Divine Nature

By going outside the church walls, we show God’s tangible love and care to many who have never seen it. Written by Hope on 22/12/2013 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Church And Community, Service "Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare." Jeremiah 29:7 "Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God." Hebrews 13:16 Recently, my church has started encouraging our congregation to get involved in local community service. Many people already serve inside the church -- as teachers, cleaners, musicians, and more. But by going outside the church walls, we show God’s tangible love and care to many who have never seen it. It can be as simple as picking up trash in a neighborhood, or as involved as starting a mentoring program for at-risk children at the local elementary school. Also, you may find organizations ...

A universal truth is that life presents us with another obstacle when we least expect it. Unfortunately, the bump often occurs when there are deadlines and tasks to complete at work, or there are pressing family complications. Because of this, the development is not always met with a positive outlook and the initial thought process around an unexpected challenge often veers towards apprehension and regret. You may think, "I can't possibly take on another project, I have no time" or "there is absolutely no way I can deal." These thoughts are paralyzing; they can turn to feelings of worry and grab hold immediately. Sadly, reacting negatively brings on debilitating feelings of hopelessness which, in turn, makes you feel as if the development is insurmountable, thereby causing you to lose some or all motivation. If you find yourself reacting in these ways, understand that you have the power within yourself to rework your thought process.The key to vanquishing neg...

IIt is important to be part of a local church or christian community. Written by Hope on 01/12/2013 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Church And Community, Service “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another . . .” Hebrews 4:25 Last week we learned about being part of Christ’s Body, the Church. We also talked about how important it is for every believer to be part of a local body of believers., a “little c” church. These days, you can “attend” church online. You can sing songs, hear great preaching, and even give money. But you would miss your chance to make a difference in the lives of other believers. That’s why Hebrews 4:25 says, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another . . .” You AND your disciples need to physically “show up” at church or in a fellowship group. The New Testament is full of instructions on relating to one another. In fact, 56 passages include the phra...

When we attempt to take control of our lives, we become our own God, telling Him he’s not good enough. Written by GodLife on 17/02/2013 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Control, God, Sovereignty "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own expectations. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6) Do you want control? Many people want to have everything under control, or at least believe they do. It feels predictable; it feels safe. At least we hope those feelings will result from having control of our lives. And though we should know better, it is our human nature to crave control. Are you in control of any part of your life right now? Maybe you are enjoying a successful career. Or maybe you have a long list of qualities you’re looking for in a potential life partner, or even in close friends. Do you have control over your children’s success? Your daily schedule? Sometimes I even want to control the traffic ...

You may not always have a Bible on hand - memorizing Scripture is another weapon in spiritual warfare. Written by Joy on 02/11/2014 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Personal Transformation “...Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” Ephesians 6:17 In spiritual battle, you must use God’s Truth to fight the lies of the enemy (Satan). Jesus used scripture to fight Satan’s temptations in Matthew 4. Here are five ways that memorizing scripture will help prepare you for Spiritual Battle. 1. Your Desires Change “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) Focusing your mind on God’s Word will cause your desires to line up with God’s desires. You will start becoming more like Christ, which will produce Godly characteristics in your life such as love, peace, and purity. (Philippians 4:8...

The Word of God is Powerful Written by Lois on 21/02/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: God, Jesus, Benefits Of Memorizing Scripture, Holy Spirit That’s how it is with my words. They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do. Isaiah 55:11 Do you have enough power in your life? Is it time to try something new, such as memorizing the most powerful book, God’s written word? Is there anyone but God who can tell a fish to swallow a man and have the fish eject him to go preach? Jonah 2:1, 5-6, “From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God... I was almost drowned by the swirling waters that surrounded me. Seaweed had wrapped around my head... But, you, Lord God, rescued me from that pit.” Do you find yourself in a pit? Maybe it’s time to seek Jesus in a deeper way, and it can be found in His word. Here are ways to memorize the Bible and grow in deeper understanding and meditation of God’s word: 1. Spiritual Exercise The Bible, God’s word is the mos...

He is Infinitely Wise Written by Dan Lee on 10/01/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Wisdom, Hope, Sovereignty Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does? “Has anyone known the thoughts of the Lord or given him advice? Romans 11:33-34 CEV We as human beings are constantly faced with tough decisions, and situations. It’s the nature of living in a fallen world. However, through all of the turmoil, God is still sovereign and is truly wise. If we doubt that God has infinite wisdom, we will be tempted to despair when things go wrong. On the other hand, understanding God’s wisdom helps us to trust Him and be secure in any situation. Here are some areas we see God’s wisdom demonstrated, and why you should trust his Wisdom: Creation – Past and Present By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens. (Proverbs 3:19) From the distant galaxies to the tiniest insect, everythin...

Sin ruins your life – Who is powerful enough to forgive and renew you? Written by Hope on 11/10/2016 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Creation, Forgiveness, Power, Sin God, who raises the dead to life and creates new things... Romans 4:17b It’s no secret that we live in a fallen world of sin. From infidelity in relationships, to cheating, to lying, to stealing, sin is everywhere! This sin ruins our life and tears us down. However, though we live in a world of sin, God is powerful enough to forgive us! But why would he forgive us? And how does he do it? Here are the three pillars to understand about God’s forgiveness of your sins. God Is The Omnipotent Creator The Bible teaches us that with His wisdom and power He created the earth and spread out the heavens (Jeremiah 10:12). The prophets praised Him: God said “I am Powerful” (Psalm 62:11) and “Lord God, you stretched out your mighty arm and made the sky and the earth. You can do anything” (Jeremiah 32:17). The Lord says of ...

Moms and dads, don’t underestimate the impact you have upon your children! Written by Luis Palau Tags: Family, Fathers, God, Jesus, Mothers "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). People always say children learn by example. I know that was true in my own life. My dad was a consistent man; the same person at home as he was at church. He rose early on cold winter mornings in Argentina to start a wood fire in the stove. I should have been sleeping, but often I sneaked out of bed just to watch him putter around the house. If I watched long enough, I might see him go into his office—a little study he built on one side of the house—and kneel alone. Wrapped in a blanket or poncho, he would read the Bible and pray before going out to work. Though I was not even eight years old yet, I would steal back to my bed, feeling warm and grateful that I had a good dad. Daily Bible Reading One day Dad told me he r...

Why do we grumble and take for granted the people we love most? Written by Joy on 06/12/2015 Series: Weekly Devotional “Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 God knows we often grumble and complain so he reminds us throughout scripture to give thanks. When we focus on the things we lack, we can forget to appreciate what we have. God wants us to give thanks for everything! How can we be thankful for our spouse, children and parents when they don’t meet our expectations? Here are three reasons: 1.God is Good “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). When we give thanks we confirm God is good. It acknowledges we are placing our hope in a good God Who has given us these relationships for a purpose. Even if your spouse or children do not believe in Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 7:16), God may work through you to save them. Even if you have a poor relationship wi...

The Bible is God’s guide to a healthy family Written by Luis Palau Tags: Divorce, Family, Relationships Family. What would we do without it? These basic human relationships between husband and wife, parent and child shape our personalities and script our comedies. Our families love us and they aggravate us—and we them. But this first and most basic unit of society—a husband and wife and the children born to or adopted by them was God’s idea. The Bible is God’s guide to a healthy family, even as it describes the tragedies of families broken by sin. The Bible also uses the family relationship to illustrate the relationship between God and believers. Since God places enough value on the family to compare it with the relationship He has with His children, it deserves a closer look. Standard family terms such as father, son, children, and marriage are addressed both practically and symbolically in the Bible. The following 12 terms create a greater understanding of the two-fold plan ...

No matter who you are or where you are, God can empower you to do His work! Written by Hope on 25/10/2016 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Power, Holy Spirit, Guidance God uses Scripture to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. II Timothy 3:17 What makes you feel powerful? If you have accepted God’s forgiveness and allowed Him to teach you to walk in His ways, now you can show God’s empowerment in your life. Here are ways you can show His power through your actions: 1. Don’t Depend On Your Own Strength God’s power is given in His grace; He can work in your weakness. The Apostle Paul worked in the power of God’s guidance only, and is recorded as doing more to help form the early Church than any other Christian. And it was because he depended on God, not on himself. The Lord told him, “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” And St Paul added, “So if Christ keeps giving me His power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am (II Corin...

Be a blessing to others. Written by Janet Perez Eckles on 14/02/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: God, Blessing On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said. Matthew 12:37 (CEV) My jaw was still numb as I approached the receptionist desk at the dentist. She handed me the card. “Here’s your next appointment date.” “Thank you,” I said. Then I leaned toward her and whispered, “And stay as sweet as you are.” She didn’t answer. But after a few seconds, she cleared her throat, “That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to me lately.” Her voice quivered. I gave her a huge smile. But on the way home, her response rode in the car with me. What prompted me to say that to her? How often had I encountered folks who might also need a kind word, an encouraging comment or a genuine smile? But the busyness of life, the tugging of the next chore, the issues at hand, usually erase any desire to encourage those we meet, those w...

Rich or poor, in spite of all our efforts, everyone will die sooner or later. There are many opinions about what happens when we die. But what does God have to say about it? Written by Dan Lee on 01/06/2014 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Death, Eternity, Heaven, Hell, Jesus “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment . . .” Hebrews 9:27 Death is Certain Rich or poor, in spite of all our efforts, everyone will die sooner or later. There are many opinions about what happens when we die. But what does God have to say about it? Eternal Life – Two Kinds God’s word, the Bible, tells us that each person’s soul lives forever. Today’s scripture from Hebrews tells us that after death comes judgment. This leads us to one of two destinies: Heaven or Hell. We know that Christians, who have received God’s free gift of salvation and forgiveness, will spend eternity in Heaven. There, they will have loving fellowship with God and His people. Sadly, thos...

We have false expectations if we believe that good deeds are always rewarded, and evil is always punished in this life. Written by Joy on 30/03/2014 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Life, Purpose, Trials “Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for his people" Psalm 66:5 Job, probably the oldest book in the Bible, asks this question. Job’s friends accuse him of a hidden sin, since God seems to be punishing him with tragedies. Is this true? Are tragedies punishment from God? The Bible says, absolutely not! Tragedy Can Bring Us to Jesus We have false expectations if we believe that good deeds are always rewarded, and evil is always punished in this life. We live in a fallen world, corrupted by sin. Disease and disasters are a natural result (see Romans 8:20-22). Yet our problems and needs are the very things that can cause us to seek God and draw closer to Him. Jesus was asked this question by his followers: “Why was this man born blind? Was ...

How God’s Word Transforms Us Written by Dan Lee on 07/02/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Bible, God I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against you. Psalm 119:11 The Bible is unlike any other book. It was written by 40 authors chosen by God, over a period of around 1,500 years. Yet, it displays remarkable unity and consistency. For many years, most people did not even have the Bible in their own language (and even today, some don’t). So being able to read the Bible is a rare and priceless treasure. So, what is the Bible about? In the Old Testament, we see God creating the universe and putting mankind on the earth. We see the tragedy of Adam’s fall and the rise of the nation of Israel. We see Israel’s failure to faithfully follow God and accept how much they need a Redeemer. In the Gospels and Acts, that Redeemer arrives – we see and hear what the Lord Jesus did here on earth and learn the way of salvation. The church is born and the gospel ...

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? How difficult is it to love someone who has offended or hurt you? Written by Hope on 16/06/2013 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Enemies, Love "I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” ( Luke 6:27-28 ) A few years ago, our family was very hurt when some really good friends (or so we had thought) tried to sabotage our adoption of a baby. They lied to the adoption agency and even told them we were bad parents to our own daughter. We were so angry and felt so betrayed! The Best Role Model Do you know Who else has been betrayed by a close friend? Jesus. It was predicted in the Old Testament: "Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared My food, has turned against Me" (Psalm 41:9). Our family’s choice to respond in prayer instead of anger was difficult; but we have the best Role Model. And Jesus, even on the cross, ...

We can choose to walk in God’s ways or we can choose to turn from Him. Written by Hope on 31/08/2014 Series: Weekly Devotional “God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4 In the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth and all of the things in it. When God created people, he gave us free will. That means we can choose to walk in God’s ways or we can choose to turn from Him. Choices led to evil entering the world but, originally, God made a perfect and peaceful world. Not Choosing God The Bible records that God gave Adam, the first man, specific instructions to avoid “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17). However, Adam chose to disobey God’s instructions. As a result, “sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death” (Romans 5:12). God didn’t intend for Adam to eat the fruit. That’s why God warned him. We can see that evil exists in the world because people choose to turn away from God, not because God wants evil ...

Jesus calls us to be different from the World, while making a difference in the World. Written by Joy on 08/08/2015 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Culture, Life, Light, Sin “Jesus prayed, ‘They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.’” John 17:16-17 We cannot expect non-believers to have godly moral standards and desire to please God. We can, and should, expect Christians to act differently than the culture that they live in—as different as night and day. Darkness of World Culture “This, then is the judgement: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19). Human culture is ruled by sin and selfish desires. Without Jesus people are lost in darkness (Matthew 18:10-14), dead in their sin (Ephesians 2:1-5), separated from God (Colossians 1:21-22) and condemned without hope (John 3:18). When you are in the dark, you cannot se...

Most of us will not fall for an obvious lie, but we can be fooled by a slight twist of the truth. Written by Joy on 12/10/2014 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Jesus, Truth “The people of Berea were more open-minded and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures daily to see if Paul’s teaching was true.” Acts 17:11 The best way to recognize a counterfeit is to know the REAL thing! Most of us will not fall for an obvious lie, but we can be fooled by a slight twist of the truth. Know the Enemy’s Strategy In Genesis 3:1, Satan only changed a few words from God’s original commandment to confuse Eve. When Satan tempted Jesus in Matthew 4, he quoted scripture to lure Jesus into sin. Jesus quickly saw the verses had been taken out of context and used for wrong motives. People can be easily led astray by the use of scripture that gives the appearance of following God, but actually promotes selfishness and pleasure-seeking. Know the Whole Truth “All script...

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there so much injustice in the world? Written by Hope on 28/07/2013 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Anger, Bitter, Emotions, God "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28) Life Is Unfair Sin in our world makes it difficult to understand the world as God wants it to be. Bad things happen to "good people," and "good people" sometimes let - or even make - bad things happen. "Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard" (Romans 3:23). It is so easy to want to sin. Why is life not easier? You might wonder, Why would God make a world where horrible things can happen? You might even be furious with Him. But injustice exists because of sin; God created people "for [His] glory" (Isaiah 43:10). God Is Just The Lord said, "I love justice...

The Bible says our faith is like gold that needs to be purified and refined in fire. The joy comes when we realize the fire makes the end product more valuable and beautiful. Written by Hope on 13/04/2014 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Challenges, Difficulty, Joys, Trials “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:2 Why does God allow trials in our life? They help build our faith and dependence on God. The Bible says our faith is like gold that needs to be purified and refined in fire. The joy comes when we realize the fire makes the end product more valuable and beautiful. Expect Suffering Our hope cannot be based on a comfortable, trouble-free life here on earth. Jesus said, “In this world you will have troubles, but have courage! I have overcome the world” John 16:33. Jesus tell us to expect it; He says you will have troubles, ...

God is Always Faithful Written by Susan on 03/01/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Everlasting, Promises, Through, Time, New Year Jesus answered, “I tell you for certain that even before Abraham was, I was, and I am.” John 8:58 One way God is not like us is that He is outside of time itself. This is not so easy for us to picture, but God explains clearly that He “inhabits eternity” in Isaiah 57:15. We're created beings living in time, so we experience time much differently than our God, who says “I am the first and I am the last.” (Isaiah 48:12). As we look forward to the New Year, how astounding it is to realize that God is already there! How can we relate to someone who says He is "the one who is and was and is coming?" (Revelation 1:8) What we experience in our lifetime has a lot to do with beginnings — and endings; Where is God in all of these times? He Is. We like to celebrate New Year’s Eve/Day, anniversaries, new beginnings, memories of friends and fa...