Thought for the day...

September 6, 2019
Verse of the Day
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13-14 NIV

 

September 7, 2019
Verse of the Day
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
1 Peter 2:16 NIV

 

Recognize your idols
By Pastor Mark Jeske
The word idol today has a pleasant connotation. In today’s lingo it means a star, a great performer, someone who can wow and dazzle a crowd, somebody who has hundreds of thousands or maybe millions of Twitter followers. Television pumps out idols by the dozens for us to fawn over and applaud.

In biblical times the term referred to an image or statue representing a heathen god or goddess. Satan made sure that the Old Testament Israelites saw much to like in the worship of deities other than the God of Abraham. The prophets’ spoken and written messages for many centuries railed on the people for losing their love for the Lord and trusting in idols, which is to say, trusting in a nonexistent fantasy. Not all paths lead to heaven. Idol worship is spiritual suicide.

King David, sacred poet, knew and respected his own sometimes wandering heart. He consciously strove to get rid of his own idols and repledge himself to the Lord: “Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips” (Psalm 16:4). So which idols do you chase? Where is your trust? Your own ingenuity? Quick tongue? Stock portfolio? What’s on your life agenda? What excuses do you make for shorting the Lord of honorable worship time and offerings?

What do you need most in your life to make you happy?

 

September 8, 2019
Verse of the Day
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

 

Water Is on Its Way

Observation
At the command of the Lord, the Israelites camped, but there was no water to drink. You’d think that if God commanded a camping spot, there’d be immediately plenty of water, as well as a buffet line and waiters to bring them coffee and dessert. You’d think that if God had planned it, all the logistics would have been taken into consideration and a catering company would be waiting for the Israelites as they arrived.

Application
There will be times, even though the Lord leads us, when we will find ourselves with sparse resources. Not enough money. Not enough help. Not enough encouragement. But it doesn’t mean that God is not in the situation.

Maybe you’re like me . . . being patient comes hard when I am thirsty after a “long trek.” We can react prematurely, jumping to the wrong conclusions about how God is working. In doing so, we make the desert a hotter place than it needs to be. God is not finished yet. Think about it — God had water stored in a rock!

How often, from a source we least expect, God provides. He did for the Israelites, and he will again for you and me today!

Prayer
Lord, thank you for helping me to understand that just because there is a shortage of resources, it doesn’t mean that you haven’t led me to this place. I will wait on you to provide, knowing that you still have more to come. Remind me of this when I panic or complain.

Taken from NIV LifeConnect Study Bible

 

September 9, 2019
Verse of the Day
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 56:3 NIV

 

September 10, 2019
Verse of the Day
Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
Psalm 127:1 NIV

 

Cover this
By Jason Nelson
The prophet Jeremiah has a reputation for being very unhappy. He was dealt a lousy hand, and his audience regularly played the victim card. But tucked in among Jeremiah’s laments is a challenge for disgruntled believers to get off their backsides and act in accord with their own history. “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Sometimes Christians gripe about the way we are portrayed in the media. We cringe every time it is reported that a psychopath committed an inexcusable crime because God told him to do it. And we know we bring more to the table than “moments of silence” when something bad happens. But others can only define us if we haven’t clearly defined ourselves.

Rather than bicker with the press, let’s invite them to cover this: Cover the historic mercy of Christians who established world class hospitals. Cover the intellect of Christians who founded great universities. Cover the adventurous spirit of Christians who discovered new worlds.

Cover the expertise of Christian teachers who are educating disadvantaged students in Christian schools. Cover the compassion of Christians who are using their church facilities to minister to people others leave on the streets. Cover the outpouring of humanitarian aid Christians are offering around the world. Cover the healing work of Christian nurses and doctors. Cover the consistent way Christians serve others in Jesus’ name.

 

September 11, 2019
Verse of the Day
The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 NIV

 

Don’t Give Up When Times Get Tough

BY RICK WARREN — SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

2.4K


“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT).


Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do we have to suffer? Why is life so difficult sometimes?


As difficult as it is to understand, God can use your pain for his purpose. Don’t be surprised if he is using tough times in your life to test your faithfulness.

Faithful people keep on keeping on when other people choose to give up. Faithful people are diligent and determined. They are persistent. They change their perspective and focus on God’s promises in his Word.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul says you need to get the right perspective when you’re going through a problem. If you want to persist, don’t look at the temporary problem. Look at the long-term reward. Don’t look at the temporary pain; look at the long-term gain. Don’t look at it with the short-term view, “What’s happening to me right now?” Instead, look at the character that you are building because you haven’t given up. You’re hanging in there.

God is more interested in what you are becoming than what you accomplish.

If you are facing difficult times right now, I challenge you to write this verse on a 3×5 card and memorize it: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT).

I pray it will encourage you to keep going. God is working in you and for you, at just the right time and in just the right ways. You will be rewarded for your faithfulness!

 

September 12, 2019
Verse of the Day
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NIV

 

September 13, 2019
Verse of the Day
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 59:16 NIV