Monday
Redemptive Love
Read Romans 6:11-22
This week we are going to be looking at redemptive dreams and how they keep us on the pathway that God has set before us. I realized that before we start this journey that we should look at what redemption and Gods redemptive love is. When the Bible says that “God is love”, it doesn’t mean that one of His attributes is love. It means that He is love. It means that love is the essence of His nature. Because of this, we need to understand everything about God and all that He does in the context of this love. Even His law and His wrath must be understood in the context of His love. Paul defines God’s wrath passively as a love that will not coerce, but allows us to go when we deliberately choose our own way. We must understand as well that the basis of our salvation is also found in God’s nature of love. Apart from this love there would be no gospel, no good news. Therefore, if we are going to understand and appreciate the good news of our salvation, we must be rooted and grounded in God’s love. Redemptive love purchased you. Do not focus on the noise of life, but focus on the heart of God. When trials come do not do as unbelieving Israel did, continually looking backward to the things of this world. He has saved you from Egypt, and promised you Canaan. You have been reserved, your place in eternity has been reserved, and yet He leaves you on this earth for the time being. Trust Him Who has never lied to you. God gives us dreams and visions and these dreams are what keep us on the right track. We have a dream and vision in our heart that is bigger than us, it is God size. Ignore the noise of life and focus – through prayer and reading of His Word – on the glory that is God. Live for Him, for you belong to Him. Let God be God.
Tuesday
Open Your Eyes To God’s Purpose
Read John 16:13-15
One of the most common ways for the Lord to speak, both in the Bible and today, is through dreams (when we are asleep) and visions (when we are awake). He may use dreams because when we are asleep our rational mind cannot interfere with our listening or seeing. Visions are more common for those who have already learned to listen and see what God is doing. Dreams and visions may be very matter-of-fact representations of reality, or highly symbolic metaphors.
Dreams and visions are given as redemptive revelations from God. God is in the redeeming business. If we don’t have a redemptive vision in our life we have nothing to keep us from selfishly doing our own thing and going our own way. We are redeemed to redeem. God created you to be a part of his creative dream and vision for the world that you live in. In that dreams and visions are a redemptive vision for you, your partner, children, your church family, your community, your world. Look at the life of Joseph; he thought the Dream he had was for him but after the testing of the Word in his life he realized it was a dream to redeem his family and the whole world. Our dream must be bigger than us or it is not a God dream. God is a God of redemptive visions.
Wednesday
God Sized Dreams
Read 1 Peter 1:18-20
We all have a dream and vision in our heart that is bigger than us, it is God sized. Before we can travel into the deep waters with any project, we have to dream big first. A dream that comes from God, a God dream is a dream that encourages us, inspires us, give us vision and drive. That is what dreams do. Dreams put you on the right path and prod you to keep going every step of the way. But in order to keep going, you first have to get going! Don't fall into the trap of just dreaming all the time---act on your dreams. Make them happen! Bring them to reality. Remember: Thought creates! Get this information, this knowledge, into your spirit and start thinking about how to take God's process and bring your vision to life. Process is the engine that launches your dreams into reality. Process puts wind to the sails of your visions and ideas. Once you start following through and acting on your dreams, people will be amazed. Time will prove to them that you're on the right track, that your dreams weren't all that crazy; they just required a big God to bring them to reality! What a testimony---you'll have. Don't get discouraged. Your dreams may not come to pass instantly, but as you work alongside God to bring your dreams to life, they will take off and soar. Never let go of your vision just because others can't see it. It is your vision. Live it!
Thursday
Dreaming Big Enough
Read Genesis 28:1-15; 50;20-21
Any dream God put in your heart will be much bigger than you. Most children start out with big dreams of being a major league baseball player or the first woman president of the United States. But people and circumstances whittle those dreams down to size. We reach adulthood, and we voluntarily trim our dreams to manageable proportions so we won't be disappointed.
That's the opposite of what we should do. We should set higher goals, not lower ones. God is the author of bigness, not smallness. We may not reach the highest dream, but we will go a lot farther by aiming high than aiming low. Test your dreams: "Is it too big for me to fulfill without God's help?" If you can do it without His help, you are not dreaming big enough. If it's much bigger than you, you are on the right track. The Bible promises that all things are possible with God. Is your dream impossible enough? Does it go beyond you enough to qualify for God's help? Your dream should be so big that it takes your breath away, makes you temporarily weak in the knees, and makes you cry out to God for help and guidance. Are you able to let this dream go, or does it keep bugging you? A God-given dream is a bothersome thing: it won't leave you alone! It keeps bobbing to the surface of your heart, clamoring for your mind's attention. If that's how your dream behaves, then it is probably from God. You also know it's a God-given dream if you are willing to devote every ounce of energy and every minute of your days to it. A dream inspires devotion like the devotion a parent has for a child: you would give your very life just to see it grow and find fulfillment. God wants us to fully fill the dreams he has for us
Friday
Made To Last
Read Matthew 25;40
Is God speaking to you in your dreams? One third of the Bible records dreams and visions, yet many do not believe that God still speaks to people this way. God has not stopped talking, and He is using dreams and visions to speak to everyone whom He is calling to Himself. God made human beings to last forever. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, to die for people. That's how we should spend our lives, too. If God Himself thought people were worth dying for, shouldn't we follow His example? In fact, the only way to minister to God is to minister to people, as He said, "When you've done it to the least of them, you've done it to Me" (see Matt. 25:40). Your dream must be built on human need. Will it help people? Improve lives? Alleviate human suffering? Does it fill a need nobody else is filling? If so, you can be sure that dream is from God. The secret to happiness in life is pouring into other people, giving without expecting anything in return. Your dream should bring glory to God. The most horrible thing in life is to realize you have wasted months, years or decades following the wrong dream. Life is too precious to fritter away by building on a crumbling foundation. Many people lose their lives, not by dying, but by squandering their time.
The Weekender
Identified Dreams
So, have you identified your dream. If fills all the criteria of a dream from God Himself. How do you bring that dream to fruition? It's not about brute force, mindless energy or human calculation. Here are some steps that I have noticed people take on the road to reaching their dreams:
1. Get alone with God. One reason people never discover their dream and purpose in life is that they never stop long enough to listen.
2. Look at your gifts and talents. Romans 12:6 states we each have gifts. God gave you the gifts you have; you didn't choose them. Fulfillment comes when you use those gifts for Him in service of your dream. Your gifts are the key to discovering God's will in your life.
3. Review your experience. We pay attention not only to our desires and talents, but also to our past history. This is a powerful thing. Romans 8:28 says, "... All things work together for good. ... "God uses all things.
4. Decide what's really important in life. Paul wrote, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful ..." (1 Cor. 10:23). Some things are not wrong, but they're just not necessary. They waste time. We might not have time to pursue every dream, so we must choose to spend time on what's important. Successful people learn to eliminate nonessentials.
5. Journal your dream. Once you are able to define your dream, write it down. Habakkuk 2:2 says, "Then the Lord answered me and said: 'Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.'" If you want to move ahead in your dream, you must write it down--inscribe it indelibly.
March 28, 2012
The Daily Compass March 19-24, 2012(Kingdom Living Serious Business)
Monday
Understanding God’s Will For You
Read Matthew 7:21-27, Jeremiah 29:11
Seed Thought: You can’t enter the Kingdom unless you do the will of the King. What is God's will for your life? We desire to do God's will, but struggle because we don't know what God's will is. The following are some principles from God's Word that will help you to discern what God's will is for you. God does have great plans for our life! We were created by God, in His image, for a purpose. God's will, first and foremost, is that we have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” God wants us to be Christ's disciples. This means Christians must be committed to following God's will daily, whatever the cost. The Bible will help us to know God's will. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. God promises to give us wisdom if we just ask Him in prayer, believing that He will give it. Sometimes we need to just ask God to give us wisdom to discern His will. God tells us that we can pray about everything. God has given us the Holy Spirit for guidance. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. We should listen to the advice of godly men and women that God has placed in our lives. Many times the advice of a parent, pastor, youth minister, Sunday School teacher or other mature person is just what we need to hear to help us decide what God wants us to do. The Bible says that there is a peace that comes when we are pleasing God with our lives. When deciding between two alternatives that you have been praying about, sometimes one of the options will give you a greater peace. That option is probably God's will. We should trust God in faith that He will accomplish His will in our lives. God has given each of us gifts and abilities to use in His service. God always equips us to do what he calls us to do. Remember that God's ultimate purpose for all of us is that He would be glorified and that the gospel and God's kingdom would be advanced.
Action Plan: Do you know what God’s will for your life is? If not it is as easy as asking, being observant of the things you are good at or excites you. Spend time reflecting on your life ask yourself are you in God’s will? Ask yourself are there things that I am good at, am I using them for the Kingdom.
Declaration: God as a plan and a will for my life, I know what that plan and will is and I use it daily to advance the Kingdom.
Tuesday
Communication Is Key
Read John 12:49
Seed Thought: Jesus made it clear that He only spoke what God told Him to speak. That's what we need to be doing. We need to get all our words from God. We can't speak in confidence just because we know what we are saying is the best thing. It could be a "right" word spoken in the "wrong" timing. We must never get locked into any pattern. We must be continuously seeking what God wants at every moment. A situation that looks identical to another may be very very different in God's eyes. Our eyes are limited in what they see. Examine everything. Don't say something just because it seems right. Don't do something just because it seems right. It might be very very wrong. We must be in constant communication with God. It is His Words that will make a difference, not ours. Communication is key to doing God’s will.
Action Plan: Are you seeking God in your everyday life? If not how do you know God’s will for your life? God wants to communicate with you! Seek Him out today what is he telling you?
Declaration: I am in communication with God daily, He speaks to me, I listen to what He says to me!
Wednesday
Life Happens; It’s How You Handle It!
Read Matthew 5:45; James 1:12: Isaiah 43:2-3
Seed Thought: We all go through trials and tribulations during our lives. There's not a single person on earth who hasn't experienced horrendous situations. However, the difference lies in how we respond to these situations and cope with them. Do we allow these harrowing events to shake our faith or to strengthen it! Romans 8:28 says "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." So no matter what we go through, rough waters or flames, we will come out victorious because of the one in whom we have placed our trust. However, during storms in life, when one feels low, one should open the Holy Bible and read the promises and words of encouragement from the Bible. In Isaiah the word says “When you are in rough waters, you will not go down, because I am God your personal God, I paid a huge price for you”. Stuff happens, Things will always happen, when the rough waters come seek God you will find the comfort of His presence breaking through the hurt to reveal the love of His Son Jesus right where you are.
Action Plan: When rough waters come, lean on God, He is all that we need. Are you going through a rough time? Seek Him!
Declaration: I will seek Him; In all things, good or bad; Jesus paid a hefty price for me!
Thursday
Have You Built On The Rock?
Read 1 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 28:16
Seed Thought: There is a hymn by Barney Elliot Warren that read like this; Are you building on the Rock eternal? Are you building on the sinking sand? Are you building on the Rock? Or on the sinking sand? Are you building on a strong foundation? Can you stand the stormy sea of life? ’Mid the surging billows’ wild commotion, Do you conquer in the raging strife? Are you building on a strong foundation, with an anchor that will keep the soul? Living in His love and truth unshaken, Grounded firm and deep though billows roll? Are you building on a strong foundation? Are you grounded in His great salvation, Fastened like an anchor to the Rock?
As Christians our life is built on and around a person. We have a relationship with the King of Kings. He is with at all times and we must learn to walk and share with Him. When we depend on our self or others we will be disappointed but when we learn to depend on Him we will always be able to stand. When we have Him on board in a storm we can know that we will not sink and be lost but He’ll help us get to the other side. Others in our life may shift and give way but He never will! He is solid and we can stand on Him.
Action Plan: Have you built on a strong foundation? Are you fastened to the Rock? Do you want to stop the sinking feeling? Turn it over and build your life on the Rock!
Declaration: My foundation is built on the Rock!
Friday
Check Your Foundation
Read 1 Peter 2:4-10
Seed Thought: Our foundation must be the word of God. When the enemy tempted Eve in the garden and she failed. He attacked two things; the Character of God and the truth of His Word. To have the right foundations we must know the real God and we must believe what He really said. What we believe is the basis of the life we will live. If we believe the wrong things we will live and receive the wrong things. We must see the world and our life from what God has said to be the truth and not on what we think. We have to change the way we are thinking if we want to follow God. If we believe the wrong things or person our foundation will have weaknesses in it. If we don’t build with the right stuff or with the right person we cannot expect the building to stand. Many people think they are believing and standing on the Word when they are actually standing on what they think the Word says. They have believed a preacher or teacher but have not checked the Word out with the Holy Spirit and He is the interpreter of the Word. He is the one who gave it. The Word did not come from man but the Spirit of God.
Action Plan: Is the Word of God your foundation or have you allowed others to form your foundation and thinking? Ask God to show you! Get in your Bible and see what God’s word says for yourself.
Declaration: The word of God is my foundation! And on His word I will stand!
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
Understanding God’s Will For You
Read Matthew 7:21-27, Jeremiah 29:11
Seed Thought: You can’t enter the Kingdom unless you do the will of the King. What is God's will for your life? We desire to do God's will, but struggle because we don't know what God's will is. The following are some principles from God's Word that will help you to discern what God's will is for you. God does have great plans for our life! We were created by God, in His image, for a purpose. God's will, first and foremost, is that we have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” God wants us to be Christ's disciples. This means Christians must be committed to following God's will daily, whatever the cost. The Bible will help us to know God's will. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. God promises to give us wisdom if we just ask Him in prayer, believing that He will give it. Sometimes we need to just ask God to give us wisdom to discern His will. God tells us that we can pray about everything. God has given us the Holy Spirit for guidance. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. We should listen to the advice of godly men and women that God has placed in our lives. Many times the advice of a parent, pastor, youth minister, Sunday School teacher or other mature person is just what we need to hear to help us decide what God wants us to do. The Bible says that there is a peace that comes when we are pleasing God with our lives. When deciding between two alternatives that you have been praying about, sometimes one of the options will give you a greater peace. That option is probably God's will. We should trust God in faith that He will accomplish His will in our lives. God has given each of us gifts and abilities to use in His service. God always equips us to do what he calls us to do. Remember that God's ultimate purpose for all of us is that He would be glorified and that the gospel and God's kingdom would be advanced.
Action Plan: Do you know what God’s will for your life is? If not it is as easy as asking, being observant of the things you are good at or excites you. Spend time reflecting on your life ask yourself are you in God’s will? Ask yourself are there things that I am good at, am I using them for the Kingdom.
Declaration: God as a plan and a will for my life, I know what that plan and will is and I use it daily to advance the Kingdom.
Tuesday
Communication Is Key
Read John 12:49
Seed Thought: Jesus made it clear that He only spoke what God told Him to speak. That's what we need to be doing. We need to get all our words from God. We can't speak in confidence just because we know what we are saying is the best thing. It could be a "right" word spoken in the "wrong" timing. We must never get locked into any pattern. We must be continuously seeking what God wants at every moment. A situation that looks identical to another may be very very different in God's eyes. Our eyes are limited in what they see. Examine everything. Don't say something just because it seems right. Don't do something just because it seems right. It might be very very wrong. We must be in constant communication with God. It is His Words that will make a difference, not ours. Communication is key to doing God’s will.
Action Plan: Are you seeking God in your everyday life? If not how do you know God’s will for your life? God wants to communicate with you! Seek Him out today what is he telling you?
Declaration: I am in communication with God daily, He speaks to me, I listen to what He says to me!
Wednesday
Life Happens; It’s How You Handle It!
Read Matthew 5:45; James 1:12: Isaiah 43:2-3
Seed Thought: We all go through trials and tribulations during our lives. There's not a single person on earth who hasn't experienced horrendous situations. However, the difference lies in how we respond to these situations and cope with them. Do we allow these harrowing events to shake our faith or to strengthen it! Romans 8:28 says "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." So no matter what we go through, rough waters or flames, we will come out victorious because of the one in whom we have placed our trust. However, during storms in life, when one feels low, one should open the Holy Bible and read the promises and words of encouragement from the Bible. In Isaiah the word says “When you are in rough waters, you will not go down, because I am God your personal God, I paid a huge price for you”. Stuff happens, Things will always happen, when the rough waters come seek God you will find the comfort of His presence breaking through the hurt to reveal the love of His Son Jesus right where you are.
Action Plan: When rough waters come, lean on God, He is all that we need. Are you going through a rough time? Seek Him!
Declaration: I will seek Him; In all things, good or bad; Jesus paid a hefty price for me!
Thursday
Have You Built On The Rock?
Read 1 Corinthians 10:4; Isaiah 28:16
Seed Thought: There is a hymn by Barney Elliot Warren that read like this; Are you building on the Rock eternal? Are you building on the sinking sand? Are you building on the Rock? Or on the sinking sand? Are you building on a strong foundation? Can you stand the stormy sea of life? ’Mid the surging billows’ wild commotion, Do you conquer in the raging strife? Are you building on a strong foundation, with an anchor that will keep the soul? Living in His love and truth unshaken, Grounded firm and deep though billows roll? Are you building on a strong foundation? Are you grounded in His great salvation, Fastened like an anchor to the Rock?
As Christians our life is built on and around a person. We have a relationship with the King of Kings. He is with at all times and we must learn to walk and share with Him. When we depend on our self or others we will be disappointed but when we learn to depend on Him we will always be able to stand. When we have Him on board in a storm we can know that we will not sink and be lost but He’ll help us get to the other side. Others in our life may shift and give way but He never will! He is solid and we can stand on Him.
Action Plan: Have you built on a strong foundation? Are you fastened to the Rock? Do you want to stop the sinking feeling? Turn it over and build your life on the Rock!
Declaration: My foundation is built on the Rock!
Friday
Check Your Foundation
Read 1 Peter 2:4-10
Seed Thought: Our foundation must be the word of God. When the enemy tempted Eve in the garden and she failed. He attacked two things; the Character of God and the truth of His Word. To have the right foundations we must know the real God and we must believe what He really said. What we believe is the basis of the life we will live. If we believe the wrong things we will live and receive the wrong things. We must see the world and our life from what God has said to be the truth and not on what we think. We have to change the way we are thinking if we want to follow God. If we believe the wrong things or person our foundation will have weaknesses in it. If we don’t build with the right stuff or with the right person we cannot expect the building to stand. Many people think they are believing and standing on the Word when they are actually standing on what they think the Word says. They have believed a preacher or teacher but have not checked the Word out with the Holy Spirit and He is the interpreter of the Word. He is the one who gave it. The Word did not come from man but the Spirit of God.
Action Plan: Is the Word of God your foundation or have you allowed others to form your foundation and thinking? Ask God to show you! Get in your Bible and see what God’s word says for yourself.
Declaration: The word of God is my foundation! And on His word I will stand!
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
The Daily Compass March 12-17, 2012(Farther, Bigger, Further Dreams)
Monday
Realizing Your Dream
Read Joshua 14: 6 – 9
We all possess dreams. Depending on where you are in your life, you have dreams for your future, your health, your job, your marriage, your kids, and your church. We have dreams of being recognized of just who we are. The list goes on. Dreams, when fulfilled, bring such joy. But when our dreams are not fulfilled, when our expectations are not met, sometimes it shatters us and negatively affects our future. Sometimes our dreams and expectations are not met because we do not have the right dreams. What are the right dreams? What should your dreams be? Your dreams should be the hopes and promises that God has placed in your heart. There are these questions we must also ask ourselves what do you see? Where are you going? Have you started yet?
In the Bible Caleb reminds Joshua of the dream Moses spoke to them regarding the promise of God. Caleb was one of the selected scouts who were to seek out the “promise land” God had shared. In the same way, you have to hold onto God’s promise to you. Caleb reminded Joshua of the promise — gift — that God had for him. In the same way, God has a gift — promise — for you too. No matter what, your future is not defined by your past, but by your willingness to follow God and the dream He has given to you. Situations in life can cause you to let go of your dreams and disbelieve God’s promise. You probably know that the land God had promised had giants in it. Caleb says: “Let’s go!” It’s not that Caleb didn’t know about the giants, it’s just that he knew that his God (and God’s promise) was bigger than the giants. Keep in mind that God will never give you a dream greater than what He can fulfill but you have to be willing to go for it. So, what dream has God placed in your heart? What dreams have you let go of? What dreams have become the forgotten dreams of yesterday due to fear or impatience? I encourage you to get close to God, hold onto your dreams, go for it and do the work necessary to see your dreams realized.
Tuesday
What Perspective Do You Have?
Read John 3:1-3; Ephesians 1:17-18; Proverbs 29:18, Psalms 74:9; Lamentations 2:9
Many in the body of Christ are without the heavenly perspective that is necessary to stand firm and pursue the dreams they have been given. They are tossed around by what they see on the news or advice from family, friends, neighbors or colleagues. Many times, even what is heard from the pulpit is nothing more discouragement. The time has come for people to look to God and His Word and what He is saying and follow His lead.
The Bible says without vision, or revelation, the people perish "We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, nor is there any among us who knows how long". These verses describe both an individual and a national state in which God's people lack prophetic understanding or revelation. Lamentations describes Jerusalem in this same state: "Her gates have sunk into the ground ... and her prophets find no vision from the Lord." Hosea says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Knowledge, wisdom, revelation, vision—God is trying to tell us that we will not survive without them. He has made these things available to us by His Spirit, but are we listening? Are we seeing from a heavenly perspective? God has placed dreams in us to be accomplished not for us to let them die. Are you looking from a world perspective or a God perspective?
Wednesday
Bigger Than You
Read Ephesians 3:20
Your dreams start from deep within your heart. Dreams are more than goals and bucket lists but they can definitely start there. Real dreams, God dreams are always much bigger than you originally begin with. However, it is critical that you start with what you are dreaming and why you are dreaming it. I love to create lists. It’s a fun exercise to stretch me out of my practical mindset. Every time I create a dream list, I push myself to make it bigger and even more unattainable in my own strength. Dream lists are a great place to find the what of your dreams.
The why of your dream is just as important. What significant contribution are you making with your dream? How are you helping the world? How are you contributing your creativity and talents in a way that only you can? What is the purpose of that list you created? If you can accomplish anything on your list in your own strength, it’s just a goal. If you need to rely on God, it’s a dream. You’re also going to need to be connected with His heart. That is a great why evaluation. Is your dream selfish or is it bigger than you? I think many of us (myself included) need to repent of small thinking.
What’s Your Dream? Make a list of your dreams and then evaluate your dreams can they be accomplished on your own or do you need God’s help to achieve them?
Thursday
The Vision Of A Dreamer
Read 1 John 3:1-3; 4:4; Luke 9:62
“A man without a vision is a man without a future. A man without a future will always return to his past.” ~P.K. Bernard
Dreams without vision are fantasies. Vision puts legs to your dreams. Vision is the how that enables you to accomplish your mission. If you live a life of what and why without a how, you are destined to fail and go right back to where you started. That’s why you can’t stop with creating a dream list. You can’t just talk about starting a business. You can’t just dream about starting a ministry. You must but some action behind them. You must be able to see your dream with a clear and established vision. The vision consists of the practical aspects to make your dream happen. The vision is the business plan. The vision is research. Establishing vision is hard work. Until you share the vision, you can’t get others excited about your dream. Sure, people might pat you on the back after reading your list of dreams but if you show them a plan of action, they know you mean business. When you have your vision established, others will be able to see it and even partner with you to make it happen. Vision starts with you!
Friday
The Identity of a Dreamer
Read 1 John 1:7; Revelation 21:23-25
Identity is the glue connecting your mission and vision to God. There are plenty of websites and organizations out there encouraging you to follow your dreams. What is missing is a subtle yet key aspect. The object of glory. When you know your identity in Christ, you won’t want to take the glory when your dream comes to pass. Furthermore, your dream cannot become your identity. When you are rooted and grounded in Christ, it all is ultimately about His glory and His fame. You realize your place as a son or daughter and give all credit where it is due. Humility will sustain your dream as it grows. Everyone has a dream, You have those dreams because God created you for greatness. Not for your glory but so that it reflects His character in His children. He is living in us, after all.
So the question is, what are you going to do about those dreams? You can’t go where your dream is looking back; you cannot get there without moving forward. Your movement challenges complacency and mediocrity. Do you have a vision to “see” your dreams fulfilled? How can you put legs on your dreams today? Take the time today and reflect on your dreams and visions; think deeper. Are you dreams obtainable by you or do you need God for those dreams to take place? Are the dreams you have for your glory or His?
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be. What is your Shape? What do you love? Have you realized your dream?
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
Realizing Your Dream
Read Joshua 14: 6 – 9
We all possess dreams. Depending on where you are in your life, you have dreams for your future, your health, your job, your marriage, your kids, and your church. We have dreams of being recognized of just who we are. The list goes on. Dreams, when fulfilled, bring such joy. But when our dreams are not fulfilled, when our expectations are not met, sometimes it shatters us and negatively affects our future. Sometimes our dreams and expectations are not met because we do not have the right dreams. What are the right dreams? What should your dreams be? Your dreams should be the hopes and promises that God has placed in your heart. There are these questions we must also ask ourselves what do you see? Where are you going? Have you started yet?
In the Bible Caleb reminds Joshua of the dream Moses spoke to them regarding the promise of God. Caleb was one of the selected scouts who were to seek out the “promise land” God had shared. In the same way, you have to hold onto God’s promise to you. Caleb reminded Joshua of the promise — gift — that God had for him. In the same way, God has a gift — promise — for you too. No matter what, your future is not defined by your past, but by your willingness to follow God and the dream He has given to you. Situations in life can cause you to let go of your dreams and disbelieve God’s promise. You probably know that the land God had promised had giants in it. Caleb says: “Let’s go!” It’s not that Caleb didn’t know about the giants, it’s just that he knew that his God (and God’s promise) was bigger than the giants. Keep in mind that God will never give you a dream greater than what He can fulfill but you have to be willing to go for it. So, what dream has God placed in your heart? What dreams have you let go of? What dreams have become the forgotten dreams of yesterday due to fear or impatience? I encourage you to get close to God, hold onto your dreams, go for it and do the work necessary to see your dreams realized.
Tuesday
What Perspective Do You Have?
Read John 3:1-3; Ephesians 1:17-18; Proverbs 29:18, Psalms 74:9; Lamentations 2:9
Many in the body of Christ are without the heavenly perspective that is necessary to stand firm and pursue the dreams they have been given. They are tossed around by what they see on the news or advice from family, friends, neighbors or colleagues. Many times, even what is heard from the pulpit is nothing more discouragement. The time has come for people to look to God and His Word and what He is saying and follow His lead.
The Bible says without vision, or revelation, the people perish "We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, nor is there any among us who knows how long". These verses describe both an individual and a national state in which God's people lack prophetic understanding or revelation. Lamentations describes Jerusalem in this same state: "Her gates have sunk into the ground ... and her prophets find no vision from the Lord." Hosea says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Knowledge, wisdom, revelation, vision—God is trying to tell us that we will not survive without them. He has made these things available to us by His Spirit, but are we listening? Are we seeing from a heavenly perspective? God has placed dreams in us to be accomplished not for us to let them die. Are you looking from a world perspective or a God perspective?
Wednesday
Bigger Than You
Read Ephesians 3:20
Your dreams start from deep within your heart. Dreams are more than goals and bucket lists but they can definitely start there. Real dreams, God dreams are always much bigger than you originally begin with. However, it is critical that you start with what you are dreaming and why you are dreaming it. I love to create lists. It’s a fun exercise to stretch me out of my practical mindset. Every time I create a dream list, I push myself to make it bigger and even more unattainable in my own strength. Dream lists are a great place to find the what of your dreams.
The why of your dream is just as important. What significant contribution are you making with your dream? How are you helping the world? How are you contributing your creativity and talents in a way that only you can? What is the purpose of that list you created? If you can accomplish anything on your list in your own strength, it’s just a goal. If you need to rely on God, it’s a dream. You’re also going to need to be connected with His heart. That is a great why evaluation. Is your dream selfish or is it bigger than you? I think many of us (myself included) need to repent of small thinking.
What’s Your Dream? Make a list of your dreams and then evaluate your dreams can they be accomplished on your own or do you need God’s help to achieve them?
Thursday
The Vision Of A Dreamer
Read 1 John 3:1-3; 4:4; Luke 9:62
“A man without a vision is a man without a future. A man without a future will always return to his past.” ~P.K. Bernard
Dreams without vision are fantasies. Vision puts legs to your dreams. Vision is the how that enables you to accomplish your mission. If you live a life of what and why without a how, you are destined to fail and go right back to where you started. That’s why you can’t stop with creating a dream list. You can’t just talk about starting a business. You can’t just dream about starting a ministry. You must but some action behind them. You must be able to see your dream with a clear and established vision. The vision consists of the practical aspects to make your dream happen. The vision is the business plan. The vision is research. Establishing vision is hard work. Until you share the vision, you can’t get others excited about your dream. Sure, people might pat you on the back after reading your list of dreams but if you show them a plan of action, they know you mean business. When you have your vision established, others will be able to see it and even partner with you to make it happen. Vision starts with you!
Friday
The Identity of a Dreamer
Read 1 John 1:7; Revelation 21:23-25
Identity is the glue connecting your mission and vision to God. There are plenty of websites and organizations out there encouraging you to follow your dreams. What is missing is a subtle yet key aspect. The object of glory. When you know your identity in Christ, you won’t want to take the glory when your dream comes to pass. Furthermore, your dream cannot become your identity. When you are rooted and grounded in Christ, it all is ultimately about His glory and His fame. You realize your place as a son or daughter and give all credit where it is due. Humility will sustain your dream as it grows. Everyone has a dream, You have those dreams because God created you for greatness. Not for your glory but so that it reflects His character in His children. He is living in us, after all.
So the question is, what are you going to do about those dreams? You can’t go where your dream is looking back; you cannot get there without moving forward. Your movement challenges complacency and mediocrity. Do you have a vision to “see” your dreams fulfilled? How can you put legs on your dreams today? Take the time today and reflect on your dreams and visions; think deeper. Are you dreams obtainable by you or do you need God for those dreams to take place? Are the dreams you have for your glory or His?
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be. What is your Shape? What do you love? Have you realized your dream?
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
The Daily Compass March 5-10, 2012(Everyone Has A Dream)
Monday
God Has A Plan
Read Hebrews 12:1c(NLT);Jeremiah 29;11
I’ve said many times that God has a plan for your life. But what I want to emphasize is that his plan, which Paul describes as a race in today’s verse, is custom-designed for you and you alone. You are supposed to run the race God has set for you. Not the race you set for yourself, not the race other people set for you, and not the race culture sets for you. You only run the race God has set for you. If you try to run any other course, you are going to fail and get discouraged. The reason why so many people are discouraged today is that they are trying to please other people. Living for the approval of others is a weight that holds you back. You need to stop!
How do you know what is the race God wants you to run? Look at your Shape. Your Shape is your Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experiences. What are you gifted to do? What do you love? What are your abilities? What is your personality? What are your experiences?
God doesn’t want rabbits to fly and eagles to swim. They are shaped to do what they are supposed to do, and you are shaped to do what God wants you to do. So stop trying to run other people’s races and go run God’s race for you!
Points to Ponder: What’s your Shape? What are your gifts? What do you love? How are you using these things in the Kingdom or in what ways could you use them to further the Kingdom?
Tuesday
Everyone Has A Dream
Read Genesis 37:3-11
“Welcome To Hollywood” “Everybody Has A Dream” “What’s Your Dream?” These are the ending lines to the movie “Pretty Woman”. Everybody has a dream! This statement could not be truer. “You may think that dreams only happen to someone else, but you carry a Dream hidden deep in your heart. You have a big dream too. God has put a driving passion in you to do something special. Why wouldn’t He? You are created in his image the only person exactly like you in the universe. No one else can do your dream. The journey toward your Big Dream changes you. In fact, the journey itself is what prepares you to succeed at what you were born to do. And until you decide to pursue your dream, you are never going to love your life the way you were meant to. Yet millions of people never take the first step.” “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkinson. There is a Joseph or Moses in each one of us.
Points to Ponder: Take a Moment and think about these statements: Do you have a dream? What is your dream? Take a moment and write your dreams down, it always helps to see something in writing. If you think you do not have a dream ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize the dreams inside of you!
Wednesday
Is Your Vision Blurred?
Read Joshua 23&24
How many of you wear glasses or contacts or have had some sort of corrective surgery for your vision? I began wearing glasses when I was in the 3rd because I wasn’t seeing things in the distance clearly; they were blurred. At school I had to strain to figure out what was on the board. Eventually (I was slow to get this), such clues made it clear that I needed help. Today, I wear glasses for distance and to see up close, If I don’t wear my glasses, I can read fine but can’t see beyond my hand with clarity. Without help, I cannot focus correctly. In a similar way we need help to focus our lives on God; otherwise, we end up missing what is most important in life because our vision is blurry. We cannot follow that dream for the course of our lives without that focus. We can learn a lot form the story of Joshua’s life Joshua kept his vision focused on God for his entire life. Only once did Joshua fail to focus on God, when he did not consult Him about making a covenant with the people of Gibeon, as we discussed last week. Every other time that the Bible mentions Joshua, we see him following that dream by walking closely with God. We must make an effort to see God clearly; it doesn’t just happen; we must work on it.
We have to focus on God. It starts with a learning Him and having a relationship with Him. To keep our focus on the dreams God has placed in us. We must become aware of a personal dream or calling and then decide to pursue it. We should face fear as we leave our place of comfort. We must realize we will encounter opposition from those around us. We can endure a season of difficulty that tests your faith (remember it is only for a season). Take time and learn the importance of surrender and consecration to God. Stand up and fight the giants that stand between you and the fulfillment of your dream. You will reach your full potential as you remain focused on achieving your dream and by bringing honor to God.
Thursday
When All Been Said
Read Acts 2:17; John 1:1-4; 14; Luke 8:11; Ephesians 4:15-16
God loves you and has placed his seed in you. He sent you prepackaged with a dream. God has placed in us His thoughts and words for today’s world. You may not be cognitively aware of the dream, but there is one in you. It may just be a faint concept, desire, or need, but it is there. It is important to become aware of your dream. A seed does not grow without some action. To Grow your dream you have to plant it by speaking it out and you have to live your Dream to make it grow. Dreams are defined and clarified by time, difficulty, and opposition. We come into our dreams as we help others realize and come into their dreams.
“See our life is like the grape on the vine we go through life wanting to be that wine; In life Being tested squeezed and crushed; To bring satisfaction to our maker is a must! From one faint single seed; HE grew in us His precious gift indeed Love, compassion, and to serve HIS name; Just like that wine in the glass but not in vain" Brian Rogers (Inland Hills Church, California)
When we come to the end of our dream we realize that it is not for us, but for the kingdom of God and the people of God.
Friday
Dream Big!
Read Acts 2:17; Ephesians 2:10
When God gives you a dream, it's always bigger than you are. It's usually so big that it will take your breath away because of the impossibility of it. When God calls you to do something there will always be things that God wants to accomplish that feels impossible - and in the natural it is. You may even say to the Lord "you've got to be kidding! You're asking me to do THIS?" That must have been how Moses felt when he was tasked to lead the children of Israel out of captivity. But, he did it and he did it by faith in a God that was bigger than himself - bigger than the dream.
"Those who choose to live by sight will always outnumber those who live by faith". But it’s those who live by faith that have their dreams manifested. When you're doing what God has called you to do and in the foxholes with bullets flying over your head - with people who are always willing to tell you what you're doing wrong, it's easy to forget what you are doing right. Sometimes you just need to pull out the map and look at all the territory you've taken. Sometimes we just need to get out the dreams God has placed within us, dust them off, get the Word of God out concerning them, and pick up that big 'ole dream and begin to envision it again - stir it up. Yes, we CAN do it!
"Great it is to dream the dream when you stand in youth by the starry stream...but a greater thing is to fight life through, and say at the end, the dream is true" (John Osteen's quote). The dream is true! Dream big!
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be. What is your Shape? What do you love? Have you realized your dream?
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
God Has A Plan
Read Hebrews 12:1c(NLT);Jeremiah 29;11
I’ve said many times that God has a plan for your life. But what I want to emphasize is that his plan, which Paul describes as a race in today’s verse, is custom-designed for you and you alone. You are supposed to run the race God has set for you. Not the race you set for yourself, not the race other people set for you, and not the race culture sets for you. You only run the race God has set for you. If you try to run any other course, you are going to fail and get discouraged. The reason why so many people are discouraged today is that they are trying to please other people. Living for the approval of others is a weight that holds you back. You need to stop!
How do you know what is the race God wants you to run? Look at your Shape. Your Shape is your Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experiences. What are you gifted to do? What do you love? What are your abilities? What is your personality? What are your experiences?
God doesn’t want rabbits to fly and eagles to swim. They are shaped to do what they are supposed to do, and you are shaped to do what God wants you to do. So stop trying to run other people’s races and go run God’s race for you!
Points to Ponder: What’s your Shape? What are your gifts? What do you love? How are you using these things in the Kingdom or in what ways could you use them to further the Kingdom?
Tuesday
Everyone Has A Dream
Read Genesis 37:3-11
“Welcome To Hollywood” “Everybody Has A Dream” “What’s Your Dream?” These are the ending lines to the movie “Pretty Woman”. Everybody has a dream! This statement could not be truer. “You may think that dreams only happen to someone else, but you carry a Dream hidden deep in your heart. You have a big dream too. God has put a driving passion in you to do something special. Why wouldn’t He? You are created in his image the only person exactly like you in the universe. No one else can do your dream. The journey toward your Big Dream changes you. In fact, the journey itself is what prepares you to succeed at what you were born to do. And until you decide to pursue your dream, you are never going to love your life the way you were meant to. Yet millions of people never take the first step.” “The Dream Giver” by Bruce Wilkinson. There is a Joseph or Moses in each one of us.
Points to Ponder: Take a Moment and think about these statements: Do you have a dream? What is your dream? Take a moment and write your dreams down, it always helps to see something in writing. If you think you do not have a dream ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize the dreams inside of you!
Wednesday
Is Your Vision Blurred?
Read Joshua 23&24
How many of you wear glasses or contacts or have had some sort of corrective surgery for your vision? I began wearing glasses when I was in the 3rd because I wasn’t seeing things in the distance clearly; they were blurred. At school I had to strain to figure out what was on the board. Eventually (I was slow to get this), such clues made it clear that I needed help. Today, I wear glasses for distance and to see up close, If I don’t wear my glasses, I can read fine but can’t see beyond my hand with clarity. Without help, I cannot focus correctly. In a similar way we need help to focus our lives on God; otherwise, we end up missing what is most important in life because our vision is blurry. We cannot follow that dream for the course of our lives without that focus. We can learn a lot form the story of Joshua’s life Joshua kept his vision focused on God for his entire life. Only once did Joshua fail to focus on God, when he did not consult Him about making a covenant with the people of Gibeon, as we discussed last week. Every other time that the Bible mentions Joshua, we see him following that dream by walking closely with God. We must make an effort to see God clearly; it doesn’t just happen; we must work on it.
We have to focus on God. It starts with a learning Him and having a relationship with Him. To keep our focus on the dreams God has placed in us. We must become aware of a personal dream or calling and then decide to pursue it. We should face fear as we leave our place of comfort. We must realize we will encounter opposition from those around us. We can endure a season of difficulty that tests your faith (remember it is only for a season). Take time and learn the importance of surrender and consecration to God. Stand up and fight the giants that stand between you and the fulfillment of your dream. You will reach your full potential as you remain focused on achieving your dream and by bringing honor to God.
Thursday
When All Been Said
Read Acts 2:17; John 1:1-4; 14; Luke 8:11; Ephesians 4:15-16
God loves you and has placed his seed in you. He sent you prepackaged with a dream. God has placed in us His thoughts and words for today’s world. You may not be cognitively aware of the dream, but there is one in you. It may just be a faint concept, desire, or need, but it is there. It is important to become aware of your dream. A seed does not grow without some action. To Grow your dream you have to plant it by speaking it out and you have to live your Dream to make it grow. Dreams are defined and clarified by time, difficulty, and opposition. We come into our dreams as we help others realize and come into their dreams.
“See our life is like the grape on the vine we go through life wanting to be that wine; In life Being tested squeezed and crushed; To bring satisfaction to our maker is a must! From one faint single seed; HE grew in us His precious gift indeed Love, compassion, and to serve HIS name; Just like that wine in the glass but not in vain" Brian Rogers (Inland Hills Church, California)
When we come to the end of our dream we realize that it is not for us, but for the kingdom of God and the people of God.
Friday
Dream Big!
Read Acts 2:17; Ephesians 2:10
When God gives you a dream, it's always bigger than you are. It's usually so big that it will take your breath away because of the impossibility of it. When God calls you to do something there will always be things that God wants to accomplish that feels impossible - and in the natural it is. You may even say to the Lord "you've got to be kidding! You're asking me to do THIS?" That must have been how Moses felt when he was tasked to lead the children of Israel out of captivity. But, he did it and he did it by faith in a God that was bigger than himself - bigger than the dream.
"Those who choose to live by sight will always outnumber those who live by faith". But it’s those who live by faith that have their dreams manifested. When you're doing what God has called you to do and in the foxholes with bullets flying over your head - with people who are always willing to tell you what you're doing wrong, it's easy to forget what you are doing right. Sometimes you just need to pull out the map and look at all the territory you've taken. Sometimes we just need to get out the dreams God has placed within us, dust them off, get the Word of God out concerning them, and pick up that big 'ole dream and begin to envision it again - stir it up. Yes, we CAN do it!
"Great it is to dream the dream when you stand in youth by the starry stream...but a greater thing is to fight life through, and say at the end, the dream is true" (John Osteen's quote). The dream is true! Dream big!
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be. What is your Shape? What do you love? Have you realized your dream?
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
The Daily Compass February 27- March 3, 2012(Dream Giver)
Monday
Everyone Needs A Dream
Read Genesis 28:10-22; John 1:43-51; Psalms 16:7
The Lord speaks to us in many ways, through prayer, messages from other people, and, of course, the Scriptures. The Bible also shows us that the Lord sometimes speaks to us through dreams. The Bible declares that God counsels us at night through our dreams (Ps. 16:7). In dreams in the Bible, God gives wise direction concerning the next step to take. He grants wisdom and encourages people in faith. He shows them how to escape coming calamity and how to provide for their families in the midst of imminent disasters. God even enters into covenants with people and grants them gifts in their dreams! Dreams were common in the book of Genesis. These dreams come to give us direction or understanding. You do not need to be a believer in God or a Christian to receive a dream from him. God can speak to all of us by dreams despite our beliefs or hang-ups. Dreams are the seedbed of the work of God. They start in the seedbed book and continue on through the New Testament.
God spoke to Abimelech, a pagan king, in a dream at night, warning him against taking Abraham's wife. God spoke to Pharaoh the king of Egypt in a dream. God used a dream to warned Pharaoh about a famine that was to affect the whole world. The dream enabled Pharaoh, with the help of Joseph, to make adequate preparation for this famine. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had a dream from God about the future kingdoms to come. The Midianite soldier had a dream from God about the coming defeat of his army. This soldier was an ordinary man, not a ruler nor leader. It shows how God can speak to ordinary people through dreams. Pilate, the man who had the responsibility for letting the Jews crucify Jesus, his wife was warned by God in a dream about them harming Jesus. God also spoke to the Magi, who were probably pagan astrologers, in a dream, warning them not to return to Herod. There are also loads of present day examples of God speaking to people through dreams. The problem is that we do not always recognize it. Do You Recognize God when He is speaking to you?
Tuesday
What Are Dreams?
Read Joel 2:28-29
What are dreams? – dreams are a sequence of images, etc. passing through a sleeping person's mind". Dreams tell a story, by unveiling a sequence of events during sleep. The Lord can use anything in our lives to train us and He allows each experience we receive to raise us up into His image. God has chosen to communicate with mankind through dreams. He guides and counsels us through our dreams. He establishes covenants with us through our dreams. He grants us gifts in our dreams. He utilized dreams from Genesis to Revelation, and declared that He would continue to use them in the last days. When you total up all dreams and visions in the Bible, and all the stories and actions which come out of these dreams and visions, you have about one-third of the Bible, which is equal to the size of the New Testament! Dreams are a central way God has chosen to communicate with us, and they should be given great weight!
“The ability to dream is the greatest power on earth. The ability to see your hope is the greatest motivator of humanity. The ability to imagine and incubate a vision is inherent in the human spirit and manifests itself in the daydreams of every child. This gift of imagination and the capacity to cultivate aspirations is the impartation of the Spirit of the Creator of all things. It provides mankind with the power to hope beyond the present.” (Dr. Miles Munroe). God gives dreams to give man hope and to create vision. We need hope to have faith and faith to have the ability to express love.
Wednesday
God Gives Dreams
Read Acts 2:17-18; Proverbs 29:18; Proverbs 3:5
What Parent does not have dreams for their children and what child does not dream about their future! All kids have heroes. For some it is becoming a cowboy like Roy Rogers, and for others it is becoming an astronaut like Neil Armstrong or a nurse like Florence Nightingale. The strange thing is, that the kind of heroes we dream of becoming can be amazingly accurate in predicting the kinds of skills we will need to fulfill the real dream that God has placed inside us. Proverbs 29:18 says, “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” (The Message) If you have no vision or dream, and if you don’t allow yourself to be guided by the Lord, then you stumble all over yourself. If there isn’t a dream inside you, holding you on course, then your life can be shaped by a hopeless and meaningless culture, and you’ll find yourself swept away with the tide. Every human has a purpose that God has created them for. He is the dream giver and the dream fulfiller. What is you dream? You don’t need to make up your dream: God already a plan for you life, one that is fashioned only for you. The Bible says God has good works he has prepared ahead of time that we should walk in them. Your dream is unique: Nobody else has one exactly like it. The dream God has given you is as individual as your fingerprints. God created you to fill a need in His body and make an impact for Him in today’s world. Your dream is waiting for you to act: Since God created your dream; He is waiting for you to take hold of it. Like Paul, you will have to make a commitment to honor God and follow the dream he has put inside you. “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” – Proverbs 3:5. It’s never too late to follow your dream: Check out Moses. He was eighty years old before he followed his life’s purpose and actually set the people of Israel free. Our goal is to run the race in such a way that we will win the prize. We should be looking forward, not back. As we set our eyes on the Son, He will make our path apparent and lead us in the way we should go.
Thursday
Big Dreams!
Read Genesis 31:10-13; Genesis 30:38
A world without dreams is a world without progress and excellence. God gave me dreams for a purpose; they are God’s way of programming me for excellence. I will dream great dreams and achieve excellence in my life. When we hear people talk about God's plan for their life, there's frequently a feeling of apprehension embedded in the discussion. The unspoken fear is that God wants to make you do something that you don't want to do, and He has a plan to send you to some obscure part of the planet. You're sure that if you follow His plan, you'll end up in some remote part of our planet doing things that you don't want to do. I'm not sure why people are so apprehensive. God never did anything to make people feel that way. God can use you anywhere.
God has a dream for your life that is far better than anything you can imagine. And you don’t have to twist God’s arm to make that dream come true. God wants our dreams to come true even more than we do. God needs us, He needs all of our talents and abilities. He is our Daddy and he has given us all of our talents and abilities and He wants us to use them to Bless His world and in return He wants to bless us. We do not have to grovel and scrape before God because we are His. God’s arms of love are our arms. God’s heart of love is our heart. God has a plan for each of us, all he is waiting for is for us to say yes and start living the plan. God is not holding anything back from us. God wants to use us in a BIG way. He wants us to live large for the kingdom.
Friday
God Gave US
By Regina Hill
God gave us the seasons -- each with its own beauty and reason, each meant to bring us a blessing,
a joy, and a feeling of love. God gave us dreams --each with its own secret, each sent to give us feelings of
inspiration, hope, and tranquility. God gave us the sunshine, the rainbows and the rain, the beauty and freedom of nature to teach us the wisdom of gentle acceptance. God gave us miracles in our hearts and lives, little things that happen to remind us we're alive.
God gave us the ability to face each new day with courage, wisdom, and a smile from knowing that whatever sorrow or pain we face, He abides with us securely in our hearts
Most of all, God gave us friends to teach us about love and guide us through this world, always available to help us forward towards a greater understanding and a greater sharing and giving of love.
The Weekender (Dreams)
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. What are your dreams. What has the Holy Spirit highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take time and right down your dreams:
Everyone Needs A Dream
Read Genesis 28:10-22; John 1:43-51; Psalms 16:7
The Lord speaks to us in many ways, through prayer, messages from other people, and, of course, the Scriptures. The Bible also shows us that the Lord sometimes speaks to us through dreams. The Bible declares that God counsels us at night through our dreams (Ps. 16:7). In dreams in the Bible, God gives wise direction concerning the next step to take. He grants wisdom and encourages people in faith. He shows them how to escape coming calamity and how to provide for their families in the midst of imminent disasters. God even enters into covenants with people and grants them gifts in their dreams! Dreams were common in the book of Genesis. These dreams come to give us direction or understanding. You do not need to be a believer in God or a Christian to receive a dream from him. God can speak to all of us by dreams despite our beliefs or hang-ups. Dreams are the seedbed of the work of God. They start in the seedbed book and continue on through the New Testament.
God spoke to Abimelech, a pagan king, in a dream at night, warning him against taking Abraham's wife. God spoke to Pharaoh the king of Egypt in a dream. God used a dream to warned Pharaoh about a famine that was to affect the whole world. The dream enabled Pharaoh, with the help of Joseph, to make adequate preparation for this famine. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had a dream from God about the future kingdoms to come. The Midianite soldier had a dream from God about the coming defeat of his army. This soldier was an ordinary man, not a ruler nor leader. It shows how God can speak to ordinary people through dreams. Pilate, the man who had the responsibility for letting the Jews crucify Jesus, his wife was warned by God in a dream about them harming Jesus. God also spoke to the Magi, who were probably pagan astrologers, in a dream, warning them not to return to Herod. There are also loads of present day examples of God speaking to people through dreams. The problem is that we do not always recognize it. Do You Recognize God when He is speaking to you?
Tuesday
What Are Dreams?
Read Joel 2:28-29
What are dreams? – dreams are a sequence of images, etc. passing through a sleeping person's mind". Dreams tell a story, by unveiling a sequence of events during sleep. The Lord can use anything in our lives to train us and He allows each experience we receive to raise us up into His image. God has chosen to communicate with mankind through dreams. He guides and counsels us through our dreams. He establishes covenants with us through our dreams. He grants us gifts in our dreams. He utilized dreams from Genesis to Revelation, and declared that He would continue to use them in the last days. When you total up all dreams and visions in the Bible, and all the stories and actions which come out of these dreams and visions, you have about one-third of the Bible, which is equal to the size of the New Testament! Dreams are a central way God has chosen to communicate with us, and they should be given great weight!
“The ability to dream is the greatest power on earth. The ability to see your hope is the greatest motivator of humanity. The ability to imagine and incubate a vision is inherent in the human spirit and manifests itself in the daydreams of every child. This gift of imagination and the capacity to cultivate aspirations is the impartation of the Spirit of the Creator of all things. It provides mankind with the power to hope beyond the present.” (Dr. Miles Munroe). God gives dreams to give man hope and to create vision. We need hope to have faith and faith to have the ability to express love.
Wednesday
God Gives Dreams
Read Acts 2:17-18; Proverbs 29:18; Proverbs 3:5
What Parent does not have dreams for their children and what child does not dream about their future! All kids have heroes. For some it is becoming a cowboy like Roy Rogers, and for others it is becoming an astronaut like Neil Armstrong or a nurse like Florence Nightingale. The strange thing is, that the kind of heroes we dream of becoming can be amazingly accurate in predicting the kinds of skills we will need to fulfill the real dream that God has placed inside us. Proverbs 29:18 says, “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.” (The Message) If you have no vision or dream, and if you don’t allow yourself to be guided by the Lord, then you stumble all over yourself. If there isn’t a dream inside you, holding you on course, then your life can be shaped by a hopeless and meaningless culture, and you’ll find yourself swept away with the tide. Every human has a purpose that God has created them for. He is the dream giver and the dream fulfiller. What is you dream? You don’t need to make up your dream: God already a plan for you life, one that is fashioned only for you. The Bible says God has good works he has prepared ahead of time that we should walk in them. Your dream is unique: Nobody else has one exactly like it. The dream God has given you is as individual as your fingerprints. God created you to fill a need in His body and make an impact for Him in today’s world. Your dream is waiting for you to act: Since God created your dream; He is waiting for you to take hold of it. Like Paul, you will have to make a commitment to honor God and follow the dream he has put inside you. “Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” – Proverbs 3:5. It’s never too late to follow your dream: Check out Moses. He was eighty years old before he followed his life’s purpose and actually set the people of Israel free. Our goal is to run the race in such a way that we will win the prize. We should be looking forward, not back. As we set our eyes on the Son, He will make our path apparent and lead us in the way we should go.
Thursday
Big Dreams!
Read Genesis 31:10-13; Genesis 30:38
A world without dreams is a world without progress and excellence. God gave me dreams for a purpose; they are God’s way of programming me for excellence. I will dream great dreams and achieve excellence in my life. When we hear people talk about God's plan for their life, there's frequently a feeling of apprehension embedded in the discussion. The unspoken fear is that God wants to make you do something that you don't want to do, and He has a plan to send you to some obscure part of the planet. You're sure that if you follow His plan, you'll end up in some remote part of our planet doing things that you don't want to do. I'm not sure why people are so apprehensive. God never did anything to make people feel that way. God can use you anywhere.
God has a dream for your life that is far better than anything you can imagine. And you don’t have to twist God’s arm to make that dream come true. God wants our dreams to come true even more than we do. God needs us, He needs all of our talents and abilities. He is our Daddy and he has given us all of our talents and abilities and He wants us to use them to Bless His world and in return He wants to bless us. We do not have to grovel and scrape before God because we are His. God’s arms of love are our arms. God’s heart of love is our heart. God has a plan for each of us, all he is waiting for is for us to say yes and start living the plan. God is not holding anything back from us. God wants to use us in a BIG way. He wants us to live large for the kingdom.
Friday
God Gave US
By Regina Hill
God gave us the seasons -- each with its own beauty and reason, each meant to bring us a blessing,
a joy, and a feeling of love. God gave us dreams --each with its own secret, each sent to give us feelings of
inspiration, hope, and tranquility. God gave us the sunshine, the rainbows and the rain, the beauty and freedom of nature to teach us the wisdom of gentle acceptance. God gave us miracles in our hearts and lives, little things that happen to remind us we're alive.
God gave us the ability to face each new day with courage, wisdom, and a smile from knowing that whatever sorrow or pain we face, He abides with us securely in our hearts
Most of all, God gave us friends to teach us about love and guide us through this world, always available to help us forward towards a greater understanding and a greater sharing and giving of love.
The Weekender (Dreams)
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. What are your dreams. What has the Holy Spirit highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take time and right down your dreams:
The Daily Compass February 20-25, 2012 (Something More)
Monday
Searching For More
Read Matthew 3:11-17
Here you are. Here. Right now. Reading this devotion. Another second goes by. Another moment of life. Zoom. It's gone. Oops. There goes another one. The seconds and minutes pass. An hour. A day. A week. A year. Here today. Gone tomorrow. Here you are. Somewhere on planet Earth. What are you thinking...RIGHT NOW? Nothing? Or is it something like, "I want more"? Yes, but more what? We see many people come to Christ with excitement and zeal only to last for a little while and fall away. What happens is that they think they have arrived and there is no more of God to have. They have been told they have it all and there is no more but deep inside there is a hunger for more that has not been satisfied. They know there must be more to it than this.
There is more! There is more than Old Testament Laws and prophecy. There is more than repenting of sin and being baptized in water. There is more than form and formulas. There is more than duty and getting converts. There is more than excitement and speaking in tongues. You’re not sure what that something is. It's like there's a constant itch in your life. You have the feeling that something is missing, the feeling that there must be something more in life and something more to life.
The itch remains. And what you've experienced so far just hasn't scratched it. Many times we may feel that we are alone in this feeling, but in fact there are many of us out there who have the same itch you do. Maybe they have the same thoughts you do. Have you ever considered that the itch has something to do with God? Sure, God is around us, invisible to the naked eye. But God also exists in realms beyond ours. And maybe that's the dilemma. We need something beyond our realm to scratch the itch. What if life has been set up (by God) in such a way that nothing in this realm can fully satisfy us? Even good things like a successful career, a healthy home life, getting married to someone you really love. Maybe even those things still leave the emptiness. Maybe even those things don't scratch the itch. Why? Because they're in this realm. And because we need something outside this realm to fulfill our lives. Maybe God has designed us that way, so that we would seek Him. Think about it. If everything we ever wanted or needed could be gotten from the world we live in, then we wouldn't want God. We wouldn't feel the need for Him. So here you are. Right now, needing more, wanting more! As we progress through this week’s devotions we hope to begin to scratch that itch.
Do you find yourself searching for more?
Tuesday
Baptism Of The Holy Spirit
Read Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:3,4; Acts 1:5,8; Ephesians 5:18
When a person comes to Jesus Christ, he receives Christ into his heart. The Spirit of God comes and joins with the spirit of the believer. This "indwelling Spirit" reproduces the life of Jesus in the believer's life. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an empowering for service that takes place in the life of the Christian. In it we are immersed in the Spirit's life and power. To illustrate, if we drank water from a glass, then the water would be inside us. However, if we went to the beach and stepped into the ocean, then we would be in the water. We receive, as it were, a drink of the Holy Spirit when we are saved, but when we are baptized in the Spirit, it is as if that initial drink becomes an ocean that completely surrounds us. Just as the indwelling Spirit that Christians receive when they are saved reproduces the life of Jesus, so the outpoured, or baptizing, Spirit reproduces the ministry of Jesus, including miracles and healings.
We need a power beyond ourselves for service and ministry in Christ's Kingdom. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He knew that His disciples could not fulfill it in their own power. He had a special gift in store for them: It was His plan to give them the same power that He had -- the power of the Spirit of God. So, immediately after giving them the Great Commission, Jesus commanded his disciples not to leave Jerusalem. The disciples waited in Jerusalem as Jesus had commanded, and one day when they were all together, "suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing winds, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance". The church began that day with the disciples and the three thousand people who joined them as a result of the day's events. We can undertake making disciples of all nations with some degree of success without the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but when we do, we are undertaking a supernatural task with limited power. It is God's will -- it is His commandment -- that we be baptized, or filled with the Holy Spirit. The knowledge and reality of the empowering Spirit enables us to reproduce the works of Jesus. Are You Filled?
Wednesday
The Holy Spirit Fills
Read John 14:12;
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is God's response to a personal decision to welcome Him fully into one's life. Because God respects our freedom, He invites and then waits for us to surrender our will to Him. Once we come to that place of maturity and openness, God does wonderful things that we did not previously even imagine. God desires to fill and animate us with the Holy Spirit, so that the Body of Christ on earth - the Church - can be the most effective hands, feet, and face of Jesus to a world that is in dire need of light, healing, deliverance, freedom guidance, and salvation. Jesus said, "whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12). He has given us all that we need to accomplish this through our relationship with Him. Baptism in the Holy Spirt fully unleashes the power and grace in our souls and gives us desire for going ever deeper into union with God where we find He like is a fountain of living water. Baptism in the Holy Spirit brings you to a greater experience of God in daily life, and a greater impact in personal ministry and bringing God's presence into the world, which is God's call for all believers. For religious, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit draws one closer to the heart of God so they may flood the world God's love with the help of the Holy Spirit's gentle and fiery zeal and contagious joy. When the Holy Spirit fills you, He empowers you to fulfill God's plan for your life. God is a gentleman who waits for us to cooperate with Him.
Thursday
The Holy Spirit Cleanses
Read 2 Corinthians 3:17; Malachi 3:1-4; Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:3; Titus 3:5
Last week our dog Bailey had her much needed bath. Like most dogs, she tries to leave when we take her to the tub. At first she resisted, but as we progressed she became relaxed. She understood that she would not be able to squirm her way out of this one. When finished, we her and this is where the fun began. She started to run, jump, roll in the rug and it was entertaining to see her enjoy herself. She felt clean and she felt good. She knew that since she was clean, she was allowed in the living room, and she walked inside boldly.
What happened to Bailey happens to us in the spirit. We have built up a residue of sin, the world influence, perhaps some fleas, and many other things and there comes a time where we need the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. When we allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us, we become liberated from all the filth that we have built up. We feel like running, we feel good, we have a new boldness about us, and we even feel worthy of coming into His presence once again. Do you need some of that liberty that only the Holy Spirit can give you? All you need to do is ask. Spend time in prayer, seek His face, ask for the Holy Spirit to cleanse you and enjoy your time in the Lord.
It´s time to walk in the freedom of the Holy Spirit!
Friday
Filled With The Fullness Of God
Read Isaiah 66:1,2; John 17:26;
Many religions have what they believe are holy sites or buildings, but the God of love has chosen you to be His dwelling place, if you are willing. The God who created the universe is not impressed with our buildings and shrines. The Lord is looking for a person who is humble before Him and who takes His word very seriously, even to the point of obedience. God and His love will live inside of this person. You were created for love. You are made in the image of the God of love. Your purpose is to give love and receive love. God made you in His image so that you could experience His love. God desires to have the most intimate relationship with you possible. That is, you in God and God in you, united in love. This is why Jesus came to earth so that He could restore our ultimate purpose of a holy relationship with God. Jesus prayed that the same love that God the Father has would be in you. "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) When Jesus says “I have declared Your name”, it means that He has made God known to the people. It means that He revealed God’s character and His power, and He continues to do so. Jesus revealed God as His Father and your Father. This means that God wants to be your eternal Father, and He wants you to accept the position of His child. As Jesus walked the earth His mission was to reveal the heart of His Father, the God of love. God sent His Son to reveal His love. It is through knowing God, heart to heart, that we come to experience His love. Your mission is to experience and reveal the love of God; just as Jesus did. Jesus continues to reveal the Father through His body, the church, which includes you if you are willing.
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
Searching For More
Read Matthew 3:11-17
Here you are. Here. Right now. Reading this devotion. Another second goes by. Another moment of life. Zoom. It's gone. Oops. There goes another one. The seconds and minutes pass. An hour. A day. A week. A year. Here today. Gone tomorrow. Here you are. Somewhere on planet Earth. What are you thinking...RIGHT NOW? Nothing? Or is it something like, "I want more"? Yes, but more what? We see many people come to Christ with excitement and zeal only to last for a little while and fall away. What happens is that they think they have arrived and there is no more of God to have. They have been told they have it all and there is no more but deep inside there is a hunger for more that has not been satisfied. They know there must be more to it than this.
There is more! There is more than Old Testament Laws and prophecy. There is more than repenting of sin and being baptized in water. There is more than form and formulas. There is more than duty and getting converts. There is more than excitement and speaking in tongues. You’re not sure what that something is. It's like there's a constant itch in your life. You have the feeling that something is missing, the feeling that there must be something more in life and something more to life.
The itch remains. And what you've experienced so far just hasn't scratched it. Many times we may feel that we are alone in this feeling, but in fact there are many of us out there who have the same itch you do. Maybe they have the same thoughts you do. Have you ever considered that the itch has something to do with God? Sure, God is around us, invisible to the naked eye. But God also exists in realms beyond ours. And maybe that's the dilemma. We need something beyond our realm to scratch the itch. What if life has been set up (by God) in such a way that nothing in this realm can fully satisfy us? Even good things like a successful career, a healthy home life, getting married to someone you really love. Maybe even those things still leave the emptiness. Maybe even those things don't scratch the itch. Why? Because they're in this realm. And because we need something outside this realm to fulfill our lives. Maybe God has designed us that way, so that we would seek Him. Think about it. If everything we ever wanted or needed could be gotten from the world we live in, then we wouldn't want God. We wouldn't feel the need for Him. So here you are. Right now, needing more, wanting more! As we progress through this week’s devotions we hope to begin to scratch that itch.
Do you find yourself searching for more?
Tuesday
Baptism Of The Holy Spirit
Read Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:3,4; Acts 1:5,8; Ephesians 5:18
When a person comes to Jesus Christ, he receives Christ into his heart. The Spirit of God comes and joins with the spirit of the believer. This "indwelling Spirit" reproduces the life of Jesus in the believer's life. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is an empowering for service that takes place in the life of the Christian. In it we are immersed in the Spirit's life and power. To illustrate, if we drank water from a glass, then the water would be inside us. However, if we went to the beach and stepped into the ocean, then we would be in the water. We receive, as it were, a drink of the Holy Spirit when we are saved, but when we are baptized in the Spirit, it is as if that initial drink becomes an ocean that completely surrounds us. Just as the indwelling Spirit that Christians receive when they are saved reproduces the life of Jesus, so the outpoured, or baptizing, Spirit reproduces the ministry of Jesus, including miracles and healings.
We need a power beyond ourselves for service and ministry in Christ's Kingdom. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He knew that His disciples could not fulfill it in their own power. He had a special gift in store for them: It was His plan to give them the same power that He had -- the power of the Spirit of God. So, immediately after giving them the Great Commission, Jesus commanded his disciples not to leave Jerusalem. The disciples waited in Jerusalem as Jesus had commanded, and one day when they were all together, "suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing winds, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance". The church began that day with the disciples and the three thousand people who joined them as a result of the day's events. We can undertake making disciples of all nations with some degree of success without the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but when we do, we are undertaking a supernatural task with limited power. It is God's will -- it is His commandment -- that we be baptized, or filled with the Holy Spirit. The knowledge and reality of the empowering Spirit enables us to reproduce the works of Jesus. Are You Filled?
Wednesday
The Holy Spirit Fills
Read John 14:12;
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is God's response to a personal decision to welcome Him fully into one's life. Because God respects our freedom, He invites and then waits for us to surrender our will to Him. Once we come to that place of maturity and openness, God does wonderful things that we did not previously even imagine. God desires to fill and animate us with the Holy Spirit, so that the Body of Christ on earth - the Church - can be the most effective hands, feet, and face of Jesus to a world that is in dire need of light, healing, deliverance, freedom guidance, and salvation. Jesus said, "whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12). He has given us all that we need to accomplish this through our relationship with Him. Baptism in the Holy Spirt fully unleashes the power and grace in our souls and gives us desire for going ever deeper into union with God where we find He like is a fountain of living water. Baptism in the Holy Spirit brings you to a greater experience of God in daily life, and a greater impact in personal ministry and bringing God's presence into the world, which is God's call for all believers. For religious, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit draws one closer to the heart of God so they may flood the world God's love with the help of the Holy Spirit's gentle and fiery zeal and contagious joy. When the Holy Spirit fills you, He empowers you to fulfill God's plan for your life. God is a gentleman who waits for us to cooperate with Him.
Thursday
The Holy Spirit Cleanses
Read 2 Corinthians 3:17; Malachi 3:1-4; Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:3; Titus 3:5
Last week our dog Bailey had her much needed bath. Like most dogs, she tries to leave when we take her to the tub. At first she resisted, but as we progressed she became relaxed. She understood that she would not be able to squirm her way out of this one. When finished, we her and this is where the fun began. She started to run, jump, roll in the rug and it was entertaining to see her enjoy herself. She felt clean and she felt good. She knew that since she was clean, she was allowed in the living room, and she walked inside boldly.
What happened to Bailey happens to us in the spirit. We have built up a residue of sin, the world influence, perhaps some fleas, and many other things and there comes a time where we need the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. When we allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us, we become liberated from all the filth that we have built up. We feel like running, we feel good, we have a new boldness about us, and we even feel worthy of coming into His presence once again. Do you need some of that liberty that only the Holy Spirit can give you? All you need to do is ask. Spend time in prayer, seek His face, ask for the Holy Spirit to cleanse you and enjoy your time in the Lord.
It´s time to walk in the freedom of the Holy Spirit!
Friday
Filled With The Fullness Of God
Read Isaiah 66:1,2; John 17:26;
Many religions have what they believe are holy sites or buildings, but the God of love has chosen you to be His dwelling place, if you are willing. The God who created the universe is not impressed with our buildings and shrines. The Lord is looking for a person who is humble before Him and who takes His word very seriously, even to the point of obedience. God and His love will live inside of this person. You were created for love. You are made in the image of the God of love. Your purpose is to give love and receive love. God made you in His image so that you could experience His love. God desires to have the most intimate relationship with you possible. That is, you in God and God in you, united in love. This is why Jesus came to earth so that He could restore our ultimate purpose of a holy relationship with God. Jesus prayed that the same love that God the Father has would be in you. "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." (John 17:26) When Jesus says “I have declared Your name”, it means that He has made God known to the people. It means that He revealed God’s character and His power, and He continues to do so. Jesus revealed God as His Father and your Father. This means that God wants to be your eternal Father, and He wants you to accept the position of His child. As Jesus walked the earth His mission was to reveal the heart of His Father, the God of love. God sent His Son to reveal His love. It is through knowing God, heart to heart, that we come to experience His love. Your mission is to experience and reveal the love of God; just as Jesus did. Jesus continues to reveal the Father through His body, the church, which includes you if you are willing.
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
The Daily Compass January 30-February 4, 2012 Knowing God
Monday
Do You Know Him
Read John 17:3; 20-23
The difference between knowing about God and knowing God is about personal relationships. Because God is a person, you can know ‘about’ him but you don’t really ‘know’ him until you have a personal relationship with him. For instance I can know about the Mayor of Birmingham, but I wouldn’t say that I know him. To know him I have to meet him and get to know him. We have to reveal things to each other and be willing to share in each other’s lives. The staggering promise of the Bible is that we can know God like this and that He wants us to know him and share in his eternal life!
One of the differences between Christianity and other religions is that we can know God as a person. How do we know that God is a person? Well, He came down to earth and became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn’t come just to heal and teach them how to be better people. He came primarily to reveal who (not ‘what’) God is and how we can have a relationship with him. God is one eternal God, but he exists in the relationship of three persons - Father, Son and Spirit. These three persons existed in one God for all eternity. We tend to think of relationships as being between human beings. In fact the very reason that Jesus came to earth is because God wants to have a personal relationship with us. Jesus says, ‘He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.’ God wants all people to know him personally and he has sent His Son into the world so that we may truly know him.
Tuesday
Face To Face
Read Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 5:3-5
I think one of the most exciting truths in all of Scripture is the fact that God is the primary mover behind every relationship He has with mankind. Now it’s true that we sometimes describe our friends who might be far from God as “seekers”. We watch them as they look for satisfaction in all kinds of things and we intuitively know that what they are looking for is a relationship with God. But what we often forget is the fact that they really aren’t the seekers in this eternal drama…God is! His love for people like you and me and for those who might be far from God is so powerful that He’s willing to take the first step. Jesus said it this way in John 15 – “You didn’t choose me, but I chose you”.
Moses was doing the same thing he had done for 40 yrs. He was a shepherd and this day was like every other day in his ho-hum existence. It was business as usual, that is until God made His presence known. Paul who had been religious all his life and sought out God he was changed by one encounter where he heard God speak and this encounter changed his life forever. God wants us to know and experience him not just learn about him. We are new creations in Christ Jesus and God creates by speaking. We can only be truly transformed as we sit in His Presence hearing His voice.
Wednesday
Be Known
Read 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians 13:12
You have to be close to know, you have to be close to be known. You have to be close to someone to really know them. To know the deep things of God, His nature, and His wonderful plan, we first have to do something. We must have Christ at the center of our lives; we must fully trust and believe in Him, then we can have the Holy Spirit living inside of us revealing the very nature of God and His plan for our lives. We have to have God’s Spirit living inside of us to comprehend God. With God’s Spirit living in us we can have insight into some of God’s plans, thoughts and actions.
Developing and maintaining a strong relationship with God requires time, effort and the desire for closeness. Just as relationships with other people take work and devotion, so does a relationship with God. Putting forth that effort often leads to a greater sense of self-worth, inner peace, compassion and love. Choosing to pursue this relationship and keep it strong is something anyone can do to improve himself and his outlook on life. Take time to develop your relationship with God.
Are you spending enough time with God to be known? We must spend time consistently in His presence and in His Word.
Are you known by God? Can He depend on you?
Thursday
Having a Strong Relationship With God
Read Galatians 3:21; John 1:17
Having a strong relationship with God begins with making Him a priority. Take time to put church, worship, Bible study and prayer into your weekly schedule. Do not allow other activities or commitments to fill up time that must be spent with God. Making God a priority in your life gives you the sense of relevance and importance this relationship has and keeps your relationship strong. Spend time each day talking with God and explaining your hopes, fears, dreams and regrets. Tell God anything you want to get off of your chest, even if it seems insignificant. The way we get closer to our friends is to talk to each other and become familiar with one another -- the same thing goes for our relationship with God. Spend time in God's word. Read your Bible daily and read for comprehension -- really let it sink in and understand what you are reading. Join a Bible study group with others who share your passion for developing a strong relationship with God; this way you can all study your Bible together. Understand and practice forgiveness. Accept God's forgiveness for your sins and misgivings. Forgive yourself for the things God has forgiven you for, as this helps your relationship with God stay strong. Give forgiveness to those around you, just as God forgives you -- it makes you feel better and helps you stay close to God. Worship God. Participate in worship at church, sing at home or in the car, take time to thank God for the good things in your life. Worship with others or alone, or practice both. Worship is an important way to stay connected and plugged into your relationship with God.
Friday
Experience God
Read John 17:3; Matthew 22:37-38
With the Holy Spirit directing your life, you will experience a deeper relationship with God and you will grow in your ability to trust Him. Growing in your relationship with Jesus means to know Him better, to love and obey Him more. Your growing love for God will lead you to obey His commandments. Just as it’s natural for a child to grow in a loving relationship with a parent, it is also natural for you to grow in your love relationship with God. Communication is vital to any relationship. We communicate with God through prayer, sharing our thoughts, our needs and our desire to do his will. Set aside a time and place for daily personal Bible study and prayer. Pray and ask God to show you who He is and how you can respond to Him. There is so much more to discover, there is so much to experience in God, there is mystery, adventure and treasures to be unearthed as we grow in relationship and experience God. What are you waiting for?
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
Do You Know Him
Read John 17:3; 20-23
The difference between knowing about God and knowing God is about personal relationships. Because God is a person, you can know ‘about’ him but you don’t really ‘know’ him until you have a personal relationship with him. For instance I can know about the Mayor of Birmingham, but I wouldn’t say that I know him. To know him I have to meet him and get to know him. We have to reveal things to each other and be willing to share in each other’s lives. The staggering promise of the Bible is that we can know God like this and that He wants us to know him and share in his eternal life!
One of the differences between Christianity and other religions is that we can know God as a person. How do we know that God is a person? Well, He came down to earth and became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn’t come just to heal and teach them how to be better people. He came primarily to reveal who (not ‘what’) God is and how we can have a relationship with him. God is one eternal God, but he exists in the relationship of three persons - Father, Son and Spirit. These three persons existed in one God for all eternity. We tend to think of relationships as being between human beings. In fact the very reason that Jesus came to earth is because God wants to have a personal relationship with us. Jesus says, ‘He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.’ God wants all people to know him personally and he has sent His Son into the world so that we may truly know him.
Tuesday
Face To Face
Read Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 5:3-5
I think one of the most exciting truths in all of Scripture is the fact that God is the primary mover behind every relationship He has with mankind. Now it’s true that we sometimes describe our friends who might be far from God as “seekers”. We watch them as they look for satisfaction in all kinds of things and we intuitively know that what they are looking for is a relationship with God. But what we often forget is the fact that they really aren’t the seekers in this eternal drama…God is! His love for people like you and me and for those who might be far from God is so powerful that He’s willing to take the first step. Jesus said it this way in John 15 – “You didn’t choose me, but I chose you”.
Moses was doing the same thing he had done for 40 yrs. He was a shepherd and this day was like every other day in his ho-hum existence. It was business as usual, that is until God made His presence known. Paul who had been religious all his life and sought out God he was changed by one encounter where he heard God speak and this encounter changed his life forever. God wants us to know and experience him not just learn about him. We are new creations in Christ Jesus and God creates by speaking. We can only be truly transformed as we sit in His Presence hearing His voice.
Wednesday
Be Known
Read 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 Corinthians 13:12
You have to be close to know, you have to be close to be known. You have to be close to someone to really know them. To know the deep things of God, His nature, and His wonderful plan, we first have to do something. We must have Christ at the center of our lives; we must fully trust and believe in Him, then we can have the Holy Spirit living inside of us revealing the very nature of God and His plan for our lives. We have to have God’s Spirit living inside of us to comprehend God. With God’s Spirit living in us we can have insight into some of God’s plans, thoughts and actions.
Developing and maintaining a strong relationship with God requires time, effort and the desire for closeness. Just as relationships with other people take work and devotion, so does a relationship with God. Putting forth that effort often leads to a greater sense of self-worth, inner peace, compassion and love. Choosing to pursue this relationship and keep it strong is something anyone can do to improve himself and his outlook on life. Take time to develop your relationship with God.
Are you spending enough time with God to be known? We must spend time consistently in His presence and in His Word.
Are you known by God? Can He depend on you?
Thursday
Having a Strong Relationship With God
Read Galatians 3:21; John 1:17
Having a strong relationship with God begins with making Him a priority. Take time to put church, worship, Bible study and prayer into your weekly schedule. Do not allow other activities or commitments to fill up time that must be spent with God. Making God a priority in your life gives you the sense of relevance and importance this relationship has and keeps your relationship strong. Spend time each day talking with God and explaining your hopes, fears, dreams and regrets. Tell God anything you want to get off of your chest, even if it seems insignificant. The way we get closer to our friends is to talk to each other and become familiar with one another -- the same thing goes for our relationship with God. Spend time in God's word. Read your Bible daily and read for comprehension -- really let it sink in and understand what you are reading. Join a Bible study group with others who share your passion for developing a strong relationship with God; this way you can all study your Bible together. Understand and practice forgiveness. Accept God's forgiveness for your sins and misgivings. Forgive yourself for the things God has forgiven you for, as this helps your relationship with God stay strong. Give forgiveness to those around you, just as God forgives you -- it makes you feel better and helps you stay close to God. Worship God. Participate in worship at church, sing at home or in the car, take time to thank God for the good things in your life. Worship with others or alone, or practice both. Worship is an important way to stay connected and plugged into your relationship with God.
Friday
Experience God
Read John 17:3; Matthew 22:37-38
With the Holy Spirit directing your life, you will experience a deeper relationship with God and you will grow in your ability to trust Him. Growing in your relationship with Jesus means to know Him better, to love and obey Him more. Your growing love for God will lead you to obey His commandments. Just as it’s natural for a child to grow in a loving relationship with a parent, it is also natural for you to grow in your love relationship with God. Communication is vital to any relationship. We communicate with God through prayer, sharing our thoughts, our needs and our desire to do his will. Set aside a time and place for daily personal Bible study and prayer. Pray and ask God to show you who He is and how you can respond to Him. There is so much more to discover, there is so much to experience in God, there is mystery, adventure and treasures to be unearthed as we grow in relationship and experience God. What are you waiting for?
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
The Daily Compass February 6-11, 2012 (God’s Love)
Monday
Living The Life
Luke 15:1-7; Mark 16:15
Our mission in the Body of Christ should be to live in such a way that our lives exemplifies Christ and impacts others so that they want to know more about Him. The reasons many people want nothing to do with God or church is because of what they see in the lives of many who profess Christ and who attend church on a regular basis. We as Christians have very important responsibilities. Listed below are seven task that are most central to our responsibilities as Christians.
1. Exalt the Name of the One True God
2. Exemplify the Body of Christ
3. Evangelize Unbelievers
4. Educate Disciples
5. Establish Local Church Bodies
6. Equip and Empower National Leaders
7. Encourage the National Church as Co-Laborers in Christ
In order for us to fulfill what Jesus commissioned us to do in Mark 16:15, it is not enough to just go and preach the Gospel. *”Today preach means so much more than telling others about Jesus; it means living our lives in such a way that people can actually see Jesus in us”. “Our lives should cause every creature {black, white, red, yellow; whether rich or poor; educated/uneducated} to want to know more about the God we serve.” The world has a definition for love but falls very short. The world needs “The God kind of LOVE”
Tuesday
God’s Kind Of Love
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Amplified Bible)
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. (Amplified Bible) After reading this many of us may be thinking to ourselves that it is impossible for us to walk out these scriptures, but the fact is if you have been born again, “God” who is love came to live inside of us, therefore giving us the capacity to love like God loves. You must choose to act on it and God himself will help you walk it out in your life.
Does this scripture overwhelm you? Take a moment and journal what these words mean to you. If you are struggling to walk these words out ask God, He will help you.
Wednesday
Why Cultivate Your Love Walk?
Read John 13:34-35
As we learn to walk in love more and more, more people will respond to the Gospel that we preach with our mouths because they have already seen it at work in our lives. This is exactly what Jesus is saying by "we will be known by our love" -- that the Gospel is preached effectively if we live it rather than just speak it. As 1 Corinthians 13 says, "love never fails." If we keep on loving others, it is bound to be felt by them. People will always recognize genuine compassion. Thus, this is the challenge and joy given to us as Christians: to pursue a life that radiates God's love.
Why cultivate your love walk? The harvest is great; we have thousands of people right here in our state that doesn’t know Jesus. You do not have to look hard to see that lives are in a mess. They need to see the love of God in action and that love will draw them to Him. “Love one another as I have loved you”, if we live this command by Jesus this is when men can see and know that we are truly God’s children. It is important that we show love towards others. This is how we can affect the hurting, lost and dying.
Think about your life and your relationship with co-workers, church members, close family members, strangers. Do they know that you are God’s disciple?
Thursday
Racism; A Major Hindrance To Soul Winning
Read 1 John 4:20-21
Have you ever heard the statement “The most segregated hour in our week is the 11:00 hour every Sunday?”
Isn’t it strange that we interact with people of difference races all week long {work, community service, sports events, grocery stores, etc}, but we can’t seem to bring ourselves to worship together on Sunday mornings?
How many understand that in heaven we’ll only have one church? Not black, white, Hispanic, Methodist, Baptist…That being said, we might as well learn how to worship together here because heaven is about eternity.
Racism is an evil thing and it is a major hindrance to people coming into the kingdom. Racism in any form goes totally against God’s commandment to us ‘To love others as He loves us.’ Funny thing – I have yet to find the work ‘like’ in scripture as it relates to how we interact with people I only found Love or Hate. It appears God is pretty clear about this; there’s no middle ground. Since that is the case, we all need to do a self check of our hearts and be honest about our relationships with all people {family, boss, co-workers, blacks, whites, red, yellow}
Are there people you hate? Listen to God’s perspective! Read 1John4:20-21 Message Translation, 20-21If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.
Friday
4 Causes Of Racism
Read Acts 10 & 11
1. Pride: ‘exalted thinking’; to consider what I think or feel about what God thinks or feels. Peter was ‘saved’ but he had a problem with God asking him to go preach to a Gentile family. God had to speak firmly to Peter in Acts 10:15, “what I have cleansed you must not call common.”
2. The Jews in Peter’s day believed that they were superior to any other race. Same thing in America today; many whites feel they are superior to any other race of people – especially blacks. This complex does two things: It Hinders fellowship; in the Body of Christ we all have a function/purpose. If we won’t fellowship then we’ll never work together winning souls/changing lives. It Hinders submission; you can never look up to or submit to someone you believe is beneath you; it’s difficult to learn from someone you feel is less intelligent; The bible teaches mutual submission.
3. Ignorance; ignorance defined: The absence of knowledge, wisdom, or understanding. Peter lacked knowledge of the fact that Jesus’ sacrifice had torn down the wall that separated the races. Once God corrected his erroneous thinking, Peter submitted and obeyed God; The result: Cornelius and his household were saved.
4. Fear; God has not given us a spirit of fear. If fear doesn’t come from God, then who is the instigator of it?
To overcome prejudice, we have to overcome: The fear of the unknown, the fear of what or who we don’t know. We will never get to know one another without fellowship, to fellowship, we have to leave our comfort zones.
God made all of us in His image. God made us all different because He loves diversity. We’ve allowed our cultural differences to separate us Every part of our body is different but yet connected; working together, submitting to each part’s role or functions. “If you're black, if you're white, if you're yellow or grey; In the morning, in the night, anytime of day; just come on and ride; We're a body with parts, like you and me; Together we make diversity; You bring the heart, I'll bring the soul; I'll bring the flag, you bring the pole. We'll fly it high so the whole world knows, The dream of a king 'bout to unfold. From the song Diverse City by: Toby Mac
Living The Life
Luke 15:1-7; Mark 16:15
Our mission in the Body of Christ should be to live in such a way that our lives exemplifies Christ and impacts others so that they want to know more about Him. The reasons many people want nothing to do with God or church is because of what they see in the lives of many who profess Christ and who attend church on a regular basis. We as Christians have very important responsibilities. Listed below are seven task that are most central to our responsibilities as Christians.
1. Exalt the Name of the One True God
2. Exemplify the Body of Christ
3. Evangelize Unbelievers
4. Educate Disciples
5. Establish Local Church Bodies
6. Equip and Empower National Leaders
7. Encourage the National Church as Co-Laborers in Christ
In order for us to fulfill what Jesus commissioned us to do in Mark 16:15, it is not enough to just go and preach the Gospel. *”Today preach means so much more than telling others about Jesus; it means living our lives in such a way that people can actually see Jesus in us”. “Our lives should cause every creature {black, white, red, yellow; whether rich or poor; educated/uneducated} to want to know more about the God we serve.” The world has a definition for love but falls very short. The world needs “The God kind of LOVE”
Tuesday
God’s Kind Of Love
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Amplified Bible)
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. (Amplified Bible) After reading this many of us may be thinking to ourselves that it is impossible for us to walk out these scriptures, but the fact is if you have been born again, “God” who is love came to live inside of us, therefore giving us the capacity to love like God loves. You must choose to act on it and God himself will help you walk it out in your life.
Does this scripture overwhelm you? Take a moment and journal what these words mean to you. If you are struggling to walk these words out ask God, He will help you.
Wednesday
Why Cultivate Your Love Walk?
Read John 13:34-35
As we learn to walk in love more and more, more people will respond to the Gospel that we preach with our mouths because they have already seen it at work in our lives. This is exactly what Jesus is saying by "we will be known by our love" -- that the Gospel is preached effectively if we live it rather than just speak it. As 1 Corinthians 13 says, "love never fails." If we keep on loving others, it is bound to be felt by them. People will always recognize genuine compassion. Thus, this is the challenge and joy given to us as Christians: to pursue a life that radiates God's love.
Why cultivate your love walk? The harvest is great; we have thousands of people right here in our state that doesn’t know Jesus. You do not have to look hard to see that lives are in a mess. They need to see the love of God in action and that love will draw them to Him. “Love one another as I have loved you”, if we live this command by Jesus this is when men can see and know that we are truly God’s children. It is important that we show love towards others. This is how we can affect the hurting, lost and dying.
Think about your life and your relationship with co-workers, church members, close family members, strangers. Do they know that you are God’s disciple?
Thursday
Racism; A Major Hindrance To Soul Winning
Read 1 John 4:20-21
Have you ever heard the statement “The most segregated hour in our week is the 11:00 hour every Sunday?”
Isn’t it strange that we interact with people of difference races all week long {work, community service, sports events, grocery stores, etc}, but we can’t seem to bring ourselves to worship together on Sunday mornings?
How many understand that in heaven we’ll only have one church? Not black, white, Hispanic, Methodist, Baptist…That being said, we might as well learn how to worship together here because heaven is about eternity.
Racism is an evil thing and it is a major hindrance to people coming into the kingdom. Racism in any form goes totally against God’s commandment to us ‘To love others as He loves us.’ Funny thing – I have yet to find the work ‘like’ in scripture as it relates to how we interact with people I only found Love or Hate. It appears God is pretty clear about this; there’s no middle ground. Since that is the case, we all need to do a self check of our hearts and be honest about our relationships with all people {family, boss, co-workers, blacks, whites, red, yellow}
Are there people you hate? Listen to God’s perspective! Read 1John4:20-21 Message Translation, 20-21If anyone boasts, "I love God," and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.
Friday
4 Causes Of Racism
Read Acts 10 & 11
1. Pride: ‘exalted thinking’; to consider what I think or feel about what God thinks or feels. Peter was ‘saved’ but he had a problem with God asking him to go preach to a Gentile family. God had to speak firmly to Peter in Acts 10:15, “what I have cleansed you must not call common.”
2. The Jews in Peter’s day believed that they were superior to any other race. Same thing in America today; many whites feel they are superior to any other race of people – especially blacks. This complex does two things: It Hinders fellowship; in the Body of Christ we all have a function/purpose. If we won’t fellowship then we’ll never work together winning souls/changing lives. It Hinders submission; you can never look up to or submit to someone you believe is beneath you; it’s difficult to learn from someone you feel is less intelligent; The bible teaches mutual submission.
3. Ignorance; ignorance defined: The absence of knowledge, wisdom, or understanding. Peter lacked knowledge of the fact that Jesus’ sacrifice had torn down the wall that separated the races. Once God corrected his erroneous thinking, Peter submitted and obeyed God; The result: Cornelius and his household were saved.
4. Fear; God has not given us a spirit of fear. If fear doesn’t come from God, then who is the instigator of it?
To overcome prejudice, we have to overcome: The fear of the unknown, the fear of what or who we don’t know. We will never get to know one another without fellowship, to fellowship, we have to leave our comfort zones.
God made all of us in His image. God made us all different because He loves diversity. We’ve allowed our cultural differences to separate us Every part of our body is different but yet connected; working together, submitting to each part’s role or functions. “If you're black, if you're white, if you're yellow or grey; In the morning, in the night, anytime of day; just come on and ride; We're a body with parts, like you and me; Together we make diversity; You bring the heart, I'll bring the soul; I'll bring the flag, you bring the pole. We'll fly it high so the whole world knows, The dream of a king 'bout to unfold. From the song Diverse City by: Toby Mac
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