Saturday, July 31, 2010

Stops & Steps 1390 31VII2010

When do we need help ?


There are times when we need help . It's not a weakness or a fault; it's simply part of life.

*Sometimes it will be physical needs money, a job, a car or toys for the kids.

* It may be a need to be left alone.

* You may need emotional stability where there is challenge or change.

* You may need wisdom and insight when you face confusion or question marks in life.

* You may need patience when you face some circumstance in your life.



God gives us a simple tool to use in times of need in our own lives. He says we are simply to praise His name. It's important to intentionally bring our focus to Him.

Praising His name helps us focus on what His name means to us.
It is the source of life to our hearts in the midst of trying times.

Philippians 4 : 19
My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus

(Stops & Steps 1390 31VII2010)

Friday, July 30, 2010

Stops & Steps 1389 30VII2010

Discipline

Discipline is considered troublesome, exasperating, and unnecessary. We want freedom and no direction because it might conflict with what we want to do.

God disciplines out of love to bless us. It is a sign of his delight. Why?

He is not content to leave us unchanged, unmotivated, and disinterested. He wants to move us closer to Him!


Proverbs 3 : 11-12
My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.


(Stops & Steps 1389 30VII2010)

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Stops & Steps 1388 29VII2010

Words and Actions

Words

We can tell people that we love them. We can explain how precious they are to us.

Actions

When we sacrifice our preferences for another, we show our respect and affection.

When we sacrifice ourselves, our wishes, and our preferences for a friend, we give the greatest of all gifts and prove our love beyond any doubt.

John 15 : 13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends

(Stops & Steps 1388 29VII2010)

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Stops & Steps 1387 28VII2010

Be truthful


Love has its delights.

One of those delights is in what is authentic and genuine -- TRUTH!

Let us not be deceitful, manipulative, or coercive in our relationships.

Instead, we must be transparent, intimate, and honest.


Why?

Because true love delights in truth.


1 Corinthians 13 : 6
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth

(Stops & Steps 1387 28VII2010)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Stops & Steps 1386 27VII2010

What is the source of our strengths ?

There are times in each of our spiritual lives when we face challenges far too big for our own resources and strengths.
The real question that each of us must face is very simple:

Where do we place our trust?
What is the source of our confidence?

Is it
our abilities ?
our skills ?
our insight
our strength ?

Or is it God's?

Zechariah 4:5-6
'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."

Zerubbabbel faced such a challenge. God sent a prophet to remind him, and us through him, that our greatest victories will not be won by our power and might. Greatest victories will occur when we trust that God's power is greater than our weakness and God's might is greater than our insufficiencies.

(Stops & Steps 1386 27VII2010)

Monday, July 26, 2010

Stops & Steps 1385 26VII2010

Meaning and purpose of life

It is difficult for men to even attempt to explain the meaning and purpose of life and other serious spiritual questions. If they do try, they cannot prove their views are right or wrong, and they often contradict one another.

People cannot provide spiritual guidance


Jeremiah 10:23
I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

Isaiah 55 : 8-9
Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left and you live alone in the land.
The LORD Almighty has declared in my hearing: Surely the great houses will become desolate, the fine mansions left without occupants.

(Stops & Steps 1385 26VII2010)

Stops & Steps 1384 25VII2010

Love is patient!

God reveals His love and patience to us. We ask God to give us patience inn all our relationships

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

(Stops & Steps 1384 25VII2010)

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Stops & Steps 1383 24VII2010

Be part of the plan

We wonder about the suffering we have to go through, and why so much of it is necessary. We ask God to give us some insight into His perfect plan for us, so that we can be more patient while waiting for His answer.

Isaiah 48:10
See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

(Stops & Steps 1383 24VII2010)

Friday, July 23, 2010

Stops & Steps 1382 23VII2010

Accept Him

God uses us daily and gives us opportunities when He speaks to us through His Word. We ask God to help us to be fully open to the shaping and moulding He wants to do in our lives

Jeremiah 18:3
So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.

(Stops & Steps 1382 23VII2010)

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Stops & Steps 1381 22VII2010

Nothing wasted

God gives us strength so that in what we do for Him, we do not become discouraged and weary. We ask God to give us a hint of His plans in which we can have a part.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.


(Stops & Steps 1381 22VII2010)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Stops & Steps 1380 21VII2010

Bloom where we are planted?

We ask God to grant us the confidence to accept things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.


1 Corinthians 12:17-18
If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

(Stops & Steps 1380 21VII2010)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Stops & Steps 1379 20VII2010

Worries and problems

God encourages us and gives us the strength to face today’s problems today and leave tomorrow’s worries to tomorrow.

Matthew 6:34
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


(Stops & Steps 1379 20VII2010)

Monday, July 19, 2010

Stops & Steps 1378 19VII2010

Be grounded in His truth

We thank God for all the faithful witnesses who have gone before us. We ask God to make us hungry and thirsty for the knowledge of His Word. We ask God to help us to turn away from worthless things and let our lives be grounded in His truth.

Psalm 119:15,16
I will meditate on thy precepts, and fix my eyes on thy ways. I will delight in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word.

(Stops & Steps 1378 19VII2010)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Stops & Steps 1377 18VII2010

Listening is not easy !!

We ask God to forgive us when we do not listen to His voice. We ask God to give us faith and obedience and help us to go willingly where He wants us to go and do willingly what He would have us do.


Luke 5:4-7
When [Jesus] finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Push the boat out further in the deep water, and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch."
"Master," Simon answered, "we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets." They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break. So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full of fish that the boats were about to sink.

(Stops & Steps 1377 18VII2010)

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Stops & Steps 1376 17VII2010

Draw close to Him

God is the master creator, our comforter, provider, refuge and fortress yet it is so easy for us to lose sight of how wonderful and merciful He is. We ask God to draw us close to Him.

Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.

(Stops & Steps 1376 17VII2010)

Friday, July 16, 2010

Stops & Steps 1375 16VII2010

Mind over matter

We are engrossed with many things, many concerns, needs and worries. So often we lose sight of God. We ask God to strengthen us today, as we surrender our thoughts and minds to Him.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

(Stops & Steps 1375 16VII2010)

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Stops & Steps 1374 15VII2010

Anger management

We get angry often. We ask God to forgive us for saying and doing things that hurt each other. We ask God to help us to learn to control our anger and to show us how to be more gentle and loving.

Ephesians 4:31-32
Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted and forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you.

(Stops & Steps 1374 15VII2010)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Stops & Steps 1373 14VII2010

He is compassionate

We are often broken and battered. We need help and healing. We ask God to be with us and among us so that we may live this day strengthened and empowered to seek wholeness in our lives


Matthew 12:30
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

(Stops & Steps 1373 14VII2010)

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Stops & Steps 1372 13VII2010

Healing the hurt

God exposes us to frightening truths and dangerous situations. God opens our hearts to victims of family violence and helps us to reach out to them in loving support.


Psalm 62:8-10
Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns. God is our place of safety. We humans are only a breath; none of us are truly great. All of us together weigh less than a puff of air. Don't trust in violence or depend on dishonesty or rely on great wealth


(Stops & Steps 1372 13VII2010)

Monday, July 12, 2010

Stops & Steps 1371 12VII2010

The need to speak

We ask God to deliver us from the urge to open our mouths when we should shut it. We ask God to give us the wisdom to keep silence when silence is wise. We ask God to teach us that not everything needs to be said, and that there are very few things that need for us to say.

Proverbs 11:13
"He who goes abroad as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing hidden."

Ecclesiastes 3 : 17
"For every activity under heaven its time...a time for silence and a time for speech"

Proverbs 11 : 12
"A man of understanding remains silent"


(Stops & Steps 1371 12VII2010)

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Stops & Steps 1370 11VII2010

Spread His love

Everyday we find ourselves coming up against boundaries that have mysteriously been drawn between people. We ask God to help us to see the lines of His love which connect us to all whom He has created.

Psalm 14
“Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God. They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the LORD? There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the company of the righteous. You would confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.”

(Stops & Steps 1370 11VII2010)

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Stops & Steps 1369 10VII2010

HE helps us everytime

God helps us to see beyond the veil of our prejudices and fears. He helps us to see ourselves present in places, among people, where we often are unprepared to look. He helps us to learn the lessons of our past, that we might more faithfully represent us in the world as people of love, justice and service.

Psalm 139 : 1 – 10
“O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.”

(Stops & Steps 1369 10VII2010)

Friday, July 09, 2010

Stops & Steps 1368 09VII2010

HE helps us to see

We know we are blind and we know that we see. We have blind spots and have moments of clarity. We ask God to help us to look at other people in world, in our lives, and open us to accepting them as they are, to finding ways of sharing life peacefully, to discovering our common humanity.

Mark 8 : 22 - 26
“They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Can you see anything?" And the man looked up and said, "I can see people, but they look like trees, walking." Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even go into the village."


(Stops & Steps 1368 09VII2010)

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Stops & Steps 1367 08VII2010

Fears

When we are troubled and afraid, God helps us to turn to Him. He restores the peace that comes from knowing we are doing what He asks of us.

Job 5:8-27

Romans 8 : 15
You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.

(Stops & Steps 1367 08VII2010)

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Stops & Steps 1366 07VII2010

A beautiful day

We thank God for doing something beautiful in our mind, our heart and in our lives today.

Isaiah 52 : 7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good news, who proclaims peace,... and salvation.

(Stops & Steps 1366 07VII2010)

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Stops & Steps 1365 06VII2010

Stay focused

God provides us shelter from the heat of the day, the storms of life and the bustle of our busy lives. We ask God to help us to remember to focus on Him, to offer Him our love, praise and gratitude.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

(Stops & Steps 1365 06VII2010)

Monday, July 05, 2010

Stops & Steps 1364 05VII2010

HE knows us too well

God knows us like no other. He sees our faults and yet He loves us. He sees our strengths and gives us opportunities to use them. Let us glorify God in all that we do

Psalm 139:6
Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding.

Psalm 139:13
You created every part of me.

(Stops & Steps 1364 05VII2010)

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Stops & Steps 1363 04VII2010

Be obedient

We ask God to help us always to follow the route He has planned for us. There are times we got lost when we find detours along the way. We ask God to give us the strength and the grace to stay focused on the path set before us to follow Him along the route to life everlasting.


John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Isaiah 40:3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for God."

Isaiah 49:11
I will make each of My mountains a road, and My highways shall be elevated.


(Stops & Steps 1363 04VII2010)

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Stops & Steps 1362 03VII2010

Checks and balances

We ask God to check on us and help us in the areas that need improving. We ask God to teach us to use our gifts to the fullest where they are needed and lead us to the peak of perfection

Leviticus 25:3
For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops.

John 15:2
He 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.

(Stops & Steps 1362 03VII2010)

Friday, July 02, 2010

Stops & Steps 1361 02VII2010

Think before we speak

We ask God to teach us to truly love as Jesus loves us. We know that an unruly tongue can hurt a lot of people and we ask God to help us to refrain from unkind and malicious talk.

James 3:8
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

(Stops & Steps 1361 02VII2010)

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Stops & Steps 1360 01VII2010

Doing our part

God has given us gifts, sufficient for the day, accompanied by the skills and wisdom to fulfill what we have been called to do. We ask God to forgive us for our failures to do as He asked. We ask God to open our eyes to see and to renew our aspirations for His power to work within us today.

Exodus 36:1
Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.

Ephesians 4:4-7
There is one body and one Spirit -- just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call -- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

(Stops & Steps 1360 01VII2010)