scripture
Phillipians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice!
thought
Did you know that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile? Maybe that’s why we are always so tired.
quote
A Christian is just one beggar telling other beggars where to find bread.
Unknown
A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you, but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air. Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE. You are special- Don't EVER forget it."
I don’t know if this man that spoke was a Christian or not, speaking to a church or not but look at the spiritual overtone here. “The worth of our lives comes by who we are and whose we are.” We belong to God. He gave us to His Son who redeemed us through His blood, and if God gave us to Jesus then nothing can take us away from Him. AMEN!
scripture
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
thought
I always thought that this verse meant brothers were born to make you tough. My pastor used this verse and commented that a friend is there only when things are good. But a brother will be there when things are bad.
application
Ask yourself, am I a friend or a brother to those around me? Will I offer help when it is within my power but not really convenient? Do I stop and talk to someone that’s hurting to offer encouragement even if it means that I am five minutes late to where I am headed? Or am I the friend that is there only when it is suits me?
scripture
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
illustration
My wife and I once lived in an area where a beautiful cardinal kept its nest. Cardinals are very territorial and will fight off intruding cardinals zealously. At that time, we owned a van which had large mirrors and chrome bumpers. Occasionally, the cardinal would attack the bumpers or mirrors, thinking that his reflection was another bird. One day, I watched the cardinal assail the mirror, I thought, “What a foolish creature; his enemy is merely the reflection of himself.” Immediately the Lord spoke to my heart, “And so also are many of your enemies the reflection of yourself.” – Francis Frangipane, The Three Battlegrounds
self inspection
Are the things oppressing us today the harvest of what we planted yesterday? – Francis Frangipane, The Three Battlegrounds
scripture
Hebrews 13:18-19 AMP
Keep praying for us, for we are convinced that we have a good (clear) conscience, that we want to walk uprightly and live a noble life, acting honorably and in complete honesty in all things. And I beg of you [to pray for us] the more earnestly, in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
letter
Below is a portion of a letter that took me just 15 minutes to type. I have made an icon link for PrisonerAlert on the top right of the dailyWord homepage. Please click it and see how you can be an encouragement to our brothers and sisters in bondage for their faith in Jesus Christ.
How?
1) Write a letter of encouragement to the prisoner.
2) Write a letter to the prison asking for their release.
Dear Brother Dmitry,
Greetings to you in the precious name of Jesus, the son of God, the redeemer of souls. I have heard about your imprisonment. I write to you so that you will know that you are not forgotten. I will pray for you. I ask God to give you strength to stand boldly before your accusers and to represent Him well. Jesus tells us all in Luke 6 verse 28 to bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Please do not lose heart. Know that your heavenly Father cares…
