JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Isaiah 43:4) "I will give men for you, and people for your life."
This scripture is a powerful promise of God, yet tender in its declaration of Gods unwavering affection and protection for Israel.
As with all of Gods promises for His people they are precious promises not earned but given and upheld by His grace.
His commitment is so absolute that He will sacrifice other nations to keep His promise to Israel… fore shadowing the greater exchange of Christ’s life for ours.
The verse invites the certainty that the God who treasured Israel, treasures all who belong to Him… guarding their lives and fulfilling every word of every promise.
Through out His word, Old Testament and New… He has promised that “He would never leave us or forsake us and that He would be with us always”
From (Deuteronomy 31:6)… to (Joshua 1:5)… (1st Chronicles 41:17… (Psalm 118:6-7)… (Hebrews 13:5)… (Mathew 27:46) God promises to provide prosperity, provision and protection for His people whom He loves.
He does this thru the power of His Word, the power of His Spirit and thru the power of His children… you and I whom are sensitive to His will and direction.
Not one of us in this life can “go it alone”… we all need each other!
No man is an island unto himself.
No we shouldn’t depend on others more than we do upon on God, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need other people.
I DO! YOU DO! WE ALL DO!
When God calls someone to do a job, He calls others, sends others to stand alongside them.
God’s promises this in His word: “I will give men for you, and people for your life” (Isaiah 43:4)
I have been so humbled with the evidence of this scripture coming to reality in my life and our ministry.
There is no way that I have had the physical strength, the wisdom, the knowledge nor the financial means to fulfill the things that we have been involved in… for the sake of spreading the Gospel through out North America thru this ministry.
It has been a direct result of those friends, volunteers and men and women whom love God (and us for that matter) and have joined with us, stood with us and helped us to fulfill this mission or ministry that we have or are trying to be obedient in.
The hardest thing I have had to learn is to allow them to be involved… to not let my “control issues” get in the way!
Learning to lay down my pride and allow people to be involved.
Allowing them the freedom to use their gifting’s and talents and be actively engaged or involved with and in our work.
So today I say “thank you to God”… and I say “thank you to the many” that we count as friends and co workers whom don’t look for reward or compensation or recognition, but are so faithful and always there.
In (Exodus chapter 17), as long as Moses held his hands up, Israel’s armies prevailed in battle, but when his hands grew tired, the battle went the other way.
So Aaron and Hur stood by Moses and held up his hands, until victory over the Amalekites was complete.
I need people like that!
You need people like that!
People who know how to hold up your hands and strengthen you.
Paul wrote, “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves… but Timothy… has proved himself” (Philippians 2:20-22).
(Romans 16:4) He writes about people “who risked their own necks for my life, to whom I not only give thanks, but also all the churches”
Some of us are stubborn and self-centered… we subscribe to the philosophy, “It’s my way or the highway.”
We burn through people, leaving wreckage and broken relationships in our wake.
Be careful not to do that!
The bible say’s “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle” (Proverbs 18:19)
When God sends gifted people into your life, acknowledge them, respect them, train them, motivate them, and reward them.
When you do that, not only will you fulfill your goal, you will create a win/win for everybody.
And be thankful for them, each of them, no matter how significant or small their involvement has been in your life.
Debbie and I want each of you to know that we love you dearly,
May God reward you with many friends and close companions in days to come.
Look for them, watch for them and then be thankful for them as we are for each of you!
There s an Old Country song by Buck Owens with the Lyric that says “Open up your heart and let my love come in”
I invite you to do that today… open up your heart and let God’s love come in and bring you and add to your life those that are His answer to your needs…
Good Day!
(Ecclesiastes 2:24) There is nothing better than to...find satisfaction in work."
There will be times in life, when it feels like there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it.
And unfortunately when you’re constantly on overload, it shows up in your attitude, your relationships, your job performance, and even your walk with God.
If that’s where you are today, here’s what you need to do:
(1) Pray.
“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you... He will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22)
Before you fall apart, ask God for the wisdom to evaluate what you are doing, and then be honest with yourself about why you’re in this predicament.
The writer of Proverbs warns against exhausting oneself in the pursuit of wealth emphasizing the fleeting and unpredictable nature of material riches… “Do not wear yourself out to get rich… do not trust your own cleverness.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off…like an eagle” (Proverbs 23:4-5)
Ask God to show you where you may be sacrificing your peace, health, and relationships on the altar of materialism.
(2) Delegate.
Moses, one of the greatest leaders in the Old Testament, was falling apart under the weight of responsibilities he needed to share with others.
He even got so depressed that he asked God to take his life! (Numbers 11:13-15)
There were capable people all around him who were willing to help, but he wouldn’t let them.
Sound familiar?
As long as you insist on controlling and doing everything yourself, your productivity will stall and your peace of mind will evaporate.
Bottom line is … if you’re on overload today, start making some changes.
Lay down your pride and admit you can’t do it alone.
Lay down your “control issues” and let others help… you even if they do things a little differently?
If the job is getting done, who cares if they are doing it with the left hand or the right hand.
Jesus said “come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden”. (Matthew 11:28)
Life and work were meant to be enjoyed, so if it’s not enjoyable then make the changes and start enjoying your life.
There are not enough years left, to continue to let peace, joy, and satisfaction elude you!
Ecclesiastes says “it is appointed once for a man to die”, and we are not told when that is going to happen, so start living today.
Always remember, “quality of life, is more important than quantity of life”!
Quality of life will effect your “significance” in life, and God wants each of us to be “significant” in life… impacting others around us.
You can’t do that when you are stressed out.
(John 3:1-2) “beloved I wish above all things that you would prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers!”
Good Day!
(Proverbs 10:9) "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out."
There are those who live with integrity and those who don’t.
The first group lives with an abiding sense of God’s peace and security, the second group with the constant fear of being found out.
(Proverbs 11:3) “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity”
A person with integrity is “complete and undivided.”
They adhere to high moral principles in every area of life.
Does that mean you’ll never fall?
No. The bible says (Proverbs 24:16) “A righteous man may fall seven times and will rise again”
Everybody falls, and everybody will fail during their time here on this earth… but people of integrity always get back up.
God is patient; He‘ll work with you until you get it.
And if you suffer from a lack of integrity, He can still put your life back together again if you are willing to surrender to Him.
Before he wrestled with the Lord, Jacob was a found to be a cheat and a deceiver
(Genesis 27:35-36) “But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.” talking about Jacob.
(Genesis 32:24) describes how Jacob eventually had an encounter with God, “and a man wrestled with him till daybreak”
His encounter continued because Jacob wanted Gods blessing and wouldn’t let go.
After he “wrestled” with the Lord, he walked with a limp.
But God would rather have someone who walks with a limp because they have “wrestled with their issues” and won, than someone living under false pretenses.
Daniel, a Jew living in captivity refused to eat “non-kosher” food because it violated God’s law.
Joseph was single, far from home, and lonely, but he refused to sleep with his boss’s wife.
Paul says, (1st Corinthians 10:13) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man… but God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape.
God always has a way out, and when you’re committed to walking in integrity, He’ll reveal it to you.
You may not like it, but “His way” is always the right way!
And never forget, that God has given you your free will to make opinions express your opinions and choose your own path.
But the problem comes when we do it “our way”… “ “my way”… and because we are motivated and driven by carnal fleshly desires and a sinful nature, we invariably “miss the mark” and wind up hurting our selves and others around us.
The key to “victory in Jesus” is making the decision to be “steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (1st Corinthians 15:8)
Let your “yes be yes and your no be no” (Mathew 5:37)
Listen folks, our world needs examples of leadership and leaders that will walk and live as trusted and steady pillars of and for our society.
Those leaders, who ever they are, whether they are in your home, your community, your church, or in your government, need to be men and women of integrity that do it “the way”, Gods way!
Isaiah the Prophet writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in (chapter 55:8-9) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”.
If we are going to survive in this world we have to find a resource that is unmovable, that is solid and unwavering, that is the same yesterday, today and forever.
My hope is in the Lord!
It’s His word that endures forever, its His way that needs to be followed!
(Psalm 39:7) King David declares "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.”
And folks it’s time you and I make the same confident declaration, and live by it!
“God, My Hope is in you!”
Good Day!
(Matthew 28:20) "I am with you always to the very end of the age."
In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Derek Redmond of Great Britain was considered a favorite contender for a medal.
On August 3, 1992 Redmond was pitted against seven others in a semi-final in the 400 meters… Redmond knelt poised, ready, waiting in anticipation for the race to start.
As the gun went off, his body was translated into a human projectile… feverishly pulling ahead the other runners but as Redmond prepared to round the curve after the halfway mark, he suddenly heard a pop.
It was his right hamstring and in an instant, he felt the searing pain in his leg.
The other runners passed Derek as he desperately continued his painful trek to the finish line.
He ran with difficulty for a few steps and then began to stumble.
His father, watching from the stands, became keenly alert to his son's difficulty.
As you and I run the race of life, sometimes we grow weak and we struggle.
We, too, often stumble badly but like Derek’s dad… our difficulties do not escape the attention of our Savior.
Sometimes people ask, "How are you?" and we respond, "just fine!"
But truthfully there are times when we are struggling.
But we don't want their pity, or curiosity, or disrespect.
No we want others to think we are in control.
So we put on plastic smiles and faces wearing a mask of false courage.
We try to fool others around us and protect our image.
But our struggles are not hidden from Jesus!
Jesus says in (Matthew 10:30) “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
Jesus doesn't miss it when we grow weak and weary.
(Psalmist 121:4) says, "behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
Jesus sees, Jesus knows, and Jesus cares.
You may be weighted down with debt and financial pressures.
Jesus knows all about that but He has promised to meet all your needs.
Jesus says in (Matthew 6:31-33) “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
You may be struggling with a sense of failure and frustration… Jesus is aware of it and cares.
You may be struggling with temptation to sin… Jesus sees it.
Maybe you are at odds with a parent, a brother or sister, or one of your children, maybe a friend.
You want to reconcile, but you are having a difficult time… Jesus recognizes your heartache and the struggle.
You may be feeling weak spiritually right now… you just can't seem to pray with power.
You read the Bible and forget it as soon as you close it… you have to force yourself to come to church.
Jesus sees the problem, and He cares… Jesus loves us even when we are weak and struggling!
The pain in Derek's leg was now so excruciating he fell face first onto the track wincing in agony.
As help was approaching, Derek fought to his feet and began hopping toward the finish line in a desperate effort to finish the race… but it was too late… he had fallen, and was now far behind.
Suddenly, his father came out of the stands, brushed aside the security guard and ran to Derek.
Putting his arms around his injured son, he helped him to his feet and together they crossed the finish line.
Derek's father came to his side and spoke tenderly to him saying "You don't have to do this," he told his weeping son.
"Yes, I do," Derek said, through clenched teeth. "Then," said his father, "we're going to finish this together."
And the two of them pressed on together… the pain so intense that sometimes Derek's head was buried in his father's shoulder, but they stayed in his lane all the way to the finish line.
As Derek and his father crossed the finish line, the now silent stadium crowd rose to their feet cheering and weeping.
He didn't win a gold medal at Barcelona, but he walked away with the incredible memory of a father who came to him in his time of need… and helped him finish the race.
That's what Jesus does for us when we place our trust in Him.
When we are experiencing pain… when we're struggling to finish the race,
we can be confident that we have a loving Savior who won't let us do it alone.
He left His place in Heaven to come alongside us.
Jesus says to His followers "I am with you always to the very end of the age."
“Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest for your souls”.
Good Day!
(Matthew 28:20) "I am with you always to the very end of the age."
In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Derek Redmond of Great Britain was considered a favorite contender for a medal.
On August 3, 1992 as Redmond was pitted against seven others in a semi-final in the 400 meters Redmond knelt poised, waiting for the race to start.
As the gun went off, his body was translated into a human locomotive, feverishly charging against the other runners but as Redmond prepared to round the curve after the halfway mark, he suddenly heard a pop.
It was his right hamstring and in an instant, he felt the searing pain in his leg.
The other runners passed Derek as he desperately continued his painful trek to the finish line.
He ran with difficulty for a few steps and then began to stumble.
His father, watching from the stands, became keenly alert to his son's difficulty.
As you and I run the race of life, sometimes we grow weak and we struggle.
We, too, often stumble badly but like Derek’s dad… our difficulties do not escape the attention of our Savior.
Sometimes people ask, "How are you?" and we respond, "just fine!"
But truthfully there are times when we are struggling.
But we don't want their pity, or curiosity, or disrespect.
No we want others to think we are in control.
So we put on plastic smiles and faces wearing a mask of false courage.
We try to fool others around us and protect our image.
But our struggles are not hidden from Jesus!
Jesus says in (Matthew 10:30) “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
Jesus doesn't miss it when we grow weak and weary.
(Psalmist 121:4) says, "behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
Jesus sees, Jesus knows, and Jesus cares.
You may be weighted down with debt and financial pressures.
Jesus knows all about that but He has promised to meet all your needs.
Jesus says in (Matthew 6:31-33) “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
You may be struggling with a sense of failure and frustration.
Jesus is aware of it and cares.
You may be struggling with temptation to sin.
Jesus sees it.
Maybe you are at odds with a parent, a brother or sister, or one of your children, maybe a friend.
You want to reconcile, but you are having a difficult time.
Jesus recognizes your struggle.
You may be weak spiritually right now.
You just can't seem to pray with power.
You read the Bible and forget it as soon as you close it.
You have to force yourself to come to church.
Jesus sees the problem, and He cares.
Jesus loves us even when we are weak!
Derek was struggling, and his father was watching from the stands.
The pain in Derek's leg was now so excruciating he stumbled and fell face first onto the track wincing in agony.
As help was approaching, Derek fought to his feet and began hopping toward the finish line in a desperate effort to finish the race.
But he had fallen, and was now far behind.
Suddenly, his father came out of the stands, brushed aside the security guard and ran to Derek.
Putting his arms around his injured son, he helped him stay on his feet and cross the finish line.
In our weakness, we often stumble; but in that very moment, Jesus is there to help.
Derek's father came to his side and spoke kindly. "You don't have to do this," he told his weeping son.
"Yes, I do," Derek said, through clenched teeth. "Then," said his father, "we're going to finish this together."
And the two of them pressed on together; sometimes Derek's head was buried in his father's shoulder, but they stayed in his lane all the way to the finish line.
As Derek and his father crossed the finish line, the crowd rose and cheered and wept.
He didn't win a gold medal at Barcelona, but he walked away with the incredible memory of a father who came to him in his time of need… and helped him finish the race.
That's what Jesus does for us when we place our trust in Him.
When we are experiencing pain when we're struggling to finish the race,
we can be confident that we have a loving Savior who won't let us do it alone.
He left His place in Heaven to come alongside us.
Jesus says to His followers "I am with you always to the very end of the age."
Good Day!
(Jeremiah 1:5) "Before you were born I set you apart."
Today, ask God to tell you who you are.
Bookstore shelves are lined with volumes of books telling us that we can be anything we make up our minds to be.
And while (Proverbs 23:7) tells us there’s some truth to that… “as a man thinketh in his heart so is he”… it’s not the whole truth!
You may believe you can fly with out the aid of an airplane or a parachute but if you try… its pretty much guaranteed your gonna meet Jesus a whole quicker than the rest of us.
Bottom line is you can pray, believe, claim, confess, and try all you want, but you won’t succeed in flying with out the aid of an airplane.
Why? Because you are only empowered to be what He created you, called you and equipped you to be.
He told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; and I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
You were formed for a purpose.
You have a destiny to fulfill.
You are not just a “happen stance” biological accident.
And the beautiful part of Gods plan in your destiny is that you only have to accomplish what He created you to do and to be.
Not what He has commissioned someone else to do or to be.
When God equips you with one talent, He doesn’t give you a five-talent assignment, and vice versa (Matthew 25:14-15).
(1st Corinthians 12”4-6) “There are different kinds of gifts but they are all given to believers by the same Spirit.
There are different ways to serve, but they all come from the same Lord.
There are different ways the Spirit works but the same God is working in all these ways and in all people.
The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way so that it is good for all”.
You have a special purpose that God has created you for, gifted you for, and set you apart for.
It doesn’t matter what your talent or gift is,
Just determine in your heart to start using it for the glory of God, and you will begin to experience a new outlook on life, a new purpose in life, and a new joy and satisfaction that wells up from deep within.
And here’s the great thing: the one-talent person and the five-talent person will both stand one day before Him and hear the commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)
Good Day!
The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way so that it is good for all”.
You have a special purpose that God has created you for, gifted you for, and set you apart for.
It doesn’t matter what your talent or gift is,
Just determine in your heart to start using it for the glory of God, and you will begin to experience a new outlook on life, a new purpose in life, and a new joy and satisfaction that wells up from deep within.
And here’s the great thing: the one-talent person and the five-talent person will both stand one day before Him and hear the commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)
Good Day!
(2nd Corinthians 3:5-6) "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves… but our sufficiency is from God”
Jesus told His disciples, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
What did He mean by that?
He meant that without the “empowering” presence of the Holy Spirit, (which He had just told them they would soon receive), they weren’t equal to the challenges they were about to face.
It wasn’t a matter of His doubting their devotion and willingness to serve Him... He just knew they couldn’t do it by themselves and you can’t either… so the sooner you quit trying, the better off you’ll be!
God isn’t looking for educated, sophisticated, well-meaning individuals motivated rules and governed by flesh, or any other kind of flesh for that matter.
He is Looking for those whom will be “totally dependent” on Him.
Emptying themselves and totally relying on Him.
That means praying and leaning on Him before you start, and continuing to pray and lean on Him until you reach the finish line.
(Zechariah 4:6) “It’s not by might and not by power but it is by my Spirit says the Lord.
It also means that if God doesn’t send you, and you insist on going… or if He tells you to do something and you try to accomplish it in your own strength, the likely hood is that you will surely fail.
And what’s more, He will allow you to keep failing until you reach the place where you can say like Paul, “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent.” (2nd Corinthians 3:5-6)
It’s when we reach the end of our resources that God’s resources, Gods power kicks in.
So today… I want to try to encourage ya’ll to stay focused on God.
Instead of leaning on your own strength and resources, depend wholly and solely on God.
As you stay focused on Him, He will guide, protect, and keep you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11)
As you go thru this day remember that He is right there beside you.
That He is saying to you “I will never leave you nor forsake you, I am with you always”. (Hebrews 13:5)
(Psalms 37:3) “Commit your way unto the Lord and He will direct your paths.
Remember, our competency comes from Him, our victory comes from Him, our strength comes from Him,.
We are more than conquerors because of Him who loves us. (Romans 8:31-39)
Good day!
That means praying and leaning on Him before you start, and continuing to pray and lean on Him until you reach the finish line.
(Zechariah 4:6) “It’s not by might and not by power but it is by my Spirit says the Lord.
It also means that if God doesn’t send you, and you insist on going… or if He tells you to do something and you try to accomplish it in your own strength, the likely hood is that you will surely fail.
And what’s more, He will allow you to keep failing until you reach the place where you can say like Paul, “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent.” (2nd Corinthians 3:5-6)
It’s when we reach the end of our resources that God’s resources, Gods power kicks in.
So today… I want to try to encourage ya’ll to stay focused on God.
Instead of leaning on your own strength and resources, depend wholly and solely on God.
As you stay focused on Him, He will guide, protect, and keep you in all your ways. (Psalm 91:11)
As you go thru this day remember that He is right there beside you.
That He is saying to you “I will never leave you nor forsake you, I am with you always”. (Hebrews 13:5)
(Psalms 37:3) “Commit your way unto the Lord and He will direct your paths.
Remember, our competency comes from Him, our victory comes from Him, our strength comes from Him,.
We are more than conquerors because of Him who loves us. (Romans 8:31-39)
Good day!