Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8



This time of year, in the south, we have these little skinny bugs that come out of the grass by the hundreds. They are everywhere and fly around with ease. If you keep your door open for just a minute, you’ll find several have flown in and you will be constantly trying to rid yourself of these annoying pests.



Today’s verse is a good reminder to keep the door closed to Satan. He is like those annoying bugs, he is everywhere, just waiting to slip into an open door of your life and cause frustration and annoyance. He uses people, circumstances, hobbies, pleasures, drugs and alcohol, even your family….to gain access to your heart. Once inside, he can cause so much trouble, you’ll be chasing his demons the rest of your life.



Its important to always stay prayed up, looking to God for His wisdom and protection. Stay in His word and learn from the wisdom it provides. By doing so, you’ll be encouraged to close opportunities off to Satan’s tempting ways and live a life more blessed and full of God’s spirit. Keep the focus on God today so Satan can’t get in and ruin your life! God bless!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Luke 2:10

 

There is nothing I enjoy more than someone walking into my office and start off by saying….”I have some great news…” Positive news is always welcome and it seems like we have less and less good news to share with one another.

 

Today’s verse goes back in time when God’s Heavenly Angels spread the word that a Savior, Jesus Christ, was born and will save people from an eternal damnation. That’s good news for sure. The question is, have you helped share the good news of Jesus Christ? You hear that challenge at church, bible study and even this blog, but seriously, how interested are you in sharing the good news of Jesus?

 

We live in a world that runs short on good news and people are dying every day without any hope of a good eternal experience because no one took time to share this good news that started over 2,000 years ago. Ask God to help open doors for you to share with your friends, family and co-workers. It might start off by simply doing the right thing and someone asking about your decision to walk apart from the world ways. At that moment you have an open door to share what brings you joy! Share the good news of Jesus Christ today! God bless!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23



I just love a new day. It’s a fresh start. What happened yesterday is in the history books. The frustration you felt at work, the moment your spouse upset you, the last bill that diminished your bank balance…the list is endless, but its over and done with. Today is a new day. A new perspective on life. A new forgiveness of those who’ve offended you. A day to see God’s hand work in a desperate situation. This is a new day the Lord has given you.



Rejoice in today and forget and forgive all the yesterdays. The only control you have over past events is to chose a new path in this new day and move forward, allowing God to pave the way so you can find refreshment, comfort and encouragement. God bless!

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Genesis 28:15



While getting ready for work this morning, I looked down and saw a bug moving across the floor of the bathroom. He was small in comparison to the floor itself and had a long way to travel with his short legs. From my view point, I could see where he came from and where he was going. It was a minor distraction, but then I began to think.



Just like the bug crawling across the floor, God sees our every step from His view point. He sees where we’ve been, where we are and knows the path ahead. He has promised to love us and keep us safe in our travels. With that thought, we can knowingly trust Him with every step. We might not see very far ahead, but He does and He prepares the way for us, directing us down certain paths to navigate around disaster. Sometimes He allows us to come near the fire, but not close enough to get burned.



Maybe your journey seems like a long one and there is no end in sight. Simply trust God that He is watching over you. Listen for His voice of direction and heed His warnings. He sees the entire path ahead of you, even when you can’t see beyond this moment. He loves you and has YOUR best interest at heart….so trust Him with every step. God bless!  

Genesis 25:29-34

After reading today’s story about Jacob and Esau, you probably thought, I can’t believe Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. How foolish! But let’s think beyond birthrights and soup. Is there anything of true value that you are trading for something of lesser worth? In other words, what is your “bowl of soup”?

Have you pursued wealth and a career at the expense of family? Maybe your busy schedule has kept you from spending time with God in His Word each day. Some people become involved in extramarital affairs, trading the well-being of their family for the satisfaction of lustful desires. Others sacrifice their health by consuming harmful or addictive substances, or even by overindulging in food. The list of ways we make foolish, shortsighted choices is endless.

Some of the decisions we make today could rob us of the blessings God wants to give us. When you yield to temptation, you’re actually sacrificing your future for momentary pleasure. We can’t afford to live thoughtlessly, basing our decisions on immediate desires or feelings. Since the principle of sowing and reaping cannot be reversed (Gal. 6:7), we need to carefully consider what we are planting. The harvest will come, at which point we’ll reap what we have sown—and more than we’ve sown.

Are you contemplating anything that could have serious long-term ramifications if you yield to the yearning? A wise person evaluates choices by looking ahead to see what negative consequences could follow a course of action. Don’t let “a bowl of soup” hinder God’s wonderful plans for you.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23




I was talking to my son-in-law the other day. He works at a job moving boxes all day. He has several other people who work along side him, but unfortunately, they don’t do their fair share of the work and it puts the burden on him to make sure the job gets done. As he was sharing his work experience with me, it made me think about today’s verse and how we stand in comparison to the work of Jesus Christ.

Today’s verse encourages everyone to work with all your heart, not by human standards, but by the standard set by Jesus Christ. Simply recalling His life, He worked diligently for the Lord, spreading the wisdom of God, instructing people how to live a righteous life and shared about the benefits of staying within the will of God. Quite honestly you could say Jesus worked Himself to death, death on the cross, for you and me.



I don’t think Jesus wants us to die on a cross, but He does expect us to work at this Christian life with all of our heart and not just a half-hearted commitment to Him. He did all the hard work and opened the door for us to drawl upon His strength, wisdom and encouragement through the Holy Spirit, who resides in each child of God. Examine your life and see what areas you need to improve in doing the Lords work. There is a bountiful harvest out there, God needs workers willing to do their part to carry on His plan to save the world, one soul at a time. Do your part today and work at it with all your heart! God will richly bless you!

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38



I went on a walk yesterday following a downpouring of rain. The sun began to peek through the clouds and the temperature was just perfect for walking. As I walked along, I noticed rain water flowing steadily down the road’s curbing. Its flow was pretty strong, well after the rain had passed.



As Christians we are to share our conversion experience with others in an effort to win souls over to Christ. Upon your conversion, you received God’s Holy Spirit. His Spirit can equip you to do great and mighty things if you simply draw upon His power, wisdom and strength. From your life, God’s living waters of redemption, grace and love should flow out to others. Once you begin to share the good news of Jesus Christ, you pass along that living water and it keeps going and going….well after your conversion experience.



The question to ask yourself today, is His living water flowing freely from my life, or am I holding it all in? If you had a genuine conversion experience, then His living water of love will flow freely from your life and impact those around you. If you struggle in your walk, ask God, through His Spirit, to help release what He had given you so you can keep His living water flowing onward to a dry and thirsty world who needs to know what floods your soul with God’s great love! Blessings!