Food for Thought ????? (2)

Starr71 · Feb 22, 2009

Be Quick To Listen

JAMES 1:19 NLT
19 My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

You learn by listening -- not by talking.

The biggest barrier to learning is thinking you already know a subject. If you think you already know everything, it is difficult to learn anything more.

You can learn from every person -- if you will just listen to what they have to say. Everyone knows something you do not know.

Pride robs you from learning from others.

Pride keeps you ignorant -- while making you think you are wise.

ROMANS 1:22 NLT
22 Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.

This is not to say you should accept everything you hear as truth -- just that you should be humble enough, and respect people enough, to listen and evaluate what they have to say.

Listen and learn. Talk too much and only embarrass yourself.

PROVERBS 17:27-28 ICB
27 The person who has knowledge says very little. And a person with understanding stays calm.
28 Even a foolish person seems to be wise if he keeps quiet. He appears to have understanding if he doesn't speak.

Proud people act as if they have a duty to display their superior knowledge to all who will listen. They are quick to speak, because they "know" they are right.

PROVERBS 10:19 ICB
19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.

It is not wrong to talk -- just don't talk too much. And don't be so anxious to impress people with what you know.

ECCLESIASTES 5:3 NLT
3 Just as being too busy gives you nightmares, being a fool makes you a blabbermouth.

SAY THIS: I will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

Starr71 · Feb 23, 2009

Don't Give Up!

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 The Message
13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.

All of us have been tempted to lose hope and give up. But we always have a choice: focus on God and stay in faith, or focus on the problem and give up.

Problems -- no matter how huge they seem to us -- are no problem to God. Nothing is too hard, or complicated, for God to solve. But God wants us to trust Him.

So what should you do when you are being tempted and feel like giving in and giving up?

Refuse!

Just keep your focus on the Lord and rejoice in His faithfulness. Remember that God cannot lie, and will never fail. God will see you through.

HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

When the devil tries to steal your faith, he tries to get you to quit speaking in agreement with the Word of God. Don't let it happen! Hold fast to speaking your faith! Keep on saying what the Word of God says about you and your situation. Don't be moved by the circumstances.

GALATIANS 6:9 NIV
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Don't grow weary. Keep your eyes on the Lord. His Word will work and produce a harvest of blessing in your life. Don't doubt it!

SAY THIS: I will keep trusting in God and never give up!

Starr71 · Feb 23, 2009

Don't Stop at the Gate
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

When you made Jesus the Lord of your life, one of the privileges you received was the right to come to the throne room of God anytime you want to. Think about that! You have the right to go boldly before God and obtain whatever you need.
Even though that's clearly what the Bible says, many people don't go boldly into the throne room. Instead they think, "I could never go in to where God is. I'll just stand out here and yell and hope He hears me." I used to be guilty of that myself.
I remember one day I was in prayer, begging and pleading, bombarding the gates of heaven for revival. After I'd been at it a littlewhile, the Lord spoke to me. "What are you doing?" He said.
"I'm bombarding the gates of heaven with prayer for revival," I answered.
"Kenneth, how big is My city?" He asked me.
"As far as I can see tell from what the Bible says, it's about 1200 cubits or somewhere around 1500 miles square and 1500 miles high."
"Then why are you bombarding the gates? Assuming that My throne is in the middle of the city that leaves you about 750 miles short! And, by the way," He added, "those gates aren't locked, Why don't you quit bombarding them and just come on in?"
After I repented for mimicking old traditional prayers without thinking, I remembered that the Word says, "Come boldly to the throne" and I've been coming boldly ever since.
Do you need to receive something from God today? Don't waste time standing around outside heaven's gates. Through Jesus you belong in the very throne room of God. So come right on in. The door is always open for you.

Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus the Great High Priest

14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we areyet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 5:1-9

1Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

4No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
"You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.[a]"[b] 6And he says in another place,
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."[c]

7During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Starr71 · Feb 24, 2009

Jesus Rose From Death
MATTHEW 28:5-6 NKJ
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
6 "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Jesus Christ's resurrection is either the supreme fact in history or a gigantic hoax. If

Christ's resurrection is true -- we ignore its implications at our own peril. If not, then Christianity is the biggest fraud in the history of the world.

Christ's resurrection forces the question of Christianity's validity from being merely a philosophical issue to being a historical one.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact verifiable from history. No one can challenge Christ's resurrection -- if they take an honest look at the evidence.

Only those who never study the evidence -- or who refuse to listen to its testimony -- could deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Many learned men have tried to disprove Christ's resurrection -- only to become believers instead!

Some people refuse to examine the evidence, because they do not want to believe in Jesus Christ and submit to Him as Lord.

The facts remain. Confucius' tomb, Buddha's tomb, Mohammed's tomb, and Lenin's tomb are all occupied.

But Jesus Christ's tomb is EMPTY!

REVELATION 1:18 NKJ
18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."

SAY THIS: I believe that Jesus Christ rose from death.

Starr71 · Feb 24, 2009

Peace at Home
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
James 3:16

Have you ever noticed that the easiest place to remain self-centered is at home? There's and incentive to be lovely with others, but with your family you are tempted to allow yourself more selfish privileges as if it didn't count there.
Before I was a Christian, I was more courteous and nicer to friends than to my own family. I was more demanding and less forgiving with those dearest to me than with anyone else.
But after I made Jesus Lord of my life, I realized all that had to change.
Gloria and I began to learn through the Word how important harmony is within our family. We learned that if we wanted the power of agreement (see Matthew 18:19) to work in our lives, we could not allow strife in our home.
Strife drops the shield of faith, stops prayer results, and invites Satan and his cohorts into your midst. Discord is deadly. It paralyzes the power of God in your life.
Don't allow the enemy to stop you at your own front door by allowing strife in your home. If you do, you'll be no threat to him anywhere else.
Put the power of harmony to work in your family.

Scripture Reading:
Philippians 2:1-13

Imitating Christ's Humility

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Shining as Stars

12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyednot only in my presence, but now much more in my absencecontinue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Starr71 · Feb 25, 2009

The Choice Is Yours
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15

Choosing to side with God's Word is a continual challenge. It's not something you do just once. It's a process of choosing to believe and act upon the Word of God over and over in every circumstance.
That's what everyone has to do. Years ago I decided I was going to choose Jesus. Since then I've had to choose Him again and again in situations every day. I've chosen Him as my Lord and Saviour. I've chosen Him as my Healer. I've chosen Him as my Financier. I've chosen Him as head of my household. I've chosen Him as head of my ministry. And I still have to choose Him mment by moment.
Sometimes that choice gets tough, but God has promised it will never get too tough. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, He says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." What the Lord is saying is that He will not allow you to be subjected to a temptation you're unable to overcome. With every temptation, He'll make a way of escape. He'll ALWAYS makes sure you have a choice.
The devil doesn't come tempt you while God is off somewhere else, unaware of what is happening to you. The Spirit of God is constantly there with you, providing you with the way to overcome. In other words, God matches even the toughest temptations with the weapons and power you need to conquer them. He always makes it possible for you to choose life.
So choose to walk in love. Choose to walk by faith. Choose to live by the Word. Jesus is the Way! Choose Him!

Scripture Reading:
Joshua 24:14-24

14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God."

19 Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you."

21 But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD."
22 Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD."
"Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.

23 "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."

24 And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him."

Starr71 · Feb 25, 2009

Don't Talk Too Much
PROVERBS 10:19 ICB
19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.

1 PETER 3:10 LB
10 If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies.

JAMES 1:19 NLT
19 My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

PROVERBS 17:27-28 ICB
27 The person who has knowledge says very little. And a person with understanding stays calm.
28 Even a foolish person seems to be wise if he keeps quiet. He appears to have understanding if he doesn't speak.

ECCLESIASTES 5:3 NLT
3 Just as being too busy gives you nightmares, being a fool makes you a blabbermouth.

TITUS 3:2 NKJ
2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

2 TIMOTHY 2:16 NKJ
16 But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

1 TIMOTHY 1:6 NIV
6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.

1 TIMOTHY 5:13 NKJ
13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

MATTHEW 12:36-37 NKJ
36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

SAY THIS: Lord, please help me to control my tongue and only say what is acceptable to you.

Starr71 · Feb 26, 2009

His Extravagant Love
"All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God"
Deuteronomy 28:2

Some people have very low expectations of what God will provide for them materially. They trust Him to feed and clothe them, but they don't trust Him to feed and clothe them very well !
Somehow they've gotten the idea that God's an old miser who will do little more than put rags on their backs and beans on their tables. But that's not what Jesus told us. He said in Matthew 6 that God would clothe us better than He clothed Solomon. That one statement alone proves that God wants to do more than just meet our basic needs. He wants to bless us abundantly. I know that from personal experience.
A few years ago I came home and found two expensive automobiles parked in my driveway. They'd been given to me to use by men who'd been blessed by the Lord through my ministry.
I was baffled. "Lord," I said, "I didn't need these cars. I hadn't asked You for them, and I wasn't believing for them. What are they doing here?"
Then the Lord spoke up on the inside of me. "Have you ever read the scripture in Deuteronomy that says blessings shall come on and overtake those who hearken to My voice?"
"Yes," I answered.
"Well, son," He said, "you've just been overtaken."
Am I saying God gave me those expensive cars just so I could enjoy them? Yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.
First Timothy 6:17 says, "He giveth us richly all things to enjoy." God is a loving Father. He gets great pleasure from Blessing His children. He's extravagant where we're concerned. But don't let that worry you. He can afford it.
Hearken to His voice and it won't be long before His blessings will be overtaking you.

Scripture Reading:
1 Kings 10:1-24

The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon

1 When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravanwith camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stonesshe came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at [a] the temple of the LORD, she was overwhelmed.

6 She said to the king, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."

10 And she gave the king 120 talents [b] of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

11 (Hiram's ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood [c] and precious stones. 12 The king used the almugwood to make supports for the temple of the LORD and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.)

13 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

Solomon's Splendor

14 The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, [d] 15 not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the land.

16 King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; six hundred bekas [e] of gold went into each shield. 17 He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three minas [f] of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.

18 Then the king made a great throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them. 20 Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like it had ever been made for any other kingdom. 21 All King Solomon's goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon's days. 22 The king had a fleet of trading ships [g] at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.

23 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 24 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

Starr71 · Feb 26, 2009

Live Long And Strong

DEUTERONOMY 34:7 NIV
7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.

Old age should not be a time to dread. We can look to God and receive strength, health, and provision for a full and enjoyable life.

God's plan for you is NOT an old age full of sickness, poverty, and loneliness.

Moses and Caleb are examples for us.

JOSHUA 14:10-11 NKJ
10 "And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old.
11 "As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.

GALATIANS 3:13-14 NKJ
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3 tells us we are to receive the blessing of Abraham -- through faith -- because of what Jesus has done. Now, read the following verses about Abraham.

GENESIS 13:2 NKJ
2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

GENESIS 25:8 NASB
8 And Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people.

Because Jesus has redeemed us from the curse, we also should believe God for a long, enjoyable, and productive life. And we should resist the devil who would try to steal it away from us.

We have the promise of God that He will satisfy us with life. (If you are not satisfied with your life, make some changes. God intends for you to be satisfied.)

PSALM 91:16 NKJ
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

PSALM 103:5 NKJ
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

God made our bodies to repair and renew themselves. As we walk and talk in faith, looking to the promises of God, the life of God will renew our bodies. (We should also allow God to guide us in the things we take into our bodies -- only putting good things into our mouths.)

PSALM 92:14 NKJ
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,

ISAIAH 46:4 NIV
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

God is faithful. He will always be our wonderful Father, our great Provider, Helper, and Healer -- no matter how old we are, or what we face.

SAY THIS: Jesus redeemed me from the curse, so I will live a long, enjoyable life to the glory of God.

Starr71 · Feb 27, 2009

Better Things to Come
"But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
2 Timothy 1:10

Have you ever wondered what it will be like when your body dies and you go on to heaven? Well, according to the Word, when that time comes, this flesh and blood tent you live in will die, but you won't feel a thing. You'll just take off the cloak of your flesh, lay it down, and go to a better place.
Believers who have died and come back say that they have no sensation of loss-no sting. Their minds stay intact, and they even have arms and legs, but they are spirit and not flesh. One man said he couldn't even tell he wasn't in his body until he tried to grasp something. His hand would just go right through the material object. He was spirit and not flesh.
According to the Apostle Paul, to be absent from the Body is to be present with God. (2 Corinthians 5:1). So, when God calls you home, you'll just abandon your fleshly body and go to be with Him Forever.
It's interesting though. God doesn't even refer to our old, abandoned bodies as being dead. He says they're just asleep. Why? Because He knows that just as sleep is temporary, so is the death of the body. He's planned a day when our sleeping bodies will be awakened and raised up in glory just like Jesus' was.
Hallelujah! There's coming a day when not only our spirits have victory over death, our physical bodies do too!
Death is not the end for you. It's only a change to a better place!

Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 5:1-9

Our Heavenly Dwelling

1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7We live by faith, not by sight. 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

Starr71 · Feb 27, 2009

Life Is Good

God says that all He made is good.
GENESIS 1:31 NKJ
31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The devil wants us to believe that life is bad.

(One way he tries to accomplish this is through all the bad news reported daily.

Feeding too much on bad news is not good for you. You can get the top news stories without spending hours every day listening to the bad things the devil is trying to do in the earth.)

If you think life is bad, you will be depressed, or maybe even bitter.

If you think life is good, you will be thankful.

No matter what your circumstances are, there are always things to enjoy and rejoice about.

If we focus on the goodness and greatness of God: all He has created and all He has done for us, life will seem good. If, instead, we focus on our pains and problems, we will not enjoy life much.

Even the bad things of life -- which are all the result of sin, not what God did -- can benefit us IF they cause us to draw nearer to God and act on His Word.

God's main purpose is to prepare us to be fit companions for Himself for eternity. (See Romans 8 -- we WILL be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.) What God wants you to do is submit to Him, feed on His Word, be thankful, walk in faith, and let Him make you like Jesus Christ.

God's plan is good.

Marriage is good. If we disobey God by husbands not loving their wives, and wives not respecting their husbands -- it can be bad. But only because we make the wrong choice, to disregard God's instruction.

Work is good. It is satisfying to do a job well and accomplish something. But when we don't do our work as unto the Lord, or try to make our jobs our source, worshiping and serving money instead of God -- work can be bad.

Family is good. Being surrounded by those you love and care for, and who love and care for you, is a wonderful blessing. But, when we fail to walk in love, and allow strife into our relationships -- it can be bad.

If your life is not good, then you need to make adjustments based on the Bible.

When you see your cup as half full, instead of half empty -- life will be better for you. Take time to smell the flowers, and rejoice in all the goodness of God. Rejoice in all the beauty of God's creation -- life.

SAY THIS: God made life, and it is very good.

Starr71 · Feb 27, 2009

He Will Lead You
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Galatians 5:16

Walking in the Spirit. That's the key to overcoming the flesh. If you follow the promptings of the Spirit of God within you, you won't be dominated by the pressure your flesh tries to put on you.
As you listen to the written Word and the Holy Spirit telling you what to do, you'll constantly be making little adjustments in your life according to what He says. And those little adjustments will keep darkness from overtaking you.
You see, God knows just what you need. He can look ahead in your life and see the traps and pressures the devil is laying for you. So follow the Holy Spirit's leading and He will maneuver you safely around them to victory.

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 10:1-14

Warnings From Israel's History

1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

6Now these things occurred as examples[a] to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."[b] 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them didand in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test the Lord, as some of them didand were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble, as some of them didand were killed by the destroying angel.

11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper

14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

Starr71 · Feb 28, 2009

God Cares

1 PETER 5:7 Amplified
7 Casting the whole of your care -- all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all -- on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully.

EXODUS 3:7 NIV
7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.

ISAIAH 63:9 NIV
9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

JOHN 11:35 KJV
35 Jesus wept.

Of course, the question arises, "If God cares, why doesn't He do something?"

The answer is that God has already done something. Now it is our turn to act. God has redeemed mankind and set us free from the dominion of darkness by the sacrifice of Calvary. Now we must believe God's Word and act on it.

The truth, which you may find hard to accept, is that God is already doing all He can to help you. But often, we are blocking God's help in our lives by our unbelief and acting contrary to the instructions of God's Word.

The solution is to ask God to help us see the truth and act on it. We should ask God to show us how we can stop hindering Him from blessing us as He desires.

SAY THIS: God cares about me and everything that concerns me.

Starr71 · Mar 1, 2009

3 Keys To A Happy Marriage

(Or, any relationship.)

JOHN 13:17 KJV
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

1. Be thankful.

It all starts with attitude. If you don't stay on the positive side, failure is inevitable. You cannot have a happy marriage without happy people. Have you noticed that unthankful people are never happy?

2. Express your appreciation.

Let your spouse know by word and deed that you appreciate them. Be specific and lavish in your praise and thanks. Nothing encourages people like encouragement.
People love people who love them. If you want your spouse to love you, the best thing you can do is love them, and let them know it.

3. Aim to please.

If you make them happy, you will be happy. True happiness is never found in trying to please ourselves. Fulfillment comes from accomplishment, and the greatest accomplishment is helping someone else in their life.

SAY THIS: With God's help, I will have a happy marriage.

Starr71 · Mar 1, 2009

Let God Rub Off on You

For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:29 The Ampilified Bible

As a believer, you're destined to be molded into the image of Jesus, to grow in spirit until you look just like Him. God's supernatural power began that process the moment you were born again. You were changed on the inside instantly. How successful you are in allowing this change to progress to the outer man is mostly up to you. We grow up spiritually just like we grow up physically.
What can you do to speed this growing process along?
Spend more time pursuing the things of the Spirit than you spend pursuing the things of the flesh. Become dedicated to the Word of God and to fellowship with Him. Be willing to pull aside from the busy things of life and get alone with Him, so He can guide you, teach you and share His likeness with you.
Have you ever noticed that if you spend time around people who have strong personalities, you will automatically be affected by them? You'll find yourself doing the things they do. Their mannerisms will rub off on you. You can't help it. They just influence you, especially if they are people you respect and admire.
The same thing is true in you relationship with God. If you spend enough time with Him, He's going to rub off on you! His ways will become your ways.
So make yourself available to Him by praying in the Spirit and worshiping and loving Him. Hang around His Word and the people who love His Word and live it.
Before you know it, you'll begin to notice yourself changing. You'll find your character becoming more like His. You'll begin to think like He does and talk like He does and even act like He does. His image will begin to shine forth in you!!!

Scripture Reading:
1 Corinthians 3:5-18

5What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believeas the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

18Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise.

Starr71 · Mar 1, 2009

Defeat Your Giant
David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
1 Samuel 17:26

You may be facing a giant today. He may be a giant of sickness or failure, of financial shortage or another kind of trouble. But don't let him scare you. You have a secret weapon. A weapon that once turned a shepherd boy into a bear-busting, lion-killing, giant-slaying champion. That weapon was a blood covenant with Almighty God.
Back in David's day, circumcision was the sign of that covenant. So, when he called Godliath uncircumcised, David was saying: This guy may be a giant; he may be strong; but he has no covenant with God and that's why I can kill him.
Like David, you, too, have a covenant. But yours is better. The covenant David had offered a wealth of blessings to those who kept it, but it also included curses for those who broke it.
Yours doesn't. Yours in a New Covenant that Jesus bought with His own blood. It doesn't depend on your ability. It depends on Him and what He has already done. He has done it all! All you have to do is believe it and receive it.
Right now, read Deuteronomy 28:16-68.
That's a list of the curses Christ has freed you from. You might even call it a list of the giants Jesus has already slain for you. It contains every diabolical thing the devil could ever use to destroy you.
Read it and rejoice. God has healed you and delievered you from those things!
Don't let any giant intimidate you. You have a blood covenant with Almighty God. There's no uncircumcised circumstance on the face of this earth that can take your victory away from you.

Scripture Reading:
Galatians 3:13-29

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."[a] 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The Law and the Promise

15Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed,"[b] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.

21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ[c] that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Sons of God

26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Starr71 · Mar 3, 2009

Called to Be Peculiar
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
John 17:15-16

Being peculiar. That's not something most of us work to achieve, is it? But, you know, we should.
God has called us to be perculiar-to stand out from the rest of the world as living proof of His power and His love (1 Peter 2:9).
He doesn't, for example, want us to share the ailments of the world. He doesn't want us to share their sickness and peverty and failure. He's never wanted that for His people.
He gave us a physical illustration of that during the time the nation of Israel was held captive in Egypt. Pharaoh had refused to set Israelietes free, so God had allowed a thick darkness to cover the whole land. The darkness was so dreadful thoughtout Egypt that no one moved for three days.
"But," says Exodus 10:23, "all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings."
What a thrilling example of how God wants us to live. We should be glorifying God by the miraculously victorious lives we lead. We should constantly have people telling us, "Ive heard how God healed you," Or "Ive heard how God prospered you and saved your children!"
So don't hold back. Put the Word of God to work in your life and dare to receive the rich blessings that belong to those who believe. Start using the Word to draw boundaries around your life, to paint spiritual warning signs for the devil. Signs that say:
Off Limits! According to God's Word, I don't belong to you anymore. My family doesn't belong to you. My health doesn't belong to you. My money doesn't belong to you. My ministry doesn't belong to you. I belong to a different kingdom. Now, Back off in Jesus' Name!
Does that sound a little peculiar? Good. That's exactly what God has called you to be!

Scripture Reading:
Exodus 10:20-29

20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

The Plague of Darkness

21 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness will spread over Egyptdarkness that can be felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 23 No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.

24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind."

25 But Moses said, "You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. 26 Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD."

27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go. 28 Pharaoh said to Moses, "Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die."

29 "Just as you say," Moses replied, "I will never appear before you again."

Starr71 · Mar 3, 2009

Let the Revelations Begin
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:3-4

People go to great lengths trying to wring knowledge from God when all they need to do is go to the Bible. God's not holding Himself back from anybody. It's His will for every man and woman to walk in revelation of Him.
"Well now, Brother Copeland," you might say, "God's not going to give all these sinners out here a revelation." Really? Why do you think He sends evangelists to preach to them? Why do you think He sent His Word? To reveal the truth!
So, if you want to know that truth, just open the Book and read it. All of it....not just the parts that are in red. Those aren't the only parts Jesus said. He said everything in Genesis. He said everything in Exodus. He said everything in Numbers. He said everything in Deuteronomy. He said everything in Leviticus. He said everything in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He said everything in Romans. He said everything in the Book. He is the Word!
In fact, If you'll read the third chapter of Galatians, you'll discover that every promise made to Abraham was for Jesus! It was the promises tht brought Him. It was the promises that enabled Him to heal and deliver people. He didn't minister by some special power nobody else could have. He based His ministry on the revelations He'd received through faith in the written Word of God.
When devil came to tempt Him, He didn't fight him off with a special legion of angels who'd been assigned to protect Him because He was God's Son. He fought him off with the phrase, "It is written."
God has equipped you to do the same. He's given you His written Word, and He's given you His Holy Spirit to help you understand it. He's morethan ready to give you the knowledge you need. You don't have to wring it out of Him-just open the Book and let the revelations begin.

Scripture Reading:
John 16:7-15

7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

12"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Starr71 · Mar 3, 2009

Act On God's Word
JAMES 1:22 NKJ
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
How easily we fall into the trap of listening to, or even studying, the Bible -- but not acting on its instructions. According to this verse, that opens us up to deception. We think we are spiritual. We think we are safe. But then, when things don't work out we will blame God and question why He let us down.
LUKE 6:46-49 NKJ
46 "But why do you call Me `Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?
47 "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
49 "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."
Trouble is coming -- it's part of this life. If you act on the Word, trouble will not destoy you and your household. If you neglect acting on the Word -- no matter how much you hear it -- when trouble comes your way, it may be devastating.
Why?
Not because it's God's will, or God doesn't love you. Simply because you refused to act on the instructions which God -- who knows more than you do -- gave you for your protection.
DEUTERONOMY 12:28 NKJ
28 "Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.
God gave us His Word because He loves us and desires to help us. Not because He likes to boss people around and give orders. Acting on God's Word is for our benefit.

SAY THIS: I will act on what God's says to me in His Word.

Starr71 · Mar 3, 2009

Your Body Is Your House

2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 NKJ
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The "real you" is not your body. Your body is just a house you live in so you can function here on earth.
Just as someone can change houses where they live, you can, and will someday, leave your body and still exist.
We focus too much on our body. The inner part of us is most important. These bodies we live in are not eternal.
It is not wrong to take care of our bodies, any more than it is wrong to take care of the house or apartment where we live. It is a mistake, however, to spend all our time on our body and neglect our spirit and mind.

1 TIMOTHY 4:8 RSV
8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Who a person is on the inside is more important than what their body looks like.
We judge too often on the house (body) that people live in, instead of focusing on the real person living inside that body.

SAY THIS: My body is only a temporary house where I live.

Food for Thought ????? (2)

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