July 7, 2015

Joshua 1:8  This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will hav good success. (ESV)

This week in Sunday School we were talking about what is success? And how does one achieve it?

There was a lot of discussion and definitions, but when we read this verse we all agreed that we are not normally encouraged to be successful by reading and meditating on the Word of God.

I am not sure how many self help books would sell if this was their message; however, it is what God's Word says, so we need to believe it.

You want to be more successful?  Get into the Word now and oftern!

July 6, 2015

Esther 4:14b And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (ESV)

What situation do you find yourself in, today?  What position are you in right now; and you wonder why?

Could it be that the Lord has put you exactly where you are for such a time as this?

Do you find yourself in something that appears to be floundering or dying?  Could the Lord have put in that very position as a hospice caretaker?  

Always give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you and show if you are exactly where He wnts you, even if it doesn't make sense to you.  It may just be you are there for such a time as this.

July 5, 2015

Proverbs 23:22  Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.  (ESV)

On a very personal note, my father passed away 35 years ago on this date.  The last thing he said to my husband before he died was, "Get Jody to church."  Now, I know there are all kinds of people in church who aren't saved, but this was father's way of telling me to find the Lord.

I know this in my heart.  So, I am very thankful I listened to my father, who did indeed give me life in more than just the physical realm.

I misss you Daddy, terribly!

July 4, 2015

Psalm 33:12  Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.  (ESV)

Enough said!

July 3, 2015

I Thessalonians 4:11  (But we urge you brothers) ... to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.  (ESV)

I love this verse.  Paul is urging us right along with the Thessalonians to live a simple, quiet life (no drama), mind our own business (don't be nosy gossips), and to work with our hand (so we won't be so idle that we can find ourselves in trouble).

What good advise we find in the above Scripture.... surely you know those people whose lives are full of drama, or they are always sticking their noses in the business of others and have plenty of time on their hands.  The wear me out just thinking about them.

It is my prayer for you and for me that we might enter into the lifestyle Paul is encouraging in this verse.  I know we will have happier, more productive lives.

July 2, 2015

Colossians 3:23  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.  (ESV)

This is the key to happier employers and employees!  I often hear how people hate their jobs or their bosses, and make many excuses for their performance at work being less than stellar.

The problem is that we don't view who the real Boss is.  If we undertake all jobs as if unto the Lord, we are bound to be a better worker.  Likewise, if we are in a position of supervisor or boss, and we are to treat our employees the way the Lord would have us treat them, we will be better supervisors.

It is all about - Who is your boss?  Our performance will indicate the answer to this question, even if our lip service says otherwise.  Ouch!

July 1, 2015

Philippians 4:5  Let your reasonableness be know to everyone.  The Lord is at hand; (ESV)

If people were polled about you and your behavior, would you most likely be described as unreasonale or reasonable?  That idea is a little scary to me.  There are times I am very unreasonable, and I hate it afterwards.  The thing that hurts is that it is very hard to make up for those times when we are unreasonable.

I remember in the classroom, when I was unreasonable, I would late really beat myself up.  Again, we see how practical God is - He simply tells us to be reasonable to everyone.  I think the key is to think before one opens his/her mouth.