Written By TWFT
Saturday, April 15
“Few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better.” Lk 10:42 NIV
When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, their individual responses to Him were very different. Martha’s focus was on the meal. Her aim was to please Jesus. But she made a common mistake; her work became more important than her Lord. What began as a serving experience became a self-serving one. She forgot the meal was to honor Jesus, not her. She said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (v. 40 NIV). And what did Jesus say? “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better” (Lk 10:41–42 NIV). And what had Mary chosen? Intimacy with Jesus! The danger of religious activity is that sometimes it’s designed to make us feel good about ourselves and look good in front of others. Choosing activity over intimacy also happens to people who love the Lord and aren’t necessarily involved in church work. It’s amazing how many bright, successful people reach the point of burnout because they have neglected their relationship with God. They never intended to; it’s just that they have learned to make it on their own and haven’t been forced to rely on Him. Or they have bought into a “religious compartmentalization” of God—like He is just another weekly appointment on Sunday mornings. The fact that Jesus chose intimacy over activity teaches us a very important lesson: Until you put your relationship with God at the center of your life, you will struggle to find your true purpose, enjoy the fruit of your labors, and experience God’s peace and joy.
Saturday, April 15
“Few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better.” Lk 10:42 NIV
When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, their individual responses to Him were very different. Martha’s focus was on the meal. Her aim was to please Jesus. But she made a common mistake; her work became more important than her Lord. What began as a serving experience became a self-serving one. She forgot the meal was to honor Jesus, not her. She said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (v. 40 NIV). And what did Jesus say? “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better” (Lk 10:41–42 NIV). And what had Mary chosen? Intimacy with Jesus! The danger of religious activity is that sometimes it’s designed to make us feel good about ourselves and look good in front of others. Choosing activity over intimacy also happens to people who love the Lord and aren’t necessarily involved in church work. It’s amazing how many bright, successful people reach the point of burnout because they have neglected their relationship with God. They never intended to; it’s just that they have learned to make it on their own and haven’t been forced to rely on Him. Or they have bought into a “religious compartmentalization” of God—like He is just another weekly appointment on Sunday mornings. The fact that Jesus chose intimacy over activity teaches us a very important lesson: Until you put your relationship with God at the center of your life, you will struggle to find your true purpose, enjoy the fruit of your labors, and experience God’s peace and joy.
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January
A NEW YEAR, A NEW STARTTHIS YEAR, DO FIRST THINGS FIRSTNEVER STOP LEARNING (1)NEVER STOP LEARNING (2)GET OUT OF DEBT AND STAY OUT OF DEBTDON'T BE SO CONTROLLINGTHE SEVEN-DAY CHALLENGEPARENT, KEEP PERSEVERINGTURNING TWO FAMILIES INTO ONEPUT YOUR HEART INTO YOUR PARTFOUR PRINCIPLES FOR VICTORIOUS LIVINGTAKE CONTROL OF THE SMALL THINGSDON’T GIVE UPLEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (1)LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (2)LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (3)LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (4)SET OTHER THINGS ASIDE AND SERVEGOD AND WORKHOW TO ENRICH AND STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPSPROPHECY FULFILLEDDON'T SHOUT ABOUT ITYOU'RE GROWING IN GRACEWALKING WITH GODYOUR SECRET PLACEWORK ON GROWING CLOSERARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT RETIREMENT?GIDEON'S GOD IS YOUR GODTO GROW WE MUST KEEP ASKING QUESTIONSBE INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING GOD DOES
February
GOD WILL SPEAK TO YOU–IF YOU LISTENDO THE WORDPRAYING WITHOUT SAYING A WORDSHOW GRACE UNDER FIREHAVING JOB SECURITY (1)HAVING JOB SECURITY (2)HAVING JOB SECURITY (3)HAVING JOB SECURITY (4)THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYS THROUGH YOUYOUR PERSONAL GUIDESTOP AND ASK FOR DIRECTIONSYOUR HARVEST IS ON THE WAYGIVE YOUR CHILDREN CONVICTIONS TO LIVE BYYOUR LIMITED WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITYPULL DOWN THOSE STRONGHOLDSUSE THE GIFT GO GAVE YOUFINDING SELF-WORTHMUZZLE YOUR MOUTHCHOOSING A LEADERGOD KNOW'S WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUARE YOU TIRED OF LIVING IN DEFEAT?MAKE AN IMPACTBE PATIENT, GOD IS AT WORKLIVE THE LIVING WORDTAKE TIME TO WONDER AND WORSHIPBE A DISCIPLE OF JESUSTO BE CONFORMED IS TO BE CREATIVELIVE IN THE “HERE AND NOW”YOU NEED GOD'S HELP
March
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April
EVIDENCES OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION (3)EVIDENCES OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION (2)EVIDENCES OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION (1)THE RIGHT BALANCEWHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULTIES (3)WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULTIES (2)WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULTIES (1)STORMPROOFED FOR LIFEARE YOU STRESSED OUT? (1)LEARN TO LISTEN TO YOUR MARRIAGE PARTNERREADY…GO!ARE YOU STRESSED OUT? (2)ARE YOU STRESSED? (3)DO WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYSSTOP COVERING IT UP