Daily Wisdom

 Hab 2:3 “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Power of patience… There’s an old story of a man who was allowed to see heaven. And while there was shown the “Delayed Blessings Office,” where God kept prayers until the appointed time. It can take a while for believers to learn that delays are not denials!  Isa 30:18 “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you…” The Father is watching in the hard times/places and will not allow one trial too many. Lift your head and praise Him knowing His promises will not tarry, so neither let your faith. His appointed time, it will surely come!

Don’t confuse redirection with rejection, time is God’s paint brush working His masterpiece in your life… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 2Ti 1:6 “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.”

How often do we humbly consider what God gets out of us? Especially in weight of the unmeasurable investment He has in us by way of the cross! The Greek word Paul uses for “stir up” is (anazōpureō) meaning to rekindle, freshen up. And is used in the present tense, meaning continually doing or exercise of. This is in reference to our spiritual gift/s (gift of God-1 Cor 12:7-11). Not to use our gift from God on a faithful/continual basis is to cheat God out of His investment. Just as you, with your time, finances and resources, expect a return on your efforts… God is no exception!

If our investments are limited to this earth, we’re the world’s worst investors… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Hos 3:1 “Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.” 

Unfortunately, the believer can be prone to play the spiritual harlot too many times in their faith walk. Yet, despise man’s acts the Lord is ever loving and longsuffering with His bridegroom’s wondering heart. The Lord directed Hosea (picture of God) to buy back his adulterous wife Gomer (picture of the believer) from her self-will ways picturing man’s spiritual harlotry. Oh, that we wouldn’t abuse the undying love of Jehovah God for us by playing the spiritual harlot.

When I boast my it not be out of my love for God, but only in His love for me… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

‘neither count I my life dear…’ (Acts 20:24a)

‘finish my course…’ (Acts 20:24b)

‘ministry in which I have received…’ (Acts 20:24c)

Paul gives us a clear and distinct path for all believers to walk in for their individual ministry. While the Lord will and may lead us down different paths through different seasons, it’s how we walk in those paths that greatly affects the outcome. Paul’s spiritual game plan was simple, purposeful, and affective, 1.) Humility – right motive. 2.) Finish our race – hold to your faith. 3.) Spiritual gifts – utilize the gift/s the Holy Spirit gave you. 

We often feel that life is a failure unless we're getting a lot out of it: recognition, fun, money, success. But Paul considered life worth nothing unless he used it for God's work. What he put into life was far more important than what he got out. Any efforts on our part that disrupt these steps in our faith walk, disrupts the Lord’s will for our walk.

Ministry is not for or about our gain; rather heaven’s glory… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 "And thou said, I will surely do thee good." Gen 32:12

When Jacob was on the other side of the brook Jabbok, and Esau was coming with armed men, he earnestly sought God's protection, pleading, ‘You said, I will surely do you good!” Jacob was holding the Father to His Word, ‘You said.’  The attribute of God's faithfulness is a splendid promise in which we can hold to, shall not every word He spoke be measured as truth.

When a man gives a promissory note, his oath is engaged; he signs his hand, and he must discharge it when the due time comes, or else he loses credit. It shall never be said that the Father dishonors His credit and oaths. The credit of the Most High never was impeached, and never shall be. He is punctual to the promise and the moment: He never is before his time, but He never is behind it, (Jos 21:45) ‘Not a word failed from any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.’  Paul as well spoke to the Lord’s righteousness, (Rom 3:4) ‘Let it not be! But let God be true, and every man a liar; as it is written.’

Think not that God loves us because we are good; He will make us good because He loves us…HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Mt 8:26 “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

Would you be willing to venture into a storm with a captain whose never weathered a storm? I can assure you a captain’s ship without a few scrapes and repairs to its hull has no experience in sailing. Sometimes the Lord allows us to go through storms in order to teach us how to navigate so that we can show others likewise during their storms. Don’t focus on your scars and damaged goods, rather focus on how the Lord led you, protected you and provided wisdom through it. It’s then you’re able to help others sail their ships effectively.

Your purpose in God and value to others is learning to stand in the storm and let the Lord adjust your sails. Remember ships aren’t designed to float in the calmness of the harbor… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Psa 116:1-2 “I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.”

Like the Psalmist who is seeking deliverance from death (Psa 116:3-4), life can be overwhelming at times, even to the point where ‘desired feelings’ appear absent. When facing such times, we need to remember Paul’s admonition in II Tim 2:1, where he uses a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer as examples of encouragement. For example:

·         Like a soldier… we need to endure rigorous discipline (II Tim 2:1-4/Heb 12:11).

·         Like an athlete… we need to train hard and follow the rules spiritually (II Tim 2:5)

·         Like a farmer… we need to labor and be patient (II Tim 2:6/Rom 2:12 & 8:25)

Meaning: We are to disciple ourselves to keep going despite suffering, all the shile staying focused on the victory, the vision of winning our race, and the hope of the harvest.

We must keep going despite suffering, staying focused on the victory, the vision of winning our race, and the hope of the harvest.

Remember: We may be faithless at times, but Jesus is always faithful (II Tim 2:13 “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”)

Life may not be fair, but God is always faithful!

HSAY… Todd  

Daily Wisdom

“O Lord thou hast searched me, and known me. When I awake, I am still with thee” Psa 139:1; 18

Jesus wants you to know what he knows. That while you struggle at times in life, he knows and has known every struggle and plight you’ve faced, and the depths of your needs. And no matter how far away or into something you’ve wondered or have been hurt he knows. Consider the conversation Jesus possibly had with his disciples concerning such, maybe something like this: “When you meet that poor wretch who thrust that spear into my side, tell him there is a better way, to come at my heart, if he will repent and look upon whom has pierced. And I will cherish him in the very heart he wounded; he shall find that the very blood he shed an ample atonement for the sin of shedding it. And tell him he will put me in more pain and displeasure by refusing the offering of my blood, than when he drew it.”  Such a response is the answer when you ask yourself, what do I have going for me when everything's against me? What will not fail you when what you thought was solid and real collapses beneath you? This experience is inevitable. You don’t have to go looking for it, it will find you. God himself has it written into your life (Jm 1:8). But when this happens you’re forced to ask the question: What can I count on, when I can’t count on anything else?  Psalm 139 shows us such an answer. When David found himself in that catastrophic place, he dug to the deepest foundation of his existence, and this is the bedrock he stood upon. (vss 1-6) God, you know me.  (vss 7-12) God, you are with me.  (vss 13-18) God, you have made me. The Psalm hinges on vs 18b ‘when I awake, i am still with thee.” David awoke to his contemplations to realize while they come and go, God has never left him! And while he awoke and returned to the real world where nothing has changed, he had changed with the renewing and knowledge that the Lord is immutable, and never changes from being there for you. In the Psalm the Lord uses the word “know” six-times which is the Hebrew word “Yada” meaning intimacy. The strongest form of knowing someone or something, which is you!  He wants you to know that he is always there, whether you know it or not!

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“My Soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.” Lam 3:20

Humility is the gateway into God’s favor. It’s the giant of character traits; in the valley one sees great things and small things from the mountain tops. In the midst of Jerusalem’s pain from its destruction, they were able bring into remembrance their humility and recall the Lord is their portion (vs 24).  In doing so it opened the spiritual flood gates of God’s promises in their time of need. In humility we find our HOPE (vs 21). With hope we recall God’s MERCIES (vs 22).  In His mercy we discover His COMPASSION fails not (vs 22); and we see they’re new every morning by way of His FAITHFULNESS (vs 23).  God’s hope, mercy, compassion and faithfulness are all triggered by our humility and its proper spiritual order “Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Mat 23:12  

Humility should lead you to work for a cause not applause; live to express not impress; and not try to make your presence noticed, but rather your absence felt.

HSAY…Todd