Keep Moving Forward

Psalm 119 1-8

You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right—you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me.

The Christian Life is like riding a unicycle, you are either moving forward or moving backward but you can not remain stationary. Your thoughts and actions today will move you in one of those directions. We are either moving closer to God and His plan for our life or moving further away. We can not remain in the same place. So, what will it be today? You're already off to a great start, you are reading this.

There is Hope

Job 11:18 Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.

We all need hope. Hope for a better today and a brighter tomorrow. Hope is God's gift to us. We can choose to worry or despair or accept this gift of Hope. It is our choice. So, whatever you are facing do it with the Hope and Confidence that God knows what He is doing and he wants desperately for us to realize there is Hope in Him.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Charles Allen said:

"When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming a door in the face of God"

Do It Now

Colossians 1:9-10

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

If there is something you need to work on...Do It Now. If there is a goal you are working toward....Do It Now. If there is someone you need to forgive, or call, or see, or write to.......Do It Now. That is why God gave you this day. Do not let this time pass without doing and pursuing those things you know you should do. We put things off. Some are so bad they even put off putting things off. At the end of the day what can you say you really accomplished. Why not write down 5 things you want to get done today.....Do It Now.

Growing the Friut of Patience

Colossians 1:11

His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy.

Patience is one of the 9 fruits of the spirit. As Christ works in our lives we learn to be more patient. Patience is not the same as doing nothing, it was waiting to do the right thing. For example, when you come to a crosswalk in a busy city there are lights that tell you when to walk and when to wait. If you decide you do not want to wait you might be seriously injured and hurt others in the process. So, focus on today and trust that God will help you with tomorrow when it gets here. Do not try and rush into tomorrow before it comes. It will get here on time, I promise. Pray and ask God to help you develop this fruit of the Spirit in your life. You will find that you and those around you will be much happier and more productive.

Construction in Progress

Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

I want to thank Hazel King for writing the devotions for me last week while I was speaking at a Youth camp in Panama City Fl. I have spoken at this camp for the last 11 years. The Church is out of Knoxville TN. and is Central Baptist of Bearden.

Each year at this camp different things happen in the lives of the Young people and the leaders. In a way it is similar to the cars on this assembly line. Different people add to the car as it moves down the line with the goal of making a completed product that will fulfill it's purpose. As people we are different. It is not a cookie cutter production we are involved in, but each day changes are made in our lives helping us develop into the person God wants us to be. At this camp some young people accepted Christ and this was a MAJOR step in their development. Others decided to end some bad habits or begin new ones. Some decided to end relationships or met someone at camp and a new relationship started. Each day God is trying to add things to our lives and sometimes take things away. It is all part of a process with a specific goal of making us more like Christ. What is God trying to do in your life today? Will you allow Him to make the necessary changes needed for you to become more like Christ?

Something to Think About

Of all God's creatures, man is the one made a little lower than the angels and placed above other species. Yet man seems least able to maintain balance in his life. We could take a lesson from these sea creatures who take life one day, one hour - or even one meal - at a time. They don't regret the past or worry about the future; they just move with the current instead of against it. Life is going swimmingly for them. Sometimes we make life too complicated. We take on too many responsibilities and then get overwhelmed. We use our free time to schedule even more activities, turning play into work. No wonder we're stressed out. So today take time to simplify your life. Breathe in, breathe out. Focus on one thing at a time. Go with the flow. Immerse yourself in the ocean of God's love and provision. Rejoice that your sins are in the depths of the sea and that you are safe in God's lifeboat. As surely as the tides ebb and flow, God will steer you safely through the wind and waves into that heavenly harbor.

Hazel King

He is With Me

(Photo by Corliss Sinclair)

He is with me!
Such assurance!
Even when I’m most alone,
Seems that I can hear Him saying,
“I will not forsake my own.”

He is with me
While the storms rage.
He is with me through the night.
And I know that ‘mid the darkness
He will furnish me a light.

He is with me!
Yes, He promised
Through the valleys dark with pain,
I can count on Him to guide me
To the mountain’s peak again.

He is with me!
What a Savior!
I need never walk alone,
For He’s promised to be with me
To world’s end and yet beyond.

Hazel King

© 2009

Celebrating Freedom

Among the freedoms we recently celebrated is the freedom to worship who, where, when, and how we choose. This great country was founded on the principles of freedom and built on the practice of Christianity. I am grateful to live in a country where individual freedom is valued. God first established free will when he placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and gave them the choice to obey or disobey his command. Because they were deceived by Satan, they chose disobedience and the rest, as they say, is history. Joshua confronted the Israelites with that same choice before they crossed over to the Promised Land and made it known that his choice was to serve God. Each of us is faced with the same question. Will we remain in bondage to sin or receive the freedom Christ offers? You have freedom of choice. Will you choose freedom?

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36, KJV).

Hazel King
© 2009

Living in the Moment

Now this is a Kodak moment. Just seeing the joy on this little guy’s face gives me a good feeling. It takes so little to please children. They get so much pleasure from the simple things in life--things like standing under a sprinkler on a hot July day or watching a sparkler throw flaming stars into the darkness of the night. This little fellow isn’t worried about paying the mortgage or whether his stocks are up or down. He has no concern for where his next meal will come from or if he’ll have clean clothes to put on in the morning. His attention is therefore fully focused on the moment and the sensation of cool water on his skin. Would you like to experience that sense of security again? You can. We can rely on our heavenly Father to meet all our needs, just as this boy’s needs are met. All we need to do is trust him and stand under the shower of his blessings. Complete trust brings complete joy. Moment by moment.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11, NASB)

Hazel King
© 2009

Don't Just Sit There

Proverbs 3:9
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

Be productive today. If you see something that needs doing ,do it. If you see something that needs finishing, finish it. Use your time and energy well today so that at the end of the day you will have a sense of accomplishment. You may have a dream that you have been wanting to pursue. What are the practical steps you can take today to help make it come true? God does not just want us to be busy he wants us to be productive. Many Christians and Churches confuse activity with spirituality. They are not the same. We can be very busy and not accomplish anything. As you plan this day ask God to help you plan wisely, work efficiently, and accomplish much.

Who Has Time for Waiting?

Colossians 1:11

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

Sometimes it is wise to wait and sometimes it is wise to act. We need God help us know the difference and give us patience as needed. Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit. It has to be cultivated and it will take root and grow in our lives. Focus on what God has in store for you today and be patient concerning the things of tomorrow. Each day is it's own reward. Do not miss today looking for tomorrow. There is a wise German Proverb that says...."Patience is a bitter plant, but it has a sweet fruit."

A Bigger Perspective

1 Corinthians 1:25

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Suppose for a moment that you are standing before a huge painting, blind-folded. Then your nose is placed up against the painting and the blind-fold is removed. Your perspective of the painting would be very limited. You would only have knowledge of the image directly in front of you. You would need to step back in order to get a complete perspective. That is how it is with us sometimes. We can only see such a small amount of what is going on in the world, even in our own lives. We need to ask God to help us See the big picture. Ask God today to help us see things from His perspective. We may be standing to close and need to step back or too far away and need to get closer.

"One never knows what each day is going to bring. The important thing is to be open and ready for it."

Henry Moore

How Will You Spend Them?

Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

You have 86,400 of them everyday. Only you can decide what to do with them. Once they are gone you can not get them back. What are they?

SECONDS. We all have 86,400 seconds everyday. Many use them to pursue wealth, love, pleasure, knowledge. But, we must ask ourselves...Am I spending my time wisely? We have so many non-essential activities in our lives that waste those precious seconds. How do you use your time? Are the activities you are involved in worthwhile? If you only had 6 months to live would you change the way you spend your time? If so maybe it is worth considering. Do we own our possessions or do they own us? What sort of time do we give God everyday? Have you told someone you love them yet today? Why not take 10 seconds right now and express your love to God. I promise that will be good use of them. Then decide how you will use the other 86,390 seconds you have left. Listen, can you hear them ticking?

Two Times to Pray

Psalm 138:3 As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

There are two times to pray....When you feel like it and when you don't. Prayer is something many do during times of desperation. It should be something we do everyday to improve our relationship with God and to and to help us understand His direction for our lives. When you love someone you want to talk to them each day. God is that way with us. If we say we love someone very much but only talk to them a couple of times a month that would be strange. So, find that quiet place and time when you can communicate with God today. You might not have a great deal to say but maybe God does.

You are What You Eat

Ecclesiastes 7:23 23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"—

You could also extend this to be .."You are What you Think." How you think about God, yourself, and Others has a great deal to do with how you view life. Everything we do begins with our thoughts. If we think in a negative or pessimistic manner that will translate into a negative and defeated lifestyle. If we think in a positive way and have an optimistic outlook that will result in having a positive outlook on life. So, be careful what you eat or you might end up looking like the guy in this picture. Also, be careful what you think for it will determine your whole outlook on life.

Psalm 104:34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.

Smile

Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.

Contentment and happiness are not really the same. Happiness is usually brought about by outside circumstances. For example...You received a good grade, won some money,asked out on a date with someone you like. Contentment is more internal and does not depend on day to day circumstances. Contentment comes from a mature faith. We know sometimes things will not go our way and difficult circumstances may arise but, we can still be content knowing God loves us and will help us work out our situation. We can also do a great deal to help others with their attitudes. We could be like the guy in the picture. Everyone is drawn to people ( and animals) that smile. We avoid those who scowl. Try it today Make a conscious effort to smile at folks and you will brighten up both your day and theirs.

We All Need a Little Help Sometimes

2 Kings 8:13 Hazael responded, “How could a nobody like me ever accomplish such great things?”

I have heard the following question asked and I will pose it to you today. "What one thing would you do if you were brave enough to attempt it?"

The truth is how will you ever know unless you try? It is not you alone. It is you and God together. The Bible says in Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Now either that is true or that verse needs to be taken out of the Bible. Why not believe it, trust it, have faith in it? Satan wants you to believe that you are by yourself, that God is not aware or concerned about you. Nothing could be further from the truth. God promised that He would never leave you or forsake you. That is a promise you can count on. So, what are you going to do? Live out your days never knowing what you and God could have done together if you tried, or are you just going to lie there in the street and wait for death to come and run you over. Get up, Get Going, Do it Now.

Do Not Be Afraid

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Sometimes it seems as though we are surrounded by problems, enemies, troubles, and obstacles. What we must remember is that we are always surrounded by God and His protection. God told Joshua when he crossed into Canaan to be strong and courageous because God would be with him all the way. That same God is with you today. We fight battles of all kinds but if we will allow God to give us direction and protection we do not have to fight alone. Where ever you are whatever you are going through God is with you today. Be Strong!

Be Quiet and Listen

Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

We have so many distractions in this busy world we live in. We are so busy trying to catch planes, classes, the news, phone calls, that we don't hardly have time to catch our breath. No wonder God has such a hard time getting through to us. We need to stop and be still long enough to hear His voice and spend some time with Him each day. That is why we were created you know, to fellowship with our Creator. Today for just a few minutes after reading this close your eyes and listen for the still small but very powerful voice of God. If you do you will hear Him and, it will be the best thing you hear all day long. It will also give you the proper perspective on all the other things you hear today. Satan will try to create so many distractions that you can not hear the voice of God. Do not let that happen. Be quiet and Listen.

Why Worry?

Proverbs 12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Does this guy look worried to you? Perhaps he has learned the secret that worry robs us of our energy and does nothing to solve the problems. Focus all that "worry energy" on something positive, like prayer. Can you imagine how much better life would be if we prayed as much as we worried? If there is something you can do to take care of a situation then do it. If not then devote your energy and time to things that can actually make a difference. It is really all about trust. If we constantly worry then we are saying we do not TRUST God to guide us through the tough times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiYgpPB1kwU

Yesterdays Devotion

I had such a good response to yesterdays devotion that I am going to leave it up one more day. We could all use a little more love in the world. If you read it yesterday I apologize but maybe you could share it with a few friends. That would be an act of love in itself. Thank you for reading the devotions each day. I hope you get something our of it. It helps me in my walk with God to write them.I hope you all have a Happy and Healthy 4th of July weekend and I will have a new devotion posted for you on Friday. Thanks

Jeff

Love is a Verb

1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

"I Love You." How often we say and hear those words. We use that word Love to describe a lot of things...I love ice cream, baseball, pizza. In the Greek language there are several words use for Love. The one we are striving for is "Agape" Now there are several definitions for that word but recently I read a quote by Thomas Merton that summed it up nicely.

"Love seeks one thing only: the good of the one loved."

Read it again and let it sink in. Many say I love you but their actions will always outweigh their words. The tone we use with people, the patience we show towards them, the action we use to express our love. These things speak so loudly. You may say well I bought a card or flowers or took my spouse to dinner. If that is how you define and interpret love it is NOT ENOUGH. Love is not an emotion it is an act of the will. Jesus shows us that. Children sometimes show it best. Unconditional unselfish love from pure motives. Express your love today for others not in words but actions. Having a hard time figuring out what to do? Good. Maybe it is something we are supposed to think about for a while. Don't you just LOVE that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGRyYKF5jVY