General Archives - Page 15 of 16 - The Lord's House Community Church

Day 11 – January 16, 2019

Posted on Jan 15, 2019 in General | 493

Day 11 – JANUARY 16, 2019

How May I Serve you?

Scripture:

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

1 Peter 4: 10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Thought for Today: Do you have a heart to serve? Mr. Truitt Cathy founded Chick-Fil-A as a Christian restaurant chain with desire to honor God and serve people. He made a vow to operate his restaurants Monday thru Saturday and to close on Sunday to honor God and to enable employees to worship in their local church. When purchasing food at Chick-Fil-A, customers are greeted by an associate who says “Welcome to Chick-fil-A, How may I serve you?” Following payment for the food, the order is filled by an associate that says “Thank you, It’s my pleasure!”. These greetings and customer service expressions are more than mere words. Chick-Fil-A intentionally trains each employee to serve customers with sincerity, honesty and integrity. Customers are very loyal and have made Chick-Fil-A one of the best restaurant chains in history.

In daily life, it seems that many people want to be served, but few are willing to serve others. Serving other people takes time, can be challenging and is often inconvenient. Christian service must be given from a heart of love and desire to serve Christ. The result is a genuine act of kindness or labor that helps people to feel appreciated. Serving should be a labor of love for Christ’s sake. To please Him, you must serve with the right attitude.

Jesus lived a life of service to others. The gospel tells us that “even the Son of Man” did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). It further tells us, “He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). Our Savior, who performed miracles, healed the sick, raised the dead and gave His life for our sins, made himself a servant out of His great love for us. We are called to “serve others as faithful stewards” (1 Peter 4:10) following Christ’s heart, pattern and example. It is great to serve with a joyful spirit and a glad heart. Are you willing to serve with a renewed spirit by asking “How may I serve you?” And when your service is completed you can respond “It is my pleasure!” Keep in mind, by serving others well, you serve Christ well.

It’s Time to Pray: Lord Jesus, thank you being the greatest servant who ever lived! I am your servant. Teach me to serve you and the people in my life with gladness and excellence. Be pleased with my attitude and my service…

Day 10 – January 15, 2019

Posted on Jan 14, 2019 in General | 593

Day 10 – JANUARY 15, 2019

What Did You Say?

Scripture:

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”

Ephesians 3:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Thought for Today: Words are powerful! The ability to express one’s self through speech is a gift from God that many people do not value and some take for granted. From the moment we are born, our speech patterns are formed by listening to our parents and family members as well as through internet/social media, television, radio and reading. What you take in is deposited in your mind and heart and affects what you say and do. Therefore, it is critically important to understand the power of our words. What you say, how you say things, and when you say things determines the impact our words will have on the people in your life.

Professional and motivational spend many hours crafting messages that inform, inspire and influence their audiences to embrace their ideas and support their agendas. Pastors and ministers spend hours in prayer and the study of the Word of God to prepare messages that will save souls, increase faith, build godly lives and expand God’s kingdom on earth. Words have power to build up and power to destroy. Proverbs 18:21 teaches that the very power of death and life is in the words we speak. One statement that you make can inflict a deep wound, yet another statement can produce healing and reconciliation. One set of spoken words can destroy dreams yet another set of spoken words can inspire destinies. Spoken words can produce poverty yet words fitly spoken can produce prosperity and abundance.

When you ponder your life, you can identify the powerful impact that words spoken by others have had on you. In some instances, they have shaped your life. In turn, you have spoken words of others that have deeply impacted their lives. When angry, you can say things that inflict damage and hurt on the people who we love most. Apostle Paul cautioned “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29). As Christ’s disciple, you represent Him in every relationship and cannot engage in profane language, gossip, hateful, hostile and hurtful attacks on others. Therefore, the words that you and I speak require a choice. The condition of your heart determines that choice. Jesus spoke “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34). The words and expressions that you speak and the motive behind those words flow from the condition of your heart. A key to cleaning up your speech is to go before God and confess and repent of your harsh, hateful and even hostile words and ask Him to give you a clean heart and a clean tongue. The next step is to go to the person(s) whom you spoke hurtful words to and apologize and ask for forgiveness. Then, make a decision to “speak life”! What did you say? Going forward, will you speak death or life? The choice is up to you.

It’s Time to Pray: Heavenly Father, forgive me for the hurtful, hateful and harmful words that I have spoken to people in my life. I confess and repent of my sinful words and actions that have hurt people. Holy Spirit speak to my heart and give me a clean heart that I may follow thee. I choose to speak life to myself and others from this moment forward…

Day 9 – January 14, 2019

Posted on Jan 13, 2019 in General | 463

Day 9 – JANUARY 14, 2019

The Freedom of Forgiveness

Scripture: Matthew 6: 14-15

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Thought for Today: Are the words “I forgive you” in your heart? Are those words followed by “will you forgive me”?

Forgiveness is at the heart of God’s love for you. He demonstrated His unfailing love when Christ gave His life and shed His blood to forgive your sins and mine. When you confess your sin, Christ is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin permanently. He never remembers that sin again. Having received this great forgiveness from Christ, why do we have such a difficult time forgiving the people in our life? Do you find yourself holding on to something someone said that offended you? Are you angry with a family member or friend who did something that hurt you? Are you harboring unforgiveness against a co-worker or manager because of the way they mistreated you? Think about these and other examples of unforgiveness that you are harboring in your heart.

The devil wants you to believe the lie that by refusing to forgive the people in your life who have hurt you, you punish them. Just the opposite is true, you are the one who is hurt emotionally and spiritually. In the verses following The Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us that God, The Father will not forgive you of your sins if you do not forgive other people who have sinned against you. Can you imagine The Father turning a deaf ear to your prayers and holding your sins against you because of your stubborn refusal to forgive the other person?

Jesus cried out on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”. As He hung on the cross dying, Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who put Him to death and did not understand the full extent of their sins against Him. Those who offend you often do not know the extent of their actions and how they have affected you. By refusing to forgive, you carry an unnecessary weight and burden in your heart and mind because of your refusal to release the other person from the debt you believe they owe you. To forgive a person is a choice you must make. When you choose to forgive, it opens you, it frees you, it lifts you, it matures you and gives you peace. Through forgiveness, you mature to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Learn to confess your trespasses and pray for others and allow them to do the same with you. Forgive as Christ has forgiven you.

It’s Time to Pray: Forgiving Father, please forgive me of my many sins, faults and weaknesses. I need your forgiveness. Teach me how to love and forgive others as you have forgiven me. Once I have forgiven them, give me the desire to release them from the offense and move forward. Deposit your Word in my heart so that forgiveness is part of the way I live for you…

Day 8 – January 13, 2019

Posted on Jan 12, 2019 in General | 542

JANUARY 13, 2019 – Day 8

Just When You need Him Most

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 9

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Thought for Today: Life comes at us from many directions and dimensions. As the saying goes “if it’s not one thing, it’s another”. As believers, we experience sickness, pain, suffering, grief, discouragement, conflict and other negative emotions due to the issues of life. As we mature, the challenges and struggles of life can become overwhelming. When we feel overwhelmed, we often withdraw and focus more on the misery of our sufferings than allowing God’s grace to fill and sustain us. Paul teaches us to know the sufficiency of God’s grace in 2 Corinthians 12 when he reported that he was attacked with an affliction (a thorn in his flesh) mentally/spiritually by a messenger from Satan. After pleading with the Lord for three days to remove the suffering from him, the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Just when Paul needed it most, God showed the power and sufficiency of His grace to strengthen and sustain him. God’s grace kept Paul from giving up. God’s grace at work in Paul was more than enough to enable him to face his suffering and to abound to every good work.

It is important to understand that you are insufficient to face the challenges of your life without God’s help. Your weaknesses and limitations provide the opportunity for God to supply His grace the help in your time of need. Know that God is more than enough to meet any need and to solve any problem that you have. Trust Him. He knows, cares and understands your circumstance. Allow His power to rest upon you. When you need Him most, His grace will carry you through!

It’s Time to Pray: God of grace, no matter what I experience help me to receive your grace and your strength in my areas of weakness. Oh God, I trust You to pour out your grace upon me when I need You most because You are my sufficiency…

Day 7 – January 12, 2019

Posted on Jan 11, 2019 in General | 551

Day 7 – January 12, 2019

The Center of My Joy

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:10b

“…Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Thought for Today: Some people think of joy as an emotion that is activated by their feelings. Others equate joy with happiness. What does joy mean to you and what role does the second fruit of the spirit play in your daily walk with God? Numerous scriptures in the Bible describe joy as a virtue that God gives to His people. The joy that God provides is gladness, contentment, rejoicing and peace that is anchored in your faith in God alone. This joy cannot be found in people, work, money, possessions or even in church attendance. It is found only in your personal covenant relationship in God. Following a period of despair in my life, I experienced the restoration of Joy and I testify to you that “joy comes in the morning”. There were times I had to sing the song, “ Jesus, You’re the Center of my Joy, all that’s good and perfect comes from You, You’re the source of my contentment, hope for all I do…Jesus You’re the Center of my Joy” (by Richard Smallwood)

Yes, the Lord did it! He restored my Joy! The word tells us “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b). There is a strength that grows in your soul when you choose to receive the Joy of the Lord. God’s great Joy defeats, sadness, sorry, despair, despondence and even depression. So even in the midst of the storms and stresses of life, you can anchor your faith in God and experience the joy of the Lord. He will fill you with His joy in you and that joy will give you the strength to move forward. How will you know that you have His joy? Decide that in spite of your circumstances, you will focus on His awesome power over any and everything that you are facing in life. Rather than drowning in your troubles, you will soar by singing a song of joy. And the joy of the Lord will lift you and restore your soul.

It’s Time to Pray: Dear Lord, You alone are the source of all joy. Make your joy complete in me today. I declare that Jesus is the Center of my joy and the source of my strength…

Day 6 – January 11, 2019

Posted on Jan 10, 2019 in General | 434

Day 6 – JANUARY 11, 2019

No More Dead Ends!

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Thought for Today: No More Dead Ends!

The story goes that before the launch of GPS several friends were driving on a long road trip. As they approached the last stretch of the trip, the navigator checked the road atlas (map) and found an uncertain shortcut through a mountain that had a two-lane road with no street lights. The estimated shortcut would shave almost an hour off the trip. So they exited the interstate, drove to the mountain road and began their ascent up the dark mountain road. They were making great time using the shortcut and suddenly there appeared signs for the entrance of a state park and a ranger’s station. As their car slowed to stop at the park ranger’s gate, the friend driving asked the ranger to raise the gate and for permission to drive through the park to their destination. The ranger replied “you can’t get there from here…you will have to turn around and go back to the interstate and follow that route to your destination”. By choosing a short-cut to save time rather than the proven route, our friends reach a dead end and had to return to the original route that would lead them to their destination.

Trust God to lead and guide you in every aspect of your life and don’t take shortcuts. Taking shortcuts can appear to provide an easier way and a shorter path but ultimately lead to dead ends. Every day you face decisions and choices in life. Every decision has an outcome and every choice has a consequence. Some are significant and some less significant. Collectively, all of your decisions push you in a direction and ultimately determine your destiny. But what is the basis for your decisions and how can you know if your choices are aligned with God’s plan for your life? It all comes down to your willingness to trust God with your life. It is a dangerous thing to take your life into your own hands and leave God out. Trusting in God is having assurance and absolute confidence that He will lead and guide you even through difficult and dark places in life. When you trust God and follow His direction, there are no dead ends. Proverbs 3:5,6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” No more dead ends. Trust in the Lord!

It’s Time to Pray: Father, teach me to trust in You alone with my every decision in my life and allow you to direct my paths. Help me to learn to live by faith and not my limited understanding and help me to avoid missteps and dead ends…

Day 5 – January 10, 2019

Posted on Jan 9, 2019 in General | 478

Day 5 – JANUARY 10, 2019

Prayer Changes Everything!

Scripture

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Acts 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Thought for Today: Prayer changes everything!

Understanding the power of prayer will change your life.

When we pray, we gain a personal audience with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. When we pray according to God’s word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He hears us and answers our prayers. When we pray together, God releases His mighty power in the middle of our circumstances and everything changes including our hearts.

Acts 12 describes an amazing story of the power of prayer and how prayer changes everything. The passage tells of Herod, the king harassing the church. He killed James, the brother of John with the sword. And when he saw the Jews excitement, had Peter arrested and placed in prison during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Peter was the spiritual leader of the church, and was highly respected and honored by the believers. So, Herod seized the opportunity to make an example of him. It seemed that Herod’s next step would be to execute Peter as a way to crush the spread of the church. Acts 12:5 tells us, ^“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” Look at what happens…as Peter was held captive in prison, the church prayed! And their prayers changed everything! Those saints knew that when they prayed, God would hear them, answer their prayers and change everything.

The passage goes on to describe that while Peter was sleeping, he was bound with two chains between two soldiers with two prison guards at the door. Immediately, an angel of the Lord stood by Peter, and a light shined in the prison and the angel struck Peter and awakened him from his sleep. Miraculously, the angel called Peter to get up and put on his clothes and sandals…and the chains fell off his hands! Peter was set free from bondage and delivered by God’s mighty power because the people of God prayed!

The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous means much to God! (James 5:16 paraphrased)

Prayer is one of our most powerful weapons, yet we don’t use it. When we pray God saves, He breaks chains, He heals, He delivers, He works miracles!

Will you commit to increasing the time you spend each day in prayer? Will you commit to a life of prayer? Will you commit to praying in faith with other believers for God to move by His awesome power?

It’s Time to Pray: Heavenly Father, teach me the power of prayer. Give me a passion for prayer. Help me to pray effective, fervent prayers that change everything. Help me Lord, to unite with other believers in prayer…

Day 4 – January 9, 2019

Posted on Jan 8, 2019 in General | 386

Day 4 – JANUARY 9, 2019

Daily Discipline

Scripture: Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Thought for Today: Am I willing to discipline myself to follow Jesus? People who accomplish great things in life often attribute their success to daily disciplines that they have practiced daily for many years. They describe their daily life by detailing disciplines such as: spending time in prayer, setting daily goals, being organized, helping others, treating others with respect and kindness, being on time, spending time reading, preparing for assignments and learning something new every day. These are all great and noble disciplines that we should aspire to gain and practice to become better people and accomplish more in life. However, I believe that our greatest goal each day is to follow Jesus more closely and really get to know Him. Why? Because He is the one for whom I live and I owe my life to Him. Nothing that I achieve or accomplish in this life means anything if I do not know and serve Him. He is my Savior, my Lord and my Redeemer! Jesus challenges His disciples in Luke 9:23 by giving three disciplines that are required to follow Him (as true students of the master).

Deny self! – Deny flesh and selfish desires. Give up self-aligned agendas and seek to follow the plan Jesus has for His followers.. Seek first the kingdom…(Matthew 6:33)
Take up my cross daily! – Think about the fact that Christ died for my salvation and I must be willing to lose my life for His sake. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:24)
Follow Him! – Discipline myself to follow Jesus no matter what it costs me! Do not follow other voices. Listen and follow only His voice. He will lead me to life more abundantly.

It’s Time to Pray: Oh Lord, I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back…

Day 3 – January 8, 2019

Posted on Jan 7, 2019 in General | 559

Day 3 – JANUARY 8, 2019

It’s in the Asking

(Ask, Seek, Knock)

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Thought for Today: What do you want to ask of God? ASK is a term that is often overlooked as an important part of our relationship with Christ. In our desire to really know Christ, we must learn how to approach Him in prayer in order to express our concerns, needs and desires. He alone is the source for everything that we need spiritually and naturally to live “life more abundantly” as He has promised. He is willing and waiting to supply every need that you have if you will simply ask Him! In prayer, we have a personal privilege of talking with the Lord and asking Him questions that only He can answer and asking for solutions that only He can provide. But the key is asking in faith according to His Word, waiting on His answer and obeying His instruction. As you ask things of God in prayer, the Holy Spirit will give you the words to speak and Christ will intercede before the Father on your behalf.

The Adam Clarke Commentary describes the three steps in the process as follows: Ask with confidence and humility. Seek with care and application. Knock with earnestness and perseverance.

Jesus teaches us how to approach Him in Matthew 7:7-8 when He compels them to Ask, Seek and Knock. He challenges and invites them to make their requests known directly to Him. Later, He says to them “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14). So as we pray, let’s pray with boldness, yet approaching the Lord in humility. Ask (believing) with confidence, Seek with care and pursuit, Knock with persistence and watch God move with power and authority in your life and circumstances.

And Remember, it’s in the Asking!

It’s Time to Pray: Dear Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray in faith with greater boldness. I desire to Ask with confidence, Seek with care and pursuit, and Knock with persistence in the Name of Jesus and I believe God for the impossible.

Day 2 – January 7, 2019

Posted on Jan 6, 2019 in General | 535

Day 2 – JANUARY 7, 2019

In a Whisper

(Listening to the voice of God)

Scripture: 1 Kings 19: 11-12

¹¹Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; ¹²and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Matthew 11:15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Thought for Today: God wants to speak a word to you, are you listening?

Our lives are filled with noise that comes at us from all directions. Our senses are overloaded with sounds, sights, pressures, emotions and relationships that consume our attention and time. We are so obsessed with our smart phones that we react to every ring tone, buzz, beep, flash or image on the screen. Ponder for a moment of the noise that bombards your mind each day…traffic, sirens, wind, voices, television, radio, video games, phone calls, text messages, internet surfing, social media, white noise and your own thoughts… How can you hear what God is saying in the midst of all of that noise?

Some Christians believe that God speaks with a loud voice and that His words will overshadow all other sounds. So they continue in their busyness with all of the noise expecting God to elevate His voice to get their attention. Others live life wondering whether, when or how God speaks to them. The truth is that God desires to speak to you and He speaks on His terms and in His timing. At the most critical times, God often does not speak with thunder, but with a still small voice. He speaks with a whisper in the midst of the noise. Are you willing to cancel the noise to hear His voice?

1 Kings 19 describes Elijah, the great prophet, in a cave facing feelings of exhaustion, fear and despair. He is told by the Lord to “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” He did so in obedience and “the Lord passed by” and wind, an earthquake and fire appeared, but God was in none of them. No, God did not speak in the noise and calamity, but in a still, small voice. To receive his breakthrough, Elijah had to obey God, be in position (go out and stand on the mountain), recognize God’s presence and patiently wait through three loud calamities and listen for God’s whisper. As you spend time in fasting and prayer at the beginning of this year, will you cancel the noise, listen for God’s voice and obey Him?

It’s Time to Pray: Heavenly Father, I need to hear your voice. Forgive me for allowing the noises of life to drown out your voice and dull my hearing. Tune my ears to your voice and my heart to obey you…