Read:
Ephesians 5:25
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Also Read:
1 Timothy 3:5
5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)
It was late that one night, and my son looks up at me with those exciting eyes and says, "Daddy, will you play little cars with me?" I was thinking that I could do the usual and spend about five minutes with him just to get it over with. For some reason or another I spent about twenty minutes with him playing cars. Then I felt compelled to play chase around the house, and then I spent some quality time with my little nine year old girl. Then I felt like I needed to read the bible kids book to my kids, so I reached over to get the book and read to them for about twenty minutes. My little boy looked up at me with those huge colorful brown eyes, and he said with the most gentle voice, "I love it when you read the bible book to me Daddy." WoW! what a night. You know, I felt good though when I spent that quality time with my family. I had forgotten what I prayed for earlier that day. You know, "Lord I want to know your will?" Give me direction Lord! As I was on my way to work that night, the Lord began to discipline me. I don't ever cry, so for me to shed some tears was quite unusual. I shed alot of tears that night. The Lord began to show me where I was missing it in my time management. Although I was living a moral life and wasn't sinning in my personal life with lust or anything else like that, the Lord told me that my sin was not having a balance with my family. Many times we can even do good things, and our family is suffering right before us. Yet we are oblivious to it for some reason or another. We can be doing ministry and good things, but we need balance in our family. Ministry is in our home, and we need to set an example as Husbands and Fathers to our wife and children. I found myself working on my new Christian album, working on my ministry, and other things that was not a good balance in my own home. My wife was very excited and she called me later that night while I was at work and told me that God was dealing with her about some things because of the example I was showing to her. You may be at that place minister of God where you are too busy to spend quality time with your family. You may not necessarily be in full time ministry, but as a Father and Husband you are a Priest to your own home. Ministry is definitely in the home, and God can touch your life and set you on that course that you try and fulfill yourself apart from managing your family. Last thing in this devotion that I want to bring forth to you as we depart is the definition for manage here in 1 Timothy 3:5. It means to pay close attention to. I want you to reflect on this scripture today, and I encourage you to pray about time management in your own home.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in repentance for not watching over our family like we need to. We've done all but this one thing, and this is very important to you Lord. Help us to spend quality time with our family, and give us wisdom on how to make the changes in our lives. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Time To Bind Together June 4th Devotional
Read:
Acts 2:42-47
42And they continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A Pastor said one day that the church would be alright if it were not for people. This sounds kind of humorous, but the way we act sometimes, including some ministers, we would think that the church is all about me and not we. Someone said one time, "To live above with those we love will be full of glory, but to live below with those we know we'll, that's another story." God never attended for us to be that Lone Ranger type christian who sits in there 8X8 closet and that is the only fellowship that they have. For so many years I spent more time by myself just in my own little world studying. There is definitely nothing wrong with this when done in balance. We need that quality time in our prayer closet. The secret to a successful life of a believer is the success of there secret life in the prayer closet. This will build character and cause the anointing of God to increase in our lives. But we need the fellowship of other believers in the church. This is how God builds. God builds in three ways. He builds by revelation, relationally, and by generation. All throughout the bible God was looking after His holy seed for the coming messiah. After Christ came He was a seed for all of humanity through all ages, and that seed was by generation. God also builds by revelation. Jesus asked His disciples one day, "Who do men say that I am?" Some said this and some said that, but Peter spoke and said with power and revelation, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God!" This was by revelation of who Jesus was as God the Son. The third way God builds is very important for us as believers. He builds relationally. There is such a power in cell groups, prayer meetings, and bible studies branched from the home church itself. I can remember back two years ago when we had a prayer meeting, worship music, and bible study in the basement of a minister friend of mine. God move miraculously. There were some healed, delivered, and set free by the power of God. The minister's wife prayed for a young girl who had breast cancer. The young girl's mom come running in to her office crying. She said I know you believe in miracles, and I'm pleading with you to pray with us. Will you? She said yes let's pray. She laid her hands on her and the mom took her young daughter to the doctor and they couldn't find a trace of that cancer. Many other things happened there. I can remember just leading worship and lifting Jesus up. You see, when you lift Jesus up together in unity, things will happen. So many Christians get caught up in lifting miracles and other things up instead of lifting Christ Jesus up. We need each other. I want to encourage you today to get connected and plugged in to your home church like never before. Yes it's going to make your flesh go crazy. One revelation that helps when I feel the pressure of connecting to believers in a more powerful way is realizing that it's the enemy that don't want you to get connected. He knows the power in it. Don't try and fight the body of Christ when this happens. This is how the enemy works. The devil hates relationships and always will. Will you say with me today, "I am a part of the body of Christ, and I will get connected like never before with bible studies, corporate worship, and other ways in the church." I want to encourage this day to re-focus on how God builds.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name. We know that the enemy hates anything to do with you Lord and the fellowship of believers. We know that we need to bind together as a body of believers like never before. Help us Lord to plug in greater than ever with the body of Christ and help us pick up a stone as living stones and carry it back with the other stones of other believers if we have strayed away with our own little stone. We long to be a part of the building of the temple. Lord we also pray for our youth. We understand Lord that if you tarry the youth will be the next generation. God we lift up our youth pastor's today, and we pray protection upon this generation in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Acts 2:42-47
42And they continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A Pastor said one day that the church would be alright if it were not for people. This sounds kind of humorous, but the way we act sometimes, including some ministers, we would think that the church is all about me and not we. Someone said one time, "To live above with those we love will be full of glory, but to live below with those we know we'll, that's another story." God never attended for us to be that Lone Ranger type christian who sits in there 8X8 closet and that is the only fellowship that they have. For so many years I spent more time by myself just in my own little world studying. There is definitely nothing wrong with this when done in balance. We need that quality time in our prayer closet. The secret to a successful life of a believer is the success of there secret life in the prayer closet. This will build character and cause the anointing of God to increase in our lives. But we need the fellowship of other believers in the church. This is how God builds. God builds in three ways. He builds by revelation, relationally, and by generation. All throughout the bible God was looking after His holy seed for the coming messiah. After Christ came He was a seed for all of humanity through all ages, and that seed was by generation. God also builds by revelation. Jesus asked His disciples one day, "Who do men say that I am?" Some said this and some said that, but Peter spoke and said with power and revelation, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God!" This was by revelation of who Jesus was as God the Son. The third way God builds is very important for us as believers. He builds relationally. There is such a power in cell groups, prayer meetings, and bible studies branched from the home church itself. I can remember back two years ago when we had a prayer meeting, worship music, and bible study in the basement of a minister friend of mine. God move miraculously. There were some healed, delivered, and set free by the power of God. The minister's wife prayed for a young girl who had breast cancer. The young girl's mom come running in to her office crying. She said I know you believe in miracles, and I'm pleading with you to pray with us. Will you? She said yes let's pray. She laid her hands on her and the mom took her young daughter to the doctor and they couldn't find a trace of that cancer. Many other things happened there. I can remember just leading worship and lifting Jesus up. You see, when you lift Jesus up together in unity, things will happen. So many Christians get caught up in lifting miracles and other things up instead of lifting Christ Jesus up. We need each other. I want to encourage you today to get connected and plugged in to your home church like never before. Yes it's going to make your flesh go crazy. One revelation that helps when I feel the pressure of connecting to believers in a more powerful way is realizing that it's the enemy that don't want you to get connected. He knows the power in it. Don't try and fight the body of Christ when this happens. This is how the enemy works. The devil hates relationships and always will. Will you say with me today, "I am a part of the body of Christ, and I will get connected like never before with bible studies, corporate worship, and other ways in the church." I want to encourage this day to re-focus on how God builds.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name. We know that the enemy hates anything to do with you Lord and the fellowship of believers. We know that we need to bind together as a body of believers like never before. Help us Lord to plug in greater than ever with the body of Christ and help us pick up a stone as living stones and carry it back with the other stones of other believers if we have strayed away with our own little stone. We long to be a part of the building of the temple. Lord we also pray for our youth. We understand Lord that if you tarry the youth will be the next generation. God we lift up our youth pastor's today, and we pray protection upon this generation in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
June 3rd Devotional
Read:
Ezra 8:21
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
Life can get so stressful at times. Things can change in an instant, and we need to know how to get strength from God in those rough times. We can learn a great deal about our daily walk with the Lord by looking at Ezra. Ezra is going to Jerusalem concerning the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Fifty-Thousand Jews come before Ezra to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem Eighty years before Ezra actually takes the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. When Ezra starts his journey to Jerusalem, he stops at the river of Ahava with the three-thousand he has with him. The Greek definition for Ahava is "I Shall Subsist" and subsist means to gain nourishment needed to carry on. It was just as much a spiritual nourishment as it was concerning food and raiment. Ezra proclaims a fast, and he gathers leading men to lead with him. Ezra not only knew the importance of humbling himself before God to help them make it to Jerusalem, but he knew the importance of plotting leaders all around him to bind together as one as they carried on the journey. I want us to stop today and gain the nourishment needed to walk this Christian walk. Let's open our hearts today for His spirit to strengthen us and make us strong in Him. We need to stop at that place like the River of Ahava, and we need to draw strength from the Father. He is so willing and able to help us in trying times, and He can help us through restoration to build the little Jerusalem that we may have in our heart. Maybe you have a dream and you have given up on that dream. Maybe you are going through a very hard time right now and don't know what to do. Just reach out to God today, and gain the nourishment needed to go forward in the things of God.
Prayer:
Lord we ask for strength as we face another day. Give us the power to walk out this walk in your grace, and help us to hear your voice and learn of your ways in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Ezra 8:21
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
Life can get so stressful at times. Things can change in an instant, and we need to know how to get strength from God in those rough times. We can learn a great deal about our daily walk with the Lord by looking at Ezra. Ezra is going to Jerusalem concerning the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Fifty-Thousand Jews come before Ezra to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem Eighty years before Ezra actually takes the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. When Ezra starts his journey to Jerusalem, he stops at the river of Ahava with the three-thousand he has with him. The Greek definition for Ahava is "I Shall Subsist" and subsist means to gain nourishment needed to carry on. It was just as much a spiritual nourishment as it was concerning food and raiment. Ezra proclaims a fast, and he gathers leading men to lead with him. Ezra not only knew the importance of humbling himself before God to help them make it to Jerusalem, but he knew the importance of plotting leaders all around him to bind together as one as they carried on the journey. I want us to stop today and gain the nourishment needed to walk this Christian walk. Let's open our hearts today for His spirit to strengthen us and make us strong in Him. We need to stop at that place like the River of Ahava, and we need to draw strength from the Father. He is so willing and able to help us in trying times, and He can help us through restoration to build the little Jerusalem that we may have in our heart. Maybe you have a dream and you have given up on that dream. Maybe you are going through a very hard time right now and don't know what to do. Just reach out to God today, and gain the nourishment needed to go forward in the things of God.
Prayer:
Lord we ask for strength as we face another day. Give us the power to walk out this walk in your grace, and help us to hear your voice and learn of your ways in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
From A Mess To A Message June2nd Devotional
Read:
John 15:1-4
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
One day my son and I were at the park we would go to quite frequently. He was only four at the time, and at the back part of this park were some tractors and old trucks that were fenced in at an old truck parts junkyard. Me and my son would walk up this big hill and you could see his eyes get big as saucers as he would stare in amazement. One day there was this one truck that actually had some grass growing out of the bed of the truck. My son said, "Daddy, how can something grow in something so dirty?" Immediately, I thought about us. God took a sinner like us who had a dirty old truck bed, and God came and made something out of us. Our mess became a message. He takes us and makes us brand new in Him in the born again experience. That ole' truck bed becomes a new Christ bed and God plants new seeds in us rooted in His word. It's not all about us anymore, but it's all about him. You see, we were so self-centered before we met the Lord, and now that we have been saved we need to allow our lives and our mind, will, and emotions to tap deep into that place with Christ. We need to remain in Christ as one with Him. But Oh! there are times as Christians when we start allowing some things to come in our lives. We begin to stop growing as a christian and lose focus. We plant different things in our soul that is not good. It's like that ole' truck bed. When we get to this place in our lives, We can let God heal us and bring us back to a deeper relationship with Him. We can find that place in Him again that is birthed from our spirit instead of the soulish things that we created ourselves. Friend if you have gotten to this place just remember that your mess can become a message, and your tests can become a testimony. God can bring forth restoration for you today. Oh! but how it hurts when he disciplines us to bear fruit again, when He prunes us to bear more fruit in our lives. We have run away with our own agenda and tried to get impatient as we walk this Christian walk in our own way at times as children of God. This brings us to our next but last thing. As I turn around I can see my Son running ahead of me. He knows better than to leave me like that, so I say, "Son! get back over here this instant!" Let's get real. How many times do we run ahead of Him exploring our gifts and talents our self. How many times do we find that without God holding our hand and guiding us we would get frustrated at times because we have lost our Daddy God. Let's let God hold our hand today as we walk out our Christian walk. We can walk with our Daddy God and experience the great things that we long to see with Him. Do you have a mess in your life from maybe a tragedy or trauma in your life, and you don't know what in the world your going to do. Look to your Father God today and let Him heal you and pull any weeds or grass out of your ole' soul and find that root again that is deep within your spirit.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name and ask that you pull any rocks and weeds out of our soul that shouldn't be there. We need your touch today Lord in a mighty way. We know that it's going to hurt when you start to pull the weeds and grass that we planted our self, but we know that we can't bear fruit in the right way without you being our everything. We are sorry Daddy God for running without you at times, and we long to hold your hand today as you take us down the path of your ways. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
John 15:1-4
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
One day my son and I were at the park we would go to quite frequently. He was only four at the time, and at the back part of this park were some tractors and old trucks that were fenced in at an old truck parts junkyard. Me and my son would walk up this big hill and you could see his eyes get big as saucers as he would stare in amazement. One day there was this one truck that actually had some grass growing out of the bed of the truck. My son said, "Daddy, how can something grow in something so dirty?" Immediately, I thought about us. God took a sinner like us who had a dirty old truck bed, and God came and made something out of us. Our mess became a message. He takes us and makes us brand new in Him in the born again experience. That ole' truck bed becomes a new Christ bed and God plants new seeds in us rooted in His word. It's not all about us anymore, but it's all about him. You see, we were so self-centered before we met the Lord, and now that we have been saved we need to allow our lives and our mind, will, and emotions to tap deep into that place with Christ. We need to remain in Christ as one with Him. But Oh! there are times as Christians when we start allowing some things to come in our lives. We begin to stop growing as a christian and lose focus. We plant different things in our soul that is not good. It's like that ole' truck bed. When we get to this place in our lives, We can let God heal us and bring us back to a deeper relationship with Him. We can find that place in Him again that is birthed from our spirit instead of the soulish things that we created ourselves. Friend if you have gotten to this place just remember that your mess can become a message, and your tests can become a testimony. God can bring forth restoration for you today. Oh! but how it hurts when he disciplines us to bear fruit again, when He prunes us to bear more fruit in our lives. We have run away with our own agenda and tried to get impatient as we walk this Christian walk in our own way at times as children of God. This brings us to our next but last thing. As I turn around I can see my Son running ahead of me. He knows better than to leave me like that, so I say, "Son! get back over here this instant!" Let's get real. How many times do we run ahead of Him exploring our gifts and talents our self. How many times do we find that without God holding our hand and guiding us we would get frustrated at times because we have lost our Daddy God. Let's let God hold our hand today as we walk out our Christian walk. We can walk with our Daddy God and experience the great things that we long to see with Him. Do you have a mess in your life from maybe a tragedy or trauma in your life, and you don't know what in the world your going to do. Look to your Father God today and let Him heal you and pull any weeds or grass out of your ole' soul and find that root again that is deep within your spirit.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name and ask that you pull any rocks and weeds out of our soul that shouldn't be there. We need your touch today Lord in a mighty way. We know that it's going to hurt when you start to pull the weeds and grass that we planted our self, but we know that we can't bear fruit in the right way without you being our everything. We are sorry Daddy God for running without you at times, and we long to hold your hand today as you take us down the path of your ways. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Fight For Freedom May 31st Devotional
Read:
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone 2 For kings and all those who are in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Also read:
Romans 13:1
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. the authorities that exist have been established by God.
All Throughout history beginning with even years before Christ was born, there was always a fight for freedom. There were great men that fought on the front line with valor and character. There was David, Joab, Joshua, prophets, and not to mention all of the other Kings that stood for freedom. One that comes to my mind is Nehemiah. Nehemiah stood when all hell was breaking loose towards him by false prophets, governors, and others, but Nehemiah stood his ground for freedom. The tragedy of September 11 caused this nation to fall on our knees and pray. There have been services and vigils all across the land. The bible says to pray for our nation. Does God love war? absolutely not, but God doesn't put any in authority that hasn't been established by Him. Even the ungodly rulers of this world suppresses sin and keeps a certain kind of peace, and it is our job to pray for our government, president, and all of those who are in authority and fighting for our freedom. I think that alot of judgement falls at the foot of the church. All through the bible we see that when the Jews got complacent, judgement came. Even though we are not under the old covenant, there is still a type of judgment that falls upon our nation when the church isn't doing what they supposed to do. We have gotten complacent, and the Babylonians attacked. Now, God is wanting His people to pray like never before for our nation. He wants us to pray against abortion, fight for pure marriage, and He wants us to stay on our knees for peace to be upon our land. America was founded upon Christian principles, and that will never be forgotten. God bless this land. We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. This year is going to be another hard year for our soldiers that have stuck there neck out to fight for the red, white and blue. Many soldiers haven't seen there family in years. Lets be soldiers for the Lord and pray like never before for our great soldiers, especially the one's that are reflecting Christ to many out on the battlefield. Let's also pray for our missionaries over seas that are doing a great work for freedom and for God's kingdom.
Prayer:
Lord we pray for our nation. We pray for wisdom upon congress and for our president. We pray Lord that you will protect the soldiers who are away from their family, who have took a stand for that precious breath of freedom that we breathe today. Lord we ask that you forgive us for our complacency as the body of Christ and that you will bring our soldiers home safely. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone 2 For kings and all those who are in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Also read:
Romans 13:1
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. the authorities that exist have been established by God.
All Throughout history beginning with even years before Christ was born, there was always a fight for freedom. There were great men that fought on the front line with valor and character. There was David, Joab, Joshua, prophets, and not to mention all of the other Kings that stood for freedom. One that comes to my mind is Nehemiah. Nehemiah stood when all hell was breaking loose towards him by false prophets, governors, and others, but Nehemiah stood his ground for freedom. The tragedy of September 11 caused this nation to fall on our knees and pray. There have been services and vigils all across the land. The bible says to pray for our nation. Does God love war? absolutely not, but God doesn't put any in authority that hasn't been established by Him. Even the ungodly rulers of this world suppresses sin and keeps a certain kind of peace, and it is our job to pray for our government, president, and all of those who are in authority and fighting for our freedom. I think that alot of judgement falls at the foot of the church. All through the bible we see that when the Jews got complacent, judgement came. Even though we are not under the old covenant, there is still a type of judgment that falls upon our nation when the church isn't doing what they supposed to do. We have gotten complacent, and the Babylonians attacked. Now, God is wanting His people to pray like never before for our nation. He wants us to pray against abortion, fight for pure marriage, and He wants us to stay on our knees for peace to be upon our land. America was founded upon Christian principles, and that will never be forgotten. God bless this land. We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. This year is going to be another hard year for our soldiers that have stuck there neck out to fight for the red, white and blue. Many soldiers haven't seen there family in years. Lets be soldiers for the Lord and pray like never before for our great soldiers, especially the one's that are reflecting Christ to many out on the battlefield. Let's also pray for our missionaries over seas that are doing a great work for freedom and for God's kingdom.
Prayer:
Lord we pray for our nation. We pray for wisdom upon congress and for our president. We pray Lord that you will protect the soldiers who are away from their family, who have took a stand for that precious breath of freedom that we breathe today. Lord we ask that you forgive us for our complacency as the body of Christ and that you will bring our soldiers home safely. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
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