'The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.' Psalm 84:11 NLT When God knows something is good for you He says ‘Yes’, and when it’s not, He says ‘No’. Why would God say ‘no’ to you? Maybe the timing is wrong, or He has something better in mind. Gratitude [...]
Year: 2014
Accepting Others
'Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.' Romans 15:7 NIV Sometimes people don’t make it easy to accept them. They can be bad–tempered, selfish, critical, irritating, dismissive, aggressive and pompous. Sometimes you want to give them a piece of your mind; give them what they deserve—anything but acceptance. The command, ‘accept one [...]
God Can Lift You Up (2)
'All things are possible to him who believes.' Mark 9:23 NKJV In order to access power, you have to go to the outlet and plug in to the source of it. That’s what happens when you pray in faith; you plug in to God’s power. Picture a boat trapped in mud and stuck on [...]
God Can Lift You Up (1)
'He will lift you up.' James 4:10 NKJV The Bible says, ‘Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.’ It works this way: when you try to exalt yourself, God brings you down, but when you humble yourself in His sight, He lifts you up. He does it because [...]
Accepting Yourself
'Predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.' Romans 8:29 NIV Studies show that many of us don’t like ourselves. A poll of college students confirmed that over 50 per cent suffered from low self–acceptance, with the majority citing their looks as the source of their unhappiness. ‘My nose is too long. My [...]
Accepted by God!
'He made us accepted in the Beloved.' Ephesians 1:6 NKJV There’s no pain worse than rejection and no pleasure greater than acceptance, which helps explain the length some people go to in order to avoid rejection and earn acceptance. But the good news is, with God you’re already accepted. JB Phillips translates Ephesians 1:6 like [...]
Seeking God (2)
'They saw the young Child...and worshipped Him.' Matthew 2:11 NKJV Notice two more things about the wise men: (1) How God guided them. ‘The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was…And when they had come into the house, they saw [...]
Seeking God (1)
'Wise men...came...saying, "Where is He...?"' Matthew 2:1-2 NKJV Notice two things about the wise men: (1) Who they were. Astrologers. Jews considered astrology to be a counterfeit to true prophecy. Be careful; there are people whose lifestyles you may disapprove of, who are honestly seeking God. So be gracious in your dealings with them. The [...]
Brokenness
'Not My will, but Yours be done.' Luke 22:42 NIV If your goal is to be used by God, don’t be surprised when He permits seasons of adversity and brokenness. Jesus experienced it, and He said, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ (John 15:20 NKJV) Jon Walker points out: ‘God’s intent isn’t [...]
Stop Fighting in Your Own Strength
'We do not wage war as the world does.' 2 Corinthians 10:3 NIV During World War II, Allied bombers carried machine guns in the nose, under the belly, on top, and in the rear. B–17s, better known as ‘flying fortresses’, carried thirteen .50 calibre machine guns. At one point scientists suggested the planes might actually [...]
Words or Actions?
'Let us not love with words...but...actions.' 1 John 3:18 NIV We must care about people’s spiritual and practical needs. It’s hard for someone to grasp the concept of God’s love when they don’t know where their next meal is coming from, or where they’ll sleep tonight. Food banks worldwide are seeing a dramatic upsurge in [...]
Mind Management (4)
'Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself.' Romans 12:3 PHPS Here are two more examples of mind management. A thought knocks on the door of your mind and says, ‘You’re so wonderful, the world is lucky to have you.’ Typically it’s the kind of thought you’d welcome, but you don’t do things the typical way. You [...]
Mind Management (3)
'For we are God's handiwork.' Ephesians 2:10 NIV Your mind is the doorway to your heart, and when a questionable thought arises, you always have a choice. You can throw the door open and let it in, or do what the Bible says: ‘Fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of [...]
Home Group – Hanukkah – The Feast Of Dedication
Hanukkah - The Feast Of Dedication Each year, around the time we prepare to celebrate Christmas, our Jewish friends celebrate Hanukkah. This year it began yesterday at sundown, Dec 16 and will finish on Dec 24, Christmas eve. It's interesting that this particular Jewish festival is mentioned in the New Covenant in John 10 and it's [...]
Mind Management (2)
'Fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ.' 2 Corinthians 10:5 PHPS Be careful what you allow into your mind, because your thoughts run your life. You say, ‘But thoughts come at me every day from all directions: at home, at work, through the media, in my relationships and in [...]
Mind Management (1)
'Above all else, guard your heart.' Proverbs 4:23 NIVWe hear a lot these days about time management, financial management and weight management—but what about mind management? Shouldn’t we be more concerned about managing our minds than managing anything else? Jesus was. He guarded the gateway of His heart by refusing to concede in three areas: [...]
Hooked Together!
'All of you together are the temple.' 1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT A little boy was playing outside when a neighbour asked him where his brother was. ‘In the house,’ he replied. ‘We were playing a duet on the piano—but I finished first!’ That wasn’t what God intended when He called us to work together! It’s [...]
Finishing Strong
'I must be about My Father's business.' Luke 2:49 NKJV If the word ‘quit’ is part of your vocabulary, chances are that the word ‘finish’ isn’t. Finishing means staying on the job until it’s done. It’s about accountability and action, because even when you’re on the right track you’ll get run over if you [...]
Be a Finisher
'I have finished the work You gave Me.' John 17:4 GNT Unfinished business drains your energy without you even realising it. William James said, ‘There is nothing so fatiguing as an uncompleted task.’ And the internet has made the problem worse, because now you get more ‘messages’ in one day than you used to get [...]
Trade-Offs (2)
'Hard work brings a profit.' Proverbs 14:23 NIV As you climb higher and accumulate more, you’ll discover that it’s harder to let go of what you’ve worked for. That’s why so many of us climb part–way up the mountain of our potential, and stop. We’re unwilling to give up what we have, in order [...]
Trade-Offs (1)
'I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.' Philippians 3:8 NIV No matter how hard you try, you can’t ‘have it all’. Life’s too short! There are trade–offs you must be willing to make. In Matthew chapter 19 we read the story of the man who wanted to follow Christ, [...]
What Do You Treasure Most?
'Where your treasure is...there your heart will be also.' Matthew 6:21 NIV If your house was burning down and you could only save one thing, what would it be? It’s a decision people make every day, and it’s never easy. There’ll always be things we grieve about giving up because of their intrinsic value in [...]
Home Group – The Time Of Messiah’s Coming
The Time Of Messiah's Coming Isaiah 7:14, 'Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.' frankbeckerde / Pixabay A very notable characteristic of the Jewish people is the fact that the Mashiach - Messiah - has [...]
Go in His Strength
'Go in the strength you have...Am I not sending you?' Judges 6:14 NIV It’s said, ‘There’s nothing stranger than people, but there’s nothing more important!’ Jesus understood that principle. He spent His life as ‘one who serves.’ (Luke 22:27 NIV) He ministered to society’s outcasts. He sought out the one sheep that was lost [...]
Stop Trying to Second-Guess God
'Nor are your ways My ways.' Isaiah 55:8 NKJV Are you doing what you believe to be God’s will, yet things aren’t working out like you expected? God has a different perspective—a better one. It’s ok to question Him, but not to doubt and second–guess Him. In His Word He says, ‘My thoughts are not [...]