Finish – God's story through my life from 2005 to eternity…

THRIVE: The middle, the beginning, press towards the finish.

Well, it’s time again to decide how you will handle your midweek situation. Will it be a speed bump? Will it be a ramp to get you ahead? Will it be a blocker holding you back? The decision is up to you. Today is the beginning of ECNL Girls National Championship play with the opportunity for the local girls to win in their own state. So today be it at work, at home, in the office, or on the field, let’s choose to ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us! Let’s choose to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and encourage us! Let’s choose to ask the Holy Spirit to be our advocate, our counselor, and our guide to help us live our lives to the full in order that we may thrive, living for the glory of God!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. ‘
Proverbs 9:10

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 21

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 21

Where are you at today? What is your perspective? How will you choose to see things? How will you adjust your perspective? Invite Jesus into your heart! Invite Jesus into your life! Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

Prayer Of Salvation
"Oh Father God, I believe with all of my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sake and has risen from the dead. Lord, I receive Your Word and I repent of my sins. I renounce the past. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus. I receive my forgiveness. I receive the new birth, cleansed and washed in the Word and in the precious blood of Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen."

THRIVE: Do see it as a finish line or a transition line?

Can you believe it is already the end of the work week? With everything taking place and scheduled are you seeing today as a finish line or a transition line, like the passing of a baton in a relay race?

For me today will be the end of the graduation festivities that have been going on for about 3 weeks now. For me, it is a transition as we prepare for camps coming up and then a transition to college move in, and then transition to another camp.

How about you is today a finish line day or a transition day? The interesting thing is that either way we are still being called to finish strong! If you consider a 4×100 race each transition isn’t coasting but rather a strong finish so that the next leg of the race starts strong! So today, let’s choose to finish strong! If it is just the week, finish strong! If it is something else or something more, finish strong! Whatever it is for you choose to finish strong!

Let’s finish strong and thrive for the glory of God!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” ‘
Isaiah 12:2

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 16

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 16

Where are you today? Are you at a transition point to pass the baton or to receive it? Are you finishing strong or starting strong? Are you patiently awaiting the baton? Are you patiently trying to pass the baton? Why not invite Jesus into your heart and allow Him to lead and guide you? Why not invite Jesus into your life and allow Him to direct your steps and help build your patience? Why not invite the Holy Spirit who is here to be your comforter and guide you into the situation so that you can finish strong, start strong, and be patient in the midst of it all!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

THRIVE: Harness the excitement and the energy in order to finish strong and celebrate!

After waking up in the middle of the night to some huge excitement and then sleeping in from my usual wake-up time, today is going to be one that is filled with excitement and energy as my younger daughter’s graduation ceremony is tonight. So in preparation for that excitement on a personal level, I will use that energy and excitement to help me finish my workweek strong and get a bunch done in order to be able then to get to celebrate tonight and this weekend as my kids, my parents, my mother-in-law is all here with my wife and me to have a grand weekend celebration.

How about you? What can you use to have the energy to get what God has prepared in advance for you to do and get it done? What will you do to finish the week strong? How will you celebrate in order to thrive and glorify God?

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. ‘
Ephesians 2:10

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 9

Just For Dads: Be A Positive Christian Role Model – Day 9

Today let’s choose to make a difference! Let’s choose to be salt and light! Let’s invite Jesus into our hearts! Let’s invite Jesus into our lives! Let’s allow Jesus to give us the wisdom and discernment, direction, and instruction!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

THRIVE: Another week is coming to a close… Let’s choose to finish strong!

Another incredible week getting to be and work with some incredible people. Be it the new intern on my team, be it the new people who joined the company, be it the founders and leaders, be it the various departments, it is a blessing to get to work with and bless them all. To get to experience my daughter signing her letter of intent to play soccer at a school that God is using to redeem her collegiate soccer career. To get to see the joy of my son getting the new computer associated with a high school project. To get to hear how my oldest is doing well and continuing to pass and do well in her role. To get to spend time with my wife and experience it all together for nearly 25 years. God is good! I am here and if you are reading this, so are you and so today we need to step up and step into what God has for us because He isn’t done with us yet! Let’s get it done! Let’s complete the good works God has prepared in advance for us to accomplish! Let’s decide not to coast to the finish of the week but rather to finish strong for the glory of God!

Let’s go and get it done for the glory of God because Jesus is sending us!

TODAY’S WORD OF THE DAY:

‘Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ‘
John 20:21

Today’s post from Be The Dads is
Popular – Day 10

Popular – Day 10

What are you believing about yourself? Is it trying to keep you from finishing the week strong? Renew your mind! Invite Jesus into your heart! Allow Jesus to renew your mind with the truth! Invite Jesus into your very situation so that He may meet you right where you are at and help you walk through it! Don’t go it alone! Finish the week strong!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

THRIVE: It’s that time again, how the time flies. Let’s be good stewards of our time and finish this week strong!

Another incredible week has flown by, getting to learn and partner with the team. Another incredible week of comradery and team building. Another incredible week being stewards of what our customers are trusting us to do with and for them. Another incredible week with so much to do and prepare for. Let’s celebrate the past and press forward towards the goal, finishing the week strong!

God has prepared good works for us to accomplish! Let’s be about His Word and get it done! Let’s seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness so that He is able to give us the plan, the purpose, and the will to get it done! Let’s lean in on God rather than trusting our own understanding so that we can allow Him to make our paths straight! Let’s be about our Heavenly Father’s business! Let’s be salt and light in this world that needs it! Let’s work as unto the Lord so that when people see it they will glorify Him! Let’s check off a bunch of TODO items and get them over to the DONE column so that we can kick off the new week on a high! Let’s keep climbing towards what God has for us!

Praying for training this weekend as we prepare for camps. Praying for the team. Praying for the campers. Praying for the campground. Looking to accomplish all that God has planned and prepared for this summer through our camps!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ‘
Matthew 6:25

Today’s post from Be The Dads is
UNCOMMEN: Dads 2 – Day 4

UNCOMMEN: Dads 2 – Day 4

Don’t be overwhelmed by worry and fear but instead overwhelm them with love and hope and faith from God! Let’s invite Jesus into our hearts to clean it out and fill it to love till it overflows! Let’s invite Jesus into our hearts so that there won’t be room for lies, fear, worry, bitterness, anger, etc but only for love, hope, faith, and grace! Let’s allow Jesus into our lives today so that we can live it out in a way that will bring God the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’ name! Let’s allow Jesus to transform us into people who are more like Him! Let’s be people who are moved and guided, instructed and correct by the Holy Spirit! Let’s be the people who decide to be different and raise the bar!

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email.

Let’s Pray!

THRIVE: Let’s finish strong so we can start strong!

Wow, another incredible week is coming to a close, and yet there is much to do. Let’s decide as we get ready for today to finish the week strong, finish the week on a high! Let’s get things buttoned up and other things lined up to start on Monday! Let’s be focused! Let’s seek God’s wisdom and discernment so that we spend our time on the right things, the important things, and finish the right things! Let’s make sure we are putting first things first so that we can get it done! Let’s seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness so that God will help us take care of everything else! We weren’t made to do it alone but rather to do it in a relationship with God and with others! So today is the day that the Lord has made, let’s rejoice and be glad in it! Let’s not worry but cast our worries on God because He cares for us! Let’s decide right now, even before we get started on our workday to finish the week strong so that we can start next week stronger! Let’s choose to thrive for the glory of God!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” ‘
Luke 6:38

Today’s post from Be The Dads is
Love Slows Down – Day 4

Love Slows Down – Day 4

So are there things you are carrying around that are holding you back from being able to finish the week strong? Are there things you are loading up because they are good when you could take them off of your back in order to get what’s best? Are you ready to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness so that God will be able to help you and take care of the rest? What is in your backpack of life that you need to unload before you head into today? Less weight to help you finish the week strong and be set up to start next week stronger in order that you can thrive for the glory of God! Are you ready to invite Jesus in to help? Are you ready to ask the Holy Spirit to help you clean up and receive the wisdom and discernment needed to get it done? Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life to ensure that the yoke on your shoulders is light and the burdens are easy?

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.

Let’s Pray!

THRIVE: Do what you know to do when you don’t know what to do. Finish strong!

I am so grateful for a loving and caring God. I am so thankful that He knows what I need even before I can ask. I am so thankful that He loves me so much that He gave me His Word. I am so thankful that He loves me so much that He gave His one and only Son. I am so thankful that He loves me so much that He doesn’t want me to go it alone and so He not only give me one another but also His Holy Spirit to be my comforter and my guide. So, what to do when you don’t know what to do? You do what you know how to do and turn to God and ask for His wisdom and discernment, for His leading and guiding, so that you can move forward for the glory of His kingdom.

Can you believe it is the end of the workweek already? Let’s finish the week strong! Let’s give our day into God’s hand to help us navigate not only the information that will come our way but also the time we spend today with others, on projects, etc. Let’s choose to live today in a way that will glorify God! Let’s trust God knowing that whatever is going on it will be for His glory and our good! Let’s persevere as we move forward not giving up and not giving in to the lies or tricks of the devil. Let’s work for unity in health so that in and through it all God will be lifted up and glorified and others will see it and glorify our Father in heaven.

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ‘
John 14:26

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Father Like The Father – Day 2

Father Like The Father – Day 2

So are you ready to finish the week strong? Are you looking to figure out what to do? Are there many open questions? Is there uncertainty taking place? Let’s lean in on God! Let’s trust in God! Let’s not think we can figure it all out but instead turn to God and ask the Holy Spirit to help us! Let’s invite God into our life situation.

If you pray today’s prayer with me feel free to let me know so I can pray with you and for you too. (If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment then you can always try email or text.

Let’s Pray!

Dear God
I admit I am a sinner and need your forgiveness; I believe that Jesus Christ died in my place paying the penalty for my sins. I am willing right now to turn from my sin and accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord. I commit myself to you and ask you to send the Holy Spirit into my life, to fill me and take control, and to help me become the kind of person you want me to be. Thank You Father for loving me. In Jesus' name.
Amen.

Let’s Read the Bible Together (February)

THRIVE: BUMP… Yesterday is gone but has set me up for a great today.

It’s the middle of the week and so let’s see it as a high point. Yesterday I had a great conversation about team health and personal challenges. Yesterday I realized the challenges I was facing were caused by them wanting my good and so helping me to be prepared. Yesterday I realized that what I knew and how I was choosing to walk needed to get aligned. I needed to grab ahold of the reality that I didn’t and don’t need to worry about anything but I do need to be praying about everything! I need to take those cares that seemed to be dragging me down or holding me back and cast them upon Jesus who cares for me and has opened the door to allow me to cast my cares on God because He cares for me. So today is a day to focus on being prepared! Today is a day to focus on making sure my team is prepared! Today is a day to focus on making sure my family is prepared! As we get to the bump in the workweek let’s decide to accept it as a high point that we can use the momentum and the energy to help us finish the week strong!

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ‘
2 Corinthians 1:4

Today’s post from Be The Dads is Dad Strong – Day 3.

Dad Strong – Day 3

So you made it to the midpoint of the week. Did you try to go it alone? Did you try to do it all in your own strength? Are you ready to do it a different way? Are you ready to cast your cares on God because He cares for you? Are you ready to stop worrying and start praying? Let’s invite Jesus into our situations so that we can finish this week strong!

What is your calling? What is your purpose? What does success or completeness look like?

What is God calling you to do? Who is God calling you to be? Where is God calling you to go? When is God calling you? How did God call you?

We know that God created each of us on purpose. We know that God created each of us with purpose. We know that God created each of us for a purpose. Have you discovered yours or are you still seeking?

I remember learning many years back, early in my walk with God that God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. There are times when God will call us to do something outside of our comfort zone. There are times when God will call us to His purposes even when we don’t feel qualified to do it. Will you answer the call from God even if you don’t feel qualified? What’s holding you back? Do you think you aren’t qualified? Have you found your purposes? Do you realize what it is you are to do? Do you realize the similarity of response between when God calls and Nike? So are you ready to just do it when God calls?

Do you know what success will look like? Do you realize that what people view as success may differ from what God is looking to accomplish? Have you ever accomplished what God wanted you to do and found yourself thinking it wasn’t what you expected but rather it was so much better than what you expected? When will you know that you are done and it is complete? Are willing to keep going till God says you are done? Do you realize the purpose is connected to what will last? People! Do you realize the purpose is connected to what will last and focusing n the best? Faith, Hope, Love and the greatest of these is LOVE. Are you ready to be amazed at what God is able to do in and through you? Remember how Jesus knew success and completion? Remember His Words on the cross?

‘When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. ‘
John 19:30

THE ONE YEAR DAILY INSIGHTS
WITH ZIG ZIGLAR AND DR. IKE REIGHARD
FOR NOVEMBER 28^TH

Ultimate Achievement

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.’
Philippians 4:1

We see how as Paul begins the final part of his letter to the Philippians that they mean the world to him.

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

Ever viewed Paul as a determined adventurer?
Ever viewed Paul as someone who perseveres no matter what dangers or obstacles come his way?
Ever considered Paul to be dedicated to God’s calling and purpose for his life?
Ever considered Paul dedicated to the cause?
Ever taken grasp of Paul’s love for the people and how they were his joy and crown?
Ever taken grasp of Paul’s love for the people and how much they meant to him?
Ever considered how he poured out his heart to the people?
Ever grasped the how dear people were to him?
Consider how much their faith in Christ brought joy to him.
Consider how much their generosity in supporting him doing the work of God brought joy to him.
Ever considered how on that day we come before Jesus what we will have to speak for? Paul points to the people as his crown, evidence of his faithfulness in God’s calling.
How about you? What message are you giving those who are in your life?
How about you? What do you communicate to the people who come into your day?
Do you communicate warmth and affection?
Do you communicate love and hope?
Do you have a problem being able to tell people you love them?
You can be tough like Paul and yet be very affectionate to the people too!
So today don’t be afraid to show love to others!
Today be ready and willing to pour out from the overflow of God love into the lives of those around you.
Not fake love but authentic love!
Not a going through the motions but a overflow from the heart that causes your mouth to speak in and out of love!
Let’s speak with authentic love so that it will build trust.
Let’s not make it up or fake it till we make it because then it will build up resentment.
So let God fill you to overflowing with His love so that you can then pour into the lives of those around you authentic and unconditional love!
Let’s ask God to give us His eyes to see people like He does.
Let’s ask God to give us His love to pour into the lives of others.
Let’s bring the life changing love of Jesus into this world around us.

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

At this point in your life, who is your “joy” and “crown”?
If you have difficulty expressing affection for people close to you, how would it help to see them the way God sees them?

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“Christians are like the several flowers in a garden that have each of them the dew of heaven, which, being shaken with the wind, they let fall at each other’s roots, whereby they are jointly nourished, and become nourishers of each other.”
— John Bunyan

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

So where are you at today? What is it that you have need of? What are you pursuing? What are you seeking? Are you ready for the call? Are you ready for your purpose? Let’s invite Jesus into our situation so that we can walk it all out with Him. Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father
I come to you in prayer asking for the
forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my
mouth and believe with my heart that
Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the
Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven.
and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of
Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose
from the dead and I ask you right now to
come in to my life and be my personal
Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and
will Worship you all the day's of my Life!
Because your word is truth, I confess with
my mouth that I am Born Again and
Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus
Name, Amen — Heavenly Father
I come to you in prayer asking for the
forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my
mouth and believe with my heart that
Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the
Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven.
and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of
Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose
from the dead and I ask you right now to
come in to my life and be my personal
Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and
will Worship you all the day’s of my Life!
Because your word is truth, I confess with
my mouth that I am Born Again and
Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus
Name, Amen

Did you pray with me?
Would you be willing to leave me a com m ent so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision?
Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?

Are you searching, seeking, finding?

Are you searching for something? Are you being searched? Was anything found? Are you seeking? Are you discovering? Are you finding? What is it you are searching for? What is it that you are seeking? When you find it will it be worth the effort? Are you searching for something that will last? Are you searching for something that is temporary? Are you searching for something that matters? Are you searching for something that will provide you a temporary moment? What is the motive behind it? Are you seeking treasure? Are you seeking fame? Are you seeking answers? Are you seeking understanding? Do you really want to find it or is the searching and seeking providing you with the excitement and enjoyment to press on?

Let’s consider a few scriptures that come to mind when I consider this question:

‘For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord , ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ says the Lord , ‘and I will restore your fortunes and I will [free you and] gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ says the Lord , ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’ ‘
Jeremiah 29:11-14

‘Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’
Matthew 6:31-34

‘Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.’
Psalms 139:23-24

‘ “ Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened. ‘
Matthew 7:7-8

‘This is what the Lord says to His anointed, to Cyrus [king of Persia], Whose right hand I have held To subdue nations before him, And I will ungird the loins of kings [disarming them]; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness [the hoarded treasures] And the hidden riches of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The Lord , the God of Israel, who calls you (Cyrus the Great) by your name. ‘
Isaiah 45:1-3

So are you searching or being searched? Are you seeking or being sought after? Are you finding or being found? Was it worth it? Is it worth it? Will it be worth it? What are your motives? What’s in your heart? Will it last? How will it end?

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for July 13th

Treasures from the Dark

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

‘I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord , Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.’
Isaiah 45:3

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

When you hear the word TREASURE, what comes to mind? Is it a chest filled with gold? Is it map that leads you to exciting places? Is it what you get from digging up what is under the X that markets the spot?
Does the thought of TREASURE thrill or excite you?
Does it need an adventure or is playing the lottery good enough for you?
Are you willing to spend years of searching and sacrificing if you think you will find a TREASURE?
Ever consider the treasure(s) God has for you?
Ever pursued those treasure(s) worth more than any precious metals?
So we know that in this world we will have troubles but Jesus tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world!
God’s Word tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds for there is a treasure when we persevere that will allow us to be complete and lacking nothing!
Today’s verse speaks to how God wants us to find treasure in the midst of our trying, troubling, adverse times!
When things are good, we roll along our way without a heaven dependency on God, but when adversity hits that is when we turn to Him, lean on Him, and cry out to Him!
In the midst of the adversity, we seek Him, we seek His heart, we seek His purpose for us.
We learn in the midst of all of that what God wants and desires. Like when I was mistreated and lied to and God taught me to forgive.
We learn in the midst of all the challenges and struggles about God’s character!
We may not know why but we do know where we can go and who we can turn to to help us in the moment and through it!
God’s got everything under control! God’s not going to be or get surprised! So let’s trust Him! Let’s not lean on our own understanding but instead turn to Him and put all of our trust in Him!
Let’s allow our intimacy with God to grow in and through adversity!
Let’s grab hold of the reality in the midst of adversity that God is almighty and beyond comprehension!
No matter what adversity comes your way, never lose sight of the reality that God is trustworthy and we can trust Him completely!
God is our treasure!
We never ask for or look for adversity or times of darkness, however, when they come the reality and faithfulness of God is revealed to us if we will turn to Him, lean on Him, and trust Him!
God will meet us in the darkness so that we can shine His light!

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

What are some times of darkness you’ve experienced?
In what ways is knowing God more deeply and intimately true treasure to you?

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“At times God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us to heed Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and we are put into the shadow of God’s hand until we learn to hear Him.”
― Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

“Adversity is God’s way of preparing me to help other people.”
— Ike Reighard

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

So where are you at today? Have you faced adversity? Have you shared your lessons learned with anyone yet? Have you explained how adversity has helped you learn and grow? For me there has been the lesson of forgiveness so many years ago and have gotten to share it with so many people ever since. Even in 2020, the hindsight lesson allowed me to move on and move in to a new role and team, I have gotten to share how that in the midst of the adversity, it built up my marriage and family and relationships. God doesn’t do things by accident or without purpose, so let’s grab hold of where we are at and what we are going through in order to be able to receive His blessings and then be able to pour them out into the lives of those God brings across our paths. Are you ready to turn to God? Are you ready to lean on God? Are you ready to receive from God? Let’s pray:

Let’s get it done!

It is interesting how as my work week begins that it begins on the theme of getting the work done. As I look forward at this week there is much to do and get done at work, for camp, and at home. As I look forward at this week and consider God’s plans and purposes for this week, I turn to Him for wisdom and guidance to help me make sure I keep first things first. Be it a core team or make up training meeting tonight for camp. Be it midyear evaluations or big projects for work. Be it getting to attend a revive night on Wednesday at church. Be it getting things done around the home. Be it family time. There is always more to get done than can get done, especially if we try to do it in our own strength. So we need to cast our cares upon the Lord because He cares for us! We need to stay connected to God for His yoke is easy and His burden is light! We need to lean on God rather than our own understanding! We need to allow Him to multiply our efforts! Let’s work that we need to get it done and let’s pray like we need God’s help to get it and in conjunction we will get to see God’s hand move to help us get it done!

What is on your todo list today? What do you need to get onto your to-done list? Let’s get it done!

The One Year Daily Insights
with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for June 21st

Finish the Work

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

‘I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ‘
John 17:4

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

There is always more need than you can handle.
There is always more work than you can get done.
There is always more help than you can give.
The key is to realize your purpose, why you are here, what it is God wants you to do today.
Don’t get fooled or weighed down by the things of the world.
Don’t get distracted by the noise and the clutter.
Focus on why God put you where you are today in order to get it done.
We know that when Jesus left there were still more sick people on the earth and yet as we see in today’s verse, He was finished the work the Father had given Him to do.
We know that when Jesus left there were still more sermons to be preached so that more people could learn about the kingdom of God and yet as we see in today’s verse, He was finished the work the Father had given Him to do.
We know that when Jesus left there were still more disciples to be trained so that the Word could continue to reach the farthest corners of the earth and yet as we see in today’s verse, He was finished the work the Father had given Him to do.
We know that when Jesus left there were still people who hadn’t heard the Good News and yet as we see in today’s verse, He was finished the work the Father had given Him to do.
Jesus was crystal clear on His purpose and that He had completed His task!
Jesus came to setup the Kingdom of God on earth, what is your purpose?
Jesus came to provide a direct connection from the people to God through forgiveness of sin, what is it you need to do?
Jesus came to leave people who could carry the message to the rest of the world, what is it you need to do?
Jesus knew on the night He was betrayed that the first it would be getting checked off the list as His sacrifice would pay the ultimate price so that we could have forgiveness of sin.
Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit would work in the lives of His followers to spread the Good News from Jerusalem, to Judea, to the outermost corners of the earth.
Jesus knew His mission was complete!
What will it take for us to be able to pray today’s memory verse when we get to the end of our day, week, month, year, and lives? To be able to confidently pray “Father, I’ve done what You wanted me to do”?
Let’s align our priorities with God’s in order to make this happen!
Let’s live out our lives, doing the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do, in a way that will bring Him the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’s name.
Let’s keep trusting God in the midst of all the troubles and trials and difficulties that will come our way!
Let’s keep trusting God to lead us and use us through it all!

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

How would you know if you have completed the work God gave you to do each day?
What would have to change in your walk with God for this to happen?

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?”
― David Livingstone

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

So where are you at today? Do you know what is on your todo list? Do you know what is on God’s todo list for you? Do you know who might be on your todo list from God? Do you know how to prioritize things on your todo list in order to get it to-done? Will you live your today in a way to get God’s work done? Will you prioritize God’s work today? Have you connected with Jesus in order to know what is on your list today? Have you connected with Jesus in order to get the wisdom and discernment, the energy and the strength to get it done? Are you ready to get this day started? Don’t get paralyzed by the todo list for the week or the month or the year. focus on today. Let’s ask God for wisdom on the things we need to get done in order to complete the good works He has prepared in advance for us to accomplish. Let’s not stray or keep ourselves from Jesus but rather let’s finish the work by sticking with Jesus all day long! Let’s let go of and get rid of anything that would keep us from getting it done. Let’s pray:

Prime Time…

What comes to your mind when you hear or see or read the words Prime Time? Do you think TV hours from 8pm-11pm? Do you think of it as the optimal or best possible time to do something? Do you think of it as the highest priority time? Do you think of it as the best years of your life? Or are you like me who likes math and it resonates around prime numbers (numbers that can only be divided by 1 and itself)?

Today is prime time in my life as I consider ages and even a special birthday. 13 is a prime number. 17 is a prime number. 47 is a prime number. But 20 is 10×2, 4×5 and 51 is 3×17 and so aren’t prime. Happy 17th little one!

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for April 6th

“I Thirst”

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY: John 19:28

‘After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” ‘

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

In the midst of trials and troubles, we need to maintain an unclouded mind.
Jesus while on the cross never lost focus of what needed to be fulfilled. He maintained an unclouded mind.
He knew the prophets and their predictions
We see Psalms 22:15 fulfilled on the cross as we consider today’s verse and reflect on what the Psalm says: ‘My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.‘
We see Psalms 69:21 fulfilled on the cross as we consider today’s verse and reflect on what the Psalm says: ‘They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.‘
Let’s consider what John 19 is saying in the moment:
- ‘After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.’ — John 19:28-30
He took the pain of the cross – crucifixion, one of the most excruciating forms of torture in human history. Painful. Gasping for air. Tremendous thirst.
Jesus knew everything that was going on and being fulfilled.
Nobody killed Jesus, He gave up His life for you and for me to make a way when there didn’t seem to be a way.
Jesus took on the pain and suffering of the cross in order to pay the just penalty of our sins, the sins of humanity so that everyone who would turn to Him and receive the gift of Grace from God would be able to be saved and reconciled to God.
He conquered both sin and death by not only dying on the cross but also resurrecting three days later.
He became the substitute, our redeemer
He took the death that we deserve because of our sins
Jesus made sure every i was dotted and t was crossed in the prophesies so that when He said “It is finished” it was.
That is how important we are to God!
That is how much God loves us!

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Why was it important to Jesus — and to us — that every detail of prophesy be fulfilled?

He didn’t want any detail to be missed or and requirement to be missed.
To us we know that everything was done in a way that we can be fully reconciled to God through Jesus

How do these fulfilled prophecies strengthen our faith?

It is amazing to consider the hundreds and thousands of years that they all took part of or were spoken in and yet, they all were fulfilled through Jesus!
Thank you Lord!

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“In the cross of Christ excess in men is met by excess in God, excess of evil is mastered by excess of love“
— Louis Bourdaloue

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

Where are you at today? Are you looking for guidance? Are you wondering where to turn? Are you at the end of your rope and needing help? Are you ready for some help? Are you ready to turn to God and ask? seek? knock? Let’s pray together.

On your mark, Get set, Go!

Happy Monday! Are you ready for this new week ahead? Are you prepared to hit the ground running when you get into the office? (real or virtual) Are you ready to not only start the week but to set goals in order to finish the week strong? Are you ready to set goals for the week and run to win? How many weeks do we come in from the weekend and coast or roll into Monday? How many weeks do we go through the motions without a goal or a direction? How many weeks do we get to the end of the week and achieve our goals? How many weeks do we get to the end of the week knowing we were busy but if you had to list 2-3 achievements you might have a struggle? Remember how where there is no vision the people perish? So we need to kickoff the week with vision and purpose and a goal! We need to be prepared for this week in order to do more than just survive but rather to thrive and complete our goal(s). Are you ready? On your mark… Get set… Go!

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for February 22nd

Run to Win

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY: I Corinthians 9:24-25

‘Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. ‘

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

Are you familiar with the culture of the day?
Are you familiar with what motivates and drives people?
Can you come up with a metaphor that will connect with them?
What about a race? Would that work for today’s world?
Would finishing the race be enough for you?
Would getting a participation trophy be good enough?
Or, are you focused on finishing strong and running this race called life to win?
Are you motivated enough to want to run the race to win?
Do you have a focus, a purpose, a goal that you will and can strive for today and this week?
Do you have something that will keep you motivated to run to finish the week strong and get it done?
Do you have something that you can use to measure the importance of things that will come up in your life this week against in order to make sure that everything you do will be towards the goal?
Will you live this week with dedication? intensity? passion? focus?
Let’s live our lives as living sacrifices to God and live out our lives with the dedication, intensity, passion, and focus necessary to bring God the praise, the honor, and the glory!
Let’s live out our lives because the prize we seek is eternal and won’t fade or go away!
Jesus paid the price and so let’s live our lives to show how much we value His sacrifice and how much we desire to live out our eternity with Him!
Let’s allow our faith to make us work and produce the fruit that pleases God!

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

What do you think the “imperishable crown” symbolizes?

Eternal life with God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Is it worth fierce dedication in your life? Why or why not?

Yes, because it shows how much we appreciate what Jesus did and how much we want to glorify Him!

QUOTES FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.”
— Elbert Hubbard

I win not because of my own efforts or my own goodness, but rather through the grace, love, and mercy of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He died so that I might win this game of life and live with Him forever.
— Zig Ziglar

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

The Importance of Focus

Do you have your eyes on the prize? Do you have your eyes on the goal? Do you have your eyes on the reason? Do you have your eyes on the purpose? Do you have your eyes on the finish line? Do you have enough focus to get you where you are going?

Consider the words from Philippians 3:14 and what they are telling us:

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 3:14

Don’t get stuck or distracted by the things of the world today. Don’t get stuck or taken off track by the latest news or social media buzz. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn into efforts that are destructive or distracting. Let’s keep our eyes on the prize! Let’s press forward towards the goal! Let’s focus on getting to eternity with God! Let’s focus on things that will last rather than the temporary! Let’s focus on people! Let’s allow our days be lead by love! Loving God! Loving people!

Consider the words from Philippians 4:8 and what they are telling us to focus on:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
— Philippians 4:8

Let’s focus on the truth! For the truth will set us free! Let’s focus on having high moral values (principles and ideas)! Let’s focus on what is right! Let’s focus on what is pure! Let’s focus on what is lovely! Let’s focus on what is arousing or deserving respect and approval! Let’s focus on things that are excellent! Let’s focus on things that are praiseworthy!

Have you made the decision that has locked in your destiny with God for eternity? Have you invited Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior? Are you living your life in relationship with God? Not rituals and routines but an actual relationship with God, sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and guiding, talking with Jesus, and including Him in your entire day, not compartments but all of your day?

Where are you putting your focus today?
Will it get you where you want to be going?

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for February 11th

Eyes on the Outcome

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY: James 1:2-3

‘My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ‘

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

How do you approach the Word of God? Do you believe it?
How do you receive the Word of God? Do you accept it?
How do you respond to the Word of God? Do you pursue it?
Do you believe it or do you know it?
Do you have faith in it or do you trust it?
Some may read verses like today’s verse above and be in disbelief.
Are you willing to trust God at His Word in spite of the fact that you can’t see the goal or destination yet?
Are you allowing to let the experiences of life refine you and strengthen you to become all that God created and purposed for you?
Today’s verse was interesting to me because it only included verses 2 and 3. Let me share 4 with you as it keeps me going in the midst of the trials.
- ‘But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ‘ — James 1:4
And when trials come and I don’t understand it, continuing to read James 1 encourages me and directs me forward towards the goal and to not give up!
- ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.’ — James 1:5-8
With all this context it helps me to grab hold of and lean into all that God has to say when He says to “Count it all joy” when we face trials of many kinds.
Are you willing to be or get reoriented on how things work?
Are you willing to take God at His Word and allow the trials to refine you and strengthen you in order to build up your patience?
Are you willing to take God at His Word and allow the trials to refine you and strengthen you in order that as patience finishes its work we can be perfect, complete, and lacking nothing?
Or would you rather have “personal peace and affluence“?
Is it an inconvenience or unwelcomed experience when you face trials or troubles?
Are you more interested in what is important to man or what is important to God?
Are you more interested in collecting things that make you feel good than pursuing the things God is asking and calling you to?
Are you more interested in trusting in stuff or things than putting your faith and trust in God?
Are you more interested in stuff than putting your trust and faith in God through the highs and the lows?
Have you ever noticed how faith gets stronger through the tough times?
Have you ever noticed how faith gets bigger through the rough times?
Have you ever noticed how faith draws us close to God in the valleys?
We can trust God! No matter what is going on in our lives, we can trust Him!
Just because things are going crazy or it isn’t feeling troubled doesn’t mean we can walk away from God but rather it should cause us to stick closer to Him in order that we won’t get off track or lose focus on the goal, the prize, and the finish line in eternity!
Suffering defined by Elisabeth Elliot in the chapter of her book called gratitude:
- “Not having what you want, or having what you don’t want.” — Elisabeth Elliot
Will you accept the obstacles, the annoyances, the heartache in order for persistence, tenacity, and a greater trust of God to take place?
Patience isn’t waiting around for “personal peace and affluence“
Patience is putting our focus on God! Giving Him our affections and pursuing His purposes for our lives through every moment of every day!

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

What are some ways the pursuit of “personal peace and affluence” erodes patient and persistent faith in God?

Trying to pursue personal peace and affluence causes us to miss the spiritual battle that is taking place all around us.
Trying to mask the reality of all the people who are losing their lives to the lies of the devil who is working to rob, kill, and destroy.
Trying to take our eyes off of God and His plans and His purposes in order to feel comfortable.
Comfortable is always a word that tends to make me shiver as it usually isn’t a good place to be.

How would it help you to realize that every difficulty in your life is part of God’s curriculum to teach you faith and patience?

Thanks to God’s Word, I was able to persevere with faith and patience through 2020.
Thanks to God’s Word, I was able to realize at the end of December why I had started the year with the team of Hindsight is 2020.
Trust in God!
Lean on Him rather than your own understanding!
Don’t allow pride to make you think you should go it alone!

QUOTES FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

“It does not matter how great the pressure is. What really matters is where the pressure lies — whether it comes between you and God, or whether it presses you nearer His heart.”
— James Hudson Taylor

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

Exodus 28
- We each have gifts and talents that are necessary and important to God’s purpose and plan
- We need to accept the call to use our gifts and talents for the glory of God’s kingdom
- We need to work to be good stewards of the gifts and talents God has given us so that we are ready for the day when we are called to use them for even greater purposes
- We need to be good stewards so that we can hear Him say “well done good and faithful servant”
- Study the stones of the tribes of Israel found on the priest’s ephod.
Exodus 29
- Be ready
- Get prepared

So where is your focus today? Are your eyes on the outcome?

Start with God! Don’t just have Him as your last resort!

Ever faced a challenged? Where did you turn first? If it wasn’t God how long did it take before you turned to Him? Ever faced a trial? Where did you turn first? If it wasn’t God how long did it take before you turned to Him? Ever been in trouble? Where did you turn first? If it wasn’t God how long did it take before you turned to Him? Ever felt troubled or anxious about something? Where did you turn first? If it wasn’t God how long did it take before you turned to Him?

Did you try to do it in your own strength? Did you try to do it your own way? Did you allow the situation to spiral downward or out of control? Would it have been a small thing when it started but became a bigger thing by the time you pulled God in? Did you think it was too small to bring to God? Did you think it wasn’t important enough to bring it to God? What held you back?

God tells us in His Word that we should cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us! Do you realize how much God loves you? Do you realize that God wants to be in such a tight relationship with you that You will talk to Him about the big things and the little things? God loves you! God wants to be in relationship with you! Will you accept it and walk out your life in relationship with Him?

So will you start your day with God today? Will you start it with Him no matter how good or how tough it is? Will you decide to invite Jesus into your heart and receive God’s gift of grace? Will you receive the promise that all things are possible with God?

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for January 15th

A Last Resort?

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY: Philippians 4:6

‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ‘

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

Do you know what else? If you continue into verse 7 you will also learn/read/hear: ‘and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’
Worry changes nothing!
Worry eats us up from the inside out!
Do you wake up worrying?
Do you go to sleep worrying?
Do you live your life worrying?
Are you living out life according the definition of worry? “give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.“
Are you in a state of worrying according to the noun definition of worry? “a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.“
Are you replaying things in your head that just cause it to grow?
Are you focusing more on the problem than on God?
Do you worry about what you say? what you do? how you get interpreted? how others understand you?
Do you worry about relationships? your friendships? your workplace? your marriage? your date? your kids? your neighbors?
Do you worry about your stuff? your money? your house? your car?
Are you ever in the moment or are you always thinking and worrying about something else? At work you worry about home? At home you worry about work?
We need to stop the cycle and get out of that way of thinking.
Today’s verse tells us “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” for a reason “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.“
God understands you and what you are going through!
So don’t shrug off His offer to bring everything to Him.
Consider everything Paul had endured and gone through…
Consider everything Jesus had endured and gone through…
God can totally relate and get what you are going through!
Paul shared in verse 8 that “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. “
Instead of allowing the devil and the world to make us feel anxious or afraid, let’s take hold of the things Paul tells us we should meditate on! THINGS THAT ARE TRUE! THINGS THAT ARE NOBLE! THINGS THAT ARE JUST! THINGS THAT ARE PURE! THINGS THAT ARE LOVELY! THINGS THAT ARE OF GOOD REPORT! THINGS THAT ARE VIRTUOUS! THINGS THAT ARE PRAISEWORTHY!
Let’s be people who practice prayer! It is simply talking to God and sharing our lives with Him! You don’t have to speak New King James English or anything like that because God understands all languages. Talk to Him like any other friend or person you would share stuff with.
Let’s not forget to pray and miss out on the benefits of it! Don’t miss or lose out on God as our source of peace, hope, and joy!
Let’s pray about everything!
Let’s thank God for His wisdom!
Let’s trust God for His purpose and plan and will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven!
Let’s trust God that His timing is perfect!
Let’s do all this so that we can take hold of verse 7’s peace that surpasses all understanding!
God can provide peace in the storms of life, through the storms of life, and by removing us from the storms of life! Trust Him!
God is ready and waiting! Will you turn to Him now and pray?

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

What are some things you tend to worry about?

People’s intensions
People’s motives
Results
Impact
Value
What they are saying
What they are thinking

Take some time right now to pray about them, thank God for His wisdom and strength, and trust Him for His timing.

Heavenly Father, I thank You Lord for this day and for everything that will be in it. I thank You Lord that You aren’t out there somewhere but You are right here with me, right here and right now. Thank You Lord for allowing me this time daily to come and talk with and hear from You through Your Word. Thank You for having called me to spend the start of my day not only in Your Word but also blogging about what I am hearing and learning. Lord 2020 was a crazy year and You heard my troubles and trials, my worries and concerns, and through it all, You were with me, providing me the faith to carry on and to persevere. Lord, even as 2020 was drawing to a close and it appeared that 2021 was going to be starting on a better note because of the change that had begun in December, You had one more change which transformed the end of my year and the way 2021 has kicked into gear. Thank You Lord that Your ways are not my ways. Thank You Lord that Your ways are higher than my ways and better than my ways. Thank You Lord that Your timing is perfect. With but 7 working days left in 2020, You were able to show me a new opportunity for a job, provided leadership support for the transfer, move me to a new team, and allow me to become the leader of a new team in time for me to take 2 weeks off to refresh and renew in preparation for all that You are going to do in and through me in 2021. Lord, as I hit the mid point of the first month, I give this new role into Your hands and praise You for the door being opened so wide I couldn’t miss it and for opening new doors of relationships that will allow me to help more lives and be salt and light and joy and hope — through Jesus — into the lives of people around the world that I have direct contact with and even to those I may never meet in my lifetime. So Lord, I thank You for the gift of prayer that I am able to speak with you throughout my day, or as Your Word says, “pray without ceasing“. So I give all this day up into Your hands and ask You to use it so that in and through it all, You will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.

QUOTES FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

You may give out, but never give up.
— MARY CROWLEY

As your positive confessions come forth, you will discover more blessings you will have to thank God for.
— ZIG ZIGLAR

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

Genesis 25
- Abraham willed all that he had to Isaac.
- Abraham gifted all the rest of his family while he was alive.
- Esau gave up his birthright to Jacob for some stew
- Be sensitive to the directing of God – if He says go then go but if He says stay then stay.
- Sow unto the Lord and watch the multiplication that comes when it is time to reap.
- Be aware of how God’s blessing on you and your life can cause others to fear or envy you.
Genesis 26
- Fear not! God is with you! Trust God’s will and plan for your life.

Anything on your mind? Want someone to pray with you? Feel free to reach out to one of my contact options below as I would be happy to pray with you. Any worries? Any fears? Any doubts? Want to talk about it? God’s always available, 24/7 daily. Want to grab hold of the promise of wherever two or more come together in agreement feel free to reach out to me and we can discuss.

Finishing strong in order to be able to stop and reflect!

As the week is drawing to a close and the last workday for the year is upon me, I look ahead and press forward to finish the year strong. I look to the list of things to wrap up before logging out in order to be able to stop and reflect on everything that took place in 2020. To reflect on the trials and the troubles that took place. To reflect on the losses and tragedies that took place. To consider what the enemy meant for evil and God was able to turn it around and redeem it for good. To consider all the unknowns that became known towards the end of the year. To consider the people and the lives I was able to connect with and the impact it had on each of us. To consider how God’s ways are better than my ways. To consider how I can make plans but it is God who directs my path. To consider how in the midst of how I was feeling that by leaning in on God my response wasn’t as damaging or destructive of it would have been without Him. To consider how hurting people hurt people. To consider how if people are seeming to try or want to hurt you that it may require digging in more to try and get to the bottom of the situation in order to truly understand what is going on and the true intensions.

Today will have enough to work on so I won’t worry about tomorrow or focusing on the reflecting time until I am able to finish strong this day.

Today’s Verse of the Day:

‘ Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation.’
— Isaiah 12:2

✨MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU✨

The Weary World Rejoices: A 2020 Advent Devotional

The Advent season typically brings joy and Christmas carols, but maybe this year has been hard for you. In this 5-day plan, you’ll discover how those present at the nativity scene responded to God in the midst of their circumstances, and how their stories can give you hope.
— The Weary World Rejoices: A 2020 Advent Devotional

So today’s focus as we read from God’s Word are (Day 2):

Read Luke 1:46-50
Through the eyes of Mary
- Fear or scared
- Rejection, disbelief, gossip, assumptions, disown, disparaged, or worse
- She chose to settle on faith over fear, praise and hope of worry and anxiety
- Turn your attention to God!
- Praise God
- Reflect on your part in God’s Story
- Remember God’s goodness and justice
- Dispel fear with praise!
- Put aside insecurity with truth of who God is!
- Remembering your role in God’s story in order to look beyond the concerns of rejection or gossip
- Remember how God is a just God!
Today’s devotional gives us 3 questions to reflect on: (feel free to read the scripture below and come back to reflect on these questions)

My Notes:

‘ And Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the Lord, And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, For He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations [of all ages] will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied! For He Who is almighty has done great things for me–and holy is His name [to be venerated in His purity, majesty and glory]! And His mercy (His compassion and kindness toward the miserable and afflicted) is on those who fear Him with godly reverence, from generation to generation and age to age. [Ps. 103:17.]’
— Luke 1:46-50
- Were you put in a tough situation? What was your response?
- Were you put in a challenging situation? How did you respond?
- When you face trials or troubles how do you respond? What is your first reaction?
- Do you realize that God is bigger than any problems?
- Do you walk by faith and not by site and tell the problem how big your God is rather than telling God how big you problem is?
- Do you realize how God was using and is using and will use your life story?
- Are you living your life story in a way to point people back to Jesus?
- Let’s take hold of and reflect upon all that God has done in and through us!
- Let’s take hold of everything that Jesus has been able to do in and through us!
- Let’s take hold of who Jesus is and the price He paid to make a way when there didn’t seem to be a way!
- Don’t lose hope! Put your hope and trust in God!
- Receive Jesus and allow God to be your salvation!
- Trust God and don’t be afraid of what you are going through!
- Even if you have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, remember to fear no evil because God is with us, guiding and comforting us!
- And don’t let it end with you, leave a legacy! Pass it onto to the next generations! Pass it onto the next ages!

Where are you at today? Are you feeling weary? Are you looking for support and encouragement? Are you wanting to get your journey with God started? Let’s pray together.

Finish the week on a High!

Are you looking to finish strong? Are you looking to finish right? Are you looking to finish on a high? Are you ready to it done? Are you ready to step up?

How will you spend your last day of the work week? How will you prioritize your time and efforts? How will you prioritize your tasks and plans? How will you prioritize preparation for next week and what needs to get done today?

Will you focus on today? Will you give everything up into God’s hands and ask Him to lead and guide your plans? Will you make a plan and then allow God to direct your steps?

Let’s finish the week on a high!

2020 Hindsight
(clarity of vision)
The 49-Week Challenge
(Day 115)

Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 115 link to join me and sign up.

With March in the rear view mirror, let’s share our takeaways from today’s reading! Did you catch and promises to trust? Did you catch any commands to obey? Did you catch any truths to embrace? Did you catch any warnings to heed? Did you catch any encouragement to rest in? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about the world? What verse stood out most to you today?

If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from:

My Notes:

Will you face it with confidence?
Will you face it with conviction?
Will you face it with purpose?
Will you face it with faith?
Will you face it with preparedness to be able finish the good works God has prepared in advance for you to accomplish?
Will you be slow to anger, slow to speak, and quick to listen?
If you aren’t seeing God showing up remember it isn’t that He is slow to fulfill His promise but rather is being patient towards us that we would turn back to Him because He doesn’t want anyone to perish!
Will you move forward in Spirit and in Truth?
Will you be honest or a deceiver?
Consider your heart and your intentions!
God sees beyond the surface and knows our thoughts and intentions!
Act in alignment with God’s plan and purpose.
Consider how you would respond if you were David.
Whom then shall you serve?
Will you put your hope and trust in God?
Will you put your blessing on others?
Do you have someone who is a confident and can speak truth in love to you?
Do you have someone who can shake you back into reality?
Will you be one who will speak life?
Will your hope and trust be in God alone?
What value will you bring into this world?
Will you be a good steward of what God has given you?
What is your role in your family?
What is your role in your community?
What is your role in your world?
Will you receive the call from God and pursue to accomplish them and finish on a high?

As day 115 of 2020 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision this early into 2020 and the blessing to get to live out the rest of 2020 in that power and that truth and that hope.

If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that you are my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through the deep valley. Thank you for hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
—The Sinner’s Prayer

Did you pray with me? Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision? Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?

Today’s devotional The 49-Week Challenge comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com

Finish the week strong!

Do not grow weary in doing good! Do not grow weary in doing what is right! Do not grow weary in doing what is well!

Get filled up this morning before you start your day so that by the power of God, the filling of the Spirit, and the Word of God, you will be prepared to stand on the firm foundation and finish all the good word God has prepared in advance for you to accomplish! Be filled with wisdom! Be filled with discernment! Be filled with hope! Be filled with joy! Be filled with visions! Be filled with love! Be filled with power! Be filled with health! Be filled with praise! Be filled with peace! Be filled with direction! Be filled with comfort!

Take hold of what God has to say in and through His Word! Don’t leave things to chance, instead pray without ceasing, make your prayers specific, be anxious for nothing and instead pray about everything, give your cares up to God because He cares for you!

Fear Not, Just Believe! Lean not on your own understanding and trust God by acknowledging Him in all your ways so that He can make your path straight! Allow faith to overcome your fear! Allow God to be the center! Invite Jesus into the situation and keep your focus on Him because God is bigger than your problems. All Jesus through the Holy Spirit to speak to you in the midst of the storms of life! Allow and trust Him to either calm the storm or calm the storm in you! Trust Him! Seek Him first! Seek His kingdom! Seek His righteousness! And let Him take care of the rest! He knows what you have need of even before you ask, so ask, seek, and knock! When you don’t know and it is but a grown, don’t worry or fear, allow the spirit to pray on your behalf! Don’t leave it all bottled up! Pray without ceasing! We have not because we ask not, so we need to make our asks and needs known to God! We need to be asking and praying with the right heart and motives!

We need to put Jesus in the center for a chord of 3 strands is not easily broken! We need to stick close to Jesus because it is not good to be alone!

So let’s take hold of what God has for us today and FINISH STRONG!

2020 Hindsight (clarity of vision)
— The 49-Week Challenge (Day 108)—

Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 108 link to join me and sign up.

If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from:

My Notes:

Take hold of what Jesus told us so that we won’t fall away!
Take hold of what Jesus said so that we can be prepared and not allow ourselves to be robbed by fear, doubt, or worry!
Hold tight to the truth for the truth will set you free!
Invite the Holy Spirit into your situations for He will give you wisdom, discernment, and a peace that surpasses all understanding!
Will it be easy? No!
In this world we will have troubles but we can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world!
Jesus has made a way when there didn’t seem to be a way!
His ways are higher than our ways! His ways are better than our ways!
His ways may not make sense to those who don’t believe!
Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds! Persevere so that your faith will be built up! Allow it to complete its work so that you will also be complete and lacking nothing!
Jesus left to sit at the right hand of the Father and to intercede for you and me!
Jesus left so that the advocate, the Holy Spirit, would be able to come and be our counselor and guide!
The Holy Spirit came with purpose and on purpose to prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
The Holy Spirit will guide us in all truth!
We need to take hold and ask in Jesus’s name. The name above all names! The name that is like a stamp on a letter that makes sure it will be received!
We learn we don’t need an intermediary anymore for Jesus made a way when there didn’t seem to be a way. He even tells us in today’s reading:

In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
–John 16:26-28

You are no longer all alone! Jesus is Emmanuel God with us! The Holy Spirit has come and sticks closer than a brother!
The joy will overwhelm the pain you have suffered, like a woman who went thru pain of childbirth but if overwhelmed with joy with the delivery of her child.
Come united and turn back to God!
Come united and turn to God’s Word!
Receive the lessons of God’s Word to receive wisdom and understanding!
Praise God for having given us His Love Letter in the form of the Bible!
Let the Joy of the Lord be your strength!
Put your trust in God!
Put your hope in God!
Ask God to show you His ways! His ways that are loving and faithful! His ways reveal truth!
Guide us Lord! Give us faith to stay strong Lord!
Allow God to guard you and your life!
Allow God to be your strong fortress and refuge!
God is good and upright!
Be humble!
In the midst of all that is going on, we need to turn back and trust in the Lord!

As day 108 of 2020 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision this early into 2020 and the blessing to get to live out the rest of 2020 in that power and that truth and that hope.

If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that you are my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through the deep valley. Thank you for hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
—The Sinner’s Prayer

Finish strong and finish healthy…

As the work week comes to an end there are but a few hours to make an impact and to finish strong. We need to start our weeks strong and finish them stronger. With so much going on around the world and so many external factors impacting people’s lives, we need to cautious and aware. We need to be aware of where we are at and what we are doing in order for ourselves to stay healthy and help others around us to stay healthy too. Consider the implications and impact of the coronavirus on the world. Consider the impact it is having in the workplace, schools, and communities. Consider the impact on small businesses, the stock market, grocery and large stores like Costco, Target and Walmart. For some the fear and worry create a frenzy and improve business. For others the fear and worry dry up visitors and business and make it very hard. We need to be aware of our surroundings. We need to consider the state of the places we visit like cleanliness. We need to consider the risk vs the reward. We need to consider the fear vs the reality. Where are you at today in your journey through the week? Are you at home because they closed the office and said to work from home? Are you at home because you are feeling a bit sick and want to be be cautious? Are you in need of help but don’t know a place to go to find out and at the same time avoid getting more sick? What is motivating you today? What is driving your actions and decisions? Let’s lean in on the one thing we know we can trust in and trust on! Let’s lean in on God rather than our own understandings and let’s not allow fear to get in the way of our faith! With God all things are possible! With God there is love because God is love! Let’s be bold and courageous in order to finish this work week strong, be it working at home or something else! Let’s make sure we finish this week out strong and health!

Day 66: 2020 Hindsight
— The 49-Week Challenge — Day 66 —

Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 66 link to join link here to join me and sign up.

With February in the rear view mirror, let’s share our takeaways from today’s reading! Did you catch and promises to trust? Did you catch any commands to obey? Did you catch any truths to embrace? Did you catch any warnings to heed? Did you catch any encouragement to rest in? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about the world? What verse stood out most to you today?

If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from:

(I have chosen to use NIV translation, but feel free to choose whichever version you feel more comfortable with)

My Notes:

Don’t allow your past to define your future!
Don’t allow the way things were to keep you from the way things can be!
Don’t be held back by what you have when God has a plan and a purpose for your life that is to give you a hope and a future.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength!
Lean not on your own understanding but instead in all your ways acknowledge Him so that He can make your path straight!
Will you have faith to believe that God can do more?
Will you have faith to believe that God will use you for greater things?
How are you willing to position yourself so that God can receive the praise, the honor, and the glory as you live as a living sacrifice to Him?
Don’t judge others based on their current situation!
Don’t judge people based on an ailment or struggle they are having!
You don’t know the full story! You don’t know God’s plan for them!
Judge not or you will be judged and the same measuring stick you use to judge will be used against you!
Do you realize that this is the day that the Lord has made and we are to rejoice and be glad in it?
Do you realize that everyday is the Lord’s day?
Do you realize why the Sabbath was given? Do you realize that the Sabbath was given for man?
What would it take to make you believe? Would you need to have your eyes opened to believe? Would you need to have your spiritual eyes opened to the reality of God?
Speak of what you know!
Are you blind to the truth?
Will you do what is right in the sight of God?
Will you get rid of the bad or evil things too or just do what is right leaving the temptations around that could sway others off track?
Do you know the difference between good and evil? Will you do good? Will you resist evil?
In whom will you put your hope and trust?
Where does your hope come from?
Who do you bring your needs, your worries, your concerns to? Will you bring it up to God?
Where do you want to spend eternity? We are spiritual beings and so we will live into eternity. Will you choose to spend eternity with God or apart from God?
Will you choose to spend eternity in Heaven with God without weeping, crying, tears, and no pain?
Will you choose to spend eternity in Hell apart from God where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth?
We have been given freewill and we all get to decide for ourselves.
Jesus has told us that He is the way, the truth, and the life, nobody comes to the Father except through Him!
Which way are you going to choose to live? Which way are you going to choose to die? Which way are you going to choose to spend eternity?
Will you give God all the praise, the honor, and the glory?
Will you live your life so that God will receive the praise, the honor, and the glory?
Will you allow God to refine you and help you become more and more like Jesus?
Will you allow God to correct you and instruct you through the Holy Spirit?
Consider these words of wisdom from today’s reading that includes Proverbs 15:

‘A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin. The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die. Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord — how much more do human hearts! Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise. A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead. The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place. The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight. The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord , and humility comes before honor.’
— Proverbs 15

As day 66 of 2020 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision this early into 2020 and the blessing to get to live out the rest of 2020 in that power and that truth and that hope.

If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?

Today’s devotional comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com

Finish the week strong!

It’s amazing when the week kicked off learning about the how things happened over many previous months and how vision leaks and as it leaks it opens people up to critics and naysayers. It’s amazing how it can jump start your week and change your entire attitude when you put your focus back on making the main thing the main thing. It’s also amazing when you have the aha moment where you realize that if something is going to succeed it will require sharing the vision and the mission with the team, letting them know the what, the why, the when, the how and how the who is a key part of this is and how proper alignment can be done thru it. So today as we close out the week, with the use cases captured, with the presentation to the team scheduled, with an offsite next week, let’s complete what we have started and show it as we finish the week strong!

Day 31: 2020 Hindsight
— The 49-Week Challenge – Day 31 —

Want to join me in the challenge? Click Day 31 link to join link here to join me and sign up.

Let’s share our takeaways from today’s reading! Did you catch and promises to trust? Did you catch any commands to obey? Did you catch any truths to embrace? Did you catch any warnings to heed? Did you catch any encouragement to rest in? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about the world? What verse stood out most to you today?

If you are interested in getting together or sharing the information together, please let me know through the comment section below, through email, or even through text messages.

Today’s reading from God’s Word – the Bible comes to us from: (I have chosen to use NIV translation, but feel free to choose whichever version you feel more comfortable with)

My Notes:

Be a continuous learner
Capture the instruction that is being given by the teacher
Remember the instructions and the lessons so that you won’t have to relearn them
Remember the instructions and the lessons so that when a new test comes along you will be prepared
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
We have a purpose and instruction about how we are to go into the world
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus knows his purpose and why He came into the world. Take hold of the truth and pursue your reason for being here.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Do you realize the difference between right and wrong?
Do you realize the higher calling that you have?

‘ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.’
— Matthew 5:21-48

We have been called to take the high ground. Let’s choose to pick up these commands!
Let’s walk and be light that shines into the darkness around us
Let’s spice up the places we go into and be salt in their lives
Let’s be Jesus with skin on to the people God brings into our lives because we may be the only church they know or hear about it.
Vows and Oath – don’t break your word, realize the obligations and the confirmation of them
Be careful who you have as advisers and ensure they are of good character
Are you ready for the responsibilities that are being given to you?
Are you ready to do good with these responsibilities you are being given?
Are you keeping an eye out to ensure that you are avoiding evil and their consequences?
Do you realize the power of words? Do you realize the power of God’s Word?
Do you realize everything belongs to God?

As day 31 of 2020 begins, I would hate to miss giving the opportunity to anyone who hasn’t received Jesus into their lives as their Lord and Savior an opportunity to make the decision this early into 2020 and the blessing to get to live out the rest of 2020 in that power and that truth and that hope.

If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, why not join me in this prayer?

Today’s devotional comes from Life.Church. For more information, please visit www.life.church — Thank you Life.Church for sharing this reading plan through Bible.com

Today’s Verse of the Day:

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TODAY’S WORD OF THE DAY:

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Today’s post from Be The Dads is UNCOMMEN: Dads 2 – Day 4

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Today’s post from Be The Dads is Love Slows Down – Day 4

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Let’s Read the Bible Together (February)

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THE ONE YEAR DAILY INSIGHTS WITH ZIG ZIGLAR AND DR. IKE REIGHARDFOR NOVEMBER 28TH

Ultimate Achievement

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

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The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighardfor July 13th

Treasures from the Dark

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

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The One Year Daily Insightswith Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for June 21st

Finish the Work

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

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The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for April 6th

“I Thirst”

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY: John 19:28

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Why was it important to Jesus — and to us — that every detail of prophesy be fulfilled?

How do these fulfilled prophecies strengthen our faith?

QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

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The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for February 22nd

Run to Win

MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY: I Corinthians 9:24-25

POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:

DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

What do you think the “imperishable crown” symbolizes?

Is it worth fierce dedication in your life? Why or why not?

QUOTES FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:

Today’s reading from Tanakh:

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The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard for February 11th

Eyes on the Outcome

Today’s post from Be The Dads is
Popular – Day 10

Today’s post from Be The Dads is
UNCOMMEN: Dads 2 – Day 4

Today’s post from Be The Dads is
Love Slows Down – Day 4

THE ONE YEAR DAILY INSIGHTS
WITH ZIG ZIGLAR AND DR. IKE REIGHARD
FOR NOVEMBER 28^TH

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for July 13th

The One Year Daily Insights
with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for June 21st

The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for April 6th

2020 Hindsight
(clarity of vision)
The 49-Week Challenge
(Day 115)

2020 Hindsight (clarity of vision)
— The 49-Week Challenge (Day 108)—