5 Thoughts

1. God is love. Our love for God should seep our of our pores. We are designed to love Him. We are supposed to be known by our love. Love God. Love others. It’s simple, not easy.

1 John 4:8

⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Last night, at 3:14am, I was woken up when a massive thunderstorm rolled through my living room! At least, that’s how it felt. A couple of those thunder claps made the whole house rattle. I watched out the window as the night sky lit up like day-light each time the lightning fired off and it was an absolutely awesome show. Thankfully, and somewhat surprisingly, my kids slept through it. Not sure how they do that.

Recently I was invited to perform for a "Viper Car Club." These were mainly men with toys to prove something. They would pull up in their Vipers each one louder than the next. They would pop open the hoods and show off the power of their new engines. Each story felt more like folklore than reality. "I can get mine up to 180 mph in under 3 seconds." "Oh really, mines being used in the Fast and Furious." Each man trying to showoff his manly piece of power.

I am sure these vehicles are powerful, not as powerful as a Corvette but still powerful. Power. So many hungry for power. Thankfully, God has given us a power that is stronger than any engine, any enemy, and any of our fears. This power is endless and it’s ours for free.

What could you give some one as a gift if they just saved your life?

In two words describe your life.

If you asked ten people you loved today to describe your life in two words what would they say?

Today we are going to look at a man by the name of Stephen–his life was marked by two words. Any guesses?

Our words matter. God tells us that we will be accountable for every word we say. Think about that? Do you really believe that? We need to start taking God’s Word seriously. We need to stop making excuses and saying, "Well, I know God always forgives." If that is our attitude we need to seriously consider how deeply our words matter.

Matthew 12:36-37

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ³⁷For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

This is a gross exaggeration of humanity but I will say it anyhow. There are people who recharge you, rejuvenate you and inspire you AND there are people who drain you, take from you and sap your energy. Today here is my challenge for you–spend time with both of these people. Ask God to give you the strength to build others up according to their needs. And for those of you who constantly give–ask God to put someone into your life that will recharge you.

I was reminded of a great way to pray for people. About  a month ago, I started praying very specifically for people. Instead of just praying out of my own head–I prayed the Scriptures. I know this isn’t a new idea. I have done it before but I forgot the POWER in praying the promises of the Scriptures for myself and others. If you haven’t done this before it’s pretty straight forward: 1. Take a verse. 2. Pick a person or ministry 3. Turn the verse for that person/ministry into a prayer.

 Almighty God

speak to us today.

Meet us in THIS place. 

TRANSFORM

us by the POWER of Your word.

Today we continue on to Philippians chapter 3. There are so many powerful truths within these passages that can transform our lives. The key is to apply His word to our lives. Today as you read through Philippians 3 write down in the comment section (don’t be afraid of the comment section) one thing that you are going to do.

This week we are encouraging you to read through the book of Philippians. Today we move on to chapter 2. The goal is to spend time with God, not just read His Word like you are reading the US Tax Code. Ponder it. Listen to it. Meditate on it. Ask God to answer questions you are wrestling through. Apply it to your life. Be encouraged by it. Let it move you–transform your thinking. God’s Word is so rich and powerful, but we have to allow it to soak into our veins so that we live, breathe and move in His Word.

Life is full of twists and turns. Sometimes in what seems like an instant our entire life is turned upside.

-A love one passes away

-Our spouse leaves us

-Our boss let’s us go

-Our child turns her back on God

-Depression sinks in

-Everything we do seems to fail

-Our faith seems shaky at best

This is one of my favorite passages.

Ephesians 3:14-21

¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Don’t just go to the next page. Make this into a prayer, your prayer. (i.e. "Heavenly Father, I pray that out of your incredible, vast riches that you might strengthen my family with your power. Jesus, teach me to embrace the depth of Your love . . .")