========================================================================================================
The Authenticity of Our Words
by Charles R. Swindoll
2 Corinthians 8:1–5
Quite a while ago, a young man I had known for several years expressed an interest in living in our home and being discipled in the context of our family. He assured me time and again, “I really want to help any way you or your wife may need me. My only reason for doing this is to serve. I just want to be a servant, Chuck.”
Cynthia, the children, and I talked this over at length. We decided we’d give it a whirl . . . so in moved Mr. Servant and his family among our tribe of four kids, a dog, two hamsters, a rabbit, and a three-car garage full of stuff. It wasn’t long before we realized those words, “I just want to be a servant,” were mere words, little more.
Time and again conflicts arose when our requests were met with his resistance. There was hardly an occasion when we would suggest that something be done a certain way without his offering an alternative suggestion. What began as an unselfish-sounding game plan (if I heard once, “I just want to be a servant,” I must have heard it fifty times) ultimately resulted in rather heated disagreements, much to our disappointment.
Words come easy—but being a person who genuinely and personally gives to others calls for a plentiful supply of flexibility. There’s much more to giving ourselves to the Lord and to others than making verbal statements. It is impossible to give ourselves to others at arm’s length or in absentia. Personal involvement is essential, not incidental, and it usually involves adapting our ways and schedules to fit others’ needs. Such personal involvement, however, certainly reveals the authenticity of our words.
Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. (2 Corinthians 8:1–5)
According to these verses, authentic servanthood calls for people with a passion for giving whatever without recognition, without reservation, without reluctance, and without restriction.
And those types are rare indeed!
Excerpted from Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfish Living, Copyright © 1981 byCharles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
========================================================================================================
God’s Master Plan of Finance
Though the world is full of disorder, confusion, and uncertainty, believers in Christ have the wonderful assurance that God is in absolute control of every situation. When He created the heavens and the earth, He had a purpose and a plan, which He carried out with precision and order. Nothing was haphazard, late, or uncertain. The Lord also has a plan for each one of us, and every aspect of our lives is not only under His scrutiny, but also under His care.
One of those areas is our finances. If we’ll follow God’s plan, He promises to manage our money. Now, that’s quite a blessing. After all, who do you think would be better at knowing how to handle money—you or our omniscient, all-powerful God? He promises that if we will give Him the first part of all we receive, He’ll provide for our needs. He has an amazing way of making the remainder stretch farther than the original amount.
So, considering the blessings of this promise and the unfailing faithfulness of the Promise Giver, what is keeping you from obeying this command? The most likely reason is unbelief—fear to test Him on this even though He invites you to do so. But you may be asking yourself, What if He doesn’t come through? What if I give it away and don’t have enough?
The Lord is after your trust, and what better area to test and build it than your finances? Believing Him for our salvation seems easy, yet we often doubt He’ll keep His promise when it comes to money. Take a step of obedience today, and discover how faithful your God really is.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visitwww.intouch.org.
========================================================================================================
Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above…
Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above… – JAMES 1:17
Never make the mistake of thinking you are responsible for all that you have. The triumphs of life are gifts, not merit badges. Sometimes people get what they deserve for their hard work and effort, but just as often they do not. James says that every good thing in life is from the Father above who is the source of life itself. The following story illustrates how we become confused about how we got what we have. A newspaper reporter went to interview a successful entrepreneur. “How did you do it?” he asked. “How did you make all this money?” The entrepreneur was glad to tell his story. “You see, when my wife and I married, we started out with a roof over our heads, some food in our pantry, and five cents between us. I took that nickel, went down to the grocery store, bought an apple, then shined it up and sold it for ten cents. Then I bought more apples, shined them up and sold them for twenty cents apiece.” The reporter was beginning to catch on, and thought this would be a great human interest story. “Then what happened?” he asked excitedly. “Then my father-in-law died and left us $20 million,” the rich man said. He had fooled himself into thinking he had done something, forgetting that he had received something. Don’t forget all you have been given, and remember to thank the Giver for each and every good thing He bestows.
Click here to sign up for your free Winning Walk newsletter!
========================================================================================================
========================================================================================================
Revelation Three – We will sit beside Jesus – Video & Audio
Revelation Four – The Judgment of God on Earth – Video & Audio
========================================================================================================
========================================================================================================
Pastor Tom Allen’s New Series:
========================================================================================================
The Word of God…Settled in Heaven
BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For ever, O LORD, Thy Word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Isn’t that a beautiful verse? You know, the Bible is not the book of the year; it is the book of the ages. It is settled in heaven and on Earth. We can depend upon the Word of God. It is not up for a vote. But it does have its enemies.
There is the liberal who will try to water it down, the atheist who will deny it, and the cultist who will twist it. But I believe the greatest enemy of the Bible today is the Christian who does not love it, memorize it, practice it, and obey it. If we would do that, we would be witnessing and winning those who disbelieve.
It is absolutely imperative that you be certain about the Bible. You’ll never get much of anything else settled, until you get that settled. Your salvation depends upon it because the Bible says you are born again by the Word of God. Your sanctification depends upon it. Jesus said, “Sanctify them through Thy truth. Thy Word is truth.” Your usefulness depends on it. God has given you the Word that you might be a workman needing not to be ashamed. Your assurance depends upon it. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you might know that you have eternal life.”
ACTION POINT:
If you want to be an exclamation point rather than a question mark, then you need to be certain that the Bible is the Word of God.
View or Share online | Discover Jesus | Read the Bible |
LWF.org | Today’s Message
==========================================
========================================================================================================
We are more than Conquerors – Video & Audio
*********************************************************************************************************
Read and hear each Chapter from the Book of Revelation:
Revelation One – We are all Priests – Video & Audio
Revelation Two – Jesus Talking – Video & Audio
Revelation Three – We will sit beside Jesus – Video & Audio
Revelation Four – The Judgment of God on Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Five – Jesus Breaks the 7 Seals – Video & Audio
Revelation Six – Tribulation Begins – Video & Audio
Revelation Seven – The 144,000 – Video & Audio
Revelation Eight – 7th Seal & 1st 4 Trumpets – Video & Audio
Revelation Nine – 200,000,000 Warriors – Video & Audio
Revelation Ten – Mighty Angel Standing on the sea and land – Video & Audio
Revelation Eleven – The Two Prophets – Video & Audio
Revelation Twelve – Satan defeated and cast down to Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Thirteen – Antichrist and his lieutenat arise – Video & Audio
Revelation Fourteen – Christ arrives on Mount Zion – Video & Audio
Revelation Fifteen – Last 3 1/2 Years of Tribulation – Video & Audio
Revelation Sixteen – The 7 Flasks are poured out upon the Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Seventeen – False Religious System – Video & Audio
Revelation Eighteen – Babylon Falls – Video & Audio
Revelation Nineteen – The Wedding Banquet of the Lamb – Video & Audio
Revelation Twenty – 1,000 Year Reign of Christ on Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Twenty-One – The New Earth and New Jerusalem – Video & Audio
Revelation Twenty-Two – The Throne of God and The Lamb – Video & Audio
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
****************************************************************************************************************
(WebMaster: Bob Lewis ) Bob’s Email
========================================================================================================================
Friends: If you are a “First-Time-Visitor,” PLEASE feel free to copy and paste any or all of this Blog and send it on to anyone you wish! =============================================================================================================== My Testimony ===============================================================================================================
| Blog: |
| Our Daily Bread |
|
Topics:
|
| Jesus, Bible Quizes, Christianity |
****************************************************************************************************************
Bible Verse for the day:
Bible Study Tools
//
Get a Free Bible Quiz for your site!
//
Free Bible Study Tools
//
Powered by ReligionResourcesOnline.org
100 Bible Questions!
96. Who was the author of Revelation?
J____________
Revelation 1:1,4,9 ; 22:8
97. Which of these is one of the seven churches in Revelation?
Gallilee, Ephesus or Tarsus
Revelation 2:1-7
98. What animal is associated with the first four of the seven seals?
H_____________
Revelation 6:1-8
99. The fifth trumpet in Revelation is a plague which was also a plague upon Egpyt in Exodus. Which one?
L____________
Revelation 9
100. In Revelation, what is the number of a man?
6 _ _
Revelation 13:18
Recommendation: Let your Marriage be a Dance… Choreographed by God!
Please Pray for our Troops as they start coming home from Afghanistan AND for those who stay;
Please Pray for the Unemployed, the Homeless and the Unsaved around the world;
ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS: Please Pray for the economy in our Great Nation . For Peace, Democracy and Freedom in the Middle East; For a solution to our Immigration Problem; Protection for Israel; Wisdom, Common Sense and Good Judgment for our World, National, State and Local Leaders; For our Military Men & Women in harm’s-way overseas; For our Police, Fire and EMS Personnel watching over us on a local level; For our Country; that it will turn from its wicked ways and humble itself before God so that He will heal our land! That we will elect the people that God would have us to elect to office. Please Email us your Prayer Requests to:
Bob’s Email
Bob’s Favorite Quotes: The beginning of anxiety is the end of Faith and the end of anxiety is the beginning of Faith. George Mueller Its not Red, Yellow, Black or White Races; Its the HUMAN RACE! Bob Lewis – June 2, 2011 (You can quote me on that!) God will NOT do what YOU can do and YOU cannot do what GOD can do! FAITH MAKES THINGS POSSIBLE… NOT EASY!
Bible Chapter Look-Up Just Enter the Book and Chapter and click enter! If you don’t know the Chapters in the Old & New Testaments in order, Just go to: Books and Chapters in the Holy Bible: Click Here! and look them up!)
May God Bless the reading of His Word and may He Bless you and your family and let His Favor shine down upon you today in everything you say and do, in Christ’s Name, Amen. ********** The most important verse in The Holy Bible is: Jesus told Nicodemus: “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish but have Everlasting Life!” John 3:16 ************** The SECOND most important verse is: Jesus said: “I Am The Way The Truth and The Life: NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME!” John 14:6 ************* From a Subscriber: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 ************** If you have a favorite Scripture, please send it to us via the Email below and we will consider placing it under the above two quotations. ************** Also, please feel free to copy and paste this entire website to all of your Email, FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. Contacts!
His Great Commission, as He ascended back into Heaven while on the road to Bethany was: The Great Commission!
We have ANOTHER feature for you! Our Pastor, Tom Allen, at Crosspoint Church in Pearland, TX, just south of Houston, allows his staff to post each of his messages to their website every Sunday. Please feel free to visit the site and Worship with us. Pastor Tom Allen’s messages!
Bob’s Email
If you do NOT want to received this Devotional,
please click “REMOVE”
below and enter REMOVE in the Subject area then “SEND”
REMOVE
© BPL 1995-2013 Created: 2/7/2011 Last Updated: 2/8/2014
