Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Sing & Praise!

9/30/2020

"Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him — His name is the Lord." -Psalm 68:4 (NIV)

There are a lot of things that can bring us down. However, if we stop and consider our blessings, there are also a lot of things that can encourage us! We can continue to lift our spirits as we praise God!

God is great! His love goes on forever! He blesses each of us! When we consider all that God is and does, we should break out in praise. We can sing. We can praise His name. We can extol Him. Rejoice that God is active in our lives each day!

Sing, praise, extol Him, and rejoice for all that God is and does!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You are and all that You do in my life. All praise to You! Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Know Your Audience!

9/29/2020

"Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ." -Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

One of the strategies in designing a lesson activity is to ask students to consider the goal, role, audience, situation, and product. Teachers can ask students to determine what they want to accomplish, their role in the project, who they want to communicate the information to, the situation they are working on, and how they want to present the information. When we consider our actions in life, we can apply the same framework!

When we consider what we are doing, we need to be sure our goals align with God's will. We can consider our role in engaging people with God's message. We also need to consider our situation or context and what we want to do to tell people about God. However, we need to be sure we focus on the correct audience. While it is true that we want to connect with people so they can see God's glory, we should not be working to please people. We should be working to please God as we serve Him in all we say and do. We need to know our audience - we need to know God!

Work to serve God, keeping Him as your audience so you can please Him and share His message!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for watching over me. Help me to keep my focus on You and to share Your message through my words and actions. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Delight in His Mercy!

9/28/2020

"Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy." -Micah 7:18 (NIV)

There are times when we may live in fear or worry. It may seem that there are powers in this world that foster these feelings, too. Fear may be natural and even useful in certain situations, but it is not sustainable to continually live with fear and worry. Fortunately, we don't have to!

We don't have to live in fear or worry. God is not only with us, He is merciful. He does not stay angry. He delights in showing mercy. We need to be prepared to accept the forgiveness that He provides. We need to delight in the mercy that He shows us and live our lives in ways that show His power and glory!

Accept God's forgiveness and delight with Him in His mercy!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness. Help me to delight in Your mercy and to live so others can see Your glory. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Stumbling, but Redeemed!

9/27/2020

"We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check." -James 3:2 (NIV)

The children's message at church this morning was a reminder that we all make mistakes. None of us can claim to be perfect. Whether it is intentional or not, we feel to reach perfection on our own. However, we can be reassured that we can be redeemed!

Even though we stumble in many ways, we are not lost causes. Even though we may not think we can recover from the mistakes we made, there is a plan. God knows that we are not perfect. He knows that we will stumble and fail. Yet, He still loves us. He loves us so much that He has sent His Son to redeem us. When we accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, God will erase our faults and shortcomings. We may stumble, but we can be redeemed!

While you may stumble, you can be redeemed through Jesus Christ!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Jesus Christ and Your plan for my salvation and redemption. Help me to follow You and to allow others to see Your grace and mercy. In Jesus I pray, amen.

One Voice - His Voice!

9/26/2020

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." -Isaiah 30:21 (ESV)

Our lives are journeys. Even though we know each of us has a unique journey, that doesn't stop people from trying to direct our path. With all of the opinions and advice, we may wonder which way to go. While the world may try to pull us to the left or right, we only need to trust one voice!

As we live each day and take each step in our lives, we need to stay on what is sometimes called the "straight and narrow." We need to follow God's path. If we want to follow God, we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted by all of the voices in the world, we need to listen to one voice - God's voice! As we travel our journeys, we need to be open to hearing God's guidance as He reminds us of His way. When we focus, listen to, and act on His voice, we can be sure we are on the path that leads to Him!

Keep your ears open for God's voice and stay on the path He prepared for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your voice in my life. Help me to hear and act on Your voice in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Save, Successful, & Blessed

9/25/2020

"Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you." -Psalm 118:25-26 (NIV)

When I was in high school, I got to attend a conservation school for several weeks during the summer. One activity that I still remember is when each group was asked to trace an item from a fast food menu back to its source. We had to try and include every part, including food, packaging, and delivery. It was eye-opening to see all the energy and resources required to grow, process, and deliver one item. Now, as I reflect on my successes, I think about tracing back all of the connections and pieces that have helped me to grow.

As we reflect on our lives, we may see various influences and factors that have helped us to grow, including in our spiritual lives. We may see friends, family, and mentors. We may remember our experiences. However, if we want to trace our redemption, success, and blessings to the original source, we will see that all of these things go back to God. God saves us. God supports us and grants us success. God blesses us when we work for Him and in His name. Because of God, we are saved, successful, and blessed!

Go in the name of God and be saved, successful, and blessed!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for saving me, granting me success, and blessing me. Help me to always go in Your name and allow others to see Your glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Make It Heard and Not Forgotten!

9/24/2020

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom." -Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)

Sometimes we need reminders. There are things we have likely learned and "forgotten" until something jogs our memories. There are important things that we need to be sure are heard and not forgotten!

God is everlasting. He is the Creator. He is our Redeemer. God sent His Son to die for our sin and to allow us to be forgiven in order to live with Him forever. All of these things are important. We should not forget them. Just as important, we need to be sure others hear this Good News. We need to make God's message heard so it is not forgotten!

Know God and make His love and grace heard so others can know and not forget!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving and redeeming me. Help me to spread Your love and Good News to others. In Jesus I pray, amen.

One Call to Our Big God!

9/23/2020

"You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You." -Psalm 86:5 (NIV)

I recently saw a quote that said, "Don't tell God you have a big problem. Tell your problem that you have a big God." We all experience problems in our lives. Facing our problems means finding a solution. We can start with one call!

God is forgiving and good. God is love. He is also powerful and wise. When we experience a problem, we need to start with one call to God. When we talk to God, He will help us. He will forgive us. He will guide us. He will love us. As long as we call on God, we can face our problems by telling them we have a big God!

Call on God and tell your problems that you have a big God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being forgiving, good, and loving. Help me to always call on You to overcome my problems. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Humble & Lifted!

9/22/2020

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time." -I Peter 5:6 (NIV)

We may see many demonstrations of strength and power in our lives. There are times that we could even feel the need to show off our strength or our willingness to fight in order to climb higher on the ladder. While we may need to stand up for ourselves, we also need to remember the value of humility and the power of God!

In our journeys through life, we will get knocked down. We will see others undercut us as a means for gaining prestige or power. We may feel that we need to "puff ourselves up" in order to gain what we deserve. However, God reminds us that He knows us, knows our hearts, and knows what we need. We should, therefore, be humble and trusting in Him. With humility and faith, we can be sure that God will lift us up when the time is right!

Be humble and have faith as you wait on God's hand to lift you up!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for reminding me that You are powerful and by my side. Help me to be humble, to grow in my faith, and to wait for Your time in all things. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Better as One

9/21/2020

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." -Colossians 3:15 (NIV)

A common theme that I have seen lately is that "we're better together." Whether at my daughter's school or in other organizations, we have been reminded that we need to act together. This is especially true in church!

We are called to be one body in Jesus Christ. We are called to be "better together" as we spread God's love. In order to function as one body, we need to be sure that Christ is the ruler of our hearts. We need to welcome Him in and allow His love to fill us. We then can have peace, spread His love, and share His Good News as one body for Him!

Allow Christ to fill your heart so you can be one body with other believers as you spread God's love and peace!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Son, Your love, and Your peace. Please fill my heart and help me to live as part of one body for You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Strength & Peace!

9/20/2020

"May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless His people with peace!" -Psalm 29:11 (ESV)

The world offers us challenges. Some of us may have experienced more obstacles this year than normal. We may feel overwhelmed, anxious, or even weak. In the face of everything, we can find strength and peace!

Although the world may present many challenges, we can meet and overcome those challenges. To be prepared and to have the support we need, we can turn to God. God has the wisdom and power to help us conquer anything in this world. He also has love and compassion to comfort us throughout any ordeal. If we want strength and peace, we need to start by talking to God!

Find strength and peace in God and allow Him to help you overcome any challenge!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the strength and peace that You provide. Help me to know You and Your peace. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Run to God!

9/19/2020

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." -I Timothy 6:11 (NIV)

Sometimes we find distractions in life that keep us from being productive. Time can quickly pass us by as we get sucked into browsing social media, watching TV or movies, or many other things. Similarly, we can sometimes feel ourselves being pulled in to things that are not productive for God's Kingdom. How do we respond?

When we feel ourselves getting pulled in to things that are not on the path to God, we need to evaluate our position and then run to God! We need to avoid the evil and temptations that are all around us. We need to talk with God and lean on Him as we move toward righteousness, love, justice, and all that is good in His sight. We need to flee evil as we run to God!

Do not get pulled off of God's path. Run to God and pursue righteousness, justice, and love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing a path to You. Help me to run from evil and to pursue all the good that is in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Following Directions

9/18/2020

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your word." -Psalm 119:9 (NIV)

There are many paths we can follow in life. M. H. McKee said, "Wisdom is knowing the right path to take. Integrity is taking it." When considering the path we should take, we need to be sure we are following the right directions. We need both wisdom and integrity. We can find wisdom, integrity, and the right directions when we live with God!

If we want to stay on the right path, we can follow the directions that God has given us. We can get direction for our lives by reading His Word. When we spend time with God and reading the Bible, we can learn, receive comfort, and hear God's guiding voice. With prayer and His Word, we can follow directions that lead us to eternity with Him!

Want to stay on the right path? Read God's Word and listen to His guidance!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your Word and for the direction it provides for my life. Help me to hear Your direction and follow Your guidance. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Encourage!

9/17/2020

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

As school reopened this year, teachers, students, and families were faced with new situations and different circumstances. As students and teachers have headed back to school, in whatever form it may have been, many of us realized the need to support each other for the best possible outcomes.

Just as going back to school may have been a new or different experience this year, our lives are filled with situations and circumstances that challenge us. When we face these events in our lives, we need to encourage and support each other. We can find love and encouragement in God and we can share this love as we build each other up, encourage each other, and work together for the glory of God!

Help and encourage each other with God's love for His glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and support. Help me to build others up for Your glory. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Take a Break!

9/16/2020

"You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." -Psalm 32:7 (NIV)

Life can seem to be non-stop. While technology has evolved and allowed us to be more easily connected to each other, the lines between home and work, on and off hours, seem to be blurred. Sometimes we might just want to get away!

When we feel overwhelmed or that we cannot disconnect from the world around us, we may need to take a break. The best place to take a break or disconnect is by going to God. We can find a "hiding" place where we can rest and meditate on His love, where we can feel His care and compassion. We can take a break with God and allow Him to talk to us and rejuvenate us so we are ready to take on His calling for us now and forever!

Take a break with God to feel His love and care as He prepares you to follow His calling!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being a safe hiding place from all I face in the world. Rejuvenate me and help me to follow Your calling for me. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Solid Starting Point!

9/15/2020

"My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge." -Psalm 62:7 (NIV)

As I watch my daughter learn, I am reminded of the importance of a good foundation to support learning later on. In my teaching, I need to be aware of my students' backgrounds so I can prepare appropriate lessons. When we consider our spiritual learning and growth, we also need a solid starting point!

God is the solid starting point for our spiritual growth. Our salvation is built on the might rock that is God and the redemptive plan through Jesus Christ, His Son. We can go to God to find refuge, a safe place to learn and grow. With a solid foundation in God, we can continue to learn and grow throughout our lives!

Go to God as the solid starting point for your spiritual growth!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for providing a consistent, solid foundation. Help me to learn and grow based on You, my rock and my refuge. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Strength in His Grace!

9/14/2020

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." -II Timothy 2:1 (NIV)

There are many different forces in the world. Some of these may be physical forces that literally push or pull us in different ways. However, there are also unseen forces that challenge us morally, emotionally, and spiritually. To resist any of these forces, we need to find strength!

We can find strength by turning to God. God can help us in ways we may not have thought possible. He can help us overcome physical hurdles. He can support us with His love and compassion. He will redeem us through Jesus Christ. When we have faith and take things to God, He will share His strength with us. When we are pushed or pulled by any of the forces in this world, we can be reassured that through the grace in Jesus Christ we will overcome the forces of sin and the challenges of this world!

Find strength in the grace of Jesus Christ to overcome the forces in this world!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for redeeming me and strengthening me. Help me to have faith, to talk with You, and to overcome the forces of this world. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Always and Forever!

9/13/2020

"May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us." -I Kings 8:57 (NIV)

Things change. Some say change is inevitable. Heraclitus said, "Change is the only constant in life." While many things change, there is one thing that does not change. God was with our ancestors and He is with us!

Even before the beginning of time, God existed. He is our Creator. He has always known us and loved us. God was with our ancestors and He is with us now. In the midst of everything that can change, God is our constant - always and forever!

In the midst of change, remember that God is always and forever. He is a constant in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always and forever being with me. Help me to lean on You through everything. In Jesus I pray, amen.

His Strength!

9/12/2020

"It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them." -Psalm 44:3 (NIV)

We fight battles in our lives. Some of our fights are bigger than others. However big or small our battles may be, it is easier to fight them with help!

As we approach the battles in our lives, we can call on God. We can trust in Him and know that He is with us. As we fight our battles, it is with His strength that we can emerge victorious. When we align our lives with God's will, His love and strength are all we need in both large and small battles in our lives!

Call on God and trust His strength in all of your battles!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your strength in my life. Help me to be aligned to Your will and victorious in my battles. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Pray Before You Step!

9/11/2020

"Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways." -Proverbs 4:26 (NIV)

Life is a journey made up of many steps. Some of our steps may be slow and intentional. However, there are times when we may act on emotions or without thinking. We may rush ahead without paying attention to the direction in which we are headed!

We are reminded in Proverbs to consider our steps and the paths we take. We are free to choose our path, but not all paths will lead to a positive outcome. We should consider our steps, but we need to do more than think about our path on our own. We need to be sure we are taking everything to God in prayer. We then need to listen to His direction so we can be sure that our steps will lead to eternal glory with Him!

Pray before you step so God can direct you down the right path!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for guiding my steps. Help me to make the right choices so I can live for You now and forever. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Through Love!

9/10/2020

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." -Colossians 3:14 (NIV)

There are many ways we can show virtue. We can be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. We can forgive others. Even though most of us would consider these positive traits, it is not always easy to practice them!

To help us live out these traits we should start with love. When we start with love, we start with God. God is love and we need to allow God to fill our hearts with His love so we live out His love. With His love, we can bring together the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We can start with God's love and live in virtues!

Be filled with God's love and live with virtue!

Prayers:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love. Help it to fill my heart so I can live with virtue. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

If?

9/9/2020

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

We will all likely face difficult circumstances in our lives. When we are up against the storms in our lives, we may see them as impossible obstacles. In the midst of feeling defeated, it is always helpful to have a "cheerleader" or supportive voice in our ears.

Jesus reminds us that saying "if" will not help us reach our fullest potential. We need to remember that with faith and belief, anything is possible! Jesus is cheering us on, encouraging us to believe, and talking to God on our behalf. We need to remember the power that we have through faith in God and move from "if" to possible!

Have faith and find power in God so you can move from "if I can" to "I know it's possible!"

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the power and confidence that You provide. Help me to always rely on You and to have faith in what is possible. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Avoid the Trap!

9/8/2020

"The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe." -Proverbs 29:25 (ESV)

There are many things that may cause fear and uncertainty. Over the past several months, many people have experienced more fear or uncertainty than usual. How we approach our fear can determine the outcome. We can allow our fear to become a trap or we can choose to trust in the Lord!

We will experience fear. We will be unsure of things in our lives. Yet we know we cannot stop. We need to keep living, but we want to avoid the traps of our fear. To avoid falling into a fear that paralyzes us and keeps us from moving forward, we need to trust in God. As we trust in God, we can be safe. We just need to listen to and follow Him!

Don't allow your fear to be a trap. Trust in God and listen to Him as He directs you to safety!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being with me and keeping me safe. Help me to listen to You so I can continue to find safety in You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Wherever You Are!

9/7/2020

"So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." -II Corinthians 5:9-10 (ESV)

As we plan to go back to school this year, I will have some students attending class in-person and others that will be attending online. While we are in different locations, we share a common goal: for all students to learn to the best of their ability. I am preparing to support students that are learning in class, at home, or in other locations.

Preparing for learning in different places reminds me that we are called to follow God and please Him no matter where we find ourselves. Just like all of my students having the same goal, we should have the same goal to serve God whether we are in our homes, in church, or out in the world. We can remember that no matter where we are, God is there to support us. He can help us choose and do good at home or away!

Wherever you are, choose to do good, follow God, and please Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being with me and supporting me. Help me to please You no matter where I am at. In Jesus I pray, amen.

Love and Value

9/6/2020

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." -Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

We know we are called to love each other. We also know that there are times when loving others is easy and times when it may be a bit harder. But we are called to do more than just love one another, we need to value each other!

God not only loves us, He values each and every one of our lives. He doesn't see anyone as someone that doesn't matter or that can be thrown away. As we look around, we need to practice being more like God. We need to love, but we also need to see the value in each person that God has created!

Love and value yourself and every person!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and valuing me. Help me to show Your love and to value everyone. In Jesus I pray, amen.