Don't hang on to the stress of work and life in general. Rise above it and just relax this weekend. The Word says take no thought of tomorrow for tomorrow will handle itself. Enjoy the weekend the new week will be here soon enough

Matthew 6:25-34

How do you see yourself?

Do you see yourself as a triumphant warrior or as a frightened Kitten. It is all up to you. the Word says God always leads us in triumphal procession. That means we win. Read revelation those who are in christ win. that does not mean the enemy will quit fighting. There are so many Christians out there the enemy can still decieve. i don't plan on being one of them, no Christian should. thye only way to avoid deception is to know what the word says. When Christ was tempted by the enemy he was aleto answer back to the devils deception by the Word of God. the truth will always overcome the deception, if you know the truth, yu can stand against the enemy and win. Start Winning today!

2 Corinthians 2:12