Encouraging Word

Think Like A King

tropikbird — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:30:05 +0000

There’s a story about a professional golfer who was invited to play in a tournament sponsored by the king of Saudi Arabia. The king picked him up in his own private jet and flew him to the event. When it was all over and the golfer was about to return home, the king said, “You’ve been so kind to take time to come all this way to compete; I’d like to give you a gift. What would you like?

The man replied, “It was a pleasure. No gift is necessary.”

“No, I insist,” answered the king, “please, tell me what you want.”

The man thought for a minute and said, “Well, I collect golf clubs. You could send me a one as a souvenir.”

Once home, the man eagerly checked his mailbox every day. What kind of golf club would he receive? Would it be made of gold? Would it have a jewel encrusted handle? After all, he was the King ofSaudi Arabia…

At long last, a letter, postmarked “Saudi Arabia” arrived. As the man opened it, he wondered, what’s this? Where’s my special golf club?

He slipped the letter out of the envelope to find…the deed to a 500-acre golf club, here in theUS.

You see, kings think differently than others. When you say “golf club,” a king thinks golf club.

Jesus is the King of kings. Nobody thinks bigger than He does, and nothing is impossible with Him. So let’s think big this year. Let’s expect to see our lives blessed in expansive ways. After all, our own King of Kings has promised, “All things, whatsoever, you ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.” (Matt. 21:22)

David

Christmas

tropikbird — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:54:37 +0000

Christmas is all about the supernatural, you know. It’s about guiding stars, mystic prophesies, and virgin birth. At Christmas we gaze beyond the limitations of our earthly existence to a Power that supersedes mere natural law. Christmas reminds us that nothing is impossible with God; that any dream can materialize, any wish can come true, and that the unlikely becomes likely through faith in the Divine.

But Christmas is about mercy, also. It’s about people, nations, even a lost world, receiving a second chance.

And yes, Christmas is about presents, too; or at least, a Present. It’s about God so loving us that He gave, about the unworthy receiving help; about Ebenezer Scrooge, George Bailey, and Scarlet Ribbons.

Do you need a help? Do you need mercy? Do you need a miracle? Then Christmas is for you. For at this time of year, more than at any other, we re reminded that He is looking down upon us with wonder-working love.

David

Pure as the Driven Snow

tropikbird — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:09:38 +0000

I used to have an overactive conscience. I was keenly aware of my inability to measure up to Biblical standards. In fact, I remember walking into my college dorm room one night, looking for a little encouragement, and asking my roommate “Why do I feel guilty all the time?”

My buddy, who could be a bit of a teaser, simply replied “Maybe you are.”

He tells me that the look on my face was priceless. But he was actually right. I was. Romans 3:23 reminds us we have “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” But the part he failed to mention was that even though I was guilty, it didn’t really matter, since the following verse, 3:24, assures us that despite our guilt, we’re “justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Being performance-oriented is human nature. In fact, it’s the root of all religion: Perform properly and you’ll receive favor and blessing from God, or the gods, or whomever. But the Gospel is different. We receive the true God’s favor and blessings (all of His blessings and not just eternal life (health, financial abundance, social favor etc,) through grace and grace alone.

Have you been plagued with condemning thoughts, feeling you that you can’t receive God’s best because of your personal failures? Do you feel guilty? Maybe it’s because you are. But it doesn’t matter. Jesus has taken care of all that. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2nd Cor. 5:21)

Put your faith in Christ’s work on the cross, rather than in your own works. ‘Cause from His perspective, you’re pure as the driven snow.

Your friend and partner in world harvest,

David

The Box Boy

tropikbird — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:35:51 +0000

I once heard the true story of a young boy who was unable to walk. His parents were too poor to buy him a wheelchair, so they dragged him from room to room a large cardboard box.

Once they placed his box on the floor in front of a large mirror. Looking at his reflection from the waist up, he thought “I look normal. So why can’t I walk? Normal people walk all the time; I should be able to walk too.”

Gripping the edge of his box, he pulled himself up onto his knees…and fell, tipping his box over onto its side. Him mother heard the crash and came running. “Son, get back in your box,” she scolded.

But the boy wouldn’t stay in the box. He tried over and over, day after day…and amazingly, eventually walked.

There are a number of lessons in this story, but the one that stands out to me has to do with self image. This boy saw himself as normal, rather than crippled. And it was this inner perception that eventually propelled him to total wholeness. Despite evidences to the contrary, and even opposition from well-meaning relatives, he fought his way from incapacity to health.

Do you have a dream? Do you truly believe in your heart you can fulfill it, despite what others might say? Then get out of your box. You can live your dream; you can walk in it. As Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. Matt.21:21 NLT

Your friend and partner in world harvest,

David

All Things Together For Good

tropikbird — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:04:06 +0000

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God–Rms. 8:28

The greatest driver on the Nascar circuit can have an accident. Even a world-champion boxer receives an occasional blow. So what do you do when you’re blindsided? How do you do move forward when faced with an unexpected challenge?

You trust in the One who can turn any situation around.

Moses and his followers, driven by Pharaoh’s armies, found themselves trapped between their enemies and theRed Sea. They were unexpectedly cornered. There was simply no way through. Or was there?

There was. The Red Seaopened like the pages of a book, and the Israelis escaped their pursuers. Their most insidious trial became their most glorious victory.

Pastor John Osteen passed away unexpectedly in 1999, leavingLakewoodChurch’s 5,000 parishioners without leader or apparent heir. The church media director, Joel Osteen, who’d only preached once before and that on the previous Sunday, stood trembling in his father’s pulpit the following weekend.

Lakewood’s attendance rapidly increased to over 30,000 members. Today, more than 43,500 attend every week.

God can take your greatest defeat and turn it into your greatest triumph. In fact, He promises us victory every time: thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph–2nd Cor. 2:14.

I don’t know what you may be going through right now, but I do know that God is working all things together to make your future brighter than your past.

God’s Selective Memory

tropikbird — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:04:46 +0000

God is omniscient–He knows everything. God is omnipresent, which means He’s everywhere at once, including in the Past, Present, and Future. So it would stand to reason that God would remember everything. And yet God Himself claims to operate in what I would call “selective memory.”

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Heb 8:12

Remember all those bad things you did before you got saved? God doesn’t. Remember all those bad things you did after? God doesn’t remember them either. That’s why “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Rom 8:1

But what about the good things? About that, the Bible says “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shown toward his name.” Heb 6:10.

So as long as we strive to serve Him, God forgets our bad deeds and rewards our good ones. Selective memory. Don’t you just love it?

Your friend, and partner in world harvest,

David

Victory

tropikbird — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:27:03 +0000

The first Gulf War familiarized the American public with the concept of laser guided missiles. You’re probably familiar with how they work: an unmanned aircraft locates a target and “paints” it with a laser beam. Then another aircraft releases a missile which homes in on that location, evading enemy radar by riding low over the contours of the land, until it makes contact with that target, destroying it.

This reminds me of a Bible verse: Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory. Therefore, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor. 15:57-58)

Imagine yourself as that dedicated missile. God has pointed you toward a goal and promised you victory; that your labor of faith will not be vain. Now remain locked on that target, steadfast and immovable in your determination. Envision that dream God has painted upon your soul, cruising through the valleys and rising over the hills, until at last your goal is reached and your victory is won. For if you remain steadfast, your victory will indeed be won, as the Apostle Paul himself testified: God always causes us to triumph in Christ. (2 Cor. 2:14)

David

The Sun of Righteousness

tropikbird — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:12:02 +0000

Sunrises are beautiful. They represent new beginnings. There’s just something about surveying the future’s broad horizons that sparks faith in the human heart.

Perhaps you’ve made mistakes in the past. Maybe you’re nursing regrets. Well that’s all over now, ‘cause this is the day the Lord has made and it’s time to rejoice. Our God is the God of the Second Chance, and behold, he makes all things new.

Behold, He make all things new…

The promise of revelation 21:22 comprises more than just a word of prophecy; it represents a fundamental disclosure regarding Christ’s own nature: Jesus is a Redeemer. He restores broken lives. Redeeming failures and restoring crushed dreams is what He’s all about.

So today is a new day of hope for you and me. The Sun of righteousness has arisen with healing in His wings (Mal. 4:2.) Let’s forget the disappointments of the past, and remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. For He promises “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Is. 43:18, 19)

Yes, God has a bright new future planned for you, with blessings that will eclipse the disappointments of the past.

Your friend and partner in world harvest,

David

Brighter And Brighter

tropikbird — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 01:16:32 +0000

With a new year already unfolding, many are wondering “What will it bring? Will this be a good year or not? What should I expect with the economy, the nation, and the world in its present state?”

If you’ve been asking these questions, I have a promise straight from Scripture, just for you: The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. (Pr. 4:18)

Now none of us is righteous by our own efforts; we receive our standing with God through faith in Christ alone. But because of Jesus’ finished work on Calvary, we believers can count ourselves among the ranks of the justified, for He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21)

And so this promise of an ever-brightening future applies to every Christian who reads these words. Every year and season of our lives will improve as time goes by. So take it from the Lord Himself that this year will be better than the last. And they’ll just keep on getting better and better until that final, glorious hour when the Perfect Day at last arrives.

Your friend and partner in world harvest,

David

Christmas Miracles

tropikbird — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 14:46:58 +0000

Christmas is all about miracles; about angels appearing in the heavens, guiding stars, mystic prophesies, and virgin birth. At Christmastime, we’re privileged to gaze beyond the limitations of our earthly existence to the Power that supersedes mere natural law. Christmas reminds us that nothing is impossible with God; that any dream can come true; that the unlikely becomes likely through faith in God.

But Christmas is all about mercy, too. It’s about individuals, nations, and even an entire world receiving a second chance. For God sent not his Son to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (Jn. 3:17)

Yes, Christmas is about God so loving us that He gave. It’s about people who walk in darkness seeing Great Light. It’s about the unworthy receiving help from above; about Ebenezer Scrooge, George Bailey, and Scarlet Ribbons…

Do you need help? Are you undeserving? Then you qualify for a genuine Christmas miracle. For at this time of year, more than any other, we’re reminded that God is looking down on us with unconditional love.

Your friend and partner in world harvest,

David