Al Jennings II

A Necessary Ingredient for Learning

This morning in my devotional time I meditated on this verse:

Prov. 12:1  To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. 

Do you want to grow? Then how are you with discipline, in other words, what is your attitude towards discipline? Do you simply tolerate being disciplined, do you try to avoid it, or do you love it? Wise people love discipline and correction. They welcome it and therefore they become wiser and grow. To learn means to gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or by being taught. If you are going to learn, you must learn to love discipline. Whatever you need to learn that will take you to the next level will require discipline. Do what it takes to discipline yourself to learn. Adjust your attitude to love discipline and correction. Even though your flesh will rebel against it, you must fight through that and renew your mind to what the Word says concerning discipline and correction. God's Word is always in your best interest. The Father knows best.

Musings from Luke 6 & 7

Your Heart Supply - Luke 6:43-45

1. A good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 

2. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Building On a Solid Foundation - Luke 6:46-49

3. You build your life on a solid foundation by being a doer of the Word of God, not by merely listening to it. 

The Power of God's Word - Luke 7:1-10

4. Speak the word of God over your trouble and your trouble will vanish. Your words have power because you are a child of God. You can speak to your mountains (problems, challenges, and adverse situations) and make them move, in the Name of Jesus.

5.Great faith only needs a Word from God.

Reflections on Psalm 57

Reflections on Psalm 57

(Verse 1) Call out to God for mercy and tell him that you look to him for protection. Are you in danger? Hide under his almighty shadow until the danger passes by because he is your hiding place. He will preserve you from trouble.

(2) trust God to fulfill his purpose in your life.

(3) God will send help from heaven to rescue you and disgrace those who hound you.

(7) be confident in God and sing his praises

(8) wake up your heart and praise God

(9) God's unfailing love is as high as the heavens, it Cannot fail you! His faithfulness reaches to the clouds, it will never let you down!

How to Get What God Said About You to Come True

Luke 1:35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing is impossible with God.” 

The angel told Mary that nothing is impossible with God. The next statement that Mary made is significant. It is both a statement of faith and a prayer.

Luke 1:38  Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. 

Let's follow Mary's example today. Pray these words, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true."

Wow, I just saw this. Notice the statement at the end of Mary's statement -- and the angel left her. You see, angels are servants sent to minister and care for you (Hebrews 1:14)

Praise God, I believe that angel left Mary to go and bring to pass everything that God said about her! That makes my day! In the same way, when you pray that prayer, right on the heels of your prayer today, the angel will leave you to go and bring to pass everything that God has said about you. And this includes both what he said about you in his word and the things that God has spoken to your spirit. Do it God, do it angels! Angels go and bring to pass everything that God has said about me! Believe it, expect it! Give Him praise right now!

What to do when hounded or harassed

Psa. 56:1    O God, have mercy on me, 

for people are hounding me. 

My foes attack me all day long. 

2  I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, 

and many are boldly attacking me. 

3  But when I am afraid, 

I will put my trust in you. 

4  I praise God for what he has promised. 

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? 

What can mere mortals do to me? 

5    They are always twisting what I say; 

they spend their days plotting to harm me. 

6  They come together to spy on me— 

watching my every step, eager to kill me. 

7  Don’t let them get away with their wickedness; 

in your anger, O God, bring them down. 

8     You keep track of all my sorrows. 

You have collected all my tears in your bottle. 

You have recorded each one in your book. 

9     My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. 

This I know: God is on my side! 

10  I praise God for what he has promised; 

Yes, I praise the LORD for what he has promised. 

11  I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? 

What can mere mortals do to me? 

12     I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, 

and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. 

13  For you have rescued me from death; 

you have kept my feet from slipping. 

So now I can walk in your presence, O God, 

in your life-giving light.  

Ask God for mercy (1) when people attack you

When you are afraid, put your trust in God (3)

Give God praise for His promises; trust Him and resist fear (4). People cannot harm you when God is for you. Romans 8:31 says, if God is for us, who can be against us.

Check this out, I got blessed by this one: God keeps track of all your sorrows and collects all your tears in His bottle. Wow! That's remarkable when you think about it. Every tear that you ever cried, God stores them in a bottle. And on top of that, He records each sorrow and tear in His book (8).

When you call on God for help, your enemies will retreat (9). David said, "this I know: God is on my side!" I love it. Say it out loud: this one thing I know, God is on my side! Give God the praise and offer to Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving for His help (12). He will ALWAYS come through for you.

Keep these thoughts in mind today:

1. Trust in God.

2. Don't be afraid of people or what they threaten to do to you.

3. Ask God for mercy when you are being attacked, slandered and hounded.

4. Praise God for His promises.

5. Ask God for His help.

6. Know that God is on your side.

7. Give God the praise for your victory.

8. Walk in God's presence and in His life-giving light.

The Love of Jesus And the Value of Keeping Your Mouth Shut

Mark 15:1 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.  2 Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 

 He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”

Mark 15:3   And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.  4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”  5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled. 

With Resurrection Sunday approaching, in my Bible reading today my thoughts were on the cross and all that Jesus went through for us. In the above passage, I noticed how Jesus was so focused on the fulfillment of His mission that He kept silent before Pilate. Even though at any time He could have called for 72,000 angels to come to His assistance and deliver him (Matthew 26:53). But He didn't think about Himself. He thought about us. Plain and simple -- He loved us. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross and despised the shame (Heb 12:2).

As a side note and application for today -- there's something to be said about keeping your mouth shut when you're being persecuted. God will come to your defense EVERY single time. Chill out and trust Him!

Be a blessing to your boss!

Prov. 10:26 Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.  

Eph. 6:7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 

Col. 3:23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 

Be a blessing on your job; give it your absolute best; working to the Lord and not to man and God will give you favor! If you are lazy, you will irritate your employer. So be diligent on your job today and everyday. Understand that promotion comes from the Lord. Do more than what is expected and with enthusiasm, expecting your harvest to come from God. HE will reward you!

God has a solution for every problem

I received this from a good friend, Pastor Bryan Hudson, and pass it on to you:

You say: “It’s impossible.” GOD says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)

You say: “I’m too tired.” GOD says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: “No one loves me.” GOD says: I love you. (John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-5)

You say: “I can’t go on.” GOD says: My grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 91:15)

You say: “I can’t figure things out.” GOD says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: “I can’t do it.” GOD says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)

You say: “I’m not able.” GOD says: I am able. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

You say: “It’s not worth it.” GOD says: It will be worth it. (Romans 8:28; Galatians 6:9)

You say: “I can’t forgive myself.” GOD says: I forgive you. (1 John 1:9; Romans 8:1)

You say: “I can’t manage.” GOD says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)

You say: “I’m afraid.” GOD says I have not given you a spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)

You say: “I’m worried and frustrated.” GOD says: Cast all your cares on ME. (1 Peter 5:7)

You say: “I’m not smart.” GOD says: I give you wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)

You say: “I feel all alone.” GOD says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

Author unknown

You Are Rare

Eph. 2:10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Think about great artists and great works of art.

"Consider a painting by Rembrandt or a bronze by Degas or a violin by Stradivarius or a play by Shakespeare. They have great value for two reasons: their creators were masters and they are few in number. Yet there are more than one of each of these.

On that reasoning you are the most valuable treasure on the face of the earth, for you know who created you and there is only one of you."

(From "The Greatest Miracle in the World", by Og Mandino)

It was recently reported that a bronze sculpture of a ballerina by Degas could go for as much as $17 million. And that is because it is an extremely rare piece. A Stradivarius violin can go for between 3 - 4 million dollars. Think about it, you are unique; you are rare. God made only one of you. You are made in God's image and after His likeness. You are an exact duplication of God. You are God's workmanship, His handiwork, His masterpiece! See yourself the way God sees you. You are who God says you are, you have what God says you have, and you can do what God says you can do.

You can be the best "you"; but you can only be (at best) a "second" someone else. Be yourself, be unique, and do something great!

Your future is bright and His plans for you are too numerous to list!

Psa. 40:5  O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. 

Your plans for us are too numerous to list. 

Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  

Remember today that God has wonderful plans for your life. He doesn't have just a plan; but plans. In fact, the Scripture tells us that he has so many plans for us, that they are too numerous to list! That excites me. I believe that this includes not only big plans; but also medium-sized and small sized plans. God has your life planned in detail. He even has all the hairs of your head numbered (Luke 12:7). And his plans for you are good. He only has good things in store for you. Every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17). His plans for you are to prosper you and to give you a future and a hope. Expect nothing but good to come into your life today and everyday, because God is in charge!  Your future is so bright, that if you can see it, you're going to need shades to look at it!  And if you can see it, you can have it. So put your shades on! Make this affirmation: The plans that God has for me are too numerous to list! And I am walking out his plans right now.