Today's Scripture
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Do you need wisdom for something today? Ask God. He loves it when you call upon Him, and He longs to give generously to you. Do you need wisdom to lead your family? Do you need wisdom on your job?
Do you need wisdom for a decision you have to make in life? Ask God! The next verse goes on to say that when you ask, you must ask in faith without wavering. That means you have to be absolutely determined to get your answer from Him.
You can’t just ask and then decide to do things your own way, or doubt that He will give you the answer. That’s being double-minded. When you’re double-minded, the Bible says you won’t be able to receive anything from the Lord. Don’t let that be you! Have a one-track mind that’s focused on God and His promises. Believe that He is going to generously bless you with His wisdom. As you keep an attitude of faith and expectancy, He’ll cause you to rise higher and higher, and you’ll live the abundant life He has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, thank You for being a good and generous God. Thank You for pouring out Your abundant blessing in my life. Keep my heart and mind focused on You always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
a daily devotional guide from Joel Osteen
Friday, April 25, 2008
Ask For Wisdom
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Childlike Faith
As Ethan grew older and perhaps sire, he started to ask who Jesus is. In the simplest terms possible I explained that Jesus is the son of God. Of course that started another round of questions like who is God?
It was hard explaining to a child the essence of God, or so I thought.
Yesterday, I told Ethan that my very dear cousin is gravely sick. I told him that I am so sad. Ethan asked if my cousin has medicines and doctors. I said yes. Then mom, all we have to do is ask Jesus to make her well, Ethan said.
I was dumbfounded! Here, is a five-year-old boy showing me unwavering and unfailing faith to a God who I thought he cannot comprehend.
Praise you Jesus! Amen!
Friday, April 18, 2008
My Secret
If I were to recount all the trials that life brought me, you might not believe it. If I tell you, as I seem to happily blog everyday, that I am full of problems, you might not believe me too.
But I do have problems. My life is not easy. I sometimes have sleepless nights thinking of ways and means to my problems. Nevertheless, it is seldom that you'll see me defeated. Somehow I still find the inspiration to bounce back. Why? I have a secret that is not a secret, actually.
We serve a great and mighty God. He can make a way when there seems to be no way! He was able to create the world out of nothing! How easy would it be for Him to breathe a whiff of sunlight to our sometimes dark lives. He is my secret.
There is power in your words, in your prayers. Have faith and expectancy. Let your life be filled with peace that passes all understanding. God loves you and me!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Stay Connected to God
Today's Scripture
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart form me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Do you need more power and strength in your life today? When you are connected to the Father through Jesus, you are connected to your life source. Just as a branch is sustained by the vine it’s attached to, we are sustained by being attached to Him. If you think about how fruit grows, it doesn’t just happen over night; it takes time and the right conditions.
In the same way, the spiritual fruit in your own life develops over time, too. You might be tempted to get discouraged if you aren’t seeing “fruit” as quickly as you’d like, but be encouraged today! If you’ll keep your heart humble before the Lord and stay connected to Him through prayer and studying His Word, you’ll see that fruit begin to form in your life just as He promised! You’ll see the fruit of joy, which is strength. You’ll see the fruit of love and peace, which will sustain you in the midst of difficulty. As you stay connected to Him, you’ll be empowered and equipped for every circumstance, and you’ll live as an overcomer in every area of your life!
A Prayer for Today
Father in heaven, I humbly come before You. I recognize that You are the source for everything I need in this life. Keep me close to You always and turn my heart and mind toward Your ways. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Copyright 2007 Joel Osteen Ministries
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Forgiveness
Today's Scripture
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"(Luke 23:34).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Osteen
When you've been hurt or offended, sometimes it's tempting to hold on to unforgiveness. But we have to remember, when people wrong us, our battle is not against flesh and blood. In other words, that person who hurt you is not the real enemy.
The Bible says that your adversary is the devil, and he knows that if you don't forgive, then your prayers won't be effective. Unforgiveness puts up a barrier in your life to the power of God. Infact,if we don't forgive others, we can't be forgiven by God. But when you choose forgiveness, you open the door for God's healing power to flow through your life.
Disarm the enemy in your life today by choosing forgiveness.Bless those who curse you and pray for those who wrong you. Look at what Jesus did-when He was betrayed, beaten, mocked, and disrespected, He chose forgiveness. As you follow His example, you will open the door for God to move in your life, and you'll live in victory in every area of your life!
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving me and giving me new life. I choose today to extend the gift of forgiveness to others. I bless those who have wronged me and ask You to heal every broken place in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Copyright 2007 Joel Osteen Ministries
Monday, April 14, 2008
Bedtime Prayers
It is always an advantage to teach very young children to pray. I started to teach Ethan to say his prayers at an age when he can't even speak yet. I just tell him that it's time to pray to Jesus. No explanation. I was the one praying while he had his hands folded. We both say Amen at the end of the prayer.
Praying should be a habit. We should start our children on the praying habit at the earliest possible time. Here are some evening or bedtime prayers you can teach your child.
Bless Thy little child to-night;
Through the darkness be Thou near me,
Keep me safe till morning light.
All this day Thy hand has led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast warmed me, clothed me, fed me;
Listen to my evening prayer.
May my sins be all forgiven;
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take me, Lord, at last to heaven.
Happy there with Thee to dwell.
Amen.
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The day is past and over,
All thanks, O Lord, to Thee!
O Jesus, keep me in Thy sight
And save me through the coming night.
Amen.
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All praise to Thee, my God, this night
For all the blessings of the light:
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings.
Amen.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The Oprah Church
I received an e-mail pointing me to click on a YouTube link. The video has something to do with the Oprah Church. I have no inkling of what this is all about so I clicked on the link and watched the video.
I was quite surprised with Oprah's belief. She said that there are millions of ways or roads to get to God. She sounded like a major proponent of New Age beliefs. I cannot believe it. I thought Oprah was a God-fearing Christian.
Here are some of the teachings being propelled by Oprah.
1. My mind is part of God's. I am very holy.
2. My holiness is my salvation.
3. My salvation comes from me.
4. Let me remember that there is no sin.
5. Do not make the pathetic error of clinging to the "old rugged cross".
6. The only message of the crucifixion is that you can overcome the cross.
Watch the video HERE.
Friday, April 11, 2008
#1 Movie of all Time
What do you think is the most watched movie of all time? The Titanic? No. But the movie had grossed over $ 600,000,000.00! Wow! What about Starwars? No. But the 1977 movie earned well over $ 450,000,000.00. Oh wow!I am not referring to the money earned by theses two top-grossers of all time. Note. I said, the most watched movie of all time.
The film is a 1979 movie called Jesus. It depicts the life of Jesus according to the gospel of Luke. It had a budget of $ 6,000,000 only but this movie's role in worldwide evangelization is priceless.
According to the New York Times,The Jesus Film is the most-watched motion picture of all time. The Jesus Film Project states that The Jesus Film has been viewed almost 5.6 billion times (including repeat viewings). This is based on the following criteria:
- • The 1,026 DVDs, VCDs, and audio-only translations of The Jesus Film;
- • The number of showings by the Jesus Film Project's volunteer film teams, who have presented the film in 229 nations; and
- • The over 230 million people have either converted to Christianity or vowed to convert after viewing the film.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Bible Facts
The Bible is a book compiled by writers who were inspired by God. Anyone who contests this is not a believer. The Bible tells the story and history of the Jewish people pre and post Jesus time.
Here are some facts regarding the Bible.
1. The Bible contains 66 books, divided into the Old and New Testaments.
2. It was written over a period of 1,500 years.
3. Over thirty-five people wrote the book.
4. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew.
5. The New Testament was originally written in Greek.
6. The Bible is the number one best-seller of all time.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Two Choices
This story was forwarded to me. I do not know who the author is. All I know is once again I was affirmed that there are still caring people out there. Read it and be Blessed.
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. "I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child."
Then he told the following story:
Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman' s head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!"
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.
"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world".
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the "natural order of things." So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
picture courtesy of minutillo
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