God's Best or Leftovers? (4) Going The DIstance?

God’s Best or Leftovers?  (4)  “Going The Distance?”  

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

I read a story of a man a few years ago that who 5000 miles across America. Would the heat, hills, snakes, dust, cold, or the rain stop him? He did become weary with several things but chose to press on. In a moment we’ll see what almost made him stop him in his tracks.

Why did Solomon write, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit?” Patience is better than your pride of understanding stuff.

Recently, two of our members, Ardis Davis and Mayra Lopez at Oceanway Assembly Church ran a marathon of 26.2 miles in Jacksonville Florida. How did they do it? How did they go that far and not quit? Both of them shared the value of preparing for the race.

I love to see people go the distance in their relationship with God. Many don’t really count the cost and prepare themselves for the race. There is more to Salvation in Christ Jesus than just having an emotional high.

Joseph didn’t have a clue what his dream would cost him. I’m convinced that God reveals to you His Plan and Purpose, but He will not reveal to you all the Perplexities that go along with life. Joseph had certainty of his dream but could not understand the perplexities that would come along with it.

It’s the little things that can throw us off. Joseph brothers would throw him in a pit and sell him to some Midianites for 20 pieces of silver. Then he would be sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh down in Egypt. Then Potiphar’s lying wife would falsely accuse him of seducing her. He would spend years in a prison cell for a crime he did not commit. Would he let a little seed of bitterness and the perplexities of life stop him from his dream and finishing the race?

 “God balances our lives to give us enough blessings to keep us happy and enough burdens to keep us humble. If all we had were blessing in our hands, we would fall right over. So the Lord balances the blessings in our hands with burdens on our backs that help us stay steady.” Warren Wiersbe

Why does God say, “We walk not by sight but by faith?” When a person draws the wrong conclusions from their burdens, it causes them to lose sight of the bigger picture of God’s purpose and plan for their life.  Joseph could have easily given up on the Big Dream God placed in his heart, But he pressed and persevered through the perplexities of his life and became the Prime Minister of the land of Egypt. It was overcoming the perplexities of understanding all his pain that caused him to save thousands who otherwise would have died in a famine.

What was the little thing that almost stopped the runner from completing his 5000 miles across America? SAND in his shoe.  Is there something Hell is using today to hinder the race that is before you? Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, kept the faith and finished the course that is set before me. It’s worth it to go the distance for God’s Best and refuse to let the little things hinder us in settling for the leftovers. Go for God’s Best and you won’t be disappointed that you did.                

Dannysdevotional.com

Making The Right Decisions?

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I'm not smart enough to make the right decisions in life without the help of 
the Lord. It's man's PRIDE that makes him think he is smart enough without 
God's hand on the "steering wheel." Pride goeth before a fall. How many ditch 
experiences 'have we had in life  because we didn't let Him control our 
decisions? 

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray to His Father before He chose His twelve 
disciples. (Mark 3:13,14) If Jesus had to pray about His decisions, why would we 
be so foolish to think that WE could make important decisions without His 
guidance? Jesus went to His Father and asked Him to steer His next move.

Abraham made a bad call when He refused to wait on Isaac's birth by Sarah. In  
his impatience he listened to HER voice and not God's for direction. From that 
decision came a child through Hagar named Ishmael. That one decision alone 
brought he and Sarah much grief and pain. It wasn't till some fourteen years 
later that God reminded Abraham that He had not changed His mind about His 
promise. It was when Sarah was 90 years old and Abraham was 100 that the 
promised son Isaac was born.

Are you getting a bit frustrated, frazzled, and upset at God because your 
promise and dream hasn't happened yet? God's decisions are worth waiting for! 
Jesus decided on  the choice for His twelve disciples after His mountain top 
experience with His Father.

Waiting on God's direction will pay off every time in making the right 
choices. You might say; "Didn't Jesus mess up with choosing Judas?" No, He 
didn't. It was Judas that catapulted Him into the perfect plan and destiny of 
His Father. A betrayer was used to bring the perfect will of God as Jesus went 
to the cross for you and me.

You may not have a "mountain" place to pray on but you CAN take a walk alone, 
away from the noise and distractions of life. I'm convinced that we could remove 
much heartburn from our life if we would ask the Lord about the next step; 
our decisions affect not only ourselves but those around us. When Jonah ran 
from God's call, he didn't consider those on the ship who would be affected by 
his decision when a storm at sea almost killed them all. 

God has the right call already figured out for you. Just ask Him and see 
what He says. He promises us a much sweeter time when He has His hands on the 
steering wheel of our decisions in life.
dannysdevotional.com

Is The Noise Pulling You?

What we call success isn't necessarily what God calls success. As Jesus was healing the sick, the whole town showed up. I'm sure that Peter and James thought, "Hey, we could start a church right here." It's interesting that as Jesus slips off from ministering to the crowd to pray, the Father tells His Son, “It is time to move to the next town."
 
 Peter comes and finds the Lord and says, "Lord, where have You been; everyone is looking for You?" "There are more people with needs, more people to heal, more blinded eyes to open." Jesus tells Peter, "It's time to pick up and move on to the next city. There are others today to reach, touch, heal and transform."
 
 Success isn't doing things our way. It's not getting the cheers of the crowd but rather hearing the cheers of the Heavenly Father and obeying His word. Ask yourself today, "Am I hearing God's voice through His word and the time that I have set aside from the noise and the crowd?" 
"
Few people arise in the morning as hungry for God as they are for cornflakes or toast and eggs.”(Dallas Willard)
 
 You say you want success with your life? Try early in the mornings. Set aside your Facebook, Twitter, all you’re other social media and the news of the day to hear what's REALLY important from the Lord. When other things become more important than hearing that still small voice from God, will have anything but success.
 
 God will lead us just as He did His Son Jesus. Pull away from the noise and watch what the Lord will do through you and for you. "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go." (Ps 32:8)
dannysdevotional.com
 

God's Best Or Leftovers? (3)

If you choose the best steak, shoes, suit or Toyota, expect for it to cost you more. It’s the same way in your trajectory in life; choose to live “God’s best” and it will cost you more than you may think.

King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 587 BC. Nearly 50,000 Jews were carried off into captivity in Babylon for 70 years. While King Nebuchadnezzar was dedicating his golden god, he commanded everyone at the sound of the trumpets to bow down. Anyone not bowing down would immediately be thrown into his fiery furnace.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego said, “We’re not bowing.” When it became known that they didn’t bow, soldiers were sent for these men.

Just before the three men were thrown into the fire, they said; “King, our God is able to deliver us from your fire, but even if not, know that we will not bow down to your god.” The King in his anger decided to show these men along with everyone else who was in charge and in control. He then ordered the furnace to be turned up seven times hotter.

The furnace fire was so hot that day that the soldiers who threw them in died from the intense heat. The next thing that happened was Supernatural’. As the king looked down, he noticed there were not three but rather four men in the fire. He said: “Didn’t I instruct you to throw three men into the fire? I see a fourth man, and He is as the Son of God.”

When they were brought out, there was no harm done, no smell of smoke, and no change in their clothing. The king declared, “Blessed is the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. There is no other God that can save like this.”

When you live out “Gods Best” for your life, anticipate and expect a:

·  Showdown, a confrontation that forces the issue to a conclusion

·  Fire, don’t be surprised when the heat turns up in your circumstances

_·  Savior, don’t allow the smoke to cloud out the beauty of the Savior

The author of Hebrews reminds us, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”Have you made up your mind to chase “Gods Best”, regardless of the Showdown, Fire, or Outcome? Jim Elliott, along with others gave their lives as martyrs to those in Ecuador. Was it worth it? Today many in Ecuador know Christ because someone was willing to make a stand. Will you and I do the same, regardless of how hot things get in our day?

Dannysdevotional.com

 

God's Best or Leftovers? (2)

When boats, cars, or motorcycles are purchased, most want to know what size motor it has. Most men like more power. I have two keys that work with my Sea Doo jet ski. One key propels it to 35 mph, while the other key takes the same ski to 75 mph! I'll let you guess which key I use. Why did Elisha ask for more power in his day? Did he see something in Elijah, his mentor’s life, that he wanted and desired?

Elisha said to Elijah, “I want a double portion of what you have in your life.” Jezebel had turned Israel’s hearts from their God with her idols. God demonstrated His superior power on Mt Carmel over the gods of Baal. Elisha saw idol worship defeated, knowing he needed Power in his day to do the Work of God. He wanted God’s BEST in his life.

Do our kids ask us for DOUBLE what we have in our lives? Do they say, “I want my mom and dad’s faith, vision, courage, tenacity, boldness, and anointing that I see in their lives?" Is there a power available for us to do the Works of God in OUR day? Jesus said, “Greater works shall ye do because I go to my Father.”

Many in this world live a “Narcissist” lifestyle. Narcissism is a generalized personality trait characterized by egotism, vanity, conceit or selfishness. People are caught up in their OWN world.  If there’s ever been a day when The Church needed the Power of God to touch this narcissist generation, it's OUR day.

People in this world need MORE than their pop or rock music, friends to go clubbing with or booze to drink themselves to sleep. They smoke a joint of marijuana, snort cocaine, or hop from bed to bed thinking those things will satisfy. Where are the Elisha’s of today who say, “I want and need DOUBLE the power of God on my life?”

Did God give him twice the power? In one instance, a student building a new dormitory lost his ax head cutting down a tree by the Jordan River. He went to Elisha and the prophet asked him, “Where did you lose it?” When the student showed him the place, Elisha threw a stick into the water that caused the ax head to float.  The last time I checked, ax heads don’t float. Some of you have a son, daughter, friend, mom or dad stuck in their own muck and mire. God can use His Power of Love, Compassion, Joy, Peace and Power in your life to see them rise again.

Elisha was also used by God to see a Military Leader named Naaman healed of his leprosy. God used a little maid to declare to him, “There is a prophet in Israel who can change your world.” After obeying Elisha, he dipped 7 times in the Jordan River and was completely healed. Are there any more hungry Elisha’s wanting Gods Best? Is that You? Do you desire God’s Best for YOUR life?

dannysdevotional.com

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God's Best or Leftovers? (1)

It amazes me that in today’s culture, food can be packaged to have a shelf life as much as two years. Doctors and the pros tell us you will find the best nutrients from fresh fruits and veggies. Without a doubt they are much better for us. If you were to go out to dinner this evening, and they told you the menu had leftover chicken and steak from a couple days ago, I doubt you would get very excited.

Now there are some other things just as important as which foods we choose to eat. There are several different ways people choose to live out their life. Each of us chooses to either live life with God’s Best or to live with leftovers. By that I mean some choose to chase after their own dreams, their own agenda or their own interest. Many chase things that seem to bring them satisfaction or what might bring them success. Some actually live to just survive, while a few seek out to live a Life of Significance.  Each of us will choose to seek the leftovers of life or we will choose to live out God’s Best.

Living a Life of Significance is truly seeking out God’s best for your life. David was a man that gave great attention to watching his sheep. He realized that the green pastures and the running streams in the meadows had some great dangers. He noticed that his sheep were in danger to the surrounding environment such as wolves, bears, lions and even little critters that came to destroy their lives.

One of the greatest threats to the sheep is the nasal fly. It flies into the nose and deposits eggs into the naval cavity. Within a few days the worm-like larvae works its way up into the sheep’s brain. When this happens, you will see sheep hitting their heads against rocks, posts and trees. If no attention is given to the sheep, it can bring about their death. Is there any hope for sheep that have been attacked with these little critters? Yes, the Shepherd comes and provides an antidote for the sickly one that is trapped in this dilemma. He places oil upon their head. Why did David say, “Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.” God has fresh oil for each of us to survive the worries and terrorist acts of the enemy.

Will you choose to live a life of Significance, a life where your cup runneth over? Allow the Holy Spirit to anoint and protect you for the path you're on today? Regardless of the attacks of the enemy, there is hope and power beyond each dilemma in life. Choose the fresh bread of life, and watch the Lord anoint you to go the distance with Significance.       
dannysdevotional.com
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