The Great Pyramid

The most important goal you can have

by: Ptr. Graham

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Colossians 3:1-2
 

Any sprinting coach will tell you that when you’re running a race, don’t look anywhere but ahead. That’s because when you turn your head to the left or the right, it will inevitably cause your body to turn as well. And as anyone knows, running anything but a straight line will slow you down!

Yet many people today are running the race of life with their heads to the side. They worry about what others think of them. They focus on just keeping up with the people in the lane next to them. But in any race, the focus should always be on the goal, not the other competitors.

In the Christian life, we can’t allow the world’s distractions to take our focus off the goal. We have to keep our eyes on the prize: Jesus Christ. While the pressures of this world compete for our attention, we have to remember that what we’re living for is not in this world!

If you run the race looking at people, you’ll be disappointed. If you focus on the pressures of the world, you’ll be overwhelmed. But if you look at Jesus, you’ll never be dismayed. He’s the One to whom we look. Keep your eyes on Him.

IN THE RACE OF LIFE, KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS AND YOU’LL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED.

Fire up Your Dreams

Fire up Your Dreams

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…

2 Timothy 1:6, NIV.

TODAY’S WORD

I believe that God has planted seeds of greatness on the inside of every one of us. We all have dreams and desires, things we want to accomplish; things we want to see changed. But so many times, life has a way of stealing our dreams. We go through disappointments, face adversity, things don’t turn out as we would like. Too often, people just end up settling for second best. But God doesn’t want us to settle for second best. He wants us to be determined, press on, and pursue the greatness that’s on the inside. We should never let “good enough” be good enough!

I want to encourage you today to stir yourself up and get your fire back. Start speaking victory over your future. If one dream has died, dream another dream. Put yourself in a positive, faith-filled environment. Get around people of excellence who live passionately. Fan the flame that is in you so you can move forward into all God has in store for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I come to You today giving You my disappointments, setbacks, hurts and broken dreams. I ask that You restore my passion and vision for the future. Let Your flame burn brightly in me now and forevermore in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

Face Your Faults with Courage byRick Warren “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” (1 John 1:8 NLT) Many of us wear masks of some sort. We don’t want anyone to see the real us; we don’t want anyone to see our faults. Often, we try to cover up our faults and mistakes in one of two ways: We blame others. Adam did this after he ate from the tree. He blamed Eve (who blamed the snake). We’ve been blaming others ever since. We don’t want to admit our faults, so we turn the attention to someone else. We just want to get the focus off of us. We also make excuses. We pretend nothing is wrong. Life is going great. We’ve got it all together. Unfortunately, pretending doesn’t work. The Bible says in I John 1:8, " If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth" (NLT). You have to face your faults to be freed from them. Face it head on, and own it: “I did it. I’ve been arrogant in how I’ve treated people. I haven’t been a good father or a good husband. I’ve been a poor leader.” It’s time you just said it. Don’t use the word but at the end of the confession. Don’t say, “It’s not a big deal.” Don’t try to tell people it’s really a strength. Just admit it, and be free. Talk About It What would the freedom that comes with facing your faults allow you to do?

China Beijing Olympic National Stadium

Don't Let Others Limit Your Dreams

Don't Let Others Limit Your Dreams

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?

Romans 3:3, NIV.

TODAY’S WORD

Have the opinions of other people caused you to water down your dreams? There will always be critics and naysayers in life. It’s not what’s said about you that affects your life, but what you say and believe about yourself.

One of the most important things you can learn is that other people don’t have to believe in you in order for your dreams to come to pass. Other people don’t set the limits for your life—you do. In Romans 3:3, the Apostle Paul is saying, “It doesn’t matter if other people don’t believe. Their unbelief is not going to keep me from believing in my dreams.” When God puts a promise in your heart, it’s not up to other people to bring it to pass, it’s up to you! You don’t need everyone to validate you. You have to follow the voice of God for yourself and allow Him to order your steps.

Remember, God sees the hidden treasures that you’ve had buried on the inside of you. He wants to bring those treasures out and make your dreams reality! As you get rid of old, defeated thoughts and replace them with what God says about you, you will remove the limits and live the abundant life God has in store for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to see Your goodness in my life. Today, I take off the limits and embrace the dreams You’ve placed in my heart. Empower me by Your Spirit to fulfill Your plan for me in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

You Were Chosen for Ministry

byJon Walker

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)

• The Bible teaches that every Christian is:

• Created for ministry (Ephesians 2:10)

• Saved for ministry (2 Timothy 1:9)

• Called into ministry (1 Peter 2:9-10)

• Gifted for ministry (1 Peter 4:10)

• Authorized for ministry (Matthew 28:18-20)

• Commanded to minister (Matthew 20:26-28)

• Prepared for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12)

• Needed for ministry (1 Corinthians 12:27)

• Accountable for and rewarded according to his or her ministry (Colossians 3:23-24)

This means ordinary people with children and jobs and mortgages and really, really full calendars — in other words, people just like you and me — are called to be ministers from God.

What does this mean?

God shaped you for ministry. The God of the universe shaped you uniquely to make a contribution in this world and the world to come.

God will support you in ministry. There is no way you can fail in your mission unless you fail to accept the calling of ministry that comes with being a Jesus-one.

God will answer your questions. Ask God how he wants you to contribute. Ask him how he wants to use the way he’s created you to uniquely serve him. Ask God, “What kind of God-legacy do you want me to leave?”

Thank God you are among “the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you” (1 Peter 2:9 MSG).

Talk About It

• What do you believe God has called you to do in ministry?

• What are you doing to fulfill what you believe God has called you to do? Are you ministering with the confidence of God’s support?

Strong Woman & A Woman of Strength

Pursue Your Strengths

Pursue Your Strengths

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Do not neglect your gift…” (I Timothy 4:14).

TODAY’S WORD

God has equipped each one of us with specific gifts and talents. It’s up to you to not only to identify those gifts, but to be disciplined to develop those gifts. You have to learn to stay in your strength zone. What are you naturally good at? What do you enjoy doing? Take the time to identify your strengths and weaknesses and as the scripture says, give yourself to your gifts. In other words, don’t spend all your time trying to improve your weaknesses. Don’t waste valuable days pursuing things that are outside your main gifting. Focus on your strengths.

There is something that you’re good at naturally—something you can do that comes easy to you. Step out into your area of gifting. Are you good with people? Are you good with your hands? Do you have a great voice? Find ways to develop those gifts. Know that your gifts and talents are a part of your divine destiny. If you’ll be comfortable with who God made you to be, and thank Him for your unique gifting, you’ll not only enjoy your life more, but you’ll be ready to receive the abundant blessing God has in store for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me with everything I need to be successful in this life. I ask that You show me how to develop the gifts within me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***

God’s Personal Attention to Detail byRick Warren Your hands shaped me and made me. Job 10:8 (NIV) God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise. Some animals run, some hop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each has a particular role to play based on the way they were shaped by God. The same is true with humans. Before God created you, he planned exactly how he wanted you to serve him, and then he shaped you for those tasks. He carefully shaped and formed you to serve him in a way that makes your ministry unique. God never wastes anything. He would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless he intended to use them for his glory. Talk about it What abilities, talents, and gifts has God given you? How do you think God wants you to use them? What interests do you have that can be used to serve God? Why do you think God gave you the personality you have? What kind of service do you think he had in mind?