DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT MONDAY - A HEART STARTER. #5.

God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him. - Andrew Murray.

Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful. Don't let anyone fool you by using senseless arguments. These arguments may sound wise, but they are only human teachings. They come from the powers of this world and not from Christ. God lives fully in Christ. - Col 2:7-9. (CEV)

When the wife of missionary Adoniram Judson told him that a newspaper article likened him to some of the apostles, Judson replied, "I do not want to be like a Paul... or any mere man. I want to be like Christ... I want to follow Him only, copy His teachings, drink in His Spirit, and place my feet in His footprints... Oh, to be more like Christ!" - Source Unknown.

Well folks, for most of us the weekend is over, and it is time to start a new week. What better “Heart Starter” for Monday, than thinking about spending more time with Jesus. There are many things we can use to kick start our week, but I believe that to start off the week thinking about Jesus will refresh us spiritually, and motivate us to get going for Him this week! Hallelujah! Praise His wonderful Name!

On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with the following inscription: "James Butler Bonham--no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom." No literal portrait of Jesus exists either, but the likeness of the Son who makes us free can be seen in the lives of His true followers. - Bill Morgan.

Nothing can be accomplished successfully in the Kingdom of God, unless we are connected to Jesus Christ, in an intimate and daily basis. The Apostle Paul understood this better than anyone when he said…

All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, so that somehow I also may be raised to life. - Phil 3:10-11. If it is good enough for Paul, then it is good enough for us!

Jesus said we must abide in the vine and that we can do nothing apart from Him… I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. - John 15:5.

Separated from Christ we cannot do anything, we will not produce any fruit for Him, and we will wither and die! We must spend time with Him, we must communicate with Him, and we must feel at one with Him, for He is the source of all life! Hallelujah! Praise His Mighty Name!

You get to know someone by spending quality time with them. If you we do not have a regular, and ongoing sense of His presence, we must cultivate this by spending time in His Word, talking to Him daily throughout our day, and look for Him to respond to us, that we may produce fruit for Him!

Three times a month, Jermaine Washington and Michelle Stevens get together for what they call a "gratitude lunch." With good reason!

Washington donated a kidney to Stevens, whom he described as "just a friend." They met at work where they used to have lunch together. One day Michelle wept as she spoke about waiting on a kidney donor list for 11 months. She was being sustained by kidney dialysis, but suffered chronic fatigue and blackouts and was plagued by joint pain.

Because Washington couldn't stand the thought of watching his friend die, he gave her one of his kidneys. When you've got something great to be thankful for, having a "gratitude lunch" is a great way to celebrate. - Today in the Word.

Let's have a "gratitude lunch" and make spending our time with Christ our priority, and we will begin to experience the power of God, effectively in our lives.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to spend more time with Jesus, that I may know His presence, and power in my life, and to produce fruit for His glory. In His wonderful Name, I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY