“…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

DECEMBER 26 - At Jerusalem’s annual Passover celebration, meeting together in an upper room, the Master ominously warned the disciples of His betrayal. Afterward, He prayed in such agony that sweat drops and
blood dotted the ground. The chief priests, captains, and elders of the temple, along with Judas, arrived with swords, preparing to arrest Jesus and put Him on trial.

Ever before God’s Son was the cross. And Jesus, our greatest example, demonstrates the supreme power of accurate focus, even in the chaos of His trial and crucifixion. James 1:2 tells us that life brings many storms and tests our way. Only those who focus on the grapes of Canaan survive. We can have the determination to press on if we prepare by asking ourselves:

• Where am I headed in life?
• What do I want to accomplish, possess, and become?

It is a reality that those who have nowhere to go usually have no internal fortitude to advance. We must always remember—our lives move in the direction of our focus. Although what we go through may seem too difficult to overcome, it is imperative we focus on the victory that awaits us. For Christ, that focus was the cross. And just as an athlete focuses on running the race to win the prize, so we also must have a clear, distinct image of the victory, and not the storm. As we focus on what we are going to, Heaven gives us the strength to make it through.

Father, I am thankful for the promises of Canaan in my life. I declare that I will go up and take possession of what is rightfully mine. I look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of my faith.

Family Scripture Reading

Titus 1

Featured Resource

Your Spiritual Checkup - CD Series

Have you accepted your new identity in Christ or do you continually deal with shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. The thoughts we identify with, whether good or bad, sculpt our destiny. Envision the marvelous transformation that would take place if we learned how to walk in our true identity. Imagine what life would be like if you were able to confidently identify with Christ instead of your old sin nature – nothing but victory, joy, and fulfillment. If you desire to learn the keys to walk in your new identity, this series is for you!

Posted under Focus

“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but  was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”
Romans 4:20-22 (NKJV)

AUGUST 27 - She didn’t know if she could do it, but by putting faith in God she would really try. Carefully listening to the Teacher’s words, the part about “loving your enemies, even those who hate you” stayed like a rock inside her mind. Her brother-in-law cursed her, falsely accused her, and humiliated her in the marketplace. But looking at things the way God sees them, through the window of His Word, she quickly made the decision: I will no longer hate, but love. I love him because of Your love for me. Likewise, the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” According to this passage, we can only see into our future through the window of God’s Word.

We cannot see Heaven’s plan for our lives until we look through God’s eyes. God called us to walk by faith and not by what we see. As many of us already know, faith is the substance of the things we cannot perceive with our senses. Just as the woman who heard Jesus’ Words decided to love her brother-in-law, seeing things as God views them, when we begin to meditate upon the Word of God and view life through His eyes, then we see clearly what Heaven prepared for us. We can never experience what our spirit man cannot see. Let us focus upon God’s Word to paint a picture that will one day become a masterpiece. Begin to view life through the window of God’s Word and see how beautiful life truly is.

Father, I thank You that I am built up through Your grace. I am raised with Christ. I set my mind on Heaven’s riches and the things above where Christ is seated.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 15

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Your Spiritual Quotient - CD

What did Abraham, Enoch, Joseph, Jesus, and Paul all have in common? Why can some people withstand the trials of life and others buckle under pressure? The Answer: The SQ Factor.

In this dynamic series, Dr. Robb Thompson answers these questions and more. He teaches you not only what the SQ factor is, but also how to develop it in your life. With clarity and convincing scriptural support, Dr. Thompson illustrates that every failure in life can be traced back to a compromise of one’s integrity and character. You will be reminded that the choices you make are the only factors that decide whether you will be overtaken with rewards or with consequences.

Make the decision to rise above self-interest and personal gain. Develop your Spiritual Quotient and embrace the greatness that lies within you!

Posted under Perspective

“Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house. Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.’”
2 Samuel 12:9-11 (NKJV)

AUGUST 26 - Originating with Adam and continuing until today, men and women reject God’s Word. Too often we want to do what we want to do, whether or not it accurately aligns with God’s Word. This factor causes multitudes of believers to suffer needlessly, and it gives the devil an open door to consume them as brutally as a lion on the plains of Africa viciously devouring his prey. Remember, Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came that we may have an abundant life.

Having been taught with authority from Heaven, not as the pious, stony-hearted scribes, those who heard the “Sermon on the Mount” realized there would be consequences for sin. Jesus clearly exhorts us by telling us that the path of His will is narrow and often difficult. Along that path, however, we find a life that is overflowing with the goodness of God, but not without great struggle.

No one desires to struggle, but God’s best doesn’t come without cost, just as Jesus’ sacrifice did not come without great cost. In order to experience the blessings of God, we must first be willing to conform our will to the will of our Father.

Father, I thank You that I am willing and obedient, and I eat the best of the land. I keep Your commandment and pursue Your will for my life.

Family Scripture Reading

Proverbs 13

Featured Resource

Your Spiritual Checkup - CD Series

Have you accepted your new identity in Christ or do you continually deal with shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. The thoughts we identify with, whether good or bad, sculpt our destiny. Envision the marvelous transformation that would take place if we learned how to walk in our true identity. Imagine what life would be like if you were able to confidently identify with Christ instead of your old sin nature – nothing but victory, joy, and fulfillment. If you desire to learn the keys to walk in your new identity, this series is for you!

Posted under Consequences

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John 3:30 (NKJV)

AUGUST 25 - As the crowd felt the Son’s words pierce their hearts, words about heaven, giving, fasting, and forgiveness, astonished at His teachings, many began to voluntarily surrender their lives to Him. Christ, our prime example, completely surrendered control of His life to God. He willingly offered His spirit into the Father’s hands, fulfilling the Father’s will. To realize the immensity of His sacrifice, a great work must be done among the churches throughout the nations of this world. The last instruction of our Lord was, “Go therefore…” But have we truly surrendered our lives to Heaven’s desire? God wants all of mankind to know Him. We must realize that this work is the objective of every Christian. We are called to take them the good news and make true disciples. This commission must be the passion of our lives.

Throughout America, churches have reduced Christianity to a statement rather than a lifestyle. With no corresponding actions, our words are meaningless. We must demand of ourselves and of those with whom we associate an absolute and immediate surrender to the Word of God. We cannot approach the throne room of Heaven requesting our personal assignment without first embracing the call to preach the Gospel to the entire world. God promises to lovingly mold us, skillfully teach us, tenderly guide us, and powerfully use us, but we must surrender completely before He can have His way.

Without wavering, I cling to hope in Christ, and I am never moved.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 14

Featured Resource

Your Spiritual Checkup - CD Series

Have you accepted your new identity in Christ or do you continually deal with shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. The thoughts we identify with, whether good or bad, sculpt our destiny. Envision the marvelous transformation that would take place if we learned how to walk in our true identity. Imagine what life would be like if you were able to confidently identify with Christ instead of your old sin nature – nothing but victory, joy, and fulfillment. If you desire to learn the keys to walk in your new identity, this series is for you!

Posted under surrender

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

AUGUST 24 - Like precious metals being reduced to a fluid, usable state, the very nature of God’s presence is refinement. God purifies our motives, decisions, relationships, actions, and shortcomings when we meet with Him. Consequently, God must have a soft heart with which to work. Soft means tender, pliable, and responsive to impression. James says God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Pride, however, is not simply a smug look and an arrogant attitude. Pride in a more subtle (but possibly more dangerous)  form is thinking we can meet with God because of our good performance.

Do you remember a time when you sinned and afterward felt like you couldn’t pray or worship God? Do you remember a time when you went for days obeying God’s voice and resisting temptation? That is when you probably felt much more qualified to meet with God. But if either of those situations is true, you’ve  experienced pride, simply because you depended on your own performance to be acceptable to God.

Here’s a giant revelation: We aren’t good enough. With that said once and for all, let us cling to Jesus and never stop trusting Him. It’s as if we were in a hurricane on an old wooden ship. All we could do to keep from being thrown into the deep would be to cling to the mast with all our might. With tears swimming in our eyes, we would endure the violently deafening storm at the strength of the mast. There would be no other option for safety because letting go of the mast to find another stronghold would mean doom. That’s the fervor with which we must cling to Jesus. A man with a soft heart realizes his hopelessness without Christ. He enters God’s presence on that merit alone, where God always meets with him.

Without wavering, I cling to hope in Christ, and I am never moved.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 13

Featured Resource

Your Spiritual Checkup - CD Series

Have you accepted your new identity in Christ or do you continually deal with shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. The thoughts we identify with, whether good or bad, sculpt our destiny. Envision the marvelous transformation that would take place if we learned how to walk in our true identity. Imagine what life would be like if you were able to confidently identify with Christ instead of your old sin nature – nothing but victory, joy, and fulfillment. If you desire to learn the keys to walk in your new identity, this series is for you!

Posted under Heart