STAND FIRM

1Co 16:13 - Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

This is a great way to start your day, I've been reading this men's devotional for several years and I am constantly amazed on it's revelance to my present circumstances.  It's a great format designed with a man's walk with God in mind.  The physical copy I usually get is now unavailable, so I checked online and found it in a free PDF format. 

Check out PDF version @ STAND FIRM Daily Devotional for Men
To Order, go to:  www.lifeway.com/standfirm

Here is a little WORD study on some "Stand Firm" verses found in the Bible...

Journaling...it does your spirit good!

Tonight we discussed the benefits of journaling at our men's bible study.  For some, they like to read one chapter of Proverbs each day and use that reading to start the journaling.  Many times the words would take on it's own direction as they wrote, it became a conversation between the writer and the Lord.  Since there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, it is a great source for devotions for each day of the month.  Others, used it to record what was going on that day and offer a prayer need or praise.  In later entries it strengthens their faith when they saw those prior prayer request answered.  Now that it is recorded, these words can remind us of  God's faithfulness, helping us get through present struggles or doubts.  When we are feeling down, it is sometimes hard to see a way out.  Our ability to remember God's faithfulness is clouded by our despair.  The journal can be the light that can replace hopelessness with hope. 


It was at the prior meeting that we were first challenged to start journaling.  Most of us did and tonights testimonies of the benefits were inspiring and encouraging.  My own writing has been sporadic thus far.  After tonight's meeting I received a stronger desire to continue with greater regularity.  My time has been divided between writing this blog, Facebook, Live-journal and a written journal.  I'm hoping in the next few weeks I will acheive an appropriate balance. 


The gleaming I get from those who have been journaling for a while is that there is a special dynamic that takes place in writing the words out on paper that isn't quite as powerful in other formats.  I will yield to their experience and wisdom and strive to put more effort in the written journal. 


If you are  journaling how has it benefited you?  If you don't, will you consider joining me?

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise in later life.

Proverbs 16 Nuggets

There are so many nuggets of truth in this chapter, it's worth reading the whole thing.  Here are three(3) verses that I have been pondering over of since I was a teenager and have found them to be trustworthy and true.

1. PROV 16:3  "Commit your ways to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." NIV  -  I first learned this verse in the King James Version which upon reflection speaks more to me than the NIV.  PROV 16:3 "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established"  KJV  -  Wow, that is powerful!  I have seen God work in my life this way.
2. PROV16:9  "A man's heart deviseth (plans) his way:  but the LORD directeth his steps" KJV  -  Aren't you glad that the circumstances in your life can be directed if you trust in Him, that it isn't just fate?
3. PROV 16:20  "Whoever gives heed to instruction (handle a matter wisely - kjv) prospers, and blessed is he who trust in the LORD."  NIV

A bonus verse for my son Chris who recently became engaged!

Proverbs 18:22

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD."

Congratulations Chris & Danielle!

Some More Biz Fiz

Business Proverbs
Are you satisfied with your current business operation believing all is well?

WRITTEN BY STEVE MARR

Jesus said "...every branch that bears fruit , He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit". (John 15:2 NAS)

Even a productive fruit tree requires pruning to allow the energy of the tree to be channeled to fewer branches. Examine in detail your office or production processes. Question every step, ask if the step can be simplified, or eliminated. Complex processes have been simplified as mush as 75%. The key is an objective review of the work. Prune your processes and redirect energy for business success

www.businessproverbs.org

Common Sense and Tested Faith

from SUBLIME INTIMACY by Oswald Chambers  MUHG-  Aug. 29

The contrast between faith and common-sense are discussed here.  It helped clarify the substance of faith for me and I thought you may benefit from this as well.  ~  Dave

"Didn't I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40

Every time you venture out in the life of faith, you will find something in your common-sense circumstances that flatly contradicts your faith. Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense; they stand in the relation of the natural and the spiritual.

Listen to Your Lady

Here is a great rap video to encourage us GUYS to take the time to listen better.  It's well done, funny with a twist at the end.  Something I needed reminding of.  The song is in my head now and that might be the help I needed to remember to do just that.  Listen 2 Your Lady!  May it bless you...and your wife this week.

CLICK | L2YL

(video link)

Link to more "thatjustinguy" videos

You Got to Laugh

(at yourself) Sometimes
I first saw this video posted on Facebook, thought it was worth mentioning on my blog.   I'm not sure who will find it more humorous, men or women.  Comments welcome.  Enjoy

The Husband Song | CLICK
(He's the man....he's the man!)

Some Biz Fiz

Do you remember to ask for the business from prospective customers?  WRITTEN BY STEVE MARR

Often, we talk to customers, explain our offerings, state all the advantages of our product, and quote a price, then fail to close the sale.

Ask for the business, firm up a commitment.

A golfing partner of Henry Ford, upset when Mr. Ford bought life insurance from another agent, asked why?

Henry Ford answered, you never asked me.

Remember, most sales are completed only after you ask for the business. Ask, for business success.

In the Word:  Scripture reminds us "...ask, and it shall be given to you..." (Luke 11:9 NAS)

http://www.businessproverbs.org/

Dinosaurs no more...

A possible reason why dinosaurs are exstinct.

Want to know more?

 ~ see videos below ~

"Dinosaurs and the Bible"

and

"Age Of The Earth"

The Knot

TheKnot   by Chris and Danielle

Please visit our wedding website!

We are so excited, after what will be over 6 years of dating, to finally become husband and wife. Our family and friends are important to us and we would love for you to take part in this special occasion. Feel free to look around.

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!

Pray for us as we are about to embark on your journey together.

READ MORE...

Shared via AddThis

The Engagement

On October 3, Carol and I joined Lane and Pam Stidham on a trip east to Lake Placid, Florida to visit Lane's Parents.  This occasion was to celebrate Lane's 50th birthday!  We were joined by our kids and many Stidham family members.  Chris, our oldest, couldn't make it to the event because he was called into work (or so he claimed).  Hmmm...

But, I Don't Want To...

Tom Landry, legendary head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, said  "The job of a coach is to make players do what they don't want to do, in order to achieve what they've always wanted to be."   There are many application you can get from this philosophy, both practically and spiriually.  I can see it in my kids as they work hard at their education.  I can apply this to my work as well. 

But when I find myself in hard times, I have to ask myself, "Is this a trial meant to test my faith or discipline from my heavenly coach?"  Stuggles by their nature, strenghten our faith and confidence as we get through them.  Discipline on the other hand, ignored can weaken and isolate us. 

God's dicipline is not meant to get us back for doing wrong, He wishes to draw us back to Him.  Most of the time, my struggles, especially financial right now, are a faith challange in perseverence.  Because He is faithful, my needs are being met, sometimes at the last minute, but met.  Other times I need to REFLECT and ask God if I need to repent and yield to Him.  Recently I had a tooth pulled, it HURT, but I am better off now that the decaying tooth is gone.   It's often the same with repenting.

Blessing!

Dave

PROVERBS 3:11-12

David Crowder Band

CHURCH MUSIC REVIEW

Thought I would share a great review of David Crowder's new CD 'CHURCH MUSIC' by Joel Farabee.  There are 17 songs on this album (which is on my "wish list").  I heard some of the songs and DC interviews from it's release on 'The Joy FM' , looking forward to hearing the rest someday.  Enjoy!

READ REVIEW HERE...

P.S.  THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE

A favorite concert video I like is "Oh The Glory of it All".  I am involved in the video ministry at my church.  We had the opportunity to host a David Crowder Band concert.  It was a blast!  We had 6 cameras and 2 video mixers on our tech team.  After the show got started the crowd stood for one of the songs and never sat down.  When I watch this video, I relive the experience I had as a camera man finding the shots and working with the team to enhance the concert event with many of the same effects seen in this video.

Oh The Glory of it All
WATCH IT HERE... "...you will never be the same"

Abraham's Stars

Abram was questioning God on how he was going to be blessed by Him since he had no heirs. Our Lord said to him in Genesis 15:5 "Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then He said to him, "Your offspring will be that [numerous]." v6 Abram believed God and it was credited unto him as righteousness.

My first assumtion is that Abram can count and secondly that it was night time. Yet the second assumtion would be incorrect, it must have been daytime for in verse 12 we find that later the sun was going down.

Abram had to look up at the sky and believe the stars were there, even though he could not see then.

Has God shown you his faithfullness is the past, remind yourself of those times and believe God to be faithfull always, even when you can't see it now.

May God's word strengthen your faith today!

In Christ,

Dave