Monday, June 30, 2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

What are you struggling with today? We all have something that we are working on or should be working on in our spiritual walk. Do you struggle with porn, self injury, lying, stealing, eating disorders, alcohol or drugs, what is it? According to this verse there is really nothing that if we give it to God He can’t help us overcome. We have the power to overcome anything because He lives inside us!! It isn’t just you fighting this battle, you have the Holy Spirit of God fighting right there with you. There is no excuse anymore to feel like it is just your battle, it isn’t! That is like having one person on a basketball team, and trust me I have played with people like this, that thinks that the whole game rests on their shoulders so they never pass the ball off and they lose the game for the team by thinking they are the only one they can count on. God wants you to pass things off to Him and let Him carry them for you for a while. Take some time out and sit on the sidelines for a while and watch Him work in your life and get victory for you in those areas that you are struggling in. He wants to help, He wants to be there for you. Don’t do it alone anymore, He lives in you if you have accepted Him as your Savior so let go of the defeatist attitude and claim victory in Jesus name!
Extra Time in the Word: Philippians 4

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak

Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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.”

Hope is one of the most important things to hold onto in life! Have you ever lost hope? I have and it was the worst time of my life, I don’t think I could have been more down on life, it was the most horrible feeling on earth. I am the type of person that always sees the “cup half full” not half empty so for me to get to that point it takes a LOT. I can remember while I was down wondering how I ever got there, what could possibly have taken my positive outlook, I was usually so strong. That was it though, I was usually so strong that I had taken over my life and took my eyes off God! I was counting on me to make life work instead of allowing God to take care of whatever came my way and all of a sudden one day I realized “life” was more than I could handle on my own and there was no hope heading down the path I was headed down. I couldn’t do it by myself! I had to get my perspective back and turn back to God and allow Him to take over. It wasn’t that I was somehow living some horrible lifestyle of sin or anything obvious it was the sin of not trusting Him. Satan works in such subtle ways to steal our hope that we have to forever be in check to be sure we keep our eyes on God, not our surroundings or circumstances and He will give us all the HOPE we need!
Extra Time in the Word: Romans 4

Saturday, June 28,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

Your life will unlip your mouth; your life speaks louder than your words.. How you act will have more of an impact on the people around you than what you say to them. Have you been around someone that acts spiritual but yet the way they treat other people is not Godlike and yet they don’t understand why that unsaved friend or loved one doesn’t want anything to do with God. Our actions, especially how we treat each other speaks louder than any thing we might say to them. Jesus always led by example and His words were always in line with how he acted. If we truly allow him to have full control of our lives then the things that come out of our mouths and the way we act will both be like Him.
Extra Time in the Word: Galatians 2

Thursday, June 26,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak

Joshua 1:8

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.

What is it that you are facing right now that you just don’t have a clue what to do? It seems as though we all always have something in our lives that challenges us in a way that we just aren’t quite sure what to do! Get out the Word of God and find the solution to it! This verse says we are to meditate in it day and night in order to have good success in our lives! Is it possible you just don’t have time? I’ve tried that excuse from time to time and still get the same answer back from God - you can’t afford to NOT take the time! What else is there that is just so much more important than spending time alone with God and giving Him the opportunity to speak into your life and guide you in what you are doing? I know that working in ministry it is easy for me to think sometimes that, well, I’ve been in my Bible for one reason or another all day, doing Bible studies, answering questions on the boards or on Student Hopeline, but that really doesn’t count. I still need time every day AND night that I just focus on God and allow Him to have a moment of my being quite so I can hear what He has to say! Try it starting today, even if you only read a few verses this morning and again tonight and spend some time in prayer asking Him to teach you what it is He wants you to learn today!
Extra Time in the Word: Joshua 1

Wednesday, June 25,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak

Genesis 45:24
Then he sent his brothers away and as they were leaving he said to them, ’see that you fall not out by the way.’

Life is full of choices and a lot of those choices have to do with whether or not you finish. Some things we need to quit and some things need to be finished. The question should come down to what God’s will is for you. Joseph was telling his brothers as they left to go get his dad to make sure that they didn’t dawdle or get distracted or take a “ittle detour” on their way. That’s the way we need to look at life when it comes to the will of God in our lives. See it through! Whatever you are called to quit or do - see it through! God can help you finish that course or job or work on that relationship as well as help you to quit your addictions. Just see it through, take one day at a time and trust Him to give you the strength to do it. Start a journal today and write down your progress to encourage you on the days you are having a tough time and to recognize any patterns you might have for good and bad days. Find someone to walk with you and to hold you accountable. You can achieve what He has called you to achieve one day at a time.
Extra Time in the Word: Genesis 45

Tuesday, June 24,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak

Genesis 32:30
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, It is because I saw God face to face , and yet my life was spared.

Jacob was having a tough day having to face his brother and the things he had done in his past. He was afraid for his life because he knew that his brother had every right to be angry with him even to the point of wanting to kill him. Jacob’s selfishness cost his brother dearly in the past. He could have just kept running from Esau, he didn’t have to go see him and then he got to the end of his day and came face to face with God. Have you ever taken the time to seek God’s face in your situation so He can bless you? The solution is not to run from your enemy or your problems but your solution is to get right with God. Seek His face, run your situation by some wise Godly people and get your situation and your heart right with God.
Extra Time in the Word: Genesis 32

Saturday, June 21,2008
Written by Janet Trstenjak

Psalm 118:5
In my anguish I cried to the Lord and He answered by setting me free.

How are you doing today? Are you struggling with something, is it more than you can bear? Sometimes as strange as it might seem, the toughest time to cry out to the Lord and seek is face is when you are hurting or when you need His help the most! I know I have had times when I was just so down that I didn’t think I had the strength to look up and even try to find Him through all the mess. Are you the one struggling or is someone you know struggling. If you know someone who is just so down like this it might help if you just reach out and try to help pull them up! Show them the Love of God! Help to set them free! If you are the one who is down, know this; the God of the universe cares and is reaching down to help you see your way out so you can be free indeed. God is all about freedom, he wants to release you from any bondage you are experiencing. Bondage can be anything from addictions to unforgiveness, to leagalism, whatever is holding you back from the freedom you will find in giving your life wholly to God! Allow God to set you free, cry out to Him for help today!
Extra Time in the Word: Psalm 118

Friday, June 20,2008
Written by Bill Scott

Isaiah 57:18
I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them and comfort those who mourn. (NLT)

Do you cut? Perhaps you know someone who self-injures. God sees your cutting on your arms and legs and still wants to heal you. It breaks God’s heart any time we harm our bodies but he loves us so much that his promise of healing is still yours. God wants to lead you, bring you comfort and give you joy. Your cutting does not define who you are. You are not a “cutter” you are a saint who struggles with self-injury. Begin to journal your feelings and seek help from someone who can lead you out of our self-injury cycle. God is on your side and delights in you today regardless of what you are facing.
Extra Time in the Word: Isaiah 57

Thursday, June 19,2008
Written by Bill Scott

Luke 1:28
Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you. (MSG)

Perhaps today you are feeling ugly. Maybe you are feeling overweight or to skinny. Can I encourage you with this verse? God see’s your beauty inside in out. Satan is the one who comes to you and tries to get you to feel ugly or unworthy of anything good. Who are you going to believe today? The creator of the universe or Satan? I think the choice is pretty simple uh? Remember, you are beautiful so do not believe the lie.
Extra Time in the Word: Luke 1

Wednesday, June 18,2008
Written by Bill Scott

Psalm 103:12
He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west. (NLT)

This verse is simply saying that God has gotten rid of your sin forever. Once you come to the Lord and ask for forgiveness your sin goes a way. Now on the flip side of the coin, you still may have to face the consequences of what you did wrong. You still might get grounded, go to jail, have a broken heart and yes even get pregnant. Be assured that God has forgiven you and removed your sin. You can move forward without carrying guilt and shame. Satan will try to remind of your sin, just remind him that your sin is no more!
Extra Time in the Word: Psalm 103