"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
What tempts you? What sends waves of desire over you that seem unconquerable? What seduces you time and time again? Do you need a way out?
Not only do you have access to a way out, THE way out is yours for the taking! In the NASB, the translation reads that God "will provide the way of escape...." Interestingly, in the Greek, "The Way" in that verse is the very same as that which refers to Jesus as "the Way, the Truth, and the Life".
That's it! Jesus...the way out. Let's seek Him. Let's follow hard after Him. Let's rely on His way as our way of escaping temptation. He is able!
Jesus, lead us...guide us...help us. Our spirits are willing but our bodies are weak. Be our way of escape. We need You!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Give Thanks...and Remember
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 136:1 (NLT)
Friend, you need to go get your Bible! God has some reminders for you today!
Open the Word to Psalm 136. Read it. Just wondering...Did you being to gloss over the chorus echoed each time...in all 26 verses??? Go back. Read it again. This time, say the chorus out loud. Yes, out loud! It bears repeating...from whispers to shouts!!! "His faithful love endures forever"!!!!
No matter what you are facing, "His faithful love endures forever." Whether times are good or bad, "His faithful love endures forever." In meager circumstances or seasons of plenty, "His faithful love endures forever." When mortal man (or woman) disappoints you, "His faithful love endures forever."
Different translations vary on their wording, but the message holds the same promise. The NIV says, "His love endures forever." In The Message, "His love never quits." In KJV we read, "His mercy endureth forever." Mercy can only be shown through faithful love. The Amplified Bible tells us both, "His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever."
In between those 26 times of reminding us that His faithful love endures forever, we are called to remember the ways that God's promise is "backed up"...that "He is good," that He has performed mighty acts, He is a God of miracles, and He has proved Himself over and over.
God's Word doesn't lie. Speak His Words today...out loud! "His faithful love endures forever."! And don't forget to give Him thanks. He is so worthy!
Lord, thank You for Your Word...Your reminder to us of Your faithful, unfailing love and mercy! Help us in our unbelief...in times when we can't begin to fathom the depths of Your love for us, and the mercy that comes as a result of that love. We thank You for Your love...faithful love. We love you. Help us to love You as faithfully. Amen
Friend, you need to go get your Bible! God has some reminders for you today!
Open the Word to Psalm 136. Read it. Just wondering...Did you being to gloss over the chorus echoed each time...in all 26 verses??? Go back. Read it again. This time, say the chorus out loud. Yes, out loud! It bears repeating...from whispers to shouts!!! "His faithful love endures forever"!!!!
No matter what you are facing, "His faithful love endures forever." Whether times are good or bad, "His faithful love endures forever." In meager circumstances or seasons of plenty, "His faithful love endures forever." When mortal man (or woman) disappoints you, "His faithful love endures forever."
Different translations vary on their wording, but the message holds the same promise. The NIV says, "His love endures forever." In The Message, "His love never quits." In KJV we read, "His mercy endureth forever." Mercy can only be shown through faithful love. The Amplified Bible tells us both, "His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever."
In between those 26 times of reminding us that His faithful love endures forever, we are called to remember the ways that God's promise is "backed up"...that "He is good," that He has performed mighty acts, He is a God of miracles, and He has proved Himself over and over.
God's Word doesn't lie. Speak His Words today...out loud! "His faithful love endures forever."! And don't forget to give Him thanks. He is so worthy!
Lord, thank You for Your Word...Your reminder to us of Your faithful, unfailing love and mercy! Help us in our unbelief...in times when we can't begin to fathom the depths of Your love for us, and the mercy that comes as a result of that love. We thank You for Your love...faithful love. We love you. Help us to love You as faithfully. Amen
Friday, July 9, 2010
What a List That Would Be!!!
"Who can list the glorious miracles of the LORD? Who can ever praise Him enough?" Psalm 106:2 (NLT)
Go ahead! Give it a shot! Whether in your journal, on a piece of paper, or just in your mind, start making a list of the miracles of God. Just close your eyes and ponder what that list would hold.
First of all, it's a miracle that He Is! He is the great I AM! He is the miracle of miracles! God...the triune God...the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!!! He is the creator...of all...of everything that we can even begin to imagine! He holds time in His hands...and works outside of time. He loves beyond our ability to fathom...so much that He would send His Son from the majesty of heaven to walk among sinful men...to die for them...and rise again, conquering the grave!!! Miraculous love.
Work on your list. Paper cannot hold them all...nor our minds. Yet, we need to remember. Sometimes we just need to recite the marvelous things He has done. Miracles are not a thing of the past. God continues to perform them day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second. The air that you breathe...the heart that beats inside you...the power of your brain. Just keep recording.
And yes, then praise! And praise Him some more. It's true. We can never praise Him enough.
LORD, don't let us lose the wonder of the miraculous God that You are! We praise You...for who You are...for all You created...for Your unfailing, unfathomable love...for Jesus...Emmanuel! Forgive us for forgetting and taking miracles for granted...for not trusting You in all situations. Help us to remember. May Your praise always be on our lips! We love You.
Go ahead! Give it a shot! Whether in your journal, on a piece of paper, or just in your mind, start making a list of the miracles of God. Just close your eyes and ponder what that list would hold.
First of all, it's a miracle that He Is! He is the great I AM! He is the miracle of miracles! God...the triune God...the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!!! He is the creator...of all...of everything that we can even begin to imagine! He holds time in His hands...and works outside of time. He loves beyond our ability to fathom...so much that He would send His Son from the majesty of heaven to walk among sinful men...to die for them...and rise again, conquering the grave!!! Miraculous love.
Work on your list. Paper cannot hold them all...nor our minds. Yet, we need to remember. Sometimes we just need to recite the marvelous things He has done. Miracles are not a thing of the past. God continues to perform them day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second. The air that you breathe...the heart that beats inside you...the power of your brain. Just keep recording.
And yes, then praise! And praise Him some more. It's true. We can never praise Him enough.
LORD, don't let us lose the wonder of the miraculous God that You are! We praise You...for who You are...for all You created...for Your unfailing, unfathomable love...for Jesus...Emmanuel! Forgive us for forgetting and taking miracles for granted...for not trusting You in all situations. Help us to remember. May Your praise always be on our lips! We love You.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Oh Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say
"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34b (NIV)
Words. We use them everyday... all through the day. Words can be good...positive...uplifting...encouraging...God-honoring. Or words can be bad...negative...disheartening...destructive...profane.
Jesus said, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:34b-37
Those are strong words of warning. Let's heed them.
Oh Lord, "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight...my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14) Please fill my heart with You, Your Word, and Your Spirit so that is all there is available to overflow. Help me to guard my tongue. I pray that Your "praise will always be on my lips." (Psalm 34:1b) May my words...every word...honor You.
Words. We use them everyday... all through the day. Words can be good...positive...uplifting...encouraging...God-honoring. Or words can be bad...negative...disheartening...destructive...profane.
Jesus said, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:34b-37
Those are strong words of warning. Let's heed them.
Oh Lord, "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight...my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14) Please fill my heart with You, Your Word, and Your Spirit so that is all there is available to overflow. Help me to guard my tongue. I pray that Your "praise will always be on my lips." (Psalm 34:1b) May my words...every word...honor You.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Parched Land...Parched Mouths...Parched Souls
"I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land." Psalm 143:6 (NIV)
The heat today is sweltering. Is it hot where you are? With temperatures hovering around the 100 degrees mark, it is just oppressive. Days have passed with no rain. Newscasters are beginning to warn us of drought conditions. The signs are there...cracked dirt...parched land.
Is your body feeling the effects of the heat? Are you being careful to time your outdoor activities so that you aren't out in the hottest part of the day? Are you drinking lots of water? Staying hydrated? Go ahead. Head to the fridge right now. Fix a nice tall glass of ice water. Keep your body, your brain, your skin healthy!
How's your soul feeling? Is it in need of a little refreshment? You are not alone. In Psalm 63:1, David said, "O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." David was actually in the desert when he penned those words, actually feeling the analogy he expressed. In Psalm 42:1-2, the psalmist was experiencing a spiritual longing when he said, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God." His soul was parched.
Only God can satisfy parched souls. Jesus walked this earth, proving Himself as the one who fills empty vessels...giving living water that comes from a well that never will run dry.
Lord, satisfy our "thirsts" with Your Word...Your living water. Fill our souls with You. We need You. We long for You. We love You.
The heat today is sweltering. Is it hot where you are? With temperatures hovering around the 100 degrees mark, it is just oppressive. Days have passed with no rain. Newscasters are beginning to warn us of drought conditions. The signs are there...cracked dirt...parched land.
Is your body feeling the effects of the heat? Are you being careful to time your outdoor activities so that you aren't out in the hottest part of the day? Are you drinking lots of water? Staying hydrated? Go ahead. Head to the fridge right now. Fix a nice tall glass of ice water. Keep your body, your brain, your skin healthy!
How's your soul feeling? Is it in need of a little refreshment? You are not alone. In Psalm 63:1, David said, "O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." David was actually in the desert when he penned those words, actually feeling the analogy he expressed. In Psalm 42:1-2, the psalmist was experiencing a spiritual longing when he said, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God." His soul was parched.
Only God can satisfy parched souls. Jesus walked this earth, proving Himself as the one who fills empty vessels...giving living water that comes from a well that never will run dry.
Lord, satisfy our "thirsts" with Your Word...Your living water. Fill our souls with You. We need You. We long for You. We love You.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Reaching Out...and Clinging
"My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:8 (NIV)
Have you ever noticed the tendrils on climbing plants like the Mandevilla? As they grow upward, they reach out...to whatever is nearby...and latch on, winding and weaving themselves in and around it for support. As you tend these plants, you have to provide a trellis or source of framework. You have to guide them, even train them to grow in the desired direction.
Are you growing? Are you advancing in a heavenward direction? Who are you reaching out to? What are you clinging to? What does your framework of support look like? How are you being trained?
We must "train [ourselves] to be godly...[for] godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:7-8 We must weave ourselves through the latticework of God's Word, remembering that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man [or woman] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Lord, help us to reach out and cling to You. Teach us to trust in You as the source of all we need...strength, comfort, encouragement, direction, provision...anything. Train us through the power of Your Word in the way of righteousness and godliness. We love You.
Have you ever noticed the tendrils on climbing plants like the Mandevilla? As they grow upward, they reach out...to whatever is nearby...and latch on, winding and weaving themselves in and around it for support. As you tend these plants, you have to provide a trellis or source of framework. You have to guide them, even train them to grow in the desired direction.
Are you growing? Are you advancing in a heavenward direction? Who are you reaching out to? What are you clinging to? What does your framework of support look like? How are you being trained?
We must "train [ourselves] to be godly...[for] godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:7-8 We must weave ourselves through the latticework of God's Word, remembering that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man [or woman] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Lord, help us to reach out and cling to You. Teach us to trust in You as the source of all we need...strength, comfort, encouragement, direction, provision...anything. Train us through the power of Your Word in the way of righteousness and godliness. We love You.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Is Your Fruit Dripping?
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (NIV)
Have you been enjoying the bounty of summer fruits? Have you indulged in the delights of watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew, and peaches? Have you found yourself so overcome by their sweetness that you couldn't even wait to put them in a bowl and sit down at the table...and you just stood right over the sink...letting their juices run down your arms as you savored their succulence?
What kind of fruit are you bearing this summer? Is it "the fruit of the Spirit...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control"? (Galatians 5:22-23) You can't do that in your own power. You must "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers righteousness on you." (Hosea 10:12) Apart from Him...the One who shows us unfailing love...we are incapable. We must abide in Him...and allow Him to abide in us. Then "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isaiah 32:17)
Father, help us to allow Your Spirit to abide in us...to fill us with Your love and righteousness...so that we can "bear fruit [the fruit of Your Spirit]and become a splendid vine" (Ezekiel 17:8) that brings honor and glory to You!
Have you been enjoying the bounty of summer fruits? Have you indulged in the delights of watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew, and peaches? Have you found yourself so overcome by their sweetness that you couldn't even wait to put them in a bowl and sit down at the table...and you just stood right over the sink...letting their juices run down your arms as you savored their succulence?
What kind of fruit are you bearing this summer? Is it "the fruit of the Spirit...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control"? (Galatians 5:22-23) You can't do that in your own power. You must "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers righteousness on you." (Hosea 10:12) Apart from Him...the One who shows us unfailing love...we are incapable. We must abide in Him...and allow Him to abide in us. Then "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isaiah 32:17)
Father, help us to allow Your Spirit to abide in us...to fill us with Your love and righteousness...so that we can "bear fruit [the fruit of Your Spirit]and become a splendid vine" (Ezekiel 17:8) that brings honor and glory to You!
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