February 12 I can’t do this alone!

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Robert Springer

1 Peter 5:6-9 (NIV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Does it sometimes seem that you have more things to do than you can manage? Sometimes we face challenges that are beyond the knowledge we have. You feel unable to manage. There is a voice in your head that tells you will never be able to accomplish your goal. It looks like more than you can do. At least, in your own power. But that’s just it; you don’t have to do things in your own power. You can cast your anxiety on Jesus. He loves and cares for you and will help you. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

Peter is warning us about our enemy. He warns us that the devil is on the prowl for someone whom he can devour. He tells you to resist the evil one. Do you think you have that power? If you do, you are mistaken. The only way you can resist is through Jesus power. Ask Jesus to be your shield.

The biggest thing that prevents you accomplishing the things in front of you is you! Something in your mind tells you that you cannot do it. The enemy does everything in his power to distract you from your goals. All he need do is whisper and you begin to doubt. He does not have to prowl too far to make you think less of yourself. How will you handle him? Will you give in to doubt? You shouldn’t! He that will help you with the challenges will give you the strength to stand your ground. Faith in God gives you His Spirit which can help you stand firm. God is for you. Who dares be against you? You are His Masterpiece. Let no one doubt you. Make sure you don’t doubt yourself.

Lord, we look to You for our strength. Remind us that You are for us and walk with us. Be our shield and protect us. When we doubt, remind us that we are Yours made in Your image and likeness. Help us to be like You. In Your name we pray! Amen!

Posted in Quality of Life | Comments Off on February 12 I can’t do this alone!

February 10 Being That Help!

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Robert Springer

Psalm 69 Selected Verses 13-16(NIV)
13But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.14 Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink;……
16 Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

Are you afraid to ask for help? If you ask and they refuse, what would be the result? Would you be embarrassed? Probably. Is that a reason not to ask? Whom should you ask for help? Should you ask a difficult task of a stranger? Proverbs 18:24 says 24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. If you ask the wrong person, odds are it won’t get done. Who is that one who sticks closer than a brother that you can always ask for help?

There are several answers that could fit here. Some of us have made friends that stick closer than a brother. I had such a friend. That takes time. You have to allow them time to prove their commitment over the years. Proverbs mentions “a” friend who sticks closer than a brother. That is the Lord. In Him, we can always put our trust because He will answer you out of the goodness of His love. Through His guidance, we can also find earthly brothers and sisters who will walk with us and share blessings and burdens. That is important. While we all want someone to share a burden, it is very disappointing when we have great success and no one is there with whom we can celebrate. Either way, we were never meant to walk alone. Some people say they are self-made. That is another way of saying lonely. Do you walk alone? In whom do you put your trust? What if you knew one who was always ready, willing and able to share burden and blessings? You do!

Last night when I came out from my Bible Study, there was a man scraping the ice off my windshield. I had not asked him for help yet there he was doing me a good service. WOW. A random act of kindness! I thanked him and received the blessing. I am not good at receiving so this was special for me. What if you could give that feeling to others? What if you could lend assistance to someone before they even ask? That changes everything. Here is what I am suggesting. Look for people you can help. Be a friend to those around you. Shine your light in the dark places. Someone you meet today will be lonely and need a friend, a kind word, a thoughtful deed. Maybe they just need someone to listen. You have those blessings in you; why not let it out? Be a blessing today. Write me back and let me know how it went.

Lord, thank You for the gifts and talents You give us. Help us to use them for the benefit of others and to Your glory. Make us bold to step out and share Your love. In Your name we pray!

Posted in Relationships | Comments Off on February 10 Being That Help!

February 9 Just ask for help!

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Robert Springer

Numbers 11: Selected Verses        10-17
10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me……..
16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. …………and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

Have you ever thought “I can’t do this!” I know I have. I have a bad habit of not being able to say no. I want to do everything that I see but I cannot. My friend Brock always asks me “what am I going to give up in order to be able to take on something new?” I know that question so well that I ask it myself even before Brock gets his chance.

In the Book of Numbers, the Lord instructs Moses about how his burden can be reduced. James tells us that “we have not because we ask not.” Do you take on more than you should? Are you able to ask for help?

It seems that it is human nature to take on too much or at least a part of our culture. But it is not always our decision. Moses carried this burden because the Lord called him to lead Israel. Either way, we were never made to carry these things all by ourselves. Back in Genesis, God said “It is not good for man to be alone.” Because of that, God created a suitable helper because He did not want Adam to be overwhelmed. God wants to help. All you need do is ask. But if you’re like me, you don’t ask. Do you realize that God will bring you help to share the burden? You are important to Him. He wants to make your burden easier and help you accomplish that which He has destined you to do. Go ahead, ask Him! He loves you and wants to help. He is waiting to hear from you. Ask Him!

Father, thank You that You always stand ready to come to our aid whenever we call. Help us to know when to call. You said You would never leave nor forsake us and You are faithful. But we must ask before You will come. Help us to include You in our lives and ask You to walk with us. In Jesus name we pray!

Posted in Quality of Life | Comments Off on February 9 Just ask for help!

February 8 Religion vs. Christ

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Robert Springer

Luke 10:25-37 (NIV) The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Do you follow the letter of the Law or the Spirit of the Law? At that time, there were around 600 laws or traditions that the people had to follow which was quite a burden. Most of these were man-made by experts in the Law. In the story Jesus told, a Priest and a Levite both passed by the injured man because, to touch him, would have made them unclean according to the ceremonial law. The next passerby was a Samaritan who stopped to help.

Was that the right thing to do in your opinion? Let’s dig a little further. According to the Ceremonial Law, for either the Priest of the Levite to touch the man would have made them unclean and unable to perform their duties in the Temple. That would mean they were unable to serve God. What was more important for them; to serve God or this stranger by the side of the road? Now it seems a little more complicated. Maybe the two passers-by did what they thought was right. What does Jesus ask us to do? Here is the interesting part. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 (NIV) 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. So Jesus should have said that what the Priest and Levite did was within the Law and correct but He didn’t. He talked about loving your neighbor. Now I am really confused! Do I love God or do I love my neighbor? Yes!

Jesus came to fulfill the Law; the Ceremonial Law. The Law was provided out of love to guide us in the right path. If we take the loving path that God intended for us, all else will work out correctly. If you love your neighbor, you will not lie, cheat, steal, covet or any of the other bad things. So love comes first. Everything God has done for us is a result of His love for us. God created us for relationships with Himself and with each other. The Samaritan was more concerned about loving his neighbor than following a bunch of rules. That was what God really wanted to start with. We just became legalistic and tried to see who could be first in the Kingdom by following the Law.

Do you want to check off a box or do you want to live a life that makes a difference? The Lawyer in this story thought righteousness came from the Law. He was wrong. Righteousness only comes from trust in Jesus. We have none on our own. All we can do is love others as Jesus loved us. There are still Good Samaritans. My hope for you is that you can be one of them. Look for someone to serve that can do nothing for you in return. Pay it forward! As Pastor Don Feuerbach said, put down religion and pick up life! Go now and be the blessing you are!

Father, we thank You that You are teaching us how to obey the Spirit of the Law rather than the letter of the Law. We thank You that You said love comes first. Help us to love as You love. In Your name we pray! Amen!

Posted in Relationships | Comments Off on February 8 Religion vs. Christ

February 7 Who’s Lookin’ Out For You? Do You Have Protection? My Big Brother

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Robert Springer

Numbers 10 (NIV) The Silver Trumpets
The Lord said to Moses: 2 “Make two trumpets of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. ……….
8 “The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come. 9 When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies. 10 Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.”

Who is watching out for you? When you were a kid, did you have a protector? I became friends with Carmen (Name was changed to protect the innocent. Who am I kidding; it is actually his real name because there were no innocent.) when we first entered Kindergarten just a few years back. At that time, Carmen was 1/3 again as large as the next biggest kid in school. There was a sizeable difference. To us, he may as well have been Goliath! He had respect before he said a word. And I was lucky enough to be his friend and he, mine! That remained all through our lives until yesterday when, as they say “Until death do us part.” Since I am still writing this, it is obviously Carmen who went to be with the Lord. I had trouble deciding on the title so I kept them all.

What if you could go through life knowing you had “protection”? I know, it sounds like the Godfather. Knowing that someone much stronger, wiser, smarter than you stood close behind ready to come to your aid at a moment’s notice? Would you live more confident? Would you be bolder? Would you try more things? What would you do if you knew you had all the support needed to succeed?

The Lord your God is that protection. He goes before you leveling out peaks and valleys. He puts the right people in your path and gives you favor with them. His hedge of protection surrounds you like a shield. Speaking of a shield, a friend gave me a medallion about wearing the full armor of God. One of the pieces of armor is the shield of Faith. Maybe you don’t have very much faith and you are worried you don’t have enough. Maybe you don’t believe in God. That’s OK; He believes in you! No matter where you go, no matter what you do, God waits for you to sound the trumpet so He can come and rescue you. That should give you the confidence you need to live with excellence.

So today was not a great day for me. I am way behind in my writing. My mind is cloudy and my eyes are red and burning. I am suffering great loss! I’m not sure whether to blow the trumpet in need of support or for celebration that I had such a friend. But if you listen carefully, you can hear the trumpet blasts. The first is my cry for comfort for my (our) loss. The second is for the rejoicing of the angels about the arrival of my buddy. Thank you Lord for long term friendships.

Father, I thank You for a lifetime of friendship and love. Thank You that You gave me such a friend. Thank You for a lifetime of blessings and memories. Please walk with me and Chris as we grieve our loss. But, let Your Spirit remind us of our gain in having him to begin with. In Jesus name I pray.

Posted in Grief | Comments Off on February 7 Who’s Lookin’ Out For You? Do You Have Protection? My Big Brother

February 6 Getting to Know You

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Robert Springer

2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Why believe in and turn to God’s Word? Most people in our current society say it is irrelevant. It was written thousands of years ago. How could it apply to our lives today? If the Bible was just a nice story, why would it include the failures and imperfections of its people? Wouldn’t you make them all perfect and the story nice? In the first few chapters, we see disobedience and jealousy rear their ugly heads.

Firstly, we must address the authenticity of the Bible. Can we believe it is the inerrant Word of God? I do! I am not skilled in apologetics. Apologetics is the branch of Christianity that deals with the defense and establishment of the Christian faith. I just feel it in my bones. Peter told us (1 Peter 3:15) we should always be ready to defend our faith so here goes. The Bible was written (recorded) by 40 different people from diverse areas over 1500 years. They all wrote in their own way but recorded exactly what God intended. The message is the same even though recorded by 40 different people over 15 centuries. Moses told the story of Creation. How? He was not there. He recorded what God revealed to him. Everything lines up without contradiction. One challenge to this is the different genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. It is believed that the Luke genealogy is that of Mary, Jesus Mother, showing both sides of Jesus line are through David. Have you ever played a game called telephone where each person whispers a phrase to the next person in the circle? Then, you compare the last person’s take on the phrase to the first usually with hilarious results. If the Bible was not God-breathed, it would be like that game. Also, if it were purely a story, the authors would not have revealed all the faults of their characters. Archeology confirms the existence of many of the characters included in the Bible. Science again proves faith.

To read God’s Word is to begin to understand the character of His heart. He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden that He had created for them. Everything they needed was contained there. Right from the beginning, God showed His kindness, grace and compassion. He told them not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because He knew what would happen to them; they would surely die (spiritually). God chose to lead by example. He walked with them in the Garden showing the proper way to go but they chose disobedience. He walked with mankind again in Galilee and tried to get people back on track with the Spirit of the Law rather than the letter of the Law. That ended badly; or did it? For those of us who believed in Him, it gave us back what was lost in the garden. God’s glory was returned to us by the carpenter from Nazareth. We now have access to the Tree of Life! He has given us the right to become Children of God!

I call this Encouragement Daily so how should this be encouraging to you? If you read the Bible, you see, time and time again, mankind falling down in sin. You also see God picking them up each time, reviewing the lesson they should have learned and helping them to try again. My Dad must have learned that from God. I am from the “wait ‘til your father gets home” generation. When I messed up as a kid, Dad’s response would be “you’ll do better next time.” He verbally picked me up, dusted me off and said try again. That is what I would like you to see in the Bible. Your Heavenly Father always waiting to help you succeed wildly or do better next time. Failure is not fatal. He loves you beyond all you can imagine. (“For God so loved the world….”) If you delve into the Bible, you will learn God’s heart. If you follow it, all will go well with you. Remember, you will still have difficulties but God will lead you through the valley (of the shadow of death) to the table He has prepared for you on the other side. The Bible and its truth can be the source of your strength. Dig into His Word and when you know Him, share Him with others!

Into Your Word we’re digging deep to know out Father’s heart.
Into the world we’re reaching out, To show them who You are.    Thrive by Casting Crowns

Thank You Lord that You have given us Your Word to lead and guide us in the best way for us. Thank You that You redeem us and bid us, try again. Thank You for Your love, grace, compassion and mercy which surround us like a shield. In Your name we pray and give You praise!

http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-authors.html

Posted in Faith | Comments Off on February 6 Getting to Know You

February 5 Dying to Self

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Robert Springer

John 12:24New International Version (NIV)
24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

If a seed remains on the shelf, it suffers no distress. It also won’t become anything other than the seed it already is. It doesn’t give up anything but it doesn’t gain anything either. There is always a sacrifice that needs to be made. If a seed is planted, it has to be placed in the dark place which loses all comfort. There are people walking on top of it. It is in the dark and the dirt. It appears as if it had died. One seed, once planted, can yield a plant that will yield 50-100 seeds so it can multiply immensely; but only if it sacrifices itself. Many people want the fruits but are not willing to go through the process. The process is important!

Jesus was in Bethany several days before Passover. As was His custom, He was teaching His disciples. Philip and Andrew asked Him if he would speak to some Greeks who requested to speak with Him. His answer did not exactly fit the question. It seems His speaking with them would plant seeds that would yield a great harvest. Are you speaking with people and planting seeds?

Jesus is the picture of a seed dying to itself and giving life to so many. He is the picture of the need for the perfect sacrifice to cover our sin. He was placed in the ground where he remained for three days. Then, he rose again showing the seed would blossom into many more seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it and the one who loses his life will keep it for eternal life. The seed of eternal life was planted more than two thousand years ago and still yields new life daily. What will He yield in you today?

Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice that is still producing new life to this day. Teach us to love You more than life itself and, in so doing, gain glory for You and eternal life for us. Also, let our life bring others to saving grace in You. In Your name we pray!

Posted in Grace and Mercy | Comments Off on February 5 Dying to Self

February 4 Be Thankful

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Robert Springer

Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV) Final Exhortations

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Do you rejoice always? Does your inward attitude always reflect your outward situation? When Paul wrote this, he was in prison. If anyone had reason to have a bad attitude, it was Paul. Yet he urged us to be joyful always. I have a hat that says “Attitude is Everything”. It is true. It does not matter what is happening to you but how you respond.

What is true joy? True joy in knowing we rest in Christ Jesus and that He remains in us. If you remember that Jesus is your Advocate and wants the best for you knowing He is capable of bringing it about, why worry? Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you. You may have heard it said that worry is a waste of the imagination. Luke 12:25 (NIV) says 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? So, what will worrying do for you? Nothing!

Remember that part about praying unceasingly? Here it is again. “But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Not just the big things but all things; in everything. Don’t forget to celebrate yourself. He does!

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul’s advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Instead of worrying, pray. Do not be anxious. Be thankful for what you have knowing that God will provide all you need so there is no reason to worry.

How shall we live our days? In prayer with thanksgiving! Be thankful today!

Lord, thank You that You give us reasons to be thankful. Your protection should be enough to keep us from all anxiety. Help us to remain in Your peace with You the focus of our attention. In You, we find rest. In Your name we pray!

 

Posted in Prayer | Comments Off on February 4 Be Thankful

February 3 His Grace is Sufficient!

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Robert Springer

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Do you take offense when someone speaks badly to you? How about when they insult you? No one likes to be criticized, do they? Apparently Paul had a different outlook toward insults. Paul thought it was a good thing. If you are not making a difference, no one notices you. It is only when you are on track and making a difference for God that you will fall under attack. Without the shield of God’s grace, you are vulnerable.

Paul spoke about his shortcomings and how he was being blessed by God’s grace in those shortcomings. He recognized that he had faults and it was God’s power and direction which led him to the places he needed to go to fulfill God’s plan. Are you being led by God? When you are in God’s power, you become strong beyond what you can imagine.

Do you work within God’s grace? When you are working in His grace, things go well. Many times, we try to do things in our own power and that doesn’t work out. When you are surrounded by the shield of God’s grace, you are protected, strengthened and guided. Everything you need is given to you. His grace is truly sufficient for all your needs.

Lord, Help us to live as one filled with, surrounded by and covered with Your grace! Let us work in Your power and not our own. By Your Spirit, guide us in Your ways today and every day. In Your name we pray! Amen!

Posted in Grace and Mercy | Comments Off on February 3 His Grace is Sufficient!

February 2 Ask and You Shall Receive

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Robert Springer

James 4:1-3 (NKJV) Pride Promotes Strife
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Do you ask for the things God desires for you? Not for the things you want but the things God wants for you.

I had an e mail from someone on behalf of someone else who is no longer able to receive my devotionals because of the volume of e mails they get. I don’t know what made me ask her (actually, it was the Spirit) but I sensed that she might like to receive them. The response was “Actually, YES!  I didn’t dare ask.” She included the verse, “you have not because you ask not.” Isn’t that interesting? We know that we could ask but don’t. Why not? God wants us to be bold in our requests. He desires to bless us and yet we do not ask.

We go through life not getting things that would bless us and others around us because we do not ask for those things. You are a child of the Most High God. He has treasures stored up for you that are meant for your good. If He blesses you, chances are good those blessing will benefit those around you. It is like the H&R Block commercial with the warehouse of money just waiting for someone to claim it. Claim your blessings! Psalm 37:4 says “4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” That does not mean God will give you anything you desire. It means God will place desires in your heart that are His will for you; things that are good for you. You will want what God wants for you. You will be following His path for your life. When you follow His will, you will be blessed! So ask God to give you the desires of your heart and believe, boldly, that He will answer!

What is Your will for us? What blessings have You stored up for us that we do not yet have? We know You have great plans for us. Please help us to be bold in asking for these blessings in Your name. Amen!

Posted in Faith | Comments Off on February 2 Ask and You Shall Receive

February 1 You are amazing!

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Robert Springer

Philippians 4:12b-13
12 ….. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

If someone told you that you would be asked you to do certain things for which you have no training, you would tell them it is impossible. You would deny the ability to accomplish that goal or task. After all, you don’t know how to do what you have been asked to do.

My best friend is in the end stages of ALS. His wife (who is probably tied with my wife for second best friend because we have known each other so long) is his primary care giver. She is doing things that amaze me. Things for which she has no training. Things that she would deny the ability to do; yet, they are getting done. And no one is more shocked than she is.

We all have a tendency to doubt what we are able to accomplish because we believe we do things in our own power. Well we don’t do things in our own power. It took me a long time to figure that out. I used to think everything was up to me but with power comes responsibility. I thought I was in control and I was the one that made things happen. When I became aware of the power all around me that was really behind me, things became easier and better. I thought that it was my responsibility to make things happen. When it did not go the way I planned, I felt badly as if I had failed. Each time I looked at the darkness of the world, I was ashamed I had not cleaned up my corner of the world as if that were possible. Well I am not in control now and never was. What a relief!

There are two extremes playing out here. One is not feeling capable and the other is believing you are in control. Neither is good for us and both are unbelief. If you don’t think you can do it, you are not seeing things in the Spiritual realm. You are not seeing the horseman and chariots of fire the Lord has sent to your aid. If you are believing you are a self-made man or woman, you are missing the Holy Spirit which teaches and guides you into all things. It is a delicate balance and it is best we not walk this tightrope alone. By walking with another person of faith, you can remind each other you are children of the Most High God and that He will equip and guide you through all things. The Bible tells us we ought not think too highly of ourselves but it also says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are amazing. As dearly loved children of God, He will anoint, equip and empower us to do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Do not be afraid. Remember, Psalm 121:4 (NKJV) says 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. He not only keeps Israel, He keeps you. You are never on your own! Listen for His word and act boldly in His name today!

Lord, thank You that You are always with us and that You provide all we need. Thank You for the gifts and talents You have given us. May we use them to Your glory and other’s benefit. I jesus name we pray!

Posted in Faith | Comments Off on February 1 You are amazing!

January 31 The Pause that refreshes! ; ;

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Robert Springer

James 1:19 (NIV) Listening and Doing
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…

When programming a phone number with and extension into a cell phone the “;” is a two second pause which allows the phone number to be dialed and then pause for you to signal when to dial the extension. If you don’t enter the number this way, the phone system gets confused and tells you that you have dialed a non-working number. So it is that pause that makes everything work better or even work at all. How about that? A little pause for the system to dial the number makes the call go through.

I wonder if life isn’t just like that. I wonder if a little pause before responding would not help the “call” go through. Communication seems to be the most difficult part of relationships. People have different communication styles and words have different meaning depending on how they are used and their tone. Since relationships are the most important things in life, shouldn’t we work toward improving them through better communication? James tells us to be quick to listen. If you immediately gave someone your full attention when they approached you, would that make them feel important to you? If you listened carefully, how would that make them feel? Would these feelings improve relationships? The answer is yes! How do you listen?

James goes on to say you should be slow to speak. Does that meeeaan thaaaat yoooouuu shoooouuuuld stretch out your words? Nah! It means you should listen to learn and not listen preparing to offer a rebuttal. Really listen! What are the words but also, what is the thought behind those words? Why did this person come to you? Do they have needs you could address? Are they upset and why? If you could just insert a “;” into the response to allow you to think through the reason for the conversation, would you be able to give a better response? When you listen, do you listen to gain understanding or to form a reply? Stephen Covey said “seek first to understand; then to be understood.” No one will fault you for saying “I need to think about that. Can I get back to you?”

Finally, James goes on to say be slow to become angry. Are you defensive in your conversations? When someone asks, “Did you leave this here?”, do you bite their head off for accusing you? I have a tendency to use an accusatory tone when asking that type of question which makes others defensive. How could you better ask a question? Maybe, “I was wondering how this item got here? Do you know?” What was the purpose of the question? Did you want the person that left the item to know where it is usually kept so they can put it away next time? Anger clouds thinking. It makes us react rather than respond. It damages relationships. Since all of life is about relationships, shouldn’t we try our best to build up rather than tear down?

I have a document that contains “;.;’ (Semicolons) in the format of a 3×5 card. Write to me and request the document. Then, print them out, cut them apart and place them in locations to help you to remember to pause. The next time you have conversation with someone, why not try a short pause before responding? It may just improve that relationship! This won’t be easy but keep trying.

Lord, help us to keep trying! Give us the patience to be slow to respond so there is time for You to give us the right words. May Your Spirit guide us to build others up through our conversation. May our speech bring glory to You and edify those who hear. In Your name we pray!

Posted in Relationships | Comments Off on January 31 The Pause that refreshes! ; ;

January 30 I never said it would be easy!

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Robert Springer

John 16:33 (NKJV)
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

In this world you will have trouble. There you have it. Not you might have challenges; you will face challenges. Nobody said change would be easy. The world is a difficult place and there are many things that come against us. But is that a bad thing? What would life be like if everything went our way? I know you would like to try that for a while, wouldn’t you? Truth is, it would be boring after a while. Also, we would not grow in our walk with God. When things come against us, they refine us or make us change direction. God can use adversity to lead you to your destiny. Adversity can be a roadblock that forces you to go a different way. We don’t like roadblocks though.

When things don’t go your way, how do you take it? Do you take your bat and ball and go home? Do you become grumpy like me? Well there are other options. These days, when it doesn’t go my way, I tend to look for reasons why. I ask God “what are you trying to teach or show me?” I am learning that it is not happening to me, it is happening for me! Some of the worst times in my life are not so bad when I look back on them. If this had not happened, I might never have moved from where I was. The saying is every cloud has a silver lining. I will go even further. The cloud itself may have shielded you from being burned by the sun.

I have a hat that says “Attitude is Everything!” Why would attitude be important? When things happen, do you react or respond? What is the difference? React is an almost automatic reaction to stimulus. There was not careful thought and planning. Response implies thought and consideration. It allows time for understanding the situation and giving a good and appropriate reply. You have thought about it and this would be the best reply. Attitude (peaceful or angry) determines response. What is your attitude? Do you always have to be right? Do you think you know more about the situation than others? Even if you have more experience, will the other person listen to you if you have a superior attitude? No they won’t. If you can be open to learning, God can teach you through every situation. Let him teach you. He will lead you to your best!

Thanks for Your warnings Lord. When trouble comes, please help us to be prepared. Give us Your peace so that we can respond rather than react! Remind us that You have already won and that You give us victory in You. In Your name we pray. Amen!

 

Posted in Quality of Life | Comments Off on January 30 I never said it would be easy!

January 29 Help Us To Change

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Robert Springer

Revelation 21:5 (ESV)
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

God tells us that He makes all things new. When He enters your heart, things are supposed to change. If we have anger issues, Christ’s influence should change us for the better. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” What is your life looking like?

There is a song that asks, “When they see me, do they see you?” What do people see in you? Are you setting the example you want to set? People learn more about you by what you do rather than what you say. Would you want others to behave as you behave? Do you want others to catch what you have? When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, things are supposed to change; not immediately but over time. He will change you for the better from the inside out. He will open your heart to see what he sees. He sees us as His beloved children. He sees what we can become. He knows how you were made since He made you. And when He made you, He destined you for great things. But to get to your destiny, you will need to change and grow.

God can renew you through the transforming of your mind and your heart. Day by day, there are little changes. What used to upset you doesn’t matter anymore. Your focus is on Jesus and how He asked you to live. You can endure the challenges more easily. It is not what happens to you that determines how far you go in life; it is what you do about what happens to you. Do you react or respond? Today, will you pause and think about what is happening and decide how you will respond or will it be the same old, same old? What example will you set? Whose light will you shine? Thank you Lord that we are being transformed by You.

Lord, change us from the inside out! Let us show the world we belong to you by the way we love. Let us love others as You have loved us! In Your name we pray!

Live Like That: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0cMVmr11bY

Posted in Relationships | Comments Off on January 29 Help Us To Change

January 28 Are you listening?

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Robert Springer

1 Kings 19 (NIV)The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Did you hear that? I could have sworn I heard someone speaking but there’s no one around. It must be my imagination.

Elijah had just come off one of the biggest victories of his career. The Lord God Almighty had just proven Elijah to be correct in his prophecy that the Lord was more powerful that the Priests of Baal. In fact, the Lord sent down fire which burned up the sacrifice Elijah had doused in water and vaporized the 400 Priests of Baal. Now he was cowering in a cave because Jezzabel threatened his life. Did he forget what just happened? Now God wanted to speak with him. Uh Oh, Eliajh is in trouble with the big Guy.

You would think the all powerful Creator of the universe would come with thunder and lightning and the blast of a trumpet. But that is not always the case. In Isaiah, it says that “after the fire came a gentle whisper….” Did you hear that? God’s voice came in a gentle whisper. So if you’re not careful, you could miss it.

In the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, Leviticus 16) service, one of the things I remember most from the prayers is “A Still Small Voice was heard”. Not a great thunder or bright flash but a still small voice. While God is all powerful, He most times is gentle. He does not want to terrorize us. He wants to love us. How do you know it is God speaking? When I was in turmoil about which path I should be taking in life, there was too much going on. I have trouble quieting my mind and listening. I went to Honduras with the Dental Team for their yearly visit. I was completely out of my comfort zone in many ways. I had few electronics and they only worked at times in certain places. I was able to be quiet and open my heart to listen. I was laying in a dental chair waiting for Ernesto, the Honduran dentist on the team. I heard God say “Trust Me!” It was a clear voice but a whisper. I looked around and no one was there. How do I know it was God? Who else could throw their voice into that room and speak to me? Who else would ask for my trust? I am not even sure what He wanted me to trust him for or with. I just knew in my spirit He was speaking to me.

God still speaks to His children today. How do I know? Many times, I struggle with challenges to which I have no solution. When the answer comes, it has all the details so I know it was not of my own doing. I am not that wise. If I listen for that still small voice and wait patiently, at the right time, the solution always comes.

This past fall, Pastor Don did interviews of people who had gone through or were going through adversity. Two of those people were Helen Hoines and Linda Downey. I take notes from the messages so I can use what I learn at a later time. After listening to Linda Downey say God told her it would be OK, I remembered what He told me. Pastor Don reminded me of what Helen said she heard. I put those together and this is what I discovered. “Trust Me! I am all around you. It’ll be OK!” My, Helen’s and Linda’s words from the Lord.

Do you have trouble quieting your mind? Are you too busy to slow down and listen? Do you have so much going on that you don’t leave room for quiet time with God just in case He wants to speak with you? I am asking you now to free up some time in your schedule. Do a few less things. Set aside a time to pray and just listen. I bet you will find God still speaks and He would like to speak with you!

Listen!

Thank you Lord for your Word and Spirit! Speak to us. We know You have good plans for us. Reveal Your plans to us in Your timing and Your gentle way. In Your name we pray! Amen!

Posted in Faith | Comments Off on January 28 Are you listening?

January 27 God wants to be Good To You

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Robert Springer

Isaiah 30: 18-20
18 Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
19 People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you” There it is in print. The Lord longs to be good to you. And yet we mess that up! We let things get in the way. Usually, we are what gets in the way. Do you block the things God wants to do for you?

Isaiah also says that God will be gracious to you when you cry for help. Do you cry out to God for help? Or do you think He is too busy with important things to listen to your little concerns. God cares about everything that concerns you. It says “As soon as he hears, he will answer you.” As soon as he hears! How can He hear if you don’t speak? You matter to Him. Matthew 10:29-30 (NIV) says 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Someone who knows how you were formed and the number of hairs on your head must care about you. You are His masterpiece.

Since we now know how much God cares about us, how will we live? Will we speak to Him about all of the things that are going on in our lives or will we only go to God as a last resort? Don’t you think it would be better to ask God what His will is for us than to make our decisions and then ask God to bless them after the fact? Some people have come to a place in their Spiritual Journey where they have conversations with God and He answers. I am one of those people and I am willing to admit it. Isaiah says He will answer you! Why would you be surprised? Does God speak to you? He does me. Most of the time, it is through my subconscious; I don’t know what to do and then all of a sudden, I have the answer. Once in a great while, I hear a clearly audible voice. I heard God last April in Honduras. I believe Isaiah! How about you?

One last thought. I try to use these words to encourage you. Sometimes, people think encouraging messages leave out the full truth of the Bible. I do not want you to think that. You will still see the bread of adversity and the water of affliction but they will not overwhelm you. God uses these things to refine you, not to harm you. Speak to Him. Ask for His favor. You are the apple of His eye and he wants to bless you. Why not let Him bless you today? Out of the overflow of those blessings, you can bless others. Thank you Lord!

Posted in Encouragement | Comments Off on January 27 God wants to be Good To You

January 26 Why Can’t I Forgive Myself?

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Robert Springer

Leviticus 16:
11 “Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering…….14 He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.
15 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: ……. 16 In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. ….., having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.
20 “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. 21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

You’ve confessed your sin, repented from it and you are still hounded by guilt. Why? The person you have harmed has said they forgive you. God has offered you forgiveness. What’s it going to take to get out from under this dark cloud? If God can forgive you, why can’t you forgive yourself? Because you don’t think you are worthy of His forgiveness, that’s why. What is it about us that we struggle so much with letting go?

When God’s presence rested over the Atonement cover in the Most Holy Place (Leviticus 16), He looked down on the Ark of the Covenant which contained the Law God Himself carved into the two tablets. As He looks down, He sees that we have broken His Law. When Aaron sprinkles the blood of the sacrifice on the atonement cover, it covers the sins of the people. God now sees the Law through the blood of the sacrifice. Just as many years later, God sees us through the blood of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus the Christ.

God created the sacrificial system for us to be able to atone for our sins. The second goat was supposed to carry our sins off into the wilderness and remove them from us. This goat was to carry the guilt and shame away. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, shed His blood once for all. He did that for you and for me. John 15:13 says Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Jesus calls you His friend. You are holy righteous and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The One who formed the universe calls you the apple of His eye and a masterpiece. It is time to stop listening to those voices in your head telling you that you are not good enough. It is time to listen to the voice of Truth, the voice of God who tells you that you are His beloved child. Let go and let God. Accept His Word and His Truth and say Amen!

Thank You Lord that Your forgiveness is complete. By the sacrifice of Your Son, we have all been cleansed and can now stand before You dressed in His robe of righteousness. It is only by the blood of the Lamb that we can come before You. By His stripes we are healed. Thank you for healing us. In Your name we pray!

Psalm 103:12   as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Jesus loves me this I know, Cause the Bible tells me so……

https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1998/10/the-scapegoat

Posted in Grace and Mercy | Comments Off on January 26 Why Can’t I Forgive Myself?

January 25 Help Me to Stand Too!

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Robert Springer

Ephesians 6:18-20 (NIV)

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Many years ago, I attended a men’s Bible study held at a local restaurant. The owner was a devout Christian who wanted to do his part in leading people to Christ so he opened his restaurant at 6:30 in the morning so we could meet. His name was Jack and he was an amazing man. He opened the meeting with joke and then he would ask for prayer joys and concerns. He never wrote any of them down but touched upon each item during his prayer time. It was a special time for me and taught me how to pray. With Jack, it was just a chat with God. Wow! You mean I could talk to God?

There were men of all ages there. There were fathers who brought their sons. Some had grandchildren there. One of the older men, Lief, had a long spiritual journey and used his knowledge and experience to encourage those newer to the faith. I was new to my faith then. Lief suggested we all have a Life verse; a verse to which we could turn when we face a challenge that would remind us of God’s care and concern for us. Something that could strengthen us in our faith. My first Life Verse was Matthew 12:34b “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” I rembered that good should come out of my mouth. Whatever came out was a reflection of what was contained within me. I wanted to be good from the inside out and follow my new found Savior.

Later, I discovered that I could have more than one Life Verse. As I read through the Bible, another verse spoke to me. I have chosen Ephesians 6:19 which reads “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,”. It opens a new phase of my life. I came to understand that God, by His Holy Spirit could and would speak through me if I am open to His lead. Now, I am open! When in a conversation, I pause to allow the Spirit to speak through me. So pray for me also, that the Spirit will continue to speak to me and through me in these daily devotionals. Pray that I continue to share the Good News. Pray that the words given me are the words you need to hear. The words I need to hear! When I write these things, I read them for myself. God speaks to me so I can speak to you. Please ask Him to continue.

Lord, thank You that You speak to me. Help me to be quiet and listen. Your word is everything to me. Give me the words You want to say to those to whom I speak and write. May Your words bless all who read. In Your name I pray!

Posted in Quality of Life | Comments Off on January 25 Help Me to Stand Too!

January 24 Be Prepared to Stand

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Robert Springer

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV) The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything,    to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

The Boy Scouts motto is “be prepared”. When you are facing a challenge, it is always good to be prepared. How strong are you? What training do you have in self defense or military tactics? If you need to defend yourself, how prepared are you? Can you take care of yourself and your family? Can you face the evil one in your own power and prevail?

If you think you have everything it takes to prevail over the dark forces that permeate our world, you are fooling yourself! So what will you do? Is it hopeless? On your own, you cannot succeed but you are not on your own. If fact, you are never alone. You don’t have to do these things in your own power. The Lord your God goes before you making the crooked places straight and leveling the peaks and valleys. He gives His angels charge over you to protect and deliver you. He gives you everything you need to prevail if you will stand your ground. How can you do that? By using the tools He has provided. He gives you the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and, the most powerful of all, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. When you face evil, all you need to combat it is the Word. “Get thee behind me Satan.” Resist the devil and he will flee from you. When Jesus was in the desert for 40 days being tempted, the only weapon He used was the Word of God. In Matthew 4, Jesus used three passages of Scripture to resist the devil and he fled!

Do you want the power to resist evil? It is available to you. The full armor of God is available to any who seek the Lord for those who seek Him will find him. Are you wearing you’re your full armor? Are you prepared to stand? Stand firm then in your armor!

Lord, please provide us Your full armor so that we will be able to stand for You. Guide us in Your ways. Let Your glory shine out from us to those in peril as a beacon of hope. You are our hope and shield. In You, we put our faith and trust. In Jesus name we pray!

Full Armor Poster: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://larryslines.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/armor_of_god.jpg&imgrefurl=http://larryslines.com/the-word-of-god/take-up-the-whole-armor-of-god-2.html&h=450&w=336&tbnid=k3QqyKMuHi0FvM:&zoom=1&docid=yA8apLx-5AeL0M&ei=SRDBVOqHAsnGsQSihYG4Dw&tbm=isch&ved=0CEEQMygKMAo

Posted in Faith | Comments Off on January 24 Be Prepared to Stand

January 23 It ain’t gonna be easy!

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Robert Springer

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Did you think everything would go your way as soon as you turned over your life to God? Many Christians think that everything should be easy for them. After all, they are following Jesus. Won’t He pour out blessings upon them? Jesus warned us that it would not be easy.

James 1:2-4 says of Trials and Temptations, “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Is that the attitude you take toward trials? Do you consider it pure joy? I know I don’t. I am just learning to accept challenges as lessons. I ask what God is trying to teach me through this event? After all, it is not happening to me; it is happening for me! In Romans 5, it says 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. God uses these challenges to refine us. A kite only flies high when it flies against the wind. Only in adversity are we strengthened. If everything is easy, we do not build strength, skill and persistence. God disciplines those He loves. If He did not care about you, He would let you do whatever you want because He doesn’t care how it turns out. By caring, He wants what is best for you and will lead you in the narrow way which will bring you good things.

I am not yet at a place where I can consider it pure joy. I don’t know if I will ever be at that place. But I am learning to look for the lesson, the silver lining in the rain cloud. I think that is what God wants us to do. He wants us to stay in faith through the trial and learn something from the challenge. What do you face today? Did you lose something you needed? Have you been overlooked for a promotion? Did someone else get an opportunity you thought should be yours? Ask God to show you why this was not His timing. Be patient. God has something far better in line for you. Remain calm and wait for the good He is longing to bring to you! He has overcome the world all for you!

Lord, You said we would have trouble in this world. Help us to recognize that the trouble in this world prepares us for the blessing in Your Kingdom. Show us the lesson You are trying to teach us. Refine to be who You designed us to be. In Your name we pray! Amen!

Posted in Quality of Life | Comments Off on January 23 It ain’t gonna be easy!

January 22 Is Your Light Shining?

Posted on January 22, 2016 by Robert Springer

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The world is a dark place. Watch the news and see one bad thing after another. If you look at the darkness, it can become overwhelming. You can develop a hopeless demeanor from too much negative input. But we cannot ignore the evil that comes from sin. We are a fallen people. So what to do? Do we ignore all the bad? Not hardly! But better to set a good example.

Jesus was teaching His disciples about how they should live. He went up the side of a mountain and sat down to teach. He shared what is now know as the Beatitudes in this Sermon on the Mount. Instead of living the way the world lives, Jesus taught how we should live and that we should set the example. Right living will bring glory to God.

Imagine you are in a totally dark room. There is no light so you cannot see anything. Now imagine you light one candle in that room. What happens? That one candle adds enough light to the room so you can see. The light dispels the darkness. What do we learn from this? That adding just a little light to a dark place changes things. It dispels darkness. It gives back hope. One of the plagues in Egypt was darkness; it was a darkness you could feel. Sometimes, while watching the news, I can feel the darkness. I see the evil one causing doubt and despair and feelings of hopelessness. You can change all that with your light. Be an encourager.

Instead of giving in to the darkness, light your light. Jesus called you the light of the world. Don’t hide it but let your light be seen by all. Your light comes from the true Light of the World. Let His glory shine out through you to brighten up your corner of the world. If each of us shines our light, the darkness would be pushed back and the world will be a bright place of hope. God’s love is that light. He asked us to love one another like He loves us. Do that and you can push back the darkness. Do random acts of kindness today to shine your light!

Lord, You said we are to shine our light! Our light is but a reflection of You, the Light of the World! Help us to be bold and shine into the dark places. Strengthen our resolve to shine for You. Lead us to the places of darkness so that we can share Your love and light with all who live in darkness that we might bring them to You. In Jesus name we pray!

“This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”

Posted in Attitude | Comments Off on January 22 Is Your Light Shining?

January 21 If God Be For Us…..

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Robert Springer

2 Kings 6:16-18 Elisha Captures Blinded Syrians
…16So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Strike this people [the Syrians] with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.…

Have you ever come up against a challenge that looked overwhelming? You were afraid of failure because the odds looked heavy against you. In the natural, there was no way you could succeed. In your own power, it looks impossible. They key is you are not in your own power! You are not alone if you put your trust in God. In fact, you are never alone because He walks with you.

In the story about Elisha, a Prophet of God, the King of Syria wants to capture Elisha to prevent him from giving details of the Syrian attack plan to the king of Israel through his prophecy. There was a mighty force sent to capture Elisha. They were greatly outnumbered in the natural and it looked bad for Elisha and the city of Dothan. But Elisha had faith. He trusted God to care for him and God is faithful. Elisha’s servant was terrified but Elisha calmed him asking the Lord to truly open the servant’s eyes. When God did open his eyes, the servant saw “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. God had His legions of Angels at the ready to attack the Syrians to defend Elisha because Elisha belonged to the Lord.

To whom do you belong? Are you a child of the Most High God? If so, don’t you think God will defend you? Why are you afraid? Throughout the Bible, in each story, it tells of God’s character and faithfulness. God always protects His own. Do you want that kind of power on your side? You may not see it but God is always working for good of those who belong to Him. He is making a way where you don’t see a way. He is leveling the hills and valleys. You will still face challenges but they will not overwhelm you.

Lyrics from the Mercyme song Greater:

‘Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed when others say I’ll never be enough
And greater is the One living inside of me Than he who is living in the world

“Fear not, for I am with you.” Says the Lord! Move ahead with confidence for God has your back! God is for us! Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

Those who are for you are more powerful that those who are against you. Lord, thank You that You are our protection. Thank You that You are on our side. Better yet, that we can be on Your side. Thank You that Your angels watch over us standing ready to defend us at Your command. And we know that Your command is always to protect Your own. Thank You that You call us Your own. In Jesus name we pray!

Posted in Grace and Mercy | Comments Off on January 21 If God Be For Us…..

January 20 The Devil Made Me Do It!

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Robert Springer

Luke 10:17-20   17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Who knows who Flip Wilson is? If you said yes, you have just dated yourself as older (like me). Flip Wilson was a comedian who played Geraldine Jones on the show. This was a huge part of The Flip Wilson Show and was played by Wilson wearing women’s clothing. Some of “Geraldine’s” most famous quotes are, “The devil made me buy this dress!

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you trust Him? If Jesus tells you something, are you going to believe it? Do you believe in Satan? Some of you don’t believe in Satan and that he exists. In fact, a pastor of a Church I attended told me they did not believe Satan existed.

In our conversation, when I mentioned that bad things often come from Satan, I could sense these people backing away from me, even though not physically, because they did not believe Satan exists. Many ask why bad things happen to good people. Why do you suppose that is? God has a plan for good for you. Who is it that has bad things in mind for you? If Jesus said He saw Satan fall, shouldn’t you believe Him? Therefore, Satan is someone real and present and causes bad things in your life. It is his job to distract you from the plan God has for you. He causes you to doubt. He is probably responsible for most of your head trash. Do you have head trash? What do you think would help overcome your doubts? Focus on the Author and perfector of your faith and His plan for your life so you can avoid distraction. He will take you places you never imagined possible.

Lord, please wrap Your hedge of protection around us to keep away the evil one! You said You had a plan to prosper us. Please work Your plan for our good. Remind us of who we are in You. Our names are written in Your book of life by Your grace. Thank You! In Your name we pray!

Posted in Encouragement | Comments Off on January 20 The Devil Made Me Do It!

January 19 Mindful of Grace

Posted on January 19, 2016 by Robert Springer

Jeremiah 31:33 (NKJV)
33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

In Evangelism Explosion, a course I took to learn how to make disciples, it taught that head knowledge of Jesus alone was not good enough. You had to accept Jesus into your heart. I have done that with great results. But, I have discovered, heart knowledge alone is also not enough. I have Jesus in my heart now. It is time to get Him back into my head. Grace needs to be in your head as much as in your heart. You’ll see why in a little bit.

Many of us, me included, do not achieve all they could because of head trash. Head trash like I’m not worthy. I’ll never be able to do that. I don’t have the talent. The accuser tells you that you don’t’ have what it takes. You’re not smart enough. You’re not good enough. You’re too far behind and many, many more. If you are truthful you do not deserve God’s grace. That is why it is called Grace! Grace is unmerited favor. You have the favor of God upon you and in you. You should be able to accomplish all things!

The Lord says He will write His law in our minds and on our hearts. Why did He say He would put His law in our minds? God’s law was given because of His love for us. His Grace is why He wants the best for us and His law is how He guides us to that best. God’s law is Grace. Therefore, He puts His Grace in your mind if you will let Him. We need to accept His grace into our minds to force out the head trash! Only when we believe we can in our minds, will we achieve the dreams God has put in our hearts. Believe and achieve!

Lord, it is by Your grace we grow into who You designed us to be. It is by Your grace the we live. By Your Spirit, guide us into the destiny You planned for us. Write the story of Your love on our hearts and let that story bring glory to Your Holy Name. In that name we pray!

 

Posted in Faith | Comments Off on January 19 Mindful of Grace

January 18 How’s Your Faith?

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Robert Springer

Hebrews 11 (NIV) Selected Verses
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Seeing is believing or is it? Have you ever been to a magic show? I saw Lance Burton, the magician, in Las Vegas once. He made a car disappear. Were you aware that they are called illusionists? Do you believe in magic? I don’t! But I do believe in the magic of believing. You see I don’t understand how a brown cow can eat green grass and give white milk but I know it does. When we enter a highway where the sign says 287 North, do we believe it will take us to our destination? How do we know?

God promised Abram (Abraham) that he would be the father of many nations when Abram and Sarai were childless. Would you have believed God? It took 25 years for the “Promise” to come to fruition. Sarai laughed at the possibility. Abram and Sarai wavered in their faith during that time. What would you have done? Do you believe in God? Do you believe that He will keep his promises? Really?

Do you think you deserve what God has promised? Do you understand how marvelous He has made you? Do you worry even though God says “fear not”? How’s your faith today? Do you focus on your problems rather than your Creator?

Well I have good news! You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are made in God’s image and likeness. He is mindful of you. You are a masterpiece; God called you very good. In fact, that was His highest rating for all of His creation. He has great plans to prosper you. You are holy, righteous and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. .He will uphold you with His righteous right hand!

I am learning to believe and trust God. He made promises thousands of years ago to Abraham and his sons. God reminded the sons of the Promise. The Bible chronicles the promises and their completion. He was trustworthy then and He is trustworthy now! Why not dig deep into His Word and learn the character that is in His heart. You will see promises made and answered. Unlike the financial advertisements, past performance IS and indication of future behavior. But first, you must believe. Why not trust God, walk in His ways and allow Him to prosper you today?

Thank you for your faithfulness Lord! You made promises that were Yours alone to keep and You have always kept them. Help us to trust and believe. In Your name we pray!

Posted in Faith | Comments Off on January 18 How’s Your Faith?

January 17 Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Robert Springer

Philippians 4:6-7New International Version (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

What is the strongest nation in the world? It is the imagination! And worry is a waste of the imagination. Jesus says (Matthew 6:27) “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” So worrying does you no good. In fact, it distracts you from the real task at hand. You cannot fully concentrate on God’s plan for your life if you let worry interfere. Where does worry come from anyway? It comes from the deceiver, the father of doubt and lies and it is a way to prevent you from following God’s will and plan for your life. You see, God’s plan is to prosper you and not to harm you. If God be for you, who can stand against you? So why worry?

Dale Carnegie wrote a book called Stop Worrying and Start Living in which he said that 99% of the things we worry about never happen. If that is true, and I believe it is, we spend 99% of our worry time for nothing. What if we applied that time to creating new and better things?

Last April, I went to Honduras on a Dental Mission Trip. During a quiet time alone there, God spoke to me and said “Trust Me!”. My Pastor Don did a Sermon series where he interviewed people about challenges they faced and how they got through them. Each person told how God had spoken to them. Two of them resonated especially with me and I added them to my Word from the Lord!

Here is how they fit:               Trust Me!        I am all around you!   It’ll be OK!

Why worry? The Lord of all Creation promised to never leave nor forsake you. He has spoken to your contemporaries. He promises to be with you and He who promises is faithful. Remember the Footprints poem; “It was then that I carried you.” God will bring you through the valley to the table He has set before you on the other side. Remember things are not happening to you, they are happening for you! God has a plan for your good. Trust Him! When things look bad, look to Jesus and it will always look better!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.     Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

Lord, You said You would never leave nor forsake us. I believe You! Help us to remain in You and not worry. Your plans for us are great. Lead us in the way You would have us go. In Your name we pray!

Posted in Faith | Comments Off on January 17 Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

January 16 What is Your Motive?

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Robert Springer

Hebrews 10 (NIV) Selected Verses Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. ……..4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’”
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

Why do you do the things you do? One of my favorite words is motive. In today’s context, it sometimes has a bad connotation. It is related often to a crime. But there are good motives. It relates to one of my Life Verses which is Matthew 12:34b, “…..For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” What does that mean? It means that what is in your heart will eventually come out of your mouth. Motive speaks to what is in your heart. It relates to the “why” of your life. You can’t be one kind of person in business and another kind of person at Church. You are who you are no matter how you try to hide things.

God made it clear the He looks at the heart which is the source of our motives to see the why. Many people are just going through the motions. They are trying to get by with the least possible to satisfy a requirement. Is that you? Do you do the least you can get away with or do you do things as if unto the Lord? Why do you do what you do? Is it out of the overflow of your heart that you want to bless others? At BNI (Business Networking International), you are taught the motto “Givers Gain”. I think this comes from Zig Ziglar’s statement that “you can everything you want out of life if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” If you go out intending to love and serve others, you will be blessed in the process of blessing them!

So, what’s your motive? What is in your heart? Are you loving your neighbor as yourself? What’s the “why” of it all? Will you ask God to fill your heart with His love so you can go out and bless others?

The lyrics from the song “Write Your Story” express how we might want to live. It is what I ask Jesus to do! I want Him to change me from the inside out.

FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI LYRICS “Write Your Story”

I’m an empty page I’m an open book
Write Your story on my heart
Come on and make Your mark

Author of my hope Maker of the stars
Let me be Your work of art
Won’t You write Your story on my heart

Will you ask God to write His story on your heart? Do you want to live the life He has designed for you? Then do everything as if it were a testament to its creator and yours!

Lord, please write Your story on our hearts. Mold us into the kind of people You want us to be. In Your name we pray!

Posted in Faith | Comments Off on January 16 What is Your Motive?

January 15 What You Say Can Hurt Them and You

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Robert Springer

Matthew 15 Selected Verses

10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

In the Old Testament, there were the dietary or Kosher laws which had a lot of restrictions about what you could and could not eat (Leviticus 11). There was a great deal of information about what to do and how to do it. People were so concerned about what they ate. They were concerned that something could make them unclean. Jesus spoke to us about the purpose of the Law which was to bring us to love God. He spoke about the Spirit rather than the letter of the Law.

In Acts 10, Peter had a vision. It was about what you could eat.

Acts 10:11-15New International Version (NIV)

11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

God was telling Peter that anything that God created was clean. God had just overwritten the ceremonial law or had He? You see, Jesus sacrifice of Himself was the final sacrifice needed under the ceremonial laws. So it was not important what you ate.

The real thing is not what goes in your mouth but what comes out. Leviticus 19:14 says  “‘Do not curse the deaf….” Why not, they can’t hear you anyway. Your curse will fall on you because you heard it. Words have power. What do you say about yourself? What do you say about or to others? Do you criticize or praise? Do you look for good or find fault? Do you lift up or tear down? Do you use your words to bless your family, friends and others? Your words can bless others! Go out and bless someone today!

Lord, thank You for Your grace by which we all live. And it is Your grace that points us to Your love rather than ceremonial laws. Remind us of Your love and that it is more important than rules. Your grace is sufficient for all our needs. Help us to accept and live within that grace. In Jesus name we pray!

 

Posted in Quality of Life | Comments Off on January 15 What You Say Can Hurt Them and You

January 14 Are you different?

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Robert Springer

Matthew 5:17-18 The Fulfillment of the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

The Ceremonial Law was given in Leviticus. Through these ceremonies, God taught us about sin, how sin offended Him and how we could sacrifice in certain ways to bring us back to relationship with Him. :…. and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Heb 9:22b). “Jesus fulfilled every part of the ceremonial law and we do not have to repeat these offerings today. However, the principles of the offerings reflect God’s character and remain valuable today.” BSF

To fulfill the Law took perfection. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48b) Be holy as God is holy. Is that something anyone besides the Son of God could do? Certainly not! So what do you do? How are you supposed to live? Is perfection, which is following all the Laws, the goal? I have heard that perfection is the enemy of greatness. One of the kids in the Confirmation Class I taught in 2007 wrote the Message on Perfection based on God’s Word in Genesis. She said that it was inconsistent for us to strive for perfection and giving 110% when God called His best creation, man (adam in Hebrew), very good. If very good was God’s rating, where do we, as the created, come off trying to go beyond that level to perfection? The only perfect One was Jesus and they hung Him on a tree! My Study Bible tells me that the purpose of the ceremonial law was to help us love God and teach us of His character. Jesus tells us the two laws we need (the summation of all the laws and the prophets) are to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Is that what the world teaches; to love our neighbor?

First, God gave us only one law; don’t eat from THAT tree. Then, He gave us ten laws. The religious leaders expanded that to 600 + laws. What has been our track record with the law? How do you want to live? Do you think you can keep the law?

When people see you, what do they see? Are you just like everybody else or is there something special about you? Jesus was the reflection of God’s character. Our calling is to live according to God’s perfect will for us. Jesus clarified that to us teaching that it was the Spirit of the Law and not the letter of the Law that mattered. It was a new way of understanding the Law to bring us back to the original purpose of loving God. We are to reflect the fruits of the Spirit. What are you reflecting? Whom do you follow? What light do you cast into the dark places? Are you different?

Father, we cannot be perfect on our own by following the Law. It is hopeless if that is our way. But Your way is better. You gave us the gift of Grace in Your Son. Help us to follow Him the best we can and remind us of Your grace which takes us where we cannot go on our own. It takes us to You! Thank You for that grace and Your love for us. In Jesus name we pray! Amen!

Posted in Grace and Mercy | Comments Off on January 14 Are you different?

January 13 Rest for the Weary

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Robert Springer

Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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.

Are you overwhelmed? Are you tired? Are you stressed? Are there too many things on your plate? Why do you think that is? Have you set boundaries that would limit things in your life to make them manageable? Sometimes, we tend to overcomplicate things. We take on too much! We over commit! Instead of prayerfully considering what we take on, we often just go ahead with whatever comes our way.

But is that the way Jesus wanted us to live? No it’s not. In fact, Jesus wants you to rest. He asks you to come to Him and he will give you that rest. During Biblical times, there were over 600 laws the people were obligated to follow and the burden was great. Most of those laws were actually traditions established by the Pharisees. They used those “laws” to control the people. Jesus wanted to free us from many things including reducing our burdens. You see, He wanted us to give Him our burdens. He wants us to lay them at the foot of the cross. One thing more. Many of us lay them down only to return shortly to pick them back up again. Remember, once you give things to God, they are His. Do not try to take them back. Let go and let God!

So, what does this all mean? It means that we need to go to Jesus with our life plans while we are still in the planning stage. If we go to Him, He will stop us from taking on too much, going the wrong way and being overburdened. When we follow His plan for our lives, He will make the path easier and our burdens lighter. Will you follow Jesus? He is your Rest!

Lord, thanks that You offer us rest in many ways. Help us to find our strength and rest in You. We have everything we need in You. Let us take time to be quiet and hear Your voice. In Jesus name we pray!

Posted in Support | Comments Off on January 13 Rest for the Weary

January 12 Prepare for the Harvest

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Robert Springer

John 4:34-38New King James Version (NKJV)
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Many say the Bible is no longer relevant. The stories don’t make sense in today’s world. Today’s passage is an example where Jesus talks about the harvest and few of us are farmers. So what is Jesus talking about when He says the fields….”are already white for harvest”?

The harvest is the gathering of souls into faith in Christ. The time is now. Our world is full of people who live without hope. They see nothing but darkness and despair. The outlook is bad for them. But as Zig Ziglar used to say, “when the outlook is bad, try the up-look. It is always better!” It goes on to talk about sowing and reaping. What do you sow in your daily life? Do you sow (plants seeds) of encouragement? Do you sow joy? Do you sow peace? And what is the confusion about the sower and reaper and who gets what? Just because you plant a seed of encouragement into someone does not mean you will reap the benefit. Encouraging a stranger will not benefit you directly but it will improve the world.

There is the concept of unintended consequences. Many times, actions we take (sowing) bring results or consequences we would not have chosen. For example, God tells us He hates divorce. In a divorce, two adults come to an impasse and can no longer continue their lives together. A seed of discord has just been sown. It is their intention to go their separate ways. But what happens? Those who were once supportive become adversaries. Love turns to hate. Relationships are broken. Friends are forced to take sides. If there are children, their loyalties are stretched. Respect turns to rudeness and competition. It sets up an atmosphere that is caustic. And it affects that family for generations. Both my brother and I have been in marriages for 40 years. Do you think that has anything to do with our parent’s example of 58 years of marriage until my Dad’s death?

So what about the harvest? Are you reaping what you sow? Do you want a better world? Are you sowing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22, Fruits of the Spirit)? You may not be a farmer but you can sow good seeds! Are you intentional in your actions? Do you weigh the consequences both intentional and unintentional? What are you sowing?

Our world is a dark place. It is time for us to shine our lights. You have the power to change the world in the words you use. Will you sow light or darkness? Or maybe, you will reap the seeds of light someone else has sown. Is there someone you know who needs a relationship of unconditional love; a relationship with Jesus? Are you receiving wages for eternal life? Revival begins with you! Will you begin the Harvest? Are you prepared? Do you need help?

Father, lead us to the person to whom You wish to speak today and give us the words they need to hear. Help us to plant joy, peace and goodness in Your vineyard. May we bring You glory in the way we live today. In Your name we pray!

Posted in Encouragement | Comments Off on January 12 Prepare for the Harvest