Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 1 Feb 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 1 Feb 2008

Forget about the reward, forget about being recognized for doing work for God, remove the titles, the accomplishments, and what do you get? You get a person that models his or her life after Jesus. When is enough ever enough? When are we going to stop? When are we going to be shaken, awaken, and out of the scuffle of our wills? Today’s word of encouragement is being able to confidently say, Jesus Christ is my life example. I hope after reading today’s word of encouragement we’d be encouraged to examine the life of Jesus and desire to model ours after His. WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) When I used to get into fights and arguments on the basketball court, I had a great friend and older brother say this to me, “WWJD”. I took that statement and started implementing it whenever I was in doubt. If you are facing a tough situation right now and do not have the answers I ask you this, “WWJD?” By no means is this daily word the answer to all of life’s issues and problems. But I know that God is going to use you for a purpose and a reason. As we face the weekend ahead, I hope that we’d ask God these three simple questions and wait for God to speak to us. How can I start listening to Your voice clearly? How can I see what You see? How can I obey You? Exodus 19:5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. © Feb 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 31 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 31 Jan 2008

A fading candle in the darkest room still brings light in a place of darkness. A dying man on his death bed still turns to his son and says, “we need to pray for those that do not know.” A soldier 18 years old, fighting in another nation and does not know the purpose and reason, yet is still sent to fight. He may get killed, but he prays that God’s hand be upon this land, that God can restore and bring peace. An uneducated man, old and gray, his children have neglected him. It seems like the only thing his children care about is about wealth and money. It is sad that they have forgotten to value what is most important in life. Yet, he does not waver, he does not change. He prays daily for his family. He cleans tables at a food court which takes him about two hours to get there from him home because of his knee problems. He clears the trash that these young people leave on the tables to busy to even clean up after themselves. Yet, he does not waver, he does not change. He prays daily for these young people, that God would open their hearts to know his Lord and Savior. Countless heroes go hidden to this world, never expecting fame, fortune, glory, or a medal. Yet the impact that they make for God’s Kingdom shouts louder than ever. Today’s word of encouragement is to look at people with “non-judging eyes” and secondly, don’t take your life for granted. I hope that we are inspired to make a difference in our world. We may not be the richest person, a famous movie star or athlete, a politican, BUT SO WHAT. Each one of us has been made individually and uniquely by God. You have been made by God for a reason and for a purpose. The next time we look down on a person, a servant, maid, a cleaner, the person that takes our garbage, a soldier, our world leaders, your father, your mother, your sister, brother, people that you can’t stand…may today’s word of encouragement be a reminder never look down on a person or judge. God can use anyone to make a difference in this world. Psalm 119:127-128 Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 30 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 30 Jan 2008

Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Today’s word of encouragement is taken from these two verses, and it is finding out the things in our lives that we are addicted to, that we hiding from people, and most importantly finding the things that we are doing that are separating us from God. Psalm 119:37 says, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things…” What are worthless things in our lives? We have got to take action, if we really desire building a strong relationship with God, we have got to find out what are the things in our lives that are worthless that are stumbling blocks, and what is causing us to stop reading more of God’s word. Today, what is your choice going to be? Turning your eyes away from worthless things, or are you going to continue doing them? Finally in Psalm 119:9 it says, “How can a young man keep his way pure?” By living according to Your WORD. And in Psalm 119:37 preserve my life according to your word. Let today’s word of encouragement be our commitment to God that His Word is our rock and solid foundation, that we cannot live life without HIS WORD DAILY, and finally we chose to live according to God’s word. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 28 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 28 Jan 2008

With our mouths comes words that can bless, words that can destroy, words that can bring love, peace, joy, happiness, gentleness, and yet it can also tear apart and separate. Today’s word of encouragement is with my mouth I will bless. Putting in place the right foundations in our lives we can establish a lifestyle that is always careful with the words that come out of our mouths. But without awareness, without God, we are blinded by what comes out of our mouths. In Matthew 12:34 the Word of God says, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Is it possible to live a life that people around us do not run away but are drawn to us, because everything that comes out of our mouths blesses, encourages, and draws them closer to their relationship with God? Anger, quick temper, and observe the choice of words that come out. Around us, at work, everywhere we turn it seems people are just so angry, bitter, and ready to bit someone’s head off. Today, I hope and pray that we would desire to have a mouth that blesses. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 27 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 27 Jan 2008

Facing the week ahead let today’s word of encouragement be a word of preparation. Many of us attended church, met with God, and most of all were challenged by God to change. But I hope that we would be able to put into practice what God was revealing to us at church. Most often than not, we go to church on Sunday, we attend our weekly life groups, but what do we do during the rest of the week? For some of us, work life consumes us, and for others putting into practice a daily habit of reading the Word of God and praying is almost nonexistent. The power of change can only take place with ACTION. Today’s word is preparing for action. God has destined each one to fulfill His plans. It is a matter of us finding out what that purpose and plan is and putting it into practice. Preparing for action is getting serious, it is tuning our minds and souls to hearing God clearly, and it is completely removing our old ways (bad habits, sin, and our worldly desires). Jeremiah 26:13 Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 26 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 26 Jan 2008

Learning to say NO. Some of us are wired in such a way that saying no is easy. For others, it is the hardest thing to do, because we want to make everyone happy. Today’s word of encouragement is learning to say no. Let us all examine our lives. Learning to say no for me could be my time with friends because I don’t spend enough time with my family. For you it could be saying no to working overtime so that you can spend quality time with God. Everyone’s “Saying No” is different and we need to find out what it is. Working, spending time with friends, your children, shopping, too much time with your girlfriend/boyfriend, etc. If we are not careful our day to day life can consume our time, especially our precious time with God. In 1 Peter 3:18 this is what Jesus did for each one of us, "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit." Today, let us all learn to say no when we need to spend time with God. What is your saying no? I hope that we would be encouraged to find it. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 25 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 25 Jan 2008

Job 33:26 He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God's face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state. For some of us it has been an extremely busy week, so many things going on at once, and the word of encouragement today is, find rest and peace in the Lord. Today find restoration in God. Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Our minds and bodies have been running on overdrive since the start of 2008, and inside us the pressure point is boiling up. I hope this word of encouragement comes at a critical point to bring warning not to burn out. We all have different pressure points, some of us it is our emotions; we easily get angry over the smallest issues. Others it is Stress. Stress at work, stress at home, stress about the future. Our careers, remaining single for the rest of our lives, failing our exams, gaining weight, etc. We put all these together and you get a person ready to explode. God has not promised us a problem free life, but God has also not wired us such that problems and issues of life must consume us. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 24 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 24 Jan 2008

Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. v15. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. If Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God, then what is the foundation of our own throne? I hope today, each one of us can say that the foundation of our lives is based upon the foundations of God. Love and faithfulness go before you. Do we put love and faithfulness before us? Imagine what our lives would be like if we were able to put love and faithfulness before us in everything we do. Honestly, if we did, people would not get angry so easily, we would not be so rude, and we would be selfless instead of selfish. Today’s word of encouragement is finding out what is the foundation of your life? What is it built upon? If it is built upon God’s foundations it is obvious and it can be seen through your life and actions. However, if your foundations are built upon anything other than God we have got to let go and rebuild our foundations on God. Friendships, relationships, wealth, material gain, etc. Don’t make an excuse to prove that those are not your foundations. If we are trying to make an excuse to prove to ourselves that we have been built on the right foundations, we aren’t fooling anybody but ourselves. I hope that we never stop learning and submitting to God, because in v15 it says, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.” I hope we would desire to walk in the presence of God. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 23 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 23 Jan 2008

Psalm 86:12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. Today’s word of encouragement comes during a time when there are so many uncertainties. Many of us expected 2008 to be a year of great success, individually and even globally. However, the start of 2008 has already been bumpy, rocky, and stormy for some of us. As we are faced with a possibility of an economic slowdown in the US as well as a possibility of a recession, how are you going to respond through all this? How are you going to come out from all this? During this time of uncertainty, of storms, of challenges, Will we be able to bless the name of the Lord, to trust Him at all times? As we ride through the storms of life, I hope that every one of us would be able to praise God with all our hearts, and still be able to glorify His name forever. I hope that we would find some time today to praise God, to glorify His name, and thank Him despite any storm we may be facing right now. Lord, we thank you; we praise Your name and Your name alone. You are our rock, our shield, our refuge. Strengthen us today, give us the strength to stand firm through the storms, help us Lord to hold on to your promises without wavering. In your name we pray, Amen. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 22 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 22 Jan 2008

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Many choose the path that is wide, safe, and the shortest route. Only a few will choose the long, narrow, and treacherous. You see, to be called a son or daughter of God is priceless, yet many don’t value this. Sometimes it seems that there are so many expectations to be called a Christian. People are watching us, judging us, and to walk this narrow life is simply too hard. Today’s word of encouragement is to forget the titles, forget the high standards, and forget the mocking. Imagine what King David’s relationship with God must have been like. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart…” To say that I’m weak, I make mistakes, I’m a sinner, and I am nothing… but in You Lord, YOU ARE MY STRENGTH OF MY HEART AND MY PORTION FOREVER. Today know that your identity is in Christ and no one else. And if you know this you would be able to say this with confidence, “Judge me, mock me, put me down, yes I’m a failure, yes you are better than me, but so what!!! Because Father you are my strength of my heart and my portion forever.” © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 21 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 21 Jan 2008

Psalm 73:22-23: I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. 23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. Doesn’t King David say it so well, that we are so often senseless and ignorant? Though we have sinned, made mistakes, failed, lacked faith, walked foolishly, and many more; yet, we are always with God. Furthermore, our Father still holds us by our hand to guide us despite all our flaws? Today’s word of encouragement is: Do you value your relationships with people more than you value your relationship with God? The most important and vital relationship must be with our Father. If we are emotionally attached to people versus being attached to God, it will restrict and limit our full potential. Though we are foolish and stubborn, God is still with us as v23 says, Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. People are sinners, we are flawed and imperfect, but more importantly friendships come and go. We have all been hurt by friendships. Insecure because we don’t meet as often or because we aren’t included in the “selected club”, rejection, expectations, emptiness, voids, and YET ALL ALONG GOD IS THERE WAITING FOR US TO RUN TO HIS ARMS. To be fully liberated from being emotionally attached to the wrong things and to rebuild your friendship with God, to place HIM ABOVE ALL is the greatest feeling. At first we wrestle with God, saying, “God you had a reason for this friendship/relationship, so why am I going through this?” No matter how long it takes us to let go, to die to our selfish desires, God will wait for us. There is no on but JESUS There is no one else for me None but Jesus Crucified to set me free Now I live to bring Him praise… Lyrics to None but Jesus, Hillsongs. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 20 Jan 2008

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 20 Jan 2008

Psalm 68:19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. As I was praying for todays word of encouragement, during my quiet time this verse in Psalm 68:19 just stood out. I believe that many of us are carrying and bearing many burdens. Let us meditate on this verse because God wants us to be set free, released from all the burdens. Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, WHO DAILY BEARS OUR BURDENS. Imagine that our Father bears our burdens not just when we pray, or when we are doing our quiet time, but DAILY!!!!! Our God is a God who saves! Our Father is the Lord of Lords, there is no one above Him. I hope we remember this when we feel we don’t have an answer to our burdens, worries, concerns, issues, hurt, and bitterness. © Jan 2008 Shaun Lee