Devotions - Prayer
All our flowery words about Jesus are not enough. Our actions must match our words in order for it to become Truth.
* “Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
Matthew 23:28
2 Corinthians 1:4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
* Whether we are suffering by the hands of another or simply as a consequence to our own bad choices – if we turn to the Lord for comfort and view our sufferings as loving discipline from the master potter who is simply using the circumstances of our life to soften our heart so that HE can mold our character- then we will learn how to praise him even in the storms of life and attain the peace of God that surpasses all worldly understanding.
Thus with this peace and joy in our hearts we will then be used by God to come alongside of others who are experiencing hardship and share with them our testimony and point them home to Jesus so that they too can experience the comfort we have received from God.
*Anxieties keep us from hearing God …like a wall between his voice and our ears.
The word of God is all you need for every circumstance in your life, you need to listen to it and take Action.
Man (Mankind, Man or woman) shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
In the passage Mark 4:1-20 you will find what happens when a Christian hears the word of God.
* You will see who bears fruit (who applies the word of God in every situation and wins), and who does not bear fruit (who just reads and forgets about whose word he/she is reading and forgets that it is powerful to guide that person through anything).
*Don’t be like the person who just looks at the mirror and forgets what the mirror has shown him/her. Be a person who studies the word of God (2 Timothy2:15).
*If you seek God diligently He will help you produce thirty, sixty, or one hundred fold. Let us have a form of relationship with God that actually produces testimony so that others can see that our God is actually involved with our daily lives and praise God.
*Let us Not deny the power and authority of the word of God. God’s word is the lamp unto our feet and a light to our paths.
Seeking God diligently everyday, staying silent in His presence, singing to Him, studying His word and praying the word back to God is a great way to build a relationship with God and actually get results.
Many Christians don’t get results or don’t understand God because they don’t spend enough TIME with Him and His word (Mark 4:1-20). God welcomes you. Test and see that the Lord is Good!
Today. Millions of church people are trying to live holy lives, but they do not have a true faith in Jesus as their Savior.
If they were to stand before God and He was to ask them – “what they had done to deserve salvation”, they would immediately start recounting all their acts of holiness such as church attendance, giving receipts, etc.
Regardless of how good our actions are compared to others, they always come short of the perfect standard of God.
The only response to this kind of question that would grant us entrance to heaven is to say, “my only claim to salvation is faith in Jesus as my Savior.”
Let JESUS be the object of your faith today. He is all you need
All too often, as Christians endure the trials of life, this is the message
they believe. They see no hope beyond their difficult situation. All they can see is a stone permanently rolled into place separating them from hope.
* Yet they are seeing things from this side of the stone. If only they knew what God is doing for them on the other side of the stone.
Maybe life has presented you with a hard, impassable situation. As you read this do you wonder, “Is God at work in my circumstance? Is Jesus really triumphant — in me? Can He really save me from this situation? I just don’t see a way forward.”
I tell you, God is on the move in your life at this very moment. The stone isbeing rolled away. Light is breaking forth and your Hope stands there in thedoorway: Jesus! He has triumphed over all the powers of darkness and Hisvictory is yours by faith.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
*Refuse to give up. Your walk in the Spirit will prepare and cause
you to overcome the flesh, the world, and the devil.
* Let us keep sharing our burdens and keep encouraging and lifting others up–giving all praise and Glory to our Heavenly Father!
Lord, show me today if I have had convictions for things that are meaningless and not important. And help me to make convictions for things that matter most and give You the Glory! Help me share your perfect Love with others. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Read MoreThose who trust in the Lord will walk in the light of His Love.
* “They looked unto Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”. Psalm 34:5
*Where there is compassion, a miracle will come!
We need to be willing to walk God’s Way of Agape, even if our circumstances never change.
* “Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines…Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18
God has made available to us the riches of this Bible — His Word — which reveals to us the riches of His kingdom and of our eternal life in Christ.
God longs for us to know Him, and has revealed Himself in His Son. He has redeemed us through the blood His resurrected Son shed on the Cross, and has called us into a Spiritual relationship with Him.
Into our soul and our life He pours all the riches of heaven — “good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over,” as Luke 6:38 tells us. But we must get to know Him as He reaches out to us through the pages of Scripture, led by His Holy Spirit. We cannot imagine a greater adventure!
Do you feel frustrated because you are just getting by and are not really experiencing the abundant life that Jesus came to give? (Jn. 10:10).
Examine your lifestyle and see if the cares of this life, deceitfulness of riches, or pleasures of this life could be choking God’s Word.
The High Call of Suffering
2 Corinthians 1:2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
*We cannot understand our suffering or His silence to our passionate pleas.
*We endure loss, loneliness, rejection, financial hardship, grief–all sorts of painful things and wonder why we have to be the one enduring this trial.
*We entreat the Lord for healing and it doesn’t come.
*We request prayers from family and friends and there is still no respite from the Pain we are experiencing.
“Why, Lord, why must I go through this wretched time? Why, Lord? Why? I don’t understand.”
Then, quite unexpectedly, some hurting person–possibly someone you’ve never met before–enveloped in despair and fear and confusion comes into your life and you find yourself saying, “Oh, come sit down and let me talk to you.
* I understand! I’ve been through that very same thing. Let me tell you what happened and HOW the Lord brought comfort and strength and understanding to me”.
II Corinthians 1: 3-4 (above) has just become a part of our life and we suddenly grasp that through this suffering, Jesus has prepared us to minister to someone else. He is allowing us to share His unfathomable love with others. And they will listen. Why? Because we’ve been there. We understand. We have Wisdom.
*How special you are to God as He patiently, lovingly teaches you, knowing that someone who is hurting just as you have been hurting will be crossing your path before too long.
Somehow the Lord will bring that person into your life and you will be able to answer the questions they ask from the darkness of their desperation and suffering.
That sense of Pain and sorrow that you have experienced is about to give way to fresh excitement and new adventure. You will experience yet another shift where doors will open in the Spirit to provide new opportunities for development in both the natural and spiritual realms.
Don’t be afraid to let go of what has been in order to Move Forward to what is ahead.
Feeling Pain and sorrow is more often than not a precursor to change.
Be prepared to hear from the Lord through His Word and start anew Moving Forward, for the Lord’s Glory.
Exodus 40:36 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys.
Glory is found in the Bible 402 times! Glory means to bring light to. All glory comes from God but it also belongs back to God.
Main Point: Gods glory, His presence and power, will guide us throughout life!
* Remember that Gods glory now resides in us. 1 Corinthians 6:19
* Realize that God’s glory is our Power. 2 Peter 1:3-4
* Recognize that God’s glory gives us constant Direction. Proverbs 16:9
Proverbs 3:5-6
*I will run to my God FIRST when I am in need of comfort and I will use that to comfort those around me.
Galations 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”
*All our flowery words about Jesus are not enough. Our actions must match our words in order for it to become truth.
*Do we long for God’s glory to fill our tabernacles? For Him to dwell with us? For Him to speak to us directly, to guide us in such a tangible way?
Believers in Jesus Christ , washed by the blood and being the temple of the Holy Ghost have to wait on God for divine guidance in every aspect of our lives. Simply because God knows what is best for us!
Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. (Colossians 3:10, 12 MSG)
**Aren’t you thankful it’s been completed—The plan of salvation? So we can be right at home with our God! I am!
*It’s been done!
*It IS finished!
Take time to evaluate where you’ve been and to remember the things that you learned through your experiences.
Do not give in to the temptations that come for you to be a victim of the difficulties you have endured, but rather use those lessons as a platform and a launching pad into greater wisdom and spiritual effectiveness.
Those things have made you stronger and have the potential to increase your faith if you maintain a proper perspective.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
As you read this do you wonder, “Is God at work in my circumstance? Is Jesus really triumphant — in me? Can He really save me from this situation? I just don’t see a way forward.”
I tell you, God is on the move in your life at this very moment. The stone is being rolled away. Light is breaking forth and your Hope stands there in the doorway: Jesus! He has triumphed over all the powers of darkness and His victory is yours by faith.
Lord, help me to see that my times of Pain-Sorrow and Trouble are used for good- they will glorify You if I choose to let them. Help me to Move Forward and put my Faith and Hope in You. Help me to praise You IN every situation not necessarily FOR every situation. God will give us the glory in the New Jerusalem where we will be filled with GLORY forever! Amen and amen! Glory to HIS name!
Read More
Have you been through fire in your life?
*If God allows you to go through anything in your life, there is a reason.
*God has a purpose and a plan.
Fire, as defined in Malachi 3:2. When God allows you to go through something, he’s working in your life.
If we genuinely want to be all that God wants us to be, we have to allow Him to take the impurities out of our lives. We have to be grateful for the fire.
Knowing the result and purpose of the refining process empowers us to “count it all joy” and to keep pressing on with hope and in expectancy!
“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes.” – Malachi 3:2.
Soap cleanses the outside, FIRE cleanses the inside. And the Spirit of God does both!
*When you sin, repent!
* In-depth repentance brings in-depth cleansing. Don’t feel bad about feeling bad, feel good about it. Be glad your conscience is still sensitive and responsive to God.
*What you never want to hear God say is what He said about Ephraim: ‘Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone’ .
The fact that God is convicting you of sin is proof of His love for you.
*God can forgive your sin but He cannot overlook it.
*Unconfessed sin disrupts your fellowship with Him.
*Forgiveness is about more than just escaping the penalty of sin, it’s about restoring your fellowship with God.
You say, ‘Won’t God get tired of me sinning and repenting?’
*If Jesus told Peter to forgive his brother ‘seventy times seven’ would He do less for you?
The Bible says: ‘”Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool’.
When you sin and try to hide from God you only prolong your misery.
*So the moment you become aware of your sin, confess it, then leave His presence confident that He has forgiven you.
You’re not a loser, you’re a learner.
Alexander Pope said: ‘A man should never be ashamed to own he has been wrong, which is but saying in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.’
As difficult and painful as it may be to go through at the time, it remains truth that whenever Father sets to work on refining us, it is always for our own good.
In His unfailing love and mercy He carefully and attentively refines us that we may remain in right relationship with Him and be able to draw ever nearer to Him (continually presenting ourselves to our Father as living sacrifices).
Oh how He loves us! Oh He loves us!
The Lord has a specific manner of preparing His people for useful service.
*God desires to turn His children from rough, hard-edged stones into gems of gold and silver.
“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years” (Malachi 3:3-4).
The refiner’s fire can only accomplish its purposes when the heat is turned up to extraordinary temperatures.
*It breaks down the metal in order for it to become moldable and shapeable. Only when the temperatures reach this level can the work be fully accomplished.
So it is in our lives.
Until the Lord completes His refining process, the offerings we make are not made in righteousness and cannot be acceptable.
Thank God that Jesus is our righteousness and that there is no righteousness apart from Him.
*Still, the Lord continues to purge all that is not of His righteousness out of our lives.
This comes through trials that bring each of us to the end of ourselves in order that He may only reflect that which is Himself.
When God takes you through the refiner’s fire, be encouraged because it is His overriding commitment to turn you from a rough, hard-edged stone to a precious metal.
*God will do this through certain events in your relationships, and other circumstances in your life.
*Our job is to avoid trying to blow out the fire.
With God, it’s a simple choice. You can let Him clean HEARTS now, or clean HOUSE later.
Let us each be encouraged: though weeping may endure for a night, JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING, FOR HE MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME…
*This is a time when you have to continue to press through stubborn difficulties.
* This is an opportunity to persevere and still stay strong in your faith. It may
seem like breakthrough will never come, but I’m telling you that it will. Don’t give up. Continue to trust the Lord for the answer to your prayers. The Lord sees what you’re going through, and He hears you. Be strong and courageous.
Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor
His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
You have entered a season of blessing in which the doors will open for opportunities to advance spiritually and naturally. You will be surprised and delighted as you progress through this extraordinary time in fires.
It is a time of revelation and resolution as things that have seemed to be beyond your ability to grasp will now be within your reach and will create a sense of freedom that you have longed for.
Draw near to the Lord, for He will give light, discernment, and truth where things have seemed to be murky.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Let us each be encouraged: though weeping may endure for a night, JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING, FOR HE MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME… Thank You Jesus for Loving US SO SO much! Lord as I have come through the fires, I look back and praise You for them. I Praise You for all that You have brought me through, for every impurity You took out of my life and for every blessing I have. Lord, Thank you for being in control! Amen
Read MoreWe all long to hear…...”Well done good and faithful servant!”
*”But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:13-14
“Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is
broken, and we are escaped” (Psalm 124:7).
The NLT Version: ” We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free!”
Imagine a little bird trapped in the fowler’s net. Lying helpless, its little
heart throbs with terror and its wings beat wildly against the net—to no
avail. The more it struggles, the more battered and bruised it becomes.
*Frightened, the bird begins to cry and screech but escape is impossible. It is
completely at the mercy of the fowler.
*That little bird is you and me—snared by the net of sin!
*The fowler is the devil, the wicked one. He laid his trap and caught you in it.
Now, consider that trapped little bird(me). How he could possibly get free by his
own strength and power?
*If he fights to break through the net, he will become even more entangled. He may even break a wing or bleed to death. He can’t deliver himself.
Isn’t this a picture of us when we’re trapped in sin? (Addicted to a sin).
We make all kinds of promises to God. We struggle and cry, trying to break free from our bondage.
*But we have lost our freedom and remain trapped!
Think of that little trapped bird again. That night, the fowler(devil) goes to bed
dreaming of this special little bird he’s been after(us). He can hardly sleep and
is anxious to go out the next day and see if he caught it.
As the fowler comes near the trap, he sees it has been sprung and he gets
excited. He expects to see a worn-out, bleeding, frightened, half-dead little
bird in the net but, lo and behold, when he examines the trap, he sees the net
is torn, broken.
The bird has soared!
We find the little bird perched on a limb in a tree high on God’s mountain.
*He’s free, and his wounds are healing—all because the Lord came and ripped
open the net!
*God assures us that ultimately he will triumph over the darkness in our land.
Luke 124:8 Our help is from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
That little bird is saying to itself, “If it had not been for the Lord—if He
had not rushed to my side—I would have been swallowed up and devoured.
But God broke the snare and plucked me out of the trap!”
The snare is broken—and we have escaped!
Many of us children of God, are projecting out and trying to imagine what will happen in the days ahead.
*This is a waste of time and presumption, for we never know what tomorrow will bring or how things will play out.
*We know in part but we cannot experience or live in the future, and the impatience that comes as a result will take us out of the spiritual flow.
*We must stay present with the Lord. He will give us wisdom and direct our steps as we trust in Him here and now.
*Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Jesus died for our sins so that we would not have to pay for them (Rom. 6:23). Jesus took our sicknesses and diseases so that we could walk in health (Mt. 8:17; 1 Pet. 2:24). Jesus became poor so that we, through His poverty, might be rich (2 Cor. 8:9). If God be for us, then no one can successfully be against us.
The Lord has made every provision for you to walk in all He has provided for you today. Don’t put it off a minute longer.
Many of us are caught up in the prophecies, the healings, the signs and wonders, the do’s and don’ts of Scripture…but where is God’s Love?
* “…you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one…” Luke 10:42
*When we sit at the feet of Jesus, it shows that we are dependent on him for our every need.
*Compassion is more than having pity on someone it’s being part of the solution.
*Compassion is not about how someone feels it’s about how God feels through you.
*It’s not about ME at all. Mary figured that out & spent her time at the Master’s feet…
God allowed a situation in my life and it has been a very humbling experience, again.
I make a choice this day that I will be like Mary. Martha was so busy doing she forgot her first love.
Martha was being distracted from her soul’s needs by other things. The other things in this case are not bad things. Sometimes, even good things can FILL up our lives to the point where we neglect our souls. God has not blessed us with our families, friends, jobs, abilities and other gifts to give us an excuse to abandon a close walk with Him. Without Him we can do nothing (JOHN 15:5).
DO NOT LET SO MANY THINGS WORRY YOU!!!
“But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things.” (LUKE 10:41).
*Anxiety is a killer. Many of the physical and mental ills of our present day are stress related. And Martha is certainly a stressed out lady at this point in time.
*Where faith grows, anxiety lessens! This is one of the chief lessons Jesus taught earlier in His ministry during what we call the Sermon on the Mount; “Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’… But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (MATTHEW 6:31-33).
RENEW YOUR MIND WITH TRUTH. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Ro. 12:2)
We have escaped like a bird out of the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.
Father, you know where my heart is right now. Help me deal with these feelings, and help me to be patient and rest in You and Listen.
Jesus I know in my soul that You see the whole picture, not just the little piece I am stuck in at the moment. Why is it so easy for me to forget that YOU ARE WITH me in all this?
Jesus, forgive me for giving into discouragement and lack in faith at times. I know and believe that- Without YOU I can do nothing. Help me to keep relying on You, and to Break Free! Victory comes only from You! Thank You for going to the Cross for my sins!! Remind me daily of the True Meaning of EASTER!
In Jesus Name, Amen.
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This 3 part devotion is Dedicated to my Best Friends that have lost a dear Nephew in his 20’s and to all the rest of us that have lost a young person in their lives.
When you loose a loved one–We don’t come with any glib answers. Let’s face it. This is tough stuff. We’re stunned. We’re hurting. We don’t understand.
Some of US are searching for answers. I have learned that it’s OK to ask those questions. It’s natural and good to wonder why death happens.
Grief is never an easy burden to bear – and never more so when it comes to us in what we can only regard as an untimely fashion. It causes to arise within us many questions – questions about ourselves and what we might or might not have done to make things different – questions about the one we loved and just what it was that he/she experienced during all their days – and questions about God and God’s goodness.
1 Corinthians 15:22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
Grief and loss will affect our overall health naturally. But prevention can lead to depression or excessive addictive behavior. Denying ourselves proper grieving will also interfere with our daily life. Changing the routines that allow us to live such as being a parent, a friend, co-worker etc.
Crying is a normal and natural part of grieving. It has also been found, however, that crying and talking about the loss is not the only healthy response and, if forced or excessive, can be harmful.
Can we prevent Grief? “NO” Grief should not be prevented because it is a healthy response to loss. Instead, it should be respected. Those who are grieving should have support to help them through the process. If we try and prevent grief we can develop serious health issues. Genuine laughter is one of the healthiest ways to treat a grieving person.
The grief that we experience over the loss of a loved one is understandable, but we should rejoice that they will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment, and ascend to heaven just as Jesus did.
The physical bodies that we have are temporal. Just as our time on earth is limited, the physical life will end.
The Spirit, however will live forever if we live as God would have us live and are faithful to His teachings. The physical death is not the end; it is the beginning of a joyously life without end.
Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
2 Corinthians 4:14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.
When in such grief – carrying a burden that not only seems to be, but in fact is, overwhelming. Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, knew such grief when he walked among us, he understood and took upon Himself our pain and our sorrow, our sin and our guilt, our fear and our anger, and – in the end Jesus died our death.
But then something special happened – something that Jesus believed would happen, hoped would happen, trusted would happen. Jesus rose to life again – a new and glorious life – a life which he said, before he died – that he would share with all who came to Him. It was with such a faith in God and what God would accomplish through Him, that Jesus said to His disciples before His death and His Resurrection: “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
*We, in our grief, in our pain, in our anger, in our doubt, in our confusion, come to ask God to take our burden from us and give us in it’s place the burden Christ spoke of.
We come in the hope that the shadow of death might be turned into the light of a new day. We come to ask God to be merciful to us and grant us new life. New life here – and the new life Jesus spoke of in the heavenly places above. Our HomeLand is in Heaven.
Our compassionate Lord never fails those of us who are grieving. I truly do not know how any would get through these circumstances without Faith and without Friends and Family lifting them up in Prayer and their unconditional Love!
Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Verse 4 The one thing I ask of the LORD— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’S perfections and meditating in his Temple.
* When Christ is our life regardless of the circumstances we have a consistent Savior who will ALWAYS be there for us.
Philippians 3:21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. *Hope in Heaven results in Holy Living!!!
*The greatest “WHY” in the Bible was uttered by the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross when He said “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
*Because Jesus gave himself on the Cross, we can trust Him to have answers to ALL our other “WHY’S”.
2 Corinthians 1:4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.
God’s steadfast character and everlasting Name are calling to listen carefully. * A call to our mind—to which thoughts respond. * A call to our heart—to which emotions respond. * A call to our will—to which actions respond.
* Our Great Physician makes better our physical and emotional needs. (Exodus 15:26). We respond … I will ungrasp my heart for You to Heal me Lord!!!!!
*When troubles call, we respond by putting our faith, hope, and love in Jesus. And around every corner and with every birth, and death, and life lived in between, we continue to call on the Only Name of the One who is faithful. JESUS!
One thing we do know: The death of a believer Does Not seem as tragic to God as it does to us.
To us it is separation and sorrow. To God it is:
1. A promotion.
2. A release from the Burdens of earth.
3. Early Furlough from the Battle Zone.
4. Relocation to a better climate.
5. Instant transport to the Celestial City.
6. To depart and be with Christ, which is far better then Human mind can think.
7. To be absent from the body BUT Present with the Lord!
8. The place Jesus prepared.
*John 14: 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
A person doesn’t cease to exist at death; he simply leaves his earthly body.
*Our Loved one has beaten us to heaven and is more alive than ever, for God is not a God of the dead, but of the Living. We don’t understand all of God’s purposes, But we know HE doesALL things well, and we must simply leave it there, In His LOVE!
Revelation 21:4 He (God) will wipe every tear form their eyes, and there will be NO more death or sorrow or crying or pain. ALL these things are Gone Forever.”
I’ve learned long ago that it’s really senseless to either accuse God or to try to defend Him in these situations. But neither is it sinful to question God. Some of us are wondering why God would allow this to happen. It’s OK for us to ask these kinds of questions.
Ecclesiastes 3:2 reminds us that there is a Time to be born and a Time to die. While we don’t understand the why’s, we do know it is always God’s perfect timing.
In the shortest verse in the entire Bible-surrounded by family and friends, Jesus is deeply moved and asks where the body of Lazarus is. When he views Lazarus, he could have said something extremely profound. Instead, John 11:35 tells us what Jesus did — “he wept.”
Here is Jesus of Nazareth, the world’s most complete, most perfect man, attending the funeral of a friend and openly weeping, without embarrassment, without apology. In fact, those watching him said, “See how much he loved him!”
If you feel like crying over your loss, don’t hold back. If it was OK for Jesus to cry, it’s OK for you and me to cry. God feels our pain — he wants you to let it out — and to let Him in on your feelings.
*Jesus wants to help you work through everything you’re feeling.
*Jesus wants to be a part of your life.
*God knows what it’s like to hurt. One day He lost a family member too, His one and only son JESUS.
I have a question for you today. Where will you go when it’s your time to die?
‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ Amen
(Numbers6:24-26)
End of part one-see tomorrow for part 2.
Read More Will you lay down your life so that God’s Love can be released through you to others?
* “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God…” Romans 12:1
Don’t forget about the things that happened in the light when your in the dark..
We Are Over comers through Christ!
2 Timothy 2:1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.
*We are to be strong in the grace of God because being strong is simply resting, learning how to trust in the work of Jesus Christ. When we try, we fail. When we trust, Jesus succeeds.
Verse 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
**We are called to disciple others. We are called to pass on that which was imparted to us. We must seek out those who are coming behind us and Teach them how to live and how to Teach others.
Verse 3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
*Christ never promised roses on the battlefields. We are involved in an intense spiritual warfare, and we ALL at times get weary. When it seems Satan has hit us with every weapon, we need to draw strength from Paul’s words: If we endure, we shall also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).
Verse 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
*You Will endure hardships, not might BUT WILL! *In the rocking boat the disciples asked, “Lord, do you care?” He cares more than we will ever know in this life.
***Be steadfast and immovable! But God is our strength!
What would you want God to change in your life right now?
Hosea 10:12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ 13 “But you have cultivated wickedness and harvested a thriving crop of sins. You have eaten the fruit of lies— …
*The bigger our want the greater our desire; the hotter our passion, the deeper our discontent, the harder we will work; the longer we pray the more we will accomplish.
*Hebrews 11:5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.
***God will bless us where otherwise we do not see ourselves as blessable.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.” – Psalm 23:4a
Healthy family functions (the Body) come from this place of being One!
Yes, they can both work on their personal careers and stuff– but as long as it is coming from a “Unified Goal”.
*Everyone needs to be focused on their own task remembering the “Big Picture” of the organization’s Vision-Mission-Goals.
*On the other side when members are ONLY focused on “Their Own” development/task and not seeing the Big Picture they are pulling things into their own side tearing things apart and Unity goes out!
Remember when Jesus explains what kind of kingdom has no future?
Luke 11:17 He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.
First step toward having spiritual authority over the adversary is having peace in spite of our circumstances.
When Jesus confronted the devil, he did not confront satan with His emotions or in fear. Knowing that the devil was a liar, He simply refused to be influenced by any voice other than God’s.
His peace overwhelmed satan; His authority then shattered the lie, which sent demons fleeing.
David’s trust was in the Lord. He said, “…for Thou art with me.” Because God is with you, every adversity you face will unfold in Victory as you maintain your faith in God!
David continued, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Ps. 23:5a).
**The battle you are in will soon become a meal for you, an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually.
*** Only God’s peace will quell your fleshly reactions in battle. The source of God’s peace is God Himself!!
If fear has been knocking at your door, begin to face that fear with God’s peace. It is God’s secret weapon to destroy fear.
Luke 6:7, “And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against him.”
The scribes became an independent company of interpreters of the law and leaders of the people. Even they, themselves, sought to evade certain of their own precepts (Mt. 23:2-4). They clashed with Christ for He taught with authority and condemned the external formalism that they fostered (Mt. 7:28-29). They persecuted Peter and John (Acts 4:3-7) and had a part in Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 6:12). However, although the majority opposed Christ, some did believe (Mt. 21:15).
Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of the scribes by dealing with “issues of the heart”.
They appeared to be holy outwardly, but their hearts were far from God. It is important for us to keep our hearts tender and receptive to His Word, and give ourselves to Him in worship.
Think about the good things he has done for you today and be thankful.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).
* In saying this, the apostle is dealing with the basic remedy for all the conflicts in our day.
*If we have any desire at all to be part of a solution to the issues surrounding us today, we must do so out of an understanding of what God has revealed about the heart of the problem.
*We must go back to the cause of all human strife. Root ISSUES!
*** I insist on my rights, and others insist on their rights, and so we become obstacles to each other.
*But Paul changes the whole pattern for Christians by introducing two radical factors that alter the whole situation.
First, the Christian must never forget that in every relationship of life, another person is present:
*It is not merely a problem of what I want versus what you want. In every relationship, the apostle reminds us, a third Person is present—the Lord Jesus Christ.
*That brings us to the second matter. When I am at odds with another person, to see that Christ is there too is to make me aware immediately of what He has taught me.
*It is only when I forget myself and devote myself to another’s fulfillment that I will find my own heart running over with grace and satisfaction.
This is one of the fundamental mysteries of life, and it is confirmed to us every day.
*Those who try desperately to satisfy themselves are the ones who end up hollow inside!!!
Our Lord put it this way:
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
It becomes, then, a question of priority. You cannot have your rights by insisting upon them.
You can have them only when you seek to give others their rights.
Even as our troubles increase the Lord will always help us. Even if there is a thousand people against He will still stand on our side and lift us up. Psalms 3.
Thank you Heavenly Father for looking after me. I am always going to remember that you are bigger then any person or problem. Father; I thank You for Your Word that searches me and cuts deep and lays bare and hides nothing. I know that in this sweet surgery of the Holy Spirit there is healing, forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration.
Amen
We all long to hear……”Well done good and faithful servant!”
*”But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14:13-14
Deuteronomy 10: 16 Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn.
4 Reasons People Resist Change
*Change is hard. As you struggle with people it’s good to have a reminder of the reasons people work so hard to resist change.
Figure out which of these applies to you, and how to overcome it, and you’ll be well on your way to seeing the birth of a transformed person or group.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1. Self-Interest.
*On a scale of 1-10, how well do you adapt to change?
Change is an unfair imposition on their territory. Silos and walls happen, and people want to control their turf. They need to exert control over their immediate surroundings, and want to feel like they have a say in their own future.
* Like it or not, we human beings are territorial and want some sense of our own power.
*How selfishness perverts your strengths.
*Ephesians 4:25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
2. Misunderstanding or a Lack of Trust.
*What people don’t understand, they will resist.
*Just because you see why people need to change doesn’t mean they will.
*Realize that you have knowledge they don’t have, so make sure you’re helping them understand ALL the issues and options.
Psalms 37: 5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Verse 7 Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.
3. Differing Ways of Assessing Things.
*People have opinions, and may see the cost as greater than the benefits.
*Luke 14:28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
The Cost of Following Jesus
*Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
4. People Lack Confidence in the Decision-Making Process.
*Sometimes they don’t believe all the relevant info has been included in the process, or they don’t trust the person in charge of implementing the change. *If they’re not confident that the cost is worth it, they’ll fight against it.
*The key here is to be sure they’re aware or involved in process.
How to Overcome Resistance to Change—–Knowing WHY we are fighting change is half the battle.
*Most people struggle with change, so you need to figure out where they’re uncomfortable.
* When that happens, you can focus on what really matters – becoming the ministry, Business, etc. you were meant to be.
*This is a time when you have to continue to press through stubborn difficulties.
* This is an opportunity to persevere and still stay strong in your faith. It may
seem like breakthrough will never come, but I’m telling you that it will. Don’t give up. Continue to trust the Lord for the answer to your prayers. The Lord sees what you’re going through, and He hears you. Be strong and courageous.
*Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor
His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
*Deuteronomy 30:6 “The LORD your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!
*Whatever we do in life, we should plan out our course and “count the cost.” as we Move Forward. This is great advice for the vital things that we do; where we invest our time, thoughts and talents.
*In all things, I will first count the cost before launching off.
2 Corinthians 3:16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
Dear God, please help me in all things of importance to count the cost. To evaluate my life’s goals so that I have the confidence that I will be able to finish what I have started.
LORD – help us to genuinely trust and accept what Christ has done. May we live like we are free and not under the bondage of perfection. Yet help us strive for such -knowing we will never hit the mark on this side of heaven … Help us CHANGE to be imitators of You Jesus. Amen
Ephesians 5:1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Christians are called to unity because we have one God and one faith. Should we not be one people?
Have we allowed our prideful thoughts, wounded emotions and self-centered desires to quench God’s Love in our hearts and separate us from each other?
* “If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.” 1 John 2:9
What did Jesus do to you when He cleansed you?
*He wiped away all your guilt and made you clean and whole.
* He put joy in your soul and filled you with such love for Him that you would follow Him anywhere and do anything for Him.
***That is the secret of unity– When you take up the towel of mercy for a
hurting, fallen brother, you encourage him by embracing him in his hurt. By
washing that person’s feet, you construct a firm foundation for true unity and glorious fellowship.
*You are made one by your common experience.
This message is for me as much as for anyone else. I have just recently come
into this convicting knowledge of what foot washing is truly about. And by
God’s grace, I will take up the towel of mercy along with others and seek out
those hurting ones whose feet need cleansing.
Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another’s feet. . . . If ye know these things, happy are ye
if ye do them” (John 13:14, 17).
Now that we “know these things,” as Jesus said, we can do them. I ask you: Are you willing and ready to take up your towel in love?
There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to one hope when you were called… (Ephesians 4:4).
**Therefore, the way to create unity is simply to bring people to Christ, and the unity of the Spirit will be produced in them by the Spirit.
As we apply this great truth there are certain things that are evident:
First, we cannot classify Christians by organizations.
*We cannot say that all those who belong to this Denomination, for instance, are Christians, but all those who are THIS Denomination, are not.
*God’s Spirit forever over-leaps human boundaries. The unity of the Spirit will be found in people in many different groups.
*We will find Christians everywhere, and it becomes our responsibility to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace with Christians wherever we find them.
A second conclusion suggests that those who have entered into this unity of the Spirit cannot possibly join in an evangelistic endeavor with those who deny this fundamental unity. Why not?
*Because our actions are determined by our beliefs.
*These are such fundamental beliefs that they set the direction of our life.
*Where one person accepts these and has experienced them and someone else does not, you have two fundamentally separate directions.
*It is impossible for one person to ride two horses going in opposite directions.
There comes a third practical application of this.
The efforts of Christians are not to be directed toward creating unity BUT toward maintaining peace in the body. That is the way Paul puts it:
**“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4: 3).
* It is important that Christians not be quarreling, bickering, and struggling against one another.
* A church that is like that is a totally ineffective body in its community.
* It is important that when Christians meet together they recognize that they are called to understand one another, to forbear one another, to pray for one another, to forgive one another, to be kind, tenderhearted, not holding grudges, not being unforgiving, bitter, resentful, and hateful toward each other.
*This is where the Spirit aims when He comes into our midst, at the healing of long-standing grudges, deep-seated resentments, and bitter hostilities that are harbored against one another.
*We must fulfill what the apostle tells us to do, to maintain the unity of the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:1. Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
*Being a Christian isn’t about making a weekly trip to church. We need to move forward and develop the character of God so others can actually see Jesus working in a practical way.
Ephesians is all about unity in diversity. At the core of this short letter is a simple statement of God’s intent —to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:10).
But unity doesn’t come easily. It requires reconciliation to achieve it, and submission to sustain it. The first is God’s work, the second, ours.
*First, Paul revels in the glorious mystery of reconciliation of God with His creation – making us His children.
*He goes on to joyously describes the reconciliation of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ – the people of Israel, and the rest – making us all His people.
*He then describes the importance of right relationships in the church- making us His family.
*And finally, Paul shows how all this is sustained – through the spiritual armour with which God so marvellously clothes us, and the mighty power of prayer!
Wonderful! We’re all One!
Your plans, ideas, and religious ideals are about to be challenged. There are things you thought you knew or understood, but you will find out that some of your concepts were rough constructions. Now, you will get to see those thoughts come under the scrutiny of experience. When this process is complete, you will see and know
the point of error and come to truth. In so doing, our spiritual and experiential
foundation will be more solid.
*1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Father, may Your Spirit search my heart about my attitude toward others. Thank You that it is not my calling to produce a union of Christians but rather to discover that unity produced only by the Holy Spirit. Amen
Check out the new web page, www.movingforwardwithhope.com and for Moving Forward,
www.movingforwardinitiativesllc.com
Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor (Proverbs 15:33).
*Everything is from God!
Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him (Psalm 33:8).
* Those who look to the Lord are radiant! Psalm 34:5
* Let God’s Agape Love and Light radiate from within you today!
* “..for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness…But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love…”
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty man (Ecclesiastes 12:13b).
This verse reveals the secret of wholeness. To “fear God and keep his commandments” is to learn to be and to discover the secret of being a whole person. Who does not want that?
*We all want to be whole persons—not broken, fragmented, easily upset, erratic, going off in all directions at once, but stable, controlled, balanced, whole people.
Here is the secret of it.
Everything hangs upon that word FEAR.
FEAR is a difficult word for us to comprehend.
Most of us think of it in terms of abject terror, of running from God, of seeing Him as a threat, but that is Never the Biblical meaning of the word.
I have put it in the form of an acrostic to make it easier for us to remember what the elements of fearing God include.
First,
F stands for faith in His existence.
* You cannot come to God unless you know He is there.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
*There is where fear begins: faith that God exists. The whole of the created universe is shouting that at us. All the inner responses of our heart are confirming it.
The Word of God declares it. History confirms it. There is a world of evidence that God is there.
Then
E: experience of His grace.
*You never can properly fear God until you have learned what kind of a God He is.
*He is a God of mercy, of grace, of forgiveness. Until you have stood before Him and felt your guilt, acknowledged it, known you were wrong and corrupt, and heard Him say in your inner heart,
**“Neither do I condemn you… Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11), *You will never be able to properly fear God. One element of fear is the experience of the wonder of forgiveness, that God forgives and sends you out with a whole new purpose and a new resource available.
That leads to the third element.
A: awe at the majesty, the wisdom, and the wonder of God.
* What a Being He is! What a marvelous mind that can comprehend all the billions of pieces of information in this universe and hold them continually before Him, that can hear every voice and relate to every person who has ever lived! What a marvelous God! Awe at the sense of His majesty, His comprehensiveness, His unfailing wisdom and power, is part of fearing God.
The last letter,
R, stands for resolve. Resolve to do what He says, to “keep His commandments,” as the Searcher puts it here. There are only two commandments; Jesus Himself said that. All the law and the writings can be reduced to two simple things:
1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). That is in response to His love already shown to you; love Him because He first loved you.
2. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s it. As Micah put it,
*“What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Thank You, Lord for this great book, which has taught me many things, foremost of which is to Fear You and keep Your commandments. Thank You for helping me understand FEAR:
* Faith in Your existence,
* Experience of Your grace,
* Awe at the majesty of God.
* Resolve to “keep Your commands,” Amen
Check out the new web page, www.movingforwardwithhope.com
Moving Forward, www.movingforwardinitiativesllc.com
Read More *God’s Love doesn’t just fall out of heaven, It comes through us! We are the Body of Christ on earth, and His hand outstretched to heal.
* “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:20
A LIFESTYLE CHECK
Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
*The Pharisees wrapped their sin in respectability. They made themselves appear good by publicly doing good deeds and Pointing to the Sins of Others.
**Jesus chose to spend time, not with these proud, self-righteous religious leaders, but with people who sensed their Own Sin and knew that they were not good enough for God.
Matthew 7:20, “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
The way that you can tell whether a person is genuine or not is by the fruit they produce.
*This fruit is speaking of LIFESTYLE.
**Jesus made the point that you don’t get bad fruit from a good tree, and you don’t get good fruit from a bad tree.
*Many people say one thing, BUT their actions speak so loudly that you really can’t hear what they are saying.
If you are in doubt about whether a person is genuine or not, or whether you should receive from them and follow their teaching, “look at the fruit they are producing”.
In evaluating ministries, more attention should be given to the fruit that is being produced.
*Failure to do this could lead someone to reject and even discredit a ministry who simply makes a mistake or is wrong in one area.
*Every ministry has shortcomings, just as every other member of the Body of Christ does. But that doesn’t mean that ministry is bad. Look at the fruit. Are the lifting up Jesus Christ and Him alone??
Fruit is the true test of people and ministries. If people are being saved, if lives are being changed, there is good fruit. Even though the leader may say something bad and make mistakes, the fruit is good.
Therefore, you can say that the tree is good. When a person says all of the right things and may seem sincere, BUT you see the lives of people around them shattered and torn, and in confusion and distress, then the fruit is bad.
Today, make sure that the fruit that comes from your life is positive.
*Make sure that you are making a Positive impact on people’s lives, that you are turning people to the Lord and not leaving them hurt and confused.
** People are looking at you to see what type of fruit you are bearing. Is your fruit full of: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to your spouse, kids, family, co-workers, friends and in your witnessing for Christ??
*Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.
*We aren’t called to be Christians just so we can be happy and content, We are called to be living channels of God’s Love upon this earth.
* “…constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Do all that is necessary to maintain peace in your environment. Subdue the flesh and bind the enemy. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:16).
* Only you, can maintain spiritual equilibrium in the midst of chaos.
I give you My peace, says the Lord.
*John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Father grant me Peace! Peace to let go of what troubles me. Peace in releasing the desires of world and those things that separate me from You. Let the Holy Spirit fill me with the Peace that comes from trusting You. Let Your Divine Peace always be the resolution when you speak to my storm, like You spoke to the storm that troubled Your disciples on a boat. Let whatever or whoever opposes the Peace You have for me hear the same words that You spoke to that storm Lord Jesus. Let Your voice say, “Peace! Be still!”
Lord open my eyes to see those in my life that are not producing Your fruit that I might close my eats to their counsel. Teach me the areas in my own life that need tending to produce. Show me how to grow those areas that they would be blessed to overflowing by You. And may there Be much Fruit for Your Glory and my Joy! Amen
Our word should be our bond!
*Personal Integrity is needed in us, with that in our heart the Core Values as Christ unique giftedness will be fulfilled.
*Let your vision define your future. Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No -Be reliable and Trustworthy!
“When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”
*I need to be careful What I promise the Lord and How I carry through.
The Lord is always near to the broken and contrite heart.
* “He gathers the outcasts…He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:2-3
“It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.”
Ecclesiastes 5:5
*Pray Constantly….Complaining Is a Sin!
**The best antidote for complaining is Thanksgiving.
“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”.
Matthew 5: 33-37 (Msg)
A person who has to swear or make a promise to validate his statements is a person whose word is no good. The thrust of Jesus’ teaching here is that we should live in such a manner that no one would ever have to have additional proof that we are telling the truth.
* Our word should be our bond!
We have all heard the story of the young shepherd boy who cried wolf when there was no wolf until finally no one believed him when the wolf really came.
Our lack of integrity in performing our word has the same effect on people today.
Throughout history, we have seen people use oaths to declare when they are really speaking the truth and not lying.
Jesus, however, holds us to a higher standard: your word should be your bond (connection, relation, association, and tie).
When I have time to think about it, I will tell the whole truth. But there have been many times that I have told a “little white lie” at the spur of the moment.
I usually regret it later (sometimes moments later), then I am too embarrassed to admit it. This is an area of further growth for most of us.
I was blessed in Business in the 70’s-80’s to be able to do much Business on a hand shake and their word–knowing a person’s word was Truth. Today, Very few people conduct business anymore with their word and a handshake. Even contracts are not sacred if an individual can not afford a good enough lawyer. BUT this is not the way God intended it.
The Bible says that our real problem with this, is that every one of us is building our Identity on something besides Jesus. Whether it’s to succeed in our chosen field–or get our own selfish way– or to have a certain relationship—or even to get up and walk—we’re saying, “If only I have that, if I get my deepest wish, then everything will be okay without any Values.
God has fulfilled every word He has ever spoken. We ARE created in His image and He planned for us to be the same way.
Even our physical bodies respond adversely when we LIE. That’s why lie detectors work.
*Jeremiah 9:6 They pile wrong upon wrong, stack lie upon lie, and refuse to know me.” God’s Decree.
*Colossians 3:9 Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire.
*Ephesians 4: 25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
*The root problem with lies is a hardness of the heart.
*We want what we want when we want it.
*The hardness darkens our understanding (shady spot). We don’t see Gods will for our life because of this obscurity. (We are lying when we Suppress the Truth. Ro. 1:18)
Today, commit yourself to be a new man or woman of your word. You will not only experience a new respect from others, BUT you will find the JOY of a clear heart and mind. (Peace: Philippians 4:4-9)
God’s commandments are not intended to make us miserable–they’re meant for our own happiness. Satan’s lie in the Garden of Eden caused Eve to question God’s motives behind His command (Genesis 3:5).
You can’t control other people–not even your mate. But through obeying the Lord, you can control yourself and have fullness of joy. God’s commands tell us what will produce true happiness for us.
“The circumstances of life, the events of life, and the people around me in life, do not make me the way I am, but reveal the way I am” [Dr. Sam Peeples].
Forgiving Father, thank you for forgiving us and loving us. Help us to be humble, honest and loving people who release others into your forgiveness. Father, help me to always tell the truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Revelation 12:11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
*When you tell your personal testimony, you tell everyone that God is good in everything by the way He Changed You!
* As long as you are ashamed of your testimony you will not be able to relate to real people honestly!
Knowledge comes to us at a blinding pace, and Understanding comes from God or experience. Without Godly understanding we cannot make wise choices.
“If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.”
2 Corinthians 1:6
*God must love you a lot! He doesn’t allow someone to go through the kinds of adversity you have experienced unless He has a special calling on your life.
*God doesn’t want us to be a lone ranger. He gives us discernment in choosing wise and godly counselors to help us make choices that will please Him.
A “faith experience” is an event or “spiritual marker” in your life about which you can say, “That is where I saw God personally moving in my life.” It is an unmistakable event in which God showed Himself personally to you.
* It was the burning bush for Moses;
* the crossing of the Red Sea or the Jordan River for the nation of Israel;
*It was the time when YOU saw God working in your life, knowing that what happened was in fact a God given blessing- there you knew you were with God face to face in your life situation and only HE could of got you through.
If God has plans of using you in the lives of many others, you can expect that He is going to allow certain faith experiences to come into your life in order to build a foundation that will be solid.
That foundation is what you will be able to look back on to keep you faithful to Him in the times of testing.
* Each of us must have personal faith experiences in which we experience God personally so that we can move in Faith to whatever He may call us.
Hebrews 5: 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
God can take our adversity—a heart attack, cancer, an automobile accident, violent crime, bankruptcy, a marriage crisis, the loss of a loved one—and transform that pain into encouragement for the people around us. We come out of those experiences stronger and better able to comfort others.
Although adversity may never be a blessing, God in His grace can bring blessing out of our adversity. The key is releasing the hurt and pain to the Lord so He can bring the needed healing to our lives.
Why not give your circumstance to the Lord today and let Him use it in the lives of others. This will be the first step toward healing-to be able to give it away.
Revelation 12: 11 And they overcame him(devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
*This verse really struck me in the sense of it being so true of how we are ever able to advance the kingdom in our lives.
It’s a question:
* Do I love my life so much that I shrink from dying to the things Jesus wants me to die to?
*Or do I instead come up boldly and Choose to die to myself so that Christ might become greater in me?
**It’s a great question that deserves our answer.
Do you need a personal faith experience right now in your life?
Pray that God will reveal Himself to you. He delights in doing that.
Proverbs tell us that there is safety in a multitude of counselors.
Proverbs 11: 14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
** Submitting our decisions to others for confirmation protects each of us from the deceit of our own heart.
This process will protect us from presumption and encourage us to move in faith.
The next time you believe God is directing you toward a specific action, consult with your spouse first, then some close, spiritual friends who will take the time to prayerfully consider your request.
*If you don’t have consensus, wait until you do before you move forward.
*God will move through this process to His desired will for the matter.
God has called each of us to live for a cause greater than ourselves – a life that is dependent on His grace and power to achieve things we never thought possible through our lives. This is His plan for your life.
The apostle Paul prayed that He might experience the power of the resurrection in his life. This power is available to you and me to live for a cause greater than ourselves.
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
I believe that God is showing us that he wants us to rely on Him rather then ourselves. And that he shows us trials to grow us closer to Him.
Thank you God for hearing me; you. always do. Father help me to trust in You in every area of my life…. Lord I will trust in you with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding. Sometimes this journey gets tough but I know you are with me. When I’m standing alone you are with me, when I don’t know which way to go you lead me. Sometimes life gets tough but you did say “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord shall deliver them out of them all. In all my ways I will acknowledge you and I know you will direct my path. My prayer for today Is that you bless someone else who may need a decision made for their lives. Don’t let them loose hope but hold on to what you promised them and trust that you will see them through.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6. Thank You Lord. Amen
Jesus is the vessel God has chosen to reveal and demonstrate His Way of Agape to this fallen world.
* “He who has seen Me has seen the Father…”. John 14:9
Can you imagine what our marriage, families, churches, and communities would be like if more of us were walking in God’s unconditional Love?
Matthew 5:39, ” But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.”
*Revenges is thoroughly human. But Jesus calls us to a higher way.
This is why we see time and time again when Christians are attacked and persecuted the world over, we follow our Lord’s example on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” It’s true that many times also, Christians give in to their human nature and retaliate, but that is the way of the flesh, and not the way of the Spirit of Christ.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Meekness is not weakness — it is strength under control. Jesus did not submit to the crucifixion because he was weak: He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free. But He died alone, for you and me.
Which would you rather have – God defending you, or you defending yourself?
That’s the choice that Jesus is offering us here. “Turning the other cheek” is not a prescription for abuse but rather the way to get the Lord involved in your defense.
Many people feel that these instructions of Jesus guarantee that others will take advantage of us.
That would be true if there was no God. But when we follow these commands of Jesus, the Lord is on our side. He said in Rom. 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
When we fight back, we are drawing on our own strength. But when we turn the other cheek, we are invoking God as our defense. Once we understand this, it becomes obvious that these instructions are for our own good.
James 1:20, says that the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. Regardless of how appropriate our anger may seem, and regardless of how we think our wrath could make a person or situation change, we will never achieve God’s best that way.
The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew has great Truth on Jesus Teachings.
Matthew 6:15 Your forgiveness is dependent on you forgiving others.
6:19 Invest in heaven not earth, then you will be focused on heaven.
6:33 If you invest in heaven God will make sure that your needs are met on earth.
Matthew 7:2 you will be treated as you treat others.
7:7 be persistent, the solution will come.
7:12 do to others what you want them to do to you.
7:13 the way to hell is easy, many find it.
7:14 the way to life is hard, few find it.
7:20 you can identify a person (true or false) by their actions.
7:21 obedience is not optional.
7:24 in conclusion, the wonderful consequence of following what Jesus has taught.
7:26 in conclusion, the tragic consequences of not following what Jesus has taught.
7:29″ for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.” There is a context in which this teaching is given.
When we defend ourselves, we stop God from defending us. It has to be one way or the other. It cannot be both ways. Let God defend you today.
Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Don’t settle for less than the Lord’s best for you. We are His Masterpieces! Keep pushing for the mark of the high call in Christ. Complacency is a threat, and laziness is your enemy. The Lord speaks to us of our spiritual condition and the danger of just going along to get along.
We live in dangerous times when the enemy of our soul will try to entice us
to compromise our convictions. But, the Lord is calling us to be led by His Spirit.
*Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.
So, though it’s hard and it goes against our human nature, as followers of Jesus, we are to be conduits of God’s forgiveness.
Father, sometimes it’s hard to forgive. Help me to be a conduit of Your forgiveness and love. When someone hurts me, Lord help me remember to not get even, but turn the other cheek and Be the bigger person. Instead of doing something negative, help me give back to them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
***when feeling down about yourself read Psalms 6 and or 22.
ARE YOU AFRAID
Deut. 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
This scripture is so powerful. The Lord himself goes before me. Wow!
We are not in this alone. He will never leave me nor forsake me! Wow!
No matter what-God is with me for the long haul.
Do not be afraid or discouraged. Again I say Wow!
We are living in VERY uncertain times, BUT God promises he will go before us, he will never leave us and most importantly do not be afraid or discouraged.
Take heart Christ is returning soon. We have hope!!!!!!!!
Over the past two years there has been this freedom in Christ that I have felt unlike anything else in my life!
I appreciate the opportunity to be able:
* to read the Word of God anytime,
* to pray for my family and friends and even those who do not like me.
I will never take for granted again the reality that we have here- which is a freedom we can have in Christ when we surrender all of ourselves to Him.
I’ve learned that when you exposure yourself to God it’s like you allow Him to peel the layers away from your life like an onion. You start to stink- you become raw- you begin to see where the roots in your life are planted.
It’s OK for all of this to happen.
When we remove the walls in our lives that have been put up to prevent us from becoming authentic Christians it is a painful process… BUT there is nothing sweeter than the freedom you feel during the process and afterwards!
God will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Do you frequently feel lonely, abandoned, left out or neglected?
Have you tried to hide Your emotions and pain with a painted-on smile while deep inside you hurt so much?
BUT God knows your heart – He knows your personal struggles, your temptations in this busy fast competitive world.
For me I had no peace until I surrendered ALL to Him, then I begin to experience a renewing of my mind and freedom from the issues that kept me in bondage.
It was the freedom IN Christ that keeps me from being afraid or scared any longer. I do not have to lie awake at night wondering the same questions over and over in my head.
I know that God is in control and I can face every situation with more confidence.
With every painful emotion that you allow God to take control of comes a renewing of your mind and restoration of your soul.
To help you understand, the freedom you feel in Christ to do all things through Him is as large and wide as His unconditional love for us!!
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Our lives are so short. Scripture says its like a vapor, a blooming flower… here and gone. I want to use the short time that I have:
* to tell my children/grandchildren how much I love them.
* To tell Laura how much I appreciate her and cherish her.
*To tell the Body of believers how blessed I am to be partaking in this journey with them.
* To tell my friends how much I love them. To tell them all to have courage. To not fear. To take strength in the knowledge of their Lord.
Lord-Thank you for the ability you’ve given us to encourage others. You put a song on our heart Lord and you help us to sing that song. Give us vision and strength for the future, but along the way remind us and help us to inspire and encourage those you have placed us around. Thank you for your heart for all of us. That you will never leave or forsake us.
Isaiah 52:12 For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Deut. 1:30 The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.
Deut 1: 42 “But the Lord told me to tell you, ‘Do not attack, for I am not with you. If you go ahead on your own, you will be crushed by your enemies.’
Our own plans seldom avail to good purpose; while courage in the exercise of faith, and in the path of duty, enables the believer:
* to follow the Lord fully,
* to disregard all that opposes,
* to triumph over all opposition,
* to take firm hold upon the promised blessings.
Embrace the changes, both naturally and spiritually, that will take you on the next leg of your journey.
God loves YOU and You are His Masterpiece.!
Thank You Jesus for Your Perfect Love for me!
Amen
FORGIVENESS verses UNFORGIVENESS!
Forgiveness is probably the most difficult act we do, as humans–it is a God-like trait to be forgiving. It takes faith to forgive those who have offended us. Remember, among Jesus’ last words on the cross–“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
This morning, in prayer I was reminded of the last two weeks of communication with so many people in so many different situations and the one most common conversation we all had was: FORGIVENESS verses UNFORGIVENESS!
*So here goes a short thought on what I believe is one of the major problems we ALL phase in one area or another!
FORGIVENESS verses UNFORGIVENESS!
What are some Biblical verses to see what Jesus says:
* Matthew 6:13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. (From the Lord’s Prayer).
*Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
* Hebrews 12:15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
*Colossians 3:13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
*Romans 12:19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD.
Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
*Christ sets is free!
My favorite Two verses and most convicting to me is:
1. Mark 11:25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
*Forgiveness – God loves us so much that He sent Christ to surrender his life so we might be free from sin. He also promised us grace to see us through; but as mortals we fall short of His glory and He is quick to forgive when we repent. As sons of God, we should learn to forgive, though the hurt is hard to forget.
*Just because I can’t forget the hurt someone posed on me doesn’t mean I don’t forgive them. I forgive, move on with my life and wait for God to bless and heal me. Not forgetting keeps you from getting hurt the same way again and makes you grow spiritually. Amen
2. Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
*What this verse is trying to explain is that we as humans need to be KIND, TENDER and FORGIVING to each other SO we can be more like Christ Because Christ is kind and forgiving to ALL of us. We cannot be hateful and unforgiving and be with Christ the one and only Lord. GOD GAVE ALL-HIS SON JESUS!
*Our body is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:24-26
** FORGIVENESS: Giving of the resentment against someone and our right to get even, no matter what has been done to us.
*Forgiveness is the “Surrendering of MY Right” to hurt you back if you hurt me.
** UNFORGIVENESS: The deliberate willful refusal to give up one’s resentment an right to get the wrong done.
The Nature of Unforgiveness is like a match that can be lit at any time.
* Nothing good can come from unforgiveness.
* Unforgiveness leads to bitterness, bitterness will eat away at our soul like acid in a paper cup.
The Scripture is Clear Concerning God’s View of Unforgiveness.
** The Terrible Consequences of Unforgiveness: (As humans we All try to come up with reasons to try to justify bitterness and unforgiveness).
* Develop a spirit of bitterness. (Hebrews 12:15)
** Unforgiveness has a harmful effect upon every aspect of your spiritual life.
* Prayer life is affected. (MATT 6:14-15)
* By praying and not forgiving we develop a callousness to the spirit of God, deceiving ourselves (1 JOHN 1:8)
** Unforgiveness has a detrimental effect upon one’s physical health.
*Heart problems, high blood pressure, etc. all documented.
* I would say through years of listening to people that 90% of people that seek counseling have an unforgiving spirit.
**Unforgiveness affects all other relationships.
* A child that sees unforgiveness and anger in their parents goes through life and sees that exhibited in their own life later in life.
*Unforgiveness begets bitterness; the things just like itself: hurt, pain, more deep-seated unforgiveness.
**Unforgiveness gives Satan a foothold in our lives.
*Each time we do not forgive Satan’s foothold gets a little deeper.
THE KEY IS: HOW DO WE DEAL WITH UNFORGIVENESS!
*Paul said, lay aside the things that pull you down. (HEB 12:1) He would not have said that if it was not possible through Christ.
Unforgiveness– IT. IS. A. DECISION. YOU MUST LAY IT DOWN.
1. Treat it as a serious offense in the eyes of God.
2. Assume full responsibility for your unforgiving spirit.
3. Confess your resentment
*Don’t just confess “Unforgiveness”. Be Honest with God about what you really FEEL(He knows your thoughts. And heart and motives anyway): do you want vengeance? Do you want to get even? Do you want to harm someone?
4. Acknowledge it is un-Christ-like, violation of the Word!!
5. Ask God to enable you to forgive.
6. Ask God to forgive you.
7. Begin praying for the other person. (LUKE 6:28)
8. If they are aware may have to ask them to forgive you.
* if the Holy Spirit leads you–go to them and tell them, this is what happened and I nurtured a heart of bitterness. I want to ask you to forgive me for my heart of bitterness. Will you forgive me?
9. Ask God if He would have you do something specific on behalf of the other person. Act of kindness.
10. Suppose reminded of hurt, don’t give in; Satanic trap. Thank God for his forgiveness.
11. If the other person is not alive address with God.
Prayer is that master key that unlocks all the blessings promised us by our Father. Though the vision may tarry, wait for it. So many of us want instant answers to prayers, but Gods time is the best. Whenever we pray, believe that God is able to keep His promises; and that promise is ‘God will supply all your needs according to His riches through Christ Jesus.
*Miracles happen every second. Some people are just blind to see. I don’t know what you are going through, but I know who will see you through. JESUS!
** How will you know you have truly forgiven the other person?
1. Feelings about the other person.
2. Feelings of concern, caring.
3. Willing to accept them as they are.
4. Seek the Lord to understand why they acted the way they did.
The Lord is always near to the broken and contrite heart.
* “He gathers the outcasts…He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:2-3
*God really does heal our broken hearts, and make us clean again.
” This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”1 John 4:10-11
Lord, we NEED YOU!!! COME and take over my life!! I surrender ALL to YOU JESUS! REVEAL my True HURTS! I want to be HEALED! RELEASE the people involved, the ones I know and don’t Know. Lord, REFOCUS me on Your plan for MY life with no more unforgiveness in my heart. Set me FREE Lord, knowing You are in Control and have our Best interests in mind for your Glory and our Joy. Thank You For Guiding Us Through This Darkness To YOUR Light.
Thank you for Your promise of Psalms 32:8 The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
In Jesus’ Name We Pray, Amen.
OTHER VERSES:
Romans 12:20
Luke 6:35-38
Proverbs 20:22
John 13:34-4:8