LWF - Moving His Son Into King's Row

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2:6
 
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The kingdoms of this world are being moved around like checkers, but soon God is going to move His Son into King’s Row and say, “Crown Him King of kings!”
 
How many times have you prayed, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”?
 
Do you think God’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven? Look around at the crime, rape, murder, child abuse, and blasphemy. Do you think that’s God’s will? Of course not.
 
Do you think Jesus Christ would have taught us to pray a prayer that will not be answered? God is going to move Jesus into King’s Row and say, “Crown Him King!”
 
ACTION POINT:
Read Psalm 2. What does the Psalmist tell the kings of this world to do? Pray now that God will work in the hearts of the world leaders.

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

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RHM - Pearls and Pigs

Good article

http://www.refreshinghope.org/blogs/1/796

LWF - You Supply the Will; God supplies the Power

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17
 
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Are you one of those people who believes “Put off until tomorrow what you could be doing today”? This is one of those times when the fingers pointing back at me outnumber the one that’s pointing to you! What am I talking about? Procrastination.
 
Did you know that procrastination is a sin? I say that because sin is not merely doing wrong, it is failing to do what you ought to do. Procrastination and disobedience are just different shades of the same sin. I heard a quote once that said it well: 
               “When you have a job to do,
               Begin this very hour.
               You supply the will,
               God supplies the power.”
 
That is the will power we need to instantly obey!
 
ACTION POINT:
Has a certain task been hounding you? Confess your procrastination as sin. And act now. Don’t hesitate. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may never come. Today is the day!

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

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Refreshing Hope - Going Back to Egypt

Going Back to Egypt

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  Why does Yahweh bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be captured or killed! Wouldn't it be better for us to return into Egypt?' They said to one another, 'Let's choose a leader, and let's return into Egypt.' Numbers 14:3 WEB
  
  When the Israelites came to the land that God promised them, they stopped and sent out twelve spies to survey it. When the spies returned, all of them but Caleb and Joshua told a grim tale of giants living in fortresses. It made them feel like grasshoppers. The Israelites were terrified and decided to stone Moses, choose another leader, and go back to Egypt.
  
  Yet God had not changed His mind. His promise still stood firm. He had brought them this far, and would take them the rest of the way, if they would only stay the course. It was the people who had changed. They gave in to their fear and then wanted to turn back. They began to wonder if it was all worth it and told themselves 'We cannot do this.'
  
  God has brought you this far, and though the road in front of you may now look terrifying, do not turn back. God is still with you. His plan has not changed. He will still fulfill His promise. God has not changed His mind. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for He is with me (from Psalm 23:4).
  
  It is alright to have a change of plans, to adjust your course, to count the cost, to refactor your life, but never let fear step in and tell you that you cannot do this. Never turn back because you are afraid to go through with it. God always calls us to face the impossible situation that is beyond our own ability. That is when we begin to need Him. 
  
  Prayer: Father, I know that You have not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and self control. Help me put on the helmet of salvation and guard my mind against the thoughts of the enemy. With You on my side, I can face anything, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

LWF - What is Meekness?

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. " Matthew 5:5
 
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What does it mean to be meek? First, let me tell you what it is notbefore I tell you what it is.
 
Meekness is not weakness. The word “meek” means yielded. It literally has the idea of strength under control. When an animal, especially a horse, is domesticated, it is trained so a rider can sit on its back or so it can pull a plow. The proper term for this process is that the animal has been ”meeked.” It has been broken. Now it yields to the rider or the yoke. Now the animal exhibits strength under control. That’s what meekness is.
 
ACTION POINT:
Read Matthew 11:29 and 21:5. What does Jesus say about Himself and how can you emulate Him?



Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

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LWF - Poor in Spirit - What Does it Mean?

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”Matthew 5:3 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: What does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? Jesus is talking about being a beggar. He is saying, “Blessed are the beggars.” He’s not talking about finances here. He’s talking about a person being poor spiritually. Before a person can enter into the kingdom of heaven, he must first admit that no matter how much he may have in the material realm or psychological realm, he is absolutely and totally spiritually bankrupt and a beggar before God.  If he doesn’t see that, he will never, ever get into the kingdom of heaven. ACTION POINT: I’ve often said that I am just one beggar showing another beggar where to find food. Do you see yourself as a beggar in need of the Bread of Heaven? Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers. The email address this message was sent from does not accept replies.  If you would like to send a comment, prayer or praise, please visit us here.  May God continue to strengthen and encourage you by the Love Worth Finding devotions.

LWF - Mourning with Purpose

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: We’ve done all  we can do to keep ourselves from feeling any pain. We have psychologists who numb our neurosis. Counselors who absolve us of guilt. Doctors to sedate our pain. Insurance agents to take away our worries. And even at death we have the mortuary to try to beautify death for us. But Jesus was a man of sorrows. He saw the sin around Him and it broke His heart. In Matthew 23:34-39, we read how Jesus’ heart ached for Jerusalem and the destruction sin had wrought in the hearts of men. ACTION POINT: Do the things that break the heart of Jesus, break yours? Do you have a dry eye in a hell-bent world? It’s time to be like Jesus. Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers. The email address this message was sent from does not accept replies.  If you would like to send a comment, prayer or praise, please visit us here.  May God continue to strengthen and encourage you by the Love Worth Finding devotions.

LWF - Letting Your Shepard Set Your Pace

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:2
 
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Sometimes I hear folks tell young people, “Make all the money you can, just so you make it honestly.” That’s not good advice.
 
If you make all the money you can, you are going to be making money when you should be doing something else. You are going to be making money when you ought to be alone with God.
 
I’m not against making money. I’m simply saying that we need to stop and prioritize our lives. Do you know what I think God does with some of us? He makes us to lie down. We won’t do it unless He makes us.
 
ACTION POINT:
Why not stop right now and pray, “Lord Jesus, You don’t have to make me lie down. I’d rather slow down. I want to be still and know that You are GOD! Show me how.”

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

The email address this message was sent from does not accept replies.  If you would like to send a comment, prayer or praise, please visit us here.  May God continue to strengthen and encourage you by the Love Worth Finding devotions.

LWF - Happiness, the Byproduct of Rightgeousness

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
 
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Happiness is something you stumble over on your way to serving Jesus.
 
When you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ, happiness is the byproduct of righteousness. People who are trying to be happy are focusing their energy at the wrong target. If you will seek afterrighteousness, then you will be happy.
 
What you need is to drink of the Spirit.
What you need is to feed on the Word of God.
The deepest need of your heart will be met only in Jesus.
 
ACTION POINT:
Ask the Lord to fill you with His presence, to fulfill the deepest need of your heart in Him and Him alone. Now trust Him to do it.

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

The email address this message was sent from does not accept replies.  If you would like to send a comment, prayer or praise, please visit us here.  May God continue to strengthen and encourage you by the Love Worth Finding devotions.

LWF - Biblical Hope

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For Thou art my hope, O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth.”Psalm 71:5

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What does the word “hope” mean in the Bible?  It doesn’t mean “maybe.” We may use it that way in modern English, but that’s not what the word “hope” means when used in Scripture.
 
 “Hope” means certainty, but not just any certainty. When the Bible says “hope,” it means a rock-ribbed assurance with anticipation, based on the Word of God.
 
When I was a little boy, my dad would take us out for a ride on Sundayafternoon. We kids would be in the back seat, getting into squabbles. If things got too heated, my dad would turn around and say, “When you boys get home, I’m going to whip you.” With my dad, I knew this was a rock-ribbed truth! We could anticipate it, but not with gladness!
 
Our hope, however, our rock-ribbed assurance, comes with glad anticipation!
 
ACTION POINT:
Share the hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ with someone today. Maybe there’s someone at the hospital who needs a word of hope. Maybe it’s a member of your family!

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

The email address this message was sent from does not accept replies.  If you would like to send a comment, prayer or praise, please visit us here.  May God continue to strengthen and encourage you by the Love Worth Finding devotions.

LWF - The Wake Up Call

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”Romans 13:11
 
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Do you know what Napoleon said about China? “There lies a sleeping giant, and let him sleep, because if he awakens, he will shake the world.”
 
I believe the devil says that about the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe the church is just that: a sleeping giant. We’re asleep because we have been chloroformed by the spirit of this age. 
 
We’re bombarded on every side by all kinds of amusement. Do you know what amuse means? It’s a combination of two words. Muse means to think, and the alpha prefix in front of it means “not to.” We are a generation that is amusing ourselves into oblivion. And it’s time to wake up!
 
ACTION POINT:
Are you taking the Christian life seriously? If this were your last day on earth, how would you spend it? In amusement? Or in evangelism?

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

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Proverbs 3:31-32

Proverbs 3:31-32

Do not envy the oppressor,
And choose none of his ways;
For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD.


Greetings Bible Enthusiast!

Choose none of the ways of the oppressor. Do not burden others, putting undue hardships on them. Do not be severe with them. Do not discourage them. Be encouraging. Be uplifting. Be merciful!

25 Weird Things Said to Pastors or Other Church Leaders

1. “We need a small group for cat lovers.” (I guess they could serve Meow Mix as a snack.)

2. “You need to change your voice.” (Yes ma’am. I’ll try to have that done by next week.)

3. “Our expensive coffee is attracting too many hipsters.” (Yep. You don’t want too many of those hipsters in your church.)

4. “Preachers who don’t wear suits and ties aren’t saved. It’s in the Bible.” (I should have known that’s what Jesus and Paul wore.)

5. “Your socks are distracting.” (I understand. I’ll stop wearing socks.)

6. “You shouldn’t make people leave the youth group after they graduate.” (It’s going to get really weird by the time they turn 70 years old.)

7. “I don’t like the color of the towels in the women’s restroom.” (I don’t understand. They match the towels in the men’s restroom.)

8. “We need to start attracting more normal people at church.” (So, you will be leaving the church, I presume.)

9. “I developed cancer because you don’t preach from the KJV.” (Major medical announcement! New carcinogen discovered!)

10. “Your wife never compliments me about my hair or dress.” (There could be a reason for that.)

1. “Not enough people signed up for the church golf tournament. You have poor leadership skills.”(I’m so sorry. I expected more since most of the deacons play golf on Sunday morning)

12. “I think you are trying to preach caffeineism.” (Probably Reformed theology with an extra kick.)

13. “If Jesus sang from the red hymnals, why can’t we?” (I think you are mistaken. He sang from blue hymnals.)

14. (To a pastor who married interracially). “You are living in sin. You shouldn’t be married to each other.” (That one is not worthy of commentary.)

15. “I don’t like the brand of donuts in the foyer.” (It’s better than Meow Mix.)

16. “You didn’t wrap the hot dogs in bacon for the church picnic.” (I understand that one. Bacon rules.)

17. “You shouldn’t drink water when you preach.” (At least not simultaneously.)

18. “The toilet paper is on the wrong way in the ladies restroom. It’s rolled under.” (My guess is that it is still functional.)

19. “Why don’t you ever preach on Tim Tebow?” (Be patient. I will be preaching a six-week expository series on him in the fall.)

20. “You don’t have ashtrays in the fellowship hall.” (Yes we do. They are right next to the spittoons for your chewing tobacco.)

21. “Did you see me waving in the back of the worship center? You preached too long. It was time to eat!” (Who needs a clock when I have you?)

22. “The eggs were not scrambled enough at the senior adult breakfast.” (We thought you could jump up and down after you ate them to finish the job.)

23. “You don’t look at our side of the worship center enough when you preach.” (That’s because you are on that side.)

24. “We are leaving the church because you have a red cross on the building. That’s the color of the devil.” (I understand. It’s in the same verse that describes his pitchfork and horns.)

25. “Your sermon needed more calories.” (OK. I’ll feed it one of those donuts in the foyer.)

Thom Rainer

Thom S. Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources (LifeWay.com). Among his greatest joys are his family: his wife Nellie Jo; three sons, Sam, Art, and Jess; and six grandchildren. He was founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His many books include Surprising Insights from the Unchurched, The Unexpected Journey, and Breakout Churches.

More from Thom Rainer or visit Thom at http://www.thomrainer.com

LWF - He Is

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And God said unto Moses, I AM that I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”Exodus 3:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever noticed that the title God chose to describe Himself is an incomplete sentence? Now, most people would finish that sentence, “I am… [something].” But not our Lord. He purposefully did not complete the sentence “I AM.” He is.

Are you hungry? He is the bread. Are you in the dark? He is the light. Are you searching? He is the truth. Are you lost? He is the way. Are you in need? He is your Shepherd.

ACTION POINT:
What are you looking to God to meet today? Trust Him right now to meet you there.

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.

The email address this message was sent from does not accept replies.  If you would like to send a comment, prayer or praise, please visit us here.  May God continue to strengthen and encourage you by the Love Worth Finding devotions.