HE RENEWS MY STRENGTH FROM ONE MOMENT TO THE NEXT!

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: ” Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. But in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (KJV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE: We are not to be dependent on our own strength and our own understanding. Instead, we are to trust our God for his knowledge and understanding in all things. Each moment of each day is precious, and we must not forget who gives the breath of fresh air when we take each deep breath. We cannot forget that our life is only existent because our God in heaven has determined that we are still useful or still in need upon this earth. We all have a job to do. We are either needing to be saved or are helping to save others. Sometimes people will refuse to do what the Lord desires and will go about their lives living their duration of life within the ways of this world. There are others who do live within the will of God but have just not finished their assignment. We all are subject to cross over to the afterlife at a moment’s notice. We don’t know when that might be. So, it is important that we not only live each day as though it is our last but that we live each moment as our last. If you are reading this today, then you have been granted another moment in God’s time. You have been given another opportunity to exercise your love for Christ, by becoming a servant of Christ and doing his will in your life. You must not waste your next moment. It may be your last. Show those around you that you love them. Tell them that you love them. Show Jesus to the world and be sure that what you do is with all of your heart and with all of your strength, as only God knows when you may take your last breath. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS! 


	


	





	

		
COMING TO JESUS IS WHEN THE WORK BEGINS!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  “So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.”  James 4:7-8





TODAY’S MESSAGE: It is when we come to Jesus that our work begins.  This is the time when we must trust in him, our faith must be strong, and we must stand up for his message to the world.  This is the time when the devil and his demons will do everything within their power to stop what God wants us to do.  There will mountains of problems put before us and great seas of issues for us to overcome.  I was once taught that if I am suddenly having troubles in my life, then there is something great on the horizon about to happen.  I truly believe this.  It is when our God is working that the devil is working.  God is working hard to spread his message of salvation, so that those who are unaware of the power of Jesus, can become aware.  He works hard knocking at the doors of those who may not believe or who may not understand His ways.  At the same time the devil is working just as hard to do just the opposite.  He is working by telling lies to hinder those who are coming to Jesus. He is pulling out all the stops to hinder the message that God and his mighty army are trying to spread.  As Christians it is our responsibility to carry out the Word of God.  It is up to us to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow his instructions.  It is our responsibility to shout the name of Jesus as loudly as we can, so that all ears may hear, and all people may become aware of what God has awaiting them.   It is up to us to live our lives in support of the message that we are in charge of.  The devil does not resist those who he has control over.  However, he tirelessly works at stopping those of us who are spreading God’s Holy Word.   It is important that we refuel our tanks every day.  We are to continue to read the bible, meditate upon its content, pray continually, so that our faith never wavers, and our hopes and dreams never fade.  Our Lord God in heaven is always faithful and never lets is down!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
GOD’S PROMSES PROTECT YOU EVERYDAY!
	


	
	

		

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: "He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection."  Psalm 91:4

TODAY'S MESSAGE: There is not a day that goes by that you and I have not been protected by God in some way. It is because of his love for us and because of the promises he has provided, that we are able to get through each day.  We all know that there are troubles of all kinds and problems that arise from every corner.  Without our God in heaven, we would not be able to handle these problems in the ways of strength.  However, God has supplied us with all the tools we need to be able to confront battles head on and be conquerors of what plagues us. He has promised us protection from the things that happen in this world.  He has given us truth to live by and his word to remind us.  He has given us Jesus to save us and keep us healthy.  He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us in our ways and not allow us to wander too far away. It is because of his gifts and his promises that we are able to stand up and be strong in our beliefs and not waver when we are attacked.  It is our God in heaven who deserves all of the glory and praise for our accomplishments in this life.  Without him we would not have the strength to stand nor the understanding to be able to plow through the evils of the devil.  He has promised that he is our Lord, Savior, Forgiver, Healer, understanding and strength.  All we have to do is build up our faith and believe.  We must remember that "we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us." Philippians 4:13. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

	


	





	

		
IF YOU HAVE JESUS, YOU HAVE THE EAR OF GOD!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”  Romans 8:14





“When the Spirit of truth comes, 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 declare to you the things that are to come.”  John 16:13





TODAY’S MESSAGE: When we accept Jesus, we are accepting all of the rights and honors that come with that great moment in our lives.  We are accepting his way of living, loving and leading our lives.  Once we accept Jesus as Savior, he accepts us into the family of God as His child.  It is with this acceptance that we understand that we also have the ear of God, for it is through Jesus that God recognizes and listens to each of us.   It is through the acceptance of the sacrifice that God gave to us, Jesus His Son, that opens the doors of heaven itself.  It is through this acceptance that our lives begin to change so that we continue to become conformed to the image of Jesus.  We are not approved by God by our successes in life or how much we give to the poor, but instead we are approved by God on the basis of our faith. It is through this faith that we develop the giving attitude and accept the successes from God. We must believe that he hears our every prayer.  We must believe that he does take actions in our lives, and we must believe that every action he takes, no matter whether we agree or disagree, is at his direction and for his good.  We do have God’s ear.  When we go to him in the name of Jesus, he listens to our every word.  He hears us and responds to our needs.   It is through Jesus that our lives become something other than a part of this world.  It is through Jesus that a place in heaven is secured for us, a place that we so greatly desire and are thankful for. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!











	


	





	

		
WHEN I AM DOWN GOD IS UP!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  ” I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble and you will answer me.”  Psalm 85:7





“Every word of God proves true.  He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.”  Proverbs 30:5





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  I have learned throughout the years that whenever I am down and out that my God in heaven is always standing up and applauding me.  He is my greatest supporter.  There is no other like Him.  He is by my side when things are going great, and he remains by my side when things get tough.  It never matters how low I feel, he is by side reminding me of his mighty word and of all the promises he has given.  There is no doubt that the promises he has laid before me are there for me to claim and use. He reminds me that he is my safety net when I fall.  He is my rock when I need protection from harsh words that are coming my way.  He is my refuge when I need a place to get away and rest.  There is no other like my God in heaven.  He loves me so much but for some reason it is hard for me to remember that as often as I should.  However, he understands my faults and is always consistent in his protection of me.  You see, he has promised that he never fails.  He has promised that he loves me.  He has promised that he is always there when I call out to him.  With those promises alone I am able to move forward through thick and thin, through good times and bad.  When I am down my God in heaven is always up!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!










porter.

	


	





	

		
GOD’S REASONS -NOT OUR OWN!
	


	
	

		

                                      (THERE IS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING)





TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  “For I have plans for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29:11





TODAY’S MESSAGE: Have you ever started your day with what you thought were great plans, but for some reason, your plans were disrupted, and you had to turn your whole day in a different direction? If you haven’t noticed, this takes place quite often.  There is always something that gets in the way of our perfect plan.  Our God has his own plans for our lives.  He has a mission for us to complete, and if our direction is different than his, then he will change our direction.  A good example of this is when Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians.  Saul had a plan.  On this day he was on his way to persecute and throw in prison those who loved and talked about Christ Jesus.   However, on his journey his plans changed.  Suddenly, there was a bright light that surrounded him.  He fell to the ground, and he heard a voice from heaven.  This voice was the voice of Jesus, himself.  Our Lord had a plan that was about to override the plan of Saul.  Saul was about to go through the greatest transition that anyone could think of going through.  The plan that God had for Saul was one of greatness is Jesus.  He was about to become one of the greatest supporters of the message that ever lived. This transition was one of salvation, forgiveness and healing in his life.  Saul’s plan for the day was all of the sudden gone!  A new plan took its place.  Saul was in the process of becoming one of those who he had been hunting down.  What a transition.  Our lives are no different.  There is a reason for everything.  There are no coincidences. Our God is in control, and he will try very hard to keep us on the straight path. The next time our plans are disrupted let’s just take a step back and see what God is trying to do in our lives. It may be time to pick up the Bible to read it, to meditate upon it, to pray to Him, or to listen carefully to the Holy Spirit. Whatever the reason our plan changes we must be aware that it may be God working in our lives.  We should listen and love our God just as he loves us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
SERVING!
	


	
	

		

TODAY'S SCRIPTURES: "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2 Tomothy 2:3

"For Jesus said, 'For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.'"  Mark 10:45

TODAY'S MESSAGE:  Jesus taught that serving was a central part of being a Christian, and that it should be done out of love and humility. So many times, when we serve, we do so because we are forced to.  We feel an obligation to help others because, in many cases, we are looking for something in return.  That is not true Christian serving.  That is not why Jesus came to serve.  He was not looking for anything in return, in fact, he was looking human death in the face. Serving with love and humility is sometime hard to do.  It is easier for some than others, but we must learn how and why we must serve. We are to love others just as Jesus loved us.  His love ran so deep that he was willing to go through pain, suffering and death for us.  His love ran so deep that he was willing to carry every burden that you and I have on his shoulders.  Is our love that strong?  I would guess not, but with that kind of love we are willing to serve without prejudice or greed.  Our attitude becomes one of humility where we are not serving so that those around us can see what we have done or what we are doing. We are to put others before ourselves.  We are to think of the needs of others rather than our needs. God has given each of us gifts in our lives. We are to use our gifts in the spirit of giving and not receiving. Serving others is vital to our beliefs and our actions as Christians.  If we are not serving with the same attitude as the Lord, then it is time to get on our knees and ask for his help.  He never fails us.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!    

	


	





	

		
OUR LOVE FOR GOD WILL BOUNCE BACK TO REFLECT UPON OTHERS!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.”  Psalm 37:6





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  Our God created us especially for himself.  He created each of us for fellowship with him.  He continued to love us even after the great deception of Adam and Eve.  He continued to show his love for us by giving his Son, Jesus as a sacrifice so that we may live.  We are to look to our God each day and give him the glory and praise that He so richly deserves.  Sometimes we become very selfish in our prayers and forget who we are talking with.  We forget our first duty as a child of our God in heaven.  We are to love him and to honor him and praise his very existence.  When we do this, we also enrich our faith and our love for each other.  We receive the joy of Jesus, and we begin to stand out in the crowd.  The shining existence of our Lord lands upon us and we begin to glow with the same light as he shines with.  We begin to live our lives with his values and morals and begin to live in right standing with Him.   When we begin to praise our Lord, his glory is so powerful and radiates so strongly that we cannot escape it.  It shines upon us and radiates through us to those around us.  We must remember that we are the justice of his cause.  We are who he is fighting for.  We are of those who he loves so much.  It is you and me who cry out to him for answers and have the faith to receive from him.  We must remember that we are the image of the glory of our God in heaven!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
THE GLORY OF GOD ON HIGH!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  ” And the Word became flesh and swelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14





“Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us.  By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.”  Ephesians 3:20-21





“Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.”  Isaiah 43:7





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  Our God is not only glorious but is The Glorious God on High.  He is the creator of all the world and the creator of you and me.  Sometimes we need to set back and try to absorb what God is telling us in the scriptures above.  He is the one and only God and he made us for his glory.  We are made to glorify him, not only when we get to heaven, but also here on this earth.   He came to this earth in the flesh, in the presence of Jesus, so that we could experience his glory.  He lived among us and became our friend.  He became our teacher and our example of goodness, love and understanding.  He became a sacrifice for us so that you and I could live our lives in the way God intended.  We, however, have choices to make.  It is one thing to say the words in glorifying God, but it is a totally different thing to live a life that glorifies our God in heaven. We are to walk in his ways and live so that others will follow his ways.  We never know who is watching us.  If we are telling others we are children of the living God and then lives our lives in the ways of the world, we are lying to those around us and to God.  What we say is what we should do.  All glory should be going to our God in heaven and not to the world.  It is important that we occasionally examine our ways to be sure we are in line with the ways of God.  Are we reading his word daily?  Are we learning and memorizing scriptures that will help us in our daily lives?  Are we praying and praising God on a regular basis?  All of these things help us to stay on the path God intends us to be on. It is time to glorify God on earth and in heaven.    JESUS IS LORD!






	


	





	

		
THERE IS NO DISTANCE BETWEEN US AS JESUS BINDS US TOGETHER!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.  Be even tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive and offense.  Forgive as quickly as the Master forgave you.  And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” Colossians 3: 12-14 (The Message)





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  In the world today, we are closer to each other than ever before.  It is so easy to hop on a plane and be somewhere else in the world in and instant.  It is easy to jump on to the computer and quickly spread the message of Jesus.  With the vast social media world what better time is there to spread the gospel of Christ?  Our ministry each day reaches those in the United States, Great Britan, Canada, India, China, Africa and many other countries.  To those who read our message each day we are all like-minded.  We read the Holy Word, we know his promises, we put on the full armor of God each day and go forth to spread his word.  We all believe in the truth that our Lord puts forth, and we believe it so much that we live it and display it every day.  There may be distance in miles and kilometers between us, but Jesus is our binding force.  He is our likeness, and we all know each other because of Him.  We may live in different countries with different cultures driving our lives, but it makes no difference.  When we love Jesus, we all come back to the same basic values that our Lord desires for us.  Our values become the same and our lives represent the same things.  It is all because of our binding faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no distance between us as Jesus binds us together.  JESUS IS LORD!






	


	





	

		
THE DISTANT LIGHT
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “When they walk through the valley of weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect the rains.”  Psalm 84:6





“Do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10 





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  Help is just a short breath away.  We are never alone.  Whether we are in the greatest joy of our life or whether we are going through the greatest of troubles, our Savior is just a breath away.  Suddenly our troubles turn to laughter and our sadness to gladness. We must, however, keep the faith.  It is not without cost that our salvation was won.  It was with great anguish and anxiety that our Lord Jesus hung upon that cross.  It was because of that anguish that you and I see the light in the distance. It is because of the droplets of blood that came running down his face, and the pain that he felt as the spikes were driven though his flesh, that you and I can stand tall with the hope of joy and peace as we move through our troubles.  His sacrifice was so much more than ours.  His pain is so much more painful than ours.  His anguish so much stronger than ours.  Yet when we go through our troubles, our pain and our sorrows, he is there by our side to comfort us.   He has already gone through these emotions.  He has gone through the worst of the worst so that you and I won’t have to.  There is a light in the distant and that light is the shining star of heaven!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!











	


	





	

		
BE LITERAL IN YOUR BELIEF!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “But Peter and John replied, ‘ Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him?’ ”  Acts 4:19





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  Just what does it mean when someone tells us that we should take the “literal meaning” of something?  When that happens, we are to interpret our source at face value.  We are not to construe any of the meanings that are put forward.  When we read the bible, we are to take the Word from God in a straightforward manner.  We are not to try to put any of our own interpretation into what God is telling us.  We are not to assume that because much of what we read comes to us in a historical sense that it does not apply to us today.  Every word and every thought that is in God’s Holy Word is true and for all generations.  There are many promises that have been handed down throughout the bible and they are as enforceable today as they were the day they were handed down.  There are many parables throughout the bible that are as real today as they we were the day they we originally told by Jesus.  When we pick up God’s Word and begin to read, we are not just reading a history book.  We are reading the LIVING Word of God.  We are reading his thoughts, his promises and his words for us today and for generations to come.  His word is true and honorable and never changes.   Deuteronomy 4:2 tells us, “YOU SHALL NOT ADD TO THE WORD THAT I COMMAND YOU, NOR TAKE FROM IT, THAT YOU MAY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD THAT I COMMAND YOU.” Revelation 22:18-19 says, “FOR I TESTIFY TO EVERYONE WHO HEARS THESE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK: IF ANYONE ADDS TO THEM, GOD WILL ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK; AND IF ANYONE TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD WILL TAKE AWAY HIS PART FROM THE TREE OF LIFE FROM THE HOLY CITY WHICH IS WRITEEN IN THIS BOOK.”  For those throughout history who have done such things by taking away or adding to the Holy Word of God, their life’s existence is hanging the balance.  We are to take God at his word.  We are to not change it to fit into our world.  We are to take our world and fit it into God’s ways.  Just as Peter and John replied in Acts 4:19, “DO YOU THINK GOD WANTS US TO OBEY YOU RATHER THAN HIM? ”   ALL GLORY TO GOD ON HIGH!

	


	





	

		
BEING PURSUED BY GOD!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “Surely your goodness and your unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”  Psalm 23:6





TODAY’S MESSAGE: I was once being chased by a hungry lion.  I ran and ran but this lion just kept getting closer and closer to me. All at once the lion was upon me and about to close his jaws around me when I woke up and realized that it was only a dream.  Just as I was being pursued by that lion in my dream, you and I are being pursued by someone real.  That person is God himself.  His message of salvation, healing and forgiveness is real and not a dream.  His pursuit of us is real, and I believe it will continue, until we either succumb to his pursuit, or we outrun him and never let him get close. What we must understand is the reason he is pursuing us.  The bible tells us that it is because he loves us, and he has a desire to have a relationship with us.  He pursues us to save us from our sins and from dying in those sins.  Without him we will go to hell and not heaven.  He is pursuing us because his love is one that is considered sacrificial.  He sacrificed his son for the right to pursue each of us. He pursues us because we are his creation.  Yes, we are born a sinner and born into a sinful world, but he has given us an alternative way of becoming his child and not the child of the devil.  He pursues each of us through Jesus, the Holy Spirit and his Mighty Word, the Bible.  He is relentless in his love for each of us and relentless in his pursuit of us.  It is wise for us to slow down in our attempt to run from God and let him catch us.  When he does his loving arms will gently surround us with a love that we have never felt before.  We will be stronger, more loving and more joyful in the way we live our lives, as witnesses among those around us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

	


	





	

		
THE FRAILTY OF HUMANITY
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  How frail is humanity?  How short is life, and how full of trouble.  Like a flower, we blossom for a moment and then wither.”  Job 14: 1-2





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  The life we have been blessed with here on this earth is just a quick breath away from being over.  The younger we are the less we think about our humanity and just how fragile it is.  It is here one day and gone the next.  Just as Job was describing in 14: 1-2, our lives are full of troubles, some with more than others.  However, our problems are nothing when they are fit into the whole picture puzzle.  When it gets right down to it, our lives should be full of the joy of the Lord.  We should be spending most of our time understanding the spirit world (the unseen vs the seen) because that is just what we are, spirits. All of our strength, joy and understanding comes from our God in heaven who is a spirit. Our moments should be concerned with what Jesus did for us so that we can live out our lives with dignity and a love for our God in heaven.  We should be praying always, listening for answers and praising our God for all of his goodness.  Instead, we find ourselves, in many cases, melting away in despair because of the troubles and problems we must face each day.  If we are focused on Jesus, these problems will amount to nothing.  Yes, they are still there, and new ones will rise up to take the place of those that have been conquered.  However, with our Lord on our side there is nothing but joy that we should be expressing.  Our faith should be increasingly strong supported with strong words that support or faith.  We are not to be thrashing around in pity for ourselves or for anyone around us.  Jesus has already conquered our battles and the war.  Life on this earth is precious.  Each day is to be enjoyed through Jesus and not anguished over because of our own missteps in life.  Life is short and we must enjoy it by loving our Lord and living on his behalf.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
SOMETIMES OUR OWN SELFISHNESS STIMIES GOD’S POWER IN OUR LIFE!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed.  Life is not measured by how much you own.”  Luke 13:13 (NLT)





“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”  Luke 12:21 (NLT)





“ All believers were united in heart and mind.  And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.”  Acts 4:32 (NLT)





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  I cannot speak for everyone else, but I can tell you that I am not perfect.  In saying that, I confess to the fact that there are times when I am selfish in what I say and do.  I pray to my Lord in heaven with all of the sincerity I can muster, but then I find myself turning to my next steps and relishing all that I have on this earth.  I look at my money accounts and long for the balances to grow before my eyes.  I have a hard time giving up what I own because I consider everything mine and mine alone.   It is at those moments I am drawn back to the fact that everything I own was given to me by my God in heaven.  I have nothing that I really earned on my own.  My God has blessed me with the ability to work in this world and garner the wages I have garnered.  He has allowed me the health in my Life to move forward and do the things that I consider enjoyment.  He has placed me in the right place at the right time to meet my wife of 58 years.  He has blessed us with 4 wonderful children, 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.  I am reminded that greed will kill my relationship with God.   Our lives on this earth are short and become what we allow them to become.  If we allow ourselves to become the rulers of our own lives, then we will soon find out that what we do on this earth as a ruler will end in disaster.  We will live and rule our kingdoms on this earth, but our eternity will be our own failure.  Our Lord reaches out to us every day.  He answers our prayers when they are within his will.  He allows us the freedom to choose life after death.  He gave his only Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice so that you and I could be saved and live with Him forever.  The Lord wants to be a part of our lives every day.  He wants us to experience the prayers that he answers for us.  He wants us to give credit where credit is due.  He wants us to worship him and not the things of this world.  It is when we build and solidify our relationship with him that we become confident in our everlasting life.  It is time to squash selfishness in our lives and allow forgiveness, love and love for others to rule.  It is time to stand boldly in the face of selfishness and strike it down.  We must always remember that Jesus is Lord!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!






	


	





	

		
FOCUS ON GOOD AND NOT EVIL!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  “Don’t worry about the wicked.  Don’t envy those who do wrong. ” Psalm 37:1 (NLT)





“No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right. O Lord Almighty, happy are those who trust in you.”  Psalm 84: 11 & 12 (NLT)





TODAY’S MESSAGE: We are not to be concerned about the things of evil in this world. We are not to be concerned about the things of the rich and the famous.  They live lives that are powerful and successful with the things of this world, but many of them have sold out and have put aside the reality of Jesus and the eternal life with Him.  We are to focus on the good and not the evil.  We may not have the money that the rich and famous have.  We may not drive the fancy cars they drive. However, we have something they will long for in the future.  We have the safety of our God in Heaven.  We have the certainty that we will live with our loving God forever in eternity.  This life on this earth is nothing more than temporary.  Our riches on this earth will do nothing but become arguing points for our family members left behind.  Our riches in this life will fade away in time when we are gone.  What matters is that we plan our future for the next life.  Our next residence is forever. We will spend it in one of two places. We will either sell out to possibly have a great and promising life in the now and go to hell for eternity or we will choose Jesus, who is our savior, healer and forgiver. We will live our lives here on this earth knowing that we are rich and famous because we have been chosen by our Lord for residence in heaven itself. We are not to worry about the wicked and what they get away with. Instead, we are to focus on Jesus and what he wants us to do. We are to focus on his Word, his promises and his offer of salvation. Thank you, Jesus, for the love, the sacrifice and the forgiveness we so desperately need. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
GLORIFY YOUR GOD IN HEAVEN WITH YOUR WORDS, YOUR ACTIONS AND YOUR LIFE!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “Peter said, ‘ Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This promise is to you and to your children and even to the Gentiles – all who have been called by the Lord our God.'”  Acts 2: 38-39





TODAY'S MESSAGE:  Living our lives to glorify our father in heaven is what we have been born to do. We are his children. We were each born into a world of sin which declared us to be sinners at our natural birth. However, what many fail to understand, is that with the death of Jesus, there is a re-birth opportunity. We are to turn from our sins and turn to God.  We are to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We are to accept the great gift of the Holy Spirit, and we are to listen and learn. We are to include Jesus in everything we do and speak.  He is to be the Lord over our lives.  He is to call the shots and not us.  It is He who is our savior!  It is because of his sacrifice that we have a re-birth opportunity. When we are reborn, we are dedicating our lives to Him and none other.  We are to live in this world has his child and not a child of the world.  We are to glorify our God in heaven through our dedication and love for Jesus.  We are to be healthy followers of the Lord and not of those who are parttime followers. We are either all in for Jesus or all into the world.  There is not an in between.  It is with the words we speak, the actions we take, the trust we develop, and the faith we build, that we glorify our God in heaven. It is time to show the world where our hearts are.  It is time to stand up and glorify our God with the love, the honor and the justification he so richly deserves.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!        

	


	





	

		
WHEN WE SUFFER, SOMETIMES HOPE SEEMS FAR AWAY!
	


	
	

		

TODAY'S SCRIPTURES: "He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him."  Psalm 91:2

" If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.  For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go." Psalm 92:9-11

TODAY'S MESSAGE: We all go through suffering in our lives. Some pain is greater than other pain, but it doesn't really matter whether great or small, suffering is suffering when we go through it. We can all rest assured that our Lord God has given us the peace of mind that he is our refuge. He is our place of safety. When we have anxiety in our lives it is easy to think of everything except the Lord our God.  We may go to others for advice, or we may just decide to make rash decisions in our life and move forward without recognizing the circumstances.  Our God promises us that if we seek him, he will be available day or night.  He will stand by our side through thick and thin. He promises us that even though our problems may plague us for a short time we will see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is through our struggles that we strengthen our faith and become stronger in our trust in our God in heaven. Our faith in God and his promises are for us to take hold of.  We are to hold on so tightly that we cannot let go.  We must focus on his Word and never let it out of our sight.  When we do, there is nothing we cannot conquer.  There is nothing that is so far away that we cannot reach it.  All things are possible through Christ Jesus. Sometimes hope does seem far away when we are struggling through problems in this life. But with the Holy Spirit by our side, and Jesus as our conduit to God, our victory is inevitable. No matter how bleak our life may look to us, we must remember that our God in heaven does not fail us! Sometimes we must be patient, but he always answers us.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!   






	


	





	

		
STAND UP FOR JESUS!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  “but is no shame to suffer for being a Christian.  Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name.”  1 Peter 4:16 (NLT)





“ Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will deny before my Father in heaven.”   Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT)





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  Standing up for Jesus can be very difficult.  When we first develop a personal relationship with him, we are on fire for the Lord Jesus.  At that point nothing matters to us except letting everyone else know the love and care he provides to each of us who know him.   However, as time goes on, if we don’t stay on fire for the Jesus, it can become harder to allow Him to be involved in our lives.  We must always stay close to him.  We must never waver in our beliefs.  We must consistently show our love for others the way Jesus did when He walked this earth.  It cannot matter where we are or who we are with, we must stand up for our Lord.  We must show and live the characteristics of Jesus.  We must also realize that the struggles we have in life are many times spiritual struggles.  We are often fighting against the powers of evil and wickedness.  Thus, we must use the spiritual tools our Lord has supplied to us.  It is important to continue pray frequently, praise him often and read and meditate in his word.  We must also look to the Holy Spirit for guidance.  For our God in heaven to accept us we must know Jesus on a personal level.  If we do, then we will not let our faith faint away when times become difficult.  Stand up for Jesus just as he stands up for us!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

	


	





	

		
OUR MAIN CONCERN!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  ” But the Lord said to her, ‘ My dear Martha, you are upset over all these details!  There is really only one thing worth being concerned about.  Mary has discovered it- and I won’t take it away from her.'”  Luke 10:41





TODAY’S MESSAGE: Martha had invited Jesus and his disciples into her home and was in the kitchen working on a large meal while Mary, her sister, sat at the feet of Jesus listening to all he had to teach.  Martha, with all of her anxiety, went to Jesus and asked him to tell Mary to come to the kitchen to help her with the meal.  Jesus was quick to tell her that Mary was not doing wrong.  She was only doing as she was supposed to do.  She was learning from Jesus, and he was not going to take that away from her.  It is easy to get ourselves caught up in our daily routines.  We sometimes get so busy thinking of ourselves, and what we are doing, that we leave the most important thing behind us.  Our focus is not to be this world but instead it is to be Jesus.  It is what he teaches us and how we apply his teaching to our own lives.  Our focus on Jesus gives us all the good and great results we need in life.  It not only provides us a path to eternal life but also allows our worldly life to come into line.  As we focus on Jesus, we are let Him take control of the steering wheel.  We are to let him take care of our worldly problems.  Just as Martha became so heavily involved with her meal we sometimes become too heavily involved in our worldly lives.  When we do, we gain anxiety and worry.  With Jesus we garner peace and joy.  It is time to change our focus from us to Him.  He is the main concern we are to focus on and not what we do in life.  Our worldly life will fall into place once we let Jesus take over the reins.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

	


	





	

		
SHOULDER YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  ” If any of you want to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily and follow Me.”  Luke 9:23





” And if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be my disciple.”  Luke 14:27





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  There is a cost in following Jesus.  We must wholeheartedly believe in his death on the cross, believe for what his purpose was for dying on the cross, and believe that he delivers on all of his promises.  In our own daily lives, we must be able to bow to the will of God.  We must be able to hear him talking to us in our lives and we must be willing to carry out his directions for us to complete.  There are good times and there are hard times as we grow into our relationship with Jesus.  It is in the worst of times when we are tested.  It is then when we are to be able to let him shoulder the problems we are going through and have the faith to allow him to function in our life.  We are to do away with the moaning and groaning we hear so many do when life is hard for them.  We are to allow joy to penetrate our thoughts and actions. I can assure you that this is not easy.  It takes a different kind of discipline and belief.  When shouldering our own cross we are to mirror what Jesus did when he carried his.  He did not gripe to God and groan about every hurtful thing that was said about him. He wasn’t a display of weakness when his cross became too heavy. He didn’t get angry with God and kick the dust every time something didn’t go his way.  We should not do these things either.  We are the bible to many people in this world.  The way we shoulder our problems should be an example to those around us.  We must be able to carry our own crosses with the dignity and poise that Jesus demonstrated for us.  It is time to build.  It is time to take faith to the next level.  It is time to believe because Jesus is the source that we plug into.  It is time to live the faith we profess and show that faith with the strength of our everlasting God in heaven! PRAISE THE LORD I N ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
WANDERING TOO FAR AWAY
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God.”  2 John 9 (NLT)





TODAY’S MESSAGE: In today’s world we must be very careful in the Christian teachings we follow.  Although there are churches and evangelists out there who claim the message of Jesus, we must unfortunately, be ready to fact check their messages.  The devil is doing all that he can to confuse and discourage the substantiated teachings of Christ.  All it takes is a misplaced word or an action that seems to be borderline, so we take it as Christ -like.  I know people who go to church but never read the bible.  I once asked the question as to why not pick up the bible and read it for yourself?  The response was that the minister went to school and is paid to know the word.  Therefore, what he says must be true. That kind of thinking may have been true many years ago but not today.   It is important that you and I know the Holy Word of God. We must be able to know when someone is actually preaching or teaching the right way.  There are many in the world who are confused and teaching man-made ideas using the name of Jesus as a way into the hearts of those who will listen. They have wandered far away from the Lord and are trying to influence others of their thoughts and ideas.  2 John 9 is clear when he says that if you wander from the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. When we develop a personal relationship with Jesus, we gain a desire to get close to him.  Let us all get closer to God.  Let’s make sure we are listening and hearing the right message of Jesus.  Be ready to fact check those who are responsible for teaching and preaching His Word.   PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS! 






	


	





	

		
A CHEERFUL HEART IS GOOD MEDICINE!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22





TODAY’S MESSAGE:   I think most would agree that when we are happy our days go by much faster and our hearts are full of caring and love for others.  However, when we are in a bad mood, we tend to avoid others or at the very least our personality becomes one of disdain.  It is hard to keep our hearts cheerful in a world of confusion, disgust and just plain evil.  However, there is a way.  As we read the bible our hearts become as one with God.  We take on his personality and are able to deal with problems and issues in a very different way than we would without him in our lives.  When we pray to him, we are letting him get involved in our lives.  We are able to lay our problems at his feet and walk away burden free.  It is our faith and our trust in his promises that take over and help us with our problems.  We can rest with ease knowing that he is in control.  When we depend on our Lord, we are allowing him to call the shots, and we do as he tells us.  Without the worries and doubts plaguing us we are able to absorb the medicine of cheerfulness.  To be happy in life helps us to be able to spread the word of God to others and do it with the zest he demands.  Our lives begin to reflect his personality for others to see.  So, the next time you are down, pick up the bible and begin to read. Then get on your knees and begin to pray.  Take on the good medicine of cheerfulness.    PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!






	


	





	

		
THE PROMISES
	


	
	

		

 The bible provides many promises from our God in heaven.  These include promises for help through trials and tribulations as described in Isaiah 43:2. He promises the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy and peace in Galatians 5:22-23.  He promises the Holy Spirit for those who ask, as told to us in Luke 11:13. There are numerous promises that our god has made throughout the bible.  They all help us to survive, and they are given to us out of love.  We are told that God never goes back on a promise.  With this confidence we can move forward in our own lives with the understanding that God is with us and will never leave our side.  In Hebrews 10:23 it tells us: ” Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”   It is important that we study and meditate upon his promises. Doing so will help us to remain faithful and be a refreshing remembrance of his love for us.  It is through his promises that we are able to live our lives in faith.  We are able to represent him in such a way that others will become amazed at our faith and trust in him. Our God in heaven does not take a promise lightly.  He is faithful to us with his and we are to be faithful to others in ours.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS! 






	


	





	

		
THE FAITH TOUCH!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  ” Daughter”, he said, ” Your faith has made you well. God in peace.”  Luke 8:48





“Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear.”  1 John 4:18





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  Today’s message encounters a miracle that, in my mind, is one of the most intriguing that Jesus performed.  While Jesus was on the way to perform one miracle another took place as an example of what faith can produce.  Faith is not easy to groom in our life.  It is actually very hard because we are accustomed to believing what we see and not what we can’t see.  The woman with the issue of blood was desperate.  She had anguished with this pain and suffering for twelve years without the success of healing.  The bible tells us she had gone to the best doctors without success of improvement.  As most everyone in the region, she had heard of Jesus and went that day to see him. As a last resort she reached out and touched the fringe of his garment.  She didn’t touch him but only the fringe of his clothing.  Jesus knew that power had gone from him. When he found the woman he told her, “YOUR FAITH HAS HEALED YOU.” She had believed with faith that by reaching out and touching his clothing she would be healed. This was an example of what faith can do in our lives. As we take a step back in our own lives and examine our own faith, how deep does it run? Many of us are like the woman with the issue of blood.  We go through months and sometimes years of pain and suffering, praying that Jesus will heal us.   We must have strong and unresisting faith in our lives.  We must nurture it with prayer and praise of our God in heaven.  We must read and contemplate his Holy Word.  We must study and flood our faith just as those in the time of Jesus did.  You and I are no different than the woman with the issue of blood.  We sometimes must be desperate to receive.  Let us all continue to build our faith so that, we too, can experience the joys of the miracles of God.  JESUS IS LORD!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!






	


	





	

		
HAVE YOU EVER FAILED GOD?
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  “Be careful then dear brothers and sisters.  Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning away from the living God.”  Hebrews 3:12





TODAY’S MESSAGE: There is none perfect among us.  We all have failures in our lives and do things that we want no one else to know about.  With God, however, it is impossible to do something without him knowing about it.  We can try our hardest to keep our promises and stay on the right road but because of who we are, imperfect, we are going to stumble.  We must remain reminded that our God in heaven is a loving God.  He showed his love for each of us by sending Jesus to cover for our sins.  He died for them so that you and I can be forgiven.  He has made it easy for us.  We must acknowledge our wrongdoing and repent.  We must then ask for his forgiveness and move forward continuing to represent Jesus in our lives in the best ways we know how.  Yes, we have all failed God.  I am sure that God has been quite disappointed in us when we do fail.  But he is always there to pick us up.  It is sometimes hard for us to understand just how much he loves us, even knowing that Jesus was sacrificed for us. No matter how much we try to love the way he does we never reach those heights.  I know that in my own life I will get to a point when I think I am on the right path and doing well, when suddenly I slip and fall.  I not only feel as though I have failed God, but I feel as though He may never trust me again in my journey home.  However, that is not what scripture tells us.  We are told that our sins are wiped away and never remembered again.  Yes, we will stumble and fall but he is always with us.  We may not be able to understand all of his ways but after accepting Christ Jesus into our lives we are always ready to get back on the horse and continue our journey.  Have we ever failed God?   Yes, we all at one time or another! But as a believer we understand that does not love us any less for our actions as long as we repent and ask for his forgiveness.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!











	


	





	

		
LET US HOP ONTO THE TRUTH TRAIN!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRRIPTURES:  ” Jesus told him, ‘ I am the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’ ”  John 14: 6





” And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:32





TODAY’S MESSAGE:  It is time to catch the truth train.  It is time to stop putting ourselves into situations that make us scramble and hesitate about the ways of Jesus.  He tells us plainly that he is the truth, the way and the life.  It does us no good to run after what we think is wise and helpful in this world. Doing that is very much like a dog chasing his own tail.  We go around and around in circles and when we are finished, we are nothing better that dizzy from all of the going around and around.  The world today is full of confusion that makes our heads swirl about things that really make no difference in our lives.  What is important is that we find Jesus and begin to live the truth. When we begin to live the truth then the things of this world will begin to fall into place, and we can begin to become a functional representative of Jesus in a world of selfishness and disrespect.  Our lives are to be a reflection of him and not of our own confusion and chaos.  The truth in our Lord is defined as “being in accordance with God’s nature, will, and character.”   Living in the truth of Jesus is living in reality.  It may go against the way the world’s thinks and the way the world acts, but it is how our God in heaven has declared it.  Truth is determined by God and not by human standards.  Understanding truth requires coming to know God, not just knowing the facts.  It is more than just sitting in a pew on Sunday.  It is going out the church doors and living your life in the ways of Jesus. It is going before others in our community and not being scared or ashamed to declare Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  It is time to catch the Truth Train before it leaves the station.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!






	


	





	

		
SATAN MIRRORS THE WORLD!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES:  “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person.”  Proverbs 27:19





“Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: when people do what is right it is because they are righteous.  But when people keep on sinning, it shows they belong to the Devil, who has been sinning since the beginning.”  1 John 3:7-8





TODAY’S MESSAGE: As we look into a mirror we do so for a purpose.  That purpose is to see who we are and to view how we are to be seen by the rest of the world.  As a Christian we also are to look into a mirror.  What we see is often what we do not want to see.  We see ways that are not of God.  We see our many failings and discover the things that we need to change.  When we meet Jesus on a personal level, we know that we are to reflect his ways in our life and not what the world expects of us. When we are born again, we are born into righteousness, just the opposite of the way we were born into the world.  We are lifted up and out of our old ways and put down in the place of right standing with God. When we then look into the mirror, we are better able to recognize the ways of God and how our lives are to be lived.  





It is much the same with those who belong to this world.  Their father is not the God of Heaven, but instead he is the God of this world.  He is the evil one who lies to the world and confuses those who follow him.  He leads them into destruction and death instead of life in eternity with Christ Jesus.  It is obvious we are seeing this play out in today’s world.  Those who are evil do not understand right from wrong.  Their lives reflect the life of their father, the Devil.  They are blinded so they see no evil in what they do, nor do they feel love or compassion for those around them.  This world is a direct reflection of how the Devil wants it to be. He demands evil, deception and confusion to rule, and wants all to follow him into an eternal life in hell.  However, God in heaven has a different plan. His plan is one of a saving grace.  It is one that lifts us high above the evil and places us in his loving arms.  He fights our battles, and he saves us from the terrors of the world.  Yes, were born into a world of sin but we have an opportunity of freedom in Christ and a life of love and understanding by putting our trust and faith in Jesus and accepting Him as our Lord and Savior.  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!





Daily writing prompt
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?
View all responses











	


	





	

		
YOUR FAITH IN TIMES OF CRISIS
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from? ” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”  Then the Lord said to Satan, “ Have you considered my servant Job?  There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”  “Does Job fear God for nothing? ” Satan replied. ” Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?  You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.  But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”  Job 1:7-11(NIV)





TODAYS MESSAGE:   So, Satan was given power to go out and cause complete chaos in Job’s life.  Suddenly from a life that had been completely blessed by the Lord God, Job’s life went to one of living in the remains of what once was.  He lost all of his oxen and donkeys, his sheep and servants.  He lost his camels and all of his sons and daughters.  Yet through all of this disaster he still praised his God in heaven.  Job even became subject to losing his own health.  He had every reason to curse God and begin feeling sorry for himself, yet he did not.  He continued to believe and bless God with his faith and praises.  We have all been through struggles in our lives.  We lose loved ones, we lose jobs, homes and many other things that the Lord has blessed us with.  We must remember the famous verse in Job 1:21, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord.”   Our lives will not always be full of sugar plums and fairy tales.  We will not have the perfect protected life we hope for.  Things happen and we must get through them.  I will say that without faith it becomes extremely difficult to survive.  Without faith we are subject to becoming angry and holding onto grudges.  We are subject to unforgiveness in our lives and never allowing peace to settle in ever again.  The next time a trauma hits your life, remember Job.  Remember his strength and the faith he displayed in his life.  He never gave up on his God in heaven and neither should we!   PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!





Daily writing prompt
Write about your dream home.
View all responses

	


	





	

		
KEEP STRONG! STAY COURAGEOUS!  FIGHT ALL BATTLES IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
	


	
	

		

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:  What do you mean,” if I can?” Jesus asked. Anything is possible if a person believes.”  Mark 9:23 (NLT)





Today’s Message:  It is easier to give up and go along with the activities going on around us than to stand in the face of danger and be ridiculed, because we are telling the truth of Jesus.  There is no one who likes to be made fun of or be persecuted when they say or do something.  Those are the moments when most of us will give up and run away with our tails between our legs. The word “if” infers that we may not be able to accomplish something.  Jesus makes it very clear, in John 9:23, that all things are possible with faith in Him.  There is nothing we cannot accomplish when it is blessed with the majesty of our God in heaven.  Our strength and our courage come from the Lord.  It is through faith that we are able to stand in the face of danger.  It is through our faith that we are able to throw fear, as far as we can, so that the truth of Jesus can be brought forward.  We know that our God in heaven does not lie.  We know that He does not go back on any promise He has provided to us.   We know that our God in heaven is never late on his answers and that his timing is perfect.  With this depth of knowledge, we are able to move forth with the courage of a lion and let God’s truths be made known.  He is our Savior, our resting place, our healer, and our safety net.  There is nothing we cannot do if we believe and are willing to act on the truths of Jesus!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS! 





Daily writing prompt
You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?
View all responses