Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

To a New Year with Love

12/31/2016

"For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another." -I John 3:11 (NIV)

As we prepare to leave the "old" year and move into a new one, there are often compilations that look back at the top news stories, songs, movies, or other events of the past year. Sometimes we enjoy the look back. Other times there are some events we would rather forget. Either way, the look back can help us prepare for the upcoming year. One such preparation is in how we choose to approach the new year!

God is love and has been so since the beginning...even before the beginning! As we begin the new year, we can choose to hang on to hatred, anger, bitterness, and disappointment from the past year or we can choose a fresh start. We can choose to follow God. To forgive and move on from the past. We can be reminded that we should begin the new year with a love for others. With God's love, anything is possible in the new year!

Choose to move into the new year with God's love in your heart!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love and the blessings of this past year. Help me to move into the new year full of Your love and ready to share Your love with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

You're Still Here...With God!

12/30/2016

"The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." -Psalm 34:19 (NIV)

As we look back at the past year, there are likely events that we would rather forget. Life has its highs and lows. When living in the moment, the lows can seem like they last forever. As we think about the past year and the hard times that we may have faced, we also need to realize that we have overcome them because we are here, ready for a new year!

God promises to be with us and to deliver us. As long as we have faith in God, we can trust Him with our problems, with those low points in our lives. We know that everything we face on earth is temporary. Time passes. God works in our lives. Things change and we are given the strength and wisdom to endure or adjust. Through it all, we know that God will bring us to His eternal glory!

You have survived with God by your side!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for bringing me through everything that I have faced and for the promises of eternal glory with You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Resolution to Rest!

12/29/2016

"There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord." -Leviticus 23:3 (NIV)

Whether in my classroom or at the nature center where I volunteer, there is a considerable amount of planning that goes on in preparation for lessons, assessments, and events. It seems that the work is never ending. As plans are made, it is easy to get wrapped up in all the work that needs to be done to fulfill the plans, but it is also important to take a step back to both see the bigger picture and to keep from getting burnt out!

God knows that we need time to rest. He modeled this for us in His process of creation. We can't sustain ourselves if we do not take time to regroup, to rest, and to spend time in fellowship with God. We need to do this daily, but we also need to set aside time in our schedules for rest. As we approach a new year, there may be many things that we would like to accomplish. In order to be productive in our lives and for God, we also need to incorporate time for rest!

Take time to rest so you can be at your best for God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for showing me the importance of rest. Help me to remember and to take time to rest and to spend time with You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Right and Wrong

12/28/2016

"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." -Proverbs 8:13 (NIV)

We are often told that we shouldn't hate. There may be some truth in that sentiment, but we need to also be aware that we should not blindly accept everything. As a society and as Christians, there are some things that are right and some things that are wrong. We need to be able to know the difference and stand up for what is right!

God gives us many examples of right and wrong. The examples and lessons of His Word can guide us. As we study and learn from Him, we can apply the lessons in our lives. We can know what is right and we can know what is wrong. When we struggle with knowing the difference, we can talk to God through prayer and listen for His response. We can follow His will in order to show His love while standing up for what is right!

Know right from wrong and be ready to stand for what is right!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your law and will in my life. Help me to recognize right and wrong and give me the strength and guidance in standing up for what is right. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

The One Role Model

12/27/2016

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children." -Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)

There are many people that are presented to young people as role models. Often the role models presented are the famous, the athletically gifted, or other public figures. Sometimes we may also look to family, friends, or teachers as role models. All of these role models may be positive influences, but there is one role model for all of us that should rise above any of these people!

God is a role model to which we can all aspire. While we will never be perfect or powerful as He is, we can strive to follow His example. In order to follow God's example, we must learn from Him and about Him. We can learn by reading and studying His Word, by talking and listening to Him, and by learning from other believers. After we learn about Him and His will for our lives, then we must make every attempt to follow and act on what we have learned. By making God our role model and following Him, we can further His Kingdom and make the world a better place!

Make God your role model!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the examples that You have shown me in Your word. Help me to make You my role model, to listen to You, and to put Your will into action in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Speak Up!

12/26/2016

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." -Proverbs 31:8 (NIV)

Whether studying education or looking at society, we can find circumstances that can limit the voices of different people or groups of people. While it may be easy to continue on our way without paying attention to these circumstances, we have a higher calling. We can work for God by being a voice for those whose voice cannot be heard by the world!

As followers of God, we are to be filled with His love and therefore equipped to show and share His love with others. In order to be a voice for those that cannot be a voice for themselves, we need to stop and listen. We need to listen to God and listen to those around us. We can rely on God to give us the strength, understanding, and words that will allow us to be a voice for all. After listening and talking to God, we can then proceed to speak up for the rights of everyone!

Listen to God and others around you, then you can be prepared to speak up for everyone!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Your love. Help me to listen and be prepared to speak up for those that do not have a voice. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Did You Get What You Wanted?

12/25/2016

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." -John 3:16-17 (NASB)

One common question from Christmas day is, "Did you get what you wanted?" While this question is often asked with no harm intended, it can take our focus away from the meaning of the day. The true meaning of the day isn't about getting material things, but on receiving the greatest gift from God!

God gave to humans of all time and places His Son. The gift of His Son is to be a redeeming force in our lives. As we accept the gift of Christ, we can be forgiven and begin a new life. Christmas day is a time to focus on what the gift of God's Son Jesus Christ truly means to each of us in personal ways that impact our daily lives. Instead of asking if we got what we wanted, we should ask if we have accepted God's gift and if our daily lives - throughout the entire year - reflect the presence of Jesus Christ in our hearts!

God gave you the one gift that you need and that no one else could give: His Son as a source of salvation!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the greatest gift that You have given. Help my life to reflect the presence of You and Your Son each and every day of the year. Through Him I pray, amen.

Believe!

12/24/2016

"And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.'” -Acts 16:31 (ESV)

Preparations for Christmas may begin early or they may be last minute. No matter when the preparations begin, anticipation grows as the special day draws near. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus with gifts, food, parties, and other traditions, the meaning of the season depends on our faith and belief!

We are called by God to follow His guidance. He has equipped us with all that we need to begin our journeys. We just have to believe in God and in His plan for our lives. Living for God begins with accepting the gift of Salvation through His Son. After that we are saved and ready to learn and grow in and be part of His Kingdom now and forever!

Believe in all that God tells you and prepare for everlasting life with Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for Jesus and His sacrifice for my sin. Help me to always believe and to follow Your plan for my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

From the Manger to the World!

12/23/2016

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

Our Christmas preparations often focus on celebrating the arrival of Jesus Christ. We set up a nativity or manger scene to remind us of God's gift of His Son. God sent His Son and we should celebrate that gift, but we also need to be committed to more than celebrating the arrival of baby Jesus!

The birth of Jesus began a series of events that changed the course of human history. The miraculous acts of Jesus show us the power and glory of God in human form. The death and resurrection of Jesus gives us salvation and hope. Our faith in God and Jesus present us with a responsibility to help others know Jesus. We cannot simply introduce others to the newborn baby lying in a manger. We need to help others know Jesus as He grew, as He performed miracles, and as a being that is alive and active in our lives today! The birth of Jesus loses meaning when we neglect the rest of His story, so while we celebrate His birth we can't forget what His life means for our lives!

The story of Jesus' coming to earth started in the manger, but we need to share the rest of His story and sacrifice with the entire world!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help me to be able to spread His story, message, and love to others throughout the world. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

All Things Begin in Him

12/22/2016

"And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent." -Colossians 1:17-18 (ESV)

It seems that many people search for meaning in their lives. The search can take different twists and turns. It can become even more confusing when the world around us argues against a single truth. It is true that we each have our own journey, but redemption and everlasting life are only available through one path.

The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is our pathway to salvation. God has placed Jesus as the head of the church and He can bring us all together and give us meaning in our lives. As we look to Jesus Christ, He can guide is in the will of God and He can fill us with love and purpose. We don't have to continue to search, we just have to acknowledge and accept the offer of salvation, redemption, and guidance through Jesus, our Savior!

Find meaning in Jesus Christ and live a life of purpose!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help me to listen to and follow Him so that I can be filled with Your love, meaning, and purpose. Through Jesus, my Savior, I pray, amen.

Forever Increasing Joy!

12/21/2016

"You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." -Psalm 16:11 (NIV)

Life brings ups and downs and while we often dwell on the things that are "wrong", we have a lot for which to be joyful! The Christmas season reminds us that no matter what we are facing, we can have joy. Our joy can begin here on earth when we accept God's gift to us.

God gave us His Son. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ allows us to be forgiven and redeemed. Knowing that God has offered us salvation can provide us joy on earth, no matter what may be happening around us. However, the joy that God gives us now will continue to increase. Beginning with the original Christmas gift of His Son through eternal life in Heaven with Him, we will experience joy that will continue to increase beyond anything we can imagine!

Be joyful in the blessings that God has given you and in those that He has promised!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the blessings and joy that You provide in my life. Help me to appreciate and share this joy. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Run Toward God!

12/20/2016

"But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." -I Timothy 6:11-12 (NASB)

Sometimes we seem to be surrounded by things that are unkind or just downright evil. We may even be tempted to things, such as a love or desire to have money or things. As we journey through life, we must take notice of our wants and the temptations that surround us. We must then decide our next steps!

We don't have to give in to temptations. We have God that can strengthen us. He can help us fight the good fight. He can help us focus on His will and on loving our neighbors. Through His love, we can be examples of His life changing power. Living up to our confessions and embracing our new life granted to us by God through His Son can be easier when we run away from evil temptations and toward God's calling for our lives!

When tempted, run away from evil and toward God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving and redeeming me. Help me to always run away from temptation and toward You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Share Burdens, Share His Love!

12/19/2016

"Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdents, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." -Galatians 6:1-2 (NASB)

We can find many reasons to disagree or not get along with each other. Even within the church we may disagree and there are times when we fall and sin. When faced with disagreements and sin, we have choices in how we respond to our own shortcomings and how we respond to each other. We can further the divisions between us or we can choose to promote healing.

Whenever we experience sin and disagreement in our lives, we need to consider to perspectives of others. We can approach each other with gentleness. We can work to understand ourselves and to each other. Instead of creating or widening divisions, we can choose to learn more about each other, even to the point of assisting in carrying each others' burdens. As we share burdens, we can experience God's love for each of us and His grace and glory in restoring all of us through His Son!

Understand each other, share burdens, and come together in God's love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always understanding me and for providing redemption through Your Son. In His name I pray, amen.

Could be worse...Will be better!

12/18/2016

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." -Romans 8:18 (ESV)

Yesterday was one of those days when things didn't go as planned. We all have those types of days and even though they may seem to last and last, we know that our earthly experiences are temporary. All that we face on earth will one day be history!

Life on earth will have its ups and downs. We will experience joy and despair. However, the joy we experience on earth is nothing like what we will experience in Heaven. God has prepared a place for us that is far more glorious and far more joyful than anything we experience or imagine. When we experience all that life on earth throws at us, we need to be confident that we will one day experience the full glory of God!

Walk with God through the ups and downs of life and one day experience the full glory of God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and guiding me through life on earth. Thank You for giving me the hope that I will one day experience eternal glory with You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Take Time to Worship!

12/17/2016

"Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!" -Psalm 99:9 (ESV)

It's true that life can get busy. We can get lost in schedules that require us to move from one activity to the next. Even when we are rushing around to get everything done, we need to recognize God's role in our lives and acknowledge Him!

God loves us. He blesses us. He is involved in our lives and guides us. Because of God's presence in our lives, He is worthy of our praise and worship. Even when things are hectic and busy, we need to take time to stop and worship God. We need to go to God and worship Him through prayer, praise, and exultation!

Take time to stop and worship God!

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

Hopeful Waiting...

12/16/2016

"I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope." -Psalms 130:5 (NASB)

Preparations for Christmas are in full swing. My daughter has started helping with presents. I wrap and she writes the gift tags and places the presents under the tree. As the presents have filled in the space under the tree, she has been waiting for one with her name on it. She is hopeful and waiting, but she is sure that there will eventually be a present for her!

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we, too, can be hopeful and waiting. We can wait for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and we can be confident that we will experience God's gifts in our lives. One of God's gifts is ready and waiting for us. We do not have to wait to open it! God has provided us with a path to salvation - forgiveness and redemption through His Son's birth, death, and resurrection. We shouldn't allow all of our preparations for earthly celebrations and gifts to obscure the true purpose of Advent and Christmas. Our gift was given to us over 2000 years ago. It is waiting for us to accept it and to share it!

We can be hopeful and waiting for the celebration of Christ's birth, but we don't have to wait to open and accept the His gift of Salvation!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the gifts and blessings You have provided in my life, especially for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to share Him with others. In His name I pray, amen.

Commit!

12/15/2016

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." -Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)

As Christmas approaches, we may be planning for events, both large and small. But there are lots of other times when we plan in our lives. We may be able to name different ways to set goals and plan, but there is one critical piece that must be in all of our successful plans: a commitment to God!

As we plan, we should not forget to include God in our plans. We should make our plans with Him so that He can guide us. With God's influence and participation in our lives, we can be assured that He will establish our plans. He will not only lead us, He will create opportunities and situations that will allow our plans to come to fruition. We just need to commit our lives and plans to Him and faithfully follow Him!

Commit your plans to God and then faithfully follow Him to the success He has for you!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being involved in my life. Please guide my plans and actions so they align with Your will and for Your purposes. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Stir Things Up!

12/14/2016

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works." -Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)

We all likely know people who like to stir things up. Depending on our perspectives, we may welcome challenges to the status quo or we may become uncomfortable with change. As we think about stirring things up, we should focus on stirring things up in ways that motivate each other to love!

When stirring things up, we should not focus on disrupting the norm, but on inspiring love and good works. To do this, we need to be together. We need to be able to communicate with each other. We need to be able to listen and understand one another. We need to be able to support and motivate each other. As we rely on God, communicate with Him and with each other, we can stir things up for good in each others' lives and in throughout the world!

Stir things up to inspire love and good works!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving and inspiring me. Help me to stir things up in order to promote love and good works in Your name. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Better to Receive?

12/13/2016

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23 (ESV)

Christmas is coming! For many people this means a lot of attention will be paid to finding the right gift, knowing how much to spend, and making a list of their own wants for anyone that may be asking. During this time of preparation we may hear the phrase, "It is better to give than to receive." This may be a true sentiment, but our love and giving spirits originate from first receiving!

God sent His Son into the world to redeem it from its sinful ways. All of us have sinned, but we all have the opportunity to accept the gift of redemption through Jesus Christ. Beginning with the birth of baby Jesus and following through His ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection, God presents us with the perfect gift. Our first step needs to be receiving His gift. It is through receiving the gift of Salvation that we can be set free from sin, that we can experience God's love as He intended and be prepared to love others. We can give gifts, but to truly give the gift of love, we need to first receive God's love and forgiveness!

To give the gifts of peace and love, we must first receive God's greatest gift - redemption through His Son!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your Son to live on earth and to die as a sacrifice for my sin. Help me to follow You, to receive Your love and salvation, and to share Your love with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Christmas Preparations

12/12/2016

"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." -I John 4:14 (ESV)

Preparing for Christmas can involve a lot of hustle and bustle. Some may even say all of the holiday activities bring stress. As we prepare for activity and time with family and friends, we shouldn't get stressed by the seasons. Instead, we should focus on the reason for the season!

Christmas is a time to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Preparing for Jesus to be part of our lives isn't something that should happen once a year. We should be living for Christ each and every day and our lives - our words and actions - should let others know of the love and redemption through Jesus. By living for Christ, everyday can be preparations for Christmas!

Prepare for Jesus everyday and allow others to see His glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for redeeming me. Help me to make everyday preparations for Christmas and for proclaiming the birth of Jesus to everyone. In His name I pray, amen.

It is a Great Day!

12/11/2016

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." -Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

Each day that we awake is a great day. When we get up and start our day, we have a choice as to how we will approach the day. We can choose to have a positive attitude or we can prepare for the worst. Our attitude can help determine how our day will go, but there is more that we can do to influence our day!

To help our day get off to the right start, we should take time to pray and talk to God. We can ask for His direction and guidance, but we should also rejoice and thank Him for His presence in our lives and throughout our days. God has creates each day in our lives for a purpose and we can make each day meaningful. A day that starts off with talking to God, rejoicing, and a positive attitude because of His love has the makings of a great day!

Talk to God, rejoice in the day He has created for you, and follow Him for a great day!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for each day that You give to me. Help me to rejoice in it and follow You to make each day a great day. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Need Space?

12/10/2016

"When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place." -Psalm 118:5 (NIV)

I recently saw a quote that said, "Nature is cheaper than therapy." There are times when life can be overwhelming and we may feel a need to get away or have some space. When life gets complicated, one of the things I like to do is take a walk in nature and talk to God there. We can feel that we are being squeezed into a schedule or into a mold that isn't our normal comfort zone, we can call on God!

God is with us and can guide us. While God is ready to lead us, we have to be ready to have faith and trust in His will for our lives. As we trust in and follow God, He will lead us into a "spacious place." That place may be a physical spaciousness, such as a walk in nature, or it may be a spaciousness in our hearts and minds that allow us to experience God's presence and learn to trust in Him. When God leads us into spaciousness, we can communicate with Him through prayer and focus on Him and His will for our lives.

Ask God to lead you into His spaciousness and spend time with Him!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank Your for leading me to spacious places when life is overwhelming. Please continue to guide me in Your will. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Have You Heard?

12/9/2016

"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)

It can be hard to keep secrets. My daughter is experiencing this as we begin to get gifts ready for family and friends. She knows that she can't tell, but there's so much excitement! While some things are secrets, the Christmas season contains the Good News from God that shouldn't be a secret!

God is everlasting. His love and faithfulness endure forever. These are things that we shouldn't keep secret! We should be asking others if they know or have heard the Good News. Jesus has come! He was crucified and raised from the dead so that we can be redeemed and have eternal life with the everlasting God! We can help spread the word so that God's glory is not a secret from anyone!

Don't keep God's work in your life a secret. Be sure to ask everyone if they have heard the Good News!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for sending Your Son and redeeming me. Help me to be sure that everyone knows of Your everlasting love and glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Love and Perseverance!

12/8/2016

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance." -II Thessalonians 3:5 (NIV)

It may sometimes seem easier to just quit and walk away. When we are struggling, we can reach a point where our efforts seem useless. We may have tried everything that we know how to do, but without success. Even if we try everything we know, we don't have to give up, but instead turn to God!

We should always turn to God. It is never too late to turn to HIm, even if we feel we have reached our limit! God is ready to help us. We can turn to Him and ask Him to direct our hearts and to give us the patience and perseverance that we need. It may still not be easy, but if we trust in God, we will know that He will see us through to the end with His love and Christ's perseverance!

Don't give up! Turn to God and ask for His direction in love and perseverance!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and for being patient with me. Help me to always turn to You and to trust in Your direction that includes love and perseverance. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Hope, Patience, and Prayer

12/7/2016

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." -Romans 12:12 (NIV)

Things don't always go our way. When things don't work out as we had planned, we have different options. We can get angry. We can become withdrawn. We can become committed to finding a different way to do things. Whenever we consider our next steps, we should remember the advice from Romans.

We are reminded that we should have hope. God is always with us and He has redeemed us through the death and resurrection of His Son. We should have patience. God has a plan for our lives and He is working in His time to bring the changes and opportunities that we need in our lives. We should also be faithful in communicating with God. We can pray to God and listen to His response. Through whatever we face, we can trust in God, having hope and patience as we faithfully communicate with God!

Have hope and patience as you communicate with God through prayer!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for loving me and having a plan for my life. Help me to listen to You and be faithful to Your will. Through Jesus I pray, amen.