A Daily Walk in the Word with Pastor Larry

2008-11-29T15:13:00.002-06:00

TITLE: Honoring Parents
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 20:12
PASSAGE: Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
THOUGHTS: This commandment doesn’t set an age limit.

It doesn’t say anything about honoring your parents until you hit eighteen or move out of their house.

This commandment doesn’t have an expiration or maturity date. Fulfilling it goes past childhood, past adolescence, beyond the teenage years…..into adulthood. Fulfilling it occurs for the rest of our lives.

What does honoring your mother and father really mean?

Honor places great value on another person.

Biblically speaking, honoring our parents is to give them the same devotion of heart and life in the human realm that we give the Lord in the spiritual realm.

Honor also puts another person in a respected position.

Parents are to be honored because of their position. In His plan, God has established a high regard for parents. But it’s because of their position…..not because of their perfection.

A perfect parent doesn’t exist.

Only perfect children have a right to demand perfect parents.

Even though some parents may not have earned the right to be honored, the highest form of love bestows honor on someone who doesn’t deserve it.

The only way to have real freedom from the effects of a dishonoring parent is to honor that parent.

How can we honor our parents?

First, we can honor our parents by listening carefully to their guidance and direction.

Children of every age needs and can benefit from the wisdom and experience a parent can give.

Second, we can honor our parents by praising them.
Even though we shouldn’t fabricate praise….we should pledge ourselves to look for qualities in our parents that are worthy of praise.

Third, parents can be honored by appreciating them and letting them know you appreciate the efforts and sacrifices they made for you?

Parents, like children, are a priceless treasure.
For a lot of us, we are where we are today and who we are today because of our parents and their influences and efforts. They deserve respect because of their position….. but for most of us…. They’ve earned respect because of what they’ve done for us.

They’ve provided us with life, wisdom, guidance, and instruction. And, for a lot of us, they’ve pointed us toward God.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

2008-10-23T23:56:00.007-05:00

Title: The Enemy's War Against The Family
Scripture: Ephesians 6:4
Passage: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Thoughts: America is in danger of losing an entire generation of young people.

Why???

I believe it's because of a lack of parents standing up and being real parents, rather than friends to their children, and even more specifically, the lack of male leadership in the home.

There is a war against the family with extremely high stakes. And the key to winning this war is leadership.

We need parents, and especially men, to enlist in the war on the family.

Now, if you are a dad, I know you're probably willing to lay down your life for your children.

But my question to you is this: Are you willing to live for your family?
Are you willing to sacrifice your life now for your children?

What our children need today are men of spiritual quality who are devoted to their families… real men who raise their children both with strength and sensitivity, and who are in tune with their children's needs and aren’t afraid to be the parent God expects them to be, even when it is unpopular.

Here are a few ways to do this…

· Don't show favoritism or compare your children to each other.

· Offer encouragement, not discouragement, but direction and instruction.

· Don't force your child to be something he or she is not.

· Spend time with your children as a family. Show them you love them. Love them enough to do the right thing even when it’s the most difficult thing.

· Raise your children with strong spiritual direction. That means we're to provide protection, correction, and instruction.

· Teach them to be accountable for their choices and actions.

As dads, we should have a passion for excellence in parenting.
We have the responsibility to bring our children up with the training and admonition of the Lord.
They need to know about rewards and consequences. But we also need to nourish them.

We only get one chance to raise our kids and someday we will all stand before the Lord and answer for how we’ve raised them.

Children need dads who show affirmation and who are not afraid to say, “I'm sorry.”

They need dads who will teach them the rules, regulations, and provide a moral compass.

Dads.....are you the leader of your house?

Are you God's man in your home?

Parents---are you willing to sacrifice and live for you family?

Then raise them with Biblical standards and hold them up constantly in prayer!

Saturday, September 6, 2008

2008-09-06T00:39:00.002-05:00

Title: Wait On God.....Expectantly
Scripture: Philippians 1:6
Passage: And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Thoughts: Just like this verse says, you can be sure that God has good things planned for your life!!!
Not only are we supposed to wait actively, patiently, and silently for God's best in our lives, we're also supposed to wait expectantly.

We're supposed to live in eager anticipation—looking forward to--- of what God is going to do next.

Don't say, “God, when are You going to start working in my life?” Because He already is working in your life.
It's just a matter of believing it.

Now, the world says seeing is believing. But the Bible says believing is seeing.

We can begin to see how God is working as we wait on Him and trust Him.

But so often we want an explanation for what's going on in our lives.

We ask God why.

I guess it's not wrong to ask God why. Jesus Himself asked God “why” on the cross.

And there are times when we’re to ask for wisdom and direction. God may choose to give us an answer.

But for the most part, the question isn’t “why”.

It’s “how”.

How are we going to respond to what God is doing in our lives?
How are we going to respond to the circumstances of life?
How are we going to allow God to work in us, forming and developing our character?

You know, most Christians are like photographs, they develop best in the dark.

And character is what we are in the dark. Character is who you are when only God is looking.

We need to learn to look past our problems to see the promises of God today.

When we do, we'll become the people that God has called us to be!

THANK GOD FOR HIS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS YET!

ATTENTION:To the Lady who recently E-mailed me

2008-09-06T00:17:00.004-05:00

To the lady who recently e-mailed me thru FlockFinder.com:

I received your e-mail and was anxious to respond but was unable to since your e-mail address was not made available thru FlockFinder.
I've been looking forward to meeting you and hope you'll give us a call or e-mail again soon at Pastor@nffw.org
If your e-mail address is included I would be happy to reply. I would love to talk with you.
You have been in our prayers!

Blessings to you!

Pastor Larry

Sunday, August 24, 2008

2008-08-24T21:34:00.004-05:00

Title: God Is In Control And On His Throne
Scripture: Isaiah 6:1
Passage: In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
Thoughts: Are you worried about the future… about our nation… about our leaders?

You're not alone. According to the Scripture, Isaiah and the rest of the Israelites were really troubled because their earthly king was dead.
They were grieved… and they were worried about the future.

But God gave Isaiah a vision of His glory and holiness.

This prophet describes how he saw Him “sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.”
Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on the throne of the universe.

When Isaiah entered into the presence of the Lord, he realized that there was a greater One than any earthly king sitting upon the throne of the universe. His name is holy God, the Lord of Hosts!

Like the Israelites, it's easy to worry about the future… and wonder what's gone wrong and what will happen next in our world.

But as believers in Jesus, we don't have to wonder!

We don't have to bite our nails and worry because we know that our God is sitting on the throne of the universe.

Remember there’s no worry or panic in heaven… only plans.

God never walks up and down the streets of heaven wondering about what He's going to do next.

So no matter what's going on in your world… no matter how out-of-control things may seem… remember that God is still on His throne!

I want to encourage you to get your mind off the earthly and temporary and fix your eye of faith on your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who is gloriously reigning and ruling on the throne of this universe!

God is in control!!!!!!!!! Amen!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

2008-08-14T21:17:00.003-05:00

Title: Rise Above The Circumstances
Scripture: Genesis 50:20
Passage: ...you intended evil to harm me, but God intended it all for good...
Thoughts: Everybody faces adversity from time to time. Someone loses a job. Bills are due, but there’s no money to pay them. A relationship is strained and in trouble. We feel misunderstood and get stressed out.

How we handle these situations can say a lot about our faith in the Lord.

Look at Joseph. In his case, his problems started the moment he fell for his brothers' "we've got a really neat pit to show you" trick.
They sold him as a slave to some Ishmaelites that were passing through the area in an attempt to get rid "the dreamer" (Genesis 37:19). Finally Joseph was able to gain a good standing with Potiphar and was put in charge of his house. But then later, when things were going pretty good, Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph and then falsely accused him of adultery. Joseph ended up in prison as a result of the lies.

Joseph had plenty of opportunities to complain about the injustices he was facing. He had plenty of chances to complain about the treatment he'd received from his brothers.

He could've easily become bitter when the king's cupbearer was released from prison and forgot about him.
But these kinds of actions and attitudes would have just brought Joseph to complete hopelessness.
Instead, Joseph allowed himself to be used by God to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Then Pharaoh took him out of prison and put him in charge of Egypt, where he organized a plan to store grain before the famine happened.

Finally, Joseph was reunited with his brothers.

What was intended for bad was used by God for good.

Another translation of this Scripture that I like says it like this:
Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it.

Obstacles have the ability to take us out of contention, but we also have the opportunity to rise above them.

We can cry, complain, and live in misery because of our struggles and the circumstances and the adversity we face......and that would be easy to do and..... might even be justified sometimes.

Or we can react like Joseph—allowing God, in His timing, to bring something good out of our circumstances.

Are you allowing God to help you land on your feet?

He loves you and wants to do it. Let Him do it!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

2008-08-07T23:34:00.004-05:00

Title: An Attitude Of Worship
Scripture: Psalm 66:4
Passage: All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.
Thoughts: I want to ask you a question……..
When God looks at your life, does He see genuine worship or does He see a counterfeit?

Does He see something real or something phony?

The bottom line is that each of us were made to worship God.

And until we realize the true purpose in life... which is to worship Him and enjoy Him forever… we’ll always be unfulfilled.

We’ll always be frustrated because worship is the central purpose of life!
It’s impossible to be a productive, positive Christian without participating in meaningful, genuine worship!

And I’m not just talking about corporate worship.

Worship is more than just something we do... worship is a lifestyle!!! Amen??

It’s an attitude that we carry with us every day.

It’s an activity and an attitude that reveals our inner heart and recognizes the value we place on God in our lives.

That’s what worship is!!!!!!

So I want to encourage you and challenge you to make your life a life of worship... an exclamation
and testimony of the glory of God!

Think about this for a moment and take inventory to answer this question… Do you have an attitude of genuine worship?

Monday, July 28, 2008

2008-07-28T23:50:00.002-05:00

Title: Active Worship
Scripture: Psalm 34:1
Passage: I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Thoughts: How do you worship?
Even though there's many ways to worship God, we need to remember that worship is an action.
It's not sitting and watching...........it's something you do!
It's participation. It's not just emotion. It's not a feeling, not a thought process, but it's the active response of your heart, your life, and even your body to God!
If you go to a worship service and watch everyone else worship, you haven't worshipped...
You've become a spectator instead of being a true worshipper. Maybe you grew up in or came from a church where you sang hymns and participated at some level. But, maybe... just maybe... you've never had a genuine experience of encountering the presence of the Holy and Almighty God in true worship.
If not, I want to encourage you to take time today to tell God you desire to be a genuine worshipper. He will honor your prayer because He's made you to worship Him!!!!
You were created so that you might know Him and make Him known. As a Christian, worshipping Him intimately and intensely should be the driving force in your life. That's why I want to encourage you to become a true worshipper of Jesus Christ today....... whether in or out of church!
It's time that we all take an active role in worship by offering God praise all throughout our day!

Do you have a sincere desire to be a worthy servant of the One who's given you eternal love and eternal life??

If so, praise Him for who He is-----and for what He's done and what He's yet to do!!!!

Praise Him all day long, every day, for as long as you live......and then for all eternity!!!

Friday, July 11th

2008-07-11T13:00:00.002-05:00

Title: Making God's Word An Everyday Commitment
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2
Passage: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation....
Thoughts: I just want to remind you today that not only is the Word of God perfect, living, and abiding forever.

Not only is the Word of God unchanging.

Not only is the Word of God absolute truth.

Not only does it have a saving purpose.

But the Scripture also has the power to transform your life!Jesus said in John 17:17, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."

If you want your life to change, saturate your soul and nourish your heart in the Word of God.

The Bible has power to save and to sanctify…….and it also has the power to strengthen.

In the verse for today, the Word of God is described as milk to strengthen and grow us in our faith.Have you tasted the goodness of God from Scriptures?

Have you experienced the grace of God found in His Word?

The Bible is not an ancient book filled with theology about yesterday.

It’s a book that satisfies the longing and hunger of the human heart.

The Word of God strengthens us every day and nourishes our spirit.

Our very life depends upon this Word and truth!So, let me give you some questions to consider.

Do you love God's Word?

Are you obeying God's Word?

If you love it……..you’ll read it.

And if you read it……..you’ll pray it….you’ll think it…you’ll live it….and you’ll share it with others.

Can I get an AMEN from someone!!

Monday, June 30th

2008-06-30T21:46:00.005-05:00

Title: Don't Hold Back
Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11
Passage: '‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’'
Thoughts: Are you afraid to give your whole life to God because you think He will tell you to do something you don’t want or you're afraid to do?

What happens if you hold back part of your life from Him?

Well, think about what it would be like to go out for the basketball or football team and you tell the coach that you only want to come to the practices, but not play in the games.

How do you think the coach or your teammates would react or respond?

Without a doubt they’d be put off by your attitude, wouldn’t they? I mean, if you’re going to be on the team, you should play in the games, right?

It’s sad and unfortunate, but true, that a lot of people today have that attitude about their relationship with God.
They want it on their terms……with all the benefits----but no hassles.

But a relationship with God requires the kind of full commitment that any good relationship does.

God wants your whole life so he can make something extraordinary out of it.

His goal isn’t to make you miserable. If you need a reminder of that, just look at Jeremiah 29:11. '‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’'

So what does that mean?????

It means that God has good plans for your life!!

He knows you better than anyone else does and knows what will fulfill you the most in life.

If you choose any other direction, you’ll be settling for second best. Please don’t.

What a loss that would be. Give Him your all-all of you- today!

Monday June 23, 2008

2008-06-23T22:31:00.003-05:00

Title: Walking With God
Scripture: Genesis 3:8
Passage: "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day........"
Thoughts: God is looking for not only a bride but also a walking partner. From the very beginning, God had a relationship with Adam and Eve where they heard the sound of God "walking in the garden in the cool of the day" (Genesis 3:8).

God created man for the enjoyment of a walking relationship that involved companionship, conversation, intimacy, shared joy and dominion. God longs to walk with you.....thats why his arms of grace have been pulling you into a closer walk with him.

My wife likes to go walking with her friend. They talk the whole time. The walk not only makes exercise fun, but it also deepens their friendship. Jesus went on these kinds of walks with his disciples, and he still likes to walk with us this way today.

The secret place isn't the destination; it's only the catalyst. It's God's design to grow us into an intimate friendship with him that's walked out through the course of our everyday lives. The goal we're trying to achieve is an everyday walk of unbroken communion with our Savior and friend.

Enoch was the first man in the Bible who walked with God:
"After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:22–24).

Even though men began to call upon the name of the Lord in the early days (Genesis 4:26), Enoch was the first man to realize the true pleasure and satisfaction of walking with God. He found something even Adam didn't experience. He pressed into God until he learned how to commune with God through every aspect of life. To find that depth of relationship definitely required an intense spiritual pursuit...... and then when he found it, the Lord made a vivid statement by catching him up to heaven.

By taking Enoch up to heaven, God wasn't trying to get us impressed with Enoch's faith. And He wasn't saying, "If you get to be as spiritual as Enoch, you'll get taken up to heaven, too."

This was a unique experience God used to emphasize a specific point. God's point was, "I love to walk with man! Enoch was the first man to truly walk with me, so I decided to highlight his example by doing something extraordinary with him. I took him up to heaven to emphasize how much I value and desire a daily walking relationship with my chosen ones."

Enoch's example continues to witness to all generations of the great passion God has to walk with man.

When the passion of God captures you, it will ignite you with an intense eagerness to walk with God and to be his friend. Imagine being Enoch and living 365 years—and having this growing relationship with God! You can only imagine what awesome depths of intimacy Enoch uncovered.

Maybe Enoch's heart desired so much for more of God that God grew tired of withholding himself. Maybe God's heart was saying, "Enoch, you love me with such a pure and sweet passion, I don't want to say 'no' to you anymore. I'm going to answer your prayer and show you my face. Come on up!"

As you draw close to God, it's not likely that He'll sweep you up to heaven like he did Enoch.

But he does desire to reveal the beauty of his face to you. As we walk with him, He'll open the Scriptures to us through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and reveal to us the light of the glory of God that's to be found in him.

When we walk with God, we enter the place where God unfolds the secrets of his kingdom.

These are the paths that the saints before us walked. Noah knew the secret of walking with God (Genesis 6:9), and so did Abraham (Genesis 24:40).

Through Christ, you can enjoy the glorious riches of knowing God like they did—and to even a greater degree because of the Spirit that's been given to us!

God wants to walk with us before he works through us. So....he'll wait until he finds the right person that he can work through. To put it bluntly, God works with his friends. When God has a friend, divine activity begins to happen. When God has a useful vessel that's been prepared for His purposes, He'll use that vessel.

God will use the one who walks with him. But he's looking especially for three important qualities; humility, faithfulness, and loyalty. He wants to work with friends who are loyal to him, no matter what. Even when circumstances make things appear that God is unjust, his true friends continue to walk with him. So the Lord may test our loyalty.
When we prove ourselves to be his friends through the greatest storms of life, we qualify as useful vessels.
Jesus was the perfect example of a man who walked with God...... he walked so closely with God that he was always in the Spirit, even when first waking from a deep sleep. When I first wake up, I'm kind of grumpy and quiet. But when they woke Jesus out of a deep sleep, he silenced the storm! How amazing it is to be woke up out of a dead sleep and be instantly in the Spirit.

The secret place is where we develop a walking relationship with God. We have to develop a secret history with God before he gives us a public history before people. Hidden in the secret place, we learn what he's looking for in friends, and we find out what pleases him.

Jesus told us that he confides his kingdom purposes to his friends (John 15:15).

Lord, I want to be your friend, your confidant, loyal to the death. I want to walk with you, talk with you, listen to you, hear your heart, and do your will.

Teach me Lord, to walk with you!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

2008-06-19T21:18:00.003-05:00

Title: This Little Light Of Mine
Scripture: If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Passage: Romans 12:8
Thoughts: Remember the song “This Little Light of Mine”? “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine . . .” As children, it taught us that we should show that we love Jesus. As adults, I think it has even more meaning—I think it applies to our spiritual gifts. It’s easy to run away from our spiritual gifts—as the song says, to “hide it under a bushel.” It’s not necessarily because of the gifts themselves, but because of the risk involved. What if I mess up??? Will God be disappointed with me? What will people think about me?
But you know what....... it’s not about me. God’s Word clearly tells us that God has given us these gifts for a purpose, and if we have them, we need to use them!!!!
I’ve had to remind myself that it doesn’t matter what people may think......but what God thinks.
When you're willing to put yourself out there, and are willing to let your light shine you might find it can change your ministry and change your heart.
Yes, it feels risky—but who wants to live under a bushel, really!
So.... if God has blessed you with the ability to encourage others or show kindness, look for the extra step you can take to help someone. If God has blessed you financially, then use your money for his purposes-to further His Kingdom. And if God has given you the gift of leadership, get up, start moving, and find ways that you can lead others. Stop following and start leading. God has gifted you for a reason. Avoid bushels. Trust him to use you.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

2008-05-07T22:40:00.002-05:00

Title: Being An Effective Witness For Christ
Scripture: Acts 1:8
Passage: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.
Thoughts: We learn that the believers in the early church had a deep commitment to bringing others to Christ. They shared the gospel with those who lived nearby in their own city of Jerusalem… and also with those who lived further away, even in distant nations. And they were really effective! Despite strong opposition and persecution, members of the early church were consistent in sharing their faith and they made a huge impact for Christ! So let me ask you today… are you doing all you can to bring others to Christ? If you're feeling that you could do more, I encourage you to get on your knees before the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to come upon you and help you to become a more effective witness for Christ. Remember, it’s only the Lord who can change hearts! And you need to rely on Him to give you the wisdom, the Holy boldness, and the opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus with those around you.
To become a truly effective witness for Jesus begins with asking the Holy Spirit to help you.

2008-05-06T22:08:00.002-05:00

Title: Run to Jesus
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6
Passage: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Thoughts: If you know Jesus as your personal savior then you can experience peace today. No matter what it is that you’re dealing with--maybe it's a stressful family situation, health concerns, issues going on at work, or even lack of work--you can still find what the Bible tells us is "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding..."Jesus is the source of all peace-in Isaiah 9:6 He’s called the Prince of Peace!!!!
You need to run, not walk, not crawl or jog, but run to Him in times of crisis & need. Then, and only then, you’ll find the peace you desperately need. There, and only there, you find the peace that will comfort and sustain you.John 14:27 tell us that Jesus said "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." We all face times of crisis and need, no matter who you are. None of us are exempt. But remember, you have a choice in those times of trouble to try to carry your burden alone………..or to run to the Prince of Peace and allow Him to help you.
Those of you who know us understand that our family has and is experiencing some heavy situations, but I’m not carrying these burdens myself-I can do nothing aside from Him, so I want to encourage you also, like me, to run to Jesus to let Him help you... no matter what it is that you're going through! In time of anxiety or troubles we can find the supernatural peace of knowing, trusting and running to Jesus.

2008-05-05T22:21:00.003-05:00

Title: Trust In The Lord
Scripture: Proverbs 3:5
Passage: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Thoughts: You'll experience rough territory as you travel the path of life. But when the storm clouds start to roll in, it's important to put your trust in the Lord.The apostle Paul was caught in pretty scary situations time after time. But he always reminded himself of God's character and His promises, and he was able to rise above his circumstances with an unwavering trust in God. I can tell you from experience, there are times when it's very difficult to understand His will... especially when you're in the middle of a crisis. But let me encourage you! When the sky gets dark and the thunder rolls and the lightening claps...... don't panic! Ask God to help you to look past the storm and remember that He's with you in the middle of the storm. Remember to take your refuge in Him, just like David did in times of crisis: Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in you, and in the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge until these calamities have passed by (Psalm 57:1).
God offers hope and peace for you when you trust Him and make Him your refuge.

2008-04-30T23:25:00.002-05:00

Title: Prayer Will Get You Through
Scripture: John 16:24
Passage: Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Thoughts: We're living in challenging days that can cause us to get off track as a Christian and lose our focus. Maybe you're asking yourself, "Where is my life going? What is my purpose?" Well, let me ask you... have you truly experienced the awesome power of prayer in your life? Maybe you aren't focusing on the most important thing as a believer--your own personal relationship with the Lord. I believe that more than ever, we have to spend time on our knees in prayer... not only for situations in our own lives, but also for those around us. When you're trying to dig your way through the mess of life, it's prayer that will get you through. Without prayer, you'll never know the provision, the peace and the power you desperately need! I want to remind and encourage you today that prayer dramatically changes situations. So be sure not to remain silent, but to boldly bring your requests to Him!
As we face the challenges in this life, we have to remember that prayer is what will get us thru.

DON'T FORGET THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, THURSDAY, MAY 1ST!!!!!!!!!

2008-04-29T22:48:00.003-05:00

Title: Lift Your Voice To Praise Him In The Hard Times
Scripture: Hebrews 13:15
Passage: Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Thoughts: Paul and Silas were two great examples of men who praised the Lord despite their circumstances. Even being in prison, they lifted their voices to God in praise (Acts 16:25)! Even though we may never be imprisoned for sharing the gospel, the Bible says that we will have hard times in this life. The question is this----how will you choose to respond when those hard times come? Learning to praise the Lord in every circumstance is so important. It doesn't mean that you're happy about the situation... or that you're denying the problem you're facing. It just means that you're making a choice to remember who God is in the middle of your crisis, and you're lifting Him up above the situation. You're boldly declaring that He has power and wisdom in every situation... and that's something to be thankful for! So the next time you're faced with one of life's storms, remember to lift your voice in praise to God. As you do, you'll experience peace and strength that aren't your own.

2008-04-28T22:46:00.002-05:00

Title: Risking Rejection
Scripture: Isaiah 53:3
Passage: He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief...
Thoughts: The Christian life has always been a high-risk life. It's not for the weak. Barnabas and Paul were "men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 15:26). And even today in many countries, Christians are still risking their lives by following Jesus. In our culture, you probably don't run the risk of being killed for your faith... but you will run the risk of being rejected and having your faith rejected by others. Sometimes that's enough to make Christians silent. They're afraid of rejection, so they choose not to share their Christian convictions. I think we need to be people with enough courage and Holy boldness to take a stand for our Christian faith--and speak the truth of God's Word even if that will cause rejection at times. We have to be prepared to take a few knocks for what we believe! God never said it would be easy---just worth it! Paul said of his sufferings for the sake of the gospel, "I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed..." (2 Timothy 1:12). When you're convinced of what you believe, you can well handle the opposition that will inevitably come. Don't let the fear of rejection silence you! Be prepared to take a risk... to speak up, boldly and out loud, about your faith... even if it does bring you rejection!
To truly and completely follow Jesus, you risk rejection.
But remember that He was rejected too.......for YOU!

2008-04-24T21:32:00.000-05:00

Title: Living A Great Life For Jesus
Scripture: Acts 6:8
Passage: And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
Thoughts: Stephen was a giant when it comes to our faith. He was a man of impeccable character and commitment, and the Bible says that his face glowed like an angel! What was this man's secret, that he could live such an outstanding life and die such a courageous death? I think there are several characteristics that helped Stephen be the godly man that he was... here are just three that each of us can imitate:
Integrity: Stephen was a man of "good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom" (Acts 6:3). Even though his enemies despised him, they respected the holy man of God that he was. Servanthood: Stephen was actively involved in serving widows and those in need among the Christian community. His compassion was known to everyone... and even with his last breath-his dying breath-he was forgiving those responsible for his death (Acts 7:60).
Tenacity: Stephen boldly preached the gospel and stood firm in his faith, regardless of the threats, intimidation, or violence of his persecutors.
If you're like me, I know you want more than anything to please the Lord in all you do.
But this requires the kind of impeccable character that Stephen had!

2008-04-22T22:39:00.000-05:00

Title: Be A Witness For God
Scripture: Mark 16:15
Passage: And He said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
Thoughts: You don't have to be a preacher, a missionary, or Televangelist to be a strong witness for Jesus. You don't even have to have all the answers! God has empowered you through His Holy Spirit to be a witness for Him and He will give you the words you need... at the right moment... that will speak to the heart of the person you're witnessing to. Every time you witness, you'll become more effective, and more confident in your witness. You just need to be willing and available to share the hope that you know and have experienced in Jesus Christ... and the Lord will do the rest! If you're a Christian, you have a testimony of how Jesus has changed your life. You've experienced times when your prayers were answered, or when Scripture gave you direction or comfort at an important time. That's your story... and that's what people around you need to hear! I want to challenge you to ask the Lord to give you a Holy boldness, and start to share your faith with others. You'll be amazed at how God will use you to be a witness for Him!
Your testimony of how God is at work in your life is so powerful!

Tuesday, April 22

2008-04-21T22:35:00.000-05:00

Title: Discern The Voice Of Truth From Deception
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
Passage: ...Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness....
Thoughts: Alot of people are clueless when it comes to understanding the manipulation that Satan uses to attack and defeat them. And the main weapon he uses to do this is deception. False religion and witchcraft run rampant in our culture. Sometimes they can seem to appear so appealing and even godly... but yet their source is from the enemy! Jesus warned us about the satan and his schemes, saying, "He is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). He'll use any scheme or opportunity to draw people away from the truth. The challenge for us is to be so thoroughly immersed in the Word of God, and to walk so closely with Jesus, that we know His voice. This is absolutely necessary to be able to recognize, and avoid following, the voice of a stranger (John 10). I want to encourage you today... be on your guard! There are many voices claiming to be the truth, but keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and you'll avoid falling into the trap of deception.
Immerse yourself in God's word and his presence and you will know the voice of truth from deception.

Saturday April 12

2008-04-12T00:12:00.000-05:00

Title: Stay Connected To God Thru Prayer
Scripture: Acts 4:31
Passage: And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Thoughts: The secret to experiencing God's power is through prayer. As this Scripture tells us, God moved powerfully because of the prayers of the early church. In the same way, we need to stay connected to God by prayer so that we can allow Him the opportunity to move in our hearts... and open the door for Him to show His power through us. For example, maybe you're in a situation today where there seems to be no way out. Maybe you're in an tough place that doesn't seem to have an answer. Whether your marriage is in trouble or your finances are falling apart, there's power, comfort, and wisdom in God through prayer. And as you take your request to God, other people will see the work of His power and peace in your life. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I pray today that you'll show off God's power in your life as you submit to Him in prayer... and as His peace and power is seen in you!

Friday April 11

2008-04-11T16:07:00.000-05:00

Title: Trust God In Everything

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Passage
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Thoughts
Someone once wrote, "Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation." Think about that for a moment. But for alot of us there are times when we can't fully understand all the things that are going on in our lives. There are things that don't make sense to us. There are painful times that can sometimes make us question God's plan for us. But it's in those times that we have to fully trust God. To have a faith that is without reservation!!!!!!! And how do you do that??? By understanding the truth in Romans 8:28-29: "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." God is working things together in your life...taking the forces and the circumstances and the situations of your life and working them all together for your good. That's why you can fully trust God...even when things are not going as you had hoped. Yes, God DOES have an incredible plan for your life...and that plan is truly your purpose. Trust God to work everything in your life together for your good.

Thursday April 10

2008-04-11T16:05:00.000-05:00

Title: Victory Over Evil Warfare

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Passage
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Thoughts
I think there are so many Christians who don't really understand the reality of the evil forces at work to undermine their walk with Christ. First, we need to recognize the reality of the spiritual forces that are at work against us. You are a target of the enemy forces who want nothing more than to see you fail in your Christian walk! And second, you have to live in the victory of Jesus over those forces. His power is in you and me... in the words that we speak and in the message that we claim. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." This means that Jesus has ultimate power over Satan and his demonic forces. So I want to challenge to you today to live in light of the evil spiritual forces at work against you to ruin your life. As you do this, claim the victory that is yours in Jesus over those forces! VICTORY is yous!!

Wednesday April 9

2008-04-11T16:03:00.000-05:00

Title: Signs and Wonders?

Scripture: John 4:48

Passage
So Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe."

Thoughts
Human nature hasn't really changed much since Jesus walked the earth 2,000 years ago. Back then people wanted a sign...a miracle...from Jesus. They wanted something they could see to believe in Him. And alot of people are the same way today! So many people say they'd believe in Jesus if only He'd show Himself physically...if only He'd come through miraculously in their lives. But when Jesus said, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe," He was saying, "Don't wait for a sign to believe and trust in Me. Don't wait on some miracle. Don't demand that I perform for you in order for you to believe in Me." You might be struggling to trust Jesus today in your life. Even though I don't know what you might be facing today, I want to challenge and encourage you to trust Him even if you can't see Him in your circumstances right now. Jesus had no confidence in the kind of faith that demands sight. Because faith that demands sight is not real faith! It's just doubt expecting evidence! I know it's hard to understand this, but alot of the time you just can't figure God out. There will be times when you can't see in the dark. There will be times when you just have to keep clinging, singing, and bringing your heart to God by FAITH........And this may be that kind of time in your life. I know it's hard....I've been there too. But Jesus wants to get you to that place in your life where it's not about the miracle...but all about Him. He wants to get you to that place where you're willing to trust Him....regardless of the outcome. So, if you find yourself in a place today where you need a miracle, look to Jesus. As the writer of Hebrews says, "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted" (Heb. 12:2-3). It's my prayer that this encourages you to trust Jesus today, no matter what you face. Because He is fully trustworthy! TRUST CHRIST TODAY...EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SEE HIM IN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.