I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 NIV
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
The way to walk a tightrope is to keep one's sight on the goal, not on the ground or what is behind. The way to walk with Jesus is to keep our eyes on the goal, his victory waiting for us when he returns, not on the ground (our failures) and not what is behind (our accomplishments). The goal of the Christian walk is to keep walking toward Jesus until we walk with him in heaven.
MY PRAYER...
Lord, I look forward to the day when you call me by name and walk hand in hand with me. Until that day, help me fix my eyes on what you want me to be and not what I've done. By your grace I ask it. Amen.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Weekly study
Romans 4:1-2
"What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God."
NKJV
Life Lesson
Good works are not the basis for salvation but are the fruit of salvation.
There is absolutely no work that we can do to earn our salvation. If there was, we would glorify the work and not God. Think about it. We all are quick to place our faith in the wrong things. We place our faith in jobs, money and family. Suddenly, those things become our priority instead of the very God who gave us those things.
James 2:14 "Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone." NLT
Although salvation is not earned, works are a good indicator of what you believe. Friend, if you say you are a Christian, but there is no fruit demonstrating it, then you need to take a serious look at your priorities.
Pastor Dave Mcgee
Calvary Chapel
www.reachthetriad.com
"What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God."
NKJV
Life Lesson
Good works are not the basis for salvation but are the fruit of salvation.
There is absolutely no work that we can do to earn our salvation. If there was, we would glorify the work and not God. Think about it. We all are quick to place our faith in the wrong things. We place our faith in jobs, money and family. Suddenly, those things become our priority instead of the very God who gave us those things.
James 2:14 "Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone." NLT
Although salvation is not earned, works are a good indicator of what you believe. Friend, if you say you are a Christian, but there is no fruit demonstrating it, then you need to take a serious look at your priorities.
Pastor Dave Mcgee
Calvary Chapel
www.reachthetriad.com
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Get Along
"Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13
Unity doesn't begin in examining others but in examining self. Unity begins not in demanding that others change, but in admitting that we aren't so perfect ourselves....
The answer to arguments? Acceptance. The first step to unity? Acceptance. Not agreement, acceptance. Not unanimity, acceptance. Not negotiation, arbitration, or elaboration. Those might come later but only after the first step, acceptance.
Grace for the Moment
Max Lucado>
Unity doesn't begin in examining others but in examining self. Unity begins not in demanding that others change, but in admitting that we aren't so perfect ourselves....
The answer to arguments? Acceptance. The first step to unity? Acceptance. Not agreement, acceptance. Not unanimity, acceptance. Not negotiation, arbitration, or elaboration. Those might come later but only after the first step, acceptance.
Grace for the Moment
Max Lucado>
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Grace for the moment
"He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor."
Proverbs 21:21 NIV
In our world, contentment is a strange street vendor, roaming, looking for a home, but seldom finding an open door. He moves slowly from house to house, knocking on doors, offering his wares: an hour of peace, a smile of acceptance, a sight of relief. But his goods are seldom taken. We are too busy to be content.
Not now, thank you. I've too much to do" we say. "Too many marks to be made, to many
achievements to be achieved..."
So the vendor moves on. When I asked him why so few welcomed him into their homes, his answer left me convicted. "I charge a high price, you know. My fee is steep. I ask people to trade in their schedules, frustrations, and anxieties. I demand that they put a torch to their fourteen-hour days and sleepless nights. You'd think I'd have more buyers." He scratched his beard, then added pensively, "But people seem strangely proud of their ulcers and headaches."
Grace for the Moment
Volume II
Proverbs 21:21 NIV
In our world, contentment is a strange street vendor, roaming, looking for a home, but seldom finding an open door. He moves slowly from house to house, knocking on doors, offering his wares: an hour of peace, a smile of acceptance, a sight of relief. But his goods are seldom taken. We are too busy to be content.
Not now, thank you. I've too much to do" we say. "Too many marks to be made, to many
achievements to be achieved..."
So the vendor moves on. When I asked him why so few welcomed him into their homes, his answer left me convicted. "I charge a high price, you know. My fee is steep. I ask people to trade in their schedules, frustrations, and anxieties. I demand that they put a torch to their fourteen-hour days and sleepless nights. You'd think I'd have more buyers." He scratched his beard, then added pensively, "But people seem strangely proud of their ulcers and headaches."
Grace for the Moment
Volume II
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Healing Our Land: A Call to Prayer and Action
by Charles F. Stanley www.intouch.org
Many government buildings in Washington, D.C., have Bible verses etched into their walls. Our coins carry the inscription, “In God we trust.” The president and other government officials are typically sworn into office with a hand on the Scriptures. All of these are signs of our country’s Judeo-Christian foundation.
Yet despite our heritage, many current government leaders take a cynical view of religion. Certain legislation and judicial decisions seek to remove or marginalize faith-based influence. Morally, our society has drifted far from biblical standards. We continue to squander the blessings God has bestowed upon this great nation, and as a result, we are in danger of losing them. The Lord will not continue to prosper a nation that violates His laws and refuses to honor Him.
Now, before you get discouraged, let me reassure you that this judgment is not inevitable. After King Solomon dedicated the temple the Lord explained how to restore the land if Israel strayed from its devotion to Him. Second Chronicles 7:14 says,
[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
While this promise was for a specific people, place and time, we can apply the same principles when we intercede for the United States. There are three ways we can take action to help our country avoid possible judgment:
We must humble ourselves. At its heart, humility is the recognition that we need God. Although we are a great nation, we can’t take credit for our status without acknowledging the Lord’s help.
We recognize that we do not deserve His goodness but plead for His tender mercies nonetheless. If we have been spiritually apathetic, negligent in prayer, or deliberately disobedient, we must confess and receive the Father’s forgiveness. Only when we are contrite do we begin to appreciate our merciful God in glorious new ways.
We must intercede for our land. Talking with the Lord is a natural outgrowth of humility, because prayer is a simple declaration of dependence. Crying out to God reveals our deep and abiding need for Him. Our intercession should go far beyond a quick, half-hearted, request for the Lord to intervene on our behalf. Instead, we must pray with urgency and desperation. We should be motivated by a burden to see God reach any who are hurting, broken, or lost without a Christ-centered moral compass.
Scripture also commands us to intercede for those in government. Paul wrote, “I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). I encourage you to pray for the President, those who counsel him, and our elected officials. Intercede for each Supreme Court justice by name. Find a list of your local authorities and pray specifically for them. Ask the Lord to guide their decisions and lead their lives. Prayer is the most effective way to influence our nation’s destiny.
We must seek God’s face. Ask, “Lord, how can I make a difference in the lives of those who don’t know You? How can I be part of the solution rather than part of the problem?” There are two primary ways to influence culture. First, ask God to use you to reach others with the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. With His guidance, befriend those who don’t know the Lord, and demonstrate His love to them in tangible ways. When the Holy Spirit gives you opportunities, tell others what Christ has done in your life.
Second, take a stand for truth. When you ask God to make you an influence for righteousness in our culture, He may lead you to something specific. As Christians, we must be willing to defend our freedoms and get involved in our communities. Sometimes that means boldly taking an unpopular moral stand, fighting legislation that contradicts scriptural principles, or electing officials who will uphold our values. Other times it means reaching out to a neighbor or coworker in need. You may be surprised at what God leads you to do. But as you follow the Holy Spirit, He will use you to impact others in a powerful way.
You are part of the kingdom of heaven, but you are also part of this awesome country, the United States of America. God wants us to humble ourselves, seek His face in prayer, and repent of our selfishness and sin. He desires to heal our land, just as He did for ancient Israel. May the Lord touch your heart with this challenge, anoint your lips with truth, and empower your arms for service. May God bless America.
What are your thoughts on this as an American? or as a Christian?
by Charles F. Stanley www.intouch.org
Many government buildings in Washington, D.C., have Bible verses etched into their walls. Our coins carry the inscription, “In God we trust.” The president and other government officials are typically sworn into office with a hand on the Scriptures. All of these are signs of our country’s Judeo-Christian foundation.
Yet despite our heritage, many current government leaders take a cynical view of religion. Certain legislation and judicial decisions seek to remove or marginalize faith-based influence. Morally, our society has drifted far from biblical standards. We continue to squander the blessings God has bestowed upon this great nation, and as a result, we are in danger of losing them. The Lord will not continue to prosper a nation that violates His laws and refuses to honor Him.
Now, before you get discouraged, let me reassure you that this judgment is not inevitable. After King Solomon dedicated the temple the Lord explained how to restore the land if Israel strayed from its devotion to Him. Second Chronicles 7:14 says,
[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
While this promise was for a specific people, place and time, we can apply the same principles when we intercede for the United States. There are three ways we can take action to help our country avoid possible judgment:
We must humble ourselves. At its heart, humility is the recognition that we need God. Although we are a great nation, we can’t take credit for our status without acknowledging the Lord’s help.
We recognize that we do not deserve His goodness but plead for His tender mercies nonetheless. If we have been spiritually apathetic, negligent in prayer, or deliberately disobedient, we must confess and receive the Father’s forgiveness. Only when we are contrite do we begin to appreciate our merciful God in glorious new ways.
We must intercede for our land. Talking with the Lord is a natural outgrowth of humility, because prayer is a simple declaration of dependence. Crying out to God reveals our deep and abiding need for Him. Our intercession should go far beyond a quick, half-hearted, request for the Lord to intervene on our behalf. Instead, we must pray with urgency and desperation. We should be motivated by a burden to see God reach any who are hurting, broken, or lost without a Christ-centered moral compass.
Scripture also commands us to intercede for those in government. Paul wrote, “I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). I encourage you to pray for the President, those who counsel him, and our elected officials. Intercede for each Supreme Court justice by name. Find a list of your local authorities and pray specifically for them. Ask the Lord to guide their decisions and lead their lives. Prayer is the most effective way to influence our nation’s destiny.
We must seek God’s face. Ask, “Lord, how can I make a difference in the lives of those who don’t know You? How can I be part of the solution rather than part of the problem?” There are two primary ways to influence culture. First, ask God to use you to reach others with the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. With His guidance, befriend those who don’t know the Lord, and demonstrate His love to them in tangible ways. When the Holy Spirit gives you opportunities, tell others what Christ has done in your life.
Second, take a stand for truth. When you ask God to make you an influence for righteousness in our culture, He may lead you to something specific. As Christians, we must be willing to defend our freedoms and get involved in our communities. Sometimes that means boldly taking an unpopular moral stand, fighting legislation that contradicts scriptural principles, or electing officials who will uphold our values. Other times it means reaching out to a neighbor or coworker in need. You may be surprised at what God leads you to do. But as you follow the Holy Spirit, He will use you to impact others in a powerful way.
You are part of the kingdom of heaven, but you are also part of this awesome country, the United States of America. God wants us to humble ourselves, seek His face in prayer, and repent of our selfishness and sin. He desires to heal our land, just as He did for ancient Israel. May the Lord touch your heart with this challenge, anoint your lips with truth, and empower your arms for service. May God bless America.
What are your thoughts on this as an American? or as a Christian?
Monday, July 14, 2008
What does your mouth say?
Romans 3:13-14
"Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips"; "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
NKJV
Life Lesson
We should seek to glorify God with what we say.
A forest fire can start by very simple means. All it takes is one small spark landing on dry timber and quickly lives are displaced or even destroyed. James 3:5 reads,
"Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!" NKJV
If you have ever witnessed a forest fire, then you have probably noticed that individual embers can soar to incredible heights and travel enormous distances - far greater distances than you would think.. My friend, the words that come out of our mouths do the same. Words of gossip and cursing travel far and wide, causing destruction wherever they go, whether to the heart of a child or to the ears of an adult. Words of grace; however, build up, encourage and glorify God. Our words can hurt people; they can derail lives, ruin reputations and sidetrack the work of God. They can also glorify God and lead people to Him. The things that we say carry much farther than we may ever know and once we speak them, we cannot take them back. Speaking again of the tongue, James 3:9-10 reads,
"With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." NKJV
Friend, do you speak words that build or words that destroy?
Pastor Dave Mcgee
Calvary Chapel of the Traid
www.reachthe traid.com
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Be Transformed...
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
OK, so we can pretty much succeed in not "conforming to the pattern of the world." But how can we be transformed by the renewing of our minds? One big help I have found is to be in God's Word on a daily basis. Another way is to study God's Word and fellowship with other believers on a regular basis. It is very hard to "isolate" ourselves from the world - we do have to be in the workplace, we have to take business trips, we need to visit unbelieving family members, etc. With God's Word in our inventory and repertoire, we can be firmly insulated from the world while not isolated from it.
OK, so we can pretty much succeed in not "conforming to the pattern of the world." But how can we be transformed by the renewing of our minds? One big help I have found is to be in God's Word on a daily basis. Another way is to study God's Word and fellowship with other believers on a regular basis. It is very hard to "isolate" ourselves from the world - we do have to be in the workplace, we have to take business trips, we need to visit unbelieving family members, etc. With God's Word in our inventory and repertoire, we can be firmly insulated from the world while not isolated from it.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Bitterness is it's Own Prison
"if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for our sins''
Matthew 6:14
Bitterness is its own prison.
The sides are slippery with resentment. A floor of muddy anger stills the feet. The stench of betrayal fills the air and stings the eyes. A cloud of self-pity blocks the view of the tiny exit above. Step in and look at the prisoners. Victims are chained to the walls. Victims of betrayal. Victims of abuse.
The dungeon, deep and dark, is beckoning you to enter... You can, you know. You've experienced enough hurt... You can choose, like many, to chain yourself to your hurt... Or you can choose, like some, to put away your hurts before they become hates...
How does God deal with your bitter hearts? He reminds you that what you have is more important than what you don't have. You still have your relationship with God. No one can take that.
Grace for the moment
Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
Max Lucado
Matthew 6:14
Bitterness is its own prison.
The sides are slippery with resentment. A floor of muddy anger stills the feet. The stench of betrayal fills the air and stings the eyes. A cloud of self-pity blocks the view of the tiny exit above. Step in and look at the prisoners. Victims are chained to the walls. Victims of betrayal. Victims of abuse.
The dungeon, deep and dark, is beckoning you to enter... You can, you know. You've experienced enough hurt... You can choose, like many, to chain yourself to your hurt... Or you can choose, like some, to put away your hurts before they become hates...
How does God deal with your bitter hearts? He reminds you that what you have is more important than what you don't have. You still have your relationship with God. No one can take that.
Grace for the moment
Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
Max Lucado
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
July 2, 2008
WEDNESDAY
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Jesus told us that what is in our heart ultimately works its way out into our activities. The great wise man told us to guard our heart because it is the spring well of our life. Jeremiah wants us to know that God knows our heart. We want to stress the importance of what goes into our hearts because it really makes a difference in what goes on inside our heart. Invite the Lord in to what you do, think, read, watch, and hear and ask him to remove those things that are not worthy of your time and interest.
MY PRAYER...
Righteous Father, please help me guard my heart and be wise enough not to place things into it that would rob it of its devotion to you. I want to be pure through and through. Please search me and help me remove everything that would steal my devotion from you and ruin my influence with others. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Jesus told us that what is in our heart ultimately works its way out into our activities. The great wise man told us to guard our heart because it is the spring well of our life. Jeremiah wants us to know that God knows our heart. We want to stress the importance of what goes into our hearts because it really makes a difference in what goes on inside our heart. Invite the Lord in to what you do, think, read, watch, and hear and ask him to remove those things that are not worthy of your time and interest.
MY PRAYER...
Righteous Father, please help me guard my heart and be wise enough not to place things into it that would rob it of its devotion to you. I want to be pure through and through. Please search me and help me remove everything that would steal my devotion from you and ruin my influence with others. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
FORGIVENESS FREES THE SOUL
FORGIVENESS FREES THE SOUL
"IF YOU SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD, AND YOU ARE PATIENT, THEN GOD IS PLEASED
1 PETER 2:20
Is there any emotion that imprisons the soul more than the unwillingness to forgive? What do you do when people mistreat you or those you love? Does the fire of anger boil within you, with leaping flames consuming our emotions? Or do you reach somewhere, to some source of cool water and pull out a bucket of mercy - to free yourself?
Don't get on the roller coaster of resentment and anger. You be the one who says, "Yes, he mistreated me, but I am going to be like Christ. I'll be the one who says, "Forgive them, Father, they don't know what they're doing."
Grace for the Moment
Volume I
Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
Max Lucado
"IF YOU SUFFER FOR DOING GOOD, AND YOU ARE PATIENT, THEN GOD IS PLEASED
1 PETER 2:20
Is there any emotion that imprisons the soul more than the unwillingness to forgive? What do you do when people mistreat you or those you love? Does the fire of anger boil within you, with leaping flames consuming our emotions? Or do you reach somewhere, to some source of cool water and pull out a bucket of mercy - to free yourself?
Don't get on the roller coaster of resentment and anger. You be the one who says, "Yes, he mistreated me, but I am going to be like Christ. I'll be the one who says, "Forgive them, Father, they don't know what they're doing."
Grace for the Moment
Volume I
Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
Max Lucado
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