Today's Reading: Jeremiah 30-31

Today's Devotional: God's Preparation for Moving Out

Verses:

Jeremiah 30:10

Therefore fear not, O My servant Jacob, says the Lord, nor be dismayed or cast down, O Israel; for behold, I will save you out of a distant land [of exile] and your posterity from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, and none will make him afraid or cause him to be terrorized and to tremble.

Jeremiah 30:17

For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord, because they have called you an outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no one seeks after and for whom no one cares!

Jeremiah 31:21

Set up for yourselves highway markers [back to Canaan], make for yourselves guideposts; turn your thoughts and attention to the way by which you went [into exile]. Retrace your steps, O Virgin Israel, return to these your cities.

I'm trading my sorrow, I'm trading my pain, I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

Genesis 30:43

In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys.

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God's Preparation for Moving Out

Os Hillman

In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys. - Genesis 30:43

Jacob left his homeland after suffering a broken relationship with Esau for stealing the family blessing. He went to work for his uncle Laban where he stayed for 20 years. It came time for him to leave, but he had no physical assets to show for those years under Laban. Laban had taken advantage of his nephew in every way. (In some ways, Jacob was reaping the seed he had sown his entire life as a manipulator and controller.) Nevertheless, God's hand was on Jacob, and He had plans to prosper him. However, Jacob had one problem - he had no resources of his own. For Jacob to launch out on his own, he would need resources. In those days, resources often meant large flocks of animals. God gave Jacob a dream that resulted in a strategy for creating wealth by multiplying his sheep. Even though Laban sought to thwart Jacob's efforts, God overcame the evil in Laban to allow Jacob to prosper.

There are many important lessons for us in this story. First, when God decides it is time to move you into a larger place of His calling, He has the ability to provide the resources you need to support the call. God gave Jacob a dream that resulted in a strategy never used before to build wealth. It was totally from God's hand. It was creative and new. God called Jacob to move out after he had demonstrated his faithfulness in 20 years of serving Laban. He learned to live under authority and served Laban faithfully, even though he knew he was being taken advantage of.

God will do the same for you and me. However, a word of caution: Be sure the strategy is born from above, and not from self-effort. The difficulty for most of us workplace believers is to learn the difference between the strategies born of God versus the strategy of self-effort.

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Heavenly Father,

I thank You for this new day and for opening doors of opportunity for me. I pray that today You will be glorified by what I do and say. I pray that today You will be the one who receives all the praise for the work You have done in me. May You flow in and through me today so that people see that there is something special in me that comes from You. May today, people ask and may You give me the courage to proclaim that it is not of my own strength or wisdom, but from God through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Let the miraculous be a part of my everyday I pray. May my family, my work, my church, and all my in betweens shine for You and glorify You and exalt You, in Jesus' name I pray. And Lord, I will give You all the praise and all the glory, in Jesus' name. Amen.

..."Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." - Genesis 28:16

Jacob was forced to flee his family after receiving the blessing of God from his father, Isaac. He ran as a result of his broken relationship with his brother, Esau, who threatened to kill him. He was alone after leaving his family and was sleeping in the wilderness area at Bethel. It is here that Jacob encountered God personally for the very first time. He had a dream in which Heaven was opened up to him. The Lord spoke to him there and gave him a promise to give him the very land on which he was lying.

This encounter with God made him realize that God was in this place, even though he had not been aware of it. God had to remove Jacob from all that was of comfort to him in order to reveal Himself to Jacob. What began as a crisis that forced him to be removed from his family and friends led to an encounter with the living God and a fresh vision of God's purposes for his life.

How often we go about our daily routine and fail to recognize that God is in the place where we are. God had to bring Jacob to a place of separation from his old life and remove all his worldly possessions. He was alone with God at Bethel; nothing else could distract him from an encounter that would change his life.

God often must do radical things in the life of the servant in whom He has special plans: separation from family, removal of physical and emotional resources, an encounter with God. These are often the hallmarks of ownership by God that build a vision into a life.

Becoming a Mighty Man
All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. - 1 Samuel 22:2
Selling Your Birthright
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. - Genesis 25:34
Building a Solid Foundation
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. - Matthew 7:26
More TGIF Devotional Archives

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Today's Reading:                Jeremiah 26-29

Today's Devotional:                  Becoming Aware of God

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for this new day and for having sent Your Holy Spirit when Jesus returned. I thank You that everyday doesn't need to be ordinary if we want to walk with You. I thank You that we have evidence through Your Word in the book of Acts that the power of the Holy Spirit is available not just for the big moments which are only about 10% of the time, but in the everyday moments which are about 90% of the time. Lord, let today be a day where I allow the Holy Spirit work in and through me. Lord, please allow me to be like Peter who when they went to the temple (everyday), they stopped to share what they have (THE POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS), not worried about what they didn't have (MONEY), and were able to stretch out their hands and heal a man who thought his need was money, which was a temporary fix. So we see Peter's hand and Jesus' power work through this event. How many people are there that are finding temporary fixes, and need us to share Jesus with them? Lord, let today be the beginning of a trend where I let Jesus work in and through me to help those I see in the everyday come to know the truth and power of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior and may the Holy Spirit shine in and through me so that people see You and not me, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Jeremiah 5:16

Their quiver is [filled with deadly missiles] like an open sepulcher [filled with dead bodies; the foes] are all mighty men (heroes).

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Heavenly Father,

I pray for Your people of Israel. I pray that they will lean on You in truth. I pray that they will look to You so that they can measure the true content of their hearts. I pray that the people of Israel will draw closer to You and as such draw closer to each others in love, truth, and unity. Lord, may they walk in one accord and see victory. Lord, may they stand in one accord and see Your glory shine in and through them into the regions around them. May the people called by Your name stand up and be counted --  that they will fall on their knees and pray for the salvation of their people. I pray for Israel as the fighting and threats continue in the middle east. I pray that You will put a hedge of protection around them to keep them falling prey to the enemy of our hearts, as we don't fight against flesh and blood, but against the power and principalities and rulers of darkness. Lord, Open the eyes of those around them. Lord, Open the eyes of those around the world of the true threats and may we call come together in one accord to stand up against the attacks of the devil and his minions. Lord, I thank You for this day, I thank You for Your Word - that is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, I thank You for the freedom to come into Your presence knowing that You are my best friend, my mentor, my Lord, my Rock, my Fortress, my Savior. I ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for this new day. I thank You for my family. I thank You for my friendships. I thank You for my church family. I thank You for giving me Your Son, Jesus Christ, as my Lord and Savior, as the ultimate sacrifice for my iniquities, for the sins that I have fallen into. Lord, give me strength and wisdom today. As I walk into a new day, may Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Lord, You know every need that will come my way today. You know even before I ask what the words will be that come from my lips. I ask Lord that You will provide for each need for me personally as well as for the needs of my family. Lord, Your Word says we are not to judge others for as we judge, so will we be measured by the same measurement. I ask Lord that You forgive me today for what I have done, I don't want to let anything get in the way of what You have for me. I ask that You forgive me as I forgive those who have come against me, for those who I picked up an offense but am forgiving and releasing them for I don't want to be carrying anything that will keep me from You or give the devil a stronghold to play with or in my life. Lord, I love You. Lord, You are so awesome, as I look at my life and how You have come in and hit the turbo button when I first moved out here and You brought me into the flock - fully and completely, I see that You love me more than I could have ever imagined. I see that You have called me for greater things that I could have asked or imagine. I praise You and Worship You today in all I say and do, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Reading: Isaiah 59-63

Today's Devotional: A Fleeting Shadow

Heavenly Father,

You are so much greater than anything that can or could or would ever come against me. Lord, I look to You as the author and perfector of my faith. As I walk out this day and this life, I pray that You will guide my every word, thought, and action. I pray that You will help me to become more like You and that the actions that I perform will glorify You. May I not act or react out of bitterness or out of fear or out of anger or out of hate. May I walk with a pure heart. May I not look to myself as the answer, nor my talents, nor my gifts, but may it be about my character. May I be solid. May I be a rock for the glory of Your kingdom. My heart, mind, and soul are looking to You and for You as the perfector. I don't know what, but I do know who. I don't all the hows, but I am glad that I do know the who. It is all about You and I thank You Lord for this day and for its purpose in my life and in the life of those around me.

Thank You and I will love, honor, worship and praise You all the days of my life, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Isaiah 59

1BEHOLD, THE Lord's hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear.

2But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

3For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue mutters wickedness.

4None sues or calls in righteousness [but for the sake of doing injury to others--to take some undue advantage]; no one goes to law honestly and pleads [his case] in truth; they trust in emptiness, worthlessness and futility, and speaking lies! They conceive mischief and bring forth evil!

5They hatch adders' eggs and weave the spider's web; he who eats of their eggs dies, and [from an egg] which is crushed a viper breaks out [for their nature is ruinous, deadly, evil].

6Their webs will not serve as clothing, nor will they cover themselves with what they make; their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

7Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their paths and highways.

8The way of peace they know not, and there is no justice or right in their goings. They have made them into crooked paths; whoever goes in them does not know peace.^(A)

9Therefore are justice and right far from us, and righteousness and salvation do not overtake us. We expectantly wait for light, but [only] see darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity and gloom.

10We grope for the wall like the blind, yes, we grope like those who have no eyes. We stumble at noonday as in the twilight; in dark places and among those who are full of life and vigor, we are as dead men.

11We all groan and growl like bears and moan plaintively like doves. We look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.

12For our transgressions are multiplied before You [O Lord], and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know and recognize them [as]:

13Rebelling against and denying the Lord, turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving in and muttering and moaning from the heart words of falsehood.

14Justice is turned away backward, and righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) stands far off; for truth has fallen in the street (the city's forum), and uprightness cannot enter [the courts of justice].

15Yes, truth is lacking, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. And the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice.

16And He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor [no one to intervene on behalf of truth and right]; therefore His own arm brought Him victory, and His own righteousness [having the Spirit without measure] sustained Him.^(B)

17For [the Lord] put on righteousness as a breastplate or coat of mail, and salvation as a helmet upon His head; He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and was clad with zeal [and furious divine jealousy] as a cloak.^(C)

18According as their deeds deserve, so will He repay wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; on the foreign islands and coastlands He will make compensation.

19So [as the result of the Messiah's intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].^(D)

20He shall come as a Redeemer to Zion and to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from transgression, says the Lord.

21As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord: My Spirit, Who is upon you [and Who writes the law of God inwardly on the heart], and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your [true, spiritual] children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the Lord, from henceforth and forever.^(E)

Isaiah 60

1ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!^(F)

2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.^(G)

3And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.^(H)

4Lift up your eyes round about you and see! They all gather themselves together, they come to you. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried and nursed in the arms.

5Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] ^[a]Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.^(I)

6A multitude of camels [from the eastern trading tribes] shall cover you [Jerusalem], the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all the men from Sheba [who once came to trade] shall come, bringing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.^(J)

7All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you [as the eastern pastoral tribes join the trading tribes], the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on My altar, and My glorious house I will glorify.

8Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows?

9Surely the isles and distant coastlands shall wait for and expect Me; and the ships of Tarshish [shall come] first, to bring your sons from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, for the Holy One of Israel, because He has beautified and glorified you.

10Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in My wrath I smote you, but in My favor, pleasure, and goodwill I have had mercy, love, and pity for you.

11And your gates shall be open continually, they shall not be shut day or night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations--and their kings led in procession [your voluntary captives].^(K)

12For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you in that day [Jerusalem] shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly laid waste.

13The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine [trees] together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious.

14The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all those who despised you shall bow down at your feet, and they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.^(L)

15Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through you, I will make you [Jerusalem] an eternal glory, a joy from age to age.

16You shall suck the milk of the [Gentile] nations and shall suck the breast of kings; and you shall recognize and know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

17Instead of bronze I will bring gold, and instead of iron I will bring silver; and instead of wood, bronze, and instead of stones, iron. [Instead of the tyranny of the present] I will appoint peace as your officers and righteousness as your taskmasters.

18Violence shall no more be heard in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders, but you shall call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

19The sun shall no more be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you, but the Lord shall be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory and your beauty.^(M)

20Your sun shall no more go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended.

21Your people also shall all be [uncompromisingly and consistently] righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified.

22The least one shall become a thousand [a clan], and the small one a strong nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its [appointed] time.

Isaiah 61

1THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound,^(N)

2To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] ^[b]and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,^(O)

3To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

4And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

5Aliens shall stand [ready] and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

6But you shall be called the priests of the Lord; people will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and the glory [once that of your captors] shall be yours.^(P)

7Instead of your [former] shame you shall have a twofold recompense; instead of dishonor and reproach [your people] shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double [what they had forfeited]; everlasting joy shall be theirs.

8For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong with violence or a burnt offering. And I will faithfully give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with them.

9And their offspring shall be known among the nations and their descendants among the peoples. All who see them [in their prosperity] will recognize and acknowledge that they are the people whom the Lord has blessed.

10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11For as [surely as] the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring forth, so [surely] the Lord God will cause rightness and justice and praise to spring forth before all the nations [through the self-fulfilling power of His word].

Isaiah 62

1FOR ZION'S sake will I [Isaiah] not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until her imputed righteousness and vindication go forth as brightness, and her salvation radiates as does a burning torch.

2And the nations shall see your righteousness and vindication [your rightness and justice--not your own, but His ascribed to you], and all kings shall behold your salvation and glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name.^(Q)

3You shall also be [so beautiful and prosperous as to be thought of as] a crown of glory and honor in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem [exceedingly beautiful] in the hand of your God.

4You [Judah] shall no more be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land be called Desolate any more. But you shall be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land be called Beulah [married]; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married [owned and protected by the Lord].

5For as a young man marries a virgin [O Jerusalem], so shall your sons marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

6I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who will never hold their peace day or night; you who [are His servants and by your prayers] put the Lord in remembrance [of His promises], keep not silence,

7And give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise in the earth.

8The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: Surely I will not again give your grain as food for your enemies, and [the invading sons of] aliens shall not drink your new wine for which you have toiled;

9But they who have gathered it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and they who have brought in the vintage shall drink it [at the feasts celebrated] in the courts of My sanctuary (the temple of My holiness).

10Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones. Lift up a standard or ensign over and for the peoples.

11Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the Daughter of Zion, Behold, your salvation comes [in the person of the Lord]; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work and recompense before Him.^(R)

12And they shall call them the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken.

Isaiah 63

1WHO IS this Who comes from Edom, with crimson-stained garments from Bozrah [in Edom]? This One Who is glorious in His apparel, striding triumphantly in the greatness of His might? It is I, [the One] Who speaks in righteousness [proclaiming vindication], mighty to save!

2Why is Your apparel splashed with red, and Your garments like the one who treads in the winepress?

3I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the peoples there was no one with Me. I trod them in My anger and trampled them in My wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon My garments, and I stained all My raiment.

4For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and My year of redemption [the year of My redeemed] has come.

5And I looked, but there was no one to help; I was amazed and appalled that there was no one to uphold [truth and right]. So My own arm brought Me victory, and My wrath upheld Me.

6I trod down the peoples in My anger and made them drink of the cup of My wrath until they were intoxicated, and I spilled their lifeblood upon the earth.

7I will recount the loving-kindnesses of the Lord and the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel, which He has granted them according to His mercy and according to the multitude of His loving-kindnesses.

8For He said, Surely they are My people, sons who will not lie [who will not deal falsely with Me]; and so He was to them a Savior [in all their distresses].

9In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the ^[c]Angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.^(S)

10But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore He turned to become their enemy and Himself fought against them.

11Then His people [seriously] remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people [and they said], Where is He Who brought [our fathers] up out of the [Red] Sea, with [Moses and the other] shepherds of His flock? Where is He Who put His Holy Spirit within their midst,

12Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, dividing the waters before them, to make for Himself an everlasting name,

13Who led them through the depths, like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble?

14Like the cattle that go down into the valley [to find better pasturage, refuge, and rest], the Spirit of the Lord caused them to rest. So did You lead Your people [Lord] to make for Yourself a beautiful and glorious name [to prepare the way for the acknowledgment of Your name by all nations].

15Look down from heaven and see from the dwelling place of Your holiness and Your glory. Where are Your zeal and Your jealousy and Your mighty acts [which you formerly did for Your people]? Your yearning pity and the [multitude of] compassions of Your heart are restrained and withheld from me.

16For [surely] You are our Father, even though Abraham [our ancestor] does not know us and Israel (Jacob) does not acknowledge us; You, O Lord, are [still] our Father, our Redeemer from everlasting is Your name.

17O Lord, why have You made us [able] to err from Your ways and hardened our hearts to [reverential] fear of You? Return [to bless us] for Your servants' sake, the tribes of Your heritage.

18Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary but a little while; our adversaries have trodden it down.

19We have become [to You] like those over whom You never exercised rule, like those who were not called by Your name.

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A Fleeting Shadow

Os Hillman

Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow. - Psalm 144:4

Every time I fly over a large body of water, I imagine opening the window of the jet and pouring out my coffee into the immense body of water below. I imagine the time that I spend on this earth compared to eternity is no more than that cup of coffee. The incredible size of the ocean compared to one small cup of coffee is what our life is like compared to eternity. Why then do we invest so much in temporal pursuits when we know that our investment here can have so much impact on our eternity? It is the great paradox of human behavior, especially for Christians.
Does your business life have an overall ministry objective to it? This does not mean we must be constantly involved in "Christian activity." It only means that we should be about what God has called us to do with the motive of being obedient to this mission. Do not let the worries and cares of this life keep you from having an eternal impact on the lives of those you meet each day. Satan has a way of keeping our focus on the problems of today rather than the spiritual opportunities before us. He is master of the urgent, not the important.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

The Flight of Geese

by Os Hillman

Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord. - 2 Chronicles 30:12

A major corporation conducted a study on the flight of geese. In their study they found that geese fly in a "V" formation with one goose in the lead. After a period of time, this goose relinquishes the lead to another goose. During flight they noticed head movements of the leader that seem to give signals to the other geese flying, perhaps to let the others know how he was doing. They estimate that the formation flight pattern reduces wind drag due to the lift the other birds receive and believe it increases their performance by up to 70 percent. Whenever one goose drops out, another goes with it. These two geese do not catch up to the original pack, but join another group later.

Independence is one of the strongholds of the workplace. The entire system feeds the desire within us to gain recognition from our individual achievements. We wrongly believe financial independence frees us from needing to depend on anyone else. The fact is dependence on others is a good thing. It can bring us into a unity of spirit that accomplishes much more with less effort while meeting needs for each of us. Christ talked a lot about unity among brothers and sisters. He said that others would know we are Christians by our love for one another and by our unity. We need to depend on others so that we don't go it alone. By walking together we increase our strength. By going it alone we must carry a load we were never intended to carry. God did not create us to go it alone. By joining together we accomplish more for Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord today if there is an independent spirit within you that prevents you from joining others in the mission He has called you to.

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Today's Reading: Isaiah 23-27

Today's Devotional: Impossible Tasks

Key Verses:

Miraculous vs Logical Response

Mark 6:37a - But He answered, "You give them something to eat"

Mark 6:36 = Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat

Isaiah 25:1 - O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, even purposes planned of old [and fulfilled] in faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 25:8 - He will swallow up death [in victory; He will abolish death forever]. And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; and the reproach of His people He will take away from off all the earth; for the Lord has spoken it.^(E)

Ever wonder where the words "we will rejoice and be glad in it comes from"?

Isaiah 25:9 - It shall be said in that day, Behold our God upon Whom we have waited and hoped, that He might save us! This is the Lord, we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

Isaiah 26:12 - Lord, You will ordain peace (God's favor and blessings, both temporal and spiritual) for us, for You have also wrought in us and for us all our works.

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Before getting frustrated. Before getting anxious. Before starting to stress out. Before worrying. Look to see what you have. Think of the lady who had "just a little oil". Think about the feeding of the 5000 with a child's lunch. Think about what you have right now - what do you have that God can use and multiply in order to make it happen. What do you have that will help you deal with this situation. Will you let the devil speak fear, doubt, and hopelessness? Or will you look for courage, hope, and confidence through your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - to whom nothing is impossible and nothing is too big - all things are possible for those who are in Christ Jesus. So what is the Jesus response to your situation. What is the Jesus response that will allow Jesus to shine through you today in whatever comes your way. Stop and think... What do you have that you can give Jesus to use and multiply that will change where you are today?

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Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for this new way of thinking about circumstances that come my way. I thank You that You have prepared in advance for what is coming my way. Not only will You use what I have, You have given it to me in advance so that You can get it from me and then use it for the glory of Your Kingdom. Lord, today I will walk out in power and not in fear, I will walk out in the promises of Your Word trusting and believing that it will work out in a miraculous way. Thank You for today's words of encouragement. Thank You for helping me to set You as the center. When I focus on You, the problems shrink in size for nothing is too big for You. Lord, I thank You, I praise You, I worship You, I honor You, all in Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Reading: Isaiah 13-17

Today's Devotional: Ability vs Availability

Heavenly Father,
I thank You for this new day and for the plans You have set in motion. I know Lord, that the plans are bigger than I could ever ask or imagine and I am thankful that You only give me a view that is only a few steps ahead to prepare me, but not much more that could freak me out. Lord, You are awesome, I pray for traveling mercies today for my parents who are coming to visit. I pray for patience and wisdom around my children and for my wife and I. Lord, be glorified today through all I say and do. I ask and thank You in Jesus' name. Amen.

National Day of Prayer is coming up, are you going to participate?

 

Answer: You do what You know how to do. When we look at the disciples who were left when Jesus rose to the sky, we see that they returned to Jerusalem, they humbled themselves, and they prayed. Then the Holy Spirit came and they were baptise with power as Jesus had promised. So when we are in a situation where we don't know what to do, let's humble ourselves and pray that God will intervene.

 

Sermon Notes from the weekend:

The Book of Acts

“Preparing to receive the Holy Spirit’s power”

I. The Holy Spirit possesses the attributes of personality.

· The Holy Spirit possesses intellect (I Corinthians 2:6-16).

· The Holy Spirit expresses emotion (Ephesians 4:30).

· The Holy Spirit has a will (I Corinthians 12; 11).

II. The work of the Holy Spirit demonstrates his personality.

· The Holy Spirit is our teacher (John 14:26).

· The Holy Spirit testifies (John 15:26).

· The Holy Spirit guides (John 16:13).

· The Holy Spirit convicts (John 16:8).

III. Christ’s ascension focused the disciples on the need to seek the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:9-26

· Jesus ascended bodily into the clouds in full view of the disciples (Acts 1:9).

· Jesus had foretold he would return to the Father (John 16:16).

· The angels spoke to the disciples of how Jesus would return again (Acts 1:11).

· All of history now looks toward the return of Jesus (I Thess.4:16-18).

· The Disciples returned to Jerusalem to seek the Holy Spirit’s empowerment (Acts 1:12-26).

· The disciples sought the Lord through humility and prayer.

· Waiting upon the Lord does not represent inaction; it is preparation for what God desires to do next.