Being All That You Can Be!

February 24, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 49:6-7
They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    Wouldn’t it be nice to be rich and famous? Ok, maybe just rich. This seems to be the one goal of every American, young, and old. When you ask our youth today about what they would like to do with their life when they get out of school, you often get an answer like “I want to be this or that because they make lots of money!”

 

    Now please, do not misunderstand what I am trying to say. I am not against Christians earning a good living, and even becoming wealthy. That is if God would see that they were going to be a good steward of His blessings of wealth in their lives. I do not find in Scripture that being wealthy is a sin. The problem occurs when the pursuit of this wealth, or things becomes our life goal and this ambition then overshadows everything else we do. When this happens, we have put another god before the one true God. That new god is wealth or possessions.

 

    I would love to hear a young person someday say, “I want to be this or that because I know this is what God has gifted me to do, and I am sure it will bring glory to Him.” In addition, when asked, “What about the money?” They might reply with, “That’s up to God.”

  

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    You see, if you are a Christian, it is really up to God anyway. You will never be completely successful until you yield it all to Him. You can run and dabble and play in the world. Nevertheless, if you are a child of God, real success only comes after real yielding to Him. Let me borrow a well-known slogan for a second. “Be All That You Can Be.” Then if you will allow it, let me add this, “And all that God intended for you to be.”

 

When considering your ambitions in life,
do you take God’s ambitions for you into consideration?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 24, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
Leviticus 15, 16 – Psalm 49
Proverbs 23-24 – Luke 15 – 17

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Genesis 1-2  /  Matthew 1

 

Making The Angels Rejoice…

February 22 & 23, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

   

    Most everyone knows someone who has passed away. We may also know that today they are in heaven by their life and faith in God here on earth. Some people have asked me when a person dies, do they go straight to heaven, or do they stay in the grave until the rapture? I know there are tons of verses in the Bible to prove the fact that people who are in Christ go to heaven. I believe today’s verse is one of those verses.

 

    Look at today’s verse closely. The verse does not say angels rejoice; it says there’s joy in their presence. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I believe the angels are hopping, skipping, and rejoicing when a soul is won. However, angels do not understand what we as people understand. Angels cannot know the grace, mercy, and love of God directed only to you and me as forgiven creatures made in His image.

 

    So, if it is not the angles rejoicing, then who must it be? As Jesus blots the sins of a daughter out of the book, I believe the Lord turns to a loving mother and says dear lady, she will be here soon, and that mother rejoices. As a dad, who tried hard to teach his wayward son right from wrong, sees Jesus apply the blood to his son’s sin, Jesus says faithful father, it will not be long now, and you will see him again. That dad is shouting all over heaven. As they begin to rejoice, others who now enjoy a perfect love for one another rejoice with them. The angels present to witness the joy and love they have, and they too join in the celebration. Yes, I believe there is rejoicing by all the saints in heaven who passed on before, “in the presence of the angels.”

  

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

    However, until He calls us home it is our responsibility to share the gospel with the entire world. Remember, everyone we meet is someone’s son or someone’s daughter. You may be the cause of great joy in the presence of the angels in heaven when you tell someone about Christ. We must do our part to make heaven ring with joy today.

 

Who comes to mind that yo might need to tell?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 22, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
Leviticus 12-14 – Psalm 47-48
Proverbs 22 – Luke 14

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Leviticus 20- 22 – Mark 3

 

WHAT TO DO ON SUNDAY:

    There will not be a Daily Devotion sent out on Sundays. Instead, we encourage you to attend your church and listen intently to what God has prepared in the heart of your Pastor. Write down all the scriptures he uses in that message, then when you get home re-read those passages for today’s reading. God has given to your Pastor exactly what He desires for you on that day.  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 23, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

 

BE STILL!

February 21, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     In church as a young boy, I had a bad habit of fidgeting. I would squirm back and forth all over the pew. I would lean forward and rest my head on the pew in front of me, lean back as if I were going to sleep. Then I would lean to one side and then to the other. I was just constantly moving until I would about drive my Dad crazy. He would often lean over and say, “Would you please sit still for a while?” I would try for a while, but it seemed so hard.

 

    In Psalms 46:10, God is asking us to do more than just be quiet or quit fidgeting for a while. He says, “BE STILL.” It means paying very close attention and listening with your whole heart. God is trying to get us to stop all the busy stirrings of this life for a moment. To be still, look around, and really concentrate on the magnitude of God.

 

    He goes on to say that if we will be still, we will begin to see that He is exalted in everything around us. He declares that He will even be exalted by those who say He does not exist. You might wonder, “How does that happen?” Well, when someone claims that they do not believe in our God, they immediately give credibility to the fact of that same God. Without God, they would have nothing against which to object. BE STILL and see the wonder of what God is doing.     

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

   As we move along through this day, we should try to find time to BE STILL. Just look around at all the blessings God has given to us. BE STILL and behold the wonder of Him all around us. BE STILL, and understand all God is doing in us. BE STILL, and God will be exalted.
BE STILL.

 

In today’s fast-paced world, do you find it hard to stop and BE STILL?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 21, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Leviticus 10-11 – Psalm 46
Proverbs 21 – Luke 13

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Leviticus 18-19 – Mark 2

 

Is It Like Christmas Every Day?
February 20, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Leviticus 9:5
And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:
   

    If you presently have children or can remember your childhood, then you know what the days leading up to Christmas are like. The constant asking, “Did I get…,” “May I open one…,” “How many do I get…,” and on and on. Anxiously waiting for the day when they find out what mom and dad have gotten them this year.

    As I read this passage, in my mind’s eye I get a similar picture of the children of Israel acting very much like a child who is waiting for Christmas day. They have prepared, and done all they were commanded to do, and now all they can do is stand and wait. They stand waiting for direction, instruction, the voice, or the appearance of the Lord. Can you sense in your heart how they must have anticipated this day? What was going to happen next? What was God going to say through Moses? Everyone wanted to hear. Today’s verse says, “All the    congregation drew near.“ Everyone pressing closer and closer to hear what God had to say. No one wanted to get it second-hand, they all wanted to hear the Words of God for themselves. With wide eyes and hearts beating, they drew near to hear.

    We should approach God’s Word this way today. We now have God’s Word in our hands. It’s called the Bible. Do we draw near to what God has to say as the Children of Israel did? Or are we satisfied to hear it second-hand on Sunday, or from a friend? God’s Words hold the same power and promise today as they did back then.     

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     As you draw near to God’s Word today, before you begin, you might bow for a moment and ask God to place within your heart a fervent desire to hear from Him today. Devotionals are great, but if they do not point you to God and His Word, they are just another story. Get excited about hearing from God today.

What are you hearing from God today?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and today’s Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  February 20, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
Leviticus 8-9 – Psalm 45
Proverbs 20 – Luke 12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Leviticus 15-17 – Mark 1:21 – 45