Making A Difference - Devocional en Ingles... Celebration Church ... E-Book

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The game-plan to take your spiritual life
TO THE NEXT LEVEL

in just 31 DAYS by implementing what
it takes to MAKE A DIFFERENCE
"Everybody thinks of changing humanity and

nobody thinks of changing himself." Leo Tolstoy
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Day 1 - Ministering Like Jesus
“You know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.
Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil,
for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38 NLT)
The 2012 theme for the Celebration Congregation is MAKING A DIFFERENCE. The
Bible teaches that we can and will make a positive and godly difference in the lives of
others, in our region and around the world when we are strive to become like Jesus and
learn to live daily in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now, we know who Jesus is and what Jesus did. Jesus is the Son of God who
demonstrated mighty power and worked many miracles on behalf of others when He
lived on earth (Acts 10:38). The Bible says that this same Jesus lives inside of us in
the person of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Colossians 1:27).
A little girl was sad after she learned to tie her shoes for the first time. Her parents
asked her why she was sad. She said, “Now I’ll have to tie my shoes all by myself for
the rest of my life.” The good news is we don’t have to do anything by ourselves for the
rest of our lives. We have the Holy Spirit inside of us, and when we access His power
(like Jesus did), then He will work through us (like He did with Jesus), to accomplish His
mighty works in our lives and the lives of others.
In 2012, the Holy Spirit wants to work through the Lord’s people at Celebration to
accomplish many wonderful things. He wants to utilize us to bring help, hope, healing,
salvation and freedom to others – and He will accomplish those mighty works through
us as we surrender daily to Him.
What would you love to see the Holy Spirit do through you in 2012 that would make a
positive and godly difference in the lives of others?
Prayer - Lord, help me to surrender to You daily so that I can be empowered by You
regularly, and so that I can be used by You in a great way to bring help, hope and
healing to others!
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Day 2 - On Mission from God
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has anointed me to tell the good news to poor
people. He has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners. He has sent me so that the
blind will see again. He wants me to free those who are beaten down.” (Luke 4:18
NIrV)
Jesus made His mission in life perfectly clear that Sabbath day when He stood up in the temple
to declare the “year of the Lord” (v. 19). He recently conquered forty days in the wilderness with
the devil himself, by the living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus then makes his way to
Galilee where he is warmly welcomed and greatly praised.
Jesus’ next stop is his hometown, the city of Nazareth. But there are no welcome banners or
marching bands to greet “Joseph’s son” (v. 22), even though “the news about him spread
throughout the whole countryside” (v.14).
Jesus heads straight to the temple “as was his custom” (v. 16) and unrolls the scroll and begins
to read. But his this time, things are different. Jesus’ mission is clear, but his reception is cold.
As believers, the mission of Jesus is now our mission. We, too, are to tell the good news to the
poor, to announce freedom for prisoners, to help the blind see and to free those who are beaten
down (v. 18). Many of those with whom we need to share are right in our home town, too. Are
you being warmly welcomed or coldly rejected when you share the good news with others?
Don’t give up. Jesus didn’t. He made a way for us by going all the way to the cross to finish his
mission from God.
Our Friends, Relatives, Associates and Neighbors need a Savior! They are in captivity and
desperately need to be set free. Your words may be rejected and you may be ridiculed, but the
mission is still the same; Jesus came to redeem and to rescue those who are lost. Keep
sharing. Keep praying. Keep on your mission.
List 3 creative ways you can share the good news with your friends, relatives, associates and
neighbors to see their lives transformed?
Prayer - Lord, encourage me when those closest to me reject Jesus. Help me to continue my
mission and reach out to them until they find freedom in Christ.
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Day 3 -____+____+____= Growth in Christ
“To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until
we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer
be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind
of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature
body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12-15 NIV)
If we wanted to be like Drew Brees (the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints…just in
case your dwelling place is in the deepest most remote part of earth) we would need (3)
essential things:
1. Knowledge- we would need to acquire his thoughts on the game of football, his
wisdom on how to call plays, his geometry skills that allow him to perfectly pass
the ball (like a “Surgeon”), and every other piece of information involved with
football
2. Passion- we would need his love for the game, his work ethic , his leadership
qualities, and anything else that is primarily driven by his passion (and possibly a
nice paycheck….that does create some passion).
3. Practice- putting all of it together makes him who he is on the field , and we could
do the exact same thing…. We would only need to be; 6’0’, 209 pounds (that’s
easy), 3rd in QB rating in the NFL (109.1 as of 12/18/11), a graduate from Purdue
University in industrial management (not so easy), in the Pro Bowl 5 times,
Comeback & Offensive player of the year, MVP of a Super bowl (WHO DAT), and
on the cover of Madden NFL 11…to say the least.
Well being like Drew maybe a little harder than we thought, but being like Christ is not
so hard. Many times we believe Christian growth is like minute rice, add a little water,
throw in the microwave, and Poof….rice!!, but we know that type of growth does not
exist.
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When we look at Ephesians 4:12-15, we find that Paul was explaining that we need
knowledge, passion, and practice if we are to be like Christ. In verses 12 &13, he states
that we must have a clear understanding (Knowledge) that being a part of the Body of
Christ and having a firm grasp of who the Son of God is, will lead to maturity…which will
lead to “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Simply said, the more
you know, the more you can grow.

Paul continues in verse 14 by demanding that we are not “like infants tossed” by
cunningness, craftiness, and deceitful scheming of men. In other words, don’t be
ignorant, weak, and unsteady when it comes to the plans the enemy has against you.
Rather, be passionate about your growth in Christ. Pursue it with ALL you have.
Paul finishes off by telling us what to do (Practice). “Speak the truth in love”. Now we
can all speak truth, but to do it in Love causes us to “grow up in Him…Christ.” Jesus
wasn’t harsh, crabby, or sour when it came to His message, it was ALL in Love!!
Which of the 3 essentials are you lacking in? What could you begin to do today, that will
take you one step closer to the image of Christ?
Prayer - Lord, would you give me strength to know you more, pursue you with passion,
and practice your precepts. Amen.
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Day 4 - Do Something Good…Today
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.
Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the
devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38 NLT)
Someone once said, “The good you today will soon be forgotten, do good anyway.”
John Wesley once said, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the
ways you can, to everyone you can, as long as you ever can – do all the good you can.”
Those statements serve as a great challenge for us to do the same thing our Lord Jesus
did while he was here on earth. He went around doing good: He fed hungry people, He
healed sick people, He freed people held in bondage, and He comforted people who
were hurting and much more.
When Jesus called His disciples, he told them to follow Him and he would show them
how to fish for men and that’s what He did. He showed them and He showed us how to
fish for people by going around doing good. He taught that we are to do good to fellow
believers (Gal 6:10), and to those who hate us (Luke 6:27-35). He said as the Father
has sent Him, He is now sending us. That means he wants us to go around doing what
he did – doing good. Paul wrote, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the
right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. “ (Galatians 6:9 NLT). If
we will do good, even when we get tired, the Lord will reward us with a harvest of
blessing if we don’t give up.
The Lord clearly wants us to do something good. List out some good things you can do
for someone today, now pick one and do it.
Prayer - Lord help me to do something good for someone today. Give me God
appointments with people you want me to do something good towards and show
umewhat that will be. Thank you in Jesus name.
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Day 5 - Healing Those Under the Power of the Enemy
“Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds
listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the
miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their
victims, and many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great
joy in that city.” (Acts 8:5-8)
There are two things that never change through the centuries. 1) Satan and his band of
dark angels have always caused suffering in the lives of people and 2) where the truth
is taught and embraced, the enemy has to flee.
Just like the people in Samaria, we have always greatly rejoiced when our people find
freedom from the oppression of the evil one.
For a number of years, Celebration Church has offered many opportunities to help
people find freedom from their struggles. Such opportunities include Victory Retreats,
Steps to Freedom, Celebrate Recovery, Celebration Hope Center, deliverance and
teachings on spiritual warfare.
This brings to mind the Women’s Victory Retreat this past November. There was
nothing different at this retreat than at the others. We did the same preparation, the
same type of music, the same prayers. We had the same expectancy of a great
movement of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who attended, so that the women
would find freedom from the oppression of the enemy, remove the bondage of
bitterness, choose the freedom of forgiveness, and recognize the roots causing their
pain.
I do not know what was different, but there seemed to be a unanimous urgency to meet
with God.
Everyone worked diligently through each step until they finally arrived at the end of the
retreat. We began to see visible evidence of the supernatural work of God as He began
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to break their spiritual chains. Unstoppable joy erupted from their hearts as they
worshipped the Lord in a realm of real and pure freedom like many had never
experienced before.
God wants the same for you. Jesus died for you to have eternal life but also to have
abundant life here on this earth. That includes freedom from every hurt, habit or hang-
up in your life. I want to challenge you to sit and make a list of the issues of your life
that you would like to overcome. Then, seek God asking Him to show you the next
steps to find victory over those issues. They are holding you back from fulfilling the
destiny God has planned for you.
Prayer: Lord, show me the areas of my life where I have been vulnerable to the attack
and lies of the enemy, and help me to experience victory in every area of my life.
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Day 6 - Live By the Power of the Holy Spirit
”You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has
promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on
high.” (Luke 24:48-49 NLT)
“I’ve got the power!” I don’t know what you think of when you hear those words, but I can’t get
the song from the 90’s out of my head. If you’re anything like me, you have no idea what that
song was about, but we know it had something to do with power. In our Bible passage for today,
Jesus spoke to his disciples about power from “on high”, and while I don’t know much about the
song I do know that Jesus was talking about a particular kind of power from a specific source.
We see later in the book of Acts that Jesus was referring to power to be his witnesses which
comes from the God’s Holy Spirit. This is the same spirit that filled John the Baptist while still in
his mother’s womb. It’s the same power that filled Peter on the day of Pentecost and gave him
the boldness to preach the message of Christ and the cross. It’s the exact same power that is
available to you and me today that gives us the ability to live and relate and love like Jesus.
You may be thinking that you’re not good enough to be filled with God’s Spirit. You may feel that
you’re not worthy of His power. The truth is that none of us are worthy. It is only by having Christ
living in us that we are worthy. So, the good news is that as a believer, you have the Holy Spirit
dwelling in you and available to you to give you the power you need to live the Christian life.
Here’s the other good news – there is no limit to this power! There’s an illustration I like to use to
make this point. Let’s say that you are a common, everyday, table lamp. Once we plug you into
the source (the electrical outlet) the supply of power is unlimited. The only thing that regulates
the amount of power that is realized through you is the wattage of the bulb. The bulb is your
spiritual maturity. As you grow in your relationship with Christ, your ability to let the power of
God flow through you will increase (your wattage increases)! And in the process, God will use
you more and more to touch the lives of those around you. That’s exciting news to me and I
trust that it is an encouragement to you as well.
Prayer – Heavenly Father, may I grow in my relationship with you in such a way that the power
of the Holy Spirit will flow through me, touching and transforming the lives of those I encounter
each day.
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Day 7 - Alone
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age." (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)
In 2009, I traveled to Honduras as part of a mission trip with our church. On our first
night, I felt I had made a terrible mistake. I was in an unfamiliar land, among an
unfamiliar people, who spoke an unfamiliar language. It was here that I realized how
much security I attribute to my family, my home, and my routine. Away from these
things, my sense of security was crushed. In a word, I felt alone, more alone than I’ve
ever felt.
The following evening, we attended a church service. At first, I felt even more isolated.
After all, the music wasn’t led by an accomplished jazz musician. And I heard jokes in
the sermon I had never heard before. But as we worshiped, I realized that the same
Holy Spirit who lives inside of me, also lives inside the believers of Honduras. While I
had stepped outside the sovereign territory of the United States into a new land, the
Kingdom of God knows no such boundaries. How ironic, that in obeying the Great
Commission, I had forgotten the great promise Jesus gave His disciples – that He would
always be with them. Fortunately, the Lord was gracious enough to give me a reminder I
should never have needed. How blessed we are to be able to know that God will always
be with us.
How should the fact that Jesus is always with us change the way we live?
Prayer: Lord, help me to live each day with the full memory and understanding that You
are with me.
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Day 8 - What Are You Running After?
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in
such a way as to get the prize." I Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)
We live in a world and a culture that says it is okay to do whatever you want as long as
it feels good, or at least as long as it seems right to you. When we turn on the TV or log
on to the internet we are bombarded with advertisements that tell us to “run after”
material things and when we obtain them we will be happy. Marketing teams and
society at large tell us that it is okay to focus on ourselves in this “race” called life.
However, in I Corinthians 9:19-27 Paul modeled a different picture. He spoke of getting

his focus off of himself and onto others. According to Paul, our objective should be to do
whatever it takes to “save some.” He made it clear that there are many effective ways to
share your faith and win others for Christ and if we want to have a “competitive edge”
then we must train. The athletes Paul spoke of were somewhat like the “runners” of our
day. The “crown” they were competing for was actually a pine wreath that would
eventually decompose and break down just as the material things we run after today will
perish.
Paul is encouraging us as Christians to run the race in

such a way that we obtain something far greater than a
perishable crown. Even when we have to deny our own
personal desires or get out of our comfort zone, we must
never forget that in this race we are running after a
spiritual and incorruptible crown that will last for eternity.
As we run toward the finish line God’s desire for us is to
make an impact in someone else’s life, not just our own.
What are some things you have been running after that
are consuming your attention and hindering you from
focusing on others?
Prayer - Lord, please help me to run after the things that

please you. Help me to focus on leading others to you
even when it means I will have to deny my own personal
desires at times. In Jesus’ name I pray – Amen.
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Day 9 - What are you trying to make happen? // Day 1 of Fasting
“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to
win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but
we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I
discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after
preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT
In your life, how will you know when you are successful? When have you arrived?
Paul said all athletes run for a prize. What is your prize?
Having the right prize in mind is what puts purpose to your steps. Shadow-boxers don’t have a
target in mind, so its no big deal if they hit nothing but air. But you want your life to count for
something. You want your life to have purpose beyond the emptiness of pleasure, money and
accolades. You want an eternal prize.
Celebration Church lives by the motto “Until No More Lost People.” We are going to keep
praying and praising and serving and reaching and ministering and caring - until there are no
more lost people. Now we know this task won’t be completed in our lifetime unless Jesus comes
back, but it’s the prize which gives purpose to our steps. What prize are you running after?
Once you know what you are trying to make happen, there are only four things you need to do
about it.
1. See it in your mind - See it clearly and see it often. Define the details of what spiritual
success for you looks like. Write it down.
2. Make a Commitment - Most people have a commitment phobia. Don’t do that. Embrace
your dream and be willing to die on that mountain. Commitment breeds passion.
3. Talk about it - God created His world with words and so can you. Words are powerful
and the more we talk about something the more likely we are to believe it.
4. Do Something - Changes in our life rarely happen after making one big decision. They
are the compilation of lots of little decisions everyday which eventually lead us to where
we want to go.
Write down 3 things you want to see happen in your relationship with God this year. What’s it
going to take to make those three things happen?
Prayer - Lord, let me have the strength and endurance to see you change me from the inside
out. Give me a vision and let me maintain my commitment to making that happen. Amen.
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Day 10 - A Life of Self Control // Day 2 of Fasting
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?
Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises
self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an
imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as
not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have
preached to others , I myself will not be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NAS
The LSU football team accomplished their perfect season and #1 national ranking because they
had an extreme amount of hard work and self-discipline. The New Orleans Saints also have to
exercise self-discipline and have a single-minded focus to produce a successful season. All
athletic teams and individuals who compete must engage in that same dedication and self-
discipline to have a chance to win.
We are also in competition, so we also must have self-discipline. We also must be dedicated.
Our competition is not against a rival but it is against an enemy. Our enemy is Satan. Our prize
is not a crystal football or special ring that will one day cease to exist. Our prize is eternal life
with our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, our dedication and self-discipline takes on an entirely
different dimension. So, encourage and cheer on your fellow followers of Christ!
In addition, this is a time for personal reflection. Ask yourself what areas of self-discipline in your
life need improvement. Is it spending time with God reading the Bible, more time in prayer, more
time in worship, or making God a priority in your life schedule? Now is the time to re-evaluate
your God life. Is God a part of your life or does God just fit in your schedule?
As this year progresses you can develop a closer relationship with God by increasing your self
discipline and become the champion that God designed you to be.
Prayer - Lord, help me to focus on You and have a desire to learn more about You. Help me to
stay on the course You have set before me. I pray that You will increase my desire to read Your
Word, talk with You more often through prayer, and become my best friend!. I pray for a self-
disciplined life that will honor You.
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Day 11 - What is Your Net Worth? // Day 3 of Fasting
”Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you
have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God
in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV)
How do you treat your Bible? Would you let it sit out in the rain, would you ever put it under a
table leg to level out the table or would you tear out a page and use it as a Kleenex? Years
back my friend knew a group of guys that would tear out the pages of scripture and use them to
smoke marijuana. The very thought of doing so is shocking and may even stir up other
emotions, but why? The reason is because we consider the Bible to be the Word of God. We
consider the Bible to be more than words printed on a page, but something of great value; the
truth of God by which we live our lives. Do we have this same passion and belief about our
bodies? Do you place the same value on your body that you place on your Bible?
Paul writes in Corinthians that we are bought with a price, our bodies are not our own, and now
they serve as a temple of the Holy Spirit. This communicates the importance of how we treat
our bodies. The passage in 1 Corinthians communicates the importance of what goes into our
bodies; what we read/watch, what we participate in and even what we eat.
What we eat can enhance or hinder our ability to glorify God in our bodies. What we view on the
computer can enhance or hinder our ability to glorify God in our bodies. What we read and
watch can hinder our ability to glorify God in our bodies. The question is how important is it to
you to glorify God in your body? What value do you ascribe to your body? Paul tells us that our
body was bought with a price, and serves as a Temple to the Holy Spirit. Paul ascribes an
extremely high value, but that value comes with a purpose, to glorify God in our body.
!
What do your actions, habits and practices reflect regarding the value you place on your own
body? Do you need to change how you view your self and value? Are there any changes that
need to take place in your actions habits or practices and what are they?
Prayer - Father I thank you for ascribing such a high value to my life and my body. I pray that
you would reveal to me any changes I need to make both mentally and physically in order to
glorify You in my body.
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Day 12 - Financial Discipline // Day 4 of Fasting
“Know well the condition of your flock, and pay attention to your herds, for wealth is not
forever; not even a crown lasts for all time.” (Proverbs 27:23-24 HCSB)
My parents are farmers. In observing them and even working alongside them over the
years, I’ve learned that farming is a lot of work. It means getting up early in the morning
and working late into the night, sometimes all night. It means caring about your
livestock and feeding them before you feed yourself. It means going the extra mile to
care for the herds that depend on you for their survival. It means being prepared for the
disaster that could strike at any moment and praying fervently that it will not. It means
reaching deep down inside yourself and giving far more than you ever thought you
could give. It takes a disciplined person to be a farmer.
Most of us don’t live on farms, but we are still caretakers of the resources God has
given to us. We may not be responsible for overseeing livestock, but we are
responsible for the money we have in our savings account. God has entrusted us with
financial resources and we are obligated to treat those monies as crops under our care.
That means that we think about our financial obligations to both the Lord and to others
before we think about vacation spending. That means that we give to the Lord first, pay
our bills on time, strive to reduce and eliminate our debt, and save what we can for the
future.
In what ways can you be a better caretaker of the resources with which God has
blessed you?
Prayer - Lord, help me have the discipline that I need in my life to oversee, manage,
and grow the financial resources which You have given to me.
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Day 13 - Emotional Discipline // Day 5 of Fasting
“But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the
same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance
about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion
in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We
find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able
to marshal and direct our energies wisely.” Gal. 5:22-23 MSG
“Emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable. It is not possible to be

spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature” (The Emotionally Healthy
Church, Scazzero, p. 10).
I’ve been walking with Jesus for 35 years. In the last five years the Lord has been
teaching me about emotional health. Most of my life has been spent stuffing emotions.
This is how I was taught growing up, and how most men are taught. I’ve found I was
fairly successful at stuffing my emotions. God had to show me how limited I am. When I
stuffed my emotions I allowed my life to come under pressure where I could not possibly
resolve it myself. I had to deal with growing up emotionally.
In the beginning of this journey I’ve found that the key to living with emotional discipline
is to die with Christ daily. This allows His mighty Holy Spirit room to produce in me what
I could never contrive, the fruit of the Spirit.
When emotions get out of control they are generated, motivated and propagated by the
flesh. The flesh within us desires to live separately from God and selfishly alone. We
must learn to radically put the flesh to death by identifying with His death (Romans
6:8-12, Galatians 2:20).
This is the beginning of emotional maturity.
Have you learned how to “put the flesh to death?” Better yet, have you learned to notice
the evidence of the flesh in your life?
Prayer - Dear Jesus, give me today the understanding and grace to face my emotions
and learn to process them in a healthy mature way.
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Day 14 - Spiritual Fitness // Day 6 of Fasting
”Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be
godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV)
Do you have what it takes to be godly? When I think of physical training I think of
athletes. They train hard, but what they train for doesn’t last. Cheering crowds
disappear; trophies normally end up shoved in the corner of a closet or the attic.
Superbowl winners have been known to sell their rings for money and eventually their
strong muscles begin to fade and hurt. You see physical fitness has its uses, but
spiritual fitness pays off for eternity. So how do we obtain godliness?
First, you cut off those things that are ungodly. Don’t waste your time absorbing
garbage. It’s not worth the price. You are a spiritual athlete working toward an eternity
with Jesus Christ. Be mindful of what IS worthy of taking in.
Second, discipline yourself. Make a habit of a daily quiet time. Read your Bible, pray,
worship. Don’t leave those things for Sunday mornings only. Practice these things
every day. No one has ever become great at playing sports without practice. You must
discipline yourself to practice much. You must continually work at godliness. This
requires being diligent and completely absorbed. Stop serving the Lord occasionally
and make it an obsession that you constantly work at.
Finally, take responsibility. You have to want to be godly. The church is like a personal
trainer. It can help and guide you, but ultimately it’s up to you to decide how seriously
you’re going to pursue the faith. If you want strong spiritual muscles YOU must do the
heavy lifting. So cut out the junk and set your eye on the prize. Pursue biblical
knowledge by reading and studying the word, walk in obedience to what you’ve read
and learned, pray continually, and spread the gospel.
Don’t run aimlessly. Do the heavy lifting. Don’t give up. Don’t quit or lose focus. The
prize is before you! Pursue it! Yearn for it! Work at it!
What do I have to start today to obtain godliness?
Prayer - Lord, help me to pursue godliness so that I may become more like Christ every
day. Amen.
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Day 15 - Stir Up One Another // Day 7 of Fasting
“Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let
us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each
other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near.” (Hebrews
10:24-25 NLT)
The Christian life is about “belonging” as much it is about “believing.” Our allegiance to
the Lord is demonstrated as much by our interaction with and commitment to other
Christians as it is with our stated beliefs about Him.
In the New Testament we read that Christians are to spend time with one another, serve
one other, help one another, restore one another, etc. We’re also to encourage or “stir
up” one another to be involved in “making a difference” in the lives of others (Hebrews
10:24). How are we to do that? How can we “stir up one another to outbursts of love
and good deeds?”
First, we have to spend time with other Christians outside of worship services. Most
Celebration attendees do that in the context of Life Groups. In those Life Groups
Christians gather with others in homes, coffee shops, offices or school campuses to
worship and pray together, study God’s Word together, and to “encourage one another
to outbursts of love and good deeds.” It’s essential for all Christians to be in a small
group with other believers so they can live out this Biblical principle of encouragement in
their lives.
Second, we have to be focused in our Life Groups not just on personal growth, but on
helping others in and outside of our Group. When Christians are focused as much on
helping others as they are their personal needs, that’s when they really begin to grow
spiritually, and they begin to “make a difference” in the lives of others.
What are some ways that you could be involved in “encouraging others to outbursts of
love and good deeds?”
Prayer – Lord, help me to be constantly focused on encouraging other Christians to

serve and help others with my actions and my words.
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Day 16 - Encourage One Another // Day 8 of Fasting
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own
assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as
you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24 NASB)
I remember a time in my life years ago when I had really blown it. I made some decisions that
hurt God, myself and others. I felt hopeless, wondering if my life would ever turn around. Could
God forgive me? Would God forgive me? It was a time in my life where I felt very alone. Little
did I realize, that I was never alone. Have you ever hit that place they call “rock bottom”? It is a
tough place to be.
God is so good! He is always ready to pick us up and put us in the right place. The Scriptures
tell us that God is faithful! We don’t have to waiver in our faith or dash our hopes of the future
because God will never let us down. He has made us a promise. In fact he has made us many
promises. We always have to remember that God only gives us a promise for one reason: To
Fulfill it! See He doesn’t give as the world does. No trickery or bribes. He is intent on fulfilling
His promises to us. It is here that we start. It becomes the foundation of how we can lift others.
Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t give away what you don’t have”? Well it is
especially true of Encouragement! How do you lift someone up if you aren’t sure that you
believe God will fulfill His promises? As we walk out in faith this life in Christ, we find that God
gives us lots of OPPORTUNITY to trust Him. You have probably already had times where you
had to put to the test the promises of God. Has God shown Himself faithful? Of course He has!
He will never disappoint!
As you look around, do you see the lives of people who desperately need Gods’
encouragement? Everyday there are people who are needing His love and purpose. I know for
my life, one of the greatest stimulants of my walk has been friends who would not let me just
“get by”. They would find ways to give me hope and courage to fight another day. I look back
on those hard days and I realize; it was the love of God demonstrated through the friends in my
life that kept me holding onto Gods purpose for my life. He was not done with me. I just
needed someone to tell me!
When was a time in your life where you needed encouragement desperately and how did God
send it your way?
Prayer - Father God, help me to be always aware of your faithfulness to me and keep my eyes
always open to those who need your encouragement and hope. Amen
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Day 17 - Help One Another // Day 9 of Fasting
“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the
sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13 NKJ)
Free is a word with many applications. Almost everyone gets very excited about free
offers. Most teenagers look forward to turning 18 so they can be free. That was me at
18. However, at 41 I learned what freedom really meant when Jesus Christ became my
Lord and Savior!
God has called each and every one of us to freedom though Jesus Christ. Jesus freed
us from having to “do things” or earning our way to salvation. However, this is a freedom
that gives us a responsibility. Our responsibility is to allow the light of Christ to shine
through us as we love and serve each other.
While on a mission trip in Comanesti, Romania I was able to witness Christians loving
and serving each other in unforgettable ways. There are many orphanages in Romania.
The church we were helping started an orphanage for children with severe mental and
physical disabilities. The church members not only built the orphanage they also staffed
the orphanage. Some members worked construction, some painted, some cleaned,
some cooked, some took turns staying with the children, and others helped the families
of those who were taking care of the orphans.
This church family was truly a living example of “serving one another in love.” Our
freedom is the freedom that the Lord gave us to physically show the love of Christ to
each other and the world. The world says, “It is all about me”. Christians say, “It is not
about me!”
What are you doing with your freedom? Take a few minutes and do a mental inventory
of how you have shown love and service to those around you. How can you use your
freedom to serve others with love this year?
Prayer - Lord, create in me a heart for serving others with love. Increase my desire to
reflect the love of Christ to all those I serve this year.
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Day 18 - Confess to One Another // Day 10 of Fasting
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful
results.” (James 5:16 NLT)
“Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each
other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right
with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” James 5:16 MSG
This is another of the great “one another” verses in the Bible. Did you know we were
made to be in relationship with God and each other? God designed it that way. Much of
the joy and purpose God has planned for us as individuals comes to us through
relationships, especially a relationship with Him and with other believers.
But to confess our sins to another person! God are you sure? That’s humiliating! That’s
embarrassing! But oh! That’s so liberating.
Notice the response of the one who receives your confession-prayer. In fact, it seems
that this exercise is a confession to one another and praying for one another. Look at
the results-HEALING. Thank God we have Life Groups where this kind of body-life can
take place.
We have forgiveness of sins because of the cross of Jesus Christ and His shed blood.
His sacrifice on the cross made it possible for us to be healed, but not without our
brother or sister in Christ. The power of the crucifixion heals us as we confess to and
pray for each other.
Are their righteous people in your life whom you can confess your sins and receive
healing prayer?
Prayer - Lord, you know I need your healing. Help me to humble myself and practice
the kind of spiritual life that would honor the blood of Jesus and bring healing to my life
and the life of my brother or sister, Amen.
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Day 19 - Sharpen One Another // Day 11 of Fasting
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)
The first time I heard this verse was when I was a child. My first impression of this
verse sounded painful. But, as I matured and learned what this verse meant, I came to
understand that it is actually a very loving and compassionate act from one friend to
another.
Looking at a cross reference of this verse, Proverbs 27: 9 says, “The heartfelt counsel
of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” We often think of counseling as fixing
something that is broken in ourselves. Or sharpening with iron, the thought of doing
surgery on our character flaws come to mind. Ouch!
It is pure love when a friend gives you godly counsel because they care for you and
hate to see you making repeated mistakes that hinder your spiritual walk. A friend who
sharpens a friend with heartfelt love is a great act of discipleship.
Many Christians seem to think that discipleship is merely encouraging someone to

develop their good qualities…accentuate the positive. Ephesians 4:15 says, that we are
to speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ…” That is
the desired outcome of iron sharpening iron…for us to become more and more like
Christ.
As Jesus mentored his disciples, He spoke the truth in love knowing that what he was
saying would painfully come to pass. Matthew 26:34 is a perfect example of this when
Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed the
very night that Jesus was arrested.
As painful as that was for Peter to hear, far greater was the lesson Peter learned from
that experience which catapulted him to become one of the greatest Christian leaders of
all time. It is valuable for us to learn that much of our spiritual growth often comes from
someone caring enough to sharpen us by speaking the truth in love. Not just pointing
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out our character flaws or failures but teaching us God’s more excellent way for our
lives.
In Celebrate Recovery, we are taught to make a searching and fearless moral inventory
of ourselves and then humbly ask the Lord to remove our character defects. I want to
encourage you to make a list of your character defects and then find a friend with whom
you trust to share your list. Have that friend pray with you and ask them to hold you
accountable as you seek the Lord to overcome them.
Prayer - Father, give me the courage to make this difficult list and the desire and
strength to face the truth in order that I become more like You. In Jesus name, Amen.
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Day 20 - Who is Your Timothy? // Day 12 of Fasting - Last Fasting Day
“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to
faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2 ESV)
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God transforms our lives. The
transformation of our lives is not for us. When our lives are transformed through what
we have heard, it is not for us. We get to reap the benefit of a transformed life; we can
have peace, joy, love and a sense of purpose. We have the privilege of being a beacon
of hope for those who need Jesus, because those around us can see the work of Jesus
in and through us. Again, the transformation that takes place is not for us.
When our lives are transformed, the purpose is to bring God glory so that others can
come to know Him as a result. When we receive a word from God (through teaching,
reading, prayer or conversation) that word is then to be shared. To hold on to teaching
and not share would be to defeat the true purpose of that teaching.
I have heard a saying that as Christians, we should always have a Paul, Barnabas and
Timothy in our lives. The “Paul” in our life serves as a mentor, a person who is more
experienced and can speak Biblical truth and spiritual wisdom into our lives. The
“Barnabas” in our life serves as a sojourner, encourager and friend in life and ministry.
The “Timothy” in our life is an individual we are investing in, who we spend time with,
pray for and can share with them what God has been teaching and showing us.
2nd Timothy is a letter from the Apostle Paul to Timothy. Paul is imparting in these
letters spiritual wisdom and guidance to a person he cares for and desires to see grow
in his relationship with God. We see in 2nd Timothy chapter 2 that Paul’s investment in
Timothy is not for Timothy’s sake, but so Timothy will then turn around and invest or
entrust what he is learning into the lives of others.
Do you have a person who invests in your life? Do you have a friend who encourages
you and prays for you? Do you have a person whose life you invest in?
Prayer - Lord, I pray You would show me who the Paul, Barnabas and Timothy is in my
life. Father if I currently do not have these individuals in my life, I pray and ask that You
would align relationships that will provide opportunity for me to learn from, encourage
with, and that I can invest in.
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Day 21 - Restored and Renewed
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore
that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s
burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2 NIV)
My grandmother once had a small delicate Queen Anne foyer cabinet that I admired. Even
thought it was only about four feet tall, you couldn’t help notice the beautiful wood finish the
minute you walked into her foyer. On the top shelf, she had a small crystal lamp that helped light
a dark entryway, reflecting geometric light patterns across the foyer walls. After a while, the
small cabinet was passed to an aunt who painted it tangerine orange, to match her brightly
colored sun room. As she grew tired of the cabinet, another aunt decided to paint over the
tangerine orange with calming sea foam green and tucked it away in a corner of her study.
Years later, she offered the cabinet to me. The first thing I did was to remove those layers of
colorful paint and restore the cabinet’s natural wood grain once again….I and placed it back in
the foyer, where it was meant to be. Everyone who walked into the foyer immediately noticed
how rich the wood finish was.
In order to restore the cabinet, the first thing I knew I had to do was to was to gently expose the
bare wood in order for the cabinet to receive a fresh coat of clear varnish, so everyone could
see the true beauty that the cabinet was destined to display. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.
Like restoring a fallen believer to the beauty they were destined to display, the task isn’t easy
either, but it is worth it.
What others didn’t know was what the cabinet looked like before I restored it. Those layers and
layers of paint, much like the sins of a believer, covered up the true beauty that was hidden
underneath. I was tempted to take the easy way out and choose another color of paint to cover
up the awful sea foam green, but instead of covering it up, I chose to restore it…back to its
original beauty.
Do know a brother or sister in Christ who needs to be gently restored so he or she can be used
again for the kingdom? Ask the Lord for an opportunity for you to help restore and renew,
through the power of God’s gentle hand.
Prayer - Lord, help me be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, lest I am tempted myself, and help me
restore a fellow believer’s beautiful destiny the Lord has planned.
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Day 22 - Full House
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other
prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the
foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and
everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors
open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners
had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called
for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out
and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus,
and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord
to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and
washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The
jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy
because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.” (Acts 16:25-34
NIV)

Back in the 90’s there were a few popular shows I remember being a fan of:
The Wonder Years, Boy Meets World, ALF, Kids Incorporated, GooseBumps,
Animaniacs, TaleSpin, Lamb Chop Plays Along (please don’t ask), Family Matters,
Growing Pains, and my all time favorite….Full House!! The thing that attracted me to
the show was it represented a family I would have loved to have had growing up. There
were aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, parents all in and out of each other’s life. They
would start an episode with a problem and in 30 minutes, including commercials, they
would resolve it, hug it out, and return to being the ideal family…nothing but JOY.
The truth is that life is a lot more complicated than that. I don’t know about you but it
takes at least 30 minutes just to start the fight/argument/problem!! Now how is it that in
verse 27 of Acts 16 the jailer is about to end his life and 7 verses later it says that “he
and his family were filled with joy?!?!” I believe the jailer witnessed a few essentials
which bring ultimate joy.
1. He witnessed faith - As one reads it clearly states where Paul and Silas were, in
the inner most place in a prison. Yet their faith was not vanquished. They began
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to pray and sing praises to the Lord even though their prospects seemed dismal.
That is faith. They believed God was greater than their obstacles.
2. He witnessed grace - As soon as the Holy Spirit started playing “Jail House
Rock” and the prisoners were set loose, the Jailer wanted to end his life because
he knew that if Paul and Silas escaped, then he would surely suffer the
consequences and death seemed to be the easy way out. How amazing and
beautiful it must have been to hear the voices in the darkness saying “Don’t
harm yourself! We are all here!” What a picture of God’s GRACE!! There
wasn’t an altar call, music in the background or an invitation time. Grace just
showed up. He asked “what must I do to be saved?” If we are to have joy in our
lives, we have to always go back to the time were we first met Jesus. Can you
recall the excitement, the weight removed, the second chance, the answered
prayer, realizing you have a purpose, having super natural peace in the midst of
trials, overcoming habits, restoration in your family, the healing, or the feeling
being set free? Our first experience with Chris is pure JOY!
3. He witnessed Jesus - I cannot say it any better than how scripture says it “…he
was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God (Jesus)- he and his
whole family.” It’s kind of like that saying: “No Jesus, No joy….Know Jesus,
Know JOY!!”

Have I found real joy in Jesus? What steps am I missing to experience that joy? With
whom do I need to share this joy with?
Prayer - Lord, would you help me really find joy in my life. May I know what it really
means to have church, experience grace, and know that you’re more than enough. In
JESUS name, Amen.
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Day 23 - Leading by Example
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden…In the
same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your
heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT)
I always like driving back to the city of New Orleans at night because you can see the
glow of it for miles before you get there. That’s what Jesus says we are to be like. Our
light is to glow in the dark like a city’s light.
In many ways, we are like the moon because it has no light of it’s own, it simply reflects
the light of the sun, but it controls the tides of the earth’s oceans. Likewise, we have no
light of our own; we simply reflect the light of the Son, but we light the way for others to
live for the Lord. You may think your light is not one of great influence because you are
not wealthy, famous or powerful, but you are influential because of whose light you
reflect. People are watching you.
Think about light. It warms you up. It can be the same temp in light as it was in the dark
and it feels warmer. Light cheers people up – there are more depressed people in the
winter because it is darker for a longer period of time. Light chases away darkness.
When you do good deeds for the Lord, you bring the warmth of the Lord to those you
come in contact with. When you share the love of the Lord, you cheer people up.
When you live a life filled with good deeds, you chase away the darkness making it
possible for people to see how to live for the Lord. You lead through your lives – by
example.
Are you living your life in such a way that you not only show people how to find the Lord,
but also how to live for Him? If not, what are some things you need to ask the Lord to
change in you, so that you can light the path for others?
Prayer - Lord help us to live our lives in such a way that we light up the way to you and
that our lives show people how to follow you.
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Day 24 - Conflict Resolution
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do
not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in
Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29-32 NIV)
I was in the midst of dealing with a conflict between two of my treasured friends, and also
faithful volunteers in our ministry. Tragically, this couple had served the Lord passionately with
great devotion. Now, they were only passionate about their dispute, which they now carried out
with great devotion. Personally, I had grown weary of attempting to mediate this conflict and try
to restore these two to some godly love and acceptance of each other. So when I found myself
talking with a “more experienced” pastor, I brought up the matter hoping he could give me some
good advice. I’ll never forget what he told me.
He responded readily, as though he knew what he was going to say before I had finished the
question. He told me, in a mild southern drawl, “Son, we don’t really do much conflict resolution
here. Instead, we teach conflict prevention.” He explained that most of our conflict comes from
acting in an ungodly manner. So, if we’ll just conduct ourselves according to Scripture, we’ll
spend less time resolving conflicts.
Now, I know godly behavior won’t prevent all conflicts. Jesus sure dealt with a lot of conflict.
However, conflict resolution and conflict prevention both revolve around principal habits of
conducting ourselves in a godly manner. We must allow our speech to be wholesome and
affirming. And we must compassionately forgive one another when we do experience conflict.
How do I need to adapt my attitudes and actions so that I am acting in a godly manner and
preventing conflict?
Prayer: Lord, help me to live in peace with You and with people, so that I can prevent conflict,
and glorify You when conflict arises.
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Day 25 - Encourage Others
“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” (Colossians
3:21)
To Encourage means: To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence. Have you ever felt
hopeless? Has someone ever said words to you that were very discouraging? Have you ever
been around people who “suck the life right out of you?” These are the people that you see from
a distance in the grocery store and you devise a quick plan in your head to avoid any eye
contact, discretely slip down another aisle, and hopefully get out of sight. Avoiding people may
not be the Christlike thing to do, but sometimes you just don’t want the drama and
discouragement that it creates.
Throughout God’s word, we are encouraged to be encouragers. While there are certainly times
that any one of us may need to be set on a course correction by the Lord, it seems that He
prefers for us to lift one another up and bear one another’s burdens. You and I should make life
better and more enjoyable for one another and not more of a headache.
Someone said, “Leaders are dealers in hope.” I think that should be true for all believers. We
should be dealers in hope. Because of Christ, we can offer hope to the hopeless; we can
befriend the friendless; and we can give help to the helpless.
In addition to hope, the word “encourage” means to instill or inspire courage. When someone
“en-courages” us, we’ll find that we can overcome a multitude of obstacles, challenges, and
fears. An excellent illustration of this is from the movie, Soul Surfer. It’s the true story of
Bethany Hamilton who loses her left arm in a freak shark attack. As she seeks to discover God’s
purpose for her life in the aftermath of that attack, she decides to join a group from her church
on a mission trip. They travel overseas to a country that was devastated by a tsunami. The
locals are on the beach living and trying to put their lives back together, but no one will enter the
water out of fear. Bethany manages to coax a young boy into the water on a surf board. Others
see that the water is safe and they join in the fun. Bethany not only brings encouragement to
others, but she is encouraged about her own life in the process.
That’s the great thing about encouragement – when you give it, you tend to get it back. Go out
and encourage someone today!
Prayer – Heavenly Father, thank you for offering hope and encouragement and confidence to
me through Jesus Christ. Help me today to be an encouragement to others.
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Day 26 - Serve Your Family
"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering
God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very
words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all
things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and
ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV)
I once saw a quote by an unknown author that said, “Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with
a few nuts.” While that statement is meant to be funny, many people can certainly relate to it. I
was raised, for the most part, by a single mother away from all of my family except for my older
brother. When I think about growing up separated from all of my extended family I often wonder
how different life would have been if I had grown up around all of the sweet relatives as well as
the nuts. I heard stories from friends about how much fun they had with their cousins, or how
much they enjoyed spending time with their grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Occasionally, I
heard my friends complaining about their relatives and I felt as if they took for granted the
blessing of having family. I am not sure I would say that I was jealous, but I certainly had a
longing to experience what my friends had with their large connected families.
When I became a young adult and got married at twenty-three years old I was determined to
provide a family structure for my children that I never experienced. However, one of my biggest
struggles at that time was the desire to pursue my dreams at the expense of ignoring the needs
and desires of my family. As time went on, and I matured some, I began to see that serving only
my desires and dreams was selfish and contradictory to God’s Word. As a result, I became
intentional about serving the needs and desires of my wife and children.
In 1 Peter 4:10-11, Paul reminds us all that God has given us gifts so that we can serve others
and build others up. We must never forget that our ministry begins with our family, and while at
times we may have disagreements with some of our family members when they act like “nuts,”
the best way we can respond is to serve our family. In doing that, God receives the glory he
deserves because it is only by his strength that we can respond appropriately. When we
respond in a godly manner by serving our family we can be assured that God is pleased with us.
What are some ways I can serve my family this year?
Prayer - Lord, I know that I tend to get focused on my own desires and dreams and sometimes
that causes me to miss out on opportunities to serve my family. Help me to make serving my
family a priority. Amen.
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Day 27 - Real Friends
“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each
other.” (Romans 12:10 NLT)
I went to a very small high school. In fact, there were only 50 students in my graduating class. I
knew everyone and everyone knew me. Even though there were 50 of us, we were more than
classmates. We were friends, at least on the surface.
During my lunch breaks of high school, however, I went to sit with my real friends. There, on the
same concrete benches everyday, I joined with a smaller knit group made up of band geeks,
drama nerds, teacher’s pets, and journalism brainiacs. We were more than friendly
acquaintances. We had been to each other’s homes. We had eaten with each other’s families.
We shared an identity. We were on the same team. We were all friends.
Be that as it may, my best friend in high school was Steven. We did everything together. From
band trips to drama club plays to church youth activities, we could be seen together. We shared
our hurts, fears, hopes, and dreams with each other. Even after graduation, we stayed in touch.
When he was married in Arizona, I sang in his wedding. When I was married in Arkansas, he
served as an usher. When he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease in his twenties, he called
me. When my wife and I lost a baby to miscarriage in my thirties, I called him. When he
became the pastor of a church, I did a music and drama presentation for his congregation.
When Katrina struck New Orleans, he brought water and relief supplies to mine. Today, we still
visit, text and call each other on a regular basis. Steven is my real friend.
Being real friends with someone is a lot of work. It means being honest and open with them
when you would rather be shallow and superficial. It means being sincerely happy about the
good things that happen to them even when you wish they would happen to you. It means
making an effort to spend time with them even when the pressures of life and work make it
extremely difficult. It means getting up in the middle of the night or leaving in the middle of a
meeting when they call. It means sharing and celebrating the joys of life together. It means
experiencing and mourning the disasters of life together. That’s what it means to be real friends.
How many real friends do you have?
Prayer - Lord, help me to build deep, lifelong, consistent, faithful friendships with others.
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Day 28 - Reconciling Broken Relationships
“Come to me here as soon as you can. Demas left me. He loved the things of this world
and has gone to the city of Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to the city of Galatia. Titus
has gone to the city of Dalmatia. Luke is the only one with me here. Bring Mark when
you come. He is a help to me in this work." (2 Timothy 4:9-11 NLT)
Relationships matter and healthy relationships are critical to getting the most out of life
and experiencing God’s best in our lives. The Apostle Paul expresses in our verses for
today what we may have experienced at different times during our lives - having a
relationship with a close friend that we love and care about become fractured or
completely broken. It has been said that sometimes the hardest relationships to keep
healthy are those of the people that we love and care about the most.
With that in mind it is important that we remember that fractured or broken relationships
require reconciliation. I know it is sometimes easier to just walk away, not deal with the
damaged relationship and find someone new to be a part of our life, but we must
remember that God desires for believers to live differently than the rest of the world. He
desires for us to do what is right and what is right is reconciliation, stepping out in faith,
obeying God’s desire, and working toward healing the wounds of that fractured or
broken relationship.
Right about now you might be thinking, “Won’t that let them off the hook for what they
did?” NO! It does not let them off the hook for their part of the broken relationship. Each
person in the relationship is still responsible for his or her own actions, thoughts, and
feelings. One misconception is that if we forgive someone and seek to heal that broken
relationship then they will not have to take responsibility for their side of the problem
that has accrued. While it is true that if you seek to heal a broken relationship the other
person may never forgive you or may never apologize to you for what they have done.
That should never be the reason for not pursuing reconciliation in those fractured or
broken relationships in your life.
One of my favorite movies to watch is the movie Gladiator. Early on in the movie
Maximus, one of the Generals of the Roman army, is getting his army charged up to go
to war against the Barbarian horde and as he is giving a charge to the soldiers. He
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gives one of the best movie lines I’ve ever heard. He stands before his army and
declares to his men “What is done in life echoes in eternity!”
How we live our lives and manage our relationships now will determine how much of the
blessing of God is poured into our lives while here on earth and how we are rewarded
for our faithfulness in eternity. What we do in life with our relationships truly does echo
in eternity.
Which relationships in my life are not as healthy as they need to be and which ones can
I begin working on to improve this week? How will I accomplish this?
Prayer: Dear Lord, please give me the strength to step out in faith and begin working on
improving the relationships of my life.
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Day 29 - The work of the ministry
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip
the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the
unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ... (Ephesians 4:11-13)
“Do you work with your whole heart, and you will succeed - there’s so little competition.”
- Elbert Hubbard
The key idea in this passage is that the work of ministry is the responsibility of the saints. The
expectation in most churches the “Full Time” ministers - the apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors and teachers - will be the ones who do all the ministry work.
But the writer of this passage, Paul the Apostle, lays out clearly that the role of these “Full Time”
ministers is to equip the saints. Why are the saints equipped? To do the work of ministry.
The responsibility of doing ministry in the church belongs to the saints. Now these aren’t those
people commissioned by the Catholic church after performing three miracles, or those in the
black and gold who score touchdowns on Sundays. These saints are the members of the body
of Christ. Anyone who identifies themselves as followers of Christ. When we become Christians,
we become sanctified which means we become saints.
Most people in church have no interest in doing the work of ministry, they intend on receiving
the work of ministry. They are lazy Christians. Fat cats who want nothing more than to be
pampered and entertained.
But not you. You’re a Rolled-Up-Sleeve Dirty-Hand Christian. You do your work with your whole
heart. You’re a committed follower who embraces the call of God. When God says ‘who will I
send?’, you jump out from the crowd with your hand launched high like a 1st grader being
selected to give the answer which will win the prize. “Pick-Me, Pick-Me, Oooh Ooh, Pick Me!”
And that’s exactly what God does. Because He’s already told us... “The harvest is plentiful, but
the workers are few.” - Matthew 9:37
Are you willing to embrace the call and spend your life doing the work of God’s ministry?
Prayer - Dear Lord, Give us the vision to see what you want us to do, and the courage it takes
to do it. Let us not be afraid to work. Amen.
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Day 30 - Attitude of a Servant
“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but
whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be
first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
SERVANT….. It just doesn’t have a good ring in your ear when you first hear it! When I first
became a Christian, I remember my youth pastor telling me, “Jesus came to serve. What about
you?”. Being a servant is so contrary to our flesh.
I have had the opportunity to spend some great vacations over the years with my family. Some
of my favorites are cruises. To totally unplug and let someone else do the laundry, cook, clean
and WORK… Besides who else knows how to make those cool animals folded from towels?
Unfortunately, this type of life doesn’t really line up with the life Jesus has modeled for us.
Years ago at a Promise Keepers rally, I heard a man named Doug Stringer speak. He talked
about the Fatherless Generation and how we need to be fathers to the young men and women
who were walking around with this gaping void in their lives. Later that day, I spoke with him
about my heart to mentor and disciple and he gave me advice and we prayed together. As I
began to walk away, he handed me a book and said “don’t forget to read it and live it”. I
thanked him and went on my way. While flying home I took out the book and read the inside
cover. He wrote, “Keep pressing on! While men reach for thrones to build their own kingdoms –
Jesus reached for a towel to wash men’s feet”. The reality is that if we want to be like Jesus,
then we should be reaching for the things he reached for!
I have found in my life that if I really want to know how I am doing in this area, I just have to ask
myself a question. So I will ask both of us, “how do we respond when people treat us like a
servant?”. How we answer this will show us how deep our servant heart goes. How is your
heart my friend?
When is the last time you truly stepped out and served someone without any benefit to yourself?
Prayer - Father God, help me to serve others today in a way that shows your heart. Amen.
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Day 31 - Do Something
“God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus He has created us
for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10
TEV)
God has a purpose for every Christian in this world. He has forgiven our sins, begun to
free us from the struggles and strongholds of life, brought to us a better and more
satisfying life, and granted us eternal life. He’s done all of that not just we can enjoy
what He’s done for us, but so that He can then work through us to “make a difference” in
the lives of others.
The Bible teaches that the Lord has equipped us to help others. He has given us: 1)
spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Romans 12:6-11), 2) a passion for helping certain
groups of people, 3) physical talents and abilities, 4) a unique personality, and 5) lots of
life experiences (some good and some bad) that can all be used to help and encourage
others. The question is, “are we going to utilize what the Lord has given us for just our
own benefit, or to live a life of ‘good deeds’ on behalf of others?”
Almost everyone wants to live a joy-filled life. Sometimes we think that “joy” comes
from having possessions, being involved in “fun” experiences, or having someone
special in our lives. The Bible says that joy comes from “serving God and serving
others.” When we prioritize living like the Lord wants us to live and carrying out the
“good deeds” for others that He has planned for us to do, that’s when we will truly live a
joy-filled life. I’m praying that 2012 will be one of the most joyous years of your life, as
you join others here at Celebration (i.e. Life Group members) in doing “good deeds” for
others.
What types of “good deeds” do I think that the Lord wants me to do to bring help, hope
and healing to others?
Prayer – Lord, help me to focus on You and others as much or more as I focus on
myself, and help me to carry out the “good deeds” for others in 2012 that You have
prepared for me to do.
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Journaling Pages! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 1
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 2
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 3
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 5
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 6
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 8
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 9
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 11
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 12
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 14
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 15
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 17
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 18
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 20
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 21
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 23
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 24
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 26
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 27
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! Day 29
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Day 30
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The game-plan to take your spiritual life

TO THE NEXT LEVEL

"Everybody thinks of changing humanity and

However, in I Corinthians 9:19-27 Paul modeled a different picture. He spoke of getting

Paul is encouraging us as Christians to run the race in

Prayer - Lord, please help me to run after the things that

“Emotional health and spiritual maturity are inseparable. It is not possible to be

This is the beginning of emotional maturity.

What do I have to start today to obtain godliness?

Prayer – Lord, help me to be constantly focused on encouraging other Christians to

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What are some ways I can serve my family this year?

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