“An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.”
Proverbs 20:21 (NKJV)

JULY 12 - As one of the smaller wonders of the ancient world, Herod’s temple dazzled the Jews with its grandeur and magnificent architecture. At age thirteen, Jesus and His family joined much of the nation,
traveling to Jerusalem for the annual Passover festivities. Denying themselves comfort, the pilgrims from Nazareth slept on mats under the stars, traipsing over rocky hills and thorny scrub in order to maintain
this long-term tradition inside their family.

Today, people lose in life, not because they are destined to lose, but because they live with a short-term mindset. Happy and successful people sacrifice today in order to enjoy the benefits of tomorrow.

They use their present as an investment for their future. They live with the end in mind. They are strategic about their success rather than reliant on a lofty hope that life will turn out the way they want. If you haven’t already noticed, you don’t get out of life what you want; you only get what you put into it. You reap what you sow. What are you willing to do to ensure happiness and success at your final destination?

The majority of people want to enjoy short-term benefits while simultaneously hoping to partake of long-term pleasures. It is no different than the individual who eats unhealthy foods yet expects to enigmatically retain a slim figure and a strong body. If you desire to live a happy and successful life, accept short-term self-denial. It is a choice few are willing to make, but it guarantees you a bright and fulfilling future.

Father, I thank You that I wait patiently for my inheritance. I refuse to gain my inheritance too hastily, and therefore I expect You to bless me in the end.

Family Scripture Reading

Genesis 26

Featured Resource

Excellence In Character - Book

Have you tested your foundation lately?

A house built on a faulty foundation soon becomes unfit to live in. Shifting soil causes cracks in the foundation. Gradually those cracks travel upward to the walls and ceilings of the house, causing more and more structural damage — not to mention more headaches to those who live inside. Think of the loss and trouble the homeowners could have avoided if they had only tested the foundation before they moved in!

In the same way, we will save ourselves a lifetime of grief if we will just take the time to test the foundation of our lives — our character — and deal with any cracks or flaws that could later lead to disaster. As author Robb Thompson stresses, “Without a strong, solid foundation of God’s principles undergirding our lives, everything else we attempt to build or accomplish will eventually crumble and fall. In fact, any breakdown in life can almost always be traced back to a breakdown in character.”

Let Dr. Thompson help you explore what God has to say about pursuing excellent character. Then start building a rock-solid, Godly character that will lead you to God’s highest for your life!

Posted under Self-Image

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Matthew 19:21-22 (NKJV)

MAY 5 - Having helped his people win their War of Independence, Moshe Dayan would now begin a new phase in his life. Retaining command of Israel’s southern sector, in 1950 he was promoted to rank of Brigadier General, transferred additionally to command of the northern sector. Dayan was ready and willing to change into whatever personage his embattled nation needed. He could not refuse God. He dare not refuse his people.

Whenever we refuse to embrace change in any area of our lives, we hinder God from helping us grow. It is impossible to grow, however, when we refuse change. God calls us to purposefully walk and live as Christ did while here upon the earth. All of us have a distance to go, but the good news is that we have the ability to improve because of our relationship with Christ. If we willingly allow Christ to invade our lives, and if we follow His Lordship, as soldiers follow their general, we will mature in Him.

Our willingness to embrace change authorizes Heaven to promote us to a higher level (just as Brigadier General Dayan was continually promoted), giving us a superior future. As we seek to improve ourselves, we will soon achieve our God-given potential. We cannot afford to allow our pride to prevent us from embracing the changes that are necessary for continual growth. In order to exceed our present status, we must be willing to pay the price of change.

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that I am Your child and I walk as Christ walked. I speak as Christ spoke and I live as Christ lived.

Family Scripture Reading

James 4

Featured Resource

Your Rights As A Believer - CD

Before giving your life to Christ, you were imprisoned in the inescapable cage of sin. Satan was your prison guard, making certain you exercised no rights, privileges, or claims to anything that happened to you…you were helplessly subject to his tyranny.

Then the wonderful day came when you put your faith in Jesus! Immediately the prison door was flung open and you were free to live as a child of the King, with all its inherent authority, rights, and benefits. Did you walk out of that cage? Or do you remain imprisoned – subject to the shackles of depressing circumstances, stressful relationships, poor health, and unending lack?

It’s time to step out of the cage and into your royal inheritance! In this six CD series, Dr. Robb Thompson teaches fundamental principles that demonstrate how to boldly walk by faith, confidence, and authority in any situation, no matter what the circumstances may dictate.

With topics such as: How to Meditate on God’s Word, Believing in God’s Character, and Rejoicing Regardless of the Circumstances, you will find yourself equipped and full of faith for every situation!

Posted under Change