Category: Daily Devotional

The following is a paraphrase from Pastor Bill Johnson. The story is told of a test pilot flying high to test the handling of his aircraft. Upon looking down at the partly constructed cockpit he noticed a rat chewing on the fuel line. He did not have the time to return to base and land, so he decided to fly higher to starve the animal of oxygen, as he was wearing an oxygen mask. Acts ch 4: 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” So Peter and John chose to fly higher rather than to land! Todays church, and we as believers, must choose to fly higher, effectively turning up the message and starving out the presence of the detractors to the precious message of life in Christ through faith in His name. Let’s fly higher and not choose to land. Lk 9:62 “But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Love Mel

Col 3:17 (ESV) Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do & fails to do it, for him it is sin. — Why does what we do & think when no one is looking matter most? — 1 Sam 16:7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord SEES not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord LOOKS on the HEART.” Prov 4:23 KEEP YOUR HEART with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life. Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK about these things.— God focuses on what is in our heart & He has given us wisdom on how to keep our hearts pure! THINK on these things with all vigilance! Love Mel

1 Thes 5:16-17 (ESV) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer & supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Psalm 50:23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” — Salvation is God’s grace. Without gratitude, we become arrogant & self-centered. Being thankful reminds us of all that God has given us. With out this reminder, we tend to focus on what we don’t have. God wants us to find Him each & every day! We can do this thru being thankful! He tells us that it is His will! Love Mel

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong & courageous. Do not be frightened, & do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Deut 31:6 Be strong & courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, & be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” — God has promised to never leave us or forsake us! — Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; & when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. — He is with us even when we pass through the fires of life! Rejoice! Love Mel

Gen 2:15 The Lord God took the man & put him in the garden of Eden to work it & keep it. John 6:12 When they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” Ex 23:10-11 “For six years you shall sow your land & gather in its yield, but the seventh year you shall let it rest & lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; & what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, & with your olive orchard. — God put them in the garden to WORK & KEEP IT! God also believes in leftovers! And God believed in supporting the poor, however, it is up to them to WORK the land to gather so they may eat. —Eccl 5:18 Behold, what I have seen to be good & fitting is to eat & drink & find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord & not for men. — We are to enjoy our WORK & to do it as unto Him! But don’t forget to rest on the sabbath! It is there to regenerate us! Love Mel