I have a video I want to show you for today's devotional! Just don't forget to pause our playlist so you can hear the video!
One question. Have you surrendered control to Jesus?
Sunday, September 20, 2009
21 Day Challenge- Day Seventeen
"Down. Set. Hike!" Dad dropped back to pass in what had become a serious game of backyard football one Christmas break. I needed to make a big play. My younger brother, John, and I were playing for bragging rights and he was winning!
So as I took off running, I looked back at my Dad. The ball was already in the air. Dad had launched it! I turned it up a gear and ran as fast as I could, keepng my eyes on the ball the whole way. Sure enough the timing was perfect, but John was right there with me. As he jumped to try to knock the ball away, it sailed over his outstretched hands. I caught the ball, running at a full sprint!
I was so excited because I was about to score the game winning touchdown. But just as I looked up from making the catch, WHAM! I ran right into a tree! The collision knocked me flat on my back, and the ball fell out of my hands. I was stunned. I looked back at my brother to try to figure out what had just happened, only to see him rolling on the ground in hysterical laughter.
I had made the right moves. I had done all the right things, but I left myself vulnerable to an unforseen obstacle, and there I sat embarrassed and in pain.
You know, that's not unlike what can happen to us as Christians if we are not careful. We know
our goal is a life of service to Christ. We keep our eyes on the prize. We go about our business doing good things, but if we don't guard our hearts, we are vulnerable to being wounded by the obstacles the enemy puts in our path.
***Read Proverbs 4:23***
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." (New Living Translation)
Guarding your heart is not a matter of avoiding the pains in life. It's a matter of keeping your heart tender before God no matter what the circumstances. An unprotected heart becomes callused with each collision and pain. A callused heart become hard. A hard heart is too broken for relationship with God or with people. That's why the Bible says to "guard your heart, because it affects everything you do."
So as I took off running, I looked back at my Dad. The ball was already in the air. Dad had launched it! I turned it up a gear and ran as fast as I could, keepng my eyes on the ball the whole way. Sure enough the timing was perfect, but John was right there with me. As he jumped to try to knock the ball away, it sailed over his outstretched hands. I caught the ball, running at a full sprint!
I was so excited because I was about to score the game winning touchdown. But just as I looked up from making the catch, WHAM! I ran right into a tree! The collision knocked me flat on my back, and the ball fell out of my hands. I was stunned. I looked back at my brother to try to figure out what had just happened, only to see him rolling on the ground in hysterical laughter.
I had made the right moves. I had done all the right things, but I left myself vulnerable to an unforseen obstacle, and there I sat embarrassed and in pain.
You know, that's not unlike what can happen to us as Christians if we are not careful. We know
our goal is a life of service to Christ. We keep our eyes on the prize. We go about our business doing good things, but if we don't guard our hearts, we are vulnerable to being wounded by the obstacles the enemy puts in our path.
***Read Proverbs 4:23***
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." (New Living Translation)
Guarding your heart is not a matter of avoiding the pains in life. It's a matter of keeping your heart tender before God no matter what the circumstances. An unprotected heart becomes callused with each collision and pain. A callused heart become hard. A hard heart is too broken for relationship with God or with people. That's why the Bible says to "guard your heart, because it affects everything you do."
21 Day Challenge- Day Sixteen
It wasn't your choice to begin life when you did. You didn't choose your family, your race or your gender. So, is there really purpose for your life?
YES! God's purpose has been built into your very being.
*** Read Psalm 139:16***
It says that "the days of your life were all prepared before you ever lived one." (Message Bible)
That means you were NO ACCIDENT. Your life is not a mistake. It's not a coincidence that you are who you are. God has an ordained purpose for your life from the beginning. He designed a plan that is YOURS alone. There is a specific purpose for your life.
It's up to you to find and fulfill that purpose. The more you know God, the more you will discover your purpose. As you seek His face, God will begin to reveal His plan- sometimes in every day situations and sometimes in the spectacular. Any moment can be a defining moment. Learn to make the most of every day and let your pupose unfold before you.
YES! God's purpose has been built into your very being.
*** Read Psalm 139:16***
It says that "the days of your life were all prepared before you ever lived one." (Message Bible)
That means you were NO ACCIDENT. Your life is not a mistake. It's not a coincidence that you are who you are. God has an ordained purpose for your life from the beginning. He designed a plan that is YOURS alone. There is a specific purpose for your life.
It's up to you to find and fulfill that purpose. The more you know God, the more you will discover your purpose. As you seek His face, God will begin to reveal His plan- sometimes in every day situations and sometimes in the spectacular. Any moment can be a defining moment. Learn to make the most of every day and let your pupose unfold before you.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
21 Day Challenge- Day Fifteen
Today, our devotion is going to be a little different! I found this video devotional by Jeremy Camp that I wanted to share with you. I LOVE LOVE LOVE his new song "Speaking Louder Than Before"!! I hope you will be encouraged and motivated by it today!
(Don't forget to pause our blog playlist on the side so you can hear the video!)
What kind of representation of Christ are you being? How loud is your life speaking?
Speak Up. Speak Now. Speak Loud.
(Don't forget to pause our blog playlist on the side so you can hear the video!)
What kind of representation of Christ are you being? How loud is your life speaking?
Speak Up. Speak Now. Speak Loud.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
21 Day Challenge- Day Fourteen
Let's look at Colossians 4:2&3 closely today and let it be a guide for today's prayer time:
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains."
"Devote yourselves to prayer..."
***Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2***
We need to devote yourselves to pray for the leaders in your school, community, and country that they will be filled with the knowledge of God and do His will.
"...being watchful and thankful."
Read Thessalonians 3:3 and 1 Chronicles 16:8***
Pray that God will protect you from the enemy that will try to discourage you. Thank the Lord for who He is and what He can do through you!
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains"
***Read 1 Peter 3:13-16 and Mark 16:15***
Pray that God will use our upcoming See You At The Pole to initiate and build students whose purpose will be to share the Gospel with unsaved friends on campus. Ask God to bring spiritual awakening to His church.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains."
"Devote yourselves to prayer..."
***Read 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2***
We need to devote yourselves to pray for the leaders in your school, community, and country that they will be filled with the knowledge of God and do His will.
"...being watchful and thankful."
Read Thessalonians 3:3 and 1 Chronicles 16:8***
Pray that God will protect you from the enemy that will try to discourage you. Thank the Lord for who He is and what He can do through you!
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains"
***Read 1 Peter 3:13-16 and Mark 16:15***
Pray that God will use our upcoming See You At The Pole to initiate and build students whose purpose will be to share the Gospel with unsaved friends on campus. Ask God to bring spiritual awakening to His church.
21 Day Challenge- Day Thirteen
He was a teenager. The youngest of 8 brothers. Up until this time in his life, he had never done anything that most people would have considered significant. His family owned animals outside the city, so most of his day consisted of taking care of animals. Basically, his job was the one nobody else wanted to do.
His older brothers, on the other hand, seemed to have it all together. They were much more developed physically. He was at times overlooked,overshadowed by his older brothers.
The three oldest brothers were not only more physically developed, but thier jobs seemed to be so much more significant than his. While he was back home doing family chores, his three oldest brothers had joined the military and were off to war!
Surely seeing the sucess of his older brothers caused him to desire to do something more significant with his life. But he was just 15 years old. He was going to have to settle for doing the small tasks he had been given.
Even if he had dreams of significance, somehow he found a way to enjoy things that seemed insignificant. He began to take pride in caring for his father's livestock, protecting them from predators. In fact, he was known to have killed two of the most feared predators in that area.
There were times when his older brothers belittled what he did, but that never seemed to bother him. No one seemed to care about how hard he was working, but that didn't stop him from doing his very best.
Because he was faithful with little things, God blessed him with great things. You may have heard of this young man. He soon became one of the most famous people of all of history. His name was David.
As you know, David was given an opportunity to do a big job: to kill Goliath, the giant.
David greatly surpassed his brothers in significance in just one day!
***Read Ecclesiastes 9:10***
It says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."
All of us have a starting point in life. No one starts out at the top. There is a process involved in reaching our goals. Part of the process is learning to do our very best wherever we are and whatever we are doing. Giving it our very best effort like David did. God will honor you for giving it your all.
In your prayer, praise and listening time today, ask God to show you ways you can improve your effort in every area of your life. Whether it be at school, your job, or in cleaning the floor....give it your very best!
His older brothers, on the other hand, seemed to have it all together. They were much more developed physically. He was at times overlooked,overshadowed by his older brothers.
The three oldest brothers were not only more physically developed, but thier jobs seemed to be so much more significant than his. While he was back home doing family chores, his three oldest brothers had joined the military and were off to war!
Surely seeing the sucess of his older brothers caused him to desire to do something more significant with his life. But he was just 15 years old. He was going to have to settle for doing the small tasks he had been given.
Even if he had dreams of significance, somehow he found a way to enjoy things that seemed insignificant. He began to take pride in caring for his father's livestock, protecting them from predators. In fact, he was known to have killed two of the most feared predators in that area.
There were times when his older brothers belittled what he did, but that never seemed to bother him. No one seemed to care about how hard he was working, but that didn't stop him from doing his very best.
Because he was faithful with little things, God blessed him with great things. You may have heard of this young man. He soon became one of the most famous people of all of history. His name was David.
As you know, David was given an opportunity to do a big job: to kill Goliath, the giant.
David greatly surpassed his brothers in significance in just one day!
***Read Ecclesiastes 9:10***
It says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."
All of us have a starting point in life. No one starts out at the top. There is a process involved in reaching our goals. Part of the process is learning to do our very best wherever we are and whatever we are doing. Giving it our very best effort like David did. God will honor you for giving it your all.
In your prayer, praise and listening time today, ask God to show you ways you can improve your effort in every area of your life. Whether it be at school, your job, or in cleaning the floor....give it your very best!
21 Day Challenge- Day Twelve
Paul Dawson of Oregon tells the story of a family trip: "While visiting Grand Coulee Dam, we were surprised to see that the visitor's center was dark, even though it was a sunny day. We thought the center might have tinted windows, but as we got closer we saw that there were no lights on. We went in and saw that none of the displays were working. Suddenly it became clear: there was no power to the center. Due to a technical problem, the visitor's center that sat only a few hundred feet from a hydroelectric dam and had no electricity. how could something be so close to one of the largest power sources in the United States, yet have no power?"
***Read Colossians 1:11-14***
11 "We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins."
The Christian life is often compared to light in Paul's letters. He uses light to symbolize God's holiness, truth, love and glory. For us, the source of this light is Jesus. When we stay close to Him, we can keep His light shining bright. However, when we take our focus off Him, spending less time with Him and disobeying His voice, we become like the visitors' center in this story- so close to the awesome Source of power, but our own supply is cut off.
Each day offers a brand new start to be "plugged in." If you miss a day, or even a few, of your quiet time, just repent then get back on track. God doesn't want you to beat yourself up about it and give up. He just wants to spend time with you. As a Christian, you are His light, but you must keep on "being strengthened with all power according to His glorious light."
***Read Colossians 1:11-14***
11 "We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins."
The Christian life is often compared to light in Paul's letters. He uses light to symbolize God's holiness, truth, love and glory. For us, the source of this light is Jesus. When we stay close to Him, we can keep His light shining bright. However, when we take our focus off Him, spending less time with Him and disobeying His voice, we become like the visitors' center in this story- so close to the awesome Source of power, but our own supply is cut off.
Each day offers a brand new start to be "plugged in." If you miss a day, or even a few, of your quiet time, just repent then get back on track. God doesn't want you to beat yourself up about it and give up. He just wants to spend time with you. As a Christian, you are His light, but you must keep on "being strengthened with all power according to His glorious light."
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