Consider what you do. Consider how you do it. Consider where you've been. Consider where you are going. Consider what people see. Consider what people hear. Consider what people know.

This isn’t the first time that I have read this devotional, nor the first time that I have considered the question. I have had thoughts, but haven’t made any progress towards defining it. I know that since I have come to the Lord in 2001 my life has changed. I knew about the Lord previously, but I didn’t feel the relationship part of it till Jan 2001. God took me where I was and help to transform me. He took all my selfish things and has started a new work in me. I am a new creation in Christ, the old is gone and the new has come. He takes away our pain and replaced it with joy. He removed the pain of being hit and replaced it with joy of not acting out in anger if someone happens hit me in the face as it had for decades earlier through a Cleansing Stream seminar. I found Him, because I search for Him with all my heart, my mind, and my strength and He drew me even closer through being saved, getting baptized in water and then through a spiritual emphasis week, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. God did it while I was still a new dad with our first child which has blessed not only my daughter, but also my wife and my next two children too. By spending time with God daily, He is able to reveal things and speak to my heart about what I am going through and what is coming my way. He spoke to me not only of my relating to Philip the Evangelist (daughters), but also to Abraham (son) when He spoke to me that He promised me a son as he had done with Abraham, which caused me to change the name if we had a son from Benjamin to Isaac. I was blessed by God bringing a friend into my life named Benjamin, however, my son is Isaac.

As I think of my life, I hope that I am remembered as:

• a servant of the Lord
• a loving & dedicated husband
• a loving & dedicated father
• a loving & dedicated son
• a loving & dedicated brother
• a loving & dedicated friend

Blessing to each of you today and may the Lord speak to your hearts and minds about how best we can all serve and turn back to Him today.

Living for a Greater Cause

• By Os Hillman

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

What does it mean for workplace believers to live for a cause greater than themselves in our day and time? Jeremiah Lanphier was a businessman in New York City who asked God to do this in his life in 1857.

In a small, darkened room, in the back of one of New York City's lesser churches, a man prayed alone. His request of God was simple, but earth-shattering: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" [John Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1992), 337]

He was a man approaching midlife without a wife or family, but he had financial means. He made a decision to reject the "success syndrome" that drove the city's businessmen and bankers. God used this businessman to turn New York City's commercial empire on its head. He began a businessmen's prayer meeting on September 23, 1857. The meetings began slowly, but within a few months 20 noonday meetings were convening daily throughout the city. The New York Tribune and the New York Herald issued articles of revival. It had become the city's biggest news. Now a full-fledged revival, it moved outside New York. By spring of 1858, 2,000 met daily in Chicago's Metropolitan Theatre, and in Philadelphia the meetings mushroomed into a four-month long tent meeting. Meetings were held in Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, New Orleans, and Mobile. Thousands met to pray because one man stepped out. Annus Mirabilis, the year of national revival, had begun.

This was an extraordinary move of God through one man. It was unique because the movement was lead by businessmen, a group long considered the least prone to any form of evangelical fervor, and it had started on Wall Street, the most unlikely of all places to begin.

Could God do something extraordinary through you? Take a step. Ask God to do mighty things through you.

©2004 - 2009 Marketplace Leaders - All Rights Reserved.

WOW - The Big Picture 7/2

July 2

Jeremiah's Jar and Complaint

Jeremiah 19-20; Psalm 77:1-2; Proverbs 15:14

Thus says the LORD: "Go and get a potter's earthen flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests. And go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the Potsherd Gate; and proclaim there the words that I will tell you, and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bring such a catastrophe on this place, that whoever hears of it, his ears will tingle. "Because they have forsaken Me and made this an alien place, because they have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents (they have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into My mind), therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that this place shall no more be called Tophet or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place, and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies and by the hands of those who seek their lives; their corpses I will give as meat for the birds of the heaven and for the beasts of the earth. I will make this city desolate and a hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss because of all its plagues. And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and everyone shall eat the flesh of his friend in the siege and in the desperation with which their enemies and those who seek their lives shall drive them to despair."' "Then you shall break the flask in the sight of the men who go with you, and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Even so I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, which cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury them in Tophet till there is no place to bury. Thus I will do to this place," says the LORD, "and to its inhabitants, and make this city like Tophet. And the houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah shall be defiled like the place of Tophet, because of all the houses on whose roofs they have burned incense to all the host of heaven, and poured out drink offerings to other gods."'"

Then Jeremiah came from Tophet, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the Lord's house and said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will bring on this city and on all her towns all the doom that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks that they might not hear My words.'"

Now Pashhur the son of Immer, the priest who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD. And it happened on the next day that Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD has not called your name Pashhur, but Magor-Missabib. For thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall see it. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive to Babylon and slay them with the sword. Moreover I will deliver all the wealth of this city, all its produce, and all its precious things; all the treasures of the kings of Judah I will give into the hand of their enemies, who will plunder them, seize them, and carry them to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house, shall go into captivity. You shall go to Babylon, and there you shall die, and be buried there, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies.'"

O LORD, You induced me, and I was persuaded;
You are stronger than I, and have prevailed.
I am in derision daily;
Everyone mocks me.
For when I spoke, I cried out;
I shouted, "Violence and plunder!"
Because the word of the LORD was made to me
A reproach and a derision daily.
Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him,
Nor speak anymore in His name."
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
I was weary of holding it back,
And I could not.
For I heard many mocking:
"Fear on every side!"
"Report," they say, "and we will report it!"
All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying,
"Perhaps he can be induced;
Then we will prevail against him,
And we will take our revenge on him."
But the LORD is with me as a mighty, awesome One.
Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper.

Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.
But, O LORD of hosts,
You who test the righteous,
And see the mind and heart,
Let me see Your vengeance on them;
For I have pleaded my cause before You.
Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD!
For He has delivered the life of the poor
From the hand of evildoers.
Cursed be the day in which I was born!
Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me!
Let the man be cursed
Who brought news to my father, saying,
"A male child has been born to you!"
Making him very glad.
And let that man be like the cities
Which the LORD overthrew, and did not relent;
Let him hear the cry in the morning
And the shouting at noon,
Because he did not kill me from the womb,
That my mother might have been my grave,
And her womb always enlarged with me.
Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame?

Jeremiah 19-20

WORSHIP

I cried out to God with my voice-
To God with my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
Psalm 77:1-2

WISDOM

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
Proverbs 15:14

WOW - The Big Picture 7/1

July 1

The Lesson of the Potter and the Clay

Jeremiah 18; Psalm 76:8-10; Proverbs 15:13

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.

"Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good." '"

And they said, "That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart." Therefore thus says the LORD:

"Ask now among the Gentiles,
Who has heard such things?
The virgin of Israel has done a very horrible thing.
Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon,
Which comes from the rock of the field?
Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters? "Because My people have forgotten Me,

They have burned incense to worthless idols.
And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways,
From the ancient paths,
To walk in pathways and not on a highway,
To make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing;
Everyone who passes by it will be astonished
And shake his head.
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy;
I will show them the back and not the face
In the day of their calamity."
Then they said, "Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words."

Give heed to me, O LORD,
And listen to the voice of those who contend with me!
Shall evil be repaid for good?
For they have dug a pit for my life.
Remember that I stood before You
To speak good for them,
To turn away Your wrath from them.
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine,
And pour out their blood
By the force of the sword;
Let their wives become widows
And bereaved of their children.
Let their men be put to death,
Their young men be slain
By the sword in battle.
Let a cry be heard from their houses,
When You bring a troop suddenly upon them;
For they have dug a pit to take me,
And hidden snares for my feet.
Yet, LORD, You know all their counsel
Which is against me, to slay me.
Provide no atonement for their iniquity,
Nor blot out their sin from Your sight;
But let them be overthrown before You.
Deal thus with them
In the time of Your anger.
Jeremiah 18

WORSHIP

You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
The earth feared and was still,
When God arose to judgment,
To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah
Surely the wrath of man shall praise You;
With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.
Psalm 76:8-10

WISDOM

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:13

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for all the plans You have for it. I consider what it can be and knowing that You made it, brings joy to my heart. Help me I pray to keep my focus on You. Help me I pray to keep first things first and realize where my priorities are to be. Help me I pray to manage my time in a way that is in alignment with these priorities. God, I thank You for Your Word, that it can get straight to my heart and speak to me daily. That Your Word is more than something I read and go on with my day, but that it is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. That You use it to guide me and protect me. As I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil, for thy rod and thy staff they guide me and comfort me. God, let all that I do today bring joy to Your heart. Help my actions, my words, my thoughts all be glorifying to You. Help me to receive and respond appropriately. And Lord, I will give You all the praise and all the glory and all the honor, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Devotional:

Seekers of God

God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. - Psalm 53:2

Reading:

The Lesson of the Ruined Waistband

Jeremiah 13; Psalm 76:1-3; Proverbs 15:12

Heavenly Father,
Your Word continues to bring ideas and concepts to me. Your Word is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, yet it brings wisdom and direction daily. I thank You for the time You allow me to read and focus on Your Word. I thank You for the Holy Spirit that prompts me and speaks to my heart. Lord, as I look at my next 2 days before taking some time off, I pray that You will help me to use the time to its fullest potential to bring You the most praise and glory. I also pray for my friends and family that they will all be blessed today by considering what You have in store for them and the plans and ideas You have set in motion for them today. Lord, I thank You and praise You and give You all the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen

http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/apps/articles/default.asp?articleid=4968&columnid=744 – consider how a dispute may be easily settled

Consider what you are measuring your life against – What is your Standard?

Consider what God’s standard is for your life – measured up against the plumb line of the Bible – What is God’s Standard?

Finally – How do they line up?

http://www.crosswalk.com/devotions/bigpicture/545366/

Imagine after praying that in your reading you receive/read:

“So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.”

What would you think? What would you say?

Imagine just a few days earlier when you posted a prayer on your blog and someone posting a comment on your site that says:

“The prayers of this country will not be heard. That is why they have been given Obama, a narcissistic, power hungry black man. The downfall of this country is already taking place. Look at today....while the Ark of the covenant is (supposedly)being unveiled today, the manipulated world is looking into why MICHAEL JACKSON died!!! Talk about worshipping idols and 'other gods'!”
This world is in a pitiful shape...and now is the time for judgement, against those who knew the truth but would not DO IT.

Imagine they were just a few days apart…

How are we lined up? - What standard are we measuring ourselves against? What is God's standard? How are we lined up?

Consider life as a football field - the lines are to let us know where to play.
Consider life against the Bible - the rules are to let us know where life is to take place.

In both cases, it isn't to limit us, but to show us how to win.

Heavenly Father,
There are so many people who are looking for answers and trying to win, but they are looking in all the wrong place and finding more heart ache and pain. Lord, You are the way the truth and the life. Lord, You have provided the Bible as a guide book on how to live to be able to receive the incredible blessings that You had planned and desired for our lives. Today I pray that people will give Your Word a chance. I pray that people will seek the truth – that never changes, that like You is the same Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. God, help to look to You as our eternal source and guide in this life. Help us to be sensitive to Your Spirit who will bring Your Word to our minds in each situation in order to help direct our every step.

Lord, I heard in the news that the Ark of the Covenant may have been found. I pray to hear of the great blessings that have taken place to the people who have watched over it, as is described in the Old Testament. I pray that people will turn back to You and not fall into the trap of old as the people of Israel did when they started to worship the poll that had the snake on it which had kept them from dying, but instead would put their hope and trust and focus on You. I pray that this will be another opportunity for all those who are called by Your Name to receive the truth and be able to turn back to You. That we would focus on You more and work to fix or realign our lives, our culture, our views to be in alignment with Your plans and purposes for each of us and them.

I know Lord that You hear my prayers. I know Lord that You speak to me through Your Word and Your Spirit and praise You Lord. I pray that all those who attend a church service today will get an opportunity to hear the unabridged TRUTH, that people wouldn’t hold back from preaching the full truth and robbing people of the blessings You have for them. And Lord, we will give you the praise and the honor and the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Is there anyone who executes judgment who seeks the truth?

Will anyone stand in the gap for your country?

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

Heavenly Father,
I life up this country to You. I look worship and honor You through my words and actions. Lord, help me I pray to be an example, to be an ambassador for You. Lord, as I go out into the world today, I pray that Your light shine on me. I pray that as I prepare to go, I will not be just getting dressed physically, but that I will put on the full armor of God. Lord, you have prophesied over me that I am one who will stand in the gap, that You sent me here for such a day and such a time as that and I do stand here asking that You hold back destruction on this land, that Your grace be visible and that the people who are called by Your name will all turn back to You, will repent – asking for forgiveness – not just for themselves, but for the generational sins of the land, for the leaders, for those who haven’t heard or have fallen away from You, so that Lord, the World will see that You are who You said You are – that they would not just hear, but be able to see the incredible healing that can come over a land when the Lord is put back where You belong – at the head of our lives. God my hope and trust are in You. I know Lord that You brought me here for such a day and such a time as this. I know Lord, that You didn’t bring some people into my life by accident, but have purposed for their to be more. Lord, may we glorify You and may Your Word be seen and read, listened to and obeyed, and may You receive all the praise and all the glory and all the honor, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/bigpicture/545360/

Remaining Vertical With God

Divine Appointments

By Os Hillman, June 23, 2009
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I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. - Matthew 10:16

"Os is now taking over this division. He will be managing all of these activities from now on. You should know that he has a different management philosophy than what you may have experienced before. He has a biblical management philosophy. Os, would you like to explain what they could expect from you in this regard?"
These were the words spoken to me by a non-Christian CEO recently when he decided to increase my responsibilities in the company. We had never spoken of spiritual issues before.

Each business day, you and I will have the opportunity to stand before presidents, marketing directors, secretaries or other coworkers to create a defining moment. When that happens, there is a good chance you will be thought of as someone to avoid. You might be considered "religious" or "fanatic." If so, consider this a great compliment because it says you are standing apart from the crowd.

Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you (Matthew 10:17-20).

You may never be flogged for your faith. However, you may very well be brought before others to give account for what you believe. It may be at a water cooler, or it could be during lunch with a coworker. In whatever situation you find yourself, the Holy Spirit awaits the opportunity to speak through your life to that person who needs to hear. Ask the Lord whom He wants to speak to today through your life.

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Imagine receiving this call:

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
Then said I:
"Ah, Lord GOD!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
But the LORD said to me:
"Do not say, 'I am a youth,'
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.

And then to get a word of confidence like this:

They will fight against you,
But they shall not prevail against you.
For I am with you," says the LORD, "to deliver you."

Jeremiah's Call and Commissioning
Jeremiah 1:1-19; 16:1-9; Psalm 73:12-14; Proverbs 15:5

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and all that is coming within it. I know and trust in You for the provision and direction of this day. There is nothing too big for You and nothing that can catch You by surprise. Lord, as people look around today, help them to see believers in a different light. Lord, as people I encounter today meet and talk with me, help me to shine Your Love and Your Light into the world. Help me to be an ambassador for You. God, allow people to want to know more about how You have transformed me. Lord, draw people to me that I may point them to You. God, it is only by Your strength that I am able to make it through the day. It is only by Your mercy that I can be filled with joy. Lord, give me eyes to see what is truly going on in situations and people’s lives and grant me wisdom and discernment and the courage to speak into the lives of those around me that You give me a word to speak. God, it’s not about me. God, in my weakness, Your Strength is revealed. In my weakness, Your courage and conviction shine through. God, I lean on You today. I know there will be challenges that will come my way as You continue to work on me and I pray that You will help me to keep my eyes off the circumstances, off the “me” part, but to shine and be encouraged by keeping my eyes on You and Your great and mighty plan for each event, each meeting, each situation that I face today. I will remember what took place last week and not let the enemy’s lies pull me off course. God, the markers You put in my life will help me to stay grounded. The markets You put around me will help me to right the ship of my life if I get tipped over. Help me Lord to keep first things first and to help me to not be swayed from the left or the right, but to stay on the narrow path that leads to eternal life. May my words and my actions bring hope and love and truth and clarity to those around me that they may not allow fear to keep them from asking me the hard questions, that they would not allow fear to keep them from the truth of a living relationship with the Most High God. Lord, this is the day that You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Use my hands to reach out. Use my arms to embrace. Use my words to encourage. Use my feet to go. Use my legs to run after the things, the people, the opportunities that You put before me today. And Lord, I will give You all the praise and all the glory and all the honor in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s Devotional: When Fear Keeps Others From Their Destiny
No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. - Acts 5:13

Today’s Reading: Habakkuk, the Perplexed Prophet
Habakkuk 1:1-2:4; 3:1-7,16-19; Psalm 73:1-3; Proverbs 15:4

Consider a prayer Pattern:

Have you ever wondered how to start praying? Know how sometime when you first meet someone you aren’t sure what to say or how to start the conversation? Prayer is just a conversation between you and God. There isn’t any formal words you need to use or any special formula, but I know that some days when I need to get started, I take a look at this format and then insert my own words about what I am going through to help me in each of these areas.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name

First I start by praising God for all that He has already done in my life, for how incredible He is and for all that He has brought into creation.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Next, I ask God for His will to be done today. I pray that His great plans for today would materialize and that He would find a way to use me in it.

Give us this day our daily bread

Next, I ask for provision – some days it is wisdom that I need, some days it is patience, some days it is finances, some days it is love, some days I just don’t know what I need and I pray for wisdom to know what I need.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

Next, I ask for forgiveness, forgiveness for things I know I missed the mark on, forgiveness for things I am not even aware of.

Then I think of people who may have impacted my day in some way where it made me feel wrong, bad, sad, mad, etc and I ask God to help me to forgive them, or I lift them up and say Lord, I forgive them for this action and pray that You will help me in my response next time so that I can be a better example if something like this happens again either with that same person or someone else.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

Then I pray for protection, over me, over my family, over my friends, over my work, that I would keep my eyes on Jesus and not be swayed.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, Forever and ever. Amen.

Then I praise Him again and lift up the rest of the day to God.

As I said, there isn’t some magic formula, but this helps me get started on those days when I am struggling to get going and don’t know what to do or say.

In this world, we hear so much about what people want to choose. We all have a freewill and are able to choose, but when given the options, will we choose wisely? Can you think of examples where people choose?

• Direction to go.
• Things to say.
• When to speak.
• What to believe.
• Life to the full.
• Life in bondage to something or someone.
• How to respond to a question.
• How to respond to an accusation.
• Do I stand up for something.
• Will I fall for anything.
• Who will I follow.
• Who will I lead.
• How strong is my conviction.
• Friends.
• How much to share.
• Trust.
• Hope.
• Love.
• Be obedient.
• Be righteous.
• Help the helpless.
• Standby and do nothing.
• Stand against injustice.
• Stand up for good.

What choices are you facing today?

What helps you in making your choices?

Where do you turn when you aren’t sure?

Who do you turn to?

How long are you willing to wait to make your choice?

Consider these question – here are some choice questions for you…

• Will you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
• Will you ask the Holy Spirit for help in making your decisions?
• Will you wait to hear or just do something?

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and all that is within it. Happy Father’s day Lord to the ultimate example of a Father. Bless my dad today Lord and help all of us who have or who are fathers so that we may show our children and our family that we have all our hope and trust in you. There are so many things going on in this world Lord that are in need of help. We need Your hand to come and help right the ship, correct the course, and return to being the head or our society. I pray Lord that today as we celebrate Fathers’ Day that You will will be exalted, You will be place where you belong in all our lives and that Your people will pray, pray for wisdom, pray to hear from the Holy Spirit, to hear from Your Heart, and that we would right the ship and bring You back into our lives, over the years people have tried to pull You out of so much of society – schools, courts, politics, and more – but Lord, if You aren’t in them, the devil comes to rob, lie, and destroy, if you aren’t there to protect them, the people will stumble and scatter, if You are the center and we take our focus off of You, then we get distracted, we lose hope, we allow fear to come when the devil comes like a roaring like to bring fear. God, I pray for this world Lord. I pray for the United States, I pray for Canada, I pray for all of North America, I pray for all of South America, I pray for Europe, I pray for Asia, I pray for Australia, I pray for Africa, I pray for those on earth, I pray for those in the space station, I pray for those in planes, I pray for those in hospitals, I pray for those in cars, in trucks, in vans, on bicycles, on motorcycles, on scooters, walking, running, crawling, skipping. God, I receive peace and comfort in knowing that this is the day that You have made, so I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hold on tight to knowing and having faith to believe that Your Word will never return void. If it is in Your Word, I want it. If it isn’t I am not interested. I will walk by faith and not by sight. For then I can walk in confidence of You and say “Fear Not, Just Believe”.

Lord I thank You and praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Last week on Monday I prayed for God to give a chance to step out of the boat (a Peter moment) and that I would keep my eyes on Jesus and not be distracted by the waves or the storms.

On Tuesday, after putting some effort into pulling together some work I went to a meeting where I learned that the work I had done wasn’t going to be used based on a meeting that happened over the weekend that I was unaware of. In the meeting internally I felt torn, but kept my focus on Jesus and worked with the team to help get our presentation move forward in preparation for the following week.

Looking back I feel that challenge 1 went ok, I didn’t melt down and get distracted by the storm or the waves, but was able to press through it and stay up.

Wednesday, I had an appointment to decide which insulin pump I would choose as the one I currently have’s warranty is about to expire. That meeting went well and then we had lunch with our VP where we were lifted up for some awards we had won and received congratulations and encouraging words.

Thursday I had a meeting in my office where I learned that many key components to a project I was planning for weren’t going to be provided in the solution I was planning to use. I was saddened, to the point where my lunch appointment that happened after that meeting my friend told me there seemed to be something wrong. After lunch walking down the hall someone said I looked funny – he went one to express how I wasn’t dancing or bouncing. The rest of the day I felt down, I was feeling a bit defeated.

Friday Morning, I had my devotional time, my time with God. During this time, God opened my eyes about my past, when something looks impossible, what happens? When something looks impossible, what should I expect? The answer was if it was too big for me, then I needed to get ready, because that meant God was going to have to step in, just like he has done so many other times in the past. The words jumped right off the page, they were just in time and helped me to “Turn that frown upside down” as I would say to my kids. The messages for Friday came from:

The Strength of Brokenness
The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. - 1 Samuel 2:4

Triumph of God's Grace
Micah 4:1-8; 5:1-6:8; 7:18; Psalm 72:1-4; Proverbs 15:1

God, my eyes came off of you in the second one, but thanks for coming up beside me and lifting me up gently that I was able to come into work on Friday a changed man, a man with a testimony on my lips of the joy of knowing that a miracle was on the way. I was bouncing and skipping and sharing the love and the hope and the joy that was in my heart all through the day, even past the end of the normal work day as my last meeting went a bit longer, but God was there, He provides for our every need and answers our every prayer.

My posting from Friday when the light bulb turned on

Being Fully Persuaded

By Os Hillman, June 20, 2009

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Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. - Romans 4:21

Why did God consider Abraham a righteous man? It was because Abraham looked beyond his own limitations of age and strength and considered God as the one who could accomplish His own goals. Abraham came to a place in his life where he realized it had little to do with him and all to do with God. His part was initiating the faith within himself.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead-since he was about a hundred years old-and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God (Romans 4:18-20).

What are the things in your life that are mere impossibilities? What are the mountains in your life? Are these there in order to build your faith in the one who can enable you to ascend to the peak? Once you know that it is His will for you to pursue, do it with faith. Faith requires action when we know it is He who is leading. It may require risk. Faith is sometimes spelled R-I-S-K. Abraham did not limit God. It is this confidence in God that God honored and rewarded. He wants to do the same with you and me.

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Heavenly Father,
As I look at my condition – the fact that yesterday people were noticing that something was missing – the JOY that usually surrounds me – that I smile, that I dance, that I bounce. Lord as I look at what lead up to my state, I realize that it was disappointment. I was working so hard to try and make it happen (in what I see now was my own power). I was striving to make something happen, but missing out the miraculous that You can do. Lord, I should have remembered my prayer from the other day when I asked for faith to step out and do the impossible, the courage to step out and do the impossible, and the wisdom to keep my eyes on You. As I put my eyes back on You, I realize that I looked at the storm and big waves. There were two big things that happened over two days. I felt like I kept my eyes on You for one and didn’t over react; however, yesterday I lost focus and started to focus on me and my striving to accomplish something instead of abiding in the promises and directions that You had given me and remembering that if I keep my eye on You, if I abide in You then nothing is impossible. As big as the challenge may look as big as the obstacle may appear, nothing is too big for You. Forgive me Lord. Give me strength and courage today to walk in Your ways. Give me wisdom and discernment to speak in LOVE and HOPE, TRUTH and WISDOM. Help me Lord to remember it isn’t all about me, but about You working in and through me. Thank You Lord that Your Word never returns void. Thank You Lord that You always send me a message that meets me right where I am. And Lord I will give You all the praise and all the glory and all the honor, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Messages from today:

The Strength of Brokenness
The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. - 1 Samuel 2:4

Triumph of God's Grace
Micah 4:1-8; 5:1-6:8; 7:18; Psalm 72:1-4; Proverbs 15:1

Do Justly

Love Mercy

Walk Humbly with your God

WISDOM

A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1

Consider this challenges:

• You are running for your life, a group of people are coming after you with weapons and the like and God says, stop, stand still and wait.
• A new problem comes up at work and that still quiet voice says to wait
• Someone calls you and asks for you to do something huge while at the same time that still quiet voice says wait

Consider now when Israel was released after years of slavery in Egypt. They made it all the way to the Red Sea and Pharaoh changed his mind. God said to wait as the people we call on Moses to do something. Imagine if they had a run towards the soldiers or try to find another way what might have happened. But as they waited God was able to bring them through a life changing experience, show them His love through a great and incredible miracle, and give them a testimony that exists to this day as the Red Sea parted and they walked across on dry ground and then closed back up on those who were coming to get them.

So will we be obedient next time we get that check in our spirit – we hear that still quiet voice say – wait – and allow God to perform a miracle in our lives?

Or will we do the easy thing and try to fix it or do it ourselves?

It will be in your hands… What will you do?

Learning To Stand

..."Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...." - Exodus 14:13

WOW - The Big Picture 6/17 – The New Heaven and the new earth

Isaiah 65:17-66:24; Psalm 71:14-16; Proverbs 14:31

Have you ever considered what God's inheritance to you is? God promised Abraham the "Promised Land". Do you realize the enemy of our souls, the devil will do everything in his power to try to rob us of that inheritance? It will take work. It took Israel 39 battles before they were able to receive the promised land. What is your inheritance? How many battles will it take? DON'T GIVE UP!!!

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and all that will be accomplished in it and through it. Help me Lord to be a light for You. Help me Lord to speak hope and truth in LOVE to all those I work with today. When I keep my eyes on You, nothing is too big for us (You and I) – really it is nothing is too be for You, and I get to benefit. As I step out today give me the faith of a Peter to stepped out of the boat and was the only one who got to walk on water. Lord, give me the courage to not look back or look away from You, but to walk out all that You have for me today. May the lives of all those You bring into my life and my day see and know that the presence of God is around us and that they would see that it is an incredible blessing from God and that each miracle has come from Your hand. I give to You in advance all the praise and all the honor and all the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

But the Danites had difficulty taking possession of their territory, so they went up and attacked Leshem, took it, put it to the sword and occupied it.... - Joshua 19:47

Today’s Reading: Jerusalem's Future Blessing
Isaiah 61-62; Psalm 71:9-11; Proverbs 14:30

Heavenly Father,
I lift up this day to You as I can’t do this alone and without You and knowing what You have done in the past, I would not even have the hope to believe that You will help me get through this. I know Your Word says that You will take what the devil has planned for evil and turn it around for God – that You use all things for good. Today as I look at my vehicles and seeing one by one they run into significant issues, I look to You for wisdom and strength. I know there are some finances coming in, once the IRS sends the “I’m clear” letter and we then submitted my return since we asked for an extension so they wouldn’t hold back any of the return, but that won’t cover the new vehicle issues. I know Lord, that You are the ultimate provider and that You have met my every need. God, You have provided me with many faith building moments since 2000 and as such I put my hope and trust in You. God grant me wisdom to do what is right and what is prudent. Help me to make the right plans and the right decisions. Lord as I look to my summer vacation and will no longer be able to do all that I was planning for my children, it breaks my heart as I know that when Your gifts for Your children aren’t received, it grieves You. Make a way where doesn’t seem to be a way I pray. Give me eyes to see new opportunities. Give me ears to hear Your direction, Your wisdom, Your comfort. And Lord through all of this, please be glorified with all the praise and all the honor, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s Devotional:  Are You a Threat?
One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" - Acts 19:15

Today’s Reading: Babylon's Imminent Fall
Isaiah 46-47; Psalm 69:13-15; Proverbs 14:22