Today's Good News

August 2004

8/01/04 Revelation 7:12
They said, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and forever. Amen!”
PRAISE
The Lord Jesus is worthy of my praise. He is God’s everything. I can rejoice in life and live in death because of the Lord Jesus. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
8/02/04 Revelation 5:12
And they sang in a mighty chorus: “The Lamb is worthy – the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”
PRAISE
Jesus is glorious. He is too wonderful for words. I have a personal relationship with Christ. He knows me and all about me and He still loves me. What a blessing. What a savior.

8/03/04 Revelation 3:8
“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.
PATIENCE
You and I labor in an evil world. It appears that evil is triumphant. Christ is on His throne. He has the power to destroy evil and rule immediately and yet He has the character that waits patiently upon the Father. As we struggle with evil we know that Christ will one day conquer all things. This day we wait patiently upon Him to return. Come Lord Jesus. We will be waiting.

8/04/04       1 Peter 4:11
Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.

DISCIPLINE

Will I do what I can or will I whine about what I am not?  People waste a lot of energy trying to be something they aren’t.  If I will serve the Lord with what I have I will be used where I am.

 

8/05/04       James 4:6
He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble.”

DISCIPLINE

Humility is a choice.  I don’t have to prove my spirituality.  The truth is every single person is a sinner of whom I am chief.  The sin in me is the only sin I must deal with.  If I can internalize this it will help me to walk humbly with my Lord Jesus.

 

8/06/04       Hebrews 13:9
So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from God’s special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.

DISCIPLINE

Our society thrives on certification.  Certification proves that I have achieved a certain skill or knowledge.  It is so difficult for us to resist the certification of our spiritual relationship with Jesus.  The only relationship we will ever have with the Lord Jesus is a personal relationship.  It takes time and commitment on my part.

 

8/07/04       2 Timothy 1:8
So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for Christ. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News.

SHARING

I can only share what I know and believe.  If I don’t know Jesus I cannot share Him.  If I know Jesus and my belief is weak I will not share Him with others.  What I must do is start where I am.  Belief grows out of my relationship with the Lord.  As my relationship grows my sharing will increase.

 

8/08/04       Colossians 2:19
But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.

RELATIONSHIP

If I want to grow in my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ I will spend time with Him.  There is no shortcut to spiritual growth.  It takes time, consistency and discipline.  Grow, know and share.  This is a good thing.

 

8/09/04       Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

SUCCESS

What is it you feel Christ wants you to do?  Have you hesitated to do it?  Is fear the cause?  Are you hesitant to think that the Lord would use you?  Many Christians feel this way a lot.  Take what you have to the Word of God.  For example you may have a sense you should share with a particular person.  Take it to the Word and ask Jesus to give you strength to do the next right thing.  He will lead you each step of the way.  You are a winner and the Lord will use you.

 

8/10/04       Ephesians 3:16
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.

STRENGTH

I want to be strong in my faith.  People around me encourage me to be strong in my faith.  The key to strength is found in a growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  I have a choice.  I can spend time with Jesus and grow strong or I can develop a pattern of inconsistency in my time with the Lord and suffer.  The world knows when we are weak and will exploit our weakness.

 

8/11/04       1 Corinthians 1:25
This “foolish” plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.

STRENGTH

The Lord knows what is going on.  He knows me.  He will not let me be destroyed.  The Lord is good and every thought that the Lord has towards you and me is a thought for good.

 

8/12/04       Romans 5:4
And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.

STRENGTH

I grow in strength by putting to work what the Lord tells me in my daily time with Him.  If I am not spending time with the Lord I will not grow in strength.  If I am spending time with the Lord and do not actively obey Him I will not grow in strength.  Strength and obedience go hand in hand.

8/13/04 Luke 10:27
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”

LOVE

Love is the way we should live. It should be the reason for our actions and it should be beneficial for others. It creates a mindset that looks at others with respect and appreciation. It puts in our hearts a deep concern for the importance of what others are doing and need. People need Jesus. When we love the Father with all of our heart we will live the way that Jesus lived.

8/14/04 Zechariah 12:5
And the clans of Judah will say to themselves, ‘The people of Jerusalem have found strength in the LORD Almighty, their God.’

TRUST

Jesus is in my heart and is my Lord. What I have is sufficient. All I need is Jesus.

8/15/04 Zechariah 4:6
Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.

TRUST

What has the Lord called you to do? He has called you to be his light where you are. We are only useable where we are. Tomorrow never comes. What I don’t have will never be available. Look to Jesus. Give Him what you have and He will use and bless you.

8/16/04 Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.

TRUST

Do you believe God is powerful enough to use you? Do you believe the Lord Jesus died for your sin and lives in you? If you do, then live like it. Be a servant and warrior of the Lord High God.

8/17/04 Habakkuk 1:11
They sweep past like the wind and are gone. But they are deeply guilty, for their own strength is their god.”

JESUS

The world discards the helpless. The world has no time for second best. The Lord makes each one of us valuable and worthy in Himself. Jesus in us is the power of God to make our life important and valuable.

8/18/04 Psalm 144:1
Bless the LORD, who is my rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle.

JESUS

Jesus equips me to face the powers and principalities of the air. They are seeking to devour me. The world wants me to fail. It is seeking to belittle and minimize the value of my life. Jesus makes my life valuable. He gives me a worthy purpose and equips me with the power and resources to accomplish His purpose.

8/19/04 Psalm 147:10
The strength of a horse does not impress him; how puny in his sight is the strength of a man.

STRENGTH

The Lord is adequate for any situation that we face. He loves you. He will enable you to face the reality of your life. He brings victory to failure, usefulness to the outcast and help to the helpless. Jesus has not forgotten you. Go to Him for your strength.
8/20/04 Psalm 68:35
God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

STRENGTH

God loves people most of all. He loves you and will help you right now. Go to Him in prayer. Ask Him specifically for what you need. Get to know Him. Recognize His concern for you. The Lord will meet your needs.

8/21/04 Psalm 71:7
My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.

STRENGTH

The presence of God will bring peace to our hearts and to our lives. When we spend time with Him, He will nourish us and equip us to face real life. Every day life is learning to deal with obstacles in a positive and victorious way. Jesus will teach us how to do this. When we get to know Jesus we will find that joy will come looking for us.

8/22/04 Psalm 73:26
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

LIFE

Life is always changing. The power that the Lord Jesus gives us is the ability to deal with our lives in abundance. What ever I face, what ever changes, the Lord Jesus never changes. He is always there with me.

8/23/04 Psalm 75:10
For God says, “I will cut off the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.”

LIFE

Eternal life is difficult for us to comprehend. Jesus stands with us now. He enables us to do the will of God where we are. As we look at this model we can have great confidence that the Lord is working in us for our good. When I go to be with the Father, Jesus will be with me every step of the way.

8/24/04 Psalm 81:1
Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Israel.
PRAISE

It is good to praise the Lord. Praise opens our eyes to His greatness and awesome power. Praise shows us the value of His promises to us. Praise helps us see the Lord and to see His great love for us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. I love my, thank you Father for giving it to me.

8/25/04 Psalm 86:16
Look down and have mercy on me. Give strength to your servant; yes, save me, for I am your servant.

SALVATION

Salvation is a gift. When Christ comes into our lives He saves us for eternity. As we build a relationship with the Father, He saves us for His use and fellowship. Yes Lord I am your servant.

 
8/26/04 Psalm 96:6
Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

WORSHIP

Worship is special. It is time when we come together with brothers and sisters to praise the Lord. But, immediately it is more than we can imagine because the Lord is there with us. He is healing and revealing. He is encouraging and loving. Our wondrous praise of the Father results in a wonderful over flow to us of the love of God.

8/27/04 Psalm 105:4
Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching.

SEEK

I am to seek the Lord. I am to seek Him at all times not just when I am hurting. When I develop a heart that is seeking for the Lord I will participate in all of His riches and glory. His blessings will be mine and my service will be His. We serve a wondrous Lord who loves each one of us.

8/28/04 Psalm 118:14
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory.

VICTORY

I have great needs but none as great as my need to be with Jesus. I have great opportunities but none so great that I will be distracted from Jesus. In Christ I have everything I need for eternity. In Christ I have the victory that I have so long sought. In Christ I am in the Father. It is a glorious victory when I see that all of my needs are met in Jesus.

8/29/04 Psalm 138:3
When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need.

STRENGTH

When I have a need, Jesus has a help. When I have a hurt, Jesus has a healing. The more I know Him the more I want to be with Him. Jesus is glorious and mighty and loving. I want to know Him more.

8/30/04 Psalm 65:6
You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength.

STRENGTH

Sin has a hold on man. Jesus destroys sin. I am facing a world that is always seeking to deceive me and pull me away from the Lord Jesus. Jesus has the strength I need so that I can live a holy life, different than the world. This life I live, I live in Christ.

8/31/04 Psalm 59:9
You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my place of safety.

STRENGTH

What do you need for Jesus to do? Ask Him and He will help you. What do you need to become more like Christ? Ask Him and He will change you. What do you need to survive in change? Ask Jesus and He will enable you to survive. What is it that blinds you to your relationship with Jesus? Ask Him and He will give you light. Jesus will meet your need.

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Clay Corvin

Clay Corvin is currently a Bible Teacher and occasional preacher at Bethel Community Baptist Church in New Orleans. He is the retired VP Business and Professor of Admin at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary after completing 38 years as their Business Administrator. He was the pastor at the Brantley Baptist Center for twenty-five years. He is married to Carol Corvin and the father of three children and has three grandchildren. He ministers today as Co-pastor of the Bethel Community Baptist Church and seeks to share the Gospel with everyone. Jesus is Lord!