2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Dear friend,
We all have an issue or area of life that we are not as confident in as others. If we are honest there are topics and situations that cause us to worry from time to time too. Often these issues and concerns are valid, but other times they are not.
What has caused you fear, gut-gripping worry, or anxiety-producing uneasiness now or in the past?
With my children being sick with the flu recently, I found myself becoming irrationally worried and fearful about the 'what-ifs' with their health. What if their fever spiked in the middle of the night or they hyperventilated from coughing too hard and I didn't realize it? What if they didn't have the flu after all, but something much worse?
I knew deep down that my fears were irrational and everything was going to be okay. But what about when the very foundation of life gets ripped out from underneath you? You or your spouse lose your job? A loved one becomes seriously ill, or dies unexpectedly? A legal issue that you never could have imagined hits you squarely in the face? What then?
As a human, you will likely be devastated, grieving and possibly gripped with fear. As a believer you may experience those same things, but here is the great part, it doesn't end with that fear. That fear, that timidity, can be traded in for something amazing!
Through Him we can have the self-discipline to propel ourselves out of the trappings of fear and timidity. Trade in your fear for God's POWER! Trade in your timidity for a hefty dose of God's LOVE!
What areas of fear or timidity do YOU need to trade in today?
For His Glory!
Holly
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
2.24.11
Matthew 25:45
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me".
Here in the 25th chapter of Matthew, Jesus discusses a separation of the sheep and the goats when the Son of Man comes in all his glory. Many of us know verse 35 where Jesus tells the sheep to take their inheritance, the kingdom prepared for them since the creation of the world. They are blessed by the Father because they had fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed those in need, looked after the sick and visited the prisoner. When He speaks to the goats he tells them some crushing news. We must notice that there are two types of people described here; those that do the will of God and those who don't. We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10). Let us seek to walk in those good works prepared for us today and be a doer of the Word.
Visit our blog (http://tdb-thedailybread.blogspot.com/) and share a story about someone that you have witnessed serving "the least of these" to encourage and uplift one another.
To God be the glory!
In Christ,
Mike
"I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me".
Here in the 25th chapter of Matthew, Jesus discusses a separation of the sheep and the goats when the Son of Man comes in all his glory. Many of us know verse 35 where Jesus tells the sheep to take their inheritance, the kingdom prepared for them since the creation of the world. They are blessed by the Father because they had fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed those in need, looked after the sick and visited the prisoner. When He speaks to the goats he tells them some crushing news. We must notice that there are two types of people described here; those that do the will of God and those who don't. We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10). Let us seek to walk in those good works prepared for us today and be a doer of the Word.
Visit our blog (http://tdb-thedailybread.blogspot.com/) and share a story about someone that you have witnessed serving "the least of these" to encourage and uplift one another.
To God be the glory!
In Christ,
Mike
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
2.23.11
Isaiah 40:29-31
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Dear friend,
I heard a local Pastor speak about a phone call that he received from his doctor with the news that he had cancer. He said his heart began to race and thoughts of his family ran through his mind. Then, He recalled the verse above along with the verse from Romans 8:32 which says "He who did not spare His own son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things." He said he instantly felt peace like a river.
This is an example of God renewing strength after a hard blow. The Word of God is so amazing in that you can read a particular scripture causally one day and then the Holy Spirit brings it to life at just the right time for encouragement and comfort during trials as seen with this particular pastor above.
I hope this verse from Isaiah is of comfort to you today. When you hope in the Lord, he gives you a renewed strength to press on. He may not pull you from the circumstance but you can bank on His Word to help you get through it!
I have seen some dark days in my young life. I have had a business failure, been bankrupt, gone through deep depression and anxiety, debilitating addictions and my father in law passed away at the age of 54 while on my honeymoon. Here is what I know is true and I hope it's true for you today: God is there! God does care! He has strengthened me when I have been weary and increased my power when I have been weak. What has helped me time and time again is leaning on the promises of God's Word. Please take another look at the cross of Christ today and remember what He did for all of us.
Trust in Christ and put all your hope in Him.
Ty
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Dear friend,
I heard a local Pastor speak about a phone call that he received from his doctor with the news that he had cancer. He said his heart began to race and thoughts of his family ran through his mind. Then, He recalled the verse above along with the verse from Romans 8:32 which says "He who did not spare His own son but gave Him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things." He said he instantly felt peace like a river.
This is an example of God renewing strength after a hard blow. The Word of God is so amazing in that you can read a particular scripture causally one day and then the Holy Spirit brings it to life at just the right time for encouragement and comfort during trials as seen with this particular pastor above.
I hope this verse from Isaiah is of comfort to you today. When you hope in the Lord, he gives you a renewed strength to press on. He may not pull you from the circumstance but you can bank on His Word to help you get through it!
I have seen some dark days in my young life. I have had a business failure, been bankrupt, gone through deep depression and anxiety, debilitating addictions and my father in law passed away at the age of 54 while on my honeymoon. Here is what I know is true and I hope it's true for you today: God is there! God does care! He has strengthened me when I have been weary and increased my power when I have been weak. What has helped me time and time again is leaning on the promises of God's Word. Please take another look at the cross of Christ today and remember what He did for all of us.
Trust in Christ and put all your hope in Him.
Ty
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
2.22.11
1 Thessalonians 2:4
4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Dear friend,
I must confess to God my struggle with the sin of people-pleasing. Paul says in Galatians 1:10 that if he were still trying to please men, he would not be a servant of Christ. We have only one Master to serve. Earthly slavery is a terrible injustice that is even practiced today in parts of the world but let us not be afraid of that term because of it's tarnished reputation. We are to be slaves and bondservants of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been purchased, bought with a price and we no longer live but Christ lives in us. Let us boldly serve God and become all things to all men that we might save them from the wrath to come without contorting the gospel in any way. May we do all things for the sake of the gospel as we have been entrusted with the most important thing that we will ever know. Father, please help myself and those who struggle to not look towards pleasing men but God, who tests our hearts.
In Christ,
Mike
4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Dear friend,
I must confess to God my struggle with the sin of people-pleasing. Paul says in Galatians 1:10 that if he were still trying to please men, he would not be a servant of Christ. We have only one Master to serve. Earthly slavery is a terrible injustice that is even practiced today in parts of the world but let us not be afraid of that term because of it's tarnished reputation. We are to be slaves and bondservants of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been purchased, bought with a price and we no longer live but Christ lives in us. Let us boldly serve God and become all things to all men that we might save them from the wrath to come without contorting the gospel in any way. May we do all things for the sake of the gospel as we have been entrusted with the most important thing that we will ever know. Father, please help myself and those who struggle to not look towards pleasing men but God, who tests our hearts.
In Christ,
Mike
Monday, February 21, 2011
2.21.11
Revelation 1:8
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God,"who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Dear friend,
Recently I was reminded of a term that I haven't heard for quite some time; the Aseity of God. The Aseity of God means that He is self-existent; He always was, always is and always will be. God has an independent existence, He doesn't depend on anyone or anything for His existence. He's an uncaused being that cannot not exist.
Just thinking about this attribute of God leaves me with feelings of awe and humility! It brings me comfort beyond words that I can place all my hope and trust in Him, knowing that He will never cease to exist; therefore keeping all the promises found in His Word!
All praise be to God!
In Christ,
-Robert
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God,"who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Dear friend,
Recently I was reminded of a term that I haven't heard for quite some time; the Aseity of God. The Aseity of God means that He is self-existent; He always was, always is and always will be. God has an independent existence, He doesn't depend on anyone or anything for His existence. He's an uncaused being that cannot not exist.
Just thinking about this attribute of God leaves me with feelings of awe and humility! It brings me comfort beyond words that I can place all my hope and trust in Him, knowing that He will never cease to exist; therefore keeping all the promises found in His Word!
All praise be to God!
In Christ,
-Robert
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)