THEY WERE CAUGHT!  

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Jeremiah 2:26-27 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets, Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

  Children are naughty by nature. I can prove it. You tell a child, “Do not get into the cookies.” A minute later, you turn around and the child is gone. Where are they? Probably in the cookie jar, enjoying what you told them not to. Then when you walk up behind them and say, “What are you doing,” it simply scares the socks off them. Why, not because they have realized the cookie was bad for them at the time and that it may spoil a nutritional meal they need! Not because they are sorry for what they have done and will probably never do it again. (Yeah right!) Why are they upset? “THEY WERE CAUGHT!”

    Now before you get to upset with the little one think about this. When times are going well and everything is ok, do you spend as much time talking with God as you do when things are bad? If things are going well, we find many other things to do besides spending time praying. An occasional “thanks God,” seems sufficient. However, let things get bad and we are on our knees crying out “Oh God help us.” The worse things are, the more time we spend talking with Him. However, it is often not until WE WERE CAUGHT! Caught, neglecting God. Caught making other things more important to us than God. Caught maybe falling in love with something else and it becomes an idol that has taken the place of God. I wonder if sometimes God does not allow those trying times in our life, just so we will stop and talk with Him a bit.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

  Could it be our days would be better and less trying if we spent more of our good times with God and not just our sad times? I love to talk with happy people more than I do mad and sad people. I believe God might feel that way too!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Jeremiah 1-2     /     Psalm 70     /     Proverbs 16     /     John 16-17

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Pro. 14-15           /      2 Co. 1

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

A Bright Spot, Even On A Cloudy Day

SEPT 15, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    Wouldn’t it be grand to live our entire life with happiness and no sorrow? Don’t we just want every day to be a day at the zoo, a vacation to an amusement park, or time on the beach? Life would seem so wonderful if we had no unhappy days. However, if we never had an unhappy day, then how would we know when we were having so much fun?

    In our verse today Jesus told his disciples, I shared my heart with you because I want you to know, you bring me joy. Jesus also wanted this day to bring them joy when they would think of Him. He was telling them that in the future, if you have a rough day and things are not going right, maybe you will remember me, and I can bring you joy.

    The type of joy Jesus spoke of here is a joy we find in one another. It is about relationships. Even in the midst of a terrible day when everything seems to go wrong, I so much look forward to being with my wife. Just to talk with her and enjoy each other’s company. It truly brings joy to my heart just being around her.

    Jesus found great joy in being with His disciples and doing His Fathers will. The reason the Bible teaches about this way of life is that God knew it would bring lasting joy too those who would just follow His leading. Jesus commands the disciples to be obedient to the words He had spoken to them. Why, because He knew it would bring them joy. Real joy. Everlasting joy.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    Would you like your day to go a little better? Then think on this, Jesus came and died for your sin so you could have eternal life and joy. No matter how hard today may seem, it is just a speck in time compared to eternity with Him. Think on Jesus, He can bring you joy.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  SEPT 15, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Zephaniah     /     Psalm 69:16-36     /     Proverbs 15     /     John 14-15 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Pro. 12-13           /       1 Co. 16

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

We Need One Another

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    I heard a man once say, “It is really not church that I do not like, it is all those people!” If we all told the truth, there are times when we all might feel the same way. Sometimes to the point of making us not want to go to church at all.

    We start thinking of the one person who always says something that rubs us the wrong way, or the one who makes too much noise during the service. Then there’s all those babies crying in the nursery, and I can hear them during the preaching. Oh yes, and the preacher, who I know has heard something about me again this week and is going to preach right at me. You start thinking; I would be better off watching a TV preacher and worshiping by myself.

    Why does this happen? Because the devil wants to destroy the church. The fact is, you can’t have church without people. People are the church. It will always be true, where there are people, there are going to be problems. However, it is also true that where there are people there are going to be the blessings of God.

    Proverbs 14:4 tells us that with no cattle you can have a clean barn. However, at the time the oxen produced milk, and pulled the plow in the fields. What may seem good for today, is often the most destructive for tomorrow. We need people in our lives. Even more important, people need you in their lives.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    God needs you in His church. God wants you with His church. God created you to be part of His church. So come on, let’s go to church this week. The crying babies need you to love them and be a testimony to them. The preacher only preaches what God gives. It is the Holy Spirit that speaks to man’s heart. Maybe it is time that you too made some noise and said amen occasionally. Oh yea, and the person who bugs you, LOVE THEM. It will drive them crazy!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Habakkuk     /     Psalm 69:1-15     /     Proverbs 14     /     John 13 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Pro. 10-11           /       1 Co. 15

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

BENEFITS 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

  Before starting most jobs, I would have a talk with the Human Resource Director. I would hear what my job was going to be, the building I would be working in, who my supervisor would be, and so on. Then we would get to the good stuff. MONEY! I mean really, that is the reason I was there. First, I was told of my wage, overtime pay, unemployment, etc. Then they told me about my benefits. I would receive so many paid sick days, a profit-sharing program, paid insurance, holidays paid, 401K package, and more. WOW, Benefits! I like that. Benefits were something extra that the company was not required by law to give me, but they are adding them in to what I receive. Not only promising it to me, but they also wrote it in a contract with me that they have to live up to. At this point, I have done nothing to deserve any of these benefits. Nevertheless, they believe I am going to work for them, so they are willing to give me benefits.

    When I was saved, I asked God to free me from sin, cleanse me from unrighteousness, and come into my heart. I believed that the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, paid the price for my sinfulness. His Word promised if I believed in Him, He would save me, and He did. Then came all the benefits! Not only did He save me, and give me a home in heaven, but He also put joy in my heart, which cannot be explained. He gave me peace of mind and a song in my heart. He has given me wisdom to handle daily affairs, as well as a new purpose and direction to live for. He has taken old habits, freed me from their bondage, and given me freedom to live for Him. All of the extra stuff I did not deserve. He wrote them all down in His Bible to show He would keep His word. BENEFITS!

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

  What a joy it is to know Jesus loves us and wants us to receive all these benefits. The saved life is more than hope for tomorrow, it is peace and joy today. It is more than just salvation from hell, it is LIFE. Not just a life to come, but real life NOW. God daily loads us with BENEFITS!

GOD TALKING TO ME:  SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Micah 1-7     /     Psalm 68     /     Proverbs 13     /     John 12

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Pro. 8-9           /     1 Co. 14

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

Are You A Lone Ranger?  

SEPTEMBER 11 & 12, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 11:14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    “I’ll make it on my own! I do not need your help! I am fine by myself!” If you have ever raised a teenager, you have probably heard similar sayings. However, it is not just teenagers who think this way. Occasionally we all get this, “Lone Ranger” attitude. As a Pastor, I have heard adults say, “I do not like to ask for help,” or “I want to do it on my own.” How about, “I do not need to attend church,” or “I just do not like people.” Truth be known, we all like people and we all want people to like us. We somehow are afraid if people really get to know us, they may not like us. But that is not how God designed us. In fact, God designed us to be around people.

    Not only is it good to have friends, but they also help keep us from falling. Today’s verse says just that. With no support network around us, no friends to hold us accountable, and left to our self, we may fall and stumble in sin. Why is that? It is because even though our heart is given to God, we still live with the old nature. The Bible says, “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” When left to think things out, we rationalize sin. That is one reason God created His church. To have a support group of like-minded people who struggle in a daily walk in this world just like us. It is not a sin to need a friend. It is a sin however not to be a friend. One of the greatest pleasures you will ever have is to truly help a friend in a time of need. To know that you have made a difference. You want your friends to be happy right? Then let them be of help to you in your spiritual walk with the Lord.

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    Find a church if you do not have one. In that church find a friend or group of friends and begin to get to know each other well. It will not happen overnight. Nevertheless, with time and effort on your part, you can build a safety net of people who love you, and we all want and need to be loved.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  September 11, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Isaiah 66     /     Psalm 67     /     Proverbs 11-12     /     John 10-11

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Pro. 6-7           /        1 Co. 13

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12