THE HOME DEVO

  Every day, think of one thing to thank God for, read a quote on being thankful, or read a verse from the Bible on thankfulness. For 365 days, do one of these three things. The Bible tells us to give thanks always; not just when we feel like it or when everything is going well. King David commanded the children of Israel in 1 Chronicles 23:30 to “stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even.” This is a great way to start and end your day. By choosing to be thankful for at least one thing a day, you will begin to cultivate a heart of continual thankfulness. God bless!    

  Ingratitude denotes spiritual immaturity. Infants do not always appreciate what parents do for them. They have short memories. Their concern is not what you did for me yesterday, but what are you doing for me today. The past is meaningless and so is the future. They live for the present. Those who are mature are deeply appreciative of those who labored in the past. They recognize those who labor during the present and provide for those who will be laboring in the future.  

  That thing that is not coming to you may seem good. But either the timing is wrong, or from His position He can see that the future of it is bleak. I have always believed that people who thank God only for delivering them from what happened are just scraping the surface of praise. The real praise comes when you start thanking Him for what could have happened but didn't because of His swift grace!  

  Gratitude... goes beyond the 'mine' and 'thine' and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that       gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.  

  Being thankful is not telling God you appreciate the fact that your life is not in shambles. If that is the basis of your gratitude, you are on slippery ground. Every day of your life you face the possibility that a blessing in your life may be taken away. But blessings are only signs of God's love. The real blessing, of course, is the love itself...We are not ultimately grateful that we are still holding our blessings. We are grateful that we are held by God even when the blessings are slipping through our fingers.    

  We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts. We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us...We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts. How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?  

    God has blessed us in so many ways. Have you taken the time to just look at His        creation, lately? Older generations would sit on their front porch and enjoy nature. We have trouble slowing down long enough to enjoy what God has made. When I am stressed, I love a clear night where I can gaze at the stars and moon. It is amazing how powerful our God is. Genesis 1.1 says, “In the beginning god created the heavens and the earth.” Such structure and power deserves our praise, and it should     strengthen our faith. There are so many reasons to love God. This is just another one.   Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________    

  DISCUSSION: Many times when we think of courage we see it as taking action. Look at courage through David’s eyes in the reading. In this instant, David could have taken Saul’s life. This would have made David’s world so much easier. At the time David was camping and moving from place to place to keep Saul guessing where he was.   David did not need courage to act, but the courage to not take action. APPLICATION: Think about a time where it was difficult to not take action or say something. As Christians we are called to have Godly character and that includes being the one to not bite back with a negative comment or be out to get revenge for wrongdoing. Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________    

  DISCUSSION: Middle schoolers are a curious bunch. They spend half their time trying to fit in so that they do not stand out and the other half trying to be different. They will often wear the same style of clothes, shoes, or latest accessory – but they want to have the one that is newest or the most different. Contrast is important for them because it gives them a sense of individuality – or in other words it builds their character. In    Philippians 2:15, some translations render the word lights as stars. It gives the idea of the contrast between the dark sky (sin) and light that Christians give to the world. It should be a stark contrast. APPLICATION: It has been said there is nothing wrong with a boat being in the water, but everything is wrong with water being in the boat.   Christians live in the world, but we     cannot be of the world. Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________    

  DISCUSSION: Imagine looking at your monthly bank statements, particularly at the cable TV charges. January: $89.99 February: $89.99 March: $130.99 How many times has this happened in your billing cycle? Whether you lose a “one time”          promotion, something has been mysteriously added, or “sorry, our rates have increased,” most people have experienced inconsistency when dealing with bills. Being consistent is a very important part of life. Consistency carries with it a sense of reliability. There is no reason to believe that every Tuesday morning the garbage and recycle will not be               collected. Why? Because Waste Management is consistent. As Christians, the world needs to be able to rely on us to consistently show Godly character with our words, attitudes, and actions. APPLICATION: Our culture encourages academics, sports, and hobbies. Success in these areas requires consistent practice. Is it not even more important to have consistent routines in our sp

               DISCUSSION: Too often our homes have become a place where we complain, criticize and nitpick each other’s faults and short comings. When that happens we are more likely to have short tempers, resulting in us saying things we will later regret.   Whoever said “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”, was wrong.   The words we say to one another do hurt, but they can also uplift and encourage.   Discuss what might happen to our families if we did just the opposite and be quick to compliment and encourage one another. APPLICATION: Discuss some words or phrases that we should avoid and those that we should use when taking with each other. Prayer Requests: ________________________________________________  

             DISCUSSION: Growing up, I heard many lessons on character. One description of character always stuck with me: doing the right thing even when no one is around. It is this type of character that kept Daniel praying in his closet, Paul and others writing letters while in prison, and Christ, himself, talking with his Father throughout the night. As Christians, it is important to remember to be an example in front of others, but it is often what we do behind closed doors that will prepare us for being a Godly example. APPLICATION: Discuss different areas of life that you prepare for. Is preparation important? How can you be better prepared in your Christian life? How can Colossians 3:1-4 help with this? Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________  

                      Tomorrow we get the opportunity to gather together and worship the Almighty God.   What a wonderful thing that is!   But, how often during the week have we let things get in the way of focusing on God.   I believe that Martha truly wanted to serve Jesus with all of her heart.   What she was doing was a GOOD thing, but she was “distracted”.   In contrast, Mary also wanted to serve Jesus, and she chose what was BEST, sitting at the foot of Jesus and    absorbing who He is and what He had to teach.   Let’s not let what is GOOD get in the way of what is BEST.   See you tomorrow! Application: Always keep our focus on Jesus because that is what is BEST.   Prayer Request___________________________________________________________________  

                                     Ernest Gordon wrote a book entitled, Through the Valley of the Kwai , a true-account of the World War II Japanese prison camp that the movie, Bridge Over the     River Kwai was based on.   In the prison camp, which housed Americans, Australians, and Britain's, there was a Scottish prisoner by the name of Angus McGillivray.   The camp itself had become a very vicious area.   Men would cheat each other; they would steal from each other.   Men that slept on their packs would have them stolen out from under their heads.   It was survival of the fittest … until the news of Angus McGillivray passed through camp. Being a Scottish soldier, Angus was part of a system that was taken very seriously.   Each Scottish soldier had a buddy in camp called a “mucker”.   They believed that each one of them were literally responsible for his mucker surviving the prison camp.            Angus’s mucker, though, was dying, and everyone had given up on him… every

                  One of the greatest thoughts that I think I’ve ever heard about 1Corinthians 13.4-8, is to take out the word “love”, insert your name in its place, and re-read the verse.   Are they all true statements?   “[Your name] suffers long and is kind; [Your name] does not envy; [Your name] does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth;”   Remember the song:   “They’ll know we are Christians, by our love, by our love.   Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” Application: Ask yourself, “Am I behaving in a way that people will know I am a Christian?”   Prayer Request___________________________________________________________________________  

                How often do we “let this mind be in” us?   It can be so difficult to live in a society that is so constantly focused on “ME”.   We are bombarded with commercials and tv shows and movies and social media that all tell us that we need to do everything that makes “ME” feel good.   How refreshing is it to think about our Savior having such a great and awesome position, being in the form of God, and HUMBLING Himself to die on the cross and show His love for us.   In this day and age, showing humility towards others can be a nice and refreshing way for us to show our Christian love.   Application: What ways are you being like Jesus in showing humility and obedience? Prayer Request___________________________________________________________________________  

    John Stockton…   Jason Kidd… Steve Nash… Any idea what these 3 guys have in common?   Of course, they’re the All-Time Assist Leaders in the National Basketball Association.   If you watch basketball, even a little bit, then you probably know the names of guys like Kareem Abdul-Jabaar… Karl Malone… Kobe Bryant… Michael Jordan.   They are the all-time scoring leaders.   But, the assist guys seem to always be forgotten.   They are the ones in the background who are passing the ball to the scorers and letting them have the points… the glory… the limelight.   In a lot of ways, love is like being a good assists-person: always being willing to look out for the interests of others, and putting their interests first.   The kids tell us in VBS all the time: “Love is something if you give it away.   You’ve got to give it away.   Give it away.   Love is something if you give it away.   You’ll end up having more.” Application: How have you “given love away” this week? Prayer Request____

                             Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.   (Subtle reminder to you   gentlemen to make sure you have your flowers and chocolates ordered.)   So, we’ll be   focusing this week on LOVE, and what it really means.   Use the most popular verse in the Bible to help your mindset this week.   I’m sure you have seen this about John 3:16 being the GREATEST, but think about how GREAT this verse is… God … the GREATEST being So loved … the GREATEST emotion The world … the GREATEST company That He gave … the GREATEST action His only begotten Son … the GREATEST gift That whoever … the GREATEST opportunity Believes in Him … the GREATEST simplicity Should not perish … the GREATEST assurance But … the GREATEST difference Have everlasting life … the GREATEST reward Prayer Request___________________________________________________________________________  

  As a teacher and a student, I always looked forward to “back to school” time. I have always      gotten excited about new notebooks, folders, and pencils because they reminded me I had the opportunity to start off with a clean slate. I always needed an opportunity to start completely over because I didn’t always apply myself in school. Maybe that is why I love the blood of Jesus so much! At times, I feel that I really do not apply myself to the cause of Christ as much as I should, and I need a “do-over.” Everyday, every hour, and every minute I’m alive offers an          opportunity to start over, to wipe the slate clean, and begin again like I am brand new! Peter tells us to, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3.19). The phrase “blotted out” means “to smear out, that is, obliterate (erase), blot out, wipe away.” Those words are music to my ears. I can’t tell you how many times I have needed my sins “blotted out.” But I can tell you that no m

  I just finished watching the classic film “Back to the Future” with my sons.   The whole time I was watching them enjoy the film and the whole concept of “time travel”, the thought occurred to me, what would I do if I could travel back in time?   Would I go back and tell Nick Saban to not try for that last second field goal in the 2013 Iron Bowl? Maybe go back in school and try         applying myself a little more in the classroom? Maybe I could go back and buy all of the Apple and Google stock I could?   All of these ideas sound great in the grand scheme of things, but they would have not made a significant change in my life.   You see, if Saban would have just went into overtime, the Tide may have still lost.   Applying myself in school might have caused me to make better grades and help me get a better job, but it would not change my love for what I do now.   The money of the stock, yeah…I would be rich, but I would find some way to squander it away on some material possessions

  All eleven of them had a meeting. I’m not sure who was the spokesman, but one could assume it was Reuben. They had met before without their younger brother, but under totally different   circumstances. This time it wasn’t out of jealousy over their brother Joseph, but out of fear. Their father, Jacob, was now dead, and one of the brothers must have said, “Joseph was only playing nice as long as dad was alive. Now that dad is gone, he may very well turn on us, and repay the evil that we deserve!” Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, caused him to spend a great deal of his life in prison, and made his father think he was dead. Who wouldn’t seek         revenge? Joseph wouldn’t . When the brothers send word to Joseph to forgive them, he weeps and tells them they have nothing to worry about. Joseph says, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50.20). Joseph understood the concept of the providence of God . If he had not been in Egypt, then he would not have

  The next time you are at worship, take a look at those that are sitting around you. Among them you will find accountants, doctors, teachers, auto repairmen, custodians, secretaries, and some factory workers. If it were you, would you start a religious       movement with all of these people? For the most part if it were us, we would pick only people who were very educated, charismatic, or people that had a great deal of                   influence within the community. Yet that is the exact opposite of what Jesus did! Isn’t that interesting? He chose people who were fisherman, a tax collector and zealot (I’m not even sure that you can be paid for that?); Jesus chose your ordinary average men to be his focal point, His core and yes even the foundation of His ministry. They may not have been much to look at in the beginning, but in the end (or shall I say at the              beginning of the church), people noticed something about these men that made them different, distinct and as P

  Don’t you just hate that feeling of being unprepared? I mean that feeling you had when your teacher was handing out that quiz and you knew you were not even the least bit ready. That empty feeling you got in the pit of your stomach when you know you were supposed to have something but you showed up empty handed and everyone knew it. That is one of those feelings that as much as you can help it, you never want to feel again. There is one sure fire way to make sure that you never want to feel that               uncomfortableness again, are you ready...you may want to get a pencil, because this is important: BE PREPARED. That’s it! That is all it takes! In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a       parable of the ten virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom before the     wedding. Five of these virgins were prepared; they had their flasks full of oil for their lamps. However, the other five were foolish and did not take any oil with them at all. When the bridegroom was delayed, they a

  I recently read a story of a man who had a problem. He wanted to remove a tree stump from his yard. He decided the quickest way to remove the stump was to use some dynamite he had stored away in his garage. The explosion did remove the stump from his yard but turned the stump into an airborne missile that went through a neighbor’s roof. The stump opened a 3 foot hole in the roof, split the rafters, and pushed through the ceiling of the dining room. Like the man in the story, we sometimes think the best way to fix a problem is by blowing up. How many times have you lost your temper and just exploded over some problem thinking it would fix it, only to make it worse? The wise man once said, “A man of quick temper acts foolishly..” (Proverbs 14.17). When we lose our temper, it makes us look foolish because instead of     fixing the problem, we make it worse. If we are honest with ourselves, we can see ourselves in the actions of the dynamite user. We have used explosive words and actio