Daily Thought for Monday, January 31st

January 31, 2011

Perseverance

Today’s Thought:

“The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly.  That is dedication.”  - Cecil B. De Mille

Today’s Question

Are we there yet?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Have you ever taken a long journey in a car with one or more young children?  Typically they tend to inquire as to how much longer and how much further by whining in a sing-songy tone, “Are we there yet?”  If you have never enjoyed this anthem of impatience, coupled with the battle cry of, “I’m bored,” you have not lived a full and complete life. (Only kidding)

Nonetheless this is a commonplace occurrence with children that they are either bored or desirous of being where ever it is they are not and wanting to do what ever it is they are not doing.

Many adult Christians aren’t much different in their daily spiritual journeys.  As we travel down the road of life we cry out to the Heavenly Father, “I’m bored,” “Haven’t I done that already,” “I thought I learned that lesson,” and of course the infamous “Aren’t we there yet.”

Aren’t you glad God has unlimited patience and is willing to persevere with us?

He had told us to live each day by taking up our cross to follow Him, and by putting our hand to the plow, giving no thought for the morrow and to be content in whatever state we find ourselves in.  Often, we do not do these things very well.

There is so much work to be done before the Bridegroom comes to call His bride to the wedding feast; but how much are we getting accomplished?  Are we too busy being bored, dissatisfied and ungrateful to do what needs to be done?

John Newton may have had the right idea when he wrote, “We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it.  But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it.”

Mother Teresa put in best when she said, “I just take one day.  Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not come.  We have only today to love Jesus.”

And to love Jesus means to keep His commandments and do the will of His Father.

We need to take one day at a time, labor for the Master and persevere until He comes.

 

Today’s Verses:

In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

John 4:31-38

Today’s Prayer:

Father, thank you for yesterday and forgive me for what I did not do; help me to make the most of today and then if you give me a tomorrow may I start this process all over again.

Daily Thought for Friday January 28th

January 28, 2011

Deeds

Today’s Thought:

“The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.”  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today’s Question

Which is the better to talk of doing, or to actually do?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 20:11, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”  As children of God the same can be said of us.

We are not so much known for what we say, or even what we say we will do, but rather we are known more comprehensively by the deeds we perform, the actions we take and the things we accomplish.

Aristotle wrote, “We become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions.”

To summarize his philosophical thought more simplistically – we become by doing.

We’ve heard it said you are what you eat, but more pointedly and poignantly you are what you do.

If we are to be Christians, we must act more Christ-like.

Our testimony is not as effected by what we say, as much as it is by what we do about what we say we believe.

Though it is an old cliché, its truth cannot be refuted, “Actions speak louder than words.”

It is not enough to say we are a new creation in Christ Jesus – we must act like a different person.

It is not enough to say we love God with all our heart, mind and soul, if we don’t love the person standing next to us in Wal Mart or at the grocery store or in the house next door to us, or sitting on the other side of the church from us.

Cheap Trick sang, “Dirty deeds are done dirt cheap,” and this is true, worthless actions that lead to no real gain are easy to do: but deeds with merit and meaning sometimes require more effort and even sometimes sacrifice.

To be a Christian is more than a claim it is a way of life.

May we all be more successful at doing it! 

Today’s Verses:

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1 John 3:16-23

Today’s Prayer:

Father, help me to live like I believe what I say and when that falls short of being all it should be help me to live like you say I should, in spite of what I think or say.

Daily Thought for Thursday, January 27th

January 27, 2011

Deceit

Today’s Thought:

Be not easily deceived for God is not mocked.

Today’s Question

How easy is it for us to deceive our self?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Deceit is rooted in dishonesty, whether directed at others or introspectively at ourselves: to be deceived simply means to believe a lie.

If we are the deceiver, we are imitating the characteristics of Satan who is the master deceiver and Father of all lies and if we are the deceived then we are in need of Godly wisdom, the gift of discernment, thus indicating we need to strengthen our relationship with the Father of Truth in whom no lie can be found.  For His yes is always yes and His no is always no and when He says one things He never means another.

We sometimes expect our enemies will attempt to deceive us, but when the deception comes from a friend or even our own selves then it is far more hurtful.

Sir Walter Scott wrote, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” 

And of deceit Abraham Lincoln said, “You may fool all the people some of the time: you can even fool some of the people all the time: but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”

The truth is in God’s economy truth will always be reveled in the end.

We may fool our friends, our friends may fool us, but usually eventually we learn the truth and so do they.  And when we try to fool ourselves we are fighting a loosing battle because in truth we are not truly deceived we are generally only in denial about what we really know to be the truth.

This is especially true when it comes to our spiritual lives.  We try to convince ourselves we are doing our best for God, we are praying enough, we study His Word sufficiently and we cherish Him adequately; but is this really the truth?  Are we really optimally all we can be for God’s glory?  Isn’t there always room for improvement?

Being deceived by others is not a sin, but deceiving ourselves is.  For to deceive ourselves we must lie to our self and lying is a sin.  Remember the Ten Commandments “Thou shall not lie” is in there.

And the one truth we need to always keep in our minds is this we can never deceive God.

And after all, whom are we really trying to please, Him or ourselves?

Today’s Verses:

Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.  Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?  Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 27:1-6

Today’s Prayer:

Father, grant me the ability to discern deceits from others, but even more importantly keep me from foolishly trying to deceive myself.

Daily Thought for Wednesday, January 26th

January 26, 2011

Temptation

Today’s Thought:

“The difficulties and struggles of today are but the price we must pay for the accomplishments and victories of tomorrow.” William J.J. Boetcker

Today’s Question

Is temptation an excuse to cover a weakness or does it offer a challenge to be strong?”

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

A man or woman who says they have never been tempted is a person who has already succumbed to he greatest temptation of all – self-deceit.

“There are times in everyone’s life when something constructive is born out of adversity … when things seem so bad that you’ve got to grab your faith by the shoulders and shake it”. – Unknown

Faith is born from hearing truth, but it grows by facing opposition, testing and trials.

We know that without faith it is impossible to please God, but did you know that in order to prove our faith sometimes we must face adversity, challenges and temptations.   If faith were never put to the test; there would really be no concrete proof that it actually existed.

Temptations do not come so we can have an opportunity to sin – rather they come so we can have the pleasure of overcoming them.

Robert Browning put it this way:

Why comes temptation but for man to meet

And master and make crunch beneath his foot,

And so be pedestaled in triumph?

God intends for our moments of weakness to become opportunities for His triumph in us, the catch is we have to resist rather than submit to whatever the temptation may be.

If our faith does not enable us and give us strength to overcome those things that would attempt to destroy it – then our faith is lacking and it is need of some building up.

We are instructed to grow in faith, to build each other up in faith and to walk in faith and the best way to succeed in accomplishing these things is to surround ourselves with the object of our faith.  If we read His word, commune with Him in prayer and communicate in praise, while we actively execute our worship then our faith will never fail us and we will get through even the worst of times.

Today’s Verses:

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:12-17

Today’s Prayer:

Father, by faith I believe Jesus died for my sins and now that I am forgiven, may I live by that faith to know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Daily Thought for Tuesday, January 25th

January 25, 2011

Truth

Today’s Thought:

“All necessary truth is its own evidence.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today’s Question

Have you ever hear it said, “He/She wouldn’t know the truth if it jumped up and bit them in the face?”

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Every truth has two sides; it is well to look at both,

 before we commit ourselves to either. AESOP

While I agree with this statement in principal, I do not agree with it in fact.  I believe there are three sides to every perceived truth.  There is your side; thee is my side and then there is God’s side.  While your and my perception of truth may be shaded or tinted by shades of varying influence and experience; God’s perception is pure, complete and without fault or error.  That may not mean that either of us is completely wrong on a given subject it just means that God is the most right.

In fact, as Christians there is only one truth that we must really be concerned with and that is God’s truth.

We may not agree on semantics, methodologies and we may even have differences of opinion on some theologies, but one truth remains: Christ crucified, His blood as the only atonement for our sins and He is the only way by which we can get to Heaven.   Other things may be important, but Jesus is the one truth by which all other truths are established and by which all other truths will be proven.  Without Him there is no basis for any truth that will matter or stand the test of time both earthly and eternal.

There may be other things that are true like Mickey is a mouse and Pluto is a dog, but these things aren’t really that important in the scheme of things.  Jesus is the truth and He is the only truth that really matters.

Philosophers have tried to explain it away, tyrants have tried to destroy it but the truth lives on.

Somerset Maugham wrote of truth in ‘The Summing Up.’ “If truth is a value it is because it is true and not because it is brave to speak it.”

May we boldly embrace Truth and may we proudly and loudly proclaim His name.

Today’s Verses:

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.  As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:28-32

Today’s Prayer:

Father, I am free at last, free at last and I give thanks and praise to You because I know the truth of my freedom and liberty rests in You.

Daily Thought for Monday, January 24th

January 24, 2011

Take My Breath Away

Today’s Thought:

“Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.”                          

            Psalms 33:8

Today’s Question

What does it take to take your breath away?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

There is a country song with lyrics that go something like this: “It’s not the breath you take, but the moments that take your breath away.”

To be in awe of God should be like one of those moments that take your breath away.

A moment in which you are so inspired, so enamored, so amazed, that there isn’t a way to contain the feeling or words enough to describe the magnitude of which that awareness effects who you are and how you see the world.

So many things in life can take our breath away.

For some it might be seeing a sunrise or sunset for the first time.

For others it might be receiving the news that some catastrophic calamity has been avoided in their life.

For still others if could be the first time they see a newborn child or grandchild.

But, whatever it is, it is one of those defining, life changing moments that will be cherished and held onto for the rest of their life.

So, spiritually speaking what is it that takes our breath away?

Is it moments when we envision Jesus dying on the cross?

Is it visualizing Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father, speaking our name as He asks the father for things on our behalf?

Could it be the thought of seeing the sky split open and Jesus descending on a cloud to call us home?

Should it be just the awareness that He loves us, lives in us and longs to have a deep and meaningful relationship and be an integral inseparable part of our daily activities?

In the physical world there are only a few experiences that will be one of those take your breath away moments, but spiritually speaking every moment of every day is an opportunity to experience that level of awe, wonder and amazement.

“I stand, I stand in awe of you, Holy God to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of you.”

Today’s Verses:

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalms 4:3-8

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may it never wax old or may I never grow weary of being in awe of You and having You take my breath away.

Daily Thought for Friday, January 21st

January 21, 2011

Holy, Holy, Holy

Today’s Thought:

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty – God in three persons, blessed trinity.”

Today’s Question

What is holiness?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Being holy is the art or actions that lead to being pure, having integrity, possessing high moral character, and is characterized by being free from sin.  To be truly holy then one must be free of sin.  While we can be freed from the burden of our sins; we are not free from the proclivity of sinning.  There is only one who is sinless and perfect and that is God.  And by God I mean the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We therefore cannot achieve pure holiness, however we are encouraged to strive towards holiness.  And I am sure the more effort we make the closer we get to achieving the goal aimed for.

Christians are supposed to be imitators of Christ.  Imitation being the greatest form of flattery; our ambitions towards achieving holiness are also expression of praise and adoration for the one whom we are imitating.

The question then is this, to whom do we give the most flattery, The Lord, or the devil?

I guess that would depend on how successful we are at resisting sin.

Benjamin Franklin said, “There is a difference between imitating a good man and counterfeiting him.”

As Christians we need to be imitators of Christ-likeness not counterfeiters.

He said there would be many who call him ‘Lord, Lord’ but will not do the things He says we should.

Are you attempting to be Holy as He is holy, or are you trying to do your own thing and pass it off as holiness?

Imitations are cheap knock-offs that are detectable as frauds and fakes.

May we all strive to be the genuine articles, drawing towards becoming more holy and realizing that without the help of the only one who is really holy, we cannot succeed.

Today’s Verses:

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 Peter 1:14-16

Today’s Prayer:

Father, help me to be more holy.  And may my efforts towards holiness be pure and unadulterated expressions of praise for You.

Daily Thought for Thursday, January 20th

January 20, 2011

Go On Loving You

Today’s Thought:

Now abides faith, hope and love – the greatest of these is love.

Today’s Question

How do I love thee – let me count the ways?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

When we think of God’s love, we think in terms of boundless, endless, great and beyond restraint.

Your love for me

New as the dawn

Older than time

Stronger than death

Greater than life

This love is mine.

But what do we think of when we think of our love for Him?

Often we think it is complicated, measured, unproven, sometimes limited by our doubts fears and insecurities.  But it should not be this way.   We may not posses the capacity to understand God’s love but somehow I think deep within is us God has endowed us with the ability to love as selflessly, unrestrainedly and limitlessly as He does.  I just don’t think we ever achieve the fullest of our potential.

May this be our desire, our prayer and our hearts cry:

This is my prayer

This is my cry

I want to go on loving you.

All through the joy

All through the fire

I want to go on loving you.

Season will change

People depart

But I want to go on loving you.

In times of pain when life is hard

And when the journey seems so long

Still I want to go on loving you.

In everything through all my life

I want to go on loving you

This is my prayer this is my cry

I want to go on loving you.

Today’s Verses:

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 22:35-39

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I faithfully strive to reach my potential in learning to love as much as you want me too.

(Lyrics from Praise Song  “Go On Loving You” Vinyard Publishing)

Daily Thought for Wednesday, January 19th

January 19 2011

This Is The Air I Breathe

Today’s Thought:

If one does not breath – one will cease to live.

Today’s Question

How long can you hold your breath?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Swimmers, singers and kids are among those the most interested in how long a breath will last and in the case of the latter for how long one can hold a breath without passing out.

Breathing is essential to life.  It is our breathing in and out that causes the lungs to expand, the heart to pump and the blood to circulate.  And of course we know that if any of these functions cease to occur for an extended period of time, probably not to exceed three minutes or more we are likely to find ourselves absent from the body and present with the Lord.

But what about our spiritual man/woman; is breathing essential to the spiritual cycle of life?

I contend it is.

Just like we must nourish our physical bodies with food; we must nourish our souls with the bread of life.  We must have water to live and we must drink from the spring of living water to keep from dehydrating spiritually.  So too must we breathe in the essence or air of God to live spiritually.  In short we must be constantly taking in Godly things to be fully alive in Him.  It is the like our natural breath that keeps our bodies functions, so do our spiritual breaths keep our spirit man/woman alive.

He needs to be our daily bread, our living water and the air we breathe.

Without oxygen you will die physically; and without the essence of God you will die spiritually.

Are you desperate for Him?  As desperate as you would be if you were fighting to get the next breath it would take to keep you alive?

If not, you should be.

We need to breathe in His presence, His word, His very being so that we can live fully completely and totally in Him and for Him.

Just as God gave breath and life to humanity, He is the breath and life of every spiritual man or woman boy or girl who has been born again into the family of God.

Today’s Verse:

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 2:7

Today’s Prayer:

Father may the breathe of Heaven sustain me and may you be the very air I breathe, spiritually speaking.

Daily Thought for Tuesday, January 18th

January 18, 2011

Why Me

Today’s Thought:

“Why me, Lord?”

Today’s Question

“What have I ever done, to deserve even one, of the blessings I’ve know?”

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

No works of righteousness that I can perform will make me worthy to receive an eternal home in Heaven.

No matter how good I am, how many people I help, how much outreach ministry I perform, my efforts will still fall short and fail to procure for me the forgiveness I need.

See I am a wretched sinner, vile, unclean and worthy of death; yet God chose to make a way that I might have life and have that life more abundantly.

Why?

Why did God send His only son to be ridiculed, abused, rejected, persecuted, beaten and killed by death on a cross for me?

The answer is simple.  It is not because of me, but it is because He loved me.

God’s love for me is bigger than my worst sin.  His love is greater than my vilest outburst and His love reaches out beyond my greatest rejection and invites me to enter into life, liberty and the pursuit of eternal bliss.

It is not for deeds that I have done nor for things I can say, but it is because of a love so great it cannot be measured, contained or destroyed.

And the same love He has for me; He also has for you.

There is nothing we can do or say that can change God’s love for us and the only way we can be separated from that love, is if we refuse to accept it, by choosing to reject it.

“Oh how he loves you and me.  He gave His life, what more could he give?”

The question is what are we gong to give Him?

We don’t’ work to get saved, and though same may think we work to stay saved, I prefer to believe we work for Him because we are saved.

My works don’t make the difference, but His work in me does.

Will you let His love be as great in you as it can be and will you let Him complete His works in you?

Why, because He loves you and wants what is best for you.

Today’s Verses:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:15-17

Today’s Prayer:

Father, let your love be made manifest in me and may I love you with as much love as it is humanly possible to do so.

Daily Thought for Monday, January 17th

January 17, 2011

Fill My Cup

Today’s Thought:

“Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole…”

Today’s Question

Are you dreaming or having visions?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Are you, like the woman at the well, seeking?

Scripture teaches us to seek God, to search out His ways, to look for His coming, but do we really do this as diligently as we should?

I, like many others, believe we are living in the last days and we know that these days are going to be difficult, challenging and filled with troubles, but we do not need to be afraid.  Remember God has told us to fear not for He is with us, even to the end. 

He has told us that those who endure till the end will be blessed.  So what does it take to endure?

I believe it takes more of His power, His presence, His peace and His purpose in our daily walk.  So how do we get more of Him?

We seek His face.  We call upon the Lord.  We serve Him with all that we are and we surrender all things to His care.

He has promised to pour out His Spirit, in the last days, but sadly many of us are afraid of the real power of God’s Spirit.  We are afraid of what it will reveal, what it can do and how it will effectively change the way in which we live.

Remember scripture admonishes us over and over to walk in the spirit and not the flesh.

When we accept Christ as our Savior, we open our lives to the power of His Spirit, but how much control are we willing to give to the third person of the trinity, when it comes to our daily lives?

So are you dreaming any dreams, or having any visions?  If not, maybe you aren’t opening yourself up to the fullness of God’s power and the totality of the Holy Spirits control.

Today’s Verses:

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Joel 2:28-29

Today’s Prayer:

Father, let your Spirit rain down, fill my cup and may the overflow touch the lives of all those I encounter.

Daily Thought for Friday, January 14th

January 14, 2011

Trust and Obey

Today’s Thought:

“Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus….”

Today’s Question

Did you know, God views obedience as a greater thing than He does sacrifice?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Obedience is not a concept most of us like to embrace.

In fact, especially in today’s world, the more defiant, rebellious and extreme you are the greater the perception of your success might be.

Even as Christians, many think in terms of extreme sacrifices, radical hardships and excessive inconveniences as being the earmarks of true and real commitment to ones faith and loyalty to the Lord.

And indeed there is a place in our modern faith for sacrifice but what God really wants is our obedience.

Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice, but being a sacrifice was not His purpose; His purpose was to do the will of the Father.  To obey His father’s wishes, will and plan for Him.  Being the sacrifice for the sins of mankind was the result of His obedience, but it was not the motivating factor that leads Him to that place.  Jesus was motivated by His Father’s will.

As Christians we are suppose to emulate Jesus or strive to be Christ-like.

The example Jesus gave was one of obedience first, sacrifice second.  Shouldn’t we do the same?

See, “When we walk with the Lord, in the Light of His Word,” if we truly want to please Him we must simply, “Trust and obey for there is no other way; to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Obedience usually requires effort, training and sometimes even discipline; but to have the Heavenly Father smile and say, I am pleased, is worth it, don’t you think?

So are you ready to do a lot more trusting and even more obeying?

Today’s Verse:

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

John 4:34

Today’s Prayer:

Father, in all I say and do, may my number one priority, focus and purpose be to be obedient to You.

Daily Thought for Thursday, January 13th

January 13, 2011

There Is Still Power In The Blood

Today’s Thought:

“The blood will never loose its power”

Today’s Question

“Would you be free from you burden of sin?”

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus”

Why?

Because, “There is power, power, wonder working power, in the precious blood of the Lamb.”

In today’s world and sadly in many churches it is not socially acceptable, nor is it politically correct to be so brazen and bold and bloody about ones faith, declaration and commitments to God.   But let me point out that political correctness is not a prerequisite to entry into God’s eternal home.  In fact, most politically correct people may find themselves spending eternity in a excessively warm eternal home where there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

It is one thing to be meek, polite and courteous; it is another thing all together to compromise the truth and integrity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

There is only one way to get to Heaven and that is by being washed in the blood of the Lamb.

 The question then is this: Are you washed?

There is no other way by which man can enter into Heaven accept by embracing the cruelty, the harshness, and the reality of the sacrifice on the cross of Calvary which Jesus endured so that we too could have life and have it more abundantly.

Making friends and influencing people won’t cut it when you stand before the Judgment seat.   Either you have embraced the blood and your name has been written in the Lambs Book of Life or you are a sinner, condemned by your own choices and destined for an eternity in Hell.

The choice is yours, but God has made it so easy to avoid Hell and gain Heaven, all it requires is that you be coved by the blood.

Because you see, there still is Power in the Blood.

Today’s Verse:

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Hebrews 9:22

Today’s Prayer:

Father, thank you that you loved me so much that you gave your only Son to give His life blood for even me.

Daily Thought for Wednesday, January 12th

January 12, 2011

When The Saint’s Go Marching In

Today’s Thought:

“Oh when the saint’s go marching in: Oh when the saints go marching in….”

Today’s Question

“Will you be in that number, when the saint’s go marching in?”

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

First, what is a saint?  According to Webster’s Dictionary a saint is a holy person who is exceptionally meek, charitable, patient, etc.”

I don’t mean to be disrespectful to Mr. Webster, but I think he missed the mark on that one.

In my minds eye a saint is simply a sinner saved by grace. 

Any person’s attempt at holiness is feeble and the only way to be really holy is to have God in your life and the only way to have God in your life is to be washed in the blood of the lamb.

And to be washed in the blood, one must first admit, acknowledge and accept that they are indeed a sinner in need of a Savior.

So what does it mean to be saintly?

Again referring back to Mr. Webster, who I think got it right this time, being saintly is being saint like which means we would then act in a way that is saint-like: meaning we would be meek, charitable, patient, etc.

So are you a saint?  Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and have you invited Him to live in your heart and allowed His blood to wash your sins away?

If the answer is no, then please consider inviting Him to come into your heart and allowing Him to change your life forever.

If the answer is yes, then I will follow up with question number two; are you living a saintly life?

Only you and God know the answer to that.

But, regardless of how saintly or non-saintly you may be living there is always room for growth and improvement.

When the saint’s go marching in, will you be able to march with your head held high knowing you have done your best for Him, or will you be dragging your feet with your head hanging down, knowing you have let Him down?

Today’s Verse:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

Today’s Prayer:

Father, as I’m marching towards the pearly gates of that golden city called Heaven, may I be faithful and diligent to leave a godly example for those who come behind.

Daily Thought for Tuesday, January 11th

January 11, 2011

Revive Us Again

Today’s Thought:

“Revive us again; fill each heart with thy love; may each soul be rekindled with fire from above….”

Today’s Question

If something isn’t dead, why does it need to be revived?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

God is not dead, and though Jesus died and was buried, He arose on the third day and now He lives seated at the right hand of God, interceding for you and me.

Sadly, in the hearts of too many Christians today, the fire of God’s presence hasn’t died out but it seems to be flickering in the ashes and dying embers of complacency, contentment and spiritual lethargy.

Hence we need revival in the land.

However, revival is not a massive move that sweeps into a city or town, it is rather the rekindling of the fire of God’s power and presence in the hearts of single individuals which then spreads like most church gossip, like wild-fire from one person to another.

Revival isn’t going to happen on a Sunday morning or at a Friday night rally, it is only going to happen when God’s people, who are called by His name, humble themselves; seek His face and allow Him to rekindle the fire that was ignited when we initially received His gift of salvation.

In order for their to be revival, we who are alive and remain, charged with doing the work and ministry of the gospel, must be resuscitated, rejuvenated and rekindled by the fire from above.

God is not dead but sometimes we His people tend to act like He is.

To live for Heaven in 2011 we need revival, but true revival is only gonna happened one person at a time when we get it together and make things right with Him.

Are you ready to rock your world?

Do you wanna start some fires in others, then first let God rekindle the sparks, of the fire, that is left in you.

Today’s Verses:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Psalms 51:10-13

Today’s Prayer:

Father, turn me on, crank me up, and let the flames of your anointing and fire of your spirit rage out of control in me.

A Thought for Monday, January 10th

January 10, 2011

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Today’s Thought:

“Great is Thy faithfulness, great is they faithfulness, Lord unto me”

Today’s Question

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

God is the same, yesterday, today and He will be tomorrow too.

He doesn’t change.

He is consistent, dependable, reliable, trustworthy and all His yeses are yes, His no’s are no’s and when He says Amen, you can count on it.

Regardless of our feelings, our strength of commitment or our dependability, He is always there, hearing, waiting and longing for us to reach out to Him, because He is already reaching out to us.

From before we are conceived God has a name, a plan and a desire for our life.

He wants us to be His and He wants all that He has for us to be all that we embrace, receive and live by.

His desires for us are good, and always in our best interest.

Can the same be said of us when it comes to our thoughts and acts towards Him?

God never turns His back on any of His creation – rather it is His creation that rejects Him.

God never denies access to His throne of grace – rather it is we who sometimes belligerently refuse to go.

God never withholds His love, though His love is not always what we perceive it to be.

God gives all and asks for little.  Would that the same could be said of us.

Men will let you down; philosophies will fail; in this world even truth might change, but God never will.

If you want something true, honest and dependable then the only one you can really count on is God.

He’s waiting and always will be the rest is up to you.

Today’s Verses:

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23

Today’s Prayer:

Father thank you that you never neglect or abandon me, even if sometimes I do you.