Up with God! Down with his enemies!

Adversaries, run for the hills!

Gone like a puff of smoke,

like a blob of wax in the fire—

one look at God and the wicked vanish.

When the righteous see God in action

they'll laugh, they'll sing,

they'll laugh and sing for joy.

Sing hymns to God;

all heaven, sing out;

clear the way for the coming of Cloud-Rider.

Enjoy God,

cheer when you see him!

   These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don't repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.  -1 Corinthians 10: 11-13

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History can be a great teacher.  The Bible holds in it the history of our patriarchs and others who have come before us. Their stories are included as a means of seeing what to do as well as what not to do...but it is our responsibility to take heed and learn the lessons they provide.

 Temptation is something we will all face, but as the above passage suggest, God always provides a way of escape. I think that we have learned how to ask forgiveness...and Thank God for His Grace...but it is also part of our legacy to learn how to resist temptation. It's time for us to start putting up a fight...we fall too easy sometimes!!!

Today's Challenge:  Temptation is sure to come your way, but be ready for it!  Get in your Word and look for that way out!



Think on it...

  

...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.   -Psalm 30:5

We all cry sometimes (if we are honest) We all have moments in our lives that seem dark and stormy, but like the faithful sunrise, morning comes and the Joy of The Lord strengthens and picks us up, sometimes to the point that we even forget what we were weeping about. God is always faithful and His Joy is our strength. When the storms come, don't fret just hold on and look to the horizon cause joy is coming in the morning!

Today's Challenge: Don't be tricked into looking at the stormy circumstances, don't dwell on the things that cause you to weep. Put your trust in God and Hang in there! Joy isn't a feeling it's a choice! Choose The Joy of the Lord wherever you are today! Ya Heard!


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Shacah - Arise

Shachah :: "Arise (Stand Up)" :: Music Video (Cross Movement Records) from Cross Movement Records on Vimeo.
Shachah presents their Music Video for "Arise (Stand Up)" from the album ON THE MOVE (Cross Movement Records). In Stores Now. www.shachah.com | www.crossmovementrecords.com

   I read the testimony of a scientist once, he was at the top of his field and had made many discoveries.  He admitted that he was on a quest to use science as a means to prove that God didn't exist, but a funny thing happened along the way.  The more and more evidence he gathered the more and more proof he had that this world was far to complex to not have a creator...and it was a wrap when he discovered that the Bible's account of Creation was scientifically sound.  These days he is a passionate Christian, sharing the gospel and using science as a means to prove that God not only exists, but that His accounts of how things came to be are not just true but that they can be proven scientifically.

  You gotta love it!  The same information, skills and ability that was once used incorrectly, has been flipped upside down and is now used correctly and the truth is clearly seen.




Upside Down from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.




Today's Challenge: A two part challenge for you today; First, I want you to let today's devo serve as a reminder that there is hope for even thee most hardcore atheist, so I challenge you to not write people off even when they seem to be resistant to your words...pray for them and keep letting them see your Godly Lifestyle because you never know when things will flip upside down for them. Secondly I realize that most of the followers of this blog are "believers", but have you come to the point where you believe and trust God completely? If not what information is it that you are viewing incorrectly? What is in your life that needs to be flipped upside down so that you can see the Truth and begin Living the Life He has called you to live?

-Peace

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,   Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
                     -Ephesians 5:15-16

There are a lot of things going on these days, most of them designed to distract us and to put it bluntly, if allowed many of these things will allow us to entertain ourselves to death!  It's time we wake up and smell the "spiritual coffee" that's brewing.  God has given us much...and to whom much is given, much is required.  Don't be mindless and most of all don't let your life be a waste.

Today's Challenge:  Don't Waste Your Life!  Make the decision to not take your life for granted.  When it's your time to leave this earth make sure that you have been poured completely out...hold nothing back...use every gift talent and ability that God has blessed you with to bring Him Glory and Be a Blessing to as many people as you can.  Life is precious fam...Don't waste It!!!!


Lecrae - Don't Waste Your Life

The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.

As the quote above suggest, it is through reading understanding and obeying The Word of God that we grow and develop as followers of Christ.  This is not something we should occasionally do, it should be the foundation and fabric of our lives.  Unfortunately that is something that we most often fail to do as a Body of Believers.  For the most part we settle for one or two spirituals feedings (if that many) a week, while primarily remaining consumed with all of the cares and distractions of our daily lives, we live the fast food kind of lives and our spiritual lives often follow a similar path...we want it all and we want it now!

This mentality has an effect on our spiritual development.  We don't have time to read, study and pray so we settle instead for the spiritual version of "The Cliff Notes."  Just gives us the highlights.  For the most part we leave the reading, praying and studying to our Pastors, Leaders & Teachers and we settle for dining off the fruits of their labors.  It's funny how we have it backward, we invest most of our time and energy on things that drain us, while neglecting the very thing that will sustain, protect and guide us.  That should not be so.

Today's Challenge:  Check yourself before you wreck yourself!  If you aren't spending time reading The Word, developing an understanding and obeying it...then you really are a wreck waiting to happen.  Make the time to get in The Word, grow in your understanding of it, then obey it, and if you are feeling like you can't afford to add something else to your already busy schedule...my friend you can't afford not to!!!!