The World God Intended It to Be.

Genesis 2:7
7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

Chapter two of Genesis is repeating the story of creation, but this time narrowing things down to human beings. We alone, of all things God created, are made in God's iamge (refer to yesterday's devotion). There is some controversy on what the "image of God" means. Does it refer to immortality? intelligence? originality? If you have trouble understanding what the "image of God" is, just think of it by using a metaphor...comparing the "image of God" to a mirror. God created human beings so that when he looks at them, he sees a feature that exists in his character.

As humans, we are very unique compared to everything else God created. We are fully functional and able to socialize and show emotions. Human life is holy. Human beings receive the breath of life from God.

"Before the earth was cursed, man was formed by glory particles and the God of glory breathed into the shape of man, made of glory particles - man then stood up in the glory, clothed in the glory and full of the glory manifesting the glory." ~Rob Rufus

God's Human Creation.

Genesis 1:26-31
26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
27 So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
29 Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened.
31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

God created every single thing in life...every person and every animal. Everything God made is beautiful. Man's worth is directly related to the origin (God). Next time you look at somebody think about that. They were made by God and that alone makes them perfect. The creation of man shows the creativity of God. Whatever you think about man, shows what you think about God.

Humanity's creation, which reflects God, helps create a realationship between man and God. Everybody has essential values and have full potential of living out the purpose of God. Nobody should be looked at lowly. Everyone and everything created is God's property and he loves every person and every bit of it.

“What really interests me is whether God had any choice in the creation of the world.” ~Albert Einstein

See You at the Pole.

1 Samuel 3:10
10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

What is See You at the Pole? I'll give you a little history about it...
A group of teenagers from Texas came together in early 1990 for a spiritual weekend. The students became broken before God and burdened for their friends. They went to a few different schools that night and prayed at the flagpoles.

On September 12, 1990, more than 45,000 teens met at flagpoles at school to pray in four states before school started. By the time the next year came around, news had spread. On September 11, 1991, at 7 A.M., one million teens gathered at flagpoles nationwide. They sang and prayed...prayed for the school, friends, teachers, and the government.

Since 1991, SYATP has only gotten bigger in popularity. Now more than three million students across the country participate in this event. Also, students in more than 20 countries take part.

Now SYATP takes place on the fourth Wednesday of September each year at 7 A.M. or just before school starts.

The last two years I don't remember much about this event at my school. In my freshman year, I attended and we just prayed silently. Last year, I missed it. This year, it took place on Wednesday, September 24, and it was truly amazing! (Maybe that's just because I'm more in tuned with God). There was a guitarist who played songs like Lord I Lift Your Name on High, Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord, and Here I Am to Worship. We sang and praised God. It was incredible even though it was a gloomy morning. Believe it or not, at my school we had about 40 people who gathered. Remember Jesus tells us, whenever two or more people gather in his name, he is present. Imagine his strong presence on this day.

We had some powerful prayers that were spoken too. Everybody had the chance to say what was on their heart and mind. Even though in public schools teachers aren't allowed to mention God or any religion in classrooms, I just thank God that the government gave us the first amendment - which includes freedom of religion in any public place. We should be so grateful for that.

As we sang and prayed I know people walked by looking confused. Who knows, maybe down the road it will affect them. Anyways, as a Christian, they give you that stare and I'm sure they talk to their friends about it. I believe that being a Christian is the best stereotype you can have. It's especially good when they call you a Christian not because of your claims but because of your words and especially your actions out of LOVE.

"Whenever His people gather and worship Him, God promises He will make His presence known in their midst. On the other hand, where God's people consistently neglect true spiritual worship, His manifest presence is rarely experienced." ~Ralph Mahoney

Here's a short video about See You at the Pole...

Experiencing God.

Mark 5:20
20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns[a] of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

We've all been to amusement parks right? Whether it is Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, Sea World, Busch Gardens, Wet 'N Wild, or Six Flags, if you're a fan of roller coasters you know it's quite a ride and experience to go to such a place. The excitement only lasts for a couple minutes and then each brave individual must exit back into the real world that consists of loops of excitment or frustration (insert any emotion here).

You really don't have to go very far to find such an awesome experience. Better yet, it doesn't have to just last for two or three minutes either. Instead we can offer an encounter with God that lasts a lifetime to others. We can draw people into the church by showing them this thrill-seeker. This can be life-changing to people. Anyone you tell about your experience of God's power may tell people they know about it. It's a cyclonic - roller coaster loop - that shows all the great things that God does everyday.

Despite any roller coaster experiences (up and down times) of your life, let others join you in the adventurous ride of God's love by introducing them to it in the first place.

“Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.” ~C.S. Lewis

He Died for a Reason.

Romans 14:9
9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

The words in this verse tells us there is a reason for Jesus to die. In fact, he died and rose again. He died for us--for our sins--and to set an example for the skeptical and lost.

Jesus didn't die just because he wanted to, but because God asked him to and he obeyed. It's obvious Jesus wasn't selfish right? He looked at everything except the pain and misery he would go through on the cross. Instead, he focused on the benefits of his sacrifice down the road.

And here we are today...alive because of Christ's decision. If not for him, we would be drowing in our sins and not be able to live the quality lives we live today.

Think about the purpose God has given you. Why are you here?

"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." ~Carl Townsend

Take a look at the video below. Thanks Chrissy :)

Don't Settle For Anything Less Than God.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20
19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

It is your choice! That is what God has to say today. Everybody desires to have a good life and to escape death and evil; we want happiness and we completely dislike misery. God says if we don't count on him for a wonderful life, then it is our own fault. If you live and serve God, you will live happy (and he wants us to follow his way). However, if you run away from God and try to be happy it won't work. Don't choose religion. Don't choose spirituality. Don't choose alcohol, drugs, or other nasty, addicting substances. They may make you ok at first, but you will find yourself at ruins eventually. The best way to go is not to choose anything but a life-long relationship with God otherwise your life will not be fulfilled.

"Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance...We must take it or leave it." ~C.S. Lewis

Power, Power, Power.

Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Do you realize how many things we use everyday that require electricity? Look around the room you're in to answer that question. The computer I'm on right now needs electricity and so does the nearby phone, tv, and radio. Each of these things need a place to power up.

Yesterday we talked about forming a connection with God and others. God is our main power source and he does this by throwing at us daily challenges (which we may not like at the time) through Jesus. In the above scripture, you can see that you shouldn't be too busy for Jesus (which Jesus tells Martha). Jesus tells her that Mary finally realized what power was all about. Mary knew the power she has came from Jesus, and so she spends time with him daily. Sit down and plug in the strongest power source--God--and spend time with his son everyday.

"There's power in the blood [of Jesus]!" ~Lewis E. Jones

The Building Blocks of Christianity.

1 John 1:7
7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

I remember playing with legos as a young one. You can't do much with one lego, but if you have several you can do a lot with them - almost anything. The more legos you have, the more successful and creative you can be. This is also true when you talk about Christians. You won't be able to do much alone, but when you work together with others you can do works of art that are far and wide for God.

Don't just connect to God, connect to others. If such a connection does not exist, we miss so many things. Love, serve, and worship are a few things God tells us to do when we connect with others. These help us to bond and unify as one body for Christ. Christians must connect just like Legos to completely fulfill their purpose. This allows us to build our personal character and the church of God!

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” ~Herman Melville

Good and Bad Things in Life.

Colossians 3:1-4
1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

(You should refer to yesterday's devotion if you haven't read it already).

Think of any situation in life. Is it something good that came to your mind or is it something bad that you heard on the news recently or that occurred in your own life? Many things in life could be characterized as good or bad.

Looking at earth and heaven, they contrast. Heaven looks promising based on the clues the bible tells us. Earth I wouldn't say is bad, but it's definitely not perfect. Anyway, you can't focus on one more than the other. If you do, there won't be a balance of love like there should be. If you enjoy what Earth has to offer too much, then you won't be prepared for what heaven has to offer. God wants us to still enjoy our lives though and that's why I mention the balancing act of the two.

Rain or sunshine may be an example of good or bad entities, however everyone has their different opinions on which is better. In a spiritual sense, I just made a comparison as I was writing this. Rain doesn't normally last too long right? You many have an extended period of rain for a few days from time to time, but usually before long the sun comes out, sometimes a few minutes later, especially here in Florida. Meanwhile, the sun is always present and shining somewhere around the country or world; the clouds just may be covering it wherever you are at in a given day. With that said, the rain can be like Earth since life is just temporary here; we shouldn't get too used to life on Earth because before long "weather conditions" (our life conditions) are going to change. Sunshine can be seen as heaven because it will always be there. Heaven allows us to have a "radiant" eternal life with God.

Next time you see the sun shining, thank God for what your future holds as a Christian - being in heaven with him.

"Aim at heaven, and you will get earth thrown in; aim at earth, and you will get neither." ~C.S. Lewis

Two Very Different Treasures.

Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Everyone has possessions that they really take for granted and just enjoy, whether it's the cell phone or the computer. Most of them are material items.

What is the first word that sticks out when you read the scripture above? For me it is treasure. Treasures are things we long for. Jesus wants us to realize that there's a difference between treasures here on earth and the ones in heaven. He also says don't get used to what goes on around here.

We have a fascination of earthly treasures over heavenly treasures. However, heaven's treasures deserve more value than those hear on earth. After all, the ones on Earth will be gone once you die. Treasures exist in heaven and should be more meaningful because they come directly from God and will bring us closer to him.

Earth's treasures are temporary, while heaven's treasures are spiritual ones that last forever. Remember that the next time you go to buy a new video game or car.

Jane Austen's quote "One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other" makes me wonder if this is what God is thinking. I'm pretty sure it is...heaven's treasures are unimaginable at this stage of our lives.

How to Use Your Spiritual Gifts.

Ephesians 4:11-13
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Everybody is capable of doing different things. Not only that, but everybody has their strong points - what they're better at - their talents.

You see, God gives us all talents and he expects us to use those to benefit his people. It can be an athletic ability or an academic ability. Nonetheless, you can still share God with others by doing what you love.

If you are a leader, God made you so that you can equip and train others. If you don't do your part in helping the kingdom, the church will not be as strong.

We must keep in mind God's will and the way he wants things to be done. We have to manage it ourselves, but remember you can always pray about it. If more people step up in their game, instead of giving in, Satan will have a harder time holding back the work of God.

Is there any way in which you can use those talents such as teaching, leading, helping and giving for the Kingdom of God? Take some time to figure out what God's intentions are specifically for you. There are many sources of spiritual gift evaluation tools out there. If you want me to send you one to you to help you identify your strengths, email me at heytbone92@gmail.com

"What we are is God's gift to us. what we become is our gift to God." ~Eleanor Powell

Imitating God.

1 Peter 1:13-16
13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Every single person that God created is unique in their own way. Have you ever tried to be somebody other than yourself? It doesn't go smoothly does it? The truth of the matter is: you really shouldn't try to be like someone else. God has made you the way you are for a reason. The only being you should try to imitate, is God. He is a perfect spiritual model of who we should be.

God's son, Jesus, obeyed God and was holy. He sacrificed his life and died on the cross. Although you're not expected to do that, you still should walk with a mirror that reflects the image of God.

Here's a brief list on some of the holy things Jesus did...
*taught (the gospel - salvation!)
*trained disciples
*healed the sick
*fed the hungry
*prayed

I want you to think of some holy items you can put on your "to-do" list using the five ideas above.

If we are to be imitators of God, as beloved children, we imitate him by going about doing good. ~Reverend Canon Rosalind Brown

Expect to read about spiritual gifts tomorrow.

Do it, For the Glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Each day is filled with hundreds of decisions. Any decision we make can either hurt or help someone. It's so important to think before acting.

Don't just glorify God in your spiritual activities, but everything you do. Since we are made by God, we are meant to bring Glory to him...24/7. I guess you could say that when it comes to glorifying God, there is no snooze button, like on an alarm clock. We must be very careful with our words and actions. If we hurt others this causes them to stumble and fall short of God. Whatever we do, we can't diminish God's glory.

Sometimes people cause us to stumble. It's hard, but just remember, when this happens, if we live to honor God, our words and actions should hint what God would say, and not what Satan would say. God can help you with this, just pray about it.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~Maryanne Williamson

Praise The Lord.

Psalm 92:1-3
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening,
3 accompanied by the ten-stringed harp
and the melody of the lyre.

We should thank God for each day, even if they're bad. Hey, we made it through the day didn't we? It's something we should do every day and every night, not just on Sundays...not just when we feel like it...not just in public, but in private. It should be a priority.

There are many reasons why we should praise God. First, God deserves our praise, so there is no reason to hesitate. God created everything. Just knowing that makes everything beautiful! He is so great that nobody can even fathom.

Second, praising God benefits us in the end. Every time we praise God, God's awesomeness flashes before our eyes. The more you praise him, the more you will learn about God.

Third, praise really shows our strength. If we're able to praise God for everything under the sun, God really likes that.

Fourth, God thrives off of praise. Praising him will allow you to truly see God's blessings and grace. Praise him with everything you have.

We sang a song in church yesterday called You're Worthy of My Praise (see video below by Jeremy Camp). Maybe you can sing this song each and every day. I don't care whatever it takes, PRAISE HIM, and you will be in awe of his love and power!

Worship with Meaning.

John 4:23-24

23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Worship is an important part of your relationship with God. You shouldn't go to church and worship the Lord just because it looks good or because it's what some of your friends do. Instead, worship should come from spirit and from truth.

God wants to be taken seriously. In order to benefit from worship, focus and concentrate on one thing: GOD! Sure it may be hard as we constantly watch the time, think about what's going to happen later on in the day, and so on, but all the worldly things should be erased from our minds during what should be a meaningful and powerful period of time.

What I'm saying is...next time you stand in church, don't just go with the flow. Worship God because you truly have the desire.

I pray that YOU can worship God with meaning and have passion toward it.

“When I worship, I would rather my heart be without words than my words be without heart.” ~Lamar Boschman

What is Worship?

Matthew 4:10
10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.

Chances are, if you had describe worship in just one word it would be different than somebody else. It may also be hard to describe it because you don't realize what you truly should be experiencing when you worship.

The official definition of worship from dictionary.com is: reverent honor and homage paid to God; adoration.

Worship is all about glory flowing from your heart and praising God for his majesty. It also includes acknowledging him, thanking him, and expressing profound love for him.

If it's hard to understand what worship is or just challenging for you to do it, understand that we must prepare ourselves by having a strong relationship with God. Sure it takes time, but you can build each week, by serving him.

"The heart of worship is the worship of heart." ~from Discover Revelations

Don't Be a "Fake" Christian.

Colossians 3:5-10
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.[a] 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Don't lie...that's the big thing that this passage is saying. You can only truly be one person right? So don't act one way around a certain group of friends and act completely different when you're in a different setting. Don't just make good choices because you're at church, but apply them everywhere and everything you do in life.

It's also never smart to hide things on the inside. Even though others can't necessarily see your inside, God can. So that means don't act abnormally just because you want to please God. After all, he knows the truth and what your intentions are. I'd say it's better to act your real self, until you can be become a serious Christian...God will take you anytime and there are people out there that help you come to Christ!

Over the next couple days I'll be talking about worship life.

I guess you could say this is a good, traditional song that you can ask God to remind you to be true to your being at all times.

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

It is you, Lord
Who came to save
The heart and soul
Of every man
It is you Lord
who knows my weakness
Who gives me strength,
With thine own hand.

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and Holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving I'll be a living
Sanctuary for you

Lead Me on Lord
From temptation
Purify me
From within
Fill my heart with
You holy spirit
Take away all my sin

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living
Sanctuary for You

Faith Goes a Long Way.

Matthew 8:26-27
26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Have you ever gone through a time where you feared for your life? If so, did you realize, while you were in the middle of the situation, that the Lord was there all along and you could trust him?

God knows everything under the sun. You can't possibly be going through something without him knowing.

Of course there's the notable story from two thousand years ago that relates to trusting the Lord...when he caused the winds, the seas, and the trials in people's lives to be calm immediately. That was to show his power. The reason we have such difficulties is because it is in those hard time where God's awesome power is displayed the most.

God wants you to have faith in him. At this time, reevaluate your faith in God. Realize that he has great plans for those that follow through with faithfulness!

“Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods” ~C.S. Lewis

Accept God's Way.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20
19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This[a] is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Understand that God wants you. Stop what you're doing every now and then during the day and let him grab a hold of you. God is knocking on your doorstep and wants to be invited into your home, everywhere you go, and everything you do.

As stated in verse 19, choose a life long relationship with God (not self-centeredness or even religion). Realize the sacrifice he made to have his son, Jesus, die for your sins and then accept it. It will help you connect with God.

Then we are told to listen to God and to obey him. You can find his expectations throughout the bible. Everything you can possibly think of is in there.

Finally, be attached to God. He likes to be with you and wants to be your priority.

So be all for God and don't make anything else your priority because nothing can get more important than God!

"God is a sort of burglar. As a young man you knock him down; as an old man you try to conciliate him, because he may knock you down." ~H. Beerbohm Tree

It's Not the End.

Hebrews 12:5-6
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

Are you having a bad day? I hope you're not. We all have them though. Those days where "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong." (Murphy's law) Whenever it does happen we tend to ignore everything that is going on at the moment including God. We learn after every experience in life.

It is so easy to blame God for these bad things. It doesn't mean that he isn't with us during these times. So then why, if God is good and powerful, doesn't he put a stop to our bad days? He is testing us. During the course of hard times he wants to develop our character.

Additionally, there are catastrophes around the world that hurt us. We feel heartache for the victims and wonder where is God in the midst of these situations? We know he can prevent things from happening...

Well God doesn't wish bad things on anybody. If you question that, you could look at it this way: God is good not because of what he does, but he is good because of who he is.

I want you to know, that God is present when you are having a rough time, even though it may not feel like it. He will always love you beyond your imagination. Matthew West has a song that says,
"But it's not the end
The end of the world
It's just another day
Depending on grace
No it's not the end
The end of the world
It's just another day
So don't sleep it all away."

Now that is good news on any bad day!

"Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you're beyond the need of God's grace." ~Unknown

Defining Servanthood.

Matthew 24:45-46
45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.

I know I've been talking about serving others and thus serving God lately. There's at least one point though that I'm not sure I've emphasized enough...

Becoming a servant is necessary in order to receive fulfillment in our lives. Not just any servant, but the servant of our master - the Lord. If you serve the world it's going to offer you a phony fulfillment. The attempt to be fulfilled by the world will never occur.

Mark it on your agenda...to serve God! This should be an everyday practice. If we act faithfully toward God's will, then he will do what he wants with us and even what we have in mind. We will be blessed.

As a servant of God, we have a great advantage: We can access his power and see his power first hand. It's not a "pay-per view" type deal. It's free!!! It just requires giving God our time.

"One of the great underlying principles governing our life is service. Most of us have to work, but do we serve? Do we work in a spirit of service? Do we work for Life and our fellows? Or do we merely work for self, in order to make a living?"
~Henry T. Hamblin

Here's a good cartoon that represents what was just mentioned about master servanthood...

Are You Really Serving with Passion?

2 Corinthians 9:7
7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

When you go to a restaurant, you expect to be served by a pleasant person right? Every once in a while we encounter somebody who is grumpy or just seems to be having a bad day. You see this big expression on their face that says: "Don't bother me right now!"

If you're in a servant's position though you must act with pride. You must have the heart of a servant. We all mess up sometimes, but just keep that in mind. If you're purpose is to serve others, let it have an impact on an individual by serving in a graceful way. As a server, you should not just serve for one's convenience, but go beyond that and express true joyfulness.

Remember that serving OTHERS = serving GOD. You were shaped for serving God.

"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve....You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Follow God's Commands.

Deuteronomy 28:13-15
13 If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. 14 You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them.

15 “But if you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and do not obey all the commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:

This passage is just yelling out at me today. There are countless times during my day that I find myself following the culturally dominated world...doing the secular things. In more ways than one, the secular way is corrupt. How then, you ask, can we do the righteous thing that the scripture talks about?

God wants us to listen and obey his commands, so do just that. His commands are unlike any other. We can't be shameful. We are being led to Salvation! We must do what God says; we must act as God does.

Take a moment to listen to what he has to say at this very moment...
Pray that it will be easier for our minds to notice the Godly commands and obey them as well.

"God authors desires in your heart, then fulfills His Will by enabling you to realize those desires." ~Edwin Louis Cole

Serving God and Loving Others Along the Way.

John 13:1-5
1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

Wow! Isn't that a good example of love? Jesus shows it so well here. If someone didn't know how Jesus acts, you could probably show them these verses and they'd have a pretty good biography of him already.

Jesus even washes the feet of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Most of us would never consider doing such an act of kindness, but Jesus did, so keep that in mind.
Let me share more of John 13 (verses 12-17) with you and then ponder...

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

I mentioned the fruits of the spirit more than a week ago and in this case Jesus portrayed humility and love to his disciples to a great extent. He showed them how to be good servants. Now God is telling us to go forth and love others. Your love for others will bless you and prove to others that you are Jesus' disciples.

Now keep in mind, you're not asked to bring a bucket to school or work and wash your friends' feet, but the idea is to LOVE one another just as God loves you!

"The only way you can serve God is by serving other people." ~Rick Warren

God Wants a Dedicated Servant.

John 12:26
26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

It should be our great desire to serve God. We need to look at him like he's our very own and imitate his grace all the time.

It is my goal to have determination to serve Christ. I wish it was easy. Unfortunately, suffering gets in the way.

A servant shouldn't waste time, but instead be very reliable and dedicated to the work of God. That allows you to become a better servant. How do you define a servant of God? Have you wished you were a better servant? Who's a reliable servant in your life?

Yesterday I showed you how it is wrong to swear to God. However, swearing a promise to God is great. Take some time today to ask God to help you be a more dependable servant and to serve Him with a strong desire.

"God is more concerned with our "I will" than our IQ." ~Kent Crockett

Don't Swear to God.

Matthew 5:34-37
34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

I know I do it all the time. I say..."I swear to God I didn't do it." It's either because someone doesn't believe what I told them or they were in such shock I felt the need to reassure things.

I realize that Jesus doesn't like it when we swear an oath. It's being harsh on God. Jesus points out that if you have to mention God in order to make people believe you, then you may not have a heart of integrity.

Instead we need to just say "Yes" and "No." The bottom line is that everyone should be able to believe you 100%...that you're speaking out of complete truth and honesty.

Answer this to yourself...Are you a person of integrity? Can you truly, back up your words? This is a perfect reason why you should think before you speak.

“It is easier to cope with a bad conscience than with a bad reputation.”
~Friedrich Nietzsche

P.S. Have a safe Labor Day!