Temptation: March 24, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY MARCH 24, 2017.

TEMPTATION

DEFINITION:

The act of tempting; enticement or allurement.

SCRIPTURE:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. James 1:13.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Every day we face issues of temptation. We need to learn that before we say “yes” to any temptation that comes our way, we need to ask ourselves several questions.

First, we need to ask ourselves what is the source of this offer? Remember what the verse we have put above says. “God cannot be tempted by evil” and He does not tempt anyone. Any temptation that veers away from truth and righteousness is from the devil. Focus on the Lord and the Biblical principles and you will know how to respond to temptations.

Secondly, what are the requirements to accept the temptation offer? Yielding to temptations requires that we compromise away from our spiritual convictions. Sin is expensive because it cost us our honesty and integrity.

Thirdly, we need to ask ourselves what are the consequences of accepting this temptation? Think beyond the present, which always seems to be exciting and positive. Instead think of the long-term consequences. The satisfaction of the moment is never worth the pain and guilt that follows.

There are reasons that people hesitate to say NO to temptation. There is a fear of rejection. Being rejected by a friend because of our convictions shows something good about us. It shows that we have a strong relationship with the Lord and a friend in the long run will recognize this.

There is also the fear of losing a relationship. Any time we give up relationship in order to remain obedient to God, we are putting ourselves in a position to be blessed of God.

There are other reasons that people hesitate to say no to temptation. These include a fear of losing finances, a fear of losing a wanted opportunity, or a fear of the loss of our self-image.

There are sources to give us courage to say no and obey God. These include the promises found in God’s Word. The strength that comes through our communication with God in prayer and the conviction the Holy Spirit puts in our hearts as we read God’s Word.

Sin is a choice. Sin separates us from God. When we choose to sin, we must realize the serious consequences of that choice. The reality is that we are choosing death instead of a relationship with God for all eternity.

Finally, always remember that the Holy Spirit is the one who empowers us to resist temptation and to obey God.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PRAYER:

Give me the fortitude to move away from all temptations that I may face today. May Your Holy Spirit guide and lead me to a life that honors You every moment of this day.

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.

Happiness: March 23, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2017.

HAPPINESS

DEFINITION:

A state of well-being and contentment; the quality or state of being delighted, pleased or glad.

SCRIPTURE:

And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20.

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13

But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.Proverbs 14:21

But happy is he who keeps the law.
Proverbs 29:18

A happy heart makes the face cheerful. Proverbs 15:13.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

It seems that what people desire most in life is happiness. However, most people do not know what will make them happy. They spend a lifetime looking for happiness but they look in all the wrong places. They seek happiness in worldly pleasure, obtaining wealth, possessions, popularity or success. They feel they would really be happy if they just had a nicer house, a new car, or more money.

True happiness should bring a feeling of contentment and satisfaction. People think they will be happy when they get their hearts desire only to find the happiness does not last. The smell of a new car soon fades and once again the satisfaction it brought is gone.

All too soon the house needs repair and redecorating. What they thought would make them happy they are no longer content with. When happiness is based on getting what we desire, it is only temporary.

Everyone has things going on in their lives that can be real downers and it is easy to let the bad things that happen get us down. If we focus only on the down things of life it will make us cranky and unhappy. Happy people do not have it any better than anyone else but they focus on the good things in life. Everyone has bad days with seemingly bad things happening to them, but everyone has something to be thankful for so it really depends on that you focus on.

Solomon was renowned for his wisdom and riches. In his last days, he looked back on his life and all his accomplishments and all of his wealth. He summed it all up and said, “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless! (Ecclesiastics 1:2). He recognized that nothing apart from God made him happy.

A life without God results in a futile search for happiness. Without God the difficulties in life will overwhelm us. Look at the verses we have listed above from Proverbs. These verses are a short outline of the key to happiness that sets apart a happy person from an unhappy one.

Happy is the man or woman who trusts in the Lord, keeps the law (God’s commandments), has mercy on the poor and who finds wisdom and gains understanding that comes from God’s Word. We need to notice where the focus is in these verses. It is on our relationship with God.

Where there is no knowledge of God and His laws, violence and evil runs rampant. The happiness that comes from knowing God brings true contentment and satisfaction that lasts.

The starting point to find happiness is to trust in the Lord. Whether the non- believer understands it or not, there is a void in everyone’s life that only God can fill. People search in all the wrong places and try the wrong things attempting to fill that void. Knowing your sins are forgiven and that you are saved from the penalty of your sins brings peace and contentment which in turn brings happiness to life.

Happiness comes to our lives when we are faithful in studying God’s Word. This gives us wisdom, understanding and knowledge of how we are to live our lives in obedience to what God’s Word teaches us. This keeps us from sinful things that will only lead to a life of pain and suffering and separation from God.

True happiness is not based on circumstances. True happiness is based on our relationship with God. Our relationship with God that comes through the saving grace of Jesus Christ is not just for our lifetime here on earth but for all eternity. Without the peace that comes from knowing where you will spend eternity you cannot know real happiness.

You can have that peace today by accepting Jesus as your Savior and have real happiness that lasts for all eternity.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PRAYER:

Thank You Lord for the true happiness that I have in my heart because I know You as my Savior. Help me not to let the pressures and events of this day destroy the happiness that You have given me and my family. Thank You for my salvation and the assurance of spending an eternity with You.

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.

Eyes: March 22, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR WEDNESDAY MARCH 22, 2017.

EYES

DEFINITION:

The organ of sight; the power of seeing; represents one’s understanding, judgment or opinion.

SCRIPTURE:

To open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. Acts 26:18.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We read in the scriptures in Mark 10:46-52 about the blind man, Bartimaeus, who threw off his cloak and ran trembling to Jesus. He was begging by the roadside when Jesus and His disciples, followed by a large crowd, came by.

When Bartimaeus heard it was Jesus he shouted out, “Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me!” Jesus told His disciples “Call him.” When the disciples told Bartimaeus that Jesus called him to come to Him, he immediately threw off his cloak and jumped to his feet to answer the call of Jesus.

Jesus saw him running toward Him and said to Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you.”  We know that Jesus knew what the blind man wanted but He wanted the blind man to show his faith and ask. He said to Jesus, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

In that moment as he said, “Lord” his spiritual eyes were opened. And Jesus said to the blind man, “Your faith has made you whole.” The blind man asked and then believed and immediately he received his sight.

We need to notice that Jesus did not say your intellectual understanding, your money, nor your good works, but your faith has made you whole. That is all it takes. Bartimaeus, who had been blind all his life, began to open his eyes, and the first thing he saw was the face of Jesus. What an experience to open one’s eyes and look straight into the strong, tender face of Jesus.

Bartimaeus had only heard about Jesus but he recognized by what he had heard that Jesus was his Messiah and he showed this when he called Jesus, the “Son of David.” Many not only heard about Jesus but saw Him with their physical eyes while He was on earth, but many of those who saw Him failed to recognize Him as their Messiah.

When Bartimaeus heard Jesus call him to come to Him he asked first for mercy. When Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted Him to do for him, Bartimaeus said he wanted to see. Jesus healed him and immediately his eyes were opened. Not only was his physical eyes opened but his spiritual eyes were opened. He turned from darkness to the light to receive forgiveness from his sins and to be set free from the power of Satan. He turned from the darkness of sin and turned to the light to follow Jesus who is the light of the world. Just as Jesus called Bartimaeus to come to Him He is calling us today to come out of darkness into His wonderful light and follow Him (I Peter 2:9).

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PRAYER:
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for healing me from my spiritual blindness. Help me to return to my daily activities ready to represent You according to Your will.

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.

Care: March 21, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY MARCH 21, 2017.

CARE

DEFINITION:

A cause or object of worry or concern; to be concerned; have thought or regard; to make provision

SCRIPTURE:

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

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Casting means to throw something on something. Peter, in the verse we have put above, is reminding Christians that they are to throw all of their discontent, discouragement, despair and suffering on the Lord, and then trust Him for knowing what He is doing with their lives.

We want to remind you that submission to God, living a humble life and putting your complete trust in God are three attitudes necessary for victorious Christian living. It is the cares of the world that keep us from a victorious Christian life.

The best and only lasting way we as parents, grandparents, children, teenagers and young people can ease our cares and anxieties, whether large or small, is to cast our cares upon Jesus. And when you do this have the confidence and assurance that "He cares for you" and wants to help you bear your heavy load of care and worry, not for just a day but each and every day. (Psalm 68:19)

Too many Christians today dishonor their faith and belief in Jesus by always wearing a frown of care on their face because they are burdened by cares and worry. Friends that know someone like this must feel sad for that person. Jesus says, “Cast all your care on me (not some but all).

To continue to carry the burden of stress and worry of your problems and your concerns concerning your life by yourself is an indication that you have not trusted God fully with your life. What seems to you to be a crushing burden seems to God to be a little dust.

You need to stand firm in the life-saving power of faith in God against what you consider a sea of trouble and by doing this your burdens (cares) will be washed away into the sea. We are reminded in the scripture that God cares enough about the sparrows that fly in the air that He feeds them. If He does this how much more does He care for you and me? His eye is fixed on you every moment of every day watching and caring just for you. His heart beats with mercy and concern for you when you are bowed down with despair and worry over your worldly problems. He can bind up your wounds and heal your broken heart if you will only in faith believing cast your care upon Him.

It is time for you to replace the anxiety and stress in your life with faith and trust in the Lord who is faithful to keep His promises. It is time to let go and let God. This will happen when you place all of your cares with the Lord.

We read in the scripture how Elijah survived the famine of his day (I Kings 17:2-6). He survived because he did what the Lord had told him. He put all of his cares and concerns in the hands of God and let God lead him.

First, God led him to a brook where God sent ravens carrying meat and bread for him. When the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to a widow who had only a little oil and a handful of flour. From this meager supply, God miraculously provided enough oil and flour for them until the famine was over. It never ran out and He can do the same for you and me. There is no limit to God’s provision.  Even when the circumstances seem impossible, if we turn all of our cares over to the Lord, He can do the impossible.

Whatever family concerns that are weighing on you today, God wants you to cast those cares on Him.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PRAYER:
Help me to learn today to put my complete trust in You and cast all my cares into Your hands. Help me to be able to release the "things" in my life that bog me down daily. Give me blessings in areas of my life that today are troubling me. And most important, as You take my cares, give me a new drive to commit everything I do to You so that my thoughts will be established in You.

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.

Disappointment: March 20, 2017

TODAY’S WORD FOR MONDAY MARCH 20, 2017.

DISAPPOINTMENT

DEFINITION:

The feeling of dissatisfaction that follows the failure of expectations or ones hopes to materialize.

SCRIPTURE:

Fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged. Colossians 3:21.

For consider Him who endures such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Hebrews 12:3.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Disappointments are inevitable but discouragement is a choice. Everyone knows the feeling one gets when life moves in an unanticipated or undesired direction. Disappointment comes as a result of negative change in circumstances, a sudden reversal of plans, or the failure of something or someone we were counting on.

Regardless of what causes your disappointment, the dream you once cherished seems to be in ruins. You may not know how to respond because you will find it is difficult to sort through your emotions.

Take a look at the account we have in the Bible about Joseph who was engaged to the godly young woman named Mary. He was looking forward to the day when they would get married and would start a family. Then the news came. Imagine the emotions of Joseph’s heart when he heard that Mary was pregnant. What a devastating blow to his hopes and dreams. He knew that under Jewish law both Mary and he would be stoned to death (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). The disappointment that Joseph felt must have been overwhelming.

We read in Matthew 1:19 that Joseph started to think of a way to overcome this great disappointment but Joseph’s way was not God’s way. Joseph had a choice. He could say, “Why me God?” or he could have asked God, “What do You want me to do now?”

God had very special plans and the Lord sent an angel to Mary and another angel to Joseph to confirm His plan to them. Joseph did not then let his initial disappointment give way to discouragement. Rather, he accepted God’s will, obeyed the Lord, and brought Mary to his house, as a virgin until the birth of Jesus.

The Lord has a unique plan for our lives today just as He had for Joseph and Mary. When you confront an unexpected situation that does not line up with your expectations and what you hoped for, you must stop and look to God for direction.

Sometimes God will let disappointments to occur in our lives so that we can learn to rely on Him more fully, to walk by faith and not by sight. But never forget what we said above to begin this devotional. While disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice. Never allow the challenges in life that may come your way steal your enthusiasm or confidence in Him.

Circumstances should never control you. You never have to be the victim of your feelings. You can choose to look to God, listen, learn, and let Him lead you according to His plan.

God does have blessings for you. You need to let go of the disappointments in your life and not let disappointments cause you to fear to hope and trust again. In Isaiah 12:2 we read, “I WILL TRUST AND NOT BE AFRAID”.  God holds your future in His hands and His plans are for your good not harm.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I John 1:9.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

PRAYER:
Keep me strong in my faith in the face of disappointments that will surely come my way and keep me from being discouraged. Thank You for Your Word that assures me that when things do not go as I hoped You are in control and if I trust You, You will show me a better plan.

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.