Thought 360: Mr. Howe and his influence from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 360

Mr. Howe and his influence

    Mr. Howe was my sixth grade history, math, science, and Bible DVD teacher through A Beka Academy. He is a man of Faith and his Bible lessons shinned with the light of knowing Jesus Christ. As a result of his teaching across the miles and through the years, he has been a blessing to many students. It was while having Mr. Howe as a teacher that I began to discipline myself to get up and to study God’s Word, particularly Proverbs. Thank you Mr. Howe for your example!

Consider This

    Think back…REMEMBER…. how God has used someone in your past to lead you to another step in your Christian walk. Someone who’s counsel or example gave you rest, encouragement, or a greater delight in the Lord.

  Now that you’ve remembered your blessing, ask the Lord how you can pass on encouragement to another Christian who is running for the Prize.

 

Thought 302: They have it, so should I! from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 302

They have it, so should I!

  Have you ever wanted something that someone else had really, really strongly? It’s called coveting. Even though your parents and family may have great material possessions, that doesn’t mean that you are entitled to have them as well. God gives to whom He pleases—He does not show favoritism, but His specific will for each person is not the same. “For the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof (1 Corinthians 10:26 KJV),” this verse means that God owns everything, so be faithful what HE has given to you.

 

Thought 272: Saved from the current from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 272

Saved from the current

       On one trip of my early outdoor ventures me and my Dad went with a friend and his dad on a canoe/camping trip. On this trip me and my friend tried seeing how far we could walk through the strong current of the water. Now the water was only about eighteen inches to two feet deep so how hard could it be? We started to wade out. Now our dads were with us too, but after wading a short distance the water was too much for me and I fell. I held onto the river bed with my hands trying not to be pulled away in the current and I couldn’t stand back up. My face was above the water but I had to keep a firm grip on the rocks on the river bed to keep from being pulled away.

         At just the right time, my Dad came to the rescue and pulled me back to the river’s edge were our campsite lay on the beach. Now my Dad probably doesn’t remember that time, but because I couldn’t swim at that time and the fear of that moment has stuck with me for a long time. God has helped me realize that my dad reflects my Heavenly Father. HE watches over me and pulls me up just when the temptation or the circumstance or the situation is too great for me to bear.

Here is a comforting note friend:

  God has promised us in the Scripture that we will never be tempted more than we can bear ( 1 Cor. 10:12&13); likewise I believe that God’s Word is true and He will never allow us to go through something that is too great for us. We cannot be defeated if we are humbly placing our trust in Him!

Thought 237: 2009 Clarity. . . . 2010 Moving Forward from Ryan's devotional book series Thoughts

Thought 237

2009 Clarity…. 2010 Moving Forward

 A previous pastor at my church, Pastor Brock, preached a couple of sermons, each at the beginning of separate years in which he testified to what God had spoken to him about the coming year. God revealed to Pastor Brock that the year of 2009 would be a year of CLARITIY in our decisions, dreams, and desires; the truth was that it was a year of clarity for me. When I look back to 2009 I remember the joy of rededicating my life to the Lord, of being called into the ministry, of being told to write this book, of water baptism, of the birth of my second sister, and of much more. It was a year of clarity! Is all this a big coincidence? No, this is God simply using a servant of His to spread His word to His people and it was proved true over the course of that year!  Nothing happens by accident, because God reigns over all. God still speaks today, He is not silent and uninvolved!

In 2010, a few months before God moved him to a different state, Pastor Brock again had a message. This time the message was Moving Forward in faith, future, favor, and finances. Well, it is only September 9^th as I am writing this, but yet again this message has rung true in my life. This year hasn’t been as clear as last year was and I have had to exercise faith much more. Likewise, financially, God has blessed me with work and monetary gifts, my average income per year, based on a rough estimate will be doubled by the end of 2010.  In terms of favor (grace), God has been raining down many blessings this year: from completing my Gold Medal of Achievement (like Eagle Scout) to the blessing of being self-taught in 11^th Grade (except for Spanish and geometry)—I am also doing better and developing self-teaching skills that are bound to prove beneficial over the course of my life. In addition, God has helped me to realize that my work with young men isn’t about helping them earn a Gold Medal of Achievement that is simply a benefit. The ultimate goal is for me to continue to be faithful to Christ and mentor the young men that God allows me to serve. God also led me to start teaching a Young Adult Bible Study which has had some pretty neat results.

To keep this short, I won’t go on about the many other ways the Lord has blessed and helped me Move Forward this year, but I pray the Holy Spirit will reveal to you some of the things that He has done in your life over the course of a years’ time.

  I have found that writing a list or article about what God has taught me throughout a year to be a source of encouragement. Perhaps if you develop a similar compilation it will be an encouragement to you.