Instructions Included

Two weeks ago, people spent all morning assembling Christmas gifts. Ahh! The joy of reading those tiny instructions, using even tinier tools to put together tiny toys for the tiniest tot with the tiniest tolerance to match. As an engineer, I enjoy assemblies that include detailed steps with pictures that guide you to success. You do one step, check the picture for correctness. Then you do the next step, and check the picture again, until your product looks like what the maker intended.    

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Jesus gave us great instructions – His Word. Believers often skip following the instructions and then wonder why life doesn’t look how the Maker intended. That’s because the Bible isn’t meant to just read, it’s meant to study so that you can do what it says. You lack peace? Step 1: Isaiah 26:3 - Keep your mind stayed on Him. Check your results against the Makers picture. You lack prosperity? Step 2: Joshua 1:8 – Meditate on the Word to do it and you will make your way prosperous. If life doesn’t look like the Makers picture, go back and redo the last instruction. Your life will look more like the Maker intended when you do the Word and follow the included instructions.  

Step by step…

Heavenly Father, thank You for the instructions You’ve given me in Your Word. Your Words are life, light, and love. In Your Word is everything I need to have love, peace, strength, power, forgiveness and a sound mind. I commit today to not just reading Your Word but doing Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Christ Cares

Whenever you set out to improve yourself, you can expect to hit some tough times or obstacles. You may experience rejection or not realize the results you planned for, but with each experience comes life lessons that will prepare you for success the next time. And if it weren’t for the tough time, rejection or obstacle, you would not have experienced the improvement and increase God planned for you.  

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God allows storms in your life to create faith or increase faith. Christ cares for you so much that He will allow hard times, heartache, and even rejection to bring you closer to Him. In your storm, He wants your focus to be on Him – not your circumstance, not your enemy, but to have faith that He will deliver you through your storm and to a better you. So, during your next storm, don’t ask Jesus if He cares about you, but rather ask Christ to prepare you to receive what He’s about to do in your life to produce a better you.

I can see clearly now…

Heavenly Father, thank You for being with me through the storm. I know You have the perfect plan for my life and whatever you allow me to experience is part of that perfect plan. I have faith that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Thank You for my increase! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Use It ASAP

Gift cards are consistently among the most popular gifts, often topping wish lists and surveys for holidays and special occasions. Some gift cards can only be used at specific retailers, while AMEX or Visa gift cards allow you to make your purchase where you choose. While I don’t mind receiving gift cards, the trouble for me at times is I forget I have them and they expire. So, to remedy that problem, when someone gives me a gift card, I use it as soon as possible to reap the benefit of the gift.

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One way to reap the benefit of God’s Word is to use it as soon as possible. When you take notes Sunday during your pastor’s sermon, don’t forget you have them. Use them immediately! When you sow the Word of God, your harvest becomes more plentiful. The longer you wait to use God’s Word, the more opportunity you provide the enemy to steal, kill or destroy your blessing. Sowers sow the Word of God. If you don’t sow, you can’t expect to reap at harvest time. Whatever Jesus told you to do today, don’t let it expire. Use it ASAP and be prepared to reap!

Don’t wait another minute

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that gives life and instructions for me to live by. I am a sower. And You have given me the seed of Your Word to plant in my heart that I may run and do it ASAP! Thank You for my harvest. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mother's Day Gift

A mother’s love is so special. It’s something that you can’t describe. Whether you believe your mother to be “Mother of the Year” or not, you are truly blessed because you needed your mother to enter this world. You can always grow from your relationship with your mom. If she was an inspiration, you can emulate her. If she made some mistakes along the way, you could learn from her. Either way, she has gifted you with an irreplaceable gift. Life.

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And as you share this Mother’s Day gift with the world, remember to tell the children in your life about Jesus. After you, yourself, have committed to God, share your commitment over and over again with them. Talk to your children, nieces and nephews, God children, cousins, friend’s children, and neighborhood kids about Christ. Talk about Him when you’re at home and on the road. Talk about Him when you go to sleep and when you get up. It’s the best Mother’s Day gift there is!

She’s my favorite girl

Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing me with a mother. Because of her, You have given me life and a gift. I glorify You by appreciating her for this gift and I will share The Gospel with every child in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Can't Compare

God didn’t bring you this far to leave you. Whatever craziness is going on in your life doesn’t define you. God defines you! You are His creation, created with glorious purpose. And whatever Christ allows you to go through, believe He will work it out for your good.

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Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. Not trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or weapons. Whatever you are suffering right now, it is nothing compared to the glory God will reveal in you. Keep your faith. Keep your eyes on Jesus and seek Him. There you will find rest for your soul and eternal peace for your mind.

Keep moving forward

Heavenly Father, I know You have great plans for my life. Whatever trouble You allow me to face, You have already prepared me to overcome. The suffering I’m experiencing now is nothing compared to the glory You will reveal in me. Thank You for Your rest. Thank You for Your peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

After the Storm

This week, strong storm systems formed from the West growing across states into the Midwest. Cities like Kalamazoo, that normally don’t experience tornadoes, were hit. There were rumors of adverse weather, but for the first time as a resident of Kalamazoo, a tornado watch alert overtook my mobile phone as the city’s alarms blared warning us to take cover. After the storm, reports of homes lost, damage to property, and businesses destroyed were shared, but thank God, lives were spared.

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You too will experience loss, discomfort, and sorrows, but take heart because Jesus has overcome the world. After your unexpected storm hits, you can thank God you still have life, and you have His peace. You don’t have to wait until there are rumors of storms to take cover. You can take cover in Christ right now while the sun is shining on you, while friends are smiling, and times are good. So, when your storm does hits, you’re already covered in His peace. And even if it feels like you’re all alone after the storm, remember Jesus said He would never leave you, nor forsake you. He’s with you after the storm, in the storm, and before the storm.

You’re covered!

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your peace in my storm. You said You would never leave me, nor forsake me. I can take heart knowing that You have overcome the world and I am covered in You. Please comfort those across the land who have experienced any loss due to storms. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let God Do It

You know how I get in trouble all the time? By trying to take God’s place. I find very often that the thing I need in life, I go absolutely out of my way trying to work to get it, when God wants to do it for me. Example, you ask. Sure! Peace on my job. I try all kinds of ways to obtain peace; bending over backwards, pleasing people that couldn’t care less or stressing about what people think about me, when God simply said, if you want peace, keep your mind on Me.

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Do yourself a favor… Get out of God’s way! He’s an awesome God and great King of all the earth. He’s promised to provide everything you need. You only need to obey His word. He is ready to subdue entire nations on your behalf. He is ready to put your enemies beneath your feet. Let God do it! You can’t do what God can do so don’t waste time trying. Instead, use your time wisely by thanking Him in advance for what He said He would do and start your praise party today!

Won’t He do it?

Heavenly Father, it’s already done, in Jesus’ name. I have peace. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I am the head and not the tail. I am more than a conqueror. I can do all things because You give me strength. My enemies are my footstool. Thank You for doing it for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Everything is Beautiful

The beginning of Ecclesiastes chapter three explains what we can expect out of life. There is a time for everything, and if we’re blessed to live life long enough, we will experience a bit of just that – everything. This scripture prepares the Believer so that when “everything” does indeed happen, we have full understanding it is God’s will, and He has made everything beautiful for its own time.

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I took a short break from writing. (I’ve missed you too!) During this break I’ve received promotions, was elected Chapter President of my Fraternity, maintained responsibilities as Chairman of our Deacon’s Ministry, buried my mother, and recently graduated with my Masters. It was God’s timing to reorganize and reprioritize the many things I juggled. And though I could not see the whole scope of God’s work, I knew it was Him working - and that was enough. Today, whatever you’re juggling, allow God full control. It’s OK to say, “No.” It’s OK to take a break. It’s OK to be happy. It’s OK to simply breathe. There is a time for everything. And when you understand God’s timing is perfect, everything is beautiful.

Its own time

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your strength. Today, I give You full control over my schedule, my dealings, my life. Your timing is perfect. I see Your hand at work in my life - and everything is beautiful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Gain in Christ

Can you remember the last thing you gave up for the sake of Christ? Did you sacrifice working overtime so you could attend bible study? Maybe you gave up smoking marijuana or binge eating. Perhaps you stopped cursing or the gossiping that once made you the “cool kid.”

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For some, the above examples may not be significant or life altering events, but they can contribute significantly to hindering your walk with Christ. Don’t allow fear to enter your heart or mind and intimidate you into thinking you can’t accomplish what Christ has already empowered you to do. Whatever you sacrifice, replace that void with something Christ-centered. You’ll soon see what you gain in Christ is well worth the loss.

Goals and boundaries

Heavenly Father, I will step out in faith and give my life away to gain eternity in You. I have the strength through You to give up things of my flesh to gain the blessings You have stored for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.