Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully. – Zig Ziglar
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Titus 1:17)
What kind of impact will a victory by Briana Whaley have on Culpeper and Virginia?
In my Oct 23 devotional titled “Training vs. Trying,” [http://www.yourdailyblessing.com/content.cfm?id=2451] I shared how God connected my wife with Briana Whaley, an American Olympic hopeful in the marathon.
At 7 AM on Sunday November 18, Briana will start running the …

The Body of Christ does not yet fully grasp that the promise of God for substantial healing and transformation of the nations will come through it.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19a)
What is your dream?
What people, ideas, and resources do you need to help you achieve that?
In my devotional on November 7 titled “Discerning the Voice of the Lord,” I mentioned that I would be sharing part of a fantastic story that is unfolding. Little did I know that God would quickly add several more chapters to …

 Self-esteem comes through service!
We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
What good works did God prepare in advance for you to do?
As mentioned in yesterday devotional, God led Julia and me to Hosanna Lutheran Church in Minneapolis on October 21, 2007 as guests of Larry and Annette Lotzer. Derek Rust, the preacher for that day and a good friend of the Lotzer’s, shared a super message about learning to serve like Jesus.
The following message …

It is humbling, surprising, rewarding and right to give to others. – Nick Chaconas
“He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” (2 Corinthians, 1:3-5, The Message)
Who has God brought into your life at key times to pay it forward to you?
Are you in a major slump in your life? If so, how can you get …

Great service comes from the heart!
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)
What simple thing can you do every day at work or home to share God’s love?
One of my greatest delights is preparing these devotionals. When I first started these on July 1, 2006, about 280 people were receiving them daily. By January 1, 2007, …

The truth found in the Bible offers hope and so much more. Your dedication to God’s Word is something we are grateful for. – excerpt from Pastor Poem
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to God (Philippians 1:3)
What gift can I give my pastor in October to have a lasting benefit?
What choice will I make to catapult my pastor to a new level of effectiveness?
October is National Pastor Appreciation Month. Pastors are a lot like physicians in that they have high stress jobs dealing with life and death …

There is no perfect Christian. We’re all a work in progress!
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8)
How will you respond to God’s call?
On June 2, I went to bed at 9 p.m. Around 1 a.m., the Holy Spirit woke me up. I strongly sensed that God wanted to meet with me. So I immediately went …

 Salvation of Israel is salvation of the world!
Jesus said “I AM the bread of life … I AM the light of the world … I AM the gate … I AM the good shepherd … I AM the resurrection and the life … I AM the way, the truth, and the life … I AM truth.” (John 6, 10, 11, 14, and 15)
What is the key to fulfilling the Great Commission?
Today marks the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere. Spring is the season of new life when flowers …

Life is short – on earth that is, but not in heaven or hell.
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2 Peter 3:8)
What one thing is Jesus calling you to do?
Life is funny. Just when we think we have things figured out, we’re thrown a curve ball. I started this year with wonderful plans of what I was going to do in the first month during my 21 day fast. Well, …

The instructions you follow determine the future you create.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
How big is your worldview?
While at the World Health Missions Conference in Louisville Kentucky on November 10, I attended a seminar titled “Raising a Family on the Mission Field.” Juli Fischer was the speaker. She is married to a physician who works at the Mayo Clinic and they have 5 children, 3 of whom were born on the mission field in the Congo (Zaire). I …