Category Archives: Appreciate

Countercultural II

John 4:25-26 “The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!” (emphasis added).

Did you know that in general at the time, men do not speak to their own wives in public? This was the cultural setting in place when Paul was talking to the Corinthian church. 1 Cor. 14:34-35 Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.” Paul made this statement when they wanted to put order in the disorder in the Corinthian church. When I read this I was like, why can’t she ask him in church? Read the rest of this entry

Big Picture

John 3:28 “You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’”

When we do not know who we are, we do not know who we are not supposed to be. So, we try to be who we are not supposed to be because we do not know who we are. But when we know who we are, we will know who we are not. Read the rest of this entry

Heart

1 John 4:1 “My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God…” (MSG]

There are some things you will say that you think they have forgotten, but they are holding it. Then when you are at your lowest point, they will use it against you. They say, I thought you said this and that? You wanted to break down the temple, break it down, they said to Jesus. Read the rest of this entry

Gift Thanks

Ps. 107:21-22 (KJV) “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing.”

For the past few days, we have been looking at how to show our gratitude to God. Gratitude is big and we cannot over emphasize the importance particularly for us God’s people. We can show gratitude by singing from our hearts, by telling others the good news, by serving with the abilities He has given us, and by giving an offering back to God. Read the rest of this entry

Adjust

Psalm 96:7-9 “O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendour. Let all the earth tremble before him.”

Do you know that the average American CEO reads at least sixty books in one year? When I came across this statistic, I was shocked. How many books do you read in a year? You and I must be deliberate about reading and growing. Read the rest of this entry

Reason Enough

Ps.106:1 “Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord! How good you are! Your love for us continues on forever.” (TLB)

We start today’s devotional with our final thoughts from yesterday which is, why should you and I live a life of thanksgiving to God? You and I should live a life of thanksgiving to God because of who He is and because of what He has done. Read the rest of this entry

From The Heart

Ps.145:3 “The Lord is GREAT and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is.” (NCV, emphasis added)

How grateful are you today? Are you grateful? An old saying reads, ‘’Your life is God’s gift to you, but what you do with your life is your gift to GOD.’’ Your life is indeed God’s gift to you. However, what you do with your life is the gift you give back to God. Read the rest of this entry

Treasured

Matt.18:12-13 (VOICE) “…Should the shepherd leave the flock on the hills unguarded to search for the lost sheep? God’s shepherd goes to look for that one lost sheep and when he finds her, he is happier about her return than he is about the 99 who stayed put.”

You need a shepherd and you need a flock. Isa.53:6We’re ALL like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him.”(MSG, emphasis added). Read the rest of this entry

Source Dependent I

Acts 17:28 “For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”

Blessings are spiritual streams. A stream should have a source and an outlet. Understanding the importance of the source and the outlet makes our lives pleasurable and easier. It Is The Source That  Creates The Stream and not the other way around. Read the rest of this entry

Surplus

Isa. 35:6-7 “The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land…”

God is a God of abundance. Lack [poverty] is inconsistent with the nature of God. Check the Bible, every time God had to meet a need, He goes over and above even when it is not necessary. Read the rest of this entry