"...but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank..." (Daniel 1:8)
It's the sixth century and Judah because of her apostasy has been judged by God and given into the hands of the Babylonians.As an exile Daniel found himself under intense pressure to compromise and completely conform to Babylonian custom and character. For the Babylonians the process of assimilating their Jewish captives involved a process that began with isolation. By removing Daniel and his friends from Jerusalem they would cut them off from their friends, family and faith. Nevertheless, though they took the boys out of Jerusalem they couldn't get Jerusalem out of the boys. Time and time again when pressured to compromise their values, silence their voices and surrender the victory they refused and HELD THEIR POSITION!!! Even when you feel alone in your convictions, conversations and character remember that God commands the blessing in the place of obedience!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Broken (Part 2)
This daily encouragement comes from 'The Word for Today' devotional. A printed quarterly edition is available free from UCB Australia (www.ucb.com.au)07 August 2009 - Brokenness (2) 'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.' (Psalm 51:17 NIV)
Paul writes: 'Now may...God...sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord' (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NAS). This word 'sanctify' means to be 'set apart,' to be used exclusively for God's purposes. Paul describes it as 'the high calling of God' (Philippians 3:14). And it happens from the inside out! Notice, our fleshly body comes last in order of transformation for a very simple reason. The problem with a thief isn't his hands, it's in his mind or spirit, which tells him stealing is okay. His mind tells his hands what to do. So if you transform his spirit his hands will follow suit. Otherwise you can handcuff him and take him off to jail, but he's still a thief inside. Too many of us want to get victory over bodily sins without being truly transformed within. But God starts with our spirit because that's the part of our being that makes us conscious of God; that 'connects' with Him. When God sets us free in our spirit, then our emotions and our body begin to fall in line.
If you're a parent you know how differently your children respond to discipline. One child will collapse in tears, whereas another will stand up and defy you. God will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to break us of our self-sufficiency so that the life of Jesus can be demonstrated through us. And we determine how long the process takes, by our submission or resistance. Paul prayed, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' (Acts 9:6). Today, make that your prayer!
Soulfood Bible Readings - Deut 18-21, Luke 12:1-12, Ps 119:17-24, Pr 17:7-10 To view any more information please visit The Word For Today WebSite at www.thewordfortoday.com.au
Paul writes: 'Now may...God...sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord' (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NAS). This word 'sanctify' means to be 'set apart,' to be used exclusively for God's purposes. Paul describes it as 'the high calling of God' (Philippians 3:14). And it happens from the inside out! Notice, our fleshly body comes last in order of transformation for a very simple reason. The problem with a thief isn't his hands, it's in his mind or spirit, which tells him stealing is okay. His mind tells his hands what to do. So if you transform his spirit his hands will follow suit. Otherwise you can handcuff him and take him off to jail, but he's still a thief inside. Too many of us want to get victory over bodily sins without being truly transformed within. But God starts with our spirit because that's the part of our being that makes us conscious of God; that 'connects' with Him. When God sets us free in our spirit, then our emotions and our body begin to fall in line.
If you're a parent you know how differently your children respond to discipline. One child will collapse in tears, whereas another will stand up and defy you. God will do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to break us of our self-sufficiency so that the life of Jesus can be demonstrated through us. And we determine how long the process takes, by our submission or resistance. Paul prayed, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' (Acts 9:6). Today, make that your prayer!
Soulfood Bible Readings - Deut 18-21, Luke 12:1-12, Ps 119:17-24, Pr 17:7-10 To view any more information please visit The Word For Today WebSite at www.thewordfortoday.com.au
Friday, August 7, 2009
Brokenness
This daily encouragement comes from 'The Word for Today' devotional. A printed quarterly edition is available free from UCB Australia (www.ucb.com.au)06 August 2009 - Brokenness (1) 'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.' (Psalm 51:17 NIV)
A world that celebrates success doesn't see value in broken things. But God brings beauty out of brokenness. For a plant to rise from the soil the seed must be broken. For a baby chick to experience larger life the shell must be broken. Even a thoroughbred horse must be broken; it must learn to respond to the tug of the rein and the sound of the master's voice. Getting the idea? After a humbling encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, Paul re-evaluated all the religious activity he once boasted about and called it 'dung' (Philippians 3:8 KJV). And you don't brag about dung, you're repulsed by it.
Brokenness is the work of God by which He strips us of self-sufficiency so that the character of Christ may shine through us. Now don't misunderstand; being broken doesn't necessarily mean experiencing some tragedy. Many people suffer tragedy without drawing closer to God or even acknowledging Him. Indeed, the same sunshine that melts the butter hardens the clay. The issue in brokenness is not so much our circumstances, but our response. What is God trying to teach us? True brokenness is when He strips us of self-sufficiency to the extent that we've no strength left to fix ourselves. When God blocks every exit we try to take and we come to see that He alone is our answer, we make a life changing discovery. 'And what's that?' you ask. When God is all you have - God is all you need! Bottom line: God's power is reserved for those who have given up trying to do it in their own strength or to accomplish it for their own ends!
Soulfood Bible Readings - Deut 14-17,Luke 11:45-54, Ps 119:9-16,Pr 17:4-6 To view any more information please visit The Word For Today WebSite at www.thewordfortoday.com.au
A world that celebrates success doesn't see value in broken things. But God brings beauty out of brokenness. For a plant to rise from the soil the seed must be broken. For a baby chick to experience larger life the shell must be broken. Even a thoroughbred horse must be broken; it must learn to respond to the tug of the rein and the sound of the master's voice. Getting the idea? After a humbling encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, Paul re-evaluated all the religious activity he once boasted about and called it 'dung' (Philippians 3:8 KJV). And you don't brag about dung, you're repulsed by it.
Brokenness is the work of God by which He strips us of self-sufficiency so that the character of Christ may shine through us. Now don't misunderstand; being broken doesn't necessarily mean experiencing some tragedy. Many people suffer tragedy without drawing closer to God or even acknowledging Him. Indeed, the same sunshine that melts the butter hardens the clay. The issue in brokenness is not so much our circumstances, but our response. What is God trying to teach us? True brokenness is when He strips us of self-sufficiency to the extent that we've no strength left to fix ourselves. When God blocks every exit we try to take and we come to see that He alone is our answer, we make a life changing discovery. 'And what's that?' you ask. When God is all you have - God is all you need! Bottom line: God's power is reserved for those who have given up trying to do it in their own strength or to accomplish it for their own ends!
Soulfood Bible Readings - Deut 14-17,Luke 11:45-54, Ps 119:9-16,Pr 17:4-6 To view any more information please visit The Word For Today WebSite at www.thewordfortoday.com.au
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Recession Proof !?!
What's up fam!!! I'm told that the recession is coming to a slow and screeching halt. Not sure how true that is. I am curious though, about how some of you are "making it do, what it do" during the economic downturn. Hoping we get some feedback. I'm positive that more than a few folks could use both a word of encouragement and a word of wisdom
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
When family violence comes to church
Right away I could sense something was wrong. She seemed distant and a little disoriented. With more than a slight hint of worry I asked, "Is everything okay?" "I just received a terrible phone call." she muttered. My friend went on to explain, "We have a co-worker who we've suspected for a while is being battered by her husband," "We've approached her at various times. But she always denied the abuse." "Well, I just received a phone call. And she's dead."
This is a conversation that I had with a friend very recently. My friend and her co-workers are understandbly shattered and shaken by the senseless death of a colleague.
If you or someone you know is being abused get help now. Don't wait around for this person to harm you or others whom you love. You can call the church office (727) 896-5228 or you can call CASA... (800) 799-SAFE. "See then that you walk carefully. Not as fools but as wise. Redeeming the time for the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise. But understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:15-17)
This is a conversation that I had with a friend very recently. My friend and her co-workers are understandbly shattered and shaken by the senseless death of a colleague.
If you or someone you know is being abused get help now. Don't wait around for this person to harm you or others whom you love. You can call the church office (727) 896-5228 or you can call CASA... (800) 799-SAFE. "See then that you walk carefully. Not as fools but as wise. Redeeming the time for the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise. But understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:15-17)
Living life with God in view
Surrounded by those opposed to God and opposed to his ministry. Feeling pressed and pressured on every hand. The writer of Psalm 27 reminds us to live our lives with our face toward the Lord.He writes, "one thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after. That I may behold the beauty of the Lord all the days of my life and to inquire in His temple." In others words, as the psalmist sought God in daily experience through the art of worship he found that a fresh encounter of God's presence brought new enthusiasm (the excitement that comes from being in God) and the opportunity to receive wisdom from God's own mouth.It's in those moments of divine distraction that a person receives the stuff of life and living.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Learning What I Thought I Already Knew...
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time, for the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise. But understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:25
One of life's most sobering moments is the moment when you begin to live "wiser" (skillfully walking with God). You find yourself struck by how much you didn't know and how much more you've yet to learn.
The moment of my sobriety lead to a defining juncture in my life. I realized that I could no longer afford the price that experience charges for it's lessons.
Now I'm a "gold miner" digging into the riches of God's word, pouring over every nugget of wisdom and being made richer by the reading of it.
P.S. - The more I read and study God's word... I'm struck by how much I don't know. That's teaching me to choose my words carefully so that I don't speak foolishly.
"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time, for the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise. But understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:25
One of life's most sobering moments is the moment when you begin to live "wiser" (skillfully walking with God). You find yourself struck by how much you didn't know and how much more you've yet to learn.
The moment of my sobriety lead to a defining juncture in my life. I realized that I could no longer afford the price that experience charges for it's lessons.
Now I'm a "gold miner" digging into the riches of God's word, pouring over every nugget of wisdom and being made richer by the reading of it.
P.S. - The more I read and study God's word... I'm struck by how much I don't know. That's teaching me to choose my words carefully so that I don't speak foolishly.
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