Strength Without God?
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Strength

Zach. 4:6 GW Then he replied, "This is the word the LORD spoke to Zerubbabel: You won't succeed by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Armies.

We flex our muscles as individuals or nations and think we're something else. We're strong, therefore we'll succeed. While there is nothing wrong with individuals and nations being and staying strong, we're wrong to think defense rests solely in our hands.

Without God, we are weak. Without God, we will ultimately fail. Only the nation who's God is the Lord will be truly strong and succeed. Only the person who relies on God not self will know the peace, provision and protection that only the presence of the living God provides.

A nation's strength derives from the strength of its citizenry. What is the source of your strength? Mine?

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Warriors or Wimps for Jesus
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Job 1:20-22a GW Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, "Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken away! May the name of the LORD be praised." Through all this Job did not sin or blame God ...

Job lost almost everything and everyone that mattered to him, yet he continued to honor, not blame, God. How many of us can make this same claim. We blame God and/or turn away for much less.

When we promised to serve Christ, did we do so with reservations...
If my life is good.
If nothing bad happens.
If it isn't too inconvenient.
If it doesn't get too hard.

Life happens. God never promised to shield us from life, but to be with us through good times and bad.

God needs those who keep their promises, who keep their commitments. He needs those not afraid to stand with Him for truth and right, warriors, not wimps.

Will I flake out when the going gets tough or play the blame game? Or will I stand with Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..."Job 13:15 KJV

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Be An Example
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

I Titus 2: 7-8 GW Always set an example by doing good things. When you teach, be an example of moral purity and dignity. Speak an accurate message that cannot be condemned. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed because they cannot say anything bad about us.

If we live right, others won't find evil, won't trip us up or make us out as hypocrites.

Whether or not we want to be, we are examples to those around us. It makes sense to make sure that what we say and how we live is based on what is true. There is only one truth and is Jesus Christ. He is truth.

The more we know Him, the more we live in a way that is good and kind and filled with joy.

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Garbage in--Garbage out
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices
I Titus 1:1 GW From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was sent to lead God's chosen people to faith and to the knowledge of the truth that leads to a godly life.

We live in a culture and time where we've divorced morality from actions, rational thinking from consequently.

But results come from input. If you put garbage in, expect garbage out. If you feed someone junk food all the time, the result is ill health. In the same way, if you feed someone distortions, perversions, and rationalizations---junk, the result will be someone without a moral compass or foundation.

Good doesn't come from evil. Those who make good choices are building on a foundation of faith and truth.

Is it any wonder our culture becomes more and more perverted and violent when we no longer give our young people a foundation of truth and faith from which good choices stem?

Want to make positive choices? Begin with a foundation of faith and truth.

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Don't Keep Silent--Share the Good News
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus
II Timothy 4:2 GW Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right. Point out errors, warn people, and encourage them. Be very patient when you teach.

This is clear. No way are we to stay quiet about our faith. While we are to live our faith in our daily lives, we're also to know Him, know His message and share it with those around us firmly, but kindly.

Not that it will be easy. In fact it is becoming less so all the time. But that doesn't let us off the hook.

V.3-5 a A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths. But you must keep a clear head in everything. ...

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When Bad Things Happen to Good Christians
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog

II Timothy 3:12 GW Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  

Too many Christians seem to think because they are Christians nothing bad should happen to them.  When things don't go their way they get mad at God (perish the thought that their or other's free will choices played a part) some turn off to their faith in whole or in part.

But those who take God's Word seriously and study to know it, learn that as God is real, so is Satan who comes against Christians with everything at His disposal. God doesn't promise a life of ease. He promises to be with us to provide, comfort, guide and bring hope.

Our "job" is to follow and honor Him in all we think, do, and say, clinging to Him-come what may.

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Image of God--His or Mine?
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Intelligence

Habakkuk 2:18 GW What benefit is there in a carved idol when its maker has carved it? What benefit is there in a molded statue, a teacher of lies, when its maker has molded it? The one who formed it trusts himself to make worthless idols that cannot speak. 

If the god we serve is little more than an image of ourselves, we are pathetic. If the god we serve is a recipe of our own devising, we are of all people hopeless and blind. In the end will the god we create save us?

Unfortunately, celebrities like Oprah are leading the charge for god's of self, gods created for our own fantasy world, using just enough religious jargon to fool those not well founded in faith.

We can devise all sorts of theories, philosophies, beliefs. That doesn't make them true. How pathetic to turn our back on the God who is, who sacrificed for us, who lives to love and guide if we come to Him.

All human plans lead to destruction. Why not explore the truth. Jesus said,  "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

V. Hab. 3:18b GW  I will be happy with the LORD. I will truly find joy in God, who saves me. 

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Cowardly Spirit
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Trust

II Timothy 1:7-8a GW God didn't give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord ...

Afraid? Turn that burden over to God. Those who truly know Him don't need to live in fear because fear and faith don't mix. Fear and love don't mix.

Faith is trusting and loving no matter what. Sometimes other human beings don't deserve such unconditional faith/trust, but God does. While we may not understand the big picture, we can trust He's in control and has a plan and purpose for our lives--if we let go fear and stand to be counted for Him, seeking and following His guidance every step of the way.

When we fail, not give up, knowing Christ forgives, to seek it and move on. In Christ we can be overcomers and joyful victors rather than cowardly victims.

V.9 God saved us and called us to be holy, not because of what we had done, but because of his own plan and kindness.  ...

V. 12b ...However, I'm not ashamed. I know whom I trust. I'm convinced that he is able to protect what he had entrusted to me until that day.  

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Listening & Following
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Listening

Micah 6:8 GW You mortals, the LORD has told you what is good. This is what the LORD requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God.

How do we know what is right? By knowing God, by knowing His Word and by staying in communication with Him--listening & following His guidance through His Word & prayer.

Only then will we know mercy for God and His love will be who we are. Want to live humbly with God? Then ask Jesus Christ to live within.

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Good Things
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Generosity

I Timothy 6:7 GW We didn't bring anything into the world, and we can't take anything out of it.   

If we don't leave with the material possessions we acquire, why do we so stress over them? What positives can we acquire that don't die when we do? If there is more to life than this, what do I want to build into my life and into the lives of those around me? How about kindness, compassion, modeling what is good, building relationships of integrity and honor.

V.17-18 Tell those who have the riches of this world not to be arrogant and not to place their confidence in anything as uncertain as riches. Instead, they should place their confidence in God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Tell them to do good, to do a lot of good things, to be generous, and to share. 

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Walk Humbly Before God
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Attitude

Micah 6:8 GW You mortals, the LORD has told you what is good. This is what the LORD requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God. 

How do we know what is right? By knowing God, by knowing His Word and by staying in communication with Him--listening & following His guidance through His Word & prayer.

Only then will we know mercy for God and His love will be who we are. Want to live humbly with God? Then ask Jesus Christ to live within.

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Complain or Pray--A Choice
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Choices

I Timothy 2:1-3 GW First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and prayers of thanks for all people, for rulers, and for everyone who has authority over us. Pray for these people so that we can have a quiet and peaceful life always lived in a godly and reverent way.  This is good and pleases God our Savior.   

I find it easy to complain about certain elected officials. But do I let them know when they've done well?

My father said, "Don't complain about someone if you aren't praying for them."

In my complaining, do I recognize the need for spiritual guidance and prayer support? Am I part of the problem?

Maybe I can be part of the solution by praying for elected officials, letting them know what I think, complementing when they do well. Most of all, do I pray for candidates, pray for my involvement as I take time to dig past rhetoric, and do I vote?

Help me Lord to stop complaining and instead hold officials up to You. Amen.V.4-6 He wants all people to be saved and to learn the truth. There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and humans-a human, Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for all people to free them from their sins. This message is valid for every era. 

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Willing to Listing, Willing to Change
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Confrontation

Eccl. 7:5 GW It is better to listen to wise people who reprimand you than to fools who sing your praises.

But who wants to listen to those who confront, those who question, those who bring up uncomfortable truths?

Those in political situations attack. Celebrities shrug off and laugh.
The media ignores.

How do I handle being confronted? With anger or with an attitude of willingness to search out truth, even if it means making changes, apologizing, confronting my own weaknesses?

V.9 Don't be quick to get angry, because anger is typical of fools.

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God is Good
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Attitude

Jonah 4:2 GW So he prayed to the LORD, "LORD, isn't this what I said would happen when I was still in my own country? That's why I tried to run to Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, patient, and always ready to forgive and to reconsider your threats of destruction.

Jonah preached repentance and those in Ninevah did just that. These were not a people always friendly to the Jews and Jonah was ticked that God spared them.

Even in his rant, Jonah recognized something we often forget--God is a good God who loves us and wants the best for us. He waits for us to follow Him and is quick to forgive and give hope when we do.

When things don't go as we'd like, do we like Jonah, get angry at God or do we bow like Job, submitting to God's best for us?

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Jonah's Whale
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Jonah 2:1 GW From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. Jonah prayed: "I called to the LORD in my distress, and he answered me. From the depths of my watery grave I cried for help, and you heard my cry." 

Jonah ran from God.
Turned His back on God's mission.
Lacked compassion for those God wished to save.
And yet...And yet..God didn't turn His back on Jonah.
Didn't forget Him Or leave Him in rebellion.
God scooped up Jonah and
In the belly of the whale
Jonah prayed.
God heard.
God answered.
Saved Jonah and the inhabitants of Ninevah.
No matter how far we run from Him.
God waits
Ready to hear our cry of need.
And, as we follow Him,
He answers.

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