SUNDAY, Titus 2:15b; Most of the problems we see in families, friendships, at work and even in the church are because someone feels under appreciated. No one likes to be taken for granted and no one likes to feel that their contributions have been ignored. In fact, psychologists tell us that one of the basic desires of all people is the desire to feel appreciated. This being the case, as Christians we need to be sure that we take the time to appreciate both the big and small things that people do for us or for the church (doing unto others as we would have them do unto us). But we must also be aware that if we aren’t careful we can create a climate where we will be ignored and unappreciated. Certainly, we’ve all done or said things we’ve regretted, that is called experience. The important thing is that as we grow in grace and wisdom that we learn how to not only give appreciation but also to be worthy of it. Let no one look down on you
MONDAY, Titus 3:8b; How long has it been since you deliberately set out to do something nice for someone? I’m not talking about writing a check to your favorite charity or participating in some church or group activity such as Habitat for Humanity or a mission trip to Mexico to build church buildings. I’m talking about being aware of someone who has some need and going out of your way to meet it. There maybe an elderly neighbor that could use your help? Perhaps there is someone who has suffered a loss needing companionship, or a child needing someone to help them learn to read. I know all the reasons we don’t do these things (Unfortunately, I’ve used a few of them myself), but the meaning of Christian love doesn’t bow before our reasons. It is still defined as putting the needs of others before our own comfort and desires. Those who have believed in God…apply themselves to good deeds, these are excellent and profitable to men.
TUESDAY, Psalm 134:14; Many years ago, I became acquainted with a retired retailer who lived in a small town. I always enjoyed hearing his stories, especially the one he told about what happened when Wal-Mart built a store in his town. Naturally, their entry into the market sent shock waves through the retail community. A meeting of all the store owners was held and it was decided that in order to compete, it would be necessary for all the stores to be open on Sunday. A stanch Christian from the old school, he refused to join the other merchants in opening on Sunday. They tried everything to convince him of the folly of his decision, but he stayed true to his convictions. Within a year, most of the other businesses had closed their doors, they discovered that the overhead for a seven day a week operation was just too great. But my friend was able to remain in business because after seeking God’s wisdom he was led to focus on those things he could offer his customers that the retail giant couldn’t. The Lord will vindicate His people...
WEDNESDAY, Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. John 8:7 (8:3-11)
Someone sent me a group of jokes and stories the other day and one of them reminded me of this passage. It seems that a student in a writing class had an assignment to write a short story. Like so many people, the student waited until the last minute to complete the assignment and failed to proofread carefully. One of the sentences in the story read as follows, “Marge stood at the head of the stairs, lost her balance and fell. When John found her, she was laying prostitute at the bottom of the stairs.” The week after the assignments had been turned in the instructor returned the graded stories. She had circled the sentence and written in the margin, “You need to learn to distinguish between a fallen woman and one who has simply slipped.” Of course the writer had meant prostrate, not prostitute but in his haste he had failed to be sure he had typed the right word. How many times do we get the wrong word when we hastily judge the actions or motives of others? Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.
THURSDAY, Psalm 86:17; Is it proper to seek God’s blessings in our lives? There are some who don’t believe we should, that we should simply take whatever comes along and be satisfied with it. Of course, the real question goes to our motives for seeking God’s blessing. What motivates us to seek God’s blessings? Is it simply to acquire material things? Is it because we need better health? The Psalmist prays for a “sign” (which would indicate some outward manifestation, perhaps better health, material things, etc) but he tells us that his motive is not simply a selfish desire for more, rather it is in order that God be glorified. Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
FRIDAY, Psalm 86:4; Christianity is a supposed to be a joyous way of life, even though there are those down through history (and even today) who would deny this fact. Of course, there are times when the problems, cares and pressure of daily living weigh us down. When this happens it can drain any sense of joy out of us. What’s a Christian to do? The answer is to follow the Psalmist example, go to our kind heavenly father, tell him what is bothering you and ask him to gladden your mind. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
SATURDAY, Psalm 86:7; The book of Job tells us that our days are full of trouble. But there is another truth that balances those dire words, that truth is that almighty God cares for us and will guide and assist us if we allow him. This means that even when we are faced with major obstacles, crisis or problems we can have inner peace, assurance and gladness. The reason is simple, we know that no matter what trouble we find coming our way, God is just a prayer away, and he will answer us! In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
May 17 thru 23, 2009
Sunday, Psalm 102:12a; Two very powerful thoughts come to mind when we read this verse. First, we are reminded that regardless of how bleak the events around the world or how disturbing the cultural chaos in our own country becomes, God is still on the throne. This of course can cause us to ask how God can allow some of the horrendous things that occur to happen, but we are reminded that people have a free will and often do evil and cruel things to achieve their selfish ends. This verse also reminds us that the one who has always found a way to bring good out of evil is still at work and that he has not lost control. But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever
Monday, Psalm 102:12b; I once was visiting with a person in their mid-twenties and mentioned a famous actor from the 1940’s. This person gave me a blank stare and said, “Who’s that?” It is sometimes disturbing that people have forgotten famous people or folks who have been instrumental in creating the things we enjoy today. Whether it is the name of the founder of the church we attend or even our great, great grandparents, people are quickly forgotten and their contributions are taken for granted. But not so with God our creator. His name has endured (been remembered) and will not be forgotten. This should create in us a sense of awe and wonder, but also a feeling of gratitude that such an awesome God cares for you and me. Your name endures to all generations.
Tuesday, Psalm 36:1a: Several years ago a man came to me seeking “inner peace.” He claimed to be a Christian and in reality he wasn’t a bad man, but the more he talked the clearer it became that much of his problem stemmed from the fact that he was full of bitterness toward people whom he felt had failed him. When I gently pointed out the contradiction between his attitude toward these people and the teachings of his professed faith, he launched into a vigorous justification for holding his deep-seated grudges. In counseling, we used to call this “righteous rationalization”, meaning that we can always find “righteous” sounding excuses to create an exception to Christian principles. If you are having trouble finding real inner peace, maybe you should consider whose voice speaks to you? Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts…
Wednesday, Genesis 6:9; Someone once asked me a question as I was going out the door. Since I was on the way to a meeting, I said, “Walk with me.” As we walked, we discussed his question and by the time I reached my destination he had received the information he needed to continue his project. I might add that he later told me that the ideas I gave him provided the “slant” he needed to make things come out right. In our busy lives, we need to invite God to walk along with us, when we do we’ll find the “slant” we need to make better decisions, and the confidence to deal with problems more effectively. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God!
Thursday, First Peter 5:7; We had known each other in high school, but I hadn’t seen her in years when she contacted me because another professional had referred her to me, hoping I could provide the coaching she needed for her next career move. After our meeting ended, she said that she had been reading my Monday Morning column. The she told me “You know, I was raised Baptist and taught that you should pray for others, but not your own concerns. But the thing I’ve learned from reading Monday Morning is that if you have a problem, you got to send it out…call it prayer or whatever. When you send it out, God answers!” That’s exactly what our text for today is saying, whatever is bothering you, burdening you or holding you back, send it out! Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
Friday, First Peter 5:12; In one of his books, businessman Harvey Mackay ask the question, “Who could you call at 3:AM if you had a real problem?” Of course, he was talking about the importance of building strong and lasting relationships through networking. But the underlying message was that we also need to be people on whom others can rely when their chips were down. I once asked an elderly gentleman how he wanted to be remembered. He had many accomplishments to his credit, but he said simply, “I want to be remembered as being steady in my convictions and loyal to my friends and faith.” In our dog eat dog world we don’t hear much about loyalty or being the type of person someone could count on to help them at 3 o’clock in the morning, but maybe we should strive to become that type of person. What do people consider us to be? Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother…
Saturday, Philemon 21; A friend asked me to do him a favor, and frankly, I didn’t want to do it, nor did I think that I had the time to do it, but I agreed. The favor involved helping him develop a marketing idea. I told him I only had a few minutes, and grudgingly invited him to sit down to discuss the concept. Within twenty minutes we had dealt with the main problem he was having, but I found myself excited about the project and caught up in helping him with the details. Two hours later, we finished up and I felt really good about a job well done. Then it dawned on me, I had fulfilled the request, but then willingly did more than he had requested. This “going the extra mile” brought me a joy that I would have missed had I simply addressed the initial request. In serving God or other people let’s move beyond fulfilling the “obligation” and discover the real joy we can experience by doing more than we were required to do. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
Monday, Psalm 102:12b; I once was visiting with a person in their mid-twenties and mentioned a famous actor from the 1940’s. This person gave me a blank stare and said, “Who’s that?” It is sometimes disturbing that people have forgotten famous people or folks who have been instrumental in creating the things we enjoy today. Whether it is the name of the founder of the church we attend or even our great, great grandparents, people are quickly forgotten and their contributions are taken for granted. But not so with God our creator. His name has endured (been remembered) and will not be forgotten. This should create in us a sense of awe and wonder, but also a feeling of gratitude that such an awesome God cares for you and me. Your name endures to all generations.
Tuesday, Psalm 36:1a: Several years ago a man came to me seeking “inner peace.” He claimed to be a Christian and in reality he wasn’t a bad man, but the more he talked the clearer it became that much of his problem stemmed from the fact that he was full of bitterness toward people whom he felt had failed him. When I gently pointed out the contradiction between his attitude toward these people and the teachings of his professed faith, he launched into a vigorous justification for holding his deep-seated grudges. In counseling, we used to call this “righteous rationalization”, meaning that we can always find “righteous” sounding excuses to create an exception to Christian principles. If you are having trouble finding real inner peace, maybe you should consider whose voice speaks to you? Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts…
Wednesday, Genesis 6:9; Someone once asked me a question as I was going out the door. Since I was on the way to a meeting, I said, “Walk with me.” As we walked, we discussed his question and by the time I reached my destination he had received the information he needed to continue his project. I might add that he later told me that the ideas I gave him provided the “slant” he needed to make things come out right. In our busy lives, we need to invite God to walk along with us, when we do we’ll find the “slant” we need to make better decisions, and the confidence to deal with problems more effectively. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God!
Thursday, First Peter 5:7; We had known each other in high school, but I hadn’t seen her in years when she contacted me because another professional had referred her to me, hoping I could provide the coaching she needed for her next career move. After our meeting ended, she said that she had been reading my Monday Morning column. The she told me “You know, I was raised Baptist and taught that you should pray for others, but not your own concerns. But the thing I’ve learned from reading Monday Morning is that if you have a problem, you got to send it out…call it prayer or whatever. When you send it out, God answers!” That’s exactly what our text for today is saying, whatever is bothering you, burdening you or holding you back, send it out! Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
Friday, First Peter 5:12; In one of his books, businessman Harvey Mackay ask the question, “Who could you call at 3:AM if you had a real problem?” Of course, he was talking about the importance of building strong and lasting relationships through networking. But the underlying message was that we also need to be people on whom others can rely when their chips were down. I once asked an elderly gentleman how he wanted to be remembered. He had many accomplishments to his credit, but he said simply, “I want to be remembered as being steady in my convictions and loyal to my friends and faith.” In our dog eat dog world we don’t hear much about loyalty or being the type of person someone could count on to help them at 3 o’clock in the morning, but maybe we should strive to become that type of person. What do people consider us to be? Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother…
Saturday, Philemon 21; A friend asked me to do him a favor, and frankly, I didn’t want to do it, nor did I think that I had the time to do it, but I agreed. The favor involved helping him develop a marketing idea. I told him I only had a few minutes, and grudgingly invited him to sit down to discuss the concept. Within twenty minutes we had dealt with the main problem he was having, but I found myself excited about the project and caught up in helping him with the details. Two hours later, we finished up and I felt really good about a job well done. Then it dawned on me, I had fulfilled the request, but then willingly did more than he had requested. This “going the extra mile” brought me a joy that I would have missed had I simply addressed the initial request. In serving God or other people let’s move beyond fulfilling the “obligation” and discover the real joy we can experience by doing more than we were required to do. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.
May 10 thru 16, 2009
SUNDAY, Psalm 119:145; A couple of verses prior to our text for today the Psalmist admits to God that “Trouble and anguish have overcome me…” Human nature being what it is, he has probably tried everything he can think of to fix the situation he is in. These days he’d probably have talked it over with friends, gone to see a counselor, applied his education, read self-help books and perhaps even gone on vacation. But his troubles persisted and now he feels overwhelmed. Finally, he turns to God with his whole heart and asked God for the answer. There is a line from a great old hymn that says “O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.” Every problem we face is an opportunity for God to guide us toward the right solution. Every obstacle we encounter is an opportunity move a mountain and every crisis we experience is an opportunity for God to work a miracle. But for us to find that guidance, see the mountain moved and “receive” that miracle we must come to him with our whole heart. With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord
MONDAY, I Thessalonians 5:17; Responding to my question, “How are things going” a friend recently replied, “I’m treading water and sinking fast.” He then jokingly explained that there were no major crisis or problems in his life, it just seemed that there was so much to get done that he didn’t have time to even make a list, much less attempt to get them done! Life can become very complex, even when things are going smoothly for us. There are schedules to keep, relationships to maintain, jobs to be done and a seemingly endless stream of unexpected events and interruptions. One of the problems of living in such a fast paced world is that we tend to get our priorities mixed up. When this happens we can begin to feel undue pressure, make bad decisions and not really accomplish anything. One of the key things to living confidently, with a sense of both purpose and calmness is to keep our priorities in right order. When we take the advice offered in this verse we will be able to do so. I am convinced that when we make a habit of praying throughout the day God will help us order or priorities for right outcomes. You don’t have to get on your knees, spend ten minutes in supplication, or even close your eyes. In fact, I’ve found that a simple silent prayer of “Lord, show me what’s most important right now” in the middle of a meeting can get powerful results. Pray without ceasing
TUESDAY, I Thessalonians 5:18; We have all heard the extreme interpretations of this little verse. I actually heard a preacher say that it meant that if we had a car wreck, we should thank God for the wreck (not that we weren’t hunt, but for the wreck), that if a tornado tore through town, we should thank God for “his mighty display of power.” I’ve heard others say we should always find something to be thankful for in even the worst circumstance (which is solid advice because it is good psychology). But after years of counseling with people I think that it means we should count our past and present blessings in every circumstance. You see, when our circumstances are good we tend to take all the credit for God’s goodness to us. Conversely, when we face adverse circumstances we tend to concentrate so much on the situation that it begins to erode our confidence in God. To me, this verse is reminding us to replace thoughts of defeat, gloom and despair with thoughts about all the times God has come to our assistance during past troubled times. When we do this we not only lift our own spirits but nourish our faith, which gives us the confidence to “come boldly before the throne of grace to find help in time of need.” Give thanks in all circumstances
WEDNESDAY, James 1:5; If we were honest with ourselves, most of the situations we find in ourselves in are the result of our own short-sightedness. We can try to shift the blame to God, the devil, our neighbor, the boss, the customer or even the president but truth be told we are usually victims of our own failure to look before we leap. But God offers a cure for this short-sightedness, he offers us wisdom if we dare ask for and use it. One of the best definitions of wisdom I’ve heard is that wisdom is sanctified common sense. We gain common sense through a combination of education and experience (what works and what doesn’t work) but there are times when this combination still leaves us lacking. Writing from his own experience, the author of the little book of James tells us that we can supplement our common sense with God’s by sincerely asking for it. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you
THURSDAY, Luke 11:1; Prayer is to the Christian life what the laws of nature are to the world around us. By that I mean that if we learn to principles of prayer and cooperate with them we will be constantly amazed at the results. I have rose bushes along the fence in my backyard. Several winters ago, one of my granddaughters complained that the roses along the fence in my backyard weren’t blooming! At her then age of three she still hadn’t learned all the laws of nature. Recently, my rose bushes burst forth with dozens of beautiful red and pink roses. The bushes had stood barren for the entire winter but I wasn’t concerned because I know the laws of nature are such that roses don’t bloom in the wintertime. So it is with prayer, while we need to “pray without ceasing” we also need to understand the laws of successful prayer. In order to become proficient in successful prayer, we need to ask God to teach us the laws of prayer, just as the disciples asked Jesus, Lord, teach us to pray
FRIDAY, Hebrews 4:16; One of the hardest laws of prayer is set forth in this verse. As human beings we often expect instant answers to problems, but God doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes he wants us to firm up our spiritual and mental muscles by wrestling with a situation (your children would never have learned to walk if you continued to carry them everywhere). This passage teaches us that when we sincerely and boldly bring our broken dreams, problems and crisis before God, he will come to our aid—but not necessarily as quickly as we want him to. One of the few things I remember from studying Greek (probably because it spoke to me) is the origin of the words “in time of need” at the end of the passage. Without getting technical, I discovered that these words were taken from a military term having to do with being overwhelmed. The best illustration I’ve come up with is the countless movies my generation grew up on that showed a small band surrounded by a large hostile force. We all know the scenario, just as the hostiles regrouped for their final charge (and of course the defenders were down to their last bullet) the sound of a bugle rings out and John Wayne comes charging over the hill leading the cavalry. Based on this verse, when you’ve prayed and worked during difficult times keep listening for the bugle because God will not fail, he will come to your aid at the time you need it the most. Approach the throne of grace with boldness (confidence), so that we may receive mercy and find help in the time of need
SATURDAY, Luke 11:13; Earlier this week, I mentioned a visit some years back from one of my granddaughters. During that same visit she complained of being hungry. She was offered her choice of sandwich meat. After settling on the type of meat she wanted, she was asked if she wanted mustard or Miracle Whip on it. She selected Miracle Whip and then added, put some grape jelly and honey on it too! Well, she didn’t get the jelly and honey on that sandwich, but her hunger was satisfied. After she ate she didn’t continue to complain about not having jelly and honey on her sandwich, she moved on to other things. Her real need had been satisfied (fully stomach) and she was contented. Anytime we talk about the wonderful power of prayer to other people there will be someone who expresses skepticism because they don’t feel that their prayers have done any good. Close examination usually reveals that God has answered the prayer—minus the jelly and honey. God answers every prayer in a way that satisfies what He knows is the deepest need of our life. We have all heart that sometimes the answer is an immediate “yes” and sometimes it is “wait awhile”, and there are times we may hear what sounds like a “no”. Regardless of what the answer God always responds to our prayers (even the most selfish) through his indwelling spirit. If the answer is “yes”, this spirit helps us by guiding our minds. If the answer is “wait awhile”, this spirit becomes a stabilizing force to help us “keep on keepin’ on” until God’s timing is right. And if the answer is “no”, the spirit within us comforts us and most importantly seeks to teach us what we need to pray for in order to get God’s yes. How much more will the heavenly Father give the holy spirit to those who ask him!
MONDAY, I Thessalonians 5:17; Responding to my question, “How are things going” a friend recently replied, “I’m treading water and sinking fast.” He then jokingly explained that there were no major crisis or problems in his life, it just seemed that there was so much to get done that he didn’t have time to even make a list, much less attempt to get them done! Life can become very complex, even when things are going smoothly for us. There are schedules to keep, relationships to maintain, jobs to be done and a seemingly endless stream of unexpected events and interruptions. One of the problems of living in such a fast paced world is that we tend to get our priorities mixed up. When this happens we can begin to feel undue pressure, make bad decisions and not really accomplish anything. One of the key things to living confidently, with a sense of both purpose and calmness is to keep our priorities in right order. When we take the advice offered in this verse we will be able to do so. I am convinced that when we make a habit of praying throughout the day God will help us order or priorities for right outcomes. You don’t have to get on your knees, spend ten minutes in supplication, or even close your eyes. In fact, I’ve found that a simple silent prayer of “Lord, show me what’s most important right now” in the middle of a meeting can get powerful results. Pray without ceasing
TUESDAY, I Thessalonians 5:18; We have all heard the extreme interpretations of this little verse. I actually heard a preacher say that it meant that if we had a car wreck, we should thank God for the wreck (not that we weren’t hunt, but for the wreck), that if a tornado tore through town, we should thank God for “his mighty display of power.” I’ve heard others say we should always find something to be thankful for in even the worst circumstance (which is solid advice because it is good psychology). But after years of counseling with people I think that it means we should count our past and present blessings in every circumstance. You see, when our circumstances are good we tend to take all the credit for God’s goodness to us. Conversely, when we face adverse circumstances we tend to concentrate so much on the situation that it begins to erode our confidence in God. To me, this verse is reminding us to replace thoughts of defeat, gloom and despair with thoughts about all the times God has come to our assistance during past troubled times. When we do this we not only lift our own spirits but nourish our faith, which gives us the confidence to “come boldly before the throne of grace to find help in time of need.” Give thanks in all circumstances
WEDNESDAY, James 1:5; If we were honest with ourselves, most of the situations we find in ourselves in are the result of our own short-sightedness. We can try to shift the blame to God, the devil, our neighbor, the boss, the customer or even the president but truth be told we are usually victims of our own failure to look before we leap. But God offers a cure for this short-sightedness, he offers us wisdom if we dare ask for and use it. One of the best definitions of wisdom I’ve heard is that wisdom is sanctified common sense. We gain common sense through a combination of education and experience (what works and what doesn’t work) but there are times when this combination still leaves us lacking. Writing from his own experience, the author of the little book of James tells us that we can supplement our common sense with God’s by sincerely asking for it. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you
THURSDAY, Luke 11:1; Prayer is to the Christian life what the laws of nature are to the world around us. By that I mean that if we learn to principles of prayer and cooperate with them we will be constantly amazed at the results. I have rose bushes along the fence in my backyard. Several winters ago, one of my granddaughters complained that the roses along the fence in my backyard weren’t blooming! At her then age of three she still hadn’t learned all the laws of nature. Recently, my rose bushes burst forth with dozens of beautiful red and pink roses. The bushes had stood barren for the entire winter but I wasn’t concerned because I know the laws of nature are such that roses don’t bloom in the wintertime. So it is with prayer, while we need to “pray without ceasing” we also need to understand the laws of successful prayer. In order to become proficient in successful prayer, we need to ask God to teach us the laws of prayer, just as the disciples asked Jesus, Lord, teach us to pray
FRIDAY, Hebrews 4:16; One of the hardest laws of prayer is set forth in this verse. As human beings we often expect instant answers to problems, but God doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes he wants us to firm up our spiritual and mental muscles by wrestling with a situation (your children would never have learned to walk if you continued to carry them everywhere). This passage teaches us that when we sincerely and boldly bring our broken dreams, problems and crisis before God, he will come to our aid—but not necessarily as quickly as we want him to. One of the few things I remember from studying Greek (probably because it spoke to me) is the origin of the words “in time of need” at the end of the passage. Without getting technical, I discovered that these words were taken from a military term having to do with being overwhelmed. The best illustration I’ve come up with is the countless movies my generation grew up on that showed a small band surrounded by a large hostile force. We all know the scenario, just as the hostiles regrouped for their final charge (and of course the defenders were down to their last bullet) the sound of a bugle rings out and John Wayne comes charging over the hill leading the cavalry. Based on this verse, when you’ve prayed and worked during difficult times keep listening for the bugle because God will not fail, he will come to your aid at the time you need it the most. Approach the throne of grace with boldness (confidence), so that we may receive mercy and find help in the time of need
SATURDAY, Luke 11:13; Earlier this week, I mentioned a visit some years back from one of my granddaughters. During that same visit she complained of being hungry. She was offered her choice of sandwich meat. After settling on the type of meat she wanted, she was asked if she wanted mustard or Miracle Whip on it. She selected Miracle Whip and then added, put some grape jelly and honey on it too! Well, she didn’t get the jelly and honey on that sandwich, but her hunger was satisfied. After she ate she didn’t continue to complain about not having jelly and honey on her sandwich, she moved on to other things. Her real need had been satisfied (fully stomach) and she was contented. Anytime we talk about the wonderful power of prayer to other people there will be someone who expresses skepticism because they don’t feel that their prayers have done any good. Close examination usually reveals that God has answered the prayer—minus the jelly and honey. God answers every prayer in a way that satisfies what He knows is the deepest need of our life. We have all heart that sometimes the answer is an immediate “yes” and sometimes it is “wait awhile”, and there are times we may hear what sounds like a “no”. Regardless of what the answer God always responds to our prayers (even the most selfish) through his indwelling spirit. If the answer is “yes”, this spirit helps us by guiding our minds. If the answer is “wait awhile”, this spirit becomes a stabilizing force to help us “keep on keepin’ on” until God’s timing is right. And if the answer is “no”, the spirit within us comforts us and most importantly seeks to teach us what we need to pray for in order to get God’s yes. How much more will the heavenly Father give the holy spirit to those who ask him!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Daily PowerPoints For May 3 thru May 9, 2009
SUNDAY, Acts 9:36,37; Have you ever taken a walk in an old cemetery? You know the ones I’m talking about. Unlike modern cemeteries the old ones take on a life of their own because of the lack of uniformity of markers and monuments. Reading the inscriptions on some of the old headstones can be interesting. The words attempt to summarize the life of the person buried in the space. I recall one I saw many years ago that read “He didn’t have much, but what he had he gave” which conveyed to my mind an image of an ordinary fellow, probably hard working who cared about people and never hesitated to come to their assistance. Which brings us to the question we all need to ponder, how will we be remembered? Or better yet, how do we want to be remembered? Someone once said that we write our epithet by the lives we have led, which means that we determine how we will really be remembered when we move on to the next world. In Joppa there was a disciple whose name was …Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died.”
MONDAY, Acts 9:40; Several people have told me that the two things they remember most about my dad were the stories he told while preaching and that when he prayed about something, it usually got results. Dad wasn’t a faith healer or superstitious about the power of faith or prayer. In fact, he was practical to the point of being pragmatic when it came to praying for things. One of the lessons he tried to teach me was that to have your prayers answered you had to learn the mind of God. By that he meant you had to first clear out the distractions, then seek to know God’s will regarding the situation, and then pray for that to happen. While it isn’t easy to do, I’ve found that I’ve had much better success in seeing prayers answered when I followed that formula than when I’ve tried to convince God to see things my way. Dad supported this formula for successful prayer by citing this verse. First, Peter got everyone out of the room (cleared the distractions), then he knelt down and prayed. We always like to rush to the next verse (where the action is) when the dead woman came back to life, but before we do that, we need to ask ourselves just what was Peter praying about? Dad contended that Peter was praying for God to show him what to do next (go comfort the folks outside, restore the woman, etc.). Once Peter knew for sure the mind of God in the matter, he spoke to her and she became alive again. The next time you are faced with a problem or situation you need to pray about remember dad’s formula, first put away the distractions, seek the mind of God in the matter and then pray for it to become reality. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed…”
TUESDAY, Acts 9:42; Yesterday I told you about my dad’s formula for getting prayers answered. Today, I want to share something else he believed about the subject. When God reveals to us exactly what to pray for and answers us in response to that prayer, He does so for a bigger reason than to simply assist us. God answers our prayers to add to the story we have to tell others in order to help them believe or to strengthen their faith! What has God done for you lately? Who do you know that is facing similar circumstances? Have you shared with them what God did for you? This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord
WEDNESDAY, Psalm 30:11. I don’t know this individual personally but he or she emailed me a prayer request several years ago. I emailed back assuring him/her that the request would be held in strictest confidence and that I would begin praying about the situation. A few weeks later, I heard back from him/her telling me that while the situation wasn’t resolved completely, he/she had been amazed at the way God had been directing his/her thinking and given him/her fresh ideas, “I was depressed and fearful, now I am full of hope and almost joyful because I know God will work things out.” When I read these words today’s verse came to mind. The Psalmist had been mourning because of the adversities that had entered his life, mentally his attitude was one of defeat and despair. Now a new attitude had taken hold of his mind. Joy had replaced sorrow and fear had been replaced with hope and confidence. Often the way God answers our prayers is to calm our minds and begin giving us ideas and guidance. You have turned my mourning into dancing…and clothed me with joy
THURSDAY, Psalm 30:12; What does your personality say about your profession of faith? Do other people see you as loving, cheerful, calm in the midst of turmoil, kind, self-giving, loyal, reasonable and self-controlled? Or do they think of you as being self-centered, gloomy, panicky, cold, selfish, untrustworthy, unreasonable and volatile? The first list contains the characteristics we should aspire to in order to have a good reputation. Yes, they are personality traits, but more than that they are the traits of someone who is truly following Jesus (Galatians 5:22,23). Someone once said that our personality is really the reflection of our soul. A soul possessing the characteristics in the first list reflects itself in such a way that it brings honor to God in the eyes of other people. …my soul can praise you and not be silent
FRIDAY, Psalm 23:3; God loves each of us and will lead and guide us in every area of our lives if we ask him to and are willing to follow his leadership. This is the essence of the abundant life that Jesus promises us in John 10:10. The problem most us encounter in life is that sometimes the guidance we receive doesn’t always square with the popular or even traditional way of doing things, so we either disregard the guidance or compromise it. Usually when we do that we run into problems. Our verse for today affirms the fact that God leads us, but it qualifies where he leads us-- “in right paths” which means that God knows that nothing that starts out wrong will end up right for us. But notice why he provides this type of guidance, “for his name’s sake.” That’s another way of saying that every time God gives us ideas or guidance he is putting his reputation on the line, therefore he is sure it is not only the right path, but right for us as an individual. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake
SATURDAY, Psalm 23:5; A woman who had been facing difficulties once told me of the turning point in her circumstances, “I was mentally exhausted from struggling with the problems I was having, then suddenly I felt a calmness and a sense of refreshing come over me for no reason. It was like finding an oasis on the middle of the desert.” She then told me about how she was able to deal with and overcome her situation. This woman had been a devoted Christian all of her life. When her career hit the skids she began to pray, but nothing seemed to be happening. Then after what seemed like an eternity she had her oasis experience. Our verse for today speaks of just such experiences. In the midst of our personal desert God prepares the very things we need to cool our mind, calm our fears and nourish our faith—all we have to do is slowdown long enough to partake of them. If you’ve been struggling with a complex problem with little or no success, take a moment to ask yourself, “how long since I slowed down and availed myself of the table God has provided to restore my sense of self, nourish my faith and renew my confidence? You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…
MONDAY, Acts 9:40; Several people have told me that the two things they remember most about my dad were the stories he told while preaching and that when he prayed about something, it usually got results. Dad wasn’t a faith healer or superstitious about the power of faith or prayer. In fact, he was practical to the point of being pragmatic when it came to praying for things. One of the lessons he tried to teach me was that to have your prayers answered you had to learn the mind of God. By that he meant you had to first clear out the distractions, then seek to know God’s will regarding the situation, and then pray for that to happen. While it isn’t easy to do, I’ve found that I’ve had much better success in seeing prayers answered when I followed that formula than when I’ve tried to convince God to see things my way. Dad supported this formula for successful prayer by citing this verse. First, Peter got everyone out of the room (cleared the distractions), then he knelt down and prayed. We always like to rush to the next verse (where the action is) when the dead woman came back to life, but before we do that, we need to ask ourselves just what was Peter praying about? Dad contended that Peter was praying for God to show him what to do next (go comfort the folks outside, restore the woman, etc.). Once Peter knew for sure the mind of God in the matter, he spoke to her and she became alive again. The next time you are faced with a problem or situation you need to pray about remember dad’s formula, first put away the distractions, seek the mind of God in the matter and then pray for it to become reality. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed…”
TUESDAY, Acts 9:42; Yesterday I told you about my dad’s formula for getting prayers answered. Today, I want to share something else he believed about the subject. When God reveals to us exactly what to pray for and answers us in response to that prayer, He does so for a bigger reason than to simply assist us. God answers our prayers to add to the story we have to tell others in order to help them believe or to strengthen their faith! What has God done for you lately? Who do you know that is facing similar circumstances? Have you shared with them what God did for you? This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord
WEDNESDAY, Psalm 30:11. I don’t know this individual personally but he or she emailed me a prayer request several years ago. I emailed back assuring him/her that the request would be held in strictest confidence and that I would begin praying about the situation. A few weeks later, I heard back from him/her telling me that while the situation wasn’t resolved completely, he/she had been amazed at the way God had been directing his/her thinking and given him/her fresh ideas, “I was depressed and fearful, now I am full of hope and almost joyful because I know God will work things out.” When I read these words today’s verse came to mind. The Psalmist had been mourning because of the adversities that had entered his life, mentally his attitude was one of defeat and despair. Now a new attitude had taken hold of his mind. Joy had replaced sorrow and fear had been replaced with hope and confidence. Often the way God answers our prayers is to calm our minds and begin giving us ideas and guidance. You have turned my mourning into dancing…and clothed me with joy
THURSDAY, Psalm 30:12; What does your personality say about your profession of faith? Do other people see you as loving, cheerful, calm in the midst of turmoil, kind, self-giving, loyal, reasonable and self-controlled? Or do they think of you as being self-centered, gloomy, panicky, cold, selfish, untrustworthy, unreasonable and volatile? The first list contains the characteristics we should aspire to in order to have a good reputation. Yes, they are personality traits, but more than that they are the traits of someone who is truly following Jesus (Galatians 5:22,23). Someone once said that our personality is really the reflection of our soul. A soul possessing the characteristics in the first list reflects itself in such a way that it brings honor to God in the eyes of other people. …my soul can praise you and not be silent
FRIDAY, Psalm 23:3; God loves each of us and will lead and guide us in every area of our lives if we ask him to and are willing to follow his leadership. This is the essence of the abundant life that Jesus promises us in John 10:10. The problem most us encounter in life is that sometimes the guidance we receive doesn’t always square with the popular or even traditional way of doing things, so we either disregard the guidance or compromise it. Usually when we do that we run into problems. Our verse for today affirms the fact that God leads us, but it qualifies where he leads us-- “in right paths” which means that God knows that nothing that starts out wrong will end up right for us. But notice why he provides this type of guidance, “for his name’s sake.” That’s another way of saying that every time God gives us ideas or guidance he is putting his reputation on the line, therefore he is sure it is not only the right path, but right for us as an individual. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake
SATURDAY, Psalm 23:5; A woman who had been facing difficulties once told me of the turning point in her circumstances, “I was mentally exhausted from struggling with the problems I was having, then suddenly I felt a calmness and a sense of refreshing come over me for no reason. It was like finding an oasis on the middle of the desert.” She then told me about how she was able to deal with and overcome her situation. This woman had been a devoted Christian all of her life. When her career hit the skids she began to pray, but nothing seemed to be happening. Then after what seemed like an eternity she had her oasis experience. Our verse for today speaks of just such experiences. In the midst of our personal desert God prepares the very things we need to cool our mind, calm our fears and nourish our faith—all we have to do is slowdown long enough to partake of them. If you’ve been struggling with a complex problem with little or no success, take a moment to ask yourself, “how long since I slowed down and availed myself of the table God has provided to restore my sense of self, nourish my faith and renew my confidence? You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…
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