True: God Seeks and Invites All

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Arrow

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

“In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” (Matthew 18:14)

“Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” (Matthew 22:9)

In the previous devotional, we learned that God desires a relationship with all people. Today, we will briefly look at two parables of Jesus that illustrate how God actively seeks and invites all people to come to Him.

In Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:3-7, we find simple stories of a shepherd searching for his lost sheep. The compassionate shepherd leaves his other ninety-nine sheep in safety to seek the one that wandered off. When he finds it, he rejoices! These parables demonstrate God’s great love for us, all of us, those who have not chosen to believe as well as those who believe but have wandered off. Jesus is the shepherd who searches for you, to bring you into His loving arms and rejoice over you!

The next parable is found in Matthew 22:1-14 and Luke 14:15-24. Here, God is compared to a king who plans a great wedding banquet for his son. At first, the king invites many guests. But when it is time for the celebration to begin, those guests are full of excuses and refuse to come. Upset, the king instructs his servants to go out and invite anyone they can find so that his house will be full. This parable is a beautiful picture of God’s desire for all to come into His Kingdom. Again, we see God search for and extend His invitation to anyone who will come.

Today’s Truth: God seeks you out and invites you into His Kingdom.*

* To enter into the Kingdom of God means to allow God to rule in your heart, surrendering your life to Him. (This will be discussed soon in: God’s Plan of Salvation.)

~by Arrow © 2016
pointingtheway.live
his.arrow@outlook.com

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True: God Created You

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Arrow

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13-14)

So… we know that God created the world. But for whom did He create it? For us! You and me and a whole bunch of other people! In the children’s song below, I share the simple truths inspired by Psalm 139:

God made me
He made me wonderfully
He put me together carefully
God made me!

God made you
He made you special too
He knew all you would say and do
God made you!

When the world was first created, the best thing was that it was perfect, and so were the first two people, briefly. After the sixth day of creation, we find, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) God loved the ones He created. He knew that they would make poor decisions and sin, but He chose to create them anyway. He wanted a relationship with them and He actually entered the world He made for them. Genesis 2 records that God talked with Adam, gave him instruction, brought him the animals to name, and provided him with a suitable mate. Genesis 3 tells us that God walked in the garden, looking for Adam and Eve, talking with them. His plan was to be with the people He created.

Remember these truths. God created you and knows you. He knows your name and everything about you. He hears your call, your cry, and your concerns. He waits for you to seek Him and when you do, He runs to you with open arms, welcoming you into a relationship with Him!

 Today’s Thought: God made you and desires to have a relationship with you.

~ by Arrow © 2016
pointingtheway.live
his.arrow@outlook.com

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True: There Is One God

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Arrow

“But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King.” (Jeremiah 10:10a)

“Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,” (Psalm 113:5)

“O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.” (Isaiah 37:16)

“…Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Mark 12:29)

Throughout the history of mankind, there have been numerous gods that have been worshipped. The truth is that there is only one, true God. He is the LORD God Almighty, creator of the universe. He is the only one to be worshipped. He is the one to be honored and glorified above all else. In Exodus 20:3, we find God’s first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me.” And David penned these words in a psalm found in 1 Chronicles 16:26, “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.”

Many nations have worshipped gods they formed with their own hands or worshipped God’s creation, such as the wind, water, sun, and moon. Romans 1:20 provides this insight, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature –have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” In other words, God’s creation is amazingly wonderful, but we are not to worship His creation. The creation is testifying and bearing witness to its awesome and incomparable creator, God!

Today, many people worship or idolize other people, like movie stars and athletes. We also tend to put other things above our relationship with God, such as families, careers, bank accounts, and possessions. When examining our priorities, the one who should be above all else is the One, True God.

Today’s thought: There is One, True God, Creator of the universe.

~ by Arrow © 2016
pointingtheway.live
his.arrow@outlook.com

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True: We Can Control Our Thoughts

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Arrow

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Today you have an assignment. Since it is clear that God desires for us to control our thought life, what better way than to begin with meditating on and memorizing Philippians 4:8? (See above.) These are words the apostle Paul wrote to encourage fellow believers, so let’s instill them into our lives as well.

During the next few weeks, we will be focusing on “whatever is true”, but there are a lot of things that are true in this world that we really should not think much about. So we pair up “whatever is true” with some other virtues in order to filter our thoughts. For example, if I’m thinking about a family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor, etc., I may need to put “whatever is true” together with “if anything is excellent or praiseworthy”. This keeps my thoughts about that person on a positive note rather than on a critical or judgmental track. It’s easy to find yourself on that slippery slope. So if you do, stop and change the direction of your thoughts.

Besides people, what else are we thinking about? Probably a million other things! We are daily bombarded by a myriad of thoughts with which God can help. Throughout our day, we need to release control to Him and pray for Him to show us how to re-think each situation.

That’s why this week we will work on memorizing Philippians 4:8. Read the words and phrases over and over. Try saying or writing parts of the verse without looking. Maybe you’ll want to group virtues together or create a picture in your mind, whatever technique works best for you. Or, you may want to write the verse on a sticky note and place it on your bathroom mirror, phone, or computer monitor, someplace you will see it throughout the day. The best way to change your attitude is to change what you are thinking. So, let’s begin by putting scripture in your heart and mind. And let the changes begin! With God’s help, you can do it!

Today’s thought: God has wonderful things for us to think about!

 ~ by Arrow © 2016
pointingtheway.live
his.arrow@outlook.com

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True: The Bible Is the Word of God

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Arrow

“For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” (Psalm 33:4)

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17)

The Bible is true. It is the inspired Word of God, a love letter from God to all mankind. It is a book of ancient history and future hope. It is still relevant today because it contains the message of Good News for all people. The foundation for retraining our thought life will be the Word of God. Each devotion in this series will begin with scripture, AKA truth.

What an honor and blessing it is for us to be able to read God’s Word. There were so many years when there was no written message from God. Eventually, the Law was given and men of God, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, began recording history, songs, proverbs, and the messages of the prophets. This became known as the Old Testament. In the New Testament, we find the life of Jesus, the history of the beginning of the church, letters full of inspired teachings for churches, and final prophecy. The amazing truth is that since the original source or author is God, the entire Bible is true! All of it!

Any time, day or night, I can search on line, look at TV, glance at a news or magazine stand, etc. and I doubt whether what I am reading or hearing is actually true! But this I do know. I can go to any page or any verse in the Bible and know, without a doubt, that what I am reading is a message from the living God, a message of truth!

Today’s thought: The Bible is filled with truth from God for you and me.

~ by Arrow © 2016
pointingtheway.live
his.arrow@outlook.com

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Introduction to “Devotions to Improve My Thought Life” or “What Was I Thinking!?”

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Arrow

Whether feeling, facing, or full of anger, bitterness, confusion, depression, emptiness, frustration, grief, helplessness, …(the alphabet goes on)…we have the option, a choice if you will, to stop and turn our focus from ourselves and our own circumstances, and instead look up and fill our minds with thoughts God has for us.

When feeling overwhelmed with worldly stresses, we want help NOW! I wanted help NOW! And I cried out to Jesus for help NOW! He reminded me to change my focus and change my thoughts. Only then could I change my attitude, emotions, and behavior. If we want our heart lightened and our mind at peace, then we must change our thought life!

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” (New International Version of the Bible)

Let’s learn to “think about such things” and learn what those things are.

Change takes more than desire. It takes discipline, effort, and hard work to rein in thoughts and think in a manner that would please our Lord. The apostle Paul encouraged believers to live as an athlete in “strict training”, making our body our slave (I Corinthians 9:24-27). This includes our thoughts.

The foundational premise of these devotions is: With God’s help, we can control what we are thinking! Of course, as believers, we have the power of God and His Holy Spirit living and working in us to help make us holy as He is holy. We simply cannot change on our own.

So, where do we begin? First, we learn to stop and think about what we’re thinking about! Ever thought of that? Once we realize what we are really thinking, we choose to either continue with that line of thought or think about something else. For example, if in the middle of the afternoon, I realize that my thoughts keep reflecting on a nice-looking actor I saw interviewed on TV that morning, then I have a choice. I can continue with that thought pattern or remind myself of what is true and pure. I am married to and have a covenant relationship with my spouse and I choose to think about their “hotness” instead!

When I find my mind awash with thoughts that do not belong, what can I pour in to replace them? Is there something better on which to focus? Can I raise my standard of thinking? That is what I want to explore in these devotions. Let’s find out what it is God would rather see in our mind and put it there!

The devotions in this section of the website will focus on the eight virtues listed in Philippians 4:8 (quoted above): whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. I believe it is significant that “whatever is true” is listed first so that is where this study will begin.

I pray that you will join me on this “thought-changing” adventure! ~ Arrow

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That’s What He Does

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Arrow

Broken-hearted
I began to walk
With streaming tears
I cried to God

Crossing a field
Just wanting to hide
Ready to release
The hurt inside

Finding some shade
And a smooth rock to sit
I let the dam break
Let go – all of it!

And as it flowed free
The healing began
My Father was listening
The One, Great I AM

‘Cause that’s what He does
He cares for me
He told me He saw me
Under that tree

He touched my heart
And I started to sing
Pain turned to praises
And thanks to my King

‘Cause that’s what He does
He hears and He heals
Never surprised
What we think or feel

When we surrender
All that’s gone wrong
Admitting our weakness
To the One who is strong

Yes, that’s what He does
He brings comfort and peace
Wisdom and guidance
To all those who seek

Yes, that’s what He does
He loves and forgives
Hoping we’ll believe,
Trust Him and live.

~ by Arrow © 2016

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My Salvation Story

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Arrow

Long ago and way back when
My parents took me to church with them
I heard parables in Sunday school
And all about the “Ten Big Rules”

The difference came in seventh grade
I heard kids tell of a decision they’d made
While up at church camp, they changed their behavior
Taking Jesus as Lord, accepting their Savior

What did this mean and what if it’s true?
Jesus was God’s Son, I believed too!
So, we met with the preacher, my folks and me
I learned Jesus died to set us all free

Receiving His mercy, humbled by grace
Buried in baptism, my sins washed away
I was raised from the water to live a new life
With His Spirit inside me, forever my guide

It’s been a long road with bumps ‘long the way
I’ve fallen and failed, but He’s always stayed
Always there in my trouble, there in my fears
(I imagine He holds me and wipes all my tears)

Now my aim is to daily grow closer to Him
By praying and reading His Word once again
By trying to reach out and go where He sends
While “pointing the way” to strangers, family, and friends

~ by Arrow © 2016
his.arrow@outlook.com

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Keep Prayin’ America

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Arrow

Verse 1:
People across America
Kneeling before the Lord
Families within America
Seeking to be restored
The desperate in America
Searching everywhere
Strangers throughout America
Lifting their hearts in prayer

Chorus:
Keep prayin’ America
God is listening still
Keep prayin’ America
Whosoever will
Keep prayin’ America
We’ve got so far to go
Keep prayin’ America
My home sweet home

Verse 2:
We battle within our neighborhood
While wars hasten on
Wars within America
Between right and wrong
We fight for our marriages
For our children, for the unborn
Against immorality
Indecency and porn

Chorus:
Keep prayin’ America
God is listening still
Keep prayin’ America
Whosoever will
Keep prayin’ America
We’ve got so far to go
Keep prayin’ America
My home sweet home

Bridge:
We pledge to be
“One nation under God”
With all our wealth
We claim “In God We Trust”
America, God has set
His amazing grace on Thee
With Him
There is victory!

Verse 3:
We’ve fought for our freedom
But where does that lead?
Abusing our freedom
Is doing anything we please
God’s granted us the freedom
With Him to be restored
Glory, hallelujah
We’re free to serve the Lord!

Chorus:
Keep prayin’ America
God is listening still
Keep prayin’ America
Whosoever will
Keep prayin’ America
We’ve got so far to go
Keep prayin’ America
My home sweet home

Oh, God please bless America
My home sweet home!

(chords and melody available) 

~ by Arrow © 1991

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Good News!

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Arrow

Let Me tell you a story
Come, lend an ear
I see that you’re searching
The web far and near
While sharing your secrets
Your failures and fears
Looking for answers
Through eyes filled with tears

I want you to know
I AM here with you
Aware of the struggles
And pain you go through
I’ve witnessed your choices
Consequences too
I’m longing to help
Come, see what I do

Just look around you
Hear nature’s decree
Of My invisible qualities
Divine power you’ll see
I created this world
With you in My mind
A place where relationship
With Me, you could find

But sin interrupted
My most perfect plan
Satan was greedy
And so followed man
Down the road of destruction
What would be the cost
To rescue a dying world
To save what was lost?

I sent a love letter
Have you heard? It is true!
To tell of my plans
And promises for you
To heal what is hurting
Deep in your soul
To bring hope and joy
To touch and make whole

Then, I loved you so deeply
That I gave My Son
To be punished in your place
The only One
Who was perfect and holy
Yet died on a cross
Bloodied and beaten
To save all who are lost

So, that’s why I’m writing
To you, precious one
To reveal your life’s purpose
New life in My Son
For all who believe
And make Jesus Lord
Together forever
Your life restored!

by Arrow © 2016
pointingtheway.live
his.arrow@outlook.com

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