Blog Archives - Bible Inspired

Noisemakers and Peacemakers

12/31/2018

"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." -James 3:18 (NIV)

Ringing in the new year may come with countdowns and noisemakers. Many of us may also set resolutions for ways that we plan to be better as the new year begins. Whether or not we ring in the new year with noisemakers and resolutions, we should always strive to be peacemakers preparing a harvest for God!

No matter the paths that our lives take in the new year, we have choices that will either lead to confrontation or to peace. We need to be grounded in God and His Word in order to respond in ways that will show love and lead to peace. We can call on God and be filled with His Spirit. In turn, we can find ways to share God's love and redemption throughout the new year. We can be noisemakers for God's love in order to be peacemakers for His Kingdom!

Be a "noisemaker" that shares God's love and works as a peacemaker in His name!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the love that You have shown me throughout this past year. Help me to share this love in order to be a peacemaker for You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Plant and Have Patience!

12/30/2018

"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." -Proverbs 16:32 (NIV)

I recently saw a cartoon in which one character was optimistic about the new year while a second character was not as upbeat. The optimistic character was planning on a better year because it was preparing to plant flowers. As we approach the new year, we can plan to plant flowers to help brighten the new year. We also need patience to allow those seeds to grow and blossom!

We can be optimistic because we trust in God's plan. We can help plant the seeds of His love and compassion. We can share His plan for redeeming us through His Son. However, we also need to have patience and allow the seeds we plant to grow and take root before we will see the blossoms and fruits of our efforts. Through it all, we can learn to have patience by trusting God's timing and being optimistic in His plan for the seeds we plant!

Plant seeds of God's love and be patient as He nurtures them into positive results!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the lessons You have taught me. Help me to take these lessons and plant seeds of Your love, then help me to have patience as You nurture these seeds. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

New Year...Keep Doing Good!

12/29/2018

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Some days can seem to take forever and a year made up of long days may also seem to take a long time. As the year draws to a close, we may feel worn out from the year that has just passed. We may even feel that our efforts have not produced the expected results. Through everything that we encounter, we need to keep doing good, doing God's will!

When we root our thoughts and actions in God's Word and His will for our lives, we can be reassured that we will get results. Even though the results may not be instantaneous or happen when we feel they should, God is in control. As long as we keep trying and doing good, there will be a harvest. With God's guiding hand, the results we see will be glorious and eternal!

Follow God, keep doing good, and allow the results to come!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being there for me and for helping results to come from the work that I do. Help me to keep that work focused on You and Your eternal harvest. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Watching and Listening!

12/28/2018

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them." -Acts 16:25 (NIV)

Whether you are standing in front of a classroom of students or group of coworkers or just going about your daily routines, others are watching you. Others take note of what you say and what you do. They see how you respond to the situations you encounter.

Paul and Silas experienced this while sitting in prison. Even though they were sitting in prison, Paul and Silas knew that others were watching and listening. There was an opportunity for Paul and Silas to be witnesses for God, so they prayed and praised God. As we go about our routines, we, too, can pray and praise God. We can allow our words and actions speak for our relationship with God as others watch and listen!

Act as God calls you so others can watch, listen, and learn about a relationship with God!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for being with me and allowing me to learn and be a witness for You. Help me to always follow You and act in ways that bring others to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

He Picks You!

12/27/2018

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." -John 15:16 (NIV)

There are a lot of choices that we make each day. We don't even stop and consciously think about many of them. Even though we may not think about some of our choices, God has a plan and has thought through His choices. The good news is that He has chosen each of us!

God picks each of us to be members of His family. He has chosen to give us redemption and forgiveness through His Son. We also need to choose to follow God. It is only through Him that we can experience His blessings and eternal life with Him. Each day, God chooses to be at our side, ready for us to call on Him. We need to practice living in ways that make the choice to follow God one that doesn't require much thought!

God has already picked you...will you choose to follow Him?

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for choosing me. Help me to make the choices that will allow me to follow You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Swept Away & Swept Up!

12/26/2018

"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." -Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)

As we prepare to leave one year behind and begin another, we often think of new beginnings. There are some things we want to hold onto and take with us and others that we are eager to forget. To end one year and begin another on the right foot, we need to focus on God!

God provides for us the opportunity for new beginnings. We have the chance to be born again. All of the things that we need to move on from can be swept away! God can remove our sin and help us get on the right track. We just need to return to God, focus on His will, and prepare our hearts and minds to receive God's Word, blessings, and guidance. When we keep our focus on God, our sin can be swept away and we can be swept up in His love!

Follow God's will in your life and allow Him to sweep away the sin and lift you up in His love!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for removing my sin and for lifting me up in Your love. Help me to always hear Your will in my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Take Heart!

12/25/2018

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

In the world we see and experience a lot of trouble, but that trouble doesn't have to define us or our future. We have received on this day a gift from God. Through His Son, we can be freed from the trouble of this world. We can overcome it!

Jesus was born as a baby and changed the course of human history. When we allow Him into our lives, He can change us, too. We can be equipped with what we need to overcome the troubles and trials of this world. We can take heart and prepare for eternal life with God by accepting gift of His Son, from the infant in the manger to the crucified and resurrected Savior!

Take heart, believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, and be prepared to overcome this world!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help me to always take heart in Your promises, strength, and love. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Welcome Him!

12/24/2018

"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." -Revelation 22:20 (NIV)

Many of us have probably been preparing for the last couple of weeks. Shopping for presents, wrapping, decorating, and preparing the house have most likely been part of the "to do" list. We do this to celebrate the arrival of our Savior. We remember God's greatest gift to the world!

While we prepare for celebrating an event from thousands of years ago, we should also be preparing ourselves for the return of Jesus Christ. Instead of preparing our homes and buying gifts, we need to be sure we are preparing our hearts and minds to receive our Savior. We can welcome Jesus into our lives by accepting God's gift of forgiveness through His Son, then we can live as God has called us so we can say, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

Welcome Jesus into your life and prepare for His return!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help me to always welcome Him into my life. In His name I pray, amen.

Acknowledge, Celebrate, & Share!

12/23/2018

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God." -I John 4:15 (NIV)

In two days we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. While we wait and prepare for this one special day each year, we need to acknowledge the birth, life, and death of our Savior on a regular basis. Instead of one day a year, we need to offer praises and invite Jesus into our lives each and every day!

If we acknowledge that Jesus is God's Son and our Savior, He will be a part of our lives. Once God is in our lives, we can experience a completely new life! God can fill our lives with contentment and joy in all that He provides for us. Acting on God in our hearts, we can praise Him and all that He does for us. We can also share God's love with others. As we acknowledge, celebrate, and share God, we can give to others the gift of life with God!

Acknowledge, celebrate, and share the blessings of God with others...every day!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son and all of the love and blessings You provide. Help me to always celebrate and share Your love with others. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Season(s) of Peace

12/22/2018

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." -Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

The Christmas season is often thought of as a time of peace and good will. While we may hear message of peace during this time, we are called to be peacemakers beyond the Christmas season. As followers of God, we need to show others His love and peace!

God is a peaceful God and He wants us to live in peace. This doesn't mean that we compromise the laws and lessons that God has taught us. Instead, it means we begin with the promises of God, our redemption through His Son, and the plans He has for our lives. We can live in and share God's peace. Peace may begin in this season with the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ, but it should remain with us throughout the year!

Trust in God, accept the gift of Jesus Christ as your Savior, and be a peacemaker all year long!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help me to live in Your peace and to be a peacemaker by sharing Your peace with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Getting Older?

12/21/2018

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." -II Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

The other day, one of my students asked me, "Are you living to die or dying to live?" As time seems to pass by quicker and quicker, we may feel the impacts of getting older. Even though we are getting older, we do not have to focus on dying!

It is true that our physical bodies will eventually "waste away," but we are more than just our physical bodies. We can take heart that God will renew us each day. Our spirits can be strengthened as we learn about God and grow in our faith and relationship with Him. No matter how old we may become on earth, we can prepare our spirit for eternal life with God. Instead of worrying about getting older and dying, we can be living with God for eternity!

No matter how old you may get, learn from God and prepare for eternal life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for renewing and strengthening my spirit. Help me to always turn to You each day for continued renewal. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Call and Wait!

12/20/2018

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." -Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV)

Whether living with or working with children and young adults, we know that they are not always willing to listen to the lessons and advice that we may try to offer. Even though they may not seem like they are listening, there are points when everyone realizes the need for some help. In our spiritual journey, we are also children...and sometimes we don't listen to God!

God allows us to be free to make our own choices. He also knows that we will not always make the right choice. Even when we do not listen to God, He never abandons us. We can also call on Him and return to Him to find His guidance, "advice," and plan for our lives. When we realize we need help, God is ready. We just need to call on Him, seek Him, and willingly wait and listen to the answers that He provides!

When you need help, call on God, pray, and wait for His answer!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always being near. Help me to recognize that I need Your help and prepare my heart to listen to Your answers. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

His Kids!

12/19/2018

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." -Romans 8:16 (NIV)

In a recent professional development, my colleagues and I were discussing the need for students to feel like they belong in our classrooms. Research supports that students learn more and perform better when they feel part of the classroom. Similarly, we are better when we feel part of God's family!

In order to be the best we can be and to do the best for God's Kingdom, we need to be part of God's family. We are God's children and we can be reassured that the Holy Spirit testifies on our behalf. We are members of God's family and He wants us there! We are His children and we can confidently share this news with others, inviting them to become on of God's kids!

You are a child of God. You belong in His family!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for making me a part of Your family. Help me to always remember this and to share the news to grow Your Kingdom. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Don't Forget!

12/18/2018

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." -Luke 2:6-7 (NIV)

The Christmas season can bring with it a long to do list. From shopping to preparing food to cleaning and decorating, the list ay seem to grow right up until Christmas day. Even though we may feel we need to do the things on our list, the most important thing to remember is why we are celebrating!

We should not forget that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. It is through His birth, life, death, and resurrection that we can be cleansed of our sin. We can be redeemed through Him and experience eternal glory with God. While our earthly chores may seem pressing, nothing in the here and now are more important than celebrating and praising God and His Son, our Savior!

Don't forget to celebrate Jesus during this Christmas season!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son and the redemption I can have through Him. Help me to always take time to celebrate Him and to praise You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Confident!

12/17/2018

"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." -Psalm 27:13 (NIV)

There are times in our lives when we feel we are being put to the test. During these times, we may feel like we are loosing confidence in ourselves. Even if we are feeling shaky, we need to remember that God is a steady. We can be confident in Him!

We can have faith in God and all that He has promised us. We can depend on these promises and have confidence in what God does for us now as well as what will be revealed to us as we enter into Heaven. We can see the goodness of the Lord now and be confident that one day we will see Him in all of His glory!

Be thankful for God's blessings now and be confident that you will one day see all of God's glory!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all of the blessings that You have given me. Praise to You for the glory that You will reveal to me as I enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Keep Going!

12/16/2018

"Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble." -Psalm 119:165 (NIV)

I'll admit that there are times when I seem to trip over my own two feet. When we stumble, we may hurt ourselves. While many of us may have experienced stumbles in our lives, we need to be careful of stumbling in our spiritual lives. We need to be sure we are focused and able to keep going!

There are lots of things in this world that may make us stumble. The devil would like nothing more than for us to turn our backs on God and stumble our way through life, but we don't have to let that happen. When we focus on God and His law, we can find the path that will lead us to eternity with Him. With God leading us, we can avoid the obstacles that would cause us to stumble. With God, we can keep going!

Keep going by following God to avoid stumbling!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for leading me and guiding me through life. Help me to allow You to lead so I can avoid stumbling. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Be Alert and Do Better!

12/15/2018

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." -I Peter 5:8 (NIV)

Life is full of lessons for each and every one of us. As we journey through life we need to be alert to these lessons. As poet Maya Angelou once said, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." We can do better when we are alert and know better!

God has prepared the lessons that we experience in life. He has prepared these lessons specifically for each of us. We need to learn to be alert so we can heed His teachings. We also need to be alert so we can apply these lessons to our lives. It is through God and His teaching that we can know better, be alert, and do better!

Follow God's lessons so you can be alert to know and do better!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the lessons that You teach. Help me to always follow Your lessons and to do better with my life. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Best Time!

12/14/2018

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." -Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

Tonight is a night that offers me a time for reflection. A journey that began four and a half years ago ends with my graduation with a doctorate degree in education. Prior to beginning this journey, I wouldn't have thought it possible. Now, as I consider my next steps, I know that the right opportunities will appear at the right time.

God always knows what we need. Whether we are beginning a journey that lasts for years or we are just trying to make it through a day, the opportunities that happen in our lives will be put there by God at just the right time. We can trust in God's timing, in the people He places in our lives, and the choices that He provides. Through it all, we can be comforted that there is a time for everything and the best time is God's time!

Trust in God's timing as the best timing in your life!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the direction and guidance You have shown in my life. Help me to always wait for Your perfect timing. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Delivered!

12/13/2018

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears." -Psalm 34:4 (NIV)

There are times when we want or need answers. We may search for answers, even becoming desperate in our search. The answers we need are not hidden or require a long and difficult search. We can find answers by turning to God!

God has the answers that we need for our lives. We can seek God and His will in order to know what we need to do in our lives. As we seek God, we must also listen to what He is telling us. Then, after seeking and listening, we can be confident that God will deliver us from the fears we face. He will help us walk through the trials of our lives!

Seek God, listen to Him, and allow Him to deliver you from your fears!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You give me and do for me in my life. Help me to always seek Your answers for my life. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Always Love

12/12/2018

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." -John 15:12 (NIV)

Sometimes people make it difficult for us to love them. While we may try to show love and support, they may push us away in many different ways. Even when others don't seem to want our love, we need to continue to show it. These are the times when we need to turn to God for love and strength!

God loves us so much that He sent His Son to live on earth and die for our sin. Even when we are most unlovable, God loves us. He cares for us and will be there, even if we try to push Him away. These are the examples that we can draw from as we approach others in love. We need to be ready to love, even if our love is not well-received. It is through showing this love - God's love - that we can eventually allow others to see God's love and life-changing power!

Receive God's love. Love Him in return. Show God's love to others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for always showing me love, even when I may be resistant. Help me to embrace Your love and share it with others. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Carrying Burdens

12/11/2018

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." -Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

The Christmas season gets many of us thinking about the gifts we can buy to share others that we care. We spend time trying to choose the perfect gift. We want others to like and use the gifts that we give. Even though it can be fun to pick out and give gifts, we can also give more than just material things!

When we want to help others, we can also give gifts of compassion and empathy. We can give to those we love by helping to carry their burdens. God is always prepared to help us carry our burdents. We can show God's love by calling on Him to give us strength to help others carry their burdens. We can show God's love and our love for others as we help to carry their burdens!

Give the gift of caring and helping to carry others' burdens!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for helping to carry my burdens. Help me to show compassion and to assist in carrying others' burdens. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Sharing Contentment

12/10/2018

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" -Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

A friend recently shared a quote from Denzel Washington that says, "At the end of the day, it's not about what you have or even what you've accomplished...It's about who you've lifted up, who you've made better. It's about what you've given back." There are times, especially as we prepare for the holidays and buying gifts, that we focus on "stuff" instead of giving back in other ways.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we shouldn't just focus on the material things that we are buying. We should be sure to be content with what we have so we can focus on doing God's will in ways that will help lift others up and bring them to Him. God has promised to be with us, so we can count on Him for help in our lives and in reaching out to others. With God, we can be content and we can give back in ways that help make ourselves and others better!

Be content and call on God to help you help others!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for all that You give to me. Help me to rely on You and to be able to help others see Your power and glory. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Uphill or Level Ground?

12/9/2018

"Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." -Psalm 143:10 (NIV)

Some days may feel as though we are fighting a continual uphill battle. Each step we tack may seem harder than the last. Even in the midst of these days, we have an option to find an easier way. We just need to listen to God as He leads us and gives us support.

When we follow God, not everything in life will be easy. However, God will continually teach us lessons. By listening to His teaching and acting on what we have learned, we can continue through life. The uphill battles that we may face will become easier to conquer. With God on our side, our uphill battles may become more like walking on level ground. Only God can lower the hills and allow us to more easily follow His will in our lives!

Listen to the lessons of God and allow Him to help make your uphill battles feel more like level ground!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for leading and teaching me. Help me to walk on level ground through Your guidance and support. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Standing Firm!

12/8/2018

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." -I Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)

There are times in our lives when we are faced with choices that may require us to take a stand. After we take a stand, others may talk and say things that are untrue. While these things may make us uncomfortable, we need to have courage and strength to stay the course of what is right!

When we are taking a stand, we need to be on our guard and ready to face the consequences of our decision. From the time we take a stand through the consequences that follow, we need to listen to and rely on God. If we follow His will, then He will provide us with courage and strength. He will comfort us and keep our senses keen so that we can be on guard. With faith in God, we can stand firm with courage and strength for all that is right!

Follow God and stand firm for what is right, allowing Him to provide courage and strength!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for teaching me and granting me courage and strength. Help me to always follow and rely on You. Through Jesus I pray, amen.

Good News!

12/7/2018

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'" -Luke 2:10 (NIV)

With all of the negativity we may hear on the news, we sometimes need to hear something positive. As we proceed through the Christmas season, we need to stop and hear the good news. Instead of rushing because of the expectations of the holiday, we need to hear what the angels were saying!

On that first Christmas night, the angels brought good news not only to the shepherds, but to all of us. We should remember this news and carry it with us not just in the holiday season, but every day! The Christmas season should allow us to reflect on God's gift of His Son and the promises held in His arrival on earth. We can then find courage in the gift of redemption that God has given us!

Embrace the true Good News of the season!

Prayer:
Dear God-
Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Help us to always remember the true reason for our celebrations. In His name we pray, amen.