Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Shatterproof

9/30/2014

"He keeps the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail. Those who contend with the Lord will be shattered; against them He will thunder in the heavens, the Lord will judge the ends of the earth; and He will give strength to His king, and will exalt the horn of His anointed."
-I Samuel 2:9-10 (NASB)

Most of us have seen glass shatter. An accidental drop, and a dinner plate or drinking glass can become hundreds of sharp pieces scattered on the floor. We have a choice in our lives. We can be shattered or we can be shatterproof!

The enemies of the Lord will become like the dropped glass, shattered and scattered. These individuals will be silenced and sent away. The good news is that the actions of these individuals are a choice. Instead of being shattered, we have the choice to be protected. God will protect and strengthen those that believe in and follow His ways!

Follow God and trust that He make you shatterproof!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for protecting me. Help me to always follow Your ways and to allow others to see Your love for them. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Faith + Works

9/29/2014

"But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." -James 2:18-22 (NIV)

It is often easier to say something than to do it! We may know and say what we need to do, but putting our words in to action may be difficult or push us out of our comfort zones. Our words without actions are empty!

Our faith is like the words we say. If we have faith, then it should be reflected in our works. Our faith is empty if we don't share it! The opposite is also true. Our works are without reason if we don't have faith in God. It is our faith that gives meaning to our works. To make our works complete, we need to proclaim our faith and support it with our actions!

When proclaiming your faith, make it complete with works for God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me reason for having faith. Help my faith to be supported by and filled with works for Your Kingdom and Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Apples and Trees

9/28/2014

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)

One of my colleagues has a saying, "Apples and trees." This saying is the shortened version of, "Apples don't fall too far from the tree." The saying is used when it is apparent that the behaviors of a child very closely resemble the behavior of his or her parent, for better or worse!

In Proverbs (22:6), we are reminded that our children's behaviors are tied to their upbringing. As my daughter's actions remind me on a daily basis, children absorb and reflect the behaviors of those around them. If we want our children to know God and follow His path for their lives, then we must follow His path for our lives and share those experiences with our children. If we are the tree rooted firmly in God, then our children will understand the presence of God in their lives, too!

Keep your tree rooted firmly in God and don't let the apples fall too far from Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of those that have helped me learn about You and become closer with You. Help me to be an example for You in the lives of my child and all of Your children that I encounter. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Can you help it?

9/27/2014

"Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'" Acts 4:18-20 (NIV)

Everyone around my daughter knows when she is excited about something. She sings it. She jumps with excitement. Even if you ask her to settle down, it is hard for her to control it. There are times as adults that we need to be filled with a similar excitement for the miracles of God that we have seen and heard!

Peter and John were excited and moved by their calling. They wanted to share all that they had seen and heard. Even when others were telling them to calm down and stop speaking, they couldn't! They needed to share the greatness and glory of God. As modern-day Christians, we can still get excited about the glory and greatness of God. Maybe our excitement shows up as we sing, jump for joy, or wear a smile on our face. No matter how we show it, our excitement should be something we share, not something we hide!

Can you help being excited by the greatness and glory of God? Share it, don't hide it!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You do in my life. Please help me to share my excitement and not hide it. Allow others to know that my joy and blessings come from You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Seeds of Love

9/26/2014

"Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God." -I Peter 1:22-23 (NASB)

It's getting to be that time of year when the squirrels are busily gathering acorns and preparing to store them for the winter season. The red and gray squirrels prepare for winter a little differently. The red squirrels prepare larger stashes of acorns, while the gray squirrels scatter their stored acorns. There are advantages to each system, but undoubtedly there are buried acorns that are either unneeded or forgotten. Given enough time and the right conditions, these planted and forgotten acorns can grow into large oak trees!

As we prepare for each day of our lives, we can choose how to plant our seeds of love. We can choose to hoard them and store them in one "safe" place, or we can choose to scatter the seeds everywhere we go. Even if we don't return for or unable to watch the seeds we've planted, the seeds of love that we plant may grow into large "trees" of love. When you share love, it won't spoil or perish. The seeds that we have to share are rooted in God's word and will last forever!

Plant seeds of love by showing respect, being honest, and being nice! You never know how large these seeds may grow!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gifts of forgiveness and love. Help me to scatter the seeds of Your love to everyone I meet. Allow each seed to grow and show glory for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Prepare to Harvest!

9/25/2014

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.'"
-Matthew 9:37-38 (NIV)

The fall season often brings feelings and images of harvest time and celebrations. There are a variety of fall and harvest themed festivals in many towns and cities. We celebrate fall as a time of harvest, but we need to remember that God's Kingdom has a need for harvest workers year-round!

We have many opportunities to be harvest workers for God. Starting with the communities in which we live and spreading across the world, there are people waiting to hear the Good News! When we prepare to ask God to send out workers for the harvest, we must be prepared to do the work, too! We can't just assume that someone else will complete the harvest, we should be ready to help. With so many opportunities to participate in the harvest, it is time to roll up our sleeves and jump into God's work throughout the entire year!

Celebrate the harvest in God's Kingdom now and throughout the year by heading into His harvest field as an eager worker!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for making me part of Your harvest. Help me to be willing and ready to head into Your fields as a harvest worker. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Working in You!

9/24/2014

"Not in your own strength, for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you, energizing and creating in you the power and desire, both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." -Philippians 2:13 (AMP)

As a teacher, I try to inspire and motivate my students so that they can become engaged in learning in my classroom. It is my hope that what they learn and feel in my classroom will be spread throughout their lives. As children of God and students of His teachings, we should be inspired and motivated to use what we gain from our relationship with Him throughout our lives.

God is at work in each of our lives, but He will not force His will on us. We must be open to His work in our lives. He will create energy, power, and desire in our lives. Only when we realize that it is not through our own strength, but through the work of God, can we truly experience God's work in us. Experiencing this work in us can inspire and motivate us to follow His will and work for Him throughout our lives!

Don't rely on your own strength. Experience how God is working in you and spread His work throughout your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for working in my life. Please allow me to truly experience your energy and power and allow it to inspire, motivate, and spread throughout my whole life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Following Directions

9/23/2014

"You should diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you." -Deuteronomy 6:17 (NASB)

The stereotype is that men often don't look at the directions until all else fails. The truth is, we are all guilty of ignoring the directions at some point. God has given us His directions, His guidelines for living a Godly life, but sometimes we try to figure things out for ourselves and only turn to God when all else fails!

God reveals His will and direction to us in many ways. One of these ways is His Word, the Bible. We can access God's messages and plans for us by reading His Word, praying, and meditating on what it means for each of our lives. In the end, we will be best served by following His directions from the start, not just when our efforts fail!

Don't try to figure it out on your own, use God's directions provided in the Bible!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing directions for my life. Help me to remember to read them regularly and show me how to apply them to my life. Allow me to share these directions with others that are attempting to figure things out, too. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Cheering without Shame!

9/22/2014

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" -Romans 1:16-17 (NIV)

Many of us have favorite sports teams. We are fans and cheer our teams, even when they aren't having the best season. As a Pirates fan, there were many years when the team wasn't achieving success, but I still heard people say, "I will always be a Pirates fan, no matter how bad they are." Many people identify with a team and continue to cheer, without shame or embarrassment.

In the end, the sports teams that we root for don't hold any real power. Our lives continue with or without their success. In contrast to the teams we cheer for, the Gospel holds real, life-changing power, but we are sometimes hesitant to discuss it. As Christians, we should be cheering for and promoting the Gospel with a passion that exceeds our commitment to cheering for our team. We shouldn't be ashamed to be fans of the Gospel. It won't have losing seasons. It won't have ups and downs. It does hold the key to eternal life!

Be a fan and not ashamed of the life-changing power of the Gospel!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me the Gospel and its assurance of eternal life with You. Help me to be a fan that will help others see the message of Salvation in the Gospel. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Do Over!

9/21/2014

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." -II Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

Every once in a while, many of us have one of those days that we want to "do over". Sometimes we feel like we need to head back to bed and hit the reset button for the day. While we can't restart the day or re-do what we've done, we do have the opportunity for a fresh start with God!

When we accept Christ our sins are not only forgiven, they are forgotten! We can have a fresh start. We can commit our lives to God and become new creatures. While it doesn't allow us to time travel and re-do our past, it does allow us a fresh start with unlimited opportunities to follow God and be that better person we wanted to be in our do overs!

Even when you can't have a do over, God allows you to have a fresh start!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for erasing all of my past sins and bad choices. Help me to follow Your will and take every opportunity as a new creation to be the best that I can be. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

True Motives

9/20/2014

"All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." -Proverbs 16:2-3 (NIV)

My daughter is learning that actions have consequences and that the two of us don't always agree on what is best! There are times when she thinks her actions are harmless fun, but I see them as unsafe. Sometimes it takes a soft tumble or a skinned knee for her to understand exactly what I mean.

As God's children, we sometimes experience similar differences. We may view our actions as right or pure, but God looks at things differently than we do! God searchers our hearts and knows the true motives of our actions. To be right with Him, we should commit everything we do to Him. With God guiding our ways, we are sure to act in graciousness, caring, and love...with true motives!

Turn to God in all you do and your motives will be true!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for looking out for me, knowing what I need. Help me to listen to Your plan and understand what I am to do for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Ripples for God's Kingdom

9/19/2014

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." -Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB)

The impact of our lives can be compared to a pebble tossed into a lake. The pebble and its initial impact may be small compared to the lake, but the pebble creates ripples spreading out and disrupting the calm surface of the water. When it comes time to make decisions, it may be easy for us to think about what is best for us personally, but we must also consider the ripples of our decisions!

We need to be aware of the impact of our decisions outside of our personal "bubble". Our decisions can affect our lives, our families and friends, and even people we don't know! When we approach decision making, we should do so with God's guidance and humility. God's will is always the best decision and we need to be humble enough to listen and follow His direction!

Follow God's will and let your decisions create ripples that expand His Kingdom!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your guidance. Help me to always be humble and listening to Your direction so that I can be a positive influence for Your Kingdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Breaking Down Walls

9/18/2014

"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!"
-I Kings 8:27 (NASB)

Recent polls, surveys, and writings all point to a decline in church attendance and membership in recent years. Several articles point out that the "millennial" generation, overall, prefers to identify with a cause and with organizations that work for a cause in the community. These articles state that many churches are viewed as too "inward", focusing on sustaining themselves and not on active work in the community.

In I Kings (8:27), we are reminded of the greatness and glory of God. Our churches are housed in buildings that require attention and care, but these buildings cannot contain God! We should not try to put God in a box that we create. As a church, the entire body of believers needs to be a people of action. We need to break down or move outside the walls of our church buildings so that others can see God's love, caring, and power as we work to improve life on and after earth!

Break down the walls and free the church as a powerful force for God's Kingdom in the community around you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for supporting me with Your power and drawing me closer to You with Your grace and mercy. Help me to break down the walls that prevent me from showing Your love to others around me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Endurance and Wisdom in Decisions

9/17/2014

"And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." -James 1:4-6 (NASB)

There are times in our lives when we come to that so-called fork in the road. Sometimes we can see the choices coming and we have a chance to prepare for them. Other times, the need to choose comes upon us rather suddenly. Either way, choices require endurance and wisdom.

Our ability to endure our current and future circumstances often influences our decisions. Sometimes our choices are the result of our endurance. Other times our choices require endurance. When we are in need of endurance or are faced with decisions, God is our source of wisdom. We should first go to God with faith-filled prayers before we embark on seeking the advice and guidance of others or making our decisions. God will show us the choice He wants us to make in our lives!

Approach God with faith-filled prayers and He will help you endure and give you wisdom in your decisions!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your promises to keep me and give me wisdom. Help me with all of my decisions, giving me wisdom and guidance so that I can be productive for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Wait!

9/16/2014

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord."
-Psalms 27:14 (NASB)

Waiting can be difficult! My daughter's favorite store was recently closed for two months as they remodeled and prepared for a grand reopening. My daughter would often ask if the store was open and we would look at the calendar to see reopening date. When it was finally time for the store to reopen, my daughter was excited and overjoyed, to say the least!

We should wait on the Lord with an excitement and anticipation that's even greater than that of my daughter! Even when the waiting seems long and our hearts start to sink, we can find strength and courage in God. He will sustain us throughout all that we face. On earth, we get excited as God shows us signs of His grace, mercy, and power, but when God's full glory is revealed, we will not be able to contain our excitement, joy, and praise!

Wait for the Lord with anticipation and excitement for all that is to come!

Prayer:

Dear God-
Thank You for the grace, mercy, and power that you have shown in my life. Help me to wait for You, to praise You, and prepare for the revelation of Your full glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

No Distractions, Just the Rock

9/15/2014

"There is no one holy like the Lord, indeed, there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like our God." -I Samuel 2:2 (NASB)

There are many distractions vying for our attention. Sometimes it takes discipline to resist the flashy, feel-good messages around us. For all of the glitz, glamour and appeal of these messages, there is only one everlasting message that rises above them all.

God is there for each of us all the time. He can keep us going or pick us up when we fall. He is the source of our Salvation and the Rock that we can rely on forever. God is holy, filled with love, and ready to forgive us. Whenever we feel ourselves being distracted, He is there to help us focus on our calling.

Don't get distracted, turn your eyes heavenward, and draw strength from the solid rock that is God!

Prayer:
Dear God
Thank You for being a solid, firm, and consistent foundation for my faith. Help me to avoid distractions and maintain my focus on following the path You have set before me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

No Tired Feet!

9/14/2014

"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'" -Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

When my daughter doesn't want to do something, her new excuse is, "I can't, because my feet are all tired out." Sometimes God asks us to do things, just as Jesus challenged during the "Great Commission" in Matthew. How do we choose to respond?

In the "Great Commission", Jesus called us to spread His love and message to others, but sometimes we look to Him and say, "I would, but my feet are tired." We hear His words and even approve of what He is saying, but we find excuses to stay within our comfort zones. There are times we choose to continue doing what we were doing, not wanting to stop or change direction. At other times we can be heard complaining about what we need and what isn't getting done. We should remember that God will give us the strength and wisdom to further His Kingdom, even if our feet are tired!

Rely on God and use your talents to further His Kingdom, no excuses!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Jesus to show me the way and to die as a sacrifice for my sins. Help me to drop the excuses and work for Your Kingdom in all I do. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Thankfully Staying on Track

9/13/2014

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." -Colossians 3:16 (NASB)

Some people keep "thankfulness journals" to help them stop, think, and record everything they have to be thankful for. Many of us don't stop and take the time to write down our blessings, but, when we stop and think, we often can't help but be thankful! As we are thanking God, we should remember to thank God for those times when we need stern guidance from a friend.

One of the greatest blessings from God is His Word, which we can use to learn about Him and draw nearer to Him. His Word is one way that we can gain wisdom. This wisdom allows us to teach each other and keep each other on track. God's Word is a blessing that keeps on giving as we learn from it and use its lessons to receive and offer Bible-based reprimands and encouragement to each other. We can accept these lessons with thankfulness in our hearts and a determination to better serve Him!

Thankfully invite the richness of God's Word, wisdom, and admonishment into your heart, then use it to stay on His path for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the tools and resources that You provide for me. I thank You for Your Word and for those around me that know Your Word and can use it to remind me and keep me on track for You! Allow me to know Your Word and how to use it to help others. With a thankful heart I pray, in Jesus' name, amen.

Don't Be a Show Off!

9/12/2014

"Take care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven." -Matthew 6:1 (AMP)

We often see it in sports, athletes that show off skills or excessively celebrate a good play. Other times we see people compelled to show off how much they know about certain topics. These individuals are looking for immediate recognition for what they know or do. Similar attitudes of showing off can infiltrate our lives and even our churches!

Jesus warns us about showing off, about doing kind and charitable acts publicly for the purpose of being seen by others. We may rationalize our behavior as trying to be a role model for others or increasing awareness of something, but Jesus reminds us that if we are showing off for our fellow man, then we will not be rewarded for our deeds in heaven. Jesus calls us to serve others and God in a spirit of humility for the benefit of all in God's Kingdom.

Don't be a show off! Humbly work for God in all you do and be a positive influence for His Kingdom.

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for giving me the teacher and role model of Jesus. Help me to follow His teaching and serve Him in humility. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

True Peace!

9/11/2014

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." -John 14:27 (NASB)

In our daily life we can experience little agitators that bother us, cause unrest, and become burdens. These agitators can be small things, but they can still get under our skin. Even when we don't see or feel the agitations, it may be difficult for us to relax and find true and complete peace.

When Jesus was on earth, He promised us a peace that was beyond anything we are offered by the world. Whether we are bothered by small agitations or bigger, complicated issues, Jesus is offering us the one true, complete peace. We don't need to be troubled, we just need to learn to trust and let Jesus take our burdens and give us peace!

Learn to trust and let Jesus take your agitators and burdens so you can accept His offer of the greatest peace!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son and for His promises of peace. Help me to let go of my burdens and agitators so that I can truly and completely experience peace. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Spiritually Clean!

9/10/2014

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass."
-I Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NASB)

My daughter enjoys being outside, whether playing or helping in the garden. As we work in the garden, we get dirty. She is often quick to point out that I need a shower, but she is often reluctant to see that she needs to get clean, too.

As we live life and move through our daily routines, we may pick up some spiritual dirt that needs to be washed away. We are often quick to see the dirt on others, but sometimes we don't notice or take the time necessary to get ourselves clean. God is like a diligent, loving parent, waiting to wash us and clean us up after we get dirty, even if we disobey His directions! We must be obedient and willing to allow God to sanctify us, to cleanse us completely and preserve us so that we can further His Kingdom.

Don't resist being spiritually cleansed by God's sanctifying grace!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your willingness to cleanse me and sanctify me. Help me to avoid the "dirt" that is harmful to my soul and my relationship with You. Through Jesus, my Savior and Cleanser, I pray, amen.

Change & Tradition

9/9/2014

"'You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.' And He continued, 'You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!'" -Mark 7:8-9 (NIV)

Society is changing. Expectations, ways of engaging people, and forms of communication and interaction are always evolving from one generation to the next. The addition of ever-changing technology compounds the rate of transformation in our current society. While we could debate the pros and cons of such changes, the fact is that we are living in a time of change and transition. Institutions, including education, government, communication, the family, and the church, feel the pressures of these societal changes.

As we encounter the tide of change in society, we must make some decisions on how to deal with a new set of circumstances. Some parts of our lives and our faith are non-negotiable. God's Word, truth, commands, and expectations are constant, even in the face of overwhelming change. Fortunately, His love, offer of Salvation, and forgiveness is also unchanging!

While we must hold resolutely to God's truth, we may need to let go of some of our other human traditions. There is a place for tradition within society and within the church, but we must be willing to let go of some of our human traditions if we are going to further God's message and build His Kingdom. We may need to step outside the box or break the mold in order to reach those that are not attracted to or moved by traditional worship. With God's steadfast message as the centerpiece and an openness to His will, God will guide and prosper our efforts!.

Celebrate tradition, but also embrace change that can promote the spread of God's unchanging truth and love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing me with the traditions that have allowed me to form a relationship with You. Help me to celebrate these traditions, but also allow me to be flexible in letting go of some human traditions in order to focus on Your commands and Your will. Help me to find the ways to share Your glory with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Whose favor?

9/8/2014

"For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."
-Galatians 1:10 (NASB)

In my classroom there is an area called the "Chance to Change" or "CTC" center. If students are having difficulty staying on task or following classroom expectations, they may be directed to the CTC center in order to reflect on their behavior and the motivations for it. Sometimes they realize that their actions are more focused on gaining the attention of their peers than on doing what is expected in class. As we go about our lives, there are times when we may need a "time-out" to reflect on our behaviors and motivations.

There are times in our lives when we must stop to ask ourselves if we are seeking the approval of other people or of God. Throughout our lives, even within the church, we may get caught up in trying to please others or keep the peace at the expense of doing what God has called us to do. We need to prayerfully reflect on our behaviors and follow God's guidance. In all we do, we should act in a loving manner and be seeking God's approval above the approval of other people!

Take time to pray and reflect so that your thoughts and actions are focused on pleasing God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your reminders about how I should act in my life. Help me to focus my thoughts and actions on following Your will and pleasing You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Indestructible Treasure!

9/7/2014

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:19-21 (NASB)

There are times when our wants may be misinterpreted as "needs", we think we need things when we really only want them. As adults we may recognize the difference between wants and needs, but we may ignore our minds and go about the game of convincing ourselves that we need certain things and more of them! Many of the earthly things we think we need end up getting in our way and keep us from fully experiencing God's plan in our lives.

All of the things we collect, save, buy, and have on earth may impact our lives in the present, but none of them can impact our lives for eternity. We may get distracted in trying to protect or gather up "things" and lose focus on our faith and our call to serve God and those around us. With faith and trust in God, our hearts will be focused on serving God and those around us. As we remember the source of our Salvation and share with others, we can refocus our hearts and store up indestructible treasures in Heaven!

Remember that a want is not a need! Refocus your heart on God and store up indestructible treasures in Heaven!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Salvation through Your Son and the promise of eternal life in Heaven. Help me to refocus my heart on You so that I can help others and store up treasures in Heaven. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Faith in Action

9/6/2014

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is a rewarded of those that seek Him." -Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)

The study Bible that I use begins the eleventh chapter of Hebrews with the heading, "Triumphs of Faith." This chapter of Hebrews serves to give us examples of faithful servants of God and to inspire us in our beliefs in and service to God. Verse six reminds us of the reality of faith in God: Faith is required for us to please God. If we do not have faith in God, then how can we believe in Him and trust in Him to reward our seeking?

Our faith in God must be real. It must grip us at our core, it cannot be simply lip service that we pay on Sunday mornings at church or when it feels right. A faith that pleases God, draws us near to God, and allows us to experience His love and peace must be part of our entire being, expressed in our words and actions on a daily basis. God will reward us, but we must put our faith in Him and then act on it!

Put your faith into action everyday, drawing closer to God and experiencing His full blessing!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the examples of faithful servants that You give me throughout the Bible. Help me to have faith and to put my faith into action so that I can seek You, draw closer to You, and experience Your blessing in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.