Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Not to Us!

6/30/2017

"Not to us, Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." -Psalm 115:1 (NIV)

We probably all know someone that looks for the glory. Whenever they do something nice or charitable, the are sure to talk about it so that others will know. While we may enjoy recognition for hard work, our main goal should be bringing glory to God, not to ourselves!

Whenever we are working, being charitable, or engaging with others in our daily routine, we should not be concerned with our own glory. Our actions should be serving God and the glory should be His! He has blessed us and given us different resources and abilities. Through God's blessings, we can serve and bring glory to Him, not to us!

Serve God and bring Him the glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your blessings in my life. Help me to serve You and to bring glory to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Nothing Too Hard!

6/29/2017

"Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You." -Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)

There are some tasks that are large and overwhelming. These tasks may seem so large that we avoid them for as long as possible. Even though we encounter things that seem too large to handle, we worship a God that can accomplish anything!

Our God is the Creator of heaven and earth. He has always and will always exist. Through His commands the creation occurred. He also had a plan for the sin that entered the world. He sent His Son as a sacrifice so that we can be forgiven. From the beginning to the end, God is present and all-powerful. Through everything we face, large or small, we can call on and trust in God. For Him, nothing is too hard!

In all you face, turn to God because nothing is too hard for Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving and caring for me. Help me to always turn to You and to remember that, with You, nothing is too hard. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

No Matter the Age!

6/28/2017

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." -I Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

We often think that wisdom and experience comes with age and while that may be true, we can't disregard the ideas of younger people. As society has become more connected, the actions of the younger generation may sometimes seem pointless. However, surveys and research have shown that in choosing jobs, communities, and even churches, our current generation of young people are looking for ways to make a difference!

Whenever we see younger people, we need to be careful and not just dismiss their thoughts and ideas. Even the youngest among us can set an example of belief, faith, commitment, and love. Jesus used the children in the crowd to teach about faith and in I Timothy Paul encourages young people to be examples. As we look for ways to navigate sharing God's Word, promises, and vision for the world, we may want to look to the younger generation for examples and insight on how to reach out, maybe even going beyond our own comfort zones, to tell the Good News to others of all ages!

No matter the age of someone, God can use them as an example!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all the people and events that have influenced my life and allowed me to become who I am. Help me to look to others of all ages for examples and inspiration to continue growing in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Believe!

6/27/2017

"Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.'" -John 6:29 (NIV)

Whether we think about it or not, there are many things that we believe in. We believe and trust in the cycles of nature we witness throughout the day or the year. We believe in society and its laws and government. We believe in the value of diamonds, gold, and money. Our society and way of life depend on belief and trust, but we need to believe in more than what humans have created on earth!

God's work is evident in our lives and throughout the world. While we may not always be able to physically touch the work of God, we still have reason to believe. God sent His Son. It is through Jesus Christ, God's Son, that we can be redeemed. When we think about the natural and man-made laws that govern our lives, we need to remember that it is through our belief in Jesus that our world is truly changed for the better. Our lives, now and for eternity, depend on the presence of and our belief in our Savior!

Believe and accept the work of God revealed through His Son, your Savior!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus and for saving me. Help me to live life through belief and trust in You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

What Would You Give?

6/26/2017

"What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" -Matthew 16:26 (NIV)

Sometimes we can think of life as a series of events that require give and take. We can swap and barter to get the things we need or want. We give of our time and resources with the hope that we will receive the things we want or need. When our life depends on things, we may be willing to give our whole world!

When we consider our souls and our eternal future, what would we be willing to pay or exchange for eternal glory? We don't have to give the whole world in order to save our souls and we don't have to give our souls to gain things in this world. We just have to follow the plan that God has provided. God will save our souls and He will bless us as long as we turn to Him, accept salvation through the sacrifice of His Son, and follow His plan for our lives. As followers of God, we can work to serve Him and accept the gifts that He has already given us!

You don't have to give the world for your soul, just accept the gifts God offers!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son and salvation that is offered through Him. Please bless me and the work that I do as I strive to follow Your will. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Changing and Unchanging

6/25/2017

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." -Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

I enjoy living in an area that has changing seasons. As the summer sun shines and we enjoy the warmth, we know that the coolness of fall and cold wintry days will soon be on their way. We may welcome the change of seasons and the fun activities associated with each one, but there are other times when change isn't something we to which we look forward.

When we consider the journeys of our lives and our relationship with God, we don't want a God that is changing like the seasons. We need a God that is true yesterday, today, and forever. Our God is this true and unchanging God! He understands that we will make mistakes and need to change, but God is perfect and does not need to change! We can be comforted and reassured that God will not change. The promises He has made and the salvation He has offered us will always be true!

The seasons may change, but God is faithful and unchanging!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a constant in a changing world. Help me to be assured in Your constant presence. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Echoing Words

6/24/2017

"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." -Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)

Mother Teresa said that, "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." We may have experienced the uplifting feeling of kind words when we were facing challenges or dealing with a bad day. Sometimes kind words can be remembered for years after they were spoken. Knowing that kind words can have a positive impact, we should try to be gracious and kind with our words.

God is full of love and kindness. When we are choosing our words, we should reflect on God's love, compassion, and grace. His influence in our lives should be evident in the words we use. Through our kind words that come from God's love, we can create the "echoes" that Mother Teresa described. Those echoes can go beyond any of us or any single situation and have lasting effects for the glory of God and His Kingdom!

Choose gracious words from God's love that will echo and have a lasting, positive impact!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and grace. Help me to choose words that come from Your love and can echo and spread Your glory and grace. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

No Lies, Just Love!

6/23/2017

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

I was recently part of a conversation where one person described themselves as "straightforward" and "what you see is what you get!" These are qualities that make people real and likable, they can also be qualities that are used as excuses for being ignorant and rude. When we think about being straightforward, real, and upfront, we cannot allow these qualities to diminish the need for love!

Sometimes God has messages for our lives that we do not want to hear. He may be pushing us in directions that require us to be uncomfortable and trusting in Him. While God us straightforward and unchanging, we also know that everything He does in our lives is rooted in His love for us. His love will never fail us, so even when we are a little uncomfortable in the path He has placed before us, we know that He is challenging us so we can grow and become greater in His Kingdom. As we approach others, we, too, may be straightforward, real, and upfront, but we need to also exhibit love that encourages. We shouldn't need to use being straightforward or truthful as an excuse for rudeness because our words and actions should show God's love!

Be straightforward and truthful in ways that show God's love, support, and encouragement!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your support in all parts of my life. Help me to always be truthful in ways that show Your love, support, and encouragement. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Take Care!

6/22/2017

"The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." -Psalm 24:1 (NIV)

I enjoy teaching and learning about the environment and spend time with my family volunteering at the local nature center. As I studied environmental education in college, I was often confused by attitudes that de-valued the environment. We are all part of the environment, the world that God created, and should take care of the environment and everyone that lives in God's world!

God has entrusted us to be caretakers of His creation, which includes the environment that surrounds us and the people that live throughout the world. We can begin taking care of the world and everything and everyone in it by showing God's love and compassion. We cannot save or protect the entire world on our own, but we can engage with others in ways that make an impact in the area we live. We can prayerfully follow God and allow Him to spread the influence of our actions and His love. We can show respect to each other and to the world in which we live and through those actions take care of God's creation!

Take care of God's world and everything and everyone in it by showing His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love that You have shown me. Help me to take care of Your creation and everyone in it by respectfully showing Your love and compassion in all I do. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Give Back to Measure Success!

6/21/2017

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." -Luke 6:38 (NIV)

I recently attended a high school graduation. Listening to student speeches, you could hear themes of hope and uncertainty, but attention was also given to community and being part of a community. While each speaker talked about success, one reminded the class that success is not just measured in how much money one makes, but in how they give back to the larger community.

As followers of God, we are also called to give back to the community. We are each blessed, but we are not to keep these blessing all to ourselves. We are blessed in different ways, with different talents and gifts that we can share. Through these blessings, we can help others and show what it means to be part of God's community - God's family! There are many ways that we can measure success, but no matter how we measure it, a focus should be on following God and giving to others in His name!

To measure success, give to others so they can see God's blessings!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the blessings in my life. Help me to give back to the community so Your love and glory can be seen and experienced by others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Riches Under Grace!

6/20/2017

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

I recently read a quote by Josephine Tey that says, "Riches don't consist in having things, but in not having to do something you don't want to do." We know that there are times when we have to do certain things that we may not want to do. Being able to get out of doing something we don't want to do may feel like riches!

In our journey through life, there are bound to be things we want to do and don't want to do, but there is Good News! We no longer need to be bound by sin and its consequences. God provides us a way to riches because we do not need to suffer the wrath of sin. We can be redeemed through His Son! When we are forgiven, we are given riches through God's grace and mercy. We can rejoice in our freedom in God!

God has given you riches under His grace. Rejoice!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for Your grace that covers my sin. Help me to live a life that is free in You and through You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Show Love!

6/19/2017

"Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." -John 13:20 (NIV)

We are sure to meet many people in our lives. Part of the joy in our journey on earth is the time we spend interacting and getting to know others, but sometimes we can be challenged by the attitudes and behaviors of others. No matter how we may feel, we are called to show God's love!

God shows us His love. God sent His Son to save us, even when we were still sinners. He didn't wait for us to fix ourselves before He showed us His love, He has always loved us! As we many people on our journey through life, we need to be prepared to respond with God's love. Just as He has loved us, we should show His love to others. People may challenge us, annoy us, or bring us happiness and joy, but, through it all, we should always rely on and show His love!

Show acceptance by showing God's love to everyone!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your everlasting love. Help me to be filled with and to share Your love. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Keep it Up!

6/18/2017

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." -Romans 12:11 (NIV)

Some days are lazy days when we wake up and do not feel motivated to do more than we have to. These days may depend on the weather, our attitude, or our overall feeling. While it may be OK to have a lazy day now and then, we usually have things that need to get done at some point or we have to get up and get going to because of work or chores that await us. Sometimes, as we get moving, we get motivated!

We are called to serve God. God understands our physical bodies and limitations, but we shouldn't allow our spirits to get down. We should turn to God and allow His power and glory to motivate us, to bring us zeal and excitement. When we think about all that He has done in our lives, we shouldn't feel down and out. Instead, we should be excited about serving Him, spreading His Good News, and praising Him through all things!

Don't get down, but keep up the excitement and serve and praise God for all that He has done!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Help me to always be excited to share Your glory with others and to serve You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Now You See It, Now You Don't!

6/17/2017

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." -II Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

Magicians can amaze us with their ability to make things "appear" and "disappear." We know these tricks just fool our eyes and our brains and we know that there are parts of these tricks that we can't see. Living in this world, we know that the things we see around us will not last forever, but the Good News is that there is more to the story that we can't see!

The things of this earthly world may be helpful for now, but we know they will not last forever. Even though we place value on these things, we shouldn't put all of our faith in the things we have. God has prepared more for us than what we have here and now. In following God, we can learn to appreciate the blessings of now and be reassured by the greater promises of tomorrow. God has prepared an eternity of glory beyond anything we could imagine that we will one day see and experience! What we see now will give way to something greater!

Don't focus on what you can see now, but on the unseen that God has prepared for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for preparing an eternal place for me in Your Kingdom. Help me to follow You and focus on the unseen. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Practice Practices!

6/16/2017

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." -Philippians 4:9 (NIV)

When expecting students to learn about different subjects, it is important for the students to understand how people in these subjects learn. For example, students learning science can benefit from participating in practices that are similar to those used by scientists. Students can see and hear as part of their learning, but it is when they need to practice that a deeper understanding emerges.

To deepen our understanding of what we learn from God, from listening and studying His Word and the examples in it, we need to do more than be passive listeners. We need to take the lessons we learn and put them into practice! By doing and practicing what God has shown and told us can help us develop a deeper understanding and a deeper relationship with Him. We can then continue to learn, discover, and practice more about the glory, power, grace, and mercy of God!

Don't just listen to God's lessons. Put them into practice!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You teach me. Help me to put Your lessons into practice so I can continue to learn and develop a deeper relationship with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Greater Than, Less Than

6/15/2017

"He must become greater; I must become less." -John 3:30 (NIV)

At some point in math class most people probably learn about greater than and less than. We may compare two groups of objects to see which has more or less before learning about the symbols and applying what we learned to numbers. In our learning, we looked at greater than and less than as being two opposite ideas, but that doesn't always have to be the case!

John the Baptist knew that Jesus was coming and that Jesus, the Son of God, would be greater than all other earthly people. We can follow this idea in our lives. In order for Jesus to become a greater part of our lives, we need to give control to Him. We cannot hang on to our desires to be in control, planning each moment, and guiding each action. Instead, we need to be less. However, becoming less in our lives isn't the same as less than in math class. When becoming less, we don't have to suffer or become insignificant. Jesus becomes a greater presence in our lives and we live a blessed life through Him and His Father. We can become less and still be greater than we ever could be on our own because Jesus is greater, too!

Allow yourself to have less control so Jesus can have more and become a greater part of your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son and for His presence in my life. Help me to allow You to have control and to lead me toward the blessings that You have prepared for me in this life and beyond. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

100% Guaranteed!

6/14/2017

"Those who know Your Name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You." -Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

A co-worker shared a new kind of cookie at lunch today that the package claimed "irresistible happiness." Some products promote the notion of quality and feeling good to catch our interest while other products and services promise guarantees. However, when something sounds too good to be true, we may look for the "catch." Even though there may be a catch when we really do try to return a product, we can know that there is one guarantee we never have to doubt!

God is faithful to all those that seek Him and His will in their lives. He knows that we will make mistakes, we will sin, and we will fall short of His glory, but He wants us to trust in Him and in His plan. He has given us His Son, who died in our place to offer us Salvation. As long as we have accepted this gift of forgiveness and redemption and seek God, He will not forsake us. He has guaranteed us a place in Heaven and this is one guarantee that we can trust with 100% confidence!

God's promises to those who seek Him are 100% guaranteed!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your promises and faithfulness. Help me to always seek You and Your will in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

For Now...

6/13/2017

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -John 16:33 (NIV)

There are many things in life that are temporary. Some good times and good things don't last. The bad times, too, can change when given enough time. The ups and downs, ebbs and flows are part of living in the world, but they don't need to define us. We can and should be defined by what is to come after this world!

God promises that the troubles we may experience on earth are only temporary. God sent Jesus Christ so we can have peace and hope in a brighter future beyond this world. He has overcome the world and provides us with a path to everlasting life, joy, and peace! Nothing that this world offers, whether joy or pain, can compare to the eternal praising and joy that we will experience with God! So for now, we trust in God's plan, follow His will, and be assured that much greater things are to come!

Be encouraged that what you endure in the world is just for now. A brighter future with God awaits!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son, His sacrifice, and the promises of an eternal glory with You. Help me to have peace now as I follow You through this world. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Priorities!

6/12/2017

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." -Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

We all have priorities. Some of those priorities are intentionally set, while others may happen subconsciously. When considering our priorities, we need to think about what not only what is to be accomplished, but why we are trying to accomplish them!

We are reminded that we should, above all else, guard our hearts. When setting priorities, guarding our hearts through a relationship with God and Jesus Christ should be number one on our list! No matter what else we may think we need to accomplish, none of it is worthwhile if our actions are not rooted in God. After we have established a relationship with God and gotten the proper guidance for guarding our heart, then we can set the rest of our priorities!

Set your #1 priority as a relationship with God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and Your willingness to have a relationship with me. Help me to always seek You and to guard my heart as my first priorities. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Back to Square One!

6/11/2017

"You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God." -James 4:2 (NIV)

There are things in life that take time. We look for shortcuts and the easy way to get things done, but sometimes what is intended to be the easy way can end up taking more time and effort! We may even end up back at the starting point...back to square one!

When we head off on our own searching for a shortcut, we may find ourselves engaging in behaviors that actually take more effort or lead us astray. We try too much on our own and skip the steps of asking God and relying on Him. Instead of looking for our own shortcuts, we need to talk to God from the beginning. When we talk to God, we can be sure that His way is the right way. We will not have to quarrel, fight, or kill, we just have to ask God and be patient and trusting in Him!

Remember to start at square one by asking God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and direction. Help me to begin by talking to You and asking instead of searching for my own way. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Act on It!

6/10/2017

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." -James 2:17 (NIV)

Like many people, I have a list of things that I need and want to do. The list can be helpful for setting priorities and guiding actions. However, just because something is on the list and I have intentions of completing it, if I don't get to it, then it doesn't matter that it was "on the list." The way we live our lives and act on our spirituality is much the same way!

We can and should have faith in God. We are called to be faithful and to follow Him. Our actions cannot save us without faith in God, but our faith shouldn't just be a list of good ideas or things to do. Our faith needs to be made real and alive through action. With faith in God and confidence in His power and guidance, we can live our lives in faithful actions for God's glory!

Don't just make a list. Act on your faith for God's glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the reasons for having faith in You. Help me to act on that faith so others can see Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Running Away?

6/9/2017

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." -Psalm 103:12 (NIV)

We all make mistakes. Sometimes we would like to run and hide to try to get away from something that we have said or done. When we think about running away from our problems, we need to be sure we are not running away from solutions!

We are human and we all sin. The good news is that we don't have to run away. Instead of running away, we can turn to God. God is THE solution to our sin problem! God sent His Son and He has removed our sin from us. Instead of running away, we can be reassured that or sins are gone and that God has prepared a place for us!

Don't run away, but turn to God for forgiveness!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for taking my sin away. Help me to always turn to You and the place You have prepared for me. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Be Restorative!

6/8/2017

"Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." -Romans 13:10 (NIV)

We all make mistakes in our lives. We can learn from our mistakes or we can continue down a path that leads to continued shortcomings. Keeping in mind that we all sin and fall short, we can choose to address ourselves and those around us in ways that are restorative or ways that continue to hold us down. If we take advice from the Bible, we should show love and be restorative!

The way we approach a situation can impact the outcomes. In our minds and thoughts to ourselves or in our actions and responses to others, we can continue negative "talk" that furthers an already negative situation or we can turn it around and find ways to make positive outcomes. When we base our responses on God's love, we can move forward restoring ourselves and others through God's grace. We can avoid harming ourselves and each other and instead fulfill God's intention of being fully restored through His grace and mercy!

Base your actions in God's love so that you and those around you can be restored through Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your never-ending love. Help me to act out of love and to both live restored and help others live restored through You and the sacrifice of Your Son. Through Him I pray, amen.

Sleep!

6/7/2017

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

There times when it is difficult to sleep. Restless nights can turn into early mornings and sluggish days. Sometimes we can't sleep well because we have a lot on our minds. However, not sleeping usually only makes things worse. When we are tired, stressed, and can't seem to sleep, we should turn to God. He is willing to take away our worry and stress as long as we let go!

We sometimes try to control things ourselves. We may try to do too much without asking for help and it begins to wear on our bodies and minds. Instead of losing sleep over things we cannot control, we need to turn to God and turn things over to God! When we call on God, we can be reassured that He will lead and guide us. He will ease our burdens and allow us to lie down and sleep in the safety of His watch over our lives!

Instead of losing sleep, find peace by allowing God to take control!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being willing to lighten my load. Help me to be open to letting go and allowing You to take control. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Get to Work!

6/6/2017

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." -Proverbs 14:23 (NIV)

A new talk radio program in my area has been focused on state politics and budget issues. The concern is that there is too much talk and not enough action. According to the host, politicians are willing to talk about the problems, but they don't take the necessary steps to take action!

In our lives, we may be tempted to talk about issues and problems, but we have to do more than talk. We need to focus on the hard work, the actions, that will lead to solutions. We should focus on God and pray that He guides our work, no matter how hard it may seem, in order to produce results for His Kingdom. We need to get to work for God to be His hands and feet on earth!

Get to work for God and you will gain eternal profits!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for guiding me. Please show me the work to be done and bless my efforts as I follow Your will. Through Jesus I pray, amen.