11/16/2022 0 Comments Desire for a HeartThe Tin Man’s main desire was a heart. God’s desire for us is to have a purified heart. David cried out this prayer after being confronted about committing adultery. He knew this sin would separate him from God. In the same way, Jesus blessed the people with pure hearts, giving them a promised connection to God.
Questions for further thought: 1. What sin is keeping your from having a pure heart right now? 2. What do you need to do to purify your heart? Challenge: David was known to be a man after God’s own heart. I had a college professor who described David as a man who would sin large and ask for forgiveness in larger ways. Take time today to ask for forgiveness in a large way. Go to God with that burden. If your forgiveness requires reconciliation with someone else, set up a call with them to confess to them.
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11/15/2022 0 Comments Equipped by GodThe Tin Man always carried an axe with him. The axe came in handy as he was able to use it to overcome obstacles along the yellow brick road. These include chopping trees to build bridges and fend off the Fighting Trees. In the same way, God has provided His Word to help us through the obstacles of our Godly journey.
Questions for further thought: 1. What obstacles are current blocking your path toward God? 2. How can you use Scripture to help you in your current challenges? Challenge: Scripture memorization is a great discipline to help grow your faith. Take time to memorize Scripture. (If you are not sure where to start, when I was a young Christian, my mentor included today’s Scriptures in my memorization list!) 11/14/2022 0 Comments He Once Was HumanIn the Wizard of Oz, we are introduced to the Tin Man as the second character to join Dorothy on the yellow brick road. He was a human who was rusted in place for a year due to a spell from the Wicked Witch of the East. At some time during our life, we all get transformed; sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. The Tin Man thought he was permanently damaged, but something better was in plan for him!
Questions for further thought: 1. What is a past experience that has damaged you permanently? 2. Was there something that came out of this experience for the better? Challenge: We have a God that goes before us and prepares the Way for us. Take time to thank Him for both what He has done in your life, and what He is working toward! 11/11/2022 0 Comments What to WearWhat do you wear? Do you show compassion, are you kind to your neighbor, are you humble at work, are you gentle, do you show patience towards the person that cut you off in traffic? We are to clothe ourselves in these virtues and wear them every day; not just when we want to. This is easier said than done. These virtues go against what the world is telling us. The world tells us we are to be self-centered, proud, and get angry at those who wrong us. In verse 14 it tells us to put on love which will bind all these virtues together. In the end if we truly love one other, the other virtues will fall into place. Be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, and above all love one another. You will be clothed in the most beautiful wardrobe in all creation.
Questions for further thought: 1. What clothes are you going to put on this morning? 2. Have you shown the clothing of love to your world this week? Challenge: If you have some old "clothes" you need to take off, pray and ask God to help you take them off and put on the new clothes today. 11/10/2022 0 Comments The Glory Is God's AlonePaul is reminding the church in Corinth that what they are preaching is not for their own glory, but to glorify God. We are to be humble, so that our lives are an example of the greatness of God and the transforming power of our relationship with Him. We are to be a light in a dark world, not to bring praise to ourselves, but to bring glory to God. Do your actions and deeds in your daily life show the glory of the Almighty God? This is challenged every day as we face the daily grind of life. Do you glorify God by having a positive attitude even when you are completing the same task you have to do at work for the 10th time, the 100th time, etc.? Do all for the glory of God!
Questions for further thought: 1. Is your life a shining light in a dark world? 2. What tasks in your life seem tedious? How can you do these tasks with a more positive attitude that glorifies God? Challenge: Pray and ask God to give you a heart like Jesus. When taking the trash out this week, (a tedious task) say a short prayer to God thanking Him for all the blessing he has given you. 11/9/2022 0 Comments Whom Do You Serve?Whom do you serve - the Almighty or yourself? This question is a tough one, as we are by nature self-centered. Yet in Matthew we are told we cannot serve two masters. God is not at our beck and call, we do not get to choose when we serve Him. We cannot serve Him only when it is convenient for us. We must let Him be in control of our lives every day, minute, and second of our lives. In the good times and the bad times we must submit our lives to Him. This is a tough thing to do, but as we strive to follow Him, the Holy Spirit will enable us by strengthening and emboldening us to persevere.
Questions for further thought: 1. What are some areas in your life you need to give over to God? 2. How have your actions this week shown others that God is in total control of your life? Challenge: Today, choose one thing in your life that you are going to give over to God, and find someone that will hold you accountable to it. 11/8/2022 0 Comments Sing to the LordWe always think of the Great Commission as a New Testament Idea, but Psalms 96 tells us we are to "Declare His glory among the nations". We are not just to proclaim God's glory in church, we are to, "Sing it day after day". When we leave the house, when we are at work, at school, at the gym, etc. Do your actions and attitudes show God's glory in your life in how you carry out your everyday actions? When you interact with that person who has rubbed you the wrong way at work, at school, or in the checkout lane at the store?
Questions for further thought: 1. What are some ways you can show God’s glory to others? 2. How does your life proclaim God’s salvation? Challenge: This week take time to share God's salvation in your life with another person. 11/7/2022 0 Comments Your StepsDo your steps please the Lord? This is a great question since God gives us free will to choose our steps. God gave us a brain and He wants us to use it. I think he is just as disappointed when, “we speak before we think.” God will honor our decisions when we take the time to listen to Him and follow His plan for our lives.
Questions for further thought: 1. How often do you speak before you think? 2. What are some ways you are going to please the Lord this week? Challenge: Take time to listen to the Lord this week and seek out the plans he has for you! 11/4/2022 0 Comments Blessed and Still FollowingAbraham was over 100 years old when Isaac was finally born. Abraham probably thought ‘finally I am blessed.’ Then God asks the unspeakable—sacrifice Isaac. Trusting God, Abraham prepares to do exactly what God asks—take the blessing he received and sacrifice it to God. While I do not believe God will ask us to sacrifice our children like He asked of Abraham, He could very well ask you to give up a blessing in order to follow Him.
Questions for further thought: 1. What might God be asking you to do? 2. What might be sacrificed in order to follow God? Challenge: Have the faith Abraham had to make the sacrifice and take steps in faith on the path God has for you. 11/3/2022 0 Comments His Plan and His GloryIn this passage, Joshua leads the Israelites to Jericho. God had given Joshua specific instructions on how to win Jericho and to anyone experienced in warfare the instructions probably sounded silly. That’s the point though. God wanted to ensure the Israelites understood that the victory was not because of anything they did, but everything to do with what He did.
Questions for further thought: 1. When has God shown up in your life where only He could have accomplished what happened? 2. Did you recognize Him for the achievement? Challenge: Take time to thank God for your blessings, the times He has seen you through, and for all that you have accomplished with Him in control. |
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April 2024
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