Insurance or Assurance!?

Imagine if we had prayer insurance. You know, if you had a need and weren't sure how to get it covered, I mean we all pray, right? Praying for our needs. Or maybe it verges on a few wants. Of course we all know that insurance is in the event something happens and we need it handled. The unexpected!! Sometimes we llan and prepare our lives more for the unexpected than we do living for the expected! What can we do to create the expectation?!
Here is your stone!! "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."(John 15:7 NIV). Are we really in a constant state of Christ? Do we allow His truth to guide our days? Our lives? Live in Him and allow Him to live in you!! We don't need insurance, we have assurance of His truth!!!!

What kind of day are you having?

Ever heard these phrases? Maybe even used them? "It's just not my day!", "I'm not in a good mood today!", "Man I am in a great mood today!!" There are so many others just like these. So often we let our moods dictate our days. Challenge is, we are called to be like Christ! The Rock!!!

Here is your stone!! "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). He was unchanged from day to day. He was consistent. Daily we must challenge ourselves to rise above the feelings, the struggles, the surroundings, and the emotions and be the rock for those around us. Live like Christ!!

Keep hope alive.

Here is your stone!! "Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race." (Psalm 12:1 NIV). Check yourself!! As I read this verse today, it reminded me of where I feel our country is headed. Although at the same time it gives Hope. To say that those who were loyal and faithful have all vanished. Yet the Psalmist is crying out to God. Why? Because he still has faith!! Keep Hope Alive. Cry out to God even though we may feel like we are alone. God hears the cries of His children.

Y or N.

Believing!! Faith!! What does it really mean and what does it take to make this all right. Jesus says,"and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:26 NIV). There is really two questions, one obvious question, "Do you believe this?" The second is, "Are you living this way?" It's not a question of once saved always saved. Rather, it's a question of are you truly living out His word and example. The answer choice is yes or no. You pick!!!

Mountain

Here is your stone!! ""Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them." (Mark 11:23 NIV). We face our own mountains daily. Are we speaking at it with God's Word. That is step one!! The final deal, faith!
"....and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen.." Speak it, Believe it, and See It!! Live that out today!!

Secret Service

I watched a movie recently with my family that was all about the evolving and the role of the secret service. It was amazing to see all of the things they do on a day to day life to protect the president. All of it is not out front but always aware! How cool that would be at times!! Actually, we have that!!!
Here is your stone!! "For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;" (Psalm 91:11 NIV). Leaps of faith, steps of courage, and acts of boldness. Imagine how much more we could do in those areas if we lived our lives with the realization that we are surrounded! Thank You Jesus! God provides for us in all ways!! Do we live for Him at the same level?

Tool Time

Have you ever noticed that if you have the right tools that the job is performed correctly? Think about a mechanic with a butter knife, not going to yield results!! That shows the importance of the mechanic's choice and the value of the tool.

Here is your stone!! "Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness." (Romans 6:13 NIV). Be ready as a tool of God and let Him accomplish the task at hand.

Election Time

We are just a few short weeks away from the privilege we are given of voting. There are a number of fears that are created with elections, most if which are done through email forwards and ads. As responsible Christ followers, we must align ourselves with the candidate that best aligns with our foundation. Truth is that whoever wins, God is in control. All through the bible He used those after His own heart and those that would send a believer into a furnace. Question is, are we ready to glorify Him when the polls are open and closed? Understanding that S a country under God, are we holding up our end of the promise?

Here is your stone!! "This is the plan determined for the whole world;
this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?
His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?" (Isaiah 14:26, 27 NIV)

What were you thinking??

"What were you thinking?" How many times in your life have you been asked this or even asked yourself this? Many respond, "I don't know!" or "I wasn't thinking!" Thoughts!! We can not let the mind drift and take its own unmanaged direction.

Here is your stone!! "....we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)

Partnership.

Here is your stone!! "I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ." (Philemon 1:6 NIV). We are not expected to do this on our own. This partnership will change the world!!

No Fear.

Here is your stone!! "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NIV). This is a reminder that God's word is purposeful. As children of God, we are not on a cushy journey. At no point should we expect our lives suppose to be easy and uneventful. In fact, as He reminds us of courage and strength, He knows we will face those struggles. We must know that in those times of struggle and fear, are the times when He is even more attentive to our journey. We must begin to live in courage and strength. Let His power be seen through each of us!!

Wisdom for the Road

I recently went on a Segway tour with my amazing wife. The instructor said that one big part of safety was to build a 3 feet mental circle around your body. This way you know and are aware of where your wheels are going. Without that knowledge you can likely tip, hit a curb, and crash. Wisdom being shared that prepares us for an amazing journey. Sound familiar?

Here is your stone!! "My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble." (Proverbs 3:21, 23 NIV)

P and E

Here is your stone!! "so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience," (Colossians 1:10, 11 NIV). God provides us strength, knowledge, fruit from our labor, and why? To give us endurance and patience. Whatever it is that we are waiting on and working toward through Him, it WILL happen. Patience and Endurance..

Story time.

Imagine being an author and no matter how great the story goes and how beautiful of an ending you write for that character, they have the ability to do their own thing. You see the struggles they bring on themselves. You love this character. You know how beautiful the ending could be, if they would just let your story unfold and they would trust you. Imagine that!! How would you feel? Now, imagine how God must feel.
Here is your stone!! "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:16 NIV)

But take heart!!!

Here is your stone!! "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV). But take Heart!! That statement means to be confident and take courage. Think that things are getting tough? Be confident and courageous!!! Jesus has already overcome everything in this world!!! Live today with the confidence and courage knowing that we too will overcome this world.

In His Sight!!

Imagine being the worst football player ever (or any sport), and in late December you get a call from the head coach of one of the teams playing in the Super Bowl. He says, I've seen you play and I know all about you and your history and know exactly where you are weak. So I'm calling because I want you on my team!! What? Me? I'm horrible, I can't do this and that. He says, "I know all that stuff." Can you imagine? Wow. Yet we get a much bigger deal and the most amazing coach.
Here is your stone!! "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (Ephesians 1:4 NIV). He knows we are not perfect, but we are blameless in His sight. That's a good word right there!!!

Come!!!

Here is your stone!! "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Weary and burdened. I read this and realize that no matter where we are in our journey, shouldn't we all be burdened? Burdened for the lost? Burdened for.... We have got to realize that there is a reason why we are here - Growth. As soon as we realize that we must go to Him, we have immediately gained. Jesus is the source. We can pray about it all day, but we have to Come to Him. It still takes action. Go. Go. Go!!!!'

Try and change someone or share with someone?

Here is your stone!! "so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11 NIV). It's not our job to change others. It's our job to share His Word and let It do the changing. Who can you share His word with today?

Doubt creator

Here is your stone!! "But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith;...," (Romans 14:23 NIV). Wow. As I read that this morning, I am reminded that doubt is a void or wall that we create. It's not taught or researched. It is simply our creation that will separate us from the Creator. What doubt will you replace with faith!!!

Blow out or Comeback

Which is the better game to experience and to watch? Isn't it the comeback game that really shows the true character traits we are given. That makes a QB a leader. Why in life do we expect every situation to be a blow out, the norm, as expected, no worries?
Here is your stone!! "When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (John 11:32 NIV). Mary felt as though Jesus could have prevented her brother from dying. Think about that, do you think if that would have been the case, that she could have doubted at some point. Maybe.. Now the comeback. Lazarus raised from the dead 4 days later. No room for doubt. If we are in a spot that we feel is not changeable, we just need to give it to the One who can make the comeback!!!

Step it up!!!

Looked up the definition of iron: 1. a ductile, malleable, silver-white metallic element, scarcely known in a pure condition, but much used in its crude or impure carbon-containing forms for making tools, implements, machinery.

It's just not found in a pure condition but I still used in its crude form to accomplish work. We are suppose to be like Iron. Recognize we are not perfect, but still being used. Men, this verse seems to slip by us way too often. It's not a choice whether the iron is strong or not, it just is and it is used to accomplish great works outside of itself. Why do we fail to miss the opportunity to sharpen each other and challenge each other? Quit letting this world dictate that we are suppose to be all soft and pliable. Challenge one another and strengthen each other!!! Let me tell you that it is hard in this world to find MEN who are real MEN!! Be passionate for Jesus, your wife, you kids, and to help challenge each other!! Come on!!! Step it up!!! You can not sharpen iron with a cotton ball!!

Here is your stone!! "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17 NIV)