| Sunday, February 07, 2010 |
| There is No Secrets of Instant Sainthood by Rick Warren |
| “Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed.” (James 1:4 Msg)
Be patient with God and with yourself. One of life’s frustrations is that God’s timetable is rarely the same as ours. We are often in a hurry when God isn’t. You may feel frustrated with the seemingly slow progress you’re making in life. Remember that God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time. He will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for your role in eternity. The Bible is filled with examples of how God uses a long process to develop character, especially in leaders. He took eighty years to prepare Moses, including forty in the wilderness. For 14,600 days Moses kept waiting and wondering, “Is it time yet?” But God kept saying, “Not yet.” Contrary to popular book titles, there are no Easy Steps to Maturity or Secrets of Instant Sainthood. When God wants to make a giant oak, he takes a hundred years, but when he want to make a mushroom, he does it overnight. Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering. Be patient with the process. James advised, “Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed.” (James 1:4 Msg) Don’t get discouraged. When Habakkuk became depressed because he didn’t think God was acting quickly enough, God had this to say: “These things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3 LB) A delay is not a denial from God! Remember how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be. Years ago people wore a popular button with the letters PBPGINFWMY. It stood for “Please Be Patient, God Is Not Finished With Me Yet.” God isn’t finished with you, either, so keep on moving forward. Even the snail reached the ark by persevering! *** *** *** *** Rick Warren is the author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” now available in paperback from Saddleback Resources. Â |
Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category
No Secrets of Instant Sainthood
Posted: February 7, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Job Opportunity, Mind, Motivation, power
Jesus Loves You
Posted: February 7, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Scripture Memory, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Encourgment, Job Opportunity, Memorization, Mind, Money Problems, Motivation, power
Jesus Loves You
Rhonda Dent
God loving us first was the beginning of our relationship with him. We must develop a love for God in order to complete the relationship. No matter how much He loved us there could not be a relationship until we loved him in return. Relationships are not one sided. It is not just God loving us but us loving God that completes and defines that relationship.
To have a healthy relationship and to reap the benefits of that relationship there must be a mutual love for one another. If our relationship with God is not what it should be then we have to look within ourselves to cultivate and deepen that relationship. There are many one sided relationships with God and one sided relationships in the world. In our relationship with God it is not Him that is lacking in the relationship. It is us.
I have always had a love for God. Even as a teenager I knew that there was a God and I knew that He loved me. I knew that from a simple song that goes like this….
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the bible tells me so….what a wonderful song. I am sure most children heard the song while growing up. It is a simple song but a powerful song.
The song is so powerful that it is known all over the world. Back then I had no idea how much God loved me or how much He sacrificed for me. All I knew was that He loved me because the song said that he did. Even as baby Christians that is all we need to know, at first. But, as we get older and mature in the things of God we have to grow in the understanding that we must reciprocate that love.
If we never develop a love for God we can never understand what He did for us and how much He loves us. We will never understand love in any of our earthly relationships either. We will never understand unconditional love. Not understanding can prevent us from totally submitting to God and His ways. It will interfere with the desire to build a strong relationship with God and to walk in obedience. It will keep us from finding our purpose and from living a life sold out for God.
God’s love is not conditional and He will never stop loving us no matter what. God does not have human characteristics. His love endures forever. When we grasp the concept of unconditional love we are able to establish a right relationship with God and with our families, friends and neighbors. We then will realize what God did for us. I can think of no better scripture than this:
For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Until we understand the dynamics of such a love we will never quite understand why it is so important for us to have a love for God and not just a love for God, but the same type of sacrificial love that He had, has and will always have for us. Sacrificial love for God will lead us to lay down that bad habit and/or that relationship that we know is not right. It will lead us to sacrifice our time, our money and give up that ungodly behavior and much more.
When we really get to know God, we will develop such a deep love for Him that we will want to please Him.
God is working, regardless of how you feel
Posted: February 6, 2010 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Money, Money Issue, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Daily Motivation, Encourgment, Job Opportunity, Mind, Motivation, power
| God is working, regardless of how you feel by Rick Warren |
| That is why we must hold on all the more firmly to the truths we have heard, so that we will not be carried away. (Hebrews 2:1 TEV)
As you grow to spiritual maturity, there are several ways to cooperate with God in the process – Believe God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it. Spiritual growth is sometimes tedious work, one small step at a time. Expect gradual improvement. The Bible says, “Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 CEV) There are seasons in your spiritual life, too. Sometimes you will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime) followed by a period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter). What about those problems, habits, and hurts you would like miraculously removed? It’s fine to pray for a miracle, but don’t be disappointed if the answer comes through a gradual change. Over time, a slow, steady stream of water will erode the hardest rock and turn giant boulders into pebbles. Over time, a little sprout can turn into a giant redwood tree towering 350 feet tall. Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned. This is not a diary of events, but a record of what you are learning. Write down the insights and life lessons God teaches you about him, about yourself, about life, relationships, and everything else. Record these so you can review and remember them and pass them on to the next generation (Psalm 102:18; 2 Timothy 3:14) The reason we must relearn lessons is that we forget them. Reviewing your spiritual journal regularly can spare you a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache. The Bible says, “It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off.” (Hebrews 2:1 Msg) *** *** *** *** Rick Warren is the author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” now available in paperback from Saddleback Resources. |
We are not perfect, but God is
Posted: February 1, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Job Opportunity, Money, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Encourgment, Job Opportunity, Memorization, Money Problems, Motivation, power
| Monday, February 01, 2010 |
| We are not perfect, but God is by Jon Walker |
| (This guest devotional is an excerpt from, Growing with Purpose, available from Saddleback Resources.)
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:31 (NIV) We are not perfect; God is perfect We are flawed; God is flawless. God takes his perfection, mixes it with the blood of Jesus Christ, and paints his perfection over our imperfection. God takes his flawlessness, couples it with his strength, and forges it to the flaws that weaken us. What does this mean? If you struggle with perfectionism, then ask God to help you deeply understand that he loves you unconditionally. You can not earn your way into his love because he freely gives it. You not only need not be perfect; there is no way you can be perfect. Praise God for Jesus. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24 NIV) If you are frustrated with your flaws, then be honest with God. Ask him to help you see how he works through your flaws and accept your flaws as God’s way of keeping you dependent upon him. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV) *** *** *** *** *** Jon Walker is the managing editor of the Daily Hope devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2010 by Jon Walker. Used by permission. |
Here to there
Posted: January 29, 2010 in Daily Motivation, Encourgement, InspirationTags: Daily Motivation, Motivation, power
Verse of the day
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”- Ephesians 6:12-13
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Here to there
You can get from here to there. In fact, you’ve already begun the journey.
You can live the life you envision. So fill that vision with sound and color, with texture and rich detail.
Right now, as the result of what you are doing, you are going somewhere. Choose to make it somewhere you truly want to be.
The fulfillment of your dreams may seem to be a long way off. And yet, even in this very moment you can feel the joy of living those dreams.
Get busy and get on your way, for the path stretches out in front of you. Keep yourself inspired and in motion with your vivid imagination of how it will feel to arrive.
You know you can get from here to there, and you know how truly fulfilling it will be. Already, you’re making great progress.
— Ralph Marston
Financial Needs
Posted: January 29, 2010 in Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Money, Money Issue, Scripture MemoryTags: Bible Study, Encourgment, Money Problems, Motivation, power
|
Friday, January 29, 2010
|
|
God’s Provision: Faithful Giving
by Rick Warren |
God promises to meet all your financial needs, if you (1) ask him for help; (2) learn to be content; and (3) practice giving in faith –There is a universal law called the principle of sowing and reaping. If I sow criticism, I’m going to reap criticism. If I sow generosity, it’s going to come back to me, and I’m going to reap generosity. Every farmer knows this. A farmer has four sacks of seed in his barn and he looks at his empty field. He doesn’t complain, “There’s no crop! I wish there was a crop!” He just goes out and starts planting seed. When you have a need, plant a seed. It seems illogical that when I have a need, I should give. That’s why it requires faith. God says, “My ways are not your ways.” Why did God set it up that way? Because God is a giver. He is the most generous giver in the universe, and God wants you to learn to be like him. He wants to build character in you. The Bible says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.” (Proverbs 3:9, NLT) This is the principle of tithing. It’s the principle that says every time I make $100 — the first $10 goes back to God. Tithing is an act of worship. We’re giving to God. We’re saying, “All of it came from you anyway.” God says, “Put me first in your life and watch what I do.” You may think you can’t afford to tithe, but the reality is, you can’t afford not to. Tomorrow we’ll look at maintaining integrity, another condition for answered prayer. |
Learn to Be Content
Posted: January 28, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Money, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Encourgment, Memorization, Mind, Money Problems, Motivation, power
Thursday, January 28, 2010
God’s Provision: Contentment
by Rick Warren
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NIV)
God promises to meet all your financial needs, if you (1) ask him for help and (2) learn to be content —
If you’ve ever seen a baby born, you know they don’t come into the world with a whole lot. They’re not holding onto cigars, cars and a stock portfolio. They don’t come into the world with anything but a little umbilical cord and that quickly gets cut.
And then, at your funeral, you don’t take anything with you. The Bible teaches that we should learn to be content.
What is contentment? Contentment means my happiness is not dependent upon circumstances. Most people get caught into “when” thinking: “When I get a certain job … When I can retire … When I get the house paid off … When I get the bills paid off … then I’ll be happy!”
God says, “No, once you get there, you’ll always want something else.” If you don’t learn contentment, you’ll never be happy. You’ll always want more.
“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8, NLT)
Tomorrow we’ll look at faithful giving, another condition for answered prayer.
Three habits to help you grow spiritually
Posted: January 25, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Money Issue, Scripture Memory, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Memorization, Mind, Money Problems, Motivation, power
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Three habits to help you grow spiritually
by Rick Warren
But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. Psalm 59:16 (NLT)
We all want our relationships to be characterized by the persistence and self-sacrifice. But we can never do that on our own. The kind of love we long to show others is only found in a growing relationship with God. Without God’s power in our lives, our love will run out.
You don’t build that kind of relationship with God – one that will help you love others when you want to give up – by accident. You do it through habits. Here are three habits that’ll help you grow in your relationship with God.
1. A daily quiet time — Let God talk to you through the Bible and through prayer.. Nothing will help your life more. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:16, “This is the reason we never lose heart. Our body does suffer wear and tear but every day the inward man receives fresh strength.” (Phillips) Outwardly our body suffers wear and tear. But spiritually we can be renewed every day by spending time alone with God. It’s not hard. Read through a chapter of the Bible, mediate on it, and talk with God about what’s going on in your life.
2. Small group — The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” (NIV) You need to spend time with other believers. I hope you have a church family. Be a part of whatever mechanism they have to connect you within a small group – whether that’s a Sunday School or off-campus small groups. You need the prayer support and encouragement of other believers. A Christian without a small group is an orphan.
3. Worship through song — Psalms 59:16 says, “I will sing about your strength, my God, and I will celebrate because of your love.” (NLT) Singing builds you up. The singing time at your church isn’t just the warm-up act. It’s just as important as the message. Don’t miss it this weekend. Also, put some worship music on your I-pod® this week – and don’t be afraid to sing along. It’ll recharge your soul and give you the God-given strength to love others.
Serving From the Heart
Posted: January 23, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Money, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Mind, Money Problems, Motivation, power
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Serving from the heart
by Rick Warren
From now on if you listen obediently to the commandments that I am commanding you today, love God, your God, and serve him with everything you have within you, he’ll take charge of sending the rain at the right time …. Deuteronomy 11:13-14 (MSG)
Repeatedly, the Bible says to “serve the Lord with all your heart.” God wants you to serve him passionately, not dutifully. People rarely excel at tasks they don’t enjoy doing or feel passionate about. God wants you to use your natural interests to serve him and others.
How do you know when you’re serving God from your heart?
The first telltale sign is enthusiasm. When you’re doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you, or challenge you, or check up on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment. You don’t need rewards, or applause, or to be paid, because you love serving in this way.
The opposite is also true: When you don’t have a heart for what you’re doing, you’re easily discouraged.
One characteristic of serving God from your heart is effectiveness: whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it. Passion drives perfection. If you don’t care about a task, it is unlikely that you’ll excel at it.
On the other hand, the highest achievers in any field are those who do it because of passion, not duty or profit.
We’ve all heard people say, “I took a job I hate in order to make a lot of money, so someday I can quit and do what I love to do.” That’s a big mistake. Don’t waste your life in a job that doesn’t express your heart.
Remember, the greatest things in life are not things. Meaning is far more important than money. The richest man in the world once said, “A simple life in the fear-of-God is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches” (Proverbs 15:16, Msg).
Don’t settle for achieving “the good life,” because the good life is not good enough. Ultimately, it doesn’t satisfy. You can have a lot to live on, and still have nothing to live for. Aim instead for “the better life” — serving God in a way that expresses your heart.
Figure out what you love to do — that which God gave you a heart for — and then do it for his glory!
TIME OUT FOR THE LORD
Posted: January 23, 2010 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Happiness, Inspiration, Money, UncategorizedTags: Bible Study, Memorization, Mind, Money Problems, Motivation, power
TIME OUT
The Book of Joshua
The phase TIME OUT has several meanings. Let talk about a couple of them
• Take a break while playing a game.
• It is use as a form of discipline for a child
When taking a TIME OUT from a game or any other physical event, what is that break use for?
What happens when a child is placed into TIME OUT or sent to their room after doing something that they weren’t suppose to? How can we relate these examples of TIME OUT to the word of God and our own personal lives? At times, do we need to take a TIME OUT?
TIME OUT to Witness
TIME OUT to Pray
TIME OUT to Fellowship
Jesus always took TIME OUTS to pray and in what ways does God put us in TIME OUT and why?
Did God ever send anyone to TIME OUT in the Bible?
Mission Was Given to Jonah: Jonah Chapter 1: 1-2, the word of the lord came to Jonah son of Amittai. (2) Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. (3) But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish, He went down to Joppa where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
TIME OUT: Chapter 1:17, Jona was inside the fish three days and three nights.
• What did he do while in Time Out? Prayed to the LORD (Read Chapter 2)
Some time God places us in TIME OUT to humble us, to get our attention and at times so we do not start taking credit for the victories in our life.
• Moses and Joshua
Lets read Joshua 1: 6-9: Do you think Joshua was taking a TIME OUT by receiving instruction from the Lord?
Important points:
• Ver 7 be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
• Ver 8: So not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
If God is with us, as Joshua, why do we fail or struggle to defeat tough situations, difficult people, and temptations?
• 1 Samuel 17:38-40: David refused to go into battle with Sauls armor because he had not tested or trained with them. He wanted his sling and 5 stones.
Hebrews 5: 13, 14 states: Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
• Commitment to Christ moves people out of their comfort zones. We must train ourselves to distinguish good from evil.
Are we using our TIME OUTS effectively?
• Paying attention, praying in faith, or as James say (James 2; 23), walking away from the mirror and forgetting what we heard or learned. Or are we failing to apply what we learned because of a lack of commitment to the primary work of the ministry (to be soul winners for Christ Mat 28:19)?
In Ver 9 of Chapter 3: Joshua tells the Israelites to come here and listen to the words of the lord your God
• Joshua gathered the people to hear the words of the Lord. Their excitement was high. No doubt they wanted to rush on, but Joshua made them take a Time Out and listen. We run all day in this fast pace age where everyone rushes just to keep up. It is easy to get caught up in our tasks, becoming to busy for what God says is most important-listening to his words. Before making plans, take a Time Out to focus on what God wants from all your activities. Knowing what God has said before you rush into your day can help you avoid foolish mistakes.
Why did Joshua fail to defeat the town of AI the first time around?
Chapter 7: 3,
1. Did Joshua fail to take a (TIME OUT) to consult God or wait for Gods direction before going into battle?
2. Sin has entered the camp, why did it effect the entire group? Chapter 7
3. (Remember what God told Joshua in the beginning)
• Chapter 1:7, Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful in wherever you go.
Is there sin in your camp? Do you need more TIME OUTS? Remember, as Joshua, you are responsible for the sin in your house
What are some of the things that get in our way of taking TIME OUTS?
Take some TIME OUTS to confess your sins when God reveals them to you (7:19-21), when you fail, refocus on God, deal with the problem, and move on (7:22-25; 8:1). God wants the cycle of sin, repentance, and forgiveness to strengthen us, not to weaken us. The lessons we learn form our failures should make us better able to handle the same situation the second time around. Because God is eager to give us cleansing, forgiveness, and strength, the only way to lose is to give up. We tell what kind of people we are by what we do on the second and third attempts.
They gave Joshua the city. Yesterday’s defeat became today’s victory. Once sin is dealt with, forgiveness and victory lie ahead. With God’s direction we need not stay discouraged or burdened with guilt. No matter how difficult a setback sin may bring, we must renew our efforts to carry out Gods will.
A SET BACK IS A SET UP FOR A COME BACK
The only way to do this is to take more Time Out and spend it with the Lord.
Rob Henry
Army of Christ
Sergeant First Class
Unite States Army Retired
Under Gods command 