March 31

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desire you had when you lived in ignorance.
I Peter 1:14

When we think about our lives before Christ I don't think ignorant is what first comes to mind. Can you imagine telling a lost person how ignorant they are? It truly makes sense though, we were completely stupid! And scripture tells us not to be that stupid again! How will we make sure to make wise choices? Stay in the word, hold true to what it says. Not that He would, but don't give God a chance to say, "Hey Stupid" to you. Seek to be pleasing to Him in all you do. Give Him that opportunity to say "Hey Look - That is my child in whom I am well pleased!"

March 30

After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
John 6:14


This brings the saying "you have to see it to believe it" to mind. We live in such a skeptical world that we want proof to believe. It is hard to understand faith but it is something that you just have to believe without seeing. It's not easy, because if it were then the whole world would be saved. For some, it's a gift, but for others it is hard to trust and understand. I am thankful that we have the Bible as our proof of the truth. We can't see it but we can read it and believe! Of course there are miracles every day, but still people can't see. Just waking up in the morning is a miracle; God has given us breath once again. Take time to see the miracles that God is sending our way and enjoy that
He is right here today with us, even though we can't see him.

March 29

As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
Prov. 27:19

What is our refection? We should reflect Christ in all that we do, but we are human and we don’t. Aren’t we thankful that we have such a loving God that forgives us when we don’t always reflect Christ in our lives? We also should remember that it’s not only the people out in the world around us that are looking at us, but the very ones that we see each day that are seeing this reflection. Make it your prayer and your choice to reflect Christ in your daily walk, not just the trip to church or to go be with other church people. May the reflection that you give be a clear reflection that others can see and realize that your heart is caring, compassionate and kind, and one that loves the Lord.

March 28

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.
Mark 4:37


How may times do we feel like we are in this storm? More often that we care to imagine. We have that tendency to be like the disciples. We worry that the worst is to come, that our boat is sinking and we are not going to make it. We forget that Jesus is right there in the midst of it all, we have the fear of being overcome. When all in an instance we call out to Him and He calms the storm. We must always remember that God is with us during the storm, He never leaves us. When we feel as though He is not here with us we need to think about it, are we the ones who turned from Him and walked away.

Don't ever think that as a Christian that the storms aren't going to come, they are! We are either in a storm, coming out of a storm or going into a storm. But I do want you to remember that God is right there with you. He is the one that calms that storm. Maybe we have storms in our lives to see just how much we are going to trust Him to take care of us - ever thought about it that way? Don't let the Lord say to you as He did the disciples - "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Stand firm with the Lord during the storm and believe that He is going to get you through it. He will do just what He says He will. You are one of His greatest treasures, He loves you, remember you were worth dying for.

March 27

above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Eph. 6:16

Definitions:
Above: more than
Faith: Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
Quench: put out
So more than anything else take up the shied of believing that God our creator, protector, maker will be able to put out anything that the devil throws our way. We must believe and know that with God all things are possible. Faith is trusting that God is greater than all things, mightier than all things, and that He is the God of everything. Also know that the devil will try to attack us, that is his nature, he wants to bring us down, steal our joy, and defeat us. We do not have to live a defeated life because we know we serve a God that is greater than the devil. Do not give way to the devil when he comes after you to take you down. Tell him to get behind you, let him know that he cannot have your joy, call upon the name of the Almighty to fight this battle for you. Believe above all that God can handle this, and trust Him for His very promises that He has given you.

March 26

An attacker advance against you, Ninevah, Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength!
Nahum 2:1

This is very important for us to remember as Christians. We seem to forget that there is a battle going on against us. We must always be prepared for the attack against us and know that it is coming so it doesn't take us by surprise. Satan will do all that he can to destroy us and take our joy. We must stay focused on God! Not only do we watch for ourselves but we must pray that hedge of protection around the ones that we love, because if Satan can't get to us, he will go after the ones that we love. Don't forget - in the end we win! God is the greatest warrior that we have to fight with us in our battles. Don't forget to call upon His name; Satan cannot stand in the presence of God. May God place his shield around you today and keep you safe from the storm!

March 25

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Tim 3:16-17

Now if anybody needs to know why they should read the Bible here is the proof. The key phrase would be "that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work". Everything we need is in the Bible. We must spend time in the Word to see what God has for us. As the Bible says, all scripture is inspired by God so it all applies to us, not just the words that we would like to pick and choose. Think of the word profitable - this means we need the word of God in our life to make us better in all things - when we are not spending time in the Bible we are the losers. So be a big winner this week and spend time with God in His word, He has something special that He wants to share with you.

March 24

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great." Genesis 15:1 NAS

I heard a speaker say that "fear not" was in the Bible 365 times. My thought was "Wow - that is one a day for a year". So my encouragement to you is fear not today, tomorrow and the next day.... God had promised us that He is here, He is a shield to us. We are to wrap those words around us and go forth in the day knowing that no matter what - God is going to take care of us. We have nothing to worry about! Nothing that is going to happen to us is going to take God by surprise, He already knows that is in store for us and we have to remember that He will be right there beside us to walk through it! So take His hand, hold on tight and FEAR NOT! There is no storm too big for God.

March 23

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
Col. 2:6

There are 24 entries found for the meaning of the word “in”, but here are a few that really fit for us to walk in Him:
After the style or form of:
So as to be available or under one's control:
In a particular relationship:
Influence; power: -

Now let’s think about it, how do we find that “style or form of”? We read the Bible and find out more of how Jesus walked on earth, as we do that we are also spending time with him. “To be available or under one’s control”: We must talk with Him, ask Him what we can do for Him, be yielded to what He wants us to do. We must show up and say “Here I am – use me today!” “In a relationship”, we must realize that to be God’s child we must be willing to spend that time with Him, to grow that relationship. He will always be there for us, but we must take that time to be there for Him. He will never be the one to walk away from us, He will always be the one who is standing there with arms wide open waiting for us to turn back around. And last the “influence and power”, God wants to give us all of that, He wants to infiltrate us, use us, but we have to once again make that choice to be used of Him.
Ask Him daily to use you, look for the opportunities to show others that you are His child. When you give your life to God, that is great, but you must also walk a different path, a different way, one that is worthy of His calling. Be different, be bold, be more like Christ in all you do!

March 22

All the saints greet you.
2 Cor. 13:13

Do we greet others? What do people, just not the saints see in us? It’s easy when we go to church for the others to see that happy face, that good Christian image that we put on, but what about the people in Wal-mart, the grocery store, the doctor’s office? Can they see that we have something special inside of us? Do we let them know that we have something in our life that they truly need? Next time you are in a line or just waiting somewhere, take time to look at the faces around you, study them, and ask God if that person is your “divine appointment” for the day. God has a divine appointment for each of us, He wants us to share His good news with others. Sometimes you will actually be the one blessed when you do what God has called you to do – share Him with others. Don’t be afraid, it’s time to get bold for God and share Him with the world. It would be awful to think that someone went to hell because we weren’t willing to be obedient to Christ in sharing the gospel with that person just because we didn’t want to take time for them. Seek out your divine appointment today and be bold for the Lord! You can do it!

March 21

And have mercy on some, who are doubting:
Jude 1:22

Not everybody has the gift of mercy so this is something that needs to be noted for those of us that don't have it. When others can't see God in the way that we do, we need to love them and pray for them instead of condemning them for not believing as we do. Even for those Christians who don't have the gift of faith, they too need love and compassion as they go through their storms. Whether somebody is a Christian or not, we need to love them where they are and encourage them, pray for them and just be a friend to them that they may see our faith, our Hope! Let them know why we get through our everyday struggles - His name is Jesus!

March 20

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8

It makes you wonder why the term “love will cover a multitude of sins” is put in there. But in everyday life we see where reality takes place. We are going to be hurt by many people and in return we will hurt many people, but when we love them it makes it easier to forgive. We have to have that fervent love, that true, sincere, intensely felt love so it will make it easier to forgive. Life is going to hand you some hard knocks and sometimes it is from those you love but we must remember to forgive and to continue to love. Think of what we did to Christ, we put him on the cross, yet He still loved us enough to die for us. We may not like a person, but God says to love them.

March 19

And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
Gen. 28:15

God promises us that He will be with us. That should be such an encouragement to us, that no matter where we go, through the valley or on the mountaintop, He will be right with us. We are all going to go into the valley but we must remember that this is where the fruit grows the best! Let God walk with you, talk with you and carry your burdens for you. Don’t try to take on this valley by yourself! Let God guide you through, He wants to take you back to the mountaintop so you can see wonderful view from there. Learn to trust Him, he plainly tells us that He will be with us! It’s just that easy to hold on to.

March 18

All beautiful you are my darling, there is no flaw in you.
Song of Songs 4:7


There is something God wants us to always remember. It's easy to look in the mirror and see "flaws", but we have none in God's eyes. God made each of us unique and remember His words, "how beautiful". So keep this in mind when you don't like what you see in the mirror. You were created just for His glory and He smiles when He sits back and looks at His creation (you). Know that you are beautiful, so start acting like it, you have no flaws - God said it!

March 17

Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime, it is the Lord who sends the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.
Zechariah 10:1

Think of the seeds that are planted, they need the rain for it to sprout and grow. We are not sure if it will be a soft gentle rain or a torrential downpour, but either way it will be rain and it will be needed. As Christians we need the rain in our lives for us to grow, God’s rain. We don’t want to wither away from a lack of rain in our lives. Remember that if you just get the gentle rain or if you get a storm, that God is allowing it to happen. And as quick as it can come up and as fierce as it can get, it can also be calmed in an instant. Just trust God to get you through and look for the fruit that will come from the nourishment of the rain.