JANUARY 4 TH 2017 Today, I will tell 5 people, God bless you. The actions I take will become the evidence of my discipleship. On September 13, 1990, NBC premiered a show called Law & Order. It stayed on the air for 20 years. The premise of the program was to show viewers the judicial process from arrest, investigation, to litigation. The show was popular because it displayed the imperfections of our legal system. It also displayed the difficulty in convicting people. Evidence in any conviction is of paramount importance. What evidence is there in your life that display your love of Christ. What would happen if your computer, phone, or tablet was searched for evidence of Godly discipleship? What evidence would be found if you were followed for a day? The love Christ should be evident in our daily endeavors and interactions with people. Live your life as if you were under investigation. John 15:8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Lord, please help me live a life that displays my love for you. What moves me away from God: selfishness What moves us towards God: obedience
JANUARY 5 TH 2017 Have you ever heard of a hoarder? A hoarder is someone who keeps EVERYTHING. Hoarders have a inability to distinguish between what is worth keeping, and what needs to be thrown away. A habit of keeping things that need to be thrown out, eventually takes a toll on a household. A house becomes so cluttered with trash, that it turns living space, into a dumping ground. Today, I will throw away at least 1 thing in my house, that serves no real purpose. God blesses me with so many positive things, I will not waste my time dwelling on things that are negative. Your house is suppose to be a place of peace and refuge, but when we clutter it with trash, it ceases to function in a positive manner. Clutter is not always physical. Some of our clutter is emotional or mental. This clutter serves no positive purpose, but we still make the decision to live with it everyday. You have the ability to clear out the undesirable clutter of your life. Pray to God. Ask him to give you the wisdom to discern the difference between the things to need to be let go of, thrown out, and forgotten. 1 Peter 2:1 So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. Lord, please help me know what to hold onto and what to get rid of. Throw Out: Keep In:
JANUARY 6 TH 2017 Today, instead of expressing frustration due to waiting, I will verbally tell God, Thank you. Nothing that God wants for me, can be kept from me. So, I ll patiently wait. It s a new year. Every other commercial on tv tells me that its time to start working on a new me. These commercials also tell me that in order for me to obtain the best version of myself, I need to lose weight. Many of us will begin to do exercises, regiments, and set goals in an attempt to lose weight. The Washington Monthly reported, people will collectively spend 60 billion dollars trying to lose weight. Ironically, we give our wait away for free. Impatience can lead us to making poor decision. God wants us to do what is loving, kind, and just. When we lose our patience we often do what is solipsistic and self-serving. When you exercise patience it puts you in position to make a decision that will please God. So, slow down. Take your time. Don t get mad when things take longer than you want them to. Psalm 25:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. Lord, please help me when I begin to feel frustrated because my ambition seems faster than your will. Productive Ways to Wait: Unproductive Ways to Wait:
JANUARY 7 TH 2017 I was informed that snow was in the forecast for today. Is it snowing right now? I ve noticed that the anticipation of snow brings store shelves that are left bare. Milk and bread become urgent commodities. We hunker down in our homes because a snow day often translates into a do nothing days. There is no such thing as a do nothing day concerning your spiritual growth & development. Everyday we should strive to do Today, instead of watching a 30 minute show, I will find something productive to do for 30 minutes. This day has a blessing for me. I will not let it go to waste. something constructive and productive. The weather may change what you can do, but it doesn t change that something can be done. Each day presents us with unique opportunities for spiritual growth. Seize those moments. God gives us our days and circumstances for a reason. This day, like all days, is a do something day. By the way.. If it did snow, but the roads are safe, I expect to see you in church tomorrow. Ephesians 5:15-16 15 Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Lord, please help me approach every day with excitement and hope. How will you make this day different from any other day? What can you do for someone today that you didn t do yesterday?
Today, I will say something positive every time I am about to say something negative. JANUARY 8 TH 2017 The National Center for Voice and Speech reported the average rate of speech for English speakers in the United States is about 150 words per minute. My words will reflect my faith. My words will be kind and loving. The number of words the average person speaks in a day depends on if the person is a male or female. It is estimated that a female will speak an average of 20,000 words each day and a man will speak an average of only 7,000 words each day. We should all be careful that the words we speaks to others are not destructive. Words can hurt and they can heal. Jesus cautioned us to be mindful of the way we converse with one another. Christians have a responsibility to build one another up. Our words are part of the tools we use to do that building. Choose your words carefully. God not only sees our actions, but he hears our conversations. Matthew 15:10-11 10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles. Lord, please help me use my words constructively to build strong relationships. What did Jesus mean by what goes into the mouth? How can you positively impact someone with your conversation?
JANUARY 9 TH 2017 Everyday there are people who check their horoscope. Perhaps you ve already checked yours today. People search for their horoscope because they believe it will give them some sort of life guidance. Maybe, they think a horoscope can provide an answer to a serious life dilemma. Possibly, their zodiac sign might bring clarity to their life. The first real newspaper horoscope column is widely credited to R.H. Naylor, a prominent Today, I will ask God for his guidance before I seek the advice of anyone else. God is wise enough to lead me through anything. I have to be humble enough to follow him through anything. British astrologer of the 1 st half of the 20 th century. Your zodiac sign can be entertaining, but it cannot lead you to a fulfilling life. Only Jesus can do that. You can kill your Godly purpose chasing a zodiac dream. So, if you have questions, God s Bible has answers. God s word has given guidance to the lost, hurt, disenfranchised, worried, confused, and so much more. Let God s word be your guide. Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.. Lord, please help me know where to find your answers for my life. Proverbs 3:5-6 Jeremiah 29:11 Joshua 1:9 Isaiah 40:31
JANUARY 10 TH 2017 The pews of our church are filled with skilled, talented, and gifted people. Yet, most people that profess a love for Christ, do not work for Christ. Worshipping God is not the same as working for him. The gifts that God has given you should be used to serve him and strengthen his kingdom.. People attempting to explain why they are not active in church often tell me, I can t be present every time the ministry is active, so Today, if I am not involved in a ministry in my church, I ll call/email my pastor asking to join a ministry. God deserves more from me than my excuses. I ll pass on getting involved. Essentially, the reason some don t join a ministry is because they ve decided that if they can t do it all, they chose to do nothing. Here s an idea, in 2017, do as much as you can, while you can. Please use your talent and your God given gifts. We all have to start somewhere with God. We all need to do something for God. Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Lord, please help me to be brave enough to start working in a ministry that I have passion about. What are my gifts and talents? What ministry will utilize these gifts and talents?