Category: <span>Thoughts by Men</span>


For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (NASB)


His story had my close attention, as well as all the others circled around him in a small group.

Every eye was fixed on him. His story was compelling as he told of his time in prison and what transformed him there.

He had been the Prime Minister of his country, with all the pomp and power that goes with the office. And then his government was overthrown and he was placed in prison in solitary confinement for seven years.

He was not a believer and in fact said that he went in prison as an avowed atheist, but somehow there was a Bible in his prison cell and when he emerged from captivity he did so as a follower of Jesus. He said that as he read the Word, he realized that he was not alone and that the Holy Spirit was with him.

One of his first acts was to reconcile with his captors, as he said that the number one thing Jesus taught him in prison was forgiveness. He said that if Jesus had forgiven him, the least he could do would be to forgive others.

Truly, the Bible is holy divinely inspired voice of God. It has changed lives throughout history and it continues to change lives today. The Word of God speaks for itself, but it also calls for engagement.

With the Bible must come social justice, feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and reaching the lost and lonely. It must bridge social and ethnic barriers and overcome human exploitation.

It is not a book of religion, but rather one of life and living. If there is anything our generation of Christians needs to ponder and experience anew it is the power of God’s Word. For only when we seize and are seized by the Word of God do we know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. And only when our faith stands in God’s power do we discover what the Word of God really is.

Truly it is living, active and life changing. It has changed my life and the lives of countless people throughout the ages. Truly it is the most powerful book ever written.

by John Grant
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

FURTHER READING

•  The Walk of Obedience – by Mary Pinckney

•  Blessed Obedience – by Idelette McVicker

•  God Requires Risky Obedience – by Jon Walker

 


Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1-5, ESV)

God is our Father, He is our creator, and creator of all things. When we accept Jesus as truth, and believe fully in Him, we are adopted by God as His true children. We all become sons and daughters of God and are given the promise to spend eternity with Him.

We often focus only on the promise of eternity with God and sometimes neglect the fact that God is our Father. What does any good and righteous father do? He disciplines and teaches and sometimes even dishes out a dose of tough love. Yes, our God dishes out tough love, because He truly loves you. We see this here in verse two. Jesus says that God still prunes the branches that produce fruit. To prune is to remove the dead parts of the branch and even sometimes the live parts if it will help the branch produce more fruit.

So, how does this apply to you and me? Not all bad things that happen to you are really bad in the long run (this doesn’t mean it won’t hurt). God allows bad things to happen as a part of pruning you. We step out of our trials and tribulations closer to God, and with Him back as number one in our lives. This leads us to verse four. The branch can not produce fruit by itself. If God is not number one in your life, you are doing things on your own accord (by yourself) and are most likely due for a pruning.

For some of us, this is a hard concept to understand. Please allow me to share something from my life that may shed some light. At one point in my life, my job and providing and income had become more important than God. It wasn’t affecting my life any more than any of my neighbors around me, so I felt that I was doing the right thing. I saw no harm in my actions, in fact, I thought it was a good thing all around. Please notice the key word here…I.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God removed that job from my life. At the time, I thought it was the worst thing that could happen. I lost many “things” I had stored up. My prayers for a return to the environment I had been in were not answered, at least not in the way I expected them to be. In the moment of it all, it was devastating.

Yet, now many years later, God has done an amazing work on me. I learned during that time, that God needed to be number one in my life. I learned to lean on Him to help me get out of the mess that I had created. I trusted in Him, even if I did not understand what He was doing in my life. All of this has created many blessings in my life. I would not change it for anything. I am truly a better man today because of how God pruned me in my past, and still does today.

Folks, you can take this for what it is worth. In the heat of the trial, it is hard to understand that good can come from it. That God will bring praise and glory to Himself from it. I am living proof that it does bring praise and glory to Him, and I pray that whatever any of you are facing today in your lives, that you turn to God for help. Hold on to Jesus and the cross like it is life or death, because it is.

Father, we thank you today for the pruning You do in our lives. We praise you Lord, for loving us so much, that You only seek to better our lives. Lord we thank you for never forsaking us, for always being there for us when we need you, when we cry out to You. Lord I pray that if any of my brothers and sisters today are going through a pruning period of their life, that You fill them today overflowing with Your grace, mercy, and love. That they tie their life rope to Your anchor and that they hold on for dear life. Father we praise you when we win, and we praise you when we lose. Watch over us today and protect us from the snares of this world, in the name of Jesus, Amen

By Rev. Daniel Forster
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

FURTHER READING

Facing Trials by Phil Ware

• How to Welcome Trials with Joy? – Book of James Bible Study

A Mother’s Promise to God

Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rev. D. Forster

I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

Thoughts on today’s verse

In a world of startling beauty and a universe of dazzling diversity, our hearts are to be drawn back to the One who made it and now sustains it. He knows us and will help us if we will believe what he has tried so many ways to say: “I love you as my child and I care what happens to you and those you love.”

Prayer:

Almighty Creator, Majestic Architect and Eternal Engineer, it absolutely bewilders and delights me to know that you care for me. With all the things of such vast importance, I find your desire to know and love me humbling and assuring. Today I will worship, work, and witness while being aware of your presence and care. Thank you, dear Father, in Jesus name. Amen.

by Phil Ware
Used with Permission
You can also follow Phil’s daily devotionals on http://www.verseoftheday.com

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

RECEIVE These Devotionals Daily by email:  FOLLOW THIS Link to Subscribe


Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

Thoughts by Men thoughts by Phil Ware


“…[You] have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:10-11 (HCSB)


The world looks at image in terms of popularity, appearance, and status quo. We as humans try so hard to fit in, be accepted, and look like we have it all together. But these images are just an illusion. The true image we represent is in the image of God Himself.

Half my life was spent as a people pleaser. I was always striving to gain the world’s acceptance and recognition. Not only was it exhausting, it was extremely unsatisfying as well. This world can’t give you a peace about who you are. Only God can. He says you were created in His image. In Christ you are born again, and you are renewed in His image. Only when we recognize this will we have peace about who we are.

Do you know what this means?

It means that your looks have nothing to do with your image. It means that the amount of money you make, or your status quo has nothing to do with who you really are. You are His child. You are His beloved, and your name is written upon His heart as He created you.

I don’t need my name in lights
I’m famous in my Father’s eyes
Make no mistake
He knows my name
I’m not living for applause
I’m already so adored.”
Francesca Battistelli

In Christ we are one with Him. There is nothing that defines us other than His light, His love, and the fruit of His Spirit.

Father, help us to stop seeking our image of who we are from this world around us, and to start believing what our image is in You. You breathed life into us, handpicked us, and molded us to be exactly who You wanted us to be. Let us rest in knowing who we are in You: loved, treasured, adored, and redeemed. Amen.

By Rev. Daniel Forster
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

FURTHER READING

Mirroring God’s Image –  by Christa Hardin

• The DNA – by John Grant

Forgiveness – Yourself / Others

RECEIVE These Devotionals Daily by email:  FOLLOW THIS Link to Subscribe


Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rev. D. Forster


If people love you at 6:00 a.m. one thing is sure. They love you! No makeup. No power tie. No status jewelry. No layers of images. Just unkempt honesty. Just you. “Love,” wrote one forgiven soul, “covers over a multitude of sins.”

Sounds like God’s love. Hebrews 10:14 says, “He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Note that the word is not improving. God doesn’t improve; he perfects. He doesn’t enhance; he completes. When it comes to our position before God, we are perfect. When he sees each of us, he sees one who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect—Jesus Christ. He sees perfection. Not perfection earned by us, mind you, but perfection paid by him.

Scripture says,

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God2 Corinthians 5:21 (NCV).

By Max Lucado
From: In the Eye of the Storm
Used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

RECEIVE These Devotionals Daily by email:  FOLLOW THIS Link to Subscribe


Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  

thoughts by Max Lucado Thoughts by Men


But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

When a lawyer asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest, He said,

You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and “the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew. 22:37, 39).

What an overwhelming assignment!

In our own strength, none of us can live up to this obligation, but the Lord has provided a way for Christians to do the impossible. The indwelling Holy Spirit works to produce His fruit in us, and first on the list is love (Galatians 5:22). In fact, the other eight qualities are really just descriptions of its expression.

Whenever we demonstrate kindness, patience, or gentleness, we see the Lord’s love at work through us, especially when the other person has been unkind and doesn’t deserve such pleasant treatment. This fruit is not produced by trying harder to muster good will toward someone who is irritating or hard to get along with. Instead, think of the process more like sap running through a branch on a grape-vine. The branch doesn’t make grapes; the sap does. In the same way, the Spirit flows through us, producing God’s love in us, so that we can pass it on to Him and others.

Agape love is the reason we are able to care for someone who mistreats us—it’s God’s doing, not ours. Even the adoration we offer the Lord is not something that we can produce in our own heart apart from His assistance. Though the command to love is enormous, God’s grace makes it possible.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

FURTHER READING

Love Them Anyway by Karen Huffaker

Getting Life Back on Track by Marvin Kehler

A Love That Never Fails – by Max Lucado

RECEIVE These Devotionals Daily by email:  FOLLOW THIS Link to Subscribe


Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

thoughts by Charles Stanley Thoughts by Men

Please open your Bible and read Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14.

Jonah had just fled from God, almost caused a shipwreck, been thrown overboard, and was swallowed by a whale. He was a prophet of God, and yet he sinned against God by fleeing from Him. As he sat inside the whale, did he repent of his deeds? Hardly. In fact, listen carefully to what he says:

Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.”  (Jonah 2:8-9)

Sounds a little like the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable, doesn’t it? Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector to “some who were confident of their own righteousness”. (Luke 18:9) The Pharisee thought by fasting twice a week and tithing he was made right with God. However, no one has the ability to justify themselves before God. Jesus explains that the tax collector, who humbly asked for forgiveness of his sin, “went home justified before God” while the Pharisee did not (v14). The apostle Paul explains that “a person is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16, TNIV).

We all sometimes feel superior to others and boast about how we are superior to “evildoers”. In reality, however, “No one is good – except God alone.” (Luke 18:19) Don’t pray “God, I thank you that I am not like that Pharisee” because then you’d be making the very same mistake that the Pharisee made. Instead of disparaging others, remember that we have nothing to boast about ourselves (that should keep us humble) and that it is only by God’s loving grace that we are saved: Boast about God has done instead!

Let those who boast boast in the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 10:17, (TNIV)

Question: Are there situations where we feel superior to others? How can we guard against those kinds of feelings?

by Darren Hewer
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

RECEIVE These Devotionals daily be email:  FOLLOW THIS Link to Subscribe


Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

thoughts by Darren Hewer Thoughts by Men


For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12


When I was growing up the words of Paul in Ephesians 6:12 were generally valued for the second half of the sentence. That is, our struggles were considered to be against the Devil or demons who might trip us up as we tried to live for Jesus.

More recently I have come to appreciate the first half of the teaching. That is, we are not in a physical war of sword fights, cuts, and bruises, but one of power struggle against rulers and authorities who plan life without God. In more practical terms it means we ought to struggle against people in positions of power who lord it over those beneath them, taking advantage by treating them unfairly or squelching their freedoms to grow in faith.

Put in different terms again, to say our fight is against rulers and authorities means there are times when we should stand up for what is right, to defend the widow and orphan and immigrant, and not allow powerful leaders to run rough shod over anyone.

Do you see the misuse of power around you at work?

Do you see it in your neighborhood?

What might you do to give voice to those under the thumb of meanies?

How might you help ‘the least of these’ so you can love as Jesus called us to?

God, help me understand that You want me to be a change agent for what’s right and good at work and around my neighborhood. May I be a voice for the people who feel powerless to help themselves. Amen.

Action Point: Step in to situations where you can make wrong situations right. Or, if you are the one lording it over others, stop and ask how you might seek peace and justice with the other.

By: Dr. Bill Strom
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

FURTHER READING

Pressing Undo –  by John Grant

 Pressing the Reset Button

The Power of Forgiveness – by Dr. Henry Brandt

thoughts by Bill Strom Thoughts by Men


Some of us have postgraduate degrees from the University of Anxiety.

We go to sleep worried that we won’t wake up. We wake up worried that we didn’t sleep. We worry that someone will discover that lettuce was fattening all along. Wouldn’t you love to stop worrying? Could you use a strong shelter from life’s harsh elements?

God offers you just that. The possibility of a worry-free life. Not just less worry, but no worry. Philippians 4:7 says, “His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Worry is an option, not an assignment. Be quick to pray. Rather than worry about anything, Scripture says, “pray about everything.” Focus less on the problems ahead and more on the victories behind. In everything let your requests be made known to God! Do your part, and God will for sure do his.

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:    
http://maxlucado.com/about/

FURTHER READING

Do Not Worry – by Phil Ware

• Why Worry Yourself Sick? – by Dr. Muriel Larson

The Flip Side of Worry – Devotional by Darren Hewer

thoughts by Max Lucado Thoughts by Men


Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” – Matthew 14: 31-33

It has been said that if you don’t know where you are going, you will always get there. Various forms of navigation have been used for years. Perhaps the most notable Biblical example is the star over Bethlehem.

I remember when I was going through flight training, my instructor said that no matter what my instincts tell me, always trust the instrument guidance system. After time had passed I remember when I was in very deep and thick clouds that I couldn’t see the wing tips. I wasn’t sure of up from down or left from right. My instincts told me to do one thing, but my instruments told me another. I followed the instruments precisely and was able to fly through the storm safely.

Life is like that. The world is full of advice on the direction of our lives, but often the Bible tells us something else. The Bible is the real guidance system of life. Yet the tug and pull of life is so strong which can so easily draw us off course.

Have you ever wavered in your belief that God would bring you through? Why? When you were seriously short of money… When the diagnosis shook your being… When people and relationships failed you… When the promise of your career tanked… Why did you doubt?

Crossing a stormy Sea of Galilee late at night, the disciples are afraid. Jesus comes to them, walking on the water. They think they are seeing a ghost, but then they realize it’s Jesus! Peter asks to walk out to Jesus. As he begins to step out of the boat and walk on water, he begins to sink from fear of the wind and waves. “Lord, save me!” and Jesus pulls Peter out of the water. Then Jesus asked, “Why did you doubt?”

Before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

You who are redeemed for heaven, God knows your circumstances. He knows when you think you’re going down, whatever the cause may be. He is already working on your deliverance and already knows the day of your eternal deliverance. Like Peter, the disciples come sooner or later to see the hints that God was indeed reaching down to save you. It’s then, when we start to get it, that He invites the introspective look back, “Why did you doubt?” We see God from behind. The more we look back at the times He’s delivered us, the more we’ll trust that He will save us in the present, even if we don’t yet see it happening.

Trust in God alone and you will never get off course.

By John Grant
Used by Permission

 John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

 


FURTHER READING

He Guides Us

God is Faithful

God Knows Everything

thoughts by John Grant Thoughts by Men

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark…They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.” Acts 15:36-37,39

Conflict. Conflict among believers? Conflict among Christian leaders! When we read the powerful stories of the Holy Spirit’s movements in Acts, this episode between Paul and Barnabas stands out as a blemish.

By now they had ministered in many cities throughout the Roman Empire, silenced a false prophet, explained Jesus’ place in Jewish history, performed miracles, and been mistaken as Zeus and Hermes (Greek gods). And they had weathered rejection, abusive language, even stoning. But in Pamphylia, their third partner, John Mark, suddenly left them to go home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).

That became a sore point. Acts 15:38 states Paul didn’t think having John Mark rejoin them was a wise decision. Perhaps Paul didn’t wish to trust a deserter with so much on the line. Paul had churches to visit, sermons to preach, Jews and Gentiles to enlighten about the Good News of Jesus. He valued gospel proclamation. Barnabas, it seems, wanted to give John Mark a second chance, to mend a fence, to build up a young believer who probably felt horrible about ditching them.

We can learn a few lessons here:

We may be called to unity of purpose (Romans 5:5-6), but our means might differ. Both Paul’s big picture approach and Barnabas’ relational one grew the church.

Conflict may be difficult, but good can come of it. In this case, Paul and Silas went one direction, and Barnabas and Mark another — all to visit new churches in order to build them up.

Conflict is a part of life, and good-meaning people rub each other the wrong way routinely. The question is how we will deal with it — either destructively or constructively?

Dear God, please help me see that conflict with people may be your way of growing me and people around me. May I not wish it away, or run from it, but may I find your good in it. Amen.

By Bill Strom
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

FURTHER READING

Every Conflict –  by Max Lucado

• When Satan Hinders Youby Charles Stanley

God our Guide –  by Phil Ware

thoughts by Bill Strom Thoughts by Men


And there will be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.” (Revelation 22:3)


You will be you at your best forever. Even now you have your good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby’s diaper, forgive your boss’s temper, tolerate your spouse’s moodiness, you display traces of saintliness. It’s the other moments that sour life. Tongue, sharp as a razor. Moods as unpredictable as Mount Saint Helen’s. This part wearies you.

Just think what Satan has taken from you, even in the last few hours. You worried about a decision and envied someone’s success, dreaded a conversation and resented an interruption. He’s been prowling your environs all day, pick pocketing peace, joy, belly laughs, and honest love. Rotten freebooter.

But his days are numbered. Unlike he did in the Garden of Eden, Satan will not lurk in heaven’s gardens. “There shall be no more curse” (Revelation 22:3 NKJV). He will not tempt; hence, you will not stumble. You will be you at your best forever!

Christ will have completed his redemptive work. All gossip excised and jealousy extracted. He will suction the last drop of orneriness from the most remote corners of our souls. You’ll love the result. No one will doubt your word, question your motives, or speak evil behind your back. God’s sin purging discontinues all strife.

No sin means no thieves, divorce, heartbreak, and no boredom. You won’t be bored in heaven, because you won’t be the same you in heaven. Boredom emerges from soils that heaven disallows. The soil of weariness: our eyes tire. Mental limitations: information overload dulls us. Self-centeredness: we grow disinterested when the spotlight shifts to others. Tedium: meaningless activity siphons vigor.

But Satan will take these weedy soils to hell with him, leaving you with a keen mind, endless focus, and God-honoring assignments.

We might serve in the capacity we serve now. Couldn’t earthly assignments hint at heavenly ones? Architects of Moscow might draw blueprints in the new Liverpool. We will feast in heaven; you may be a cook on Saturn. God filled his first garden with plants and animals. He’ll surely do the same in heaven. If so, he may entrust you with the care and feeding of an Africa or two.

One thing is for sure: you’ll love it! Never weary, selfish, or defeated. Clear mind, tireless, muscles, unhindered joy. Heaven is a perfect place of perfected people with our perfect Lord.

By Max Lucado
Used by permission
From: 3:16, The Numbers of Hope

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:
http://maxlucado.com/about/

FURTHER READING

Treasures in Heaven – by Idelette McVicker

•  How to Be Confident You Will Go to Heaven When You Die

The Kingdom of Heaven – A Devotional by Bill Bright

thoughts by Max Lucado Thoughts by Men


Today too many Christians have lost their hunger for God.

Instead of coming into the Lord’s presence hungry for more of His fullness, our thoughts are held hostage to worldly pursuits and fleshly distractions. At best we are merely curious about spiritual realities, but not truly hungry.

Let me tell you a story that illustrates what I mean. We have a little dog named Sophie. Sophie loves people food. To her, eating people food is the culinary equivalent of entering the Kingdom of God. She loves our food. She even has a Bible verse that she claims in faith, “Even the dogs get the crumbs” (Matthew 15:27).

When my wife and I share a meal, Sophie will sit at our feet, squint her eyes, and stare at us (she thinks squinting makes her cuter). Any food that falls to the floor instantly vanishes into her mouth. No matter how much of her food she has already eaten, she is always hungry for ours.

Our home has a small, fenced-in yard outside our porch where Sophie plays. Although the fence surrounds the area, there are gaps where the pickets don’t quite reach to the ground. If Sophie wanted, she actually could squeeze under the fence and get out, but she normally has no reason to try.

Occasionally she will get curious and go as far as the gate, stand there a while and look out, but she doesn’t leave the yard.

One day, though, my wife decided to feed a few slices of stale bread to the birds that nest on the other side of the fence. When Sophie went out an hour later, she immediately noticed a human food smell in the air, which she tracked to the bread outside the gate. In less than a heartbeat she found a little gap under the picket fence, flattened herself to the ground, and then shimmied beneath the fence to the bread on the other side. It was gone in less than a minute.

My point is this: hunger will take you where mere curiosity would never go.

My friend, God is looking for hungry people. Blessed are those who hunger. He is seeking people who are truly seeking Him. Indeed, He has bread from Heaven for us, and it is eternally satisfying. We cannot afford to settle into the routine of a fenced-in reality, not when God has eternal food prepared for us. Let us, therefore, follow our hunger as we pursue the presence of God.

By Francis Frangipane
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

FURTHER READING

•  Hunger and Thirst – by Bill Bright

• Hunger and Thirst for God -by Charles Stanley

 Cry of the Hungry and Thirsty | A Perspective on Adversity – by Lynn Mosher

thoughts by Francis Frangipane Thoughts by Men


The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4


Thought

Words are powerful. Communicators know this. Negotiators know this. Deep down, you know this. Words have blessed you and words have devastated you. The healing that comes from a kind and tender word is precious. The destruction of a cruel taunt or a well-told deception is crushing. To have such power is amazing. To use this awesome power found in our speech is an awesome responsibility. Words do have the power to give life, hope, and peace when offered in love to honor Jesus. Let’s speak that word today!

Prayer

O Father, I want my words to be a blessing today. I want them to reflect your grace. I want them to bring healing to the hurting and comfort to the grieving. I want them to be tender with the broken. I want them to be honorable and truthful in difficult circumstances. I want them to be upright when the language around me is crude. Through your Spirit, use my speech to bless others and bring you praise. In the name of Jesus, your ultimate Word, I pray. Amen.

By Phil Ware
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

FURTHER READING

•  Why is What I Say So Important? by Dr. Henry Brandt

•  The Power of the Tongue  – by Mary Pinckney

The Power of the Tongue – by Katherine Kehler


 

Thoughts by Men thoughts by Phil Ware


And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.Matthew 7:28-29 (NKJV)


Humans will corrupt the Word of God, it is in our nature. It was common place then by the scribes and religious leaders, as it is common place today, to take the Word of God and use it so it is advantageous to our wants; our way of life. When Jesus spoke, this was not the case. He spoke with authority as the Word of God. There was no agenda at all hidden behind His Words. Jesus spoke with a clear agenda, with the authority of God, to remove the facade of religion; to bring us into a relationship with Him.

Jesus in Chapter 7 of Matthew is clearly calling us to do more than just acknowledge His Words; He is calling us to follow Him. To follow others and the ways of the world will only lead to a way of life that is the “wide or broad way“, as opposed to the “narrow” way. There is no room in a relationship with Jesus for judging others, using prayer as a way to show authority on others, or to do to others that you would not want done to you.

This is His authority on which He speaks from. This is the Word of God from God Himself. No scribe or leader would speak this way, for it is not the way of humanity; it is the way of God.

Matthew 7:21 (HCSB)

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ?only? the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

by Rev. Daniel Forster
Used by Permission

We Welcome your comments.

Enter Email
reCAPTCHA

FURTHER READING

Authority Over the Enemy – by Bill Bright

• Waiting on God – How Do We wait? – Bible Study by Sylvia Gunter

God’s Masterpiece  – by Sylvia Gunter

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL: FOLLOW THIS LINK


Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rev. D. Forster