Say "Thank You"

As Easter is upon us, I am just going to leave the word's of this little devotional right here. 

God Bless and He is risen! THANK YOU, LORD!!!!

Say “Thank You”

by Joyce Meyer

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! 
—1 Chronicles 16:34
Thanksgiving should be a regular part of our lives. It is something that creates an atmosphere where God can speak; it is a type of prayer, and it should flow out of us in a natural way that is pure and easy. We can take time each evening and thank God for the things He helped us with that day, but we should also continually breathe out simple prayers of thanksgiving every time we see Him working in our lives or blessing us. We might say, “Lord, thank You for a good night’s sleep,” or “God, I thank You that my visit to the dentist didn’t hurt as much as I thought it might,” or “Father, thank You for helping me make good decisions today,” or “Lord, thank You for keeping me encouraged.”
God is always good to us, always faithful, and always working diligently in our lives to help us in every possible way. We need to respond by letting Him know we appreciate Him and everything He is doing for us. We should thank God silently in our hearts and we should also voice our thankfulness aloud because that helps us stay conscious and aware of God’s love, which He demonstrates through His goodness to us.
God’s word for you today: Thank God for twenty things today before you ask Him for anything.

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From the book Hearing from God Each Morning: 365 Daily Devotions by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2010 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Depth Of Love For Us

As we approach Easter, let us remember the holiday isnt about a bunny but a out a Man who's love for us, has no end.

God Bless.

Depth of Love for Us

As I have pondered the love of Christ for us, and the different ways that the Bible presents it to us, I have seen four ways that the depth of Christ’s love is revealed.

First, we know the depth of someone’s love for us by what it costs him. If he sacrifices his life for us, it assures us of deeper love than if he only sacrifices a few bruises. So we will see the depth of Christ’s love by the greatness of what it cost him.

Second, we know the depth of someone’s love for us by how little we deserve it. If we have treated him well all our life, and have done all that he expects of us, then when he loves us, it will not prove as much love as it would if he loved us when we had offended him, and shunned him, and disdained him. The more undeserving we are, the more amazing and deep is his love for us. So we will see the depth of Christ’s love in relation to how undeserving are the objects of his love (Romans 5:5–8).

Third, we know the depth of someone’s love for us by the greatness of the benefits we receive in being loved. If we are helped to pass an exam, we will feel loved in one way. If we are helped to get a job, we will feel loved another way. If we are helped to escape from an oppressive captivity and given freedom for the rest of our life, we will feel loved another way. And if we are rescued from eternal torment and given a place in the presence of God with fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore, we will know a depth of love that surpasses all others (1 John 3:1–3). So we will see the depth of Christ’s love by the greatness of the benefits we receive in being loved by him.

Fourth, we know the depth of someone’s love for us by the freedom with which they love us. If a person does good things for us because someone is making him, when he doesn’t really want to, then we don’t think the love is very deep. Love is deep in proportion to its liberty. So if an insurance company pays you $40,000 because you lose your spouse, you don’t usually marvel at how much this company loves you. There were legal constraints. But if your Sunday School class makes all your meals for a month after your spouse dies, and someone calls you every day, and visits you every week, then you call it love, because they don’t have to do this. It is free and willing. So we will see the depth of Christ’s love for us in his freedom: “No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18).

To push this truth to the limit, let me quote for you a psalm that the New Testament applies to Jesus (Hebrews 10:9). It refers to his coming into the world to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin: “I delight to do your will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8). The ultimate freedom is joy. He rejoiced to do his redeeming work for us. The physical pain of the cross did not become physical pleasure. But Jesus was sustained through it all by joy. He really, really wanted to save us. To gather for himself a happy, holy, praising people. He displayed his love like a husband yearning for a beloved bride (Ephesians 5:25–33).

-Author Unknown

Humble Yourselves

Pride Is something my husband is working on it and finding out just how much he has of it.

It's amazing how pride works and how with just a simple mundane activity can cause a crack to allow pride in and ruin everything.

Take pride seriously, it kills everything it comes in contact with. Just like Tim McGraw sings always stay humble and kind then sit back and watch what those two characteristics work.

God Bless.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. (NLT) -1 Peter 5:6

Pride is a difficult, thorny root that slowly takes hold in your heart. It's deceptive and is difficult to perceive let alone conceive its presence in our lives. Do you trust that the Lord will honor you at the right time? Failure to trust that God will honor you will lead you to boast to yourself and others about your greatness. As you walk through your day, keep an eye out for any roots that may trip you up.

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10 Results of the Resurrection

I am just going to leave the words of this little devotional right here. There is nothing I can add but oh, how powerful the words are.

God Bless

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17)

Here are ten amazing things we owe to Jesus’s resurrection:

1) A Savior who can never die again. “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again” (Romans 6:9).

2) Repentance. “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel” (Acts 5:30–31).

3) New birth. “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

4) Forgiveness of sin. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

5) The Holy Spirit. “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing” (Acts 2:32–33).

6) No condemnation for the elect. “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died — more than that, who was raised — who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).

7) Jesus’s personal fellowship and protection. “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

8) Proof of coming judgment. “[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

9) Salvation from the future wrath of God. “[We] wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10; Romans 5:9).

10) Our own resurrection from the dead. “[We know] that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (2 Corinthians 4:14; Romans 6:4; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:20).

John Piper Devotional App

Trusting God's Competence

Oh how I am working on this and how much I need the word of God to be true.

What I need now is for my beliefs in my heart and mind to line up so I can move on.

So, let's put our unbelief to bed and remind ourselves God can not and will mot lie and He has only good in store for us.

God Bless.

Trusting God’s Competence

Praise God that he is able to bring about everything he says: ‘For no word from God will ever fail.’

Our God is the God of the impossible – he delights to take situations that seem beyond hope, such as that of the previously barren Elizabeth, speak his word of promise and then transform them. 

- Trusting Bible App Devotional

Thank God

For me, Joyce seems to hitting where it hurts again. Once again, this little devotional is getting to the heart of an area where I seem to be lacking in or need more focus.

It really doesn't matter how you look at, Joyce has God's ear and lay's out pretty clear. Not foe condemnation but for us to have a heart and mind change.

God loves us and in His love, He uses anyone and everything to draw us closer to Him and the problem lies in what we do with what He has provided so let us get serious in our walk and get rid of anything that is causing a barrier in our walk and start thanking God in everything we do from here on in and be thankful for people like Joyce who keeps it real in a world where anything false is the new normal.

God Bless.

Thank God

by Joyce Meyer

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. 
—Psalm 9:1 NKJV
Throughout the Bible we see people celebrating progress and victory in a variety of ways. One way was to specifically take the time to give an offering to God and to thank Him.
Noah had been in the ark one year and ten days when God told him it was time to go forth and begin a new life. I cannot even imagine how happy he and his family (and the animals) were to see dry ground. The first thing Noah did was to build an altar to the Lord and sacrifice various animals to Him. In Noah’s day this was the acceptable method of giving to God and showing appreciation for what He had done. God was pleased when He smelled the pleasant odor and He pronounced a blessing on Noah and his sons (see Genesis 9:1).
Abram (later renamed Abraham) regularly built altars to God and sacrificed, giving praise and thanks to God for his progress as he journeyed through the land (see Genesis 12:7, 8; 13:4). God was leading him, taking care of him and keeping him safe. Surely at the end of each day we should take time to celebrate that God has kept us safe and enabled us to do whatever needed to be done.
We would quickly add a lot of celebration to our lives if we would take time to give thanks and perhaps some other type of offering when God does amazing things for us. An attitude of gratitude shows a lot about the character of a person. We should never have an attitude of entitlement, but we should have one that says, “I know I don’t deserve God’s goodness, but I am sure grateful for it.”
Love God Today: God, help me be the most thankful person in the world. I never want to take your goodness for granted, so please help me celebrate all you have done are doing and will do in my life.

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From the book Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Snap Out Of It

I have always be curious about the story of Jabez. His story is just a little blimp in the bible but one I can't help but wonder if we truly understand his story.

This little devotional may help put things in perspective and give an insight on just how important it is to cry out to a living God when you have a need and then having the knowledge and more importantly, the faith He heard your cry and will come through for you without a shadow of a doubt no matter how long it may take to broaden our territory.

God Bless.

Snap Out of It!

The story of Jabez, meaning pain, is brief but beautiful. As people called out to Jabez, they were sentencing him to a sad, miserable life. The tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21 NIV). Yet his life took a different turn. Jabez stands out as a person who refused to accept his situation. He chose not to mourn or groan about it. He didn’t listen to what people called him. What he did was go to the one who could change it all. He cried out to the living God. Today, you may be trapped by what people have said about you, or the names they’ve labelled you over the years. Snap out of it! Don’t accept what people say, but look to the Lord, like Jabez did. He knew that God’s plans were not limited to people’s ideas. God’s ways are higher than ours and very often go against what the majority has to say. So, even though people may have called Jabez ‘pain’, his life had a better destiny. God’s hand was upon him and God kept Jabez from being a pain. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made by the master Creator. His plans for you are good, to prosper you and not to harm you; to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

As you live your life trusting in Him, He is working behind the scenes to write out a beautiful end to your story. Keep following Him and you will see that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Declaration Thank You, Lord, that You are working to create a beautiful story in my life. I don’t care about what people say about me, but I look to You and trust that You have the best in store for me.

-Author Unknown

Does God Change His Mind?

To me, this isn't a strange question but a real one and many people have wondered about it, including myself.

I think this little devotional will help answer the burning question. It has been my experience God loves when we question Him on things for this is an open door where He can get a foothold in to draw us closer to Him.

It is what we do with the answers thast get's us into trouble. So, with a good attitude and an open heart may qe approach this question with a true desire to hear what God has to say about this subject.

God Bless.

Does God Change His Mind?

What a strange question? Does God change His mind? How would you answer the question? Most of us would emphatically say, ‘God is the same: yesterday, today and forever. He doesn’t change His mind. What He says, He does’. Yet it seems like God changed His mind while dealing with Hezekiah. Isaiah, the prophet, came to King Hezekiah with a message from God, asking him to get his house in order for he was going to die. Hezekiah responded by praying, weeping bitterly and reminding God how he had walked in truth and done what was right in God’s sight. Isaiah had not even left the palace, when he came back to tell the king that God had heard his prayer, seen his tears and was adding 15 years to his life. Hezekiah’s repentant heart caused God to change His mind.

We, often, see this pattern in the Bible; the people repenting on hearing news of the coming disaster because of their wickedness, and God, in His mercy and love, forgiving them. When the people of Nineveh heard that their city was going to be overthrown, they proclaimed a fast, cried out to God and turned from their evil ways. Finally, God relented from the disaster that He said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it (Jonah 3:10). Have you strayed so far away from God that you wonder if He could ever have any mercy on you?

Beloved, Jesus took the punishment for your sins so that you could experience God’s abundant mercy and forgiveness. Return to Him. You are assured that, if you confess your sins, He will forgive you and cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). He is just, faithful, compassionate, abounding in love and merciful. He does not delight in sending calamity, but delights in showing mercy.

Prayer Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my sins (name them). I repent of every evil and wicked way. I receive Your mercy and grace, and believe that You will lead me in paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

-Today Daily Devotional App

A Six Point Summary Of The Gospel

I love this. Plain and simple. The explanation of the gospel in six point summary what could be better than that?

This little devotional can be taken any where and when somwone about the hope in us, we can pull this up and it's an instant conversation starter.

The usefulness of this are countless and my is that you will it just as useful and powerful as I have and will continue to have way into the future.

God Bless.

Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3:18)

Here’s a summary of the gospel to help you understand it and enjoy it!

1) God created us for his glory. “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory” (Isaiah 43:6–7).

God made all of us in his own image so that we would image forth, or reflect, his character and moral beauty.

2) Every human should live for God’s glory. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). The way to live for the glory of God is to love him (Matthew 22:37), trust him (Romans 4:20), be thankful to him (Psalm 50:23), and obey him (Matthew 5:16). When we do these things, we image forth God’s glory.

3) We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him . . . and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images” (Romans 1:21, 23). None of us has loved or trusted or thanked or obeyed God as we ought.

4) We all deserve eternal punishment. “The wages of sin is (eternal) death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Those who do not obey the Lord Jesus “will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).

5) In his great mercy, God sent forth his only Son Jesus Christ to provide for sinners the way of eternal life. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

6) Eternal life is a free gift to all who will trust in Christ as Lord and Savior. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

John Piper Devotional App

Jesus, You Gave It All

Jesus, You Gave It All

For over the past year, I have been on what I would like to call a furlough from my adult life in exchange for making a little boy’s dream come true. We, here at the Slocum household, have basically traveled every weekend to one place or another and when we have been home, I shamelessly have enjoyed the comforts what it has to offer.  Over the past year, I have given up most of everything I thought was important to me only to find out, what was happening right in front of me was far better than what I could have ever asked for.

However, during this time a song on began to fill my heart as well, and I began to listen to the words I knew from heart in hopes I would hear what God was trying to say to me. This song has always been one of my favorites and if truth be told, I realized I had been taking the meaning behind the it for granted. Funny how things work out like that. In fact, I thought I had things figured out and didn’t really need the wisdom of the lyrics and I would go as far to say, I thought I was on a whole other playing field. But God, in His infinity sovereignty has shown me, I still have some things to learn and just how much I needed to return to the fundamental’s. It is my hope that I can convey what God is trying to teach me through the words of this song especially as we head into the Resurrection season.

Jesus, You Gave It All
Hillsong Worship
Lord, I lift my voice in praise to You
For the love You placed inside of me
Lord, I give my life my heart and soul to You alone
And with every breath that comes from me
Will flow Your mercy and Your grace
Proclaiming love and liberty for all who have an ear to hear
And Your love stirs faith and hope in me
And Your grace brings power to set this sinner free
And your blood pour’s joy into my life
Jesus, You gave it all for me

As I went through line by line and applied it to my life I couldn’t help but wonder when was the last time I praised God for placing His love inside me for someone? A long time. Sure, I love with a deep love, but I have come to take that love for granted. I have stopped looking at people through the eye’s of God and the last time I stopped to take the time to asked Him what He wanted me to do so there could be a godly impact on other people’s life is when I felt to pay for someone’s groceries at Giant Eagle. Although I have had ample times when some one has come across my path to show the love of God as well as tons of opportunities to share the hope I have within me, I never gave it a second thought. I have no excuses, I just forgot what a smile could do for a person and how it doesn’t cost me a dime, just a readjustment of attitude. And while I am at it, when was the last time I showed mercy to someone who needed it? When did I apply grace to a situation where evil had a stronghold? When was the last time I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was good and He has only good for me? When was the last time I reigned in my tongue and used my words to edify? Or called upon His power to heal the sick?

To the world and quite frankly to myself, it would appear, I have lost my first love and how it’s affecting how I see other’s but one could say, it also is damaging my soul. Or maybe the problem isn’t the fact I have forgotten the fundamental’s of what it is to be a Christian, but instead I have forgotten who I belong to and the price He has paid for me to be free. And for me, the thing that made me go huh, was the last line of the song.

See on that fateful day, He truly did give it all for me. He sacrificed His dignity by allowing Himself to be seen naked. You don’t even need to ask me If I would follow suite because I think you know the answer to that. He allowed His mind to be tested not only from the crown of thorns but also by allowing the voices of other’s to ring in His ear who were crying out for Him to be crucified. He allowed their words to become the deciding factor in the process of whether He lived or died. Not to mention the mocking He endured from those same people on the way to the cross. If it would have been me, I would have smacked some people silly and it is for this reason, I am not God and He is.
He allowed His blood to be spilled so I can apply it to the areas where the enemy is hard at work trying to destroy the faith and hope that is within me. There has never been another person who has shown just how much love He has by allowing His breath to dissipate as He takes on the sins and cares of this world causing a separation from the source of life itself. But what we really forget is how He showed off by conquering the grave by raising from the dead in all His power and glory. Amazing this man is indeed.

So, as we come into the most precious season there is, and we give up what we think will make us right in His sight, and attend church services, and do all those thing we do, may we truly remember the reason for the season, Jesus, the man who gave it all for the freedom to live the life we were made for, son’s and daughter’s of a eternal King.

My Light Will Shine For You

If we think what we do or what we watch or anything in between doesn't have an effect on our lives, then I think we are seriously misguided.

I believe when we let other influences in, our light dims and we are to be the light of the world and how can we be completely given to that purpose when we are distracted?

I am guilty of distraction but I also thankful I serve a Savior of second chances and has understanding of what it is like to be in a world where things are coming at you with the sole purpose to destroy us.

God Bless.

Jesus replied, "My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going." (NLT) -John 12:35

Are you surrounding yourself with darkness or light? What kinds of influences do you open yourself up to? Even small decisions such as tv shows, music, and the language out of our mouths bring about either darkness or light. Shine light into your life so that you don't stumble along the way.

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Before Daylight

There is nothing more I can add to this little devotional except that I love it, I can relate to it, and I want to live by it.

May you find the word's below something you can also live by.

God Bless.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. (NLT) -Mark 1:35

Are you feeling disconnected from God? Do you feel a void in your life? Maybe it's time you take some time out intentionally to spend time with God. Eliminate yourself from any interruptions and seek God in prayer. We should have private time with God even if we aren't feeling separated from Him in order to focus on God.

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Do Good

We all have different interpretation's on how to do good. What we need to remember it isn't about us but about other's and having the heart for what God considers to be needful in the lives of others.

And when we lose ourselves and pick up the heart for others, then God promises to bless us beyond what we could ask or think and I would rather have His blessings than what I think I could do on my own, wouldn't you?

God Bless.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith. - (Galatians 6:10)

Paul's epistle to the Galatians verse 10 speaks to how we should bear and share burdens, do good to all.We all know people who are in need we ourselves are also in need at different times in our lives.

Fulfilling a need, is an opportunity to do good to as many people as we are able to and when we can. Needs are everywhere, look along the street you live, the community, the church you attend, the office where you work, on the bus you take, on the route you drive to work. Do good with every opportunity you get!

-Author Unknown

Jesus is God's Amen

I wonder if we, I'm including myself, truly understand it is not how we pray but what we say that holds the power to our prayers being answered.

Maybe it is time we tried something new. Maybe it is time we had a change of heart and mind. Maybe it is time to go back to the basics and talk to the one who created us and ask Him to give us an insight on how we should be living a powerful life full of answered prayers.

God Bless.

All the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Prayer is the place where the past and future are linked repeatedly in our lives. I mention this here because Paul links prayer with God’s Yes in this verse in a striking way. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, he says (with choppy Greek that comes through in choppy English), “That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” Let’s try to smooth that out. Here’s what he is saying: “Therefore, because of Christ, we say Amen to God in our prayers to show that God gets the glory for the future grace we are counting on.” If you’ve ever wondered why Christians say Amen at the end of our prayers and where that custom comes from, here’s the answer. Amen is a word taken straight over into Greek from Hebrew without any translation, just like it has come into English and most other languages without any translation.

In Hebrew, it was a very strong affirmation (see Numbers 5:22; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6) — a formal, solemn, earnest “I agree,” or “I affirm what you just said,” or “This is true.” Most simply, “Amen” means a very earnest Yes in the context of addressing God. Now notice the connection between the two halves of 2 Corinthians 1:20. The first half says, “All the promises of God find their Yes in him.” The second half says, “That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” When you realize that “Amen” and “Yes” mean the same thing, here’s what the verse says: In Jesus Christ, God says his Yes to us through his promises; and in Christ we say our Yes to God through prayer.

John Piper Devotional App

As I Have

The following little devotional is one for the times we live in. I am always wondering and thinking how what I should say, how I should act, and when I came across this little devotional I appreciate the word's written.

The word's give me hope and a sign God has heard my cry and cares about the things that is happening in this world. I believe God cry's over the state of what is happening and is looking for people to pick up His mantle for His who are going to hell in a hand basket.

Are you one of them? Are we ready to rise to the occasion? Lord, I pray so.

God Bless.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. (NLT) -John 13:34

In a time when politics abound and culture is at war with itself, how do we react? Should we jump in the middle, pick a side, and point fingers? Do we volley attacks at our own brothers and sisters who think differently? The first rule of thumb is to not pass judgment. Then, seriously determine what is the most loving response, one that would inspire others. Couldn't this world use a bit more love?

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Tested Scripture

Everyone has a bad habit. And everyone who has those bad habits and has a true desire to give them up or to give up anything that keeps you from God's will for their lives need to read and meditate on this little devotional.

To sum up this little devotional in my style, everythingis possible with God's wisdom guiding you.

Amen and God Bless.

Tested Scripture Reading: James 1:1-8, 12-15 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds. . . . - James 1:2

Anyone who has tried to give up a bad habit knows how hard it can be to resist its enticements. Just a few days after “quitting,” you’re ready to take up the old habit again. The feeble attempt of trying to quit was little more than a miserable exercise doomed to failure. There is nothing more difficult than denying our “self.” As James puts it, “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.” This is because our sinful nature still clings to our “self” and we are powerless to fight it in our own strength. We need God’s help always. Things and habits we struggle to deny reveal desires that harm the body and stifle the soul. Wherever we are, such desires inevitably surface to foil our best attempts at maturing in the faith. Testing, writes James, develops perseverance, a dedication to grow and mature in Christian patience and wisdom.

And perseverance includes the disappointments of our miserable failures. And when our disappointments reveal a hidden temptation, we can be thankful to God, who “gives [wisdom] generously to all without finding fault.” God is our help and strength—always.

There is great joy in God’s gift of wisdom to discern an unhealthy desire and to work at disciplining yourself, to conform to the mind of Christ. Have you asked God for wisdom to withstand temptations?

Prayer: Under the shadow of your wings, Lord, give me the wisdom and strength to persevere in my walk with you.

Amen.

Arie C. Leder https://today.reframemedia.com/devotions/tested#noredirect

Why Didn't You Say Anything

This is a perfect little devotional to get your heart a pumping and your mind to thinking without any condemnation.

This little devotional I believe was meant to and will open the heart's of God's people to bring more depth to their lives so they can go out into the world and share the good news as to the reason for their change of attittude, lives, and heart.

God Bless.

Why Didn’t You Say Something?

by Gloria Copeland

“I believed...therefore have I spoken.” 2 Corinthians 4:13 Consider the following scenario: “Where do you want to go eat, honey?” the husband asks. “Oh, I don’t care. Anywhere you want to go is fine with me,” she’ll answer. Taking his wife at her word, the husband will go to his favorite restaurant. The problem is, the wife doesn’t really like that one. Once they get there and start to order, she’ll be acting a little aggravated. “What’s wrong?” “Oh nothing,” snaps the wife. “Something is bothering you. What is it?” “I didn’t want to eat here. I want to eat somewhere else.” “Well, why didn’t you say something?” he’ll ask in exasperation. Now, that’s just a small example, but it illustrates a very solemn truth. Someday, when our earthly lives are finished, when we stand before Jesus, someone might say, “Lord, I really needed clothes for my children when I was on earth...I really needed healing for my body...I really needed deliverance from my circumstances.”

And I can just hear Jesus saying to us just what the husband said to his wife, “Well, why didn’t you say something?!” Those words may shock you. You may be sitting around in the midst of a crisis waiting for God to act—when all the time, He’s waiting for you. Jesus is waiting for each one of us to take the power and dominion He gave us and use it to put those devil-generated crises where they belong—under our feet! Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore [you] go!...” (Matthew 28:18-19, New International Version). You lay hands on the sick and they’ll recover. You cast out the devil. In other words, Jesus was saying, I’m giving you My authority, so use it! Whatever crises you’re facing right now, stand up, take authority over the devil and say something! Say, “Satan, in the Name of Jesus, I take authority over you and your assignment against me and my family. I take authority over you in this situation, and I declare deliverance and victory in the Name of Jesus! You take your hands off me.

I am a child of the living God. I am covered by the blood of Jesus. And I am delivered! Amen.” Now the challenge is to leave that place where you made your stand of faith and keep saying what you believed—what you want to come to pass (Mark 11:23). If you want a change, why don’t you say what you want? Jesus said you can have what you say! Speak the Word “I believe, therefore I speak.” —2 Corinthians 4:13

Need prayer? Call 817-852-6000. +16074416572e a free gift from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland.

Quote Of The Day-Take One Of God's Promise

This is one of the most simpliest thing's but more importantly, the most powerful to live by.

And may we never let it slip to the wayside. It's a tool that just may save lives in the coming day's.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day

-Joyce Meyer

“Take one of God’s promises, like Joshua 1:9 (NIV),

and mutter it over and over under your breath: Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

-Joyce Meyer, I Dare You: Embrace Life with Passion

When God's People Are In Need

To say I am a hospitality kind of person is to say pig's can fly.

But I want to be all that God want's me to be. So this is an area where I need to dig down deep and learn the art of hospitality.

Some say, you are born with it but my bible say's that you may have entertain angels and didn't even know it. So in other words, I need to step up my game and be ready for anything.

God Bless.

When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. (NLT) -Romans 12:13

What would it look like for you to be eager to be hospitable? Hospitality is both a mindset and preparation. A lot of times we talk ourselves out of hosting a gathering because our home isn't ready. In actuality we don't want to extend ourselves. Other times, we are willing and able, but aren't prepared with clean sheets or a meal in the freezer. Don't let things stand in your way of practicing hospitality, be ready.

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Those Who Know Your Name Trust In You

I love this little devotional and it's timing in my life lines up with what I have felt like God is trying to say in my life.

Trusting is a big problem for me so I appreciate these types of devotionals. They are an encouragement to me. And when I am encouraged, I just want to share the wealth. So be encouraged.

God Bless.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for you. (NLT) -Psalm 9:10

When you walk with God, He will provide at just the right moment. When you take things into your own hands and push God out of your plans you prevent Him from having the opportunity to provide for you. In what areas have you stopped looking to God for direction?

Download this app to get your daily devotions: http://www.jctrois.com/dailybibledevotion/

Quote Of The Day - If We Look At Our Circumstances

How true is this quote? I know it hit's home for me. Surely I can't be the only one who has ever looked at their circumstances and then said are you sure, Lord? Maybe You got the timing all wrong.

I guess it comes down to do want ro walk in the anointing no matter what is going around you are do you want to get by.

I'll take the anointing please and thank you. It will be the best decision of our lives on that I am sure.

God Bless.

Quote of the Day

-Joyce Meyer

“If you look at your circumstances you will put off doing what God is telling you to do. It can seem like the worst time to do whatever God says to do. BUT there is an anointing on “now” if God has told you to act.” 

-Joyce Meyer, Beauty for Ashes: Receiving Emotional Healing

Crave God's Presence

Some crave food, some crave other things but what we really need a craving for is what I believe to be the most important thing above all else.

The all powerful presence of God. When we are in the presence of God troubles vanish and heart's are mended just like the song say's.

So what are we waiting for? Let's get in there and soak it up so our lives can be forever changed.

God Bless.

Crave God’s Presence

by Joyce Meyer

My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night, yes, my spirit within me seeks You earnestly; for [only] when Your judgments are in the earth will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God).
—Isaiah 26:9
If we are hungry enough, we will get something to eat. And if we can't eat before we leave home, we will go to a drive-thru at a fast-food restaurant. Or we will call a place that delivers food to bring us something to eat. 
If we are hungry enough for God, we will find a way into His presence. We should be so hungry for the presence of God that we absolutely will not go out of our house or tackle any kind of project until we have spent some time with Him. 

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From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.