Category: Thought of the Day

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Thought of the Day 5/3/21

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

Another month begins and with it come the monthly bills that must be paid if we want to remain out of debt. We all desire to live a debt free life, right? Well, there is a debt that was laid upon each of us the moment we were conceived — a debt that we on our own could never pay or get out from under (Romans 3:23). That debt? Sin. We have all sinned because with the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden sin entered humanity for all future generations to come — including you and me! So what do we do with a debt we incur that we have no way of paying? Look to Jesus Christ. He paid off the debt of anyone who would call upon His name and believe in Him as Lord (Romans 6:23; 10:9). When we repent of our sin and confess Jesus as Lord, He brings us back into right fellowship with God and becomes the mediator between us and God. Through the lens of the blood Jesus shed on Calvary, God no longer sees our sins but sees the perfect sacrifice of His Son and through it our justification (redemption to Him). Get out of debt today! Call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jessica Ford

Communications Director 

ALIVE Ministries USA

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Thought of The Day 5/2/21

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

Without Jesus’ resurrection from death three days after His crucifixion, our faith would be without hope. We would not have the assurance of eternal life nor would we have the promise of God’s mercy (withholding the punishment of our sins). Jesus Christ died on a cross to take the punishment of our sins, and by rising from the tomb three days later He is able to offer us “a living hope”. When we come into a relationship with Him through repentance of our sins and acceptance of Him as Lord, our old self is washed away by the cleansing power of the blood He shed on Calvary. In this new relationship and new self, we now live with hope of eternal life spent with our Creator and Savior as well as the promise of His grace and mercy and continual presence while we remain in this world through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Praise God! Thank You, Jesus! Can you say that? Have you accepted that free gift that Jesus gave His life to offer you? If not, let today be the day!

Jessica Ford

Communications Director 

ALIVE Ministries USA

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Thought of the Day 2/9/21

Thought of the Day

February 9, 2021

““One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:10‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

All that we have for possessions on earth are not truly ours. They have been entrusted to us as stewards for a testing of our faithfulness. If we remain faithful in what God has made us steward over (our finances, our homes, our vehicles, our relationships, serving in the church) we will be counted as one who will be faithful in the spiritual rewards awaiting us in heaven. If we deal dishonestly with or are unfaithful stewards of our earthly, temporal goods, how then will we manage those greater spiritual rewards? Take assessment of what God has entrusted you with and ask yourself honestly: How am I stewarding these?

Jessica Ford

Communications Director 

ALIVE Ministries USA

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Thought of the Day 2/8/21

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

I am sure it was no coincidence that I read from a Bible reading plan just moments ago something that goes right along with today’s verse. God is like that — oftentimes putting the right word, verse, song, person, or event in our lives at the exact moment needed in order that the Holy Spirit might shed light on a spiritual truth to us. I just got done reading a thought about how interesting — and on the same token, sad — it is that the Bible is the most published/printed/produced book in the world yet possibly the least utilized. How many of us have a Bible or even multiple Bibles in our homes or on our phones and tablets, yet fail to read them and apply them to our lives? Many “excuses” are given such as we do not have enough time in the day with our jobs, or children, or medical emergencies. Perhaps some say the Bible is too hard to understand. I think if we are all honest with ourselves, though, today’s verse really cuts to the core of why we allow our Bibles to collect dust. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV) To put it bluntly — the Bible exposes our faults and convicts us in the areas of unrighteousness we are living out in our lives. As humans, we do not like to be told we are doing something wrong, and most of us do not like to invest the time to change or better ourselves, thinking we are “good enough” the way we are. That is a scary mindset to have come judgment day, for the Bible clearly states: “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Romans‬ ‭14:12‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

Open God’s Word today and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you and convict you of the areas that you need to improve upon. There is no shame at the cross for those who are covered by His blood and His grace and mercy!

Jessica Ford

Communications Director 

ALIVE Ministries USA

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Thought of the Day 2/5/2021

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5
 
What a powerful commandment for us from the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy may be one of those Old Testament books that is often skipped over or otherwise not deeply studied by modern day evangelical Christians due to the rich Mosaic law given by God to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. That is truly a shame for there are powerful truths within this book, truths that are repeated by Jesus Himself in the New Testament when asked what the most important commandment of the law was. Jesus references this passage when He says in Matthew: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) Jesus tells us that this is foremost in all the commandments put forth in the Word of God. So, how do we go about loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, and might? Is God (and subsequently your love for and service to Him) above anything and anyone else in your life? The heart of a person is indicative of their emotions and what drives them in life. Are the desires and drive of your life aligned with the will of the Savior, or are they merely carnal and selfish? Does your soul long to be closer each day and each moment with the God who created you, or are you more concerned with the benefits this world can offer? Keep in mind: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Seek to love God today “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might”.

Jessica Ford, Communications Director


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Thought of the Day 1/19/21

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

Looking around at the current state of the world could easier discourage and dishearten even the most grounded and faith-filled believer. There is much moral decay happening right in front of us — and likely we have even partaken in some of it. However, do not grow weary brother or sister! If you continue to do the good which God has created each of us for (Ephesians 2:10), we know it will not be in vain. “In due season”, or more precisely, on the day of judgment, we will reap the heavenly rewards of our faithfulness and work to further the Kingdom here on earth.  As easy as it would be today, do not give up! Continuing sowing!

Jessica Ford

Communications Director 

ALIVE Ministries USA

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Thought of the Day 1/18/21

““Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew‬ ‭5:9‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

The promise today given by Jesus in what is titled “The Sermon on the Mount” or “The Beatitudes” promises the right to be called sons of God. Being called a son of God here means that you have inhabited the characteristics of God in your life. So how do you receive this distinction? By being a peacemaker. God is love and He is peace. By making it your life’s mission to secure peace between everyone striving around you in as much as you are capable of doing so, in keeping peace with those you may otherwise disagree with, and in striking a path toward peace between believers that have fallen apart from each other, you will become a son of God as you become like Him. Blessed are the peacemakers, for not only will they be called the sons of God but on the day of Resurrection will be publicly declared adopted into the family of God! In what ways can you be a peacemaker today?

Jessica Ford

Communications Director 

ALIVE Ministries USA

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Thought of the Day 1/14/21

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

When our Lord Jesus Christ took on the form of man and came to this earth, the angels proclaimed “peace on earth”. When He arose from the grave and was reunited with His disciples, He proclaimed peace to them. In parting from them before ascending to return to Heaven, He assured them His peace would be with them. He had promised a peace that would encompass them and guide them until He returned in His Second Coming. The Apostle Paul here in this epistle to the church at Phillipi lets them (and, through the preservation of God’s Word, us) know that God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, will remain with them as they abide with Him.

If you are abiding in God and have put your trust in Him, His peace will keep watch over you and encompass all areas of your life — with Him, with others, with yourself. Your heart, your mind, your soul can have the peace that surpasses all understanding if you will abide in Him and trust through the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jessica Ford

Communications Director 

ALIVE Ministries USA

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Thought of the Day 1/13/21

““Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭5:10‬ (‭ESV)‬‬

There has been a lot of people throwing around the term “persecuted” lately to describe the treatment of the modern Christian Church, even here in America. Is the American Church truly under persecution? When compared to other countries like India, China, Nepal, and so many others where believers are imprisoned, kept from their families, shunned from their communities, beaten, tortured, and even killed for their faith and boldness for sharing it, it is hard to ascribe the term “persecuted” to the treatment of Christians in America presently. However, I personally do not believe that we are far from it with the way that this country has been spiraling morally for the past few decades. As a society, we have deemed Christianity as “outdated” or even “cult-like”. May God have mercy on us! If we do not remain steadfast and bold in our faith and in protecting our God-given and constitutionally protected right to worship God and declare Him to others, we will soon be listed as a country where persecution is rampant.

Take heart, though, my brothers and sisters. Our Lord and Savior Himself declared:  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Trust that  God will be with you as you proclaim His name, and even if you suffer persecution it will be counted as a blessing for you will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven!

Jessica Ford

Communications Director 

ALIVE Ministries USA

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Thought of the Day 1/10/21

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

In such a divided time in our country’s history, where the rift reaches into our churches, these verses from Hebrews are so important. We should be focused on trying to “stir up one another to love and good works” — reigniting that flame of passion and desire for God and serving Him. We need to also be sure to not neglect “to meet together, as is the habit of some”, even in the midst of a pandemic and governmental overreach trying to shut our churches down. Assembling together for corporate worship in the church is vital for the growth and development of each individual as well as the Church body as a whole. While doing so, we need to leave the divisive thoughts and language outside those sacred walls and seek to encourage one another and emphasize edification and unification as we can indeed “see the Day drawing near”. Are you being faithful to assemble and fellowship with fellow believers? Are you encouraging and edifying your brothers and sisters in Christ? If not, turn from that spirit of division and destruction today.

Jessica Ford

Communications Director 

ALIVE Ministries USA