Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Seek Him!

5/31/2018

"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)

In a recent discussion about education, I was engaged in talking with someone about the value of experience. We talked about the value of learners making observations and then developing questions about what they need to know. Instead of making students sit and listen to all the knowledge that we have, we allow students to observe and experience, so they begin to understand what they need to know. God allows us to do the same!

We can make our own choices, but He is there when we choose to seek Him! He does not force us to sit and listen to all His great knowledge. He doesn't hold His great power over us, forcing us to behave in certain ways. Instead, God allows our experiences to shape us. He waits for us to seek and call on Him so our experiences can become a meaningful part of His plan for our lives. As we seek Him, we can learn and become engaged in learning and knowing more!

Take your experiences to God as you seek Him and His will with all of your heart and soul!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for creating me as a unique individual. Help me to always seek You and Your will in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Give, Then Returned!

5/30/2018

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." -Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

Most of us have hear the "Golden Rule" at some point in our lives. We may have even heard it so often that we take it for granted...or even ignore it! Regardless, this rule can serve as good advice, no matter our age. We can be reminded that what we give is what will often be what is returned to us!

Jesus reminds us that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated. Even if we are treated differently than we would like, we need to be prepared to respond differently. To prepare ourselves, we need to know God. We need to know His love, His comfort, His compassion, and His respect. Once we know God, we can know how we would like to be treated and we can ask God to help us treat others in the same way!

Allow God to help you give to others what you expect to have returned to you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me Your love, compassion, and respect. Help me to show others the same. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Time to Change!

5/29/2018

"I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’" -Acts 22:7 (NIV)

On a recent drive, I made a wrong turn. The GPS usually has a way of rerouting the trip, but every once in a while will call for a U-turn. In our lives, we may think we are doing the right thing only to find out we have been traveling down the wrong path. Although it may be difficult, we can make U-turns!

The Bible tells us about how Saul made one of the biggest U-turns. He went from Saul to Paul and from persecuting Christians to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. When we hear God's call and realize we are moving in the wrong direction, we should respond to God's call, even if it means making a U-turn. When we turn around, we can trust that God will not only guide us, but also bless our efforts for His Kingdom. When we know that it is time to change, we can follow God's call!

When God calls you to change, trust Him and make the U-turn!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for calling me and directing me when I am headed in the wrong direction. Help me to always hear Your call and to follow Your plan. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Comfort

5/28/2018

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." -Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

Today, Memorial Day, is a day when we pause to remember all the service men and women that lost their lives defending our country and our freedom. When we think of them, we recognize the tough roads they traveled and the difficult decisions they needed to make. We can pray that throughout their service, they had the comfort of God.

No matter how dark the world around us may seem, God can provide comfort. We may find comfort in little things, such as a game or a letter from a loved one. We can also find comfort in knowing that God has a plan for each of us and, if we accept the forgiveness offered through His Son, we can be comforted in knowing that we can be with God for all of eternity!

Be thankful for those that protect you and be comforted by God's eternal plan!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of those that have served to protect my freedom. Help all of us to be comforted in Your eternal plan for our lives. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Bridges Not Walls!

5/27/2018

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." -I Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

There are many times that society seems to push us toward being competitive. There are rewards for being "right" or for getting our own ways. These actions can lead us to being divided and separating ourselves. There is a different way, though. As Isaac Newton once said, "We build too many walls and not enough bridges."

Instead of building walls to protect ourselves or to prove our own "greatness," we need to look for ways to come together. When we turn to God, we can find a unifying force. We can encourage each other to seek Him, to follow His ways, and to build each other up. We can take the love that He has shown us and share it as we build bridges that connect us instead of walls that divide us!

Turn to God and allow His love to help you build bridges instead of walls!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love that You share and its ability to build bridges. Help me to use Your love to connect with others and to connect them with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Bad News, Good News!

5/26/2018

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" -Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

Sometimes we are asked, "What would you like first - the good news or the bad news?" While we may not want to hear bad news, we sometimes have to hear the bad news. However, what we do with the news can make a difference. As Bill Gates says, "Convert bad news to good news."

We can take the bad news that we hear and we can call on God to guide us. As we listen to and follow God, we can spread the Good News. We can be the ones that proclaim peace and bring good tidings. We can let others know of the salvation available through Jesus Christ and its life changing effects. The Good News of our salvation and the glory of God can help us overcome bad news by converting it into good news!

Turn to God and allow Him to turn bad news into good news!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son to turn the bad news of my sin into Good News. Help me to always remember to turn to You for help overcoming bad news. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Pick Up the Call!

5/25/2018

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." -Jeremiah 23:12 (NIV)

There are times when the phone rings and we cannot answer. Sometimes we may choose not to answer because we don't know the number. Either way, there are times when we can't answer the call, but with God, we don't have to worry about not having someone to pick up the call an listen!

We often need to call on God through prayer. God knows who is calling, but the good news is that He will always answer. Wherever we are and whenever we call, He is never too busy to listen and He never chooses to "not answer" the call. As we pray to God, He listens and responds. While we may not always get the answer we want, He will always give us the answer that is best for each of us!

Call on God and He will answer you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being willing to listen to me. Help me to also listen to You and to better understand Your answers. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Goals

5/24/2018

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

As the end of the school year nears, my students were reflecting on goals that they had set for themselves at the beginning of the year. As they considered what they accomplished in their first year of high school, they were proud of some accomplishments and wished other things had gone differently. As we consider goals and how to reach them, we need to work toward success and learn from our failures!

We are not perfect and the goals we set may not always be realized. However, we have a better chance of reaching our goals if we stay focused on God's plans for our lives. While we may have many goals, we need to keep the goal of eternal life through faith in and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. When we put our faith and trust in God and then listen to and follow His plan, we have the help we need to reach our goals!

Listen to God, have faith in Jesus Christ, and allow Him to help you meet your goals!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for having a plan for my life. Help me to align my goals with Your goals and give me the guidance I need to meet them. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Take a Look Around!

5/23/2018

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." -Romans 1:20 (NIV)

There are many times in our lives when we need to find answers. When thinking about looking for answers, I came across the anonymous quote, "Don't let the answers you want to hear get in the way of the answers you need to hear." Whenever we begin to get discouraged, we need to take a look around to see and hear the answers that we need!

Sometimes we are searching for answers that we can't seem to find. When we don't find answers, we can become discouraged. It is at these moments that the devil me seek to sow the seeds of doubt about our beliefs. During these moments, we shouldn't lose heart, but we should take a look around. When we look at creation, we can see the power the God, the Creator. We can see His power and then we can remember that He cares for each and everyone of us. Our days may not always be easy, but God is present and when we call on Him, we can trust in His wisdom and power!

Take a look around to see the power and majesty of God the Creator!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing a safe haven and showing Your power. Help me to see all that You have to show me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Good and Have Fun!

5/22/2018

"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!" -Romans 6:15 (NIV)

Each morning before she goes to school, I tell my daughter that I love her and I remind her to, "Be a good listener and have fun!" While listening and having fun may seem contradictory to some people, we can have fun while listening to God. However, we cannot continue to live in ways that we know are sinful!

God provides us with forgiveness and redemption and while there isn't anything for which He cannot forgive, once we know Him, we should not continue to do things that we know are wrong. Once we know God and accept His forgiveness, we should live for Him and try to do what is right and just. As we live for God, we will experience the joy and blessings that come from knowing Him. We can be good listeners to God's will and have fun as we celebrate His love now and for eternity!

Be a good listener, trying your best to follow God, and have fun in the joy of His blessings!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and forgiveness. Help me to follow Your will and grow in my faith each day. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Truth!

5/21/2018

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -John 8:32 (ESV)

Knowing the truth is helpful. Whenever we are faced with decisions, we can make better choices when we know the truth. After we know the truth, we need to be prepared to accept and act on it. We must be willing to look for and tell the truth!

When we need truth in our lives, we need to be careful to not be distracted by the many voices of the world. To know the truth, we need to go to the source of truth. We need to turn to God! When we know and trust in God, we can be strengthened by His truth and we can share it with others, whether by telling it or showing it through our actions toward others!

Know the truth by knowing God, then spread it!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the truth that You have shown me. Help me to always turn to You to know what is true and then help me to spread Your truth. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Stay Connected!

5/20/2018

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5 (NIV)

While social media has many drawbacks, one positive aspect is the ability to stay connected with friends and family, even when separated by hundreds or thousands of miles. We are able to share our thoughts, pictures, and video from the present and the past. Being connected with friends and family can help us celebrate our highs and persevere through our lows, but there is an even more important connection!

Jesus reminds us of a greater connection than any we could make on social media. We need to be connected to Him through faith and through God's grace and mercy. When we, the branches, are connected to Jesus Christ, the vine, we can bear fruit. As long as we are connected to God through Jesus Christ, we can have forgiveness and redemption. We can experience His blessings and we can be reassured that He will comfort and guide us through the challenges we face. Throughout our earthly journey, we just need to be sure we stay connected to the Vine!

Stay connected with God through Jesus Christ and be reassured by His blessings and guidance!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me Your Son to help connect me to You. Help me to stay connected to Jesus Christ so I can bear fruit for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

See the Light, Be the Light!

5/19/2018

"No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light." -Luke 8:16 (NIV)

One day this past week storms passed through the area. Storms were severe and the clouds were so dark that the afternoon seemed like evening. The light of the sun was blocked and an eerie darkness covered everything. The light was hidden, but fortunately only for a short time.

God is calling each of us. When we hear God's call and turn to Him, we can see the light that He provides. He can guide us through the darkest times of our lives as long as we keep our eyes on Him. After we learn to follow His light, we can then be a light for others. We shouldn't hide the light that He has shown us, we should be the light for others!

Follow God's light and be a light so others can see Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me Your light. Help me to be a light for others so they can find their way to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Share!

5/18/2018

"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" -I John 3:17 (NIV)

From a young age, most of us are taught to share. Whether toys or a snack, we are encouraged to give others a chance to play or a bite to eat. While we learn this lesson when we are young, we often forget the message as we get older. Every once in a while, we may need to remind ourselves to show love by sharing!

When we see someone in need, we need to help! God gives us resources to help. Sometimes, we have material goods that we could give to someone in need. However, even if we don't have material resources, we may have time and talents that could help others. No matter how old we may be, we can remember the lessons we learned from childhood and we can share and encourage others to share. Sharing is an act of love - our love and the love of God!

Share the blessings that God has given you and in the process share His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of Your blessings in my life, including Your love. Help me to share blessings and love with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

River of Justice

5/17/2018

"But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" -Amos 5:24 (NIV)

I believe that most people want justice, but sometimes we think of justice as making things equal for everyone or finding the neutral or middle ground. Theodore Roosevelt defined justice differently when he said, "Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong." To have justice, we must be willing to stand up for what is right!

Finding what is right can be challenging. Sometimes there are obstacles that try to keep the truth hidden. However, to allow the river of justice to flow, we need to stand on what is right. God can show us what is right, then we He can prepare us for the river of justice. With His support, we can help open the gates that will allow the righteousness and justice to flow over us and throughout the world!

Be a person that helps open the flow of the river of justice!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a source of what is right and true. Help me to open the flow of justice in the world around me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Take (the Right) Advice

5/16/2018

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

At my daughter's school they have a theme that "together we are better." In order to be at our best, to be wise, to know and be able to do more, we need to be able to take the advice of others. However, we also need to remember that not all advice is equal. As novelist Sherwood Anderson said, "Above all avoid taking the advice of men who have no brains and do not know what they are talking about."

We can become wiser and we can do more when we work together as the body of Christ. This requires us to be able to take advice. We cannot get stuck on our foolish pride. Yet, we must also be sure that we are taking the right advice. To know if we are listening to the right voices, we should turn to God. When we call on Him and ask for His guidance, we can allow Him to show us which advice is sound and aligned with His will. As we take advice and grow in our wisdom, we can be sure to listen to God for guidance and for advice from those that know what they are talking about!

Take advice, but be sure that you are relying on God for good advice!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for those that You have placed in my life to give advice and help me grow. Help me to rely on You for distinguishing the good and reliable advice. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Be Blessed!

5/15/2018

"Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." -Psalm 32:1 (NIV)

I recently saw a quote from Willie Nelson that said, "When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." We have many blessings in our lives, but sometimes we don't take the time to notice them. If we take time, we can begin to see our blessings, beginning with the forgiveness from God!

When our sins are erased, we are blessed. God provides us with the opportunity to have our sins forgiven. Through accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed. We have a new life where our sins have been removed. When we begin to look around and count our blessings, we can begin with God's love, grace, mercy, and the forgiveness that He gives!

We are blessed by being forgiven through God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the forgiveness that You have given through Your Son. Help me to always recognize the blessings in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

True Words

5/14/2018

"All Your words are true; all Your righteous laws are eternal." -Psalm 119:160 (NIV)

On the drive home today, a local radio host was talking about politicians. He was discussing the difference between politicians saying what would get them elected versus what they would actually do or need to do to address the needs of people living in the state. The challenge, he suggested, is distinguishing between words spoken just to get elected and words that truly revealed intentions after getting elected.

We face challenges of discerning the truth in what people say, not just in politicians. When we stop to question, we know that we have a guide on which we can rely. God's words are always true. We do not have to doubt or "fact check" what He tells us. He is the Creator and the source of Truth. We can trust in Him and in His laws to guide us. Furthermore, we can trust that what He says will remain true forever. He is the Almighty and is not saying things to get us to believe in Him. He is constant and unchanging, true and eternal, loving and compassionate. We can accept His true words without a doubt!

When looking for truth, turn to God and listen to His words!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being true and constant. Help me to build my life on Your eternal source of truth and power. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Safety Net

5/13/2018

"The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." -Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)

I recently saw a sign that said, "Safety doesn't happen by accident." This sign reminded me of a friend that I volunteer with at the local nature center. He is often reminding us of the need to plan for safety, including many different possibilities beyond our common expectations.

Our lives are filled with circumstances and situations for which we may not have planned. Even though we cannot foresee what is coming in our lives, we do have a safety net. Whether we are planning for or reacting to a situation, we need to remember that we can find safety in God. It is through Him that we are redeemed and it is in Him that we can find safety!

When planning for or reacting to circumstances in life, remember that you always have the safety net of God!

Prayers:
Dear God-
Thank You for protecting me and showing me to safety. Help me to always rely on You for safety. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Following Instructions

5/12/2018

"I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths." -Proverbs 4:11 (NIV)

As a teacher, I try to give clear directions for my students. Most students will follow directions, or at least try their best to follow them. However, there are usually some that will ignore the directions. Not following the directions can make the assignments harder than they need to be and can lead away from the desired learning. There are times in our lives when we ignore the directions, too, but we should always try to listen!

God is instructing us in His Truth, wisdom, and love. He has given us the directions to follow to receive redemption. When we choose to listen to God's direction, we can follow His straight path to righteousness. The directions to follow may not always be easy, but we will benefit if we follow them and learn the lessons that God has prepared. We will reach the end result of eternity with Him!

Follow the instructions that God has prepared for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing direction or instruction in my life. Help me to hear and follow the lessons that You have prepared. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Helping Out!

5/11/2018

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

We can look around us and see many problems or issues. When we look, we see many different responses. If we look close enough, we can see people helping in many ways. As Mr. Rogers said, his mother would tell him to, "Look for the helpers."

As issues come up in our lives, we need to do more than just look for the helpers. We also need to learn from the helpers and rely on God to help us become helpers ourselves. When we see others hurting or struggling, we can follow the examples that God provides in order to know when and how to help!

Call on God and ask Him to show you how to help out!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being ready to help me. Please show me and guide me in ways to help others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Thirsty!

5/10/2018

"I spread out my hands to You; I thirst for You like a parched land." -Psalm 143:6 (NIV)

As the days get warmer, it is nice to spend more time outside. As we work around the house during spring or summer, the hot weather can lead to us being thirsty and needing more to drink. Some drinks are better than others at quenching our thirst. It is up to us to choose wisely!

We need to also quench the thirst of our souls. The only way to satisfy this longing in our soul is by calling on God and allowing Him to satisfy our thirst. We can spread out our hands, call on God, and prepare for His presence and blessings in our lives. We can

Call on God, spread out your hands, and allow Him to fill your soul!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings You provide. Please continue to fill my soul. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Strong and Mighty!

5/9/2018

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." -Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

I recently learned about research on a person's mood and the types of activities that may be best suited to particular needs. One example was that when we feel like we have less energy and are "unpleasant," we tend to be more critical. During these times, if we stop and look around, we may be more focused on issues or problems that we see. Even when we are critical, we cannot forget to consider how we can make a difference!

When we look around and see issues that need to be addressed, we often recognize that we cannot come to a solution completely on our own. Even if we feel alone as we look at the problems around us, we need to turn to God. We are reminded to be strong in Him and to be in His power. We can be strong and mighty when we turn to God and allow Him to support us. With God's strength and power, we can make small differences that He will multiply!

Be strong and mighty in God and allow Him to guide and multiply your work!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength and power that You give me. Help me to act in Your strength and power accordingly so my efforts can be multiplied for Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Get Wise!

5/8/2018

"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them." -Proverbs 4:5 (NIV)

A colleague and I were recently working on developing curriculum for our classes. It is a task that involves considering all that students are to learn and the processes needed to provide opportunities to learn in meaningful and memorable ways. No matter how young or old we are, we are still God's students and we should pay attention to all of the ways He teaches us!

God's wisdom exceeds anything we could imagine or comprehend. God wants to share wisdom with us and He does so in many different ways. We can learn from God through reading His Word, which is filled with examples of people that have lived their lives for Him and parables to help us understand. We can listen to God as He speaks to us and we can talk to Him through prayer. We can also learn from other believers and leaders that God places in our lives. We can get wisdom and understanding as long as we engage with the lessons that God is ready, willing, and able to teach us!

Get wise by following God and learning from Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a patient and wise Teacher. Help me to hear and learn the lessons that You have prepared for me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Time, Power, Redemption

5/7/2018

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." -Romans 5:6 (NIV)

There are times when we make mistakes. Sometimes we make what we may consider "stupid" mistakes. At other times we may not realize what we are doing wrong until we later learn more. When we consider mistakes, they are often marked by "bad timing" and may make us feel powerless. Even when we feel the lowest, we still have hope!

God's timing is always perfect. He knows that we are imperfect. God also knows that we are powerless to overcome our imperfection on our own. It is only through God that we can become greater than ourselves. Because of this, God sent His Son to redeem us - even when we didn't deserve it! God's perfect timing, His willingness to help us when we are "powerless" and "ungodly" allow us to overcome our mistakes and sinful nature through His grace and mercy!

Even if you feel powerless, trust in God's timing and accept His gift of redemption through Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for saving me through Your grace and mercy. Help me to continue to trust in Your power. Through Jesus I pray, amen.