ONE DAY AT A TIME

James 4:13-14Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such acity, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:(14)Whereas ye know not what on the morrow. For what yourlife? It is even a [vapour], that appeareth for a little time, andthen vanisheth away.

Life is not difficult if we take it one day at a time. Jesus taught us to take one day at a time.

Matthew 6:34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day the evil thereof.

It can be overwhelming to try to plan a lifetime. What we need to do is make the best of each day that God has given us.

TODAY I WILL:
1. WORK ON MY LITTLE PROBLEMS AND NOT TRY TO SOLVE EVERYTHING AT ONCE

2. MAKE UP MY MIND TO BE AS HAPPY AS I POSSIBLY CAN Abraham Lincoln said, "Most folks are about as happy as they makeup their minds to be."

3. TODAY I WILL DEAL WITH THINGS REALISTICALLY There is a little prayer that you see on a lot of plaques and pictures that simply says, "Lord help me to be reasonable. There are things in the world that need to be different. Help me to change the things I can and accept the things I cannot change."

4. TODAY I WILL SPEND SOME QUIET TIME WITH GOD TODAY I WILL PRAY: TODAY I WILL READ AND STUDY GOD'S WORD TODAY I WILL MEDITATE AND THINK FOR AWHILE ON SPIRITUAL THINGS

5. TODAY I WILL TRY TO FINISH SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN PUTTING OFF.

6. TODAY I WILL WORK ON SOME AREA OF MY LIFE AND TRY TO IMPROVE. I WILL ESPECIALLY TRY TO GROW SPIRITUALLY TODAY.

7. TODAY I WILL BE EASY TO GET ALONG WITH

8. TODAY I WILL TRY DO MY BEST TO WITNESS TO SOMEONE WHO IS LOST.


WE SHOULD BE MOVED WITH COMPASSION

Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Jesus had compassion on the hungry multitude, both the physically hungry and the spiritually hungry. We too should be moved with compassion.
We should have compassion for those less fortunate and do what we can to help them. I am a firm believer that the welfare state in our country is a destructive force. It is far more compassionate to give people a hand than it is to give them a handout. I am not saying that there aren't times when we must charitably give to people. Many people find themselves in dire straits through no fault of their own.I am saying how much more compassionate it is to teach someone to take care of themselves than it is to just take care of them.
We should be moved to minister to others. Sometimes our compassion may lead us into a special ministry. Visiting the elderly in a nursing home or working with disabled veterans are great ministries and all you need is a compassionate heart and some time. Mentoring young people is a wonderful ministry, especially with so many without a proper family environment.
We should be moved by compassion for the lost. It is easy to complain about the crime and all the sin in the world but what are we doing to help with the problem. If we have compassion on the lost we will tell them about Jesus and His wonderful plan of Salvation.

WE SHOULD BE MOVED BY GODLY FEAR

Acts 24:24-25 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. {25} And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
We should be moved with conviction of the sin in our life. Unlike Felix we should make things right with God at this time and not try to wait for a convenient season. What could be more convenient than right now.
Once we are moved by God to be convicted (strongly convinced of the seriousness) of our sins we should be moved to repentance. We hear the word repent a lot. What it really means is a change of direction. Repentance should bring about a change of heart so strong that it cause a change of our direction. Instead of moving away from God we will move toward Him.
The closer we move toward God, the closer we move to righteousness. Righteousness can only be found and achieved through Jesus Christ.Don't wait for a convenient season. Move toward God now.

WE SHOULD BE MOVED BY OUR FAITH

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
We need to be moved by having faith in God's warnings. When Noah built the Ark it had never rained before, a mist came up from the ground and watered the Earth. Noah believed God's warning and built the Ark. The whole human race was saved because Noah believed God was going to send a flood. Only His family survived, therefore, we are all descendants of Noah.
We also need to be moved by faith in God's promises. Just as with a warning, a promise will come to pass. Many of God's promises are conditional. If we really have faith we will accept the conditions.Always remember that it is God's desire to bless you and for you to have the best. He has let us know the way to have the very best through His promises in the Bible. Sometimes it takes faith not to settle for what we think is good and lose what God says is best.

WE SHOULD BE MOVED BY THE SPIRIT

Judges 13:24-25 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and thechild grew, and the LORD blessed him. (25) And the spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in thecamp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake moved by the Holy Ghost.

Sometimes we know the Spirit is moving us to speak to someone. Maybe it is to share the gospel, maybe it is to encourage them, and maybe it is to gently rebuke them for some sin. So often we struggle to keep from saying something when it is really time to all the Spirit to move us to speak.
There are also times when the Spirit moves us to act and we do nothing. We might be afraid or timid. We might not want to make a committment or there may be some other reason. When the Spirit of God leads us to act we should act. God will not lead us to do somehthing that He will not Help us do.
We should let the Spitit move us toward worship of God. The best definition I have ever heard of Worship is : an overflowing adoration. So many times we meet and sing, listen to the preaching, have an invitation and go home without ever worshiping. If we are sensitive to the leading of the Spirit we will be drawn into worshipful experience.

WE SHOULD BE MOVED BY GOD

2 Chronicles 18:31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them from him.

We should pray for God to remove the obstacles that keep us from serving Him. The obstacles are many and sometimes they are so overwhelming that we can't work our way around them on our own. Sometimes calling out to God for Him to remove the obstacles is the only way. God doesn't want anything standing in the way of our serving Him. You have to be careful when you ask God to remove an obstacle you might be asking Him to remove an opportunity.

We should ask God to move our enemies. You notice that I didn't say remove them. It is imperative that we pray for our enemies and strive to win them to the Lord. If we pray for God to move them and to change their hearts they will no longer be our enemies but will become our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

We shoul pray for God to move in our own hearts and give us a burden for the lost and a burning desire to serve Him better. When God moves us it is always in the right direction.

WHAT SHOULD MOVE US?

Ps 10:4-7 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. (5) His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. (6) He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. (7) His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
It seems that we live in a time when people are looking for some sort of moving experince. They want music to move them or they want books or TV or other moving experiences. One of the problems with many people is that they are looking for everthing to move them but what they should be moved by.
The upcoming series of devotionals are on things that should move us. Too often we are stationary or stagnant when we should be moved by a love for the Lord to go forward and serve Him. I hope you receive a blessing from the devotionals.

BE DEDICATED

Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Being faithful takes a commitment. It is a conscious choice on our parts that we are going to trust God.
We must commit our way to Him. If we are to walk with Him we must learn to listen, to believe and to follow. His word may not address every issue to the letter but it will address every concept that we encounter.
We are taught much about putting others before our own feelings and about forgiveness and seeking a closer walk with Him. We must pray, study His word and most of all share His love, through Jesus, with those we come in contact with.
We must cling to His promises and realize that it is He who will bring it to pass. Make a commitment today to trust in Him and receive the blessings that God wants to give you.

BE FAITHFUL

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

This verse of scripture was written by John just before he was to reveal to us the terrible tribulation of the last days. His message was plain, be faithful.
When things are going your way, be faithful. When things turn against you, be faithful. Even if you are persecuted be faithful.Think abou the word faithful. It means full of faith. Not faith in your abilities or your own strength but faith in a Great and Mighty God who is all powerful.
Remember Who it is that we have faith in. He is the Creator of all things. He is the sustainer of all things. All that there is, is because of Him. He is a Holy God and he has made promises to those who believe that He will never break because of His Holy nature.
John said it well, "Be thou faithful unto Death
The next few days devotionals will be lessons on how to be faithful. I hope you receive a blessing from them.

Surviving Disaster Introduction

We know that disaster might strike at any time. It could be in the form of an earthquake, a storm, an accident, a hurricane, or even an attack on our country. We also have many spiritual disasters that strike and in the next few days I will be giving some hints on disaster survival.

SEEK REFUGE FROM THE DISASTER

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God refuge], and underneath the everlasting arms:

Many times we have warnings of disaster, such as tornadoes. We know that we should seek a safe place to ride out the storm.I rode out Hurricane Katrina in my Toyota parked beside an abandoned school house for about 6 hours. Next time I will know to get out of the way. We learn from experience.
The same is true with the spiritual storms that come into our life. Many times we can see them coming but we make no preparation to avoid them and take shelter. The best way is to walk daily with God and let Him embrace you each day in His everlasting arms. Trust Jesus and try to follow Him on a daily basis and there is no greater refuge in time of a storm.

Sorry about being late publishing today. I should be back on schedule now.

NOT EVEN DEATH

1Corinthians 15:55-57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?(56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We hear a lot about life expectancy and how to lengthen our lives. You can't open an electronic gadget without reading a warning that if you fail to unplug it it could cause injury or death.
I guess as you get older you begin to think more about death. When you get sick you think a little more about it. As a pastor I have heard people say of someone, "They are in bad shape, they are dying." I am not making light of people who are terminally ill but we all have something terminal, it is called life. If the Lord doesn't come back for us first we are all going to die.
That might sound morbid and seam to be negative but the truth is if you read the rest of the verses surrounding the ones above you realize that death does not have victory over the believer. The believer in Jesus has victory of death, hell, and the grave.
If you are ever reading the obituaries and see my name and it says that I am dead, don't believe it. At that time through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior I will be more alive than I have ever been before. "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord," for the believer. Not even death can defeat those who have victory in Christ.

I CAN - BUT I WON'T

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
This is probably one of the most quoted scriptures in the New Testament. We use it when we are struggling with a problem or going through hard times. We especially use it when we want to gain victory over certain difficulties.
It is a shame that there are so many times that we do not use it. Instead we say, "I can't."
I can't stop this bad habit or behavior.
I can't forgive someone for what they did.

I can't give as I know I should.

I can't get along with someone.

I can't get over a tragedy.
I could go on and on but I think you get the point. The scriptures never lie. If we are perfectly honest with ourselves we can, through Christ Who strengthens us, but we won't. We won't because if we are perfectly honest we don't want to.

All things is a pretty inclusive statement. Whenever you start thinking I can't, just remember you can if you will.