Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Timeless and Eternal

7/31/2015

"Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering, extraordinarily patient toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance." -II Peter 3:8-9 (AMP)

Our lives are filled with waiting. Sometimes we can manage to wait patiently. Other times we may be more anxious and lack in our patience. Even though we can get caught up in time driving our schedules and lives, we can be assured that time does not matter to God.

Time is something humans created to keep track of the cycles and events in our lives. Because of our idea of time, we sometimes come to the conclusion that God isn't there for us or that He is slow to act. God and His actions cannot be bound by our concept of time, but we should not doubt God's presence in our lives and His love for us. God is more patient that we could ever be and He is waiting for all people to discover His love and redemption. God is timeless and eternal and our trust in His plan should be, too!

God is not slow, He is timeless and eternal!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being there for me yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I praise Your timeless and eternal being and ask for Your timeless and eternal guidance in my life forever. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Homework

7/30/2015

"Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin)." -Matthew 9:13 (AMP)

It can be difficult to get some students to complete homework during and school year. The task of completing summer work can be even more challenging. Yet, teachers assign homework because it can help students learn and grow. As a teacher, it is important to make homework meaningful for the student.

Jesus gave homework, too. Jesus told those listening to Him that He wasn't sent to heal the healthy, He was sent to heal those that are sick and weak. Jesus knows that we can't save others, but that doesn't mean we can't help others. Jesus is looking for us to have compassion for others. It is up to us to help others find redemption through Jesus rather than ignoring their needs and sacrificing their souls. It is up to us to learn what Jesus means and then to help all people find Him!

Your homework: Understand the message of Jesus and then help others find Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus to teach me and help me grow. Please help me to understand the homework from Jesus and allow me to bring other people to Your redemptive plan. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Firm Footing

7/29/2015

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights." -Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)

The world around us can be a difficult place to navigate. We are called to be examples of God's love, but people are not always receptive to God's message and it can be easy to lose our footing. As we move through life, we need to depend on God as our strength so we can have firm footing!

When we rely on God for strength, He can keep us on firm footing as we serve Him. He can allow us to move through the world without loosing our footing. We can tread to new heights and allow others to see the glory and power of God in our lives. Instead of falling, we can call on God to give us strength, even when surrounded by the uncertainty of the world!

When you feel you are slipping and falling, call on the strength of the Lord to give you firm footing!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sharing Your strength with me. Please give me firm footing so I can be an example of Your power and glory for others to see. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

No Other Gods

7/28/2015

"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth." -Exodus 20:3-4 (NASB)

The commandment to have no other gods seems to be an easy and straightforward requirement. God is to be the one and only God of our lives, but, as the world pushes in and our schedules become hectic, this is sometimes easier said than done. As we live our lives we need to take care and keep God as our focus.

God should always be our primary focus, but there are times when the busyness of our lives can capture our focus and distract us from God. We can be distracted by money, whether too much or not enough. We can be distracted by a schedule that is full, causing us to rush without taking time for God. We can be distracted by an accumulation of stuff. We can be distracted by our jobs and the requirements of work. The list of distractions can go on and on. To keep our lives free of other gods, we need to remain focused on the one true God by talking to Him, listening to Him, studying His Word, and praising and worshiping Him. If we are focused on Him, He will help take care of our distractions.

Keep your life free of false gods by communicating with and staying focused on the one true God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and showing me Your greatness as the one true God. Help me keep my life centered on You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Stumbling Enemies

7/27/2015

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; or the Lord will see it and be displeased, and turn His anger away from him." -Proverbs 24:17-18 (NASB)
"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." -Matthew 5:44-45 (NASB)

Whether rooting for our favorite team or watching campaigning politicians, there are times when it seems we relish the demise of an opponent or enemy. We sometimes get caught up in promoting an ideology or candidate without thinking about the long-term consequences. We need to guard our hearts against rejoicing in the stumbles of others.

In Proverbs (24:17-18), we are warned against rejoicing and being glad when our enemies stumble and fall. So what should we do? Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for them. While the world may not understand such an approach, it is what we are called to do. Rather than tearing each other down, we need to love and build each other up. When facing our enemies, God can work miracles, even through us in the face of our enemies!

When your enemies stumble, pray for them and show love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me, even when I make mistakes and stumble. Help me to remember to pray for my enemies and show them love, even when they stumble and fall. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Home or Away

7/26/2015

"Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]." -II Corinthians 5:9-10 (AMP)

Summers often bring time for vacation. We can enjoy time away from work and from our normal routines. While we enjoy vacation, we shouldn't take time away from God and working to please Him. We should always be busy and giving attention to His will!

No matter where we are or what we are involved in, we should be striving to please God. Our earthly ambitions should be aligned with His will and purpose for our lives. We can know God's purpose through prayer and communication with Him. If we are working for God's will, then we can be assured that our pay will be beyond our greatest imagination. With belief in God and His Son, we can work toward an eternal reward at home in Heaven!

Whether home or away, work to please God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being with me at home or on vacation. Help me to always work to please You so that my pay will be eternity with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

When Good Isn't Enough

7/25/2015

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, for which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses." -Acts 13:38-39 (NASB)

My daughter has become sensitive to trying to be good. When she isn't on her best behavior, she gets upset. She's now learning that growing up, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, requires mistakes and shortcomings. We can try our best to be good, but there are always times when our good isn't enough!

When we all fall short of our "best" behavior, we need to understand is that God has a plan. The plan of the New Testament is different from the Old Testament. While we still need to try our best to follow God's Law, if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, then we won't be judged by the Law. Being good isn't enough to earn our Salvation. We can only be freed from our sins by believing in the sacrifice and gift of redemption from Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Don't worry that your good isn't enough. Find freedom and redemption in Jesus!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your perfect plan of redemption. Please forgive my sins and set me free so I can proclaim Your glory with all my heart. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Assured Results

7/24/2015

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." -I Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)

Sometimes we don't see the fruits of our labor right away. Whether it is with some of my middle school students or the seeds planted in the garden, the results don't show up for some time. Even though we don't see immediate results, we shouldn't give up!

We are reminded in I Corinthians (15:58) that we should keep working for the Lord. When we are working for Him, our labor is not in vain. Since we know we are not working in vain, we should keep working without letting the world push us off track. Even if we don't see results immediately here on earth, we can be assured that God is using us and our work in Him to build His eternal kingdom!

Keep working for the Lord and know that He assures your work will have results!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving teaching me of Your way. Help me to keep on track working for You so I can know results will follow. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Clever Can't Change Truth

7/23/2015

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!" -Isaiah 5:20-21 (NASB)

Sometimes people try to disguise their intentions through the words they choose. We can probably think of many examples of this in politics and advertisements. People think a clever catch phrase or circular logic will help them convince others to join their cause or buy their product.

In Isaiah (5:20-21) we are warned against convolution of the truth and against trying to be clever in our own minds. When we think we can hide truth or intentions, we are only fooling ourselves. There is only one truth - God's truth - and, no matter how clever we think we are, we cannot change His truth. A catchy phrase or circular explanation cannot replace the truth that God has given us!

Don't try to be clever in covering up the truth because you can't change God's truth!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me Your truth. Help me to always know and stand up for Your truth, even when others are trying hide it. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Everlasting Love

7/22/2015

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of gods, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. To Him who alone does great wonders, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." -Psalms 136:1-4 (NASB)

My daughter tends to get upset when she does something wrong. She is afraid that people will not like or love her as much. I try to explain to her that I will always love her, even when she makes mistakes. Fortunately for us, God loves us when we make mistakes, too!

God is great. He loves us. The love He has for us does not end. It is everlasting! Even when we don't think we deserve His love, He still loves us. God can do great and wonderful things. He can even use us, mistakes and all, to accomplish His will. When we think we have failed and are undeserving of God's love, we need to turn to His everlasting love to be renewed for His purpose!

When you make mistakes, remember that God still loves you...forever!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me no matter what. Help me to live my life more in line with Your purpose. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

A Party with God!

7/21/2015

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." -Matthew 18:20 (NASB)

My daughter recently had a birthday party. She looked forward to the party, planning on her family and friends attending. Leading up to the big day, she would ask which cousins, friends, and family members would be coming. When we are getting together with fellow Christians, we should look forward to a party of fellowship with other believers and with God!

Jesus is always with us. However, when two or more gather together in His name, we can be assured that He is communicating with us and working with us. He is there with us! We should always invite Jesus and God to gather with us. Just like when we are checking the guest list for a party, we need to be sure God is invited to our gatherings. Since we are guaranteed He will attend, we need to be sure to listen to Him and include Him in our conversations and activities!

When planning a get together with fellow believers, be sure to include God on the guest list!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your willingness to gather with us. Help us to remember to include You in when we are meeting together in Your name. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Wisdom and Hatred

7/20/2015

"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power." -Proverbs 8:12-14 (NIV)

There are words that are frowned on and some have been taught not to say. One of the words added to the list of words that shouldn't be used is hate. Sometimes it seems as if the world is teaching a tolerance that not only eliminates hatred from our vocabulary but judges those that hate anything.

As Christians, we should live loving lives. We should do our best to reflect God's loving nature in our words and actions, but living in love should not eliminate hate. We should hate evil. In order to hate evil, we need to know that there is evil and what is evil. When we get wisdom and prudence from God, we can know what is good and what is evil. Knowing is half the battle, we then need to rely on God to help us live life using the wisdom and prudence He provides!

It is okay to hate evil! Ask God for wisdom and prudence to know right from wrong.

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your power and Your goodness. Please give me the wisdom and prudence to know right from wrong and help me to live my life accordingly. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Dwell on God's Goodness

7/19/2015

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." -Philippians 4:8-9 (NASB)

When we look around at the world, we can see a lot of dishonorable, wrong, impure, and ugly happenings. It is easy to feel like giving up. While it may be easy to give up and complain about the state of the world, we should look for God's goodness that we see at work around us.

We know there is evil in our world, but we also know that God is at work. God provides us with lovely, good, and pure examples of His love that is worthy of our praise. Furthermore, we can ask God and allow God to work through us so we can practice good, right, and lovely works in His name. By dwelling on the good and being the examples of God's goodness, grace, and power, we can both experience God's peace and help others experience His peace!

Dwell on, praise, and practice works of God's goodness so you and others can experience His peace!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for providing goodness in the world. Help me to dwell on and see Your goodness around me. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Everything is Possible!

7/18/2015

"And looking at them, Jesus said to them, 'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" -Matthew 19:26 (NASB)

Finding contentment and happiness in life seems to be a struggle. It's hard to follow the way of the world and reach true happiness! Rushing around, collecting things, trying to make more money, or living a care-free life don't give us the happiness that they're supposed to give us. So, what are we to do?

Jesus was telling His disciples about the dilemma faced by the rich man that wanted to be saved. Jesus told His disciples that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needled than for the rich man to be saved. This left the disciples to think about the impossible. Who could be saved? Fortunately for us, whether rich, poor, or somewhere in between, God has a plan. What seems impossible to us is possible for God. It is possible for each and every one of us to be saved as long as we believe in God and the redeeming sacrifice of His Son! Once we realize that God has the power, we can trust in Him and find the happiness that our earthly riches cannot buy!

When things seem impossible, trust in God and let Him make them possible!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for reassuring me with Your power to do what I think is impossible. Help me to always turn to You in all things. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Sweet-Smelling Imitators

7/17/2015

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." -Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB)

My daughter likes to claim that she learned everything from me. While I'm willing to accept the credit for her good behaviors, I'm not so keen on accepting credit for the not so good behaviors! When we take a look at our lives, we want to be sure we are learning behaviors that are good, moral, and beneficial to ourselves and others. There's no better place to look than God!

God has given us different tools to learn about Him and about how we should act. God has given us His Word that tells us how to live Godly lives. He has also given us His Son. Jesus has shown us how to live and behave. God has also given us the Holy Spirit to help guide and direct our lives. When we follow God and imitate His behaviors, we become sweet-smelling imitators that attract more followers for His Kingdom and help everyone live better lives!

Be a sweet-smelling imitator of God and attract followers for His Kingdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving my life meaning and direction. Help me to follow Your ways so others will want to follow You too. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Saving the World

7/16/2015

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." -John 3:17 (NASB)

There are many things in the world that go against God and against His Word. Standing up and listing the many ways we and those around us have sinned won't get the results that God and Jesus intend. God didn't send Jesus to be a judge of the world and we shouldn't focus on judgement either!

When we tell others about God and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, we need to be sure we are telling a story of saving grace. It is not our job to judge others. We are all sinners and are all in need of being saved. What God provides for all of us is a plan for salvation...a way to be saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10)! We need to show and tell others that Jesus is ready to save the world, not condemn it! We can have hope and contentment through Him. No matter how big we think our sins may be, Jesus is ready to save us and give us a fresh start!

Make sure others know that God sent Jesus to save the world, not condemn it!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being willing to save me. Help me to always cling to Your plan of salvation and allow me to live in a way that brings others to Your plan, too! Through Jesus, my Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Sweet-smelling Imitators

7/16/2015

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." -Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB)

Powered-Up Thoughts

7/15/2015

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heaven are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'" -Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB)

There are times when I have too many thoughts in my head. Sometimes the stream of thoughts can keep me awake at night. Sometimes I have to write down my thoughts to keep from forgetting important things. In order to see results of my thoughts, I have to put in the effort to get things done. My thoughts are limited in their number and in their power!

The God that we worship is more powerful than any of us or all of us put together. While my thoughts lack power, God's thoughts are much more powerful. God's thoughts aren't just powerful, they are filled with purpose. God's thoughts and ways have purpose in each of our lives. We should listen to the purpose and power of God's thoughts and we should turn our thoughts over to God so He can fill them with purpose and power!

God's thoughts are more powerful than your own. Listen to His thoughts and allow Him to power-up your thoughts!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being great and being willing to share You greatness with me. Please help me to understand Your thoughts. Transform my thoughts so they can have power for Your kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Protected Inheritance

7/14/2015

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." -I Peter 1:3-5 (NASB)

It seems as though I am always looking for something. Whether it's something I need, something my daughter needs, we find ourselves searching high and low. While we aren't searching for valuable or important things, like an inheritance, it reminds us of the earthly obstacles we face. Even valuables, like an earthly inheritance, can be lost, damaged, and fade away on earth.

Even though our earthly inheritances can fade away, God gives us a greater inheritance that He protects and preserves for us. When we begin to worry about our earthly trials and inheritances, we can take comfort in the words of I Peter 1:3-5. We have reason to hope. We have reason to look forward. God has a plan for our lives and for our eternity. The plan starts with the opportunity for us to be born again through the death and resurrection of Jesus. As believers, we have an inheritance that is prepared and protected by God.

Your protected inheritance is protected by God and waiting for you in God's time!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son so that I can have an inheritance from You. Help me to live my life on earth so others can know of their inheritances waiting with You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Listen for Discipline

7/13/2015

"But when we fall short and are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not finally be condemned to eternal punishment along with the world." -I Corinthians 11:32 (AMP)

There are times when traditions become something we do without much thought or consideration. Communion or the Lord's Supper is one of the practices we sometimes take for granted in church. Whenever we come together to remember Christ, we should be sure to examine ourselves before joining the remembrance of our Savior and the anticipation of His return.

We each have the responsibility of examining ourselves. As is the case in many of our lives, there are times when we don't catch our own shortcomings. Jesus will also judge us, as a way to discipline us and help us improve. When He disciplines us, it is for our own good, so we should listen to what He is saying so we can grow and live better lives for Him. It is through our belief in Jesus and His discipline that we can be saved!

Examine yourself and listen for the discipline from Jesus that will help you grow!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the discipline that Jesus provides so I can grow and live a better life for You. Help me to be aware of my own shortcomings and to improve each and every day. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Hidden Revealed

7/12/2015

"But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the house-tops." -Luke 12:3 (NASB)

With the growing use of technology, it seems that there aren't many secrets that don't eventually "leak" out. Recordings, pictures, and other information seems to be waiting to pop up. Celebrities and politicians know this well, but important data about the rest of us can just as easily be stolen and used against us. God knows everything about us, even before it "leaks" to the public!

Jesus reminds us that one day everything will be revealed. God knows everything about us, but He isn't waiting to use it against us. He isn't trying to "catch us" in order to embarrass us. God wants us to turn to Him and be redeemed. God wants us to be purified through His Son. When we are living in God, according to His will, we shouldn't be afraid of having the hidden revealed!

One day everything hidden will be revealed. Trust in God's will and don't worry!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for sending Jesus to save me from my sin. Help me to live so that I have no worries about what is said in darkness being revealed! Through Jesus, my Redeemer, I pray, amen.

Open Eyes, Ears, and Hearts

7/11/2015

"For the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them." -Matthew 13:15 (NASB)

Our country is diverse and there are many opinions about how to do things and the direction that the country should take. Often we see people not stopping to look or listen to the opinions of others. We sometimes struggle communicating because we seemingly close our eyes and cover our ears. It is difficult to move forward when our eyes and ears are closed!

As we interact with those around us, we need to remember to keep our heart centered on God and our ears and eyes open to see His direction. Even in the midst of shouting and protest, God can speak to us and can show us the way. Through prayer, we can turn to God and ask for His guidance. We then must be sure our hearts, eyes, and ears are open to what God is saying. The path that God shows us may not be the the most popular or the easiest one to travel, but He will travel with us each step of the way! Our actions, however small we may think they are, can help return ourselves and those around us to the will of God.

Open your eyes, ears, and hearts so you can return to God and experience His healing!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the promises that You have given me. Please heal me and allow my actions to be consistent with Your will for my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Not Locked Up

7/10/2015

"But the Scriptures picture all mankind as sinners shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that the inheritance, blessing, which was promised through faith in Jesus Christ the Messiah might be given, released, delivered, and committed to all those who believe, who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him." -Galatians 3:22 (AMP)

In a movie I recently watched with my daughter, there were scenes of an animal shelter with the animals in cages. My daughter was upset that the animals were kept in cages, locked up and seemingly unhappy. As we look at ourselves and our society, we can make some connections to the locked up and unhappy animals.

Our sin locks us up and imprisons us, but like the animals in the movie, we have someone willing to adopt us and give us a forever home! We have someone who is willing to adopt us and set us free! God has provided His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can be released from our sin and brought into God's forever family. Through belief and trust in Jesus, we are no longer locked up by our sin. We are free, blessed receivers of an eternal inheritance from God!

Don't let sin lock you up. Believe in Jesus and be set free!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your gift of redemption through Jesus Christ, Your Son. Help me to always rely and trust in His Promise. In His name I pray, amen.

Living River

7/9/2015

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" -John 7:38 (NASB)

Floods and raging rivers can be scary. When its strong enough, the force of the water can push through most obstacles in its way. The strength and power of the water can remind us of the river that we can have flowing in each of us.

When we believe in Jesus, there will be a river flowing in our innermost being. The river that flows in us is even stronger than the rivers we see raging here on earth. The river from God that springs inside of us is strong enough to carry away all of our sin. No matter how much or how large our sins are, Jesus' sacrifice can wash them all away. Glory be to God!

Allow the living river from Jesus to flow inside of you and wash away your sin!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and being willing to send Jesus to die for my sin. Please wash me clean and help me to live a better life in You. Through Jesus, the source of my living river, I pray, amen.

Show the Light!

7/8/2015

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." -Matthew 5:14 (NASB)

When we look around us, I'm sure there's a lot we could say about the present condition of the world. It is easy to stand and point or criticize what is happening, but we are also called to be part of the solution. As part of a recent leadership and coaching seminar I attended, the presenter pointed to the "silent leaders" as the most often effective leaders. It is through actions that we can set an example and lead!

Jesus reminded us of our calling to be part of the solution through our actions. He compared His followers to the light of the world. Light is not something we hear, but something we see. Jesus didn't say that we all needed to stand up and preach to others, but we do need to live lives in Him and filled with good works and actions. We should not compromise our morals or the Word of God, but we should live loving lives that reveal the greatness and power of God the Father and Jesus the Son!

Be a light and show the light of Christ through your actions!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for sending Jesus to be my light in the world. Help me to live so that others can see Your Light through me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.