Cody Braddock's Blog

Tag: thanksgiving

  • Sharing What We Have

    Today’s Insight in the Word-
    Hebrews 13 –     There certainly is a problem with today’s economy.  You need go no further than the mirror to find a solution. 

    I was reminded of a story about a tribe long ago.  The tribe would send the hunters into the forest to kill and bring back food.  As long as the hunters were successful, everyone ate.  One day one of the hunters said, “I kill more than anyone here.  Why should I have to share my portion with those that do nothing!”  So he ate his portion that he killed and did not give.  Other hunters started doing the same.  Soon the hunters started a hierarchy and only the ones that worked got food.  The weak and suppressed did not get to eat and were at the mercy of the hunters.  The tribe then started raising their children to fend for themselves and not to rely on what the hunters would bring.  This became a practice that kept others isolating and only caring for themselves and what they had. 

    Unfortunately this is the same model that we see today.  If those that had more still shared with those that were suffering, what would the world be like?  Think about if we all sacrificed to help each other.  Today try to share with someone that does not have as much as you and show the Love of Christ in your actions to glorify God.  God is pleased with the cheerful giver!

    Vs 16 – “Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”

    Walking in the Word – I love to give and praise God that He has made me a cheerful giver.  What a shame to have your cup filled by God and not pour out to others.  Empty your cup so you may be filled again.  I will continue to help those that the Lord has given me to care for.  I will love others, as Christ loves me, and share what I have so God may be glorified!

    Prayer Response to the Word – Abba, Father, thank You for blessings and for giving me a heart to share.  I enjoy sharing because I know I always have enough.  Lord, You are my portion and my salvation.  I thank You that I have peace and protection.  Lord please help me to help others and give me a heart to love people through their situations and circumstances.  Let me not be a judge, but instead a listener, helper, and comforter in time of need.  I pray I please You in my actions, thoughts, and words.  I thank You for my loved ones and for always caring for us no matter what the condition.  Your Love is a model of what true Unconditional Love is!  Thank You Lord!  In Jesus’ name, Amen and Amen!

  • Christian Living

    Today’s Insight in the Word-
    Ephesians 4 –     As Christians, we are required to live different from the world.  I strongly feel that many people, though they believe they are saved are not.  I do not feel that you can have the Spirit of God in you and continue to live habitually in sin.  It goes against the very character of God.  Believing you have received Christ and are going to heaven no matter how you live is one of the devil’s biggest lies.  You are not your own, but were paid for at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”).  Salvation is followed by repentance.  We are to repent of the lives we lived and be changed, putting off the old person and putting on the new person of Christ.  We are not to be angry with one another, forgiving all who rise against us.  If we previously lied, murdered, stole, spoke crudely, lived in drunkenness, were sexually immoral, etc. we were to die to each sin, deny ourselves, and be raised new again in Christ.  No one can be made new when they still live in the old.

    Vs 26-32 – “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.  Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

    Walking in the Word – I want to live a Christian life based on the Word of God.  I do not want to be one of the world that has no respect for the Lord or themselves.  The devil continues to deceive others in believing they are okay in how they live.  Biblical Christian principles do not allow for one to live in a life of sin, and honestly loving the Lord prohibits you from even wanting to live in sin.  I love to please the Lord and only want to serve Him.  I desire to grow closer to the Lord by denying myself of my earthly wants and emotions.  I desire to be patient, understanding, and loving towards each person I come in contact with in my life, as Christ is.  I want less of me and more of Thee, so I may be full…lacking nothing.  It brings me joy and peace to live a life honoring the Lord!  Many people seek material and worldly things to fill a space in their heart only meant to be filled with the Lord God.

    Prayer Response to the Word – Lord God in heaven, precious is Your name.  I am thankful for You giving me life.  I am thankful that You give me opportunity to love others as You have loved me.  I pray that I seize each of these opportunities and that I live with purpose, and that I live a pleasing life in Your eyes.  Help me to have Your heart for Your people and Your eyes to discern good and evil as well as see how to love others as You do.  Please give me the patience and wisdom I need to stand against the tide in a world that resembles Sodom and Gomorrah.  I do not want to be like everyone else Lord.  I want to live like no one else, so that I may live with You for eternity.  Strengthen my bones and my spirit Lord.  I offer my life to You.  Please help me to honor You in what I do and say.  Please have mercy and grace on me when I am weak and failing.  In Jesus name, I ask these things, Amen and Amen.

  • No Slave of Money

    Today’s Insight in the Word-
    Romans 13 –     These days it is very easy for someone to start a financially destructive path by taking on credit and loans.  I could write several pages on this topic alone, speaking from experience in the past but I am going to keep it brief for readability.  One piece of advice I heard was, “if God didn’t provide me with the money to obtain it, I don’t need it.”  I agree with that.  Unfortunately most people aren’t taught the rules of money until after they have their first credit card.  They start spending money left and right and justify taking on more debt if they can squeeze in another low monthly payment.  Biblically we are to not owe anyone anything except to love them.  We enslave ourselves by losing that freedom of choice that we had before we went into debt.  To keep it short, aggressively pay off your debt and spend cash only.  If you work out the math you may find it takes less time than you think.  Most people can reverse debts by living on a strict budget and making sacrifices to start.  After this they can pay each debt off one at a time aggressively.  My testimoney also attributes to tithing!  Give the FULL 10% always.  Everything we have belongs to the Lord.  Give to Him what He asks for.  How foolish to rob the Lord and ask for His blessings.  The LORD is always faithful in what He promises!  Always remember to enjoy the small victories in everything!

    Vs 8 – “Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
    Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.”
    Malachi 3:7-12 – “Since the days of your fathers, you have turned from My statutes; you have not kept [them].  Return to Me, and I will return to you,”says the LORD of Hosts. 
    But you ask: “How can we return?”
    “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!”
    You ask: “How do we rob You?”
    “[By not making the payments] of 10 percent and the contributions.  You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are [still] robbing Me.  Bring the full 10 percent into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.  I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your ground, and your vine in your field will not be barren,” says the LORD of Hosts.  “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the LORD of Hosts.”

    Walking in the Word – I desire to live a life free of financial burden.  I also desire to help others with what the Lord has blessed me with.  I want to teach others how to become financially free and be able to enjoy the life that God has designed for them.

    Prayer Response to the Word – Lord God, thank You for allowing me to achieve success financially.  You have given in abundance and I pray that out of my abundance I can help others that need it.  Lord I pray that You help me to have the heart to give and care for those that You would have me to care for.  Lord I thank You that You have taught me how to care for what You have given me.  I pray that when I help others that You alone be glorified, for it is because of You I am able to do so.  Glory and praise to You my Father!  There is none like You.  You give good gifts and love unconditionally.  We are blessed to have such LOVE from our Father in heaven.  I pray that we all come to know this TRUTH to be evident in each of our lives!  Lord I lift Your name on high in Jesus’ precious name, Amen!

  • Are You Satisfied Yet?

    Today’s Insight in the Word-
    Hebrews 13 –     A lot of times we find ourselves complaining about what we do not have or strive for things that may seem more important then they actually are.  We wonder at times whether we will have enough or how to manage in economic down-times.  Maybe we have enough already yet we are still not satisfied internally.  Here is a verse that stuck out to me when reading through the Bible.
    Vs 5 – “Your life should be free from the love of money.  Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
    What a joy knowing that God is continually providing for us.  It is good to know that we can rest assured and be content with what we have because God will always make sure we have enough to be sustained.  Remember, He provides for the birds and even when the disciples went into the city to share the gospel that were instructed not to bring anything.  God is abundant in giving so it is important that we not rely on ourselves.  When we rely on our own well it runs dry.  It is better to drink and be fed from the One that doesn’t.

    Walking in the Word – In my life I have made a constant strive to always improve.  I don’t like to be stagnant.  It is important for me to be fed spiritually just as I am fed in the physical form.  I would not survive without food or water very long, and I cannot survive without Spiritual nourishment either.  Sometimes that hunger for growth causes me to want more material things.  I am going to concentrate on being happy with what I have and allow God to bless me in the areas He chooses, if He chooses to do so.  I will allow Him to provide and release myself of that worry.

    Prayer Response to the Word – Lord God, I am so appreciative of You that You provide for me and give me nourishment.  I thank You that I don’t have to worry about what I need because You already know.  I know that in my life when I had very little I still never went hungry because You heard my prayers.  I know when I couldn’t figure out what to do You still gave to me and I always got through everything.  I am indebted to You Lord, and I want to be able to please You in everything I do.  Help me to do so.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

  • Thankfulness

    Today’s Insight in the Word-
    1 Chronicles 29 – Everything good and wholesome comes from our Lord.  He is King over everything (Vs 11) and we can rest assured that as we dwell in His shadow, goodness is sure to surround us as we continually follow Him.

    Vs 12 –  It is good to know that when we are lacking in strength and overwhelmed we can seek God who gives abundantly.  All we need to do is ask.“Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things.  In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”
    Vs 13 – I am truly thankful for my many blessings, my loved ones, and all of the many things the Lord has given to me and my loved ones, even though I deserve none.  “Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”

    Walking in the Word- I will meditate on what has been done for me and for those around me and give thanks to the Lord.  Although man is flawed and does not always keep his word, God the Father is always faithful and always completes that which He said He would do.  To that, there is nothing better.  We can rest assured that just as God said He would provide, He indeed will.  I will be more mindful of this fact and praise the Lord all the more!

    Prayer Response to the Word- Jesus, thank you for all that you have done for me and my loved ones.  We are yours and you have treated us each with love and kindness.  You have shown your servants favor and we can never give enough praise!  Thank you for being faithful to Your word and for showing such grace in our lives.  We love You and are blessed in so many ways!   In Jesus name, Amen and Amen!