Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Forgive and Do Better

2/29/2020

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." -Mark 11:25 (ESV)

The ability of people to grow and become better was a recent conversation I had with my students. We know that we make mistakes and we sin. However, we need to know better and be committed to change. As Maya Angelou famously wrote, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."

Doing better requires us to admit when we are wrong and to ask God for forgiveness. However, it also means we need to pray for the strength to forgive others. When we commit to changing and doing better, we need to forgive so that we can move on and we can be forgiven. Through forgiveness, both giving and receiving, we can shed burdens that weigh us down and allow us to do more for God's Kingdom!

Forgive, be forgiven, and do better for yourself and others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank you for forgiving me. Help me to forgive others and to do better for Your Kingdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Give What You Owe

2/28/2020

"Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." -Romans 13:7 (NIV)

My daughter's coach had a conversation with all of the kids today about respect. While the kids are focused in practice, he wants them to be respectful outside of the gym. As we live our lives, there are times when it may be difficult to give what we owe. No matter the form our giving needs to take, we need to give!

To begin giving, we should stop and thank God for all that we have. He gives us love and respect. He gave us His Son to redeem us. He provides for us in all areas of our lives. He knows what we need and He gives to us. Because of all that God gives, we should prepare to give what we owe and to give God the glory!

Thank God for what you have and give what you owe!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that I have and all that You give to me. Help me to give what I owe for Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Keep Going...The Right Way!

2/27/2020

"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty." -Proverbs 27:12 (NIV)

We may know someone (or even sometimes be that someone) that rushes ahead without thinking about the consequences. Sometimes we keep going in pursuit of a noble cause. Other times we may just be searching for a thrill or temporary joy. As we move forward in our lives, we need to be aware of dangers and know which causes to go after!

We are reminded in Proverbs that not every path we take is safe. There are dangers in the world. Some dangers can cause temporary harm or discomfort, but others can lead to longer-lasting impacts if we give in and turn our backs on God. When we are "fighting the good fight" and trying to live a Godly life, we need to be focused on and in constant communication with God. Only then will we always know the right way to keep going and when to take refuge in Him!

Keep going, but be sure you are going the right way with God or finding refuge in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being both a guide and a place of refuge. Help me to always be going in the ways You have set for me. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Examples

2/26/2020

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children." -Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)

Francois de La Rochefoucauld said, "Nothing is so contagious as example; and we never do any great good or evil which does not produce its like." To learn how to act, we need good examples. To leave an impact, we need to be good examples. All of these things start with God!

God provides examples that we can follow in our lives. We can look at the time Jesus Christ spent on earth and see how to model our lives. In addition to Jesus, we can look at the many other examples of believers provided in the Bible. As we learn how to live, we then need to put our learning into practice so others can see us modeling a Godly life. Living for God can allow others to see the good that comes from following God's example!

Follow God's example so you can be an example for others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the examples You provide. Help me to be an example so others can see Your goodness. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Just a Little!

2/25/2020

"He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'" -Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

There is so much that I would like to accomplish. I have a list of books to write. I would like to spend time creating artwork. There are trips to take with family, conferences to attend, and so much to learn. When I think about all I would like to do, I am reminded that I need to start with small steps. Even just a small step can help make a big difference!

The same is true about our faith. While we may think we need to have a lot of faith to get God's attention or accomplish anything meaningful, we are reminded by Jesus that we just need a little faith. Faith as small as a mustard seed could move a mountain! When we set out to change the world and bring glory to God, we do not have to worry about having a mountain of faith. We need to start with a little faith and watch the glory and power of God work in our world!

While you can never have too much faith, just a little can bring great results!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for promising to help move the mountains in my life. Help me to have just a little faith and to trust in You to do the rest! In Jesus I pray, amen.

Live in Him!

2/24/2020

"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" -I Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

As kids, we need to learn how to act in different situations. If we didn't have adults to guide us and serve as role models, we may not understand the importance of everything from simple manners to other issues of decorum. As we grow in our spiritual lives, we need to follow our spiritual role models!

The Bible is filled with believers that we can look to as role models. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, we have many people that can inspire and inform our lives and our choices. However, there is one that is the ultimate role model. Jesus came down to earth to live as we live and to provide us with an example of how to live our lives. We know that Jesus is holy, now it is up to us to live in Him so we can be holy, too!

Live in and through your Savior, Jesus Christ, so you can be holy, too!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the examples of how to live and to be holy. Help me to live in Jesus so I can be redeemed and holy. In Him I pray, amen.

Worn Out?

2/23/2020

"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness." -Proverbs 23:4 (NIV)

Life isn't easy. We've probably all heard that or something similar. Whether we are trying to make money or are fighting to make the world a better place, we can wear ourselves out. To be effective in all we do, we need to be sure that we put our trust in and draw strength from the right source: God!

If we chase earthly riches and trust in our own ways to solve the injustices of the world, then we will get worn out. We will become tired and may even withdraw from doing what we like or need to do. Instead of letting ourselves get to the point of exhaustion, we need to rest and to find strength. God is the one that can provide strength. He can multiply our efforts. He is the only source of rest and true redemption. We don't have to be run down and worn out. We can find care and compassion in God!

Don't allow yourself to be run down and worn out. Turn to God to find rest and restoration!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being both a source of strength and a place of rest. Help me to trust in You and to be prepared to make a difference for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Rest & Restore!

2/22/2020

"Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved." -Psalm 80:19 (NIV)

The weekend brings many of us a time to rest, to recoup, and to prepare for the week ahead. When we have time off, we need to be sure we are allowing ourselves to be restored. However, this restoration needs to be more than just physical. We need to be emotionally and spiritually restored!

God is the source of our restoration. We need to take time to acknowledge God in our lives and to communicate with Him. When we release control and allow God to take over, He can shine on us, restore us, and save us. It is through God that our souls can be filled and our actions can be guided to make a difference in His Kingdom!

Pray to God and give Him control so you can be restored!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a source of rest and restoration. Help me to give You control so You can restore me. In Jesus I pray, amen.

More than Thinking...

2/21/2020

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." -Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

I was reminded today that we still need to make progress in building relationships, being respectful, and getting along with each other. We need to not only pay attention to our actions, but also to our words. If our words and actions are not rooted in God, we have work to do!

In Philippians, we are reminded to keep God as our focus and to think about things that are noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It is good to think about things that will help us align ourselves with God. However, once we have the correct mindset, we need to get to work. We need to become active advocates that help spread God's love that brings people together and builds meaningful, lasting relationships. With God, we can do more than think, we can act!

Think about all of the goodness that is God and provided by God, then do more than thinking as you act out of God's love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and all the good that I can focus on in my life. Help me to build on Your goodness and to act in Your love. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Never Fails!

2/20/2020

"For no word from God will ever fail." -Luke 1:37 (NIV)

Whenever we try things, there is a chance that we may fail. Each time we take a risk or step out of our comfort zones, we need to consider how we will learn from our experience. To make learning these lessons easier, we need to be sure we are focused on God's will and presence in our lives!

God will not fail. When He speaks, all of creation takes notice, even if it struggles to reluctantly listen. If we choose to struggle and fight against God, we will fail. The good news is that we don't have to engage in struggles that will not succeed. We can talk to God and listen to His direction in our lives. We can side with God and experience the joy He provides. In those times when we struggle, we can learn the lessons from God that will help us get back to His unfailing way!

Listen to God and learn from Him because He never fails!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your guidance. Help me to always listen to You and Your Word so I can experience joy and success that only You can provide. When I fail to follow You, help me to learn and reconnect with Your will. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Committed!

2/19/2020

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." -Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

My daughter recently started practicing jiu-jitsu. As she is learning the sport, she is also learning some keys to life. She is learning that progress is tied to commitment and consistency. To get better at things, we need to be committed and consistent in our efforts!

Whatever we set out to do in life, it will require work. Whether we are trying to accomplish a small task or to address larger issues, we need to be prepared. We need to be ready for highs and lows so we can stay committed and consistent. In order to be prepared, we can start by talking and listening to God. When we commit our efforts to the Lord, we can be assured that He will guide us and lead us to success for Him!

Be committed to God and allow Him to guide you to consistency and success!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for leading me and helping me to find success. Help me to continually follow Your will and to help others see You. In Jesus I pray, amen.

All Talk?

2/18/2020

"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." -Romans 10:10 (NIV)

Sometimes it is easy to "talk a good game." We can talk about things that we think we do well or that we intend to do. It is even possible to convince ourselves of certain beliefs or things we think are happening. While we may talk about things and even think we believe them, it is in our hearts that we can know our true beliefs.

When we talk about our relationship with God and with Jesus Christ, we need to do more than talk or think about our beliefs. Before we start talking to others, we need to believe in our hearts that God is King. We need to know God and in His redeeming power through Jesus Christ not just in our heads, but in our hearts. Once God is in our hearts, then we can truly tell and show others the saving power of God and His Son!

Don't be all talk. Believe in God and Jesus in your heart!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for filling my heart and saving my soul. Help me to not be all talk, but to speak meaningfully from my heart. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Love & Honor for Others

2/17/2020

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." -Romans 12:10 (NIV)

Most of us want to help others and do good in the world around us, but our approach matters. When we want to help, we need to be sure we act out of love and honor for others. As Molly Friedenfeld said, "A person can put up any kind of protective wall, but love and truth always find a way around it."

Even when we are at our lowest, God has love and respect for each of us. If we are committed to following God and helping others, we should be prepared to act out of love and honor that comes from God. We can devote ourselves to helping and honoring each other. When we are committed to love and honor, we can create a community that finds ways around the walls others may put up in order to them join us as part of God's loving family!

Help each other with love and honor to live as God has called you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and respect and Your redemption in my life. Help me to help others out of love and respect. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Be a Window!

2/16/2020

"How much more, then will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the living God!" -Hebrews 9:14 (NIV)

Today at church the Pastor said that we should be windows that allow others to see into our lives and to see how God is at work in our lives. However, windows get dirty. If they are not cleaned, the view from the window can become distorted or even blocked. Our lives can be windows for others to see God, but we need to be sure they are clean windows!

Our lives can become dirty or distorted when we try to do too much on our own. We may try to clean the windows or to put up window dressings that make things look good from the outside. If our lives are not in line with God's will, the view through our windows will not be true. We need to allow God to clean our windows - to redeem and renew us, to help us be what He wants us to be. Once we are cleansed, then we can serve as examples of the power of the living God!

Allow God to cleanse you so you can be a window for others to see His power, grace, and mercy!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your cleansing power in my life. Help me to live according to Your will so others can see Your power, grace, and mercy. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Show through Praise!

2/15/2020

"I will praise You, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of You among the peoples." -Psalm 108:3 (NIV)

When we have something good or exciting happening in our lives, we often want to tell others. It can be hard to keep quiet. We can go around telling others about the good things happening in our lives, but that is not the only way others can see our joy. Our actions can also let others know about our excitement!

As followers of God and Jesus Christ, we are called to tell others the Good News. While we may think about that call as talking to people about God and telling them of salvation through Jesus, we need to broaden this idea. Instead of focusing just on telling others, we also need to show them. One of the ways we can show others is through praise God openly and often. When we praise God, we can draw attention to all that He does in our lives. We can show all that God does for us through praise!

Praise God to show others His presence and action in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
All praise to You! Thank You for Your presence and action in my life. Help my actions and praise to allow others to see Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Brought Joy!

2/14/2020

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

There are many things that may bring stress or anxiety to our lives. We can search for ways to destress or lessen our anxiety. From reading about tips to listening to advice, we can try to focus on what works for each of us. However, we need to be careful that we do not forget taht God is a source of strength and joy!

When we feel anxiety and stress creeping into our lives, we need to take a step back and turn to God. God is a source of strength. By turning to God and trusting in Him, we can allow Him to take on the sources of our stress and anxiety. Because of God's care, love, and power, He can help us overcome our anxiety. When we face anxiety with God, He will bring us joy!

When faced with anxiety and stress, turn to God and allow Him to take control and bring joy!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your strength and care in my life. Help me to overcome stress and anxiety to truly experience Your joy! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Cause and Effect

2/13/2020

"And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and security forever." -Isaiah 32:17 (ESV)

In my lessons, one of the skills we focus on building with students is the connections between causes and effects. While some causes may seem to be directly related to certain effects, others may be harder to see at first. Looking for causes and effects isn't limited to classes in school, we can see these in our own lives!

In Isaiah, we are reminded that there are effects and results of righteousness. Righteousness can bring peace. It can bring quietness and security. While these are effects of righteousness, we also need to look for the cause of righteousness. We can only find righteousness through the one, true God. By committing our lives to Him and following Him, we can be redeemed and made righteous, then we can find the peace, quietness, and security of God!

Find the cause of righteousness in God and then enjoy the effects of His peace, quietness, and eternal security!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for redeeming me and helping me to find Your righteousness. Help me to live in Your peace, quietness, and security now and forever. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Easier Journey

2/12/2020

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." -Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

When it is time to move, many people turn to friends and family to help them. From packing boxes to loading and unloading items, it is good to have help. Whether we are moving or not, we can help lift each other up in many other ways!

We can help each other by carrying each other's burdens. When we see others that are down, we can help lift them up. We can offer love and support. Most importantly, we can introduce them to or remind them of God's love and redemption. Through helping each other and turning to God, we can make our loads lighter and our journeys easier!

Help others with their burdens and help them to see God's never-ending love and support!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for making my burdens lighter. Help me to help others lighten their loads and to see all that You have in store for them. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Walk Humbly & Do Justice

2/11/2020

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." -Proverbs 31:9 (NIV)
"He has told you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" -Micah 6:8 (NASB)

There are many different ways of thinking in education today. While we seem to be searching for the right way to include all of our students, we look to ideas about equity and social justice. We need to think about these things beyond schools and in relation to our walk with God!

Throughout the Bible, we are called to love one another and to help each other. It is easier to do these things when we are walking with God. When we walk with God, we can experience His love that we can share with others. We can also find the strength we need to do justice in this world because we know that fighting injustice is a difficult and ongoing process. When we respond to God's call to do justice and love kindness, we won't get very far if we are not humbly walking with Him!

Prepare and then act to love kindness and do justice, but be sure to walk humbly with God and rely on His power and strength!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the power and strength that only You can provide. Help me to walk with You and to fight injustice with Your kindness, love, and strength. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Legacy?

2/10/2020

"God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them." -Hebrews 6:10 (NIV)

Whether referring to a politician, professional athlete, or other figure, people sometimes talk about the legacy notable people will leave behind. We may even think about our own legacies and how we will be remembered. If we want to make an impact and leave a legacy, we need to start with God and a legacy rooted in eternity!

The things we have and do in this life are temporary. However, we can and should prepare for eternity! The work we do should not be focused on ourselves or the legacy that we may leave. We should focus on working for God. When we work for God, our legacy will be in Him. He will remember us and will multiply our work on earth to benefit others and His Kingdom. The legacy we build in God will be eternal!

Work for God and build an eternal legacy in Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for guiding me and helping me. Allow my work here and now to be lasting and in line with Your will. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Always Found!

2/9/2020

"'Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?' declares the Lord. 'Do not I fill heaven and earth?' declares the Lord." -Jeremiah 23:24 (NIV)

When my daughter was younger, she loved playing hide and seek. There were limited places to hide, especially when she asked an adult to hide. As she learned these spots, it became more difficult to stay hidden. As we think about God, we do not have to worry about being hidden from or lost by God!

God fills the earth. He knows all of the crevices, the dark places, and the typical hiding spots. Even if we think we want to hide, we cannot hide from God. Instead of trying to do things on our own or trying to hide, we need to welcome God into our lives. He wants to help us. He wants to redeem us and make us whole. We need to invite God into our lives because we will always be found by Him!

Be found by God and allow Him to take control and transform your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for finding me and for working in my life. Help me to invite You into my life, to allow You to take control and continue Your work. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Empathy and Sharing

2/8/2020

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

Henry David Thoreau posed the question, "Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?" In life, we have many experiences of our own. We know that those around us have their own experiences, too. As we prepare to care for one another through sharing God's love, we need to remember to have empathy.

Having empathy requires us to look through another's eyes or feel what they could be feeling. Empathy does not mean feeling bad or having sympathy for others. Instead, we need to know each other and to try to understand different situations and perspectives. Knowing others allows us to rejoice when they are rejoicing and mourn when they are mourning. Getting to know each other can then allow us to share God's love and the Good News!

Get to know each other, have empathy, and share the Good News!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love, understanding, and empathy. Help me to get to know others, to support them, and to share the Good News. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

What Are You Seeking?

2/7/2020

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." -Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)

Think about your daily schedule. The schedule probably has a list of places to go and things to do. When I am trying to accomplish things, I get frustrated if I cannot find something that I need. I do not like being distracted or held up as I search for tools or answers that I need to finish everything on my list!

There are a lot of distractions in life. The things around us, no matter how temporary, compete for our attention. Even when we are most tempted or distracted, God is still standing by our side. We just need to seek Him, to turn to Him. When we are seeking God, we can be reassured that we will find Him and He will fill our hearts and souls!

Seek God and allow Him to fill your heart and soul - now and for eternity!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there for me. Help me to always seek You and to allow You to fill my heart and soul. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Established

2/6/2020

"Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." -II Corinthians 3:4-6 (ESV)

Some of us work to establish ourselves in life. We may want to build a home for our families, establish our credibility or work ethic at work, or make an impact on the world around us. When we are trying to become established, we can take the advice of Joshua Lederberg when he said, "If it takes you 20 or 25 years to establish yourself in one field, you really ought to be careful not to stray too far."

No matter what area of life we want to "established" in, we need to start with a good foundation, which is God! We cannot build our lives by ourselves. We need the support of God. It is through God that we can have confidence. God calls us to build our lives on His Word and the Spirit He gives us. He also calls us to share this Good News and to help others experience Him. It is only through the Spirit of God that we can be established and follow God's calling.

Follow God and find the confidence to establish your life in Him and then respond to His call to share the Good News!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the confidence that only You can give. Help me to be established in You and to share Your Good News. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Advice

2/5/2020

"Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." -Proverbs 13:10 (NIV)

Will Rogers said, "Never miss a good chance to shut up." Sometimes we are so busy that we miss what others are trying to tell us. Because we self-absorbed or wrapped up in current situations, our pride overcomes us or we walk into strife and increase our stress. We may need to take a moment or two to be quiet!

In order to grow, we need to learn. We can learn from our experiences, but it always helps to gain insight from others that have been in similar situations. We can also get guidance from God. While wisdom can come from God and from those that He puts in our lives, we need to listen. We need to talk and ask questions, but then we need to listen to the advice that we receive. With the advice we have been given, we can prayerfully listen to God to truly gain wisdom!

Listen to advice, pray, and follow God to avoid strife and pride!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the advice, wisdom, and guidance that only You can provide. Help me to always listen to You and to understand Your wisdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.