Dare to Dream

On September 30, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Genesis 37: 6 – 8

And he said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had; for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?”


Joseph was seventeen years old when he had that dream. Just a youngster but he knew he had heard from God. We all know the end of the story. He did eventually rule over his brothers. There was quite a journey between the time of the dream, though, and the realization of it. What amazes me about Joseph is that he never gave up on the dream and he never gave up on God.

Frankly, if I was sitting in a prison or serving as a slave in a foreign country I am pretty sure that I would have doubted me, God or both; probably both. I would probably have started out thinking that I didn’t really hear from God. I only thought I heard from God but if I really did then I wouldn’t be sitting in this filthy prison. I just have been wrong about hearing from God. But it seemed so real, so certain. Well, maybe it is that I missed it somewhere along the line. Maybe I really did hear from God but I blew it somehow and now I am off the track. Yeah, that’s it. Well, even so, why isn’t God big enough to bring about his will even when I make a mistake?

Does any of that sound familiar? Have you ever had similar doubts? Maybe it has been several years since you had that word from God and you see absolutely no evidence that you are any closer to the realization of it than you were the day you received it. The trite statement of the day is, “Have faith.” It seems trite but really that is the thing we must do. In order to accomplish great things with God, we supply the faith and he supplies the power. You’ve got to hang in there, though, when the situation looks bleak. Even when you are Egypt and you think your miracle is in Canaan, hold on. What God did in Joseph’s life He is able to do in yours. Brush off those old dreams and goals. Give them a new coat of paint. You are coming out of prison and the future is bright.

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Praise Him

On September 29, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 9: 1 – 2                           (Amplified)


I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

The dictionary says that to praise is to commend the worth of, express approval or admiration of and also to laud the glory of as in song; glorify; extol. The noun is commendation and glorification. When we praise the Lord, we are to extol His greatness. This verse shows, I believe, a good example of one who knows how to praise the Lord. I imagine, though, that there are plenty of us who spend little time praising Him. I am impressed that God would have us turn our attention to praise. We need to learn how to praise Him and we need to praise him continually.

Praise is a powerful tool. It helps in our relationship with Him and it also helps unlock the power that he has stored up for us. God used praise to defeat armies. He can use praise to defeat every enemy and obstacle that you face.

Let us all learn to raise our voices to tell of his glorious nature. It is really good to praise Him in your private time. That is when you can be most free. Don’t use your time with God only to ask Him for all kinds of things. Spend some time recognizing his greatness and all that He has already done for you.

Today is a good day to turn our hearts and minds to worshiping Him anew. Praise Him with a new heart and a new voice. Let Him hear how precious He is to you and how deep your love for Him really is.

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Satisfied

On September 28, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 107: 9            (Amplified)

For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good.

We all know someone who is hungry on the inside. Their soul longs for something and thirsts desperately. They don’t even know what it is that they so urgently crave. As humans we try to fill that longing with all sorts of things. You know the list.

Each and every one of us has a place in our hearts, in our souls that only God can fill. We can try every sort of thing to make ourselves happy but it never works. We have a deep, spiritual place in our being that needs to be ministered to in like manner as we feed and nourish our minds and bodies. We are tri-dimensional beings and nothing short of spiritual food can feed the spiritual parts of ourselves. You can drink all the booze you want, work all the hours you can, go from lover to lover, and all of the other various things people do in order to satisfy themselves but none of it will satisfy. Money will never fill the void and neither can another person. So, if you are waiting for someone or something to make you whole, give it up. Only God can fill that spiritual void in your life. And don’t get to thinking that a bunch of non-Godly spirituality can do it. That is about like your body living on sugar alone. It will not, cannot satisfy. Only the love of God can fill that hungry spot. Only His Spirit can nourish your spirit. The sooner we all realize that our spirits long for His sweet embrace, the sooner we can get healthy, the sooner we will be whole.

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Living Truth

On September 27, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

James 1: 22 (Amplified Version)

But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

Jesus said we would be known by our fruit (Matthew 7: 16). It will not be by what we say but rather the evidence of how we behave by which we will be known to Jesus as His own. Probably we all know someone who talks a good game but doesn’t seem to really have the proof in the pudding. In other words, they know the right things to say but their life really doesn’t represent the love that Jesus invested in them. I know someone like that. This person seems to read the Bible, listens to tapes by Christian leaders and reads Christian books and yet, the love of Christ and the Truth of Christ is not readily apparent, and I fear that, perhaps, the same could be said of me.

Now we can all make mistakes and we fall into carnality at times but we really should endeavor to do all that Christ is teaching us. The Bible is not a book for intellectual meditation as much as it is an owner’s manual for each of us. We are to apply what we read there. When it says, do not judge, forgive, pray for those who persecute you, love all, pursue peace and the rest, we are actually supposed to give ourselves over to those behaviors. We’ll not do it all in our own might though. Here is where the love of Christ in our lives manifests itself. In all humility we ask our Dad to help us; to create in us a heart capable of behaving like Jesus. Then we surrender to His ministrations as he makes us into an exact image of Christ exemplified in us. Hallelujah! All this is possible in Him. Let us do what we see in the Bible including letting Him, with our help, transform us into the very image of His dear son. Be ye doers of the Word, not hearers only.

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Free Indeed

On September 26, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Galatians 5: 1

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.


The spirit of Christ has set us free from every type of bondage. Is it possible that you are in bondage to something? Fear, a bad habit, anger? Is there something that keeps you down? Well, Jesus is the good news of the gospel! His accomplishments on this earth and beyond have now provided everything you need in order to be free of every kind of torment. When Jesus purchased our freedom, he meant that we might be free from every sort of bondage. The price He paid was complete and so, too, should be your freedom. If there is anything that dominates you, pray to the Lord about it. Tell Him that you give it to Him and that you receive your freedom. Then, never be subjected again to the yoke of slavery. Shake it off. Every time that same old thing tries to get you down, claim your victory in Christ Jesus and call upon Him for your continued salvation from that torment.
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Being Christian

On September 23, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Matthew 7: 21


“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

Sometimes I like to say, “Don’t judge Christianity by Christians.” Christianity is best judged by looking at Christ. He is the one we are trying to be like. We are still striving and becoming. We are broken, yet overcoming. Sometimes our brokenness is louder than His healing. Yet, as we go along, we change and are changed. Eventually the love of God will dynamically alter our lives and we will better represent the Kingdom of God.

There are some, though, who upon receiving forgiveness and salvation never let the miracle working love of Christ transform their lives. There is no obvious difference between them and the unsaved. The love of Christ, the sacrifice He made for us, ought to have an impact on our lives and our behaviors. We, like him, should walk in love, forgiveness and unselfish affection for others. How does our Christianity show or better still, how should it show? The first and greatest commandment was love and the second one was love; love God, love your brothers. Let the light in you shine and let others see the miracle and blessing of God that you are.

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Workplace Woes

On September 22, 2016   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Genesis 39: 5

From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.


The place where you work should be blessed just because you work there. Every organization that you are a part of should be under the blessing just because you are there. Don’t ever minimize that important role you play. You may be wondering why you are where you are or why God does not take you out. Maybe you think you should be in a better job or that another company might appreciate you more. Maybe you are even in an almost unbearable situation. Don’t worry. Wherever you are, God has your back. It may be that you are the only light in that place or maybe you are not the only light but that if you left the few remaining people like yourself will not have the support they need. Whatever the circumstance, take your eyes off of yourself for a minute and ask God if you are in the right place. If you are, then just serve gladly and faithfully. Remember, Joseph went through some undesirable places but he ended up at the right hand of Pharaoh. You are going to end up at the right hand of God so do what you can to bless others even while in unlovely situations.
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