The Daily Dose

Purge out the old

Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 1 Corinthians 5:7

There once was a popular saying that goes: “One bad apple will spoil the whole bunch.”  It was meant to say that you will pick up the bad habits of those you allow into your inner circle.  If you are running with the wrong crowd, you will look and act just like their undesirable ways.  In contrast, if you are around the right kind of influences, you will begin to act in the same way as your good role models.

Today’s scripture is talking about the ingredient of leaven used for raising bread.  It is like yeast.  You only need a little bit to cause all of the dough to rise.  Paul encouraged the people of Corinth to get rid of the bad leaven, their old sinful ways and become new by picking up a new way of living.  The way Paul instructed them was by following the example of the Lord Jesus. He told them to get rid of their malice (spite and hostility) and wickedness/iniquity and replace it with sincerity and truth.

This is good instruction for us today, also.  There are many examples of daily habits around us.  At work and at school most of us a subject to an abundance of spite, hostility, destructive words and all around bad behavior.  If we do not recognize and guard against the pressure of fitting in, it will not take long at all before we look and act just like everyone else in the room.  I’m not saying you have to go through your day with your eyes closed and your hands over your ears, but what I am saying is determine not to look and sound like those who are far from God.  Make a stand for what is right and have an encouraging and positive outlook in every situation.  A bad attitude is like a lump of leaven and it quickly spreads through the entire room.  However, the good news is that a good heart and outlook can have the same effect in the right direction.

There is one other way I like to look at this scripture and that is the way the word of God can work in your life.  It is like a little leaven that can leaven the whole lump.  As you take in a little of God’s word each day, it will spread throughout every area of your life to raise it up to the highest degree.

Today I want to encourage you to get rid of the bad habits in your life and replace them with some good ones.  The best place to start is by putting the words of God in each day.  Set quiet time aside to read and think about what the Holy Spirit wants to minister to you through that word.  Spend time talking it over with your Heavenly Father.  Don’t rush through your time together, savor it and give the yeast some time to rise.  A little leaven of the Word of God will enrich your whole life.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 5:1-8

Hi All,

Recently I was asked to do a guest blog for an awesome organization called The Smart Carpenter. It is a couple of very talented ladies joined together to mentor those in the business world. Since today was the release of that blog, I wanted to share it with all of you. The link at the bottom of the page should take you to the blog. Enjoy, and while you are there, check out what else The Smart Carpenter has been up to.

The Smart Carpenter

Everyday, there are certain things we do in our lives, at work, with our families and even in our homes. We call them routines, the “norm” or the humdrum of everyday life. But without those little things, it wouldn’t take long for the big things to fall apart. Imagine not brushing your teeth everyday. Not cleaning and putting away dishes in your kitchen. Leaving mail and email unopened. Not talking to the people you live with. Can you imagine the unraveling?!In dreams and in life, it’s the little things that keep the big things going. In a word, this is consistency. It’s not glamorous, but it works. And God models it in His faithfulness toward us. He never fails to come through. Even when we do our best to make it difficult for Him, He is always faithful. Friend and fellow writer, Lynette Lyden, is sharing from her heart and experience on this very subject as she writes about duplicating God’s consistency in your life. Her advice is made for everyday living and is steeped in her discovery of what it means to be led by God into things that are too big to accomplish in her own strength. Lynette’s story is the kind you love to read because it’s marked by both human failure and God’s faithfulness. You’ll find ways to apply her insights in your life, right now—regardless of where you are in living toward those big dreams in your heart. Here’s to dreaming big and taking the small, consistent steps to see those dreams come to pass!

With love,  Alyssa + Kisha

READ THE BLOG

Not in word but in power

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. 1 Corinthians 4:20

What do people see when they look at your life.  Do they see you living life from victory to victory or a life of problem to problem?  Is your life one that will attract others to the Kingdom of Heaven or push them farther away?  The attitude you have in life is a direct reflection of how God is working in your life.  If you are focused on life’s problems and the people around you just hear about what is going wrong, they will see your life as no different than their own.  In contrast, if others hear the testimonies of God bringing you through the troubles, that makes all the difference.  The thing is that we are alike with those in the world in that we all go through trouble and problems.  The secret is in who we trust to bring us through to success on the other side of trouble.

Today’s key verse talks about the people in Corinth coming up short in displaying the power of God in their daily lives.  They were talking the talk, but did not have the testimonies to back up their talk.  The apostle Paul urged them to follow his example of trusting God through all of life’s trials not and to be full of arrogant speech.  There were many in the church who were bragging about their salvation, but did not trust God with the details of daily living.  Paul said he wasn’t trying to shame or embarrass people in the church, but he wanted to see them living by trusting the power of God to lead them through life to overcoming victories every time.

This goes back to living a life consistently submitting all areas to the Savior.  This is the way you can demonstrate the power of God in your life, also.  By turning to Him with every care and concern and even the things you are not so stressed about, you are opening the door for His powerful hand to reach in and make all the difference in your life.  A difference that will be noticed by everyone around you.

Today I want to encourage you to live your life by the power of God.  Put away pride and arrogant speaking and most of all, stop talking about what is going wrong in your life.  Instead, turn the attention to the power of God in your life.  Let those around you hear you proclaim the goodness of God in all that He brings you through on a daily basis.  Then and only then will the outside world be drawn into His love and kindness.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Faithfulness

“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”    I Corinthians 4:2

In today’s world of the “looking out for number 1” mentality, it can be hard to find those who are faithful.  In our society of “not going to let anyone take advantage of me” and entitlement, pride of who we are and where we come from has taken it’s place above honor and the very things we should be faithful in.

So what is faithfulness?  Typically, when I think of someone that is faithful, I think of someone who is dependable and who can be trusted and always relied on.  While those certainly can be qualities you find in a faithful person, I believe the read example of faithfulness is in one’s consistency.  The way a person acts and the values they hold are the same no matter who they are around.  This is what faithfulness is.  With this description, faithfulness actually takes on the personality of every person.  You can be faithful in your pride and arrogance by consistently living by them.  Likewise, you could be faithful in your lack of discipline and drive.  Ideally, you are faithful as a follow of Christ and display it in your consistent love for serving others in every area of your life.  In this case, you are stewarding faithfully to love unconditionally as your Heavenly Father loves you. 

So how do we as God’s children become faithful in loving others?  Hebrews 10:38 says, “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” The just live by faith by bringing every area of their life before God and holding nothing back.  You cannot say, “Here you go, God. I’ll give you Sunday morning from 10 am to 11 am but the rest of the week, my life belongs to me.   I will say and do whatever I want to during that time, but I will give You that 1 hour to do things Your way.”  Sounds kind of silly and I’m sure no one purposefully thinks that, but those who are justified in Christ Jesus are to let God into every area of their life, 24 hours a day and consistently live and love the way He does, faithfully.  Committing every area of your life to God and looking to Him for wisdom and direction in all your ways is the way to truly live life full of faithfulness.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your heart and life and ask yourself and the Holy Spirit “is there any place where I have kept God out”? Ask Him if you have separated your life into different people groups.  Whether at work, the gym, school or even home, submit every relationship you have to God and He will empower you through His Spirit to faithfully steward all areas of life for His honor and glory.

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Corinthians 4:1-13

They Are All Ours

“whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours and you are Christ’s, and Christ belongs to God.” 1 Corinthians 3:22-23

Do you remember the first time you heard the good news of the gospel of Jesus?  Who was it from or what ministry did you hear it from first?  Maybe your first encounter with Jesus was through a family member or a close friend?  How many ministries since you first believed have you learned and grown from?  Are there different ministers of God’s Word that are imparting into your life today?

Today’s scripture is about the people in the church at Corinth.  It seems they were having disputes about who was more spiritual because of which preacher had taught them and led them to Jesus.  The apostle Paul quickly settles this argument to say some plant the Word, some water the Word that was planted, but the important part is that God gives the increase of that Word that was planted and cultivated in a life.  He turns the focus from the preacher to the message.  The message of knowing God the Father through Jesus, getting free from the world’s hold, discovering your purpose in the body of Christ, and making an impact on those around you is where our focus needs to be. 

What about all the ministers and ministries available to learn and grow from today?   The scripture says, “they are all yours.”  We can learn and grow from every one of them if we choose and God will not be offended.  In the days we live in, there is an unlimited supply of God’s message available locally, online, and other resources. (Books, podcasts, etc.). So let some plant, some water but most importantly, let God give the increase!

Today I want to encourage you, don’t get hung up on who is more spiritual because of where and who they may be growing from.  Recognize that all the ministries of the kingdom are ours to learn from, pray for, and support.  Let God’s increase of His message and His wisdom be what we are most hungry for.

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Fellow workers

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

I really appreciate this verse because it reminds me once again that I am not alone in my labor for the Lord.  God has a plan and has a place for me in His kingdom work.  This passage is wonderful because it shows that we work right alongside with God.  He hasn’t left us here to figure it all out by ourselves.  We work with God!  This phrase “fellow worker” is actually defined as co- worker or colleague.  It means we are working on the same project together, the Kingdom of Heaven.  We are called by God to work right beside Him building and increasing His Kingdom.  What a privilege and honor it is to be a fellow worker with God our Father.  When we were born again, we received Jesus as Savior, yes, and we became part of God’s family, but we also became a fellow worker with Him.  He began right away training us up by working with us, empowering us to get in the place of growth and surrounding us with others that help keep us close to Him.  Amazingly, because we have always done things our own way, we often start out in our walk with God thinking we can continue down that same path and bring God with us.  The truth is, once Jesus is the Lord of our lives, He is the one that is leading now, and we follow His path.  We don’t have to get His blessing on our plan because His plan is already blessed.  We just need to line up with it by walking with Him day by day.

Today’s reading talks about the grace God has given us to build His kingdom and step into the place as a brick in the house of the Lord.  Jesus laid the foundation along with the Holy Spirit.  Now we are building on that foundation and our works are the evidence of our labor.  What we are building will be put through the fire and tests of life.  All that we do to bring others into God’s Kingdom and then encourage and build His people up with the right heart of love will remain.  Any selfish ambition will be burned off and fade away forever.  Work with your Heavenly Father in such a way that your labor is celebrated for all eternity.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your heart’s motive.  Are you in your called position?  Are you walking in God’s blessed path, or trying to get Him to bless your plans?  We are fellow workers with God continuing the building He started long ago.  We have a firm foundation built by Jesus the chief cornerstone. Now we are working with God to complete this project!  Discover your place today by asking God where you fit into His plan. Then begin taking steps in that direction. Soon you will be working right along side your Heavenly Father building your home with Him together.

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Corinthians 3:9-17

Of the flesh

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.  1 Corinthians 3:1

In the past you likely may have heard the word “carnal” defined by words such as: sensual, erotic, lustful and lascivious. However, looking at this word in today’s scripture it simply means of this physical world.  Paul is telling the Corinthian church that instead of seeing life from a spiritual perspective, they are still living by what they see in the natural, physical world.  That is why they still have emotions like envy, strife and divisions in their lives and in the church.  Paul is stressing to them that they are living like baby believers instead of growing in their faith as he had expected them to do.

This speaks to me because, I totally get it. It is so easy to go through life focused on what is going on around me.  If I didn’t purposefully set time aside each day to talk to God and consider His ways and His plans, I would be caught up in my own thoughts and feelings.  As it is now, I often find myself hurt or offended because of what someone else has said or done.

Yet the church in Corinth was fighting over things such as who was more spiritual based on who they were learning from.  After hearing what Paul has to say about it, your spiritual strength has nothing to do with who you are listening to, it has to do with who gives the increase.  All the pastors and teachers you read and listen to are only planting and watering the seed of God’s word in your heart.  It is the Holy Spirit that gives the increase of strength and grows our faith.  These feelings of envy, strife and divisions are really signs in our lives of areas that we need to grow through into a mature child of God.  To stay parked with hurts and offenses simply means your are not growing, but are still behaving as a baby.

The solution is in cultivating your relationship with your Heavenly Father through His Spirit that lives inside you.  There are many ways to do this.  Prayer, is probably the most effective way to press into God.  Just by spending time talking to Him and asking Him to show you things.  Ask Him what scripture you will need for today.  Open up the Word of God and spend some time getting to know Him better by what He has already promised.  Praying in the Sprit and meditating His Word will also bring you much insight and grow your walk of faith.  Mostly, making a concentrated effort to connect with Him each day will impact your walk with Him in a positive way that will lead you to love more like He loves.

Today I want to encourage you examine your spiritual walk.  Are you looking at life from an eternal perspective, or do you see things as if this world is the only factor to consider?  Set some time aside today to talk this over with the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance.  Make a plan with Him to grow you relationship with your Father in heaven and gain an eternal perspective in every area of your life.  Put away the childish hurt feelings from offenses, and grow up in the love of God so you can step into the purpose you were created to walk in.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Jesus is the head

“For who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 2:16

I recently heard a message on “we (believers) are the body, Christ is the head”.  Earlier, I did write a “dose” about being part of the body and that we all need to be in our place for the body to function properly, but during this recent service, part of the focus was on Jesus as the head (the command center of the body).  When I heard that phrase, today’s key verse immediately came to my thoughts, and I could see in the spirit that the head doesn’t work on just one part of the body or someone separated from the assembly of believers.

This scripture has always been one that I like to speak over my thought life.  When I have doubts, unbelief, or confusion going on, I thank my Heavenly Father that I have the mind of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 2:16.  However, after what the LORD has shown me through this new revelation, I don’t believe I can have the mind of Christ on my own.  It is only when I am connected to the rest of the body.  So if my position in the body is an arm but I have separated myself from the rest of the body by not coming together/connecting with in fellowship and worship regularly, I can get my direction from the head, but I cannot do anything with it.  I can pick something up, push or pull it, but I cannot execute the direction given because I have no body to take me there.  I am not in a position as an arm to move on the direction that the “Head” gives me because I am not joined to the rest of the body. I have “cut” myself off from the body resulting in no life flowing through me.

I believe what the Holy Spirit was impressing on me was that it is so vital to be connected to each other!  We cannot function in the plan of God without each other.  He has a place and purpose for each one of us to fit in the body and it is imperative that we get there.  This is not for our benefit . . . It’s all about kingdom progress.  It’s about our mission together to get God’s plan done.  Here’s the thing . . . God works through people.  Even when He does miracles, He does them through people.  All through the Bible all the miracles were done through the hands of God’s people.  Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, Jesus, the disciples, and Paul were just a few of them.  God moves through people by the Holy Spirit to get things accomplished and He needs us to be the vessels for Him to work through.  We cannot sit back and say we are just waiting on God to move… He is moving and I want to say He needs us to get moving into our places, but the truth is if we don’t, He will get someone else that is willing to do it. (See 1 Samuel 3, 16) Let’s not miss out on all the blessings God has for us in our place.

Today I am going to take the stance of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1 by saying I beg of you by the mercies of God…this is not a challenge or an encouragement, this is an all-out plea for all of us to get in our place and do our part and follow His direction so we can get His plan accomplished!  God’s work can only be finished in this age of grace when we all get together and do it!!  If you don’t know where you belong, start seeking.  Ask the Lord to show you where you fit and what He needs for you to do.  If you are already in position, help those around you to get connected and find their place.  Put aside petty disagreements and offenses.  Begin to focus on listening to the command center, the “Head” (Jesus) as He gives the instructions for us to walk out each day.  Then you will be able to say: “ I have the mind of Christ and that is what is leading, directing and commanding my life.  I listen to and follow every thought and directions that my “Head” gives me because I am connected to Him and the rest of the body!

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 2:11-16

Eye has not seen

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”    1 Corinthians 2:9-10

For a long time I thought verse 9 in 1 Corinthians 2 was saying that I could not know the things God had planned for me. I would just have to wait and see, and hope that it was good.  However, one day I read the very next verse (verse 10) that says God has revealed these things to me through His Spirit, because the Spirit of God searches and draws out the deep things of God.  I was so excited to find out that I could know God’s plan for me ahead of time instead of just waiting to see what happens. By seeking it out through God’s Spirit living inside me, I could walk out His plans each day.  Even if it was just one step at a time, I was no longer playing the guessing game.  It was at that time I heard these words in my spirit as I was seeking God.  “It’s a plan not a puzzle.”  Glory to God!  God has a plan for my life and the best part is He’s not trying to hide it from me. 

Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”  That’s when I began to seek God and desire His plan for life and when He began to lay it out in front of me day by day. I realized God doesn’t show us the whole plan at once.  If He did it would be too overwhelming and look impossible.  Instead, we grow into it by trusting God step by step.  The way to get the plan is to seek it out, not halfheartedly but with all your heart.  God wants to and has every intention to lead you to the perfect path, but it is not an automatic thing.  You have to be willing to take the steps of faith to walk it out and have no doubt God’s plan will require you to step out in faith.

If you are not walking in a plan that is bigger than you, it is probably not all God has for you.  God’s plan requires you to “step out” in faith on a regular basis and is bigger than what you can handle on your own or else you wouldn’t need God’s help to accomplish it.   The safe path is not necessarily the faith path.  Most of us want to feel secure and feel like we have everything in control, but the truth is we may need to let go of what is secure and trust God to be our source of security.  I am not suggesting that God’s way isn’t secure, I am simply saying that every day we need to get God’s direction and make adjustments to the path we are on.  Then be willing to act instead of just being satisfied to do the same things repeatedly based on what we did yesterday. 

Lastly, I want to point out that God’s plan does not always make sense to our natural mind.  Isaiah 55:9 tells us that God’s ways are higher than our ways.”  If you have an idea that is totally different than you would normally think, it is probably God because He thinks differently than we do.   When that happens, talk to God about it.  He will make the way plain and clear as you follow Him step by step.  Here’s the truth: God is so good and so gentle.  When you see God’s goodness playing out in your obedience and willingness, I assure you that you will want to walk deeper into all of the good plans He has for you.

Today I want to encourage you to take time to seek God with all your heart and then take steps in the direction He leads.  Ask Him to give you the willingness to take the steps and to increase your desire to take them every day.  I promise you will see faith growing up inside you and trust that He will never steer you wrong.  Then you will have the greatest joy and contentment you have ever experienced.  Trust me, it’s never too soon or too late to start!  Your eyes will see, your ears will hear and the things God has planned will enter your heart because you love Him and seek Him with all your heart.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10

The Spirit of power

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 Corinthians 2:1

I have always wanted to be a great orator.  To be a public speaker that was especially eloquent in delivering a great message.  Sadly, I have not yet developed that skill yet, but I will continue to grow in that area.  I do find encouragement in today’s key verse, though.  Written to the church in Corinth, Paul says that he did not speak to them in excellence of speech or wisdom when he was with them in person.  He basically says that he, the apostle Paul, who wrote a huge part of the New Testament was not a gifted preacher.  Yet he was a gifted communicator.  We know this because he started many of the first New Testament churches and discipled many of the people he converted to Christianity.  You cannot do that without communicating.  So how was he so successful in his ministry?

If you continue to read through verse 5 in this chapter, you will see that Paul’s ministry was so effective because of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the demonstration of His power.  Paul kept in touch with the churches when he was not with them, but he determined to only look at Jesus and Him crucified when he was with them. (Verse 2) Paul had decided that the people of Corinth should not have faith in him, but in the power of God so he preached the gospel by demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit.

This should be our starting ground as we minister and speak the good news of God’s Salvation in Jesus.  Start with the power of the Holy Spirit for what the need may be at the time.  The scripture says to desire the best gift (see 1 Corinthians 12:31) and that would be the gift that is needed at the current time you are talking to someone about salvation.  You may have to start out small, but that’s ok.  Listen closely to His leading and make yourself available to reach out to others who are hurting.  He will lead you into all truth and He will start right where you are. (John 16 :13)

Today I want to encourage you to start out your day by praying:  Holy Spirit, I yield and submit to your direction today.  Lead me to those who are lost and hurting and give me words and boldness to touch their lives.  Let your power flow through me so that I can lead them back to You.  I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.  Now be ready and watching for the opportunities that He opens for you today at work, home and wherever you go.  Be His witness today in demonstration and power and let the Spirit reach through your life into the lives of those around you.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 2:1-5