datethewordtest

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  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 30 (3/30) is John 3:30

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 30 (3/30) is John 3:30

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 30 (3/30) is John 3:30
    John 3:30 says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
    It is to be ALL about HIM!

    Our verse to DATE comes from the lips of John the Baptist.  John the Baptist is the FORERUNNER to Jesus.  John the Baptist was the voice in the wilderness and was assigned the task of PREPARING God’s people for the soon coming of the Messiah and then ANNOUNCING the ARRIVAL of the MESSIAH.  In preparing people for the coming of the Messiah John himself began to have a following as well as having disciples.  Yet JOHN never ever forgot what His purpose was and when his disciples started wondering about who Jesus was and what Jesus was doing (and why Jesus was becoming more popular) John made it clear that he was not the bridegroom but rather the friend of the bridegroom.      

    Notice how the story unfolded: John 3:26 And they (John’s disciples) came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified — behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!” 27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 “You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.”  

    Now comes one of the great statements in all the Bible as John the Baptist declares “HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE.”   For John, it was ALL about JESUS!!  He was not the way.  He pointed people to the WAY.  He was not the Messiah!  He pointed people to the Messiah!

    For John the Baptist it was MAKING IT MORE ABOUT JESUS and LESS ABOUT HIMSELF!

    We live in a world that is about INCREASING.  It is about getting to the TOP. It is about WINNING.  It is about ACHIEVEMENT.  It is about SUCCESS.  The world says CLIMB THE LADDER.  

    Now let’s get personal.  As Christians living in this world, we are easily drawn into the vicious mindset.  It is even found in Christian ministries.   It is found in those who are Christian ministers.  Hmmm.  We are not so different from the disciples of Jesus who wanted the chief seats.  

    Jesus addressed those worldly desires and in doing so gives us some insight into how to DECREASE!   

    To the one attempting to DO SOMETHING FOR JESUS remember John 15:4-5 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

    To the one who wants to be FIRST remember Mark 9:35, “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

    To the one who wants to be IT (it being THE PERSON) remember Philippians 2:3-5, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,”

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 30 (3/30) is John 3:30. It says, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

    When you DEPEND on Jesus you are decreasing!  When OTHERS go first you are decreasing!  

    Continue STRONG by the decreasing of self so that there might be the INCREASING of the SAVIOR!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29
    Nehemiah 3:29 After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs.
     HELP THEM HAVE OWNERSHIP

    In an interview with some other Christian University colleagues, I was asked to give several of the best “unknown” leadership lessons I had learned.  The aspect of “unknown” was they wanted to hear things that were not OBVIOUS.  As I pondered my answer I thought about the importance of generating student “ownership” of campus events and activities.  I recalled how I intentionally read through my Bible during the year and had done this several times.  By reading completely through my Bible meant I read all of NUMBERS and ALL of 1 and 2 Chronicles (you know these are challenging books).  And it meant I read all of Nehemiah 3.  While Nehemiah 3 has only 31 verses it has some of the hardest names to pronounce and it does seem many of the verses are repetitive as Nehemiah tells who was involved in building the wall.  Because I had heard the value of helping others on your team have ownership and I believed in cultivating ownership I noticed there were several verses in Nehemiah 3 about ownership that got my attention, such as Nehemiah 3:29.   To those interviewing me I would ask them to turn to Nehemiah 3:29 and from this verse with some hard names to say I gave them a RICH PRINCIPLE of LEADERSHIP.  I told them to HELP TEAM MEMBERS HAVE OWNERSHIP of their school, their residence hall, their teams, etc. like Nehemiah did with the wall builders.  I told them I did not know if Nehemiah was a genius or not but 6 words in Nehemiah 3:29 were pure genius.  

    Did you see the six words?  Look at it again. Nehemiah 3:29 says, “After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house.”  Just 6 words, but oh what they accomplished.  IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOUSE.  One has to wonder how hard Zadok worked and how diligent he was to the details to make sure the WALL was built sound and secure.  After all his security and his family’s security rest on his diligent work!   

    As we worked to oversee the student body at Liberty we had leadership teams on every floor and we had prayer groups on the floor led by members of the leadership team on that floor.   I don’t know how many times I told teams to TAKE CARE OF THEIR FLOOR and TAKE CARE OF THEIR PRAYER GROUP.  I knew if each team member took care of their prayer group then the floor was taken care of and if each leadership team took care of their floor the campus overall would be taken care of.  And the guiding thought for all this came from 6 words found in Nehemiah 3:29 as he had a man build the wall in front of his own house.  

    In conveying what was not an obvious leadership principle I did bring it back to one of my most obvious leadership principles of the first person you lead is you.  Each of us should be RESPONSIBLE for ourselves.   

    To teach this idea of ownership I heard about a father-in-law who wanted to help his son-in-law out.  His son-in-law owned a construction company.  The father-in-law asked his son-in-law to build him a beautiful, grand house.  While he could not give him a blank check, he told him to spare no expense as he wanted him to build him a really nice house. The son-in-law went to work and knowing his father-in-law did not know how much things cost he decided to cut corners and buy cheap materials.  Using cheap materials ended up costing more as things broke while installing them.  When he finally finished the house, the son-in-law hardly had made any profit.  His father-in-law then comes over and, AND, instead of taking the keys to the new home from his son-in-law he tells his son-in-law to keep the keys as the house was his!    

    As said in another verse we need to have the mindset of autographing our work with excellence.  Are you owning your work?  If you are a student, are you owning your studies?   If you are part of a team are you “owning” the team?  

    Our actions or inactions can have a great impact on ourselves!  
    OWN YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES!!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 29 (3/29) is Nehemiah 3:29. Nehemiah 3:29 says, “After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs.”

    Continue Strong, 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 28 (3/28) is Deuteronomy 3:28

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 28 (3/28) is Deuteronomy 3:28

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 28 (3/28) is Deuteronomy 3:28
    Deuteronomy 3:28 says, “But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.”
    Preparing the Next Generation to LEAD

    As Moses reviews what God has done for and with Israel and for him and with him in the first few chapters of Deuteronomy, he tells how God had INSTRUCTED him to get Joshua ready to be the next leader.  Our verse to DATE serves as a great reminder that we are to not just pass the baton of leadership to the next generation but prepare them to RECEIVE the baton and then RUN with the baton.  

    AS WE LEAD, WE ARE TO BE PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION TO LEAD!  

    We can see this being done by Jesus.  We can see this being done by Paul.  There are numerous ministries and organizations that have passed the baton of leadership and did so in such ways that the ministries, and organizations did BETTER than the previous generation!  As I have looked at Jesus and Paul and these various ministries it was clear that they were INTENTIONAL on not just leading in the present but were preparing those others to lead into the future when they were no longer here.  

    Drawing from Deuteronomy 3:28 who might be your Joshua?  If you were the Apostle Paul who is your Timothy?   If we look at Titus 2:2-8 who are the younger men and younger women that you are pouring into?  Maybe I labor too much here but being very practical is asking if you have someone to pass your baton to.  If you don’t have a Joshua or a Timothy begin immediately to pray that God would bring a person into your life so that you may share your “learned lessons!”

    Drawing from Deuteronomy 3:28 we can see two essential actions to take with those we are mentoring or discipling.  One is ENCOURAGEMENT and the other is EQUIPPING them to become STRONGER.  

    The component of encouragement is letting them know you believe in them.  It is the pat on the back when failure has happened and the reminder to LEARN from the LOSS.  You can be an encouragement by providing a listening ear.  Encouragement can be done by a call just to see how things are going.  It is affirming their actions and appreciating the effort!

    The component of strengthening is a little more involved as you coach and train, in a word, you EQUIP them.  You train them to LEAD themselves.  You train them how to think about doing what is best for the organization.  You train them to care about and for their people.   You train them how to make decisions.  You train them how to solve problems. And this list goes on and on!

    May I share a word about training leaders for the next generation?  One of the best groups I have ever worked with in training for the next generation is Chick-fil-A.  I listened closely one day to Dan Cathy, President of Chick-Fi-A, teach on the subject of CHANGE.  In one hand he had a cell phone.  In the other hand, he had a Bible.  With the cell phone, he said we must know how to embrace new technologies and CHANGE in order to stay up to date.  (Having grown up with a party line and now owning an iPhone I could appreciate his example.)  With the Bible and he said we must also know WHAT MUST NOT CHANGE.  How we learn God’s Word and how we teach God’s Word surely changes but what we learn and what we teach does not change.  

    In other words, the methods may change but the message stays the same!

    As you mentor and prepare a next-generation leader focus on encouraging them and equipping them.  Convey insights for WHAT they NEED TO BE a lot more than HOW they need to be doing it.  Who they are is more important than what they do.  Character is more important than performance.  Methods change but the message does not. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 28 (3/28) is Deuteronomy 3:28. It says, “But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.” 

    Find your “Joshua” and encourage and strengthen him!

    Continue Strong being a mentor,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27
    Proverbs 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” 
    The BEST time to do something for another is NOW!!

    Friends, if we are watching, PAYING ATTENTION, and being ALERT to the needs of others, we are going to SEE OPPORTUNITIES to be a blessing to others because there are always people in need! All around us are people who are struggling, and many are suffering.  Proverbs 3:27 challenges us to be the “good Samaritan” who sees a need and GIVES, instead of being “KEEPERS” like the priest and the Levite.  

    The verse instructs us to NOT WITHHOLD!  As believers, we should be givers.  As believers, we should share our blessings with others.  We have been blessed to bless!  

    Yet while we know we should give and share we are prone to procrastinate.  Our verse calls on us to do good and do it NOW!!!  When you have it in your power to do something for someone DO IT!  Don’t put it off.  Move your good intentions to ACTIONS!

    And you know this is great practical advice.  

    As a quick reminder, you will find that life will be so much better when you are a giver.  You receive and you give.  Think of the difference between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea.  The Sea of Galilee takes in and gives out.  The Sea of Galilee is filled with fresh water!  The Dead Sea, on the other hand, takes in but there is no outlet.  Because it only receives and does not give it is DEAD.   One takes in and gives out and is FRESH and ALIVE.  One takes in only and is DEAD!

    Be a giver.  Don’t withhold!  See a need and do what you can to meet the need.  You don’t have to do everything but do what you can!!

    What might you do today to be a blessing to someone?

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 27 (3/27) is Proverbs 3:27.  It says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.”

    Continue Strong being a blessing to others!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 26 (3/26) is Lamentations 3:26

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 26 (3/26) is Lamentations 3:26

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 26 (3/26) is Lamentations 3:26
    Lamentations 3:26 says, “It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the LORD.”  
    WAIT!!!  DO what is GOOD for you!

    As I read Lamentation 3:26 I think about times I was told to do what was good for me.  I was told that eating green beans, carrots, spinach, and beets was good for me. YEAH???  I struggled with eating what was good for me!!   What about you? What were some things you were told to do as it would be good for you yet like me you really did not like what was good for you?  

    I am going to be very transparent and say that Lamentations 3:26 is a challenging verse to me,  and probably to you as well because it tells us that there is something that is good for us yet doing what is good for us is so very hard to do. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to wait.  WAIT is a four-letter word to me!   And this verse does not just say WAIT – it says to WAIT QUIETLY.  

    So here is the truth from Scripture that we need to KNOW: Waiting quietly is good for us.

    If you are not struggling with the truth of waiting quietly is good for you then I say good for you.  However, I hope you will be okay with WHEN you are to wait quietly.  The WHEN of WAITING QUIETLY is when we are in some type of trouble, and we need deliverance.  It is when we are facing some danger and we need help. At a moment when there is something FEARFUL, we are called to hope and wait QUIETLY for the LORD to work. Challenging? It is for me. When I need an answer, I need an answer.  When I need a solution, I need a solution.  When I need help, I need help.  I do not want to be in the WAITING ROOM LONG! How about you?  

    As impatience in the waiting room grows there comes the whisper of Scripture, remember Lamentations 3:26.  It says, “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

    Okay, let’s look a little deeper about waiting, waiting quietly.  I have some questions and maybe you do as well.  WHY SHOULD I WAIT?  WHAT DOES WAITING LOOK LIKE and WHAT WILL BE THE RESULTS? This idea of waiting is not just found here. You have probably been challenged by Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the LORD, and WAIT patiently for Him;” The Hebrew for rest is to sit silently still. No pacing the floor! No screaming. No tossing in the bed.  No telling God to hurry up.  With the waiting is the RESTING.  RESTING ON GOD!  HOPING IN GOD!  It is placing the “whatever is troubling you” in the hands of God and then being PATIENCE for Him to PERFORM!  

    You have probably read another verse on waiting. Isaiah 40:31 tells us the WORK that God does as we WAIT!  It says, “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”  

    With Isaiah 40:31 I can now see how it is GOOD to WAIT, to WAIT QUIETLY!  

    Are you growing in hoping and waiting quietly? Are you growing in resting – committing your life needs to the Lord and waiting for Him to work? 

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 26 (3/26) is Lamentations 3:26. It says, “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for deliverance from the LORD.”

    I have found God waits for me to wait.

    Continue Strong WAITING QUIETLY on the LORD
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 25 (3/25) is Mark 3:25

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 25 (3/25) is Mark 3:25

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 25 (3/25) is Mark 3:25
    Mark 3:25 says, “And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”
    UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDE WE FALL.  

    Some of the statements from Jesus are blunt and to the point and as well they are very memorable.  Mark 3:25 is one of those statements.  “IF A HOUSE IS DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF, THAT HOUSE CANNOT STAND.”  

    While there is power in division such as seen in Exodus 18 where Jethro advises Moses to DIVIDE and Minister by having the Israelites broken up into small groups with group leaders, division can be extremely dangerous and destructive.  Whether it is a team or an organization or a home or church divisiveness is detrimental.  It is one thing to have a difference of opinion but it is another thing to become divisive.   Many times a difference of opinion helps to bring about a better solution.  More often than not a divisive opinion drives wedges between people and pushes each other more and more apart. 

    Where does division come from?  I think that is a worthy question.  Knowing that it is destructive I would think we would want to know what causes it.  Divisiveness raises its ugly head when one starts looking out for their own interest. The person only wants what is best for themselves. There is no more seeking to understand. Paul feared the church at Corinth would be quarreling, fueled by jealousy, selfish ambitions, arrogance, etc. Notice 2 Corinthians 12:20 “For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish —  that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.”  

    As I worked with the leadership teams at Liberty University we did a full lesson on these NEGATIVE actions – these ENEMIES of a team as these actions are divisive. They divided the team and they destroyed the team. 

    Paul would also write to the Galatians to beware lest they consume – destroy each other.  Notice Galatians 5:15  But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!  And Galatians 5:26, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

    Friends, the very real reality is we are ALL different and we have different gifts and different talents and yes, DIFFERENCES, yet we are called to be of the SAME mind and we are called to work together for the cause of Christ. We have ONE Savior. We are a part of ONE body. The common Person is Jesus Christ. The common goal is to make Him known worldwide. There will need to be unity in the unit if that is to happen. We can’t be playing tug-a-war with each other. We need to COMPLETE each other rather than COMPETE with each other!  

    BTW – do you know the difference between competing with one another and completing one other?  The L.  One letter.  L. That is the difference!  Put the L in competing and you have completing.   What does the L stand for?  L stands for LOVE.  When you love one another, you don’t compete with one another, you seek and work to complete one another!

    To keep division and divisiveness out of our lives there are a couple of quick things you can do to build unity.  The first is by getting on your knees and praying together as it is hard to kick someone when you are on your knees! 
    Secondly, seek first to understand before seeking to be understood! 
    Thirdly, be more like grapes than marbles.  Marbles are hard and unyielding.  They never come together. They bang and clash!  Grapes are flexible and able to yield.  Pressed together they make something very good.  
    Fourth, let us be committed to being ONE for the ONE and only!! The cause of Christ is too important to be divided.   

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 25 (3/25) is Mark 3:25. It says, “And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

    UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDE WE FALL.   Let us be a TEAM for TOGETHER EACH ACCOMPLISHES MORE!

    Continue Strong being unified in purpose,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD 
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatian 3:24

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatian 3:24

     Our verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatians 3:24
    Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
     JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

    How is a person saved?  This is one question we absolutely do not want to get wrong.  When the Roman jailor in Acts 16:30 asked the Apostle Paul what he must do to be saved Paul answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”  

    As one looks at the answer one should also “see” what is not in the answer.  He did not say believe and be baptized, though shortly afterward the soldier along with members of his household were baptized.  He did not say to start doing good works and when your good works outweigh your bad works you will be saved.  He did not say to pay a certain amount of money.  He did not say pray a certain number of prayers.  He did not say to start keeping the Old Testament law.  What he did say was BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and you will be saved.

    My spiritual upbringing did not answer the question of what must I do to be saved the way the Apostle Paul and Barnabas answered the Roman soldier.  I heard mixed messages about doing good works and keeping the LAW.  It really was not until I was in Bible College that I began to understand WHAT COMES FIRST.  One of the verses that helped me CLEAR up the answer of what must I do to be saved is our verse to date, Galatians 3:24.

    As one looks to study the book of Galatians one needs to know the theme is law versus grace.  Our verse to date tells the role of the LAW and how it is used so that we might be saved. Paul does not dismiss the law but rather shows how the law was a tutor to BRING US TO CHRIST.  

    The law is our TUTOR.  If you are like me, you are probably asking what is a TUTOR.  A tutor is like a guardian or a like trainer. They watch over and prepare the child for the one that will be the teacher or the coach.  The law, as a tutor, shows us our need of a SAVIOR.  It points us to the SAVIOR.  The law does not save.  

    As Paul explains the role of the law, he once again gives the true answer to how a person is saved and that is by faith.  He states as he did in Romans and as he did earlier in Galatians that a person is JUSTIFIED by FAITH.  

    You may ask what makes justification by faith so important?  I wish I could have one of my professors, Dr. Paul Fink, give the answer.  He explained it so very well.  He explained to us that in order to go to heaven we had to be as righteous as God and since none of us are righteous as God we all will die and go to hell.  However, Jesus Christ came and lived and was righteous. Justification then comes into play when a person believes by FATIH in Christ alone for salvation. Being justified we are DECLARED righteous by God as there is an exchange.  Christ takes our sins and gives us His righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:21) God now sees us “clothed in CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  We are now as righteous as God because we have CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.”   Having Christ’s righteous means above all that we have PEACE WITH GOD!  (Romans 5:1).  We can now spend all eternity in heaven!

    As you ponder on Galatians 3:24 know that you are looking at one of the most important verses for how a person is saved.  Believing or calling on the Lord by faith is first.  After being saved comes keeping His commandments and doing good works.  We don’t do those things to be saved but we do them because we are saved!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatians 3:24.  It says, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

    May I ask, have you believed, called on, or trusted Jesus Christ by faith and faith alone for salvation?   Works don’t work. Keeping the law does not work. Only by believing in Jesus works! 

    Continue Strong knowing how a person is saved,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 23 (3/23) is Colossians 3:23

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 23 (3/23) is Colossians 3:23

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 23 (3/23) is Colossians 3:23.
    Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” 
    Autograph your work with excellence!

    The Bible speaks of having a “strong work ethic.” Colossians 3:23 challenges one to see whatever you are doing to be done “as to the Lord.” In Colossians 3:17 we are to do everything we do “in the name of the Lord.”  In Colossians 3:17 we are to be representing the Lord with our work. Our work ethic should be consistent with who CHRIST is.  Now Paul adds that our work should be done “AS TO THE LORD.”  The idea is that we are to be looking for His approval.  Our mindset then should bring about a desire that no matter what we are doing we are to be doing our very best.  We want to hear from the Lord WELL DONE!

    Within the instructions to do whatever we are doing as to the Lord the Apostle Paul instructs us in how to do whatever we do so that it will be approved by the Lord.  He says, to “do it heartily.” Other  versions will say “work at it with all your heart,” or “do it enthusiastically,” or “work at it with enthusiasm,” or “do it wholeheartedly.” Interestingly the Greek word here is not one for the heart but is the word for the “soul.” The idea is that you put your soul into what you are doing. To do something for the Lord is to be filled with passion, with soul!  

    I have had many employees working for me and I have been blessed to have many who went the extra mile, giving to the various ministries excellence.  Occasionally I would have someone who needed some encouragement to do better.  I recall a time that I gave an employee an assignment and was looking forward to seeing what they would produce.  When they returned to my office and handed me their work, I reviewed it and was astonished.  It was clearly work done with little effort. Believing they could do much better work (and that the work was not to my standard) I asked the worker to sign their name to the work. With it being a poster that was to be posted in many locations and many people would be seeing it I quickly heard, “give me a little more time to work on this.”  An hour later I saw a very professional poster that was done with excellence!

    Autograph your work with excellence!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 23 (3/23) is Colossians 3:23. It says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” 

    Are you putting your soul into “whatever” you are doing?  Are you making the most of the opportunities you are receiving? Are you truly doing your best?

    Continue Strong doing EVERYTHING YOU DO AS TO THE LORD!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 22 (3/22) is Lamentations 3:22

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 22 (3/22) is Lamentations 3:22

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 22 (3/22) is Lamentations 3:22
    Lamentations 3:22 says, Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

    For the vast majority, it seems, it is very difficult to understand and truly comprehend God’s feelings toward sin. This may include you.  God’s Word clearly conveys that God is holy. He is righteous. He is pure. It teaches, clearly teaches, that God is a consuming God.  Hebrews 12:29 says, “For our God is a consuming fire.” God’s Word teaches that He pours out His wrath – yes – WRATH on the sons of disobedience. For instance, we read in Colossians 3:6 “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.”  In 2 Chronicles 29:8 we read, “Therefore the wrath of the LORD came on Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes.” 

    Against the backdrop of God’s wrath is Lamentations 3:22 where God is merciful. It is His mercy and His compassion toward us that allows us to continue to exist. Because of mercy, WE ARE NOT CONSUMED. We are not wiped out. As He extends mercy, He DOES NOT GIVE US WHAT WE DESERVE!  With His compassion comes patience with us that quite frankly is hard to comprehend.  Psalms 103:14 says, “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”

    As we consider His mercy I remind you that it is His mercy that brings us salvation. I encourage you to read slowly Ephesians 2:4-7.  “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” 

    Our sins so offend God.  We deserve His wrath and deserve to be consumed.  We have no right to expect mercy or compassion or His patience. Yet He extends mercy and does not give us what we deserve. How do we not worship and praise Him? How are we not filled with adoration and gratitude? What a Savior!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 22 (3/22) is Lamentations 3:22. It says, Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

    And as a reminder of just how good God is the writer added “They (His mercies) are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:23

    Continue Strong praising God for His mercies!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21

    Our verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21
    Proverbs 3:21 says, “My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion,”
     Acquire and APPLY sound wisdom and discretion!

    Every now and then I look at the Message to see the verse and the Message says, “Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them.” 

    Solomon appeals to his son to KEEP, or HOLD TIGHT TO, PROTECT, or GUARD sound wisdom and discretion.  Sound wisdom gives clear thinking as wisdom allows one to see and comprehend life from God’s perspective. We define wisdom as heavenly insights from God for earthly living.  Wisdom is doing life the way God intended life to be lived.  

    Discretion is compared to common sense.   Discretion is the ability to know the difference between right and wrong and then decide decisively to do what is right.  The root word for discretion is a word used for tasting.  The best cooks have very discerning taste buds.  They know what needs to be added to make food taste the very best.  Discretion allows us to choose carefully and wisely what is best. 

    BTW – one of the characteristics of a good man is DISCRETION: Psalm 112:5 says, “A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.”

    Our lives are full of decisions and decisions determine destinations. 
    HOLD TIGHT TO WISDOM as wisdom shows you the RIGHT WAY!! 
    HOLD TIGHT TO DISCRECTION as it keeps one on the right road as there will be many options!!  
    **A word to those who desire to be wise and discerning: I recommend that you read one chapter a day from Proverbs as part of your spiritual exercises.  To apply wisdom, you need to acquire wisdom!   Make it a daily practice to read the chapter of Proverbs that matches the date of the month.  For instance, today is March 21 and on March 21 read Proverbs 21. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 21 (3/21) is Proverbs 3:21. It says, “My son, let them not depart from your eyes— Keep sound wisdom and discretion;”

    Continue Strong with wisdom and discretion guiding your decisions!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD