And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
Doing good can take a toll on the heart, mind and spirit when we meet resistance. Don't give up. Surrender to Him each element of what you're putting your hand to and let God guide and sustain you each step of the way.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
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My thoughts!
9.24.2009
9.23.2009
The Daily Verse: Isaiah 29:15
Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, Who sees us? Who knows us?
Isaiah 29:15
There is no need to hide from God, even if you do sin or do something that you know you should not have. He loves you and He is willing to forgive you. Besides, why try to hide from God when He knows everything to begin with? Let Him teach and comfort you even in the humanness of your nature.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
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My thoughts!
Isaiah 29:15
There is no need to hide from God, even if you do sin or do something that you know you should not have. He loves you and He is willing to forgive you. Besides, why try to hide from God when He knows everything to begin with? Let Him teach and comfort you even in the humanness of your nature.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
++++++++++++++++
My thoughts!
9.22.2009
The Daily Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18**
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The command "pray without ceasing" has always intimidated me, considering it's literally hard to be talking to one person (God) and another person (colleague, friend, etc.). However, what if we consider that each and every action that we're doing in response to how God has hard-wired us with our gifts, talents and anointing is an act of prayer unto Him? Consider that perspective as you work, communicate and interact with people today - let your every action be an outpouring of yourself unto God's service, doing what He's created you for.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
++++++++++++++++
My thoughts!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The command "pray without ceasing" has always intimidated me, considering it's literally hard to be talking to one person (God) and another person (colleague, friend, etc.). However, what if we consider that each and every action that we're doing in response to how God has hard-wired us with our gifts, talents and anointing is an act of prayer unto Him? Consider that perspective as you work, communicate and interact with people today - let your every action be an outpouring of yourself unto God's service, doing what He's created you for.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
++++++++++++++++
My thoughts!
9.21.2009
The Daily Verse: Luke 12: 35,36
Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
Luke 12: 35,36
There is a difference between being busy doing the Lord's work and being attentive to the Lord's voice. If you find yourself so entrenched in the work that you put your hands to that you find yourself spending less time listening for guidance and direction from Him - take a breather. Be intentional about slowing yourself down. Look, listen and respond to divine guidance, not just your own personal motivation so that you're not working in vain only to be weary and ineffective but rather with purpose that will bear fruit beyond what our human hands can produce.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
++++++++++++++++
My thoughts!
Luke 12: 35,36
There is a difference between being busy doing the Lord's work and being attentive to the Lord's voice. If you find yourself so entrenched in the work that you put your hands to that you find yourself spending less time listening for guidance and direction from Him - take a breather. Be intentional about slowing yourself down. Look, listen and respond to divine guidance, not just your own personal motivation so that you're not working in vain only to be weary and ineffective but rather with purpose that will bear fruit beyond what our human hands can produce.
Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis
++++++++++++++++
My thoughts!
Boyd Bailey: Spiritual Receptivity…
“Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Mark 4:9
Spiritual receptivity is necessary for the growing follower of Christ. Jesus knew that there had to be a willingness to want to know and understand before there could be any comprehension of His teachings. This hunger for God is an innate appetite that only He can satisfy. Even if you don’t hear, you can want to hear. This is the attitude of a growing disciple of Jesus Christ. A willing heart is what the Holy Spirit infuses with insight.
Spiritual receptivity is born out of your attitude and validated by your actions. Actions can be an indicator but not an initiator of openness to the Almighty’s agenda. Have you ever grown weary working for the Lord, struggling to have a patient attitude? Yes, we all do from time to time, but it’s a patient and grateful attitude that hears Christ communicate the most clearly. Gratitude for His grace, love and forgiveness leads to hearing His voice.
His word lodges alive and eventually bears fruit when the ears of your heart humbly listen to the Lord with an attitude of obedience. Jesus explained the results of a spiritually receptive heart, hearing and understanding His word, thus finding faith and healing. Indeed, the comprehension of His ways are not limited to a select few “professional Christians”. In fact, their ministry vocation can become a stumbling block to belief.
“For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. 'But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:15-17).
Spiritual receptivity means I submit to the Holy Spirit’s prodding to preempt my pride. Instead of reacting to raw data, I wait and process with prayer so I am able to gain God’s perspective and not be rushed by the world’s way of doing things. Spiritual receptivity sees the face of God and hears the heart of heaven. Do I hear with a heart toward hearing from heaven? Is my heart humbled to hear from the Holy Spirit? “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
Related Readings: 2 Samuel 7:22; Jeremiah 6:10; Romans 11:8; 2 Timothy 4:3
Spiritual receptivity is necessary for the growing follower of Christ. Jesus knew that there had to be a willingness to want to know and understand before there could be any comprehension of His teachings. This hunger for God is an innate appetite that only He can satisfy. Even if you don’t hear, you can want to hear. This is the attitude of a growing disciple of Jesus Christ. A willing heart is what the Holy Spirit infuses with insight.
Spiritual receptivity is born out of your attitude and validated by your actions. Actions can be an indicator but not an initiator of openness to the Almighty’s agenda. Have you ever grown weary working for the Lord, struggling to have a patient attitude? Yes, we all do from time to time, but it’s a patient and grateful attitude that hears Christ communicate the most clearly. Gratitude for His grace, love and forgiveness leads to hearing His voice.
His word lodges alive and eventually bears fruit when the ears of your heart humbly listen to the Lord with an attitude of obedience. Jesus explained the results of a spiritually receptive heart, hearing and understanding His word, thus finding faith and healing. Indeed, the comprehension of His ways are not limited to a select few “professional Christians”. In fact, their ministry vocation can become a stumbling block to belief.
“For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them. 'But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:15-17).
Spiritual receptivity means I submit to the Holy Spirit’s prodding to preempt my pride. Instead of reacting to raw data, I wait and process with prayer so I am able to gain God’s perspective and not be rushed by the world’s way of doing things. Spiritual receptivity sees the face of God and hears the heart of heaven. Do I hear with a heart toward hearing from heaven? Is my heart humbled to hear from the Holy Spirit? “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
Related Readings: 2 Samuel 7:22; Jeremiah 6:10; Romans 11:8; 2 Timothy 4:3
Boyd Bailey: Audience of One…
Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that man gets justice.” Proverbs 29:26
For what audiences do you find yourself performing? Is it an athletic audience assembled to cheer you on with passionate pleas? Or are you on the stage at work or home doing your best to remember your role and not forget to speak your lines of encouragement and correction? Wherever you serve on life’s stage, there is the pressure to perform. You are saved by grace, but we feel accepted by performance. But many audiences bring little peace.
When driven by the fear of man, the pressure to perform steals your peace of mind. “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25). In performance based relationships you can never do enough to please a perfectionist. You are caught in the crazy cycle of striving to please someone who can’t be pleased. After exhausting yourself to meet their expectations you have to stop to honestly evaluate the outcome.
Who do I really want to please? Who is my audience? Almighty God is your audience of one. You look above the heads of mighty men on earth and focus on the face of Jesus in heaven. Is He smiling? Is He applauding? Is He happy? How freeing and refreshing to know you ultimately answer to your Creator, your Savior and the Lover of your soul. People are the Lord’s pawns to carry out His purposes. You may plea before authorities and receive an apathetic response, but when you pray before Jesus He is just and He cares.
Therefore, seek the favor of your Savior. Set eternal expectations and you will not be disappointed. Regardless of where you live, work or play, He is the one and only audience for which it matters how you perform. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7-10). Am I enamored only by eternal applause? Do I trust the Lord with His right results?
Related Readings: 2 Kings 6:27; Psalm 16:7-21; Matthew 24:25; 1 Peter 1:17
For what audiences do you find yourself performing? Is it an athletic audience assembled to cheer you on with passionate pleas? Or are you on the stage at work or home doing your best to remember your role and not forget to speak your lines of encouragement and correction? Wherever you serve on life’s stage, there is the pressure to perform. You are saved by grace, but we feel accepted by performance. But many audiences bring little peace.
When driven by the fear of man, the pressure to perform steals your peace of mind. “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25). In performance based relationships you can never do enough to please a perfectionist. You are caught in the crazy cycle of striving to please someone who can’t be pleased. After exhausting yourself to meet their expectations you have to stop to honestly evaluate the outcome.
Who do I really want to please? Who is my audience? Almighty God is your audience of one. You look above the heads of mighty men on earth and focus on the face of Jesus in heaven. Is He smiling? Is He applauding? Is He happy? How freeing and refreshing to know you ultimately answer to your Creator, your Savior and the Lover of your soul. People are the Lord’s pawns to carry out His purposes. You may plea before authorities and receive an apathetic response, but when you pray before Jesus He is just and He cares.
Therefore, seek the favor of your Savior. Set eternal expectations and you will not be disappointed. Regardless of where you live, work or play, He is the one and only audience for which it matters how you perform. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7-10). Am I enamored only by eternal applause? Do I trust the Lord with His right results?
Related Readings: 2 Kings 6:27; Psalm 16:7-21; Matthew 24:25; 1 Peter 1:17
9.18.2009
Book of John: What do you learn about "life" in the first 5 chapters?
Life is a gift from God and one must believe (BE SAVED) to partake of the gift.
John 1:4
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
John 1:3-5 (in Context) John 1 (Whole Chapter)
John 3:15
that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
John 3:14-16 (in Context) John 3 (Whole Chapter)
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:15-17 (in Context) John 3 (Whole Chapter)
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
John 3:35-36 (in Context) John 3 (Whole Chapter)
John 4:14
but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
John 4:13-15 (in Context) John 4 (Whole Chapter)
John 4:36
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
John 4:35-37 (in Context) John 4 (Whole Chapter)
John 5:16
[ Life Through the Son ] So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.
John 5:15-17 (in Context) John 5 (Whole Chapter)
John 5:21
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
John 5:20-22 (in Context) John 5 (Whole Chapter)
John 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
John 5:23-25 (in Context) John 5 (Whole Chapter)
John 5:26
For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.
John 5:25-27 (in Context) John 5 (Whole Chapter)
John 5:39
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me,
John 5:38-40 (in Context) John 5 (Whole Chapter)
John 5:40
yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 5:39-41 (in Context) John 5 (Whole Chapter)
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