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« August 2008 | Main | November 2008 » September 23, 2008Do OverHow many times have you told yourself you wish you could do it all over? We’ve all had opportunities to do things over again and make them right the second time. Maybe we’ve had a second chance to conquer a game, re-write a paper, take a test or fix a broken relationship. Wherever and in whatever a “do over” is simply a second chance. In need of a second chance is a position many of us find ourselves in or have found ourselves in before. We’ve stepped forward in careers, dreams or relationships and failed. After failing we find ourselves with the chance to choose to accept failure, or learn from a mistake and make something better the next time around. George Bernard Shaw puts it best when it comes to making mistakes. He says, “ A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.” To sum that up it’s simply better to do something and fail then to never try anything at all. In making mistakes it’s important not to dwell on the mistake, but instead the leasson learned along the way. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. As a Christ Follower we can know that His mercies are new every morning, and each day is a day to spend living, and not quitting. Each day is a day to take a look at mistakes and learn from them and thank God for yet another day to “do over” things in our life. TODAY’S CHALLENGE Write down in a journal a past mistake and the lesson learned. Thank God for His grace and mercy. Focus on the lesson learned and determine how you’ll apply that to your life the next time around. TODAY’S PRAYER Lord, today I thank you that it’s a new day. You are a God who makes all things new and the old is passed away. Thank you for being the God of second chances and for Your unending love. I commit this day to You, and love You. In Jesus name, amen. September 11, 2008Admired, Not AcceptedJohn 15:19 - If you belong to the world, it would love you as it's own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. It seems like the one challenge people will always face is the desire of acceptance. It doesn't matter if you're a student, a mom or employee at a Fortune 500 company. No matter where we are at in life we are surrounded by people and as humans God has wired us with a natural desire for relationship. With that natural desire to be in community with others the challenge is how do we stand for something, yet stand together with others. It's acceptable to be different, but when you actually embrace who you are and what you believe in that's admirable. I'd rather be admired than accepted, and this world is looking to Christians to finally be who they say they are. It's possible that you may be respected and liked by your peers, and not be popular or completely accepted. The point is to live your life in a way that people are drawn to you because of Christ's love in you, not because you do and say everything they do. TODAY'S CHALLENGE It's simple. Find what you believe in. Stand up for what you believe in and don't let anyone talk you out of it at the expense of being accepted. Be admired, not accepted. TODAY'S PRAYER Lord, today I before you and ask you to forgive me if I've ever been ashamed of you. You stand for freedom, love and so much good. I will stand for truth and love and all that you represent. Let me be a light to my world, without having to become just like it. May the world admire Jesus in me and come to know the love I've found in you. In Jesus name, Amen. September 10, 2008Eternal ImprintIt's hard sometimes to see God in our lives. We see broken dreams, broken relationships and disappointments in our life. We wonder where is God in all of this. In the midst of our lives it's hard to think of how glorious or majestic His deeds are when life is coming at us from every direction. With it coming from every direction, the stuff in life blurs our vision from the creator of life. The truth is when life happens it's hard to see God in it, but what I believe is so great about our God is that He has imprinted nature, our surroundings and our lives so greatly that it's impossible to deny Him. His redemptive power, saving grace and compassion are never changing. Even when stuff happens it can't take away what God has done, and what God wants to do in your life. What God does in a persons live leaves an eternal imprint always to be remembered, and never stolen. Psalm 111:4 says, He has caused His wonders to be remembered. This scripture is followed by a description of grace and compassion. When the wonders of God are described it goes beyond the moon and the stars, or this earth we live on. The wonders of God are described with words like grace and compassion. It's not as tangible as a summer thunderstorm, the wind in the trees or a glorious sunset, but just as demonstrative is His grace and compassion in our lives. For each of us the story of His grace and compassion may be different. For some you've been set free from an abusive relationship. Some have been delivered from addictions, and for others He's sustained you and always provided food and shelter. No matter what your story of His grace is, it's a a wonder to be remembered. God's grace and compassion have created and eternal imprint that no stuff in life can change. It's so easy to let the stuff of life keep us from seeing God, but let's not have blurred vision and in everything find a reason to thank Him. Remember His grace and compassion always and let it be as visible in your life as the wonders creation. TODAY'S CHALLENGE Seeing God isn't that hard, it's in the simple provisions of life we can find Him. Maybe that's a friendship that you''re thankful He's given you, the job He's given you, or the car you drive. Even if that job, car or relationship isn't perfect thank Him for giving you that in your life. Thank Him for always being faithful and start seeing Him in every little and big area of our lives. TODAY'S PRAYER Lord, today I choose to remember your works and wonders by thanking you for all that I have in my life. I know are the giver of all thing and I thank you for always providing for me. Help me see you in the middle of life's stuff and help me always keep an attitude of gratitude for your grace and compassion. I am forever grateful for the eternal imprint you've put on my life. I give you this day. In Jesus name, amen. September 04, 2008I'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOUProverbs 3:28 - Do not say to your neighbor, Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow – when you have it with you. I caught myself today on the phone with a friend and I pulled out the line " I'll be praying for your situation." Was I actually going to do that? No I was on my way into the gym about to focus on me. But instead of going into the gym I got back in my car and prayed for my friends situation. I knew if I didn't do it right then, I would probably not do it. Lets not be a people that just say the right things, let's do the right things and be there for others. TODAY'S CHALLENGE It's a simple challenge but do something for someone today, even if it's just praying for them. Show them love through authenticity and action. TODAY'S PRAYER Lord, today I will be an agent of love to my friends, family and coworkers. I pray that you give me opportunities to do something for someone in my life today. Help me be a light and a witness to the world around me. Thank you for today, I commit it to you. I love you. In Jesus name, amen. September 03, 2008STRESSED AND OPPRESSEDThe Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in the times of trouble. Psalm 9:9 Oppression is defined as the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, anxiety, ect. Can you relate? For us to admit that we're oppressed feels a bit like admitting that we're weak. It doesn't feel like the overcomer we're taught to be as Christians, but the truth is this is something we all deal with. Being oppressed doesn't mean being defeated and overcome, it's simply us feeling like we've had enough. Oppression is a feeling not a fact. Oppression is no respecter of age or gender either. For a young person it may be feeling oppressed by a situation with parents that aren't improving. It may be the battle of standing for what you know is right or caving to the desire of acceptance for all. In either case the weight of the situation begins to feel like a burden and wears on you mentally and physically. As we move on in life these adverse conditions may remain but are now joined by new struggles found in jobs and relationships. We maybe wouldn't say that these things in our life are oppressing us, but we would be likely to classify it as stress. But when you look closely at the two words, are they any different? Stress is defined as physical, mental or emotional strain or tension. Stress and oppression aren't that much different and the effects are often times the same causing damage to our lives in many ways. And worse than damaging ourselves is the damage we can cause others when we're stressed. Stress and oppression will cause you to act, think and respond different than you normally would. They say hurting people, hurt people. You could probably say, stressed people, hurt people. I believe that stress isn't something to take lightly or just accept, but instead let the Lord be the healer of all things in our life and our stronghold in times of stress or pain. TODAY'S CHALLENGE If you are dealing with oppression or stress, take your eyes off the problem and fix them on the Lord. Take some time to get alone and read your Bible, pray and just be quiet. Our remedy is usually simple and it's a matter of fixing our eyes on Him and not the problem. Another practical thing to do is to take time for a hobby in your life today. The last thing to do is trust. Give the problem to the Lord and just trust that He's in control and will give you the grace and mercy to overcome any situation. TODAY'S PRAYER Lord I don't to take the burden of this life upon me. I don't want to look to me as the source or stronghold in my life, but instead I fix my eyes on you. I will trust you with the hardest, deepest and most troubling situations in my life. I will put you before those situations and allow you to be the stronghold in my life and my safe place, my refuge. I commit to you this day, I love you. In Jesus name, amen.
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