Monday, August 27, 2012
Stop Fooling Yourself
Stop Fooling Yourself
Read: James 1:22-26
Don't just listen to God's Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. - James 1:22
Audio: James 1
Bible in One Year: Psalms 120-122; 1 Corinthians 9
According to a newspaper report, the police ticketed a New Zealander man 32 times over a 5-year period. Why? For not wearing a seatbelt.
Though his violations were costing him money, he refused to buckle up. So he resorted to deception-fashioning a strap that would hang over his shoulder and make it appear he was wearing a seatbelt. He got away with it for a while, but his deception came to an end when he was involved in an accident that thrust him into the steering wheel and took his life. In his attempt to deceive the law, the man was only fooling himself.
James, in the opening chapter of his letter, taught his readers how to avoid the land mine of self-deception. In order to avoid it, he encouraged them to be hearers of God's Word (James 1:22). James understood that when they heard the Word, it had the potential to transform their attitudes and actions. God, through the Scriptures would get to the root of things. He would treat them as they are and not as they pretended them to be.
James also encouraged this congregation to be doers of the Word (James 1:25). According to James, hearing God's Word was good, but it wasn't enough. They had to do what it said.
As the mirror of God's Word revealed what was out of place in their lives, they were to align their lives with the truth. To hear God's Word and not practice it led to self-deception. However, to be hearers and doers of it led to blessing. Hearing and doing what Scripture says reveals what our lives are really like, not what we pretend them to be (James 1:26), and it helps us to avoid deceiving ourselves. Let's practice hearing and doing what the Bible says and experience the joy and blessing that accompanies obedience.
Jeannette
"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway." ~ Mother Teresa
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
A Powerful Compass
A Powerful Compass
Colossians 3:15
People who do things they do not have peace about have miserable lives and do not succeed at anything. If you are doing something, like watching television, and you suddenly lose your peace about what you are watching, you have heard from God. He is saying to you, “Turn it off. Go the other way.” If you lose your peace when you say something unkind, God is speaking to you. It will save you a lot of trouble if you will stop talking or apologize right away.
God leads His people through peace. Any time you lose your peace you are hearing from God. There is nothing more powerful than the compass of peace in your heart. Follow after it. Follow peace!
8/24
Pray for Blessing
Luke 6:28
A Common misconception is that all you have to do if you are wronged is make the decision to forgive and your job is finished. But God also says, “Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them” (Romans
In this context the word bless means “to speak well of.” It is extending mercy to people who do not deserve it. Not only are you to extend forgiveness to those who hurt you, you are to pray for them to be blessed spiritually. You are to ask God to bring truth and revelation so they will be willing to repent and be set free from their sins. Do not just forgive – complete the process by asking God to bless them. He will bless you greatly for your obedience.
8/25
The Unseen Foe
Ephesians
This verse points out that you war not with other human beings, but against the devil and his demons. Your enemy, Satan, attempts to defeat you with strategy and deceit, through well-laid plans and deliberate deception.
The devil is a liar. Jesus called him “the father of lies and of all that is false” (John
8/26
Chosen and Adopted
Ephesians 1:4-5
You understand adoption in the natural sense. You know some children without parents are adopted by people who purposely choose them and raise them as their own. In the same way, you have been chosen and brought into the family of God even though you were previously an outsider unrelated to God in any way. God in His great mercy redeemed you and purchased you with the blood of His own Son, and He has provided an inheritance that is wonderful beyond understanding. God has many good things in His plan for you so start expecting a blessing!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
25 REASONS I OWE MY MOTHER
25 REASONS I OWE MY MOTHER
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
"If you're going to kill each other, do
it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the
carpet."
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going
to knock you into the middle of next week!"
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
" Because I said so, that's
why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and
break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in
case you're in an accident."
7. My mother taught me IRONY
"Keep crying, and I'll give you
something to cry about."
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your
supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back
of your neck!"
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that
spinach is gone."
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a
tornado went through it."
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've
told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world,
and I can take you out."
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your
father!"
15. My mother taught me about ENVY .
"There are millions of
less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like
you do."
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get
home."
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
"You are going to get it when you get
home!"
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing
your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."
19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I
know when you are cold?"
20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't
come running to me."
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
"If you don't eat your vegetables,
you'll never grow up."
22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your
father."
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you
think you were born in a barn?"
24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll
understand."
25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have
kids, and I hope they turn out just like you
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
"If you're going to kill each other, do
it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the
carpet."
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going
to knock you into the middle of next week!"
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
" Because I said so, that's
why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and
break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in
case you're in an accident."
7. My mother taught me IRONY
"Keep crying, and I'll give you
something to cry about."
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your
supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back
of your neck!"
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that
spinach is gone."
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a
tornado went through it."
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've
told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world,
and I can take you out."
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your
father!"
15. My mother taught me about ENVY .
"There are millions of
less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like
you do."
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get
home."
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
"You are going to get it when you get
home!"
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing
your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."
19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I
know when you are cold?"
20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't
come running to me."
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
"If you don't eat your vegetables,
you'll never grow up."
22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your
father."
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you
think you were born in a barn?"
24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll
understand."
25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have
kids, and I hope they turn out just like you
You're Forgiven
You're Forgiven
Read: Matthew 18:21-35
"In Him we have.the forgiveness of sins." - Ephesians 1:7
Audio: Matthew 18
Bible in One Year: Psalms 107-109; 1 Corinthians 4
When God forgives you but you refuse to forgive yourself, you're spurning His grace and choosing to be miserable. When you do that: (1) Your loved ones are at risk. It's not just about you. When you wallow in guilt you tend to be more withdrawn and critical, and less open and affectionate. So your spouse, children, parents, coworkers, friends, and even your pets suffer along with you. (2) Your health is at risk. Your mind affects your body.
Doctors say bitterness generates chemicals that affect your vital organs. They increase your heart rate, raise your blood pressure, disrupt your digestion, tense your muscles, dump cholesterol into your bloodstream, and reduce your ability to think clearly. Each time you rehearse the past those bad feelings deliver more corrosive chemicals.
Science is now confirming what God has said; namely, that those who don't forgive themselves, and others, are more prone to heart attacks, depression, hypertension and other serious illnesses. (3) Your future is at risk. The Bible says, "You will again have compassion on us.you will.hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea" (Mic 7:19 NIV). Stop dredging up what God has buried. Start looking ahead; otherwise you'll get mired in a bog of your own making.
The Bible says, "He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding" (Eph 1:7-8 NLT). With God's forgiveness comes the wisdom and understanding to not only survive your past, but grow stronger as a result of it.
Jeannette
"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway." ~ Mother Teresa
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Read: Matthew 18:21-35
"In Him we have.the forgiveness of sins." - Ephesians 1:7
Audio: Matthew 18
Bible in One Year: Psalms 107-109; 1 Corinthians 4
When God forgives you but you refuse to forgive yourself, you're spurning His grace and choosing to be miserable. When you do that: (1) Your loved ones are at risk. It's not just about you. When you wallow in guilt you tend to be more withdrawn and critical, and less open and affectionate. So your spouse, children, parents, coworkers, friends, and even your pets suffer along with you. (2) Your health is at risk. Your mind affects your body.
Doctors say bitterness generates chemicals that affect your vital organs. They increase your heart rate, raise your blood pressure, disrupt your digestion, tense your muscles, dump cholesterol into your bloodstream, and reduce your ability to think clearly. Each time you rehearse the past those bad feelings deliver more corrosive chemicals.
Science is now confirming what God has said; namely, that those who don't forgive themselves, and others, are more prone to heart attacks, depression, hypertension and other serious illnesses. (3) Your future is at risk. The Bible says, "You will again have compassion on us.you will.hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea" (Mic 7:19 NIV). Stop dredging up what God has buried. Start looking ahead; otherwise you'll get mired in a bog of your own making.
The Bible says, "He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding" (Eph 1:7-8 NLT). With God's forgiveness comes the wisdom and understanding to not only survive your past, but grow stronger as a result of it.
Jeannette
"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway." ~ Mother Teresa
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Stronger by Faith
8/22
Stronger by Faith
Exodus 15:2
God does not want to just give you strength; He wants to be your strength. In 1 Samuel
How do you receive strength from God? By faith. Hebrews
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