Daily Devotional

September 30th, 2015

9/30/2015

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:3

What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? Jesus is talking about a beggar. He is saying "Blessed are the beggars." He's not talking about finances here. He's talking about a person being poor spiritually. Before a person can enter into the kingdom of heaven, he must first admit that no matter how much he may have in the material realm or psychological realm, he is absolutely and totally spiritually bankrupt and a beggar before God. If He doesn't see that, he will never, ever get into the kingdom of heaven. --I've often said that I am just one beggar showing another beggar where to find food. Do you see yourself as a beggar in need of the Bread of Heaven?

September 28th, 2015

9/28/2015

What is the worth of a soul? A coin is minted for a purpose. It is meant to be spent, treasured and valued. But not to be lost. When a coin is lost, it is worthless to the owner and the creator. It doesn't matter how valuable it may be intrinsically. If it is lost, it is lost. Which is worth more on the ocean floor, a hundred dollar gold piece or a dime? As long as they are both on the ocean floor, both have the same value. Lost men are like lost silver. As long as a man is lost, he is out of circulation. God made you for a purpose. He wants you in circulation to spend and b e spent for His glory.

September 21st, 2015

9/21/2015

Hebrews 11:21
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff."

Jacob became a wounded worshiper because God did not withhold the rod of correction. The wounded in life are those who have learned difficult lessons through suffering. Do not resist the Shepherd's rod of correction. Is the wounding painful? Indeed. Does it seem that you will not be able to bear it? Most certainly. Then, why would He subject us to such pain? Because you have a Father who loves you so much that He is willing to hurt you to heal you. What you need to focus on is not your pain, but your Savior. God didn't save you to take you to heaven. That's a fringe benefit. God saved you to make you holy - as He is holy. Read Hebrews 12:1-13. What application can you make from this passage for your life today?

September 18th, 2015

9/18/2015

In 1829 George Wilson was adjudicated guilty and given the death sentence for murder. But Wilson had some friends who petitioned President Andrew Jackson for a pardon. Jackson granted the pardon, and it was brought to prison and given to Wilson. To everyone's surprise, Wilson said, "I am going to hang." There had never been a refusal to a pardon, so the courtsw didn't know what to do. Discussion went all the way to the Supreme Court, and Justice John Marshall gave this ruling: A pardon is a piece of paper, the value of which depends upon the acceptance by the person implicated. If he does not accept the pardon, then he must be executed." God loves you and wants to pardon you, but if you refuse Him, you will die and go to hell. Cast yourself upon Him completely, and receive the free gift of His forgiveness today.

September 17th, 2015

9/17/2015

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

Did you know that it is an impossibility of geography to have a valley without a mountain? They are beautiful complements in God's grand creation. The valley is the place of vision. It is the place of meditation and reflection. The mountain is the place of discovery and a place to become strong. If you find yourself in a valley, it is because you have come down from a mountain. If you're on a mountain, you came to that place by way of the valley.

Are you in the valley or on the mountaintop? Real Psalm 46 about the strength of the Lord. Rest and rejoice in His strength, where God has you right now.

September 15th, 2015

9/15/2015

Did you know?

Abraham Lincoln declared a "Proclamation of a National Fast Day" on March 30, 1863. Part of his speech was: "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven, as a Nation, but we now have forgotten the God who gave us these great and wonderful bounties." Sounds like we are going down this same road as a Nation again.

September 14th, 2015

9/14/2015

There are things we face everyday that changes our lives in some fashion. Some things have a great impact on what and who we are or who we become in the future. Most people face extra ordinary road-blocks or mountains to climb periodically. And some face challenges daily, but one thing to keep in mind. "Not everything we face can be changed, but nothing can be changed, until we face it".

September 08th, 2015

9/8/2015

"I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
John 9:4

Robert Moffett, a great missionary statesman, said, "We shall have all eternity in which to celebrate our victories, but only one short hour before the sun sets in which to win them." Life's setting sun is sinking low. There are only a limited number of days in which to save souls. Are you going to spend your days investing in the things of this world, or putting up treasures in heaven? When? Are you going to start sowing seeds of salvation or are you going to plant happiness in this life alone? When? Are you going to do something nice for your wife or husband? When? Are you going to write your father or mother or loved one? When? Make a promise to yourself right now that you will not put off until tomorrow what you should be doing today.

September 04th, 2015

9/4/2015

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Someone has well said that discouragement is a darkroom where the negatives of fear and failure are developed. Some people are encouragers and others are discouragers. Have you ever met a discourager? They're like a drink of water to a drowning man. They can brighten up any room by leaving it. They leave you drained and depressed. But an encourager leaves you full and refreshed. God has cornered the market on encouragement. All encouragement comes from God. You're never more like God than when you're encouraging people and never more like the devil than when you are discouraging people. Find a needy person and enrich him; a lonely person and include him; a misunderstood person and affirm him; an undiscovered person and develop him; a failing person and restore him. God will bless you for it. Go to church this Sunday and be an encouragement to someone there. Yes, there are people at church that needs to be encouraged.

September 02nd, 2015

9/2/2015

Prayer! We all want to pray. Maybe we have a deep problem going on with, a special something that is out of our control. Maybe we just feel a special need to find inner peace. Yet we don't seem to get around to praying. Maybe it's because we don't know where to start. God seems so distant. If you need someone to pray for you, send me a message and I will pray for you. I will keep it private.