Today’s Word with Joel & Victoria Osteen Ministries

Today’s Scripture
“They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper…”
(Psalm 1:3, NRSV)
Prospering In Everything
Large trees represent power, majesty and stability. Have you ever noticed the difference between a tree planted by the water and a tree far away from water? The tree next to the water is much more healthy and vibrant. Its fruit and blossoms are more beautiful.

In the Scripture, the Word of God is compared to water. When you are “planted” in the Word of God, your spirit is fed, and you grow strong just like the tree planted by the water. Trees planted by the water will yield fruit at the right season and will not lose strength. Today’s verse tells us that those who love and obey the Lord will prosper in whatever they do.

Do you want to prosper in your relationships? Seek God’s Word regarding relationships. Do you want to prosper in your health? Seek God’s Word about healing. Do you want to prosper in your finances? Seek God’s Word regarding finances. As you seek God and His Word and follow His commands, you will grow strong and prosper in everything you do!

A Prayer for Today
“God, thank you for your Word which is truth and refreshing water to my soul. Thank you for teaching me to seek you in all that I do. I trust you today and choose to commit my every decision to you so that I can grow strong like the tree planted by the water. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Advertisements

Immortality Projects By Bobby Schuller

Originally posted here: https://hourofpower.org/immortality-projects/

“In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.”

– Proverbs 12:28

In the 1970’s, Earnest Becker wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning book called Denial of Death. As an anthropologist who had extensively studied ancient cultures and societies, his theory was that the fear of annihilation and/or death drives a lot of the wars, bigotry, racism, and other evils that have plagued civilization throughout history. He said that nearly all people, in their attempt to create a legacy that will outlive themselves, embark on what he calls an immortality project. Spawned by the belief that being part of something grand and heroic will ultimately defeat the annihilistic power of death, immortality projects were and are endeavors to create a name that others remember after a person is gone. For instance, Caesar would say things like, “You live forever as long as people remember your name.”

Interestingly, Becker’s theory was in sharp disagreement with Sigmund Freud, who claimed that man’s bad behavior was actually the result of repressed sexuality. On the contrary, his findings agreed with another philosopher named Soren Kierkegaard, who was a Danish theologian and thinker who lived in the 1800’s. A favorite of mine, Kierkegaard, though his writings were dark and explored the meaninglessness of life and organized religion, ultimately provided a solution to the great problem of mortality — Jesus Christ. He understood that true meaning in life could only be found through the eternal power and abiding presence of the Lord. Fascinatingly, although Becker came to the same conclusion about immortality as Kierkegaard had over a hundred years before, he simply could not convince himself to believe. When he was dying of colon cancer years later, he returned to his Orthodox Jewish roots, but whether he ultimately professed faith in Christ is unknown.

Friend, Jesus has given you an immortality project whose worth far exceeds any that you could undertake on your own! When it comes to finding meaning in this life, He is the only One that matters. Institutions won’t do it, books won’t do it, meetings won’t do it, and neither will degrees or diplomas. Only the Lord can impart a perfect eternal destiny to your soul and take away the inevitable angst that comes from being mortal. Run to Him, know Him, abide in His presence, and you will no longer have to face the daunting task of designing your own immortal legacy. Isn’t that a freeing thought?

Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for being my immortality project. My soul finds rest in you alone, and you give me an eternal destiny that is greater than any I could create in my own strength.

Reflection
Have you ever tried to embark on an immortality project apart from Jesus? What were the results?

Friday 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 6.39-42
Jesus told his disciples a parable:
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

What the soul is in the body, let Christians be in the world.
Saint John Chrysostom

PRAYER FOR TRUST
Lord, Help me to remember
That nothing is going to happen to me today,
That you and I together, can’t handle. Amen.

How “Dumbo” Reflects to Real Life

My Joyous Feature

I’ll will be talking about how scenes from the original animated film “Dumbo” reflects on real life. Way back, I did the one for “The Lion King”. There will be some spoiler alert as I talk about the scenes from the animated film. I will not going to talk about the live action film. I actually like the original movie due to the fact it has scenes that can be related to real life.

Dumbo was born with big ears. In the scenes he was teased and being treated badly. It related to real life on bullying, humiliation, and looking different from others. Not all of the characters treated Dumbo badly. His mother protected him and also a mouse named Timothy said to him that his ears are cute.

Mrs. Jumbo wants to protect Dumbo from being humiliated by others. In one scene Mrs. Jumbo has to shut…

View original post 381 more words

Today’s Word with Joel & Victoria Osteen Ministries

Today’s Scripture
“Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan…”
(1 Kings 17:3, ESV)
Go To The Place of Blessing
In the Scripture, the prophet Elijah was living in a certain city. God said to him, “Leave this place and go down to the brook Cherith for I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” When he got to the brook, every morning just like clockwork, the ravens brought him food. He had his provision; a prepared blessing. Here’s the key: Elijah didn’t have to try to find the ravens. He just had to get to where God wanted him to be and the ravens found him.

In the same way, there is a place where God has commanded you to be blessed. Everything you need to fulfill your destiny has already been laid up for you—provision, favor, abundance. The real question today is, will you do what’s required to get to your place of blessing? Elijah could have said, “God, I don’t want to leave. I like it here. My friends are here.” But if he had stayed, he would have missed where he was commanded to be blessed.

Are you willing to do what God is asking you to do today? Listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit inside, follow His leading, and enter into the place of blessing!

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for leading me to a place of blessing. Thank You for sustaining me and empowering me to fulfill Your call on my life. I choose to follow Your leading so that I can be in the place You’ve called me to in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

The Reality of Mortality By Bobby Schuller

Originally posted here: https://hourofpower.org/the-reality-of-mortality/

“But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”

– Romans 8:10

Do you remember the time you first realized you are mortal? It’s interesting how children have no concept of death or mortality until some circumstance in their world forces them to deal with it. For me, it was when we were in Oklahoma for a family reunion when I was a kid. During this visit, I grew especially fond of my great-grandpa Durham, who was a Nazarene minister and an all-around wonderful man. We lived in California at the time, and when we went to leave, my mom told me to be sure and say goodbye to Grandpa because he was in his 90’s and we wouldn’t be back there for years, so I might not see him again. Just then, the sadness of death swept over me. When I went to say goodbye to Grandpa that day, I cried and didn’t want to leave. I was so upset at the thought that he could be gone before our next visit that I literally sobbed. In that moment, even as a kid, I first felt the fear, terror, and worry that so many adults carry with them as they ponder the reality of death. Thankfully for me, Grandpa Durham lived to be 100 years old and there were many more meaningful visits to follow. Nevertheless, what I experienced that day signaled a new season in my life, as a piece of my childhood innocence was replaced by the reality of mortality.

Unfortunately, many people live every day terrified of their own mortality. In fact, I am convinced that the underlying fear of death is what drives much of the sin and wretched behavior in our society. Thankfully, as believers in Jesus, we know that death is only a gateway to a greater and more abundant life. Even better, its power to impact the quality of our existence is lessened by God’s presence in our midst every day!

Friend, part of the blessing of experiencing Jesus today is the way He confirms that He is the Lord of life and death. The more you encounter His Spirit in supernatural ways, the more eternity comes to earth to prime your heart for your Heavenly home. When you walk in the reality of your living Savior, death is no longer a fatal wound but only a temporary sting. Your mortality was swallowed up by immortality the day Jesus went to the cross, and He is preparing you for the amazing gift that awaits on the other side of your last breath!

Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for replacing the reality of my mortality with the reality of immortality through the gift of salvation. I am forever grateful to have been set free from the power of death.

Reflection
When did you first become aware of the reality of mortality? Has knowing Jesus eased your fear of death? How?

Thursday The Most Holy Name of Mary

“Mary, how sweetly falls thy name
On my enraptured ear;
Oft do I say in holy love
Thy name when none are near.
Sing oh, my lips, and loudly proclaim,
Oh Mary, my Mother, how sweet is thy name.
Sweet as the warbling of a bird,
Sweet as a Mother’s voice;
So sweet to me is thy dear name;
It makes my soul rejoice.
Bright as the glittering stars appear,
Bright as the moonbeam’s shine,
So bright in my mind’s eye is seen
Thy loveliness divine!

Mary means Star of the sea, for as mariners are guided to port by the ocean star; so Christians attain to glory through Mary’s maternal intercession.
– St. Thomas Aquinas

PRAYER FOR TRUST
Lord, Help me to remember
That nothing is going to happen to me today,
That you and I together, can’t handle. Amen.