Daily Inspiration: Turn To God

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

In our daily lives, we are quick to satisfy our desires. When we are hungry, we make every attempt to eat as quickly as possible. When we are thirsty, we head for the water fountain.

When we are lonely, we call a friend or a family member. However, as Christians, sometimes we fail to recognize what our greatest needs are and who can satisfy them. The emptiness we sometimes feel can only be filled by God. Even after we come to know Christ, we may struggle to recognize that emptiness is a sign we need to turn to Him.

The world throws so many different things in our faces that we can look at everything zipping by and mistakenly believe it will satisfy us. Maybe we seek fulfillment in our relationships with others. Maybe we are seeking fulfillment in our jobs or through financial success. So we chase after these things with reckless abandon. An intimate relationship with God is the only thing that will satisfy every need we have.

He is the One who transforms our hearts and minds, bringing us unspeakable joy even in the midst of what seems like our darkest hours. He is the One who quenches the thirst of our souls by showing us how much He loves us and cares for us.

He knows what You need, and He knows exactly how to meet you where you are. If you are thirsty, remember God is the source that quenches. He wants you to drink in Him and fulfill your heart’s desires.

Revelations 7:17

17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

 

Daily Inspiration: The Living Water

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

With his last breath, Thomas Hobbes, the self-confessed atheist said, “I am taking a fearful leap into the dark!” On his deathbed the French agnostic Voltaire sadly spoke these words, “I am abandoned by God and man. I shall go to hell.”

In contrast to these two men, who died without Christ, is Christian evangelist Dwight L. Moody, whose last words were: “This is glorious ... Earth recedes; heaven is opening, and God is calling me.”

For believers, the moment we take our last breath is the first moment we will draw in the heavenly air of our new home; our abode with the Lord Jesus Christ. To be out of earth’s atmosphere is to be in His holy presence.

We rarely think about the difference between life lived here on earth and the one we will have in heaven. Instead, we often focus on our temporary home; how we can make it larger, decorate it with our favorite things, and enjoy it.

At some point, our thinking has to switch from being earthbound to heaven bound. The short time we spend on this earth is not even a fraction of the time we will spend in eternity. Jesus never missed an opportunity to prepare His followers for His death but, more importantly, He wanted them to understand His resurrection and the future blessings that would be theirs.

Nothing, but Jesus, can satisfy our thirst for living water. Only Jesus has the ability to provide the “living water” that satisfies our souls.

John 4:13-14

13 “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again".

Daily Inspiration: Jesus, Your Dearest Friend

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

In the book First and Last Things, American historian H.G. Wells wrote how Jesus Christ repelled him, “this image of virtue, this terrible and incomprehensible Galilean.” Wells is not the first or the last to be repelled by the Lord.

The government of Christ’s day turned its back on Him. The Jews repudiated Him. Those gathered for His crucifixion jeered Him, and His friends, who had been with Him for three years of ministry, abandoned Him; going into hiding after His arrest. Only John followed Him to the cross.

It is not surprising that Satan is still at work in our world, seeking to deceive and to draw men and women away from the only One who can provide the hope they so desperately need.

The rejection of God’s Son can be subtle. The “good” person may say, “I am a Christian because I was raised in a Christian family, but I just don’t want to get too serious about church or the Bible.” Another person may mistakenly believe he can live any way he chooses, and God will still save his soul. God is not the one who condemns us. Jesus told His followers that His goal was to seek and save those who are lost. We are the ones who condemn ourselves when we reject God’s love and gift of salvation.

However, even when we are faithless, Jesus remains faithful. When we yield to temptation, He continues to love us, and when we seek His forgiveness, He becomes our strong advocate of mercy and grace before the throne of God.

He is your dearest friend; the One who will never abandon you. At the cross, He died for you, knowing that He was your only way to truth and eternal life.

1 Corinthians 13:8

8 Love never fails.

Daily Inspiration: The Light In The Darkness

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

Even though Christ is your Savior, there will be times when you are tempted to sin. And if you yield to the temptation, you will sense a spiritual darkness around you. The closer you are to Christ in your devotion, the deeper the darkness will seem.

This is because the more we commit our lives to the Lord, the more we become like Him. Once we are saved, sin no longer reflects who we are in Christ.

One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to draw us even closer to the Lord. He also is the One who guides us through each day. A check in your spirit may mean you are about to do something that could jeopardize your God-centered peace.

There are times when you will sense God’s Spirit warning about a particular event or set of circumstances. Listen to His voice. Ask God to make His will clear to you, and never allow the enemy to twist the love and protection of God into something that yields fearful thoughts.

If you want to walk in the light of Truth, having the knowledge and wisdom of God, make a commitment to read and to study His Word; which is “a lamp to our feet.”

The people who gathered at the cross to witness the crucifixion were living in spiritual darkness, and God wanted to make sure they understood the choice they were making.

Beginning with the third hour of this horrendous event, a deep, all-consuming darkness fell on the land and the people were engulfed with fear. Today we do not have to walk in darkness. We have the eternal flame of God guiding our every step.

John 1:5

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Daily Inspiration: 1 Peter

Compiled By: Jeff Lawton

Imagine the anguish of Mary’s heart as she looked up into the face of her dying Son. Jesus had been beaten so seriously that He was probably unrecognizable. Yet, Mary would have known Him anywhere. She was His mother.

She could close her eyes and remember what it felt like to hold Him as a baby in her arms. No one has ever held the Son of God this way. She was there when He took his first steps, and she was with Him when He took His last breath.

A strong bond remained between them, and also an understanding that He must do exactly what His Father had called Him to do. She never thought His life would lead to this moment. Simeon had warned her, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many ... And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35). But no one is ever prepared for the loss of a child.

On the evening of His arrest, Jesus was with His closest followers; His disciples. Throughout the night and into the next day, John followed the Savior from mock trial to mock trial. Then Mary joined John at the cross.

There may be times when we are tempted to think Jesus does not care for us. Satan whispers that God is not interested in our sorrows or difficulties. This is not true. Even on the cross, Jesus was still saving lives and thinking of others: “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to [John] “Here is your mother” (John 19:26-27). In other words, “John, My mother is now your mother; take care of her for Me.”

1 Peter 5:7

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

XO*

Daily Inspiration: There's No Greater Love

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

Calvary, the cross of Christ became an eternal emblem of love. Jesus never lost sight of God's purpose for His life. Everything He learned from the Father was in preparation for this moment.

As Scripture tells us, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Jesus not only laid down His life for those who loved Him, He laid it down for all men and women, even those who choose to reject Him. He didn't die just for those closest to Him. He died for all of us; no one is left out. But we must make a choice either to accept Him as our Savior or to turn away from Him and face the judgment of a tormenting death.

The Jews rejected Jesus. However, we know that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea made a different choice. After His death, they asked for the Savior's body to be given to them. Pilate granted their request. No Jew of their social position could come in contact with the dead and remain spiritually clean. Yet, these men lovingly accepted the role they played in the Lord's burial. It is doubtful that after this event they were allowed to continue as leaders in the Jewish community. More than likely, they became followers of Jesus Christ. Love leads to love, and it is Christ's unconditional love that drew Nicodemus and Joseph to Himself, and it is that same love that draws us today.

When you find yourself being drawn away by the world's passions and temptations, remember the cross, where Christ gave His life as atonement for your sin. There is no greater love than God's love for you.

1 Corinthians 1:18

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Daily Inspiration: "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."

This passage was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

Even though the way before you seems dark, trust the Lord because He is faithful. When your faith is challenged, remember that Jesus never fails. He loves you and even when you drift in your devotion to Him, He will not forsake His love for you.

In Exodus 14, Israel was on the run from the Egyptians. Their escape route was blocked by the boundaries of the Red Sea, and they began to panic. But Moses called out to them:

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still (Exodus 14:13-14).

The King James Version of the Bible says, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."

True faith remains unshaken by the trials of life. When it seems the world has turned against you, run to the Lord. God will not allow you to be destroyed. Charles Spurgeon writes:

Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up."... But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you; you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What if for a while thou art called to stand still; yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time.

Hebrews 7:25

25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

 

xo* LM

Daily Inspiration: 2 Corinthians

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3

God promises to be there for His children, He promises to comfort us.

But the comfort God gives to His children is always meant to prepare us for His service -- so we can glorify His name.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians that God comforts us so we can turn around and be the light to others (2 Corinthians 1:4).

God comforts us so we can turn around and encourage others who may also be going through hard times.

God wants us to remember His comfort is meant not to free us from our hardships but to be our support during those hardships.

The life of a Christian is not an easy one, we will go through many trials throughout our lifetime (some of those might even be daily battles).

But God is our fortress and when we lean on him (and not our own understanding, Proverbs 3:5 ) He will always prevail.

God knows that if we are following Christ it's not going to be an easy journey because Christ didn't have it easy.

He came here to save everyone in the world but those exact people who He came to save -- killed Him.

How much harder can it get?

We can't expect to have it easy when the God of the universe had it far worse than we could ever imagine.
 
Paul said it himself, "the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives" 2nd Corinthians 1:4-5.

So something to think about: Walk with God and lean on Him every single day, commit yourself to reading His Word.

When you read His Word, the Holy Spirit will help Guide your life and help you through the hardest times.

"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." --1st Peter 4:14-16
 

This was written by me :) 

Xo*

Happy FRIDAY! Wisdom Fom Genesis 12

Abraham's life was one of obedience. While he was not perfect, he certainly was a man who wanted to obey God. He went from worshiping many gods to worshiping only one-the Lord God.

In Genesis 12:1, we read that the Lord said to Abraham, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you."

Immediately, Abraham answered God's call. His love for the Lord was so great that he responded by packing up his family and setting out for a new home-one known only to God! Most of us would never consider a move like this. We usually want God to lay out every detail before we make a decision.

We pray that He will reveal His will to us, and then we ask Him to provide the evidence we need in order to step forward. We never read, however, that Abraham did this. In fact, his faith was so pure that when God said go, he went.

There will be times when God will require us to do things that from our perspective do not make sense. We may struggle with our decision and long for God to repeatedly make His will known to us. However, if the Lord calls us, we must go. If He instructs us to take a certain route, make a certain decision, or work toward a certain goal, we had better get busy doing it.

Obedience is the doorway to blessing. Abraham became the father of a great nation. God fulfilled every promise He made to His servant, and He will do the same for you. Before He does, He may require a step of faith on your part. Are you willing to step forward into His blessing?

Genesis 12:2

2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.

A Positive Thought

We all have good and bad days.

But here's a quote I found that immediately lifted my spirits.

"Life is a beautiful Struggle."

It's simple and so true.

We go through so many different life struggles each and every day (big and small) but those struggles are beautiful because they make us who we are.

So try to go through the day today thanking the Lord for everything, the good and the bad because we are truly blessed.

Courtesy: Pinterest

Daily Inspiration: Inspire Your Children

Compiled by Jeff Lawton.

Another role of the godly parent is to cultivate compassion for others. Job trained his children to be generous, hospitable, responsible, kind, and considerate, and to be leaders when it came to building up others, building up the family, and building unity and harmony in the community.

This did not mean Job taught his children to compromise for the sake of agreement, but rather to hold strong principles and demonstrate genuine love.

How do we develop compassion for others? We first must experience God's love and then be challenged to pass on that love. Children first experience God's love by experiencing the love of their own parents. The more their parents express love to them, the quicker they are to show compassion.

Assure your children repeatedly of God's love, even when they disobey. Be affectionate with them, hugging and kissing them and putting your hand on their shoulders as a sign of encouragement.

Also, don't link your love to any behavioral trait in your child. Let your children know you love them just as God loves them, unconditionally. God loves us solely because we are His beloved, uniquely created children. Learn to love your children in the same way.

When you demonstrate love to your children, they gain a proper perspective of God. They learn to view the Lord as being a God of love and not wrath.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children.

xo*lm

Daily Inspiration: The Journey With God

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

The very first step to becoming a godly parent is to accept Christ as your Savior. If you have never asked Him to come into your heart and forgive your sins, then you will not know how to meet your children’s needs effectively. The Lord is the One who has given us the ability to have children, and in order to understand His purpose for their lives, you have to have a personal relationship with Him.

The second step to becoming a godly parent is dependence on God. Children are great imitators. If we have a sincere walk of faith, they will follow our lead. Let your love for your children be rooted in your love for God. It is only to the degree that you love the Lord that you will be able to show your love to your children and other family members.

The third step is one of humility. Your children need to recognize the fact that you are the head of the household. However, they also need to know you can make mistakes, and when you do, you are not slow in seeking God’s forgiveness. When your child hears you praying, his or her life is changed. Suddenly, he realizes Mom or Dad’s faith is in God and nothing else.

Make sure you find time to praise God for your salvation, His provision for your family, and the wisdom He gives each day. Thank Him for His blessings and protection. Pray for a spirit of gratitude so your children will learn to have grateful hearts instead of being consumed with their personal wants and desires.

Deuteronomy 6:18

18 Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so all will go well with you.

xo* LM

 

Daily Inspiration: Dedication

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

One of the best ways to test your Christian identity is to see how willing you are to tell others what God has done for you through Jesus Christ.

Another way to check your true identity is to measure your level of dedication. Are you dedicated to Christ even when the road is risky and you may face hardships? Do you fight spiritual battles rather than shrink from them? Those dedicated to Christ fight spiritual battles to win. In a spiritual battle, there are only two people: the defeated and the victor. We are conquerors for Christ, and we have been given the victory!

A third way to test your true identity is by asking yourself if you are willing to live life by God’s rules. In ancient Greece, winning athletes were crowned with an evergreen wreath. But no athlete, no matter how brilliant or successful, received a crown if he did not compete according to the rules.

In 2 Timothy, Paul admonishes us to remain faithful to God. We are to play according to His rules, not by the world’s rules. We are not to operate by rules of a rewritten Bible, which tell us to do whatever feels right to us. Rules like these offer no standards. In order to live a victorious life, we need a solid, unshakeable framework, and this is what God provides through His Word.

Set a goal for your life: Be committed to learning more about God—His truth, His Word, His love, and His forgiveness. Then share His love with someone who is lost and in need of eternal hope. When you play by His rules, you will discover a lasting peace that satisfies your soul.

2 Timothy 2:3

3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Xo* LM

Daily Inspiration: Psalms 127:1

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton. 

Training children to love and to serve the Lord, to be compassionate toward others, and to have consistent walks of faith is the most noble and important work any parent can do. Therefore, we should find great joy in the fact that the Lord has called us and entrusted us to be parents!

Never lose sight of the fact that you are training your child not only to take a role in God’s kingdom on this earth, but also to assume a place and an inheritance in heaven.

Many parents wonder what the most important lesson is that they can teach their children. The answer is simple. Nothing can take the place of teaching your child about the forgiveness and love of God. Sharing about the saving grace of Jesus Christ is the most important thing you will ever do.

Too often, mothers and fathers become weary in the process and say, “I am raising children” or “I am supporting a family.” However, we need to view our parental roles as being a privilege. We are training heirs to the kingdom of God; children who will make a difference in this world for God, children who will love others in Christ and lead others to salvation, children who will live together with you in eternity, children who will know the fullness of God’s blessings, guidance, and favor!

As you pursue the challenge of being a godly parent, you can be assured that God is on your team. He will provide the wisdom you need for every situation. He also will protect you and bless you as you walk in His ways and bring glory to His name.

Psalms 127:1

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Thanks for reading! Xo* LM

Coffee days

There's something beautiful about a coffee shop in the morning ... :-) 

Thank you God for coffee and chocolate chip bagels. 

And all the workers who get up early to make them! 

Do something nice for someone today! 

Maybe bring them some yummy coffee ?? 

Daily Inspiration: God Is Faithful

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

Some parents who are knee-deep in diapers and family deadlines may wonder if there will ever be a time when they can just relax and enjoy their children. The truth is children can be a great comfort from the Lord. In them, we can learn to see life from a different perspective; one of wonder and freshness.

When we get older, our children will be the hope of our heritage. Abraham understood this principle. He longed for a son but remained childless. God had promised him that Sarah would have a son. As the years moved on, Abraham wondered if this promise would be fulfilled. Then when Sarah was past childbearing age, she gave birth to Isaac. Scripture says:

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him (Genesis 21:1-2).

Isaac’s birth was a cause for celebration but not just because of his birth. We rejoice over the fact that God did exactly what He promised He would do.

Like Sarah, you may have waited for years to have a child. Or there may be another promise you have from the Lord that has up until this point gone unanswered. When you think all hope is gone, God will step into your situation with an answer to your deepest prayer. There is no higher calling than to be a person who helps to mold and shape the life of a child. And there is no greater experience than to trust in Jesus Christ.

Psalms 73:26

26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

xoxo* LM

Daily Inspiration: The Beauty of Character

This was compiled by Jeff Lawton.

Whether you are married or not, Peter has some good advice: The beauty of your character is your greatest asset. No matter what people say about you or do to you, your character says the most about who you are. The decisions you make when no one is watching determine the depth of character you possess.

Courtesy: Keepcalmandcarryon.com

In speaking directly to wives with unbelieving husbands, Peter reminds these women of the importance of letting their inner beauty shine brightly. He writes:

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment. . . . Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3-4).

As we respond to the call God places on our lives as believers, we cannot ignore the importance of living a life beyond reproach. The world can strip away all our worldly possessions, but it cannot take our names, what our names represent, and the character associated with them.

The more genuine you are with those around you, the more God will be able to use you as an encourager. Your credibility will rise. People will acknowledge you as a person of authority because you not only talk about it, you live it. As we spread the Gospel to a world desperate for the Truth, we must make sure our words align with our actions.

For the wife of an unbeliever, this passage in 1 Peter 3 is full of hope. It is possible to see the hardest of hearts softened and dramatically transformed through the power of God’s love.

1 Peter 3:8

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

xoxo LM!

Proud To Be An American

Thank you Lord for this beautiful country! Happy 4th of July!

 

 

 

Pictures: Courtesy of Hellolittlescout.com Thank you!

Daily Inspiration: Our Strength

Courtesy: Pinterest

Isaiah 40:31

“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.

When I saw this verse this morning, it immediately lifted my spirits. Monday’s are tough; they seem so slow and it feels like Friday is years away.

This verse made that feeling disappear after I read it. I felt my stress float away.

It’s important at the beginning of each week to refocus on God’s Will for your life. The key to starting off your week on that positive, refreshed note is to know that God has a plan for each and every moment you live.  A perfect, beautiful life for you is being shaped by the Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Think about how cool that is? Your life (out of all the millions of people on the planet) is being shaped by God because He knows you and wants to make your life the best it can be. 

It really blows my mind but I believe it because God is faithful and good to those who love Him. There is no greater peace that can come over me than when I remind myself of that.

Today, and every Monday, look to Him for the help you need because He will deliver you from any you are going through ... if you put your trust in Him.

The strength that God can give us is far more powerful than any strength we try to pull from ourselves. God has the power to resurrect the dead; separate the oceans, destroy cities, and flood the earth. If He has the power to do all of those things, don’t our problems seem like a tiny job for our Creator? Yes, they certainly are.

I find peace in knowing the power of God and that when I stay in God’s Will He will give me the desires of my heart.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:4.

I will end with the scripture “they will run and not grow weary…” when we run with God we go on forever. His strength will sustain us through life’s hardest trials.  God never gets tired and His love for us is so deep and He proved that through His son’s death. Thank you Jesus! 

Thank you so much for reading! Have a wonderful week and remember to always turn to Jesus for your strength for He is good! 

This one was by me : )