MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS

SCRIPTURE: Philippians 4:8

VERSE FOR TODAY: Finally brethren whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are good report,  if there is any virtue and if there is anythings praiseworthy meditate on these things. (New King James Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "You Deserve the Highest Praise"

What you think about in your unguarded moments reflects what your mind dwells upon. What you speak about when your guard is down is a good gauge of what is in your heart (Matt.12:34). Your mind needs exercise just as your physical body does. To keep your body healthy, you must contemplate things that are noble and truths that stretch your mind.

Some Christ allows the world to fill their minds with ungodly thinking Some people seem drawn to concentrate on the negative, choosing to be pessimistic about everything. Some remain satisfied with thinking of the mundane. Others fail to intentionally place Scripture in their thoughts, choosing instead to adopt human reasoning. Others, however, choose to expose their minds to the of God to that which is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and good.

The things you allow your mind to dwell on will be revealed by the way you live. If you focus on negative things, you will be inevitably  be a negative person. If you allow unholy thoughts to fill your mind, ungodliness will become common in your life. If youfill you mind thoughts of Christ you will become Christlike.

What you fill your mind with a matter of choice. Choose to concentrate on the magificent truths of God, and they will cteate in you a noble character that brings glory God

FAITHFUL IN A LITTLE

SCRIPTURE: Luke 16:10

VERSE FOR TODAY: "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." (Luke 16:3, The New Kung James Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Love You Much"

God reward those who are faithful. Throughout your life God will seek to grow you in your faith. He will continually bring you to times when you must trust Him. He will lead you into situation that require a "little" faith. and if you are faithful, He will then take you into situation require even greater trust in Him. Each time you are able to trust God at a higher level, God will reveal more of Himself to you. Your faith and experiencing God directly linked.

The best way to tell if you are prepared for a greater revelation of God is to see how faithful you have been with what God has given you. This is foundational principle in God's  relatioships with us. If you have been faithful with the little He has given you, you are ready to be entrusted with more. If you failed to trust God with the little He gave you. He will not trust with more. God will not lead you beyond your present level of trust and obedience to Him. He will return to you your area of unfaithfulness until you are prepared to trust Him. The children of Israel were unwilling to trust God to lead them into the promise Land, and their generation never again was able to move forward with Him.

You stand at an exciting new door of opportunity to know God more intimately every time you believe Him. Every step of faith leads you to s deeper relationship of faith with Him. It is an open invitation to know God more intimately.

THE UNTHINKABLE

SCRIPTURE: Mark 16:18

VERSE FOR TODAY:Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me." (Mark 16:22 The New King James Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY " The Cross"

Surely I would never betray the Lord! Each disciple earnestly pled his loyalty to Christ. As they reclined together in the comfort and security of the upper room, in the presence of their Lord, the disciple could not imagine themselves ever wavering in their loyalty to Christ. Yet Jesus looked at them and said, "One of you who eats with Me will betray Me!" How was possible to share such an intimate and profound moment with the Savior and then rush so quickly toward betrayal and spiritual failure?

During the intense pressures of Gethsemane and the cross, the disciples did things they never thought they would do. They had no idea how cruel andAs grateful the world around them would be to their Lord. Jesus had cautioned them that the world would hate them because it hated Him (John 15:18-22; 16:33). But only Jesus knew the full extent of the temptation they would face. In the pressure of the moment the heart does surprising things. Scripture had predicted Judas would betray Jesus, despite having walked with Him for over three years. But Peter, too, would deny Him, and all would forsake Him.

How quickly the surrounding of your life can shift from the security and tranquility of an upper room to the harsh reality of Gethsemane and the cross. Guard your heart. Listen now to the Lord's  gently warning: the failure that was possible with His first disciple is also possible with you. You, too, are capable of forsaking Jesus, just as the first disciple did. If Jesus is warning you of an area in your life in which you could fail Him, herd His words today!

GODS INFINITE TREASURE

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 4:7

VERSE FOR TODAY: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God not of us.

HYMN: "Knowing God"

Knowing God and having Him reside within you is a treasure of infinite value. Jesus likened this value to that of a perfect pearl. The collector would readily sell everything he had in order to possess this one matchless pearl (Matt.13:45-46). Your relationship with God places an immeasurable value on your life. The treasure of God's  wisdom and knowledge are available to you through Christ (Col.2:-3). His love Noe fills you. His incomprehensive peace surrounds your heart and mine (Phil.4:7). When Jesus dwells in your life, everything available to Christ dwells within you (Eph. 3:19).

Paul was comparing our lives with the clay pots commonly used in his day. Then content of the earthen vessels, not the containers themselves, were of great value. The jars would become chipped and broken and would deteriorate overtimes, but nobody thought of the jar they were interested in its contents

Paul noted that our great possession is that which God has placed within us. When people focus on us they see a frail, imperfect, and deteriorating vessel. Nothing that comes from our flesh is worthy of praise. Our bodies are aging and losing strength (2Cor.4:16). Only as we allow God to fill us and renew our inner self will people see a treasure of immeasrable worth .

Don't focus on outward appearance and physical strengh, for these deteriorate. Rather, allow the Holy Spiirit to convince you of the infinite treasure that is within you because of God's presence.

FRESH ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST

SCRIPTURE: 1 John 3-4

VERSE FOR TODAY: That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us,; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

HYMN FOR TODAY: "In His Presence"

John the apostle never ceased to marvel at life-changing relationship he enjoyed with his Lord. It overwhelmed him to know that, at a particular time in history, the God of the universe chose to have fellowship with him, a simple fisherman. John was so overjoyed that he earnestly wanted to share his joy with others so they, too, might experience the same joy. A special fellowship or "bonding" developed between those who had personally encountered Christ as they rejoice together at God's goodness to them.

Those around you desperately need to be ecouraged by your latest encounter with Christ. Some have lost hope that they can experience the reality of God's presence in lives. They don't need your philophies or theological speculations. They don't  need to hear your opinion on what they should do. They need to hear from someone who has just come from a personal, life changing encounter with the living Christ. When you have had such an experience you will be like the apostle John, hardly able to contain yourself as you rush out to tell others of your amazing encounter with God. Your responsiblity will not be to convince others of the reality of God, but simply to bear witness to what your Lord has said and done to you. The change in your life will be your greatest testimony of your relationship to Christ. There is nothing more appealing or convincing to a watching world than to hear the testimony of someone who has just been with Jesus.

THE PROMISE KEEPER

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 6:1-9

VERSE FOR TODAY: "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I AM the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptian"' (Exodus 6:60 New Intetnational Version).

HYMN FOR FOR TODAY: "A Charge to Keep I Have"

"His word is as good as gold." The phrase was sometimes used to characterize the trustworthiness of a promise without a written contact. A handshake and a word of commitment sealed the deal.

Nowadays a person's  word mean little. Promises are broken when 'o longer convenient to keep. But God always keeps His Word. When we believe it we reap wonderful benefits. When we ignore it. . . harmful consequences.

Adam Eve brought death to life when they did not believe God's warning and they ate from the forbidden tree. In spite of their impatience, Abraham and Sara were blessed with their own child which God had promised. The Israelites experienced the long awaited release from their bondage in Egypt by the powerful hand of the Lord. God's prophetic promises were fulfilled during Jesus's life here on earth and by His death and resurrection.

Because of these and many more assurances we can certainly trust our God when He said that Jesus came to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and whoever believes in Him and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16).

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Thank You, Father, for keeping Your promises. In a world where it is difficult to depend on anyone, it is reassuring to know that You can be trusted unquestionably. We thank You for keeping Your promises to us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

THE VOICE OF AUTHORITY

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 3:13-22

VERSE FOR TODAY: Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, " The God of your father's has sent me to you,'  and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them? God said to Moses," . . . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I Am has sent me to you"' (Exodus 3:13,14, New Intetnational Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "I Sing the Mighty Power of God"

Many voices claim authority over our lives. Sometimes we yield to authority that is wielded from position of power or intimidation. At other times we yield to authority out f respect or reverence.

"I want to pack my lunch Mom, I don't want to buy it anymore, my seventh grade daughter announced when she came home from school. She told me how that day in the lunch line abig girl had bullied her into giving up her lunch money. She willingly submitted to the demands but determined that she would not be the target for this kind of intimidation again.

As a professor, my husband has established classroom rules, one of which prohibits male students from wearing hats in his classes. It is a matter of courtesy and lends to a certain decorum in the college classroom. Because of their respect for him and the institution, the students comply with his request.

We each bend to the authority of others out of fear or respect, but our ultimate source of truth and authority comes from the Almighty God. Let us be certain that when we submit to authority it is indeed His voice that we hear.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: O God, Your truth always call to us above the world's chatter and makes mute it's inconsequential bid for authority. Help us to listen to the voice of Jesus. In His name we pray. Amen.

RELEASED FROM THE RUBBLE

SCRIPTURE: Roman 7:15-25

VERSE FOR TODAY: Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Roman 7:24, New Kung James Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: " At the Cross"

Television has brought the horrors of war famine, and natural and man-made disasters into homesl. We have watched as babies were found alive beneath the rubbles of a hospital which collapsed during an earthquake in Mexico City. We watched as rescuers painstakingly removed a man from his crushed car after the San Francisco earthcquake. We watched in anguish as rescuers searched mostly in vain for survivors of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

To be trapped beneath tons of rubbles is a nightmare we don't want to think about. Paul compared his nature to sin as a "body of death" like living with the weight of a corpse on him. He looked for the One who could rescue him from his predicament and concluded, "through Jesus Christ, our Lord." Can you imagine the joy and gratitude you would experience as you looked into the eyes of your rescuer if you were buried in rubbles otr crushed by a weight brought about by an earthquake? That's how Paul felt about the One who rescued him from the weight of his sinful nature.

Do we experience that kind of joy and gratitude when we look into the eyes of Christ, our rescue?  Or do we not face the weight of sin as seriously asPaul did?

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Father, we often grow discouraged over our inability to follow in the footsteps of our Savior. We feel weighted down by guilt and frustration. Help us see out Rescuer and know the joy of deliverance through Him. Amen.