Daily Inspiration-January 1st-2nd

Today my Dad came down which was refreshing. He brought a book to my attention of Smith Wigglesworth which was a man who served God and laid hands of healing upon people. I was touched by the stories and his power that God gave him. I wanted to share some quotes by him and also other people that spread the word of God. Enjoy! There are four principles we need to maintain: First, read the Word of God. Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you. Third believe the Word of God. Fourth, act on the Word." Smith Wigglesworth-   Saturday, January 01, 2011 You Need God's Power to Change by Rick Warren I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? Romans 7:24 (MSG) "The very fact that God sent a Savior means you need one." Have you figured out yet that a lot of times you are your own worst enemy?  It's your own reactions, your own fears, your own inadequacies that cause you to act in foolish ways. I know that's true for me. I need to be saved from myself because there are things I don't like about me - things I wish I had done differently, things I'd like to change. But I can't change them, not on my own power. I need an outside power source.  You may be saying, "I can change." I hate to say this, but you can't. Every year about this time, we make a list of New Year's resolutions. But, by the end of January, that list will be in the dumpster. Why? Because you can't change on your own; you need God's power. You need a Savior, someone who can make the changes you can't make yourself.  Let me make an important point here: God never wastes energy. He doesn't waste effort on things that are unnecessary. In other words, if you didn't need a Savior, he wouldn't have sent one. The very fact that God sent a Savior means you need one. The truth is, if you are honest about it, sometimes you feel like your life is out of control. That's a pretty common feeling. Welcome to the human race!  The apostle Paul felt that way 2,000 years ago. Paul says this in the Bible: "I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does" (Romans 7:24-25 MSG).That's the answer! You may be looking for salvation in the wrong places, that's why you're frustrated. You're looking for that one thing that's going to give you fulfillment and meaning and peace in life.  Some of us think that if we could just get married, or if we could just get a certain job, or a promotion, or attain a certain level of wealth, or have a baby - or if our babies would grow up and graduate! - things would be great. You're looking in the wrong places. The answer is not in a place. It's not in a program or a pill. The answer is a person: Jesus Christ. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life is never going to make sense.  A Resolution Worth Keeping by Jon Walker

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV) (This devotional is by Jon Walker, editor of the Daily Hope Devotionals  and author of Costly Grace: A Contemporary View of Bonhoeffer's 'The Cost of Discipleship.') Today you may be thinking about New Year's resolutions? You know, those lists we make with two scoops of optimistic enthusiasm, sprinkled with unrealistic expectations, and topped with the cherry of knowing the list isn't serious anyway. But there is one guy who I suspect played for keeps when he made New Year's resolutions -- that zealot who could never do anything halfway, the let's-get-real-about-our-faith apostle Paul. My thought is Paul only had one resolution on his New Year's list: "This year I resolve to know nothing but Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul's message is radically simple: Salvation is in Christ alone. What does this mean? It's not Christ plus your good behavior. It's not Christ plus the years you taught a Bible study. It's not Christ plus your tithe. It's not Christ plus the church you attend. It's not Christ plus the number of verses you memorize. It's not Christ plus your title in the church. It's not Christ plus wisdom from the latest Christian seminar. It's not Christ plus a desert fast (or even a dessert fast!). It's not Christ plus a good driving record. It's not Christ plus well-behaved children. It's not Christ plus the right job. It's not Christ plus the right spouse. It's not Christ plus the latest technology. It's simply Christ. Christ plus nothing.  That's Paul's message, a message that is as right throughout 2011 as it will be in 2999. May your resolution for this year be nothing but Christ and Him crucified.

Today's Inspirational Message -

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Your Heart is Designed for God to Fill by Rick Warren

Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them, and they seem to be nonsense, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (TEV) "You can be serving God and working for God and still miss God." The Bible tells us that there is a God-shaped vacuum in our hearts.  There is a hole in our hearts that only God can fill.  We were made to be connected to our Creator.  We were made to know Him and to be plugged into His power.  Your heart is designed to contain God.  God wants to live inside of you but when your life is filled with other things, there's no room in your heart for God. This means you're not plugged into God's power and that's why you're tired all the time. And that's why you're stressed out all the time and that's why you worry all the time. And that's why the Bible says the unspiritual person has no room for the gifts that come from God's Spirit. It's not that God doesn't want to give them to you; it's that you can't handle the gifts because your heart is filled with so many other things. It's like this: How many people do you know who cannot park a car in their garage? Garages are made for cars.  That's how they are designed.  That's what gives the garage its purpose. But we fill them up with all kinds of other stuff that they were never designed to hold. The same thing is true in our hearts. Your heart was made to contain God, but when you fill it with worry and stress and guilt, you have no room for God.  Your heart may be crowded with good things, work or sports or hobbies, but they were never designed to take first place in your heart. In fact, you can be serving God and working for God and still miss God. Even good things do not have the power to hold your life together when the heat is on. And that's why your life starts falling apart. As we enter this New Year, now is the time to de-clutter your life. What things have a greater priority than God in your life? Let me help you get started - What do you think about the most? The answer to that reveals who or what has first place in your heart.

I receive daily emails from Rick Warren's website. If you would like to sign up you can go to his website and sign up. The link is below. I will post these from time to time. Also please remember that God will speak to you in so many ways if you will just be patient, sit back and listen for his words and he will reveal something to you just in the time you are in need. Rick Warren is so great and I love reading his daily messages it really helps me get through my day. It's the first thing I see when I open mu email and it's awesome. I would love to share this same experience with you.

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