Friday, November 30, 2012
Who do you work for???
November 30th, 2012
“Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:22-24, ESV)
Why do you work? Do you work hard at your job? I know, it’s too early for that many questions, but it is a very serious subject. In our society, it is proper to work hard for your boss, or to work hard for your family. These are good things as long as you are doing them by working hard for the Lord. Not sure what that means? Let’s see what Paul says:
Ignore the bondservant (slaves) word. In the King James Version it uses the word servant, which would be more proper. Slaves were a cultural thing, not a biblical thing. Notice Paul says, “obey your earthly masters as one who fears the Lord. . . not as a people pleaser”. When you work hard for your boss or your family are you doing it to be a people pleaser, or are you doing it with sincerity of your heart, as one who fears the Lord? What’s the difference you might ask?
If you work hard in all things for the Lord, you are in His will, just as Jesus did all things as the Father asked Him to do. When God said go, He went, when God said stay, He stayed. We need to have the same approach to our work. Man will manipulate and deceive you. Family will manipulate and deceive you, but God will not. In all things we need to pray and seek His wisdom so we are working hard for Him. There is a huge difference!
For years, before I gave my life truly to Christ, I worked for myself. If I held a second job it was for me to have more money, or for others to have more. I worked for material things, and for selfish reasons. My heart was not on God, it was on me. I made a lot of money in those days, yet the funny part is that I had nothing to show for it except brokenness and heartache.
My son barely saw me, and when he did, I was angry, exhausted, and had no patience. This wasn’t just because I was working so hard, it was because I was doing it on my own, and for me. I felt I was entitled to be short on patience and angry. I had no fruit of the Spirit in me. Now, I work just about as hard as I did then, and for a lot less money but my life has a much different look. When I am at work, I no longer grumble and complain, I do all things to serve Christ. Now I work hard for God, and not for man. I am blessed, I am happy, and my heart is at peace.
Just a side note: Working hard for God will not earn you salvation. You cannot earn your salvation, nor can you earn His Love. It is a gift.
Father, We pray today, that in all we do, we do it for You. Lord let us humbly and fearfully work for You and not for man. Transform our hearts Lord God. Let us not be lazy, nor selfish. Let us have our eyes and minds on You, being led by Your Holy Spirit. We praise You Lord, for every blessing You provide for us and our families. Let us not use these blessings for ourselves in selfish ways, yet use them in how You see fit for us. Be our captain, and steer our lives Lord, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Run Your Race
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...” (Hebrews 12:1–2, NKJV)
It’s easy to be tempted to go through life competing with everyone around us. When we see someone who’s more talented, better looking or has more gifts, instead of running our race and being comfortable with who we are, oftentimes we feel inferior and think, “I’ve got to catch up to them.” The problem with this unhealthy competition is that it’s a never-ending cycle.
There will always be someone ahead of us. But, it’s a very freeing thing when you realize, “I’m not competing with you. I don’t have to have as big a house as my neighbor to feel good about myself. I don’t have to keep up with my co-worker. I don’t have to be a certain size. No, I understand that I’m not in competition with my friend, my neighbor or my co-worker. Instead, I’m going to be the best me that I can possibly be.” Friend, that’s an attitude God can work with. When you focus on being who God made you to be, that’s when you’ll rise up higher and position yourself for every spiritual blessing He has in store for you!
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, I humbly come to You giving You all that I am. I choose to keep my eyes on You and allow You to work in my heart and mind. I declare that I am free from competition today in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Pay them no mind...1 Sam 10:27
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“But some scoundrels said, ‘How can this fellow save us?’ They despised him and brought him no gifts. But Saul kept silent.” (1 Samuel 10:27, NIV)
In scripture, King Saul had some people come against him. They were making fun of him. He could have easily become distracted and lost his focus. He could have defended himself saying, “I’m a good leader. I have what it takes.” But what did he do? He kept silent. One translation says, “He paid them no mind.”
Friend, sometimes that’s what you have to do when people are coming against you. You have to realize that some people are just jealous. Not everyone is going to have your best interest at heart. But don’t let them control your destiny. Don’t let them distract you from God’s best. Instead of playing up to people or trying to win over all your critics, keep your eyes focused on what God has for you. Spend time with people who see what God is doing in you. Focus on those who will celebrate you. Ignore the critics so you can be all that God has called you to be.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I keep my heart and mind focused on You. I choose to ignore the naysayers. I choose to turn away from critical voices. I declare by faith that I will accomplish the plan You have for me as I daily put You first in everything that I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Trusting God’s Timing...
“My times are in your hands...”
(Psalm 31:15, NIV)
In life, oftentimes we are waiting for something; waiting for a dream to come to pass, waiting to meet the right person, waiting for a problem to turn around. When things aren’t happening as fast as we would like, it’s easy to get frustrated. But you have to realize that the moment you prayed, God established a set time to bring the promise to pass.
God has a set time for your opportunity. There is a set time for that problem to turn around, a set time for your healing, your promotion, your breakthrough. It may be tomorrow, or next week, or five years from now. But when you understand the time has already been set, it takes all the pressure off. You won’t live worried, wondering when this is ever going to happen. You’ll relax and enjoy your life knowing that the promise has already been scheduled and your answer is on the way!
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, I choose to trust in Your timing. I trust that You have my best in mind. I believe that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. Thank You for ordering my steps and leading me in the life of blessing You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Friday, November 16, 2012
How you can pray for deployed military personnel?
We hear people say, "Pray for our Troops!" But what do we pray for? What, specifically, are their needs?
Here are insights provided by Army Chaplain (MAJ) Scott Koeman in how to pray:
- Pray that he would have the peace of Christ with him—especially if he travels outside of his Forward Operating Base (FOB).
- Pray that he will depend on the love of God to keep him from bitterness at others (who needlessly make life difficult on their subordinates especially when they aren’t the most competent leader).
- Pray for his spiritual and emotional resiliency so that regardless of what he faces, he will be able to be effective in his military role and responsibility.
- Pray for protection. “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore” (Psalm I25:2).
- Pray that he will be vigilant if he is called upon to fire upon the enemy. “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1).
- Pray that the enemy will be turned back. “May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion: may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace” (Psalm 40:14).
- Pray that he will be fulfilled in his job. Without purpose, time in the combat zone is extremely long and difficult.
- Pray that he will resist lowering himself to lower levels of conversations and instead seek to be an example of goodness and righteousness.
- Pray that he finds “good and solid” Christian brothers to have fellowship.
- Pray that if he struggles or is discouraged, he will seek out his chaplain for wisdom and encouragement.
- Pray for the leadership in Platoons, Companies, Battalions, Brigades . . . depending on what level the soldier works. Leadership can make or break a man.
www.operationwearehere.com/CaringInsightsMilitary
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Do you know what a goad is?
| Grab Hold of It |
Jason Fevig - Senior Pastor - Harvest Miami, Florida
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Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
-Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
We’ve been learning about the book of Ecclesiastes and how Solomon penned it after living a life far from the Lord. At the end of his life, Solomon finally gets what God wanted him to know all along; namely that in a well-lived life, one will, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of man” (v.13).
Some people live their entire life, get to the end of it, and never learn their lessons. Do you know anyone like this? Could someone say this about you? They have many, many experiences both good and bad, but they never derive any benefit from them. No progress. No advancement. No forward movement.
Some of you reading this today have made some colossal mistakes. Divorce, addictions, bankruptcy, financial setbacks, wayward children, sickness, injury, being arrested, or convicted of a crime; the list could go on forever. The point is this: Did you learn anything?
Do you know what a goad is? It’s a long, pointed stick used for prodding and guiding oxen while plowing. When an animal gets off track, it gets a little WHACK to get it back on track. So the question becomes: Do you take life’s shortcuts by learning from the hard lessons of others? Or does your life look more like this: “I want to figure things out for myself.” WHACK! “I don’t want to learn from others.” WHACK! I don’t need some ancient book to tell me how to live.” DOUBLE WHACK! Do you see what I mean?
What can make us useful and wise is when we learn from our mistakes and pass those lessons on to those around us so they don’t have to suffer painful consequences like we did. We can stop blaming everybody else for the bad decisions we made and get on the path of fearing God and keeping His commandments. Instead of being embarrassed by our mistakes, let God redeem them! Why did God send His precious Son to die on a cross for us anyway? So we would stay on an endless spinning wheel of making the same mistakes over and over again? No! So that we can be forgiven and our mistakes be redeemed!
The choice is yours. You can relent and repent or you can stiffen your neck and harden your heart. But watch out for the goads!
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Turkey Day Tips
Celebrate a Stress-Free Thanksgiving
Making a huge meal and serving it to a hungry crowd with high expectations can be easy—and fun. Really!
Thanksgiving should be a joyful day when family and friends gather for good company and good food. But if you’re dashing from oven to table, shuffling plates, refilling drinks and trying to keep kids from uttering the dreaded “we’re bored,” that special day can turn into a real slog. So how do you keep guests well fed and entertained without an army of elves?
Chef Erika Davis, pastry chef and former Top Chef contestant, has cooked for some very demanding diners (including celebrity judges) and knows a thing or two about entertaining under pressure. One of her favorite tips, which she learned from her mother, is to set the table the night before. “It’s an easy way to give yourself extra time the day of the big meal,” she explains. And since she’s a chocolatier, it’s only natural that Davis feels that “a day is never good without chocolate,” so she always sends her dinner guests home with a handmade chocolate treat.
If you’d like to create your own surprise for guests—and cut your T-Day workload—bake up a Pumpkin-Sweet Potato Pie and stash it in the fridge. Then, at the end of the day, present your guests with a slice they can enjoy later while remembering what a special time they had.
Interested in more ways to take the stress out of Thanksgiving? Adopt this two-pronged approach and discover how much fun big-deal entertaining can be.
Part One: Try these Smart Food Moves
- Plan your menu well in advance. Make it a mixture of familiar family classics and a few new twists that everyone will love, like this Roasted Turkey with Bourbon-Butter Glaze. Always include one standout item that can share oven space with the turkey and mac and cheese, like this Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping. For the freshest flavor, include recipes that incorporate seasonal produce to ensure that your dishes taste their best.
- Make Wednesday your prep day. Identify items like stuffing, soup, compote and desserts that can be made in advance. Vegetables can be prepared early and reheated when ready to serve. For more on what can be ready before the big day, read 5 Tips to Cook Sunday Dinner Faster. This is also the time to let others know their duties for the next day, from bringing the food to the table to overseeing cleanup.
- Don’t let Thursday morning make you cry—live by your list. Create a timeline that charts the day dish-by-dish.
- Think beyond the table. Press every piece of furniture into service, maybe even turning windowsills and chests of drawers into serving stations. This works particularly well for appetizers and will encourage guests to move and mingle as they make their way from the cheese plate in the dining room to the nuts and dried fruit on the living room coffee table.
- Serve the food family style, buffet style or a combination of both. For instance, sit everyone down to a plated first course and then have people serve themselves for the sides and main courses.
Part Two: Keep Everyone Busy
The food is delicious, but Thanksgiving is also special for family time together. Here are a few ways to celebrate each other.
- Hold a turkey trot or other athletic activity. Even if not everyone is up for a run, find an outdoor exercise where people can work up an appetite.
- Transform the table into a tribute of thanks. Using fabric markers and paint, embellish tablecloths, runners and napkins with handwritten words or quotations about thanks. Use books or online references or make up your own. Complement the table with a centerpiece that celebrates your family history. Ask guests to bring a family photo and arrange them in the center of the table. Then take turns discussing each photo, reminiscing and telling stories that can be shared from one generation to the next.
- Do a round of thanks. Before dinner, have each person say what he or she is thankful for. After all, that’s the reason for the season, and it also reminds us that every day has cause to be grateful.
- Organize indoor activities before and after the meal. Set up different stations like a card table, an area for board games and since Thanksgiving is “game day,” designate a TV room for sports fans.
- Make the kidstable a crafts table. Think outside the “turkey hand” drawing and give little ones art supplies like butcher paper, stencils and paints to make their own tablescape and encourage a theme of thankfulness.
Friends: The family we choose for ourselves.
Who celebrates the good times and helps you through the bad times in your life? Who listens when you just need to talk to someone? Who sees the 'real you' and likes you anyway?
The answer to those questions can be summed up in one word: Friend.
Things change in life. Jobs and addresses may come and go but, if we're lucky, our friends stay with us throughout our lives, making each day better.
GOAL!
You're such a good influence on me.
You're like my coach,
my cheerleader,
my marching band
all rolled into one person.
Your confidence in me
gives me confidence in me.
I can never fail
with you in my corner.
I go for the goal
'cause you've got my back.
I give it all I've got
because you would expect nothing less.
Having you as my friend makes me a winner.
The answer to those questions can be summed up in one word: Friend.
Things change in life. Jobs and addresses may come and go but, if we're lucky, our friends stay with us throughout our lives, making each day better.
GOAL!
You're such a good influence on me.
You're like my coach,
my cheerleader,
my marching band
all rolled into one person.
Your confidence in me
gives me confidence in me.
I can never fail
with you in my corner.
I go for the goal
'cause you've got my back.
I give it all I've got
because you would expect nothing less.
Having you as my friend makes me a winner.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
May today be all you need it to be...This is my prayer for you:
May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears.
May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced before.
May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered.
I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged.
I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.
And Last, I pray that our country will turn back to God, and to the foundation upon which it was created.
Many blessings,
Karla
May God manifest himself today in ways you have never experienced before.
May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered.
I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged.
I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.
And Last, I pray that our country will turn back to God, and to the foundation upon which it was created.
Many blessings,
Karla
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Keep Asking...Wanted to share what spoke to me this morning
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7, NLT)
Sometimes, people get discouraged in life because things didn’t turn out the way they hoped on the first try. Maybe they put energy into a relationship but it didn’t work out. They tried that new business venture, but they are still struggling with their finances. Now they think it’s never going to happen. But, one thing we have to learn is that God honors perseverance. On the way to your “yes” you may encounter some “no’s.” You may encounter some closed doors, but that doesn’t mean it’s the final answer. It just means “keep going.”
Remember, if God promised it, He’s going to bring it to pass. Scripture tells us that through faith and patience we inherit God’s promises. This is where patience comes in; this is where perseverance comes in. This is where trust comes in. Just because you don’t see things happen right away doesn’t mean you should quit. No, instead, rise up and press forward. Keep believing, keep hoping, keep enduring and keep asking because our God is always faithful to His word!
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. I choose today to believe Your Word. I choose to trust Your promises. I choose to keep standing, keep believing and keep asking because I will receive in Jesus’ name! Amen!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Belle Decor (aka Southern Belle)
Southern-Inspired Thanksgiving Table
November 8, 2012
It's the two-week countdown folks—just enough time to throw together something different for this year's Thanksgiving tabletop. We suggest following the lead of G&G Senior Editor Jessica Mischner by combining the old and new for an effortless, and uniquely Southern setting. Check out her guest blog on Etsy for tips and products that will help you get that high and low look this holiday.
"Sacramental Service"
My Utmost For His Highest for 11/09/2012
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ... . — Colossians 1:2
What a wonderful personality! What a fascinating man! Such marvellous insight! What chance has the Gospel of God through all that? It cannot get through, because the line of attraction is always the line of appeal. If a man attracts by his personality, his appeal is along that line; if he is identified with his Lord's personality, then the appeal is along the line of what Jesus Christ can do. The danger is to glory in men; Jesus says we are to lift Him up.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Why Women Don’t Like "Women’s" Ministry
Why Women Don’t Like "Women’s" Ministry: What could the future of women's ministry in the church look like?
Still in Control - A Daily Life Perspective from God's Word
Please view the link below. I felt it necessary to share this will all of you.
Bible Verse: James 1:19
http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/devo
Bible Verse: James 1:19
http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/devo
"The Unrivalled Power Of Prayer"
My Utmost For His Highest for 11/08/2012
We know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. — Romans 8:26
"He," the Spirit in you, "maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God," and God searches your heart not to know what your conscious prayers are, but to find out what is the prayer of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God needs the nature of the believer as a shrine in which to offer His intercession. "Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost." When Jesus Christ cleansed the temple, He "would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple." The Spirit of God will not allow you to use your body for your own convenience. Jesus ruthlessly cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and said - "My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."
Have we recognized that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? If so, we must be careful to keep it undefiled for Him. We have to remember that our conscious life, though it is only a tiny bit of our personality, is to be regarded by us as a shrine of the Holy Ghost. He will look atter the unconscious part that we know nothing of; but we must see that we guard the conscious part for which we are responsible.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
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