Thought for Tuesday, May 1st

May 1, 2012

The Joy of Forgiving

  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 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.

Colossians 3:13-17

                                         

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Luke 6:37

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mathew 6:14-15

Quote of the Day

“If you forgive people enough you belong to them, and they to you, whether either person likes it or not – squatters rights of the heart.” – James Hilton

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

Forgiveness is a matter often discussed, frequently needed but less consistently administered.

Exactly what is forgiveness?

According to Miriam Webster, “It is the ability to pardon or absolve:

It embodies the act of giving up resentment of:  or the action of granting relief from payment of a debt or indebtedness.”  In short it is to excuse someone from duty, obligation or debt as a result of a unconditional pardon.

From the Hebrew- salach, saw-lakh'- it means to forgive: --forgive, pardon, spare.

And from the Greek- aphiemi, af-ee'-ay-mee- it means to cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.

Forgiveness embodies the act of giving up claim to or expectation of retribution, or repayment: it releases the one who does the forgiving from the burden of carrying the hurts and frustration that can be associated with a grievance or deed which is need of being forgiven.

How liberating and freeing it is to be set free from the burden of carrying the weight of these injustices around with us.  How like-unto the way in which God forgives us and places or sins and wrongs in what we like to call ‘the sea of forgetfulness.’

And since we are suppose to forgive so that we can be forgiven according to God’s word, what a joy it is to realize every time we extend forgiveness we open our own lives to receive in like kind.   As John Lavater put it: “He who cannot forgive a trespass to his enemy: has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love.”

Today’s Prayer

Father, you are so graciously wondrously loving, kind, compassionate and you are so forgiving: Help me to be forgiving too and when I do begrudge forgiveness, help me remember just how much in need of being forgiven I usually am.

“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

– Samuel Clemmons

“This is my cry: This is my song,

You are my guiding light, when the way is unknown;

And when the sunny skies, turn shades of gray,

I’ll stay close by your side: As you lead the way.

Jesus lead on I will follow:

Jesus lead on, let your love light the way… “

-  Lyrics from ‘Jesus Lead On’ by Brent Helming

Thought for Monday, April 30th

April 30, 2012

Be Ready – Be Set – Be Prepared

  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:1-2

  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1 Peter 3:8-16

Quote of the Day

“Success is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” – Elmer Letterman

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

Abraham Lincoln believed in being prepared: he once stated, “If I had eight hours to cut down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.”

Sometimes the getting ready for the task that is before us – takes more time than the actual task it’s self.

I always am amused by how many hours it takes to prepare holiday meals in relationship to the amount of time it takes to eat them.                                                                                                                                                                                 

This concept also holds true for our spiritual endeavors as well.  Often we need to spend far more time in prayer and studying God’s word to get us ready for what we need to do: than the amount of time we actually spend doing that thing we are preparing for.

And, there is that need, spiritually speaking, to always be ready for the unexpected opportunities that God might bring into our lives.  Often times we encounter ministry moments that are not calendared or scheduled.  That is why we need to be daily in the word and given to a lifestyle of perpetuated prayerfulness and ceaseless praise and thanksgiving.  

We are called to go and make disciples and often those opportunities occur unexpectedly, thus we need to always be prepared to put our hand to the plow, so to speak, and do whatever God brings us at the moment in time.

Some things we can get ready for and some things we just need to be ready for.

Are you ready and prepared for whatever God might bring your way – today?

Today’s Prayer

Father, you are eternal, perpetual and always equal to whatever task may be at hand – help me to be always ready and always willing to do whatever it is you need me to do, whenever you need me to do it.

“Today’s preparation determines tomorrow’s achievements.”

– Anonymous

“I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken;

I’m accepted, you were condemned:

I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me,

Because you died and rose again.

Amazing love, How can it be

That you my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true:

And it’s my joy to honor you,

In all I do, let me honor you. “

-  Lyrics from ‘Amazing Love’ by Billy James Foote

Thought for Saturday, April 28th

April 28, 2012 

Limitless Possibilities

  Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 9:23

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Mark 10:27

Quote of the Day

“There is nothing that can not happen today.” – Samuel Clemmons

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”  If Mr. Newton could see the prospects of greater possibilities based on the efforts and abilities of other men, should not we, who are Christian’s, have even a greater vision?

For Christians should not the ability to see the potential and the possibilities that a day can bring by God’s power and through His spirit be almost limitless?  After all, He is the creator of all things and He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

Remember scripture tells us that when God is for us, who and maybe it should also include what can be against us.  Can circumstances or limited resources really keep God from accomplishing His work and His will?  Often I wonder if the greatest inhibitor of God being able to accomplish greater things in our lives is our own lack of faith and failure to embrace the omnipotence of who He is.

God’s way of accomplishing a given task or His plan for getting things done may not be our way or even something we may have thought about: but with God there is really nothing that is not possible, as long as it is in His will. 

Often all that is required on our part is the willingness to believe that He can do what we can not and that we can accomplish greater things than we thought possible with His help and by His power and presence within us.

So are you ready to experience greater things than you can imagine?                                                                                                                                                                                

Today’s Prayer

Father, how marvelously amazing are the wonders of your works and the magnitude of the possibilities that you can accomplish:  help me not to stand in your way or to limit your plans by my weakness or lack of faith.

“Belief in progress is the Prozac of the thinking classes.”

– John Gray

“I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken;

I’m accepted, you were condemned:

I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me,

Because you died and rose again.

Amazing love, How can it be

That you my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true:

And it’s my joy to honor you,

In all I do, let me honor you. “

-  Lyrics from ‘Amazing Love’ by Billy James Foote

Thought for Friday, April 27th

April 27, 2012

Procrastination – The Devils Folly

  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2 Corinthians 6:2

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

Quote of the Day

“Act decidedly and take the consequences.  No good Is ever done by hesitation.” – Thomas Henry Huxley

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

He who hesitates and waits is probably somewhat of a procrastinator or at least has the potential of becoming one.

Some people consider procrastination a form of laziness while others see it as a system by which motivation is optimum given the limitations generally associated with waiting to the last minute to get something done.

Baltasar Gracian says of the procrastinator and procrastination, “The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.”

Miguel de Cervantes says this about procrastination, “Delay always breeds danger.”

Spiritually speaking, many consider procrastination a kissing cousin to sin.

When it comes to the things of God’s kingdom, like prayer, reading the Bible, serving our fellow man and praising and thanking God:  now is a best time to do what we ought to be doing.    It is true we can sometimes do  things later: or maybe it is that we should also do later some of the same things we should be doing now, but unfortunately when we tend to procrastinate with regards to spiritual matters; often they end up never getting done at all.

And none of us are promised tomorrow and would you want to have to face God and explain to Him why you kept putting off dong what He wants you too.

Now is the time: today is the acceptable day: are you ready to get busy or are you thinking about procrastinating?

Today’s Prayer

Father, you are such an awesome God and I am amazed by the wondrous works of your hands.  Thank you for all that you are.  Help me to be quick, ready and willing to always so what needs to be done; when it needs doing and may I not be guilty of procrastinating when it comes to serving you.

“Procrastination is opportunity’s assassin.”

– Victor Kiam

“I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken;

I’m accepted, you were condemned:

I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me,

Because you died and rose again.

Amazing love, How can it be

That you my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true:

And it’s my joy to honor you,

In all I do, let me honor you. “

-  Lyrics from ‘Amazing Love’ by Billy James Foote

Thought for Thursday, Appril 26th

April 26, 2012

Actions - Speak

  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:20

  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James 2:26

    Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:18

Quote of the Day

“One learns by doing the thing: for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.” – Sophocles

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

Often proclamations are easily made: yet when it comes to putting substance to our declarations by acting upon our words – sometimes the execution is less resounding than the original claim intonated

This is especially true when it comes to matters of faith.

It is easy to say we believe in God and it is even easy to say we believe everything God says in the Bible: but do we live like we believe what we are saying?

It is not too difficult to proclaim that we love God: but do our actions speak as loud as our words?

We can say we want to serve the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul: yet often we don’t back-up or profession with real actions that are demonstrative of our seeming willingness to serve.

God wants more than lip service.

He wants life service.

God wants us to do more than we say and only say what we are willing to do.

We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony: but keep in mind our words need to be living words that have more to them than a lot of hot air – they must have actions associated with them or they loose their relevance and power.

Today’s Prayer

Father, you’re greater than the greatest and more beautiful than can be describe and more powerful than I can comprehend:  May I never fail you or falter in letting my actions speak louder than my words when it comes to serving you.

“No one knows what he can do until he tries.”

– Publilius Syrus

“I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken;

I’m accepted, you were condemned:

I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me,

Because you died and rose again.

Amazing love, How can it be

That you my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true:

And it’s my joy to honor you,

In all I do, let me honor you. “

-  Lyrics from ‘Amazing Love’ by Billy James Foote

Thought for Wednesday, April 25th

April 25, 2012

The Possibility of the Impossible

  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Matthew 17:20

  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26

    Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 9:23

Quote of the Day

“God may have been waiting for centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that thing.” – Dr. J. A. Holmes

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

Ah, the essence, innocence and naiveté of childhood: when one is but a boy or a girl who still believes anything is possible.

That must be one of the reasons we are told that we must embrace the kingdom of God as little children: for with God we must be able and willing to believe that anything is possible.

Sadly, as we advance into adulthood, we often become more dubious and skeptical: doubting the seemingly unbelievable and thus stifling our faith from reaching its fullest potential.

Some say ‘seeing is believeing but with God ‘believing is anticipating and expecting before the actual evidence is manifested.

May we never become so grown up that we loose the ability to believe in miracles and expect the miraculous.

For isn’t that ultimately and truly what having faith in God is all about?

Today’s Prayer

Father, wonderful, so wonderful is your unfailing love: may I never loose the faith to believe in the supernatural prospects of the possibilities, which exist in every day, you bring my way.

“The young do not know enough to be prudent, and there for they attempt the impossible -  and achieve it, generation after generation.”

– Pearl S, Buck

“I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken;

I’m accepted, you were condemned:

I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me,

Because you died and rose again.

Amazing love, How can it be

That you my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true:

And it’s my joy to honor you,

In all I do, let me honor you. “

-  Lyrics from ‘Amazing Love’ by Billy James Foote

Thought for Tuesday, April 24th

April 24, 2012

Never - More

You can be sure that the more we undergo sufferings for Christ, the more he will shower us with his comfort and encouragement.   We are in deep trouble for bringing you God's comfort and salvation. But in our trouble God has comforted us--and this, too, to help you: to show you from our personal experience how God will tenderly comfort you when you undergo these same sufferings. He will give you the strength to endure.

2 Corinthians 1:5-6

We try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act, so that no one can find fault with us and blame it on the Lord.  In fact, in everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure suffering and hardship and trouble of every kind.

2 Corinthians 6:3-4

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Quote of the Day

“All we are asked to bear we can bear.  That is the law of a spiritual life.” – Elizabeth Goudge

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

Most of us have probably had at least a day or two when we felt that life was offering up a tad bit more than we felt capable of managing.

Many are the days when the demands seem to be more than I have the energy or ability to embrace and overcome.  That is why we do not face life by our own power or might as Christians; but rather we face them in the power of the Spirit of the Lord.

Often, I have heard it said – ‘God will not bring you to, what He will not take you through.’  How true this statement is.  Yet it is incumbent upon us to have enough faith to take God at his word and to trust Him that He, not only is capable; but also that He is willing to do what He has promised too.

Whatever the size of the giant you might be facing: remember David conquered Goliath with a stone and a sling and the power of the God of Israel: we today, have that same power available to us.

God won’t ask you to do more than He knows you are capable of – the trick is – we must have faith to see the potential that God sees and to allow Him to accomplish what He knows we are capable of in Him.

Today’s Prayer

Father, thank you for your grace and favor; your mercy and your kindness and your constant love and care: Help me to not be overcome by my own limitations: but rather let my faith reach out to embrace the potential that you believe is possible in me.

“Life only demands from you the strength you posses.”

– Dag Hamman

“I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken;

I’m accepted, you were condemned:

I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me,

Because you died and rose again.

Amazing love, How can it be

That you my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true:

And it’s my joyFoote to honor you,

In all I do, let me honor you. “

-  Lyrics from ‘Amazing Love’ by Billy James

Thought for Monday April 23red

April 23, 2012

Let Courage Lead You

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9

    Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Psalms 27:14

Quote of the Day

“Success is never found.  Failure is never fatal.  Courage is the only thing.” – Sir Winston Churchill

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

What is courage, or better yet what does it mean to have courage?

Courage is that quality of character that enables a person to face challenges: to embrace the unknown; and to step out into uncharted paths to face whatever life might bring your way.

In some respects courage is similar to faith.  Faith enables us to believe what me may not necessarily see: while courage enables us to act on that faith by stepping out and putting our belief into action.

Courage is that activating agent that enables us to put faith to work in our lives.

Without faith it is impossible to be pleasing to God and I suppose without courage it is impossible to put faith into action – so may we all pray to have greater courage to have greater faith so we can do more and be more for God’s glory.

Today’s Prayer

Father, you are so marvelously wonderful and great and I am  so blessed to be afforded the opportunity of being your child.  Help me to be more bold and courageous so that I can exercise my faith more actively and effectively.

“Courage is the ladder on which all other virtues mount.”

– Clare Booth Luce

“I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken;

I’m accepted, you were condemned:

I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me,

Because you died and rose again.

Amazing love, How can it be

That you my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true:

And it’s my joy to honor you,

In all I do, let me honor you. “

-  Lyrics from ‘Amazing Love’ by Billy James Foote