Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, September 12, 2008
Devotional Changes
Hello everyone...
Sorry about the lack of a Friday post...I hope you took some time yesterday morning and searched a little further into God's Word!
I just wanted you to know that I will now be posting the morning devotions (from now on...) on our regular campus blog: www.internetcampusblog.com (starting Monday morning)...
See you there!
Pastor Brian
Sorry about the lack of a Friday post...I hope you took some time yesterday morning and searched a little further into God's Word!
I just wanted you to know that I will now be posting the morning devotions (from now on...) on our regular campus blog: www.internetcampusblog.com (starting Monday morning)...
See you there!
Pastor Brian
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Focus
Joshua 6:1-2 (TNIV): “Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.”
I love today's verse...here you have a strong leader in Joshua finally being given the land of Jericho as promised by God. He gets there and finds a securely bolted wall guarding the entire city...and what does God tell him? "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands..."
Really? Is Jericho available for the taking? Seems at first glance that God isn't seeing the same thing that Joshua is... a huge wall and a bunch of angry soldiers just inside the city...
We have to remember when we come through these verses exactly Who it is that is delivering on His word. God has brought Joshua unharmed to the city gates and has the plan to make these gigantic walls fall... all it took from Joshua was faith and focus.
Through faith, Joshua would assemble men to circle the city and blow their ram's horn trumpets...then God's power would take the walls down. If Joshua ever doubted the plan from God, the Bible doesn't indicate it. He would boldly put God's plan into action...the city would fall..and Joshua's faith would be bolstered.
Have you ever faced a huge wall in your life? What did you focus on? Was it the size of the wall or the size of your God? Did you start making up a plan to overcome it? Or did you count on God to have an even better plan?
Focus is everything. No matter what walls you are facing...never take your eyes off of God's power...His timing...and His ability to do the impossible.
See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian
I love today's verse...here you have a strong leader in Joshua finally being given the land of Jericho as promised by God. He gets there and finds a securely bolted wall guarding the entire city...and what does God tell him? "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands..."
Really? Is Jericho available for the taking? Seems at first glance that God isn't seeing the same thing that Joshua is... a huge wall and a bunch of angry soldiers just inside the city...
We have to remember when we come through these verses exactly Who it is that is delivering on His word. God has brought Joshua unharmed to the city gates and has the plan to make these gigantic walls fall... all it took from Joshua was faith and focus.
Through faith, Joshua would assemble men to circle the city and blow their ram's horn trumpets...then God's power would take the walls down. If Joshua ever doubted the plan from God, the Bible doesn't indicate it. He would boldly put God's plan into action...the city would fall..and Joshua's faith would be bolstered.
Have you ever faced a huge wall in your life? What did you focus on? Was it the size of the wall or the size of your God? Did you start making up a plan to overcome it? Or did you count on God to have an even better plan?
Focus is everything. No matter what walls you are facing...never take your eyes off of God's power...His timing...and His ability to do the impossible.
See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A Holy Life
Joshua 3:5 (TNIV): “Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."
What does it mean to live a consecrated or holy life? Isn't holiness, perfection? Is it attainable? I had the same questions so I researched what living a holy life looks like in light of today's verse..
I believe that living a holy life and consecrating ourselves consists of three elements:
1) A holy life is set apart and cleansed from sin - If we are going to live a holy life, we must remember that we are called to live a life of example to others...set apart...not different in a judgmental or critical way...but because we are living lives that have been rescued through the blood of Christ. We have to remember the Jesus paid the ultimate price for us...our lives are to be lived out as a light in a dark world...forgiven and called to a higher purpose.
2) A holy life is one that trusts and obeys Jesus - If we want to live holy lives...set apart...we need to study who Jesus is. We need to learn who He is and what He wants us to do with our lives. It's not enough to just learn these things... a holy life obeys them. Holy living is all about trusting the promises of Christ.
3) A holy life is one centered on God's Word - Similar to point 2, a holy life is based on the Bible. Memorizing verses and applying them to your life... reading scripture repeatedly while searching for the application to you personally... applying the scripture in your life as the standard for absolute right and wrong... all critical in a holy life.
It is my prayer that as we grow closer to Christ...we accept the calling to live a consecrated and holy life. Remember, we don't have to be perfect...just dedicated to fulfilling the ultimate purpose for our lives...to give glory to our Lord.
See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian
What does it mean to live a consecrated or holy life? Isn't holiness, perfection? Is it attainable? I had the same questions so I researched what living a holy life looks like in light of today's verse..
I believe that living a holy life and consecrating ourselves consists of three elements:
1) A holy life is set apart and cleansed from sin - If we are going to live a holy life, we must remember that we are called to live a life of example to others...set apart...not different in a judgmental or critical way...but because we are living lives that have been rescued through the blood of Christ. We have to remember the Jesus paid the ultimate price for us...our lives are to be lived out as a light in a dark world...forgiven and called to a higher purpose.
2) A holy life is one that trusts and obeys Jesus - If we want to live holy lives...set apart...we need to study who Jesus is. We need to learn who He is and what He wants us to do with our lives. It's not enough to just learn these things... a holy life obeys them. Holy living is all about trusting the promises of Christ.
3) A holy life is one centered on God's Word - Similar to point 2, a holy life is based on the Bible. Memorizing verses and applying them to your life... reading scripture repeatedly while searching for the application to you personally... applying the scripture in your life as the standard for absolute right and wrong... all critical in a holy life.
It is my prayer that as we grow closer to Christ...we accept the calling to live a consecrated and holy life. Remember, we don't have to be perfect...just dedicated to fulfilling the ultimate purpose for our lives...to give glory to our Lord.
See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
I've Got the Power
Joshua 1: 6, 7, 9, (TNIV): “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. …9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Yesterday we talked about being ready...prepared for opportunities that may come from God. Sometimes it's a financial opportunity...sometimes it's the chance to rebuild a broken relationship. We must be ready for anything...because when the time comes...we won't have time to prepare ourselves for it.
Great...now we're ready...but have you ever wondered it you'll have the strength to do it? Have you ever thought about your power source? Today's verse directly addresses Who we should look to for our strength...
"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Just like Joshua...we have God as the ultimate source of strength. Our Creator is waiting to give you the wisdom and strength that you need to get through the opportunities that you have prepared yourself for. Why is it, then, that so many of us live powerless? I believe there are two primary reasons:
1) We don't really understand Who God is - So many times I find myself weary and feeling defeated. Why is that? I sometimes forget that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere at one time. He created everything from nothing. He raises the dead and heals the sick... He holds the whole world in His mighty hand. Why can't He give me the strength to handle what I am prepared to handle? It's probably due to the second reason..
2) We don't ask - How many times have you been struggling with the strength issue and decided that it was too minor to ask for help from God for? We turn to self-help books, vitamins, gurus, supplements, or just plain blind determination to pull together enough power to persevere. All God says to do is ask Him. If it's His will for our lives, He grants us the strength that we need. He loves us more than anyone...and wants to see us get through the challenge...all we need to do is go to Him in prayer and ask Him for His strength...
What challenge are you ready for but doubt if you'll have the strength to endure it? Let's pray this morning that we can keep the faith...knowing that if we are ready for the opportunity, that when they come, the God that gives us the chance will be the same God who gives us the power.
See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian
Yesterday we talked about being ready...prepared for opportunities that may come from God. Sometimes it's a financial opportunity...sometimes it's the chance to rebuild a broken relationship. We must be ready for anything...because when the time comes...we won't have time to prepare ourselves for it.
Great...now we're ready...but have you ever wondered it you'll have the strength to do it? Have you ever thought about your power source? Today's verse directly addresses Who we should look to for our strength...
"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
Just like Joshua...we have God as the ultimate source of strength. Our Creator is waiting to give you the wisdom and strength that you need to get through the opportunities that you have prepared yourself for. Why is it, then, that so many of us live powerless? I believe there are two primary reasons:
1) We don't really understand Who God is - So many times I find myself weary and feeling defeated. Why is that? I sometimes forget that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere at one time. He created everything from nothing. He raises the dead and heals the sick... He holds the whole world in His mighty hand. Why can't He give me the strength to handle what I am prepared to handle? It's probably due to the second reason..
2) We don't ask - How many times have you been struggling with the strength issue and decided that it was too minor to ask for help from God for? We turn to self-help books, vitamins, gurus, supplements, or just plain blind determination to pull together enough power to persevere. All God says to do is ask Him. If it's His will for our lives, He grants us the strength that we need. He loves us more than anyone...and wants to see us get through the challenge...all we need to do is go to Him in prayer and ask Him for His strength...
What challenge are you ready for but doubt if you'll have the strength to endure it? Let's pray this morning that we can keep the faith...knowing that if we are ready for the opportunity, that when they come, the God that gives us the chance will be the same God who gives us the power.
See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian
Monday, September 8, 2008
Get Ready
Joshua 1:2 (TNIV): “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.”
Get ready. You've heard it a hundred times... Get ready to have a baby...get ready to go to school... get ready for God to answer your prayers... get ready to eat... get ready... get ready...
It seems like so much of our lives are spent getting ready.
Yet so many of us aren't ready when things happen in our lives. We are taken by surprise...totally unaware that an opportunity is upon us. In today's passage, God is telling the Israelites that they need to get ready to go into the land that He is ready to give them. Do you think they were ready for that opportunity? Not really. They hadn't prepared themselves under the leadership of Moses. They grumbled...they doubted...they worried.
So many of us don't prepare ahead of time for things... We don't keep learning...keep developing...keep pushing ourselves to be better... Somewhere along the line, we settle. We get comfortable with the way things are.
Unfortunately when an extraordinary opportunity comes our way we're caught flat-footed. Not ready. Out of position. Sure, we want to get ready for what God is going to give us...but by the time the chance presents itself it is far too late to start getting ready.
Here's my challenge to you today...as you pray...ask God to reveal to you what element of your life you need to get ready...is it your finances? your emotions? your spiritual life? What part of your life needs to prepare for upcoming opportunities? God is ready to give you something more for your life...it's time for us to get ready for it...ahead of time...
See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian
Get ready. You've heard it a hundred times... Get ready to have a baby...get ready to go to school... get ready for God to answer your prayers... get ready to eat... get ready... get ready...
It seems like so much of our lives are spent getting ready.
Yet so many of us aren't ready when things happen in our lives. We are taken by surprise...totally unaware that an opportunity is upon us. In today's passage, God is telling the Israelites that they need to get ready to go into the land that He is ready to give them. Do you think they were ready for that opportunity? Not really. They hadn't prepared themselves under the leadership of Moses. They grumbled...they doubted...they worried.
So many of us don't prepare ahead of time for things... We don't keep learning...keep developing...keep pushing ourselves to be better... Somewhere along the line, we settle. We get comfortable with the way things are.
Unfortunately when an extraordinary opportunity comes our way we're caught flat-footed. Not ready. Out of position. Sure, we want to get ready for what God is going to give us...but by the time the chance presents itself it is far too late to start getting ready.
Here's my challenge to you today...as you pray...ask God to reveal to you what element of your life you need to get ready...is it your finances? your emotions? your spiritual life? What part of your life needs to prepare for upcoming opportunities? God is ready to give you something more for your life...it's time for us to get ready for it...ahead of time...
See you tomorrow,
Pastor Brian
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Friday Prayers
Good morning!
This morning as you settle in to do your devotionals...let's pray for those that are challenged spiritually...
Pray for those who...
Feel separated from God.
Are praying for the same thing everyday without result.
Have turned their back on the faith.
Have replaced God with someone or something else.
Don't think they have any gifts to leverage for God's Kingdom
There are so many hurting people who are facing challenges in their walk with Christ...let's not forget that all of us go through highs and lows spiritually...it is up to us to help those that are in the valley remember that there are mountaintops as well...
See you this weekend online!
Pastor Brian
This morning as you settle in to do your devotionals...let's pray for those that are challenged spiritually...
Pray for those who...
Feel separated from God.
Are praying for the same thing everyday without result.
Have turned their back on the faith.
Have replaced God with someone or something else.
Don't think they have any gifts to leverage for God's Kingdom
There are so many hurting people who are facing challenges in their walk with Christ...let's not forget that all of us go through highs and lows spiritually...it is up to us to help those that are in the valley remember that there are mountaintops as well...
See you this weekend online!
Pastor Brian
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