Word For The Day - November 21, 2013

 
The Begat-itudes
 
Read:  Matthew
1:1-17 <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A1-17&amp;version=NIV>
Jesus looked at [the disciples] and said, "With God all things are possible."  - Matthew 19:26
 
Audio:  Matthew 1 <http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Matt.1>
 
Bible In One Year:  Ezekiel
16-17; James 3 <http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=NIV&amp;search=Ezekiel+16-17%3b+James+3>
 
There they are, in the first chapter of Matthew's Gospel, all 44 of them - some tall, some short, some Jewish, some Gentile, some righteous, some not. But one thing in particular united them all: they were all in the lineage of Jesus.
 
How can that be? One is even from Moab! One is an adulterer and murderer! And what about that Canaanite prostitute? She's there too. So what does all this tell us? Surely God can use anyone to accomplish God's perfect will.
 
This powerful truth tells me that I do not have to be tall to be useful to God. I do not have to be strong or attractive to be chosen for work in God's kingdom. I don't even have to be exceptionally smart.
 

If I trust and obey, God can do anything through me. May we all strive to live for Jesus and not ourselves so that our lives will clearly say, "My God can do anything through anyone, because my God is Lord of all!"

 

Guess who now is a Christian?

 

 

 

 

OPEN YOUR HANDS

 

OPEN YOUR HANDS and your heart to receive this day as a precious gift from Me. I begin each day with a sunrise, announcing My radiant Presence. By the time you rise from your bed, I have already prepared the way before you. I eagerly await your first conscious thought. I rejoice when you glance My way.

 

Bring me the gift of thanksgiving, which opens your heart to rich communion with Me. Because I am God, from whom all blessing flow, thankfulness is the best way to draw near Me. Sing praise songs to Me; tell of My wondrous works. Remember that I take great delight in you; I rejoice over you with singing.

Psalm 118:24; Psalm 95:2; Zephaniah 3:17

 

 

 

 

"He Gives What You Need"

Prayer for Today:

Father, thank You for being my Source and Supply. I declare that my trust and hope is in You. I choose to rest in You knowing that You have provided everything I need for today in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus...Philippians 4:19, NIV.

 

In Second Samuel Chapter 12, David had gotten off course. The prophet Nathan was correcting him. In doing so, he reminded David of what God had brought him through. David had seen God’s goodness, favor, protection, finances and healing down through the years. And in verse 8, Nathan made an interesting statement. He said, “David, if it had not been enough, God would have given you much, much more.” In other words, “David, looking back over your life, if you were ever lacking, if you ever needed more wisdom, more favor, more protection, more finances, God would have given it to you.”

 

That tells us that we have what we need right now in order to fulfill our destiny.

 

The moment that what you have becomes not enough is the moment that God will give you more.

 

The moment something starts to keep you from your destiny, the moment it begins to stop God’s plan for your life is the moment God will show up and intervene on your behalf.

 

Today, be encouraged that you have what you need, and what you need tomorrow is on its way! God is faithful and gives you what you need to fulfill His purposes.

 

 

He Makes all Things New.....Revelation 21:5

 

Warren Buffet's idea

 

Warren Buffet's idea

 

Salary of retired US Presidents . . . . . . . . . . . $180,000 FOR LIFE  

Salary of House/Senate members . . . . . . . . $174,000 FOR LIFE This is stupid

Salary of Speaker of the House . . . . . . . . . . $223,500 FOR LIFE This is really stupid

Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders . . . . . . . . $193,400 FOR LIFE Ditto last line

Average Salary of a teacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,065

Average Salary of a deployed Soldier . . . . . . . $38,000

 

I think we found where the cuts should be made! If you agree pass it on, I just did.

 

Warren Buffet, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:

 

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.

 

Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

 

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

 

Congressional Reform Act of 2013

 

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

 

A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

 

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

 

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

 

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

 

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

 

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

 

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

 

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 12/1/13. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

 

Congress made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

 

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Don't you think it's time?

 

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

 

If you agree, pass it on. If not, delete.

You are one of my 20+ - Please keep it going, and thanks

 

 

 

=

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace Under Pressure/SYDR

 
I have a friend who reads the last chapter first when she starts a new thriller. "Takes the anxiety out of reading," she claims. So with Christians: Because we know the end of the story, we can be centers of peace in the midst of utter chaos, calm in the face of disaster.
The apostle Paul calls this attitude "moderation" in Philippians 4:5. It's a term that implies "peace under pressure." It refers to the calm and deliberate strength with which we meet the disquieting circumstances of our days. Kingdoms may fall, friends may falter, churches may fold, oceans may rise, and mountains may crumble, but we can be at peace.

How do we maintain such composure? By remembering that "the Lord is at hand" (Phil. 4:5); He is near. Our Lord is standing just outside the door ready to burst through and turn everything that's wrong right-side up. Then this world and all its troubles will become the kingdom of our Lord, and "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. 2:14).
Jesus said, "Surely I am coming quickly" (Rev. 22:20). Today could be the day! It's the very last thing He said in the very last chapter of His book.
Lord, thank You for dispelling the fear from our lives by letting us know the end of the story. We can rest in the assurance that as Your followers we will one day be with You in Your glorious, eternal kingdom.
 
No doctrine is more closely linked to practical daily living than that of the Lord's return.
 

DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED

 

 

DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED by the difficulty of keeping your focus on Me.  I know that your heart’s desire is to be aware of My presence continually.  This is a lofty goal: you aim toward it but never fully achieve it in this life.  Don’t let feelings of failure weigh you down.  Instead, try to see yourself as I see you.  First of all, I am delighted by your deep desire to walk closely with Me though your life.  I am pleased each time you initiate communication with Me.  In addition, I notice the progress you have made since you first resolved to live in My presence.

 

When you realize that your mind has wandered away from Me, don’t be alarmed or surprised.  You live in a world that has been rigged to distract you.  Each time you plow your way through the massive distractions to communicate with Me, you achieve a victory.  Rejoice in these tiny triumphs, and they will increasingly light up your days. 

 

                                                                                                                                                            ROMANS 8:33-34  HEBREWS 4:14-16

 

 

11/02/2013

 

GROW STRONG in the light of My Presence.  Your weakness does not repel Me.  On the contrary, it attracts My Power, which is always available to flow into a yielded heart.  Do not condemn yourself for your constant need of help.  Instead, come to Me with your gaping neediness; let the Light of My Love fill you.

 

A yielded heart does not whine or rebel when the going gets rough.  It musters the courage to thank Me even during hard times.  Yielding yourself to My will is ultimately an act of trust.  In quietness and trust is your strength.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                            Psalm 116:5-7  EPHESIANS 5:20    ISAIAH 30:15

 

11/03/2013

 

EVERY TIME something thwarts your plans or desires, us that as a reminder to communicate with Me.  This practice has several benefits.  The first is obvious:  Talking with Me blesses you and strengthens our relationship.  Another benefit is that disappointments, instead dragging you down, are transformed into opportunities for good.  This transformation removes the sting from difficult circumstances, making it possible to be joyful in the midst of adversity.

 

Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little disappointments of daily life. It is often these minor setbacks that draw you away from My Presence.  When you reframe setback as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost.  It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in the positive way.  But it is possible to attain the perspective of the apostle Paul, who wrote: Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignificant as rubbish.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                            COLOSSIANS 4:2    PHILIPPIANS 3:7-8

 

WALK PEACEFULLY WITH Me

 

WALK PEACEFULLY WITH Me through this day.  You are wondering how you will cope with all that is expected of you.  You must traverse this day like any other: one step at a time.  Instead of mentally rehearsing how you will do this or that, keep your mind on My Presence and on taking the next step.  The more demanding you day, the more help you can expect from Me.  This is a training opportunity, since I designed you for deep dependence on your Shepherd-King.  Challenging times wake you up and amplify your awareness of needing My help.

 

When you don’t know what to do, wait while I open the way before you.  Trust that I know what I’m doing, and be ready to follow My lead.  I will give strength to you, and I will bless you with Peace.

 

                                                                                    EXODUS  33:14   DEUTERONOMY 33:25     HEBREWS 13:20-21     PSALM 29:11

 

 

Learn to Listen to me...

 

10/31/2013

 

LEARN TO LISTEN TO ME even while you are listening to other people.  As they open their souls to your scrutiny, you are on holy ground.  You need the help of My Spirit to respond appropriately.  Ask Him to think though you, live through you, love through you.  My own Being is alive within you in the Person of the Holy Spirit.  If you respond to other's needs through your unaided thought process, you offer them dry crumbs.  When the spirit empowers your listening and speaking, My streams of living water flow through you to other people.  Be a channel of My Love, Joy, and Peace by listening to Me as you listen to others.

 

                                                                                                            EXODUS 3:5  1CORINTHIANS 6:19  JOHN 7:38-39