Obedience brings Blessings - Part 1

These verses are a listing of your blessings when doing things God’s way. Verses 15-68 are the opposite - curses, regrets and failures if you don’t. The brain finds it easier to do “what” vs. "what not,” so if you are motivated by positive things, these verses are for you.  

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (TLB) 28 “If you fully obey all of these commandments of the Lord your God, the laws I am declaring to you today, God will transform you into the greatest nation in the world. 2-6 These are the blessings that will come upon you:

Blessings in the city, Blessings in the field; Many children, Ample crops, Large flocks and herds; Blessings of fruit and bread; Blessings when you come in,

Blessings when you go out.

7 “The Lord will defeat your enemies before you; they will march out together against you but scatter before you in seven directions! 8 The Lord will bless you with good crops and healthy cattle, and prosper everything you do when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 9 He will change you into a holy people dedicated to himself; this he has promised to do if you will only obey him and walk in his ways. 10 All the nations in the world shall see that you belong to the Lord, and they will stand in awe. 11 “The Lord will give you an abundance of good things in the land, just as he promised: many children, many cattle, and abundant crops. 12 He will open to you his wonderful treasury of rain in the heavens, to give you fine crops every season. He will bless everything you do; and you shall lend to many nations, but shall not borrow from them. 13 If you will only listen and obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, he will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall always have the upper hand. 14 But each of these blessings depends on your not turning aside in any way from the laws I have given you; and you must never worship other gods. 

7/30/2023

The Wedding Feast

Wanting to be “where the action is” or to mingle with the “best people” is human. Contrast the Kingdom of God: You wait on God’s instructions of where you are needed and when. He directs you and never steers you wrong. Deference and humility to God is rewarded. 

Luke 14:7-14 (TLB) 7 When he noticed that all who came to the dinner were trying to sit near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: 8 “If you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t always head for the best seat. For if someone more respected than you shows up, 9 the host will bring him over to where you are sitting and say, ‘Let this man sit here instead.’ And you, embarrassed, will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! 10 “Do this instead—start at the foot; and when your host sees you he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place than this for you!’ Thus you will be honored in front of all the other guests. 11 For everyone who tries to honor himself shall be humbled; and he who humbles himself shall be honored.” 12 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a dinner,” he said, “don’t invite friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors! For they will return the invitation. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who can’t repay you.”

7/23/2023

The Prayer of Jabez

This verse in the Old Testament was made into the book, The Prayer of Jabez. The verse is short and simple: Acknowledge God as your source. Talk to him.  Ask him to bless your efforts and make you worthy.  If this is your desire, he will protect, guide and heal you.

1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV) 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

7/24/2023

The Ten Bridesmaids

Finding matters of this earth more irresistible than eternal ones will cause you to miss opportunities in your spiritual destiny.  These bridesmaids knew how important it was to prepare their lamps but only half of them did.  Lip service and knowing are not the same as doing.

Matthew 25:1-13 (TLB) 25 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2-4 But only five of them were wise enough to fill their lamps with oil, while the other five were foolish and forgot. 5-6 “So, when the bridegroom was delayed, they lay down to rest until midnight, when they were roused by the shout, ‘The bridegroom is coming! Come out and welcome him!’ 7-8 “All the girls jumped up and trimmed their lamps. Then the five who hadn’t any oil begged the others to share with them, for their lamps were going out. 9 “But the others replied, ‘We haven’t enough. Go instead to the shops and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were gone, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 “Later, when the other five returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Sir, open the door for us!’ 12 “But he called back, ‘Go away! It is too late!’ 13 “So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of my return.

7/9/2023

Counting the Cost

All freedom has a price and Christ's freedom has a price too. He says you must make a decision to have it and that includes accepting there is a cost you might not want to pay, such as loss of friends, up to and including losing your life even.  Freedom isn't free but it is worth it.

Luke 14:28-33 (TPT) 28 So don’t follow me without considering what it will cost you. For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it? 29 Otherwise he may lay the foundation and not be able to finish. The neighbors will ridicule him, saying, 30 ‘Look at him! He started to build but couldn’t complete it!’ 31 “Have you ever heard of a commander who goes out to war without first sitting down with strategic planning to determine the strength of his army to win the war[c] against a stronger opponent? 32 If he knows he doesn’t stand a chance of winning the war, the wise commander will send out delegates to ask for the terms of peace. 33 Likewise, unless you surrender all to me, giving up all you possess, you cannot be one of my disciples.

7/2/2023