Leadership: What are you looking for in young leaders? (86-5) ~ Barry Werner



What are you looking for in young leaders? (86-5)

A common mistake is to assume a person becomes a leader when they have a leadership position. Read 1 Samuel 16:6-10.
In his notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible John Maxwell asks the question “How Do You Recognize a Leader?”
When did David become a leader? The Bible makes it clear that the young man had become a leader long before he ever received a title.
This young leader first began to surface in 1 Samuel 16 – but only God and Samuel recognized his leadership at first. Only after his great and unexpected victory over Goliath did everyone else recognize his special abilities (1 Samuel 17:55-58).
David’s example shows that true leaders always declare themselves without making any announcement. It becomes obvious. Too often, we feel forced to pick someone to lead, whether or not they are a leader – and that’s when wrong motives and false criteria emerge.
When you look at the young leaders in your sphere of influence what are you looking for? Are you looking at those that have character, moral values, pay attention to detail, and follow through on their projects, seem to enjoy the work they are currently doing, have a good attitude in their current position or are you looking for someone that has had superstar results on a project. Effective leaders look beyond results on a single project to the character of individuals when they are building their leadership team.
Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Matthew 22:16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.
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WoW: Matthew 18; Psalm 106:9-12; Proverbs 18:19








September 20

Lessons in Kingdom Living

Matthew 18; Psalm 106:9-12; Proverbs 18:19

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"


Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!



"If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.



"What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.



"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.



"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"



Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.



"But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.



"So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
Matthew 18

WORSHIP
He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up;
So He led them through the depths,
As through the wilderness.
He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,
And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
The waters covered their enemies;
There was not one of them left.
Then they believed His words;
They sang His praise.
Psalm 106:9-12








WISDOM 
A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Proverbs 18:19 

God will honor your obedience ~ Raul Ries




A Godly Calling: Obedience

"to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own
husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Titus 2:5



I like what Jay Adams, author and counselor, has to say regarding the wife’s in submission and obedience to her husband: “This means if a husband’s thinking is out of line, his wife’s task is to help him correct his thoughts. If his life is out of line, her job is to help him return to God’s path. If he simply is perplexed in a decision, she must bring her best reasons to the decision making process.”

“Help, given respectfully, never conflicts with submission. That is because submission requires her to contribute, to give what she has to offer. And that is what she must do, always in a spirit of respect and with a willinfness to obey even if she doesn’t agree.”

Thought for the Day:

God will honor your obedience and use it as a means of
strengthening your husband’s faith as well.

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble ~ Bob Hoekstra



Access to Grace through Humility and Faith

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble…through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand. (James 4:6 and Romans 5:2)

Thus far in our daily meditations on growing in the grace of God, we have examined various areas of biblical truth, such as: the Old Covenant of law, the New Covenant of grace, God's sufficiency for godly living, living by the promises of God, and Old Testament saints who lived by God's grace. Now, we return to an extended consideration of how we avail ourselves of the glorious riches of God's grace. As noted earlier in our studies, God's grace is accessed through humility and faith.

If we desire to live by God's grace, we must be willing to renounce pride and to walk in humility. "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." The Lord is opposed to the path of self-sufficiency. When we pridefully assume that we can produce the kind of life God calls us to live, spiritual progress is prevented. Humility involves agreeing with God's pronouncements concerning our inadequacies. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves" (2 Corinthians 3:5a). The person who is willing to walk humbly before the Lord has an accurate understanding of our comprehensive need for the Lord to work in and through our lives. "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5b).

Along with humility regarding ourselves, God wants us to walk in faith regarding Him. The Lord wants to work in our lives by His incomparable grace. Faith accesses grace: "through whom [Jesus] also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand." The Lord is pleased by the path of "Christ-dependency." Whenever we face any issue of life by faith in Jesus Christ, we are drawing upon the abounding grace of the Lord. When we dependently accept that God can produce the kind of life He calls us to live, spiritual progress is assured. Faith involves agreeing with God's pronouncements that He is our adequacy: "but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5b). The person who is willing to walk in faith toward the Lord has an accurate understanding of God's comprehensive ability to work in and through our lives. "He who abides in Me… bears much fruit" (John 15:5b).

Also, as noted earlier, humility and faith are relational realities. Neither can be produced by us. They are not the result of human labor. They can only develop as an increasing reality through a growing relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Dear Lord, I humbly admit my own insufficiency to produce the life You want me to live. Nevertheless, I confidently confess Your grace as my sufficient resource for abundant fruitfulness. Lord, I want to know You better, that humility and faith might be growing realities in my life, Amen.

Harvest God Bless Those Who Heard and Those Who Served ~ Greg Laurie





Southern California Harvest recap video

Posted under Anaheim, Video Crusade Connection 10.09.2009

No strings attached


Tera smiles as she talks with a Decision Follow-Up Counselor at the Southern California Harvest.
Tera smiles as she talks with a Decision Follow-Up Counselor at the Southern California Harvest.
Twenty-nine-year-old Tera had her life radically transformed at the Southern California Harvest.
She came with her boyfriend, a strong believer who was praying that her life would be touched. It’s obvious that God truly worked a miracle in her heart as she shared her emotional story and held back her tears.
Tera came from a broken family; her mom had been married and divorced several times and she was physically abused growing up. She often questioned the meaning of her existence.
Because her mom was not a believer, she had no role model. She struggled through her impressionable years and sometimes felt the burden was too hard to bear.
When Pastor Greg started sharing about his childhood, she felt she could relate. She was moved to tears and sensed God moving her spirit. Tera knew in her heart that it was no accident she was here tonight.
Tera said she was moved by Pastor Greg’s story of people’s reluctance to accept a free ticket to Disneyland for fear that there were strings attached. It made her realize that accepting Jesus in your life is as simple as receiving a free Disneyland ticket.
She recognized that all you have to do is believe and ask God for forgiveness and Heaven awaits us. Pastor Greg’s words, “Heaven is not a place for good people. Heaven is a place for forgiven people,” brought tears, hope and relief instantly to Tera’s life.
In her job as a nurse, she helps people with their physical ailments, but now she has found a way to heal people’s lives spiritually and help them mend their broken hearts. She wants to tell them not to live quiet lives of desperation, but to live with the knowledge that there is a God who reaches out to us and pulls us out of a sinking boat with the knowledge that He will never leave or forsake us.

A mother’s prayers are answered


Mother and daughter share a prayer together.
Mother and daughter share a prayer together.
Melissa walked onto the field to commit her life to Christ with her mother Ester.
Melissa had been to the Southern California Harvest in previous years and wanted to go down onto the field to make a commitment, but didn’t. She also made a decision for Christ at camp when she was young, but she didn’t follow through with it.
Melissa, her two sisters, and her mother had been going through a hard time recently. Ester had also been praying for her children and was overjoyed at her daughter’s decision. It meant a lot to both of them to experience this night together.
Melissa said she is very serious about following through this time and plans on attending Harvest Christian Fellowship and getting plugged into The Well College and Career ministry.

Friends in recommitment


Irma and Maritza came to the Southern California Harvest together and rededicated their lives to following God.
Irma and Maritza came to the Southern California Harvest together and rededicated their lives to following God.
Maritza and Irma had been planning to go out on the town Saturday night, but Maritza changed their plans after they saw a bumper sticker for the Southern California Harvest. In the end, they both went forward and recommitted their lives to Christ.
Maritza had prayed to receive Christ before, but became discouraged when her Catholic family disapproved of her new faith. When trials came, she turned away from God and put her focus on making money.
“I pushed myself away,” Maritza said. “I really wanted to come back and I needed inspiration in my life, and that’s what I got tonight.”
Irma said she was raised in a Christian home, but had been never serious about her faith. She said she has always wanted something more in her life, looking for it in all the wrong places.
“I thought I would find worldly love and that would make me happy,” Irma said through tears. “That caused me a lot of pain. I’ve learned from my mistakes . . . His love is all I need.”
Maritza and Irma said they intend to bring more people to the Southern California Harvest next year so they can experience everything they felt when gave their burdens to Christ on the field.

Finding the answer he needed


Adam prayed to receive Christ on Saturday night at Angel Stadium.
Adam prayed to receive Christ on Saturday night at Angel Stadium.
Adam was only three years old when his mom passed away. He was always told that his mom was a strong believer in Christ. Even though he was young when he lost his mom, he said he has never been able to completely get over his loss.
As he grew up, he became bitter and completely turned away from God, wanting nothing to do with church. He said he felt his life was going nowhere fast. A year ago, he felt God was reaching out to Him and since he felt so lonely, he began going back to church.
Rachel, Adam’s girlfriend and a believer, took him to the Southern California Harvest on Saturday. He soaked it all in, from the music to Pastor Greg’s entire message, and it spoke volumes to his heart. He knew he needed to dedicate his life to Christ.
When Pastor Greg said, “Come just as you are,” he felt the tug in his heart and made a public declaration of his faith and trust in Christ.

Sunday Night Slideshow



A family united in faith


Rianne prays with a Decision Follow-Up Worker, while her mother Diane looks on.
Rianne prays with a Decision Follow-Up Worker, while her mother Diane looks on.
Diane’s prayers were answered on Sunday night, as her husband Jesse and her daughter Rianne both responded to the invitation. Rianne, age 8, prayed to receive Christ for the first time, while Jesse recommitted his life to the Lord.
Although the family is attending church, Diane said that things could be better.
“They’ve been going, but just going through the motions, not really with any growth there,” Diane said. “We get so busy and caught up in day to day stuff, and God needs to be our focus.”
Both Jesse and Rianne said there wasn’t any one thing that Pastor Greg said that convinced them to make the decision to come forward, but that it just felt like the right thing to do and the right time to do it. Please pray that this family will grow in its faith in the days and weeks ahead.
“I’ve been praying for this a long time,” Diane said. “It’s a really good feeling, and hopefully I can continue to minister to them and help them grow.”

2009 Southern California Harvest Wrap-up



Walk in simplicity ~ Jon Courson






As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him ...
Colossians 2:6
 
Over and over the Scriptures tell us to walk:

To walk in light (Ephesians 5:8),
To walk in love (Ephesians 5:2),
To walk in wisdom (Colossians 4:5).

And here we are told to walk in simplicity. The Christain life is not a run, not a leap, but a walk. To grow in Christ, to advance in our faith, to claim new ground for the Kingdom, we gotta keep walking.

The banks of a certain river in Arizona called the Rio Rivera are lined with a substance called ‘near quicksand’. It’s almost quicksand — but not quite. If you keep walking on this near-quicksand, you won’t have a problem. But if you stop, you’ll start sinking and get sucked in.

So too, the Christian experience is a walk. If we don’t keep moving, we’ll start sinking. And the way to keep moving is not to seek some deeper truth. The way to keep moving is to walk in simplicity. We received Christ simply, totally, completely by faith. And that’s the way we are to walk.

Going . . . yet not knowing. ~ Chuck Swindoll



Going . . . Not Knowing, Part One

by Charles R. Swindoll


The statement recurs through Scripture like a repeating telegraph signal on a high frequency radio band. Sometimes faint, barely discernible---sometimes strong, clear. Over and over. Paul made the statement as he was saying goodbye to a group of friends standing with him on an Asian beach. Several of the men wept freely, realizing they would never see the missionary again. The aging apostle looked from man to man, holding each one's eyes for a brief moment. Then, looking out to sea with his weathered hand pointing south to the stormy skies above the Mediterranean, he voiced these words:
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. (Acts 20:22 NIV)
What an honest admission!
I am going . . . not knowing what will happen . . .
That's what this thing called the Christian life is all about, isn't it?

 Going . . . yet not knowing.

As followers of our Lord we believe He leads us in a certain direction . . . or in pursuit of a precise goal. That leading is unmistakably clear. Not necessarily logical or explainable, but clear. At least to us. So---out of sheer obedience---we go. We pack our bags, pull up stakes, bid our friends farewell, and strike out. We face a future as uncertain as our leading is sure. How strange . . . yet how typical!

There isn't a Christian reading my words who hasn't walked that path. And struggled with ways to convince others it was right. And endured the frowns and well-meaning counsel of those who tried to point out why the idea was a fluke . . . even downright foolish.

For sure Abraham faced it when he wrenched up roots from his hometown soil and struck out for---let's see, where was he going? He didn't know! There he was, almost seventy-five years old, loading up a camel caravan with his wife and family bound for . . . somewhere. Hebrews 11:8 puts it straight:
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out . . . not knowing where he was going.
"Abraham, what are you doing?" asked a neighbor.

"I'm packing."
"Packing?"

"That's right. We're moving."

"Why? Why in the world would you want to leave Ur?"

"God has made it clear that I should go."

"God, huh? You've been talking to Him again?"

"Right. He told me to leave. I must go."

"Well, where are you going?"

"I don't know. He didn't tell me that."

"Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. You know you oughta go, but you don't know much beyond that, huh?"

"That says it pretty well."

"Wow . . . that's all I can say . . . wow. God sure gets blamed for a lot of stuff He doesn't have anything to do with. You know, man, some of us have been a little bit worried about the way you've been acting lately. Up to now, it's just been a little strange . . . but this, Abraham . . . this takes you off the end of the pier. It's like everyone's saying---you really are off the deep end!"

And so it goes. Who hasn't stepped off the end of the dock to stride on faith footing? Abraham and Paul did it. And, sooner or later, all of us will be called to do it. Are you on the verge of such a decision? Tomorrow, I'll give you some things to ponder before you jump.

God has the power to give life ~ Bob Coy



GOD BRINGS LIFE OUR OF DEATH (SARAH?S WOMB)


And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. Genesis 21:1 (NKJV)



"As good as dead." 


How would you like to be described in those terms? Worse yet, how would you like the Bible to describe you in those terms? 


It sounds like something that would happen in a really bad dream or a cruel joke, and yet that's exactly how the book of Hebrews describes the elderly Abraham:



Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude . . . (Hebrews 11:12 NKJV)



Actually, Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90 when God miraculously enabled them to conceive their first child. Appropriately, they named their newborn son Isaac (meaning laughter) because it was a total joke for a couple who couldn't conceive for decades to suddenly have a little one on their hands. It was nothing short of a miracle-even the Bible says that it was a "dead" situation. But God paid them a visit, and there was life.



God has the power to give life, even under the deadest of circumstances. Even when we've known nothing but fruitlessness for years on end, even when the world has written us off, even if we start to believe that we're as good as dead, there's a God in heaven who has the power to miraculously bring life to a lifeless situation and to turn our mourning into laughter.



If we're wise, we'll keep this truth close to our hearts, because it's only a matter of time before we or someone we know will need to know the miraculous truth that God has the power to give life.










Discuss, Dig, Decide

Discuss and share with your group the story of your birth. Where were you born? How did the delivery go? Do you consider it a miracle?

Dig into Ephesians 2:1–5. How have you been delivered from death to life? How is this an amazing miracle in your life? What does this passage teach you about God’s love for you? What did you do to deserve this miracle?

Decide to celebrate the miracle of “spiritual birth.” Have a few folks in your group share their stories of how they each experienced a spiritual birth through faith in Jesus Christ. If there is someone in the group who has not been “born again” (John 3:3–17), take time to pray with that person if they desire to put their faith in Jesus.

Don't give up hope ~ Joyce Meyer


And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years. And who had endured much suffering under [the hands of] many physicians and had spent all that she had, and was no better but instead grew worse.


 She had heard the reports concerning Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the throng and touched His garment. For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health. 
—Mark 5:25-28 
 
What about the woman with the issue of blood? She had been having the same problem for twelve years. She had suffered greatly, and no one had been able to help her. Surely this woman was being attacked with thoughts of hopelessness. 



When she thought about going to Jesus, surely she must have heard, "What's the use?" 


But she pressed on past the crowd that was so thick on all sides that it was suffocating. She touched the hem of Jesus' garment, healing virtue flowed to her, and she was made well (See vv. 29-34). But there is a part we don't want to miss: "For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health." (Mark 5:28) 

She kept saying! She kept saying! Do you get it? She keptsaying! No matter what she felt like, no matter how much others tried to discourage her, even though the problem was twelve years old, and the crowd looked impossible to get through, this woman got her miracle. Jesus told her that it was her faith that had made her whole (v. 34). Her faith was released through her words. Faith has to be activated if it is to work, and one of the ways we activate it is through our words.Keep saying—and don't give up hope!   

Proverbial Tweets from Rick Warren


Proverbial Tweets from Rick Warren

@PhoneTrips Thanks 4 responding. If you'll follow me, I can DM some private info on Sunday. Again thanks!

Sermons must climax with 2words:WILL YOU?Dont be timid in drawing the net! I'm prayingEph6:19 for my guys so preach boldly!

It takes SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY,not just preaching,4 a STRONG church.Last wk 38,530 studied God'sWord in our 4,000+groups.

A Crowd is not a Church! Attendance isnt discipleship.Listening isnt doing. Weekends r just the funnel.Must have a process!

U artists(3000!)who thanked me 4 opp.2 display ur work-THANKS BACK! Email contact &I'll put on my website!rw@saddleback.com

Jesus backed grassroots people;the powerless not powerful; everyman not elites;overlooked widows not moneychangers.Mt5:3-13

"Some pastors talk like the church is just an enterprise with prayers added.I ask Where's the Holy Spirit?”- PDChurch pg59

FEEDBACK is the breakfast of champions!Visit http://bit.ly/12tsTv &tweet me the cover# ulike! Add #THYN 2ur tweet.Thx!

A great staff team isnt an orchestra led by a conductor but a jazz emsemble with each member taking the lead at dif times

The purpose of influence is to speak up for those who have no influence. Pr.31:8 It's not about you.

Elul,the month b4 Jewish High HolyDays,is used 4reflection.This site used my words on repentance http://bit.ly/1gESXs Elul21

Bless ur Jewish friends as tonight Rosh HaShanah(NewYr) begins their10 High Holy Days of Awe ending in YomKippur.Eph2:11-18

Dont just CALLpeople 2Jesus.CONNECT 2HisFamily! CONFORM 2HisImage! CHANNEL4HisService! COMMISSION4HisKingdom!=PD(missional)

A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment &the Great Commission will grow a Great Church.-Saddleback's slogan for30 yrs

I could have just let Zondervan staff do their usual thing.This way,100s of hidden talents get platformed.See my tweet on amateurs vs pros

My vow since 17:Be Liberal in praising others;Conservative in judging;Moderate in accepting honor;RADICAL in loving Jesus!

"Without fun&sex,marriage is just a business arrangement"JEvans.Fun is essential 2health."Enjoy life with your wife!"Ecc9:9

Stop talking yourself out of trusting God.

Moses“Lord,I’ve done the numbers&we don’t have enough make it!” God“Do u think I cant handle this?Just watch!” Num11:21-23

To defeat temptation you must 1st recognize how it happens. http://tinyurl.com/m4bf2p

Glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me ~ Daily Light



Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might: ... but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD. - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. - In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Christ Jesus, ... is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctifi-cation, and redemption.

He that winneth souls is wise.

PROV. 3:13. Prov. 8:35. Jer. 9:23,24. -Prov. 9:10. Phi. 3:7,8. Col. 2:3. Prov. 8:14. I Cor. 1:30. Prov. 1:30.



EVENING

Poor, yet making many rich.

Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. - Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. - My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? - Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

II COR. 6:10. II Cor. 8:9. -John 1:16. Phi. 4:19. II Cor. 9:8. Jas. 2:5. I Cor. 1:26,27. II Cor. 4:7.

Isaiah 33:10-36:22 ~ Galatians 5:13-26 ~ Psalm 64:1-10 ~ Proverbs 23:23 ~ One Year Bible Blog




Isaiah 33:10-36:22 ~ Galatians 5:13-26 ~ Psalm 64:1-10 ~ Proverbs 23:23
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~

~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~


Old Testament - Today we read Isaiah chapter 35, which is a wonderful glimpse of God's Kingdom Come!  The preceding Chapter 34 is a message of judgment to the nations during the end times.  And then Chapter 35 is a message of hope for those who love, believe in and are obedient to the Lord. I love verse 8 in chapter 35: 


"And a main road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-hearted people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God's ways; fools will never walk there."  


I like that concept!  The Highway of Holiness! If you could take the Highway of Holiness right now, would you?  Do you look forward to walking on the Highway of Holiness in the future?  In the midst of our often chaotic and un-holy world, will you seek only the Highway of Holiness for your life today and forevermore? 

Road_less_traveled
As I mentioned above, Isaiah chapter 34 is a message of judgment.  An interesting thing to note about the "the horned owl, the hawk, the screech owl, and the raven" listed in verse 11 and the owl and the vulture in verse 15 is that these are all unclean birds per Deuteronomy 14:11-18.  In verse 8 today we read - "For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel."

Isa_34_8_for_it_is_the_day_of_the_lords_
In Isaiah chapter 36 today you probably noticed that we've read this story about Sennacherib threatening Jerusalem before.  In fact, much of Isaiah chapters 36 through 39 are sometimes verbatim of Second Kings 18:13 through 20:19.  The compiler of Second Kings may have utilized Isaiah chapters 36 through 39 as a source, or it is also thought that both may have drawn from another common source.  Today in chapter 36 we are in the year 701 B.C., and we get some bold boasts before the walls of Jerusalem by King Sennacherib of Assyria's representatives...  Verse 20 includes this boast, which didn't make God too happy: "What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? Name just one! So what makes you think that the LORD can rescue Jerusalem?"

New Testament - I love Paul's teaching in Galatians 5 verses 22 & 23 today - "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."  It is incredible I think for each of us to really meditate on this question - does the Holy Spirit control your life?  I think so often - even after coming to faith in Christ - we still try to hold onto the controls of our life!  I know I do.  And yet, when I finally realize that I should instead "let go, and let God", my life gets 100 times easier.  I don't stress and worry about things any more.  When I let myself be controlled by the Holy Spirit I finally realize that this is where true LIFE is at!  It's not in hanging on so tightly to the steering wheel...   Then, as we truly let the Holy Spirit control our lives, we begin to see amazing fruits being born in us!  Do you see these fruits in your life today?  Love?  Joy?  Peace?  Patience?  Kindness?  Goodness?  Faithfulness?  Gentleness?  Self-control?  How are you doing on letting the Holy Spirit control your life these days?  Who is holding on to your steering wheel - you or the Holy Spirit?  Will you now let go of that steering wheel?  Will you "let go, and let God."  Will you let the fruits of the Spirit fully grow in your life?

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Bible.org's terrific commentary on today's readings in Galatians titled "The War Without And the War Within" is at this link.  Below is a great image for Galatians 5:16 from today's readings!

Psalms - Psalm 64 verse 10 is beautiful - "The godly will rejoice in the LORD and find shelter in him."  Do you consider God a shelter for your life?  When storms come into your life, do you find shelter in God?  How about the Bible?  Is the Bible a sort of shelter in your life?  Do you find refuge in the Bible?

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Proverbs - Today in Proverbs 23:23 we read: “Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.” What does this Proverb mean to you?  Can you “buy the truth” or is this perhaps a metaphor?  Why shouldn’t you sell it?  Why get wisdom, discipline and understanding? Why is discipline good to get?  What is truth?  Where can you find truth? Is the Bible Truth?  Will you learn from this Truth in some way each day for the rest of your life?

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Worship God:  The "Haven in a Storm" image above in the Psalms reflection reminded me immediately of the incredible Casting Crowns song "Praise You in This Storm."  I don't know what it is about all these storm songs on the radio that are resonating with me lately - MercyMe's "Bring the Rain" being my current favorite song - other than I know this:  It's not a matter of "if" storms will come in our life.  It's a matter of "when."  Storms will come.  And when they do, we have the option to try to weather the storms all on our own.  Or we have the option to invite God into the storms with us.  Well, I believe God's already there with us in the storms even if we don't realize it - so, I think we can simply open our hearts and praise God in the storms!  He will never abandon us or leave us.  Even in the midst of the worst storms this fallen world might bring, God is there with us.  Will you praise God in the storms?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr7i5L6kFT0

Do you believe there is a God who is worthy of being praised even in the midst of storms in your life?  Click here to get to know God of heaven and earth who is worthy of being praised in the storms!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike


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