Today's One Thing

Started by Judy Harder, July 23, 2013, 08:57:18 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

Judy Harder

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIV


It Is Well
How are you today? For Horatio G. Spafford all was quite well until an unfortunate series of tragedies struck his family. In 1870 he and his wife lost their son to scarlet fever. A year later he lost much of his property in the Great Chicago Fire. Then all four of his daughters drowned in an accident in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Later, as Horatio crossed over the area where his daughters' ship had sunk, he wrote the words to the famous hymn, "It is Well With My Soul." Horatio knew the despair of loss, but he didn't give up his trust in God. He looked forward to the day he would be with Him. He trusted in His goodness.

Is it well with your soul? Do you trust God in the face of difficult times? Do you believe He is good no matter what happens?


Today's One Thing
Thank God for the good things in your life and tell Him you trust Him with the bad things.


Going Deeper
Psalm 31:19, Psalm 107:1, I Timothy 4:4

  :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 NIV


Victory
The two-fingered peace sign is thought to have originated as a "V" for victory during World War II. The symbol was painted on walls signifying freedom from occupying enemy forces. It was adopted as the symbol for peace and freedom in the 1960s.

The peace God offers is much more than the absence of the enemy. In the Bible Jesus promised there would be trouble in your world. That's a given. As He was preparing to leave the earth, Jesus also promised His Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be there for you. He is your peace in the midst of all that life throws at you. It's not the lack of war and trouble He promised, but His peace in the midst of the battles of your life. You're not alone in Him. You have all you need to win.


Today's One Thing
Make a commitment today to stop looking for the end of conflict and look to God through His Word, the Bible, and prayer for your peace and comfort.


Going Deeper
John 14:15-27, Acts 1:8, Acts 10:36 
:angel:


Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Acts 16:25 NIV


A Different Kind of Freedom
"This is going to sound real stupid coming from a man in prison, but for the first time in my life, I'm free."

Those words were spoken from an inmate's Alcoholics Anonymous group, by Whip Whitaker in the movie "Flight" (2012). After finally admitting to his addiction and being sentenced for his felony, Whip found freedom in captivity, finally being able to rid himself of dependence on alcohol and drugs.

Paul and Silas were in prison for completely different reasons, and they found freedom in the arms of their Savior. As they praised and worshiped, the other prisoners and even the jailer saw the amazing power of God. Despite being behind literal bars, the deeper freedom of God proves that your circumstances don't determine your ultimate fate, instead it is the Lord's saving power at work in your heart. Even now, you can choose Him and break whatever chains bind you.

Today's One Thing
No matter where you are or what trials you face, ask God to help you realize the freedom that comes from His power alone.


Going Deeper
Acts 16:16-36; Rom 8:18-29 
:angel:


Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their parents, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.'"
John 16:33 NIV


Take Time to Answer the "Why"
If you've ever had a 3-year-old, then you've been asked the question, "Why?" more than a hundred times. Children are looking for guidance and opportunities to learn. It's easy to get busy with life and miss the little moments you are given each day to answer the "whys" of life. As a parent, you are responsible to tell your children about God and His goodness.

In the scripture above, Joshua, the leader of his people, took the opportunity to build a memorial in honor of all God had done to bring them out of slavery. He instructed parents to take that little moment and answer their child's "why" with the story of God's faithful deliverance in bringing their families out of slavery in Egypt.

What stories of God's faithfulness do you want to share with your children today?


Today's One Thing
Take the time to build God's truths in their hearts each time they ask "why?"


Going Deeper
Joshua 4; Ephesians 6:1-10
:angel:


Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV


Teach your children well
As a parent, you may find it hard to discipline your child—it takes time, energy and effort on your part. And it may prove painful. Say you told your son he had to be home by midnight. So, he's 10 minutes late. Do you give him grace? Or do you take away the car keys for next weekend?

Each parent makes those difficult choices. But if you want to raise a responsible adult, your children have to expect consequences for good and bad choices they make. As an adult, there are consequences for your choices. If you don't pay the electric bill—it may be shut off. If you don't put gas in your car, you may have to take an unexpected walk in the heat or rain.

As you help your child learn that his actions bring consequences—praise for good decisions, and discipline for bad choices—you teach him what it means to live an intentional life.

Give your child the best foundation for life as you guide him through lessons with consequences today. When it's hard to be the disciplinarian, remember you are giving a gift that will last him a lifetime.

Today's One Thing
What is the hardest thing for you when you discipline your child? Ask God to give you strength and wisdom to train your child His way.


Going Deeper
Hebrews 12:11; Colossians 3:21
:angel:


Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV


Gentle Hands
Holding her fist inside his half-closed palm, she nodded against his chest, eyes drooping. At three years old, little Casey trusted her daddy to love her through thick and thin. Though unable to forget the challenging childishness, Dad found that the stolen, sweet and quiet moments, smoothed the rough edges and mollified the frustration.

Good daddies frequently overlook their little ones' offenses against them; ultimately the relationship means more than just obeying or doing what they should.

Your Heavenly Father works like that in your life. He is the all-powerful, holy and jealous God of the universe, but not a moment goes by that He doesn't hold your hand in His, cradling you gently, withholding His wrath. Choosing to show mercy; He lavishes His love on you every day. For God so loved the world... He didn't punish... He gave.

Today's One Thing
Today, accept the Lord's gentle restraint. Rest in Him and find peace, knowing His love outweighs His judgment.


Going Deeper
John 8:1-11; James 2:1-13
:angel:


Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.
Matthew 10:29 NIV


Cre•a•tion [kree-ey-shuhn]
Dictionary.com defines Creation as
the act of producing or causing to exist; the act of creating; engendering;
the original bringing into existence of the universe by God.
We are meant to experience every aspect of God's glorious creation, from the mountains and forests, to lakes and oceans. There is a beauty to a sunny day with a cool breeze, feeling the summer heat on your back after getting out of a cold swimming pool. There's a wonder in the intricate detail of the iris of an eye, and the way the pores on the skin open and close to insulate the body.

There is a beautiful range of emotions which weave in and out of the human heart. Like a piece of ironwork shaped by a master smith, God-shaped people are indeed fashioned after God Himself. He loves you more than anything. More than every tiny bird that falls, and no less than an entire galaxy that winks out of existence in the heavens.

Today's One Thing
Meditate for 10 minutes on how much the Creator God knows you, down to the tiniest detail, even better than you know yourself.


Going Deeper
Genesis 1; Psalm 8
:angel:


Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 NIV


Sometimes, the Answer is No.
Country western superstar Brad Paisley's song No, says, "Make no mistake, every prayer you pray is answered, even though sometimes, the answer is, "No."

It's easy to be frustrated with God for not delivering things you've very carefully determined are best for you. Perhaps you've wondered, why pray if God's not going to answer the prayer?

19th century theologian Andrew Murray says, "Prayer opens the way for God Himself to do His work in us and through us." The point of asking God for things is to accept that He is the only one who can answer, and therefore the only one who knows the best way to answer; yes, no, or later. God's promise is to listen, and the work He does in your heart during prayer is the true miracle of faith.

Today's One Thing
Give God the leeway in your life, to change your heart, asking for the right things, and to accept His knowledge of what's best, even when you don't understand.


Going Deeper
Psalm 51:1-12; Jeremiah 30:4-11
:angel:


Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:24 NIV


God's Good is Better
Sometimes faith is a battlefield. Once a desire takes hold of your heart, it can be extremely hard to remember that God has better plans... ones that may be more difficult to accept because it means that you have to give up something and put Christ in place of that desire.

It's impossible to serve both God and yourself; only one can truly be the master. God's plans are so much more infinitely wise and ultimately caring than yours. He wants to be at the very center of your life. "Money," as in today's verse from Matthew, can take so many different forms: children, food, shopping, movies, sex, drugs, video games, even romance... You make a choice each day to keep God first place in your heart.

Remember, God's good is infinitely better than your best. Choose to let Him lead and guide the choices you make.
Today's One Thing
Think about an area of your life you may need to consider releasing to God so you can experience His goodness more fully.

Going Deeper
Romans 8:31-39
:angel:


Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

Judy Harder

And the Lord passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, 'The Lord, The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in faithfulness...
Exodus 34:6 NIV


Not an Angry God
In 2013's summer release of Man of Steel, Kal El, aka Clark Kent, is perhaps portrayed more humanly and tangibly than any Superman story to date. His human father, Jonathan, meticulously teaches Clark to control his anger, and to keep his good character a high priority. As Clark embraces the identity of Superman, he is remarkably slow to anger, even in the face of his foes' merciless and violent attacks.

God's response to you is similar. Though humankind often times treats God with disdain and indifference, His way is a merciful and patient judgment. Indeed, slow, patient breaths is a great picture in the meaning of the Hebrew word for "long-suffering." The Lord does not huff and puff in anger, and He always perfectly mixes His disapproval of sin with His mercy and patient love for His creation. Praise God that Jesus took the punishment for our imperfection!


Today's One Thing
Start today by acknowledging how much God loves you. Even though you fail, His anger is measured by His grace and mercy.


Going Deeper
Psalm 86; Luke 7:36-50

  :angel:

Today, I want to make a difference.
Here I am Lord, use me!

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk