Special Selection - "Worshipper In Me"

Daily Reading - "For The Vision...Will Surely Come." Hab 2:3

This is how it read today.

Thurs. Dec 31

"FOR THE VISION...WILL SURELY COME." (HAB 2:3)

What's Your Vision For The New Year (2)

Obstacles can't steal your dream without your permission. Winston Churchill rallied blitzed, beleaguered Britain from the edge of defeat with these memorable words: "Never give up! Never give up! Never, never, never give up!" When you walk in faith and refuse to quit, God guarantees your obstacle won't prevent your vision from being fulfilled. Though they were enslaved, Israel received the strength to overcome Egypt's efforts to break them. The story of their survival and success reads: "The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew" (Ex 1:12 NKJV). Paul's dream of evangelizing the world met roadblocks at every turn. Tightening his grip he declared, "We are hard-pressed on all sides, but...never frustrated; we are puzzled, but never in despair. We are persecuted, but...never...deserted: we may be knocked down but we are never knocked out!" (2Co 4:8-9 Phps). Joseph's journey to the throne led him through betrayal, persecution and loneliness. His dream, still alive and unsurrendered, was put on hold for years. Vindicated in the critics' eyes, his dream at last realized, he recalls the amazing way in which God accomplished it. "'For,' he said, 'God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction'" (Ge 41:52 NAS). He refused to surrender his dream - it's what kept him alive. God made him fruitful, not by exempting him from affliction but by promoting him right there, "in the land of my affliction." Your obstacles can't stop God; don't let them stop you!

Special Selection - "Dwell"

Daily Reading - "For The Vision...Will Surely Come." Hab 2:3

Here is how it read today.

Wed. Dec 30

"FOR THE VISION...WILL SURELY COME." (HAB 2:3)

What's Your Vision For The New Year (1)

Fulfilling your life's vision depends on: (a) Having a vision - which calls for waiting on God until He reveals His plan for you. (b) Dedicating time and energy to it - which calls for patience and discipline. (c) Knowing how to overcome obstacles - which calls for good management. The Bible says: "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Pr 29:18). Remember South Pacific's lyrics, "If you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?" A vision gives you direction, creativity and resilience. Without one you become passive, aimless and vulnerable to quitting. God can give you a vision instantly but its fulfillment will require learning, practicing, and managing life's daily challenges. For the next few days let's look at some vision-fulfilling principles:
Visions come with opportunities - and obstacles! After decades in America, immigrant Raymond Dawson inherited his English grandparents' estate. Returning home, he found a run-down farmhouse and barns on land covered with rocks. Disappointed and about to return to America, he decided to walk his worthless inheritance one final time. Pausing on a remote corner, he noticed a stream coming from beneath some rocks. He investigated, uncovered some hot springs, and guess what? Today he's owner of a lucrative resort, right on the site of his former disappointment! When you ask God for a vision you're likely to be placed in a field of opportunities concealed under acres of obstacles. Then He will stand back and watch how you engage in the ministry of obstacle management!

Special Selection - "God Is Able"

Daily Reading - "Judge Me, O Lord...According To My...Integrity." Ps 7:8 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Tues. Dec 29

"JUDGE ME, O LORD...ACCORDING TO MY...INTEGRITY." (PS 7:8 NKJV)

Integrity

Chuck Swindoll tells about a man who bought fried chicken dinners for himself and his date. Inadvertently the attendant gave him the proceeds from the day's business; a bucket of money instead of fried chicken. Swindoll writes: "After driving to their picnic site they discovered a whole lot more than chicken - over $800! But he was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. They got back into the car and drove all the way back. By then, the manager was frantic. 'Mr. Clean' got out, walked in, and became an instant hero. 'I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money here,' he said. Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, 'I'm gonna have your picture put in the local paper. You're one of the most honest men I've ever heard of.' To which the man quickly responded, 'Oh, no...don't do that!' Then he leaned closer and whispered, 'You see, the woman I'm with...she's, us, somebody else's wife.'" Paul writes: "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist" (Eph 6:14 NIV). He was referring to a leather girdle Roman soldiers wore around their waist to protect their loins and carry weapons like daggers and swords. This girdle also held the soldiers tunic together so it wouldn't get snagged and hold him back. When it comes to your spiritual armor, integrity protects you and holds everything together. If you don't have integrity in big things and small things, you're going to lose the battle. Without integrity, everything falls apart.

Special Selection - "It's Your Life"

Daily Reading - "The Lord Does Not Look At Things Man Looks At." 1Sa 16:7 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Mon. Dec 28

"THE LORD DOES NOT LOOK AT THINGS MAN LOOKS AT." (1SA 16:7 NIV)

You Are Qualified!

Some of the greatest people in the Bible considered themselves unqualified. Moses told God he wasn't a good speaker. Gideon told God he didn't have the right family background. Jeremiah told God he felt as helpless as a child. Paul described himself as the chief of sinners and the least of the apostles. Everyone, including Samuel the prophet, thought David wasn't qualified to become king. But Got thought differently!
We decided to retell the story about a newly-hired traveling salesman who sent his first sales report to the head office, because its truth is timeless. When the report reached them they were stunned. The new salesman wrote, "I seen this outfit which ain't never bot nuthin from us and I sole them a lotta goods. Now I'm going to Chicawgo." Before teh sales manager could fire him, along came a second report. "I come here to Chicawgo and sole them over a millyun." Fearful if he fired the salesman and concerned if he didn't, the sales manager dumped the problem into the lap of the company president. The following morning sales department was amazed to see a memo from the president posted on the bulletin board beside the salesman's two letters. It said, "We ben spending two much time trying to spel and not enuf tryin to sel. :et's watch those sails. I want everybody should read these two letters from Gooch, who is on the rode doin a grate job for us, and you should go out and do like he dun." Degrees and titles are fine things, but armed with intuition and initiative, plus God's help, you are qualified!

Special Selection - "Live In Me Jesus"

Daily Reading - "Did Not Our Heart Burn...While He Talked To Us?" Lk 24:32 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Sun. Dec 27

"DID NOT OUR HEART BURN...WHILE HE TALKED WITH US?" (LK 24:32 NKJV)

"God Experiences"

Cell phones, laptops, palm-PCs and electronic organizers can become our slave drivers. We need to stop and ask ourselves: "Can God interrupt me? Can He get my attention short of a catastrophe?" Some of your "God experiences" will happen when you're preoccupied with something else. So pray that you'll be sensitive enough to realize it's God, and respond to Him rather than the pressures around you. If you decide to pursue your own agenda instead of God's, don't be surprised when you run into a brick wall and end up asking, "What went wrong?" The answer is, you didn't take time for God!
Look at Mary and Martha when Jesus visited their home in Bethany. Martha's focus was on cooking dinner for Him; Mary's was on soaking up every word He spoke. Now both are necessary, but when forced to choose between the two the Lord will always choose the one who sits at His feet in adoration and learns from Him. Listen to the words of a couple who'd just encountered Christ on the Emmaus Road following His resurrection, yet they didn't recognize Him: "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road?" God can give you a solution or a strategy "on the road" that will solve a problem waiting for you at work. He can de-stress you so you sail confidently through a test in school. He can give you direction for the future while you're doing mundane things around the house. All He requires is that you be sensitive to Him, available to Him, and responsive to Him.

Special Selection - "Bless The Broken Road"

Daily Reading - "Jericho Was Tightly Shut Up." Jos 6:1 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Sat. Dec 26

"JERICHO WAS TIGHTLY SHUT UP." (JOS 6:1 NIV)

Emotional Lockdown

The Bible says: "Jericho was tightly shut up...No one went out and no one came in." Ever heard of the "Jericho syndrome?" It's when you're on emotional lockdown. You're afraid to reach out or let anybody in. You've built a wall so you can't be hurt again. Look out, that wall can imprison you, and everybody else in your life. You can get married in Jericho, say the vows, wear the dress, exchange the rings go on the honeymoon, and still have the walls up. "If he leaves, I'm ready. I've got a bank account I didn't tell him about. I have a back up plan in case this doesn't work." Ever think that way? Jesus said: "A man...is joined to his wife" (Mt 19:5 NLT). But how can you be joined if you can't be reached because of a wall of bitterness, fear and distrust? Love always looks for the best (See 1Co 13:4-8 NIV). Love doesn't work when you live by the philosophy, "Look for the best but expect the worst." It's time for an exorcism! You've got to drive out the ghosts of of yesterday if you're to have any hope of real future together. Forgiving, when you've been deeply hurt, is one of the hardest things you'll ever do, but you must forgive, and keep on forgiving till resentment no longer controls you. Peter asked Jesus, "How many times shall I forgive my brother, seven times?" Jesus answered, "Seventy times seven" (See Mt 18:21-22 NKJV). Stop rehearsing your past and give it to the Lord. He's the wall-toppling, communication-restoring, esteem-building, healer of broken hearts and relationships. If you let Him, He will help you to live and love again.

Special Holiday Selection Trio - "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" "The First Noel" "Joy To The World"

Daily Reading - "They Presented Gifts To Him." Mt 2:11 NKJV

Here is how it reads today.

Fri. Dec 25

"THEY PRESENTED GIFTS TO HIM."

Quite A Story, Isn't It?

In the Christmas story we learn that: (1) God can use people you don't know to bless you. They wise men weren't devout Jews or committed Christians, but Persian stargazers. Don't be selective; you'll tie God's hands. Open your heart and you'll start seeing Him reaching out to you through the most interesting people. (2) God can take care of your tomorrows. Joseph and Mary would have to leave home and flee Egypt. What would they live on? Gold, frankincense and myth, gifts only the rich can give. When you're in the will of God He will provide for you. He may do it through your job or the generosity of others, but he will do it. You don't have to stay up all night worrying, trying to figure out how to make ends meet. The Psalmist said, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Ps 37:25). (3) God can override the system and get you the help you need. "The star guided them to where the young child should be born" (See MT 2:9). In the history of the solar system there's never been anything like it. God moved a star like we move a pawn in a chess game. That's because He "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Eph 1:11). The story reads: "When they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myth." Quite a story, isn't it?

It Is What It Is/Where I'm At 11/24

Special Selection Double Up - "Healing" & "Open My Heart"

Daily Reading - "Joseph [Mary's] Husband, Being A Just Man." Mt 1:19 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Thur. Dec 24

"JOSEPH [MARY'S] HUSBAND, BEING A JUST MAN." (MT 1:19 NKJV)

Joseph

Joseph's role in the Christmas story teaches us two things: (1) Your character matters to God. (2) Doing God's will is not easy.
Jesus' earthly father was a small-town carpenter living in Nazareth, a single-camel dot on the map. Why Joseph? Doesn't God have better options? A major part of the answer lies in his reputation, which he's willing to give up for Jesus. "Then Joseph [Mary's] husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly." The phrase "a just man," recognizes Joseph's character. He'd earned respect through a lifetime of honesty and hard work. We'd probably view him as we would an elder, deacon or Bible class teacher. But Mary's announcement, "I'm pregnant," put it all at risk. Now what? On one hand he has the law, on the other hand he has his love. The law says, "stone her," his love says, "save her." Joseph is caught in the middle. Doing the will of God is rewarding, but seldom easy! Even after the angel explains to him the miracle of virgin birth, he still faces a dilemma. Make up a lie and preserve his place in the community, or tell the truth and kiss his reputation goodbye. He makes his decision: "Joseph...took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son" (Mt 1:24-25 NKJV). Joseph swapped his teaching and his preconceived ideas for a pregnant fiancee and an unplanned son. In so doing, he made the big decision of discipleship. What's that? Placing God's ahead of your own!

Special Selection - "There's Power In Jesus Name"

"Love Each Other As I Have Loved You." Jn 15:12 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Wed. Dec 23

"LOVE EACH OTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU." (JN 15:12 NIV)

"How Would Jesus Handle This?"

Are you complaining because someone has disappointed you? Are you keeping score when it comes to gift giving, initiating phone calls, or picking up the tab? Are you upset because you feel like you give more than you get? Jesus experienced all these things - and more. His closest friends let Him down. Those He called and counted on, often proved to be unreliable and immature. They learned slowly, and usually the hard way. One doubted Him, one denied Him, one even betrayed Him. Yet He forgave them and loved them anyway. "Having loved his own... he loved them unto the end" (Jn 12:1). Jesus loved His friends not because they were worthy of His love, but because His love made them worthy. Love does that!
In Knowing God, J.J. Packer writes, "There is tremendous relief in knowing that God's love for me is based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst in me. No discovery can disillusion Him in the way I'm often so disillusioned about myself, or quench His determination to bless me. There is great cause for humility in the thought that He sees all the twisted things about me that others don't see. Indeed, He sees more corruption in me than I see in myself. Yet He wants to be my friend, and desires to be my friend, and has given His son to die for me in order for me to realize this purpose." So before you react in anger, remember God's grace. Use His Son as your role model and ask yourself, "How would Jesus handle this?"

Special Selection - "My Deliverer"

Daily Reading - "Choose For Yourselves This Day." Jos 24:15 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Tues. Dec 22

"CHOOSE FOR YOURSELVES THIS DAY." (JOS 24:15 NKJV)

Defining Moments

It was a defining moment when Joshua said to Israel, "choose for yourselves," then added, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." In life: (1) Defining moments show us who we really are. Our defining moments usually come as a surprise and happen during times of crisis, like (a) facing a personal failure; (b) taking an unpopular stand; (c) suffering without complaining; (d) being asked to forgive; (e) making a hard choice. Sometimes defining moments occur when we don't see them for what they are. Only afterward, as we look, do we understand their importance. Either way, they define who we are. (2) Defining moments show others who we are. Most days we can wear a mask. During defining moments, we can't. Our image means nothing. Neither does our resolve or connections. We've no time to put a spin on our actions. Whatever is truly inside us is revealed or connections. We've no time to put a spin on our actions. Whatever is truly inside us is revealed to everyone. As a leader, defining moments tell the people following you who you really are, what you stand for, and why you're leading. Handled well, a defining moment can bond leaders and followers for life. Handled poorly, it can end your ability to lead. (3) Defining moments determine who we will become. You'll never be the same person after a defining moment. That's because defining moments are not normal, and what's "normal" doesn't work in these times. Defining moments are like intersections in our lives; they give us an opportunity to turn, change direction, and seek a new destination. They present options and opportunities. In these moments, we must choose. And the choice we make will define us!

Special Selection - "Let Go"

Daily Reading - "They Were Offended At Him." Mt 13:57 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Mon. Dec 21

"THEY WERE OFFENDED AT HIM." (MT 13:57 NKJV)

Don't Let Others Hold You Back

Joseph's brothers resented his dream so they sold him into slavery. David's family didn't consider him worthy of being king. The people who knew Jesus during His first thirty years said: "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's son...So they were offended at Him (Mt 13:54-57 NKJV). You must realize that some of the people who knew you "way back when" don't know you now, because they've "slotted you." What should you do? Do what Jesus did; He moved on. What else could he do? He refused to allow others to keep Him stuck at a stage in His life that was past and gone, and you have got to do the same. If you allow others to keep taking you down memory lane you'll eventually set up house, stay longer than you should and miss your God-given destiny. It's wonderful to have people in your life who know where you've been and can relate to where you're going. But if you have to choose between then and now, sacrifice then for it can't be rewritten, only replayed over and over. Stop rehearsing your beginnings and write the rest of your story. The future is yours - seize it while you can. The story's told of a hacker on a golf course who kept swinging at the ball and missing, repeatedly hitting an ant hill. Finally one ant took charge and said, "Follow me." Another ant yelled, "But where are we going?" He pointed to the ball sitting in front of them. "There. If we don't get on the ball we're going to die!"

Special Selection - "Breakthrough"

Daily Reading - "You Were Redeemed...With The Precious Blood Of Christ." 1Pe 1:18-19 NIV

Here is how it read.

Sun. Dec 20

"YOU WERE REDEEMED...WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST." (1PE 1:18-19 NIV)

Thank God For The Blood

The story of redemption begins in Eden with God shedding the blood of a lamb to cover Adam and Eve's sin, and ends in heaven with a multi-national choir singing, "You...have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every...nation" (Rev 5:9 NKJV). The blood of Jesus Christ represents two things: (1) The cost of your sin. Rolled onto Christ's shoulders was the weight of your every misdeed from the cradle to the grave. Next time you're tempted to violate God's Word and do your own thing, keep that in mind. (2) The cure for you sin. Your salvation wasn't a joint effort. You didn't contribute a cent because you were spiritually bankrupt. "You were redeemed [bought out of slavery and set free]...with the precious blood of Christ."
The preaching of the blood will offend those with sins to hide, a mosaic ego to protect, or a gospel that offers salvation through good works and social evolution. The blood of Jesus not only save the repentant but condemns the defiant, for "without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb 9:22 NIV). Plagues and apocalyptic hail could not release God's people from the iron grip of Pharaoh. What did? The blood. Nothing but the blood! And the blood has never lost its power. It can: (a) heal your painful memories; (b) cleanse and set you free from the sin you dare not speak of; (c) put a canopy of protection over you; (d) draw a line in the sand over which the enemy dare not step. Today, thank God for the blood!

Special Selection - "Addictive Love"

Daily Reading - "Blessed Is He Who Considers The Poor." Ps 41:1 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Sat. Dec 19

"BLESSED IS HE WHO CONSIDERS THE POOR." (PS 41:1 NKJV)

Showing Compassion

A central theme of the Bible is showing compassion. "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing...what good is it...faith...if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (jas 2:15-17 NIV). Certain types of people seem less likely to show compassion than others, like: (1) The visionary type who refuses to interrupt their schedule. (2) The diligent type whose work ethic gets distorted into thinking, "I worked hard for what I've got; so should you." (3) The judgmental type who assumes the misfortune of others is always a result of reaping what they've sown. (4) The insecure type who feels that by giving to others, their own needs will go unmet. (5) The scripturally unenlightened type who doesn't understand that God has promised to reward compassion: "Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble...protects them and keeps them alive...gives them prosperity...and rescues them from their enemies...nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health" (Ps 41:1-3 NLT). Jesus said: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did for me" (Mt 25:40 NIV). Mother Teresa said, "If you are kind, people will accuse you of selfish motives; be kind anyway. The good you do today, most people will forget; do good anyway. Give the world the best you've got and it may never be enough; give your best anyway. In the final analysis it's between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway."

Special Selection - "It's Gonna Be Alright"

Daily Reading - "God Ended His Work...And He Rested." Ge 2:2 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Fri. Dec 17

"GOD ENDED HIS WORK...AND HE RESTED." (GE 2:2 NKJV)

"Time Out"

If you keep treating your work better than you treat yourself, there's a good chance you won't be around to finish it. If you want to have the greatest impact when you do work, learn to take "time out." How is it that the mighty fail? Because they don't understand the importance of rest! In the book of Genesis we read: "God ended His work...and He rested." God rested, why don't we? For two reasons:
(1) We strive for goals God never gave us. Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Mt 11:30 NKJV). "When something is too hard or too heavy, you need to ask yourself, "Did God really call me to do this?" The will of God will stretch your faith to new limits and your talent to new levels, but it won't destroy your health, your peace of mind or your family. (2) We lose perspective. Our priorities get out of line, We say, "I'm doing this for my family." Has it occurred to you that given the choice your family would rather have more of you and less of other things? But we don't give them that option, do we? Personal empowerment begins when you recognize that you've had enough, take control of what happens and when it happens in your life. If you feel guilty about taking a break, you need to change your thinking. The Psalmist writes: "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures...He restoreth my soul" (Ps 23:2-3). Spiritual, physical and emotional restoration begin with rest. So learn to take "time out" without feeling lazy, irresponsible or unproductive.

Daily Reading - "Do Everything Without Complaining." Php 2:14 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Wed. Dec 16

"DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT COMPLAINING." (PHP 2:14 NIV)

STOP COMPLAINING AND START GAINING (6)

Here are three final thoughts on complaining:

(1) Don't make a complain, make a request. However legitimate your gripe, you'll be heard as complaining, greatly reducing the likelihood of a good outcome. Whatever the cause, you're more likely to get what you ask for graciously, than you are to cure what you're complaining about. Asking, "Would you be willing to do this (a preferred specific behavior) rather than that (the old behavior)?" if respectful, clear, avoids argument over past issues that can't be changed, and always brings a better result.

(2) All right, you've said it, now let God work. Changing people is God's job, so back off, be patient and give Him a chance. "But doesn't somebody need to supervise them to be sure they change?" Unless they're behind bars and you're their prison guard, the answer is no! Get out of God's way and let Him do what you can't. He has ways and means you never dreams of. When He's allowed to take over the job it gets done right!

(3) What should you do while waiting for God to work? Well, you could sit around ruminating, resenting and rehashing the past. Or you could take lessons from Joseph! He'd every reason to complain about his family's treatment and to take revenge when the tables turned in his favor. Instead he conscientiously and skillfully did what he had to do, watching for the strategic moments every problem offers, when he could align himself to become part of the solution. He did, his family was reunited, and God promoted him to even greater blessing. Learn from him!

Special Selection - "Grateful"

Daily Reading - "Do Everything Without Complaining" Php 2:14 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Tues. Dec. 15

"DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT COMPLAINING." (PHP 2:14 NIV)

STOP COMPLAINING AND START GAINING (5)

When your complaint is legitimate: (1) Talk to the person with whom you have the issue. When you're upset, your temptation will be to tell everybody. It feels right, justified, and even therapeutic. Well-meaning friends will encourage it, and even help publicize it. "You'll feel better when you've got it off your chest." God's Word condemns handling complaints that way! Do it, and you add insult to your own injury by disobeying God - and you can't expect Him to cooperate with you while you violate His Word. "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over" (Mt 18:15 NIV). Courage, humility and wisdom are required to face your offender privately, but it's God way. It contains the conflict, minimizes embarrassment and increases the likelihood of resolution and restoration, which is God's real concern. (2) Speak in love, not in words meant to hurt. Let your words be gracious, conciliatory and aimed at solution, not "one-upmanship." The Bible counsels: "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will...grow up" (eph 4:15 NIV). Your growth in Christ in end; speaking truth in love is the means. Tell the offender your goal is not humiliating them or getting revenge, but resolving your differences, strengthening your relationship, and honoring God. Instead of making an adversary who'll oppose you, you'll be inviting an ally to join you in a mutually beneficial, God-glorifying mission!

Special Selection Old with the New - "People Get Ready"

Special Selection - "Jesus Is The Answer."

Daily Reading - "Do Everything Without Complaining" Php 2:14 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Sun. Dec 13

"DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT COMPLAINING." (PHP 2:14 NIV)

STOP COMPLAINING AND START GAINING (3)

Isn't complaining really just about words? No, it's much more!
(1) Complaining hands your power over to the people and circumstances you complain about making you feel like their victim. It diminishes your ability to think of solutions, conditions your mind negatively, and blunts your ability to receive creative ideas from God. Positive outcomes don't grow in negative soil! You can't complain and create simultaneous. "Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring...can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?" (Jas 3:10-12 NIV). Complaints are verbal expressions of negative beliefs. They cancel positive intentions and confessions, rendering your powerless to reap the gains God offers. Complaining focuses on a past you can't change, keeps you scavenging in yesterday's debris, searching for evidence about "who did what" and "when" and "why," while your present slips fruitlessly away. (2) Complaining is toxic to your relationships. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (1 Co 5:6 NKJV). Complaining invites others to complain. Poison injected, toxifies every part of the body. Subtly your relationship, your family, your workplace, your church and your environment become polluted. Complaining polarizes relationships. People who don't like stress, anxiety and negativity begin to distance themselves from you. Your "tongue has the power of life and death" (Pr 18:21 NIV): your life and death, and the life and death of others. So pray, "'Set a guard over my mouth, O lord' (Ps 141:3 NIV); help me to avoid complaining."

Special Selection - "I Found The Answer"

Daily Reading - "Do Everything Without Complaining" Php 2:14 NIV

Here is how it read today.

"DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT COMPLAINING." (PHP 2:14 NIV)

STOP COMPLAINING AND START GAINING (2)

Complaining is toxic. It contaminates both the complainer and everyone within earshot. Sometimes we think we're helping by complaining. "If somebody doesn't say something, nothing's ever going to change!" - as though positive change can come from negative words. We imagine we've contributed something worthwhile by our complaint. But complaining is what we do to avoid facing, dealing with and solving the problem. It's what we do instead of contributing to constructive change, and it makes us part of the problem instead of the solution. The more you complain the more problem-focused you become, and the more problem-focused you become the more you complain. Ultimately your complaining affects you more than anyone else. The Psalmist said, "I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed" (Ps 77:3 NKJV). If no one else pays attention to your words, you do. Before you say them you think them. "Out of abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Mt 12:34 NKJV). And when you say them, you hear them and believe them just as you would the words of a trusted authority. Every time you repeat them you reinforce their power over you until eventually you make yourself the victim of your own complaints. Your spirit (attitude) will be overwhelmed, not by the problems and difficulties people bring to you, but as the self-inflicted product of your own complaints. So, "Do all things without complaining...that you may become blameless and harmless...without fault in...a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Php 2:14-15 NKJV).

Special Selection - "We Praise You"

Daily Reading - "Do Everything Without Complaining" Php 2:14 NIV

Here is how it read today.

Fri. Dec 11

"DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT COMPLAINING." (PHP 2:14 NIV)

STOP COMPLAINING AND START GAINING (1)

Two groups of psychology students were wired for audio and assigned a period to socialize freely. One group knew the experiment would measure the level of complaining in normal conversation, the other did not. Afterwards, both groups were shocked by how frequently they complained. The informed group complained almost as much as the uninformed one. It's the oldest response in the book - literally! Confronted with our choices and actions, we spontaneously start complaining. "It was their fault, not mine. If they hadn't...I wouldn't have." Adam needed no lessons in the art of complaining. Caught red-handed, he told God, "The woman whom you gave...me, she gave me...and I ate." Eve said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate" (Ge 3:12-13 NAS). Neither accepted responsibility for their choices. And since God doesn't help people who won't be responsible, He threw the complainers our of Paradise. If they ever subsequently "got it" regarding complaining, they didn't transmit it to their offspring, Israel. "Now the people complained...in the hearing of the Lord...his anger was aroused. Then fire...consumed...the outskirts of the camp" (Nu 11:1 NIV). Notice, all complaining is "in the hearing of the Lord," and He clearly doesn't want to hear it! Paul writes: "Do not complain as some of them did; they were killed by the angel that destroys. The things that happened to those people are examples...written down to teach us" (1Co 10:10-11 NCV). Clean up your verbal act! Decide to detect, reject, and eject all complaining from your vocabulary.

Special Selection - "Take Me Back"

Daily Reading - "He Raise Us Up Together." Eph 2:6 AMP

Here is how it read today.

Thurs. Dec 10

"HE RAISED US UP TOGETHER." (EPH 2:6 AMP)

Lord, Hasten The Day!

As followers of Christ we're intimately connected in the Spirit. We are each a living stone connected to other living stones, and God keeps working on us until we all fit together (See 1Pe 2:5). God sees only two categories - saved and lost. He's not hung up on denominations, races, or socio-economic distinctions. "You are all one in Christ Jesus" (See Gal 3:28). When you become a member of God's family you pledge allegiance to every other member. That means loving, supporting and encouraging them.
When Israelites were about to take the Promised Land, two of their tribes wanted to settle where they were; they didn't want to go out and fight with the rest. But Moses challenged them: "Shall your brethren go to war while you sit here?" (Nu 32:6 NKJV). So they came back into unity and said, "We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has received his inheritance" (Nu 32:18 NKJV). They couldn't enjoy their legacy until everyone shared in it. Walking in unity of the Spirit means you can't fully enjoy your health while your brother or sister is still sick, or fully celebrate your success while they still struggle. There's something about receiving God's blessing that when fully understood makes you want to say to others, "The God who brought me through, will bring you through too!" And you'll work and pray toward that end. When we're raised up together divisions will be healed, we will be conformed [become similar in character] to Christ, and the world will begin to take us seriously. Lord, hasten the day!

Special Selection - "Peace And Favor Rest On Us"

Daily Reading - "Tell...[Your Children]...The Mighty Things I Have Done." Ex 10:2 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Wed. Dec 9

"TELL...[YOUR CHILDREN]...THE MIGHTY THINGS I HAVE DONE." (EX 10:2 NKJV)

The Battle Is Over

It's not enough to escape your past, its power over you must be broken; otherwise it'll chase you the rest of your life. When you break away from something that keeps trying to recapture you, it's crucial to get victory over it; otherwise you can't move forward and enjoy the blessing God has in mind for you. It's jarring to think something's over only to find it isn't. But remember, it was God who permitted Pharaoh to pursue Israel all the way to the Red Sea. Why? For two reasons: (1) "That I may show [you] these signs of Mine." (E 10:1 NKJV). God wants you to see that when you put your trust in Him, obstacles and opposition mean nothing. He wants this experience to be a "landmark memory" you draw faith from when you face your next problem. (2) "That you may tell...[your children]...the mighty things I have done." You don't have to live under Pharaoh (Satan's rule) any more. Like the Passover, when the blood of Jesus was applied by faith to the doorpost of your heart, your status changed. You're no longer a slave but a child of God. The generational curse is broken. Your children can now grow up under God's blessing. Abuse, alcoholism, anger and abandonment may have been the story of your past, but it's no longer the truth about your future. God can solve your problem in different ways, but sometimes He takes you through the Red Sea so that when you get to the other side you can look back and see Pharaoh and his armies "dead on the seashore" (See Ex 14:30) and know the battle is over!

Special Selection Double Up - "He's Working It Out" & "Journey"

Daily Reading - "Giving Preference To One Another." Ro 12:10 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Tue. Dec 8

"GIVING PREFERENCE TO ONE ANOTHER." (RO 12:10 NKJV)

A Little Give-And-Take

Before discussing what healthy compromise is, let's be clear about what it's not. It's not giving up what you believe, or who you are, or accepting second best because you're impatient or afraid of criticism. Healthy compromise is about learning to negotiate a win-win for both sides. It's tempting to dismiss somebody as being wrong and see only our own viewpoint. That's when it's crucial to relinquish your pride, step outside of the role you're playing, try to become the other person and ask yourself, "Can I see their point of view? Can I appreciate whey they might feel as they do? Can I help them to better understand where I'm coming from?" The stronger we are in personality and views, the more we risk alienating the very people we need by being inflexible and unwilling to hear them out. That can cost us dearly. Because David listened to Abigail's plea for mercy, he avoided falling into the trap of his own anger and killing her husband who had treated him badly. Paul was uncompromising on the truth, but he changed his mind about John Mark and gave him a second chance at ministry. Here are two Scriptures we need to think about when we're hard-headed: (1) "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (Ro 12:10 NKJV). (2) "Be at peace among yourselves...comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all..always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all" (1 Th 5:13-15 NKJV). Amazing, isn't it? All you need is a little give-and-take.

Special Selection - "I Almost Let Go"

Daily Reading - "In Due Season We Shall Reap If We Do Not Lose Heart." Gal 6:9 NKJV

Here is how it read today.

Mon. Dec 7

"IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP IF WE DO NOT LOSE HEART." (GAL 6:9 NKJV)

Hang In There!

Why don't we see more of God's promises fulfilled in our lives? Because we overlook the process. It is in the process of reaching the promise that we become discouraged and quit. Success in any venture lies in holding on even when others let go. We demand instant gratification and if we don't get it we leave our jobs, our churches, and even our families. There's a process you must go through, regardless of your level of faith. There are no shortcuts. You've got to pay full price; it never goes on sale. Endurance is the price tag of achievement. "In due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
For years William Wilberforce pushed Parliament to abolish slavery. Discouraged, he was about to give up when his elderly friend John Wesley heard of it, and from the deathbed called for pen and paper. With trembling hand Wesley wrote: "Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and of devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them stronger than God? O be not weary in well doing? Go on, in the name of God and in the power of His might, till even American slavery shall vanish away before it." Wesley died six days later, Wilberforce fought for forty-five more years. Three days before his death, slavery was abolished in Britain. Eventually, it was abolished in America too. Hang in there - what God has in store for you is worth any price you have to pay.

Special Selection Double Up - "Deliverance" & "Release"

Special Selection - "You Are God Alone"