Next time you're bored..

The next time you're bored, take some time and walk or drive around your neighborhood. Praying to the Lord, He may enlighten you on some people who could use encouragement or a listening ear. If you don't know what to do, remember that prayer is one of the most effective ways to influence someone's life - ask the Spirit to influence and bring folks into right relationship with Him.

His glorious riches

He has glorious riches! (Far more than we can understand or imagine)

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." Ephesians 3:16-17a, NIV

Something new

Learn one new and interesting thing about another culture and then pray for those people today. If you like, share your newly learned fact in a comment to this posting.

Easy to forget..

It is easy to forget how blessed we are in the U.S. to have freedom to practice differing religions. Reviewing the Voice of the Martyrs stories, it is a hard but good reminder that persecution is happening today in the church. For one story, see this article.

For more on being a "soldier for Christ", see 2 Timothy 2. "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier..."

Memorial Day

For those in the United States, today is a day to reflect on those who have given their lives in country service. Here's an informative site on the history of Memorial Day and how to remember lives lost and those serving today.

Praise the Lord that we have men and women who give their life to uphold life and liberty on U.S. soil! Today, please also pray for your country.

Clearing out the closets

Survey your home and box up 1-2 dozen food items you won't eat or things that you won't use to be delivered to a local charity at a later date.

Are we not blessed if we can get rid of 24 items and not have a problem surviving? Praise the Lord, from whom all blessings flow!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

Praise the Lord for the mothers out there who work hard to raise the next generation of God-fearers. I believe it's still true today: God loves it when families raise up Godly kids (see Malachi 2:15 among a multitude of other verses).

And moms are a key part of God's plan for building up, disciplining, feeding, educating, enjoying, loving, cheerleading and supporting kiddos. So, keep up the good work moms.

If you're a dad today, perhaps you can give your wife some time off? Or help the kids with a craft to honor mom? If you're a child and your mom is still around, how about honoring her and letting her know that you love her?

Photo of kids by kalimevole

Know your Leader!

When soldiers are proud of the country they serve, they are also proud of the strength of their country. They serve and respect their military leaders. They are a (very) small part of something larger than themselves, yet they take part in necessary teamwork towards a goal.

Is it not right then that Christians, who are "soldiers of Christ" (see 2 Timothy 2), take pride in the Lord? Should not soldiers of Christ understand more about God? Would you serve as a soldier in a war you knew little about, serving a country you barely knew?

Then, as risk-takers for Christ, study the Word. Hard.

And speaking of studying the Word, don't fall into the trap that you shouldn't care much about the Bible, that you should just be out and about all the time. Though some things in the Bible are "hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:14-16), your love can abound more in knowledge and all discernment (Philippians 1:9-11).

How big is God?

How big is God? Check this out:

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it)." Romans 11:36, AMP

Think about it. Can we as humans actually comprehend "all things"?

Risk-takers have a big view of God.

How big do you think God is?

Is your perspective of God big enough? God is a mysterious, just, gracious, lovely God. He is timeless. It is even said that what He has prepared for those who love Him no person has ever grasped!

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9b, NKJV

So then, why do we consider Jesus merely a buddy beside us, a friend who is there when we feel we need Him, but other times irrelevant and unnecessary? This is a wrong view of the "great and awesome God" (Deut 7:21). And I don't mind saying this since other Godly men have said this.

Check out "The Attributes of God" by A.W. Tozer for a life-altering perspective change on who God is. A puny and wrong view of God can seriously affect growth in the Christian life.