Generosity

Jesus knew he was here for a specific purpose and he honored his Father by living it. God’s way is one of giving and generosity and Jesus is our example of it. Your purpose is special to you but if you are stingy or think only of yourself, it isn’t God’s purpose for you.

 

Mark 4:24-25 (MSG) 24-25 “Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.”

 

10/16/2022

Taking Care of Family

 

Caring for your family is stressed in the Bible. It may mean you look after them, give money, or your time.  Or it may mean tough love - you pray, be kind and love them from a distance. God gives you family and them you. Ask God what you are to do and in faith, do it. 

1 Timothy 5:8 (TLB) 8 But anyone who won’t care for his own relatives when they need help, especially those living in his own family, has no right to say he is a Christian. Such a person is worse than the heathen.

10/9/2022

Everlasting to Everlasting

Many “don’t believe” in the Bible but benefit from what is in it every day as have hundreds of generations before them. What is in the Word of God contains the most relevant values for life now just as when it was supernaturally inspired by God and written. 

Psalms 103:17-18 (TLB)  17-18 But the loving-kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting to those who reverence him; his salvation is to children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant and remember to obey him!

10/2/2022

Man Made Traditions or God Made Traditions

There are as many interpretations of God’s word as there are people and churches. Time spent in the Word, prayer, and daily relationship with God helps differentiate what is man made and what is God’s way. There is no substitute for the time you spend with God. 

Mark 7:12-13 (TLB) 12-13 And so you break the law of God in order to protect your man-made tradition. And this is only one example. There are many, many others.

9/25/2022 

Hearing and Putting into Practice

Being learned about the Bible is wonderful but it is incomplete. The Pharisees were highly learned and they had much incorrect understanding and hypocrisy. You build your life in strength and stability by learning the ways of Jesus and putting them into practice each day.

Matthew 7:26 (NIV) 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

9/18/2022

Prevented from understanding God

 

God’s truth may not make sense at times but there is much going on behind the scenes that you ignore or are not aware of. Always consider if you may be under the influence of the enemy, especially when you doubt God. That is how original sin began.   

John 8:43-45 (TLB) 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you are prevented from doing so! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a hater of truth—there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars. 45 And so when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe it!  

9/11/2022

A Clean Heart

The Bible and world is replete with those who want Godly lives but unconsciously flirt with evil. That is what happens in this world.  You may actually seek evil and not even know it as earth is the devil’s playground. Staying close to God is the only real way to avoid it.

Proverbs 11:27 (GNT) 27 If your goals are good, you will be respected, but if you are looking for trouble, that is what you will get. 

 

9/4/2022

God wants your Thanks and Trust

The Old Testament is full of laws as well as sacrifices of animals and blood. The blood of Christ replaced these ceremonial and literal sacrifices. Even so - now, as then - God wants your trust and gratitude, not outward ceremonial or religious sacrifices.

Psalms 50:13-15 (TLB)  13 No, I don’t need your sacrifices of flesh and blood. 14-15 What I want from you is your true thanks; I want your promises fulfilled. I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory. 

8/28/2022

The Poor don't get Poorer

These verses are usually misunderstood as “the poor get poorer” but they apply to your purpose and abilities. If you don’t use what God gives you, he gives it to those who have already shown their willingness to develop and find success with his gifts.  

Matthew 13:10-12 (TLB) 12-13 “For to him who has will more be given,” he told them, “and he will have great plenty; but from him who has not, even the little he has will be taken away. That is why I use these illustrations, so people will hear and see but not understand.

8/21/2022

Book of Psalms

 

There are 150 chapters in the Psalms, poetry and pathos the Jewish people read and sang to God and each other. Many are expressions of frustration followed by affirmation of the power of God in transcending each and every one of those frustrations.

Psalms 34:18-19 (TLB) 18 The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. 19 The good man does not escape all troubles—he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one.

8/13/2022

Eat, Drink and be Merry

A rich man ponders how to store his overflowing crop yields. He decides to build bigger barns and then: ”Eat, drink and be merry.”  God calls him a fool for looking only to earthly wealth to be rich when he needs to look to the eternal riches - relationship with God. 

 

Luke 12:16-21 (NLT) 16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

8/7/2022

Honest Effort

Honor your father and mother does not say you must love them. It doesn’t promise YOU will receive honor from THEM. Yet, it is a commandment, an essential aspect of what it takes to know and walk with God. God asks for honest effort, not success of outcome from others.

Exodus 20:21 (MSG) 12 Honor your father and mother so that you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.

7/31/2022

The Habit of Seeking God’s Will

Most look for richness in money, work or relationship.  If you don’t include God’s will in these areas, you will find much trouble and sorrow on your way to them. It will all make sense later as you make it a habit to ask and let God bless your efforts and lead you.

Proverbs 10:22 (KJV) 22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

7/24/2022

Transforming of Your Mind

 

As you learn what is good and acceptable to God, your thoughts and desires will transform. If you want to know God better, expect to change how you see things and think. If your thoughts are conformed to how you have always “done it,” your progress will be limited.

Romans 12:2 (KJV) 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, Will of God.

7/10/2022

Right Judgement

 

The standards you judge others by are applied to you. Judgement is seeking better vs best, joy vs sorrow, love vs fear, etc. You must come to it in right judgement.  Being overly critical is not right judgement.  If you fail your own standards, it will painfully come back to you.

Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV) 1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

7/3/2022

God's Judgement

 

Hurt feelings are the source of many problems in this world. Jesus was criticized from all directions. You will be too at times. It is God’s judgement that matters.  Even Jesus turned criticism over to God.  Do what is right and let God handle others and their criticisms.

1 Peter 2:23 (GNT) 3 When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge.

6/26/2022

Israel Loved Their Idols

It is said there are no atheists in foxholes. In daily life, Israel loved their idols but when trouble was near, they cried out to God to save them. He may prevent your trouble, save your life or forgive you, but you still need to reconcile and stay reconciled to God. 

Jeremiah 2:27 (TLB) 7….They call a carved-up wooden post their father, and for their mother they have an idol chiseled out from stone. Yet in time of trouble they cry to me to save them! 

6/19/2022

Two are Better than One

 

Having others you can pray with or talk about God with works because “two is better than one.”  A regular time to discuss or be with others who want to move forward spiritually prepares you to receive from God that which you may not even know you need.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either one of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

7/17/2022

Time to Move On

 

There are times you are distraught, traumatized or confused. The Bible says to turn to God first and Exodus 14:15 shows the additional step: Continue forward or take a completely different path, but at the right time, you must, in faith, move on.

 

Exodus 14:15 (NIV)  15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 

7/3/2022

Defended by the Lion

Isaiah 31:4-5 describes the focus of a lion killing and eating a sheep and compares it to how God will defend you over your own negative thoughts, resistances, as well as attacks from others. See him hovering over you. God is not frightened away.  He is always with you. 

Isaiah 31:4-5 (TLB) 4-5 But the Lord has told me this: When a lion, even a young one, kills a sheep, he pays no attention to the shepherd’s shouts and noise. He goes right on and eats. In such manner the Lord will come and fight upon Mount Zion. He will not be frightened away! He, the Lord Almighty, will hover over Jerusalem as birds hover round their nests, and he will defend the city and deliver it.

6/12/2022

Silent Sin

Joshua was beyond consolation when his army suffered losses in Ai. The reason was there was a sin in Israel that had to be rooted out that was compromising their strength. They were undermining God. If you are flailing, ask God if there is a sin you need to recognize.

Joshua 7:7-12 (TLB) 7 Joshua cried out to the Lord, “O Jehovah, why have you brought us over the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us?  Why weren’t we content with what we had?  Why didn’t we stay on the other side? 8 O Lord, what am I to do now that Israel has fled from her enemies! 9 For when the Canaanites and the other nearby nations hear about it, they will surround us and attack us and wipe us out. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?” 10-11 But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up off your face! Israel has sinned and disobeyed my commandment and has taken loot when I said it was not to be taken; and they have not only taken it, they have lied about it and have hidden it among their belongings. 12 That is why the people of Israel are being defeated. That is why your men are running from their enemies—for they are cursed. I will not stay with you any longer unless you completely rid yourselves of this sin.

6/5/2022

The Accuser

Listen to your self-talk. Satan is the Accuser.  If you are accusing yourself or someone is accusing you, ask God if it is him or Satan. Satan pulls you down. God lifts you up. Satan uses guilt and grief. God says, “let’s make this right.” 

 

Job 1:6-7 (TLB) 6 One day as the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan, the Accuser, came with them. 7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. And Satan replied, “From earth, where I’ve been watching everything that’s going on.”

 

5/29/2022

Turn the Other Cheek

When Jesus was on the cross, he was there to complete his purpose. He knew there would be regret by those putting him there. Love with God’s love and pray for those who try to harm you. This is turning the other cheek. Vengeance is God’s prerogative only.  

Matthew 5:38-40 (TLB) 38 “The law of Moses says, ‘If a man gouges out another’s eye, he must pay with his own eye. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the one who did it.’ 39 But I say: Don’t resist violence! If you are slapped on one cheek, turn the other too. 40 If you are ordered to court, and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too. 

5/22/2022

In Quietness and Confidence

For many, trusting God in difficulties and trials is a white knuckle experience. As you trust and come to know God better, instead of worrying and fearing outcomes you will develop a quiet, meditative confidence. That is where you will find your answers and peace. 

Isaiah 30:15 (TLB)….in quietness and confidence is your strength;

5/15/2022

The Voice of God

 

Samuel woke to a voice calling him. God is always speaking but most don’t know his voice from any other in the environment. God speaks personally and distinctly to each person. Eli couldn’t answer for Samuel, he alone had to listen and develop his relationship with God.

1 Samuel  3:8-10 (TLB) 8 So now the Lord called the third time, and once more Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli. “Yes?” he asked. “What do you need?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who had spoken to the child. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if he calls again, say, ‘Yes, Lord, I’m listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Yes, I’m listening.” 

5/8/2022

Discretion in Communication

When a miracle occurs, you want to tell others yet several times Jesus told those he healed to keep it quiet. Your communication with Christ is your priority. Let him lead you to what and when to reveal to others, whether it be about healing or any other matter.  

Matthew 9:27-31 (MSG) 27-28 As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, “Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!” When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, “Do you really believe I can do this?” They said, “Why, yes, Master!” 29-31 He touched their eyes and said, “Become what you believe.” It happened. They saw. Then Jesus became very stern. “Don’t let a soul know how this happened.” But they were hardly out the door before they started blabbing it to everyone they met.

 

5/1/2022