Blog Archives
Our Daily Bread – Before The Beginning
Read: Genesis 1
When he was a teenager, my son asked me one of those questions that make you earn your pay as a parent. “Dad,” Steve inquired, “if God has existed for eternity, what was He doing before He created the universe?”
So, what was happening in the eons before “God created the heavens and the earth”? (Gen. 1:1). For one thing, we know that there was “wisdom” before creation itself, which came from God’s character. Wisdom, personified in Proverbs 8:23, said, “I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth.”
Also, we know that God’s salvation plan of grace was in the works before the world was hung in its place. In 2 Timothy 1:9, we read that grace “was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” Likewise, Titus 1:2 says that eternal life was promised “before time began.” We also know that Jesus was glorified and loved in God’s presence “before the world was” (John 17:5; see also v.24).
These tiny glimpses of God before He created the earth help us see a little of the essence and magnitude of our awesome, eternal God. We see His majesty and greatness. Amazing, isn’t it? We worship a God who existed from the beginning . . . and beyond.
You are the Alpha and Omega—the Beginning
and the End—and so much more. Thank You
that we can worship and magnify You.
—Sir Thomas Browne
Be Of Good Cheer!
by Joyce Meyer – posted October 16, 2012
—Joshua 1:6
In John 16:33, Jesus said, “Be of good in this verse is, “to be of good courage.” When the Lord was giving Joshua direction, He repeatedly told him to be of good courage. Without the cheerful attitude that God encouraged Joshua to walk in, he would have given up when the enemy repeatedly came against him, and the children of Israel would never have reached the promised land.
The same is true of you in your daily walk. Joy and cheer give you the strength to carry on toward the goal the Lord has set before you. Lack of joy is why many times you give up when you should endure. The presence of courage and a cheerful attitude gives you the endurance to outlast the devil, overcome your negative circumstances, and “inherit the land.”
From the book Ending Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2004 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Warner Faith. All rights reserved.
Unlimited Supply
Today’s Scripture:
And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe… – Ephesians 1:19, AMP.
Today’s Word:
If I had a thousand gallons of water to give you but you only had a one-gallon container, you wouldn’t be able to receive what I had for you. The problem would not be with the supply. It would be with your ability to receive. If you would get rid of the small container and get something larger, I could give you so much more.
It’s the same way with God. We might have a tendency to think, “The economy is down. I could never afford that house I really want. My business will never expand. I don’t have the funding. I don’t have the people behind me.” No, you’ve got to get rid of that one-gallon bucket. Get rid of that small container. The God we serve is a big God! He has an unlimited supply. Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done unto you.” It’s not according to God. God has all the power, all the resources in the world. It’s according to what we believe.
Today, increase your capacity to receive. Enlarge your thinking by meditating on the Word of God. Praise Him and magnify Him because with God all things are possible, and He has an unlimited supply!
Prayer for Today:
Father, thank You for Your unlimited supply of everything I need in this life. I open my heart to You; I choose to take the limits off. Increase me so that I can receive every blessing You have in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Daily Bread – No More; No Less
Read: 2 Timothy 2:14-26
Recently I was reading about how easy it is to mishandle the message of the Bible. We may try to make it support what we already believe is true instead of allowing it to speak to us with God’s intended message. Some people use the Bible to defend one side of an issue, while others use the Bible to attack that same issue. Both quote Scripture to support their views, but both can’t be right.
It is important as we use God’s Word that we are committed to saying no more and no less than the Scriptures actually say. If we mishandle the Word, we misrepresent it, which ultimately misrepresents God’s character. This is why Paul challenged Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). A key priority for unashamed, approved workers for Christ is to accurately interpret (“rightly divide”) God’s Word. As we study, we can depend on the Spirit, who inspired it, to give us understanding and wisdom.
Through our words and actions, we have opportunity to represent God’s Word in ways that genuinely reflect God’s heart. That is one of the greatest privileges of the Christian life.
our lives. May we give it the serious care and
handling it so richly deserves, and may we live it
out daily through our actions and attitudes. Amen.
Our Daily Bread – An Escort Through The Valley
Read: Psalm 23
I’ve heard people say, “I’m not afraid of death because I’m confident that I’m going to heaven; it’s the dying process that scares me!” Yes, as Christians, we look forward to heaven but may be afraid of dying. We need not be ashamed to admit that. It is natural to be afraid of the pain that comes with dying, of being separated from our loved ones, of possibly impoverishing our families, and of regret over missed earthly opportunities.
Why don’t Christians need to be afraid of death? Because Jesus was raised from the grave, and we who are in Christ will also be raised. That is why in 1 Corinthians 15:56-57, Paul proclaimed: “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The dying process itself is but an escort that ushers us into eternity with God. As we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” we can have this confidence from God’s Word: “You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4). The picture here is of the Lord coming alongside us, giving comfort and direction as He escorts us through the dark valley to the “house of the Lord.” There we will dwell with Him forever (v.6).
Stepping out safe on that shore,
Sadness and suffering over,
Dwelling with Christ evermore! — Anon.
One Life To Give
by Joyce Meyer – posted October 15, 2012
God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins, and to deliver us from them. He came to undo what Adam did. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, He comes to live in our sprit and if we allow that renewed part of us to rule our decisions, we can overcome the selfish, sin nature of our flesh. It won’t go away, but the greater One who lives in us helps us overcome it daily (see Gal. 5:16). That does not mean we never sin, but we can improve and make progress throughout our lives.
Paul wrote our verse for today: “I die daily.” In other words, even this well-known apostle struggled with putting others first; he found that doing so was a daily battle and required daily decisions. Each of us must decide how we will live and what we will live for; and there is no better time to do so than right now. You and I have one life to live and one life to give, so the question is: How are you going to spend your life?
Love God Today: Remember that whatever you do for others, you are doing for God.
From the book Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.
New Thinking, New Living
Today’s Scripture:
And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins. – Mark 2:22, NKJV.
Today’s Word:
Are you ready for increase? Are you ready to go to the next level, spiritually, physically and emotionally? Many times, people hear the truth that God has more in store, and something resonates on the inside. Their spirit comes into agreement with God; but often times, their natural mind will try to talk them out it. Thoughts will come like, “It’s not going to happen for you. You’re not going to have a great year. You know what the economy is like.” Or, “You’re never going to get well. You saw what the medical report said.” “You’re never going to get married. You’ve been single so long.”
Friend, those are the old wineskins or the old way of thinking that you have to get rid of. This is a new season. What’s happened in the past is over and done. You may have been through some disappointments, you may have tried and failed, or things didn’t work out. That’s okay. God is still in control. It’s time to get a new vision for your life. It’s time to open yourself to a new way of thinking so that you can receive all the blessings God has in store for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father in heaven, today I choose to get rid of old wineskins. I choose to release old thinking, old habits, and anything that would keep me from Your best. Strengthen me by Your Spirit so that I can live my life in a way that pleases You in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Soaring Above The Critics
Posted by Joel Osteen on 10/12/2012
I believe God has new levels of freedom for you today. One of the ways you can see yourself go to a higher level is by learning to choose your battles and refusing to fight battles that don’t matter. Friend, you don’t have to fight every battle. You don’t have to respond to every critic. You don’t have to be offended because of what someone said. You’re not a crow; you’re an eagle. You can rise above it. You can soar at new heights.
This is what Nehemiah did. God called him to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He and his men got started, but he had two main critics: Sanballat and Tobias. They were constantly criticizing him, spreading rumors, and trying to make him look bad. They said, “Nehemiah is not a builder. He doesn’t know what he is doing. If a fox runs on this wall, it’s going to fall down.”
The whole time, Nehemiah and his men had to listen to these two men belittle them, ridicule them, and make fun of them. What did Nehemiah do? He simply ignored them. He let it go in one ear and out the other. When that didn’t work, they went to the city leaders and started spreading lies. They said, “Nehemiah is not building this wall for our good. He’s just building a kingdom unto himself.” They started questioning his motives. Don’t you know that Nehemiah was tempted to come down off that wall and say, “Guys, I’m going to shut you up? I’m going to show you who I am.” No, he was smart enough to realize they were a distraction. He chose to ignore them and went on to build that wall in record time.
Anytime God puts a dream in your heart and you start pursuing your goals, you can be sure that the “Sanballats” and the “Tobiases” will show up. The mark of a true champion is knowing which battles to fight. As in this case, many battles should be ignored. Nehemiah knew if he came down off the wall and spent his time and energy, sure, he could have defeated those two men. Sure, that would have made him feel good. But, it would not have advanced him toward his destiny. It would not have helped the wall get built any faster. Bottom line: he chose to be an eagle. He chose to rise above it.
I’m asking us to do the same thing. Be selective as to what you give your attention to. Don’t get caught up in battles that don’t matter. Let’s learn to do like Nehemiah and ignore the Sanballats and Tobiases. Friend, if you will get good at knowing what to ignore and not get distracted by things that don’t matter, God will fight your battles. He will promote you, and you will overcome every obstacle and become everything God has created you to be!
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Change Your Environment
Today’s Scripture:
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. – Mark 1:35, NIV.
Today’s Word:
Are you facing challenges today or feeling overwhelmed by your circumstances? Perhaps what you see on the outside doesn’t match what God has placed on the inside of you. The key is: don’t sit around in self-pity, depressed or discouraged. Go out and find someplace you can dream and connect with Almighty God. Go to the park and watch the sunset. Look up at the stars and think about His goodness. Take a break from the environment that seems to be holding you back. Find a place that inspires you, a place where you can meditate on His Word and let your faith be elevated. Stay in a good, Bible-based church where people are going to build you up and not tear you down; a place where people are going to challenge you to rise higher and become all that God has created you to be.
I know people who get home from work every night and watch the same depressing TV shows week after week. Don’t let that be you! If you’re going to enlarge your vision, you’ve got to get out of a limited environment. Put yourself in an atmosphere of victory and success and move forward in the good things God has prepared for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father, today I choose to separate myself from my circumstances and from my environment so I can set my heart and mind on You. Show me Your ways. Reveal Your love to me. Give me Your vision of victory for my future in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
You’re In The Driver’s Seat!
Posted by Victoria Osteen on 10/9/2012
I can remember being a teenage girl and finally getting the keys to the family car. When my father handed me those keys for the first time, I felt so important. I knew I had earned my father’s trust. Those keys, though very small, represented power and new found freedom. Those keys gave me options that I didn’t have previously. Those little keys literally put me in the driver’s seat of life!
Well today, your heavenly Father has given you some keys, too. Scripture tells us that He has given us the keys to the kingdom. That means He’s given us access to His principles. He’s given us authority; He’s given us permission. He’s placed His trust in us. The problem is that many people have those keys in their hand. They say, “Yes, I have the keys! God is good; He wants to bless me. He is faithful. He loves me!” However, they haven’t started the engine yet. They haven’t activated His power. They haven’t put the car in gear by faith, and then they wonder why they aren’t going anywhere in life.
Today, if that’s you, take those keys and turn on the power of God by declaring His Word over your life. Put gas in your car, so to speak, by praising and thanking Him all throughout the day. Put your car in gear and steer clear of strife and division. Stay on the path He’s laid out before you by following His commands. Remember, you have the keys, you have the authority, and you are in the driver’s seat. So keep moving forward on the road of blessing and victory He has for you today!
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 16:19, NIV)
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
I Am Lady Fab 