“Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: ‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.’ ” Jonah 3:1,2 (NLT)
Prayer: “Dear God, thank You for the “second chance” to serve You, and help me to be faithful with this opportunity.”
[ add comment ] | permalink |
( 2.8 / 42 )In this passage of scripture, God tells us why we all come together: to encourage, challenge, stimulate, and coach one another to being better Christians. And that is what we are trying to do at Gateway. We would like our weekend services to be uplifting, encouraging, motivating and life changing so that we can go out into the mission field, everything past the front doors, and be effective, living out the Christian experience. So when we all come together, come with a word of encouragement, give people a lift, not a let down. David said it this way, “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24,25 (NLT)
Prayer: Dear God, show me how I can encourage others to do good things in Your name and for Your kingdom.
[ add comment ] ( 1 view ) | permalink |
( 2.9 / 21 )As these twenty days of feasting and fasting roll toward an end, many people have told me that this focused time has been good for them. Giving up something, television, diet Coke, meat & dairy, whatever it is that breaks your routine and prompts you to remember God, the One who created us all, can be purifying. This passage in Isaiah 6 tells us that after a spiritual encounter with the Lord, Isaiah says, “Use me.” That is really all we have to say, “Yes God, I’ll do it.” Then let Him show you what that is. Say yes to Him, even if it’s inconvenient.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8 (NASB)
Prayer: “Dear God, Help me to be willing to go anywhere and everywhere for You.”
[ add comment ] | permalink |
( 3 / 22 )In Galatians 2, Paul puts following Christ in the most blunt terms that he can think of. He says we must see ourselves as being crucified with Christ. This was a horrific humiliating way to die; the agony of crucifixion lasted for hours. We, in America, frankly don’t come close to this kind of sacrifice. We have created a society based on Christian values and religious liberty, which has served us well. But we can never forget those who really do put their lives on the line for His kingdom. And we should always remember that the commitment we should have in doing the Lord’s work is total and complete, surrendering to His will every day. Pray that God will show you how to take up your cross and follow Him today.
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
Prayer: “Dear God, help me to follow You with the passion You have asked for.”
[ add comment ] | permalink |
( 2.9 / 18 )On this day, we ask these questions, “Whom do we follow?” “What’s the standard to which we measure ourselves?” If we compare ourselves to others, we will always find those that we are clearly better than. How many times have I heard guys say, “Well, I did not kill anybody,” “I don’t come home drunk every night.” The other clear problem with comparing yourself with others is, you will always find people who are so far ahead in their Christian walk, you can feel discouraged. So what does Paul ask us to do in Ephesians 5? Be an imitator of God! We can have people as roll models, but God and His goodness is our goal. Set your eyes on Him and make today a day when you follow His love.
“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:1,2 (NLT)
Prayer: “Dear God, show me today how I can better imitate You in the world.”
[ add comment ] | permalink |
( 3.2 / 20 )
Calendar
