Sunday, Psalm 40:6. What type of church do you prefer? Some people feel more comfortable in a highly structured worship service, others prefer less structure. Over the years I’ve participated in all types of church services and the thing I’ve discovered is that God is able to penetrate the mind and speak to the heart in all different types of services. In other words, God doesn’t require that we have a contemporary service, a southern gospel music service or a liturgical service. What God does require, regardless of the type of service we prefer to attend, is that we allow him to open our ears so he can speak to us. Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear
Monday, Psalm 40:8a. I was talking to a friend of mine who had been suffering from back pain. Her doctor examined her and found she had pulled a muscle and he prescribed some simple exercises to relieve the problem. I asked her how she was feeling and she told me she still hurt. In response to my puzzled look, she explained that she didn’t like the exercises and only did them when the pain became completely unbearable. I believe it was G. Campbell Morgan who once said he could fill the church by announcing that he planned to preach on “Finding God’s Will”, but that it would be empty the following Sunday if he announced his topic to be “Doing God’s Will”. Why is that? Could it be that too often we are like my friend who only followed the doctor’s advice when the pain became unbearable? I’m sure the Psalmist had his share of troubles, but he “delighted” to do God’s will. When we take delight in something we make the time to do it, in fact many times we will go out of our way for it. You see, when we find delight in doing something it isn’t a duty or a drudgery but something we look forward to! I delight to do your will, O my God
Tuesday, Psalm 40:10. Have you ever seen one of those infomercials on television? They are filled with testimonials from “people just like you” who have made money, lost weight, etc. Advertisers know that we are interested in how other people solved a problem or improved their lot in life, so instead of bombarding us with a lot of facts and statistics they trot out satisfied users of their product to tell their story. The Good Lord was way ahead of our modern advertisers because that is the method he has advocated for centuries. We are simply supposed to tell other people how much better our lives are because we have a relationship with him. We don’t need a degree in theology to do this, don’t need to know how to quote scripture, and we don’t have to “preach” to people. Simply tell some who is experiencing what you’ve been through how your faith made a difference. I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and salvation
Wednesday, Psalm 40:16a; What is our attitude when we come to our Heavenly Father seeking guidance or help? Do we come to him reluctantly or unsure about his response to us? Two boys were playing one day and discovered that the tires on their bicycle were flat. This created dismay and dampened their spirits because they couldn’t fix the problem. Then they saw their father’s car coming down the street and their spirits lifted. Dad would know what to do! He would us the compressor to air up the tires! As he pulled into the driveway the boys ran eagerly to the car, knowing that their problem would be resolved. When we come to our Heavenly Father with a problem, let’s come full of joyful anticipation and gladness because we know he will not fail us. May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you
Thursday, Psalm 4016:b. I sat both dumbfounded and amazed as I listened to Phil tell the story! According to Phil he had single-handedly made the sale that put the company over the top. I let Phil bask in his moment of glory without setting the record straight. You see, I knew that Phil had played only a minor role in the sale; someone else had suggested he contact this particular prospect. Someone else had provided the inside information he needed to present the product and close the deal. I knew all this because I happened to know Phil’s sales manager and he had told me that he was the one who had provided all the ideas and information Phil needed to get the account. I also knew that word would get back to Phil’s manager and that he would deal with Phil as only he could (which he did). How many times are we like Phil? We love it when God answers our prayers, gives us ideas and guides us in our spiritual and everyday lives. But are we not sometimes guilty of trying to take all the credit when we get positive outcomes? True, God helps those who help themselves by giving them insights and confidence as he works through us to bless us, but let’s share the credit with the One who made it all possible. May those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
Friday, Song of Solomon 5:16b; I’ll never forget going into a jewelry store to select a gift for my wife for our 25th wedding anniversary. The young lady behind the counter asked me what the occasion was and when I told her she stared at me like I had two heads. Then she called her coworkers over and told them that they had to meet me because I’d been married for 25 years! As it turned out, she and her coworkers parents had not even made it to their fifteenth anniversaries, and two of the women had been married and divorced at least once. We constantly hear people give lip service to the family being the foundation of society, but we are also aware of the fact that the home seems to be breaking apart. I’m convinced that the key to keeping the family intact is to keep each other in the prominent position in our lives (before friends, work, activities, extended family, etc) and being each others best friend. Today my wife Vicki and I celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary, and I borrow the lines from the Bible’s love poem to reintroduce her to you, This is my beloved and this is my friend.
Saturday, 2 Peter 1:3,4; Today is the day we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That document, created in the midst of rebellion against the tyranny of the British throne gave new hope and empowered those who were valiantly waging the fight for liberty. There was power in the terminology of that document, but it was the names affixed to it that served as the ignition that turned the raw power of words into a concrete dream to be achieved. Eighteen centuries before that document was signed, another document was prepared in the heart of God and signed by the blood of Jesus. Like the Declaration of Independence, that document continues to give new hope and empowerment to those who are struggling against the self-defeating behaviors of the tyranny of sin. In it we are promised the power to not only overcome our pettiness and self-centeredness, but also to live abundant lives that are in harmony with our Creator. His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
June 21 thru June 27, 2009
Sunday, Ezekiel 3:23,24a; I recall a story that my wife (the oldest of three children) used to tell about when she was growing up. It seems that one day some of her little brother’s friends were giving him a hard time and he finally told them that he would go get his big sister if they didn’t stop. They persisted and he went into the house and brought her out. He stood there basking in a sense of protection and power (and glory) from having his big sister stand behind him. Needless to say the problem was resolved quickly. Life is made up of mountaintop experiences, as well as times when we are in the valley of uncertainty and adversity. But if we have been listening to and doing our best to follow our Heaven Father’s guidance, even when we are in the valley we will still be confident because we are aware of the light of His glory, and He will send his spirit to protect and guide us and set us on our feet again. I rose up and went out into the valley; and the glory of the Lord stood there… The spirit entered into me and set me on my feet.
Monday, Psalm 8:5; When humankind’s short-sighted reasoning led them to misuse their gift of free will and disobey God they lost what Dutch Reform Theologian James Arminius called their “original righteousness” and the presence of the Holy Spirit was withdrawn, yet they (and we) are still in the image of God (though damaged) and therefore able to be restored to that pre-fall state through faith. Psychologists tell us that one of the driving questions of human existence has to do with who we really are and why we are here. The Psalmist tells us that those of us who have exercised restorative faith are truly the highest order of God’s creation and that the Creator has crowned us with glory and honor. No true child of God need ever suffer from inferiority feelings or a sense of inadequacy because as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father we have a very special place in not only God’s creation but also in his care and plan. Yet you have made them a littler lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor
Tuesday, Psalm 36:9; Several years ago, Frank Sinatra recorded a hit song entitled “That’s Life”. The song is about a person who, looking back over his life realizes that “now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain” and has admissions of “mistakes, I’ve made a few…” and also the fact that regardless of how difficult things got, “I saw it through, without exemption.” With pride the singer says, “I took the blows…I stood tall…and did it my way.” I’ve always liked that song because it reveals the type of character, goal oriented perseverance and individualism that made America great. But unfortunately, too many people take that same approach when it comes to governing their lives. They are going to do it “My way” with little or no regard for God or traditional values. But for those who live their lives by faith, they realize that God’s steadfast love provides them with a fountain of life. Of course, this doesn’t refer to the length of our lives, rather the quality of our lives. For with you is the fountain of life…
Wednesday, Psalm 40:1,2a; The Bible, wisest of all books ever written, is full of references to waiting and patience. Unfortunately, the meaning of these words is often lost to us in our hurry up and wait world. As I understand it, the biblical concept of waiting with patience refers to collecting oneself through expectant faith that gives us an unperturbed sense of peace as we pass the time until our expectation from God materializes. The Psalmist testifies to the validity of this type of patient waiting because he says that in response to it, God himself leaned down to clearly hear his petition and drew him out of the seemingly hopeless situation he found himself in. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit…
Thursday, Psalm 40:2; A friend once told me that during one period of his life, he honestly considered suicide because he felt so alone and mired in a seemingly hopeless situation. He had lost his job and his family and friends had forsaken him. He confided that he had been raised in a good home by godly parents, but that in his adult years he had drifted away from the faith of his childhood. Finally, in the depths of his despair he said he prayed a simple, honest prayer, “God, I was taught about you as a child, but I’m so confused now that I don’t know what to believe, if the teaching from my childhood is right, please do something to confirm it…” Suddenly, he said a sense of calmness came over him. His of hopeless feelings lifted. He kept praying honest prayers and eventually prayed his way back to his Father’s house, where he found the solid ground needed to rebuild his life and career. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
Friday, Psalm 40:3; I recall a lunch meeting I had a few years ago with a couple of friends, In the course of the conversation the name of a mutual friend came up. One fellow said that he had recently run into this person and the other lunch companion asked how he was doing. The reply was simply, “Same song, different verse.” We all knew what he meant. Our mutual friend was known for “singing his blues” to everyone who would listen. In fact, most people tried to avoid being around him because he was such a downer! What kind of song do we “sing” to the folks around us? Is it constantly negative, focused on our problems, concerns and the unfairness of life? Or is it a song that accents the potential in problems, the goodness of life and the positive values that a life of faith can give us? He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God…
Saturday, Psalm 40:5; I suppose that it is human nature to keep count of our difficulties, maintain a list of all the times someone has done us wrong, and keep an inventory of all the problems we’ve been through. We’ve all known people who keep such lists and seem to enjoy reviewing them as often as possible. When practiced over a period of time, such people become cynical and negative. Unfortunately, we all have the tendency to do this, especially when it seems that the chips are down. Today’s text provides us with the antidote to such negative thinking. When we realize that our mind is going through our bad things that have happened to us inventory, deliberately stop it by taking out a piece of paper and begin listing all the wonderful things God has done for you. You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us…
Monday, Psalm 8:5; When humankind’s short-sighted reasoning led them to misuse their gift of free will and disobey God they lost what Dutch Reform Theologian James Arminius called their “original righteousness” and the presence of the Holy Spirit was withdrawn, yet they (and we) are still in the image of God (though damaged) and therefore able to be restored to that pre-fall state through faith. Psychologists tell us that one of the driving questions of human existence has to do with who we really are and why we are here. The Psalmist tells us that those of us who have exercised restorative faith are truly the highest order of God’s creation and that the Creator has crowned us with glory and honor. No true child of God need ever suffer from inferiority feelings or a sense of inadequacy because as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father we have a very special place in not only God’s creation but also in his care and plan. Yet you have made them a littler lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor
Tuesday, Psalm 36:9; Several years ago, Frank Sinatra recorded a hit song entitled “That’s Life”. The song is about a person who, looking back over his life realizes that “now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain” and has admissions of “mistakes, I’ve made a few…” and also the fact that regardless of how difficult things got, “I saw it through, without exemption.” With pride the singer says, “I took the blows…I stood tall…and did it my way.” I’ve always liked that song because it reveals the type of character, goal oriented perseverance and individualism that made America great. But unfortunately, too many people take that same approach when it comes to governing their lives. They are going to do it “My way” with little or no regard for God or traditional values. But for those who live their lives by faith, they realize that God’s steadfast love provides them with a fountain of life. Of course, this doesn’t refer to the length of our lives, rather the quality of our lives. For with you is the fountain of life…
Wednesday, Psalm 40:1,2a; The Bible, wisest of all books ever written, is full of references to waiting and patience. Unfortunately, the meaning of these words is often lost to us in our hurry up and wait world. As I understand it, the biblical concept of waiting with patience refers to collecting oneself through expectant faith that gives us an unperturbed sense of peace as we pass the time until our expectation from God materializes. The Psalmist testifies to the validity of this type of patient waiting because he says that in response to it, God himself leaned down to clearly hear his petition and drew him out of the seemingly hopeless situation he found himself in. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit…
Thursday, Psalm 40:2; A friend once told me that during one period of his life, he honestly considered suicide because he felt so alone and mired in a seemingly hopeless situation. He had lost his job and his family and friends had forsaken him. He confided that he had been raised in a good home by godly parents, but that in his adult years he had drifted away from the faith of his childhood. Finally, in the depths of his despair he said he prayed a simple, honest prayer, “God, I was taught about you as a child, but I’m so confused now that I don’t know what to believe, if the teaching from my childhood is right, please do something to confirm it…” Suddenly, he said a sense of calmness came over him. His of hopeless feelings lifted. He kept praying honest prayers and eventually prayed his way back to his Father’s house, where he found the solid ground needed to rebuild his life and career. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
Friday, Psalm 40:3; I recall a lunch meeting I had a few years ago with a couple of friends, In the course of the conversation the name of a mutual friend came up. One fellow said that he had recently run into this person and the other lunch companion asked how he was doing. The reply was simply, “Same song, different verse.” We all knew what he meant. Our mutual friend was known for “singing his blues” to everyone who would listen. In fact, most people tried to avoid being around him because he was such a downer! What kind of song do we “sing” to the folks around us? Is it constantly negative, focused on our problems, concerns and the unfairness of life? Or is it a song that accents the potential in problems, the goodness of life and the positive values that a life of faith can give us? He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God…
Saturday, Psalm 40:5; I suppose that it is human nature to keep count of our difficulties, maintain a list of all the times someone has done us wrong, and keep an inventory of all the problems we’ve been through. We’ve all known people who keep such lists and seem to enjoy reviewing them as often as possible. When practiced over a period of time, such people become cynical and negative. Unfortunately, we all have the tendency to do this, especially when it seems that the chips are down. Today’s text provides us with the antidote to such negative thinking. When we realize that our mind is going through our bad things that have happened to us inventory, deliberately stop it by taking out a piece of paper and begin listing all the wonderful things God has done for you. You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us…
Saturday, June 13, 2009
June 14 through June 20, 2009
Sunday, Proverbs 23:4; A few years ago I became acquainted with a man whom most would consider to be wealthy. Over time he shared with me how he had made money, then lost it; then made more money and again saw it go away. “During those years” he confided “I was always focused on making more and more; my family suffered, my health suffered and I finally realized that my business was also suffering because of my priorities.” Then he told me what turned his life around and laid the foundation for his wealth. “One day I was reading my Bible and came across a verse that changed my thinking. At first it bothered me, but then I did some research and talked to my pastor and discovered that the verse didn’t condemn working to build financial security but that it cautioned against becoming so focused on it that you become obsessed with simply getting more and more; you have to be able to walk away from it long enough to recharge and enjoy relationships. Once I learned this, and it took several months for it to really soak in, I found new peace, a clearer mind and most of all that I again was enjoying life, as well as my business.” The verse is our text for the day, Do not toil to acquire wealth; be wise enough to desist
Monday, Proverbs 24:29; Let me tell you about a man whom we’ll call Frank. Frank had been a mid-level manager—outgoing personality, full of zest and optimism. Frank was up for a promotion which everyone agreed, he deserved. Much to his consternation senior management selected a less qualified individual. Of course, he was disappointed but took it in stride—until he learned that the individual who had been promoted had, with the help of another manager, who disliked Frank taken credit for much of the work that Frank had done. In addition, this other manager implied in his reference letter that Frank had been the one who had stolen the credit from the other candidate for the position. Being fully human, Frank became angry and began plotting his revenge. Regardless of what he was doing his plans were never far from the surface of his mind. He became resentful and surly, he couldn’t concentrate on his work and his health began to decline. His wife became concerned and asked their minister to call on Frank. During their conversation, Frank confessed that he was focused on revenge. Over several weeks, the minister was able to help Frank let go of his resentment and desire for revenge. Within a few months he was his old self again, and by the end of the year the truth came out and he received a promotion. Frank’s story illustrates how important it is for us to follow the teachings of this passage. Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done”
Tuesday, Proverbs 23:18; Many times life can take some unexpected turns that leave us confused, frustrated and ready to either give up on God’s dream for our lives or yield to the temptation to take shortcuts. When we experience these feelings it is usually because we feel that we have lost all hope of achieving our goal, realizing our expectations or finding a way out of our difficulty. This verse, rooted deeply in the Judeo-Christian belief that God has a purpose and a plan for everyone willing to accept the responsibility of seeking it assures us, that regardless of how bleak things may seem, our hope has not been misplaced because God has a way of bringing a new dawn for us. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off
Wednesday, Proverbs 23:23; We have all faced the dilemma of deciding how to spend our discretionary income. In my case it usually involves deciding between two books. Depending on the mood I’m in I might buy a novel or I might purchase a business or theology book. Of course, there are times when I need to decide between investing in a book or buying groceries. The point is, I have to make a value judgment on where my money will benefit me the most at that point in my life. In doing so I indicate that I am willing to sacrifice one for the other. If I decide to take a course at a university, I saying I will invest the time that could have been spent on other things gaining academic knowledge. Our verse for today reminds us that we have to make this same choice with our time and energy. The text urges us to invest our time in order to acquire truth, wisdom, instruction and understanding. There is nothing wrong with investing time to be with family, to enjoy leisure pursuits, etc., but we need to be certain that we are also investing time for spiritual and personal development. Buy the truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction and understanding
Thursday, Proverbs 22:29; For more than twenty years, my wife has been involved with helping people move toward achieving their career goals. One of the most critical things in getting, holding or advancing in a job is the skill level of the individual. Skills are something that we acquire through training, practice and continual commitment to upgrading and refining them. Just as no one can expect to become a brain surgeon by simply reading a book, we need to realize that as Christians we have to apply ourselves to honing our vocational skills to fully realize the potential that God has given us. That is not to say that God will not help us, rather that we must do our part in order to receive the full benefit from the gifts and talents that we’ve been given. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand (work) before kings; he not stand before obscure men
Friday, Proverbs 24:27; Have you ever tried to assemble a toy for your children or grandchildren? You get a box full of parts, a plastic bag full of screws and other do-hickeys and “simple” instructions for assembling the gizmo. Of course, the instructions run something like this “Insert part A into part C, secure with hex screw 2 and place safety cap Z over screw heads.” Every time I get involved in such a project I’m reminded that God has given us a box of life parts and a bag of screws. And to fully enjoy life we have to follow the instructions carefully because if we don’t we are liable to get the parts assembled wrong. One of the key things in assembling the “package of life” that we’ve been given is learning to get our priorities right. This involves not only reading the “instructions” but learning how to distinguish what is important at the moment and what is less important. Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house
Saturday, Proverbs 25:21,22; On Monday, I told you about a man we called Frank and the negative effects on his health and work caused by his desire to strike back against people who had wronged him. Our passage for today could be considered a companion text because it states in the positive the actions we should take toward those who have wronged us. It goes without saying that it takes a real man or woman to live up to these words. Why not take some time this weekend to make a list of people whom you feel have wronged you and then try to figure out how you can begin to follow the teaching of this text in the coming week. Not only will you be a better person and feel better about yourself, “the Lord will reward you.” If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
Monday, Proverbs 24:29; Let me tell you about a man whom we’ll call Frank. Frank had been a mid-level manager—outgoing personality, full of zest and optimism. Frank was up for a promotion which everyone agreed, he deserved. Much to his consternation senior management selected a less qualified individual. Of course, he was disappointed but took it in stride—until he learned that the individual who had been promoted had, with the help of another manager, who disliked Frank taken credit for much of the work that Frank had done. In addition, this other manager implied in his reference letter that Frank had been the one who had stolen the credit from the other candidate for the position. Being fully human, Frank became angry and began plotting his revenge. Regardless of what he was doing his plans were never far from the surface of his mind. He became resentful and surly, he couldn’t concentrate on his work and his health began to decline. His wife became concerned and asked their minister to call on Frank. During their conversation, Frank confessed that he was focused on revenge. Over several weeks, the minister was able to help Frank let go of his resentment and desire for revenge. Within a few months he was his old self again, and by the end of the year the truth came out and he received a promotion. Frank’s story illustrates how important it is for us to follow the teachings of this passage. Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done”
Tuesday, Proverbs 23:18; Many times life can take some unexpected turns that leave us confused, frustrated and ready to either give up on God’s dream for our lives or yield to the temptation to take shortcuts. When we experience these feelings it is usually because we feel that we have lost all hope of achieving our goal, realizing our expectations or finding a way out of our difficulty. This verse, rooted deeply in the Judeo-Christian belief that God has a purpose and a plan for everyone willing to accept the responsibility of seeking it assures us, that regardless of how bleak things may seem, our hope has not been misplaced because God has a way of bringing a new dawn for us. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off
Wednesday, Proverbs 23:23; We have all faced the dilemma of deciding how to spend our discretionary income. In my case it usually involves deciding between two books. Depending on the mood I’m in I might buy a novel or I might purchase a business or theology book. Of course, there are times when I need to decide between investing in a book or buying groceries. The point is, I have to make a value judgment on where my money will benefit me the most at that point in my life. In doing so I indicate that I am willing to sacrifice one for the other. If I decide to take a course at a university, I saying I will invest the time that could have been spent on other things gaining academic knowledge. Our verse for today reminds us that we have to make this same choice with our time and energy. The text urges us to invest our time in order to acquire truth, wisdom, instruction and understanding. There is nothing wrong with investing time to be with family, to enjoy leisure pursuits, etc., but we need to be certain that we are also investing time for spiritual and personal development. Buy the truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction and understanding
Thursday, Proverbs 22:29; For more than twenty years, my wife has been involved with helping people move toward achieving their career goals. One of the most critical things in getting, holding or advancing in a job is the skill level of the individual. Skills are something that we acquire through training, practice and continual commitment to upgrading and refining them. Just as no one can expect to become a brain surgeon by simply reading a book, we need to realize that as Christians we have to apply ourselves to honing our vocational skills to fully realize the potential that God has given us. That is not to say that God will not help us, rather that we must do our part in order to receive the full benefit from the gifts and talents that we’ve been given. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand (work) before kings; he not stand before obscure men
Friday, Proverbs 24:27; Have you ever tried to assemble a toy for your children or grandchildren? You get a box full of parts, a plastic bag full of screws and other do-hickeys and “simple” instructions for assembling the gizmo. Of course, the instructions run something like this “Insert part A into part C, secure with hex screw 2 and place safety cap Z over screw heads.” Every time I get involved in such a project I’m reminded that God has given us a box of life parts and a bag of screws. And to fully enjoy life we have to follow the instructions carefully because if we don’t we are liable to get the parts assembled wrong. One of the key things in assembling the “package of life” that we’ve been given is learning to get our priorities right. This involves not only reading the “instructions” but learning how to distinguish what is important at the moment and what is less important. Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house
Saturday, Proverbs 25:21,22; On Monday, I told you about a man we called Frank and the negative effects on his health and work caused by his desire to strike back against people who had wronged him. Our passage for today could be considered a companion text because it states in the positive the actions we should take toward those who have wronged us. It goes without saying that it takes a real man or woman to live up to these words. Why not take some time this weekend to make a list of people whom you feel have wronged you and then try to figure out how you can begin to follow the teaching of this text in the coming week. Not only will you be a better person and feel better about yourself, “the Lord will reward you.” If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
June 7 thru June 13, 2009
SUNDAY, Give me an undivided heart to revere your name Psalm 86:11; In his parable of the Sower, Jesus said that some of the seed produced nothing because the cares of the world and other things literally choked it. As Christians we have a dual identity, we are many things to many people, but unfortunately we sometimes think of ourselves a business people who happen to be Christians, or administrative assistants, carpenters, sales people, physicians, etc. who happen to be Christians rather than Christians who happen to be business people, secretaries, clerks, programmers, etc. It is easy to allow problems, people and other things to divide our mind and thus choke out the blessing that comes from fully appreciating God and his loving care and concern.
MONDAY, Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy Psalm 86:1
Often, in the midst of a hectic week, it is easy to feel like we are losing our mental and spiritual equilibrium, isn’t it? There are projects to be started and completed, decisions to be made, meetings to participate in, work to be done and a myriad of activities involving family and friends. In looking over everything we need to get done it is easy to feel overwhelmed, to become aware of our limitations and experience a sense of inadequacy. Why not try following the example of some of the most successful people in the history of American business? Men like John D. Rockefeller, J.C. Penney, J. L. Craft, John Danforth (founder of Purina), Milton S. Hershey and countless others who, realizing their poverty and need in certain areas of their lives made their faith an integral part of their business lives.
Certainly, these men weren’t perfect and they made mistakes, but each of them demonstrated a reliance on Almighty God and their religious faith as they understood it. So if you are feeling somewhat inadequate or overwhelmed by all the things you’ve still got to co this week, why not acknowledge your poverty and need in these areas of your life and talk it over with God.
TUESDAY, Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long Psalm 86:3
I became acquainted with a successful executive several years ago who testified to this simple truth. Almost everyday he was faced with decisions that involved millions of dollars, the future of his company and the security of both his employees and stockholders. “I have a fine education, solid experience and good business instincts” he said, “but when I combine those ingredients with the wisdom that God gives when I ask for it, I always see things turn out much better than when I simply rely on my on background.”
Don’t hesitate to bring every decision and problem you face in your career, family and personal life to God. Then be open to his guidance, you’ll be amazed at the ideas that you receive that correct your thinking, develop a strategy and lead to positive outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Give your strength to your servant Psalm 86:16b; Not only can we count on God to provide us with guidance as we handle our daily affairs, we can also count on him to give us the added strength of mind and conviction we need during difficulties. A young lad was trying to pick up a bulky bag of lawn fertilizer. His father knew the boy had the strength to carry the sack—if he could ever get it off the ground, the father offered to help him but the boy insisted that he pick it up. He tugged and pulled but could never get enough heft to get it up high enough to carry. Finally, exhausted by his efforts the boy ask his dad to help him pick up the bag. Together they easily lifted the sack high enough for the boy to get his arms around it. The father then watched as his son proudly carried the sack down the driveway.
THURSDAY, Happy are those whose strength is in you…They go from strength to strength Psalm 84:5a-7a; There are many kinds of strength, among them are strength of conviction, strength of mind, strength of purpose, and strength of will. Many of the truly unhappy people I’ve known lacked strength in one or all of these categories. When we truly put our confidence in God we draw our strength of purpose from God’s purpose, our mind is strengthen as we transform our thinking from a negative, defeatist pattern to one that is positive and faith-based, our core beliefs (convictions) become strongly anchored and the human will becomes strong as steel in the face of adversity and temptation. It is no wonder that the Psalmist asserts that when our strength is in God we find real happiness and contentment.
FRIDAY, No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly Psalm 84:11b; Those whose strength is in the Lord have a sense of happiness and also an unshakeable optimism. I realize that optimism is often mocked by today’s modern sophisticates. But the real optimist isn’t someone who sees everything through rose colored glasses. A real optimist is someone who, having lived through life’s up’s and down’s quickly recognizes adversity for what it is, accepts its challenges and moves forward with faith and confidence, knowing that with God on his side things will work out for the best. The Psalmist was such a person. Living in a time when war, disease and uncertainty shadowed people every hour of the day, the writer affirms that regardless of how bad things get.
SATURDAY, Happy is everyone who trusts in you Psalm 84:12; When we put our trust in the Good Lord through faith in Jesus we are given the potential to live the abundant life—one of strength, confidence, divine guidance and optimism for the future. Then when we cross to the other side those who have consistently lived out their faith receive eternal life. This knowledge provides a peace of mind and confidence that gives us an unshakeable sense of happiness, even in the face of distressing events. When he broke the news that he had Alzheimer's in his "open letter" to the nation, Ronald Reagan wrote: "When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future."
MONDAY, Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy Psalm 86:1
Often, in the midst of a hectic week, it is easy to feel like we are losing our mental and spiritual equilibrium, isn’t it? There are projects to be started and completed, decisions to be made, meetings to participate in, work to be done and a myriad of activities involving family and friends. In looking over everything we need to get done it is easy to feel overwhelmed, to become aware of our limitations and experience a sense of inadequacy. Why not try following the example of some of the most successful people in the history of American business? Men like John D. Rockefeller, J.C. Penney, J. L. Craft, John Danforth (founder of Purina), Milton S. Hershey and countless others who, realizing their poverty and need in certain areas of their lives made their faith an integral part of their business lives.
Certainly, these men weren’t perfect and they made mistakes, but each of them demonstrated a reliance on Almighty God and their religious faith as they understood it. So if you are feeling somewhat inadequate or overwhelmed by all the things you’ve still got to co this week, why not acknowledge your poverty and need in these areas of your life and talk it over with God.
TUESDAY, Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long Psalm 86:3
I became acquainted with a successful executive several years ago who testified to this simple truth. Almost everyday he was faced with decisions that involved millions of dollars, the future of his company and the security of both his employees and stockholders. “I have a fine education, solid experience and good business instincts” he said, “but when I combine those ingredients with the wisdom that God gives when I ask for it, I always see things turn out much better than when I simply rely on my on background.”
Don’t hesitate to bring every decision and problem you face in your career, family and personal life to God. Then be open to his guidance, you’ll be amazed at the ideas that you receive that correct your thinking, develop a strategy and lead to positive outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Give your strength to your servant Psalm 86:16b; Not only can we count on God to provide us with guidance as we handle our daily affairs, we can also count on him to give us the added strength of mind and conviction we need during difficulties. A young lad was trying to pick up a bulky bag of lawn fertilizer. His father knew the boy had the strength to carry the sack—if he could ever get it off the ground, the father offered to help him but the boy insisted that he pick it up. He tugged and pulled but could never get enough heft to get it up high enough to carry. Finally, exhausted by his efforts the boy ask his dad to help him pick up the bag. Together they easily lifted the sack high enough for the boy to get his arms around it. The father then watched as his son proudly carried the sack down the driveway.
THURSDAY, Happy are those whose strength is in you…They go from strength to strength Psalm 84:5a-7a; There are many kinds of strength, among them are strength of conviction, strength of mind, strength of purpose, and strength of will. Many of the truly unhappy people I’ve known lacked strength in one or all of these categories. When we truly put our confidence in God we draw our strength of purpose from God’s purpose, our mind is strengthen as we transform our thinking from a negative, defeatist pattern to one that is positive and faith-based, our core beliefs (convictions) become strongly anchored and the human will becomes strong as steel in the face of adversity and temptation. It is no wonder that the Psalmist asserts that when our strength is in God we find real happiness and contentment.
FRIDAY, No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly Psalm 84:11b; Those whose strength is in the Lord have a sense of happiness and also an unshakeable optimism. I realize that optimism is often mocked by today’s modern sophisticates. But the real optimist isn’t someone who sees everything through rose colored glasses. A real optimist is someone who, having lived through life’s up’s and down’s quickly recognizes adversity for what it is, accepts its challenges and moves forward with faith and confidence, knowing that with God on his side things will work out for the best. The Psalmist was such a person. Living in a time when war, disease and uncertainty shadowed people every hour of the day, the writer affirms that regardless of how bad things get.
SATURDAY, Happy is everyone who trusts in you Psalm 84:12; When we put our trust in the Good Lord through faith in Jesus we are given the potential to live the abundant life—one of strength, confidence, divine guidance and optimism for the future. Then when we cross to the other side those who have consistently lived out their faith receive eternal life. This knowledge provides a peace of mind and confidence that gives us an unshakeable sense of happiness, even in the face of distressing events. When he broke the news that he had Alzheimer's in his "open letter" to the nation, Ronald Reagan wrote: "When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future."
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