TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises”
(Psalm 34:1, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
When you wake up in the morning, do you expect the goodness of God in your life? Do you set the tone of the day for success, favor and blessing?
It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday, last week, last month or last year; today is a new day. This moment, you have the power to make a change in your life. Things may be bad all around you. People may be negative, complaining and discouraged, but don’t let that spirit rub off on you. Instead, choose to bless the Lord at all times. Let His praise continually be in your mouth. Remember, the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn shining brighter and brighter until the full day.
Stay determined to set the tone for each new day by speaking words of faith over your future. As you do, you’ll enlarge your vision and make room for God to do amazing things in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, I choose to bless You at all times. I choose to set the tone to receive Your favor, grace and mercy. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me at all times. I choose to constantly speak Your praises! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

This proves that there is still hope for our youth. This young high school student defied many odds to make it to where he has today. Check out his speech!! Its definitely inspirational…to say the least!!

The Tongue of the Wise

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing”
(Proverbs 12:18; NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
It’s easy to see how words can be used as a weapon. We’ve all either been “cut” by the words of others, or we’ve used words to put someone “in their place.” The truth of the matter is when we use words recklessly or in a way that cuts others, we are not being wise. The scripture tells us that the tongue of the wise brings life and healing to others.
Today, look for ways to be wise. Find something nice to say about someone or share an encouraging word. You never know how you can bring healing to a person’s heart by sharing a kind, gracious word. And remember, words are like seeds. When you plant words of life and blessing into others, you’re sure to reap a harvest of blessing in your own life in return.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, today I choose to be wise. I submit my tongue to You and choose to use it for good and not for evil. Show me ways to be a blessing to others. Help me find creative ways to encourage the people You have placed in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

*Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist pastors is rising slightly faster than inflation, but the mounting cost of benefits is forcing churches to provide fewer pastors with medical insurance.

These and other findings are part of the SBC Church Compensation Study, a survey of 11,674 staff positions in Southern Baptist churches. LifeWay Research conducted the survey in cooperation with GuideStone Financial Resources (www.guidestone.org) and Baptist state conventions through June 2010. All the data acquired by the study has been compiled into a Web-based tool (www.lifeway.com/compensationsurvey) that will help churches as they begin planning staff compensation packages for their 2011 budgets.

Compensation

Adjusting for church size (see Methodology), the average full-time Southern Baptist senior pastor’s compensation (salary and housing) rose 0.78 percent between 2008 and 2010. That rate of change was only slightly higher than the compounded 0.67 percent inflation rate for the same two-year period, according to figures supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index.”

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Protected by Love

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there”
(James 3:16, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
All throughout scripture, God commands us to love. In fact, 1 Corinthians tells us that love is the greatest thing. Love is all that matters on this earth, and it’s all that will last in eternity. But do you realize that we are protected when we walk in love? When we are selfish or self-seeking, the scripture tells us that it opens the door to confusion and every evil work. But when we walk in love, when we choose to put others first, when we choose to be patient and kind and walk in unity, we are protected by love. We close the door to the plans of the enemy in our lives.
Today, check your love walk. Read 1 Corinthians 13 and see if you emulate the characteristics of love. Remember, love is not a feeling; it’s a choice. When you choose love, it’s like you are covered by a force field of protection that cannot be penetrated.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, I humbly come before You today asking that You search my heart. Remove any selfish way in me and help me to always walk in love. Thank You for protecting me through Your promises. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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“According to Love Center Ministries, services will be held Wednesday, July 21 hours after a special musical tribute, Tuesday, July 20 at 7:30pm in Oakland, California.

Hawkins, pastor of Oakland’s Love Center Church, died July 11th at his home in Ripon after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 61 years old.

Hawkins is survived by his two children, Walter “Jamie” and Trystan Hawkins; daughter-in-law, Myiia Hawkins; two grandchildren Jamie-Daniel and Jahve; a host of nieces and nephews; the Love Center Church family and Choir; and his siblings Carol, Feddie, Edwin, Daniel, and Lynette.

In related news, Hawkins was set to record a live CD this fall. According to Love Center Ministries, he was preparing for the effort, “Love Alive,” at the time of his death.

For more information visit Love Center Ministries (lovecenter.org).”

The Position of Power

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense”
(Proverbs 19:11, AMP)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Every day, we have opportunities to get upset, be frustrated, or get offended. Maybe you had plans that didn’t work out, or someone was rude to you at the office. Maybe you were doing something that should have taken one hour, and it ended up taking three. Life is full of inconveniences; but even though we can’t always control our circumstances, we can control our reactions to those circumstances. I heard somebody say, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.”
We should always go out each day with a positive attitude, full of hope and expecting God’s favor. But at the same time, we should recognize that most days are not going to go exactly as we planned. Remember, we were created to live in peace. Peace is our position of power. If you get stressed because you got off schedule, or got upset because your child wouldn’t eat his breakfast, or frustrated because somebody offended you, what you’re doing is giving away your power. Instead, make the decision to release those offenses and disappointments so you live in peace and move forward in the power and victory the Lord has for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, today I release every care, concern, offense and disappointment to You. I choose to keep the peace that You have given me knowing that with You my best days are ahead! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Darwin Hobbs releases his 6th studio album “Champion”. Check out the details reported at Singersroom.com:

“Gospel recording artist Darwin Hobbs has released his long awaited album, “Champion”.

His sixth album, the recording is Hobbs first effort to come from a partnership with ID Music Group.

“It is one thing to have an amazing new album entitled Champion, but it is an even better reality for me to have a team full of champions working together to inspire the world with quality and relevant entertainment,” Hobbs says of working with ID.

Featuring songs written and produced by Hobbs, “Champion” is led by the title track (”Champion”), which is currently playing at radio.

“Champion,” recorded live in Nashville, TN, is available now in stores.”

for more info click here!!

Listen to Your Heart

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips”
(Proverbs 16:23, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Choosing your words is very important. The scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. You can bless your future with your words, or you can curse it. God Himself spoke the worlds into existence by the creative power of words.
There are many influences over our words. In the heat of the moment, we can let our emotions tell us what to say. We can listen to what others say and allow them to influence our words. We can even be influenced by what we watch on TV, the internet, or read in the news. But notice what today’s verse tells us that a wise person does—a wise person listens to their heart and lets their heart teach them what to say. As a believer, when you listen to your heart, you are tuning in to what the Spirit of God is saying to you. You are coming into agreement with Him.
Today, listen to your heart. Take time to be still and quiet before the Lord. Allow Him to teach you what to say. As you submit your words and ways to Him, He will direct your path.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, thank You for giving me power in the words of my mouth. Help me to stay tuned into You by listening to my heart. Teach me to use my words to always speak life and bless others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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