Encouraged by God's Word

Archive for October, 2008

Hello Friends,

What did you have for dinner last night

? Was it filling? Was it healthy? Did you get your protein, carbs and essential fats or was it too much grease, bad carbs and bad fat?

What have you been reading lately? Has it been a suspenseful novel that is a page turner? What about your favorite financial magazine? Or would you admit you are hooked on those romance novels? You know the ones with the scantily dressed woman on the cover wrapped in the arms of a male model with six pack abs.

Who are you listening to? Is it the popular TV host who is an expert on everything and has advice for those in the studio audience and the millions who watch daily? What about your favorite musician who’s lyrics are, well, let’s just say they’re not too creative. Okay, they’re garbage but the music video is awesome.

Everyday we’re feeding our spirits with various influences that we come in contact with and it is imperative that we recognize what’s good for us and what’s not.

1 Corinthians 3:16 says Do you know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If God’s spirit dwells in us we must make sure we’re feeding it “healthy” food by reading the Word daily. We must also pray without ceasing.

If we don’t do this and we continue to dine on earthly desires, our spirits become weak and the flesh will take over. And when our flesh takes over, we can’t hear the voice of God and respond to His call and fulfill our destiny.

Now I’m not saying we can’t read a good book every now and then or enjoy some good music but there must be a balance.

So take the time today, and everyday, to get fit for the kingdom by eating your daily dose of spiritual food.

And don’t worry about over eating. You can never get too much of God’s good thing!

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!

Hello Friends,

Do you remember a song that Grace Jones used to sing in 1985 called “Slave to the Rhythm”? It was good! When that song started people would feel the beat and the rhythm and it would make you hit the dance floor. You truly were a slave to that song’s rhythm.

But what else are we slaves to?

Could it be our jobs? Are you working 8+++ hours a day only to go home and start working on the computer? How about going into the office on the weekend just for “a couple of hours”? Do you have a company phone so your supervisor can have access to you 24 hours a day/7 days a week?

What about your children’s activities? Are you slaves to them? Let’s see, there are basketball, soccer, volleyball, football and softball practices and games. There are Drama Club and Drama Ministry rehearsals and plays. There are choir rehearsals and performances. There are Dance Ministry practices, performances and community service activities. There are Star Ministry meetings and community service activities. There’ s Friday Night Flip and BAM JAM.

Then there are Rose Court meetings, pageants and a cotillion. Oh, that’s just in my household.

What about the TELEVISION? C’mon now. How many of us break our necks to get home to see our favorite show(s)? How many times have you rearranged your schedule to see that latest reality show or game show? Did my boy get voted off this week? Is someone going to win one million dollars? Or, how about that drama that you are totally engrossed with? You always think you know who did it but you’re wrong every week.

This is the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of being a slave. But there is one time when it is ALWAYS good to be a slave.

Romans 6:18 says And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

WOW! Now that’s GOOD slavery!

Think about it. The Lord Jesus died on the cross for our sins so that we would be set free from sin. We don’t have to live in bondage, we don’t have to be depressed, we don’t have to live in fear and we don’t have to live defeated, beat down, busted, or empty.

Through Jesus we are victorious! We are slaves of righteousness; we are free from guilt; we are justifiable; we are morally right. We are EXCELLENT.

So when you think about slavery from now on, think about being slaves of righteousness.

So I ask you again; Are You a Slave?

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!

Hello Friends,

Let’s go back in time when kids spent their summers outdoors. No, I’m not talking about on some camp ground in the wilderness. I’m talking about outside riding bikes, playing Double Dutch, roller skating, tossing around the football or building go-carts.

How about those basketball games when two guys would pick who would play on their team. Fortunately for me I was a good basketball player and if I wasn’t picking the team, I was always picked early. But what about those kids who couldn’t play? You know the ones who were always picked last and I do mean ALWAYS picked last.

You know at some point, those guys didn’t mind because they were happy just to be playing with the other fellas. They were glad someone chose them to be on their team.

Who’s team are you playing for right now? Who picked you?

John 15:16 says You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Jesus said that He chose YOU and appointed YOU. That’s an awesome feeling to know that the One who conquered death and has an undefeated record chose you to be on His team.

Not only were you chosen, but you should bear fruit. You’re not on the team to sit on the bench or to carry the towels or to cheer on the other players. You should bear fruit and your fruit should remain which means you have something of value to offer. You are playing with everyone else and you’re a contributor to the team and what you have to offer is exceptional.

So I asked you, have you accepted the invitation to be on Jesus’ team? If not, there is only one other solution and that’s to be on the losing team and that lose will cost you your life.

There is only one championship team. Will you be in the team picture?

Be Encouraged and Have a Great Day!