Directionally Challenged?

Here is your stone!! "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."". (Matthew 26:39 NIV). Are you at or are you approaching a cross road in your life. A challenge of your desires vs God's plan? A question of where does this lead me? Directionally Challenged? We have to lay it at the feet of Jesus and allow God's direction to be made clear. Clarity followed by obedience brings glory to His Kingdom. Lay it down and live it out!!

Simple and true.

Here is your stone!! "Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple "Yes" or "No." Otherwise you will be condemned." (James 5:12 NIV). The two answer options of Yes and No are the beginnings of truth or lies. We should be able to respond, and keep moving. It is not our job to judge the reply, but rather encourage and or support the responder. Today, let your Yes and No be difference maker. Live this out!!

He provides we decide.

Here is your stone!! "Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days." (Ephesians 5:16 NLT). God provides and we are the ones who decide. Opportunities are those brief moments when have been given a choice. A choice to bring Him Glory!! How many will we let slip by? Capture everyone of them today!! Today bring Him Glory!!

Whose View

Here is your stone!! "So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! (2 Corinthians 5:16 NLT). Wonder what we would have thought of Jesus if we knew Him from the beginning? So often we see others and begin to determine how they will "Turn Out" based on our present knowledge. Can we spend more time praying and investing in them? Our views must change from the me and we perspective to the He perspective. Let's begin now to Live it out!!

Bleeding to Pleading for You!!

Here is your stone!! "Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us." (Romans 8:34 NLT). His work for us continues. He died on a tree for you and me and spends time now, still pleading for us. His work was not ending at the cross, it continues for us still today.

Life with HD!

Here is your stone!! "I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart.” (Psalm 40:8 NLT). Everyday we are faced with choices in how we go and grow. His word is our map and we must allow it not only to guide our steps. It's not hard decisions, it's Heart Decisions. Live in Heart Decisions!!! Live in HD!!

Make action happen.

Here is your stone!! "Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray." (Mark 1:35 NLT). We all know that God is available to us and that we can pray and know he hears our prayer. God's word is specific though. It doesn't just say that Jesus prayed or met with God. He "got up and went". Too many times we feel like, I'll just pray. No no no. We have got to move!! We want to get closer to God, well get up and go meet with Him. I have heard it and said it a number of times, look at the first two letters in God. GO!! Make action happen!!! LIVE IT OUT!!!!!

Are you ready to cross over?

Here is your stone!! "For the LORD your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over." (Joshua 4:23 NLT). Two points. Path provided and obedience to cross over! God provides the way to do His work, and it is often right before us. Do you wonder if Joshua looked at that and thought, " Hold on, that can't be? How easy is that to cross?". Do you think he may have thought of it as a trap? All through this verse he listened and obeyed. In the end, marked the area so that those to come would see God's Glory! God will provide a way, will you take it? Will you give Him the praise? Live it out!!

Raise it up!

Here is your stone!! "In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy." (1 Timothy 2:8 NLT). I have to say that this is an area that I completely understand. Men, we as a group fail here. The majority of families that attend church, it is often without the dad. If they are there, their presence is limited. Can we as men stop the whole image of what we think about worship? You want to lead your family, others and live in God's word. Raise it up. Lift up those hands today in worship and experience the freedom! Live this verse out, don't follow "them in the church", but honor "He who is our reason for the church".

Courageous for change.....

Here is your stone!! "But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.” (2 Chronicles 15:7 NLT). Imagine being a leader in a time when many around you focused on anything But God. You are told to be strong in your faith and lead. God would reward you. That is the context of this verse and the reality of today. Asa became bold and took steps to change his kingdom. Are you ready to do the same? Maybe it's your friends, family, work, or etc? Begin today. Boldness & courage for God!!!

Travel with D.O.T.

Here is your stone!! "In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.". (1 Peter 5:10 NLT). The road may seem rough at times but the destination is eternal. All of us have experienced suffering to different degrees. Driving long distances we have the DOT (dept of transportation) to ensure we have a solid road to drive on. It will have rough spots on the travel, but the goal is a safe arrival at your destination. We must also DOT (Depend on Truth) and know that there will be no greater feeling then when we get Home. Travel on and live out truth!!

Heart application.

Here is your stone!! "turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—". (Proverbs 2:2 NIV). Wisdom is truth and truth is God's word. We can listen and read, but what we do is the deal. We have heard at some point in our lives that actions speak louder than words, but do we apply that saying? Fact is that our ears are receivers, but our heart is the believer. Live out with your heart what you hear in God's truth.

Quit Complaining!

Here is your stone!! ""Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered." (John 6:43 NIV). Why is it that so often, those who claim to have Christ, also seem to complain so much? Is it our desire for everyone to do the same as we or as He? Fact is, if we complain about them, then we are not acting as Him. What if? Instead of complaining, we gave God praise for what He has done for us. If we are going to claim to have Him, then let's live it out!!! I pray for all those who get this that we begin today, note that I said WE. Have an Awesome Day!!

It is under control, are we?

Here is your stone!! "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil." (Psalm 37:8 NIV). Wrath and Fret. Imagine a deep anger or something that just really gets you going. Maybe it's a person or a situation. Your result is FRET. A gnawing away at you. It begins to tear you down. As a Christ follower, what does that express? Judgement, lack of grace, and lack of faith? How beautiful is that picture and what makes our lives any more inviting than most of those around us? We are on a journey that others are watching. Are we representing Jesus? We have to go away from the they and head to the Way. Live it out!!!!

Give Forgiveness.

Here is your stone!! "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark 11:25 NIV). Challenging for sure. How often are we praying for people because of our desire for THEM to change and to meet us where we are? As our Savior hung on the cross, He asked God to forgive. Is forgiveness top of our list? Make it happen. Live it out.

Not a syn.

Here is your stone!! "Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example." (1 Peter 5:3 NLT). So often people associate leaders with bosses. Although many think they are synonymous, they are truly different. As a leader in any capacity, the scriptures provide you key points. Care for your people, be the example, and know that no matter what you may believe, those people were entrusted to you for this point in time. Do not let anything stop you from experiencing growth and influence. Your leadership can be used to change lives. Live it out!!

No worries but Not easy.

Here is your stone!! "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.". (1 Peter 5:7, 8 NLT). Give away your worries but be alert. I love that we, as Christ followers, WIN! Yes. We stay strong and prepared and God's truth surpasses all trials. But there will be challenges. Satan's only chance of success is where we have a weakness. Stay strong!! Be prepared!! Win!!! Live it out!!

Might gives Might.

Here is your stone!! "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11 NLT). Sin happens. We all face it and do it. As I read this today, realizing that the psalmist is level setting by using the word, "might". That word reminds us that because we fall, doesn't mean we failed. It means that we know our direction, through storing His word in our hearts, and that our failure is forgiven. Let the might in His word be the Might needed to carry out His word. Live it out!!!

Refocus...

Here is your stone!! "So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.". (1 Corinthians 12:31 NLT). Paul has listened to people question who has what when it comes to gifts and what that should mean. Can you imagine people comparing what others have and determining which is better? Sounds like our society doesn't it? Well, Paul does a great refocus. It's not about which gift it's about which path. We are all gifted, and we should desire that God exposes the one that we can bring Him the glory with. Today! Let's focus on the path and then the gifts to use on our journey. Start it today. Christ is risen today. Celebrate it through obedience. Happy Easter!!

Return to maker.

Here is your stone!! "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). Created in Jesus to do good works! Yes!! Here is the deal, if you went to Walmart today and bought a tool or electronic item and you took it home, let's just say it was a DVD player. Once connected, no video but audio worked. Would you say it is doing what it was created to do? NO. It eventually would get sent back to the manufacturer for handling. That is the deal. If we are not doing the good works, maybe we need to be going back to our manufacturer - God! He will make the changes!! We are His handiwork. Let's do this!!! Live it out!!!!

Short term suffering.

Here is your stone!! "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:10 NIV). Whatever it is you are going through, there is an end. How amazing is it to know that the suffering will only be for a little while. Today, Good Friday, we remember the sacrifice of our savior. It is believed that Jesus hung on the cross for 3 -5 hours. God sent His Son to suffer for a little while as well. A suffering greater than we can imagine but a resurrection that gives us strength and celebration!!!! Are you able to suffer a little while?

Blind folded?

Here is your stone!! "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16 NIV). Most of the time walking is something we do without even thinking. No thinking of balance, remembering steps, or order of our steps. We just walk. Yet we throw in a small blind fold, and we are focused on every step, feeling, thought, noise, etc. We need to remember that we can be blinded by our sin. Our journey to go the right direction needs to be chosen carefully and steps need to be guided. Today, can we begin to allow God to guide us? He will hold us up, guide our steps, and be there to ensure that our path is built on truth and not the flesh. How will you walk today?

Checking your surroundings.

Here is your stone!! "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." (Hebrews 12:1 NLT). This verse hits on our need to get rid of the junk in our lives and to run with endurance the race God has given us. Isn't that it? Actually we may miss the opening part. The author is pointing out that we should be surrounded by believers. Once again, who you are hanging with can definitely position you to achieve the greatest works for Jesus. So check your surroundings and make sure they are there to allow you to run and not fall. Live it out.

Participating or Anticipating?

Here is your stone!! "Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!" (1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT). Run to win!! What a simple and true statement. Do you enter into anything to fail? Do you go to work to purposely fail and potentially get fired? Do you get married planning for a divorce? Hopefully these are answered with a NO. So why then, as Christ followers do we enter into our everyday halfway approaching our faith? Are we just participating in life? Or are we anticipating great things to be accomplished? Live it out. Live it to win it!!

Where did He go?

Here is your stone!! "Thinking He was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends." (Luke 2:44 NIV). Doesn't it seem like this still happens? We drift away from Christ, wonder where He is and then attempt to find Him in friends or family. Jesus wants the ONE on ONE with you! He hasn't drifted away, He is in the place where He is supposed to be.

Do something!

Here is your stone!! "A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things." (Proverbs 18:9 NLT). Lazy, now that is a word we all know. The fact is that we have choices we must make with our time and a reliance on others is lazy. Laziness can fall into different degrees. As parents and leaders we hear the comments about why people don't do certain tasks. Unless its something against Gods word and there is gain from it, then learn it and do it. We can't get stick in "our" ways, we need to recognize that life is bigger than "me". It's really about - "HE"!!!!!