Devotionals to.... ♪ Soak in God's presence~ Hidden Things- Laura Woodley ♪
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- The Story of Ian & Larissa
- Why We Got Married
- Learning Contentment in Suffering
On mornings when I wish we would just wake up without a brain injury, after saying, “you and me both, sister,” he points me to heaven and that it is so near. Coming from a man who canʼt sit up in bed on his own, but who does not even want to curse God, Iʼll humbly follow his direction. - A Daily Disabled Life
We know that God will not forsake us and that even though we grow sadder with each disabled day, we know that the sadness we now have will be compounded by multiplied joy in heaven. And in heaven, Ian will never even need to ask for food, because he will always be filled. - “We shouldn't be scared of (marriage). God designed it, and when we seek to live it in the way that it has been designed, it is beautiful and points us directly to heaven. Our world at large does not know the beauty of the marriage covenant. We hope that in a small way, we can reflect Christ to the world.”
- Challenge Paper: Choosing love after tragedy
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Dr. Youssef details Jesus’ teaching on specific issues common to every man and woman
au.leadingtheway.org/en/web/guest/listen
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au.leadingtheway.org/en/web/guest/listen
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When reading Jesus' words on Kingdom of God and Kingdom of heaven this is the difference.
Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of heaven was near at first
because He was fulfilling prophecy that the Messiah
would offer a physical kingdom to Israel - with Himself as ruler over them.
eg Matthew Chapters 13, 18 & 25
The kingdom of heaven is a kingdom of perfect righteousness on earth with Christ as ruler
(this will come during His millennial reign in Rev 20).
But because the Jews rejected Jesus as their ruler, Jesus also spoke to them about His spiritual kingdom,
the Kingdom of God. This spiritual kingdom is not of this world, as Jesus told Pilate.
So the kingdom of heaven will be on earth - a physical kingdom
when Israel repents at the end of the Tribulation and trusts in Jesus.
Then Jesus will separate His sheep from the goats (unbelievers)
and His sheep will go into His millennial kingdom.
This national repentance by Israel and Christ reigning in righteousness
is predicted in Romans 11 and Zechariah 12.
The Kingdom of God is the spiritual realm within the hearts of those who love Him:
-from all over the world - from all time - God's family - who want /accept His love / His salvation -
Luke 17:20 - not here or there but within you
Matt 4:11, Mark 4:11 - Kingdom of God in the disciples
Matt 21: 43 - Jews as a nation lost Kingdom of God and the gospel went to gentile
John preached repentance for the Kingdom of God - Mark 1: 15
Mark 4:30, 9:47, 10:15 (children) 10:25 (rich man)
Mark 12:34 (Love God & neighbour)
Luke 8:9 (The sower) 13:18 (mustard seed, yeast)
John 3:3 ,
Acts 1:3, 8:12, 14:22, 19:8, 28:23& 31,
Romans 14:17,
1 Cor 4:20, 6:9&10, 15:24&50,
Gal 5:21,
Eph 5:5,
Col 1:13 (His Son) 4:11
2 Thess 1:5,
Rev 12:10 of our God
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Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of heaven was near at first
because He was fulfilling prophecy that the Messiah
would offer a physical kingdom to Israel - with Himself as ruler over them.
eg Matthew Chapters 13, 18 & 25
The kingdom of heaven is a kingdom of perfect righteousness on earth with Christ as ruler
(this will come during His millennial reign in Rev 20).
But because the Jews rejected Jesus as their ruler, Jesus also spoke to them about His spiritual kingdom,
the Kingdom of God. This spiritual kingdom is not of this world, as Jesus told Pilate.
So the kingdom of heaven will be on earth - a physical kingdom
when Israel repents at the end of the Tribulation and trusts in Jesus.
Then Jesus will separate His sheep from the goats (unbelievers)
and His sheep will go into His millennial kingdom.
This national repentance by Israel and Christ reigning in righteousness
is predicted in Romans 11 and Zechariah 12.
The Kingdom of God is the spiritual realm within the hearts of those who love Him:
-from all over the world - from all time - God's family - who want /accept His love / His salvation -
Luke 17:20 - not here or there but within you
Matt 4:11, Mark 4:11 - Kingdom of God in the disciples
Matt 21: 43 - Jews as a nation lost Kingdom of God and the gospel went to gentile
John preached repentance for the Kingdom of God - Mark 1: 15
Mark 4:30, 9:47, 10:15 (children) 10:25 (rich man)
Mark 12:34 (Love God & neighbour)
Luke 8:9 (The sower) 13:18 (mustard seed, yeast)
John 3:3 ,
Acts 1:3, 8:12, 14:22, 19:8, 28:23& 31,
Romans 14:17,
1 Cor 4:20, 6:9&10, 15:24&50,
Gal 5:21,
Eph 5:5,
Col 1:13 (His Son) 4:11
2 Thess 1:5,
Rev 12:10 of our God
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He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God;
this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28:17
There is something about fear and faith working together that intrigues me. It seems, at least in my life, that the times of greatest fear are the times God is calling me to display the greatest faith. I wonder if (really I know) God does this so the attention and glory will not be on me, but on Him who can do all things.
Somehow, if I was able to easily accomplish what God asked me to do, or even to endure,
it wouldn’t make God seem that special; even that important.
Of course, God is special. His glory created the Heavens and the earth. He really doesn’t “need” me for anything.
He chooses to use me simply to display His glory and honor. To do this, He must do through me things I couldn’t do apart from Him. So, He calls me to God-sized tasks that require an increase in faith beyond what I have ever experienced previously. It may be to move in some new area of my life or to simply remain patiently as I wait for Him to move again, but both require faith. Each new challenge grows my faith to another level.
What is God calling you to do today that is bigger than you; that in order to accomplish it will require an even greater display of faith than you have ever displayed before?
the question then is what are you going to do
Ron Edmondson
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this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28:17
There is something about fear and faith working together that intrigues me. It seems, at least in my life, that the times of greatest fear are the times God is calling me to display the greatest faith. I wonder if (really I know) God does this so the attention and glory will not be on me, but on Him who can do all things.
Somehow, if I was able to easily accomplish what God asked me to do, or even to endure,
it wouldn’t make God seem that special; even that important.
Of course, God is special. His glory created the Heavens and the earth. He really doesn’t “need” me for anything.
He chooses to use me simply to display His glory and honor. To do this, He must do through me things I couldn’t do apart from Him. So, He calls me to God-sized tasks that require an increase in faith beyond what I have ever experienced previously. It may be to move in some new area of my life or to simply remain patiently as I wait for Him to move again, but both require faith. Each new challenge grows my faith to another level.
What is God calling you to do today that is bigger than you; that in order to accomplish it will require an even greater display of faith than you have ever displayed before?
- Is it to end a relationship you know is not God-honoring?
- Is it to begin a new chapter in your career life?
- Is it to step out in faith into some ministry opportunity?
- Is it to forgive the person who hurt you the most?
- Is it to simply trust Him with your finances, your family, or your future?
the question then is what are you going to do
Ron Edmondson
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“THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE!”
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way,
let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Way back in the early 1920’s, Harry Dixon Loes composed a children’s gospel song that kids across the subsequent decades have sung, along with the various motions that are appropriate for the words being sung. I still recall the joy of singing this song when I was young: This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine! There were other verses that said: Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine! And: Don’t let Satan blow it out/ Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine!
In this black, sin-sick world, it is easy to feel that evil is so prevalent that there is no possibility of allowing our light to shine. What a false view of reality! In reality, the darker the night, the brighter our light shines.
A few years ago we lost power during a vicious ice storm. In addition to the frigid cold, we also had to deal with
the loss of lights. The dark and cold seemed to seep throughout our very being.
One of the lies of the devil is that our little light will never make a difference. What a lie! Our little light will not only illuminate the area around us, but it will also encourage others to let their light shine.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
- - - Pastor CecilDaily-E-Votional.com
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way,
let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Way back in the early 1920’s, Harry Dixon Loes composed a children’s gospel song that kids across the subsequent decades have sung, along with the various motions that are appropriate for the words being sung. I still recall the joy of singing this song when I was young: This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine. This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine! There were other verses that said: Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine! And: Don’t let Satan blow it out/ Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine!
In this black, sin-sick world, it is easy to feel that evil is so prevalent that there is no possibility of allowing our light to shine. What a false view of reality! In reality, the darker the night, the brighter our light shines.
A few years ago we lost power during a vicious ice storm. In addition to the frigid cold, we also had to deal with
the loss of lights. The dark and cold seemed to seep throughout our very being.
One of the lies of the devil is that our little light will never make a difference. What a lie! Our little light will not only illuminate the area around us, but it will also encourage others to let their light shine.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
- - - Pastor CecilDaily-E-Votional.com
So-you-want-a-godly-husband
With the understanding of God's generous outpouring of grace and mercy toward us,
I want you to be excited about what the Lord can do in your husband and in your marriage.
What women want in a man may not be as easily attained as we might think.
In fact, what a woman wants, may not be what God wants them to have.
But He can equip you with what you need in order to be the woman, wife and mother He intended you to be.
He can turn your marriage into something that resembles heaven on Earth
and your husband into a godly reflection of Himself.
(If we be patient and do what He requires of us)
With the understanding of God's generous outpouring of grace and mercy toward us,
I want you to be excited about what the Lord can do in your husband and in your marriage.
What women want in a man may not be as easily attained as we might think.
In fact, what a woman wants, may not be what God wants them to have.
But He can equip you with what you need in order to be the woman, wife and mother He intended you to be.
He can turn your marriage into something that resembles heaven on Earth
and your husband into a godly reflection of Himself.
(If we be patient and do what He requires of us)
Under His Wings
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
I once read about a forest service worker who was walking through an area
that had just been ravaged by a forest fire. He saw a strange mound and stopped to check it out.
To his astonishment it was a mother bird that had been killed by the fire. As he knelt to examine the bird,
he heard a peep from under the pile of ashes. When he turned the bird over he found several chicks.
Instead of flying to save herself, the mother had sacrificed herself
in order to protect her brood from the fire that was sweeping toward them.
That is what Jesus has done for us. He wants to shelter us under His wings from the fire-storm of life.
In 1896, William Cushing wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn,
Under His Wings. Enjoy this featured hymn from GloryScapes.
Under His Wings
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life's trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
To access Under His Wings, this week's free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: gloryscapes.com/underhiswings
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
Daily-E-Votional.com
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
I once read about a forest service worker who was walking through an area
that had just been ravaged by a forest fire. He saw a strange mound and stopped to check it out.
To his astonishment it was a mother bird that had been killed by the fire. As he knelt to examine the bird,
he heard a peep from under the pile of ashes. When he turned the bird over he found several chicks.
Instead of flying to save herself, the mother had sacrificed herself
in order to protect her brood from the fire that was sweeping toward them.
That is what Jesus has done for us. He wants to shelter us under His wings from the fire-storm of life.
In 1896, William Cushing wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn,
Under His Wings. Enjoy this featured hymn from GloryScapes.
Under His Wings
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life's trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
To access Under His Wings, this week's free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: gloryscapes.com/underhiswings
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
Daily-E-Votional.com
LOOKING BEYOND!
Job 19:25-27
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see Him with my own eyes---I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Many times it seems that people (me included) have a preoccupation with holding on to this life.
It does not matter how much pain or how many trials we encounter,
we act as if this vale of tears is the only thing that matters to us.
In the midst of his suffering and misery, Job was surrounded by men who had come to comfort him.
A fat lot of comfort they afforded him. They erroneously concluded
that if he was suffering the calamities that had befallen him,
it must be the result of some secret sin in his life. His (friends)
made it their goal to try and break through and have him confess his terrible secret sin.
Here in the middle of the book that bears his name, Job gives us words of confident assurance.
It would be well for us to read these words in Job 19 on a regular basis and apply them to our own life.
As the Apostle Paul wrote in the first chapter of Philippians, it would be far better for him
to be in heaven with Christ than to remain here on earth.
It gave him the desire to live what time he had here on earth serving others
by showing forth the spirit of the Lord. I desire to have that same purpose in my own life.
If I remain alive, it is to serve Christ. If I die, it is to be with Christ.
Either way, Christ is the focus of my life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
Daily-E-Votional.com
Job 19:25-27
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see Him with my own eyes---I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Many times it seems that people (me included) have a preoccupation with holding on to this life.
It does not matter how much pain or how many trials we encounter,
we act as if this vale of tears is the only thing that matters to us.
In the midst of his suffering and misery, Job was surrounded by men who had come to comfort him.
A fat lot of comfort they afforded him. They erroneously concluded
that if he was suffering the calamities that had befallen him,
it must be the result of some secret sin in his life. His (friends)
made it their goal to try and break through and have him confess his terrible secret sin.
Here in the middle of the book that bears his name, Job gives us words of confident assurance.
It would be well for us to read these words in Job 19 on a regular basis and apply them to our own life.
As the Apostle Paul wrote in the first chapter of Philippians, it would be far better for him
to be in heaven with Christ than to remain here on earth.
It gave him the desire to live what time he had here on earth serving others
by showing forth the spirit of the Lord. I desire to have that same purpose in my own life.
If I remain alive, it is to serve Christ. If I die, it is to be with Christ.
Either way, Christ is the focus of my life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
Daily-E-Votional.com
TRUE LOVE!
Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Being alone is a sad position. We really do need each other,
and a friend is one of the greatest possessions we can have. It is a sad and poor man who has no friends.
Friends are different than companions. Companions may be close by,
but are not sufficiently close that we can share our deepest feelings.
Thinking back across the years of my life, I have had a wealth of friends.
Some of those friends have gone on to be with the Lord, but some are still alive.
Many years ago I received a plaque from a special friend that has special meaning to me.
A friend is one who knows you as you are, understands where you've been, accepts who you've become,
and still gently invites you to grow. Thanks, Chris!
You may have a dear friend like Chris, but we have a friend who is still closer,
-the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who is with us at all times.
We are never alone, even when others have departed, for He stays with us during the dark hours of the night. When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is there beside us.
You may feel frustrated with life, feel hurt or depressed because of the way things are going.
You may even question whether it even helps to pray. That fatalistic view of life is short sighted.
It is like slamming the door in the face of our closest friend who has come to help us.
Yet Jesus patiently stands at the door and quietly knocks.
Please open the door and allow Him to heal all of the hurts you feel right now.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
Daily-E-Votional.com
Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Being alone is a sad position. We really do need each other,
and a friend is one of the greatest possessions we can have. It is a sad and poor man who has no friends.
Friends are different than companions. Companions may be close by,
but are not sufficiently close that we can share our deepest feelings.
Thinking back across the years of my life, I have had a wealth of friends.
Some of those friends have gone on to be with the Lord, but some are still alive.
Many years ago I received a plaque from a special friend that has special meaning to me.
A friend is one who knows you as you are, understands where you've been, accepts who you've become,
and still gently invites you to grow. Thanks, Chris!
You may have a dear friend like Chris, but we have a friend who is still closer,
-the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who is with us at all times.
We are never alone, even when others have departed, for He stays with us during the dark hours of the night. When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is there beside us.
You may feel frustrated with life, feel hurt or depressed because of the way things are going.
You may even question whether it even helps to pray. That fatalistic view of life is short sighted.
It is like slamming the door in the face of our closest friend who has come to help us.
Yet Jesus patiently stands at the door and quietly knocks.
Please open the door and allow Him to heal all of the hurts you feel right now.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
Daily-E-Votional.com
PRAISE THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY!
Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle(s). All of us experience some trial in our life, the loss of health, a financial meltdown, death of a mate or child or any number of catastrophic events. It is not whether or not we will encounter these trials, but rather what we will do when they arise. The phrase, Praise to the Lord occurs in at least 155 verses in the Bible. That indicates that we need to spend more time praising the Lord, replacing our complaints with words of praise to the Lord. Over 300 years ago, Joachim Neander was a hymn writer. He was going through trial and testing in his life. He took long walks pouring his heart out to the Lord. It was on one of these walks that he came to the realization that it was not his strength that would give him victory and peace, but rather the powerful God he served. It was in that state of mind that he composed this week’s featured hymn. Blessings dear hearts.-Pastor Cecil A Thompson Daily-E-Votional.com |
Enjoy the video from Gloryscapes.com. You may also access it by going to: Gloryscapes.com/praisetotheLordthealmighty
more music Gloryscapes.com/index Gloryscapes.com/cds/index. PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation! All ye who hear, Now to His temple draw near; Join me in glad adoration! Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth, Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth! Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been Granted in what He ordaineth? Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee! Decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee. How oft in grief hath not He bought thee relief, Spreading His wings for to shade thee! Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him! Let the Amen sound from His people again; Gladly for aye we adore Him. |
"At Jesus’ Feet"
There is a spot where tempted souls may find a dear retreat: They fly from sin and self, and lie at Jesus’ feet. In vain upon their heads, the storms of life may rudely beat, Grief cannot harm the soul that lies at Jesus’ feet. My soul, upon life’s dizzy heights beware to take thy seat, Leave not the valley, but abide at Jesus’ feet. Would’st thou in peace, and joy and love and gladness, stand complete? Seek it in penitence and faith, at Jesus’ feet. -From Golden hours: Heart-hymns of the Christian life by Elizabeth Prentiss Galileeofthenations.com/video |
With good jobs difficult to come by, how can you continue to thrive within your current or future place of employment? Here's some helps whether a business owner, an entrepreneur or an employee.
A - Be a person of impeccable integrity. Honest employees are indispensible.
Nehemiah in the Old Testament was blessed because of this attribute.
B - Be a person of excellence. The prophet Daniel had an “excellent spirit
about him.” Excellence fosters promotions.
C - Be a problem solver; not just an order taker. Don’t wait to be told
about a problem take the initiative. Initiators who take initiative are in high
demand in work place across this country. David saw a thirteen-foot high
problem and stepped up and slew it. Become famous for the problems
you solve; not the ones you cause.
D - Acquire wisdom. It is “the principal thing” if you lack wisdom, “Ask God
and He will give it to you.” “And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the
LORD was with him” (1 Samuel 18:14).
E - Under promise and over perform. Those who talk the most do the least.
Let your production speak for itself. Work hard at your current assignment.
F - Never demote yourself by seeing your current assignment as a “Job.”
NEVER, NEVER call what you do a “Job,” it’s an OPPORTUNITY. It is the
proving ground for your next assignment. Perform faithfully now; be rewarded later.
Jesus said, “If you’re faithful in that which is another man’s, you will have your own.”
G - Be an encourager to others. You don’t get ahead by walking over others.
Become well known for lending a helping hand to others in your place of
employment. Make friends; not enemies. We will all have our fair share of
enemies but just remember “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even
his enemies to be at peace with him” and “God prepares a table for you in
the presence of your enemies
A - Be a person of impeccable integrity. Honest employees are indispensible.
Nehemiah in the Old Testament was blessed because of this attribute.
B - Be a person of excellence. The prophet Daniel had an “excellent spirit
about him.” Excellence fosters promotions.
C - Be a problem solver; not just an order taker. Don’t wait to be told
about a problem take the initiative. Initiators who take initiative are in high
demand in work place across this country. David saw a thirteen-foot high
problem and stepped up and slew it. Become famous for the problems
you solve; not the ones you cause.
D - Acquire wisdom. It is “the principal thing” if you lack wisdom, “Ask God
and He will give it to you.” “And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the
LORD was with him” (1 Samuel 18:14).
E - Under promise and over perform. Those who talk the most do the least.
Let your production speak for itself. Work hard at your current assignment.
F - Never demote yourself by seeing your current assignment as a “Job.”
NEVER, NEVER call what you do a “Job,” it’s an OPPORTUNITY. It is the
proving ground for your next assignment. Perform faithfully now; be rewarded later.
Jesus said, “If you’re faithful in that which is another man’s, you will have your own.”
G - Be an encourager to others. You don’t get ahead by walking over others.
Become well known for lending a helping hand to others in your place of
employment. Make friends; not enemies. We will all have our fair share of
enemies but just remember “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even
his enemies to be at peace with him” and “God prepares a table for you in
the presence of your enemies
Sunshine & Sweetie Pies
JOB'S FAIR WEATHER FRIENDS... Rhyming Bible Stories...
When things were all right, they came everyday,
My fair-weather friends were eager to pray.
They were eager to visit, they were eager to talk.
And they offered advice as together we'd walk.
But when the storm came they were eager no more-
And my fair-weather friends showed me their door.
They condemned me in private and just between them,
Were secretly betting that I wouldn't win.
They counted my faults and rehearsed them again,
And added some new ones, my fair-weather friends.
As the men from the boys, as the dross in the flame,
As the cream from the milk, or the chaff from the grain...
The best is soon parted so that everyone sees,
Who are friends by circumstance and who are friends indeed.
Love, Linda
The most wonderful part of this sad story is that God restored much of what was lost and added much more to Job. The friends, not so much... One of the outstanding things about it all to me is the questions Job had, and how God responded to them, by asking bigger questions! Very, very thought provoking story.
JOB'S FAIR WEATHER FRIENDS... Rhyming Bible Stories...
When things were all right, they came everyday,
My fair-weather friends were eager to pray.
They were eager to visit, they were eager to talk.
And they offered advice as together we'd walk.
But when the storm came they were eager no more-
And my fair-weather friends showed me their door.
They condemned me in private and just between them,
Were secretly betting that I wouldn't win.
They counted my faults and rehearsed them again,
And added some new ones, my fair-weather friends.
As the men from the boys, as the dross in the flame,
As the cream from the milk, or the chaff from the grain...
The best is soon parted so that everyone sees,
Who are friends by circumstance and who are friends indeed.
Love, Linda
The most wonderful part of this sad story is that God restored much of what was lost and added much more to Job. The friends, not so much... One of the outstanding things about it all to me is the questions Job had, and how God responded to them, by asking bigger questions! Very, very thought provoking story.
TOTAL COMMITMENT!
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in ALL your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Sunday morning, commenting on a portion of Scripture and how it applies to our lives,
I quoted the passage chosen for today. It has become such a vital part of my life goal that I refresh my heart and mind several times a day with the profound truth found here in Proverbs.
Sadly, too often we rely upon our own abilities rather than allowing the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us. I am just as guilty of this as any other person, perhaps more so.
I seemed to have developed the persona of a Mr. Fix-it. People call me about all sorts of situations and ask me to give them advice on how to resolve the most complex problems of their lives.
I try the best I can, but for the most part I know that I will never be the one who will have the answer they need.
Only the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God will be their answer.
That brings me back to this passage in Proverbs 3.
You will notice that I have taken the liberty of underlining and capitalizing the words ALL.
To me that is a vital element. We are to make our trust and reliance on the Lord a total commitment.
When we find ourselves blocking the movement of the Lord to guide and direct our lives,
we need to immediately stop and allow the Lord to control.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
www.Daily-E-Votional.com
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in ALL your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Sunday morning, commenting on a portion of Scripture and how it applies to our lives,
I quoted the passage chosen for today. It has become such a vital part of my life goal that I refresh my heart and mind several times a day with the profound truth found here in Proverbs.
Sadly, too often we rely upon our own abilities rather than allowing the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us. I am just as guilty of this as any other person, perhaps more so.
I seemed to have developed the persona of a Mr. Fix-it. People call me about all sorts of situations and ask me to give them advice on how to resolve the most complex problems of their lives.
I try the best I can, but for the most part I know that I will never be the one who will have the answer they need.
Only the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God will be their answer.
That brings me back to this passage in Proverbs 3.
You will notice that I have taken the liberty of underlining and capitalizing the words ALL.
To me that is a vital element. We are to make our trust and reliance on the Lord a total commitment.
When we find ourselves blocking the movement of the Lord to guide and direct our lives,
we need to immediately stop and allow the Lord to control.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
Pastor Cecil A Thompson
www.Daily-E-Votional.com
SEPARATION!
John 11:25-26
I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?
One of the realities of getting older is saying farewell to loved ones and friends.
I have learned that none of us can be assured how long we will live;
but what about the idea of separation?
If you are anything like me, you are heartsick when a loved one dies or even moves away from your area.
In like many I have been grieved to hear of homes that have been shattered by separation and divorce.
I want things to remain!
Death is often thought of as the ultimate separation.
For those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior, death is just that!
But what about those of us who have our name written in the Book of Life.
There is an answer!
The answer is that we can see our loved ones again.
The assurance the Bible gives us is that those who believe in Jesus will never die.
That means when we as believers leave this world, we will be joined together for eternity.
There will never be separation. I look forward to that day!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil A Thompson
www.Daily-E-Votional.com
♥♥♥
John 11:25-26
I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?
One of the realities of getting older is saying farewell to loved ones and friends.
I have learned that none of us can be assured how long we will live;
but what about the idea of separation?
If you are anything like me, you are heartsick when a loved one dies or even moves away from your area.
In like many I have been grieved to hear of homes that have been shattered by separation and divorce.
I want things to remain!
Death is often thought of as the ultimate separation.
For those who do not know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior, death is just that!
But what about those of us who have our name written in the Book of Life.
There is an answer!
The answer is that we can see our loved ones again.
The assurance the Bible gives us is that those who believe in Jesus will never die.
That means when we as believers leave this world, we will be joined together for eternity.
There will never be separation. I look forward to that day!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil A Thompson
www.Daily-E-Votional.com
♥♥♥
Jonathan Cahn :You don't want to miss this!
Galileeofthenations.com/video
We also choose death or failure in our families
if we choose to hold hurts and refuse to confront and fix relationships with love.
This takes prayer, devotion, courage, humilty, maturity and wisdom to keep our families together,
We as the mature mother often must make the first moves,
to mend, discuss and find compatible solutions to problems that arise.
The wise woman - with her words and actions - builds her house,
the foolish one tears it down - Proverbs
✻ღϠ₡ღ✻
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19
When I was a kid we would occasionally dare one of our friends to do something that required special effort.
It was usually something that we would have a hard time doing ourselves and as often as not,
something that was dangerous and really should not have been attempted.
I am not sure if the same dares take place today, but they probably do.
As I read the closing words of Deuteronomy chapter 30,
I see that Moses challenges his readers with perhaps the biggest dare anyone could make – life or death!
Any rational person would think that this challenge was a no brainer.
Who in their right mind would not choose life? The sad answer is that the majority of people then,
as well as in our own day, choose death instead of life.
We choose death when we fail to respond to the written Word of God.
We choose death when we opt to follow our own way
and reject the offer of life that the Lord offers all who will receive it.
The challenge is still there before us – will you choose life or death. I beg you to choose life!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil
www.Daily-E-Votional.com
Galileeofthenations.com/video
We also choose death or failure in our families
if we choose to hold hurts and refuse to confront and fix relationships with love.
This takes prayer, devotion, courage, humilty, maturity and wisdom to keep our families together,
We as the mature mother often must make the first moves,
to mend, discuss and find compatible solutions to problems that arise.
The wise woman - with her words and actions - builds her house,
the foolish one tears it down - Proverbs
✻ღϠ₡ღ✻
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19
When I was a kid we would occasionally dare one of our friends to do something that required special effort.
It was usually something that we would have a hard time doing ourselves and as often as not,
something that was dangerous and really should not have been attempted.
I am not sure if the same dares take place today, but they probably do.
As I read the closing words of Deuteronomy chapter 30,
I see that Moses challenges his readers with perhaps the biggest dare anyone could make – life or death!
Any rational person would think that this challenge was a no brainer.
Who in their right mind would not choose life? The sad answer is that the majority of people then,
as well as in our own day, choose death instead of life.
We choose death when we fail to respond to the written Word of God.
We choose death when we opt to follow our own way
and reject the offer of life that the Lord offers all who will receive it.
The challenge is still there before us – will you choose life or death. I beg you to choose life!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil
www.Daily-E-Votional.com
Desiringgod/ten-big-daily-reminders
Somehow during the night I’ve forgotten the big realities about God and the universe and myself and the gospel.
I desperately need to steady myself with biblical truth rather than stumbling forward to live from unbelief.
Here's the biggest truths that we can be prone to assume and forget.
1) God exists.
(Exodus 3:14; John 8:58)
It seems so simple, so basic, but I tend to wake up a naturalist. I assume that all there is in the world is what is in front of my face. My bed, my wife, my kids, and most importantly myself. The simple yet ultimate existence of God immediately clears my lens, makes me small, and infuses meaning into every step.
God exists — and that changes everything.
2) God loves you.
Romans 5:8; John 16:27; Jeremiah 32:40–41)
Another massive biblical reality, this immediately counters my hesitation to embrace God’s ultimate authority, reminding me that he has set his affections on this little speck of a person. He is far from indifferent toward me.
3) Jesus died for you, and the Father has now bound himself to give you only good things.
(Romans 8:28; Romans 8:32)
This draws me quickly to the central reality of all history: the cross. It is an objective truth set in time and space, so it immediately draws my gaze away from my own capacity to garner acceptance from God through my efforts. Furthermore, the outworkings of the cross make clear that even the harshest trials will come to me as blessing, for my ultimate good, no matter how bad I feel at the time.
4) God sees you as perfect.
(Hebrews 10:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
My self-absorption, anxiety, and self-pity know no bounds.
They must be beaten into submission by the beauty of imputed righteousness.
The question, “How am I doing?” is met head-on with the answer, “Perfect.” In that regard, every day is a good day.
5) That is because of Jesus’s perfection, not yours. You deserve hell.
(Romans 3:10;1 Timothy 1:15)
There are two main purposes here: first, to counterpunch when my flesh looks for a way
to subtly claim credit for the perfection that is mine only in Jesus; second,
to maintain a sense of trembling gratitude for my salvation. While I enjoy the glory of the gospel,
there should always be an awestruck voice in the back of my mind that is whispering, “I shouldn’t be here.”
6) You will die.
(James 4:14, Hebrews 9:27)
Nothing brings clarity to me like this simple and straightforward reminder.
How quickly I assume my earthly immortality, and how often I need to think of myself
as a terminal patient.
7) You will live forever in the new heavens and new earth.
(Romans 8:18, Hebrews 10:34)
I don’t want to be a clear-headed fearer of death, like some atheistic poet. I want to glory in the guarantee of indescribable bliss that is just around the corner. And I want to live like it’s real — because it is.
8) For now, you are an exile on the earth.
(Hebrews 11:13–16)
This keeps me from feeling at home when I’m not at home (especially in my own home).
It prepares me for not fitting in, for weird looks when I speak with conviction about Jesus,
and for holding loosely to every bit of earthly life.
9) Nothing on earth is truly worth putting your hope in.
(Jeremiah 2:13; Galatians 6:14)
This is a practical specification of #8. It is right for me to remember that I will inevitably be disappointed by every earthly pursuit or relationship or emotional experience. It runs me back to my true Home and the true Bridegroom.
10) You have no right to be unhappy.
(Philippians 4:4; 1 Peter 1:8–9)
This is a summarizing application of all the previous reminders, but it merits its own slot.
How quick I am to become “blah” when there is a treasure trove of happy reality at my disposal!
I must beat this into my discontent little brain. I can be plenty unhappy, but I have no right to be.
These reminders flee from my mind like stray socks in an armful of laundry.
Every time I pick one up, another falls. By the time I read #10, #1 is beckoning again.
What a grace that #4 is still true!
♥♥♥
Somehow during the night I’ve forgotten the big realities about God and the universe and myself and the gospel.
I desperately need to steady myself with biblical truth rather than stumbling forward to live from unbelief.
Here's the biggest truths that we can be prone to assume and forget.
1) God exists.
(Exodus 3:14; John 8:58)
It seems so simple, so basic, but I tend to wake up a naturalist. I assume that all there is in the world is what is in front of my face. My bed, my wife, my kids, and most importantly myself. The simple yet ultimate existence of God immediately clears my lens, makes me small, and infuses meaning into every step.
God exists — and that changes everything.
2) God loves you.
Romans 5:8; John 16:27; Jeremiah 32:40–41)
Another massive biblical reality, this immediately counters my hesitation to embrace God’s ultimate authority, reminding me that he has set his affections on this little speck of a person. He is far from indifferent toward me.
3) Jesus died for you, and the Father has now bound himself to give you only good things.
(Romans 8:28; Romans 8:32)
This draws me quickly to the central reality of all history: the cross. It is an objective truth set in time and space, so it immediately draws my gaze away from my own capacity to garner acceptance from God through my efforts. Furthermore, the outworkings of the cross make clear that even the harshest trials will come to me as blessing, for my ultimate good, no matter how bad I feel at the time.
4) God sees you as perfect.
(Hebrews 10:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
My self-absorption, anxiety, and self-pity know no bounds.
They must be beaten into submission by the beauty of imputed righteousness.
The question, “How am I doing?” is met head-on with the answer, “Perfect.” In that regard, every day is a good day.
5) That is because of Jesus’s perfection, not yours. You deserve hell.
(Romans 3:10;1 Timothy 1:15)
There are two main purposes here: first, to counterpunch when my flesh looks for a way
to subtly claim credit for the perfection that is mine only in Jesus; second,
to maintain a sense of trembling gratitude for my salvation. While I enjoy the glory of the gospel,
there should always be an awestruck voice in the back of my mind that is whispering, “I shouldn’t be here.”
6) You will die.
(James 4:14, Hebrews 9:27)
Nothing brings clarity to me like this simple and straightforward reminder.
How quickly I assume my earthly immortality, and how often I need to think of myself
as a terminal patient.
7) You will live forever in the new heavens and new earth.
(Romans 8:18, Hebrews 10:34)
I don’t want to be a clear-headed fearer of death, like some atheistic poet. I want to glory in the guarantee of indescribable bliss that is just around the corner. And I want to live like it’s real — because it is.
8) For now, you are an exile on the earth.
(Hebrews 11:13–16)
This keeps me from feeling at home when I’m not at home (especially in my own home).
It prepares me for not fitting in, for weird looks when I speak with conviction about Jesus,
and for holding loosely to every bit of earthly life.
9) Nothing on earth is truly worth putting your hope in.
(Jeremiah 2:13; Galatians 6:14)
This is a practical specification of #8. It is right for me to remember that I will inevitably be disappointed by every earthly pursuit or relationship or emotional experience. It runs me back to my true Home and the true Bridegroom.
10) You have no right to be unhappy.
(Philippians 4:4; 1 Peter 1:8–9)
This is a summarizing application of all the previous reminders, but it merits its own slot.
How quick I am to become “blah” when there is a treasure trove of happy reality at my disposal!
I must beat this into my discontent little brain. I can be plenty unhappy, but I have no right to be.
These reminders flee from my mind like stray socks in an armful of laundry.
Every time I pick one up, another falls. By the time I read #10, #1 is beckoning again.
What a grace that #4 is still true!
♥♥♥
ODB/First-things-first
by David H. Roper
Know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind. --
1 Chronicles 28:9
When our granddaughter Sarah was very young,
she told us she wanted to be a basketball coach, like her daddy when she grew up.
But she couldn’t be one yet, she said, because first she had to be a player;
and a player has to be able to tie her shoelaces, and she couldn’t tie hers yet!
First things first, we say. And the first thing in all of life is to know God and enjoy Him.
Acknowledging and knowing God helps us to become what we were meant to be.
Here is King David’s counsel to his son Solomon: “Know the God of your father,
and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind”
(1 Chron. 28:9).
Remember, God can be known. He is a Person, not a logical or theological concept.
He thinks, wills, enjoys, feels, loves, and desires as any person does. A. W. Tozer writes,
“He is a person and can be known in increasing degrees of intimacy as we prepare our hearts for the wonder of it.” Ah, there’s the rub: We must “prepare our hearts.”
The Lord is not playing hard to know; those who want to know Him can.
He will not foist His love on us, but He does wait patiently,
for He wants to be known by you. Knowing Him is the first thing in life.
He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joys we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
—C. Austin Miles © Renewal 1940. The Rodeheaver Company
The thought of God staggers the mind but to know Him satisfies the heart.
Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
by David H. Roper
Know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind. --
1 Chronicles 28:9
When our granddaughter Sarah was very young,
she told us she wanted to be a basketball coach, like her daddy when she grew up.
But she couldn’t be one yet, she said, because first she had to be a player;
and a player has to be able to tie her shoelaces, and she couldn’t tie hers yet!
First things first, we say. And the first thing in all of life is to know God and enjoy Him.
Acknowledging and knowing God helps us to become what we were meant to be.
Here is King David’s counsel to his son Solomon: “Know the God of your father,
and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind”
(1 Chron. 28:9).
Remember, God can be known. He is a Person, not a logical or theological concept.
He thinks, wills, enjoys, feels, loves, and desires as any person does. A. W. Tozer writes,
“He is a person and can be known in increasing degrees of intimacy as we prepare our hearts for the wonder of it.” Ah, there’s the rub: We must “prepare our hearts.”
The Lord is not playing hard to know; those who want to know Him can.
He will not foist His love on us, but He does wait patiently,
for He wants to be known by you. Knowing Him is the first thing in life.
He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joys we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
—C. Austin Miles © Renewal 1940. The Rodeheaver Company
The thought of God staggers the mind but to know Him satisfies the heart.
Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
APPEARANCES!
Job 19:25-27
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed,
this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Recently I was shown photographs of a young person who was healthy and full of vitality.
You could just see that she was full of fun and excitement. This was the kind of person
you would like to know and have as a friend.
Included was another photograph of the same person following a catastrophic accident.
The once appealing and attractive features were now twisted and swollen.
Accidents or severe illness can so alter the appearance of an individual
that it is hard to imagine that it is the same person. Although not as dramatic,
the aging process also has the same effect.
It is safe to conclude that our outward appearance can and does change, whether quickly or gradually.
Having a background in Law Enforcement, I have been shocked to compare mug shots
that are taken of a person who has been arrested. Those who are repeat offenders and especially
those addicted to alcohol or drugs change in appearance in a relatively short period of time –
and always for the worse.
What does this all mean? I believe that it reminds us that our outward appearance is destined to change.
No amount of cosmetic surgery will help. The vital thing is what is taking place within our heart and soul.
When we are born again our new life in Christ begins.
We have started the wonderful journey to eternity that assures us
of a new and eternal body that will never grow old. Wow! The ultimate make-over!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil
Job 19:25-27
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed,
this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Recently I was shown photographs of a young person who was healthy and full of vitality.
You could just see that she was full of fun and excitement. This was the kind of person
you would like to know and have as a friend.
Included was another photograph of the same person following a catastrophic accident.
The once appealing and attractive features were now twisted and swollen.
Accidents or severe illness can so alter the appearance of an individual
that it is hard to imagine that it is the same person. Although not as dramatic,
the aging process also has the same effect.
It is safe to conclude that our outward appearance can and does change, whether quickly or gradually.
Having a background in Law Enforcement, I have been shocked to compare mug shots
that are taken of a person who has been arrested. Those who are repeat offenders and especially
those addicted to alcohol or drugs change in appearance in a relatively short period of time –
and always for the worse.
What does this all mean? I believe that it reminds us that our outward appearance is destined to change.
No amount of cosmetic surgery will help. The vital thing is what is taking place within our heart and soul.
When we are born again our new life in Christ begins.
We have started the wonderful journey to eternity that assures us
of a new and eternal body that will never grow old. Wow! The ultimate make-over!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil
As I pulled up to a stop light this afternoon,
I noticed a car that had a prominent bumper sticker that simply stated: OTHERS.
As I sat there waiting for the light to change,
I reflected on just what that word means to people.
In Matthew 25, Jesus speaks about the final judgment.
To the righteous He gives commendation for feeding, clothing and ministering to Him.
To the unrighteous He condemns them for failing to do those same things for Him.
In both instances the people had no idea they were giving to the Lord.
It was then that He stunned both groups by proclaiming that since they did it to the needy,
they were doing it for and to Him. That is being OTHERS minded!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today,
trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil
I noticed a car that had a prominent bumper sticker that simply stated: OTHERS.
As I sat there waiting for the light to change,
I reflected on just what that word means to people.
In Matthew 25, Jesus speaks about the final judgment.
To the righteous He gives commendation for feeding, clothing and ministering to Him.
To the unrighteous He condemns them for failing to do those same things for Him.
In both instances the people had no idea they were giving to the Lord.
It was then that He stunned both groups by proclaiming that since they did it to the needy,
they were doing it for and to Him. That is being OTHERS minded!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today,
trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil
God is faithful.
In the book of Genesis we read about Joseph being tempted
by the unfaithful wife of his master, Potiphar.
Joseph sought the way out of the situation by avoiding any contact with her.
You may recall how she falsely accused him, leading to his confinement in prison.
Let me let you in on a spiritual secret -- the prison was a place of escape.
Joseph was protected from this woman by the mighty hand of God.
It may have seemed like punishment, but it was the means God used to protect and prepare Joseph.
Rather than becoming bitter by his false imprisonment,
Joseph honed the organizational skills that God would later use to raise him up to a position that was second in authority over all of Egypt.
Even when it seemed that God had forgotten him, God was faithful - He had a plan.
We too can feel as if the situations of life are crushing us down.
But like for Joseph, God has a plan. The pain and discomfort we experience
can be His safe place to protect us from worse.
Trusting God's love for us, gives us the peace we long for.
We may experience the temptation to become bitter
or we may develop an unforgiving spirit.
Those who we feel hurt by have their own life and confessing to do,
but our battle is with the temptation to develop an unforgiving or fearful or discontented spirit.
Let's ask God to be our way of escape to the peace, the loving life we long for..
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful;
He will not let you be tempted ( tested or tried) beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
I Corinthians 10:13
This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9
♥♥♥♥♥
In the book of Genesis we read about Joseph being tempted
by the unfaithful wife of his master, Potiphar.
Joseph sought the way out of the situation by avoiding any contact with her.
You may recall how she falsely accused him, leading to his confinement in prison.
Let me let you in on a spiritual secret -- the prison was a place of escape.
Joseph was protected from this woman by the mighty hand of God.
It may have seemed like punishment, but it was the means God used to protect and prepare Joseph.
Rather than becoming bitter by his false imprisonment,
Joseph honed the organizational skills that God would later use to raise him up to a position that was second in authority over all of Egypt.
Even when it seemed that God had forgotten him, God was faithful - He had a plan.
We too can feel as if the situations of life are crushing us down.
But like for Joseph, God has a plan. The pain and discomfort we experience
can be His safe place to protect us from worse.
Trusting God's love for us, gives us the peace we long for.
We may experience the temptation to become bitter
or we may develop an unforgiving spirit.
Those who we feel hurt by have their own life and confessing to do,
but our battle is with the temptation to develop an unforgiving or fearful or discontented spirit.
Let's ask God to be our way of escape to the peace, the loving life we long for..
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
- - - Pastor Cecil
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful;
He will not let you be tempted ( tested or tried) beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
I Corinthians 10:13
This is how God showed his love among us:
He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
1 John 4:9
♥♥♥♥♥
RUST REMOVER!
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:4-5
A friend recently sent me a group of humorous pictures
that belied what they should have accomplished.
One photo depicted a can of rust remover that was coated with rust.
Perhaps that is a vivid reminder that it is what is on the inside that counts!
As I laughed at the picture my mind raced back across the years,
and I recalled hearing a remark to the effect that ' it is better to burn out than to rust out'.
As I think about it, I really do not recall knowing anyone who worked to death
in serving the Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I am sad to confess that I have known many who became rusty in the work for the Lord.
The fire they once had in service began to flicker and the oil in their lamp ran dry.
Instead of returning to the Lord for a fresh supply, they pressed on in their own strength.
Sadly, it wasn’t long before spiritual rust began to eat away their luster.
How do we insure that we will not fall into the same rusty rut?
I think the answer is in staying close to the Lord in all that we are doing.
Rather than doing things to please people, we need to always be focused on pleasing the Lord.
That means we need to start each day with prayer and the Word.
It is the oil that will lubricate and preserve us for each day,
but we need that fresh supply on a daily basis.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
www.Daily-E-Votional.com
Pastor Cecil Thompson - 360-570-0074
5116 Bald Eagle Lane SW- Tumwater, WA 98512
[email protected]
( PS - Derry note- I am blessed......I know some people that,
are living in HIM til old age- giving His love self-sacrificially, or have gone home for their eternal reward
worked to death with love- one missionary died of motor neurone disease.
Yes, living to please the Lord alone.)
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:4-5
A friend recently sent me a group of humorous pictures
that belied what they should have accomplished.
One photo depicted a can of rust remover that was coated with rust.
Perhaps that is a vivid reminder that it is what is on the inside that counts!
As I laughed at the picture my mind raced back across the years,
and I recalled hearing a remark to the effect that ' it is better to burn out than to rust out'.
As I think about it, I really do not recall knowing anyone who worked to death
in serving the Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
I am sad to confess that I have known many who became rusty in the work for the Lord.
The fire they once had in service began to flicker and the oil in their lamp ran dry.
Instead of returning to the Lord for a fresh supply, they pressed on in their own strength.
Sadly, it wasn’t long before spiritual rust began to eat away their luster.
How do we insure that we will not fall into the same rusty rut?
I think the answer is in staying close to the Lord in all that we are doing.
Rather than doing things to please people, we need to always be focused on pleasing the Lord.
That means we need to start each day with prayer and the Word.
It is the oil that will lubricate and preserve us for each day,
but we need that fresh supply on a daily basis.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
www.Daily-E-Votional.com
Pastor Cecil Thompson - 360-570-0074
5116 Bald Eagle Lane SW- Tumwater, WA 98512
[email protected]
( PS - Derry note- I am blessed......I know some people that,
are living in HIM til old age- giving His love self-sacrificially, or have gone home for their eternal reward
worked to death with love- one missionary died of motor neurone disease.
Yes, living to please the Lord alone.)
The Yoke
"'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls."
Matthew 11:28-29
Over the living room fireplace Ken and I have hung a family treasure.
It's an old-fashioned oxen yoke hand-hewn out of wood. It's been in the family forever.
As a little boy, my father would yoke his dad's oxen to haul coal.
That yoke doesn't quite go with the décor in our living room, but that doesn't matter.
It's a treasure. And it's an object lesson.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus called His yoke easy and light?
A yoke appears to be a weighty burden, but it actually makes the workload light for the animal.
A plow or a coal drag would be intolerable if it were attached to the oxen any other way
(before yokes were devised, farmers of old used leather straps around the animal's neck -
but it hampered their breathing). But when you work an animal by means of a yoke,
the weight he has to pull doesn't harm him. The load becomes light.
A yoke is not a contrivance to make work hard. It's a gentle device to make hard labor light.
A yoke is not meant to give pain but to save pain.
Think of that as you read Jesus' words for today.
Work is a fact of life. Burdens are inevitable.
But you have a choice: either drag your workload under your own strength or put on the yoke of Christ.
us says, "Come." If you're weary and burdened, let Him give you rest.
You'll find a deep, sweet, peaceable rest
even in the midst of your labors when you put on Christ's yoke.
Lord, as I feel the burdens of this day,
remind me that You have provided a yoke that eases the stress and keeps me from straining needlessly.
Show me how to experience Your rest for my weary soul.
joniandfriends.org
"'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls."
Matthew 11:28-29
Over the living room fireplace Ken and I have hung a family treasure.
It's an old-fashioned oxen yoke hand-hewn out of wood. It's been in the family forever.
As a little boy, my father would yoke his dad's oxen to haul coal.
That yoke doesn't quite go with the décor in our living room, but that doesn't matter.
It's a treasure. And it's an object lesson.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus called His yoke easy and light?
A yoke appears to be a weighty burden, but it actually makes the workload light for the animal.
A plow or a coal drag would be intolerable if it were attached to the oxen any other way
(before yokes were devised, farmers of old used leather straps around the animal's neck -
but it hampered their breathing). But when you work an animal by means of a yoke,
the weight he has to pull doesn't harm him. The load becomes light.
A yoke is not a contrivance to make work hard. It's a gentle device to make hard labor light.
A yoke is not meant to give pain but to save pain.
Think of that as you read Jesus' words for today.
Work is a fact of life. Burdens are inevitable.
But you have a choice: either drag your workload under your own strength or put on the yoke of Christ.
us says, "Come." If you're weary and burdened, let Him give you rest.
You'll find a deep, sweet, peaceable rest
even in the midst of your labors when you put on Christ's yoke.
Lord, as I feel the burdens of this day,
remind me that You have provided a yoke that eases the stress and keeps me from straining needlessly.
Show me how to experience Your rest for my weary soul.
joniandfriends.org