What is more exciting than reading and digging into the Word of God? When I really want to read and study the Word I get really excited. Now, there is a difference in just reading God's Word and really studying and getting into it.
I believe reading the Word is better than not but I do believe when really studying the Word it is so exciting. No matter how many times you read the Bible there is always something new to learn about. Perhaps you read and read and it really doesn't seem to help you understand a certain verse but then there is, THAT day you read it and WOW you know exactly what it means. Perhaps God was allowing you to dig deeper into His Word so that you would learn what you didn't know and then it was time for you to understand that verse that you just couldn't understand. That is God. He works so wonderfully for each of us. There is no two people that He teaches exactly the same way.
II Timothy 2:15 is a verse each of us can learn from. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." If we study the Word of God we will be prepared for what might arise. If we don't know what the Word talks about we will not be able to tell people about the Lord.
The Lord has given us so many things to know, how do we learn these things? We read and study the Word of God. I have heard many people say the Word is to hard to read. I don't believe that. If we pray for understanding the Holy Spirit will reveal the true meaning of the Word. We are given a strong assurance of the divine origin of the Scripture.
The Word of God tells us how to live every day of our life. Isn't it exciting when we know how to live. It tells us to love one another, to forgive. everything has a season, and the exciting part is, it tells us God the Father loves us very much. He wants us to know everything about Him and we will someday have a permanent home to live with Him.
When we read and study Scripture we are showing faithfulness to the Lord. Aren't we supposed to please God? If we don't read Scripture we have no idea how to please Him. By knowing the Word we will not be compromising the truth of the gospel. We need to obey God and remain loyal to all truth.
One of the things Scripture warns us about is false teachers. How else are we really going to know about these false teachers if we haven't read and studied God's Word? We need to know so much about Scripture and I believe no matter how long/often we have read and studied the Word we will never know everything about them. That doesn't mean we should just give up and not want to learn. On the contrary, it should make us want to read and study every day. Get excited for the Word.
How do you read the Word, do you just read or do you read and study and expect the excitement of learning more about the Word and God?
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving
Just wanted to wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and praying your day will be an awesome day.
Remember to give the Lord praise for your life and what He is doing in your life. I always thank and praise Him for my life and what He is doing in my life. There is nothing I could or can do if it weren't for Him. He is an awesome God. He is with me every single minute of the day and I thank Him for this. I also thank Him for the guidance He gives me, not just today but every day. Isn't it wonderful just knowing He is with us every single minute? When we feel alone it isn't that He has left us but because we have walked away from Him. Hebrews 13:5, tells us that He will never leave nor forsake us. I count on this promise daily. I know He loves me and never wants me to be alone. This is an awesome feeling to have. Could we ask for anything any better than that? I think not.
Anyway I just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving.
What are you thankful for not just today but everyday?
Remember to give the Lord praise for your life and what He is doing in your life. I always thank and praise Him for my life and what He is doing in my life. There is nothing I could or can do if it weren't for Him. He is an awesome God. He is with me every single minute of the day and I thank Him for this. I also thank Him for the guidance He gives me, not just today but every day. Isn't it wonderful just knowing He is with us every single minute? When we feel alone it isn't that He has left us but because we have walked away from Him. Hebrews 13:5, tells us that He will never leave nor forsake us. I count on this promise daily. I know He loves me and never wants me to be alone. This is an awesome feeling to have. Could we ask for anything any better than that? I think not.
Anyway I just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving.
What are you thankful for not just today but everyday?
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Prayer
When we pray are we praying with a sincere heart or are we just praying? Maybe you have told someone you would pray for them and then got busy and forgot. When you remembered you said a hurried prayer. I have done this and I am not proud of myself for doing it. Or are you praying because everyone around you are praying so you think it would look better to be praying.
Luke 18:10-14 is a good example of two men that had gone up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other man a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself. He thanked God that he was not as other men. He gave a few examples and then said as the publican. He didn't acknowledge that he was sinful. He exalted himself by telling that he fast twice a week and gave tithes of all he possessed. He was not praying with a sincere heart.
The publican was standing away from the Pharisee but wouldn't raise up his eyes to heaven but hit his breast asking God to be merciful to him, as he was a sinner. The publican was conscious of his sin and guilt so he turned to God for forgiveness and mercy. This man prayed with great sincerity.
So, why do we pray? When we pray we can renew our trust in the Lord. When we pray a peace will come to us like no other peace, we just feel relieved and know God will take care of everything. In the time of need we receive mercy. We know that all things work out for the glory of God.
These two men prayed but with two different attitudes. We don't need to stand around as the Pharisee did, exalting ourselves, we just need to pray with a sincere heart.
Which one do you pray like?
Luke 18:10-14 is a good example of two men that had gone up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other man a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself. He thanked God that he was not as other men. He gave a few examples and then said as the publican. He didn't acknowledge that he was sinful. He exalted himself by telling that he fast twice a week and gave tithes of all he possessed. He was not praying with a sincere heart.
The publican was standing away from the Pharisee but wouldn't raise up his eyes to heaven but hit his breast asking God to be merciful to him, as he was a sinner. The publican was conscious of his sin and guilt so he turned to God for forgiveness and mercy. This man prayed with great sincerity.
So, why do we pray? When we pray we can renew our trust in the Lord. When we pray a peace will come to us like no other peace, we just feel relieved and know God will take care of everything. In the time of need we receive mercy. We know that all things work out for the glory of God.
These two men prayed but with two different attitudes. We don't need to stand around as the Pharisee did, exalting ourselves, we just need to pray with a sincere heart.
Which one do you pray like?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Praising God
We should praise and thank the Lord continually. We should not let one day pass without praising and thanking Him.
The Lord is worthy of our praises and we should always, always give Him praise. When times are bad we should praise Him just as we do when everything is going well with us. Sending praises to God makes our circumstances so much easier to handle and we will feel His presence at our side and God loves to hear our praises.
When Jenifer, my granddaughter was very young, maybe about two years old, my daughter, Debi and I were in the store and all of a sudden Jenifer raised her hands and said "praise Jesus." When she did this none of us was speaking about the Lord but she must have been thinking about Him and it was important enough for her to send her praises up to Him. It didn't make any difference where we were or who was around, the need for her to give Him praise was very important to her. She had such purity and innocence to her and she still does to this day. As adults we should have the same purity and innocence she had and still has.
Not everyone praises the Lord in the same way. I have thought for a long time, when people go to a sport event they get really excited. They raise their hands in excitement and will call out for their team to win. Well, what could be more exciting than the Lord? He gives us love, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom, knowledge, nature, different seasons, and so many material things, isn't this much more than what a sports team can give us? Can this team give you what the Lord gives you?
We, as Christians are set apart from the world and belong completely to God. If for no other reason we should send all our praises to God and give Him glory and thanks for what He has done for us. Hebrews 13:15 says; "By him therefore let us offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." If the Word of God tells us to praise Him continually, isn't this what we should do?
In what way do you praise the Lord?
The Lord is worthy of our praises and we should always, always give Him praise. When times are bad we should praise Him just as we do when everything is going well with us. Sending praises to God makes our circumstances so much easier to handle and we will feel His presence at our side and God loves to hear our praises.
When Jenifer, my granddaughter was very young, maybe about two years old, my daughter, Debi and I were in the store and all of a sudden Jenifer raised her hands and said "praise Jesus." When she did this none of us was speaking about the Lord but she must have been thinking about Him and it was important enough for her to send her praises up to Him. It didn't make any difference where we were or who was around, the need for her to give Him praise was very important to her. She had such purity and innocence to her and she still does to this day. As adults we should have the same purity and innocence she had and still has.
Not everyone praises the Lord in the same way. I have thought for a long time, when people go to a sport event they get really excited. They raise their hands in excitement and will call out for their team to win. Well, what could be more exciting than the Lord? He gives us love, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom, knowledge, nature, different seasons, and so many material things, isn't this much more than what a sports team can give us? Can this team give you what the Lord gives you?
We, as Christians are set apart from the world and belong completely to God. If for no other reason we should send all our praises to God and give Him glory and thanks for what He has done for us. Hebrews 13:15 says; "By him therefore let us offer up the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." If the Word of God tells us to praise Him continually, isn't this what we should do?
In what way do you praise the Lord?
Monday, November 22, 2010
Be Still And Know That I Am God
How many times have we heard the Lord speak to us? He speaks to us in many ways so we should listen so we won't miss Him. "Be still and know that I am God;" Psalms 46:10.
For my husband, God speaks to him through music so he really loves to listen to his gospel music. For me, God usually speaks to me through Scripture although it isn't the only way He speaks to us. He speaks to all of us in different ways.
When God wants us to do something for Him, He will give us a way to do. He won't tell us to do something without giving us a way to do it. So, why is it that we are afraid to do it? Is it because of little faith, is that we are afraid someone will laugh at us, or make us feel like we don't know what we are doing? It should not matter what other people think as long as it comes from God. We are doing it for the Lord and not the people. When we obey the Lord things come easier for us, that is because He is there to help us. If we don't feel we can do this all we have to do is ask God for the way and we will be able to do it, Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Peter had the faith to walk on water but when he took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink (Matthew 14:29-30). That is how it is with us. We can do all things in Jesus Christ but when we take our eyes off of Him we begin to sink. So, when we are asked to do something, never worry about how we will do it, just remember if God asks us to do it He will have a way for us to do it.
Has God asked you to do something for Him? If He has, won't you do it? One of the ways we can bring glory and honor to God is when we obey him, isn't that what we want?
For my husband, God speaks to him through music so he really loves to listen to his gospel music. For me, God usually speaks to me through Scripture although it isn't the only way He speaks to us. He speaks to all of us in different ways.
When God wants us to do something for Him, He will give us a way to do. He won't tell us to do something without giving us a way to do it. So, why is it that we are afraid to do it? Is it because of little faith, is that we are afraid someone will laugh at us, or make us feel like we don't know what we are doing? It should not matter what other people think as long as it comes from God. We are doing it for the Lord and not the people. When we obey the Lord things come easier for us, that is because He is there to help us. If we don't feel we can do this all we have to do is ask God for the way and we will be able to do it, Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Peter had the faith to walk on water but when he took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink (Matthew 14:29-30). That is how it is with us. We can do all things in Jesus Christ but when we take our eyes off of Him we begin to sink. So, when we are asked to do something, never worry about how we will do it, just remember if God asks us to do it He will have a way for us to do it.
Has God asked you to do something for Him? If He has, won't you do it? One of the ways we can bring glory and honor to God is when we obey him, isn't that what we want?
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