Month: May 2016

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14: [12] So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

Observation: God has blessed me with certain gifts, some I use to build up the church, others I use selfishly. At times my pride holds back the use of these gifts and other times I accept the praise of others without pointing to God who gave them to me. Most, if not all the gifts and talents God has given me can benefit the church, but I use them sparingly instead of generously.

Application: God gave me my gifts and talents for His use, not mine. I need to stop being so lazy and find ways to use my gifts to glorify God.

Prayer: Dear Lord I freely give you this life as a living sacrifice, make it holy and pleasing to you. May the talents you have given me multiply back to you.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Observation: I am not patient, I do envy, I do boast and most of the time I’m proud and not kind enough. So how can love reside in me? It doesn’t. My pride tells me I’m this good Christian man, but how can I be without love. All the characteristics of love I don’t have , at least in the proportion God calls me to have them.

Application: Love is not a feeling, but something I need to strive for. I need to make an effort to be loving. I need to calm down and be patient. I need to look at the blessings God has given me and not envy. I need to realize all I have comes from God so I have nothing to boast about or to be prideful of and I need to make the effort to be kind.

Prayer: Dear God may I show the love you give me to others. May they know you through me.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12: 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Observation: We all have different gifts, because God has chosen to give them to us. Sometimes I become prideful when I’m able to use the gifts God has given me. At times I want to control a situation, because I can. I’ve hurt others in the past by my pushy ways, instead of realizing God has given me the gifts to glorify Him and not me.

Application: I need to realize that the gifts and abilities God has given me is to be a small part of His plan. I need to be humble in my service with others and help build up others.

Prayer: Dear Lord open my eyes and heart to your desires. Use me to glorify you and that You get the praise and honor.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11: [1] Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Observation: Does the example I set to others lead them to Christ? Sometimes I show a loving, caring and trusting spirit, but not often enough. There should not be a time when my example should be contradictory to Christ. If I change, I become a hypocrite, making it worse for others. God is the same always and my witness needs to be consistent in my life.

Application: Be aware how I present myself to others. Be aware if I become anxious, how I speak, what I say and my body language. I’m Christ representative and guide for others and I need to act that way.

Prayer: Dear Lord fill me with the Holy Spirit and guide this servant to be more like Christ. May others see you through me.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10: [24] Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Observation: Most of the time I’m seeking what is best for me. I will look out for my wife and try to give her the best, but others get what is left over. I should still put Teri first but then others before myself. I know when I do for others it honors God and God looks out for me and takes care of me so there is no reason to look out for myself. I want to be noticed and show everyone how good or important I am, but God calls me to look out and serve others.

Application: Make it a point to find people and compliment them on something they did or something I admire about them. Take the focus off me and focus on others to honor God.

Prayer: Dear Lord open my eyes today to see how special you have created others. May I be a blessing and touch someone’s heart today.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9: 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Observation: Sometimes I don’t know if I’m in the race. I act as if I’m on the sidelines watching the runners race by me. The prize is to fulfill the purpose God has created me for and be able to lay that at His feet when the race is over. For Him to look down at me and say, “Well done.” I need to get off the bench of laziness, selfishness, desires of this world and get running.

Application: To realize I’m in a race, the race of my life. Each day I need to start off running for God’s glory with a positive, loving and caring attitude and a smile so others can see I’m a participant in the race for Christ.

Prayer: Dear Lord place on my heart all you desire of me. Be my coach and train me to fulfill the purpose you have created within me to glorify you.