Thursday, May 31, 2012

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

EXPECT AN IN KIND HARVEST!

5-31-2012. . . .EXPECT AN IN KIND HARVEST!

"Remember, too, that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin." (James 4:17 TLB) Ignorance is one thing, but to know what is right and yet do what is wrong, is blatant rebellion! Expect an in kind harvest!

PRAYER: Lord, you are merciful and filled with loving kindness.  Let us never be found in blatant rebellion against you.  Amen!


Gal 6:7-8. . . .Don't be misled; remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it: a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows! TLB



WHO'S ON THE LORD'S SIDE!

5-30-2012. . . .WHO'S ON THE LORD'S SIDE!

"Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God."  (3 John 11KJV) Who's on the Lord's side?  It is not in what we say that gives proof, it is in what we do!  Are deeds determine our side!

PRAYER: Lord, let are daily deeds clearly show and tell the world that we are on your side.  Amen!


Ps 34:12-14. . . .What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.  KJV



Tuesday, May 29, 2012

TWO CONSTANTS!

5-29-2012. . . .TWO CONSTANTS!

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." (1 Chron 16:34 KJV)  Two constants that serve as reminders to always give God thanks; He is good and His mercy endures for ever!  Thank you Lord and Thank you Lord again!

PRAYER: Thank you Lord and Thank you Lord again and again and again and again!  Amen!


Ps 92:1-2. . . .It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night." KJV



Friday, May 25, 2012

AND, OH WHEN IT DOES

5-25-2012. . . .AND, OH WHEN IT DOES!

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Rom 8:18 KJV)  Although we suffer greatly at times and it may seem like the odds are against us, the tide will turn and the scales will tip in our favor!  And, oh when it does, what glory shall be revealed in us!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for our times of suffering.  It teaches us obedience and rouses our expectations of the great things that are ahead us.  Strengthen us in our struggles.  Amen!


Heb 5:8. . . .Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered" KJV



Thursday, May 24, 2012

WHO WANTS TO BE A STAR!

5-24-2012. . . .WHO WANTS TO BE A STAR!

"And those who are wise-the people of God-shall shine as brightly as the sun's brilliance, and those who turn many to righteousness will glitter like stars forever. (Dan 12:3 TLB)  Although we may endure persecution and ridicule down here for taking a stand for righteousness, there is coming a day when we will shine as brightly as any star!  Now, who wants to be a star!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for our coming glory.  Stay with us as we endure our test and trials in this present world.  We look forward to being one of your stars!  Amen.


Rom 8:18-19. . . . Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.  For all creation is waiting patiently and hopefully for that future day when God will resurrect his children. TLB



Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Excerpts For Living: STAND OUT!

Excerpts For Living: STAND OUT!: 5-23-2012. . . .STAND OUT! "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew ...

STAND OUT!

5-23-2012. . . .STAND OUT!

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" 1 Peter 2:9 KJV  Believers, we are a wonderful blend of royalty and divinity.  Unique and unlike any other people on earth.  We stand out because we should stand out!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the unique way you made us.  May we shine brightly and always stand out among all people!  Amen.


Phil 2:14-16. . . .In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing 15 so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights, 16 holding out to them the Word of Life. TLB



Tuesday, May 22, 2012

LIVE IT OUT!

5-22-2012. . . .LIVE IT OUT!


"It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others." (Eph 2:10 TLB)  God created us on purpose and with purpose.  We live out that purpose fully by extending ourselves to help others.  Live it out!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for creating us on purpose and with purpose!  Help us live out that purpose by helping others.  Amen!


Eccl 4:9-10. . . . Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better. 10 If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he's in trouble. TLB





Monday, May 21, 2012

LET THE SHOW GO ON!

5-21-2012. . . .LET THE SHOW GO ON!

"But this precious treasure-this light and power that now shine within us --is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own." (2 Cor 4:7 TLB)  How ironically wonderful that our flawed humanity should be the stage on which God manifest and demonstrates His mighty power and glory!  It is not about us, but all about Him!  Let the show go on!

PRAYER:
Lord, play out your glory and your mighty power on the the stage of our lives!  It is not about us but all about you!  Amen.


Ps 106:8. . . .
 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. 
KJV





Friday, May 18, 2012

THE RIGHTEOUS PREVAIL ALWAYS!

5-18-2012. . . .THE RIGHTEOUS PREVAIL ALWAYS!

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.  But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee."  (Ps 55:22-23 KJV)  It is the Lord himself who establishes the righteous and He also sustains them especially in times of stress.  Haters, (always present) will be dealt with in due time as the righteous prevail always.

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for establishing the righteous forever.  Prosper us as we stand firm in you!  Deal swiftly with all haters.  Amen!


Ps 68:1-3. . . .Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.  As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.  But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.  KJV



Thursday, May 17, 2012

BE DONE AND MOVE ON!

5-17-2012. . . .BE DONE AND MOVE ON!


"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all" (Ps 34:19 KJV)  The life of the righteous is not without it's challenges and rightfully so.  We too must go through difficulties and problems.  As we go through however, we are assured we will get through because the LORD promised it!  So go through, get through, be done and move on!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for deliverance from all our afflictions.  With the assurance of your promise we endure and press on!  Amen.


Ps 23:4. . . .Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  KJV



Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A POWERFUL RESOURCE!

5-16-2012. . . .A POWERFUL RESOURCE!

"Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results." (James 5:16 TLB)  The righteous always have a powerful resource at their disposal; Prayer!  Not nebulous words falling from our lips, but powerful declarations and request that reach God's ear and prompt His response!  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being on the side of the righteous.  Thank you for hearing and responding to our prayers.  Amen!


Jer 33:3. . . .Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. KJV





Tuesday, May 15, 2012

NO WORRY NO DOUBT!

5-15-2012. . . .NO WORRY NO DOUBT!

"The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.  The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.  (Ps 34:15-17 NIV)  God never takes his eyes off the righteous!  He sees everything that is happening and will in His own time, deliver them out of every trouble.  The righteous need not ever worry or doubt.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for always keeping your eyes on us.  Nothing happens with us or to us that you do not see and respond to when we call.  Thank you for promised deliverance.  Amen!


Prov 11:8. . . .The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead. NIV


Monday, May 14, 2012

IT'S WHO WE ARE!

5-14-2012. . . .IT'S WHO WE ARE!

"For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us!"  (2 Cor 5:20-21 TLB)  God did something for us that we could never do for ourselves!  We who were completely guilty, He declared innocent and made us righteous.  Righteousness is not some concept or facade we put on and take off when it is convenient or for some sideshow for the world.  It's who we are!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for doing for us what we could have never done for ourselves.  Help us daily live out what you made us.  Amen!


Phil 1:10-11. . . . May you always be doing those good, kind things that show you are a child of God, for this will bring much praise and glory to the Lord. TLB





Friday, May 11, 2012

LET GOD DEAL WITH IT!

5-11-2012. . . .LET GOT DEAL WITH IT!

"If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.  But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. [And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.] If we claim we have not sinned, we are lying and calling God a liar, for he says we have sinned."  (1 John 1:8-10 TLB)  Sin is an issue!  God did His part to deal with the issue, the question is, when will we do ours!  Don't let sin continue to be an issue! Confess it and let God deal with it!

PRAYER: We confess our sins to you.  Please forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Amen!


Rom 3:21-24. . . .Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal;  yet now God declares us "not guilty" of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins. TLB



Thursday, May 10, 2012

COME CLEAN TO GET CLEAN!

5-10-2012. . . .COME CLEAN TO GET CLEAN!

"Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  (Ps 51:2-3 NIV)  Only after we are willing to come clean about our sin will we be able to get clean from our sin!   Acknowledge sin to God - Abandon any thought of continuing in sin - Accept God's correction and cleansing!  Come clean to get clean!

PRAYER: Lord, your love for us is steadfast and never changing.  Your mercies are new every morning.  We acknowledge our sins, abandon our intentions and accept your correction and cleansing.  Thank you, Amen!

 Isa 55:6-8. . . .Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call upon him now while he is near.  Let men cast off their wicked deeds; let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy upon them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon! TLB

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

CLEAN IS POSSIBLE!

5-9-2012. . . .CLEAN IS POSSIBLE!

"Come, let's talk this over!" says the Lord; "no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool! If you will only let me help you, if you will only obey, then I will make you rich!  But if you keep on turning your backs and refusing to listen to me, you will be killed by your enemies; I, the Lord, have spoken." (Isa 1:18-20 TLB)  God so willing and loving wants to help us with our sin problem.  We may think we are beyond help, but He doesn't!  Clean is possible!  Allow Him to take the stain away!  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for taking the stain of our sins away.  By your precious shed blood we are clean and made whole.  Thank you.  Amen!


2 Cor 5:17. . . .Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. KJV

5-8-2012. . . .TURN WE MUST!

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  (2 Chron 7:14 KJV)  God has already done His part in dealing with the sin problem.  It is now up to us to do our part.  The question is, do we really want to?  The appeal of sin is like a luscious red apple that appears beautiful on the outside but once bitten, we discover it is rotten to the core on the inside.  It is hard to turn from something we really want, but turn we must!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for doing your part in dealing with the sin problem.  Help us now to do our part and turn from our sins so that you can heal our land.  Amen!


James 1:12-16. . . . And remember, when someone wants to do wrong it is never God who is tempting him, for God never wants to do wrong and never tempts anyone else to do it.  Temptation is the pull of man's own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions and afterwards to the death penalty from God. 16 So don't be misled, dear brothers. TLB



Monday, May 7, 2012

TAKE THE TIME WHILE THERE IS TIME!

5-7-2012. . . .TAKE THE TIME WHILE THERE IS TIME!

"I will judge each of you, O Israel, and punish or reward each according to his own actions. Oh, turn from your sins while there is yet time. Put them behind you and receive a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, O Israel?  I do not enjoy seeing you die," the Lord God says. "Turn, turn and live!"  (Ezek 18:29-32 TLB)  Nowadays, no one wants to talk about are even hear about sin.  God on the other hand has not changed his position on it!  He will judge it and punish us for it if we don't repent.  Take the time while there is time to get it right and make it right!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy!  Help us to never take it for granted and continue in our sins.  Amen!


Ezek 36:26-27. . . . And I will give you a new heart-I will give you new and right desires-and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love.  And I will put my Spirit within you so that you will obey my laws and do whatever I command. TLB



Friday, May 4, 2012

SPEAK AND ACT ACCORDINGLY!

5-4-2012. . . .SPEAK AND ACT ACCORDINGLY!

"Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions."(1 John 3:18-19 TLB)  A mouth will say anything and often does!  The question is, are there actions to back up what the mouth says!  We should never let our mouth write checks our actions can't cash!  Speak and act accordingly!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to speak only those things we are willing to back up with our actions.  Amen!


James 3:13-14. . . .If you are wise, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don't brag about them, then you will be truly wise! TLB



Thursday, May 3, 2012

NO FORK TONGUES!

5-3-2012. . . .NO FORK TONGUES!

"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be." (James 3:10 KJV)  "You speak with forked tongue" is quote from the Indians in the old television western movies.  What they meant was one thing comes out of one side of the mouth and out the other side a different thing!  When blessing and cursing come from the same mouth they nullify each other and render the speaker ineffective and unbelievable.  James said it correctly!  "These things ought not so to be!"


PRAYER: Lord, help us to speak with one tongue and that of only love! Amen.

James 5:12. . . .But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. KJV



Wednesday, May 2, 2012

NOTHING BUT TROUBLE!

5-2-2012. . . . .NOTHING BUT TROUBLE!


He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. (Prov 21:23 NIV)  Having one's foot stuck in one's mouth is quite the precarious position!  Nevertheless, that is exactly the position one assumes who is not careful about what he speaks!  Nothing but trouble can come of it!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to guard our mouths so that what we speak is always worthy of you hearing!  Amen.


Ps 139:3-4. . . .You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.  NIV





Tuesday, May 1, 2012

TELL THE TRUTH!


5-1-2012. . . .TELL THE TRUTH!

"Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." (Ps 34:12-13NIV)  There is never really a good reason to tell a lie, so why do it! It's evil and evil begets evil!  Don't turn good days into bad ones with your mouth!  Tell the truth!

PRAYER: Lord, help us to resolve in our hearts that we will not lie!  May all our days be good days!  Thank you and, Amen!


Ps 120:1-2. . . . I call on the LORD in my distress, and he answers me.   Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. NIV