Forget Your Dreams--Follow Christ
Topic: Following Jesus

 Jeremiah 29:8-9a GW  This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Don't let the prophets or the mediums who are among you trick you. Don't even listen to your own dreams.  These people are prophesying lies to you in my name. ...

What hit me from this passage is the warning not to listen to dreams, even our own. Often they are wish fulfillments directed by a heart not in tune with God's will or a heart/mind that has allowed entry from the enemy (choices, TV, reading material, friends, occult, etc).

We need to fill our hearts and minds God's Word, Obey His leading and listen only to Him--the One who truly has our best in mind. (Any “dreams” need to be carefully checked against God's Word, His principles and His leading in our lives.)

Jeremiah 29:11 I GW know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. 

The God Who Is Present
Mood:  hug me
Topic: Following Jesus

Matthew 14:25-27 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

It was so easy for the disciples to be afraid. They hung out with Jesus, but they didn't think He was around at that moment. Their first thought certainly wasn't, "That's Jesus." Or "Jesus will take care of us."

They were used to knowing if Jesus was there, He could do something. They hadn't learned Jesus is in control of all time and space.

Jesus isn't present with us in that physical body. But He is here. Always. He hears when we grumble and complain. He hears it all.

Do we truly believe He is present? Do we let fear displace our trust? Are we ready to trust and go to Jesus,  whether or not we "feel" His presence?

Help me, Lord, commit to trusting You, no matter what, trusting You are working on my behalf--even when I can't "see" or know what's going on. Amen.

Remember Who I Am
Mood:  down
Topic: Following Jesus
I Timothy 1:15 GW This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the foremost sinner.

We're not OK. We're not inherently good. Quite the opposite. We tend to gravitate to the lowest common denominator. It is easy to stray, to sin. Hard to stay pure and holy.

But it is only in recognizing our need that we truly understand our need of a savior.

I am a sinner who has been saved by great love and great sacrifice.

Lord, help me not to forget who I am without You that I might not walk away into disgrace and sin, but wholly lean upon You. Amen.

No Other God
Mood:  d'oh
Topic: Following Jesus
Isaiah 45:18, 22 GW The LORD created the heavens. God formed the earth and made it. He set it up. He did not create it to be empty but formed it to be inhabited. This is what the LORD says: I am the LORD, and there is no other. ... Turn to me and be saved, all who live at the ends of the earth, because I am God, and there is no other.

God created the world for us. He wanted us to be here. He made us. Do we really think we can ignore Him with impunity? Do we really think anything or anyone else can save us, give us hope, or help us?

Help me Jesus, bow before You as Creator, Savior, and Lord.

To Whom Do I Belong?
Topic: Following Jesus
Phil. 1:27a GW Live as citizens who reflect the Good News about Christ. ...

Do I live as a good citizen not just of my earthly country, but also my heavenly home? Do I live as though Jesus lives in and through me by my loving actions and words toward others?

Jesus, today, help me reflect You that others might see to whom I truly belong. Amen.

Jesus Offers Life
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus
Romans 6:23 GW For the reward of sin is death; but what God freely gives is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

We deserve death. I do. You do. If we're honest, we'll admit we don't live up up to standards we expect of others. We shade truth--even often from ourselves.

We are not good. Wth this revelation comes the good news that Jesus is. Though we deserve consequences, deserve punishment, Jesus offers hope, forgiveness. Because He is good, He could and did take our consequences.

He offers only to those who need it, the not-so-good and know it. The needy. I do wrong. I sin against myself, my family, others and God. I deserve death.

Jesus offers life.
What joy to accept His offer.

Psalm 145:2 GW Every day will I give you blessing, praising your name for ever and ever.

New Year's Resolution: Make A Difference
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus
Numbers 19:7-8 GW My mouth expresses the truth, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips. Everything I say is fair, and there is nothing twisted or crooked in it.

If we 're looking for New Year's resolutions, we need look no further than these verses.

Think of the difference we could make if we incorporated the following into our lives in the new year.

1) I will always speak the truth.
2) I will not say evil things. I will not swear, use profanity or obscenities, gossip or put others down.
3) I will be fair and balanced as well as simply truthful.
4) I will not twist my words to my advantage, to make myself look good or to deliberately make someone else look bad.

Following these steps as we follow Jesus can transform our lives, our family, our nation and the world. Pass it on.

My Nature
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Psalm 130:3, 4, 7 GW O LORD, who would be able to stand if you kept a record of sins? But with you there is forgiveness so that you can be feared....O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, because with the LORD there is mercy and with him there is unlimited forgiveness. 

Every one of us is guilty of doing wrong. It is part of our nature without Christ. We stand condemned for our sins. There is no sense denying the truth. We are guilty. The exciting news is that when we come to Jesus, lay our sin before Him and ask, He extends mercy and forgiveness.

All He asks is everything--our hearts, our allegiance, our trust. Can I give less to the One who takes my guilt and sets me free?

Lord Jesus, help me not to play games, but to truly lay my life, my ambitions, my all before You that I might know the freedom and joy of serving You. Amen.

Acts 20:24 GW But I don't place any value on my own life. I want to finish the race I'm running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus-the mission of testifying to the Good News of God's kindness. 

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Whom Do I Worship?
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Revelation 19:10 MKJV And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See, do not do it! I am your fellow servant, and of your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Someone catches the eye of the public and become the latest rage. Everyone wants to interview them, put them on a pedestal, be like them. The phenomenon becomes nothing less than worship.

We worship heroes, sports stars, actors and other celebrities. We even worship, often following without question, government leaders and dynamic speakers--even pastors, spouses, kids.

The trouble with this is that God in Jesus must be our sole focus of worship. Anything else is idolatry and leads away from Him and into trouble.

Do I worship someone other than God and God alone? How do I spend my heart, my efforts, my income?

Psalm 30:11-12 MKJV You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have torn off my sackcloth, and have clothed me with gladness, so that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

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Reason for Church
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus
Psalm 35:18 GW I will give you thanks in a large gathering. I will
praise you in a crowd of worshipers.

This morning I dressed up. In a while we'll drive to our little church. I can say it is to be encouraged for another week, but once the opening worship songs end, my husband and I follow the line of eager children to classrooms where we teach God's principles to children, many of whom have severe family dysfunctions.

Feel good motivations quickly tarnish under the onslaught of the battle we face to share Christ, week after week.

Church, as the Christian walk of faith, I've learned, is not about
feeling good, but about obedience--doing what God asks, regardless of feelings, standing for truth regardless of cost and doing so with an
attitude of grace and humility.

If I attend church to feel good or to stroke my ego, I'll miss out on
what God in His wisdom has for me to learn. That may mean serving
instead of sitting, sharing instead of obsorbing. Most of all it means
church is not about me, but about Him and what He wants for me.

Help me worship, Lord, with a spirit of humilty, willing to stay and
serve where You, not I, direct. Amen.
 

Does My Faith Make a Difference
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Psalm 20:7 MKJV Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

We can trust in the police, the military or government to protect, save, rescue, but without a heart, a nation founded and continually built up on Christ, we have no protection at all. Our true protector and provider is not government or military. It is Jesus Christ. I am safe only as I follow and serve Him.

Makes sense I'd study His Word to know what He wants of me. Makes sense I'd stay in communication with Him. And, if I truly believed Jesus makes a difference in salvation, peace and security, personally and as a nation, makes sense I'd want others from family to leaders to follow Him as well.

If my faith doesn't change me or the way I interact with my world, it is no faith at all and I become a hypocrite for claiming beliefs that don't effect or change my life or my world.

Revelation 3:11 MKJV Behold, I come quickly. Hold fast to that which you have, so that no one may take your crown.

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Staying Power
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Psalm 19:14 MKJV Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
 
It isn't enough to say, "I'm His," ignoring time in His presence. If I truly belong to Christ, I'll desire to read, study, meditate on Him and be in constant communication with the Creator.
 
Without Him, we have no substance, staying power or foundations. We have no truth, values, or love.
 
Do my actions reflect a life in contact with the God of light, life and love?

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Keep Hot
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

Jude 4, 16-17 MKJV For certain men crept in secretly, those having been of old previously written into this condemnation, ungodly ones perverting the grace of our God for unbridled lust, and denying the only Master, God, even our Lord Jesus Christ. ...These are murmurers, complainers, leading lives according to their lusts. And their mouth speaks proud things, admiring faces for the sake of gain. But you, beloved, remember the words spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, ...

As believers, we can get comfortable in our own fellowship, our relationship and become lax in praying to God, reading, studying and obeying His Word. Our hearts grow cool to distinct lines of right and wrong, to the point when some enter our fellowship with twisted versions of the truth, we have little defense. We're led astray by our arrogance and complacency.

We're called to a different way. We're called to know and study Truth so we won't be led astray.

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Choosing our Attitudes
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

So far today, God,
I've done all right...
I haven't gossiped.
I haven't been grumpy, nasty or selfish.
I'm really glad of that,
But in a few minutes, God,
I'm going to get out of bed.
From now on, I'm probably going to need a lot of help.
                        --Source/Author Unknown

Search me, oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-34

We choose the direction of our day and our attitudes. God's way or ours. Those choices make all the difference.

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Examples
Now Playing: I Deal in Hope Daily Devotional Blog
Topic: Following Jesus

I John 2:4-5 MKJV He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. Bythis we know that we are in Him.

Christians are getting a bad rap these days. Often deserved. Often not. The reason. Many claim the name of Christ who have only a vague concept of who He is, have less knowledge of His Word and believe they can do what feels good and it's ok. It's not. We've raised a generation with only a faint idea of who God is and what He requires.

As Christ followers we need to realize these people are lost for eternity unless we truly live for Christ from knowledge and share His image of grace and life with those around us.

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