DON’T LET YOUR WEIGHT IN LIFE STRETCH YOUR NECK AND MAKE YOU LOOK BACKWARD!

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 28-11

DON’T LET YOUR WEIGHT IN LIFE STRETCH YOUR NECK AND MAKE YOU LOOK BACKWARD!

(Hebrews 12:1- 2) 1- “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

“Orison swett Marden, founder of success magazine, held that “obstacles will look large or small to you according to whether you are large or small.” Problems either hurt you or help you. Depending on how you approach them, they’ll stop you from succeeding or stretch you so that you not only overcome them, but also become a better person in the process. The choice is yours.” (The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player by John C. Maxwell)

The Apostle Paul in his letter to young Timothy shared a great reminder and an encouragement for us Christians of this present time. May this would be our heart’s desire and this will serve as a challenge to every new and mature believers of the Lord Jesus Christ. (II Timothy 4:7) “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

THE UGLY PICTURE OF “ENVY”

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 27-11 (Galatians 5:26)

THE UGLY PICTURE OF “ENVY”

“Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

“Real change is an inside job. You might alter things a day or two with money and systems, but the heart of the matter is and always will be, the matter of the heart.” (Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado) It’s very unfortunate to know that so many Christians are like the fruit in our illustration- the picture. It looks beautiful and colorful. It’s shiny and looks very clean. It’s actually the ugliest pepper I got from the store.  It has dirt at the bottom and the shape of it doesn’t look like red pepper. Christians who lives in envy, strife and jealousy were like that, they look nice and talk nice, but deep inside their heart are those sins that destroy and eat them like a cancer. (Proverbs 14:30) “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” Evangelist Billy Graham said; “Sin is like a deadly cancer, inexorably bringing suffering and death in its wake.” Envy indeed is an ugly sin in the heart of man that destroys relationships, families, churches and organizations.

This was the sin that caused King Saul to run after David. Envy was the sin that made Joseph’s brothers hated him so much up to the point where they even planned to kill him. (Genesis 37:11; 18) 11- “And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. 18- And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.”

OUTSIDE REFLECTION IS FROM THE IMAGINATION OF THE HEART

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 25-11 (Deuteronomy 29:19)

OUTSIDE REFLECTION IS FROM THE IMAGINATION OF THE HEART

“And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:”

Jesus said, “The abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Maxwell Maltz said; “For imagination sets the goal “picture” which our automatic mechanism works on. We act, or fail to act, not because of “will”, as is so commonly believed, but because of imagination.” Grace Speare said; “When you think something, you think in pictures. You don’t think a thought in words. You think a picture a picture that expresses your thought. Working with this picture will produce it into your experience.” (The Best of Success, A Treasury of Ideas by Wynn Davis)

We are saying and doing what we have stored 18’ (inches) from the top of our head which is our heart. It’s from our heart and we picture it in our mind and the last thing we know; either we’re saying it or doing it already. (Jeremiah 23:17- 18) 17- “They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. 18- For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?”

TODAY’S COMMON WORDS- “TOUGH TIMES”

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06-24-11 (I Peter 4:12-13)

TODAY’S COMMON WORDS- “TOUGH TIMES”

12- “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13- But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

I like the idea of Chuck Swindoll when he made a comparison and study on (I John 1:9 and Galatians 6:8) which is really true to many homes and individuals. Mr. Swindoll said; “We teach our children (I John 1:9) ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ which may tempt them to coast on grace.” And Mr. Swindoll said that “If we teach them (I John 1:9) we must also teach them (Galatians 6:8), ‘For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.’ The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction.” (When the Going Gets Tough by Joe Stowell) Today’s tough times could be caused by personal, by the public or the government’s bad decisions or judgment. You are either going up into a mountain tops experienced or you are already on your way down. (I Peter 4:15- 16) 15- “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16- Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

THE SACRIFICE OF A FATHER

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 19- 11

THE SACRIFICE OF A FATHER

(Genesis 22:2- 3) 2- “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3- And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.”

The commands of God: 1- In Verse 2- "Take thy son…” not thy bullocks and thy lambs or other animals that was available at the time…

2- Again in Verse 2- “thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest,” If you notice the 2 important words: “only” and “lovest” It’s hard for a father to give up something or someone if those words are involved. It would not be easy to give up your only son and the one you love the most. But God gave us His one and only Son. (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 3- “and get thee into the land of Moriah…” 4- “and offer him there for a burnt offering…”

God the Father sacrificed His Son on the Cross for the remission of our sins. Abraham’s sacrifice was a picture of what God will do to us through the death of His Son. It is right and biblical if we learn to sacrifice for our family as a father and a husband.

(Romans 8:32) “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

A NOBLE SON

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 18- 11

A NOBLE SON

(Luke 15: 20- 22) 20- “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21- And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22- But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:”

It was a remark overheard in a street car, but it reminded us that there are honorable men in the world. A young man said: “I am very particular about paying my fare. I took a ticket home once when I was a small boy and showed it to my father, saying that the conductor had not taken it, and that I was that much ahead. My father looked at me and said that I had sold my honor for a nickel. That put a new face on it. I always think of what he said when I am tempted to repeat the offense.” If all fathers were training their sons in this way there would be fewer dishonorable transactions in high places.” (HERALD AND PRESBYTER) We honor our father by giving honor to God the Father. We must be in tune with God to be in tuned with men, especially with our parents. God don’t expect us to live an excellent life, but He expect us to live an honorable life.

(John5:23) “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”

WHAT WE NEED IN OUR HOMES

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06-17-11

WHAT WE NEED IN OUR HOMES

(Proverbs 15:33; 14:3) 33- “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. 3- In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.”

“When you have given God His place of honor, glory, and power, take your place of deepest lowliness, and seek to be filled with the Spirit of humility. As a creature it is your blessedness to be nothing, that God may be all in you. As a sinner you are not worthy to look up to God; bow in self abasement. As a saint, let God's love overwhelm you, and bow you still lower down. Sink down before Him in humility, meekness, patience, and surrender to His goodness and mercy. He will exalt you. Oh! take time, to get very low before God.”(copied) We need it as parents. We need it as Christians to be a witness to the lost world. Humility should start from our heart, in our home, then in the house of God. We need to walk humbly before God and in the eyes of the darkened world. In the Philippines, people from the provinces grow bamboo. One of the amazing things about bamboo is, as it grows higher and taller, the more it bows down to the ground. What a beautiful picture of humility. (I Peter 5:5-6) 5- “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6- Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (Micah 6:8) “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

THE LORD WHO HEALS…

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 16- 11

THE LORD WHO HEALS…

(Isaiah 53:4- 5) 4- “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5- But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

“Since I met this blessed Savior,

Since He cleansed and made me whole,

I will never cease to praise Him,

I'll shout it while eternity rolls.

He touched me, Oh He touched me,

And oh the joy that floods my soul!

Something happened and now I know

He touched me and made me whole.” (Bill and Gloria Gaither)

It’s not a wrong, false or a bad doctrine and teaching if your pastor believes in healing, because the Bible is filled of God’s demonstrations of His healing power. God showed us how He used His prophets and servants in healing His children by faith. Even the Lord Jesus Christ performed miracles of healing through different people, in different places and in different occasions. He is able to heal us of our physical sickness. We have read over and over in the Bible how the Lord has healed people who were sick physically. God healed people like blind Bartimaeus who came to Jesus for healing. (Mark 10:46- 52)

THE STATEMENTS OF THE DYING MEN

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 15- 11

THE STATEMENTS OF THE DYING MEN

(Hebrews 9:27) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28- So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

Dr. Billy Graham in his book PEACE WITH GOD wrote: “The last statements of dying men provide an excellent study for those who are looking for realism in the face of death.

Matthew Henry- “Sin is bitter. I bless God I have inward supports.”

Martin Luther- “Our God is the God from whom cometh salvation: God is the Lord by whom we escape death.”

John Knox- “Live in Christ, live in Christ, and the flesh need not fear death.”

John Wesley- “The best of all is, God is with us. Farewell! Farewell!

Richard Baxter- “I have pain; but I have peace. I have peace!

William Carey, the missionary- “When I am gone, speak less of Dr. Carey and more of Dr. Carey’s Savior.”

Adoniram Judson- “I am not tired of my work, neither am I tired of the world; yet when Christ calls me home, I shall go with gladness of a boy bounding away from school.” (Proverbs 27:1) “Boast not thyself of to- morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”

MAKE A RIPPLE EFFECT

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 14-11

MAKE A RIPPLE EFFECT

(Matthew 5:14- 16) 14- “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15- Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Max Lucado in his book “Grace for the Moment” wrote: “You want to make a difference in your world? Live a holy life: Be faithful to your spouse. Be the one at the office who refuses to cheat. Be the neighbor who acts neighborly. Pay your bills. Do your part and enjoy life. Don’t speak one message and live another. People are watching the way we act more than they are listening to what we say.” (A Gentle Thunder)

We can be a testimony and an influence to others if we live the way God wants us to be. He can make us shine and be a testimony of His grace if we live according to the Word of God. Our preaching, teaching and what we believe in is just a tinkling cymbal to others, if we do not reflect the face and heart of Christ by living a holy life. Try to MAKE A RIPPLE EFFECT by putting wings on your words. Speak softly! I can’t hear your voice, because your bad testimony is on the way and your life in the world is blocking my ear drums. “You walk the talk and talk the walk” as they say. (I Peter 1:16) “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

GROWING BY ABIDING

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 13- 11

GROWING BY ABIDING

(John 15:4- 5) 4- “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5- I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

My personal belief of growing in the Lord and in His grace is by abiding and living in God and in His Word. A consistent prayer life will keep the growth and the connection to God stronger and sweeter. Dr. Warren Wiersbe said: “We can benefit from change. Anyone who has ever really lived knows that there is not life without growth. When we stop growing, we stop living and start existing. But there is no growth without challenge, and there is no challenge without change. Life is a series of changes that create challenges, and if we are going to make it, we have to grow.” (Living at the Next Level by John C. Maxwell) We need to grow and help people grow. Learn from the Chinese proverb: “If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people.” (Psalm 92:12- 14) “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13- Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14- They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;”

“THE FLOWER FADETH: BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOR EVER.”

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 12- 11

“THE FLOWER FADETH: BUT THE WORD OF OUR GOD SHALL STAND FOR EVER.”

(Isaiah 40: 5- 8) 5- “And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6- The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7- The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8- The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”

“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior is communicated to us through this Book.” (Abraham Lincoln)

“I believe a knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more valuable than a college course without a Bible.” (William Lyon Phelps, Former professor at Yale University)

Our daily goal must be to gain spiritual dependence on God’s Word for daily Christian living. (Psalms 119:7-9) 7- “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. 8- I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. 9-BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 11- 11

GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS

(Proverbs 12:1) “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.”

Have you ever bought something like an electronics or something that needs to be upgraded, install or set up to be useful? You buy a Cell phone and you need to read the instructions so you could start calling your friends. Someone said, that “the most painful part when buying something that needs to be set up or upgrade is the reading and the following of the instructions that comes with it.” We can talk about obtaining God’s wisdom through His Word. The truth is… if you’re buying a car, you need to read the instructions or manual so you would not put your life and the life of your passengers and other people on the road in jeopardy. You have to know your car, the engine and everything on the dashboard. If you want to know God in a deeper way, you have to read His instructions which can be found in the Holy Bible. In (proverbs 12: 1) “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge:” You will not like what it says if you will continue on reading… Notice what it says in verse 1- “…but he that hateth reproof is brutish.” Let me say it in my own words or let me paraphrase it… “He who hates rebukes is like a fool or someone who lacks understanding…” The Holy Bible is God’s manual and guide to us. We must read it, live it and LOVINGLY practice it. (II Timothy 3:16) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

THE GREEN TREE OR THE DRY TREE?

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 10- 11

THE GREEN TREE OR THE DRY TREE

(Luke 23:31) “For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”

The environmentalists may take this verse literally. The religious group may interpret this verse in a literal sense, but the Word of God will stand firm in its truth. In the book of (Mark 11: 20- 21) 20- “And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21- And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.” The Lord Jesus Christ was in need of food when He came to a fig-tree. Although the fig tree was full of leaves, the Lord Jesus Christ hoped to find some fruit therein, but He found none. In spiritual sense, as children of God; we may not be as fruitful as Christ expected us to be…, but He would be disappointed to see us fruitless.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon has a different interpretation of the verse. He said, “If Christ the innocent Substitute for sinners, suffered as He did, what will be done when the sinners himself – the dry tree- falls into the hands of an angry God?” (Morning by Morning by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, page 107, April 08).

We know that the previous verses in Luke 23:31 was talking about the suffering of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Notice what Apostle Paul said regarding God the Father not sparing His own beloved Son- the Lord Jesus Christ. (Roman 8:32) “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

GOD CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS… (He is our Shipmaster)

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 09- 11

GOD CAN TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS… (He is our Shipmaster)

(Psalm 107:22-24) 22- “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. 23- They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; 24- These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.”

A good friend of mine would usually say to me; “Business Ely, Business; You got to take care of business!” Which I believe is true. We have to take care of our personal business at home, at work and even in our spiritual life.” In the book of (I Chronicles 26:30) the Bible said, “…in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.” We should let God take care of business and of our cares.

A sea captain and a crusty chief engineer were talking one day, and they began to argue about whose expertise was most needed for running of the ship. The debate got more and more heated, and finally the captain decided that they should trade jobs for a day. The chief engineer would be on the bridge, and the captain would go down to the engine room. Only a few hours into their shift, the captain emerged from below decks sweating, his face and uniform covered with dirt and oil. “Chief”, he bellowed, “You need to get down to the engine room. I can’t get her to go.” “Of course you can’t,” barked the chief. “She’s aground!” “The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player”, by John Maxwell page 45).

Jesus said, “I must be about my Father’s business…

THE HEAVEN’S DECLARE, THE GLORY OF GOD!!!

06- 02- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

THE HEAVEN’S DECLARE, THE GLORY OF GOD!!!

(Psalm 19:1- 2) 1- “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. 2- Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.”

“From the things that are seen every day by all the world the psalmist, in these verses, leads us to the consideration of the invisible things of God, whose being appears incontestably evident and whose glory shines transcendently bright in the visible heavens, the structure and beauty of them, and the order and influence of the heavenly bodies. This instance of the divine power serves not only to show the folly of atheists, who see there is a heaven and yet say, "There is no God,’’ who see the effect and yet say, "There is no cause,’’ but to show the folly of idolaters also, and the vanity of their imagination, who, though the heavens declare the glory of God, yet gave that glory to the lights of heaven which those very lights directed them to give to God only, the Father of lights.” (The Bible Collection, Matthew Henry)

(Psalm 14:1; 53:1) 1- “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 1- To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.”

I AM LIKE A GREEN OLIVE- TREE

MI DAILY DEVOTION 06- 01- 11

I AM LIKE A GREEN OLIVE- TREE

(Song of Solomon 1: 14- 17) 14- “My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. 15- Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes. 16- Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. 17- The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.”

“(1.) How Christ is accounted of by all believers: He is a bundle of myrrh and a cluster of camphire, something, we may be sure, nay, every thing, that is pleasant and delightful. The doctrine of his gospel, and the comforts of his Spirit, are very refreshing to them, and they rest in his love; none of all the delights of sense are comparable to the spiritual pleasure they have in meditating on Christ and enjoying him. There is a complicated sweetness in Christ and an abundance of it; there is a bundle of myrrh and a cluster of camphire. We are not straitened in him whom there is all fulness. The word translated camphire is copher, the same word that signifies atonement or propitiation. Christ is a cluster of merit and righteousness to all believers; therefore he is dear to them because he is the propitiation for their sins.” (The Bible Collection, Matthew Henry)

“It is a refreshing colour, good for the eyes; and it denotes fruitfulness. I am like a green olive-tree, Ps. 52:8. We are married to Christ, that we should bring forth unto God,…” “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.”