Hope and Inspiration

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Comment by Leonora on November 19, 2009 at 8:47pm

A Scripture for you all Today!

"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)" (John 10:10)

TODAY'S WORD

Too many people today have a barely-get-by mentality, "Barely able to pay my bills, got an okay job, an okay marriage." Friend, don’t settle there. Jesus came so we could live an abundant life! That means an abundance of joy, an abundance of peace, an abundance of health, an abundance in our finances.

God’s dream is that you not only be blessed, but that you are so blessed that you can be blessing everywhere you go. He wants you to live an abundant life so that it overflows on to the people around you. We should have so much peace, so much joy, so much victory that when other people get around us, they begin to feel it. It affects them.
You may not be seeing it right now, but don’t get complacent and just settle where you are. Begin to declare by faith today,

"Jesus came to give me abundant life." "My needs are supplied in abundance so that I can be a blessing to others." As you stay in faith, you’ll see your circumstances begin to turn around. You’ll see God move on your behalf, and you’ll experience the abundant life He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Heavenly Father, today I release all the cares and burdens that are trying to drag me down. I know that You have a good plan for my life. I will continue in the faith and ask that You breathe Your new life throughout my whole being today. In Jesus' Name. Amen"

Thank you Joel and Victoria

Nora

Comment by Leonora on November 19, 2009 at 8:43pm

"Before his conversion - said he viewed Christianity as a crutch for weak people. "Exactly," was my response. "

Whoo hooo, I have to put a praise right there!

What a wonderful and yet so true of a Word.

Again thank you Kelly!

Comment by Kelly P on November 19, 2009 at 3:09pm

Crosswalk.com The Intersection of Faith and Life - The Devotional
Members without a Club
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.
John 14:6

"I don't respect [believers] who don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and a hell, and that people could be going to hell, or not getting eternal life, or whatever, and you think, well, it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward... how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible, and not tell them that? I mean if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you, and you didn't believe it, but that truck was bearing down? There's a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."

Wow, great words. Completely sums up what's at stake with Christian evangelism, and why it's so impotant, not to mention commanded. Who said that? Famous pastor? Leading revivalist? World-traveled evangelist?

An atheist. One who later in the same speech will say, "I know there's no God," and "religion does a lot of bad stuff," but who was nonetheless touched by a genuine gesture a simple, normal, respectable gentleman made in giving the gift of a Gideon Bible.

The atheist in question is Penn Gillette, of the famous magic act Penn & Teller. You can check out his story of being offered a Bible following one of his shows on YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhG-tkQ_Q2w.

I am sure Mr. Gillette and I - and you - disagree on a lot of things. But he's so right about this. Our pastor was recently addressing some of the tough questions about Christianity in a sermon series, including the one about how can Christians claim to know the true way; aren't all ways equally valid? And he settled on our verse today - John 14:6 - which is our beloved starting prooftext for how Jesus himself stated that no other way would work.

While that is blessedly true, our pastor suggested we tend to have inverted if not perverted the subtlety of the message. We've behaved like we're privileged members of an exclusive club, one that has created all sorts of rules to keep others out. One that gets to tell them how wrong they are. One that should be full of joy and open arms, but is instead full of stern sobriety and pointing fingers. One that nobody would really want to join anyway, even if it were a club, which it isn't. For one thing, we're on a journey toward perfection, and in the same chapter Jesus told his followers that the many rooms in his Father's house were being prepared. We aren't living in them yet. Our clubhouse is not our current home. We have merely started on the journey, and yet...

We forget where we come from.

Christianity is flawed in part because it is full of losers - those who humbly admitted their own shortcomings and acknowledged The Answer was outside themselves. My own father - before his conversion - said he viewed Christianity as a crutch for weak people. "Exactly," was my response. Christ did not come for the healthy, but for the sick. That was us. We have no claim to exclusivity. The message, similar to how eloquently Mr. Gillette put it, is that anyone can be INcluded, provided they believe. Our job is to tell them that truck is bearing down, politely and sincerely. To give the Bible and to have read it ourselves. To model a life not based on legalism or even moralism, but on the joy of every day's opportunity along the narrow road and the freedom we have to choose to follow it or not.

When Jesus told his followers that he was the way and the truth and the life, it was a comfort. He had just told them he would be leaving, but that if they had seen him (and they had) then they had seen the Father, and that "you know the way to the place where I am going."

Intersecting Faith & Life: Comfort others with this verse. There are a lot of hurting people in this world who point to this text as the source of their conundrum with Christianity. Remind them that we're not about keeping people out, evoking a membership privilege to remind them who and what is wrong, or even condemning them to a more dire fate. In fact, it has so little to do with do's and don'ts, and everything to do with grace, freedom, and acceptance. I was lost, and someone pointed me to this road. Many others had tried before, but their words finally took hold and my eyes were opened to see it was indeed the right road. Yours can be too. Pure blood was shed for you as it was for anyone who would accept it, repent, seek forgiveness, know joy. Here's a Bible. Won't you read it and join us on The Way?

Comment by Kelly P on November 19, 2009 at 3:02pm

Pam, thank you for jumping in here. It is soo good to hear from you and see your wonderful words. Keep coming, we love to hear and share with you!

Comment by Kelly P on November 19, 2009 at 3:00pm

Nora!!
I am so encouraged to see you find confirmation. I too find it each time I read devotionals. They always deliver confirmation whether small or large, but always, and usually more on the "large" side :-)

Take a look at this one coming up for today.

Hope and Inspiration members; It is my hope that you each are benefitting from each post here. I encourage you to come drink and eat .

Comment by Leonora on November 19, 2009 at 6:44am

Oh ((Kelly))

I am sending you an E-mail about a great Work at Home Job!
No fee, free and great Money to make.

Eddie Bauer!!

I've been working there a while and they are Hiring!
Hold on, I'll send it!

Love you girl!

Comment by Leonora on November 19, 2009 at 6:43am

((((Kelly))))

Man, I love you!!

Just to let you know that when I come to this place, I seek to find
“What is it Lord that you want to confirm with me today!!”

It’s as if He directs you to send me confirmation!!!

First, Reading backwards starting from the last post to the previous
The word tells me Not to Fear, Confirmation!

Then the Word confirms me, so that I may boldly say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear!

Confirmation, He has placed on my lips the word of today and yesterday that I can boldly say THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I SHALL NOT EVER FEAR!!

Then, the word reminds me about the Attitude!!

Girl this was nothing but a word.. Behind every command of God is the omnipotent powerful hand of God, to enable you to do what He commands us to do.

1 John 2:3 it says, ‘Now by this we know, that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

Now even with this, No especially with this!
Ephesians 5:21 says: Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. This is the foundation of any Christian relationship; that is why it is especially important for husbands and wives to submit themselves one to another.

When we care about the other person and put their feelings first, we will be fulfilling the love of God in our hearts, and this will bring true blessing to our family.

My Husband always says, my wife tries to outdo me in showing love, But she can’t outdo me showing love; because I’m going to try to beat her every time. If we all had this kind of attitude in our relationship then everything else will fall in line, that doesn’t mean life is going to be easy, but it will keep the focus on what truly matters in the relationship; which is Love!

And then you also posted about God Reveals His Name, oh boy does He ever!!

Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?
The LORD knows the thoughts of man;
he knows that they are futile.
Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,
the man you teach from your law;
you grant him relief from days of trouble.
This is nothing But a Word for my life today!

God Does and will reveal Himself to the obedient or to the disobedient,
Either way, He shall show forth Who He is!!

But now, you brought me to this, about temporary setbacks!

Girl, did this not hit it on the nose!!!! I get some of these here and there,
But none of these ever held me down; it is our faith that keeps us from falling!

God brought me though a mighty long way, and look at me today.. I made it through it all!!

Then it goes to remind me how God sent His own begotten Son Jesus who took a poor lost sinner and washed me and saved me and made me new. Hallelujah is right! Glory to his name!

That’s why I can seek God for Manna each day!
Because He said in his word,
"Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.

You can’t take instruction and follow if you are outside of the relationship with the Father, once we come to a daily relationship, God with His unlimited resources will supply our every need.

One of my quoted scriptures is, does He not take care of the birds of the air and feed them, how much more than I to these? I am paraphrasing .lol

One reason, I worry not about tomorrow is because I know, He will take care of me!

I don’t have to worry what I will eat or what I to put on, and because I put my trust in Him, I lack nothing! Glory to God!!

And what it breaks down to is this
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Girl, I don’t have to say a word!
That’s why I thank God even from those Who Have Sacrificed for Us Moses, Abraham and others.. If it had not been for their teachings I don’t know where I would be today!

The word has taught me to love the Lord my God with all my heart... and my neighbor as myslef"

That’s how we as church goers could always Band together, be still, pray, then see God move!

Kelly I don’t know what to say; I guess you have post it all!

I am reminded today to live as God would have me to live, and love like I have never been loved, And rejoice because of God’s Grace and undeserved Favor and Mercy on my life.

I love you for all the wonderful confirmations your given me this that!

Whoooo, you have preached me happy this morning!
I am getting ready to have another praise party!
Want to join?

Comment by Leonora on November 19, 2009 at 5:36am

Pam thank you my sister for always joining in when I need a praise partner!

whoooo hooooo I am still rejoicing..

I have come to learn that life is what you make it, it is up to us how we choose to live our days..

I’ve chose to live in the Joy of the Lord, no matter what!

That's the key to our success.

Life sometimes can try to get you down, but when the Lord becomes
The joy of your life, this is what produce strength to overcome any obstacle.

Thanks for rejoicing with me, and don't be a stranger, lady!

Comment by Kelly P on November 18, 2009 at 9:46am

Yes, yes I can relate to ALL of these Devotionals! He always brings me the exact things I need to fix. Wow, there are sure a lot of them, huumphhh! :-) It's all part of life though. Life with Christ, that is because we have the freedom to search and find the errors of our ways and become free from them as he provides for us. Thank you Lord!

Comment by Kelly P on November 18, 2009 at 9:42am

Daily Disciples: Devotional
November 18

Today's Reading: Ezekiel 8-10; Hebrews 13

Today's Thoughts: I Will Not Fear

So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6

I have noticed recently that my dog has developed an unusual kind of fear. He hesitates at times as he walks over thresholds. He scopes out the door frame and the floor in front of him, especially when he is going outside. It all started when something jumped at him one day when he was going out the back door. To be honest, I think it was a small insect that startled him (yes, he is a big baby.). I watch him now as he cautiously looks at the ground, suspicious of danger lurking about. The other day, he stopped in front of a twig. I think he is becoming neurotic about this fear thing. I wonder if the Lord looks at us and how we fear things and thinks we are also a little neurotic at times.

My dog has no ability to understand and cannot be reasoned with, regardless of how much I try. After all, he is a dog; but what about us? God has not only created us in His image, but also He has given us His Holy Spirit who lives within us. But fear has a way of creeping into our lives and before we know it, we fear situations, circumstances or people that are no real threat to us at all. Sometimes we are startled or caught off guard in a situation, and moments of fear can be a normal response. The problem lies in allowing the fear to remain. It can then take over, control the situation and even enter other areas of our life. Fear will keep us in a place of bondage, instead of freedom.

As I watch my dog tiptoe over a twig, I am reminded of how silly some of my fears look to God. What about your fears? Have you thought about the things or even the people who bring fear to your life? Maybe it is time to step back and really look at the cause of the fear. When and where did it begin? Has it gotten blown out of proportion? Are you hindered or even crippled by it? If so, please know that the Lord wants to set you free, beginning today. Ask the Lord to help you pray through it. Take a bold stand and say, "Enough!" Life is too short and Jesus wants to give you freedom, liberty and victory. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Our mission is to evangelize the lost and awaken the saved to live empowered lives by the Work of God and His Holy Spirit. Daily Disciples Ministries makes a difference for the kingdom of God by teaching and training believers how to be in God's Word, how to pray and how to walk with Jesus every day, as His daily disciple.
Daily Disciples Ministries, Inc.

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