Here’s the next stronger devotional. Be sure to post your comments when you’re done. (You can read the passage online here.)
Enjoy!
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Other Posts You Might Be Interested In...
"You are God’s children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy." http://read.ly/1Cor1.30.CEV
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"You are God’s children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy." http://read.ly/1Cor1.30.CEV [tonymccollum]
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Christ... sent me to tell the good news without using big words that would make the cross... lose its power. http://read.ly/1Cor1.17.CEV [tonymccollum]
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"God can be trusted, and he chose you to be partners with his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ." http://read.ly/1Cor1.9.CEV [tonymccollum]
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"The Lord told Joshua, “Be brave and strong! I will help you lead the people of Israel into the land that I … http://read.ly/Deut31.23.CEV [tonymccollum]
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Be completely faithful to the Lord your God, love him, and do whatever he tells you. http://read.ly/Deut30.20.CEV [tonymccollum]
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From My Quote Collection
I am distinctly told that Christ, though He is on the Throne in His ascended glory, is also within me by the Holy Ghost. I confess I do not feel Him there. Often amid the assault of temptation or the fury of the storm that sweeps over the surface of my nature, I cannot detect His form or hear Him say, “It is I.” But I dare to believe He is there; not without me, but within; not as a transient sojourner for a night, but as a perpetual inmate; not altered by my changes for earnestness to lethargy, from the summer of love to the winter of despondency, but always and unchangeably the same. And I say again and again, “Jesus, Thou art here. I am not worthy that thou should abide under my roof, but Thou has come. Assert Thyself. Pull down all rule, and authority, and power. Come out of Thy secret chamber, and possess all that is within me, that it may bless Thy holy name.”
— F B Meyer
Looks to me once again that ‘ALL’ things are possible if we truly keep our faith. Our God is amazing as he shares his thoughts, values and guides us through life with true love. We should always give him praise in good or not so good times in remembrance of following is plan.
Tony, thanks again for this series. God is laying on your heart what I need to hear. I love the idea of focusing on what I have vs. what I do not have. Also, giving something for God to bless. My having an investment in what God wants to do for me.
I know that providing the devotions is taxing on you, but God has blessed me. Thanks for following His leading.
The steps you gave were helpful
1. Take inventory–
2. Sort
3. Invest
4. Allow God to prune
5. Miracles Happen!!
I pray that I remember these steps when God is streching me.
This devotion is such a blessing and I know it is taking away from other things. Your investment will be blessed so get ready for the Miracle!!!
Hey Pastor T, I appreciate the steps you gave today, I know they’ll be very helpful when I’m feeling stretched. I’ve been taking tons of notes during these devotions. I really appreciate you doing this.
Another uplifting devotional, I have truly looked forward to this every day. I know this must be another added burden to your days but know that it is taking the burden off of my day, God bless you Pastor for helping me little by little enrich my life thru christ.
I’m here. This message was so timely – coming at a true time of breaking. Thank you Pastor Tony for your time, inspiration and compassion to do this work. I needed to hear about the analogy of God having to break you first to make way for new things. I’m not sure what it all means but I’m going to press on and build with the blocks that you reminded me that we all have. May God bless what you have given us today.
Hang in there…we are still with you. As you were talking through this scripture I kept thinking about the person or handful of people who showed up with lunch or a snack. They were going through their day as usual, packed their lunch to spend a day on the road and provided the resources for one of the greatest miracles of Jesus’ ministry. You touched on how these people had to be willing to give up their lunch but I am amazed at how God can use something as simple as a person’s snack to show his love and compassion for so many people.
It just further shows how we cannot force fruit to happen in our lives. It is the daily walk of faith that God is able to use to greatly impact others.
Very encouraging…keep it coming.
I have been taking notes all week. Verses 39 – 41 are very encouraging. The organization that I volunteer with often runs out of supplies and I get very discouraged and start thinking that no matter how much I give it will never be enough. Those 3 verses have helped me to realize that I’m not expected to fill the entire void, but to do what I can to lessen the void.
I’m glad that we are doing the devotions. This has been a great time to let me know that God continues to make me aware that I have been designed by him. The relationship topic is awsome. Thanks Pastor Tony.
I’m here and taking notes. It’s the only way I can remember anything! :-)
I like the point of “Don’t focus on what you don’t have and focus on what you have.” When Jesus said “Go and see.” (NIV) in verse 38, that said alot to me personally.
Thanks Pastor Tony. Once again, that was awesome!
I am here and always manage to get it done before the day is over. Yet another powerful message. These devotionals have been speaking to me in many ways and I find myself thinking about them throughout the day. The steps that you gave us are so easy to follow. I am drawn to the investing and breaking part of this devotional. Many times when things are tough, it is so easy to turn yourself inward and only focus on you. I was really taken by the fact that I need to put something into play that God can bless for me. Or that I need to focus on others to get the key as to what I want. I think I find that I’ve been selfish lately. I will pray that God will break me so that I may see the miracle. I feel all these transitions lately in my life is God preparing me. I should be blessing him for the changes in my life instead of complaining. I am remembering a phrase, “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.”
I am here and taking pages of notes! I’ll be digesting for a while – there are so many important lessons here. One lesson is standing out to me — develop a plan of action broken into steps. Do this without concern for whether the steps seem impossible. Just coming up with these steps is an act of faith. I think having this faith prepares us to expect miraculous solutions rather than the quick, temporary solutions that we can accomplish realistically on our own. I don’t want bandaid solutions to my problems, I want miracles!
Tony-
I have not done my part by responding on a daily basis, but I have been here all week, listening to your devotionals and taking lots of notes and really enjoying.
Thank you VERY much for all the effort you put into taking care of us. I appreciate you and your efforts. Your are truly a Blessing to me and my life.
Thank you for caring and helping us all to get started spending time with God on a daily basis. It won’t be the same without you, but we do have to learn to do this for ourselves.
Thanks Again!
We are here. Thanks for taking the time to invest in us. Like you said, “Invest and give in Gods name”.
I’m here a day late, as usual, and I have taken notes all week.
I have felt empowered all week from these messages. I am hearing that God wants us to be blessed. He provides many ways to get there. Today the way is through giving, earlier in the week it was through claiming His promises using His authority.
I have learned so much. Thank you!
Awesome. Thanks, T. I’m eating chips and salsa as I watch this.
I am here and enjoying every word! I read my bible but these devotionals give me so much more understanding about what I’m reading. I’ve read this story many times but never got the understanding that I did today. I learned today that my devotion time should be more about spending time with God than just information gathering. This week I’ve enjoyed spending time with God and the strength that I received from the understanding of what I read. Thank You!
I cannot stop thinking about this today. As I was shopping at Publix, all I can think of is breakdown = break through.
Wow. I totally applied Jesus feeding the 5,000 in a new way today. I definitely needed to hear that – sorry a day late but yesterday was insane and now can apply this devo to what is going on around here. We’re definitely having a lot of breaking in our families – so we’re looking forward to the break throughs. Thanks P Tonye (I think the P adds a lot to your rap name, please consider it.)
Wow am I here. I missed this yesterday, but am catching up now. This was so powerful to me. So often I am called upon to give when I feel I cannot. God working through that is truly a miracle. I love “You feed them” God wants us to put feet to our prayers and that is awesome stuff. I also appreciated the question “What am I giving that God can Bless?” I wonder too, What I could be giving that God could be blessing? I so realize the strain this time puts on you, Tony, but please know the blessing that this has been to me and my family. I have also forwarded the link to several folks at my office and even out of town as you have been such a blessing to me this week. I pray for strength for you this week and also peace and rest. THANK YOU so much for answering the call. We are out here listening……. ILY
I here Phil and June on the day late thing. What really strikes me about the devotions this week is how much evverything that happened back then is so relevant today. Times change and things may be different on the surface but they struggled with exactly yhe same things we struggle with today. God has the answers in His book but it takes a teacher to help explain it especially when one is completely tired. The beautiful thing is that He shows us with His servant heart not just by what is said and taught but by his example. I pray that He gives us me Hi strength to do what on my own I don’t have the energy to do myself and this steps do make it clear what to do. Thanks Tony again for all your sacrifices. I pray that you are abundantly blessed as well as those others who have taken the time this week to partake in these devotionals.
I got behind the power curve, but I’m here and I’m taking notes (on a Saturday morning) Thank you for reinforcing once again why we should all serve.
When Tony teaches, notes are taken. I can’t help myself. Oddly enough, the thing that I loved about this passage was the disciples reaction to being told to feed the crowd. “With what?” I love that these guys were out doing ministry just before this happened and they had witnessed many miracles. They had cast out demons, healed the sick and preached the gospel. Yet because they were hungry and tired they forgot who they were with. And even though they didn’t know what was about to happen they began to take small steps of faith. It also touches me that their needs were met. They were fed and Jesus sent them off to get rest after they were obedient. It is awesome how powerful a God we serve.
Haven’t responded daily, but have been listening- Your devotionals are excellent.
Started this yesterday (already a day late) and wrapped it up now during the children’s nap time. I love the disciples’ faith in Jesus, in spite of their doubts. I love the “you feed them”, “with what?”, “what have you got? go see (paraphrased)” back and forth that a) gives a bit of insight into the fact that they had a relationship with Jesus where they felt comfortable being real with him, and b) illustrates how He can use what he have to do things we could never do on our own! And, because of their relationship, the disciples do what he says, even though it seems pointless. Acting in a way that shows we expect that the miracle is coming strengthens our faith and prepares us for when it does come. God’s Word is so cool! Great stuff.