Why Go to Church?

A friend sent me this short anecdote in defense of going to church. Read on and ponder.

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday(or Saturday)'I've gone for 30 years now,' he wrote, 'and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all'

This started a real controversy in the 'Letters to the Editor' column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

'I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals But I do know this.... they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.'

Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!' When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

Right? Right!

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Faith and Honor

Today's Scripture

“Jesus said to them, ‘Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.’ He could not do any miracles there…And he was amazed at their lack of faith” (Mark 6:4-6)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Did you know that honor and faith work together? When Jesus walked the earth, the people in His own hometown couldn’t believe that He was the Son of God because they were too familiar with Him. They didn’t honor Him, which affected their ability to have faith in Him. When you honor the Lord, when you respect and make room for Him in your life by following the Word of God, it impacts your faith in Him. Part of honoring the Lord is honoring the people He’s placed in your life. God works through people, and the Bible says that the way you treat others is the way you treat Him. Choose to honor people and make room for the Lord to work in your life, today. Look for the greatness in the people around you: your spouse, your children, your friends and family. Treat others with respect, knowing that God is building His character in you. As you choose honor, you open the door for faith to grow. You’ll see God’s hand working in your life, and you will see His hand of blessing on everything you do!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, today I choose to honor You by honoring the people You have placed in my life. Show me how to love others the way You love me so that faith will grow stronger in my heart. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen Ministries

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Two Angels

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room.Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,"Things aren't always what they seem."

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lie dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, "How could you have let this happen?"

"The first man had everything, yet you helped him", she accused.The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die. "Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.

"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it.""Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead". Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until some time later...

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Keep Sowing

Today's Scripture

“As long as the earth remains, there will be seedtime and harvest” (Genesis 8:22).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God loves you so much, and He wants you to live in abundance in every area of your life. In the book of Genesis, in the very beginning, He established a system for increase. Everything in life operates off of seedtime and harvest. As long as you have seed, you have increase in your hand. But a seed will lay dormant until it is placed in the right conditions. You have to plant that seed and water it in order for it to grow. What are the seeds you have in your hand? It can be as simple as the seed of a smile that will produce happiness in your life. It can be a financial seed that will produce provision in your life. Give and it shall be given back to you in greater measure. The Bible says that God’s Word is water and when you speak the Word, you are watering your seeds. Ask the Lord today to show you what seeds you have in your hand. He’ll show you where to plant them, and He’ll watch over those seeds to produce an abundant harvest in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for seedtime and harvest. Thank You for the system to activate blessing in my life. Show me where to give the seed I have in my hand so that I can reap the harvest You have prepared for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen Ministries

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Live Skillfully

Today's Scripture

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings…” (Proverbs 22:29).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Too often times, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut in life, doing the same thing the same way. But if we are going to live at our best, we should constantly be growing and sharpening our skills. We should strive to learn and grow every single day; because when you stop learning, you stop growing, and when you stop growing, you stop living. What are you doing to stretch yourself? What are you doing to improve your skills? Don’t get trapped into thinking that “good enough” is good enough. You are created for more than just average. Today is a new day and there are new heights for you to climb. Pursue what you love, and keep developing that area of your life. Take a class or find a mentor that will help you live skillfully. As you do, you’ll rise up higher and higher. You will stand before kings and rulers and you’ll live the blessed life He has in store for you.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the ability to grow and increase in every area of my life. Show me ways to improve my skills so that I can honor You in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen Ministries

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What Now?

Is the end near? Is judgment day just around the corner? The signs have been more pronounced. The world is experiencing calamities in the form of hurricanes, typhoons, earthquake, war and famine. New drugs are being invented and produced to counter diseases but still, many are dying.

There are some bacteria-causing diseases that have morphed and became resistant to drugs. The price of gas is exorbitant. Same gender marriages are being legalized. winning argument in support of gay marriages is that homosexuals should have the same rights and privileges enjoyed by heterosexual marriages. The Judeo-Christian belief in the teachings of the Bible regarding homosexuality has been conveniently disregarded. Oprah is putting up her own new-age religion. With millions of viewers worldwide, she might just hit it big time converting her viewers to her core beliefs.

Are we in the threshold of being another Sodom and Gomorrah? Are we all going to turn into pillars of salt or not? Are we still going to dissect the word of God, twisting it whichever way we can so we can righteously say that what we do is according or supported by the Bible? Are we now one of the growing numbers of unbelievers who support civil rights more than Christian rights?

What now is your moral compass?

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Pray With Me

I am in one of my "God I have so many problems I just want to curl up and die" mood again. Things have not been going on smoothly. I can feel the frustrations and sadness that some of kids are going through right now and I can't do anything about it. I can feel myself gradually slipping into a helpless stage.

The deceiver is active! All around me, us, problems, situations, predicaments are ever present. In times of tribulation, being human, we feel burdened and sometimes doubtful of caring presence of God. I guess it is alright to feel sad. I guess it is alright to sometimes question God's plan in our lives. I guess we just have to pray harder, work harder and develop a stronger faith in our risen Lord.

Please pray with me that we all prevail all our perceived and real unsurmountable trials.

Lord, we thank you for giving us the chance to live each day. We thank you for the trials that test us like gold. We thank you for the everlasting grace that You forever shine our way. Lord, we humble ourselves and ask that we may be able sail through our problems. May You provide us all our needs in all aspects of oor lives.be May we become living testaments of the Glory of God and His everlasting son Jesus Christ. We claim all these in the Jesus' name, Amen! Amen! Amen!

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