... all that I have is yours.

SEE GOD AS A GOOD FATHER

By Joseph Prince – Posted March 24, 2017

Luke 15:31

“And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

Faith is believing that we have a good God, and that He protects and provides for those who trust in Him. Remember the parable of the prodigal son? (Luke 15:11–32) Jesus shared it to illustrate how good our heavenly Father is. The wayward son had squandered his father’s inheritance before he decided to go home to ask his father to make him a hired servant.

But before he could reach home, his father saw him from afar, ran toward him and embraced him. And instead of making him a hired servant, the father turned to his servants and said, “Bring out the best robe! Get a ring and sandals for my son! Let’s kill the fatted calf and celebrate!”

Now, when the older son returned from work and heard about the celebration, he became angry and refused to enter the house. When his father came out to ask him what was wrong, the older son complained, “Look, I’ve served you all these years. Yet, you never gave me a calf to celebrate with my friends. But as soon as this prodigal son of yours comes home, you kill the fatted calf for him!”

Notice what his father told him: “Son, you are always with me and all that I have is yours. We should celebrate because your brother was dead but is alive again. He was lost but is now found.”

Can you see how the older brother perceived his father? He saw his father as a hard and stingy man. He believed that he had to work to get something good from his father. He didn’t realize that he already had an inheritance! He could have killed the fatted calf any time for a celebration!

Like the father in the parable, God has already given you an inheritance in Christ. Don’t fail to enjoy it by doubting God’s goodness or by believing that you must work for it. See your Father’s heart of love and goodness toward you, and celebrate your inheritance today!

Thought For The Day

Faith is believing that you have a good Father who protects and provides for His children.

Constant Gratitude

By Joel Osteen – Posted March 24, 2017

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Chronicles 16:34, ESV

TODAY'S WORD:

What are you grateful for today? Are you grateful for His love, mercy and kindness? Are you grateful for the sun that shines and brings us a new day? Are you thankful for the gift of eternal life? 

Gratefulness is a powerful force in the life of the believer. No matter what may be happening in the world around you, you can always find something to thank God for. Gratefulness and faith go hand in hand. When we are grateful, it shows that our faith is in Him. We can thank Him for what He's done in the past and what He will do in the future!  

Remember, faith pleases God; it causes Him to move on your behalf. Work to develop an attitude of constant gratitude and give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. As you do, you’ll experience His mercy and loving-kindness in greater ways and move forward into the blessing and victory He has prepared for you.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, today I declare my thanks to You for all You have done in my life. Help me see Your hand of blessing as I continually acknowledge and praise You for all You have done in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Just for Today

By Joyce Meyer - Posted March 24, 2017

If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one. 
— Mother Teresa of Calcutta

I don't have to tell you that the world is full of problems. Hunger, disease, poverty, the oppression of women, and the exploitation of children are taking place in every country on earth right this minute. Heartbreaking stories are unfolding while you and I drink our morning coffee. I’ve seen so much of the world's anguish in my ministry travels, and it is truly overwhelming. I have also committed to do whatever I can do to relieve suffering and make the world a better place in any way I can. I challenge you today to do the same. 

You may be thinking, Joyce, what I can do won't even make a dent in the problems we have in the world. I know how you feel, because I once felt the same way. But if we all think that way, nobody will do anything and nothing will change. Although our individual efforts may not solve the problems, together we can make a major difference. God won't hold us accountable for what we could not do, but He will hold us accountable for the things we could have done. 

I realize that you can't do everything; I don't question that at all. You must say no to some things or your life will be filled with stress. I think the question each of us must answer is, "What am I doing to make someone else's life better?" And perhaps a better question is, "What have I done today to make someone else's life better?" 

Nothing good ever happens accidentally. If we want to make the world a better place, each of us must say: Change begins with me! 

Loving Others Today: Go ahead and say it: "Change begins with me!"

  

Never-Ending Love

By DR. David Jeremiah – Posted March 24, 2017

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:8

Recommended Reading: 1 John 4:9-11

Things in this world fail. Sometimes they break down, but other times they outlive their purpose or usefulness. We are in a constant state of repair or replace in this world.

But the apostle Paul wrote that one thing never fails: love. His three short words—“love never fails”—are a bridge between the words before and the words after. “Love never fails” is a summary of the preceding verse: “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” “But,” Paul says, some things do stop. Prophecies, tongues, divine mysteries—they were all present in the apostolic age, but Paul said they would cease. They wouldn’t fail as we use the term, implying a breakdown. Rather, they would have served their purpose in God’s ongoing revelation of Himself and salvation. But love will never end. Why? Because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). God is eternal and so is His love.

God’s love will never fail you or cease to have a purpose. Because God will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5), neither will His love.

No matter what storm you face… God loves you. He has not abandoned you.
Franklin Graham

 Read-Thru-the-Bible: 1 Samuel 8 – 12