“In the same way, the Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I would like to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my distinction of preaching without charge… What then is my pay? It is the satisfaction I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights as a preacher.”
1 Corinthians 9:14-15, 18 (NLT)

JULY 21 - What an incredible man Paul was! The situation described here is a result of the shortcomings of the Corinthians. Though Paul was their spiritual father, the one who freely gave of himself so they could hear the Gospel, they did not treat him justly. Instead, they unwisely gave honor to people who did much less for them in comparison to Paul. And what was Paul’s response recorded in the Scriptures above?

• He never demanded his rights.
• He diligently worked to add to the Corinthians, not to use them for
  his opportunistic gain.

Do you go to work adding value, or are you like crawdads in a bucket? Every time one crawdad almost makes his way out of the bucket by walking all over the other guys, another crawdad reaches up, pinches
his leg, and pulls him right back to where he started. You can live that way if you choose, but you will have nothing to show for it. Instead, be the one to propel others to their promotion. Go to work to add value, not to use others.

Father, I thank You for enabling me to add value to my world. I pray that You would continue to give me opportunities to become the answer for others.

Family Scripture Reading

Romans 11

Featured Resource

Repentance: God’s Key To Restoration - CD

One of the most shocking philosophies found in churches today is that one can live for Christ and partake of sin. In short, repentance is no longer considered necessary. God’s grace has been lifted higher than His command to “Repent.” Banished to the heap of dry doctrines along with sin, hell, fire, and brimstone, repentance is seldom taught and therefore greatly misunderstood. Yet according to God’s Word, repentance is vital not only for salvation, but also maturity in Christ to become the effective believer He wants you to be.

In this timely series, Dr. Robb Thompson clarifies the importance of repentance in salvation and daily life. This study offers you foundational instruction if you’re a new Christian and important reminders if you’re a veteran believer.

Posted under Giving

“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What’s more, who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14 (NLT)

JULY 20 - “For such a time as this…” Could that same phrase be said of you and me? I believe so. For such a time as this, we have been put on this earth to make a difference. We have been given all the tools we need to make a significant impact on the lives of those around us. The question is, are we?

Whether or not we like it, just as Jesus daily realized His destiny was approaching, so it is that our moment of destiny is coming closer all the time. Until then, we have only brief tastes of what our lives will represent. We must learn to take each of those little opportunities and use them to the fullest, and in time, we’ll arrive at bigger things. There is no turning back time, and no making up for lost opportunities.

We must pursue these four things:

• Character
• Excellence
• Understanding
• Relationships

These are the four requirements necessary for our grandest moment of destiny. God is working in us, but ultimately, the choice is ours!

Father, I thank You that You placed me here for such a time as this. Create in me the willingness and determination to accept Your transforming power in my life.

Family Scripture Reading

Romans 10

Featured Resource

Repentance: God’s Key To Restoration - CD

One of the most shocking philosophies found in churches today is that one can live for Christ and partake of sin. In short, repentance is no longer considered necessary. God’s grace has been lifted higher than His command to “Repent.” Banished to the heap of dry doctrines along with sin, hell, fire, and brimstone, repentance is seldom taught and therefore greatly misunderstood. Yet according to God’s Word, repentance is vital not only for salvation, but also maturity in Christ to become the effective believer He wants you to be.

In this timely series, Dr. Robb Thompson clarifies the importance of repentance in salvation and daily life. This study offers you foundational instruction if you’re a new Christian and important reminders if you’re a veteran believer.

Posted under Winning

“But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
James 1:22 (KJV)

JULY 19 - The most intriguing section of the temple was also the most intimate location in the grand edifice. Just as a veil shielded females’ countenances for purity’s sake, a veil (or thick curtain) separated the holy of holies from the rest of the temple. And although the Jewish priests were very knowledgeable in the  Scriptures, entering past the veil was only for the elect, established for one who truly knew how to  be intimate with the holy God. Intimacy with any person thrives on time spent together, disconnected from the pressures of life.

Our personal intimacy with God is very similar. Many contemporary believers know much about the  Word—they know what it says, but they don’t necessarily adhere to it. Sure they say they do, but their lives don’t reflect it. This is a dangerous trap, because it is very easy to equate knowledge with action, though the two are quite separate.

Consequently, many believers know that they should spend ample time in solitary prayer, yet they don’t do it. Instead, they turn on Christian television to hear about the awesome power of life-changing prayer or pick up the latest best-selling book on intimacy with God. They could even write books about the presence of God and how glorious it is, yet they don’t experience it for themselves. Students are taught theory in schools, but their complete training comes when they enter the workforce and face real-life problems and circumstances. In the same way, the presence of God can only be outlined by theory. Its fullness requires experience by real, consecrated, consistent, solitary prayer.

Father, I thank You for showing me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy, and at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Family Scripture Reading

Genesis 27

Featured Resource

You Are Healed - Book

From God’s perspective, health is not something that we lack and must try to attain. Rather, it is a possession that is already ours – but the thief is trying to steal it!

Jesus went to the cross to deliver us, once and for all, from the curse of sickness and disease. So, why does divine healing often seem to be so elusive? It’s because the only proof we have of our healing, until it is manifested, is the written Word of God.

Nevertheless, God’s Word is all the proof we need! Dr. Thompson shows you how to apply the principles of God’s Word to your life, until you experience the divine health in which God intends you to walk. This book equips you with the spiritual prescription needed to attain health, wholeness, and vitality in your body.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1 Man’s Opinion or God’s Word on Healing?
2 Healing Must Be Pursued
3 Different Ways Jesus Heals
4 Believing God For Yourself
5 Adjusting Your ‘Receiver’

Posted under Action

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Matthew 25:21 (KJV)

JULY 18 - Something was happening in early, nineteenth-century England— a drastic change for the better! Following various revivals, Englishmen began to depend less and less on superstitious charms and astrology to make their crops grow, instead, they put more and more faith into God’s principles. These men accepted responsibility by seeking ways to use their land in the most efficient manner possible, going far beyond their ancient traditions.

All growth requirements change. God expects change of us, just as a parent of his child. Like those English farmers, we must reach for more, pushing beyond what we have always done. The challenge we face, though, is maintaining our same level of excellence in our current responsibilities, as we boldly step into new ones. Even if we could do a great job at the next level of life, we will never have the freedom to enter that place if we neglect the duties of our present assignment.

This pitfall is very dangerous, and is often very well disguised. It is so tempting to imagine all the bliss of something new. And then, just as we are about ready to lay hold of that new thing, the ground beneath our feet falls out from under us like a jagged land fault, solely because we did not complete the very thing for which we were responsible. Let us, therefore, strive for growth while we flawlessly carry out the tasks we
were asked to complete.

Father, I thank You that You are faithful. I fulfill all my current responsibilities as if I were doing them for You, and I trust that You make my future dreams a reality!

Family Scripture Reading

Romans 10

Featured Resource

You Are Healed - Book

From God’s perspective, health is not something that we lack and must try to attain. Rather, it is a possession that is already ours – but the thief is trying to steal it!

Jesus went to the cross to deliver us, once and for all, from the curse of sickness and disease. So, why does divine healing often seem to be so elusive? It’s because the only proof we have of our healing, until it is manifested, is the written Word of God.

Nevertheless, God’s Word is all the proof we need! Dr. Thompson shows you how to apply the principles of God’s Word to your life, until you experience the divine health in which God intends you to walk. This book equips you with the spiritual prescription needed to attain health, wholeness, and vitality in your body.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1 Man’s Opinion or God’s Word on Healing?
2 Healing Must Be Pursued
3 Different Ways Jesus Heals
4 Believing God For Yourself
5 Adjusting Your ‘Receiver’

Posted under Responsibility