Day 9 - What Makes God Smile?

May the LORD smile on you....

NUMBERS 6:25 (NLT)

Smile on me, your servant; teach me the right way to live.

PSALM 119:135 (MSG)

"In Noah's day, the entire world had become morally bankrupt.  Everyone lived for their own pleasure, not God's.  God couldn't find anyone on earth interested in pleasing Him, so he was grieved and regretted making man.  God became so disgusted with the human race that He considered wiping it out.  But there was one man who made God smile.  The Bible says, "Noah was a pleasure to the Lord."...   Because Noah brought pleasure to God, you and I are alive today." p69-70

"... to love God and be loved by Him, should be the greatest objective of your life.  Nothing else comes close in importance." p70

"Trusting God completely means having faith that He knows what is best for your life" p71

"Any act of obedience is an act of worship.  Why is obedience so pleasing to God?  Because it proves you really love Him.  Jesus said,  "If you love me, you will obey my commandments." p73

 "Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we don't offer animal scarifies.  Instead we are told to offer God "the sacrifice of praise" and  "the sacrifice of thanksgiving".  We praise God for who he is, and we thank God for what he has done." p73

"Worship works both ways.  We enjoy what God has done for us, and when we express that enjoyment to God, it brings Him joy - but it also increases our joy. p74

"...God especially enjoys watching you use the talents and abilities he has given you.  God intentionally gifted us differently for His enjoyment.  He has made some to be athletic and some to be analytical.  You may be gifted at mechanics or mathematics or music or a thousand others skills.  All these abilities can bring a smile to God's grace.  The Bible says, " He has shaped each person in turn; now He watches everything we do." p75

Points to Ponser: God smiles when I trust Him.

Verses to Remember: "The Lord is pleased with those who worship Him and trust His love." PSLAM 147: 11 (CEV)

Question to Consider: Since God knows what is best, in what areas of my life do I need to trust Him most?

Day 8 - Planned for God's Pleasure

You created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.

REVELATION 4:11 (NLT)

The Lord takes pleasure in his people.

PSALM 149:4a (TEV)

"Bringing pleasure to God is called worship...  Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship." p64

"...worship is a universal urge, hard-wired by God into the very fibre of our being." p64

"You may think of church services with singing, praying, and listening to sermon.  Or you may think of ceremonies, candles, and communion.  Or you may think of healing, miracles, and experiences.  Worship can include these elements, but worship is far more than these expressions,  Worship is a lifestyle." p65

"[Worship] isn't for our benefits!  We worship for God's benefit.  When we worship, our goal is to bring pleasure to God, not ourselves. p66

"Worship is not a part of your life; it is you life.  Worship is not just for church services.  We are told to "worship him continually" and to "praise him from sunrise to sunset."  In the Bible people praised God at work, at home, in battle, in jail, and even in bed!  Praise should be the first activity when you open your eyes in the morning and the last activity when you close them at night.  David said, "I will thank the Lord at all times.  My mouth will always praise him."

Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory, and pleasure of God. The Bible says, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." p67

Points to Ponder: I was planned for God's pleasure.

Verses to Remember: "The LORD takes pleasure in his people." PSLALM 149:4a (TEV)

Questions to Consider: What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus?

Day 7 - A Reason For Everything

Everything comes from God alone.  Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory. ROMANS 11:36 (LB)

The LORD has made everything for His own purpose.  PROVERBS 16:4 (NLT)

"[God is everywhere] ...from the smallest microscopic form of life to the vast Milky Way [galaxy], from sunsets and starts to storms and seasons." p53

"We are commanded to recognise his glory, and live for His glory.....  Since God made all things, He deserves all glory." p54

"In the entire universe, only two of God's creations fail to bring glory to Him: fallen angels (demons) and us (people)." p54

"[Not giving glory to God] is the worst sin and the biggest mistake we can make.....  Living for God's glory is the the greatest achievement we can accomplish with our lives." p55

"Living the rest of your life for the glory of God will require a change in your priorities, your schedule, your relationships, and everything else.  It will sometimes mean choosing a difficult path instead of an easy one." p57

"The Bible says "Anyone who holds on to life as it is, destroys that life.  But if you let it go ... you'll have it forever, real and eternal" p58

     How we can bring glory to God:

• We bring God glory by worshiping Him.
• We bring God glory by loving other believers.
• We We bring God glory by becoming like Christ.
• We We bring God glory by serving others with our gifts.
• We We bring God glory by telling others about him.

Points to ponder: 

It's all for Him.

Verses to remember: 

"For everything comes from God alone.  Everything lives by his power, and everything is for His glory." ROMANS 11:36 (LB)

Questions to consider: 

Where in my daily routine can I become more aware of God's glory?

Day 6 - Life Is A Temporary Assignment

Points to Ponder:

This world is not my home.

Verses To Remember:

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

Questions To Consider:

How should the fact that life on earth is just a temporary assignment change the way I am living right now?

Day 100 - Follow Him

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it."

MATTHEW 16:24-25 HCSB

"Jesus walks with you.  Are you walking with Him seven days a week, and not just on Sunday mornings?  Are you a seven-day-a-week Christian who carries your faith with you to work each day, or do you try to keep Jesus at a safe distance when you're not sitting in church?  Hopefully, you understand the wisdom of walking with Christ all day every day.

Jesus loved you so much that He endured unspeakable humiliation and suffering for you.  How will you respond to Christ's sacrifice?  Will you take up his cross and follow Him - during good times and tough times - or will you choose another path?  When you place your hopes squarely at the foot of the cross, when you place Jesus squarely at the centre of tour life, you will be blessed.

Do you seek to fulfill God's purpose for your life?  Do you seek spiritual abundance?  Would you like to partake in  "the peace that passes all understanding?"  Then follow Christ.  Follow Him by picking up His cross today and every day that you live.  When you do, you will quickly discover that christ's love has the power to change everything, including you." p202

"You who suffer take heart.  Christ is the answer to sorrow." - BILLY GRAHAM p203

"Jesus Christ is not a security from storm.  He is perfect security in storms" - KATHY TROCCOLI p203

"When you are in deep water ...trust the One who walked on it." - ANONYMOUS p203

"In the midst of the pressure and the heat, I am confident His hand is on my life, developing my faith until I display His glory, transforming me into a vessel of honour that pleases Him!" - ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ p203

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Jesus, because I am Your disciple, I will trust You, I will obey Your teachings, and I will share Your Good News.  You have given me life abundant and life eternal, and I will follow You today and forever.  Amen

Day 5 - Seeing Life From God's View

Points To Ponder: 

Life is a test and a trust.

Verses To Remember: 

"Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful enlarge ones." LUKE 16:10a (NLT)

Questions To Consider: 

What has happened to me recently that I now realise was a test form God?  What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me?

Day 99 - Taking care Of Your Body

Didn't you realise that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit?  Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for?  The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 MSG

"Are you concerned about your spiritual, physical or emotional health?  If so, there is a timeless source of comfort and advice that is as near as your bookshelf.  That source is the Holy Bible.

God's Word has much to say about every aspect of your life, including your health.  If you face personal health challenges that seem almost insoluble, have faith and seek God's wisdom.  If you can't seem to get yourself on a sensible diet or on a program of regular physical exercise, consult God's teachings.  If your approach to your physical or emotional health has, up to this point, been undisciplined, pray to your Creator for the strength to do what you know is right.

God has given you the Holy Bible for the purpose of knowing His promise, His power, His commandments, His wisdom, His love, and His Son.  As you seek to improve the state of your own health, study God's teachings and apply them to your life.  When you do, you will be blessed, now and forever." p200

"Our body is like armour, our soul like the warrior.  Take care of both, and you will be ready for what comes." - AMMA ST. SYNCLETICE

"Laughter is the language of the young at heart and the antidote to what ails us." - BARBARA JOHNSON p201

"People are funny. When they are young, they will spend their health to get wealth.  later, they will gladly pay all they have trying to get their health back." - JOHN MAXWELL p201

"You can't buy good health at the doctors office - you've got to earn it for yourself." - MARIE T. FREEMAN

TODAY'S PRAYER

Lord, when I am ill, weak, or troubled, You heal me. Renew me, Father, and let me trust Your will for my life.  Let me welcome Your unending love and Your healing touch, now and forever.  Amen