"I want it all" by Gwen Smith 7 Day devotional

http://gwensmith.net/free-iwia-devotional

Leadership Is Not a Right

by Lead Like Jesus
DESCRIPTION

Like many things in life, leadership is a choice.
Like many things in life, leadership is a choice. Those in leadership positions have made a choice to be there. One can freely seek the mantle of leadership and one can just as easily leave a position of leadership. One of the problems is that some seek leadership for the wrong reasons. Sometimes a decision to seek a position of leadership is based on things such as money, power, or prestige. These individuals may not be focused on the interests of others. Instead they are fixated on their own rights and responsibilities that they derive from the position. True leaders realize that leadership is not about rights, it is about the awesome responsibility that comes with the job; the responsibility to focus on the needs of others; to be selfless, not selfish.

What is your focus of leadership, rights or responsibilities?

By Randy Garner

Thanks Be to God

by Daily Disciples
DESCRIPTION

Take time today to give Him praise and thanksgiving for the true freedom we have in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Today's Reading:  Psalm 100-102; 1 Corinthians 1

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.         
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100

Let us all be thankful for our freedom and for our founding fathers who laid the God-fearing foundation for this great nation. But above everything else, let us not forget the One who made us. We are God's people—we are His sheep and this nation is still His pasture. Take time today to give Him praise and thanksgiving for the true freedom that we have in His Son Jesus Christ. Make a joyful noise to the Lord! Pray for our nation today. As Christians, we should all be greatly concerned at how our lawmakers are turning away from God in their choices and decisions. God's mercy is everlasting but there is a day of judgment coming. Pray that our nation will turn back to the Lord. One by one, as Christians, we can make a difference. Let's start today.

There Is NO Place God Is Not

by Anne Graham Lotz
DESCRIPTION

When you and I follow Jesus, He promises that we will be where He is.
I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5, NKJV).

Praise God that you and I can be where Jesus is—now, and for all eternity—because He lives within us and has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us..!

When your parents forsake you through death or abandonment, or your spouse forsakes you through divorce, you have His presence (Ps. 27:10)
When the fire of adversity increases in intensity, you have His presence (Dan. 9:1–25)
When you are overwhelmed by burdens or depression, you have His presence (Isa. 43:2)
When you and I follow Jesus, He promises that we will be where He is. And there is not one place in the entire universe, visible or invisible, where He is not! What a blessing!

Timely Words

by Our Daily Bread
DESCRIPTION

Timely words are works of art. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to be discerning.
Read: Proverbs 25:11-15

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.  —Proverbs 25:11

You may have heard the adage, “Timing is everything.” According to the Bible, good timing applies to our words and speech too. Think of a time when God used you to bring a timely word to refresh someone, or when you wanted to speak, but it was wiser for you to remain silent.

The Bible says that there is an appropriate time to speak (Eccl. 3:7). Solomon compared properly timed and well-spoken words with golden apples in a silver setting—beautiful, valuable, and carefully crafted (Prov. 25:11-12). Knowing the right time to speak is beneficial for both the speaker and hearer, whether they are words of love, encouragement, or rebuke. Keeping silent also has its place and time. When tempted to deride, belittle, or slander a neighbor, Solomon said that it is wise to hold our tongue, recognizing the appropriate time for silence (11:12-13). When talkativeness or anger tempts us to sin against God or another human being, resistance comes by being slow to speak (10:19; James 1:19).

It’s often hard to know what to say and when to say it. The Spirit will help us to be discerning. He will help us use the right words at the right time and in the right manner, for the good of others and for His honor.  —Marvin Williams

Heavenly Father, thank You for using others to speak words of encouragement and challenge to me. Help me to be wise in how and when my words or my silence may be helpful to someone else.

Timely words are works of art.

A Means for Growth

by Greg Laurie
DESCRIPTION

God may allow hardship into our lives to make us stronger in our faith.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow (James 1:2-3).

When we experience suffering in our lives, we naturally want the pain to go away. But sometimes God can do things through our pain that cannot be accomplished in any other way. Alan Redpath said, "When God wants to do an impossible task, he takes an impossible individual and crushes him."

James wrote, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing" (James 1:2–4).

Sometimes the Lord will turn a disability into an ability. Sometimes He will take a weakness and turn it into a strength.

If you are trying to get stronger physically, you need to use your muscles. When you work out, you are essentially breaking your muscles down to build them back up again.

In the same way, God may allow hardship into our lives to make us stronger in our faith.

Here is what the apostle Paul said when he asked God to take away his thorn in the flesh, but God said no: "Each time He said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).

We always want things to go reasonably well. We don't want to suffer. We don't want hardship. But that hardship may be the best thing for us.

Expect Yes

by Shana Schutte
DESCRIPTION

Don't give up! You have God's favor. His plans are to prosper you and to keep you from harm all the days of your life.
A few years ago, I started a new ministry feeling confident. My organizational model was thoroughly developed; I had a solid team to work with, and the vision I believed God had placed on my heart was moving toward fruition.

But then some unforeseen circumstances caused the bottom to fall out of my plans.

Everything I had worked so hard for died—and with it, so did my expectations. For a time, I stopped believing God had good things stored up for me to accomplish. I stopped expecting yes.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you have had some dreams of your own die. You wanted a family; it didn’t happen. You wanted to go to college; you weren’t able. You wanted to start a new career; it hasn’t come about.

And like me, your expectations have died with your dreams.

One day, as I shared my heart with God, the following thoughts flooded my spirit and quietly filled me with the hope to continue to expect, to believe that He has good stored up for me, and that just because He has said no doesn’t mean He will always deny me. It’s all a matter of perspective, to trust that He has our absolute best in mind—even when He says no.

The times when things haven’t worked out the way you planned has led you to believe that I am opposing you. Your winter came and you believed it would always stay. This is not true. I am for you. If I am for you, who can be against you? The times when your plans have failed, the times when you have experienced road blocks has not meant that I have been against you. Those times have been my times of redirection. I will always give you everything you need.

I have called you to bear fruit that will last. I am not opposing you. I am upholding you. I am directing you. Your failures have caused you to stop asking of me. Your disappointment has made you resign yourself to defeat. You have thought, Why ask? I never get what I desire.

You may not always get what you want, but you will always receive good from me. That’s who I am. Even out of life’s difficulties, expect yes. Dear One, surrender to what I want. I have given you everything you need to succeed in me.

It’s time for you to stop looking back at what hasn’t worked, what has failed, and what you didn’t get. It’s time for you to look ahead at what I am doing. Don’t you see that I am at work even now?

You feel like there are weights tied around your ankles; you want to run but you can’t. These hindrances are perceived. In me, there are not hindrances. Throw off the idea that I am opposing you. Seek me. Seek my will. Ask for my intervention and my power. Ask for my help to accomplish what I have called you to. In me, in my will, the answer is always yes.

When you feel like you don’t have my favor, remember that these are just your feelings. You always have my favor. My plans are to prosper you and not to harm you all the days of your life. Expect yes.

Day 7: Faith - Faith is victory!

http://www.theignorantfishermen.com/2008/06/faith-is-victory-that-overcomes-world.html?m=1

Lessons From My Students

by J.M. Ritchey
DESCRIPTION

Our perseverance tells an eternal story that strikes us deeply. J.M. Ritchey reflects on the perseverance of his students and inspires believers to press on.
“If Christ had not loved me with a love as deep as hell and as strong as death, he would have turned from me long ago.” –Charles Spurgeon

This weekend I watched some of my impressive students play soccer. What really struck me though, wasn’t their talent, although they’re some incredibly talented young men and women. What struck me was their perseverance. Even when they were behind by a few goals, while there was only 30 seconds left on the clock, I saw them push hard and refuse to quit.

Have you ever considered why perseverance is so striking? Why do we love to watch movies about determined people who refuse to give up, even when all odds seem against them? I think it’s because our perseverance tells an eternal story.

The beauty of perseverance strikes us too deeply to simply be a matter of good character. I’m not implying that character is unimportant, but it does lack lasting importance if we treat it as an end in and of itself. Think about it: if there were no greater purpose for our perseverance, other than the fact that it may earn us some temporary benefits, would it really matter all that much? Sure, our perseverance might mean the difference between an “F” and an “A,” a minimum wage job and one with benefits, or a Hollywood marriage and one that actually lasts. But eventually, our shiny diplomas will collect dust, we’ll retire from our jobs, and let’s face it: we’re all a limited number of breaths away from being worm food in a dark casket beneath some dirt. So what then? What did our perseverance count for?

God offers us a better story.

Think about the story of the gospel: Jesus didn’t come after us when all the conditions were favorable. Satan seemed victorious, and our hearts were darker than the darkest night. What’s more, the cost was so high that only divine blood would be sufficient to snatch us back from the brink of hell. None of that was enough for Jesus to turn back and give up his pursuit. There was no obstacle too steep for him. His victory cry didn’t resound until the very darkest, bleakest, most hopeless moment in the history of humanity. He never once said, “they are too far gone, too darkened, too lost for me.” His perseverance, even to the point of death, is the hope of our salvation. It’s precisely because he came after us, no matter the cost, that we get to know the joy of his grace forever.

Now consider the moments when we witness perseverance that strikes us to the core: when our students refuse to give up in the last 30 seconds of a soccer game, even when it’s not going their way; when our friends attack their studies late into the night, even in that class they don’t care for; when we watch parents keep loving their wayward children, even when it seems like they’ll never see the reward; when we see a wife stay devoted to her husband, even when it seems like there’s good reason to throw in the towel—these are the moments when all of us get the chance to say something profound about the eternal story of the gospel. These are the moments that don’t have to stop preaching when our bodies get closed up in a casket. These are the moments that resound. 

So let’s keep persevering, and let’s keep cheering on others to do the same. Even in the smallest moments—the games that don’t seem all that important, the jobs that we’re moving on from soon anyway, the relationships that seem needless—let’s resolve not to hang our heads and cry, “defeat.” Let’s keep pressing on, because we have a story to tell the world about God. And the world has no greater need than a good story, especially the true story about a God who is perfect in perseverance, who is coming after even the most unlikely of us, even now.

Four Ways God Speaks to You

by Pastor Rick Warren
DESCRIPTION

How do you tune in so that you can hear God’s voice? Here are four channels God uses to speak to you.
“God does speak — sometimes one way and sometimes another — even though people may not understand it.” (Job 33:14 NCV)

A lot of us think we’re too busy to listen for God’s response. But we have to take the time to tune in and listen, because God is speaking. Job 33:14 says, “God does speak — sometimes one way and sometimes another — even though people may not understand it” (NCV).

The question is, “How do I understand it? How do I tune in so that I can hear God’s voice?”

Here are four of the channels that God uses:

1. God speaks to us through the Bible.

It’s your guidebook for life. It shows you the right step to take. That is why you need to read God’s Word every day. If you’re not having a daily quiet time and reading the Bible, God is getting a busy signal when he wants to speak to you. You have to keep a constant connection, because God’s will is found in God’s Word.

2. God speaks to us through teachers.

Have you ever been in a church service and felt like what the teacher was saying was a direct message from God to you? There’s no way I or any other teacher could figure out exactly what to say to meet every need. But God knows. So before every service I pray, “God, you know the people and the needs out there. Give me the right things to say.” Somehow, in the way only he can, God uses my teaching and the teaching of other pastors to meet the needs of people who are listening.

3. God speaks to us through impressions.

There are two extremes to this. One extreme is the rationalist who believes no impression can be from God; it all has to be logical. At the other extreme is the mystical belief that every impression is from God. You need to get in the middle and realize that every impression has to match God’s Word.

4. God speaks to us through our circumstances.

If we’re going to live a life of significance, God’s got to make constant course corrections, and one of the things he uses to do that is the circumstances that come into our lives. When you start to listen to God through circumstances, impressions, teachers, or the Bible, sometimes he’s going to lead you in ways that you don’t understand. Hang in there! Following God is not always easy, but it will reap more blessing in your life than you can imagine.

How Do I Let It Go?

by Suzanne Eller
DESCRIPTION

Letting go means giving up what's beyond our control and embracing what we can change. We can't control the past, but we can focus on the miracles around us today.
Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

Three-year-old Elle arched her arm and pointed her fingers. "You're frozen, Gaga!"

I stopped in place, one arm behind me, the other in the air. She giggled, then quickly unfroze me.

If you are in the vicinity of anyone under the age of 6, you're familiar with the movie, Frozen. In it, two sisters struggle in their relationship with each other and in finding acceptance.

At one point Elsa, the older sister, sings these words:

"Let it go, let it go ...
"And I'll rise like the break of dawn ..."

Let it go.

Those are words I sensed God speaking to me years ago.

Let go of the past that you cannot undo.

Let go of the warped view you have of yourself. It doesn't match the one I have as your Heavenly Father.

Let go of the hurts that hold you too tightly.

Just as I playfully stood frozen while my granddaughter giggled, there was another time when I felt frozen. I couldn't take a step toward healing.

"Let it go, sweet daughter," was a whisper I heard from God to discover the Suzie He saw me to be.

Maybe you've sensed God asking you to let something — or someone — go.

Let go of the mistakes you once made. I've forgiven you.

Let go of the anger that's consuming your thoughts.

Let go of condemnation, so you can live free.

You want that desperately, but it can be hard to let go when you don't know what that means. May I share the definition of letting go with you? It was freeing for me when I finally understood it.

Letting go is giving up what is beyond your control to embrace what you can change.

In Isaiah 43:18-19, God spoke to His people through the prophet Isaiah saying: "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert."

The people held so tightly to the past that they missed the new things God wanted to show them.

God speaks the same warning and truth to us. We can't control the past, but we can focus on the miracles around us today.

We can't control the words that once shaped our hearts, but we can replace them with truth from Scripture.

We can't control negative people, but we can choose joy for ourselves.

Letting go isn't easy in the beginning, because holding on is our natural response. But there's so much hope! Just as the prophet Isaiah describes new roads in the desert and rivers in the wilderness, as we give up what we can't control to embrace what we can change, new ways of thinking, relating and living are carved into our very being.

And the beautiful thing about letting go?

It doesn't just change us.

It has the power to alter the next generation, and the next after that, like the cute little blonde-haired, blue-eyed darling chasing her Gaga through the house, singing, "Let it go!"

Dear Jesus, I've wanted to let go for a long time, but I didn't know how to do that. Now that I do, I'm ready to take that leap of faith. I give up what I cannot control to embrace what I can. Thank You for carving new roads in the desert of my heart and new rivers in the wilderness of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Faith Obeys, Without Knowing How – An Encouragement to Walk By Faith

by Ron Edmondson
DESCRIPTION

If we want to please God, we have to obey Him at the point it seems to make no sense to do so.
But Samuel said, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.” Samuel did what the LORD said. 1 Samuel 16:2-4a

God sent Samuel to anoint David king. He was removing Saul from power. It was a dangerous and scary assignment and it made no sense politically or practically. Speaking against the king could bring death, but not only that, Saul looked like a king. David was an unknown kid.

Samuel was naturally afraid. Wasn’t there some other way? Samuel surely must have thought.

God’s plan was made. He wouldn’t budge because of Samuel’s fear. God never leads by popular opinion, so Samuel obeyed.

That’s what faith does.

When Samuel obeyed God, EVEN THOUGH it didn’t make sense – in his mind – for him to do so, he was exhibiting his faith in God. Faith always moves without seeing or understanding. Faith is always prior to receiving the complete picture or having all the answers. Faith precedes victory.

Every time.

If we want to please God, we have to obey Him at the point it seems to make no sense to do so.

Years ago our family traveled to our nation’s capital on vacation. I have spent considerable time in the city, as a college intern and during my political and business days. It is one of my favorite places to visit. Our boys had never been. I told them this would not be an enjoyable trip – at least not for the first few days. At nine and twelve years of age, and not being museum people, I knew they would be bored at first and I wanted to prepare them.

I was right.

I told them, however, if they would obey me they would be glad they had been by the time we finished the trip. When we left Washington, DC, both boys were sad to say goodbye to the city. They had fallen in love with it. The twelve-year-old even said he wanted to attend a college there. (He later changed his mind.)

This is the way it is sometimes in our Christian walk.

Obeying God, following Him, and carrying out His plan, especially when it contradicts our own, is not always the first thing we want to do. It won’t even seem to make sense at times.

It may seem impossible.
It will likely make us afraid.
It stretches us beyond our abilities.
It might be uncomfortable.
It requires more resources than appears available.

But, as we obey God, and He works His will through our obedience, God blesses us in ways we never expected, and we begin to experience what it means “all things work for good for those who love the Lord”. (Romans 8:28)

Samuel didn’t want to go find David, but he obeyed. And, guess what? God knew what He was doing.

Duh!

And, God knows what He is doing in your life too!

You need only to trust and obey!

He Sat Down

by Abigail Kelly
DESCRIPTION

Because Christ is seated, we can be sure that if we believe in Him, God will never hold our sins against us.
Has anyone ever told you that God loves you so much that if He had to, Jesus would die for you all over again?

I have some good news: He won’t.

In the Old Testament, Hebrew priests stood constantly. Their tireless work of sacrificing animals to cover the sins of the people, literally kept them on their feet all day long. Morning and night, not to mention special festivals and offerings, they sacrificed lambs on the altar.

Hebrews 10:12-14 says, “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God... For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

When Jesus died for our sins and rose again, He “sat down.” This means that there are no more sacrifices to be made, ever. No one needs to kill a lamb or pay the penalty for their own sin. Jesus, who is also called our High Priest, offered the final sacrifice and the work of salvation is completely finished.

“He sat down”, might seem like an unimportant phrase. But it has great significance for  you and me. Because Christ is seated, we can be sure that if we believe in Him, God will never, ever hold our sins against us.

That’s good news!

Three Days for Faith

by Chris Tiegreen
DESCRIPTION

Your dark days aren’t designed to kill your faith. They're actually opportunities to find it.
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49 NIV)

The story couldn’t have been funny at the time, though his parents may have looked back on it with a smile. But today’s reader can be excused for chuckling. Mary and Joseph were given one job—to look after the Son of God—and they lost him. For three days after discovering he wasn’t in the caravan heading home, they searched high and low in Jerusalem. Finally, they found him at the Temple impressing the rabbis.

It wasn’t the only time Jesus went missing for three days. The second time, his relatives, friends, and followers scattered while he lay in a tomb, then wondered who had taken his body. It was even more catastrophic and frantic for them than Mary and Joseph’s search years before. He didn’t ask the same question when he finally appeared to his followers, but he conveyed the same sense of wonder: “Why were you searching for me? I told you what needed to happen.” In both cases, he gave those who love him three dark days to find their faith. They didn’t exactly, at least not at first. But he certainly proved himself worthy of it.

You’ll have dark days too, and they aren’t designed to kill your faith. They are actually opportunities to find it. If you can see through the darkness and into the light of his promises, you’ll find him there. He will meet you, not to ask you why you were searching but to honor your faith in the dark. There you’ll find hope and resurrection—and a Rabbi-Savior worthy of your belief.