Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Ghosts?

2/29/2016

"But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, 'Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.'" -Mark 6:49-50 (NASB)

In life, we may have situations we would like to forget. We sometimes feel these times "haunting" us, even as we try to keep ourselves moving forward. When we see the "ghosts" of our past or feel haunted, we should check to be sure of what we are seeing!

The disciples at first thought they were seeing a ghost, but it turned out to be Jesus! In our lives, when we feel haunted, we should be sure that it isn't Jesus speaking to us. What we may perceive as "ghosts" in our lives could be Jesus reaching out to us, trying to teach us and guide us. We should stop, call out to Jesus in prayer, and listen for His reply!

Feeling "ghosts" from your past? Call out to Jesus and listen for His reply!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being an active part of my life. Please continue to teach me and guide me. Help me to learn from the "ghosts" of my past and move forward showing Your love to others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Humble and Kind

2/28/2016

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." -Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)

Currently, one of my favorite songs on the radio is Tim McGraw's song called "Humble and Kind." The message reminding us to be humble and kind is important. Even when politicians and public figures are gaining popularity by slinging mud and puffing themselves up, we need to remember the best approach in life modeling our lives after Jesus!

Jesus lived His life in humility and kindness. He was gentle and patient. He loved others. As we live our lives, we should strive to always remain humble and kind. We should love others, even when they frustrate or anger us. There are many ways we can demonstrate the love and humility shown to us by Jesus. As Tim McGraw sings, when we get where we're going, we should turn back around and help others. We can help others by showing love, forgiveness, compassion, and patience as demonstrated by Jesus!

Be humble and kind by modeling your life after the life of Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all the blessings You have provided in my life. Help me to be humble and kind. Help me to show others the love, patience, and forgiveness that You have shown me. Through Jesus, my Role Model, I pray, amen.

Knowing is Half the Battle!

2/27/2016

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." -Romans 3:20 (NIV)

Sometimes people seem to struggle with right and wrong. Some become offended by the idea. Others seem to be deprived of being educated to be caring, moral people. I remember the end of one of my favorite cartoons as a child that ended with a lesson and the phrase, "Knowing is half the battle!" It is often sad that knowing right and wrong becomes an obstacle to doing what is loving and right!

We know that we cannot be saved only by following God's law. However, we cannot know what is right and wrong or what is expected from each of us. When we know what is expected, then we can realize our sins and shortcomings. Knowing this is only half the battle! It is only after we realize our inability to keep the law that we can know our need for redemption through God's Son, Jesus Christ. We then have to act and accept Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer!

Knowing is half the battle, then comes action and accepting forgiveness through Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for forgiving my sin and for redeeming me through Your Son. Help me to model my life after His. Through Jesus, my Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Praise Him!

2/26/2016

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." -Psalm 150:6 (NIV)

We all have problems that we are facing in our lives. Whether at home, work, or in our social activities, there are things that frustrate and challenge us. Even though we may face problems, we need to recognize the many blessings in our lives and praise God!

When we wake up, we can praise Him. When we have food to eat, we can praise Him. When we have enough in our lives, we can praise Him. We can praise Him for our Salvation. If we have breath, we can praise Him! There are many blessings that we take for granted each day. We need to take time to look away from our problems or troubles in order to reflect on all the blessings that have been given to us. When we begin to realize all of the blessings in our lives, then we need to praise God!

Realize that you are blessed and then praise God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the love and blessings You have provided in my life. I praise Your name for all that I am and all that I am to become. Please continue to guide and bless my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Love One Another

2/25/2016

"For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." -I John 3:11 (NASB)

We are called to love one another. Sometimes the most loving actions may be difficult either for us or for those that are to receive that love. I was reminded of this once when one of my students needed to share sensitive information about a friend in order to protect that friend from danger. The student acted out of love, but also was afraid that the friend would be upset.

Whether talking about the "greatest commandments" or how to treat others, the Bible reminds us that we are to always love one another. Sometimes the decisions to show love may be difficult ones. Sometimes others may not understand our actions. Whatever the case may be, all of our actions should be rooted in God's love that He freely gives to us and that we can share with others!

Show God's love to everyone you meet!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and freely sharing Your love with me. Help me to share Your love with all those I meet. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Requests & Expectations

2/24/2016

"In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly." -Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

There are times in life when we get knocked down. There are times when the road ahead seems to dangerous to travel. With each day comes a new morning, a time when we can reflect on the possibilities that are ahead of us. It is also a time to talk to God!

When we wake up each morning, we can begin our days with prayer. We can talk to God and let him know our requests. After we talk to God and make our requests we can wait for His response! We know that God promises to be faithful to us. We can work for Him and expect Him to guide our lives!

Start each day with your requests in prayer and expect to experience God in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there, ready to listen. Help me to trust You more each day and to listen for Your guidance in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Foolishness

2/23/2016

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, 'He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness'; and again, 'The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.'" -I Corinthians 3:19-20 (NASB)

Times change. When times change, our response to the needs of others must change, too. Sometimes we can't use our "old" wisdom to solve new problems. As things change at my school, I am reminded of this often. I am also reminded that I can't rely on my own wisdom to resolve the issues!

When we try to rely on our own wisdom we often fail to fully solve the problem. Whether we are dealing with "side effects" of our solutions or underlying issues that we do not know how to address, we need to rely on more than ourselves. We are reminded that we need to rely on God's wisdom to find true solutions that can help resolve the issues that we face and see around us. God can provide us with a complete wisdom that will help us address anything we face!

When tempted to rely on your own wisdom, remember to not be foolish. Always turn to God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the wisdom that You provide. Help me to remember to always rely on You and Your wisdom! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

In the News...

2/22/2016

“There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides You; there is no rock like our God.” -I Samuel 2:2 (ESV)

It is often depressing watching or reading the news. There are so many people that seem to be lost, drifting, and in need of a solid place to build their lives. When we see the tragic life stories of different individuals, we may feel helpless. However, no matter where we are or what we have, we can help!

We know that our God is a rock on which we can build our lives. When we see others in need of God as an anchor to keep them from drifting, we can show God's love through our actions. Even more importantly, as we see sad stories unfolding, we can pray for all that are involved. We can pray for the victims and we can pray for those that may seem "unlovable." As long as we remain anchored in God, the Rock, and in communication with Him, we can help change the impact of the news!

Remain anchored to God and then reach out to others in His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for being the rock on which I can build my life. Help me to always be anchored in You and then allow me to help others see Your love! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Source of Motivation?

2/21/2016

"For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." -Galatians 1:10 (NASB)

When teaching, it is important to find ways to motivate students. Finding ways to encourage students to learn can be challenging. When we consider our lives, especially our spiritual actions, we should inventory our own motivation.

When thinking about our motivation, we should think about why we do what we do. We should ask ourselves, "Whose favor are we seeking?" The honest answer to this question should be to please God. Our motivation should be to please God and to share His love and glory. When we meet others, they should be able to tell that our motivation is to please God and not man!

Make pleasing God your primary motivation!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me. Help me to always keep You as my motivation and allow others to see Your glory through me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Preparations

2/20/2016

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." -II Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)

I recently watched a presentation given by Sagi Kalev, the creator of the workout program I am currently following. In the video he talked about choices we make and that he believes every situation, experience, and place in our lives happens for a reason. Where you are right now is where you are supposed to be right now!

Sometimes we may find it hard to believe that we are where we are supposed to be in our lives. We don't have to worry, though, as long as we turn our situations over to God. God can use each choice we make or situation we find ourselves in to help us learn, grow, and glorify Him! By realizing that God is in control, we can be reassured that He is preparing us for something MUCH greater than anything we will see in our earthly lives!

In all you face, turn to God and allow Him to prepare you for glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being an active part of my life. Please continue to take control and to prepare me for the glory that I will one day see with You. In Your Son's name I pray, amen.

Anger & Solutions

2/19/2016

"Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." -Ephesians 4:26-27 (NASB)

There are things in life that anger us. We may be frustrated at work, by other people, or by events in our lives. It is okay to get angry. Sometimes we need to get angry to help us reach a solution!

When we get angry, we need to be careful to not allow our anger to cause us to sin. Our anger shouldn't be an invitation for the devil to enter our lives. We can take our anger to God and allow Him to guide our actions. Before we let the sun go down and the devil in, we should stop and listen to God. With God's help, we can use our anger to find solutions to the cause of our anger!

Get angry, then let God help you find a solution!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me. Please help me to listen to You so You can help me use my anger to solve the problems I encounter without giving the devil an opportunity. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Set an Example

2/18/2016

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." -Acts 16:25 (NIV)

Living with my young daughter is a continual reminder about how actions can set an example for and teach others. Whether it is words or actions, she picks up on the right and wrong ways to act and to treat others. The power of being an example for my daughter is just as true as setting an example in my spiritual life for my daughter and others!

We should turn to God for comfort and strength in all we are facing. Even when we are facing turmoil or troubling situations, we should pray and praise God! Just as the actions of Paul and Silas were noticed by those around them in the prison, others will notice how we act and react in both good times and not so good times. In always turning to God, we can set an example for others that leads them to the love, forgiveness, and power of the one and only God!

Turn to God in all you face and set an example that leads others to Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love, forgiveness, and power. Help me to always turn to You and to set an example that will lead others to You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Don't Be A Thief!

2/17/2016

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." -John 10:10 (NASB)

One of the lessons we try to teach at my middle school is that of respect and kindness toward others. There are times when students, and even teachers, forget to act respectfully toward peers and colleagues. While these times of being disrespectful or unkind may not be physically stealing, they are times of stealing the joy, happiness, and respect of others!

There are times when we may react in ways that are not appropriate or that we later regret. In these times we are "thieves" of others' joy and happiness. Before reacting in a situation, we should stop and think about the example that Jesus set for us. Instead of acting harshly or rudely, we should react in a way that shows God's love. We don't have to agree with everyone, but we can react in loving ways that allow Jesus to open the door to God's Kingdom!

Don't be a thief of others' joy. Instead, show God's love that introduces others to Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for sending Jesus to open the door to Your Kingdom. Help me to show Your love instead of stealing joy from others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Sleep in Peace

2/16/2016

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." -Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

Resting is important. Giving our burdens to Jesus can give us rest. Our bodies also need sleep. We need the time to close our eyes, let our guard down, and sleep without fear.

Once we realize that Jesus can take our burdens and allow us to rest, we need to continue to trust Him. He can give us peace and protect us. In His peace, we can lie down and sleep. We can recharge our physical bodies and our minds. As we sleep, we can be renewed for what God holds in store for our lives. We can awake strengthened and ready to walk with God and proclaim God's glory to all around us!

Find God's peace and safety so you can sleep and be ready to glorify Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the peace and safety that You provide for me. Help me to always trust in You, to find rest and renewal in You, and to spread Your message. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Much Needed Rest!

2/15/2016

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

There are times when I am just tired. When I am tired I am usually easily frustrated, too. Things that wouldn't normally be a big deal become sources of irritation and frustration leading to even less rest! No matter whether I am physically, mentally, or emotionally tired, there is only one way to break the cycle of not enough rest.

I know I usually get tired and frustrated when I am trying to do too much on my own. Jesus offers us the solution to being tired and frustrated. His solution is simple. We just have to take all of our burdens to Him. We don't need to worry or try to fix every little thing on our own. We need to trust that He is with us and that He is ready, willing, and able to tackle whatever is weighing on our minds and bodies. We just need to ask for His help and then allow Him to help!

Turn over your problems to Jesus and get some much needed rest!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being ready and willing to help. Thank You for the promises of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to turn my burdens over to Him so that I can be rested and ready to praise You and spread Your Word. Through Jesus, my Rest, I pray, amen.

Love

2/14/2016

"O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting." -I Chronicles 16:34 (NASB)

Valentine's day is one that usually brings to mind thoughts and feelings of love. When we think about love, we can't know what love is without God. He is the one that teaches us how to love and His love lasts forever!

God is love. He first loved us. If we don't know Him and His love, then we cannot love others. We cannot truly appreciate each other. As God's creation, created in His image, we are not complete without love and we are not complete without Him. As we celebrate Valentine's day, we need to remember the source of our love and then share it with everyone!

We can love because God loves us forever! Share His love on Valentine's day and every day!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for showing me how to love. Help me to spread Your love to everyone. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

God's Handiwork

2/13/2016

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." -Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)

I enjoy creative endeavors. Whether it is creating a painting or drawing or writing a book, paper, or article, I enjoy the process of creating things. Even though my creations are limited, I still take pride in the results of my efforts. God's creations are much greater and He loves and takes pride in them, too!

Each of us is created by God in His image. We are God's handiwork. Similar to how we are connected to our works, God wants to be connected to each of us. He has prepared a pathway for us. We can choose to follow God, our Creator, and try our best to follow His will for our lives. As we listen to Him, we can follow the path that He has prepared for each of us!

You are God's handiwork. Follow the path He has made for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for creating me, loving me, and preparing my path. Help me to always follow You and help others to see Your love through me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Stand with Job

2/12/2016

"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth." -Job 19:25 (NASB)

I recently saw a quote attributed to Ian Maclaren that stated, "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always." It is true that we don't know what others are dealing with, but we do have one battle in common. All of us are fighting against the temptations and evil ways of the devil! We should be kind and we should remind each other that we don't have to stand alone!

In the Bible, Job understood loss and suffering. He saw everything he had, his wealth, possessions, and family, taken from him. Job remained committed to God. He knew that God was greater than anything he would face on earth. Job knew that he served a living God. We serve the same God! Our God, our Redeemer is alive! Just like Job, we can know that our Redeemer will still be standing on the earth in the end. We can rejoice knowing that our living God is with us, helping us stand through whatever we are facing!

No matter what you are facing, stand with Job, knowing your Redeemer lives!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and standing by me. Help to always stand with You and to remember that You are alive in this world! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Thirst Quencher

2/11/2016

"You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water." -Psalm 63:1 (NIV)

As part of my exercise routine, the instructor is often reminding those participating to drink water. Without water or hydration, our bodies cannot physically perform at their highest potential. As we experience exercise in our spiritual lives, we also need to have our spiritual thirst quenched. We need to keep our bodies and souls hydrated!

When we are thirsty, we need water. When our souls are thirsty, we need God! We should seek God, trying to know more about Him and His desires for our lives. We should want to communicate with Him, both talking and listening to Him. We should be eager to learn more by reading His Word. Whenever we are eager and long for a relationship with God, the deepest thirst of our souls can be satisfied by God!

When your soul thirsts, turn to God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there for me. As my soul thirsts, please satisfy my soul with Your wisdom and love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Do It!

2/10/2016

"Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." -James 1:21-22 (NASB)

There have been times when I finish giving directions to my students and a hand goes up to ask what we are doing! Even if it seems everyone is listening and even if the directions are written down, the words don't translate to action. Even though God has written down His Word in the Bible and on our hearts and speaks to us, there are times we don't act!

We should take time to truly read and understand God's Word. We should reflect on what He has written on our hearts and we should stop and listen when He responds to our prayers and speaks to us. After we have listened and understand, then we must act! It is through acting on God's Word that we can spread His love and help others experience His love, glory, forgiveness, and compassion. We can put aside what is evil and commit ourselves to doing good!

Don't be passive hearers, be active doers!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and giving me Your Word. Help me to do more than just listen or hear it. Help me to put the words into action! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be a Voice!

2/9/2016

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." -Proverbs 31:8 (NIV)

I recently read an article that stated the average cost of a 30-second advertisement during this year's Super Bowl cost $4.5 million. Most of the companies advertising during the "big game" have the means to "speak for themselves", but there are many individuals who do not have a platform or a voice to be heard!

When we encounter those that do not have a voice, we need to have empathy and to help others by being a voice. Most of us will not have the exposure that the Super Bowl provides, but we can make a difference. When we rely on God and turn to Him in prayer, He can take even our smallest voice and amplify it and make it effective. With God, we can be a voice for others and show others that God can help each and every one of us to have a voice!

Allow God to help you be a voice for those without a voice!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the voice that You have given me. Help me to use my voice to help others and to show others that they can have a voice through You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Return Blessings, Not Insults

2/8/2016

"To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing." -I Peter 3:8-9 (NASB)

A song called "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" was released in the 1970s. While it has been recorded many times since then, the message hasn't changed. There are many people that are searching for peace, harmony, love, and understanding. As we think about the evil we see or experience, about our responses to it, and about misunderstandings that may cause it, we also need to think about the solution of light, hope, compassion, and humility!

The song talks about searching for hope, for a light in the darkness, for harmony, for trust, and for love and understanding. It is true that searching for these qualities in the world can sometimes be difficult, but there is one place where we can turn and immediately find all of this and more! When we turn to God we can find light, we can find harmony, we can trust Him, we can feel His love and understanding. Once we have found what we are searching for in God, then it is up to us to help others find Him as well. By returning blessings instead of evil or insults, we can help others realize that God is the source of peace, love, and understanding!

Return blessings instead of evil and insults in order to help others find peace, love, and understanding in God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for the peace and understanding that I find in You. Help me to share this with others so they, too, can know You and all of Your glory. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Heart to Mouth

2/7/2016

"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." -Luke 6:45 (NASB)

As Valentine's Day approaches, we begin to see hearts popping up all around us. The hearts are to remind us of love, but we also know that evil exists in the world. As we look at the heart decorations, candies, and cards, we can also look inward to evaluate our own hearts.

While we may not always realize, it is easy for others to know what is in our hearts. Our words and actions reveal what is in our hearts. When our hearts are filled with evil, we speak evil words and do evil things. If our hearts are filled with good treasure, then we will speak good words and do good deeds. As we look at our words, actions, and heart, we need to be honest in our evaluations. We also need to ask God for help in removing the evil from our hearts and filling them with His love, compassion, and peace! With God's help our hearts and mouths will bring forth good!

Make sure your heart is filled with good treasure so you will speak good words!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all the goodness and blessings You have given me in my life. Please help me to keep my heart filled with good treasure and my mouth speaking good words filled with Your love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Morning Renewal

2/6/2016

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." -Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIV)

A couple of months ago I decided to begin a new exercise routine. Instead of exercising in the evening, when I would often get sidetracked and skip exercising, I decided to try exercising in the morning. Even though I am not a morning person, I have managed to wake up and exercise before heading off to work. Each day as I awake, I am filled with hope and I know that God's compassion and love will never fail!

The words in Lamentations remind me as I arise in the morning that the compassions and works of the Lord never fail, they are new each day! God's love and compassion do not "run out" over time. They are renewed each morning. They are strong enough to carry us through an hour of need, through our daily routines, through our entire lives, and into eternity! When we awake each morning, we can be thankful that God is with us and that our faith is in a living God that can renew us each morning!

Know that God is living and ready to renew you each morning!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for renewing me each morning. Help me to find strength in You and to serve You in all I say and do. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

No Lie

2/5/2016

"Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues." -Psalm 120:2 (NIV)

There are times in our lives when others may talk about us. Sometimes it is good. Sometimes others may stretch or bend the truth about us. We can get offended, maybe justifiably so, but the battle is ours to fight alone. It is better to turn to God!

If others are lying and being deceitful about us, it can be easy to get angry and retaliate. God is by our side and on our side. When others talk about us, we should talk to God. If we are standing on His truth, He will take care of us. After we talk to Him, we can rest assured and wait with patience for Him to work in our lives and in the lives of those around us!

Don't worry when others talk about you, just turn and talk to God. He will take care of you! No lie!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being by my side and for giving me Truth that I know I can stand on. Help me to build my life on that Truth and protect me from lies and deceitful talk of others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.