you spoke your death words. how easily they dripped from your tongue. words without grace. words without love. words without hope.

words without life.

did you pray before you spoke to me? did you see the soul before you, so loved by God, before you let loose your darts?

the enemy always comes to kill steal and destroy. what else would I expect but death words?

but God

the Great I AM, the Omnipotent Ruler and Creator of the Universe, the Word, the Truth and the Life. He spoke.

life words

You spoke your life words. How quickly You proclaimed them from Your tongue. My face cradled between Your nail-scarred hands. Costly Words of grace, dripping with love and drenched with hope. Life words.

I love you,

I see you,

I hear you.

I cover you in the shadow of My wings. I came so you can have life and life abundant.

what else could I expect from the Creator of my soul but life words?

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Because of the cross we have choice— life words or death words, blessing words or cursing words. No matter what we’ve done, how far we’ve wandered, or how long we’ve been gone, we have choice. How will we prioritize the words of others? How will we prioritize the words of God? Which will we use to write our story? Which will we give access to our heart? What will you choose? What will I choose? Choose life words and live.

say these life words out loud:

I am called. I am loved. I am clean and forgiven. I am redeemed and washed in the blood of Jesus. I am holy and set apart in love for good works. I am a son/daughter of the King! I have hope and a future!

prayer

Dearest Father,

Help my brothers and sisters in Christ know the truth of who they are in You.  Help them to believe Your life words. Help them to know its never to late to turn around and follow You. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of redemption and repentance. Amen.

way of life words

To learn how to accept Christ as your Savior, please click on the following link: The Way to God

Please click on the following links to learn more about your identity in Christ:

Beth Moore God’s truth

Gregory Dickow: Identity in Christ

Please let us know how we can pray for you by leaving a comment in the reply section down below.

To Do-ers List

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25

Welcome to To Do-ers List Bible study series. I pray you find this short series beneficial and life changing.

I am a list maker. Most days I start my morning by making my to-do list. My to-do list keeps me focused and helps me make valuable use of my time. God is a doer as well; creating is one of His specialties. We can be listeners, hearers, watchers, thinkers, and gatherers of His word, but there must be a point in time when we become doers.

It is important to note while other Greek words for hearing translate as  “understanding, perceiving, and obeying,” the word used for hearer in the verse above means simply one who passively hears. No action. No engagement. Classic in one ear and out the other. But, God calls us to be doers of His word.

The Bible lists many benefits of being do-ers of the Word.

1. Correction, instruction, and training (2 Timothy 3:16)
2. Wisdom (Psalm 19:7)
3. Freedom (John 8:32)
4. Life (John 6:68)
5. Strength (Joel 2:11)
6. Greater faith (Romans 10:17)
7. Comfort, revival, and peace (Psalm 119:7-16)
8. Plus many, many other benefits.

God has not given us His Word for information, but for transformation. Therefore, the mission of this Bible study series is to change hearers into doers. Each day we will focus on one command from Scripture and apply it to our lives. Every nook and cranny, every chore, errand, and encounter of our lives will be covered in the Word of God.

Starting July 27^th, check our website every morning at 5:00 a.m. to get your To Do-ers List for the day.

From hearers to doers. Are you up for the challenge?

Study Guides:

To help you organize your daily study and record your experiences, please download and print the following PDF, or download the journal app to your favorite Apple device.

• To Do-ers List Study Guide PDF
• Days Lite: My Wonderful Life App free app from App Store.

Please add your name to the comment section below if you are up for the challenge. Don’t forget to comment on your experience in the comment section below!

**If you are starting late, please access the first six days of the study on the links below!**

To Do-ers List Day 1: Love God

To Do-ers List, Day 2: Love Others

To Do-ers List, Day 3: Pray ’bout Everything

To Do-ers List, Day 4: Walk by Faith

To Do-ers List, Day 5: Word in Me

To Do-ers List: Day 6: Always Do Good

Be a doer of the word.

by Mary Kane

All rights reserved. Copyright 2015.

 Take 5!

Fear and Faith

Please Take 5! minutes and go before God in prayer. Confess to Him any sin and ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Please read John 20:18-22.

18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. 19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Prior to this portion of Scripture, Jesus had just risen from the dead. Early resurrection morning, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to be with her Lord. Finding the tomb empty, Mary stood outside the tomb and wept. Suddenly, Jesus appeared to Mary and spoke to her.

What did Jesus tell Mary to do?

He sent her on her first missionary journey—to tell the disciples He had risen! Jesus gives us the same instructions—tell others we have seen the Lord and He has spoken great things to us.

Name something God has spoken to your heart.

Later that day, the disciples gathered together (because of fear and because of faith), perhaps to pray and to discuss the earthshaking, stone-rolling events that had recently occurred.

Read verse 19 and record the word used to describe the doors.

Why were the doors locked?

They were locked because of fear. All the disciples were gathered in one small room. Locked in. Locked down.

That’s what fear does; it entraps us and keeps us small.

Tweet This

Faith frees.

What does Jesus tell the disciples (verse 21)?

Draw close to Jesus and receive a fresh breathe of the Spirit and go. He is sending you.

Antidote for fear …

1. Remember Jesus is with you in your fear, amid the flames, and among the waters; bringing down walls and  giants.
2. Meet with Jesus. It will turn your fear to joy.
3. Receive the spirit. God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, sound mind and love.
4. Continue to do God’s work. Do it afraid.

Remember, 

fear traps, faith frees.

Tweet This

Have a blessed day.

Mary Kane

copyright 2015

all rights reserved.

Short and Sweet Nourishment for the Soul

2  … all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”  …  9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst … “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

She sinned.

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Action Points:

1. Take your sin to Jesus. Tell Him what you have done and accept His grace. Tell Him now.
2. Talk to Jesus. Like the woman caught in adultery, leave your accusers to Jesus. Notice the only person the woman talked to was Jesus. She did not fight, argue, or defend herself to the crowds. What do you need to do to spend more time with Jesus?
3. Turn and sin no more. Whatever it takes … new friends … new job … new habits … sin no more.  Change requires change. What will you change today to change your life?

Life is sweet.

Short and Sweet Nourishment for the Soul

41 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. 43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.

Action Points:

1. What is God calling you to give?
2. What have you already given, but still need to give more …  everything?
3. Pray for God to give you the courage to give your two small coins. Ask Him to multiply them and use them for His kingdom.

Life is sweet.

all rights reserved.

Copyright 2015

Nourishment and Refreshment for your soul.

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1

It’s everywhere: Keep Calm and Carry On. This famous British slogan from World War II, is currently emblazoned on T-shirts, billboards, magazines, and advertisements.

During World War II, the British government issued many morale-boosting posters. According to keepcalmandcarryon.com, “The plan in place for this poster was to issue it only upon the invasion of Britain by Germany. As this never happened, the poster was never officially seen by the public.” The rest of the story is history.

God also wants us to “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Why? Because He is our sovereign Father, who knows what we need before we even ask Him. How do we keep calm? By continuing to believe Him, despite our circumstances.

If you have lost your job … keep calm and carry on.

If you are facing the thing you feared would come … keep calm and carry on.

If the hardship has come upon you which you said you could never survive … keep calm and carry on.

If in the face of your greatest heartbreak, loss, or hardship … keep calm and carry on.

Until Jesus comes back or calls you home … keep calm and carry on.

Action Points:

1. Name an action you will take today to show God you trust Him.
2. Every time you start to worry today (America’s favorite pastime), replace worry with prayer.
3. Speak a Bible verses instead of anxious words.

Life is sweet.