Lonely: February 17, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2017.

LONELY

DEFINITION:

A depressing feeling about being alone; destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship; without company; isolated.

SCRIPTURE:

No one stood with me, but all forsook me. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me. II Timothy 4: 16-17.

Look to the right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to You O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of living.” Psalm 142:4.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We have noticed because of what we see and because of the many emails receive that there are many lonely people in this world, more than any other time we can remember. We receive emails every day from wonderful friends like you and a day never goes by without someone telling us how lonely and hurting they are.

We respond to each of these people because we want them to know two important things. First of all, they need to experience a personal relationship with Jesus. When you have this relationship, He is with you every moment of every day. You will then want to begin to communicate with God by prayer and read the Bible daily so God can respond to your needs through His Word.

We also want them to know that we will pray for them and we care for them. In Psalm 68:5-6 the Psalmist says, “God makes a home for the lonely. Father of the fatherless and protector of the widows.” Lack of family and friends is the basis of much loneliness. God cares for those who have lost their family. God commands us who desire to live in obedience to Him to care for orphans and widows both in the Old testament (Exodus 22:22) and in the New Testament (James 1:24).

How many times in life have you really felt lonely? When David wrote Psalm 142 he was hiding in a cave to escape from Saul’s men who were seeking to capture him. He felt that he was totally abandoned by everyone and that no one was even concerned whether he lived or died. He was truly alone. Saul had been chasing him for years and was seeking to kill him so that he would not become King of Israel.

David had to live on the run, fleeing from one place to another. There was no one he could trust or confide in for fear they would betray him. He had every reason to feel extremely lonely.

David knew there was someone he could trust and confide in. He was confident that God loved him and cared for him and that he could call on him at his time of need wherever he was. Regardless of his circumstances he knew that God was there with him and that God heard his prayers. David trusted God to keep him safe and to protect him. God had chosen David to be the next king after Saul. David trusted that God would fulfill His plan for his life.

The verses from II Timothy were from the letter that Paul wrote while he was in prison and feeling lonely. In the Roman legal system of the day a person had two hearings. The first hearing established the charge and would rule if there was evidence enough for a trial. This is when Paul told Timothy that no one came to stand with him and testify for him. This was a very lonely time for Paul because he needed support from his friends and they were not there.

Paul’s friends had deserted him but in verse 17 Paul says that the Lord was there with him. The Lord fulfilled his promise, given in Joshua 1:5, when He said that he would never leave or forsake those who belong to Him. That promise is good for us today and in our moments of loneliness we must remember, as Paul did, that our Lord will never leave us or forsake us if we are His child and our complete trust is in Him.

When you are experiencing a lonely time in your life read how David and Paul handled their lonely times. The key is very clear: Turn to your Lord and He will take you through your lonely time and bless you abundantly.

The loneliest people in the world are those that do not know the Lord. Where is their hope? Who can they rely on in their time of need?

There are many situations in life that bring on loneliness both to the believer and the non-believer such as the separation from a spouse or being rejected by a child. When these moments come people look to money, watching TV, playing games or visiting with a friend. They do this to keep their mind off of the problem. This will not get rid of the loneliness because these are mere distractions, not solutions.

In our travels we have seen so many people living in unbelievable poverty feeling hopelessly alone and hurting. But one thing we have noticed is the contrast between the lonely that know Jesus and the lonely that do not know Jesus.

Think about the lonely time that Jesus had in the Garden of Gethsemane just hours before His death on the cross. On the cross Jesus cried out to God, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me.” He understood that He alone would pay the penalty of sin so that all humanity could have the blessed hope of spending an eternity with God. He hung on the cross separated from God, His father, by our sins. He has experienced how it feels to be abandoned and all alone and He has compassion for us when we feel lonely.

If you are feeling alone and rejected and feel that no one is near, talk to God. He is waiting for you to come to Him and He will never leave you nor forsake you if you put your trust in Him.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Genesis 1:1.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

PRAYER:

Help me to be an encouragement today to someone that is lonely. Help me to be faithful to pray for a world that is lonely and needs You as their Savior.

Special Price
Only $10.00
Click Here for More

ONE FINAL SUGGESTION.

If you have not received your FREE BOOKMARK from us, please click on either:

Get your FREE bookmark

or

Write Ken and Dottie a note

And we will send one to you.
It includes 10 golden rules for a happy family.

Optimism: February 16, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2017.

OPTIMISM

DEFINITION:

A tendency to look on the more favorable side or to expect the more favorable outcome of events or conditions; a belief that good will always triumph.

SCRIPTURE:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5.

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you. Philippians 3:15.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We ask the question to you: How are we to act when we live in a world that is hurting, lonely, struggling and its people are at war with one another? But first we want to look at the word optimism because optimism is what God is looking for in us. But what does this mean?

Edward R. Morrow, one of America’s most famous newscasters in past years often defined an optimist as “Someone who tells you to cheer up when things are not going your way.”

Optimism is related to a positive attitude, confidence, a rosy outlook and great expectations. Eleanor Dole wrote: “An optimist is one who thinks the good old days are yet to come. An optimist is wrong as often as a pessimist, but he or she had a lot more fun.”

The majority of the people living in our world today are living in difficult situations. We, as a people in general, live in a time of uncertainty. No one can be certain of what tomorrow may bring.

When a nation and a world is in turmoil the people are looking for remedies and corrective measures. But non-believers in Jesus do not have the answer even though they have lots of suggestions.

As believers in Jesus we do have an answer and that is why we picked the word optimism for today. You can be optimistic about today and tomorrow by reading and then following the steps you read in II Chronicles 7:14. Let us write out this verse here:

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Look at the principles that this verse gives us. It begins with “IF.” The “if” comes before the promise. The “if” depends on us. IF WE:

•    HUMBLE THEMSELVES: each of us must be willing to admit our sins

•    PRAY: each of us must pray to God and ask Him to forgive us.

•    SEEK THE FACE OF GOD: each of us must seek God continually by reading His Word and communicating with Him in prayer.

•    TURN FROM ONE’S WICKED WAYS: each of us must turn from our sinful behavior.

Then God will act -- He will hear -- He will forgive -- He will heal our land. God will hear our prayers. God never turns a deaf ear to an earnest plea. God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for all of our sins. There is none that He will not forgive. God will bless the land that honors Him.

This is a promise that God made hundreds of years ago, and God has honored every one of His promises. If we do not obey this verse there is no hope for America or the world. If we obey what God has commanded us we can be optimistic as to what God will do for us as a people, a nation and a world.

The motto of the United States of America is, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” The question is, do we really trust in God as the founders of our country did?

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Genesis 1:1.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

PRAYER:

Beginning with me help all of us who are called by Your name to humble ourselves before You and turn from our wicked ways and seek Your forgiveness. Begin a healing in our land so that our country can truly become one nation under God.

Special Price
Only $10.00
Click Here for More

ONE FINAL SUGGESTION.

If you have not received your FREE BOOKMARK from us, please click on either:

Get your FREE bookmark

or

Write Ken and Dottie a note

And we will send one to you.
It includes 10 golden rules for a happy family.

Upside-Down: February 15, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2017.

UPSIDE-DOWN

DEFINITION:

Complete disorder or topsy-turvy.

SCRIPTURE:

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We must understand this fact: We are living in an upside-down world. Here is what we mean so you can understand our definition of an upside-down world.

People hate when they should love. People quarrel when they should be friendly. People fight when they should be peaceful. People wound when they should heal. People steal when they should share. People do wrong when they should do right.

What we are saying is that people have lost any caring feelings they may have had when they think of others. They do not understand the Biblical principles beginning with the Ten Commandments.

Our children had a toy clown that had a weight in its head. No matter what position you put this clown in it always assumed an upside-down position. You could carefully place it on its feet or on its side but when you let go of it, the clown would always flip back on its head and would not stay upright.

People that do not know Jesus today are just like this clown. You can talk to them, encourage them but when you leave them they always revert to an upside-down position.

That is why the disciples of Jesus were considered misfits to the world they lived in. To an upside-down person, a right side-up person seems upside-down.

To a sinner, one who does not know Jesus as their Savior, a righteous person, one who has accepted Jesus as their Savior, is an oddity and abnormal. A Christian’s goodness is a rebuke to the wicked because his being right side-up is a reflection upon the world’s inverted positions on the things of life.

In Proverbs 21:29 we read that “a wicked man puts up a bold front, but an upright man gives thought to his way.” The wicked acts in defiance of God and puts up a bold front that there is nothing wrong with their evil ways. They want to live the way they want to live. The upright man thinks about his actions before he acts and asks the question, “What does God require of me?”

We challenge you today to take your eyes off of the world of confusion and evil and stop living upside-down. Focus your eyes and heart on Jesus and His instructions for right living.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Genesis 1:1.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

PRAYER:

Help me, dear Lord, to imitate what is good in life and not on the evil we witness daily. Guide me as I tell my family and friends that he who does good and lives a life that is not upside-down is of God.

Special Price
Only $10.00
Click Here for More

ONE FINAL SUGGESTION.

If you have not received your FREE BOOKMARK from us, please click on either:

Get your FREE bookmark

or

Write Ken and Dottie a note

And we will send one to you.
It includes 10 golden rules for a happy family.

Caring: February 14, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2017.

CARING

DEFINITION:

Feeling concern or worry about a person, a cause or a situation.

SCRIPTURE:

No one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. Psalm 142:4

Casting all your care upon Him, because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7

So, that there would be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. I Corinthians 12:25.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Today in America we celebrate Valentine’s day. It is a day on which tokens of affection are given to show love. On Valentine’s day, it is the custom to bestow a special token to show love to those that are nearest and dearest to us, such as a spouse or family member.

Jesus has commanded us to love each other (John 15:17) and to take care of His sheep (John 21:16). For those who believe in Jesus, the Lord wants us to show love every day. We show love by caring for others.

We are living in a day when there is a lot of talk about caring for those in need but not many do much about it. It is hard to understand but we hear of many situations where family members show no care for those in their family. This is because many today are living in a “ME” generation and they only care about themselves.

The word caring is often overused or oversold and certainly under appreciated. In other words many will say they care but it is used as a nice response and relieves their conscience. For many people just sharing with someone the thought that they care for them is an easy way out of having to really care and do something for that person. For others, they never show any caring attitude to a person in need because they feel it is the government that should be caring for them with handouts such as food stamps and welfare programs.

We are sure that all will agree that for those that are physically unable to work or care for themselves, government programs are certainly needed and acceptable.

But what does it really mean to care? Is it words only or does it include action?

When a person really cares, their spoken word must be coupled with action. When you tell someone you care for them you need to respond by doing something for them that lets them know you do care. Most people do not think this way today.

There are many people that are lonely and hurting. They are longing for someone to care for them. When someone is going through hard times they feel all alone and that no one cares and perhaps feel that God does not care. They long for someone to show them that they care. They feel as David expressed in the verse we put above that “no one cares for my life (Psalm 142:4).

In the parable found in Matthew 25:35-45 Jesus describes acts of caring that we are all capable to do. There are simple things that do not require great wealth, education or talent.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me.”

What Jesus was teaching was that we need to get personally involved as if we were doing it for Him. In verse 40 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers, you did for Me.”

The simple acts of caring we do for others are evidence of our faith and the fruit of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Caring for others brings glory to God and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because it reflects God’s perfect love.

We all know the story of the Good Samaritan in the scriptures. The point of the parable is that it was just one individual who was moved and acted alone above and beyond the normal character and usual practices of society.

Jesus Himself healed and empowered His followers of the day to heal. We need to be reminded that He never empowered the government of His day to heal. In fact it was “render unto Caesar” not demand from Caesar. We are not to find excuses for neglecting the needy such as saying, “that is the government’s responsibility.”

Throughout history it has been individuals, families and ministries that delivered charity to the hurting. Look at how government and our leaders down through the centuries have failed to care for the poor. Institutions say they care and then they crumble. Leaders often only care when they see it as a means for personal gain. Politicians say they care but it is only words as they do nothing. Even charities say they care but often their resources are misused because of corrupt leadership.

Jesus has called us to follow His example and care for others like He did. Jesus is always standing at your hearts door knocking and waiting to be invited in to meet your every need. Jesus cares for us because He loves us and has compassion for us.

When Jesus cares for us, something happens. He offers provision and peace that passes all understanding. So, we must understand that people, organizations, government, all without a Godly component can only meet some of your needs. Only God can meet all of our needs. “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19”.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Genesis 1:1.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

PRAYER:

Help me to cast all of my cares upon You because You have promised to care for me. Help me to follow Your example and care for others not just with words but with actions.

Special Price
Only $10.00
Click Here for More

ONE FINAL SUGGESTION.

If you have not received your FREE BOOKMARK from us, please click on either:

Get your FREE bookmark

or

Write Ken and Dottie a note

And we will send one to you.
It includes 10 golden rules for a happy family.

Murmur: February 13, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2017.

MURMUR

DEFINITION:

A low indistinct sound; a mumbled expression of discontent; a muttered complaint.

SCRIPTURE:

And all of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God if we die in this wilderness.” Numbers 14:2.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Murmuring or muttering complaints is the outward expression of inner obstinacy and rebellion. It most likely is something every one of us has been guilty of some time in our life.

In the verse above we read about the Children of Israel murmuring against their leaders. They had become fearful of going into the Promised Land to conquer it as the Lord wanted them to do.

Twelve spies had been sent to spy out the land. Ten of the spies had aroused fear in the people by reporting that the Canaanites were too powerful to be conquered. Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the twelve spies who remained strong in their faith and took a stand against the other spies.

After all the years of hardships wandering through the wilderness, the Children of Israel were tired of waiting so they began to not only murmur but to loudly complain. It was Joshua that God used to speak out against the murmuring. He told the congregation of Israelites that the land was good and “If the Lord is pleased with us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.”

Joshua begged them to trust the Lord, but the congregation continued to murmur and complain and even threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb. Moses cried out to God for deliverance for his people. God was ready to wipe them out but because of Moses’ prayer of intersession for them, God forgave the Children of Israel for their murmuring and complaining.

Nevertheless, they still paid a price for their sinful complaining. God told them that they would wander in the desert for 40 years and no one but Joshua and Caleb and those under 20 years old would enter the Promised Land.

We can remember as children when our parents gave us something to do and we really did not want to do it, we walked away and would murmur under our breath. This did not go over with our parents and usually got us into deep trouble. Years later the roles were reversed. We were the parents and our children would walk away from us after we gave them a responsibility, murmuring under their breath. They soon learned, as we did, that murmuring and complaining got them nowhere, in fact, it brought consequences that just made them unhappy.

There are murmurers and complainers among Christians today just like there were among the Children of Israel. They complain about everything and then always blame God for what went wrong. God is not the problem. We who complain are the problem. We only want to do what we want to do and do it in our own way. We disobey God, just like the Children of Israel did, and then when we fail or get ourselves in trouble we ask God -- WHY?

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Genesis 1:1.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

PRAYER:

Enable me to be obedient to You and do what You want me to do without murmuring and complaining. Forgive me for the times that I have been obstinate and rebellious against You. Give me a right attitude and keep me cheerful in all that I do.

Special Price
Only $10.00
Click Here for More

ONE FINAL SUGGESTION.

If you have not received your FREE BOOKMARK from us, please click on either:

Get your FREE bookmark

or

Write Ken and Dottie a note

And we will send one to you.
It includes 10 golden rules for a happy family.