God's Bucket List (3) Purpose

On the New York Times Best Seller list is Rick Warren’s book,“The Purpose Driven Life.” Long before Rick wrote his book, God designed you for a Purpose. You are not an accident. Regardless of what your mom or dad may have told you, God knew all about you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. 

When you realize that God had planned you long before you came into this world, it changes the way you view life. It gives you a new perspective in the way you look out the window of life. Many people go through their days with a cloudy perspective. They guess at what they’re supposed to do with their journey. Some cast their life to the wind because they haven’t come to the truth and knowledge that God is the designer of their life. So, is our life an accident or is it by design?

AIR , When you think of the way God created the universe, He placed oxygen in the air so we could breathe. The air is about 21% oxygen; had it been created 50% oxygen, the next time someone lit up a match we would all be toast! Is 21% oxygen by accident or by design?

TEMPERATURE, God created the sun with a temperature of 12,000 degrees Fahrenheit, some 93 million miles away from the earth, just the right distance. If the earth’s temperature were even 50 degrees hotter or colder, all life would cease. Why was the earth not placed twice as far away, or twice as close? Is its distance by accident or by design?

ROTATION, The earth rotates 365 times a year around the sun. Suppose we only rotated 36 times instead. Well, our days and nights would be 10 times as long; we’d be terribly hot on one side and unbearably cold on the other. And life as we know it would begin to disappear. Are the rotation numbers by accident or by design?

Realize today that God has created you for a reason. When you dig into the Word of God, you begin to realize that you didn’t chose God but He chose you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit. Being “wealthy” isn’t driving fancy cars, living in a condo on the ocean, wearing diamond rings, and having millions of dollars in your bank account. WEALTH is knowing and believing the fact that God created you for a purpose.  As you live out His purpose, you will begin to experience great peace and joy like nothing the world can give.

 On “Gods Bucket List” for each of us is to live out the reason we were created. Are you doing that today? Are you living for Him or for yourself? Are you fulfilling the purpose God designed you for? Are you living out His design for your life? When you do “Oh…” Life is Sweeter!

Dannysdevotional.com

"Bucket List Part 2"

Gods Bucket List (2) Protection

There are several things on God’s Bucket List for each of us. One of those is God’s Protection.  I can’t imagine moving forward with Dreams from God without the knowledge that He would be right by my side, every step of the way. (Psalms 91:11) “He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”

Each of us from time to time has been paralyzed with fear in pursuing the dreams and desires from God.  Daniel was in a threatening situation to quit praying lest he be thrown into the lion’s den. Three Hebrew men were in a situation that they must bow down before King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image or be thrown into a fiery furnace.  Joseph could have easily given up on his dream when his brothers threw him into a pit and eventually sold him into slavery in Egypt.           

In every case, fear could have caused them to quit and give up on their dream and their integrity with God.  Would they bend, bow or be broken by these challenges? God not only delivered them but protected the dream that He had deposited in their spiritual man. Peter was taken and placed in prison; but God wasn’t finished with his life just yet. God sent His angels to unlock the chains on his wrist, and then told him to put on his sandals and move out quickly.    

Time and time again we see in the Word of God how that He protected those to whom He had placed dreams in their spirit. King Jehoshaphat had been given the responsibility to lead his people in Judah. Three nations came and threatened the existence of their nation. What would the King do? Would he give in to fear? Would he tell everyone to find their horse or mule and run for their life? God shows up through the Spirit of God and reveals to them to “Stand Still and see the Salvation of the Lord.”  

As they stood still, God showed up and brought confusion to the three armies; the enemy nations turned on one another and killed each other. For three days Judah picked up the plunder from the enemy and took in great riches.  Don’t tell me that God can’t protect you from doing all that He has placed in your heart to do. He sends angels to overshadow us everywhere we go. Have you allowed fear to hinder the dreams of your heart? Have you been paralyzed in moving towards God’s Bucket List for your life? Use your faith and know that there is a protecting hand from God in Heaven that is watching over you in your journey. Jehoshaphat went on to rule Judah for twenty five years because God had protecting angels by his side to fulfill “God’s Bucket List” for his life.                                                                 

Dannysdevotional.com

Gods Bucket List (1)

In 2008, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman played the lead roles in a movie called “The Bucket List.” Both of them had recently found out that they only had a few months to live. They decided they would make a list of things they wanted to do before they died or “Kicked the bucket.” They said, “We can do this,” and they did.

God has His own Bucket List for each of us. Have you sought the Lord to find out just what is on that List for your own personal life?  (Jeremiah 29:11) “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Can God really place within us His dreams and desires that we are meant to fulfill?

(Psalm 37:4, 5)  “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.⁵ Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.”

I believe that God will plant within you desires and dreams that He has purposed for your life. If we had a rich uncle who deposited 10 million dollars into our banking account, we’d think we had the tiger by the tail and that life couldn’t get any sweeter. In reality, God has greater riches than anything a great uncle or this world can offer.

Are you living out the dreams and riches He has placed within your heart? If your uncle had actually placed that 10 million dollar deposit in your bank account, you would be looking diligently at your checking account daily. Then you would be planning out how you were going to put those dollars into motion. Would you buy a new home, car, or wardrobe? Surely you would give 10% of it to the Lord.

The point is “What are you going to do with the riches that God has already deposited into your spiritual life?”  Will you put into motion the dreams He has placed into your life? Will you use your faith like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph? Nobody said putting your dreams into motion would be an easy process. Today, draw from the deposits that God has placed inside your inner man. If we will delight ourselves in the Lord, He will surely bring them to pass.

So what’s on your Bucket List? Have you written them down? Have your prayed over each of them to happen in His timetable? Have you started using your faith to make it happen? God hasn’t changed His mind about your dream, so what are you waiting on?

Dannysdevotional.com

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"The Bucket List" - video message

A Kidnapped Culture “Preferences or Purpose”

It concerns me that many of our churches in America have hit a wall when it comes to growing.  Barna  Research Group is predicting that in 30 years , 25% of America will be Atheists! I think you would agree that the spirit of anti-Christ is growing daily in our nation. Why do we lose 96% of those who graduate High School from our youth groups?  Thirty years ago the church only kept 40% of our High School graduates in their youth groups.  Now, the church only keeps 4% of that same group!

Has the older generation decided that our hymns are more holy than the new praise and worship music  that has swept across the nation?  Are they REALLY  more holy or is it just our preference? I’m convinced that  the dearest songs to your heart will be those you sang when you gave your heart to Jesus.  They’re  more special to you  because they tie a thread to the most wonderful ,glorious day of your life.

Churches that tell young people that they  don’t have room for their style, song or beat, are going to dampen their faith and have difficulty in their responsiblity in passing off the baton to the next generation. Friend,  the most important thing we can do  is to focus on what we both have in common.
What DO we have in common? Do we ALL love the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we not ALL want to reach those who are in desperate need of the Saviour?  Do we ALL not know that one day Jesus will come again for those who are watching and waiting for Him?

Why would we want to split hairs on our differences instead of what is going to get people ready for heaven? Many people go to a church because they love the music; some put a higher priority on the preaching of the Word or their friendships that help them grow in the Lord. Some place a priority on the ministry that God has called them to fulfill .Friend,  before you consider leaving  your church, give thought to your priorities. NO church is going to be a 100% fit for you.  Be flexible and stay focused on PURPOSE instead of PREFERENCES .

The prophet Daniel was only 14 or 15 years old when God used him to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. David was only 17 when God used him to bring down the giant Goliath. Joseph was 17 as God prepared him to save many nations that would go through a famine. Young person,  you don’t have to wait until you’re  40 or 50 years old for God to use you. Mom and Dad, recognize that God’s hand is on them RIGHT NOW! God is preparing and shaping them NOW to be used in the Master’s hand. Don’t dampen their creativity, style or “out of the box “ways of being used by God. David didn’t use Saul’s weapons to bring down a giant! He used his own creative ways.

So will we focus on our preferences in building His Church? Or, will we choose to focus on our purpose to reach a lost and dying world? God will never change the MESSAGE,  but He will change  the METHODS to reach people. Focus on the SUBSTANCE and not the style.  Focus on God’s  PURPOSES and not your preferences. Focus on using your FAITH and not your fears Church, lets go for it; time is running out. We will all stand before God one day and give an account for reaching those without the Savior.

Dannysdevotional.com
Family Series Q&A Video Message

Victory For The Home & The Church?

Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and their Temple in 587 B.C. Israel had turned away from Jehovah God and had sadly followed and worshipped false gods. Nearly 50,000 were taken into captivity to the ruling world empire of Babylon. Babylon’s walls were 87 feet wide and 387 feet high. Four chariots could even race side by side across the top of their walls! It was one of the most magnificent cities in all of history. Nebuchadnezzar also built the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

 Daniel and three of his dearest friends faced challenges like they had never faced before. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego  would face a fiery furnace, and Daniel would be thrown into a fearsome lion’s den. What could possibly keep them going when fear and intimidation could have easily caused them to cave in under the pressure? I believe there were 3 essential things that led them to Victory.                  

• Faith in their God is what would see them through the worst pressures of their lives. None of them would bend or bow to these stresses and pressures in their faith.
• Focus on their God is what kept them smiling, singing, and shouting His Praises.
• Fire from their God is what became greater than the roaring of the lions and the     flames of the fiery furnace.

There’s a lot of stress and pressure today on the family and on the Church. We live in a time where the spirit of Anti-Christ is rising more and more each day. Hell is at war for  re-defining marriage as only between and man and a woman. Satan works overtime to discourage the living Church, the bride of Jesus Christ, from being vibrant, alive and well.

 Can the House of God be Victorious? Can families succeed in this culture? Can the Church in this hour keep the Faith, the Focus and the Fire of God? Haggai was about 82 years old when he prophesied, “The glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former, and in this place I will grant My peace declares the Lord.” (Haggai 2:9)

I’m not giving in or giving up on the hope that God has in store; promises that have not yet come to pass. If four men in Babylon could hang tough with the pressures and stress of their day, there is still a God in Heaven who will make Himself known and bring about every promise that He has made in our day. I still believe, “The glory of the latter house shall be greater.” Is this promise available for families and His Church of this generation? What will your Faith, Focus and Fire determine?    

                   

     Dannysdevotional.com

Family Series Q&A Video Message

After You Say “I DO” The Odometer Gauge (5)

A few years ago my dad crossed 323,000 miles on the odometer of his Park Ave Buick! I said, “Dad, you ought to call Buick and do a commercial with those kind of miles.”

Before you got married, you met a person that you just couldn’t take your eye off of. You couldn’t stop thinking about them; you couldn’t stop planning dates and times to hang out together. You were constantly on the phone texting or just hearing one another breathe. Love letters or emailing back and forth kept the fire hot in the relationship.

Then one day you got married. Real life kicked in and you got busy with your job, continuing your education, starting a family and of course, your hobbies. Many spouses for the first time begin to experience real stress in the relationship. But there is a reason that some couples go the distance. It’s not because there aren’t challenges, curves, chaos or even bumps in the road. Couples who have been married 30, 40, 50 plus years have decided to Keep the commitment that they made to one another on their wedding day.

Do you remember saying, “For better for worst, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death us do part?” Commitment to Christ and to one another is the thing that keeps couples together. Ephesians 5:25 tell husbands to “love your wives even as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it.” Wives submit to your husbands, as you do unto the Lord. Is it hard work to keep pressing? You better believe it!

Most people never consider the pain of splitting up. The kids being shuffled back and forth from parent to parent, the stress in your finances, emotions up and down and being ripped apart. What about the work of healing up after the spit-up? Many don’t think about the attorney fees, the division and pain of dealing with in-laws and “former” friends…just plain starting over in every way.

Jesus said “He loved His church so much that nothing shall be able to pluck them out of His hand.” Guys is that Your love and Your commitment to your wife? Are you that determined that nothing is going to change your mind from the commitment you made at the wedding altar? Wives, are you committed to making it work “till death us do part?”

Most of us realize that it takes two to make that commitment to go the distance. You may have found yourself in a situation where your spouse isn’t willing to keep the marriage commitment. God knows and understands the pain of those who have chosen to break that vow of “till death us do part.” Life can get tough and messy but I’m so thankful there is a grace of God that can get you though any heartache or pain in life.

Regardless of where you are in life today, God is a God of mercy. He can give you another chance to go the distance in your marriage relationship. His mercies are fresh and new every morning. Today, allow Him to smile His favor on you as you going forward. (Eccl 7:8a) “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning.”

Dannysdevotional.com

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After You Say "I DO" The Temperature Gauge (4)

Most marriage partners don’t realize that what you say to one another can either raise the temperature gauge or keep it in the safe zone. When the gauge on your dashboard gets in the hot zone, you better pull over and evaluate what’s really going on.

Communication is one of the most important components of the marriage relationship. When you speak to one another, 7% of total communication is verbal, 38% is tone of voice, and 55% is facial expressions and body movement.  So what you just said to your spouse may have not truly been communicated to them.

When you and I get overheated in a conversation, very little good is accomplished. Sir, you may forget all that you said in a heated conversation in a few days, but she will remember what you said 2 years from now. I advise couples that when irritated about something to remember that the radiator cap says; “When hot do not remove.”

If you remove the cap when it’s hot, you will get burned. If you try to solve your issues when you are hot and upset, somebody is going to get harmed. Always go cool off and settle down before trying to solve the issue. Now don’t wait forever to try and solve what’s gotten you so upset. “And don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry.” (Eph 4:26)

It’s not going to do you any good to allow your anger to turn into an erupting volcano. Sooner or later your anger will turn into bitterness, depression and even sin. An overheating engine will warp the pistons and cause engine failure. Friend, whatever has gotten you overheated in your relationship must be dealt with if it’s going to survive.

May I remind you there is nothing that God can’t heal and fix.  God can cool things off in you and in your marriage. You need to address things sooner rather than later. Don’t ignore a gauge that shows you’re in the danger level.  Pull over and ask for God’s help NOW!   If need be, get some professional help. Ninety percent of those who go for help will succeed.

The Lord is there waiting to pour in His healing coolant. When He does our love for one another will continue without anger, unforgiveness  or divorce. The highest evidence of God’s love in us is not when we can prophesy or speak in tongues, but rather when we can forgive and love each other. Let go of your hurt today and watch the temperature gauge move into the safe level and succeed.

Watch Entire Message on video Oceanwayag.com
http://vimeo.com/64724900