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Saturday, 18 April 2009
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"Being God on Earth"
Dr. Joe Savage, President, Winners Influence
April 18, 2009 - Devotion
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"When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few'" (Matthew 9:36-37)
The world is full of hopeless, helpless, and hurting people. Today, I am in Atlanta, Georgia attending an outreach event hosted by an organization called Convoy of Hope. As I arrived at this event, I witnessed several thousand people who were there to receive medical help, haircuts, HIV testing, groceries, prayer, and many other services. These people are created by God, made in His image, and God has a life of hope for these individuals. Single moms, Hispanic families, young people, older people, and all kinds of people were there to get help. Help!
Isn't help what we all need from time to time! Isn't the need for hope at the very core of our existence? Without hope and a little help from others, we simply exist without purpose or joy. Just think about it. What if you didn't have food for your children because you lost your job? What would you do? What if you were simply born into poverty and all you were ever exposed to in life was self-existence by any means? What would you do? What if you were living in a foreign country, legally or illegally, where you couldn't speak the language, didn't know where to get help, didn't have any family, and didn't know who to trust? What would you do?
It is easy for us to cast judgment, look the other way, and simply claim God's love to be in us while limiting our help to a select few.
I want to challenge your thinking. Could YOUR existence on this earth be to help others by being God's hands and feet to the downtrodden? Could it be that God wants and passionately desires for YOU to be His vessel of hope to others in need? Could it be YOU? Could it be that God wants to help someone but He is waiting on YOU to do it?
Please don't do what many, if not most, Christians so often do by being apathetic, judgmental, arrogant, complacent, or even totally deaf to the pleas of the hurting and hopeless. God is wanting to use YOU to help others! God is wanting to help them, but often the church and Christians aren't listening.
Please prayerfully think about who and how you can help others. Please be God's hands and feet on this earth. Please live with open eyes and open hearts to the needs of others. YOU can help!
Today's Prayer
"God, help me to see the need of others and help me to do something to help. Lord, I want to help, but sometimes I don't know how to help. Give me direction and clear understanding of what I can do to help others. I offer myself Lord as your hands and feet. Use me if you want. In Jesus' name. Amen."
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Friday, 10 April 2009
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"How Could He Do That?!
Peter's Rooster Crows"
Special Holy Week Devotion - Part 2
Dr. Joe Savage, President, Winners Influence
April 10, 2009
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"Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, 'I don't know the man!' Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly." Matthew 26:74-75
Peter. The man nicknamed the rock. The man whom Jesus hand selected to start the church. The man who was tough enough to stand with Jesus during some crisis situations, to walk out to Jesus upon the open waters of a storm surged sea, and to be best of friends with the Messiah.
Peter was an amazing man who was present with Christ at almost every miracle, occurrence, healing, sermon, or supernatural event which Jesus performed.
Peter loved Jesus. This was obvious. He was a tough minded, rough handed kind of guy who also had a compassionate side. Jesus had physically healed Peter's mother-in-law back when the two first met. In fact, Jesus had done a huge amount personally for Peter and Peter was eternally grateful. This is the reason peter said that he would never turn against Christ, but would be willing to give his life for him. In most every circumstance he would and did. Yet, on the night our Lord was betrayed, Peter denied Christ three times with a cussing tongue which was rooted in his old fishing days. Ultimately, Christ died. Peter lived. Yet, the story didn't end there.
Peter had genuine repentance and sorrow for denying his best friend. But I ask, how could he totally deny Christ like he did?
Maybe in the same way that we deny Christ all the time. How many times have you had opportunity to align yourself with Christ as a follower and believer yet you denied him by staying silent? How often have you hidden that you are a Christian in certain circles of people at work, the park, gym, or some other place?
Yes we deny Him much more than peter ever did!
But this does not make it right! Take a little time and ask Jesus if you are denying Him in any kind of way. Then ask Him to give you the fortitude and boldness to stand with Christ in every setting, in every way, in every occurrence, and with e very person. Jesus said, "If you deny me before men, I will deny you before the Father." May this never happen to any of us!
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Thursday, 09 April 2009
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"How Could He Do That?!
Judas' Kiss"
Special Holy Week Devotion
Dr. Joe Savage, President, Winners Influence
April 9, 2009
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"Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him." Mark 14:44-46
How Could Judas do that?! How could Judas betray Jesus for a few shekels of silver?
Absolutely amazing isn't it?! Judas was a man who had walked and followed Jesus for three years. He was there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. He was a participant when Jesus multiplied fish and loaves to feed more than 15,000 people (counting women and children). He was there when Jesus healed the blind, cast out demons, turned water into wine, and all of the other miracles that Christ performed. His eyes had witnessed them all. His hands had touched them. His heart had felt them. Yet, he turned on Jesus for a few measly coins.
How could he do this we may ask? Was it because he was innately evil? Was it because he was a fake the whole time? Was it because Jesus didn't do what Judas wanted him to do? Was it because he wanted power and authority? Maybe he had a financial crisis and needed money, no matter what it costs him. No one knows with certainty.
However, what we do know is that each of us turn on Jesus all the time. We put our faith aside in order to make a living selling or doing certain things which may not be right. We withhold tithes and offerings in order to spend our entire paycheck on things we desire. If we were really honest, we could all probably come up with a few ways which we have turned against Jesus or at least didn't stay with Him because of a dollar.
Friend, as we enter into this Holy weekend, I challenge you to reflect upon your own life, career, motivations, etc. to see if you are against Jesus in any kind of way. Maybe it's in your appearance, your money, your job, or any other number of possibilities.
To be on Jesus' side, we need to stand with Him always regardless of apparent outcome.
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Friday, 03 April 2009
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"Opportunity Waits!"
Devotion by: Dr. Joe Savage, President, Winners Influence
April 4, 2009
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Scripture says, "Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is." (Ephesians 5:15-17). Often the truth is, we blow opportunities every day by pursuing and doing those trivial things which mean nothing!
In Life, God brings us different types of opportunities every day. It is up to us to determine and discern which opportunities are from the Lord and which are simply distractions. The best way to determine which opportunities are from the Lord is by:
1) Spending solitude time with Him every day in prayer and Bible reading;
2) Talking with those who are full of Godly wisdom; and
3) Being aware of what is going on around you by physically paying attention and by asking God to help you see His opportunities clearly.
God is at work all around you presenting opportunity after opportunity your way! Are you joining Him in His work?
Today's Prayer
"Oh Lord help me to see when you bring opportunity my way. I want to be part of your ongoing work and I desire to do the meaningful things in life. Give me the desire to spend time with you daily, to seek wise counsel, and to see where you are at work. I need your help. In Jesus' name. Amen."
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DR. JOE SAVAGE
AVAILABLE TO SPEAK TO YOUR CHURCH, GROUP, SCHOOL, OR COMPANY!
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