Connect2God Daily Devotions

Thankful for Books

2011-11-23T23:53:00.000-08:00

I thought that Thanksgiving would be a good time to update my blog. It has been awhile and what a better time to write about what I’m thankful for. I’m thankful for books. Yes, I said books. I’m thankful for authors who write books. I thank God for giving these brilliant minded people the knowledge and patient to put their creative thoughts down on paper. I love books and I’m not saying this just because I sell books. Books have open people mind to places that are unimaginable. Books have inspired people lives. Books are always waiting on the shelf to be read or re-read so it can open a person mind to a world of knowledge. So again, thank God for authors and for authors for creating great stories. So go pick up a great book to read over the Thanksgiving holiday and be thankful for books.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-07-21T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a book review of "Heaven Is For Real" by Todd Burpo wtih Lynn Vincent.

My customer 10-year-old son Brett, wrote this book review. Brett gives "Heaven Is For Real 4 1/2 stars.

Brett says that this book can encourage your faith for God. It's very interesting, funny and sad. This book was hard to put down. I wanted to learn more and more about the Burpo family! Brett also said he learned to keep fighting the good fight, and keep the faith!

“Heaven Is For Real” is a heartwarming, simple biblical story of a little boy's journey into Heaven.

I hope this review from Brett will help you make the choice to pick up a copy of this book today.

Thank you Brett for taking time out of your summer to read this wonder book and to share your thoughts with us.

I will fear no evil

2011-01-12T15:07:00.001-08:00

We can truly say the Arizona tragedy is the result of evil. Evil is what separate us from God. I’m reading a book by Dr. Carolina Leaf “ Who Switched Off My Brain? Controlling toxic thoughts and emotions.” “ Toxic thought can become physically, emotionally or spiritually dangerous.”

If we are dwelling in the Lord we can truly say, “I will fear no evil”. As I watch the news of the tragedy in Arizona my heart goes out to the victims, their family, the shooter and his family.

A large part of the pain of life comes from the haunting fear of evil, our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this happen, suppose it happen to me, suppose, and suppose this… I started asking questions. Suppose a shooting like this happen in SC, where I shop or work? What do I do and how can I bear the thought of seeing people dying around me? Then I thought about how evil can separate me from God. With these kinds of thoughts I will easily separate myself from God and forget how he is my Shepard in the moments of fear. Psalm 23. Sometime we need to stop for a moment and know that God is in our lives and we will dwell in Him. We will not fear evil. Because we have made the Lord our refuge, the most High our habitation, no evil shall befall us. No scourge shall come near out tent. (Ps 91:9-10) Evil can attack us, but nothing can come near our soul while we are dwelling in God.

Buy it here -Who Switched Off My Brain?

An Olympian For Christ

2010-03-12T06:39:00.000-08:00

I had the chance to watch the 2010 Winter Olympic this year and was amazed to see how prepared all the athletes were for the winter games. The athletes’ preparation prepared them for the real thing: the competition.

As I sat and watched the games, I compared the athletes’ preparation for their competition to that of Christians and their preparation of an eternal life with Christ. Do we as Christians put this much effort into getting prepared to face everyday challenges? These athletes spent hours engaged in deep thoughts, personal private time preparing themselves for the competition. I can only imagine what was going through their minds. Were they thinking about how they would attack their opponents? Are they in deep thought about how rewarding it would feel to win the competition or how proud their family, coach, and teammates would be of their accomplishments. To win the gold would be heavenly. These thoughts and reactions are common practices for athletes because they have mentally prepared themselves for this moment. My question to you today is this, are you preparing yourself mentally to meet Jesus? Are you preparing yourself to excel as a follower of Christ? Do you spend quiet time with Him? Do you study the word so you can get to know him better? Everyday we should be preparing ourselves to meet Jesus: the eternal reward. Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochetta lost her mother doing the event, but she did not let her mother’s death stop her from performing. Do we stop praising Him when challenges come into our lives? It is time for us to look beyond the challenges of this life and to allow God to create in us an eternal perspective. Let our eyes be on the prize, (Jesus) the gold medal just like the athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympic.

God wants our best. He wants us to start each day off with Him. He wants our best work, our best time, and our best effort. In all your trouble, seek God and honor Him, even in the thoughts that no one can hear and deep feelings of the heart that no one can know except God. “You will seek me an find me When you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13)

His LOVE

2010-02-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

When I read the Bible, it seems that I often read some of the same things over and over again, and I understand why because the things that are repeated over and over again in the Bible are important. The one word that appears in the Bible a lot is ‘LOVE’. It appears 314 times. ‘LOVE’ is important because it is one of the laws of The Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments tells us how to love, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, thy soul, thy mind, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Jesus came to fulfill the law and the essence of the law is to love God and others. God is love. He loved us first (1 John 4:19). God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins. We receive God’s love by believing that Jesus Christ is our Savior. We can learn the Ten Commandments, but the power to actually love comes from God.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and when we think of Valentine’s Day we think of chocolate candy in a heart shaped box, red roses and valentine cards. God’s Valentine gift to us was not chocolate candy in a heart shaped box, nor red roses. God’s gift of love was more than these things. His Valentine gift was his son Jesus Christ. Jesus love for us was sacrificial love, so you and I could live. God give us sweet salvation thru His Son Jesus Christ. So as we give to our Valentines this year let us thank God because He is the reason we have love to give.

God is love. 1 John 4:8 NIV

Recommended Book - Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

Begin Again New!

2010-01-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

2009 is over and done with. There is nothing we can do to get it back. There may have been things that happen in 2009, that you are not please with, but if you ask God to forgive you, and if you are willing to start over again, you can have a clean slate with God beginning in 2010. God give us opportunities to recreate our lives. God have great plans for our future, and we might miss them if we sit around worrying about our past.

We punish ourselves with quilt, shame, and fear when we choose not to act to the opportunities that He gives us.

The most difficult challenge we face everyday is learning to live what we believe. We don’t always act like we are representatives of God. We need to remind ourselves daily that we are equipped to handle anything that come our way.

God is NOT interested in our past mistakes. He is more interested in our future successes. We are NOT disqualified.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is a head, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13 NIV.

I would like to highlight “10” things I want to do more of in 2010. I’m interested in hearing what you are planning on doing more of in the coming New Year! Feel free to add to or comment on the list.
1. Obedient – Listen to God when He speak to me.
2. Simplicity – Keep life simple, God is not complicated.
3. Fearless - “Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness” (Max Lucado).
4. Service - Give self (time, knowledge, resources) without and attachment to the expectation of reward or recognition – (unselfish giving).
5. Order – Clean out and reorder my surrounding – If we don’t have order or space in our lives, there is little room for God will to unfold.
6. Choice - Opportunity to recreate our lives – Choice is the ability to recognize alternatives which is most desirable, admirable, and honorable.
7. Trust – God provides all things.
8. Peacefulness – Maintain a state of peace.
9. Awareness – Be more aware of the impact I have on others and the world.
10. Love – Do All Things in LOVE!

The Noticer Project - From New York Times Bestselling Author Andy Andrews

2009-12-30T06:33:00.000-08:00

The Noticer Project - From New York Times Bestselling Author Andy Andrews

Made by God

2009-12-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

I had the chance to watch the most famous reindeer of them all this holiday season - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rudolph reminds us of God love for us. We are no accident to God. He knew about us long before we were born. We are unique. God made us to look different. He did not want us to look the same. He made us for Himself. We may not like the color of our hair, height, size or the way we look. But whenever we complain about the way we are made, we are really saying, "We don't like God decisions. God has a specific plan for us all, something that only we can accomplish. God made us the way we are on purpose. God would not have us any other way.

God don't want us to wallow in self-pity because we may not have the same gifts and talents like someone else. God have made us with specific desires and talents. We are good at certain things. God want us to use our gifts just like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer used his red glowing nose to guide Santa's sleigh through the worst winter storm in history. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer saved Christmas. We cannot guide a sleigh and save Christmas like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but we can guide people to Christ with our special gifts and talents. Daily Reading: Isaiah 45: 9-11

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Know Jesus Know Peace

2009-12-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

We can get busy this time of the year trying to find the perfect gift for that special person on our list. Let us not forget that the perfect gift is God's Son, Jesus. " For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

If you want to know God the Father, then get to Know Jesus. Read about His life in the Bible, see what He is like. Jesus is the bridge to God.

If you desire real peace in your life, then believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son. Let Him come into your heart, into your life, lay down your heavy burdens at His feet and be forever made new through His Perfect Gift to you.

Recommended Movie- The Perfect Gift DVD

What faith-based movies are you and your family watching this holiday season?

What faith-based movies would you recommend?

Starting a Family Movie Night

Choose A Night - Get serious about scheduling a date when all of the family can join in - and be consistent.
Build Up A Supply of Movies - Dust off those old movies that have been in the closet for years. Your local Christian store can be a great resource for faith-based and family friendly movies.
Keep It Fresh - Be careful not to get stuck in the same routine. While the date and time of Family Movie Night can and should be consistent, be sure to add a little variety to keep things fresh and exciting. Involve the children in preparing for the evening. Assign someone to help with the snacks, bake some brownies, make root-beer floats. Have fun! Relate the snacks to the theme of the movie.

Synopsis - Birdie and Bogey

2009-12-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

Synopsis - Birdie and Bogey

Praise is Power

2009-11-24T12:21:00.000-08:00

You may have had an awful day today, but the secret weapon for when things get tough - is to Thank God! If you will begin to thank Him no matter what is happening in your life, then you will soon feel better about life. Thanking God sometimes is not as easy as it sounds, especially when things are difficult. When things are difficult that is exactly when we need to thank Him the most!

When things are tough, - your family and friends hurt your feelings, people don't understand you, thank God. Sit down and make a list of all the good things God have done for you. Start with life itself. Every breath you take is a gift from God. Thank Him for being born - it's a miracle. After thanking God for life, you can begin to thank Him for the world, colors, animals, music, humor, water......

Finally, think back on your life and thank God for the things He have done for you personally - like showing you how much He love you. Once you count all your blessings, then will you be able to put your current situation into perspective. You will see that life is not so bad, even if you had a awful day.

His mercies never come to an end; they are new EVERY MORNING ; great is they faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Chip Ingram- Balance & Perspective

RECOMMENDED BOOK - God: As He Longs for You to See Him

Come As You Are

2009-11-19T08:18:00.000-08:00

You don't have to dress up in your Sunday best every time you want to talk to God. You don't have to be cheerful and smiley. God is with you for the long haul, he want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly. God is big and He can take it.

If your heart is breaking, if you are feeling weighed down, don't keep it to yourself. Just take it to Him. You don't even have to have anything written down. Take every single concern to Him. Pray them out loud one by one as they come to your mind. Cry! Yell! God is listening. Get down on your face. Whatever you are feeling, share it with Him. He shares your pain, and He will take them away from you, and replace them with hope. He will hold you close and comfort you. He will give you hope for a brighter future. Don't hold anything back. God is there for you.

I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. For I am overwhelmed. PSALM 142:2-3 NLT

Recommended Book- Come as You Are: An Open Invitation from the Heart of God

Come Closer

2009-11-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

If you feel that God is far away from you, then don't wait for Him to find you. Start Praying! Cry out to Him! Seek Him! Take time out of your day to sit still and listen for Him. God is there, but sometimes there are things that cloud our hearts and minds and make it difficult for us to hear Him. Press through all the thoughts that call for your attention and focus on God. For every step you take toward God, He will take two steps toward you. God is waiting for you to search for Him. If you look for Him with your whole heart, you will always find Him.

Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you. James 4:8

Talk It Out

2009-11-16T05:56:00.000-08:00

God want you to come boldly to Him with confidence and trust. You don't need to be afraid of Him. Even if you have done wrong, there's nothing you can tell him that will make Him love you less. God is a God of mercy and grace. You can get rid of your troubles if you confess and bring them all to Him. Goodness and forgiveness starts with Him. God is never too busy for you. He care about each one of us. God want us to trust him more, and fear Him less.

Let use therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

You Are Special

2009-11-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

God have made you with a very specific desires and talents. You are good at certain things. If you don't think you are make a list of the things you enjoy doing or you consider yourself good at. God want you to use your gifts, enjoy your interests, to grow into the person he made you to be. If you don't know who you are, just keep talking to Him every day. He will lead you. You don't have to figure out the way all by yourself, the good news is God is there to guide you. Just keep trusting Him, and he will do the rest.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.

psalm 138:8 NIV

To explore more on this subject, see the feature article What's My Purpose in Life?

Recommended Book to Read Redefining Life: Purpose: My Purpose