Transformed Devotional - Christ in You

Opening Prayer:
Pray that God would transform your mind today. Ask him to teach you how to live today through the Word of God - the Bible

Read:
1 Corinthians 2:16
We have the mind of Christ.

Thought:
How can the Bible tell me that I can have the mind of Christ as a believer in Jesus?  How can I understand what it means to have a mind that is from God?

1. Understand God loves you and has a plan for your life.
2. Understand that this plan is to help you, not to harm you and to give you a hope and a future.
3. Understand that when you accept God's plan for your life and believe in Jesus Christ, then He will actually help you with your plans
4. Understand that the only way to truly grow in your knowledge of the mind of Christ is to read the Bible and study it so you know the Lord better each day
5. Understand that your faith in Christ will grow as you trust Him with your life, learn from Him and follow Him with any and all decisions you have in life

So how can you have the mind of Christ?  Trust Him with your life today.

• Read Jeremiah 29:11
• Read John 3:16
• Read Romans 10:9-10

Response:
What did you hear as you read this short devotional?
What do you think about what you read?
What will you do in response to reading this devotional? Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional - How to Change?

Opening Prayer:
Pray that God would transform your mind today. Ask him to change your character to be like God's character.

Read:
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Thought:
What does it mean to CONFORM - to blend in, to fit into a mold, to look like something else. What does it mean to TRANSFORM - to change from one physical state into another, to change from the inside, which changes your outside.

When this verse speaks of renewing your mind by being transformed, it is literally saying that we are to change from how we were INTO something new and different.  If we conform, we do not change - we simply look the same.

So, if we desire to see true change in our lives as we seek God, then there must be a point of TRANSFORMATION - where you change from the inside out and it makes you look, act, think and live different than you did before knowing God.  God is the one that does the transforming - not you.  We can try to live a good life, act right in situations and strive to look good on the outside, but eventually, we will conform to the world around us. 

Want to change?  Then seek God and ask Him to change you from the inside out!  Ask God to TRANSFORM your life and make you new!  If you do this, the promise from God is that you will be able to discover God's will for your life!  How exciting is that! 

Response:
What did you hear as you read this short devotional?
What do you think about what you read?
What will you do in response to reading this devotional? Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional - Worry

Opening Prayer:
Pray that God would transform your mind today. Ask him to give you the strength to give you peace in your life today.

Read: 
Philippians 4:6-7 
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Thought:
There is a premise and a promise in this verse.  If we present our request to God (worry, anxiety, distress, circumstances, hardships and more) WITH THANKSGIVING, then there is a promise for us who believe.  The promise is that the PEACE of God will guard your heart and minds in Christ Jesus.  Isn't that amazingly beautiful.

I do not know about you, but my mind can really bring me down.  My thoughts and what I worry about can really stress me out and put me in a place that I do not like to be.  But listen to this verse.  If I replace that worry and anxiety with thankfulness and gratefulness, then God steps in and gives me a peace I could never experience on my own.

Are you in that place today?  Do you need peace?  Do you need to trust God with your life and the stress of today?  Then simply pray to God and thank him for life and begin to look at the things what He has done for you and be thankful and watch God transform your thoughts to Him.

Response:
What did you hear as you read this short devotional?
What do you think about what you read?
What will you do in response to reading this devotional? Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional - Fix My Mind

Opening Prayer:  

Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to give you the strength to fix your mind on God

Read:

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 

Thought:

There is a battle that is waging in your mind at this very moment.  Your mind is being bombarded with thoughts of the day that is in front of you.  You have work, plans, schedules, meeting, responsibilities and more.  Mentally, you are preparing for want is to come.

How do you approach a day like today?  How do you get through a day like this?  I suggest you get through a day like this by asking God to lead you and guide you.  If we approach a day like this without seeking God first, then we will struggle to keep our focus on him and the plans he has for you today.  Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you."  It all begins with God!

Are you desiring to have peace in your day today?  Then fix your mind on God.  If you are struggling to make it through your day today, then fix your mind on God.  If your thoughts are taking you captive and you realize you need to make a change and be restored, then fix your mind on God.

 

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional Day 12

Turn to Jesus. 

Opening Prayer:  

Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to give you strength to turn to him in times of need. 

Read:

2 Timothy 1:7

God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

 

Thought:

Do you feel powerless today? Do you feel that the mountains your face today are impossible? Then I have an encouraging word for you today.

If we trust God with our lives, we see that he has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. On the other hand God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. You see the difference?  Without God in our lives, we have to rely on our own strength and in our own power to get through difficult situations.

We all struggle at times to keep going in life. Having the power to set goals, be self-discipline, and stand up in adversity can be very difficult if we rely on our own strength. It is only when we rely on God's strength and his ability through us that we are able to face our fears with power and confidence because our strength is from the Lord, not ourselves!

What are you going through today? Does the future scare you? Is there something that you're really uncertain about? Turn to Jesus and ask him to give you the power to have faith! Ask him to give you the courage to face the day! Ask him to give you the boldness to face your fears!  Remember. Turn to God. 

 

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional Day 11 - Strength in Surrendering

Opening Prayer:  

Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to show you areas of your life that need to be surrendered in order to experience physical health.

Read:

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

 

Thought:

Are you ready to throw in the towel today?  Are you tapped out and have nothing left to give?  Does the task you face today seem impossible?  How will you respond to these situations?  Will you retreat?  Will you give up? Or will you surrender!

Surrender, you might suggest, seems like an act of weakness.  It is unless you understand God's plan for your life.  As we trust God with our lives and put our faith in Him, we become less and He becomes more.  In our times of weakness, Christ is made strong.  Read the verse again from today, which says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  When life seems impossible, that is the perfect opportunity for God to show us His power as he works in and through you to give you strength that you never knew was there.  Yes, it is called surrender.

 

When we surrender our lives to the Lord:

• Your faith will propel you past discouragement
• Your strength will be be renewed
• The impossible circumstances will become possible 
• Your plans will be God's plans
• Your hopeless situation is renewed with strength and encouragement from God

Move past discouragement and trust God by faith and watch Him give you the strength you need for the day.  God has a plan for you today - plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  God plans for you is filled with hope and a future.  (Jeremiah 29:11)  Step into a new life today.  Put your faith in Christ and His strength as you surrender all of who you are to Him today.

 

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional Day 10 - Renew Your Strength

Opening Prayer:
Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to renew your strength through Christ.

Read:

Isaiah 40:29-31

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

 

Thought:

Are you tired today?  As you read this short devotional, are you simply struggling to face the day that is in front of you?  Is life so overwhelming that you just feel like giving up?  Are you too weary to face the opportunities that are ahead of you in life?

If we are honest with ourselves, all of us have felt this way sometime in our lives.  If this is you today, then God has a promise for you that you need to hear.  Read this passage from the Bible and count how many times God's promise of renewal for your life is stated.

 

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Four times God states that he will do something for you.  Not hopes to do, or might do, but will do!  Thank you Lord for your promise.  Please realize the PREMISE in this verse that leads to the PROMISE.  The PREMISE - those who HOPE in the Lord:  the PROMISE - will renew their strength, soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint.

My encouragement for you today is that you would set your focus and HOPE in the Lord today.  Trust in the Lord.  Give the Lord your day today, whatever struggles you are facing, simply trust and hope in the Lord and claim His promises for your life.

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional Day 9

DAY 9 Devotional:

Opening Prayer:
Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to be your strength in times of weakness.

Read:

2 Corinthians 12:9 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

 

Thought:

"My power is made perfect in my weakness."  Did you ever think that when you are weak you are the most powerful?  Maybe in the eyes of our culture and our surroundings we don't, but when you look at Christ being made perfect in you through your weakness, it makes sense.

You are not your own as a believer in Christ.  You were bought with a price.  When Christ lives in you, all your weaknesses (your flaws, shortcomings, imperfections and more) are made strong through Christ.

Why?  Because God has a plan for your life and He desires to use you - yes you!  With all of your weaknesses, His plans are great for you.  God desires to accomplish His plans through you.  We need to allow our weaknesses to become who we are and accept them as a part of God's plan for our lives.

 

When we rely on Christ, we can make it through times of weakness.  When things are out of our control and we do not know what to do, God's perfect power is there for you.  When life throws you a curve ball and you see no way out.  God's power is made perfect for you in your weakness.

 

So, rest in Christ today and the grace he extends to those who trust in God.  Thank Him for extending grace to you and meeting you today at your point of weakness.

 

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional Day 8

SESSION 2
https://vimeo.com/channels/ccbctransformed

DAY 8 Devotional:

Opening Prayer:
Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to evaluate your physical health and see what areas of your life you are going to give over to the Lord today.

 

Read:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; but were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Thought:

We live in a culture that is very self seeking.  It is all about getting ahead and being the best and doing it all for the glory of ME!  It is very easy to get caught up in this culture because so much media and advertising flood our minds with this thought.  Our culture tells is basically that your body belongs to you.

Here is a radical thought that is totally counter-cultural:  Our bodies are not our own.  We do not own our bodies.  Our bodies belong to God!  This will force us to look at our bodies and how we treat our bodies much differently.  We steward our bodies because they are the living active temple of the Holy Spirit living inside of us as believers.

When we glorify our bodies for our self, we become self-worshippers.  When we glorify God with our bodies, we offer our lives up to God and do what Romans 12:2 says, which is to offer our bodies up to God as a living sacrifice - holy and pleasing to Him.  This is your spiritual act of worship.

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional Day 5

Opening Prayer:

Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to give you strength to overcome any temptation you might face today.

 

Read

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Thought:

Simple thought today - difficult application.

All of us - every single one of us - will be tempted today.  In our world, there is sin - and sin will distract and pull us away from the Lord.  Satan will use any and every tool he can by tempting you to make decisions that are contrary to God's plan for your life.

Here is the beautiful thing about temptation - WE DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE IN TO IT!!  Many times, we simply forget that God has given us a way out when we are tempted by sin.  It is so much easier to give in, right.  Falling into temptation might make you feel better, or might make you look "cool" around your friend, or temptation might be so overwhelming that you have given up to following God.

Whatever the situation might be, God has given you an escape route.  God will provide you a way out.  What is this way out?

• See God FIRST - Matt 6:33  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 
• Read the Bible
• Memorize a verse to help you when you are tempted.
• Trust God that He will be with you in and through any temptation you might face today

When you are tempted today, stop and look around, and ask God for the escape route is and CHOOSE TO FOLLOW HIM!

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional Day 4

Opening Prayer:

Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all of your unrighteousness. (Romans 3:23)

Read:
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!

Thought:

Have you ever viewed you life as if all you have ever done is on a black board?  All of the sin in your life is written on it, then Jesus comes into the room and says, "We are going to erase all of this!  We are going to take away all of the things that have kept you away from me away and you are going to have a fresh new start!"

Reality with sin - it damages your dignity.  When we sin, we break God's principles for our life.  It splits your soul!  Once it piles up, then we feel hopeless and feel like God would never forgive you - but he does!

Jesus is in the restoring dignity business!  That is why he came from heaven to earth.  Truly, it does not matter who you have been in the past or what you might have done in the past - what matters is what direction you are taking today!  When you trust Christ, He will give you a brand new identity and make all things new!  Think about it!

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional Day 3

Opening Prayer:
Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to give you strength to face any challenge you are facing today.

Read:

1 John 4:4
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Thought:

Jesus walked the face of the earth as a human being - God in the flesh.  When Jesus returned to God in heaven, He left His spirit to dwell inside of us - those who chose to participate, accept and have a relationship with Christ.  When you know Jesus as your Lord, then God's spirit lives inside of you.

Why is this important for us to understand?

• Because God's Spirit helps us learn how to live and apply God's truth. (John 14:26)
• Because God's Spirit builds character in each one of us during difficult times. (Romans 5:3-5)
• Because God's Spirit helps us be more like Jesus. (Galatians 5:22-23)
• Because God's Spirit empowers us to Share the Good News of Jesus. (Acts 1:8)
• Because God's Spirit equips us for ministry. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

When we are IN CHRIST and filled with the Spirit of God, He in return will give us His power, peace, presence and purpose for life!  Pretty cool idea that we can walk through life with God, not separate from God.  Think about that!

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional Day 2

Opening Prayer:
Pray that God would transform your mind today.  Ask him to give you strength to be spiritually disciplined in your day today.

 

Read:
John 1:12-13
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Thought:

Everyone of us are God's Children.  Premise - when we are in Christ and believe in Jesus - Promise - we are brought near to God the Father.  We become part of the family - fully loved and fully accepted by Him.

What does that mean for us who believe?

• We get to share in the same love, same relationship and same closeness that Jesus shared with God. - Read Romans 8:15
• We can address God as "Abba Father", which means "Daddy"
• We have direct access to God - we can talk to Him, share with Him and ask Him anything.  God has granted us FULL ACCESS to His love!

Here is the beautiful thing - God is not forcing himself on you today.  He is inviting you today to participate in His life of love.  It is a choice for you to make - either participate or not.  If you choose to participate, then the creator of the universe will transform your day into the likeness of Himself and His love.

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Transformed Devotional - Day 1

Prayer:
Pray that God would transform your mind today.

Read:
John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Thought:

This verse is Christianity in a nutshell.  It gives us 4 points to learn from:

1.  God is passionate about you!  God loves you!

2.  God shows his love for us by sending his son, Jesus, as a love gift for you and me

3.  God gives us a proposal - whosoever believes - You can choose to believe or not.  We do not have to earn this love - we simply have to believe

4.  If you choose to believe - then you gain the promise of eternal life.  What a deal!

If you have not accepted God's proposal believing in Jesus Christ, do it today!  If you believe, then live today in the light of this verse!

Response:

What did you hear as you read this short devotional?

What do you think about what you read?

What will you do in response to reading this devotional?

Talk with God - share with him what you learned from this devotional.

Evaluate Your Priorities - Week 8

I have thoroughly enjoyed leading you through the “Putting God First” devotional over the past seven weeks.  I have grown in my knowledge and understanding from Scripture on the priority of placing God as FIRST PLACE in my life.  It is a daily practice and exercise to place God first in my life.  There is not a “one and done” formula for daily placing God first in my life.  Everyday I must wake up and voice the prayer to God - literally telling Him, “Lord, I place you as Lord of my life today.”  

To take it a step further, it is always much easier to say something than to say something and back it up with my actions.  My mom always told me as a child, and still reminds me today, that it is much easier to say something than to actually do it!  For example, it is much easier to say I want to make time for you than to actually pull out the calendar, schedule a time, create time in the week and actually meet with you.  Saying something and doing what you say are vital when we begin to apply this concept of putting God first in our lives.  So now I am going to challenge you to not only tell God to be FIRST PLACE in your life, but challenge you to take steps to make God FIRST PLACE in your life.

If you and I are going to get serious about our relationship with the Lord, then it is time for us to re-prioritize our life with God being the center of our life.  As an illustration, let’s look at a wagon wheel.  For a wagon wheel to work properly, it has a center point and spokes branching out from the center evenly to support the wheel for a smooth ride.  If the wagon wheel center point was off or not in the middle of the wheel, then the spokes would be off and the ride would be bumpy and eventually break.  The same applies to putting God in the center of your life.  If God is the center of your Family, Work, Relationships, Schedule, Finances and Troubles, then there is balance and perspective.  Yes, there will be bumps in the road, but when they come, you are balanced with God at the center of the storm.  The question I have for you, is God the center of your life today?  Have you placed God in the middle of your chaos and given Him your life today?

CHALLENGE

• Family - what one change can you make today to make God the center of your family?
• Work - Is God leading you at work?  If not, then what step can you make today to place God in the center of your workplace?
• Relationships - What one relationship do you need to rid yourself of today?  What one relationship do you need to improve and add into your life to put God first in your relationships?
• Schedule - Have you scheduled time with the Lord DAILY?  If not, begin there.  Make God the center of your schedule.
• Finances - All you have is given to you from the Lord.  Have you given your money and finances over to the Lord?  Are you tithing to the church?
• Troubles - What trouble are you holding on to today?  Give it over to God today.

Like I expressed - it is difficult to put God first in your life.  It cannot be done on your own strength and power.  It takes prayer!  I believe that it is God’s will for you to place Him as the center of everything in life.  It is your spiritual act of worship.  Listen to these words -  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I will be praying for you as you put God first in your life.  If you begin to apply this concept to your Christian life, you will be transformed into the likeness of Christ.  Take the challenge and begin to see God work His will in Christ Jesus through you.

Here is a final thought from Brian Anderson, founding pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in North Phoenix, Arizona as he addresses how we need to put God first in our lives:

"How Do I Know God is First? As we put God first in these six areas, we are fulfilling the first commandment, and we are worshipping God. Yet, you may ask yourself, “How do I know when God is first in my life? “The answer to this questions is to notice when He isn’t first in your life. Worry is the warning light. If God is not first in any one of these six areas, I notice that I am usually worrying about some aspect of them. I have found that putting God first in every area of my life is really the antidote to worry. Look back over these six areas in your life, and do a little self-evaluation. Is God really first?

Blessings - Keith

Putting God First with my Troubles - Week 7

Troubles...who has troubles?  If we are honest with ourselves, we all have troubles.  We all experience difficult times in our lives, and sometimes these difficulties are a daily struggle.  Troubles can drag you down, exhaust you, deplete you of energy and life.  Have you been there?  Are you there today?

When we are struggling, where do we turn to find relief from our troubles?  Read this comment from Brian Anderson, founding pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in North Phoenix, Arizona as he addresses how we need to put God first in our times of trouble.

When I have unexpected troubles, problems, or crises, to whom do I turn? God says, "Turn to me first when you have a problem." Psalm 50:15 says, "And call upon me in the day of trouble. I shall rescue you and you will honor me.”  I have found that many people turn to God as a last possible hope instead of their first option. They first do everything they can in the natural to fix the problem and when they can't, they say, "Well all we can do now is pray." It is almost like if I have to pray about a situation, then it must be really hopeless! The reality is that God should be the first option in our lives and not the last resort. God always wants us to turn to Him. Peter tells us in I Peter 5:7, "Cast your cares upon Him because He cares for you.”

Did you hear the confidence in the Bible as you read these verses?  “Turn to me”, “Call upon me”, “Cast your cares upon me”.  The instruction from the Bible says to look to God in your times of trouble.  I agree with Pastor Anderson that many times we fail to turn to God first.  If we neglect to do this simple act of obedience by looking to God first, then we are relying on our own strength and power, not the Lord’s strength and power.  Since our God knows us better than we know ourselves, wouldn’t it be the wisest thing to turn to God first before anything else?

Application today - whatever trouble you are in today, turn to God.  Whatever struggle you are facing in life today, have you truly called upon the Name of the Lord and asked Him to help you?  Are you tired and depleted because life is bogging you down to the point of desperation and you do not know what to do?  I encourage you to cast your cares upon the Lord, for he cares for you today.  

Might you find the peace that passes all understanding once you pray to God and ask him to help you today.  (Phil. 4:7)  And if you do not understand why you are in the middle of trouble, read James 1:2-4 to gain insight from the Lord.

I am here to encourage you in your journey with the Lord.  If I can come alongside you and pray for you as you walk through a difficult situation, then please contact me.  I would be honored to pray for you today.

Thanks for reading!  Have a great day.  Keith

Here is a follow up to the blog today from Greg Laurie:
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/?utm_campaign=DailyDevo&utm_medium=email&utm_source=E14DD617
 

Putting God First with my Finances - Week 6

We are entering the sixth week of our devotional series on Putting God First, and today we will address our finances.  “OK, Keith, now you have gone to far.  I was with you on discussing relationships and time management, but why are you bringing up my finances?”  

In writing this weeks devotional, it is not my intention to get into your business of how you spend your money or how you give your money to the Lord.  It is my intention to look at scripture and challenge you with the question of what are you doing with your possessions and your money.  Scripture has much to say on this issue, and I ask you to read the scripture and ask yourself some honest questions in response to reading them.

Read this comment from Brian Anderson, founding pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in North Phoenix, Arizona as he addresses how we need to put God first in our finances.

Finances. God must be first in our finances as well. Proverbs 3:9-10 says, "Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce, so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.” God says to give Him the first part of our earnings and He will bless the rest. Money is the number one test of our priorities. Our checkbooks reveal what is really important to us. There is a good chance that if I were able to examine your checkbook, I could tell a lot about you just by seeing how you spend your money. The way we spend our money indicates what is first in our lives. Most of you know that in the Bible, God commands us to tithe. To tithe means to give the first ten percent of our income to God. Have you ever wondered why God invented tithing? The primary purpose of tithing is to teach us to put God first in our finances. The truth is, if I am not tithing, God is not first in my finances. If He is not first in my finances, He is not first in my life, Jesus said this in Matthew 6:19-21,"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." God does not need our money. He wants what our money represents. He wants our hearts.

I totally agree with Pastor Anderson’s point that God wants all of us - our hearts, our minds, our money...everything.  It truly is a matter of the heart - not the wallet.  It might seem easy to departmentalize how we live our lives in sections and keep this area of our lives apart from God, but after reading these passages, it is clear that we cannot keep anything from God.  It is all His - everything is His.

Simple and direct question for us to answer today is this, “Are you honoring God with your treasures?”  If we are, then receive the blessing from the Lord.  If you are not fully giving to the Lord, then begin today.  Honor the Lord with the wealth he has given you.  How you do that?  There are many ways.  Begin by realizing what you have - all of it - is the Lords.  Then follow the instruction from the Bible and begin by tithing to the church.  In addition to this, you can also support missions in your city, nation or the ends of the earth.  You could also donate to a local ministry that is in need of support.  There are so many ways to make your treasures honor God.  Begin today!

Prayerfully yours - Keith

Watch this video of a family who has allowed God to be first in their finances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6odQa3AyU14

Song of Encouragement today - Lord Almighty by Kristian Stanfill

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0BFF1JNU

For more information on how to become educated in your finances from a biblical perspective, go to http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu

Putting God First with my Schedule/Time Management - Week 5

If you are like me, my schedule dictates the direction of my day, week and year!  I have a schedule for everything from work, family, juggling kids schedules and more.  Our family had to print out a schedule for each person on Sundays to make sure we were getting everyone where they needed to be that week; and in that schedule we did our best to make sure everyone was doing what needed to be done without conflict.  Wow - what a huge task.

In the hectic lives we lead as followers of Christ, have we done the most important thing of the day and allowed the Lord to be the leader of our schedule and how we manage our time?   Have we paused to consider God’s plans for your calendar before saying yes to another commitment or scheduled event?  I am here to encourage you to look at the Bible and allow it to help us as we gain control of our schedules and manage our times from a Biblical perspective.  

Read this comment from Brian Anderson, founding pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in North Phoenix, Arizona as he addresses how we need to put God first in our schedules.

“Ephesians 5:15-16 says, "Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time because the days are evil."  Ask God's help to use your time wisely. Obviously, the most important time commitment we can make on a regular basis is an appointment with God. I am talking about having a daily quiet time. Everybody's life is so busy. If we do not schedule a daily time with God, it probably won't happen. The main way I can put God first in my schedule is by making sure that I have time with Him every day to pray, to read His Word, and to worship Him.”

I agree wholeheartedly with Pastor Anderson that if we do not schedule God in our day then it more than likely will not happen.  If we do not become intentional with our schedule and allowing God to be the leader of our schedule, then we can easily become distracted and before we know it, we have scheduled God OUT of our day.  Fight against this!  Yes it is hard to do.  Yes it takes sacrifice.  Yes it will force you to make difficult decisions.  But do not lose heart and choose to put God first in your schedule!

How can you put God first in your schedule?  Let us go back to the basics…

1.  When you wake up in the morning, simply voice a prayer like this.  “Lord, this is the day that you have made.  Whatever comes my way, I surrender my life to you and ask you to be the Lord of my day.”  Begin your day in prayer

2.  Read the Bible - make sure you are getting instruction for your life by reading from the voice and word of God.  Put your Bible in the way of your morning, so you see it, pick it up and read it before you leave your house.  Become intentional about reading the Bible.

3.  Worship the Lord - Romans 12 verse 1-2 says that our lives should be lived as a sacrifice unto the Lord.  If we live this way, it is our spiritual act of worship.  Place God first in your schedule and you will be worshipping the Lord!

So - Pray, Read, Worship.  Put God first in your schedule beginning TODAY!

Watch this video to remind you about what your day should look like.

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/45846/Today-Is

Blessings - Keith

Putting God First in my Relationships - Week 4

As we continue to emphasize this transformational thought of placing God as first priority in our life, I wanted to address the area of our relationships.  Read this verse from the Bible.  “And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  - Luke 10:27.  As we view into this verse, we recognize that God is not only first in our lives, but He is absolutely everything in life!  Honestly, loving others as yourself is extremely challenging as well – and only possible within the context of a strong relationship with God.

As we focus in on relationships you have in your life, I want to ask the question, how are your relationships?  Are you allowing God to guide your relationships?  What does the Bible say about who we are to have relationships with?

Read this comment from Brian Anderson, founding pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in North Phoenix, Arizona as he addresses how we need to put God first in our relationships.

If I want God to be first in my life, I also have to choose my friends carefully. We become like the people we spend the most time with. If we spend huge portions of time with the people who take God lightly, then it is easy to become lukewarm as a Christian. It says in I Corinthians 15:33, "Do not be deceived. Bad company corrupts good morals. "Dr. Timothy Woodruff did a study of sexual behavior of freshmen at Christian universities. He found that, "The number one predictor of sexual behavior was the behavior of that person's peers." It says in Proverbs 13:20, "He who walks with wise men, will be wise. But the companion of fools will suffer harm." We need to evaluate with whom we are walking. I want to challenge singles to put God first in your dating relationships. It says in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Do not be bound together with an unbeliever. For what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness or what fellowship has light with darkness?"

Isn’t scripture great!  It makes things so clear to us as we read it.  The application of scripture is the difficult part.  So let us put this into practice this week.

Ask yourself the hard questions as you evaluate the different relationships you are in today.

• What relationships do you have that speak life into you?
• What relationships do you have that pull you down and away from your relationship with the Lord?
• Do you walk with the wise or the foolish?
• If you are in a dating relationship, are you “bound together” by Christ?

My encouragement for you this week is to CHOOSE CHRIST!  Allow the Lord to have priority over your relationships and watch Him transform your life.

Watch this video about speaking life to one another and allowing Christ to lead us in our relationships.  Have a great week!

TobyMac - Speak Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rK6O0YtBRY&feature=kp

Putting God First at Work - Week 3

I had the opportunity to visit my sister and brother-in-law’s church this weekend to celebrate my niece's graduation from high school.  The pastor, Dennis Wiles, preached on work.  He shared with the graduating seniors to get used to the phrase, “get a job!”.  He was able to get a couple of laughs from the people, but then proceeded to show us through scripture how the magnificent architect, God, has always planned for His people to work.  

Scripture: Genesis 1 & 2, Proverbs 12:11-24

To take it to the next level, when we work, how do we keep with this theme of keeping God first in our lives?  Read this comment from Brian Anderson, founding pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in North Phoenix, Arizona.

Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men." So when God is first in our lives, we are working for Him. We are not really working for our bosses, our companies, our managers, or our corporations. We are really working for God. This means that I must honor Him in the way I work. One of the ways this is "walked out" in daily life is that I don't take advantage of my workplace. I don't take supplies from the offices. I don't pad my expense account. I don't take long breaks and lunches, even though I know I could get away with it. I come to work on time and don't leave early, even though I know my boss wouldn't know. I honor the fine print in a contract. I make only necessary repairs. Why? Because I am working for the Lord rather than for men, I am putting God first in my work, and as I do that, I am worshipping.

This approach to work can be transformational.  It is a total paradigm shift in your thinking of work.  It is taking your relationship with the Lord to the next level.  Not only is he the Lord of your family (away from your work), but He is the center of how you make a living or how you consume your time to diligently work during the day.  Putting God first in your work brings clarity and purpose to how you handle your work, your relationships at work and your focus while at work.  Imagine this approach to your day - you will begin to learn that your work is worship to God.

My encouragement is to try this simple exercise for yourself and see if you can notice a difference tomorrow in your workplace.  Whether you are a school teacher, engineer, business person, firefighter, CEO or a stay at home parent, view your work in the reflection of Colossians 3:23 and watch what God will do when you place him first in your work.

Put God First - Week 2 - The Family

When you think of “Family”, what comes to your mind. Do you picture the Brady Bunch from the 1970’s? Maybe “The Goldbergs” from the 1980’s? What about the 1990’s? The Cosby Family? What about in the 2000’s? Modern Family? Or what about the Duck Dynasty Family? Over the short last 40 years, we have seen the family change, and change quickly.

This devotional is not to debate or defend what a family is. According to Scripture, there is no debate. Genesis 2:24 specifically states, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” So our discussion of the family deals with the unification of a man and a woman committing their lives to God and to one another for a lifetime of love. In our society today, it is very obvious to see that the family is under attack. I believe that if the enemy can win the battle and destroy the family, then he can destroy our society as a whole. I desire to encourage you today - trust God and the grace from God today and fight for your family! Yes, it is difficult at times, and we mess up all of the time, but that is no excuse for us as a family to lose this vital gift from God called the family!

It is time for us to reclaim our families and put God first! But how do we do this? How can we begin to evaluate and make this adjustment in our life?

Listen to these words of instruction from Brian Anderson, founding pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in North Phoenix, Arizona.

"How do I put God first?" Personally, One way I do this is by treating each family member the way God tells me to in His Word. As I do this, I am worshipping God, following His ways, and putting Him first. Ephesians 5:25 says, "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loves the church and gave Himself up for her." The way that I put God first in my family is that I put my wife and her needs before mine. I sacrifice for her and for the children. It is my job to lead them with humility, kindness and gentleness. How do I do that? I wash the dishes, I clean, I offer to watch the children more often, and so forth. In ways such as these, I am looking out for their best interests. That is worship.”

Step One - LOVE

1 John 4:9-10 - This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

How can we love others? How can we love our family? Understand the love that God has for you then return that love by loving your wife, kids and your neighbors.

STEP TWO - SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

How can you offer your life up for others? Understand that by serving and placing others interest before your own is an act of worship that pleases the Lord.

STEP THREE - LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Ephesians 6:4 - “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Your child is watching you and desire to please you as a mom and dad. Lead them, discipline them in the way of the Lord and trust God to lead them. Do you pray for your family? Do you spend time in devotional as a family? If not, begin today. Lead by example.

RESPONSE and CHALLENGE this week...

Commit to put God first in all areas of your family. Begin by praying to God and ask Him for the strength and understanding of how to lead.

MUST WATCH this video on putting God first!
http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/the-scruggs

Put God First - Introduction

Dear friends,

I am inviting you to come along side with me over the next 8 weeks as we dive into God’s Word and gleam from it how we ought to prioritize our lives.  In a culture that is pulling us in so many different directions, we all need the truth of God’s word to lead and direct us.  When times are tough, we need direction.  When there is a difficult decision to make, we need direction.  When life throws us a curve ball, we need to have a foundation from Scripture on how to respond.  Many more scenarios are played out daily in our lives.  How we respond to them defines who we are as followers of Jesus.  It also defines our priorities in life.

What will we be addressing over the next couple of weeks?  How we can set our priorities on God when:

• Leading our families
• Understanding our occupation/work priorities
• How we deal with different relationships in our lives
• How we juggle our schedule
• How we spend our money
• How we respond to trouble times in our lives

The key scripture that will guide us over the next couple of weeks is Exodus 20:3 and Matthew 6:33.  Read the following from Brian Anderson, founding pastor of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in North Phoenix, Arizona

Thousands of years ago, God gave us "the Ten Commandments." They are not the ten fads. The first and foremost commandment God gives us is about worship. Exodus 20:3 says, "You shall have no other gods before me." Whenever God says, "do not" in the Bible, it is for a positive purpose. When He says, "Do not have any other gods before me," that is for our benefit.

If we ignore God's warnings, we will be hurt. When we say to a child "Do not touch that hot stove," is that for our benefit or the child's? It is for the benefit of both of us. We say it because we do not want the child to get hurt. That is the way it is with God.

The very first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me," is for our benefit. I have found that a lot of Christians today do not think the first commandment really applies to them. They think, "Well, "Don't have any wooden idols. I don't bow down to any golden calves or statues at home, so this does not apply to me. "A "god" is anything that has priority over the one true God in your life. It could be a person, food or sex. It could be shopping, a career, a recreation. Even golf and money can be "gods" in our lives. The principle behind this first commandment can be summed up this way: put God first. God wants us to put Him first in every single area of our lives. As we do that, we are obeying the first commandment. He deserves to be put first. He created you and me.

We exist because God decided that He wanted us to exist. Everything we have in our lives, we have because God has given it to us. God says, "Put me first in every single area." When we do that, which is the essence of worship. Jesus reiterated this in the New Testament in Matthew 6:33 when He says, "But seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."

So, I am excited to spend the next 8 weeks with you as we journey together, striving to obey God and His commandments and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

Will you join me?  If so, please do me a favor and follow this devotional time on:

1.  Follow my Blog - http://firstjohn419.blogspot.com

2.  twitter - @tylers419

3.  Facebook - Like our page - Cottonwood Creek Worship - https://www.facebook.com/CottonwoodWorship

Videos to watch on this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4fghpn9OfM

Looking forward to taking this journey with you!  Keith

Journey to Easter Sunday - Jesus is Alive - Resurrection

What a journey this week has been.  We have celebrated with Jesus as he entered the city of Jerusalem a week ago, we felt the heart and compassion he has for his Father as he taught in the temple courts, we were reminded of the humanness of Jesus as he cried out to God, “Not my will, but Yours be done”, and we experienced the agony of the betrayal, denial, aloneness, suffering and ultimate death of Jesus on the Cross.  He told those close to him about the temple being rebuilt in three days.  He shared that where he was going, they could not go.  He basically prepared them for what was to occur, yet it was still hard to believe that he was dead...until this!

John 20:1-18

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

The prophecy has been fulfilled.  Jesus is alive.  The stone was rolled away and he appeared to Mary Magdalene.  Can you imagine being in her place?  I am sure she was truly freaking out.  JESUS WAS ALIVE!  HE WAS NOT IN THE GRAVE!  HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE.

As remarkable as this story is to hear year after year, and for me to tell it year after year, it never gets old.  It is the greatest story of history.  It is true and it has the power to save!

RESPONSE

As you have journeyed to Easter, what has been the most memorable moment that you have learned and you can apply to your life?  As you rest on the Easter story today, how will you worship the risen Savior?  Voice a prayer to him - just you and him!  Tell him how you feel towards him and commit your life to him today!

Watch this video.  We are singing this song this weekend in worship.  Happy Easter everyone!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huFra1mnIVE