Monday, November 30, 2009

True Rest...

Commentary: Is your day focused on submitting to the will of the Lord? It is easy to remain focused on your own plans. In the end, your true rest and since of fulfillment will only come from the Lord.


Scripture: Psalms 127:1-2


1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
         They labor in vain who build it;
         Unless the LORD guards the city,
         The watchman stays awake in vain.
 2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
         To sit up late,
         To eat the bread of sorrows;
         For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Sing Praise...

Commentary: Do we really believe the Lord is great and mighty? Let's make the time to sing praises that recognize the tremendous depth of his understanding and love for us.

Scripture: Psalms 147, Joy and Praise

 1 Praise the LORD. [a]
       How good it is to sing praises to our God,
       how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
 2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
       he gathers the exiles of Israel.
 3 He heals the brokenhearted
       and binds up their wounds.
 4 He determines the number of the stars
       and calls them each by name.
 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
       his understanding has no limit.
 6 The LORD sustains the humble
       but casts the wicked to the ground.
 7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
       make music to our God on the harp.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Find Rest...

Commentary: When is the last time you placed all of your cares in the hands of the Lord? He bears all burdens and makes them light. He wants to teach us how to receive the benefits of his gentle and humble heart.


Scripture: Matthew 11, Rest for the Weary


28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Friday, November 27, 2009

Determining What's Best....

Commentary: Often we rely on the opinions of others, our priorities, or circumstances in trying to make the best decision. How often do we seek to develop greater love? Even in the midst of being imprisoned, the Apostle Paul constantly prayed for others, that their love might overflow and guide their decisions.


Scripture: Philippians 1, Love that Overflows

9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.



Thursday, November 26, 2009

The Greatest of All Time...

Commentary: If we are able to humble ourselves as a little child, we have the potential to become the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. As children of God, our significance is revealed in the celebration described in heaven for the saving of just one lost soul. God loves us so much that he is willing to risk the safety of us all in order to save just one. He seeks out and welcomes us home at all times. That's why...He is the greatest.


Scripture: Matthew 18, Parable of the Lost Sheep

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
 5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
 7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
 10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

 12"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Take Your Stand...

Commentary: Each day we face multiple opportunities to demonstrate our faith. We should stand firm and rely on the tools which God has given us. Often, instead of standing firm, we rely on our own strategies. Needless to say, our own strategies will not carry the day. For we are in the midst of a spiritual battle.

Scripture: Ephesians 6, The Full Armor of God


 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Monday, November 23, 2009

The Battle is Not Yours...

Commentary: Too often we waist energy fighting unnecessary battles. It takes wisdom and courage to stand still and wait for God. He always wins.

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20, Learning a lesson from Jehoshaphat

15 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.

Living by the Spirit

Thought for the Day: We experience the love of God by opening our hearts and humbling ourselves so that we might receive the Holy Spirit. Often the greatest challenge is finding enough courage to admit how much we rely on God to provide peace.

Scripture: Romans 5: 1 - 5, Faith Triumphs in Trouble

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.