A friend of Clark Gable took her young son to his home for a visit. As they were about to leave, the boy pointed to the Oscar that Gable had won and asked, “May I have this?”
“Sure,” answered Gable, giving the Oscar to the child.
“Give it back immediately,” shouted the mother in shock.
“Oh, no,” said Gable. “Keep it. Having the Oscar around doesn’t mean anything to me. Earning it does.”
Focusing on the future has many benefits. Paul boldly declared that “I am still not all I should be! But I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead I strain to reach the end of the race.”
Paul had excellent reasons to want to forget the past - he persecuted Christians and even had them killed. He held them in great contempt, creating fear and anxiety among them. But, he also accomplished many outstanding things for Christ before he wrote these words. In all reality, he could have “stayed stuck” for one reason or another: either feelings of guilt from the evil things he had done to Christians or a sense of false pride for his exemplary service to his Lord.
These are two traps that every Christian faces: our failures and our successes. Either trap can destroy or defeat what God is calling us to do. We must avoid the “traps” and move forward!
Prayer: Help us, Father, not to ruin the present or the future by staying stuck in the past. You have called us to do great things through Christ. May we always be faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14
Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know!
Earning It Is What Matters!
A friend of Clark Gable took her young son to his home for a visit. As they were about to leave, the boy pointed to the Oscar that Gable had won and asked, “May I have this?”
“Sure,” answered Gable, giving the Oscar to the child.
“Give it back immediately,” shouted the mother in shock.
“Oh, no,” said Gable. “Keep it. Having the Oscar around doesn’t mean anything to me. Earning it does.”
Focusing on the future has many benefits. Paul boldly declared that “I am still not all I should be! But I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead I strain to reach the end of the race.”
Paul had excellent reasons to want to forget the past - he persecuted Christians and even had them killed. He held them in great contempt, creating fear and anxiety among them. But, he also accomplished many outstanding things for Christ before he wrote these words. In all reality, he could have “stayed stuck” for one reason or another: either feelings of guilt from the evil things he had done to Christians or a sense of false pride for his exemplary service to his Lord.
These are two traps that every Christian faces: our failures and our successes. Either trap can destroy or defeat what God is calling us to do. We must avoid the “traps” and move forward!
Prayer: Help us, Father, not to ruin the present or the future by staying stuck in the past. You have called us to do great things through Christ. May we always be faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14
Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know!
“Sure,” answered Gable, giving the Oscar to the child.
“Give it back immediately,” shouted the mother in shock.
“Oh, no,” said Gable. “Keep it. Having the Oscar around doesn’t mean anything to me. Earning it does.”
Focusing on the future has many benefits. Paul boldly declared that “I am still not all I should be! But I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead I strain to reach the end of the race.”
Paul had excellent reasons to want to forget the past - he persecuted Christians and even had them killed. He held them in great contempt, creating fear and anxiety among them. But, he also accomplished many outstanding things for Christ before he wrote these words. In all reality, he could have “stayed stuck” for one reason or another: either feelings of guilt from the evil things he had done to Christians or a sense of false pride for his exemplary service to his Lord.
These are two traps that every Christian faces: our failures and our successes. Either trap can destroy or defeat what God is calling us to do. We must avoid the “traps” and move forward!
Prayer: Help us, Father, not to ruin the present or the future by staying stuck in the past. You have called us to do great things through Christ. May we always be faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14
Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know!
That Doesn't Look Like Me!
A young mother went to Mr. Duffy, asking him to do a portrait of her so that her children would know what she looked like as a young lady. Mr. Duffy was known for his “idealized” paintings - painting his clients as they could be if they were “ideal,” not real.
When she returned after several months of waiting, she was shocked by what she saw. Angrily she said, “That doesn’t look like me.”
“I know,” he replied graciously, “but try your best to look as lovely as it does.”
Mr. Duffy saw in the mother what she could become. So, when he painted her portrait, he brought out the best in her, the “ideal.” His goal? He wanted to help her achieve her best.
One day after Andrew met and accepted Jesus as the Messiah, he brought Simon to meet Him. As Jesus looked intently at him, He saw an “ideal” disciple and said, “You are Simon, the son of John - but you will from now on be called Cephas (which means Rock).”
Jesus saw not only who Simon was at that moment in time, but who he could and would one day become. That is the reason He gave him a new name. Peter was not always a “solid rock” during his days with Jesus. But, that is what he became: “rock-solid” as he grew in Christ.
Fortunately, Christ always sees more in us than we see in ourselves. He sees us as we can be - rock-solid - in our witness for and work with Him. Come. Follow Me! The future awaits.
Prayer: Lord, may we walk with You, in faith, believing that You have great plans for our lives. May we trust You completely and become “rock-solid” disciples. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: You are Simon, the son of John - but you will from now on be called Cephas (which means Rock). John 1:42
Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know!
When she returned after several months of waiting, she was shocked by what she saw. Angrily she said, “That doesn’t look like me.”
“I know,” he replied graciously, “but try your best to look as lovely as it does.”
Mr. Duffy saw in the mother what she could become. So, when he painted her portrait, he brought out the best in her, the “ideal.” His goal? He wanted to help her achieve her best.
One day after Andrew met and accepted Jesus as the Messiah, he brought Simon to meet Him. As Jesus looked intently at him, He saw an “ideal” disciple and said, “You are Simon, the son of John - but you will from now on be called Cephas (which means Rock).”
Jesus saw not only who Simon was at that moment in time, but who he could and would one day become. That is the reason He gave him a new name. Peter was not always a “solid rock” during his days with Jesus. But, that is what he became: “rock-solid” as he grew in Christ.
Fortunately, Christ always sees more in us than we see in ourselves. He sees us as we can be - rock-solid - in our witness for and work with Him. Come. Follow Me! The future awaits.
Prayer: Lord, may we walk with You, in faith, believing that You have great plans for our lives. May we trust You completely and become “rock-solid” disciples. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: You are Simon, the son of John - but you will from now on be called Cephas (which means Rock). John 1:42
Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know!
That Doesn't Look Like Me!
A young mother went to Mr. Duffy, asking him to do a portrait of her so that her children would know what she looked like as a young lady. Mr. Duffy was known for his “idealized” paintings - painting his clients as they could be if they were “ideal,” not real.
When she returned after several months of waiting, she was shocked by what she saw. Angrily she said, “That doesn’t look like me.”
“I know,” he replied graciously, “but try your best to look as lovely as it does.”
Mr. Duffy saw in the mother what she could become. So, when he painted her portrait, he brought out the best in her, the “ideal.” His goal? He wanted to help her achieve her best.
One day after Andrew met and accepted Jesus as the Messiah, he brought Simon to meet Him. As Jesus looked intently at him, He saw an “ideal” disciple and said, “You are Simon, the son of John - but you will from now on be called Cephas (which means Rock).”
Jesus saw not only who Simon was at that moment in time, but who he could and would one day become. That is the reason He gave him a new name. Peter was not always a “solid rock” during his days with Jesus. But, that is what he became: “rock-solid” as he grew in Christ.
Fortunately, Christ always sees more in us than we see in ourselves. He sees us as we can be - rock-solid - in our witness for and work with Him. Come. Follow Me! The future awaits.
Prayer: Lord, may we walk with You, in faith, believing that You have great plans for our lives. May we trust You completely and become “rock-solid” disciples. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: You are Simon, the son of John - but you will from now on be called Cephas (which means Rock). John 1:42
Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know!
When she returned after several months of waiting, she was shocked by what she saw. Angrily she said, “That doesn’t look like me.”
“I know,” he replied graciously, “but try your best to look as lovely as it does.”
Mr. Duffy saw in the mother what she could become. So, when he painted her portrait, he brought out the best in her, the “ideal.” His goal? He wanted to help her achieve her best.
One day after Andrew met and accepted Jesus as the Messiah, he brought Simon to meet Him. As Jesus looked intently at him, He saw an “ideal” disciple and said, “You are Simon, the son of John - but you will from now on be called Cephas (which means Rock).”
Jesus saw not only who Simon was at that moment in time, but who he could and would one day become. That is the reason He gave him a new name. Peter was not always a “solid rock” during his days with Jesus. But, that is what he became: “rock-solid” as he grew in Christ.
Fortunately, Christ always sees more in us than we see in ourselves. He sees us as we can be - rock-solid - in our witness for and work with Him. Come. Follow Me! The future awaits.
Prayer: Lord, may we walk with You, in faith, believing that You have great plans for our lives. May we trust You completely and become “rock-solid” disciples. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: You are Simon, the son of John - but you will from now on be called Cephas (which means Rock). John 1:42
Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know!
Answering The Right Question
A young student was sitting before Socrates anxiously wanting to learn from “the master.” With a penetrating gaze, he asked, “Where can I find the best things in life?”
The young student was overwhelmed with the breadth of the question. He thought of the various places that had the best fabrics and most beautiful robes. Then he recalled sights of the market places that had exotic merchandise. Then, in his mind's eye, he returned to the restaurants that had the best food and drinks he had ever visited.
As the student was about to answer, Socrates held up his hand as if to interrupt the student’s thoughts. He then asked, “Must we not first, however, ask what the best things are?” That question changed Plato’s life forever.
David once said, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.”
Most individuals spend most of their time searching for the “best things of life” - things they believe will bring them joy, satisfaction, and happiness. David realized, however, that despite everything he possessed, God was the One who could make a difference in his life and bring him peace, fulfillment, and completeness. He realized that only God would be able to comfort him in his moments of distress and discouragement, sorrow and sadness, and relieve his anxiety.
Everything in life is temporary, except God, and through Him, we discover “the best things in life.” Worshiping and honoring Him, then, is the most essential thing we can ever do. If we do so, then, all will be well!
Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to place You at the center of our lives. May we find contentment within us knowing that we have found the best thing in life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever. Psalm 16
Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know!
The young student was overwhelmed with the breadth of the question. He thought of the various places that had the best fabrics and most beautiful robes. Then he recalled sights of the market places that had exotic merchandise. Then, in his mind's eye, he returned to the restaurants that had the best food and drinks he had ever visited.
As the student was about to answer, Socrates held up his hand as if to interrupt the student’s thoughts. He then asked, “Must we not first, however, ask what the best things are?” That question changed Plato’s life forever.
David once said, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.”
Most individuals spend most of their time searching for the “best things of life” - things they believe will bring them joy, satisfaction, and happiness. David realized, however, that despite everything he possessed, God was the One who could make a difference in his life and bring him peace, fulfillment, and completeness. He realized that only God would be able to comfort him in his moments of distress and discouragement, sorrow and sadness, and relieve his anxiety.
Everything in life is temporary, except God, and through Him, we discover “the best things in life.” Worshiping and honoring Him, then, is the most essential thing we can ever do. If we do so, then, all will be well!
Prayer: Help us, Heavenly Father, to place You at the center of our lives. May we find contentment within us knowing that we have found the best thing in life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture For Today: You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever. Psalm 16
Were you helped by today's devotional? Leave a comment and let us know!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)