SATURDAY APRIL 18, 2015.

PRACTISE BEING UNSELFISH (1)

‘You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.’ Philippians 2:5 NLT

‘Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too’ (v. 4 NLT). Spiritual maturity is the ability to see and act in the best interests of others. Immature people have difficulty seeing things from someone else’s point of view. They rarely concern themselves with what’s best for the other person. In many ways they’re like children. In ‘Property Law as Viewed by a Toddler’ Michael V. Hernandez describes the world from a typical child’s viewpoint: 1) If I like it, it’s mine. 2) If it’s in my hand, it’s mine. 3) If I can take it from you, it’s mine. 4) If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine. 5) If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way. 6) If I’m doing or building something, all the pieces are mine. 7) If it looks like mine, it’s mine. If I saw it first, it’s mine. 9) If I can see it, it’s mine. 10) If I think it’s mine, it’s mine. Unfortunately, maturity doesn’t always come with age; sometimes age comes alone. You must fight your inherent selfish attitude, and that can be a lifelong battle. But it’s an important one, because if you don’t win you’ll end up focused on your own agenda and overlook other people. Unless somebody’s important to your cause or your interests, they won’t get your time or attention. The Bible says, ‘You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had,’ and everything He did, He did for others. It comes down to this: if you’re serious about following in His footsteps, practise being unselfish.


Acts 6-7, Mark 3:20-27, Psalm 75, Proverb 10: 22-23.

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2015

GENEROSITY PAYS OFF

‘…The measure you use…will be measured to you.’ Luke 6:38 NIV

Dr William DeVries, the surgeon who pioneered the artificial heart, is the kind of doctor who shows up at the hospital on Sunday, just to cheer up discouraged patients. He even changes dressings and, if a patient wants him to stick around and talk, he always does. His friends say he’s ‘an old shoe’ who fits in wherever he goes. He wears cowboy boots with his surgical garb, and repairs hearts to the music of Vivaldi. 'He’s always got a smile lurking,' says friend Dr Robert Goodin, 'And he’s always looking for a way to let it out.' DeVries believes that ‘arriving’ is not a place where others serve you, but where you get to serve them. Chuck Swindoll writes, 'We occupy common space, but we no longer have common interests. It’s as if we’re on an elevator with rules like ‘No talking or smiling or eye-contact allowed without written consent of the management.’ We’re losing touch with one another! The motivation to help, to encourage, yes, to serve our fellow man is waning. Yet it’s these things that form the essentials of a happy, fulfilled life. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, 'The greatest among you will be your servant' (Matthew 23:11NIV). Everything God gives you is first a gift to enjoy, then a seed to sow. Got a good education? Leadership ability? More money than you need? You’ve got seeds - sow them! Read God’s promises regarding generosity, then start giving to others what He’s given to you. That’s the way to find happiness!

Acts 3:11 -5:42, Mark 3: 13-19, Psalm 127, Proverbs 10:19-21

THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2015.

HURT BY CHRISTIANS (2)

‘…Do you want to get well?’ John 5:6 TM

Getting hurt in life is inevitable; staying hurt is a choice. You can decide to remain a victim by dwelling on how things should have been, or use the experience to grow stronger and wiser. At the Pool of Bethesda Jesus met a man who’d been lying paralysed on a mat for thirty-eight years. When Jesus discovered how long he’d been there, He asked, ‘Do you want to get well?’ After thirty-eight years, the chances are this man saw his handicap as part of his identity. He’d been incapacitated for so long that he thought like a victim: ‘…I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool…’ (John 5:7 TM). Translation: ‘Nobody cares.’ But Jesus did, and He commanded him to get up and walk. Now, it took faith for this man to overcome those old ingrained feelings of hopelessness and self-pity, but when he obeyed Jesus he was healed on the spot. God never forces healing on you, even when you’re hurting. You must want to get well, and make a conscious decision that by God’s grace you can. Let’s face it, the church is made up of flawed human beings who sometimes speak without thinking and hurt others. But that’s no reason for leaving the church! ‘…You’re part of the body of Christ…’ (Colossians 3:15 CEV). Apart from it you’ve no function, no food supply, and no fulfilment, so you begin to die spiritually. The truth is, it takes the same energy to choose healing as it does to choose helplessness—but the results are very different. One leaves you paralysed by events, the other gives you hope for the future. Which one will you choose?

Acts 1:1 -3:10, Mark 3:7-12, Psalm 43, Proverbs 10: 17-18

TUESDAY APRIL 14, 2015.

THE PERSON YOU WERE MADE TO BE

‘…We are…created…to do good works, which God prepared in advance...' ’Ephesians 2:10 NIV

God created you, and He knows what you were intended to be. He has ‘good works’ for you to do, but they’re not necessarily the kind of ‘to do’ things we put on a list for our spouses or employees. They’re signposts to your true self. Your spiritual life isn’t limited to certain devotional activities. It is about being empowered by God to become the person He envisioned when He created you. But just as nobody becomes happy because their goal is to be happy, becoming the person God intended you to be won’t happen if your focus is always on yourself. Flourishing is tied to a nobler vision; it doesn’t happen by ‘looking out for number one’. People who flourish bring blessing to others, and they do it in unexpected and humble circumstances. Every once in a while you catch a glimpse of the person you were made to be. You say something inspirational. You express compassion. You forgive an old hurt. You give sacrificially. You refrain from saying something you’d normally blurt out. And as you do, you glimpse for a moment the reason God made you. Only He knows your full potential, and He’s always guiding you toward the best version of yourself. He uses many tools, He’s never in a hurry—and that can be frustrating. But even in our frustration He’s at work producing patience. He never gets discouraged by how long it takes, and He delights every time you grow. Only God can see the ‘best version of you’, and He’s more concerned with your reaching your full potential than you are.

Galatians 5:22, Luke 2:8-20, Proverbs 3:13-18, Psalm 119:161-168.

Monday APRIL 13, 2015

YOUR ANSWER IS IN THE BIBLE

‘The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul...’ Psalms 19:7 NLT

Worldly success can leave you empty, but here’s something that won’t: ‘The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul...’ Have your plans fallen apart? Have you made a mess of your life? Do you need direction? Read this: ‘The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple’ (v. 7 NLT). Have the things you thought would bring you happiness, ended up bringing you misery? Read this: ‘The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart…’ (v. 8 NLT). Are you directionless, wondering where to go and what to do with your life? Read this: ‘The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living’ (v. 8 NLT). The answers you’re seeking are in your Bible. David was a brilliant soldier, a popular king, and a man with access to all the riches anyone could desire. But he discovered these things don’t bring lasting joy. What he found instead is that: ‘…The laws of the Lord are true…They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward to those who obey them’ (vv. 9-11 NLT). What was David’s problem? ‘How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt…’ (vv. 12-13 NLT). What was David’s solution? Reading God’s Word daily, feeding his soul on it, and walking according to its precepts.

Jeremiah 51-52, Mark 2: 23-28, Psalm 50: 16-23, Proverb 10: 11-13.

SUNDAY APRIL 12, 2015.

ARE YOU FLOURISHING?(3)

‘…But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces…many times over.’ John 12:25 TM

Here are two more areas in which God created you to flourish: 1) Your relationships. Relationally, your languishing self is often troubled. You’re undisciplined in what you say, sometimes reverting to sarcasm, gossip and flattery. You isolate. You dominate. You attack. You withdraw. Whereas your flourishing self seeks to bless others. They energise you. You’re able to disclose your thoughts and feelings in a way that invites openness in them. You’re quick to admit your own mistakes and to freely forgive others. 2) Your experiences. God grows you because He wants to use you in His plans to redeem His world: that’s why you find Him changing your experiences. Your flourishing self has a desire to contribute. You live with a sense of calling. Indeed, your inner longing to become all you were meant to be is a tiny echo of God’s longing to begin the new creation. The rabbis spoke of this as tikkun olam—to repair the world. Focused on yourself, your life is as small as a grain of wheat. Given to God, however, it’s as if that grain is planted in rich soil, growing into part of a much bigger project. Jesus said: ‘…Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces…many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life…as it is, destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal’ (vv. 24-25 TM).

Jeremiah 49-50, Mark 2:18-22, Psalm 50:1-15, Proverb 10: 8-10.

SATURDAY APRIL 11, 2015

ARE YOU FLOURISHING? (2)

‘…They will flourish in the courts of our God.’ Psalms 92:13 NIV

Inside you there’s a battle between your flourishing self—the person you were created to be—and your languishing self. ‘What’s that?’ you ask. Your languishing self feels uneasy and discontent. You’re drawn to bad habits like mindlessly watching TV, drinking too much, misusing sex, excessive spending—things designed to temporarily anaesthetise pain. Your thoughts automatically drift in the direction of fear and anger. Learning doesn’t feel worthwhile. You think about yourself most of the time. Whereas flourishing [thriving, blossoming, and prospering] takes place: 1) In your spirit. You sense you’re beginning to receive ideas and energy from an outside source. And you are. You’re being empowered by God’s Spirit. We talk about being inspired, which literally means ‘God breathed’. God breathes into you; you come alive and feel like you’ve a purpose for living.
2) In your mind. Your thoughts are marked by joy and peace. You have a desire to love and to learn. You’re literally being transformed by ‘…the renewing of your mind…’ (Romans 12:2 NIV). 3) In your time. You wake each day with a sense of excitement, and you realise you’re never too young to flourish. Mozart was composing brilliant music when he was five. Paul told Timothy, ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young…’ (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV). You also realise you’re never too old to flourish. Grandma Moses was sixty-nine when she took up painting, and artist Marc Chagall did some of his best work in his nineties. It’s humbling to acknowledge you can’t be anything you want. But once you accept that and seek to maximise what God created you to be, you start flourishing.

Jeremiah 45-48, Mark 2: 13-17, Psalm 25: 16-22, Proverb 10: 4-7

THURSDAY APRIL 9, 2015

SOMEONE IS ALWAYS WATCHING YOU

‘Let your light so shine before men...’ Matthew 5:16 NKJV

A reporter once said to Joe DiMaggio, the famous baseball player, ‘You always seem to play with the same intensity. You run out every grounder and race after every fly ball, even when the Yankees have a big lead in the pennant race and there’s nothing on the line. How come?’ DiMaggio replied, ‘I always remind myself that there might be someone in the stands who never saw me play before.’ That’s the kind of unselfish mindset you must maintain in order to influence others for good and for God. It takes energy and intentionality, whether one-on-one or in a group, but it pays dividends. Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, was drawn to Christ because he’d listened to His teachings and observed His works from afar. He may have come to Jesus at night to avoid ridicule, but the fact is, he came because he couldn’t stay away! (John 3:1-21). The Bible says you’re ‘…a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you…’ (2 Corinthians 3:2 TM). Today someone is watching how you handle problems; how you treat your family and your employees; how you act when the boss isn’t around; how you respond to criticism or temptation. Don’t disappoint them. Jesus said: ‘You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV).

Jeremiah 36:27 - 40:16, Mark 1:40-45, Psalm 25:1-7, Proverb 9: 17-18

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

‘GRANNY BRAND’ (2)

‘…We can certainly do it.’ Numbers 13:30 NIV

Here’s the rest of Evelyn Brand’s story. At age seventy she received word from her home mission office that they weren’t going to give her another five-year term. But she had Caleb’s ‘we can certainly do it’ attitude. A party was held to celebrate her time in India, and everyone there cheered her on. ‘Have a good trip back home,’ they all said. ‘I’ll tell you a little secret,’ she announced, ‘I’m not going back home. I’m staying in India.’ Evelyn had a little shack built with some resources that she had smuggled in. Then she bought a pony to get around the mountains, and this septuagenarian would ride from village to village on horseback to tell people about Jesus. She did that for five years on her own. One day, at seventy-five years old, she fell and broke her hip. Her son, Paul Brand, the eminent doctor, said to her, ‘Mum, you’ve had a great run. God’s used you. It’s time to give it up now. You can go back home.’ She replied, ‘I am not going back home.’ She spent another eighteen years travelling from one village to another on horseback. Falls, concussions, sicknesses, and ageing could not stop her. Finally, when she hit ninety-three years old, she could not ride a horse any more. So the men in these villages—because they loved Granny Brand so much—put her on a stretcher and carried her from one village to another. She lived two more years and gave those years as a gift, carried on a stretcher, to help the poorest of the poor. She died, but she never retired. She just graduated.

Jeremiah 33:1- 36:26, Mark 1:35-39, Psalm 32, Proverb 9:10-16

Tuesday April 7,2015.

‘GRANNY BRAND’ (1)

‘…Do it with all your might...’ Ecclesiastes 9:10 NIV

Evelyn Brand felt called by God to go to India. For a single woman in 1909, a calling like that required a lorry-load of faith. She married a young man named Jesse and together they began a ministry to the people in rural India, bringing education and medical supplies and building roads to reduce the isolation of the poor. For seven years they went without making a single convert to Christianity. But then a priest in a local tribal region developed a fever and grew deathly ill. No one else would go near him, but Evelyn and Jesse nursed him as he was dying. He said, ‘This God, Jesus, must be the true God because only Jesse and Evelyn will care for me in my dying.’ The priest gave his children to them to care for after he died—and that became a spiritual turning point in that part of the world. People began to examine the life and teachings of Jesus, and in increasing numbers began to follow Him. Evelyn and Jesse had thirteen years of productive service, then Jesse died. By this time, Evelyn was fifty years old, and everyone expected her to return to her home in England. But she wouldn’t do it. She was known and loved for miles around as ‘Granny Brand’, and she stayed another twenty years under the mission board she had served so faithfully. Her son, Paul, came over to see her when she was seventy years old, and this is what he said about his mum: ‘This is how to grow old. Allow everything else to fall away, until those around you see only love’
(1 Corinthians 13:1-2).

Galatians 5:22, Isaiah 61, Hebrew 12:2, Jas 1: 2-3.

Monday April 6, 2015.

THE BLESSED HOPE

‘Looking for the blessed hope...’ Titus 2:13 NKJV

The blessed hope of the resurrection isn’t like a lottery where only one person out of millions will hit the jackpot. And it’s not a wishful sentiment offered at gravesides to comfort the grieving. It’s a hope built on certainty. Jesus said, ‘…Because I live, you will live also’ (John 14:19 NKJV). Paul puts it this way: ‘…There is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back’ (1 Corinthians 15:23 NLT). Paul was writing to Corinthian Christians who’d been schooled in the Greek philosophy of a shadowy afterlife. Someone was trying to convince them that corpses couldn’t be raised, neither theirs nor Christ’s. And the apostle couldn’t bear such a thought. So with the brilliance of a great attorney in his closing argument, he reviews the facts: ‘…[Jesus] was raised from death on the third day…He presented himself alive to Peter…his closest followers…more than five hundred…James…the rest of those He commissioned…and…finally…to me’ (vv. 4-8 TM). How many witnesses were there? A handful? No, hundreds! And they didn’t just see a phantom or experience a sentiment. Graveside eulogies often include phrases like ‘She’ll live on forever in our hearts.’ This isn’t what Jesus’ followers were saying. They saw Him ‘in the flesh’. And if you’ve trusted Christ as your Saviour, one day you, too, will see Him in the flesh. At death, your spirit will go to be with Him, and at His return, your resurrected body will rise to meet Him in the air. ‘So shall we ever be with the Lord’ (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Awesome, absolutely awesome!

Jeremiah 31-32, Mk 1:29-34, Psalm 72: 12-20, Proverbs 9:7-9.

Sunday April 05, 2015

Rejoice, He’s Coming for You!

‘…I will come and get you...’ John 14:3

Jesus said, ‘…I am going to prepare a place for you…When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am’ (vv. 2-3 NLT). This was a groom-to-bride promise. In Christ’s day, when a couple received permission from both their families to marry, the groom would return to his father’s home and build a house for his bride. And by promising to do the same for us, Jesus elevated funerals to the same level of hope as weddings. From His perspective, the trip to the cemetery and the walk down the aisle warrant identical excitement. Both celebrate a new era, a new name, and a new home. Rejoice, your heavenly Bridegroom is coming to take you away on His arm! Does that sound too good to be true? Check the record. If you can find one time in all the sixty-six books in the Bible where God made a promise He didn’t keep, you’ll have reason to doubt this one. Your final glimpse of life will trigger your first glimpse of Jesus. Because Christ’s tomb is empty—His promise isn’t. He made it two-thousand years ago, and He’s been working on your new home ever since. Can you imagine what it’ll be like? Living on a tiny, barren island called Patmos, John the Revelator wrote, ‘…There was no more sea’ (Revelation 21:1 NKJV). Every morning when John arose the sea was all around him; it was the barrier that separated him from his loved ones on the mainland. Think about it: in your heavenly home there’ll be no barriers, no separation, and no limitations.

 

Luke 6:27-49 , Psalm 35-36

Saturday April 04,2015

You Will Be Raised from the Dead

‘…Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [over death] through our Lord Jesus.’ 1 Corinthians 15:57

Jesus promised what no other religious leader could: that He’d return from the dead, and also resurrect His followers from the grave. And He has already made a good-faith deposit on that promise. When He died, ‘…Graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised…they went into the holy city and appeared to many’ (Matthew 27:52-53 NKJV). And the day is fast approaching when Jesus will fulfil His promise completely. ‘…In Christ all shall be made alive…each one in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterwards those who are Christ’s at His coming’ (1 Corinthians 15:22-23 NKJV).  Note the word ‘afterwards.’ The date of Jesus’ return is classified information, but His resurrection guarantees ours. Traditional Judaism was divided on this topic. The Sadducees said, ‘There is no resurrection’ (Acts 23:8 NKJV). They saw the grave as a one-way trip to Sheol with no escape and no hope, while the Pharisees envisioned a resurrection that was spiritual, not physical. The Greeks believed the soul of the deceased was ferried across the River Styx and released into a sunless afterlife of spirits, shades and shadows. Then Jesus, ‘…the first-fruits of them that slept’ (1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV), entered this world of superstition and darkness and turned on the light. The word ‘first-fruits’ can literally be translated ‘prototype’. Jesus was the first off the resurrection assembly line, and the rest of us who follow will look just like Him. It’s a message that dries our tears, calms our fears and assures us that our best days are yet to come.

Joshua 7-9, John 1:29-51

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MONDAY MARCH 30


Be Open To Correction

'…They did not respond to correction….' Jeremiah 2:30 NIV

How do you respond to correction? By taking offence? By interpreting it as rejection? By getting defensive? By shooting the bearer of bad news and making sure they never get to you again? By keeping scores and saying, 'In comparison to what I've accomplished in life, you've done nothing? By giving in to self-pity and thinking how hard your life is because people don't understand or appreciate you? We need people who'll be honest with us. Why? Because we're too easily blinded by our egos! When God sends somebody to correct you, it's because He wants the best for you. His willingness to correct you actually demonstrates how much He cares for you. 'If you are not disciplined… you are illegitimate children and not true sons…' (Hebrews12:8 NIV). So check your spiritual certificate! People who are open to correction generally exhibit these four qualities: 1)Vulnerability. When they're wrong they're capable of admitting it--even before they're confronted. 2) Teachability. They're willing to hear, quick to learn, and always open to counsel. 3) Availability. They don't try to avoid you. 4) Honesty. They are committed to the truth, regardless of how much it hurts. You say, 'That's a high standard.' You're right! It's a standard pride resists and fragile egos run from. There's something in each of us that would rather look good than be good. So when God sends people into your life who love you enough to be straight with you--be open to them. Your personal growth and success depends on it.

Jeremiah 10-13 Matthew 27:57-66 Psalm 38:13-22 Proverbs 8:24-26

SUNDAY MARCH 29, 2015.

JOSEPH’S STORY, AND YOURS

‘…God intended it…to accomplish…the saving of many lives.’ Genesis 50:20 NIV

Here’s Joseph’s story in a nutshell: his brothers put him in a pit, his boss put him in a prison, but God put him on a throne. And here’s what we learn: 1) Your dream may work out differently from what you thought. As a boy Joseph dreamed of being in a position of power. But God had something better in mind: namely, the saving of a nation. What God has in mind for you will often exceed all your expectations, bless others, and promote His kingdom on the earth. 2) When it feels like you’re losing, you’re learning. When you experience unfair treatment and hardship, complaining doesn’t do any good. Plus, you’re not growing while you are grumbling! In every experience there’s a lesson, so glean it and move forward. When life knocks you down—just make sure it knocks you to your knees. 3) Seek divine promotion instead of self-promotion. Every time Joseph tried to promote himself it worked against him. Look what happened when he asked the royal cupbearer, who was his prison-mate, to recommend him to Pharaoh: ‘The chief cupbearer…did not remember Joseph…’ (Genesis 40:23 NIV). Joseph learned the hard way that success comes from God, and that we must give Him the credit for it. Indeed, the only advancement that counts is the kind that comes from Him. So pray: ‘Lord, help me to see these difficulties as stepping stones to maturity. Give me patience to wait for the kind of promotion that comes from You. Help me to remember that I’m blessed for a reason—to bless others.’

Genesis 22:1-18, Matthew 27: 33-56, Psalm 22, Isaiah

SATURDAY MARCH 28,2015

THE HOLY SPIRIT (4)

‘These little troubles are getting us ready...’ 2 Corinthians 4:17 CEV

Everything Jesus did for His followers, the Holy Spirit does for you. Jesus taught; the Holy Spirit teaches us. Jesus healed; the Holy Spirit heals us. Jesus comforted; the Holy Spirit comforts us. Jesus sends us into new seasons, and He sends His Counsellor with us. You journey in the company of the Holy Spirit Who …‘will teach you everything and remind you of everything I have told you’ (John 14:26 NLT). When change comes, embrace it, don’t resist it. Change is not only a part of life, it’s a necessary part of God’s strategy for your life. To use us to change the world, He alters our assignments. Gideon, the farmer, became a general. Mary, the peasant girl, became the mother of Christ. Paul, the rabbi, became a world evangelist. God changed Joseph from a baby brother into an Egyptian prince. He changed David from a shepherd to a king. Peter wanted to fish the Sea of Galilee; Christ called him to lead the first church. God gives us our assignments. But what about painful changes that are hard to understand? It’s like your time in the womb: you are being developed for a greater time outside the womb. Inside the womb you had the ultimate comfort and security. But only outside the womb could you fulfil God’s purpose for your life. Your life in this world is simply to prepare you for your life in the next one. That’s why Paul wrote, ‘These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.’ Eternal glory—you can hardly imagine it!

Jeremiah 7-9, Matthew 27:27-32, Psalm 38: 1-12, Proverbs 8: 22-23

FRIDAY 27 MARCH, 2015

The Holy Spirit (3)

‘…The Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything...’

John 14:26

As a departing teacher might introduce the pupils to his or her replacement, so Jesus introduces us to the Holy Spirit. And what a ringing endorsement He gives Him! He calls the Holy Spirit His ‘representative’. The Holy Spirit within you comes in the name of Christ, with equal authority and identical power. How comforting it is to know that, when you’re entering a new season of life in which so many things will be different. This verse is translated in different ways. In The Message, the word ‘counsellor’ means ‘friend’. In the New King James Bible, He’s called ‘Helper’. In the Amplified Bible, He’s referred to as ‘Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener’.  In the original Greek, the Holy Spirit is referred to as ‘parakletos’, a compound of two words: para, which means ‘alongside of’, and kletos, which means ‘one who’s designated to you’. The Holy Spirit has been assigned to come alongside you. He is the presence of Jesus with and in you. Can you see how the disciples needed this encouragement? It’s Thursday night before the crucifixion. By sunrise they will all have abandoned Him. Within twenty-four hours He will be hanging on the cross and their world will seem like it’s been turned upside down. But Jesus wants them to know: ‘You’ll never face the future without My help.’ And neither will you. Wherever the journey leads, He will be there by your side. The songwriter said, ‘And He walks with me, and He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.’

Deuteronomy 22-24, Mark 14:1-26

THURSDAY 26 MARCH, 2015

The Holy Spirit (2)

‘…He will give you another Counsellor.'

John 14:16

In the Bible, Solomon lists twenty-eight different seasons in life. Here they are: ‘A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to stop searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace’ (Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 NLT). God determines each of your life’s seasons. The Psalmist said, ‘My times are in Your hand…’ (Psalms 31:15 AMP). So what should you do when you enter a new season of life? Reach for the Holy Spirit’s help because He’s a ‘Counsellor’. Jesus told His disciples, ‘I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever.’ When you need an advisor because you’re not sure what to do or which way to go, the Holy Spirit is available to guide you. That means you must be sensitive when He highlights a particular Scripture you’re reading, or plants a persistent thought or idea in your mind that won’t go away, or speaks to you through a friend. You’re not alone, unless you want to be. Just consult the ‘Counsellor’ within you.

 Deuteronomy 19-21, Mark 13:21-37

WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH,2015

The Holy Spirit (1)

‘I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind...'

John 14:27


Life comes with surprises. Some of them you welcome, and some of them you don’t. One summer you take a trip to the beach, next summer the beach is covered with oil. One month your stocks are soaring and your investments are growing, then suddenly it all comes crashing down. And the ‘brains’ you thought were running the system sit at a congressional hearing and say, ‘We just never anticipated this.’ And in those rare seasons when you think the world has settled down, watch out! A malignant cell shows up in a colon, or a tornado rips through a neighbourhood flattening a house. So what are you going to do? When Jesus told His disciples He was leaving them, they were in panic mode, so He said to them, ‘…When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I’m leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid’ (vv. 26-27 NLT). You need to recognise the presence of the Holy Spirit who lives within you, and build a relationship with Him. He’s not an ‘it’ or a ‘thing’ or an ethereal spirit that’s beyond your reach. He is Christ’s ‘representative’. He’s willing to teach you what you don’t know, and to remind you of the things you so easily forget. And best of all, He will give you ‘peace of mind and heart’ regardless of what life throws at you.

 Deuteronomy 16-18, Mark 13:1-20

TUESDAY MARCH 24,2015

Learn to ‘Wait’ On God

‘…Those who wait upon God get fresh strength...’

Isaiah 40:31

The prophet Isaiah tells us God ‘…energises those who get tired, gives fresh strength to drop-outs. For even young people tire…folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind’ (vv. 29-31 TM). When an eagle is on the ground it’s vulnerable to attack by predators like snakes and wolves. On terra firma its surroundings are a fixed reality the eagle can’t change. So what does it do? It rises above them! From the air, everything looks different. The eagle’s altitude transforms its attitude—and that can happen for you too. ‘…Those who wait upon God get fresh strength...’ Here are two illustrations of what it means to wait upon God: 1) Like a wide-winged eagle waiting for a thermal current to carry it heavenward, you must stay in God’s presence with your heart attuned to Him. Do you have duties and demands? Yes, but none as important as this. Why? Because you understand that if you don’t get into God’s presence and stay there until He refreshes and restores you, you won’t make it. 2) Like an attentive waiter at a fine restaurant, whose only aim is to please, you wait on God, sensitive to His voice and surrendered to His will. Have the pressures of life left you drained? Watching television may entertain you for a while, but it won’t restore what life takes out of you. Only God can do that, so learn to ‘wait’ on God.

 Deuteronomy 13-15, Mark 12:28-44

Monday MARCH 23,2015.

BRING THEM TO JESUS

‘…If two of you agree…it will be done...’ Matthew 18:19 NKJV

They came to Him, bringing a paralytic, who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic…‘arise, take up your bed…’’ (Mark 2: 3-11 NKJV). We learn from this man’s story that some people are incapable of getting to Jesus on their own; their condition makes it impossible. Notice three important things here: 1) It took four people with faith to do it. Spiritual synergy works miracles, so look for some prayer partners to stand with you. Jesus said, …‘If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.’ 2) They refused to let the crowd stop them. The crowd had its own agenda. Some were curious, some were critical, and some were sincere seekers. In order to bring your loved one to Jesus, you’ll have to overcome anything and anybody who stands in your way. 3) They ‘raised the roof’. Stand on God’s promises, lift your voice in prayer, ‘raise the roof’ if you have to, but don’t give up. Jesus didn’t disappoint them, and He won’t disappoint you either. It’s hard to pick up the weight of another person, but if you hold up your end of the deal God will hold up His. Don’t give in to weariness or discouragement. Don’t stop until you get them to Jesus.

Hosea 11-14, Matthew 26: 57-75, Psalm 13, Proverbs 8:14-16

SATURDAY MARCH 21, 2015.

DON’T BE SO CONTROLLING

‘Love…does not demand its own way...’ 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NLT

Some kids at a summer camp were discussing creation, and one asked, ‘If everything has a purpose, how come God made poison ivy?’ Another replied, ‘Because He knows there are some things we should keep our hands off!’ But keeping your hands off things isn’t easy when you’re insecure and controlling by nature. ‘Sometimes my husband drives me crazy,’ you say. Well, maybe you drive him crazy too! The Bible says, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they will become one flesh’ (Genesis 2:24 NAS). Notice the word ‘become’. Leaving is the easy part; becoming is the hard part. It takes love, patience, kindness, and hard work. Jesus said, ‘…Stop allowing yourselves to be…unsettled’ (John 14:27 AMP). You’re doing it to yourself! Learn to ‘let go’ and work on developing the fruits of the Spirit in your own life. Letting go doesn’t mean you don’t care; it just means allowing others to learn in their own way and through their own experiences. It calls for focusing on Jesus rather than obsessing on the other person’s behaviour. ‘You will keep in perfect peace…all whose thoughts are fixed on You!’ (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). Fix your thoughts on God, not others. Letting go means caring about, instead of care-taking. It means stepping out of the middle and not trying to influence the outcome by fixing, judging, nagging, scolding, arguing, criticising, and regulating. It’s about facing each day with God’s help and cherishing each moment. It’s about realising the only person you can ‘change’ is yourself. It’s about fearing less and trusting more. And it’s the only way to be happy.

Hosea 1-5, Matthew 26: 26-46, Psalm 116:1-11, Proverbs 8:8-9

FRIDAY MARCH 20, 2015.

FTT

‘…I have come that they may have life…to the full.’John 10:10 NIV

Psychologists have begun to speak of what is perhaps today’s largest mental health problem. And it’s a rapidly growing problem. They call it ‘FTT’, which means ‘failure to thrive’. When you have it, you’re still able to function, but you’ve lost your sense of hope and meaning. FTT isn’t the presence of mental illness; it’s the absence of mental, spiritual and emotional vitality. In ancient lists of deadly sins it was called ‘acedia’, which means ‘weariness of soul and inability to delight in life’. It’s why Jesus looked at a crowd of people with dead marriages, dead-end jobs, and a feeling of inner deadness, and said, ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10 NIV). In a vision, Ezekiel saw a valley full of dead bones. It was FTT in its final form. God asked him, ‘Can these bones live?’ He replied, ‘…You alone know’ (Ezekiel 37:3 NIV). God did know, and He made them come alive. And He can cause you to live again, and to thrive. The Talmud says that every blade of grass has an angel bending over it whispering, ‘Grow, grow.’ Paul said that in Christ the whole redeemed company ‘…grows and builds itself up in love…’ (Ephesians 4:16 NIV). But it’s not just about you. God wants you to flourish so that people can be encouraged, gardens can be planted, music can be written, sick people can be helped, or companies can thrive in ways they otherwise would not. So let’s stop and propose a toast: ‘Here’s to the person God designed, desired, and has determined you will become!’

2 Kings 24-25, Matthew 26: 1-25, Psalm 19, Proverbs 8: 6-7.

Was about to update when I saw this . Thanks for the update and coming up so early !

WEDNESDAY MARCH 18, 2015.

GOD’S WILL FOR YOU (3)

‘…Prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’Romans 12:2 NKJV

In order to fulfil God’s will for your life, you’ll have to deal with what other people want you to be. Your boss wants you to be more productive. Your health club wants you to be fitter. Your credit card company wants you to be deeper in debt. It seems like everybody has an agenda for you, and, if you spend your life trying to meet their expectations, you’ll never be free. Sometimes loving people means having to disappoint them. Seeking to become the person others want you to be is a shallow way to live. Nobody can tell you exactly how to change, because only God knows. Even you can’t tell yourself how to change, because you didn’t create yourself. To love someone is to desire and work toward their becoming the best possible version of themselves. And the one person in the entire universe who’s qualified to do this is God. Unlike people, God has no hidden agenda or unmet needs that He’s hoping you can help Him with. He knows what the best version of you looks like. He delights in the very idea of it, and is already working to bring it to fruition in your life. The Bible says, ‘…In all things God works for the good of those who love Him…’ (Romans 8:28 NIV). That means God is at work every moment to help you become His best version of you. And you’ll only be truly free when you make up your mind to be happy about being the person God meant you to be—the one He’s working on every day.

2 Kings 18: 17 - 20:21, Matthew 25: 1-23, Psalm 115, Proverb 8:1-3.

TUESDAY MARCH 17, 2015.

GOD’S WILL FOR YOU (2)

‘I delight to do Your will, O my God...’ Psalms 40:8 NKJV

In discovering and doing God’s will for your life, you must come to terms with what you think you should be. Comparison kills spiritual growth. For example, the mother of three young children hears her pastor preach about Christians who rise at dawn every day to spend an hour of quiet time with God. The fact is, she’d love an hour of quiet time—anytime! But her kids won’t cooperate! So what she takes away from the sermon is that she doesn’t measure up as a Christian. In essence, she’s practising ‘spirituality by comparison’ and living under a cloud of guilt. It doesn’t occur to her that the love she expresses to her children counts as a spiritual activity. Or that she may be serving God more faithfully than somebody who neglects their family in order to have that hour of quiet every morning. Another example: a gregarious, spontaneous husband is married to a woman who enjoys solitude. It comes easily to her. Nevertheless, he feels like he’s a failure when it comes to prayer because he doesn’t enjoy being alone the way his wife does. He doesn’t consider that his joy and willingness in serving others counts, or that the degree to which he loves them is shaping his soul and delighting God. ‘Should’ is an important word, but when it comes to spiritual growth, God doesn’t want you to obey Him just because you ‘should’. He designed you to want His plan for your life—to get to the place where you can say, ‘I delight to do Your will, O my God.’

Galatians 5:22, 1 Corin 13, Ephesians 3:14-21, John 15: 1-17.

Have a wonderful week ahead my people !