Thursday, 3 October 2013
Act on Your Dream Today
 |
Act on Your Dream Today
Today's Scripture:
Write the vision [dream] and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.Habakkuk 2:2, NKJV.
Today's Word:
Have you ever known someone who had an exciting dream to do something great but did nothing to make it happen? It’s so important to act on the dreams that God has given you. You can take ownership of your dreams by planning and preparing for them. Remember, success is not accidental. Where do you see yourself in your career, finances or relationships? Put some action behind what you’re believing for. Maybe you don’t see how it can happen in the natural. The good news is you don’t have to have it all figured out. With your faith and obedience, God will work supernaturally in your situation to turn things around for good.Believe in your dreams today. I encourage you to write down your short and long-range goals. Keep them in front of you so you will stay focused. When you make a move, God will direct your steps. He’ll make sure you come across the right people, at the right time. God will give you wisdom, insight and favor as you take steps to bring your dreams to pass.
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the dreams You have given me. Today I will take steps toward seeing them come to pass. Help me to set goals and map out steps for victory so that I know where I’m going and how to accomplish my dreams. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.PS... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_NcescDvdQ
“This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9 NIV)
In the thousands of years covered in the Old Testament, God is called "Father" only seven times. People just didn’t think of God as Father. They thought of him as other kinds of things — creator, almighty one, etc. But they didn’t think of God as Father. Then Jesus came along and said this is how you’re to pray: Call him Father. Jesus uses the expression more than 150 times to refer to God.
What he’s doing is exploding all the stereotypes. God is not the angry tyrant. God is not the cosmic cop. He is not the universal killjoy. He is not the impersonal force. God is a person, not a power. God is a personal God. He has the ability to have a relationship with us, and he created you with the ability to have a relationship with him.
There’s only one problem. For many people, the word “father” is a negative term. The word “father” may bring up all kinds of bad memories. A lot of people say, “Our Father, who art in heaven? If God’s like my father, then no thanks, God."
The truth is, human fathers can make home a hell on Earth. Human fathers can be fickle, moody, abusive, controlling, and violent. So the words "our Father in heaven" carry a lot baggage for some people.
The reason why many people never connect with God is because they unconsciously think God is like their earthly father, who may have been unreasonable, so they think God is unreasonable. Or, maybe their father was unreliable, so they think God is unreliable. We impose all those mixed up hurts and emotions onto God, and it’s no wonder we have a hard time connecting with him.
Many kids today have very little connection to their father. So why would they be expected to have a connection with their heavenly Father? It’s no wonder we don’t understand God!
We need to let go of the misconceptions and myths we have about God so we can understand the truth of what God the Father is really like. Because the truth will set you free! Misconceptions keep you disconnected from God. But when you really know him, you’re going to love him.
Talk It Over
|
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Wife on vacation
| Updated January 8, 2012 - 12:00am
A businessman told me he was going to spend a lot of money to surprise his wife with a trip to Europe. It was her dream to travel there, and he was going to make it come true. Now this gentleman was not really known for his fidelity, so I was quite surprised with his sweet gesture. But when he explained why he was doing it, my admiration for him immediately went down the drain.
He said, “You know Francis, I have four children. Over the years, my wife has done a great job of taking care of them, tutoring them and raising them to be fine people. Do you know how much money you would have to spend if you were to get a nanny, a tutor and a domestic helper just to do the things she did? Money spent for Europe? It’s cheap compared to the alternatives. And besides, while she is away, I can do some extra marital activities on the side.”
Guess how many business people think the same way.
What if the wife really went on vacation? Things can really get ugly.
A man came home from work one day and found total mayhem. The three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud. Empty food boxes and wrappers were strewn across the yard. When he went inside the house, the mess was even worse. A lamp had been knocked over and the throw rug was wadded against the wall.
In the front room, cartoons were blaring on the TV. In the family room, clothing and toys were strewn all over. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, cereal was scattered on the counter, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over more piles of clothes and toys, to look for his wife. He was becoming more and more worried that she was ill or that something serious had happened. He found her in the bedroom, still curled up in bed in her pajamas, reading a book. She looked up at him and smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered, and asked, “What happened here today?”
She smiled and answered “You know how every day when you come home from work, you ask me what I do all day?”
“Yes” he said, baffled.
“Well,” she said “Today, I didn’t do it.”
I think the wives should be praised for the work they do. I can’t imagine having a home without my wife making it.
“Where’s home for you?” a stranger asked a fellow traveler on a plane.
“Wherever she is,” came the reply, as the man pointed to his wife.
This is so true, isn’t it?
We pay the nannies and the household help for their chores, but we hardly pay attention to the wife who makes the home. We really should. Somebody once said, “The bonds of matrimony are a good investment only when the interest is kept up.”
The wife is the closest neighbor we men will ever have, and when Jesus said love thy neighbor… Well, you know who He is referring to.
A businessman told me he was going to spend a lot of money to surprise his wife with a trip to Europe. It was her dream to travel there, and he was going to make it come true. Now this gentleman was not really known for his fidelity, so I was quite surprised with his sweet gesture. But when he explained why he was doing it, my admiration for him immediately went down the drain.
He said, “You know Francis, I have four children. Over the years, my wife has done a great job of taking care of them, tutoring them and raising them to be fine people. Do you know how much money you would have to spend if you were to get a nanny, a tutor and a domestic helper just to do the things she did? Money spent for Europe? It’s cheap compared to the alternatives. And besides, while she is away, I can do some extra marital activities on the side.”
Guess how many business people think the same way.
What if the wife really went on vacation? Things can really get ugly.
A man came home from work one day and found total mayhem. The three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud. Empty food boxes and wrappers were strewn across the yard. When he went inside the house, the mess was even worse. A lamp had been knocked over and the throw rug was wadded against the wall.
In the front room, cartoons were blaring on the TV. In the family room, clothing and toys were strewn all over. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, cereal was scattered on the counter, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over more piles of clothes and toys, to look for his wife. He was becoming more and more worried that she was ill or that something serious had happened. He found her in the bedroom, still curled up in bed in her pajamas, reading a book. She looked up at him and smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered, and asked, “What happened here today?”
She smiled and answered “You know how every day when you come home from work, you ask me what I do all day?”
“Yes” he said, baffled.
“Well,” she said “Today, I didn’t do it.”
I think the wives should be praised for the work they do. I can’t imagine having a home without my wife making it.
“Where’s home for you?” a stranger asked a fellow traveler on a plane.
“Wherever she is,” came the reply, as the man pointed to his wife.
This is so true, isn’t it?
We pay the nannies and the household help for their chores, but we hardly pay attention to the wife who makes the home. We really should. Somebody once said, “The bonds of matrimony are a good investment only when the interest is kept up.”
The wife is the closest neighbor we men will ever have, and when Jesus said love thy neighbor… Well, you know who He is referring to.
Take Hold of Your Dream
 |
Take Hold of Your Dream
Today's Scripture:
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses1 Timothy 6:12, NIV.
Today's Word:
One of the keys to seeing your dreams come to pass is to see them come to pass in your mind’s eye first. One of the greatest baseball players of our time told me that all through the day he sees himself hitting the ball. Before he gets up to the plate, he visualizes getting on base. He has this picture of himself succeeding. It’s gotten deep down on the inside, and now he’s moving toward it.Of course, it takes more than just visualization to see our dreams come to pass. It takes obedience; it takes prayer, and it has to be a part of God’s plan for our lives. But what I’m saying is that if you’ll keep the right pictures in your imagination, seeing yourself rising higher, seeing yourself healthy and whole, that’s going to get deep down on the inside and set the course for your life. When your mind is in agreement with God’s Word, it will help guide you toward your destiny. You will have a supernatural strength and power to see those dreams and desires come to pass in your life!
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, today I submit my dreams, desires and thoughts to You. Use my imagination for Your purposes. Help me to see the dreams You’ve placed within me coming to pass. Help me to see myself rising higher in every area and bring You glory in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.
|
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Dream Boldly
|
Dream Boldly
Today's Scripture:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you goJoshua 1:9, NIV.
Today's Word:
When you look out into your future, what do you see? What are the dreams and desires that you hold close to your heart?So many people start with bold dreams, but then opposition comes. Life doesn’t turn out the way they planned. They lose a loved one or encounter difficulty they didn’t anticipate. Today, if that’s you, I want to remind you that the Creator of the universe designed you with specific gifts and talents that no one else has. He has you on this planet for a specific purpose. When you commit your life to Him, He promises to be with you wherever you go. Even though some things in life may have caught you by surprise, they didn’t catch God by surprise. His good plan for your life remains. You can trust Him because He loves you with an everlasting love, and He doesn’t want to see you settling for anything less than His very best. I want to encourage you to be bold, be strong and be courageous. Put aside the past and lift up your eyes to Jesus. He is the Author and Finisher of your faith. Live boldly and dream boldly so you can embrace the good things He has in store for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father God, today I come boldly to You. I open my heart and mind to Your Word. Fill me with Your strength today; fill me with Your hope, and keep me close to You always as I put You first in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
PS...
“Live in me and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me." (John 15:4 GW)
Right before Jesus goes to the cross, he gives his last minute instructions to his followers: “Live in me and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me" (John 15:4 GW).
Jesus says that being spiritually connected is like being attached to a vine. You’re not going to have any fruitfulness or productivity in your life if you’re out there on your own. You’ve got to stay connected.
In plants, a disconnected branch can’t bear fruit. You not only don’t have the support, you not only start to whither and die, but you don’t have any productivity in your life if you’re not spiritually connected.
I grow a lot of vegetables and fruit every spring. If I cut off a branch, those branches aren’t going to produce any tomatoes or anything else. They’ve got to be connected in order to produce fruit.
What kind of fruit should you produce when you are connected to the Body of Christ? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control” (Galatians 5:22-23a NIV).
I don’t know about you, but I’d like to be more loving. I’d like to be more joyful. I’d like to be more at peace, no matter what happens to the economy. I’d like to be more kind to people who are mean to me. I’d like to be a good person. I want to be faithful, not unfaithful. I want to keep my promises. I’d like to be gentle with people who are not very gentle. And I’d like to have more self-control.
That’s called the fruit of the Spirit, and it's the evidence that you are spiritually connected. If you are not seeing yourself grow in all these things, guess what? It means you’re not spiritually connected.
He’s saying this is so important, not only do you need the support like in a building, and not only do you need the life blood like being in a body, he’s saying you’re not going to have any fruitfulness or any productivity in your life if you’re out there on your own. You’ve got to stay connected.
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)