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When Jesus Comes on Board
‘He got into one of the boats…belonging to Simon…’

Luke 5:3
The UCB Word for Today - 1 Aug 2015


One day Jesus ‘…saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats…belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break’ (vv 2-6 NIV). Are you sitting today where Peter sat? Your outlook is bleak, your nets are empty, you’ve tried everything you know and you’re ready to give up? It happens; you get to the place where you simply stop expecting anything good. You’ve experienced too many disappointments and you’re afraid to dream, reach, stretch, or broaden your horizons. Jesus knows how hard you’ve tried and today He’s inviting you to try again—this time with Him. Even though you’re wrestling with depression and tormenting memories, unemployment, addiction, financial failure, or sickness, the Lord of new beginnings wants to come on board. If you let Him, He will show you what to do. Now, what He says may not initially make sense to you. But if you’re willing to respond like Peter—‘Because You say so, I will’—you’re on the threshold of a miracle. Today, invite Jesus on board and watch how your situation changes.
Job 20-21, 1 Cor 3












http://www.ucb.co.uk/word-for-today.html

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Don’t Go by Your Feelings
‘…use your head and test your feelings…’

Philippians 1:10
The UCB Word for Today - 2 Aug 2015




God gave you feelings, and you should never be ashamed of them. They can alert you to danger and give you insight into various situations. God actually uses our feelings to draw us closer to Him and highlight areas in our lives that need to be submitted to His Holy Spirit. But feelings are subjective; you can’t always trust them. One counselor says: ‘When old feelings creep back in we feel fearful, ashamed, hopeless, not good enough, unlovable, victimised, helpless and resentful…An event can trigger these reactions…ending a relationship, stress, problems at work and at home, times of change or illness…and sometimes these feelings return for no reason.’ So you must ‘test your feelings’, otherwise you’ll end up living ‘…a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God’ (Colossians 3:5 TM). It can be disastrous to act on what you see, hear, and feel. Instead of reacting to feelings, you must learn to act on what God’s Word says. That’s the gold standard, and it never changes! For instance, even if you feel like you can walk on water, you can only do it if God has called you to step out of the boat. Paul says, ‘…my prayer [is] that [you]…abound…in knowledge and…insight…that you may be able to discern what is best…’ (Philippians 1:9-10 NIV). Bottom line: you’re not defined by your feelings; you’re defined by what God says about you. You may feel worthless, but God says, ‘…You are precious to Me …I love you’ (Isaiah 43:4 NLT). You may feel like a failure, but God says, ‘There is…no condemnation for those…in Christ’ (Romans 8:1 NIV).

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
It All Belongs to God (1)
‘These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season.’

Psalms 104:27
The UCB Word for Today - 3 Aug 2015



We fear losing our job, our health insurance and our retirement benefits, so we amass possessions, thinking the more we have the safer we are. The same insecurity motivated the builders of the Tower of Babel: ‘…let us build…a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth’ (Genesis 11:4 NKJV). Can’t you hear the fear in those words? Just like us stockpiling pensions, possessions and property, they accumulated and stacked until their tower of belongings grew so tall it reached heaven. Then they said, ‘We are safe!’ But God said, ‘No, you aren’t!’ The Bible says, ‘Command those who are rich…not to…trust in uncertain riches but in the living God…’ (1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV). Riches don’t bring security. The more you have, the more you have to lose! It’s ironic; the more you accumulate the more protective you become, and the greater your concern that it could all be swept away by events you can’t control. That’s not how God intended you to live. He wants you to save and He wants you to sow. And when you’ve done all that wisdom demands, to trust in nothing but Him. The Psalmist said, ‘…Living things…small and great…all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season’ (Psalms 104:25-27 NKJV). And He does. God’s the great giver, absolutely generous and utterly dependable. The resounding message of Scripture is clear: God owns it all. God shares it all. So place your trust in Him—not in belongings.
Job 22-24, 1 Cor 4

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It All Belongs to God (2)




‘When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.’

Hosea 13:6
The UCB Word for Today - 4 Aug 2015



Paul writes: ‘Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, Who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share’ (1Timothy 6:17-18 NKJV). Are you ‘rich in this present age’? Almost half the world—more than three billion people—lives on less than £2 a day. So if your income is more than that, you’re rich by comparison. But prosperity comes with a warning: don’t be arrogant. ‘Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall’ (Proverbs 16:18 NIV). The Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle wrote, ‘Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man. But for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity.’ God wants you to enjoy things without becoming obsessed with them. Accumulating possessions has a way of eclipsing God, no matter how meagre they may be. There’s a predictable progression from poverty to pride. The poor man prays and works; God hears and blesses. The humble man becomes rich and forgets God. The faithful poor man becomes the proud rich man. As God said through Hosea, ‘When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.’ How can you avoid this trap? Remember that everything you own comes from God, and He’s the source of everything you’ll need in the future. So live with a grateful heart, and in total dependence on God.
Job 25-27, 1 Cor 5

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It All Belongs to God (3)
‘“The silver is Mine and the gold”…declares the Lord…’



Haggai 2:8
The UCB Word for Today - 5 Aug 2015




How would you describe someone who built a house without giving any forethought to the foundation? Foolish! Likewise, God says, don’t put your trust in ‘uncertain riches’ (1 Timothy 6:17). Between 1948 and 2001 the U.S. economy endured ten recessions, each averaging one year, and resulting in the loss of billions of dollars. That means every five years or so, the economy dumps its suitors and starts all over again. What word would you use to describe a husband who philandered his way through nine different wives over fifty years? Fickle? And how would you describe wife number ten? Foolish? Abraham was one of the richest men of his generation, and so was Job. The New Testament church had some rich people in it. The Bible says, ‘…all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them …brought the proceeds…and laid them at the apostles’ feet…’ (Acts 4:34-35 NKJV). God wants you to be blessed financially so you can bless His work. But the reason He doesn’t give some of us more money is because He knows we don’t have the maturity to handle it. It would be our undoing. And to those He does entrust with money, He says, ‘Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share’ (1 Timothy 6:18 NKJV). You don’t really own anything; you’re just a steward. ‘“The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,” declares the Lord.’ The truth is, you’ll never be financially secure until you’re willing to say, ‘Yes!’ to God in whatever He asks you to do, knowing that He will always take care of you. Always!


Job 28-29, 1 Cor 6

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



It All Belongs to God (4)
‘To the Lord your God belong the heavens…the earth and everything in it.’

Deuteronomy 10:14



The UCB Word for Today - 6 Aug 2015




When it comes to our money, we like to think, ‘I earned it, so it’s mine.’ But that’s where you’re dead wrong! The Bible says: ‘To the Lord your God belong the heavens…the earth and everything in it.’ ‘Yours, O Lord, is the greatness…the power… the glory…the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours’ (1 Chronicles 29:11 NIV). “The silver…and the gold is Mine,” declares the Lord Almighty’ (Haggai 2:8 NIV). Riches are like Monopoly money; if you’re better than your competition, you end up with the deeds to the most expensive properties. But guess what? At the end of the day when the game is over, the participants leave the table and all the stuff goes back in the box. And if you were overly aggressive, the other players may end up not liking you. Here’s a humbling Scripture: ‘Don’t be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune. They can’t take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they’ve arrived and people praise them because they’ve done well for themselves, they enter the family burial plot where they’ll never see sunshine again. We aren’t immortal. We don’t last long. Like our dogs, we age and weaken and die’ (Psalms 49:16-20 TM). The God who owns it all gives it to us for two reasons: 1) To enjoy. 2) To invest into fulfilling His purposes on earth. When we live with that attitude, we replace fear with faith in God.


Job 30-31, 1 Cor 7:1-19

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



Ask God
‘…in Him we live, and move, and have our being.’




Acts 17:28
The UCB Word for Today - 7 Aug 2015



George Washington Carver, an agricultural chemist who discovered three hundred uses for peanuts, shared these observations about God: ‘As a very small boy exploring the almost virgin woods of the old Carver place, I had the impression someone had just been there ahead of me. Things were so orderly, so clean, so harmoniously beautiful. A few years later in these same woods…I was practically overwhelmed with the sense of some great presence. Not only had someone been there, someone was there…Years later when I read in the Scriptures, “…in Him we live, and move, and have our being,” I knew what the writer meant. Never since have I been without this consciousness of the Creator speaking to me…the out-doors has been to me more and more a great cathedral in which God could be continuously spoken to and heard from…Man, who needed a purpose, a mission to keep him alive, had one. He could be…God’s co-worker…My purpose alone must be God’s purpose—to increase the welfare and happiness of His people…Why, then, should we, who believe in Christ, be so surprised at what God can do with a willing man in a laboratory?’ In 1921 Carver spoke before the United States House of Representatives. The chairman asked, ‘Dr. Carver, how did you learn all these things?’ He answered, ‘From an old book.’ The chairman asked, ‘What book?’ Carver replied, ‘The Bible.’ The chairman enquired, ‘Does the Bible talk about peanuts?’ Carver replied, ‘No sir, but it tells about the God who made the peanut. I asked Him to show me what to do with the peanut, and He did.’ Do you need a creative idea or solution today? Ask God!



Job 32-33, 1 Cor 7:20-40

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
How to Overcome Perfectionism
‘…think about the things that are good…’




Philippians 4:8
The UCB Word for Today - 8 Aug 2015




Be honest: Have you ever met a perfectionist who was truly happy? No, because when things must always ‘be a certain way’, life becomes miserable because it’s constantly changing. As soon as you solve one problem, another comes along. Instead of dwelling on their blessings and being grateful, perfectionists focus on what’s wrong and why they need to fix it. It may be a job they did that was less than perfect, a few pounds they need to lose, or even a disorganised wardrobe. Or it could be someone else’s imperfections: the way they live their life, how they behave, or the way they look. Constantly dwelling on flaws—your own or someone else’s—makes it impossible to be grateful. And gratitude is at the core of happiness. Now, let’s be clear; we’re not talking about striving to do better. That’s a good thing. We’re talking about obsessing over what’s wrong. There’ll always be a better way to do something, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life the way it is right now. So what’s the cure? Catch yourself before you fall into the trap of insisting that things should be different from how they are. Stop and remind yourself that, in the absence of your judgment, everything will work out just fine. Paul says, ‘…in all things God works for the good of those who love him…’ (Romans 8:28 NIV). Are you getting it? God’s in control; it’s okay for you to let go. Instead of focusing on the negative, ‘think about the things that are good and worthy of praise’. When you do, you’ll begin to discover how wonderful life is.




Job 34-35, 1 Cor 8

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



The Power of Vision (1)
‘…men shall dream dreams [and]…see visions.’





Joel 2:28
The UCB Word for Today - 9 Aug 2015





A boy once asked Michelangelo why he was working so hard chipping away on the block of marble that would become his greatest masterpiece: David. The artist replied, ‘There’s an angel inside this rock and I’m setting him free.’ The power of vision enables you to see a potential masterpiece in what others overlook or consider worthless. It also helps you discover things within yourself you never knew were there. It brings out the best in you. Many of the people God used in Scripture looked like losers before they looked like winners. After the disciples fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus told them, ‘…Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men’ (Luke 5:10 NKJV). They did, and they ended up: a) building a church that’s still thriving two thousand years later; b) writing history’s greatest books; c) having our sons named after them. Does that mean you can just dream a dream and God will fulfil it? No. Paul says, ‘…You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God…’ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV). At Calvary you lost the right to take your talents, opportunities and experiences and run off in any direction you please. But why would you even want to? What could possibly be more fulfilling than God’s purpose for your life? And what could be more tragic than missing it? You can’t wring enough meaning out of secular accomplishments to satisfy your soul. The hole you’re trying to fill has an eternal dimension only Christ can fill. That’s why you must pray, ‘Lord, show me Your vision for my life.’




Luke 15:1-10, Ps 81-83

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The Power of Vision (2)
‘…acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.’





Proverbs 3:6
The UCB Word for Today - 10 Aug 2015






Having a vision for your life gives you four things: 1) Passion. It makes you wake up in the morning and bound out of bed because there’s something out there you love to do; something you believe in and are good at; something bigger than you; something you can hardly wait to get at. 2) Motivation. Author Richard B. Edler said: ‘Safe living generally makes for regrets later on. We’re all given talents and dreams. Sometimes the two don’t match. But more often than not we compromise both before ever finding out. Later on, we find ourselves looking back longingly to that time when we should’ve chased our true dreams and talents for all they’re worth. Don’t be pressured into thinking your dreams or talents aren’t prudent. They were never meant to be…They were meant to bring joy and fulfilment to your life.’ 3) Direction. Vision simplifies decision-making. Anything that moves you closer to your vision gets a green light; everything else should be approached with caution. Vision brings what’s important to the surface, and weeds out anything that stands in your way. Without vision, good things will keep you from achieving great things. People without a clear vision are easily distracted. They’ve a tendency to drift aimlessly from one thing to another. They’ve no spiritual, relational, financial or moral compass. Consequently, they make decisions that rob them of their dreams. 4) Purpose. Having vision is like getting a sneak preview of things to come. It says, ‘If you don’t show up, something important won’t happen. Your life matters. Without you, what could be—won’t be.’



Job 36-37, 1 Cor 9