Friday Wroting...9/28/2018..."What’s Your Temperature?"

Good Morning,

Today the topic is concerned with the fact that many people have become more interested having materials and earthly riches than they are in putting God first. I recently attended a memorial service for a man who has been known as a man of God. We were told what Howard always would say about his priorities as this: "God first, then family, and then work." This is the way proper life priorities should be lined up. We are in a time when there seems to be a lessening of devotion to God and to church attendance. Karen wrote. "John’s letter to the Church at  Laodicea proves that. They were wealthy, but spiritually poor. Our God comes first with much more to get excited about than any earthly treasures."

Let’s get motivated by our spiritual life first and the earthly things will follow. Having God in your life is Number One! Lets begin to change our central behavior towards the Lord today.

Karen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today's Devotional

"What’s Your Temperature?"
Written by Karen Bennett

When we receive a wonderful gift we can barely wait to tell others about it. If we get a promotion at work we are eager to tell everyone. We like to boast of our children’s accomplishments. If we buy a new house we invite people over to see it.

We’re always eager - we are “hot” to show off all the good material possessions. Our materialistic world is all about those things and all we can accumulate. We’re worldly wealthy, but becoming more and more spiritually poor, or cool. 

Church attendance has been declining over many years and continues to do so. We are unable to grow spiritually without being nurtured in a church with its word and sacraments, and it’s fellowship for strength.

In the third chapter of Revelation we find John’s letters to the seven churches. The letter to the Church at Laodicea is of particular interest to us, because it’s is reflected in  the waning churches of our time. They were more interested in their material wealth than their spiritual health.

“So because you are lukewarm - 

neither hot nor cold - 

I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” 

Revelation 3:16.

God doesn’t want us lukewarm. Obviously He dislikes it intensely. John’s letter to the Church at  Laodicea proves that. They were wealthy, but spiritually poor. Our God comes first with much more to get excited about than any earthly treasures.

Don’t you think our spiritual gifts are beyond measure? Don’t you think that’s what we should be eager to share first? We have a close, intimate relationship with God, forgiveness of sins, His word filled with beautiful promises for all our lives, eternal life with our Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier, our all powerful Triune God. These are the most important things we should be telling people about with eagerness and total joy! These are the things that don’t rust or rot, or breakdown - they’re forever! There’s nothing lukewarm about that. It’s “Hot”!

Dear Lord, there is nothing more beautiful or wonderful than our relationship with You. Help us to never grow passive in it and to attend church as we should for the faith and strength You gift us with there! In Jesus’ name! Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"10,000 Reasons"
Sung by
Matt Redman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers 
  and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries.

Blog Writers:

Jan Andersen, Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,  

 Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,  Karen Bennett, 

Bre Miller, Cathy Friberg, and  Corinne Mustafa

Occasional Contributors:

Kathy Bireley,  Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,

Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns

Glenna Williamson,  Shelly Keith, Amie Spruiell,
Lisabeth Lipp,  and Nandita Bhatnagar.