Thought for the day...

Preach the message of the cross. God’s plan for our eternal life “is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.”
-1 Corinthians 1:25
1 Corinthians 1:25 - if714

 

May 9, 2019
Verse of the Day
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
2 Corinthians 7:10

 

New reading plan I started...

IS GOD YOUR HUB?

There’s this idea floating around that God, church, and other spiritual matters are spokes in the wheel of a person’s busy life. People say things like, “Oh, yeah, I go to church” in the same way they’d say, “Oh, yeah, I go to that gym” or “Oh, yeah, I’m on that committee.”
But the Bible makes it quite clear that God’s desire — and the best way to live life — is not to have God as one spoke on the wheel of your life, but to have him as the hub. Sometimes people compartmentalize their spiritual life, like one of those TV dinners. Your job is in one aluminum compartment, your family in another, and your spiritual life — God — in another.
But life works best when you bring God into every area of your life. He can bring change, health, and growth to every aspect of your life — from your job, to your social life, to all your relationships.
In the passage above, the psalmist charges everything to praise God. The earth. The sea. The land. The stars. Trees. Forests. Fields. Everything. All of God’s creation — including us — has reason to be joyful because of how good God is.
Take a moment to consider the whole of your life. Does it all belong to God? And more importantly, does it all reflect praise to God? Chances are, you’re going to say no. That’s OK. Today you can invite God in. Tell him about an area you’re having problems with or are worried about. Watch what a difference it makes when God is your hub and not just a spoke on your wheel.

As I consider my life, Lord, I note that you are . . .

 

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord . For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.
Psalms 96:11‭-‬13 NKJV

 

I just finished day 1 of the @YouVersion plan 'NIV Once-A-Day Bible for Men'. Check it out here:
NIV Once-A-Day Bible for Men

 

Father, increase our appetite for the Word of God and the pursuit of holiness. Amen.
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- if714

 

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Romans 1:20 NKJV

 

LOSE THE REINS

One of the issues that seem to plague us men today is lack of direction. We encounter so many forks in the road that at times we become paralyzed with indecision. If only God would tell me exactly what to do! If only he would steer me in the right direction!
What we don’t realize is that all along God has been quietly teaching us and lovingly counseling us. The problem is, we don’t always hear him, and when we do hear, we don’t always obey. Getting direction from God is a matter of learning to seek him and trust him in the countless “insignificant” choices of our lives. When our hearts are in the right place, the bigger decisions will not be as difficult to make.
In Psalm 32:9, God goes on to tell us not to be like a horse that can only be guided by a bit and bridle. In directing a horse, the rider must pull on the reins, putting pressure through the bit on the horse’s sensitive mouth. It is only by having force applied that a horse will go in the direction the rider wants it to go.
It has been said that we need to give God the reins of our lives. But God doesn’t ask us to give him the reins. He only asks that we listen to his voice and follow him in trust.

God, let me hear your voice . . .

 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Psalms 32:8 NKJV

 

NO CAN DO?

“You can’t do it. It’s impossible.” Those are words no guy wants to hear. A statement like this usually results in a rebellion of sorts: “You wanna bet?” We immediately begin to formulate ways the impossible can become possible — or we’ll die trying.
Most women don’t understand this mindset. Men know if we just put our minds to something, we can do anything — from fixing a leaky pipe to flying to the moon and back. And we have! Yet we sometimes fail in trying to do the impossible.
Jesus discussed an impossible situation with his disciples. A wealthy young man had approached him, eager with the desire to know how to gain eternal life. When Jesus told him to give up his wealth, the young man drifted away. It was then that Jesus came out with the statement, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). In other words, it was impossible.
When the disciples wondered who could possibly be saved, Jesus provided the assurance in the verse above. Only God saves. We couldn’t possibly save ourselves. And there are situations in our lives for which we need the help of the God who can do the impossible.
Got an impossible situation you’re still trying to accomplish on your own? Do yourself a favor — trust God to really do the impossible.

God, here is the impossible situation in my life . . .

 

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 NKJV

 

I just finished day 3 of the @YouVersion plan 'NIV Once-A-Day Bible for Men'. Check it out here:
NIV Once-A-Day Bible for Men

 

May 12, 2019
Verse of the Day
I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:3 NIV

 

How Family Members Help Each Other Grow

BY RICK WARREN — MAY 9, 2019

1.8K


“Since I . . . have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15 NLT).


If one of the marks of an awesome family—whether it’s your biological family, your adoptive family or your church family—is that you help each other grow, then how do you do that?


Let me give you two methods that help people grow and two that don’t. This applies in every area of life.

You help each other grow:

1. Through example. Jesus did this in teaching his disciples. John 13:14-15 says, “Since I . . . have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you” (NLT). Your kids don’t want to hear a sermon. They want to see Jesus’ example in your life.
2. Through conversations. If you’re not having critical conversations with your kids about real issues, they’re not growing. Unfortunately most conversations we have with kids are about schedules, eating, or homework and not about the stuff that really matters in life.

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 6:7, “You must teach [God’s commandments] to your children and talk about them when you are at home or out for a walk; at bedtime and the first thing in the morning” (TLB).

Now let me tell you two ways that don’t work to help people grow:

1. Through criticism. Nagging doesn’t work. Condemning doesn’t work. Criticizing and complaining are totally ineffective in helping a person change. Why? Because when you criticize, you’re focusing on what you don’t want rather than what you do want.

Ephesians 6:4 says, “Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord himself approves, with suggestions and godly advice.”

1. Through comparing. Everybody’s unique. There’s nobody in the world like you! That’s why comparing never, ever works. In fact it’s lethal to any relationship. The Bible says, “Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done” (Galatians 6:4 NCV).

The Bible says 58 times, “Love one another. Care for one another. Pray for one another. Encourage one another. Help one another. Counsel one another. Support one another” and on and on. That’s the way God meant for it to be. In the New Testament, we’re told to “encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact [we] are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

Relationships Are Your Raincoat in the Storm

BY RICK WARREN — MAY 10, 2019

2K


“Two are better off than one . . . If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 GNT).


Relationships are a raincoat during the storms of life. No matter which of our friends or family members are going through a storm, we have to help each other. People committed to one another protect each other in the storm.


Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two are better off than one . . . If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him” (GNT).

There are three storms that we need to care for those we care about. The first is change. Another storm of life is what I call harmful ideas.

But the most painful storm of all is rejection. When your friend, your children, or your husband or your wife feels rejected, you—and others close to them—need to rally around them and be there as a raincoat in the storm.

I’ll never forget many years ago when my oldest child, Amy, was in high school. She tried out to be a cheerleader. She went to practice after practice. Her friends got accepted, but she was rejected, and it broke her heart. When she came home, she ran into her room, went into her closet, sat down on the floor, and burst into tears.

Every one of us in our family could hear Amy crying. And one by one, all on our own, we ended up walking into her room, sitting down on the floor in her closet with her, and crying with her.

We didn’t give her any advice. She didn’t need advice! We didn’t say, “Now now, don’t worry. It’s not a big deal.” It was a big deal! We didn’t say, “Don’t cry!” That’s a stupid thing to say to somebody who’s grieving. No. We all just sat there and for about 30 minutes just cried with her.

Our family will never forget that incident. Why? Because at that point, we were being a raincoat for her. We were being a storm catcher. We were being a protector. Somebody in our family had been hurt, and we weren’t demeaning it. We weren’t trying to talk her out of it. We weren’t trying to cheer her up. We just wept with her.

Awesome families—biological, adoptive, and spiritual—protect each other in the storm

 

Thank Y'ALL for being a part of my BIG FAMILY.