Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

No Greater Love

2/28/2018

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." -John 15:13 (NIV)

Writer Paulo Coelho said that, "One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving." We are to love one another, but there is a reason. The reason for love comes from God!

Even though God is love and present in our lives, as humans, we don't always love one another like we should. We know that we are called to love one another, but sometimes we can find that it is difficult! When it gets difficult, we can turn to Jesus as an example. He was willing to die for each and every one of us. He gave up His life for us, even when He knew we were still sinners. There is no love greater than that!

Jesus has shown the greatest love as a sacrifice for our sin!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your great love that saves and redeems me. Help me to embrace Your love and share it with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Free to Follow Him!

2/27/2018

"For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." -Romans 6:14 (NIV)

When we think of a lawless society, we probably think of all of the problems that could occur. We are used to laws, rules, or common courtesies that help guide our interactions and the functioning of society. While we think of laws as beneficial in this way, sometimes we violate laws and must deal with limitations and consequences of our actions.

God has established laws that guide our lives. Unfortunately, sin is a part of the world and can cause us to break these laws and not reach the glory of God. The consequence of sin is death. This can be scary if we allow sin to become the ruler in our lives, but the Good News is that we don't have to allow sin to be our master! The sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our redemption through Him allow us to avoid the consequences of sin. We can be freed in the grace of God. We can move beyond the consequence of death and choose to pursue a higher calling by following God's will in our lives!

God provides a path to redemption that frees you from the consequences of sin!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for saving me from my sin. Help me to always stay focused on You and Your will, leaving behind my sinful nature. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Corrections...

2/26/2018

"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over." -Matthew 18:15 (NIV)

In a recent conversation with a coworker, I was discussing an issue of communication. While there are decisions being made that directly impact my students, those making the decisions do not want any input. Thinking and talking about this reminded me of how we are to deal with each other and our sin. How do we correct each other?

There are many times in our lives when we sin or we experience the sin of others. The sin in our lives needs to be corrected. When we see the fault in the actions of others, we need to let them know in a way that is private and reassuring of God's grace and mercy. In the same way, when we sin, we need to be willing to accept the reminders and correction from others. Through helping each other, we can maintain our focus on and relationship with God. We can then be prepared to work for His Kingdom!

Be prepared to give and receive correction as you work to become and bring others closer to God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for correcting me and for providing others that can correct me and keep me on track. Help me to both give and receive correction gracefully as I prepare and work for Your Kingdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Believe and Overcome Trouble!

2/25/2018

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me." -John 14:1 (NIV)

There is a lot of evil and trouble in the world. We can allow it to get us down or we can look for ways to help overcome evil. The best way to overcome trouble in our hearts is to turn to God, but this requires us to believe and trust!

We can and should turn to God at all times and for all things. When we feel overwhelmed by trouble in our lives and in our hearts, God is ready to help each of us. We can turn to God, but we also need to believe. Jesus reminds us of this. Without belief in God, our calls to Him are empty words. It is through our belief, our faith, that God hears us and quiets our troubled hearts. With belief in Him we can overcome troubles for all of eternity!

Believe in God, trust in Him, and allow Him to overcome the troubles in your heart!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping me to overcome the troubles in my heart. Help me to continue to believe and trust in You through whatever I may face. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Listen to The Teacher!

2/24/2018

"Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." -Psalm 143:10 (NIV)

There are always things that are changing in our lives. I had the privilege of working with teachers preparing to meet the challenge of changing standards in their classroom. There are some that would rather just keep doing what they would like to do, while others are embracing and welcoming the opportunity to learn and grow. In the end, these differences in attitude will impact success in teaching students.

It's not just teachers that are faced with changes. We all experience changes in our lives. Some changes may be welcomed, while others may be more difficult to accept. Regardless, we need to be prepared. We can prepare ourselves by learning, which often begins by asking for help. When faced with changes in our lives, we can call on God to show us His will, to teach us, and to guide us with His Holy Spirit. We can learn from God and then embrace a positive attitude fueled by His love and power that will lead to eternal success!

Ask God to be your teacher and then follow His lessons!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a willing Teacher. Help me to follow Your lessons and seek Your will. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Joyful, Patient, Faithful

2/23/2018

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Romans 12:12 (NIV)

I enjoy living in a place that has seasons and allows for a variety of weather, but lately the weather seems to be confused about the season. Where I live, we have experienced temperatures in the 40s and 50s, then 4 inches of snow, back to 70 degree temperatures followed by ice and snow. These swings in February are not what we're used to, but we endure the changes, enjoying the good weather and persisting through the bad.

Our life is similar to seasons and weather. We experience times of joy and times of sadness. Our attitudes can determine our responses and how we handle each moment or circumstance by which we are confronted. We can have joy because of our hope in the Lord. We can learn to be patient as we wait for guidance and the saving grace of God. We can also be faithful as we are reassured by God and His promises. No matter the season of life or what we are weathering on a particular day or in a particular moment, with joy, hope, patience, and faith we can move closer to God and endure the changes in our lives!

With joy, patience, and faith, you can be reassured that God is leading you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and the joy You provide and the patience that You teach. Help me to always have faith and trust in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

No Hiding!

2/22/2018

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." -Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)

My daughter likes to play hide and go seek. It's a fun game, but in the end the person hiding always gets found. In our lives, we can try to hide from our problems. We can try to run away from our faults and sinful nature, but we cannot hide. The best we can do is admit or confront our sins head on and allow God to take care of us!

God has prepared a pathway to salvation. When we acknowledge that we are sinful, then we are prepared to take the steps to be redeemed. We can ask for forgiveness and have faith that God will redeem and restore us. Once we stop trying to hide from our sins, we can confess them to God. We can experience the grace, mercy, and power of our loving Heavenly Father!

Confess your sin and be redeemed by God through His Son!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and providing a path for me to be saved and redeemed. Help me to always confess my sin and to trust in Your restorative power. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Meaningless

2/21/2018

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." -James 1:22 (NIV)

What are words without actions? Words without action to back them up are often meaningless. We can say many things, but if we are not willing to live these words in our actions, why should anyone believe them? This same thinking can apply to more than just the words we speak, it can also apply to the words of our faith found in God's Word!

When we choose to follow God, we choose to become doers. We are to study His Word and then act on it. If we say we are followers of God, but do not act on His calling in our lives, then our words lack meaning. Others around us will doubt our true intentions if we speak but do not act. To allow others to truly see the power of God in our lives, we need to study His Word, become closer to Him, and put the lessons we learn from God into action!

Don't let your words be meaningless, but them up with actions as you are called by God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to learn from Your Word and to act on what You teach me so others can see Your power in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Anxiety to Joy!

2/20/2018

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy." -Psalm 94:19 (NIV)

We know that life is filled with times of uncertainty. These uncertainties can challenge us and our feelings of security. They can also be opportunities for growth. As we move through our lives, we must deal with the times that make us anxious and uncertain. To help us, we can turn to God!

God is always with us. When we feel like we are uncertain or not on solid ground, we need to stop and recenter our lives. We need to understand that God is our Rock. He is constant in a changing and uncertain world. He is a source of great joy. We need to take time to focus on Him and then allow Him to turn our anxiety to joy!

Focus on becoming closer to God and allowing Him to move you from anxiety to joy!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your consolation and love. Please help move me from anxiety to joy. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

United with God!

2/19/2018

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." -Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

Listening to the news reminds us that there are struggles in our lives. The news can also remind us that evil delights when we are divided and fighting against each other. When we don't take the time to listen to God and to each other, we allow evil forces to begin to take control. We need to be united!

We can unite by following God. We can learn to forgive and to love. We can learn to listen to God and, in turn, listen to each other. The more united we are with God and His plan for our lives, the stronger we will be as we interact and share with each other. Spreading God's love and Good News builds God's family allows us to be united and helps us to fight against the real sources and powers of evil!

Unite with each other in God and fight the real powers of evil!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for allowing me to be part of Your family. Help me to spread Your love and bring others into Your family so we can together fight the powers of evil. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Ask and Believe!

2/18/2018

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." -James 1:6 (NIV)

Many of us want stability in our lives. We want to have a sense of security. While we may want to accomplish things on our own, there comes a time when we need help. Asking for help can be a first step, but we also must believe and accept the help that we are given.

God is always there for us. He is ready to hear our requests and to help. When we ask, we must believe that God hears us and that He will help. If we ask, but don't believe, then we will not see the plan that God has for our lives. Without belief, we will continue to lack stability and feel like we are being tossed in the wind and waves of life. With faith, we can ask and then rely on the power and glory of God. Through Him all things are possible!

Have faith! Ask, then believe!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for listening to me and for being ready to help. Help me to always believe and not doubt Your power and glory! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Hold onto Each Other!

2/17/2018

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." -Romans 12:15 (NIV)

Audrey Hepburn said that, "The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." While we know that our lives are filled with both times of happiness and times of sorrow and sadness, we need to remember to be there for each other. We can celebrate the good times together and we can help each other through the not so good times as long as we hold onto each other and God!

The good times can be sweeter when we share them with others. Sharing in the good times allows us to share happiness and love. The times of mourning and sorrow can be more bearable when we have the support or embrace of others that care. In either of these extremes and everywhere in between, we need to be there for each other. We need to hold onto each other, but, together, we also need to hold onto God. With His love, support, and guidance, we can enjoy His light and be guided through the darkness!

Be there for each other and together hold onto God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings You provide and for Your support in the tough times. Help me to be supportive of others and to always hold onto You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Love

2/16/2018

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." -John 15:12 (NIV)

My principal had a message this week for all of the students and staff at school. His message was to be kind, to notice each other, and let each other know that we care. He strives to have a school community that provides a place for each and every student. Whether in my school or in the larger communities in which we live, we should all strive to build a place of caring and love.

Jesus reminds us at different times and in different ways that we should care for each other and show each other love. We may not always agree or see things in the same way, but we still need to show love. If we see someone who is struggling, we should show love and try to get help. When we see the accomplishments of others, we should celebrate with them. As we journey through this world, we can make it a better place. We just need to love each other as Jesus has loved each and every one of us!

Make the world a better place by loving each other as Jesus has loved you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your unfailing love. Help me to make the world a better place by sharing Your love with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Curses & Mistreatment? Love and Prayer

2/15/2018

"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." -Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)

Most of us probably want to be liked. We want to get along with others, but there are those that may push our buttons or challenge us. We need to be ready to respond in the appropriate ways, which may be different than how the world tells us we should respond. We need to be ready with love and prayer!

Jesus reminds us that we are called to love others, even our enemies. We are to continue to do good, even in the face of those that curse and mistreat us. We may feel that we cannot continue to do good, which is why God is standing by, supporting us. When we feel like turning to the ways of the world, we need to turn to God and His ways. By showing love and doing good, we can begin to overcome the evil that is around us!

In the face of mistreatment, turn to God and show your enemies love and good deeds!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love and support that You give me. Help me to always turn to You in order to show love and good deeds to those who mistreat me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

You're It!

2/14/2018

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28 (NIV)

My daughter likes to play tag, especially with her cousins. I remember playing tag as a kid, too. After you tag someone, you often say, "You're it!" In our lives, God also tags us. He calls each of us for a purpose. We need to be ready to accept the purpose and follow God's plan!

To find our purpose, we need to be involved in building a relationship with God. We need to be "it" and to follow the purpose for which He has called us. As we follow God's plan, He will work for good in all things. We can then share our journeys with others, supporting their callings and allowing others to see the power of God. We can be "it" and we can help God's Kingdom to grow as we bring others into His family!

Be "it" for God, following His purpose and spreading His love and Good News!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me a purpose as part of Your family. Help me to spread Your love and to help others to hear their calling. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Extra Help?

2/13/2018

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." -Psalm 124:8 (NIV)

There are times in school where students need extra help. There could be a variety of reasons, whether instructional style, readiness, or willingness. No matter the reason, one of the most important things is the willingness to seek and accept help. As we journey through our lives, we may need extra spiritual help. Like students, we need to be willing to ask for and receive help.

We are fortunate because God is a loving and helpful God. He is willing to help us. We need to be willing to seek Him and accept His help. When we do, we can learn that there is power and glory in His name. He is the maker of all things and yet He is willing to help each of us. There are times when we all need extra help and we know where to find it, as long as we are willing to talk to God and listen to His response!

God is always ready and willing to give you extra help!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your willingness to help me. Please help me to always seek help from You first. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Walk in Integrity!

2/12/2018

"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out." -Proverbs 10:9 (NIV)

Theodore Roethke said that, "Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley." As we chart our course through life, we have choices about the paths we take. We can choose to remain in the valley or we can conquer mountains. To be sure our paths are secure, we should follow God and His integrity!

We will inevitably encounter valleys and mountains in our lives. No matter what we are facing, we have a path through it. While we may be tempted to take a shortcut, we need to be wary of crooked paths that will lead to more trouble in the end. Instead, we need to focus on God and on His plans. By knowing His Truth and keeping our choices rooted in integrity, we can know that our paths are secure and that God will lead us through whatever we are facing!

Stay focused on God and walk with integrity to be on a secure path!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Truth and guidance. Help me to always walk with integrity so my path is secure. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

On the Rock!

2/11/2018

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." -Matthew 7:24 (NIV)

Many of us are constantly building in our lives. While we may not be building actual structures, we build other parts of our lives. We work to build relationships, build families, build careers, and more. In order for all of these things to withstand the trials and challenges of life, we need to be sure everything we build has the right foundation!

Whether we are focused on relationships, family, church, or career, we can find a common, solid foundation when we begin with Jesus Christ. We can begin by focusing our spiritual lives on the redemption given to us through Jesus. Knowing Him, we can be forgiven and we can know love. As we work to build the other parts of our lives, we have a firm foundation, built on Jesus Christ the Rock, to support us. We can then build relationships, families, and careers with confidence that they will withstand the storms of life!

Start with Jesus Christ, the Rock, and be sure that what you build has a firm foundation!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for the redemption and life I can have through Him. Help all of my decisions be built on Him. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Worship and Be Thankful!

2/10/2018

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." -Psalm 95:6 (NIV)

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we reflect on all that we have and the blessings we receive. We may also suggest that every day should be a day of thanksgiving. Yet, time passes and our schedules may keep us from stopping to take time to deeply reflect on what we have been given. As we journey through our lives, we need to be sure that we take the time to not just be thankful, but to worship God!

God is an active force in our lives. We should not ignore this and should not take it for granted. We need to acknowledge the presence and power of God. We can do this in different ways, through praise, prayer, and worship. When we kneel before God in worship, we are thanking Him for all He does in our lives!

Bow down, worship God, and thank Him for His presence in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your presence in my life. Help me to always follow You and to praise Your name so others can see Your glory! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Walk Away

2/9/2018

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." -I Timothy 6:11 (NIV)

We are aware that there is evil in the world around us. We see it in the news or witness it first hand in our lives. Nelson Mandela reminded us that, "There is a constant struggle between good and evil in the world. It is up to good people to choose the right side." As we follow God and choose the right side, we need to be willing to walk away from all that is not good!

The temptations of the world are real, but we must be prepared to leave behind the ways of the world as we follow God. We know that He is the Truth, love, and righteousness, but we cannot remain walking down our old paths if we are to become more and do more. God offers new paths that lead to goodness, love, and righteousness. We need to have faith as we commit to walking away from evil and toward God's light!

Walk away from evil and toward the light and love of God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the light and love that You have shown me. Help me to always walk away from evil and toward You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Don't Waste Your Time!

2/8/2018

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." -Proverbs 3:27 (NIV)

We have different opportunities in life. We can choose to do good or we can choose to ignore those opportunities. As baseball player and humanitarian Roberto Clemente said, "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on earth." Clemente's life and early death reminds us that we should engage in doing good and making a difference now and into the future!

God is the source of goodness and blessings. When we follow God, we are called to spread His love and share His blessings. We are given the power to make a difference and God expects us to do so. We cannot turn a blind eye toward others, the good they deserve, or the needs with which we can help. God places us in certain situations, particular places at certain times, so that we can be His hands and feet on earth. To avoid wasting our time here on earth, we need to follow God's calling and make a difference for His Kingdom!

Don't waste your time on earth, follow God's calling and make a difference by acting in His power!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings You provide in life and for Your calling! Help me to make a difference for Your Kingdom by acting in the power You give me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Stand Together!

2/7/2018

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth." -Job 19:25 (NIV)

There are times in our lives when we feel that we need to stand up for ourselves, someone else, or something in which we believe. It takes courage and conviction to stand up, especially if we are going against popular opinion. When we are looking for courage, we can be empowered by remembering that as long as we are following God, He will stand with us!

God shows us what is right. We can learn from the examples He gives us in His Word. We can learn to be faithful from the story of Job. We can learn to be loving from the example of Jesus Christ. We can learn many other lessons, too. It is important, though, that we also believe in God's promises, including redemption through His Son and that He will return to earth one day. When we believe that our Redeemer lives and that He is returning, the words of Job can be empowering and give us strength to stand together with other believers and with God Himself!

Follow God and stand with Him in His truth and power!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the lessons You teach and the power that You give to me. Help me to continue to grow in my understanding of You and Your will in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Wise, Do Wise!

2/6/2018

for "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." -Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Wisdom is often associated with knowing how to make the right choices, how to make the most out of a situation, or how to navigate the challenges of life. Many times, we think of wisdom as coming with age and maturity. It may be true that we become wiser over time, but time is not the only factor leading to wisdom!

We may find wisdom in the experiences of our lives, but we can also find wisdom in God. It is through His Truth that we can know right from wrong. By learning about God and from God, we can gain wisdom. Once we have wisdom, we then need to be careful with how we live. We need to apply the wisdom that God provides through our experiences and through our relationship with Him. We need to make the most out of our opportunities and avoid the evil that days on earth may hold. We need to be wise and do the wise things as guided by God!

Be wise and use the wisdom that God has granted you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for my experiences and the wisdom that You have given me. Help me to use this wisdom as I strive to live a better life for You each day. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Stumble, Don't Fall!

2/5/2018

"We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check." -James 3:2 (NIV)

There are times when I stumble or trip, usually because I'm not paying attention to where I am going. Whether physically or spiritually, there are times we may stumble because we are not paying attention. As Eric Bibb says, "You might slip, you might slide. You might stumble and fail by the roadside. But don't you ever let nobody drag your spirit down. Remember you're walking up to heaven, don't let nobody turn you around."

God knows that all of us will stumble, but He doesn't want us to fall. God has prepared a plan for each and every one of us. Even though none of us are capable of perfection, we can find support through the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We will sin, but our sin doesn't have to be a death sentence. If we turn to God, He will pick us up and save us, even when we may stumble!

You may stumble, but you won't to fall if you are focused on God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for saving me when I stumble. Please help me to always trust in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

People Will Talk...

2/4/2018

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

People will talk. There is a saying that goes, "Those who gossip to you will also gossip about you." Sometimes people say good things and sometimes they don't. These times can be a reminder that we need to be careful about what we say. It also reminds us that we need protection from lies and deceit.

We can't control what others say, but we can turn to God for protection. When we allow God to protect us, we don't have to waste our energy on fighting lies and deceit. We are then free to live our lives, following God and spreading His love. When we live in His Truth, we can be a force for positive change free from limitations of people that talk and try to bring us down!

Live for God and allow Him to protect you when people talk with lies and deceit!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the protection that You give me. Please continue to guide and protect me from any lies and deceit. In Your Son's name I pray, amen.