Daily Living: 2016

Monday, January 25, 2016

The Greatest Book In History

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Dr. Nathaniel Van Cleave, author of Foundations of Pentecostal Theology (and long-time friend) once said, “I’ve discovered that when a person’s Bible is falling apart, their lives are coming together.” In an age of Kindles, MP-3's, E-Bibles and more, God's Word is less apt to fall apart in the old fashioned way but the affect it has on us is still as powerful. The world’s best-selling Book has always been and will always be transforming to those who build their lives on it. Consider these stats:

Number of verse: 31,102

Number of words: 775,693

Longest Chapter: Psalm 119

Shortest Chapter: Psalm 117

Shortest verse: John 11:35

Longest verse: Esther 8:9

Longest Book in the Old Testament: Psalms (150 Chapters)

Longest Book in the New Testament: Luke (24 Chapters)

Finally, if you were to open your Bible to the very middle verse of the Bible, it would open to Psalm 118:8, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Why not make it the center of your life today?

Terry Risser

Questions:

1) What is your favorite verse in the Bible?

2) Why is that verse special to you?

Monday, January 18, 2016

Get Going

"Mortals make elaborate plans but God has the last word." Proverbs 16:1

God is into goals. I’m sure of it. He had a goal to form a nation called Israel which still stands today. And most importantly, He fulfilled the goal to bring salvation to mankind through the person of Jesus Christ. Goals are different than desires, wants, wishes and intentions. They are purposeful intentions to complete an established course.

Years ago, Mike McCormick did a study of Harvard Grads in the MBA program who were furthering their education. For the most part, all very successful people to have achieved what they did so early in life. He asked them a simple question, “How many of you have written down goals in your life?”

He received an interesting response:

3% had goals and plans

13% had goals but no plans

84% had no goals and no plans

Years later, they evaluated their lives and came to a revealing discovery:

The 84% (who had no goals and no plans) had limited success

The 13% (who had goals but no plans) on average were making 2x’s more than those in the 84% category

The 3% (who had goals and plans) on average were making 10x’s more than the 13% group (who had goals but no plans)

While surveys of this nature tend to be finance-oriented, there is an important principle that is revealed in that the greatest results and purposes come to people who see and develop a plan in life. In Nehemiah 1, we find the Cupbearer-turned-Contractor had both a goal and a plan to reconstruct Jerusalem’s walls. Within 52 days, he changed the face of his nation.

Author Brian Tracy said, “If I could do one thing in 5 minutes that will change your life more than anything else it is this:

Write down goals

Make a plan

Work on your plans each day

This year can be different. Set a goal and make a plan…watch what God can do through you.

Question:

1) Name one goal you would like to see happen?

2) Break it down into 3-4 parts and start today

Monday, January 11, 2016

Digging In Or Getting Your Digs In

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” 2 Timothy 3:16

5 simple words. That’s all it takes to give a good dig at your church (or someone else’s for that matter) this week. People use them across America and around the world daily. Say them with me, “I…am…not…getting…fed.” They are the best words to use when you want to make a church transition or simply want to ruffle things up a bit.

Years ago, a pastor I know had a first time visitor come to his church in Southern California. She seemed very positive about joining the church he led. After a service, she shared how she had attended another local church but wasn’t being fed. Turns out, the church was pastored by Chuck Swindoll, one of the foremost authors and speakers in America. He told her, “If you weren’t getting fed there, it probably won’t happen here.”

I know hundred of pastors. Hundreds of them. And the “I am not being fed” mantra is the most transcendent assertion used to negate what God wants to do in churches across America whether the messages are topical, verse by verse, or exegetical. However, there is an answer to reverse the trend. The problem is not necessarily with the “feeder” but our ”feeding.” In order to have a growing and vibrant relationship with God, it requires the personal ability to nurture your life with God’s Word. Someone said, “Seven Days Without The Word Makes One Weak.” It’s true with prayer and many other areas. While pastors aren’t exempt from putting in their time, neither are we.

One of the best quotes I have ever heard in a quarter century of ministry is a woman who shared with me, “You know, Pastor, the more I read God’s Word, the better preacher you become.” I still quote her ‘til this day. A daily rationing of the Bible makes life deeper, our spirit’s stronger, and will even make your preacher better because you aren’t counting on him or her alone to be your only meal of the week. You’ll be amazed how much improvement occurs in the pulpit next Sunday and the other days of the week for you.

Question:

1) On a scale from 1-10, how would you rank your daily devotional life?

2) How can you take a step today to improve your love for God’s Word in 2014?

Monday, January 4, 2016

Begin With The End In Mind

“He who has begun a good work in you is able to complete it unto the day of salvation.” Philippians 1:6

2014 has come. You have a fresh slate upon which to paint and untarnished snow on which you can step. However, no matter how great your ambitions, God’s dreams for you are bigger.

In his book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” Stephen Covey has a chapter entitled, “Begin With The End In Mind." He shares that one of the key characteristics of people who are effective in life is that they have a way of starting from the end. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There’s a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation to all things. This is true whether in the construction of a house, the start of business, or the accomplishment of a goal. You need to let God put the dream in your mind and then He can fulfill it in your life.

As you begin this year, what do you desire to see happen before you finish it? A stronger marriage, a completed work, or a renewed dream are all possible but we need to ask God to give us the vision.

As you begin this year, learn to live in 3-D:

1) Dedicate your life and year to Him

2) Dream along with Him

3) Determine that all you do will be for Him.

These are the kinds of people God truly gets behind. Most of all, let Him shape “Christ-like” character in you. After all, it is the most important thing you will carry beyond this year…and this planet for that matter.

Questions:

1) What is your greatest priority for 2014?

2) What do you need to do to make it happen?