TODAY’S THOUGHT - Ephesians 6:10-13

Ephesians 6:10-13 "Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil's strategies. This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground."

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It’s been said, inviting Jesus into our lives to be our savior will be one of the easiest things we’ll ever do. However, living for Him will be one of the most difficult things we’ll ever do. We are under constant pressure from the world, other people and the culture around us to conform to it’s ways. The demands of life can easily defeat us. This is why it is so important to realize that we cannot be self-reliant in our Christian life. Relying on ourselves is the key to failure and God did not save you to fail.
We need God’s mighty power to help us remain strong in our faith. We must remember the devil is out to “kill, steal and destroy.” He works overtime to design strategies that will trip us up when we least expect it. This is why we need to put on “all” of God’s armor so that we can withstand the spiritual attacks from the devil. God’s purpose is that we live a life of victory and maximize our one and only life to it’s full potential. As believers, we are called to make an impact with our lives. However, in order to do that effectively, we must “stand firm” so that we can “stand out” for our Lord.

 

You are Loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT - Mark 8:34-35

Mark 8:34-35  "Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples. He said to them, "Those who want to follow me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me and for the Good News will save them."

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We know that God is calling us to be generous with our words, our time and our money; but He has also called us to be generous in sharing the Good News that Jesus died for our sins and to share how He was buried and rose again on the 3rd day conquering death and the power of sin over our lives! Phew that was a lot...The truth of the matter is we as Christians carry the hope of Christ in us. We cannot be selfish with that hope we must give it to every person God puts in our path.

God’s ways are not the norm. He may call us to go places we would not normally go. He may call us to reach out to people we would not normally associate with. He may call us to give up things we would normally hold onto. He tells us the way to find true life is to give up our life for the sake of the Good News!

What is it that you are tightly holding onto that God is calling you to give so that the Message might be shared? Are you willing today to let go and let God do miraculous things through you, as you are generous with His Message? I hope you will...

You are Loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT - 2 Corinthians 9:6

2 Corinthians 9:6 "Remember this: The farmer who plants a few seeds will have a very small harvest. But the farmer who plants because he has received God's blessings will receive a harvest of God's blessings in return. Each of you should give whatever you have decided. You shouldn't be sorry that you gave or feel forced to give, since God loves a cheerful giver."

 

 TODAY’S THOUGHT

What brings more joy to you, giving a gift or receiving a gift? In reality, both can be joyful experiences. When we see giving as something we “get” to do rather than something we “have” to do, our attitude is more inline with God’s.

 

When we give “cheerfully” or with a “happy to do it” attitude, not only does it make giving more joyful, but it also positions us to receive blessings from God that can bring even greater joy to our lives. If you are like me, the blessings that God gives us are hard to beat. That is why Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

 

I know you've heard this statement but it is true; "We can’t Out Give God." The more generous we are with our giving the more generous God is with His blessings, provision and favor upon our lives. So be generous in your time, talents, and giving.

 

You are Loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT - Mark 12:42-44

Mark 12:42-44 "A poor widow dropped in two small coins, worth less than a cent. He called his disciples and said to them, "I can guarantee this truth: This poor widow has given more than all the others. All of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on."

 

 

 



 

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Can’t you just hear the sound of people dropping their coins into the offering box outside the temple that day as Jesus stood nearby with his disciples?

 

As they stood there the poor widow came and dropped in two small coins that probably did not even make a sound. Jesus was so impressed with her heart that right there in the temples courts He began to teach them a lesson on generosity. The lesson He wanted them to learn and He wants us to learn is when it comes to giving; it is not equal amount, but equal sacrifice that matters.

 

God is more pleased with our hearts than He is with the amount. Ask yourself today: What does my giving say about me? Am I giving out of surplus or out of sacrifice?

 

(Thank you all for your giving yesterday, we still need $1500.00 to make budget. Ask God if there might be a little more that you can do. Thanks for being a blessing in our church) 

 

You are loved!



TODAY’S THOUGHT - Ephesians 4:29

Ephesians 4:29 "Don't say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you."

 

 

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is a popular saying among young children “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Every time some kid in my school called me a name it hurt. For you it might have even been more than just words.

 

In our me-centered-culture it is so easy to get caught up in tearing others down in order to build ourselves up. Did you hear that? We have been so conditioned to tear down before we build up, it's hard to do what God Desires.

 

God desires is for us to be builders, where we build and invest in the lives of those around us! The Bible teaches that the power of life and death are in the tongue. We as Christ-followers have the incredible ability to speak life into people by the words that we choose to use.

If we open or spiritual eyes we can see that there are so many needs around us. People have the need to be loved, encouraged, empowered and to be told that they have unlimited potential and value because of what Christ has done for them. As you go about your day, think about the words you speak. Are you a builder or are you part of a wrecking crew by the words that you speak. Become very aware of the words you speak and let your talk be life-giving today!

 

You are Loved!



TODAY’S THOUGHT - Proverbs 12:25

Proverbs 12:25 "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up."

 

 

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish I had an unlimited supply of money so I could shower my family, friends and those in need with gifts?”

 

Ironically each one of us has and unlimited supply of gifts that we can give, but most of the time we keep them all to ourselves! I know you are asking what gifts? The gifts I am talking about are not physical gifts, but they are the gifts of encouraging words. The gift of an encouraging word can meet a need and bless a person more than any physical gift ever could.

 

One of the things we are training our teams to do at CFW is when they greet someone tell them "Welcome to CFW, how can I make your day better; or how can I serve you today."

Our encouraging words have the power to turn someone’s day around. They have the power to change someone’s attitude about life and about their eternity! That's our heart at CFW, elevating peoples attitude the minute they step in our doors. Can you imagine a church full of people elevating each other towards Christ?

 

Today look for opportunities to be generous with the gift of your encouraging words. Maybe it will be your co-worker, someone next to you in class or it might even be your child or your spouse that needs the gift of your words. Will you hold back or will you make the choice to be generous with your words?

 

You are Loved!


TODAY’S THOUGHT - Romans 5:11

Romans 5:11 "Not only so, but we also rejoice and exultingly glory in God {in His love and perfection} through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received and enjoy our reconciliation."  

 

 

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The greatest relationship we will ever have the opportunity to enjoy in our lives is our friendship with God. I can't stress this enough or stop telling you why this is so important. The Bible speaks of his love for us in the most quoted scripture of all time, John 3:16. "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son." This word “love” in the Greek is the word Agape. It is the love that covers all, the love without demand and the love that is impossible to measure. This love so great is the love that God has for us and his greatest desire is not for us to be religious, but for us to have a relationship with him! That means have coffee with him in the morning or a chat sometime throughout the day.

All other loves will fail, but the love of God will never fail you. Even when we feel like He is not there or that He does not care about the situation you are in. That's just old Satan trying to keep you from the victory at hand. So keep your heart and thoughts on track and remember that our minds cannot even comprehend the eternal, everlasting love of God. We just have to trust that love and gratefully accept Him as the greatest friend we will ever know.

You are Loved!

Todays Thought Luke 9:23-25

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23-25‬ KJV

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?"

TODAY’S THOUGHT
To build quality friendships, we not only look for the right person; we also have to be the right person. In our culture we are taught to focus on ourselves and what makes us happy, but God’s ways are counter cultural! He says if we want to be happy we have to give ourselves away and look for ways to make others happy. We must be the kind of friend that we are looking for. We must be humble, not pushing for our own way. We must be patient and kind even though it seems like that is the last thing we want to do. And we must be willing to forgive others just has God has forgiven us.

You are loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT - 1 Samuel 18:1

1 Samuel 18:1 "After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself."

 

 

 TODAY’S THOUGHT
Most of us instinctively know the “right they” in our lives, but we don’t always pursue those relationships. It's kind of like the teenager who knows who they should date but have a tendency to chose the "wrong they" we talked about yesterday. God desires for us to have the kind of relationships that pour into our lives and give us fuel in our tanks.

 

Think about Jonathan and David; they had such a strong bond and deep love between them; God desires that for us. He desires our relationships to be ones that edify and build up. The "wrong they" pour the negative into us to bring us down. Those who will love us like David and Jonathan loved each other, impact us to greater things.

Take some time to Think about people in your life that may be flying under the radar because they are humble. Look for people that are constantly encouraging others, people that easily forgive wrongs and people who are following God’s will in their lives. These are the “right they”. These are the people who will help you get to the next level in your relationship with God and ultimately have a full and abundant life.

 

You are loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT -1 Corinthians 15:33

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

 

 

 

TODAY’S THOUGHT
For most of us growing up we probably heard a parent or teacher quote this familiar Bible verse! It is amazing how the simplest of principles can sometimes become the most complex. We so easily fall into the trap of the “wrong they”.
I know you are thinking who's the "wrong they?" Take a look at the people you surround yourself with. Like a detective looking for clues you must look for the signs. It may be big things that scream out that our friends are the "wrong they" or it may be small things that we might easily overlook. Things like a negative attitude, gossiping, lack of making wise choices and lack of love for God can end up being huge things if we allow them to have an influence on our character. So like one who puts on the armor, we must guard our heart and spirit so we don't get pulled away from our relationship with Christ. "Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

 

You are Loved!



TODAY’S THOUGHT - Proverbs 13:20

Proverbs 13:20  "Walk with the wise and become wise,

for a companion of fools suffers harm."

 

 

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Relationships are one of the most important things in our lives here on Earth. Relationships are one of the biggest things Jesus told his disciples to cultivate. The people we choose to walk with through our life will have a huge impact on where we will end up! That's why it's important to choose those who will lift you up and not tear you down.

In this quiet moment as you chose to read this devotional today, take time to take a “Friend-entory”. Are the people around you causing you to make wise choices and building you up in your faith or are they causing your trouble or even causing you to get into trouble?

 

We only have this one life to live. This is not a dress-rehearsal, so we have to make sure the people we choose to spend the most time with are pulling out the best in us and pushing us closer to God. My prayer for each of you is that as your Pastor and friend, I'm getting you closer to the one who saves you...make the choice today to do the same with those around you!

 

You are Loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHT - Mat 5:13-15

Mat 5:13-15 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."



TODAY’S THOUGHT
When Jesus taught his disciples about their roles and responsibilities in life He wanted them to realize that ultimately their lives would be put on display for everyone to see as an example. There are the same expectations for each of us to be examples in our time as was in His. If we believe the bible is true, then how we live and the choices we make should be a positive example of who Jesus is and what He means to our lives.

Just like “salt” is used as a preservative and provides “flavor” and creates “thirst,” our choices in life should accomplish the same thing. Our lives should preserve the character of God. When we reflect his Character through our choices we will be like an attractive seasoning that will produce a spiritual thirst in the lives of others. People will be drawn to us and will crave what we have. This is how we are to shine our lights. Remember, God has a plan and purpose for our lives. Make a commitment today to fulfill God’s purposes in your life by shining his light through the choices you make.

You are loved!

TODAY’S THOUGHt - Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

 

TODAY’S THOUGHT

Something I learned as a young believer and has stuck with me my whole life is that the very moment we wake up thoughts begin to fill our mind and they form the attitude and altitude of our day. We have the opportunity and responsibility to choose the direction of our thoughts.

 

When Paul writes "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things;" He is speaking to us about a life of faith and trust; not worry and anxiety. Today choose to replace those thoughts of worry, anxiety and negativity with the truth of God’s word.

God tells us that "if He is for us who can be against us?" He tells us that "greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world." His word tells us "we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength and with God all things are possible." Today fix the direction of your thoughts on what God says is true and not what the world might be telling you. Take that step, and as the title of my message on Sunday is, "Do something Stupid."  Trust in the one who loves you!

 

You are Loved!

Today’s Thought - Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Today’s Thought
We are finally back from vacation and in the office again. It was nice to be able to rest; Amy and I both needed it much. I had some amazing time to reflect on God's word and what it means today.

Remember the old saying…Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t make it right. We live in a world where everyone seems to do what is right in his or her own eyes. Far too many people are doing what the world or popular culture calls “normal.”

However, Jesus said, the way that appears to be normal isn’t necessarily the right way to live. In fact, Jesus calls believers to live differently from the norm. Living differently than everyone else might cost us popularity, friendships or advancement in certain areas of life. No one ever said swimming up stream against the cultural current would be easy. However, it’s the way Jesus said would bring true life, fulfillment and the hope of eternal life. What path are you on? What crowd are you associating with? More importantly, who is following you and where are you leading them?

You are Loved!