Sat, May 30th - 10:47AM

Hatred

The word of the day is:

Hatred

Esther 5:9

 ⁹ Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.

   Hatred and bitterness are like the life sucking weeds of life. They take root in our hearts and corrupt all life. Haman was so consumed in his hatred toward Mordecai that he eventually will lose his life for it. Don’t let hatred and bitterness into your heart. Like Haman, you will see it backfire and possibly destroy you if you let it. If the bitterness which stems from hatred is not removed truthfully and completely, it can creep back into your heart without you even knowing it.

Challenge;

   Any hatred, bitterness or anything else creeping into your heart? Does the mention of someone’s name throw you into some sort of attitude? Give that all up to God because He has very good things to replace those with. If you catch yourself with any of the negative matters of the heart, turn and repent. Ask God for forgiveness and move on! Doesn’t Jesus always tell us to “love our enemies?”

Fri, May 29th - 10:02AM

Sorcery

The word of the day is:

Sorcery

Acts 19:18-19

¹⁸Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. ¹⁹A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

   Ephesus was full of sorcery and black magic practices, not to mention the center of occult practices. Superstition and sorcery were commonplace here with some of the people cooking up magical formulas for their wealth, happiness, and success in marriage. In Deuteronomy 18:9-13 it clearly states that God forbids such practices. You cannot be a believer in Christ and believe in sorcery at the same time. This is where Satan is extremely powerful, hard to dodge his bullet of obsession, greed, jealousy and other issues the occults can bring. Not only that but it creates a huge wedge between you and God. Remember that God’s power is way more than Satan can muster so this is not something impossible. Learn as the Ephesians’, get rid of sorcery and the occult, every piece of it, so that it does not continue to trap you or your walk with God.

Challenge;

   Get rid of anything that is not pleasing to God out of your home. This includes Ouija boards, tarot cards, and even zodiac signs or newspaper and magazines with zodiacs in them. As believers these items are known to us as witchcraft or sorcery or occult items, and we now know that it is unacceptable to God. Do what you can to keep your relationship with Him strong at every turn.

Thu, May 28th - 10:04AM

Dreams

The word of the day is:

Dreams

Genesis 42:8-9

 ⁸ Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ⁹ Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected."

   Joseph remembered his dream about his brothers bowing down to him, and did those dreams come true! Joseph was boastful about his dreams when he was younger, but as a man he no longer showed off his superior status and favor that God showed him. He did not feel the need to flaunt himself or say “I told you so.” He kept his identity a secret until it was time to reveal his true identity to them. Sometimes it is best to keep quiet, even when we want the last word.

Challenge;

   Funny that this would turn up this kind of challenge, but have you ever had a situation where you wanted to say “I told you so?” How about a time when you did not wait and said to someone, “I told you so?” We don’t always have to be right and we don’t always have to say anything. Today, try to be aware of how many times you feel the need to be right, and just remember that you don’t always need to say the last word.

Wed, May 27th - 9:02AM

Cup

The word of the day is:

Cup    

John 18:11

¹¹Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

   This cup means the suffering, isolation and death that Jesus would have to endure in order to atone for the sins of the world.

Challenge;

   Imagine having to endure even a half second of what Jesus endured for us! I cannot imagine the pain he must have went through, but he went through it for a bunch of sinners like us so that we may come to the father. None of us are worthy of His mercy and grace, yet He took the cup necessary for us to be reconciled to God. Thank Him today for loving you that much that you did not have to endure that cup of suffering!

Tue, May 26th - 10:06AM

Pharaoh

The word of the day is:

Pharaoh

Exodus 1:12

¹² But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites

   The Egyptians tried to wear down the Hebrew nation by forcing them into slavery and mistreating them. The Hebrews, however, multiplied and became stronger. We may feel defeated when mistreated or burdened, but these burdens can make us stronger and develop qualities in us for the future. We cannot overcome obstacles if there are no obstacles to conquer. Be faithful and true in the Lord and He will develop the character in you that He needs when He needs you.

Challenge;

   We all have challenges in our lives and it’s all in how we overcome these things.  We need not feel defeated in rough time but rejoice in the fact that God cares enough to send these challenges. When has your Pharaoh showed up and how did you overcome them? The choice should have been by God. Tackle those Pharaoh’s with the one who can help you through.

Mon, May 25th - 12:12PM

Deceit

The word of the day is:

Deceit

2 Timothy 3:6-7

 ⁶They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

   Because of their cultural background, the women from the Ephesian church had no religious training. They enjoyed their new freedom to study the Christian truths, but in their eagerness they were the perfect prey for the false teachers. Paul was trying to warn Timothy of this fact to watch out over their women who these false teachers would come to deceive. New believers need to grow in the knowledge of the Word, because in their ignorance they will fall into the deceit of the false teachers.

Challenge:

   How many times do you go to church and don’t listen to the message? How often do you read the Bible? How about studying God’s word? We need to grow in the Word and if we don’t listen to those more knowledgeable then ourselves, we fall easy prey to false teachers and false doctrines. Let us arm ourselves for the battle with more knowledge than deceit. By the way, no one knows more about the Word than Jesus Christ, so this is for every Christian here on earth, not just for new believers.

Sat, May 23rd - 1:21PM

Conversations

The word of the day is:

Conversations

Numbers 7:89

⁸⁹ When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony. And he spoke with him.

   Can you imagine what the voice of God must sound like? Imagine when Moses heard God speak, he must have trembled at the sound. Look, we have God’s words in our Bibles and yet to we respect and fall to our knees in awe and reverence for our Bibles? God sometimes spoke directly to tell them the proper way how they should live. The Bible records all these conversations to give us insight into the character of our creator. How tragic it is when we take these words of God lightly. Like Moses, all of us believers have the privilege to talk to God, but God doesn’t answer us all the same, even though it is all through His written Word and guided by the Holy Spirit. To receive guidance we need to seek to know God as Moses did.

Challenge;

   Have that conversation with God today. Remember who He is and that He loves us enough to want to communicate with us. He will have a conversation with you although it may not be the way you expect. Not all of us will see a burning bush or a pillar of light in the darkness, but He will have a conversation with you if you have patience and the obedience to wait for Him to answer. It might not end up the conversation you expected but it will be well worth it knowing our God, as big as He is, would love to have a conversation with people like us.

Fri, May 22nd - 10:00AM

Loosing

The word of the day is:

Loosing

Matthew 18:18

¹⁸"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be^[a]bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[b] loosed in heaven.

   Binding and loosing on earth and in heaven refer to the decisions of the church in conflicts. Among those who believe, there is no court of appeals beyond the church. The church’s decisions should be God- guided and based upon the discernment of His Word. This means the believers have the responsibility to bring their problems to the church, and the church should use God-guided decisions to resolve conflicts. Handling problems God’s way will impact the problem now and for eternity.

Challenge;

   How often do we dwell on something that seems so important to us at the time but in the long run really was just not at all something we should have held on to?  To me, loosing our problems is just making sure that they are taken care of the way God intended. Use His wisdom to settle a conflict or dispute of any kind you may have with your church. This doesn’t mean to dump your garbage off at the building you attend on Sundays, it means to earnestly seek God’s guidance to resolve anything in your life that needs attention.

Thu, May 21st - 10:05AM

Water

The word of the day is:

Water

John 4:10

¹⁰Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

   What did Jesus mean by “living water?” Many verses in the Old Testament speak of God as a “fountain of life”, or speak of one thirsting for God and that God is the spring of living water. With Jesus stating that he would bring living water that would forever quench ones thirst for God, he was boldly proclaiming to be the “Messiah.” Only the Messiah could give a gift such as this that satisfies our souls desire.

Challenge;

   Today, be similar to that living water that Jesus brings. Testify to Jesus being that Savior that brings us everything we need. If you are thirsty, find a way to get a taste of that living water or you will perish. Search for a new way to allow Jesus into your life, whether it’s getting involved in ministry, small group, Bible study, or your own personal study, drink from that spring of living water. God doesn’t want to see His people shrivel up from the dehydration; He wants you to take that living water so you may have eternal life with Him.

Wed, May 20th - 9:10AM

Sanctification

The word of the day is:

Sanctification

Romans 6:1-8:39

¹What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ²By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

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^8:31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written:
   "For your sake we face death all day long;
      we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."^{[q] 37}No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[r] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

   This good size piece of this book deals with sanctification, which is the change God makes in our lives as we grow in our faith. Chapter 6 believers are free from the control of sin, Chapter 7 talks about the continuing struggles believers have with sin, and Chapter 8 describes to us how we can have victory over our sins

Challenge;

   The challenge today is simple; read this entire passage. What does it say to you about sanctification? How are we working everyday to get through our daily sin we wake up with? For the sake of e-mail space, the whole message here is not printed, just the beginning and end. I am quite curious to hear what other people feel about sanctification after reading this. Did you find something different you’ve never found before?

Tue, May 19th - 9:48AM

Composure

The word of the day is:

Composure

2 Samuel 16:5-14

⁵ As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul's family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. ⁶ He pelted David and all the king's officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David's right and left. ⁷ As he cursed, Shimei said, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you scoundrel! ⁸ The LORD has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood!"

 ⁹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head."

 ¹⁰ But the king said, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?' "

 ¹¹ David then said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. ¹² It may be that the LORD will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today."

 ¹³ So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. ¹⁴ The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

   Shimei kept up a steady tirade against David. Although the curses were unjustified, David and his followers quietly tolerated the abuse. Maintaining composure during unjustified criticism can wear on a person and be very trying at times and an emotional as well as spiritual drain, but you can’t stop criticism so it is just best to ignore it. Remember God knows what you are going through and He will see you vindicated if you are in the right.

Challenge;

   Remember that we are hated here on earth so we will face many criticisms. If we align ourselves with God’s word and laws, we should always be in the right. Therefore, never fear criticism or attacks because we know God will make all things right. Can you keep your composure in trying times? Try it today in the knowledge that God will vindicate us all.

Mon, May 18th - 10:04AM

Reliability

The word of the day is:

Reliability

Ruth 3:18

¹⁸ Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."

   Naomi implied that Boaz would follow through on his promise at once because she knew he would be reliable. He evidently had a reputation for keeping his word and would not rest until the task was completed. Any reliable people in any time or culture of this magnitude would definitely stand out. Do others regard you as one of those who will keep their word and do what you say you will? One of the highest priorities in life should be keeping your word. Follow through on the tasks you say you will. Building this reputation of integrity is not easy, for it must be built one brick, or should I say act, at a time.

Challenge;

   Whether you have ever done this before or have never done it, today choose to be that guy or gal that says what they mean. If you say you are going to do something, just do it! Do it now not later, later never comes, or very rarely ever comes. Demonstrate how reliable you are. One was that Christians mean well but how many times do they forget, but that is when they say, “I’ll pray for you.” Don’t wait! Do it right then and now. Then your integrity will start to build and people will know how reliable you can be. No more procrastinating!

Sat, May 16th - 10:38AM

Vision

The word of the day is:

Vision

Nehemiah 2:17-18

¹⁷ Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace." ¹⁸ I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what the king had said to me.
      They replied, "Let us start rebuilding." So they began this good work.

   Spiritual renewal often begins with one person’s vision. Nehemiah had a vision which he shared it with great enthusiasm, inspiring Jerusalem’s leaders to rebuild the walls. We frequently underestimate people and therefore don’t challenge anyone with our dreams for God’s work in the world. When God shows us what he wants for us to do for Him, trust the Holy Spirit to impress upon the people we share it with to have the same vision. Do not think of yourself as the only one that God can use, but share what God has impressed upon you so that His will be done in those who see the same vision. When we encourage and inspire each other we are using teamwork to accomplish God’s goals He set out for us.

Challenge;

   Share your thoughts and feelings with other believers instead of keeping it to yourself. How many times did we miss casting a vision that God wanted accomplished? It’s OK because He doesn’t need us, but He wants to team up with us. This shows how much God loves us. Feel blessed if God ever gives you a vision. Bless others and share that with someone else.

Fri, May 15th - 10:04AM

Price

The word of the day is:

Price

Exodus 12:29-30

²⁹ At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. ³⁰ Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

   A central theme of the Bible is redemption. Every firstborn child of the Egyptians died but the Israelite children were spared because the blood of the lamb had been placed on their doorframes.

   Redemption means “to buy back” or “to save from captivity by paying a ransom.” One of the ways to buy back a slave was to offer to trade an equal or superior slave as an exchange. By God offering His only Son to die on the cross to abolish our sins, He in essence was buying us back.

   In the Old Testament times of the Bible, God allowed the sacrifice of animal’s lives to exchange for the lives of the sinners. When Jesus came, He exchanged His perfect sinless life for our sinful lives. He took our penalty for our sins that we deserve and redeemed us from the power of sin, restoring us to God. Jesus’ sacrifice made it so we no longer needed the animal sacrifice.

   We also need to recognize that if we are to be freed from our deadly consequences of sin, a tremendous price must be paid. We are lucky enough to have someone pay that price for us, one who loves us deeply. That price was paid through Jesus Christ crucified on that cross, all we need to do is accept the gift God gave us and believe that Jesus is Lord. Don’t seem right does it? God must truly love us.

Challenge;

   Remember that God is so deeply in love with His creations that He would sacrifice His only son. He loves me, He loves you that much! How have you paid any price for your salvation and how much did it cost you? Not much huh? Talk to God today and tell Him how much you appreciate Him paying that price so you may have eternal life. Now dedicate yourself and family over to the care and will of God, and then never look back.

Thu, May 14th - 10:11AM

Question

The word of the day is:

Question

Matthew 22:41-45

⁴¹While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴²"What do you think about the Christ^[a]? Whose son is he?"
      "The son of David," they replied.

 ⁴³He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says,
 ⁴⁴" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
      "Sit at my right hand
   until I put your enemies
      under your feet." '^{[b] 45}If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"

   The Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians had asked their questions no it was Jesus’ turn. He asked the ultimate question, who they thought the Messiah was. The Pharisees believed that he would be a descendant of David but did not understand the concept of him being God in the flesh. The most important question we will ever answer is what we believe about Jesus Christ. No other questions are relevant until we believe Jesus is who he says he is.

Challenge;

   What do you really believe about Jesus Christ? Is He your Lord and Savior, or just some social club where you can get many friends that love you? Do you really believe everything that is spoken of in the Gospels? Try reviewing what you know and what you believe. If you don’t have the answer yet, ask a brother to do a study with you or someone else in the family of Christ, who is mature in their walk, answer any questions you may have.

Wed, May 13th - 8:57AM

Conflicts

The word of the day is:

Conflicts

Numbers 20:21

²¹ Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.

   Moses tried to reason with the Edomite king and tried to negotiate with him. When nothing seemed to work, he was left two choices; force a conflict or avoid it. Moses knew there would be plenty of barriers in the months ahead. There was no point adding another one when it would be so unnecessary. Sometimes we cannot avoid a conflict, but sometimes it isn’t worth the consequences. Not all conflicts are the right choice even if it seems righteous. Even if it is harder to do so, we should consider Moses’ choice to find another way to solve problems.

Challenge;

   Even if it seems right to do so, sometimes finding a harder way to resolve a conflict may be better than the conflict itself.

    I have been laying a brochure out on my counter at work for the past year and a half. Yesterday of all days, a head honcho at my work took it and threw it in my face saying to remove it from my counter. I could have confronted him by telling him the owner of the company and my own boss did not mind it, therefore continued to do so in front him, but that would have caused conflict at work. Possibly this person was testing me to see if he could get me on “conflict of interest” at the work place. Instead, I bit my tongue all day and even though I felt persecuted, I felt rejoice in it because it was for something good and I did not proceed with my conflict. Not out of fear, not out of desperation for a job, but because I avoided what I felt was a righteous conflict with a co-worker. He probably would have hurt me and my family in the long run for lack of job and I thank God that I did what I did.

Tue, May 12th - 10:16AM

Sun

The word of the day is:

Sun

Joshua 10:12-14

 ¹² On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
       "O sun, stand still over Gibeon,
       O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."

 ¹³ So the sun stood still,
       and the moon stopped,
       till the nation avenged itself on ^[a] its enemies,
      as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
      The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. ¹⁴ There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!

   How did the sun stand still? Today we know that the earth rotates around the sun but it still seems like it is not moving at times.  But we should not doubt that a miracle happened, because after all we are not confused when someone tells us that the sun rises and sets. The point was that the day was extended beyond the normal range.

   There are two explanations of this;

(1)    A slowing of the earth’s normal rotation gave Joshua more time, like the original Hebrew language indicated.

(2)    Some unusual refraction of the suns light rays gave a few more hours of daylight.

Whatever way God chose to do this, the Bible is clear that the prolonged hours of daylight was a miracle and with God intervening in the battle changed in the direction of his people

Challenge;

   How often do we try to make sense of God’s miracles? How about His blessings to us? Why don’t we just accept the gift God has given us and leave it at that? Why do we have to know why? Stop! Let go of the unnecessary nagging to know and get on with your life. By the time you figure it out you’ve lost good quality time to spend on others, which is one of the commissions put on us by God.

Mon, May 11th - 10:14AM

Master

The word of the day is:

Master

Romans 6:16-18

¹⁶Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. ¹⁸You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

   In certain areas of learning a trade or craft, an apprentice works under a master who molds, shapes and trains them. They show the apprentice how to hone, or fine tune their skills. All people chose a master and pattern themselves after them. Without Christ it is quite clear; we would have no choice but to be apprentices to sin. This is extremely clear that we would then feel the results of guilt, shame, suffering, and separation from God. But because of Jesus, we can now choose God as our master. Following Him we can now enjoy new life and learn how to work for Him.

Challenge;

   Are you still serving your first master which is sin? Well stop and choose God as your master. He is so much better and so much more powerful. With Him you will receive eternal life. Decide today to become an apprentice to God and you will definitely receive far more greater training, you will be molded into something beautiful, and shaped into what God wants you to be, and as He said in the beginning, “It was good.”

Sat, May 9th - 1:05PM

World

The word of the day is:

World

John 17:14

¹⁴I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

   Christian values differ from the world’s point of view, therefore the world hates Christians. Christians don’t cooperate with the world by joining in their sin so they are living accusations of the world’s immorality. The world follows Satan’s agenda and he is the enemy of Christ.

Challenge;

   We as Christ followers have a lot of condemnation put on us because we are born again as aliens of this world. The challenge to us and all Christians alike is to never let the world weigh us down. If it does, we have many family members willing to lift us up. We do need to be willing to stand up as aliens in this world, but it is nice to know we are not the only ones. Go out into this world with the knowledge that we are now from a place far greater than this place, comforted in the knowledge that Jesus will soon be here.

Fri, May 8th - 10:04AM

Escape

The word of the day is:

Escape

Exodus 14:21

²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided,

   No one could believe that there was any escape, yet God found a way by creating a dry path through the sea. Sometimes we find ourselves feeling helpless or overwhelmed with no escape in sight. Be sure not to panic and remember that God can find a way.

Challenge;

   Don’t worry or fear that you cannot escape, have enough faith that God will find a way to see you through. It may end up His way, but it will be the right way. What are some of the ways that you remember that God had his hand in letting you escape a situation that there was no way you could escape?

Thu, May 7th - 10:02AM

Opinions

The word of the day is:

Opinions

2 Timothy 2:18

¹⁸who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

   The false teachers were denying the resurrection of the body. They believed that when a person became a Christian, they were spiritually reborn. They believed that this would be the only resurrection. To these false teachers, the resurrection was symbolic and spiritual but not physical. Paul taught something else. He taught that the believers would be resurrected after they die to live with Jesus for eternity. Their bodies and souls will live with Christ. We simply cannot change the doctrine of Scripture to fit our own opinions that would be putting ourselves above God. We should just remember to be consistent with God’s Word.

Challenge;

   We all have our own opinions. How about our own opinion about our own church? Which is the best? It’s is not all about that, we would then be making it all about us. It’s not all about us; it’s all about the creator who made us. Careful with opinions that they don’t take away from the Good Word.

Wed, May 6th - 10:23AM

Redemption

The word of the day is:

Redemption

Ephesians 1:7

⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

   Speaking of Jesus’ blood meant speaking of his death. His death points to two wonderful truths; redemption and forgiveness. Redemption was the price paid to gain freedom for a slave. Through His death, Jesus paid that price for our freedom from the slavery of sin. Forgiveness in Old Testament times was granted by the spilling of animal blood. Jesus blood was the final sacrifice and indeed no other blood need be shed for our forgiveness.

Challenge;

   Is there unforgiveness lurking around your heart? Remember that Jesus is our redemption and that we are free from unforgiveness. Forgiveness is as easy as crying out Jesus name! We all are forgiven for the sins we have done and the sins we will commit. Live well knowing that we are forgiven by God and that He loves us enough to send His only son to redeem our position in His life.

Tue, May 5th - 9:17AM

King

The word of the day is:

King

2 Chronicles 23:1

¹ In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri.

   After seven years of rule by the idolatrous rule by Athaliah, the queen mother, Jehoiada finally got the courage to stand up and get rid of the evil ruler. It was every priest in every generation’s responsibility to confront the king or queen with God’s law. Many of the priests shied away from this responsibility. Only a very few ever made a difference in this nation.

Challenge;

   Are you willing to stand up for God’s law? Don’t beat everyone over the head with a Bible but stand up for what is right. I have been ridiculed on several occasions because I refuse to partake in gawking at women at my workplace. Does it not say that “looking at a woman with lust in our eyes is committing adultery? I’m married and have a wife and do not support or condone such behavior. What happens if this is a king, you know, someone of higher stature?

Mon, May 4th - 10:59AM

Life (2)

The word of the day is:

Life (2)

Matthew 8:32

³²He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.

   When the demons entered the pigs, they drove the animals into the sea. The demons’ action proves their destructive ways and how they detest life. If they could not destroy the men they would destroy the pigs. What Jesus did was to show, in contrast to the demons, the value he places on each human life.

Challenge;

   Today, think of each human life as valuable as Jesus does. Whomever you deal with today, if there is a challenging personality, look at them through Jesus’ eyes. He values all human life, not just some of the lives. I believe he said to “love your enemies” did He not? Each and every human life is worth something to Jesus; shouldn’t it be worth something to you?

Sat, May 2nd - 9:49AM

Hands

The word of the day is:

Hands

Acts 6:6

⁶They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

   Spiritual leadership is serious business and should not be taken lightly. Not by the church or its leaders. In the early church, the chosen men to lead were ordained by the laying of hands on them and set aside in prayer by the apostles. Laying hands on someone was an ancient Jewish practice that was their way to set apart someone for a special purpose.

Challenge;

   Have you ever had anyone lay their hands on you to earnestly pray over you for a specific reason? How did it feel? If you have never experienced it, I suggest that you try it with someone from your prayer team or someone mature in their faith that you trust. I know when God is present during this time by feeling the heat coming from the laying on of hands. It is an indescribable feeling that should not be overlooked, whether you are doing the prayer or being prayed for.

Fri, May 1st - 11:06AM

Prophet

The word of the day is:

Prophet

Ezekiel 1:1

 ¹ In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

   Why did the Jewish exiles in Babylonia need a prophet? There were a few things that God wanted Ezekiel to do. First was to help the exiles understand why they were taken captive. Second was to dispel the false hopes that captivity was going to be short. Third was to bring a new message of hope. Next was to call the people to dependence on God. These prophets were not chosen to make themselves popular; often the prophets were as welcome to the people, as discipline to the child for wrong doing was. God wanted to communicate to the created ones he loves, why they were going through what they were and used brave and obedient men to speak His words through them.

Challenge;

   Are you obedient to what God is calling you to do for Him? Remember that we all have a place in God’s kingdom, and He is ready to use us to His good purposes. Would you be willing to be a prophet in this day and age?