I am filling in my answers, take some time and consider where God has taken you from and where you are today – until we are called home to be with the Lord, we aren’t done yet and may have some more work in these stages. God Bless.

Do you remember the preparation stage? What experiences did you have?

• I remember growing up and my parents and grandparents bringing me to church.
• I remember public school where I wasn’t one of the cool kids or one of the in crowd.
• I remember being the big kid and being a target
• I remember high school dressing preppy, but being more of a techie inside.
• I remember winning Mr. Congeniality during the Mr. High School competition.
• I remember playing hockey through it all and getting to hangout with people who had various ideas and ambitions
• I remember University where I was able to connect with people in residence as a leader (floor rep, house rep)
• I remember University where I was able to have great friends and experiences through school and co-op.
• I remember getting what resembled a warranty card that said they would keep my resume on file for 6 months and then received a job offer
• I remember getting married to and incredible girl I had met in university.
• I remember the relationships I made at work and the growth I was able to experience in the various roles.
• I remember becoming a dad.
• I remember the leadership team around me leaving and feeling awkward – feeling I was going to need to look for alternatives.
• I remember asking my parents and my in-laws to pick my next step in my career.
• I remember the decision to move away from family based on their recommendations

Do you remember the crisis stage? When were you called into relationship with Jesus? When was the turning point?

• I remember making a plan on where to live, what jobs to apply for, what car to buy
• God had another plan and by getting “lost” in the hallways, I ran into someone I had worked with before and that lead to me taking a different job
• God had another plan and by getting a “randomly” assigned real estate agent by the company, we went house hunting and she showed us a house in a different area than our plan where we ended up moving
• God let me get the car (1 for 3 isn’t bad)
• Our new house happened to be near a church that God invited us to through their Christmas production and we haven’t stopped going since
• God put us on a fast track: Spiritual Emphasis week – Baptism in the Holy Spirit, We became members, We were baptized in water, We got involved in worship and arts, I go into Men’s ministry, I went on Men’s retreats where God spoke to me about getting involved in the community and later about moving into a more leadership role
• Leadership role in men’s ministry
• Leadership role in worship and arts
• Leadership role in the home owners association board
• Leadership role at work (within the team and around the company)
• Focus on doing ministry as a team with my wife so we stepped into worship and arts and left men’s and women’s ministry so we could spend time together serving God.

How are you bearing fruit? Do people see fruit from your life?

• Worship & Arts – in the tech area and encouraging the people on stage, and welcoming people into the presence of God
• Work – company wide impact and influence – getting to know and work with great people and sharing the love of God with them
• Most of all – with my wife and children
• The dream of an 8 year old boy leading me to my home
• Great friends and relationships at work, at church, and everywhere in between
• But the story isn’t over yet

God has an incredible plan for your life, so incredible you cannot comprehend it. Will you love and follow Jesus? That’s all it takes and then we can become fishers of men like the world has never known.

 

Remember why we are doing this – it is to bring glory to God.

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How God Makes Fishermen - "Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19

Do All Things to the Glory of God - 1Corinthians 10:1-13,23-33; 11:1-2,23-34; Psalm 119:129-131; Proverbs 22:4

If You Lack Wisdom

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for the vacation trip away with my wife. I thank You for the renewing and rejuvenation that both of us had. I lift up my family now and ask Lord that You would put and keep a healing hand over it, that my children would get better today in Jesus' name. I ask in the name of Jesus that any spirits of sickness would be rebuked and renounced and casted from my house. I pray that they would flee as Your Light shines in today. Lord, My hope and trust is in You. Lord, I lift up my day to You as I head back to work. You know the plans for this week and what will take place. I walk in peace, hope, trust, and faith, knowing that You know the beginning from the end and that the heart of the king is in Your hands. Lord, I pray for those around me, that You will help me to shine for You. I pray that You will grant me wisdom beyond my years, You will grant me discernment behind questions asked as well as things being said, and I will keep all my hope and trust in You as I continue to wait upon You. Lord, Your Word says - I know the plans I have for You, to give me a hope and a future and I hold onto that today as I return to work and prepare for a great week in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Today's Devotional:
God's Proving Ground for Faith - He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience. - Judges 3:2

Today's Reading:
How Love Limits Liberty - 1Corinthians 8-9; Psalm 119:123-125; Proverbs 22:3

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But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

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Today's Devotional: Hindrances to Christ's Rule 
---------------------- The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. - 2 Corinthians 10:4

Today's Reading: Principles of Morality and Marriage - 1Corinthians 6:12-7:16,25-35,39-40; Psalm 119:114-116; Proverbs 22:2

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November 8

Principles of Morality and Marriage

1Corinthians 6:12-7:16,25-35,39-40; Psalm 119:114-116; Proverbs 22:2

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:
It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His merczy has made trustworthy. I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress-that it is good for a man to remain as he is: Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord-how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world-how he may please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world-how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment-and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 6:12-7:16, 25-35, 39-40

WORSHIP

You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word.
Depart from me, you evildoers,
For I will keep the commandments of my God!
Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
Psalm 119:114-116

WISDOM

The rich and the poor have this in common,
The LORD is the maker of them all.
Proverbs 22:2

We aren't to compare ourselves to others. We are to focus on what God has called us to do. We are each different and have a unique purpose for the kingdom of God. Just because someone went to the same school or the same birthday, or the same age, or work at the same job or the same company as you, doesn't mean that you have the same purpose. Don't let envy get in the way of God's blessings in your life. Don't forget God's Word: I know the plans I have for You says the Lord, plans to give you a hope and a future. His Word also says: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added onto you. You are in my prayers today as my family and friends. I pray the You will be encouraged and turn to God our true source of life. It is not by strength or by might, but by my faith in Jesus Christ that I am where I am and I am who I am. God has great plans for You, spend some time with Him and hear what's next and stick close to Him as He is our audience of one and we want to make sure we stick close. I pray this in Jesus' name and want to give God all the praise and all the glory. Amen.

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Today’s Devotional: An Audience of One - Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me." - John 21:22

Today’s Reading: Excel Still More in Obedience and Love - 1Thessalonians 4-5; Psalm 119:69-72; Proverbs 21:21

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November 2

Excel Still More in Obedience and Love

1Thessalonians 4-5; Psalm 119:69-72; Proverbs 21:21

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Brethren, pray for us.
Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 4-5

WORSHIP

The proud have forged a lie against me,
But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
Their heart is as fat as grease,
But I delight in Your law.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
Psalm 119:69-72

WISDOM

He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
Proverbs 21:21

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Recent Devotions

• WOW - The Big Picture 11/2

Do you hope luck is on your side or look to God’s hand to perform miracles?

-  My Trust is in God  -

so I go for miracles.

 

Do you take time with God to think through it? Or do you do it in your own way?

-- My Trust is in God ––

so I try to work through it with Him, since He knows the full picture (being omnipresent).

 

Do you make time to spend with God?

Do you pray?

Do you fast?

How far are you willing to go to make sure you are on the right track and will make the right decision?

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and all that will be in it. I thank You Lord for the great celebration and fellowship yesterday. I was blessed beyond measure and I praise You for friendships and relationships. Lord, may You continue to bless each of them and help me to be a light that will shine and allow others to come into relationship with You. Lord, in my devotions and reading, I turn to You and ask that You help me, You encourage me, Your correct me, You direct me that I may live a life that is worthy of You, who has called me into Your kingdom and Your glory. Lord, help me first to be a great man of God. Next to be a great husband. Next to be a great father. Lord, please then help me to be a great son and brother, a great friend and mentor. Help me Lord to become more and more like You and allow people to be directed back towards You. for You are the truth, the way , and the life. Lord, I thank You for having directed my life, for having made divine appointments that have changed not only what I do, where I am, but also how I respond and how I am able to relate to You. Lord, You are awesome and I give You all the praise and the honor and the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Today’s Devotional: Worldly Planning - Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"? - 2 Corinthians 1:17

Today’s Reading: Walk Worthy of God's Calling - 1Thessalonians 1-3; Psalm 119:57-60; Proverbs 21:19

Oaths:

completed or not?

broken or kept?

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Will you press in to what God has for you and has planned for you?

Will you pursue Him and look to be above average as Jesus spoke?

Are you shining for God so much that it is turning the world upside down?

Are you finding resistance for people who are hearing about the love of God?

Fear Not, Just Believe

Jesus has called us to a higher calling, we are to be over comers through Christ, we are Love others as Christ loved us.

Make sure the priorities are right: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

How much time are you spending with God?

How much time are you spending reading God’s Word?

How much time are you spending praying?

How much of your time are you spending serving and loving others?

These questions aren’t to condemn, but to encourage you to spend more time with God and just watch how life changes.

Make more time to spend with God.

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Today’s Devotional: Keeping Oaths - This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them. - Joshua 9:20

Today’s Reading: Turning the World Upside Down  - Acts 17:1-18:11; Psalm 119:53-55; Proverbs 21:17

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day, a day of celebration and a day of love. May Your life and Your love shine in and through me today. May people who come feel Your love while in my house. May people feel drawn to You. May the convictions that You put in their hearts be realized so that they may turn to wards You and pursue after You with all of their hearts, all of their minds, all of their souls, and all of their strength. God I couldn’t ask for a better gift than if people would come to know You today. May the door be opened and the courage and strength to execute and accomplish Your will take place. Lord, You are awesome. Lord, I know You have great plans for today and I pray that You will provide for every need and remove any stress or anxiety in this day, for it is the day that You have made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. I thank You and praise You and pray that You will receive all the praise and the honor and the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s Devotional: Fear Not! - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7

Today’s Reading: Paul and Companions Head for Greece - Acts 16; Psalm 119:44-47; Proverbs 21:16

Today’s Status Posting:

Fear Not -- For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7 Fear paralyzes and torments. We can overcome/displace fear through faith - putting complete trust in God.Do not fear sudden calamity if you are walking uprightly before God. It may be setting the stage for a great victory that will bring praise and honor to your heavenly Father. These battles are training grounds for greater victories to come.

Are we moving forward for the kingdom of God? Are we growing in numbers? Are we sharing the Good News of Jesus with those around us?

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So shall I keep Your law continually,
Forever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings,
And will not be ashamed.
And I will delight myself in Your commandments,
Which I love.
Psalm 119:44-47

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and all that is within it. I thank You for speaking works of encouragement and truth to me today and for reminding me what You had told me so long ago – Fear Not, Just Believe. Lord, this is the day that You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Lord, You know the plans You have for me, plans to give me a hope and a future, a plan not to harm me but to prosper me. Lord, help my spirit to be in alignment with Your Spirit today. Help me to be and to do all that You have planned for this day. Help me to be filled to overflowing with trust in You, that fear will have no place within me. Let today be a day where people see You as I reflect the love of Jesus to them. And Lord, I will give You the praise and the honor and the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen

WOW - The Big Picture 10/29

October 29

Follow the Spirit to Freedom

Galatians 5-6; Psalm 119:33-35,37; Proverbs 21:13

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

>From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Galatians 5-6

WORSHIP

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
And I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.
Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.
Psalm 119:33-35, 37

WISDOM

Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.
Proverbs 21:13

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• WOW - The Big Picture 10/28
• WOW - The Big Picture 10/29
• WOW - The Big Picture 10/27
• WOW - The Big Picture 10/26
• WOW - The Big Picture 10/25
• Archives

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Today’s Devotional: Seeing What Others Cannot See - And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. - 2 Kings 6:17

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Heavenly Father,
Over the years You have given me visions of what You would like me to do. I pray Lord, that You will give me visions and ideas that I can and should do in order to show Your LOVE and Your Power and Your promises to those around me. I pray Lord that You will open my eyes to see the next big thing that I may fulfill Your plans for me and that I may pray as Elisha did that others will have their eyes opened to see You and Your work all around us. Lord, it is by Your grace and Your power that my team has received the recognition that they have. Lord, it by Your hand, that I have been blessed with the recognition and blessings I have. It is all through Your hand. I don’t have the power to accomplish all that You have, but my hope and my trust are in You for without You, I am nothing.

Lord, give me eyes to see and ears to hear. Help me to be sensitive to the Spirit and obedient to His direction. Lord, I thank You for this new day and look to what You have for me. Bless my friends, family, and all those who will read this posting. May they turn to You and seek You today for all things are known by You. And may our lives be in alignment with Your plans. And Lord, we will give You all the praise, the honor, and the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Today’s Reading: Justification Comes By Faith - Galatians 3:1-14,21-29; 4:1-20; Psalm 119:25-27; Proverbs 21:6

It is by faith that we are saved, not by works, so that no one can boast.

It was Abraham believing God that was accounted to him as righteousness.

We are to live by faith and not by sight.

God wants us to be above average – so let’s step up and follow after Jesus and His plans for our lives.

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Today’s Devotional: Going Without Jesus - ...they were unaware of it. - Luke 2:43

Today’s Reading: Beware a Different Gospel! - Galatians 1-2; Psalm 119:17-18,24; Proverbs 21:5

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It is by faith and not by works that we are saved, that we are transformed, that we are reborn, so that no one can boast. Let your faith in Jesus Christ shine today. Let the love that is so large, that is proactive, that is so pure flow into and through you today.

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"But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for all that is in it. I thank You that You sent Your Son to sacrifice Himself and reconcile me to You. I thank You that I am a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come. I thank You Lord for having sent Your Spirit to draw me near to You that I may hear the truth and believe. I thank You Lord that You also allowed Your Spirit to baptize me and allow me to draw even closer to You. Help me Lord to not walk outside of Your will for my life. Help me Lord to not walk away from Jesus, but to stay in relationship today and always. And Lord, I give You all the praise and all the glory and all the honor, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Heavenly Father,
You know just the right thing to say each day. When I go to read Your Word or I go to read a devotional, it always points me back to You. It always speaks to me right where I am at. I praise You Lord and thank You for this new day. I lift it up to You and ask that You bless it and are blessed by it, that all that I do and all that I say will bring You praise and glory and honor. Lord, I am waiting – for You. I will wait for You. You answered my prayer with “wait”, so I will wait, I will be still and know that You are God and that You are working through this situation in order to prepare me, to train me, to prepare the right situations. Lord, Your Word says, I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to give me a hope and a future. So I won’t worry, but through prayer and supplication, I will give it all up to You. I thank You and praise You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Today’s Reading: The Council at Jerusalem Makes a Decree  - Acts 15; Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 21:3

Today’s Devotional: The Isolation Chamber - Be still and know that I am God.... - Psalm 46:10

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God wants us to be above average.

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Today’s Devotional: How and Where God Speaks - The hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, "Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you." - Ezekiel 3:22

Today’s Reading: A Door Is Opened to the Gentiles - Acts 13:44-14:28; Psalm 119:1-3; Proverbs 21:2

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this day and for all that is within it. I thank You for Your Word that speaks hope and encouragement, wisdom and direction into my life. May You receive all the praise and the honor and the glory today. Lord, help me to have ears to hear. Help me to have a seeking heart for Your ways and Your plans. Allow me Lord to shine for You and point people to You. Help me Lord to let them know it is all about You. Help me to be like Paul and Barnabas when they were telling the Greeks that they were mere men, and redirecting the praise and glory to You. Help me to not let it become a pride thing, but that I would have a servant attitude as I server You and those around me. And Lord, i will give You the praise, the honor, and the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for all that You have done in and through my life. I thank You that You called me and transformed me. I thank You that You allowed me the new birth a spiritual birth as a child of the most high God. Lord, help me today to be more like You. Help me to think like You. Help me to act like You. Help me to speak like You. Help me Lord to be light into this world that point people to the truth and love of Jesus. Help me to be salt that brings a spice and cleansing to those around me. Help me Lord to be the son, the father, the worker, the co-worker, the friend, the brother, the good steward that You have called me to be. Lord, help me to be courageous and not step back from what You call me to do. Help me to be obedient to Your Holy Spirit’s still quiet voice. And Lord, I will give You the praise, the honor, the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Today’s Reading: Acts 13:1-43; Psalm 118:22-26; Proverbs 21:1

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Avoiding Detours

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6

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Dreams & Visions…

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for all that is within it. I thank You for Your Word that never returns void. Lord, Your Word says that we will find You, if we seek You with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our soul, and all of our strength. I turn to You today as for the first time in a long time, I am starting to remember dreams. It is as though You are opening my eyes to something that is about to happen. Their was one that seemed to put a name in my mind. Their was one that was full of excitement and fear, yet after I awoke it seemed to have spoken about something different than the dream being some adventure movie. Lord, my children have been waking up because of dreams and I pray that You will grant me wisdom and discernment as they are able to go back to sleep if they come into our bed. Lord, I know that You have said to wait. I know that You have prompted me earlier and I missed the mark. Help me to be sensitive to the prompting of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be obedient and courageous enough to obey His direction. Lord, prepare my heart and my mind for what is to come. Lord, Your Word says that You want me to have life to the full. Lord, Your Word says that You have plans to help me. Lord, help me to see – as Your Word shines through the darkness, the darkness flees. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. Help me Lord to avoid future detours as I went with my own thinking instead of pursuing what You had for me previously. Lord, help me to be obedient to the still soft voice. Grant me vision into my next step I pray that I may know how what step to take next (next being the step after wait). Lord, my hope and trust are in You. I know that You will never leave me no forsake me. I know that as I draw near to You, You will draw near to me. Lord, as I come to read Your Word, I pray You will give me eyes to see and ears to heart what You have for me today. Lord, I give You all the praise and all the glory and all the honor, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for this time to spend with You in Your Word. I thank You that back in 2001 You opened my eyes and allowed me to see the light. To open my heart to receive the truth and the hope that comes from a true and living relationship with Jesus. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who stays with us when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Thank You for the still soft voice and the sometime louder voice that the Holy Spirit will use to help in directing our actions and our path. Today Lord, I pray for character to be raised up – in me and those around me – so that our decisions will be made better. I pray that the Holy Spirit, my counselor will grant me discernment so that I can know what to do or not do, say or not say, and that Lord every word I say will be said in love and in truth. Lord, this weekend You provided me insight that I praise You for: Love is a decision, not a mere feeling. It is a decision that is based on my character. So Lord as I pray for myself and those who are reading this, I pray that You will open our eyes to see and open our ears to hear, and for those who don’t know You allow them to see the light, hopefully it won’t need to be a drastic as with Saul who we now know as Paul, but Lord, let Your kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. And Lord, we will give You the praise and the honor and the glory and the power in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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October 19

Saul Sees the Light

Acts 8:4-8,14-17,25-40; 9:1-19; Psalm 116:17-19; Proverbs 20:23

Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."

So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this:

"He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth."
So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"

Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may."
And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"

And he said, "Who are You, Lord?"
Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?"
Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias."

And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight."

Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

Acts 8:4-8, 14-17, 25-40; 9:1-19

WORSHIP

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD
Now in the presence of all His people,
In the courts of the LORD's house,
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!
Psalm 116:17-19

WISDOM

Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD,
And dishonest scales are not good.
Proverbs 20:23

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Recent Devotions

• WOW - The Big Picture 10/19

Their is power when we are united. God calls His church to be united. If we love one another as Jesus is loved by the Father, then we will be drawn together for a common purpose and goal and the gates of hell won't prevail. The independent spirit is broken and people will see a difference because of the unity.-- That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. - John 17:21 -- Have you contributed to an independent spirit within His Body? Are you seeking to break down walls of competition among Christians, churches, denominations, and ethnic groups? Until we walk in the spirit of unity, we will hinder those in whom God has reserved a place in Heaven. Pray for His Church to be unified.

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The Power of Unity

By Os Hillman, October 18, 2009

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That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. - John 17:21
What is the greatest power that allows the unsaved to make a decision for Jesus Christ? It isn't prayer, though this is important. It isn't good deeds, though deeds indicate a fruitful relationship with God. It isn't good behavior, though Christ commands us to be obedient as sons. The greatest power God's children have over darkness is unity. Jesus talked a great deal about His oneness with the Father and the importance of unity in the Body of Christ. It is the most difficult command Jesus gave to the Church, because it wars against the most evil aspect of our sin nature--independence.

In the last days we are seeing God's Spirit convict His children of the lack of unity among His Church. We are seeing God move between blacks and whites, ethnic groups, denominations, and parachurch groups. There is much work to be done. The walls of division and competition among His Body are a stench in God's nostrils. He sees the competition and the pride of ownership and weeps for the lost who cannot come to Him because they cannot see Him in His Body. When His Body is one, the unbelieving see that Jesus was sent by God. It is like a supernatural key that unlocks Heaven for the heathen soul. The key is in the hand of Christ's Church.
When there is unity, there is power. Scripture tells us five will chase 100, but 100 will chase 10,000 (see Lev. 26:8). There is a dynamic multiplication factor in unity of numbers. We are a hundred times more effective when we are a unified group. Imagine what God could do with a unified Church.

Jesus prayed that we all might be one, as the Father and He are one. He wanted the same love God has for Jesus to be in each of us. When this love is in us, we are drawn to each other with a common mission. The walls fall down. The independent spirit is broken. Competition is destroyed. Satan's accusations are thwarted. Our love for each other is manifest to the world around us. Lost souls begin to seek this love that is so foreign to them.

Have you contributed to an independent spirit within His Body? Are you seeking to break down walls of competition among Christians, churches, denominations, and ethnic groups? Until we walk in the spirit of unity, we will hinder those in whom God has reserved a place in Heaven. Pray for His Church to be unified.

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and all that will be within it. I pray Lord that You will help Your body, which is made up of many parts to draw together in unity. I pray that we won’t let our denominations, our background, our heritage, our color to stand in the way of shining the love of Jesus between ourselves and showing the world how it is supposed to be when we have You in the middle. Lord, as Your Word says a cord of three strands is not easily broken, so Lord, help us to keep Jesus in the center and to draw closer to Him. And Lord, that our love for one another will break down walls, break down independent spirits, competition within the body, and Satan’s accusations. Help us Lord to be more like You and show the world how it is supposed to be. Lord, we thank You, praise You, worship You, and glorify You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Do you remember the mountain top vision God gave you? Grab onto that today whether you are at the top of the mountain or in the lows of the valleys. Fear Not, Just Believe. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will... be added on to you. As you are being refined, don't lose hope, don't lose courage, don't, just remember. We don't know how, but we know that if God said it will be, we can count on it, we can take it to the bank, we can trust Him. God will reveal His faithfulness in the valley, as the valley is where thing will get planted, fruit will grow, but unlike on the mountain tops, we won't necessarily be able to see as far ahead.

If we are faithful in the valley, we will enter a new dimension with God that we never thought possible. There is a harvest of wisdom and virtue that can only be grown in the valley.

Has God brought you into the valley? Know that the valley is a place of fruitfulness; it is a place of testing. It is where God brings what you know in your head into your heart. The only value of knowledge is when it becomes part of your heart. Look for God in the valley today.

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Today’s Devotional: The God of the Valley - The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, "This is what the Lord says: 'Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord'." - 1 Kings 20:28

Today’s Reading: Jail Time for Peter and John - Acts 3:11-4:31; Psalm 115:1-3; Proverbs 20:18

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Heavenly Father,
Thank You Lord for this new day. Thank You Lord for the visions and dreams You have brought into my life. Thank You Lord that You would teach me how to be a better listener and I pray that You will give ears to hear and eyes to see what battles are going on around me and the wisdom and discernment to know what to do and how to pray. Perfect me through the valley that I may be more like You. Refine me that my character loses the things You don’t want to see in me, and develop the things You want to see more of. God, today is the day that You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. May my words and actions bring You praise and glory and honor, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for such powerful messages that remind me of why I am here and what You are allowing to come in and go through my life with such a higher purpose. Your ways are higher than my ways. Your ways are better than my ways. You see all things, know all things and as such can work all things for my good. Even though it may look bad, I should fear no evil, for you are with me. Help me Lord to embrace to good times and the challenging times, for they are times when I can grow closer to You and grow in wisdom and knowledge of who You are. Help me Lord to pursue You and Your will in every opportunity and challenge that I may become more like Christ. Lord, thank You for my devotional time when I am able to read TGIF and my Bible reading which fills me up and preps me for the day. Your Word is like the fuel for my day – when I have it, I am ready when I miss it, I feel more challenged trying to get through the day. Blessings and Honor, Glory and Power, be to Your Name, in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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Today’s Devotional: Tested for Abundance -- We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. - Psalm 66:12b

Today’s Reading: Peter Demonstrates the Spirit's Power -- Acts 2:14-3:10; Psalm 114:1-3,7-8; Proverbs 20:17

 

When people ask you how, will you have the wisdom and courage to point them to God?

When Plans are Thwarted - But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. - Daniel 10:13

Thwarted:

1. transitive verb frustrate something: to prevent somebody or somebody's plan from being successful
2. transitive and intransitive verb place or be placed across: to place one thing across another, or be placed across something ( archaic )

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You so much for this new day and all that is within it. I thank You that Your Word never returns void, but speaks life and hope, wisdom and direction. Lord, as I seek You today, I ask that You grant me wisdom and discernment around the project I am working on and the appearance of how the enemy or something is trying to thwart it. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear, for I know we don’t war against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities of darkness. Lord, You amaze me with Your timing – the right message for the right day. Lord, I lift up my team today for I know this isn’t easy on them. I also lift up my leadership team Lord as there is another battle taking place there which I know You are helping with. Grant me and grant each of us wisdom and discernment about what is taking place and what You desire for us to do. Help us to be persistence and to persevere. As in today’s devotional, the message:

“Plans do not always go as we hope. Sometimes they are hindered for our purposes. Sometimes we are dealing in a spiritual realm in which we realize we are truly in a spiritual battle. And sometimes we are even hindered to protect us. After looking at this situation, I believe I was being hindered from getting to this meeting. However, perseverance and God's grace allowed me to make the meeting. Important initiatives resulted from the brief time I was there.”

was given, I pray that You will help us to reach up to You, reach out to you. Help us Lord to work in unity as we try to overcome the obstacles that come in our way. Help us Lord to not be frustrated, but to consider it all joy as you say in James 1:

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

⁹The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. ¹⁰But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

¹²Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

¹³When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

¹⁶Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Lord, You are so awesome and no matter where I go, I know that You are with me, You will never leave me nor forsake me. And I thank You Lord for all that You have done and continue to do in and through my life. May I respond in a way that glorifies You and shine the light of Jesus upon You. And Lord, I will give You all the praise and all the honor and all the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s Devotion from www.TodayGodIsFirst.com - The Place of Obedience - Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. - Acts 9:8a

Today’s Reading from Wow 7 Minute Daily Bible Reading Devotional - Jesus Is Raised and the Disciples Are Amazed - Matthew 28:1-15; Luke 24:13-35; John 20:19-29; Psalm 112:1-4; Proverbs 20:12

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for all that will be within it. I thank You for allowing me to be a member of Your family through a relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Help me Lord to be sensitive to where people are in respect to knowing You. Help me to know who needs prayer for a breakthrough because of a hard heart, because of circumstances they are going through, or issues they are facing. Lord, I pray that my ear will be tuned so that I can hear the soft whisper of the Holy Spirit as I walk through each day. Lord, You have amazed me so many times. Lord, You have directed my path and I will draw near to You for I don’t want to walk out of the covering of who You are. Lord, I thank You and praise You, honor You, and glorify You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and all that is in it. I thank You for the plans You have and look to You to help me manage the demands that will come to me. Lord, being able to start my day with You is the key. Starting my day in Your Word and with a devotional help me to get into the right frame of mind and reset for a new day. It also helps to remind me what is important and what is expected of me. Lord, as I meditate on today’s devotional, it clearly brings to light the truth of how important a godly wife and mother is to a family. And Lord, I praise You for the blessings of such an incredible wife. Lord, as I look to today’s reading, we see the pattern Jesus followed even to the day He was going to sacrifice Himself for me and everyone else, He prayed and turned His focus to You as He always did. Prayer is talking to God, sharing your thoughts and ideas, sharing your joy and your pain, and allowing God to be able to pick up the heavy weight, handing it over to Him for He is strong enough and in faith believing. Thank You Lord for this day and for all that You have done for me, with me, and in me. I give You the praise and the glory and the honor, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Today’s Reading:  John 17; Mark 14:26-42; Psalm 110:1-3; Proverbs 20:6

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and all that is in it. I know Lord that You go before me and prepare in advance what is about to take place. I know Lord, that You are with me and speak in a still quiet voice to help guide my every step. Lord, I thank You for Your Word as it is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path that helps me through every situation. Lord, when I turn to You and have a need, I come and ask in the name of Jesus, the name above all names. I think about this today as I read from Your Word as Jesus was preparing his disciples for the sacrifice He was about to make. In his conversation with them, he said:

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'

"But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

"These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

"And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

"But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

"A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."

Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."

Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

"And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

"These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father."

His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God."

Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 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."

John 15:12-16:33

And Lord, I know that the reason for the joy in my heart is the Holy Spirit within me and the love of Jesus Christ. I also know that as Your Word says, that we are to ask in the name of Jesus so that we can be full of joy. Bless this day I pray. Help not only myself as I have written this, but also others who are in need of help, in need of hope, in need of faith, that Lord, You will help their lives to intersect with the one and true reason for hope Jesus and get to start a life transformed because of His grace and His sacrifice, and Lord, we will give You the praise and the honor and the glory, in Jesus’ name, for ever and ever. Amen.

WORSHIP

I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth;
Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor,
To save him from those who condemn him.
Psalm 109:30-31

WISDOM

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:5

WOW – The Big Picture

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and all that is within it. I thank You that You deliver the right message for the right day. Today Lord as I look at my present and look towards my future, I look to You as the author and creator of my faith that I may understand better what you have given me to do. I thank You for my wife and my family and the blessing and privilege of being a husband and a father. I thank You Lord for You allowing me to be a leader and pray Lord that You will grant me visions and wisdom for the things I am to do. I also pray Lord, that You will grant me an obedient heart and spirit that will receive the courage of the Holy Spirit and step out into the things You have given me to do. Lord, I thank You for the people You have brought into my life. Lord, I thank You for the doors You have opened and pray that You will guide my every step so that in all that I say and all that I do, I stay in the covering that You provide, help me to not run ahead or fall behind. Help me to be patient and to not grow weary in doing good works for the glory of Your kingdom. I think Lord of the message You provided today - “Understanding What God Has Given” – by Os Hillman.

• We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. - 1 Corinthians 2:12
• "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven" (John. 3:27).
• Once we understand what God has given to us, we can walk freely in our calling. However, if we strive to walk in a role that He never gave us, it will result in frustration and failure. God wants to reveal His plan to us by His Spirit. This requires a willingness to seek and accept what He gives us. It may be different from what we thought. It may require adjustments to follow His path for our lives. As we learn from the life of John the Baptist, obedience requires death to our own wills.

Lord, give me eyes to see what is next, what is ahead of me, I will walk with You through this as Abraham did when You told him to leave his family, his hometown, his roots and go to the place that You have for him. Today, I look back and see where You took me from (a small town boy and now I am in another country serving You and Your people in Worship and Arts, and integrated into a network of people that has grown and allowed me to see and learn about so many different things. Help me Lord to walk in step with Your guiding. Help me to be patient and not to act as I did when I was a child saying “Are we there yet?”, but enjoying the time of fellowship and friendship with You.

Lord, I thank You for those You have put in authority over me. I pray for them to have wisdom and discernment with all they are going through and that You will keep Your hand over them. I thank You that You have granted me the privilege to even be able to talk with some of them in an open and honest manner (if I had the opportunity with each of them, then it would be that I would speak open and honest with all of them, it isn’t a matter of truth and transparency, just of opportunity). God You are awesome and I give this day into Your hands. As I close, I give You all the praise and all the honor and all the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Jesus reveals to his disciples some information about his 2nd coming in my reading today:

Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!"

And Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down."

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?"

And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

"But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

"So when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, He is there!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near-at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'

"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'

"Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Mark 13:1-33; Matthew 25:31-46

WORSHIP

Do not keep silent,
O God of my praise!
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful
Have opened against me;
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
And fought against me without a cause.
In return for my love they are my accusers,
But I give myself to prayer.
Thus they have rewarded me evil for good,
And hatred for my love.
Psalm 109:1-5

WISDOM

Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 19:27

Joshua 3:1-5 / 2 Timothy 2:21

God wants to give you a divine purpose!

God uses all kinds of vessels – big ones, little ones, ornate ones, plain ones, expensive ones and ordinary ones. He uses all kinds of personalities, backgrounds and experiences. But there is one kind of vessel God will not use. He will not use a dirty vessel.

If you are going to be used by God, you’re going to have to do a little clean-up work first.

Here are seven steps that’ll pt you on the path to a clear conscious – and a ministry that God will bless.

1. Review every area of your life.
2. Repent of every sin
3. Make restitution
4. Receive God’s forgiveness
5. Reveal your faults to a friend you can trust
6. Repeat these steps regularly
7. Remember you are not alone.

“Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.” – Joshua 3:5

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Consider when Israel was going to enter the promised land

• Numbers 3 – 1st try – they received a bad report from 10 and a good report from 2 and because of how they received only the 2 from all Israel would be allowed into the promised land
• Joshua 3 – 2nd try – Joshua got the people to prepare themselves before they entered
• Purify yourself
• Consecrate yourself
• Sanctify yourself
• Then God will be able to use you.

Review

• God isn’t looking for perfect vessels but yielded vessels
• As yourself and ask God: Is there anything that is coming between me and God? Write it down. Search me God.

Repent

• Admit, turn from it, then receive God’s grace

Restitution

• Notice what things have impacted others
• Make it right so that the devil won’t have a foothold
• Your part is to do it, you can’t be responsible for how they receive it, that is between them and God

Reveal

• Part of the healing process is when you share it with someone you trust
• It keeps you from going through it alone

Repeat

• Like a bath, you need to take one on a regular basis so that you don’t stink
• Don’t let pride get in the way

We need each other