Do Not Forget The Lord

Deuteronomy 8:3,Jesus quoted this verse when the devil tempted him to turn bread into stones.[Matthew 4:4] Many people think that life is based on satisfying their appetites. If they can earn enough money to dress, eat, and play in high style, they think they are living the good life. But such things do not satisfy our deepest longings. In the end they leave us empty and dissatisfied. Real life, according to Moses, comes from total commitment to God and living by every word that comes from him. How can we live by his word? 1. Recognize our need for it. 2. Agree that God alone can truly satisfy us. 3. Pray for God’s presence , wisdom, and direction as we read. 4. Savor the relationship you have with him through Christ. 4. Practice what he teaches you.
Deuteronomy 8:4 It’s usually easy for us to take God’s protection for granted. We seldom take notice or thank God when our car doesn’t break down, our cloths don’t rip, or our tools don’t break. The people of Israel also failed to take notice, it seems, for they didn’t even notice that in 40 years of wandering in the desert, their cloths didn’t’ wear out and their feet didn’t swell. Thus, they did not remember to give thanks to God for these blessings. What has been working well for you? What has been giving you good service? What has been lasting for a long time without breaking down or apart? Remember to thank God for these quite blessings.
Deuteronomy 8:10,11-20. Let your table prayers serve as a constant reminder of the Lord’s goodness to you and your duty to those who are less fortunate. In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our own hard work and cleverness have made us rich. It is easy to get so busy collecting and managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives. But it is God who gives us everything we have, and it is God who ask us to manage it for him.


Why are riches so deceitful?
Because we start depending on riches instead of God.
Riches can be lost overnight and gone forever. God will still be there waiting, and he will be there forever.


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G.Z/K.Z

WORSHIP

Timothy 2:1 Although God is all-powerful and all knowing, he has chosen to let us help him change the world through our prayers. How this works is a mystery to us because of our limited understanding, but it is a reality. Paul based his instruction about prayer for everyone on his conviction that God’s invitation for salvation extends equally to all people. The word everyone captures the nature of the gospel. The world that God loves includes every person. He loves us as individuals whom he knows intimately. Paul urges us to pray for everyone. Our earnest prayers will have powerful results.
Timothy 2:2 We should pray for those in authority around the world so that their societies will be conductive to the spread of the gospel. Paul’s command to pray for kings is remarkable considering that Nero, a notoriously cruel ruler, was emperor at this time.[A.D.54-68] When Paul wrote this letter, persecution was a growing threat to believers. Later, when Nero needed a scapegoat for the great that destroyed much of Rome, he blamed the Roman Christians so as to take the focus off himself. Then persecution erupted throughout the Roman empire. Not only were Christians denied certain privileges in society, some were even publicly butchered, burned or fed to animals.
Timothy 2: 4 Both Peter and Paul said that God wants all to be saved, this does not mean that all will be saved because the Bible makes it clear that many reject Christ. The gospel message has a universal scope, it is not directed only to people of one race, one sex, or one national background. God loves the whole world and sent his Son to save sinners. No one is outside God’s mercy or beyond the reach of his offer of salvation.
Timothy 2: 5,6,8. Though some people there are many ways to God, in practice, each person must choose a single way. We can stand on one side of a gorge and discuss the possibility of many bridges across the abyss, but if we are determined to cross, we will have to commit to one bridge. Those who insist that there are many bridges to God usually fit one or more of the following categories: They have not committed to any bridge. They are surprised that their belief in multiple ways does not exempt them from having to choose one bridge. Their belief in many ways to God hides their true belief that finding God doesn’t really matter at all. They are convinced that arguing for many ways to God will insure that they won’t be wrong.
The facts remain, we human beings are separated from God by sin and we need a savior. A way across the abyss of sin and back to God. Only one person in the universe is our Mediator and can stand between us and God and man. Jesus sacrifice brought new life to all people. Have you let him bridge the gap between you and God?
Timothy 2:8 Besides displeasing God, anger and strife make prayer difficult. That is why Jesus said that we should interrupt our prayers, if necessary, to make peace with others. God wants us to obey him immediately and thoroughly. Our goal should be to have a right relationship with God and also with others.

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Some of the most valauable lessons learned in our lives come from some of the darkest times in our lives.

G.Z/K.Z

By Faith

Hebrews 11:1 Do you remember how you felt when you were very young and your birthday approached? You were excited and anxious. You knew you would certainly receive gifts and other special treats. But some things would be a surprise. Birthdays combine assurance and anticipation, and so does Faith. Faith is the confidence based on past experience that God’s new and fresh surprises will surely be ours. Two words describe Faith; sure and certain. These two qualities need a secure beginning and ending point. The beginning point of Faith is believing in God’s character, he is who he says. The end point is believing in God’s promises, he will do what he says. When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true Faith.
Hebrews 11: 3, God called the universe into existence out of nothing , he declared that it was to be, and it was. Our Faith is in the God who created the entire universe by his word. God’s word has awesome power. When he speaks, do you listen and respond? How can you better prepare yourself to respond to God’s word?
Hebrews 11:6 Believing that God exist is only the beginning, even the demons believe that much. God will not settle for mere acknowledgement of his existence. He wants your Faith to lead to a personal, dynamic relationship. But does Faith make sense, really? Do you believe because Faith makes sense, or because Faith doesn’t need to make sense? Some Christians think people cannot understand God and should not try. Others believe that nothing true is irrational, including true Faith. The truth is; God gave us minds that should be developed and used. To ignore intellectual growth is to live a stunted and naïve life. God wants our trust and Faith, even while we ponder and wonder about so many matters mysterious to us. Even so, we do not believe in a void nor leap into the dark. Faith is reasonable, though reason alone cannot be the whole of it. So use your mind to think things through. But leave room for the unexplainable works of God.
Hebrews 11:7 As you obey God, don’t be surprised if others regard you ‘‘different’’. Your obedience makes their disobedience stand out. Remember , if God ask you to do something, he will give you the necessary strength to carry out the task.
Hebrews 11:26 True wealth is eternal. Consider the most powerful or well known people of the world, how many got where they are by being humble and gentle? Not many!! But in the life to come, the last will be first, if they got in last place by choosing to follow Jesus. Be willing to make sacrifices now for greater rewards later.

When Faith is greater than fear, Faith wins !!!!!!

image reference; art.com

G.Z/K.Z

Life's Two Roads

Psalm 1:1 Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to God’s will. This attitude is the same as mocking. Do your friends build up your faith, or do they tear it down? True friends should help you draw closer to God, not hinder your relationship with him.
God doesn’t judge people on the basis of race, sex, or national origin. He judges them on the basis of their faith in him and their response to his revealed will. Those who diligently try to obey God’s will are blessed. Their happy condition is like healthily fruit bearing trees with strong roots and God promises to watch over them. God’s wisdom guides their lives. In contrast, those who don’t trust and obey God have meaningless lives that blow away like dust. Only two paths of life lay before us, God’s way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction. Be sure to choose God’s path because the path you choose determines how you will spend eternity.
Psalm 1:2 You can learn how to follow God by meditating on his word. Meditating means spending time reading and thinking about what you have read. It means asking yourself how you should change so you will live as God wants. Knowing and meditating on God’s word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what he says.
Psalm 1:2,3 These two scriptures hold simple wisdom: The more we delight in God’s presence, the more fruitful we are. On the other hand, the more we allow those who ridicule God to affect our thoughts and attitudes, the more we separate ourselves from our source of nourishment. We must contact with unbelievers if we are to witness to them, but we must not join in or imitate their sinful behavior. If you want despair, spend time with mocking sinners; but if you want God’s happiness, make friends with those who love God and his word. The phrase; ‘‘Whatever he does prospers,’’ does not mean immunity from failure or difficulties. Nor does it guarantee health, wealth, and happiness. What the Bible means by prosperity is this: when we apply Gods wisdom, the fruit we bear will be good and will receive God’s approval. Just as the tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we also are to soak up God’s word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. To achieve anything worthwhile , we must have God’s word in our hearts.
Psalm 1:4 Chaff is the outer shell that must be removed to get at the valuable kernels of grain inside. Chaff was removed by a process called threshing. After the plants were cut, they were crushed and then the pieces were thrown into the air. Chaff is very light and is carried away by even the slightest wind, while the good grain falls back to earth. Chaff is a symbol of a faithless life that drifts along without direction. Good grain is a symbol of a faithful life that can be used by God. Unlike grain, however, we can choose the direction we will take.


Life is short, eternity is long.
Consider all of your challenges a blessing.



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GZ/KZ