Daily Treasure

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:9-11).

We as parents know the needs of our children. When they come to us, asking for something, we try our best to accommodate them. We try not to make substitutions because we want to make them to be happy. We don’t like to ever have to say “no” to our children but there are times when it’s best.

Our heavenly Father’s love is similar but deeper. As His child, He desires to give us whatever we need. When we ask Him, in faith, for something, He won’t deny us, unless it wouldn’t be in our best interest. He wants us to be happy even when He may have to say “no”. It’s when we can’t accept that answer, our faith may waiver. We are no more than a spoiled child that wants their own way. We limit blessings, the “good gifts” God wants us to have when we don’t trust the fact “He Knows What We Need” even before we ask. I thank God that leaves very little margin for worry.

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Christians in India who are being persecuted for their faith.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5,6).
 
Have you ever been lost? Most of us really like to know where we are and where we are going. Have you ever taken a wrong turn because you thought it was the right way? The map to direction in our lives is this verse. Only three things are required of us to travel the path the Lord has prepared for us. This is the path we could take a wrong turn on if we do not “trust in the Lord” or heed the requests. We do not need to back track in God’s work, it is too important for wasted time. Let us trust in Him and not ourselves for this heavenly direction.

PRAY TOGETHER:  State meetings and missionary conferences are in progress. Pray and attend.

“O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust” (Psalm 91:2).
   
On November 15, 2007, I was rushed to the University of Tennessee Medical Center with chest pains. I was informed quickly that I was having a heart attack and would be rushed to have a heart catheterization, as soon as they called the cardiovascular doctor on duty. I knew in a few minutes I would be asleep and needed the Lord to provide the safety and refuge I needed through this. I bowed my head and asked the Lord to protect me and give me the nurses and doctors He wanted for me. There are times we must trust in the Lord because we are too weak, too upset or too asleep. The Lord took such good care of me and gave me refuge in His loving care. Believe me, my cardiovascular doctor is a true blessing and an answer to my prayers.

PRAY TOGETHER:  As you study this month’s Travel Light lesson, ask “How Much Is Too Much.”

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in Thee: yea in the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast” (Psalm 57:1).

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” (Psalm 26:3).
 
This world is filled with turmoil, confusion and anxieties. I’ve heard my husband say; “Most folks begin their day with coffee, cigarettes and fingernails.” It is so important to start our day with prayer and scripture. It will give us something from heaven that will cause us to rejoice and not to be nervous and filled with anxiety through the day. Trust the Lord for the perfect peace He has promised.
  

PRAY TOGETHER:  The Hanna Project team will be working Ivory Coast, February 9-23.
 
“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice…” (Psalm 26:3a).

“Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness. For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken…” (Jeremiah 48:6, 7a).
  
It is not by our works that we are saved (Titus 3:5). But our faith without works is dead (James 2:20). It is a beautiful thing to see the works of a Holy Spirit filled Christian. Many folks have come to Christ through the kind deeds of these sweet people. There are many women in our denomination who are known for their exceptional works. These are women who have been saved by grace and their faith has made them alive with good works for the heavenly Father. Works cannot save us neither gets us into heaven. The good works we see are by those who are saved and led by the Holy Spirit.

Let our works shine through the One who saved us with His shed blood.
 

PRAY TOGETHER:  Please ask God to supply FWBHM with qualified candidates who feel the Lord leading them to plant a new FWB church in North America.

“But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works” (Psalm 73:28).

“Put not your trust in princes, nor the son of man, in whom there is not help” (Psalm 146:3).
  
Not all leaders are good leaders. Some are evil and vicious. Jim Jones brainwashed 1,000 men, women and children into a mass suicide/murder. Bin Laden is responsible for 2,998 deaths on 9-11 and nineteen of their own who died in the crashes. Hitler was responsible for millions of deaths. Our missionaries live in the oppression of foreign leaders who design an evil leadership. There are cult groups today that persuade folks into their doctrine, a deadly doctrine that cannot take anyone to heaven. We must be very careful in choosing leaders and those whom we follow. We must trust the Lord in wisdom and knowledge of those who want to be our leaders. We must trust Him today to help us choose our leaders.

PRAY TOGETHER:  Pray for students of the Gwen Hendrix FWB Hispanic Bible Institute, 2007 recipients of Cleo Pursell Scholarships.
 
“Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men” (Psalm 31:19).

“For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me” (Psalm 44:6).
  
In one of our churches was a woman with children and an abusive husband. When my husband began to help her and the children to safety the husband became irate. He called in the middle of the night and threatened to kill my husband. It scared us both, not knowing if it was an empty threat or one he meant to carry out. My husband loaded a gun and placed it within arms reach and I slipped quietly to the kitchen and got the biggest knife I had and placed in under the mattress. After we had a word of prayer together, I laid my head on my pillow and prayed a long time. It wasn’t the weapons that helped us to be safe it was the pleadings we made to God for safety. Our trust in God for His protection got us through the night.

PRAY TOGETHER: Today is Brazil’s annual Carnaval. Festivities include pagan and immoral practices. Pray.
 
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalm 56:3).