Carving Out The Masterpiece
by Dion Todd March 1st, 2016
If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light. Luke 11:36 WEBAfter viewing the marble statue of David, someone asked Michelangelo, 'How did you know what to cut away?' The sculptor answered, 'It's simple, I just remove everything that doesn't look like David.' He knew what the statue should...
Accounting
by Jeffrey Smith February 29th, 2016
1 Chronicles 21: 1-3: Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are. But Joab replied, May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why...
Connecting the Dots
by Dion Todd February 29th, 2016
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness Luke 4:1 WEBI would not be here, if I had not been there. So many times in our life we can look back and say those words. Where we were when we met our spouse, and how narrow a time frame that it was. Taking a job that we did not really like, only to find that it was a stepping stone for something...
The Sin Problem
by Dion Todd February 28th, 2016
The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!' John 1:29 WEBDo you ever feel guilt or shame over something in your past? Is there something haunting you and saying, 'God is mad at you because'' or 'You are not worthy to do this?' That is the enemy trying to immobilize you and keep you from doing God's will. That is what he does, he...
Hope
by Jeffrey Smith February 26th, 2016
Romans 8:24: For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
Romans 4:18: Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
Hoping in what is yet to come is what we must do continually. When we hope for something that we already...
Two Kingdoms
by Dion Todd February 26th, 2016
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already John 3:16 WEBWhat an amazing piece of scripture. God sent His Son Jesus...
The Surgeon
by Jeffrey Smith February 25th, 2016
Colossians 1:16: For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
There are no conferences, no award ceremonies, no star studded events for the scalpel. A scalpel is one of the most important instruments a surgeon has to perform his work. When someone...
Dare to Love
by David and Dianna Wyles February 25th, 2016
About your heart...
There are many Bible verses discussing the heart because God’s word is clear that the condition of your heart is critical in your walk with the Lord. [Proverbs 4:23] "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." [Proverbs 3:5] "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;" [Mathew 6:21] "for where your...
Crouching At The Door
by Dion Todd February 25th, 2016
Yahweh said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? If you do well, won't it be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.' Genesis 4:6 WEBCain got angry because the Lord had no regard for the offering that he had brought, but did to Abel's offering. After Cain became very angry, the Lord told him that...
Go! Trust Him
by Jeffrey Smith February 24th, 2016
Exodus 4:12: Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.
I tell people this all the time, but it is the truth. I have blessed more people on accident then on purpose. I could go out one day with the idea that I am going to pray healing prayers over everyone I see. I can get so pumped up and put bibles in my backpack, and some provisions for the homeless, as well as a mouthful of...
Carrying The Cross
by Dion Todd February 24th, 2016
He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, 'Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.' Mark 8:34 WEBIf you will just keep following Jesus one day at a time, no power on earth can stop you because the Father is mightier than all. He created the universe, the earth, the stars, as well as us. He is not called 'The Almighty'...
Which is Easier to Believe?
by Jeffrey Smith February 23rd, 2016
Romans 5:15-16: But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin. The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses, and brought...
The Other Side
by Jeffrey Smith February 22nd, 2016
Jonah 4:4: But the Lord replied, Have you any right to be angry?
Luke 15:31-32: My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.
Ever feel like the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son? or Jonah after the Father has compassion on the...
The Promise Keeper
by Dion Todd February 21st, 2016
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 WEBI know a dad that once bought his son a car because he had taken a turn for the better. Not very long after this, his son got a DUI with the car and the dad took it back and sold it. I don't blame the dad and may have done the same, but often our gifts are more of a bonus or a reward than an actual gift.Many times when we give gifts...
The Love Dare: Day 40
by Sylvia Todd February 20th, 2016
Day 40
Love is a Covenant
Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. – Ruth 1:16
Congratulations. You’ve reached the end of the Love Dare – the book. But the experience and challenge of loving your mate is something that never comes to an end. It goes on for the rest of your life.
This...
The Love Dare: Day 39
by Sylvia Todd February 20th, 2016
Day 39
Love Endures
Love never fails. – 1 Corinthians 13:8
Of all the things love dares to do, this the ultimate. Though threatened, it keeps pursuing. Though challenged, it keeps moving forward. Though mistreated and rejected, it refuses to give up.
Love never fails.
Many times when a marriage is in crisis, the spouse who is trying to make things work will go to the other,...
The Love Dare: Day 38
by Sylvia Todd February 20th, 2016
Day 38
Love Fulfills Dreams
Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4
What is something your spouse would really, really love? And how often do you ask yourself that question?
Common sense tells us we can’t give our wife or husband everything they might like. Our budgets and account balances...
The Love Dare: Day 37
by Sylvia Todd February 20th, 2016
Day 37
Love Agrees in Prayer
If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by May Father. – Matthew 18:19
If someone told you that by changing one thing about your marriage, you could guarantee with near 100 percent assurance that your life together would significantly improve, you would at least want to know what it was. And...
The Love Dare: Day 36
by Sylvia Todd February 20th, 2016
Day 36
Love is God's Word
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105
For some people, the Bible seems just too big to understand. It’s like an impossible challenge. They don’t know where or how to begin. But as a Christian, you’re not left alone to try grasping the major themes and deep meanings...
The Love Dare: Day 35
by Sylvia Todd February 20th, 2016
Day 35
Love is Accountable
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. – Proverbs 15:22
Mighty sequoia trees tower hundreds of feet in the air and can withstand intense environmental pressures. Lightning can strike them, fierce winds can blow, and forest fires can rage around them. But the sequoia endures, standing firm, only...
The Love Dare: Day 34
by Sylvia Todd February 20th, 2016
Day 34
Love Celebrates Godliness
[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. – 1 Corinthians 13:6
From the moment you close your Bible in the morning nearly everything else you’ll encounter throughout the day will be luring you away from its truths. The opinions of your coworkers, the news coverage on television, your typical Websites,...
The Love Dare: Day 33
by Sylvia Todd February 19th, 2016
Day 33
Love Completes Each Other
If two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? -- Ecclesiastes 4:11
God creates marriage by taking a man and a woman and uniting them as one. And although love must be willing to act alone if necessary, it is always better when it is not just a solo performance. Love can function on its own if there is no other way, but...
The Love Dare: Day 32
by Sylvia Todd February 19th, 2016
Day 32
Love Meets Sexual Needs
The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. – 1 Corinthians 7:3
Some people think the Bible has nothing good to say about sex, as though all God seems concerned about is telling us when not to do it and who not `and the blessing it can be for both husband and wife. Even its boundaries and restrictions are...
The Love Dare: Day 31
by Sylvia Todd February 19th, 2016
Day 31
Love and Marriage
A man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. – Genesis 2:24
This verse is God’s original blueprint for how marriage is supposed to work. It involves a tearing away and a knitting together. It reconfigures existing relationships while establishing a brand new one. Marriage changes everything.
That’s...
The Love Dare: Day 30
by Sylvia Todd February 19th, 2016
Day 30
Love Brings Unity
Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. – John 17:11
One of the most impressive things about the Bible is the way it linked together, with consistent themes running throughout, from beginning to end. Though written over a span of 1,600 years and composed by more than forty writers of various backgrounds...
The Love Dare: Day 29
by Sylvia Todd February 19th, 2016
Day 29
Love's Motivation
Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men. – Ephesians 6:7 HCSB
It doesn’t take much experience to discover that your mate will not always motivate your love. In fact, many times they will de-motivate it. More often than you’d like, it will seem difficult to find the inspiration to demonstrated your love. They...
The Love Dare: Day 28
by Sylvia Todd February 19th, 2016
Day 28
Love Makes Sacrifices
He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. – 1 John 3:16 HCSB
Life can be hard. But what we usually mean is that our life can be hard. We’re the first to feel it when we’re the ones being mistreated or inconvenienced. We’re quick to sulk when we’re the ones who feel deprived or...
The Love Dare: Day 27
by Sylvia Todd February 19th, 2016
Day 27
Love Encourages
Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. – Psalm 25:20
Marriage has a way of altering our vision. We go in expecting our mate to fulfill our hopes and to make us happy. But this is an impossible order for our spouse to fill. Unrealistic expectations breed disappointment. The higher your expectations, the more likely...
The Love Dare: Day 26
by Sylvia Todd February 19th, 2016
Day 26
Love is Responsible
When you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. – Romans 2:1 HCSB
Today will be hard. But as you seek God’s strength and wisdom, you will be able to get through it. This day could be a milestone in your marriage if you allow it to be. So resolve to focus on what the Lord may be saying to you, and...
The Love Dare: Day 25
by Sylvia Todd February 19th, 2016
Day 25
Love Forgives
What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ. – 2 Corinthians 2:10
This one is tough – perhaps the toughest dare in the book. But if there is to be any hope for your marriage, this is a challenge that must absolutely be taken seriously. Counselors and ministers who deal with broken...