Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Pay Attention!

3/31/2018

"My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart." -Proverbs 4:20-21 (NIV)

There are many things in the world that compete for our attention. This competition may cause us to become distracted. Even when others are trying to talk to us, we may not be giving our full attention. We need to learn to overcome distractions and to truly listen.

On Good Friday, we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. The day may take on a somber tone as we reflect on His suffering and the confusion of His disciples. Living in the aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus, His followers prepared His body for burial and began mourning His death. His followers may have become distracted and forgotten His words. Good Friday is not the end of the life of Jesus. We can all remember His words and look forward to what is to come with the celebration of Easter: Jesus is still alive! He rose from the dead to save us. We need to remember His words and actions, keep them in our hearts for all of eternity!

Pay attention to the words and actions of Jesus and keep them in your heart!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the reminder of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Forgive me through His sacrifice and help me to share Your glory through my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be Pure!

3/30/2018

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." -Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

It is hard to find things that are truly pure. Even when we mean well, our intentions may not be 100% pure. We look for ways to accomplish different goals, but we also want to protect ourselves. If we are on our own, we cannot always have pure hearts!

God knows that when left to our own devices, we will not be pure. However, He still loves us! Because of His love, Jesus was sent to die for our sin. Jesus became human, maintained a pure heart, and then died as the perfect sacrifice for each and every one of us. It is through Jesus that we can become pure. If we accept Him as our Savior, then we can be made pure and see God!

Be pure through the sacrifice of Jesus and then serve God until you see Him one day!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus to die for my sin. Help me to always strive to follow Him and to be pure in heart. In His name I pray, amen.

Two Wrongs

3/29/2018

"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else." -I Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)

We all experience wrongs in our lives. When we do, we need to think about how we respond. As the saying goes, "Two wrongs don't make a right!" We need to be careful to not "act in the heat of the moment," but instead act in God's love to do good!

God is good and He is the source of love and goodness in our lives. We need to allow God to fill our hearts with His love and compassion. When our hearts and lives are filled with God, then it is easier for us to act out of love. We don't have to repay a wrong with a wrong, but can rely on God for the strength to do what is good!

Two wrongs don't make a right, so rely on God to help repay wrongs with goodness and love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for redeeming me through Your Son. Please fill my heart with Your love and compassion so I can share it with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Desires and Unfailing Love!

3/28/2018

"What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar." -Proverbs 19:22 (NIV)

Dallin Oaks is quoted as saying, "Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions." Many of us have a desire to be loved. People will search for others to love them and even consider changing who they are to please others. Fortunately, there is a source of unconditional, unfailing love waiting for each and every one of us!

God is the source of unconditional love. He loved us when we were sinners. He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sin. God is also the source of unfailing love. He will endure forever and His love will endure forever. Nothing can separate us from His love. We don't have to change to be loved by God, but once we experience His love, we will want to be better to live in His love and presence forever! With our eyes and hearts fixed on God, our desire for unfailing love can be fulfilled!

Keep the desires of your heart set on God and allow Him to fill you with His unfailing love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and for always loving me. Help me to keep my heart focused on You so I can be filled with Your unfailing love. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Saying It...

3/27/2018

"I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.'" -Psalm 16:2 (NIV)

Garth Brooks sings a song called "If Tomorrow Never Comes." In the song, he reminds us to always tell those around us that we love them. We should express our love and gratefulness to others. Additionally, we need to acknowledge the goodness of God and His role in our lives!

The Lord is good to us. He loves us, protects us, and guides us. We can find goodness and blessings in Him. When we seek God, we can begin to see His glory, but we shouldn't take God and His blessings for granted. We can accept His gifts, but we also need to be thankful and to proclaim His glory. We need to let God know, we need to say to Him, that He is our Lord and that He is the source of all good things in our lives!

Let God know that He is your Lord and that you are thankful for His blessings!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your protection, love, and guidance. Help me to always show my appreciation for You, my Lord and Savior. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

In a Bubble?

3/26/2018

"But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high." -Psalm 3:3 (NIV)

The movie "The Incredibles" was recently on television. In the movie, the daughter of two super heroes discovers that she has the power to create a force field "bubble" around herself and those close to her. When in need of protection, she calls on her powers. While we do not have a visible bubble, we do have a shield that can protect us!

When we are facing trouble, we can call on God. He can be our shield. He can protect us and He can guide us away from danger. We can keep our heads up, keeping our eyes on God because of His power and work in our lives. When we feel like fading away, giving up, or hanging our heads low, we need to remember that God is our shield, our protective bubble, our Redeemer, and our strength in all things!

Don't let your head hang low, call on God and He can be the shield or bubble that surrounds and protects you!

Dear God-
Thank You for protecting me, guiding me, and giving me strength. Help me to always call on and trust in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

No Chains!

3/25/2018

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." -II Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

There is a quote of Rosa Luxemburg that says, "Those who do not move do not notice their chains." In our lives, we may not feel the chains of sin. However, once we start moving for God, the devil may try to restrain us. As we come upon Easter, we can remember that the devil cannot hold us. We can even overcome death!

During the Easter season, we reflect on the life and sacrifices of Jesus Christ. He came to earth to save us from the consequences of sin. We cannot save ourselves, we must depend on Him and trust God's plan. Once we accept the sacrifice of Jesus and the forgiveness and redemption offered to us, we can be free from the grasp of sin in our lives. Because of Jesus, we can be free. We do not have to be concerned with death and we can move to His Spirit as we spread the Good News of Easter!

Be free from the chains of sin by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for caring for me and for sending Your Son to redeem me. Help me to follow His Spirit and to share the Good News with others. Through Him I pray, amen.

Under Wing

3/24/2018

"He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." -Psalm 91:4 (NIV)

My daughter and I have been checking on a Bald Eagle cam to watch as the eagles have been incubating their eggs. The eagles warm and protect their eggs, so the eaglets can develop. We watched as even through a snowstorm, the parent, covered in snow, remained committed to protecting the egg. The commitment of the eagles may inspire awe and they may remind us that we have a Heavenly Father that keeps us under His wings, too!

God is our Father in Heaven and He wants what is best for us. He protects us. Sometimes we may not realize what is happening when He pulls us closer to Him, under His wings for protection, but we should be grateful for His protection. We can find refuge in Him, even through life's toughest storms. He can be fed and find spiritual nutrition through His Word. As we grow closer to Him, He will prepare us to spread our wings so we can spread His Good News. However, even when we feel confident, we can return to Him and ask for protection under His wing!

Allow God to pull you under His wing for protection, then praise His faithfulness!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for protecting me, even when I may not realize I need it. Help me to follow You, to hear Your voice, and to take refuge under Your wing. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Healed!

3/23/2018

"'He Himself bore our sins' in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 'by His wounds you have been healed.'" -I Peter 2:24 (NIV)

At some point in time, all of our lives have likely been touched by illness. We see the effects of different diseases and we may support even support causes and events that search for treatments and cures. It is good to take care of our bodies, but we also need to be sure we are taking care of our spiritual needs.

Sin is a disease that is in our lives and, like other illnesses, it can lead to death. We cannot "recover" from sin without treatments. God knows that we need to be healed. The Good News is that Jesus came and took on our sin so we can be healed. God has already provided the way for us to be made whole. It is now up to us to accept the forgiveness and redemption through Jesus so we can be spiritually healed!

God sent Jesus to provide the treatment for your sin so you can be healed!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son and for the forgiveness provided through Him. Help me to accept Your gift so I can be healed and made whole. Through Him I pray, amen.

Not Easily Disengaged!

3/22/2018

"I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’" -Isaiah 65:1 (NIV)

My dog is a mix of several different breeds, but a trait associated with one of the breeds is that he is "not easily disengaged." He is a great dog, but it is hard to break his "focus" on something that catches his attention. Whether we realize it or not, there may be times in our lives when we are not easily disengaged, but we need to be sure we are engaged with the correct things in our lives!

Sometimes in life, we get "tunnel vision" and become focused on something or some way of doing things. When we forget to seek God, it can be reassuring to know that He is there for us. We just need to stop, look, and listen. When we take the time to stop and seek God, we can see Him revealing Himself and calling to us. We can then respond to God's call and follow Him!

When God reminds us that He is near, we need to respond and be ready to follow Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for reminding me that You are near and for calling on me. Help me to follow You and Your will for my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Build Each Other Up!

3/21/2018

"No one should seek their own good, but the good of others." -I Corinthians 10:24 (NIV)

There are many different choices we can make or paths we can follow in our lives. As individuals, we don't always get along or see eye to eye. When we have differences, we can allow them to divide us or we can look for ways to spread love and build each other up!

When we follow God, we can be filled with His love. Being filled with His love allows us to focus on helping each other. We can look for common ground by keeping our focus on God. With our eyes on God and His love in our hearts, we can engage in building each other up and furthering God's Kingdom!

Focus on God and build each other up in His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love hat You give to me. Help me to share this love in order to build up others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Hear and Hold On!

3/20/2018

"My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart." -Proverbs 4:20-21 (NIV)

Sometimes we listen, but don't always hear. I was reminded about this during a conversation today with some friends. One friend was discussing directions from a doctor and the number of times the doctor repeated the directions and asked for questions. As we move through life, there are times we need to slow down, stop, and truly listen to hear!

God is always speaking to us, but we don't always hear Him. In the hustle and bustle of our routines and daily lives, we may become distracted. When we feel that we can't hear God, we don't need to wait on God to get our attention. We need to stop, listen, and truly pay attention to God. Once we hear God, we need to hold onto His directions, being sure we understand them and keep them in our hearts. We also need to act on our directions so others can see how God fills our hearts!

Stop. Hear God, hold onto His directions in your heart, and follow them!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being active in my life and for giving me direction. Please help me to always pay attention and to act on Your guidance. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Calling and Helping!

3/19/2018

"The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it." -I Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)

I recently attended a meeting about becoming a "teacher leader." A group of teachers shared how they had prior experience of supervisors asking for input, but not listening or offering support to reach goals. The expressed that it is important to have supervisors that are willing to not only ask for teacher input, but to accept and act on their ideas.

God has different plans for each of us. As we follow Him, we can hear His call. When we hear His call, we don't have to worry about God listening to us or being supported to reaching the goals. God is always listening to us and He is prepared to help us accomplish the goals He is calling us to reach. We can hear God's calling and then trust that He will help us do it!

Listen to God's call and allow Him to see you through to the end!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for calling me and supporting me. Help me to reach the goals You have set for me as I work for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Not Defeated!

3/18/2018

"When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place." -Psalm 118:5 (NIV)

There is a quote that says, "Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional." No matter which paths we take in life, there will be challenges. When we see challenges or feel hard-pressed, we can choose to be defeated or we can turn to God!

God is our guide and protector in life. When we feel that life is closing in on us, we can call on God. We can choose to follow Him instead of being defeated. We need to trust Him and allow Him to lead us to a "spacious place." As we follow Him, He will lead us to where we need to be to learn, grow, and work for Him. Instead of feeling defeated, we can call on God and follow Him!

Do not be defeated by the pressures of life, instead call on and follow God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being willing to lead me away from the pressures of life to spaciousness and hope in You. Help me to always trust in Your plan for my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Under Pressure!

3/17/2018

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." -James 1:12 (NIV)

We probably all have times in our lives when we feel like we are under pressure. There are times when there are deadlines that need to be met or when we feel challenged by the tasks ahead of us. There are also times when we feel pressure to stand up for our beliefs or the pressure of "trials" because we stand up for our beliefs!

When we commit to following God, we can be sure that God will be with us. However, we will face trials and times when we may feel under pressure. Even during these times, God is with us. He is encouraging us to stand up for Him and for our belief in all that He has taught us. We will be tested, but we are also called by God to stand in His power and love. With God, we can persevere and stand tall, no matter what pressures we may face!

Stand tall under pressure by relying on God and allowing Him to help you persevere!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for standing with me and supporting me. Help me to always rely on You and to trust in Your power and grace, even under pressure. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Honey

3/16/2018

"Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." -Proverbs 24:14 (NIV)

The process of making honey is an amazing one. A hive of bees must visit 2 million flowers to make one pound of honey. The bees gather nectar to bring back to the hive to be "processed" by other bees. The end result is the sweet honey that we may enjoy as a treat and that sustains the bees throughout the winter months.

Wisdom in our lives is compared to honey in Proverbs. The process of receiving wisdom from God is miraculous. Wisdom does not come without the experiences of life provided through the power of God. When we find wisdom, we can have hope. We have wisdom from God to sustain us through the times when our resources may seem limited, when the situations around us may seem bleak. The wisdom that God provides can keep us alive, whether physically or spiritually, and we can be reassured that His provision will last for eternity!

Accept God's wisdom as the honey that will sustain you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing for me. Help me to accept Your gifts and to have hope in an eternal future with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Meet the Day!

3/15/2018

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

Each morning that we open our eyes, we have a blank canvas in front of us. There are things we may have to deal with, but we have a fresh start, the ability to make choices that determine our direction. We can try to find our way by ourselves or we can choose to call on God and wait for Him!

When we talk to God each morning, we can give Him our worries. We can share our hopes, dreams, and goals. After we talk to God, we then need to listen for His reply. We need to allow God to work in His time, we need to be patient and wait for Him in our lives. When we call on God and then wait for and listen to Him, we can meet the day and be prepared for whatever we face in our lives!

Meet each day by talking to God, listening to Him, and following His lead!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being with me and being ready to listen. Help me to wait for Your timing and to follow Your lead in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

The Right Words

3/14/2018

"A person finds joy in giving an apt reply--and how good is a timely word!" -Proverbs 15:23 (NIV)

Standing in front of a classroom of kids, you never know what questions you may be asked. Students in the classroom, and people around us in general, may be dealing with more than just questions. The people we meet on our journey may be dealing with many issues of which we are not aware. As we prepare to answer a question or respond, we need to speak the right words at the right time!

When we need to speak at words that are meaningful and timely. The words need to be rooted in both God's wisdom and love. To be sure that we are speaking the right words, we need to know God. Through building a relationship with God, we can know His Truth and we can experience His love. Asking God to guide our words and actions, we can be sure that we have the right words at the right time!

Call on God and allow Him to give you the right words at the right time!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the wisdom, truth, and love that You provide. Help me to have the right words and the right timing in my responses to others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Like Minded in Christ!

3/13/2018

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had." -Romans 15:5 (NIV)

As humans, we have many different thoughts and opinions. Sometimes these differences are beneficial in helping us see diverse points of view and different solutions to problems. However, there are times when different opinions can be a stumbling block, even keeping us from talking and working together. We need to find ways to work together, especially for God!

When we are working for God, we need to be like-minded. We need to be centered on God and His will, asking God to give us a mindset like Jesus Christ. When our lives are focused on Him, we can act in God's love and show love for each other. We can be united in the purpose of seeking God and building His Kingdom. We may not always agree, but we can still support each other, encourage each other, and have the endurance that we need to find solutions to the challenges and difficulties that we face in life. Together, we can follow God to build His Kingdom!

Ask God to help you be like-minded in pursuit of His will!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for other believers that You have placed in my life. Help me to continue to seek Your will and be like-minded with others working for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Wake Up!

3/12/2018

"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober." -I Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV)

Changing the time to Daylight Saving Time can affect a person's sleep schedule. The "extra" hour of daylight in the evening can be nice, but it may take a day or two to adjust to "springing ahead." Even though we may feel sleepy, we can't just roll over and As we feel sleepy, we may need to remind ourselves to "Wake up!"

We also need to "wake up" in our spiritual lives. We can't allow ourselves to drift off to sleep or be lulled to sleep by the world around us. Instead, we need to be awake and vigilant. After hearing God, we need to be prepared to respond to His calling and take action. We can't press the snooze when God calls, we need to wake up and take action in the world around us!

Listen for God's call, wake up, and be ready for action!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for calling me and waking me up. Help me to be prepared to take action. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

One Debt...

3/11/2018

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." -Romans 13:8 (NIV)

There are many advisers or companies that offer services to help get us out of debt. Paying off a debt can be a freeing experience. When we are debt-free, we don't have as much that can cause worry. While not having debt can make us feel more stable, we need to remember that there is one debt that should always be with us.

God is love and He calls us to love one another. We should be committed to both accepting and sharing God's love. This is a debt that we will always have in our lives. We will always be indebted to God for His eternal love and we will always have the debt to love each other. The good news is that the debt of love is not one that will shackle or weigh us down. Instead, love can lift us up and bring us closer to God!

When thinking about being debt free, remember to always carry one debt: the debt of loving one another!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and for allowing me to receive Your gifts. Help me to share Your love with others, always and forever. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Guide Me, Teach Me, Give Me Hope!

3/10/2018

"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." -Psalm 25:5 (NIV)

As a teacher, I believe that education is important. Education doesn't always mean learning in a classroom. Regardless, a good education can provide opportunities in life. As we learn through academics and experience, we also need to take care of our souls through spiritual learning and growth.

There are different ways we can learn and grow in our faith. God provides us with His Word, which we can read and study on our own or with others. We can learn from the pastors and church leaders that God appoints. God may also directly teach us through prayer, speaking to us, and the experiences He provides. We need to be prepared to listen to and learn from God. When we are prepared to listen, God can guide us, teach us, and give us hope!

Call on God and allow Him to guide you, teach you, and give you hope!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your willingness to guide me, teach me, and give me hope. Help me to always call on You for Truth and direction in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

No Ifs...You Can!

3/9/2018

"'If you can?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who believes.'" -Mark 9:23 (NIV)

When teaching, it is easy to recognize the potential of my students. Yet it is sometimes a challenge to get students to believe in their own abilities and potential. There may be times when we also feel like we can't accomplish things or overcome obstacles, but, when God is our source of strength, we should believe that things are possible!

As we follow God, we can seek His will and build our relationship with Him. Knowing God allows us to see and feel His presence in our lives. We can then have faith that He will guide us, turning "we can't" to "we can!" When we align our lives with God, we don't have to worry about our abilities, we can rely on God for strength and wisdom. We can believe and change our way of thinking from "if" to "yes!"

Follow God and change your thinking from "if I can" to "yes I can!"

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the power and wisdom that You provide in my life. Help me to always believe and to overcome challenges for Your glory. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Walking Away from Sin!

3/8/2018

"Direct my footsteps according to Your word; let no sin rule over me." -Psalm 119:133 (NIV)

I recently began watching a documentary about a group of people that set out on a 600 mile journey to the burial site of the apostle James. Their group was made up of people with different personalities so they could help each other as they traveled, talked, overcame obstacles, and grew closer to God. During the journey, they learned about themselves, grew in their faith, and learned more about living in the world.

We are all "walking" on a journey through our earthly lives and we know that we live in a world filled with sin. Having the right people around us is important, but we also must remember that God is there for us. Sometimes on our journey we can easily distinguish right from wrong, but there are times when our choices are less clear. In order to be prepared for all the situations of the world, we need to know God's will and His Word. We need to call on God for guidance and direction. We also need to be prepared to listen to Him and to walk away from sin!

Call on God for wisdom and guidance, then follow Him and walk away from sin!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Word and the guidance you provide in my life. Help me to always follow You and to walk away from sin in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

A Reminder...about Tomorrow!

3/7/2018

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

As my area prepared for an impending snowstorm, my daughter began wondering if there would be school the next day. While she was wondering, a phone call came from the superintendent reassuring everyone that she was watching the weather forecasts, but would not make a decision until the next morning. Like my daughter, many of us plan and worry about "tomorrow" and other things that we cannot control, but God reminds us to focus on today!

We cannot control what tomorrow will bring. We can worry about it and we can try to have plans for it, but we cannot guarantee what is to come. Only God can control the outcomes and what will happen. Instead of worry, we can rest assured in God's plan for tomorrow. We can seek Him today and enjoy the blessings that He provides. As long as we keep our hearts and minds focused on Him, we don't have to worry about tomorrow. He will let us know what to do about tomorrow when tomorrow comes!

Don't worry about tomorrow, just focus on God and enjoy the blessings He has provided today!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings that You provide in my life. Help me to not worry, but to seek You each day. Through Jesus I pray, amen.