Day of Praise: 2015

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Claim Power - Day of Praise

Wed, 08/26/15, "Day of Praise"

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

As opposed to what?

I bet you're thinking unbelief. I bet you're thinking that today's verse is opposed to unbelief.

Actually, today's verse is opposed to a quiet, silent, heady, intellectual "faith." Let me explain.

When Jesus did miracles and wonders, he did not stand there and look at things. Instead, he confessed with his mouth that he was Lord. He said, "Lazarus, come out of the tomb." He said, "Little girl, arise from the dead." He said, "Calm, be still" to the wind and the waves. He said, "Your sins are forgiven" to the paralytic. He was constantly saying, "I am Lord."

And we must too.

We have situations, and we worry about them. Or we fuss about them. Or we complain about them.

No! Instead, today's verse calls us to do like Jesus did and speak the truth that "Jesus is Lord" into a situation. Do you have a loved one who's sick? Open your mouth and declare the truth, "Jesus is Lord over this!" Do you have an exam that you're worried about? Open your mouth and declare the truth, "Jesus is Lord over this!" Do you have a matter at work or in a relationship that is burdensome? Open your mouth and declare the truth, "Jesus is Lord over this!"

This is what it means to live in the power of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit who, God himself says, works through the spoken word (Matt. 18, Romans 10, Eph. 6). Don't just have a quiet, silent "faith." Be bold! Speak the truth of Jesus' Lordship into situations. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord..., you will be saved!" (Romans 10:9)

And today's verse also says, "If you... believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) Again, this is not opposed to unbelief. It's opposed to a heady, intellectual "faith."

Don't just think that something is true. But look inside your heart. Do you have a loved one who's sick? Look inside your heart; do you believe deep inside your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead? If so, then open your mouth and declare the truth, "God, bring new life to my loved one, too!"

Do you have an exam that you're worried about? Look inside your heart; do you believe deep inside your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead? If so, then open your mouth and declare the truth, "God, bring new life to my mind, and give me sharpness in this exam!"

Do you have a matter at work or in a relationship that is burdensome? Look inside your heart; do you believe deep inside your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead? If so, then open your mouth and declare the truth, "God, bring new life to this matter and this relationship!"

I saw God work his "raise-from-the-dead-Lordship" at least three major times yesterday. And that's not counting the "minor" times.

C'mon, people! Be God's People! Walk in the truth and power of God's Spirit and His Word. Don't settle for sickness and worry and brokenness. Don't settle for a quiet, silent, heady, intellectual "faith." Instead, speak truth boldly, and believe from deep inside your heart. For God's word is true and cuts deep to the heart of every matter. For Jesus is indeed Lord, and God did indeed raise him from the dead!

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!" - Romans 10:9

Praaaaaaaaaise God!

This email was sent to ctdegreen.pcblog@blogger.com
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Day of Praise Daily Encouragement · 1601 Southcrest Trail · Hoover, AL 35244 · USA

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Day of Praise

Tues, 08/25/15, "Day of Praise"

"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." - 1 Corinthians 10:24

When I was a kid, I played baseball. My dad taught me the same mental strategy for hitting the baseball that he used. Very simply, he said, "Have a goal to get one hit" which in baseball means "swing your bat to hit the ball so you can get on base." He would then say, "after you get one hit, change your goal to trying to get one more hit."

It was a simple mental strategy to break down a long game into small pieces. "Get a hit!" Or "get one hit at a time!"

That same baseball strategy, only slightly revised, would work well with today's Bible verse. God might say to us not "get a hit" but instead "be a hit."

Instead of "get one hit at a time!", it would be "be a hit, one person at a time." It's a simple mental strategy to break down a long day into small pieces because when God says, "Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor" (1 Corinthians 10:24), what God is saying is, "do something nice for someone."

Putting two and two together, if you "do something nice for someone" in this dog eat dog world, you'll "be a big hit."

Can you imagine if every person took this "do something nice for someone" and "be a big hit" approach to life?

We'd all win!

Not a baseball game, but, more importantly, the bigger game called Life!

"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." - 1 Corinthians 10:24

Praise God!

Monday, August 24, 2015

Day of Praise

Mon, 08/24/15, "Day of Praise"

"Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice." - Proverbs 16:8

It's Monday. Back to the salt mine, and nose to the grindstone. Work to be done. What will we do to get it done? What will we do to get ahead?

I know people in our church and community who have waited patiently for God to come through, and he did! I talked to a guy yesterday for whom God came through miraculously in the blink of an eye. The common denominator to both patient waiting and also seeing mind-boggling miracles is faith -- faith that lives today's verse, "Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice." - Proverbs 16:8

How about I toss the ball to y'all today? You all tell the stories.

Here's the topic from today's verse: "Integrity at any price."

Maybe you've got a negative story like a number of you who've shared with me how you cheated on a test by looking at a classmate's paper, and you both got it wrong. So you decided that you could just as well get it wrong by yourself without the guilty conscience, at least, and maybe the principal's office on top of it.

Integrity at any price.

Maybe you've got a positive story like one of you told me when you were at the bank to withdraw a few hundred cash for a vacation. The teller counted out the money. Their counting was right, but their matching was wrong as they gave you a hundred too much. Then you stood there looking back and forth at the money and the teller, not wanting to say anything, because their supervisor was also standing there and you didn't want them to get in trouble. The teller still didn't get it, so you had to speak. They were so impressed with your integrity that they wound up coming to your church.

Integrity at any price.

What's your story?

Let's hear it.

"Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice." - Proverbs 16:8

Praise God!

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Day of Praise

Sat, 08/22/15, "Day of Praise"

"This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
'I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.'" - Isaiah 48:17

I have a dear, dear friend from seminary days. His name is Tim Harding. Tim and his wife Melanie are still dear friends, even though I don't stay in touch as I should. They live in Florida now. But they lived in the Philadelphia area (Levittown, PA) when I was a youth worker in seminary, and they were the youth leaders.

Tim is a Renaissance Man. He knows how to do everything from computers to welding to building houses to listening well to making beautiful iron works from scratch and more.

Tim also knows how to look out for your best interests, as a model of God's word in today's verse.

For example, when his kids were little, if they crossed the street without looking and he saw it, then he would give them a strong hand on the backside. He had a saying that went something like this, "A strong hand on the backside is better than getting run over by two tons of Detroit steel."

That's the way God is -- always looking out for our best interests, even when it hurts.

We are Easter people who have seen that God in Christ is for us, even unto death on a cross. So God obviously has our best interests in mind. And he conquered death and the grave, rising from the dead to dwell in us and to guide us, with our best interests in mind.

So whatever you've got going on, trust the Lord. God in Christ is for you!

"This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
'I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.'" - Isaiah 48:17

Praise God!

Friday, August 21, 2015

Day of Praise

Fri, 08/21/15, "Day of Praise"

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." - Romans 12:14-15

Two mini encouragements:

1) I'm running into people right and left who are saying, "It works!" When you "bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (Romans 12:14), it actually works!

That's why God commands it! It works a) by setting free the one who's been hurt from negative "heart poisons" of bitterness and the like and b) by also kindling the positive spirit treasures of joy and praise.

Try it!

2) I can remember when we lived in the Fox Meadows neighborhood in Memphis, TN. I was three and four years old. I can remember multiple times that we went tadpole hunting in the local Crick, (which, in case you don't know, is Northern and Southern couuuuntry for "Creek"). We'd get us a bunch o' them thar tad frogs. Not all o' em lived long. It made me sad. In fact, it made our whole family sad. It was true that we were blessed together when we rejoiced in finding the critters, and we were blessed when we mourned the critters passing. So, "rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." - Romans 12:15

It works too!

Praise God!

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Day of Praise

Thur, 08/20/15, "Day of Praise"

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord." - Proverbs 16:20

Jesus does not send out Know-it-alls to make Know-it-alls. He sends out disciples to make disciples. In other words, Jesus wants us to be constantly learning from him, even as we're inviting and encouraging others to be constantly learning from Jesus too.

So let's all "prosper" in the way that God intends, with our constant reception of the richness and riches of God's Word because we are constantly learning from God through Jesus.

When I was a kid, people would mimic a TV show, saying, "live long and prosper." However, God simply teaches us a slight variation, "learn lots and prosper." Indeed, that's what God calls us to do, namely, learn lots each day from the Lord and true prosperity will come our way.

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord." - Proverbs 16:20

Praise God!

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Day of Praise

Wed, 08/19/15, "Day of Praise"

"The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold." - Psalm 119:72

I was born in the year of the last silver quarter, which was 1964. Those quarters from 1932-1964 are supposedly each worth at least $4.67 because of the silver content. I even have a few that I collected when I was younger.

But those silver quarters can never be worth as much as a stone. But it's probably not the stone that you're thinking of like diamonds and rubies and the like.

It's interesting. When God inspires the use of the words (gold, silver, stone, and precious) in Holy Scripture, there's an interesting pattern to observe that culminates in the following from 1 Peter 2:4, "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him."

In other words, Jesus is the most precious of all the precious stones to God. But he is also the most precious stone that was rejected by sinners as it's written in Psalm 118:22 and quoted frequently by Jesus in the New Testament, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."

But the Holy Spirit guides us and gives us eyes to see that the stone, who is Jesus, is most valuable because He is the cornerstone, the foundation, on which to build your life. In contrast, you can play games and buy things and look good with silver and gold, but you can't build an Abundant Life on silver and gold. (And let's not kid ourselves that we can buy the most precious stone with silver or gold, for that's what Judas thought, and we know how his life tragically crumbled.)

So, Heavenly Father, help us to value Jesus as the most precious stone, more valuable than silver or gold, that we may receive him as your Son, your Living Word, your will for our lives, your law that directs and guides our lives by your Holy SpIrit, who would be our treasure unto eternal and everlasting life. Please, Father, grant us a deeper faith that would understand this truth of your Word. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold." - Psalm 119:72

Praise God!

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Day of Praise

Tues, 08/18/15, "Day of Praise"

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." - 1 John 3:1

I wouldn't have believed it unless I'd seen it. It happened in the non-scholarship football player dressing room at the University of Tennessee. I was in there because I was one of those guys, also known as walk-ons.

One of the walk-ons was just a very nice guy. He worked hard on the practice field and encouraged others by writing Bible verses on his taped wrists. He'd read and mark up Bibles, then give them to other guys who needed encouragement in God's strength, and then he'd start reading and marking up another Bible for the next guy who might need it.

He knew the great privilege that it is to be called a child of God. (1 John 3:1)

And then there was the other guy, who was a part of "the world [that] does not know [a child of God because] it did not know [God]." (1 John 3:1)

The first guy was being himself, and after practice, knowing how mentally and physically hard it was to be a walk-on, he went up to a new walk-on and encouraged him. The other guy had seen enough of this "child of God" stuff and flew out of his locker space and got in the face of the Christian guy and ranted about the Christian guy thinking he was so important because he offered his assistance to everyone.

I don't know for sure what was going on in the heart or mind of the Christian guy because, as modeled by other godly people in the Bible, this is what he said, "_______________." Yes, you read that right; the guy was silent.

But based on his unchanged behavior for all the rest of the years that I observed him, I'm pretty sure that the following is what was going on in the heart and mind of the Christian guy, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1)."

Praise God for those who courageously and lovingly live the faith in the strength of Christ. And let's pray to God for those who don't know him. For God shows us in the cross and resurrection of Jesus that he wants all people to know that they're God's own.

Praise God!

Monday, August 17, 2015

Day of Praise

Mo, 08/17/15, "Day of Praise"

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children—" - Psalm 103:17

When I was a kid, I feared all my teachers. Ms. Deakins, Ms. Scott, Ms. Peterson, and Ms. Howell and others, all had the power to send me to the principal's office! And every single one of them had reason to do so. :-)

But only one of them had the power and the reason to send me to the principal's office, but didn't.

She dealt with me directly. She dealt with me eye to eye. She dealt with me clearly. She dealt with me, making sure I knew what should've happened to me because of what I did, but instead what was going to happen because of what she chose to do. It would have been much easier for her just to send me to the principal's office, but she chose to deal with me sacrificially, that is, she gave to me out of her own time and energy to deal with my mistake and show me a different way to live, namely, a way of love.

Remember, I feared this teacher too. But she was the only one of them that had the power and the reason to send me to the principal's office, but didn't.

This one teacher was like the LORD, who I also rightly fear because the LORD has the power and the reason to send me to the principal's office (that is, to hell, which is the office of the Destroyer), but doesn't.

Instead, the LORD deals with me directly, eye to eye, clearly, making sure I know what should happen to me because of what I did, but instead what is going to happen because of what the LORD chooses to do. It would be much easier for the LORD just to send me to the principal's office, but the LORD chooses to deal with me sacrificially, that is, the LORD gives to me out of the LORD's own time and energy to deal with my mistakes and show me a different way to live, namely, a way of love, that is, The Way of The Cross.

I had faith in that teacher. I have Faith in the LORD.

To this day, my life is different because of that teacher. And my Life is different because of the LORD.

She inspired me to live differently, a different way. The LORD inspired me to live differently, a different Way, in the Spirit of the LORD, in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, I feared this teacher too. I feared the LORD.

But she was the only one that had the power and the reason to send me to the principal's office, but didn't. Instead, she dealt with me out of her own flesh.

And the LORD had the Power and Reason of my sin to send me to Hell, but didn't. Instead, the LORD took on my own sin in His own body, the body of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

I tell my kids about that teacher from time to time.

I tell my kids about the LORD everyday, so they can learn and celebrate that the LORD deals with them just the same.

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children—" - Psalm 103:17

Praise God!

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Day of Praise

Sat, 08/15/15, "Day of Praise"

At that time Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." - Matthew 11:25,28,29

I sincerely pray that you all have a restful weekend, including a hope that you will find rest in Christ by coming to him and worshipping him on the Lord's day.

For these and all His gifts, let us...

Praise God!

Friday, August 14, 2015

Day of Praise

Friday, 08/14/15, "Day of Praise"

"One person gives freely, yet gains even more." - Proverbs 11:24a

From time to time, we encourage meditating on a verse of God's Word. Meditating on God's Word is to repeat it over and over, again and again, in your heart and mind throughout a day, and then watch the LORD show you again and again how he's always true to his word.

The meditation phrase for today that's connected to today's Bible verse is this, "You cannot outgive God."

Say it over and over:
"You cannot outgive God."
"You cannot outgive God."
"You cannot outgive God."
"You cannot outgive God."

I've seen this truth repeatedly for the last 36 of my 50 years of life. It's not only about getting money back when you give money as much as it's about receiving God's non-stop provision of "dumb luck" and "coincidence" and "a way out of temptation" and "a vindication of hope and faith in God."

However, when we give our resources (time, money, energy) generously, what we receive in return is not entirely divorced from money either, namely, the call of God in the Bible to cheerfully tithe (which means to freely give at least a "tenth") of your income to God's work through your local church. Interestingly, a secular British Columbia, Canada study scientifically showed that generous people are just flat out happier in life.

So how about if we add the slightest bit to our meditation. Say it over and over:
"You cannot outgive God. So give!"
"You cannot outgive God. So give!"
"You cannot outgive God. So give!"
"You cannot outgive God. So give!"

If I have anything except quiet, I listen to Christian radio when I'm in my car. On the way back from visiting a shut-in member of our church who lives an hour away, I heard an interview with the CEO of Corporate Chaplains of America (CCA). I nearly fell out of my car into the interstate (figuratively speaking!) when he said that they train their chaplains to encourage people not to give money to CCA but instead to give generously to their local church because that's where the good news of Jesus is sustained and shared day after day after day after day.

This devotion goes to almost every state in this nation and therefore to citizens of countless communities. Please trust God's promise in today's devotion and give generously to God's work through your local church.

"One person gives freely, yet gains even more." - Proverbs 11:24a

Praise God!

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Football Season Day of Praise

Thursday, 08/13/15, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'" - John 6:29

A popular cheer is "We're number one!"

Me?

I prefer "We're number two!"

Oh sure, I enjoy it when my team wins a ballgame. Hey! We're number one!

But, of course, we're not talking about a ballgame, we're talking about the game of life. And to win at life, the cheer is, "We're number two!"

It goes like this. In today's Bible verse, the disciples have just asked Jesus what work God requires of us. See? They want to know what they're supposed to do to please the ultimate coach, who is God, before they waste their time doing something else.

And we're just like them. Deep inside, we all want to live lives that count, that matter, that have purpose and meaning, that make a difference. Deep inside, we all have the question, "What should I be doing with my life?" And it's not just a philosophical question; I hear multiple people everyday grappling with what they should do with their life, and within their life, what they should be doing with a season of life, or with an educational pursuit, or with the use of time. What should they do with this day?!?!?! And the next day? And the next?

Wouldn't it be awesome if we knew exactly what we're supposed to do to count, to matter, to have purpose and meaning, to make a difference? Wouldn't it be awesome if someone could assure us that we're getting the most out of life? And if someone knew, wouldn't it be great if they'd just tell us?

Well, someone does! God does! "So, God, will you please tell me what to do to get the most out of life? What is the work that I need to do to make a difference and make my mark in this world?"

Gang, those aren't questions from someone who's in charge. Those are questions from someone who's taking orders. They're from someone who's number two.

And when we're Number Two, it makes perfect sense for us to follow Number One, which is why Jesus says, "Follow me!"

And when we're Number Two, it makes perfect sense for us to love Number One, which is why Jesus says, "Love God with all ya got!"

And when we're Number Two, it makes perfect sense for us to believe in and to put our confidence and faith in Number One, which is why Jesus says, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (John 6:29)

So please, today, whether you're a ruler or owner or supervisor or employer or trainer or coach or teacher or principal or just someone who got put in the position of "leader" because it just kinda fell your way, before you do each thing (yes, each and every thing), take a breath and say, "Lord, you're Number One! I have confidence in You! So guide me in the task or talk that's right in front of me."

And, oh, one last thing. I have a dear friend who's in charge of, let's say, a lot, a whole great big lot. They're number one in an earthly sense, to be sure! Some time ago they asked me to pray for their team because they'd lost about 23 million units of the stuff they work with. We prayed together that God would be Number One in their meeting and lead them to quickly find what they'd lost. You know where this is going; they found the 23 million units in, the proverbial, no time flat, which is the kinda stuff that happens when God's Number One.

And we're number two.

"Jesus answered, 'The work of God is this: to believe in The One he has sent.'" - John 6:29

Praise God!

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Day of Praise

Wednesday, 08/12/15, "Day of Praise"

"For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done." - Psalm 92:4

Forrest Gump had it right, "Stupid is as stupid does." What that means is that stupid people do stupid things. In fact, even people who aren't really stupid do stupid things. The bottom line is that people do stupid things.

Forrest Gump could've also said, "God is as God does." What that means is that God is great and does great things. In fact, even the things that God does that may not seem so great are actually amazingly great, if you'll stop and think about 'em. The bottom line is that God does really great things.

You may want to read what follows because people who want to be inspired read inspiring things. So, in accord with today's verse from Psalm 92:4, here's kind of a montage of scripture quotes about the things "the Lord has done" that make us glad and sing for joy.

So with a Billy Graham style opening, here ya go!

The Bible says...

Consider what great things he has done for you.

The Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you.

It was the Lord your God who fought for you.

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation.

The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things.

Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord—with the first of them and with the last—I am he.

So that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

The Lord has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word.

Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things!

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

"The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

"For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done." - Psalm 92:4

Praise God!

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Day of Praise

Tuesday, 08/11/15, "Day of Praise"

This past Sunday's sermon ended with an encouragement to welcome the Holy Spirit each day so we can live at full strength in Christ! It reminded me of this prayer/charge that God wrote on my heart years ago and that I commend to you today.

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." - 2 Corinthians 5:20

You are the story today.

Look in the mirror sometime today, and read the following script.

"____(your name)____ is our top story today. In an amazing turnaround, ____(your name)____, who used to be an enemy of Almighty God because of her/his sinful nature, is now, believe it or not, an ambassador of the very same God. Because of his/her faith in God's Son, Jesus, ____(your name)____ now lives and walks into every situation with the full authority, power, and benefits of the Living God. This turn of events all started when God sent his Son to restore harmony to His relationship with ____(your name)____ by trading places with ____(your name)____. God's Son took the place of ____(your name)____ on the shameful death instrument of a cross, which publicly humiliates and tortures to death anyone who is so audacious as to challenge the One who is rightfully in authority. However, even the worst death could not keep its hold on God's Son, since, in actuality, he himself had done nothing wrong. Therefore, God's Son broke free from death, rose from the grave, and now lives at God's hand of blessing. And because ____(your name)____ has fellowship with God's Son through faith in Him ____(your name)____ also has the indwelling and power of God's Holy Spirit available to her/him if she/he will ask God to give it each day. So blessed is ____(your name)____, that ____(your name)____ shares with God's Son both in the good standing that the Son has with the Father and also in every blessing that streams from God's hand. We will continue to follow this story, as we are all interested to see the new confidence that ____(your name)____ has while meeting the challenges and enjoying the peace-filled moments of this new day."

Praise God!

Monday, August 10, 2015

Day of Praise

Monday, 08/10/15, "Day of Praise"

"Jesus said, 'It is I; do not be afraid!'" - John 6:20

Yes, there will always be storms in life.

And yes, Jesus will always be with you.

So do not be afraid.

Meet the day and everything within your day with courage, believing that Jesus is with you, giving you peace in the midst of the storm and guidance to find your way through it.

And encourage others to trust the same.

Praise God!

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Day of Praise

Sat, 08/08/15, "Day of Praise"

The Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."'" - Numbers 6:22-26

May God bless you and yours on this day and always. Happy Saturday!

Praise God!

Friday, August 7, 2015

Feedback Friday - Day of Praise

Friday, 08/07/15, "Day of Praise"

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." - John 4:34-35

Thank you, ALL! Your replies from Monday really ministered to me as I know they'll minister to all of you as you read through them. I know I put them all in the document, but a few times it seemed to hiccup as I do all the Day of Praise stuff on my phone, so please please please forgive me if yours somehow didn't get in. And please remember that we created this list to encourage each other with a list of things we can say to others to give them the Spiritual Food of Jesus. Here ya go ---

1 - A part of God, The Holy Spirit, lives inside of little, imperfect me, all because Jesus made me clean!

2 - Community, definitely better with Christ.

Without Jesus --

3 - I wouldn't have Hope!

4 - I wouldn't have a healing heart/my heart is healing with Jesus!

5 - I wouldn't have peace!

6 - I wouldn't have Forgiveness!

7 - Without Jesus I wouldn't have joy!

8 - Without Jesus, I would be alone.

9 - No peace!

10 - No everlasting life in Heaven!

11 - I wouldn't know how to love!

12 - I would not know what TRUE love is.

13 - Without Jesus I would not have hope of resurrection.

14 - No hope. Life would just be passing time until I die.

15 - I would not have my family.

16 - Jesus gives me hope!

17 - My children's future!

18 - "I have a new beginning every morning"

19 - I will have eternal life in heaven.

20 - The assurance of everlasting life with my LORD and savior.

21 - Without Christ I wouldn't have a light to my path!

22 - HOPE

23 - I wouldn't have the grace of God!

24 - My life would be worse if I didn't have the "assurance" Jesus gives.

25 - I have "HOPE" because I have Jesus in my life.

26 - Without Jesus, I would be on my own for direction. With Him, I can ask for His guidance and know He wants the best for me.

27 - Without Jesus, I would have no hope or belief for the day or the rest of my life!

28 - Without Jesus, I'd be in the dark, without direction!

29 - I would feel desperate, and helpless, to face all the challenges of each day. And, my life would be filled with fear.… Fear of the future.

30 - With Jesus I have hope for both eternal and everlasting life.

31 - Without Jesus, I would have no one to go to for spiritual healing.

32 - We wouldn't have HOPE for everlasting Life ... or anything else for that matter!

33 - Without Christ in my life I wouldn't have the power to bring hope, healing and salvation to a lost and dying world.

34 - Without Jesus I'd still be living in sin and death under the Law. With Jesus I have freedom and life! Praise God that He sent Jesus!

35 - Without Jesus I wouldn't have eternal joy and hope!

36 - Without Jesus in my life, I would not know the Rock and the foundation that Jesus provides me through his grace and salvation.

37 - Without Jesus I have no hope for freedom from the power of sin & death

BUT

With Jesus I have the power of Jesus to be free from the power of sin & death! Praise God!! :)

38 - With Jesus, I am better because in Him all of this (life) past and present makes more sense when we know He is in control and the battle has already been won!

39 - Life is better with Jesus because Jesus loves me 100% and knows how many hairs are on my head and knows what is best for me at all times. I know he is in my corner and will always be there.

40 - Without Jesus, I would be the "old" me. I would be full of self doubt, pain and anguish over my past. I would be angry at the world. I would still be searching for the "thing" that would heal my heart. Now in the words of Chris Tomlin's remake of Amazing Grace... "My chains are gone. I've been set free. My God my Savior has ransomed me..." I am free. I am Shelley made whole by the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

41 - Without Jesus I wouldn't have peace and love but, mostly, without Jesus I just "wouldn't have".

42 - The ability to put things I've done and feel badly about behind me.

43 - My feeling, without Jesus, we would have no reason for hope and forgiveness.

44 - Without Christ, my life would be worse because I wouldn't have hope when things get rough. With Him, I have hope knowing that the story ends in victory!

45 - Jesus is my all... I would be nothing and have nothing without Him......He protects me each and every day....Praise God!!!

46 - Because of Jesus, I have a constant friend with me at all times - no loneliness - and He's one who knows everything about me and loves me anyway!

47 - Without Jesus I would not have the heart or common sense to not trash our earth or to physically hurt others.

48 - Without Jesus I wouldn't know how real love feels. My life is better with Jesus because I was born to serve the Lord. Therefore I'm fulfilled daily as I do His will.

49 - Without Jesus in my life I wouldn't have anyone to rely on and trust purely out of love. I have been used and taken advantage of so much in my life already and Jesus is the only one I can trust who truly loves me for me and isn't there for his own self gain.

50 - Without Jesus I would not have a life. I cannot live without our Saviour Jesus Christ.

51 - Without Jesus my life would be without meaning.

52 - Without Christ, I would NEVER have made it thru some major personal crises. With Christ, I have joy, and a chance to improve myself, and live better, each day!

53 - My life would be worse without Jesus because I would have to depend on the world for my happiness. Without Jesus there would be no hope and no happiness, The world will provide some temporary happiness, some good times, and some down times, and ultimately will fail you, but Jesus will never fail you or let you down. So, without Jesus, I would have to depend on the world for my happiness.

54 - With Jesus: 1. Our marriage is better with Jesus in it (both of us love Jesus)
2. The loss of a son/loved one is easier to reconcile knowing that Jesus died and was resurrected. Basically believing in God's promises that Jesus lived out as our living God.

55 - Without Jesus I would not have nourishment for my soul. I believe this is what Jesus was talking about. He had just encountered a woman and spoke truth to her. Ever spoke truth, had your soul nourished, and been too full to eat food? Jesus responded to the disciples statement of "You must be hungry."

56 - With Jesus, I have - 1. The promise of eternal life. 2. Grace and forgiveness. 3. I'm such a better husband/parent with him in my life. 4. Doing work for Jesus is always great. 5. Jesus never changes and never lets me down.

57 - I can't imagine my life without Christ in my life. Not knowing that I will have an eternal is unimaginable. I thank God each day for the beauty that is shown to me each day! The harvest continues!

58 - My life would be empty and depressing without Christ. My life is enriched daily from the love of Christ through his word and through those who serve him.

59 - Without Christ and His peace, my anxiety would be unbearable.

60 - Without Jesus I wouldn't have Love.

61 - Sorry Pastor, can't limit it to one thing. EVERYTHING about our lives would be worse!!!

62 - Growing old is better with Jesus for believers who are ready to turn away from our own preference and let the Holy Spirit lead the way.

63 - It's hard to send just one....so how about in Christ Jesus we have Assurance!! And with this comes freedom in Him and thankfulness in Him. It's hard to beat being overwhelmed in thankfulness. It leaves no room for fear or worries.

64 - Without Christ in my life I wouldn't be here. 2005 was a bittersweet year. I would never come back to life if it wasn't for Christ. People kept sending me words of encouragement and in my darkest hour He was there. I wouldn't have had the courage and strength to go on. I would have turned to drugs, alcohol or food (which would have done me in) or worse. I

have more but I'm running late again and have class tonight.