March 2010
1 post
"I'm Listening Today..."
Today’s verses & devotional thoughts (pages 72-73 in the One Minute Bible for Starters) helped highlight the importance of stillness (aka: chosen, purposed quietness) before God. The “author insightfully pointed out that media and other “mindless entertainment” has some less-than-obvious drawbacks (that go along with the ones that are patently obvious - like content...
February 2010
14 posts
#LLC21Days - Juicyfruit Anyone?
(Day 18)
I love this insight from today’s scriptures: Whatever I bury (conceal, hide, etc.) I plant in the fertile soil of my heart and that ultimately produces fruit.
Today’s passages spotlight the fact that I am the one who chooses what I conceal (bury, hide, plant, etc.) in my heart what I choose to uncover (disclose, confess, repent, remove, etc.).
Wow! What a powerfully simple...
#LLC21Days - Unlocking The Power Of Praise
Praising God seems counterintuitive most of the time.
When things are going great, my tendency is to focus on how much I‘m loving it (losing sight of the fact that “Every good and perfect thing comes from God…” - not me.) When things are really rough, I tend to focus on how much I dislike the experience I’m having. Either way, that focus is on the wrong thing: Me!
...
#LLC21Days - When Darkness Is Truly Dark...
(Day 15)
There are days where the pressures and uncertainties of life mount so high it seems there is no summit to them. There, suspended on the treacherous slopes of peril, the winds of concern accelerate from a slight breeze to a howling hurricane of dread or worse.
If not for the recall of God’s supernatural faithfulness I have witnessed on the timeline of my life thus travelled,...
#LLC21Days - God's Word Is So Powerful!
(Day 12)
I love the perspective today’s verses (Psalm 19:7-10, 2 Timothy3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12 NIV) bring to the function and power of God’s Word at work in me when I choose to read, learn and apply it in my daily life. Nothing else can do what God’s Word can do!
“God, Thank you for the power of your Word. It brings insight, clarity, hope, joy and a host of wonderful...
#LLC21Days - The Shield of God's Favor
(Day 11)
Psalm 5:12 was a powerful reminder of the benefit of living in right standing (i.e. as the righteous) with God. Every “sacrifice” I make (i.e. dying to my flesh, walking in humility and premeditated forgiveness, etc.) is nothing compared to the blessing of God and His favor that surrounds the righteous “like a shield.”
“God, thank you for reminding me when...
#LLC21Days - Counting the Cost
(Day 10)
In today’s scriptures, Jesus said that following Him means me making the choice to deny myself (my self-centered flesh desires), take up my cross (live out His purpose for my life) and follow Him (let Him call the shots and direction for my life).
Seen from the perspective of my flesh desires, this is an enormously costly decision. Seen from the perspective of my spirit and...
#LLC21Days - Truly Amazing Grace!
(Day 9)
Redemption alone is a miraculously wonderful gift from God. Every time I contemplate the fact that God did for me what I could never do for myself (salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ), I am overwhelmed by that expression of unconditional love.
Then, amazingly enough, God has chosen us to be a significant part of His body on the earth through the gifts of the Spirit given to...
#LLC21Days - Keeping It Clean
(Day 8)
God used today’s scriptures to underscore the importance of staying in close fellowship with Him.
It’s in my best interest to keep my life clean so the Holy Spirit is free to work in my heart and mind unhindered by sin’s caustic, distorting effect.
“God, help me keep a close guard on my mind and heart today (Prov. 4:23) and eagerly welcome and cherish your...
#LLC21Days - God as My Father
The reading from day 6 took me through various scriptures that outline our relationship with God as His children.
I am so grateful to God for how He has chosen to reveal Himself and relate to us. He relates to us like a loving Father (as opposed to a cruel, powerful self-centered tyrant…)
I will walk through my day today comforted by the knowledge that my Heavenly Father is watching over...
#LLC21Days - The Benefit of Consistency
Today God reminded me of the importance of being consistent in the process outlined in yesterday’s devotional reading (making decisions in life - big and small - based on my relationship with God through His Word, prayer, fellowship, etc.)
In addition to that being the avenue to learning to live free from sin’s grip, the constant use of that process actually trains me to distinguish...
#LLC21Days - A Key To Defeating Sin's Grip...
Thank God we’re not left we’re not left alone to try to win over sin. I absolutely love today’s scripture! (Eph 1:17-19)
One of sin’s major power points is deception. Sin seems to conceal its true destructive nature and intention behind an alluring disguise that is adopted to appeal directly to the desires of my flesh. This is the primary reason that depending on my own...
Tension Between Two Worlds
Day 3 is framed on Romans 7:15-25. This scripture is a potent reminder that my flesh is constantly tempted and pulled on by the tug (enticement and alluring familiarity) of sin.
It also, however, spotlights that my spirit is drawn to and delights in God and His law.
The tension between those two forces is real and often produces a frustration inside me. And, if I depend on the feelings and...
Dialoguing With Doubt - A Recipe For Disaster
Day 2 of the LLC 21-day launch plan working through the One Minute Bible together opens with a section of Genesis 3. While meditating on the scriptures this morning, the Holy Spirit helped me see a pattern in Eve’s dialogue with the serpent in the garden of Eden.
Satan’s tactic to dislodge Adam and Eve from fellowship and communion with God opened with the question, “Did God...
Hungry or Thirsty?
I enjoyed kicking off the Life Link 21 day plan this morning in the One Minute Bible. I was particularly encouraged by John 6:35 referring to Jesus as the Bread of Life. The promise is that those who come to Him won’t go hungry or thirsty. The Lord challenged me to identify areas of life that I begin to depend on other sources and realize that no one or nothing else can be what He is to me....