--from the messages of Adrian Rogers
BIBLE MEDITATION: 1 Peter 1:18-19 - "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ.
"DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I was talking to a man who sold real estate and asked, "What determines the worth of a piece of property?" He said, "What a person is willing to pay for it." It doesn't matter how much you paid for it yourself. It's what a person is willing to pay to have it for himself. That makes me want to shout! You and I must be worth something if Jesus would pay His life to have us for His own. Jesus is the proof of how much we're worth.
ACTION POINT:
Do you know how much you weigh? Call a jeweler or a bank today and ask how much your weight is worth in gold. That's no comparison to your worth in blood.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU WANT!
By: Bishop E. Earl Jenkins
"The reason you don't have what you want is...you don't ask God." James 4:2 TLB
Imagine walking into a restaurant on a whim and asking if your order is ready. "When did you call it in?" the server asks. "Oh I didn't," you reply, "I just thought perhaps you'd have something with my name on it." Sound ridiculous? No more so than expecting God to answer requests you haven't made - or made in faith believing. James says, "The reason you don't have what you want is...you don't ask God." Does that mean He'll automatically give you everything you ask for? No. James adds, "Even when you do ask you don't get it because...you want only what will give you pleasure" (Jas 4:3 TLB). Your motives need to be in tune with what God knows is best for you. John says, "This is the confidence...we have in Him...if we ask anything...according to His will...He...hears" (1Jn 5:14 AMP).
Lamentations 3:25 says, "The Lord is good to those who wait...expectantly for Him" (AMP). Expectant prayer demonstrates confidence in God's goodness. Instead of fretting and taking matters into your own hands, when you say, "Lord, I'm going to trust you with this, regardless of the outcome," He'll honor your faith. Paul says, "Pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks" (Ph 4:6 NCV). Do you need a job? Help overcoming a problem? Salvation for your loved ones? A deeper walk with God? Physical or emotional healing?
Jesus said, "It gives your Father great happiness to give you the [benefits of his] Kingdom" (Lk 12:32 NLT). God wants to be good to you, so tell Him the "desires of your heart" (Ps 37:4 NKJV). And thank Him that the answer will come - in His time!
Monday, September 14, 2009
KING SOLOMON AND THE WEALTH RESOURCE
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By: Latrice Pace
With the instability of today's economy, the pursuit of wealth has seem to become the priority of many. Wealth provides stability and security, that safety net of protection against an unforeseen decline in one's living standard.
Everybody wants to feel safe and secure.
The concept of wealth has varied across time. It can be categorized into three principal categories: personal property (homes or automobiles); income (the accumulation thereof and monetary savings); and the capital wealth of income producing assets (real estate, stocks and bonds).
All of these are of great economic value and an important part of our social classes; However, I believe wealth can be defined as either an abundance of the aforementioned things or resources.
When thinking of resources, the ancient Chinese proverb immediately comes to mind. "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish (equip him with resources) and he will eat for a lifetime." What better resource do we have than King Solomon.
When thinking of resources, the ancient Chinese proverb immediately comes to mind. "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish (equip him with resources) and he will eat for a lifetime." What better resource do we have than King Solomon.
At the age of 12, he ascended the thrown of Israel. God appeared to him and offered to grant him one desire. Honestly, at the age of 12 I probably would have asked for an iPod, puppy, digital camera, a bike, clothes, or video games. Solomon asked for wisdom. Wisdom will not only cause you to acquire these things, but I'll give you insight on how to create your own brand of these things.
Solomon's wisdom outclassed the widely praised wisdom of wise men of the East, outshone the famous wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone. He became famous among all the surrounding nations. He created 3,000 proverbs; his songs added up to 1,005.
Even then he knew the wealth to be acquired in songwriting. Sent by kings from all over the earth who had heard of his reputation, people came from far and near to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.
He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless people and pursuits will have poverty enough. (Proverbs 28:19- Amplified)
Solomon warns us against following worthless people, people with no added value to their life. I'd even say people with no integrity for they will have more than their share of poverty. There are so many schemes today guaranteeing instant riches with little or no work. Those who work hard will reap the rewards of their efforts.The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor. (Proverbs 12:24 - Amplified)
Simply put, there is an old adage which says, "He who has the gold makes the rules."
There are 2,998 other proverbs (resources) we can learn from. Solomon was the richest man who ever lived and was never in pursuit of the wealth and riches he obtained. His true wealth was in his Godly wisdom.
How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?... poverty come like a robber or one who travels [with slowly but surely approaching steps] and your want like an armed man [making you helpless] (Proverbs 9,11- Amplified).
No more procrastination, no more excuses, no more laziness and slothfulness for poverty will surely sneak up on you and render you helpless.
WAKE UP
SEEK GODLY WISDOM
GET A DREAM, A VISION, A PLAN
BE DILIGENTDISCERN: PARTNER/SOCIALIZE WITH SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE
WATCH GOD GIVE YOU INSIGHT AND INSTRUCTION
If any lacks wisdom, let him ask of the giving God who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproach or faultfinding, and it will be given him. (James 1:5- Amplified)
If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You will get His help.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
PRAISE GOD ANYWAY!
By: Mary Southerland
Today's Truth Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (NIV).
Friend To Friend
Someone recently gave me a refrigerator magnet that said, "I know God promises to never give me more than I can handle. But sometimes, I just wish he didn't trust me so much." When trials come and life seems hard, we plead with God to deliver us from the problem when many times his plan is to deliver us in the problem. Praise does not depend upon an understanding of the circumstance or trial. Praise depends upon faith in the God of that circumstance or trial.
As humans, we will never fully understand God - this side of heaven. God is holy and without blemish. God is all powerful and omniscient. He is Creator of the universe and yet lives in you and me. He is the only true, living God! We may understand some of his ways and comprehend the reasoning behind some of his plans. We may even come to the place of knowing him on what we call an intimate level, but a full understanding of God is reserved for heaven. Until then, we walk by faith, not by sight. We praise him in the darkness, knowing that the light is just ahead. We trust him for things we cannot see and praise him in the valleys. Honestly, the thought of serving and relying on a God I can understand is not a reassuring thought.
Most people who know me well would describe me as a strong person, someone who can usually handle what life holds. I thought the same thing until, in 1995, I found myself a powerless, prisoner of the darkness as I battled clinical depression. It took me two long years to climb out of that pit and not a day goes by that I'm not reminded of that wonderful, horrible time. One of the many lessons I learned from my "pit experience" was that I cannot depend upon my own strength or my fickle emotions. God often asked me to praise him when, as far as I could tell, there wasn't a whole lot to praise him for! I didn't feel like praising him. I began to understand that praise is not a feeling but a choice, a step of obedience taken without the assurance of a changed circumstance or the elimination of a trial. Praise focuses on God, not the circumstance, and fixes its gaze upon God's truth and God's character instead of the trial at hand or the one just ahead. That's why we can celebrate the battle before it begins. The outcome is neither our responsibility nor our goal. Praise begins and ends with faith in the very nature, personality and integrity of God ... and that reality never changes. No matter what lies ahead, God is faithful. No matter how hot the fiery trial may be, God will deliver us.
No matter what man says or does, God loves and accepts us. So praise God! Thank him today for every victory tomorrow holds! Celebrate - knowing the battle belongs to God and because of that single truth, victory is certain.
Now It's Your Turn
Begin your "Joy Journal" by recording the daily blessings he gives you each day. Remember to add the "small" miracles as well as the "large" ones. At the end of the week, have a private praise service - just you and God. Thank him for his presence and power at work in your life.
Memorize Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (NIV).
Think about it...
· When I hear the word "praise", what comes to my mind?
· Do I really believe my life can bring God pleasure?
· After reading Psalm 139, how do I think God sees me?
· What are the sources of discouragement in my life?
· What steps do I need to take to eliminate those sources?
Let's Pray
Father, I praise You today for all that You have done in my life. You are faithful even when I am faithless. Your love pursues me even when I am unlovable. Your forgiveness covers my sin and frees me from its penalty. Lord, teach me to praise You. Help me to see and understand the power of praising You in my life. I want to bring You pleasure, Father. I praise You for your love and faithfulness to me. Your presence in my life changes everything, empowering me to live each moment of every day, content in knowing You are in control. As I face today, Lord, remind me that no matters what happens, I can praise You! In Jesus' name, Amen.
More From The Girlfriends
An attitude of praise flourishes when we set our mind on God's joy in us. Joy is a deliberate choice of our mind and will - not an emotion or feeling. Joy is a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control. With that truth tucked into our heart, we can approach every circumstance with praise.
Today's Truth Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (NIV).
Friend To Friend
Someone recently gave me a refrigerator magnet that said, "I know God promises to never give me more than I can handle. But sometimes, I just wish he didn't trust me so much." When trials come and life seems hard, we plead with God to deliver us from the problem when many times his plan is to deliver us in the problem. Praise does not depend upon an understanding of the circumstance or trial. Praise depends upon faith in the God of that circumstance or trial.
As humans, we will never fully understand God - this side of heaven. God is holy and without blemish. God is all powerful and omniscient. He is Creator of the universe and yet lives in you and me. He is the only true, living God! We may understand some of his ways and comprehend the reasoning behind some of his plans. We may even come to the place of knowing him on what we call an intimate level, but a full understanding of God is reserved for heaven. Until then, we walk by faith, not by sight. We praise him in the darkness, knowing that the light is just ahead. We trust him for things we cannot see and praise him in the valleys. Honestly, the thought of serving and relying on a God I can understand is not a reassuring thought.
Most people who know me well would describe me as a strong person, someone who can usually handle what life holds. I thought the same thing until, in 1995, I found myself a powerless, prisoner of the darkness as I battled clinical depression. It took me two long years to climb out of that pit and not a day goes by that I'm not reminded of that wonderful, horrible time. One of the many lessons I learned from my "pit experience" was that I cannot depend upon my own strength or my fickle emotions. God often asked me to praise him when, as far as I could tell, there wasn't a whole lot to praise him for! I didn't feel like praising him. I began to understand that praise is not a feeling but a choice, a step of obedience taken without the assurance of a changed circumstance or the elimination of a trial. Praise focuses on God, not the circumstance, and fixes its gaze upon God's truth and God's character instead of the trial at hand or the one just ahead. That's why we can celebrate the battle before it begins. The outcome is neither our responsibility nor our goal. Praise begins and ends with faith in the very nature, personality and integrity of God ... and that reality never changes. No matter what lies ahead, God is faithful. No matter how hot the fiery trial may be, God will deliver us.
No matter what man says or does, God loves and accepts us. So praise God! Thank him today for every victory tomorrow holds! Celebrate - knowing the battle belongs to God and because of that single truth, victory is certain.
Now It's Your Turn
Begin your "Joy Journal" by recording the daily blessings he gives you each day. Remember to add the "small" miracles as well as the "large" ones. At the end of the week, have a private praise service - just you and God. Thank him for his presence and power at work in your life.
Memorize Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (NIV).
Think about it...
· When I hear the word "praise", what comes to my mind?
· Do I really believe my life can bring God pleasure?
· After reading Psalm 139, how do I think God sees me?
· What are the sources of discouragement in my life?
· What steps do I need to take to eliminate those sources?
Let's Pray
Father, I praise You today for all that You have done in my life. You are faithful even when I am faithless. Your love pursues me even when I am unlovable. Your forgiveness covers my sin and frees me from its penalty. Lord, teach me to praise You. Help me to see and understand the power of praising You in my life. I want to bring You pleasure, Father. I praise You for your love and faithfulness to me. Your presence in my life changes everything, empowering me to live each moment of every day, content in knowing You are in control. As I face today, Lord, remind me that no matters what happens, I can praise You! In Jesus' name, Amen.
More From The Girlfriends
An attitude of praise flourishes when we set our mind on God's joy in us. Joy is a deliberate choice of our mind and will - not an emotion or feeling. Joy is a deeply rooted confidence that God is in control. With that truth tucked into our heart, we can approach every circumstance with praise.
GET IT TO GIVE
Sunday, September 13, 2009
By: Pastor Andre Butler
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" --2 Corinthians 9:8
There is no more important time to line up with God's financial system than now. In this time of financial crisis, many are in fear. They are concerned about how the struggling U.S. economy is affecting them. The thing about fear, though, is that it is selfish. It only thinks about me and mine.
Fear is the opposite of faith, and it is motivated by selfishness which is the opposite of love. Yet, God's Word teaches us that we receive from him by faith and that our faith works by love.
God's financial system works for you when you focus on the needs of others rather than your own. Matthew 6:33 teaches us to 'seek first the kingdom of God' and then 'all these things will be added to you.' Philippians 4:19 has a promise from God to meet all of our needs regardless of what's going on in the economy.
God's ultimate goal for your financial life isn't that you just receive abundantly but that you give abundantly. God's plan for your life is that you be a generous giver-- someone who is so abundantly blessed that you are able to give abundantly for God's purposes. Jesus said in Acts 20:35 that it is better to give than to receive.
God wants you going through life experiencing the superior joy that comes from giving and that is one of the reasons why He wants to get abundance to you. Even more importantly, He's thinking of those who are without in this life, especially those without Him, who will benefit from your generosity.
God understands that for you to be able to give abundantly, you must receive abundantly. You must Get it to Give it! One of my desires is to get to a place financially where I can GIVE $1 million a year for God's purposes. My goal is to give abundantly, not just receive abundantly for my purposes. And when (not if) the time comes that I am receiving from Him on that level, it will be vitally important that I remember the purpose for it coming into my life.
Whatever God has given you, some of it is in your hands simply for you to give to His purposes. Remembering the purpose for the money God has given you is an important step in lining up with God's system. It's when God knows that you truly understand this principle that He will trust you with more.
In this time of recession stop focusing on your financial needs and look around for someone that you can help with whatever God has placed in your hands now. Doing just that will position you to GET even more so you can GIVE more in the days to come!
By: Pastor Andre Butler
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" --2 Corinthians 9:8
There is no more important time to line up with God's financial system than now. In this time of financial crisis, many are in fear. They are concerned about how the struggling U.S. economy is affecting them. The thing about fear, though, is that it is selfish. It only thinks about me and mine.
Fear is the opposite of faith, and it is motivated by selfishness which is the opposite of love. Yet, God's Word teaches us that we receive from him by faith and that our faith works by love.
God's financial system works for you when you focus on the needs of others rather than your own. Matthew 6:33 teaches us to 'seek first the kingdom of God' and then 'all these things will be added to you.' Philippians 4:19 has a promise from God to meet all of our needs regardless of what's going on in the economy.
God's ultimate goal for your financial life isn't that you just receive abundantly but that you give abundantly. God's plan for your life is that you be a generous giver-- someone who is so abundantly blessed that you are able to give abundantly for God's purposes. Jesus said in Acts 20:35 that it is better to give than to receive.
God wants you going through life experiencing the superior joy that comes from giving and that is one of the reasons why He wants to get abundance to you. Even more importantly, He's thinking of those who are without in this life, especially those without Him, who will benefit from your generosity.
God understands that for you to be able to give abundantly, you must receive abundantly. You must Get it to Give it! One of my desires is to get to a place financially where I can GIVE $1 million a year for God's purposes. My goal is to give abundantly, not just receive abundantly for my purposes. And when (not if) the time comes that I am receiving from Him on that level, it will be vitally important that I remember the purpose for it coming into my life.
Whatever God has given you, some of it is in your hands simply for you to give to His purposes. Remembering the purpose for the money God has given you is an important step in lining up with God's system. It's when God knows that you truly understand this principle that He will trust you with more.
In this time of recession stop focusing on your financial needs and look around for someone that you can help with whatever God has placed in your hands now. Doing just that will position you to GET even more so you can GIVE more in the days to come!
GROW IN GOD
Sunday, 13 September 2009
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. —Galatians 4:19
Most Christians do not progress beyond their first experience with God: salvation. They are justified but not sanctified. They are baptized by water but not by His Spirit.
If God intended our relationship with Him to stop at salvation, then we'd get saved and He would immediately take us to heaven. God's intent was for us to get saved, to be conformed to the image of His Beloved Son, and to become mature Christians walking in the Spirit.
Paul said that he travailed in the Spirit until Christ be truly formed in the believers he led to the Lord. Have you had your desire for the things of God renewed lately?
Search yourself and ask some hard questions: Is my relationship with God the same as it was when I first got saved? Do I know Him better? Am I walking closer to Him? Have I received fresh revelation from His Word?
Set your sights higher in God. Don't allow yourself to become satisfied with where you are. Launch out into the deep. Be sanctified, set apart, and made holy by the Spirit of God. Go deeper than you ever imagined yourself going with God.
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