Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Being The Salt Of The Earth
Matthew 5:13---Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
God sees
you and knows you. God chose you to be His child because He loves you. We say
God chooses you by grace. Grace is the love, care, compassion, and mercy of
God. When God chooses you, we are not to celebrate in worldly terms, for His
choosing you could result in your dying for Him. Instead of celebrating being
chosen by grace, we should regard this event in a spirit of humility. If you
follow God's will or His leading, His leading could lead you to give up your
life for His work and His cause here on earth. Being part of His remnant is
like being salt or seasoning. When you put salt on your food, the salt
disappears. The salt becomes invisible. Likewise, when we are added to the
world as Christ's seasoning, we too should become invisible. Through humility,
we must add to the flavor of life in our part of the world He has given to us.
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Being The Light
Matt. 5:14---You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
It only
takes a tiny light to illuminate the darkness. In scientific terms, darkness is
nothing, light is something. Darkness is the absence of energy. Light is the
presence of energy. In your life, no matter who you are or where you are, you
carry the energy or spirit of Christ to all those around you. That spirit is
passed on from person to person, illuminating the darkness of their lives. If
we could track it, your transmission of Christ's spiritual light could be
traced as traveling all over the world. When we face reality, each of us is
critically important to God. We are important because we are His way of getting
His love into the world. God's love is best delivered by you, in all the ways
you can think up, in all the ways you can create, in all the ways He leads you.
You carry the torch of the love that sustains all that is. Too many of us do
not want to believe we could ever be this important, but we are. If those of us
who love the Lord deeply were to disappear from the earth, what would be the effect?
You know the answer. If those of us who deeply love the Lord were to disappear,
what would be the effect upon our friends, co-workers, contacts, and family
members who remain? You know the answer. You are indeed "the light of the
world." Let it shine.
Monday, June 28, 2021
BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES
Ephesians 6:13 --- Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
To face a
fear you must trust the Holy Spirit to guide you. Instead of holding fear in
your heart, you can exchange the fear for the armor of God. God provides you
with armor because he knows you must wage war against the darkness at every
turn. When you need courage, you are to pray deeply for the Lord’s almighty arm
to give you strength and the ability to act despite your fears. Being honest
with yourself often requires enormous courage. There are often many kinds of
things about yourself you do not want to face or to admit. In this instance,
Satan uses your fear against you. Being honest with yourself breaks you free of
the bondage Satan puts on you. To face a fear you must try to have a rational
idea as to what it is you fear. Then with a prayer in your heart reaching up to
Christ, you must ask Christ to place a picture in your mind of what your life
will be like after you overcome the enemy that makes you shake and tremble.
Sunday, June 27, 2021
Being Encouraging
Hebrews 3:13---But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
When we
are burdened down, we find pushing on to be extremely difficult. Life is hard.
Life is difficult. For some people, perhaps for you, life may seem impossible.
What you may find most striking is how life can seem to be impossible for more
people than you know. Because life is so difficult, we all need encouragement.
We all need encouragement from God and we all need to encourage each other. To
encourage others, do not be negative and discouraging. Encourage your fellow
believers in Christ to keep believing. Encourage unbelievers to trust in
Christ. Encourage others to live a godly and righteous life. Encourage others
to resist evil, darkness, sin, and temptation. Encourage others to encourage
still others. Encourage others to be kind and generous. No matter who a person
is or their position in life…be an encouragement. There is a special power
staying with the person who is an encouragement. The special power is the power
of God.
Saturday, June 26, 2021
Being Despitefully Used
Matthew 5:44---But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Jesus was
never critical of even the vilest sinner but loved them despite themselves. The
only group that he constructively criticized was the religious crowd that
thought they could do no wrong. The religious crowd hated him for exposing them
for what they were and actually were used by God to cause His crucifixion.
While times have changed the religious crowd, they still crucify people by
destroying them with their tongues and throwing stones. I am so thankful that
God is still in control and knows us all for who we are. Even on the cross, our
Lord prayed for those who despitefully used Him, "Father forgive them for
they know not what they do." Remember, we too are to be like our Lord. So
pray for those you feel like are using you.
Friday, June 25, 2021
Filled and Blessed
Psalm 65:4---Blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
We are
blessed and filled to overflowing if we remember His friendship. If we live
obediently according to His commands, God blesses our life. Even if we live in
dark days and it seems the dark times will never end in our life, there are
still benefits and blessings to living out an obedient life. When we do not
live according to His ways, we have trouble, problems, heartaches, and pain.
However, when we admit God’s wisdom is within our hearts and reveal His
wonderful truth is really in us, we are then compelled to live like God wants
us to live. When we live like God wants us to live, then we are soaked to the
skin in His showers of blessings. Our life is overflowing with His joy, His
love, and His peace.
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Trust God, Not People
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. (Psalm 118:8)
God’s people, Israel, tried to protect themselves through relationships with other nations instead of trusting in God. They made alliances with other, bigger nations whom they thought would defend them, even though God had promised His protection. Israel learned it is always better to trust God than to look to anything else. All others are less powerful, less consistent, and less loving than God. It is better to run to Him for protection and guidance than to look to others, even those who seem powerful. Humans are not perfect. Everyone will eventually let you down. God never will.
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Encouragement For Today Rays Of Hope ✝️ Trusting God For Forgiveness Text Psalm 32 Verse 10
Excuse the Birthday Picture I hit the wrong one when downloading.
Showing Others Christ Through Your Witness
Acts 22:15---For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
Every
moment, you can show God's love to others. You may have many burdens to carry
in your life, but you can be a greater witness for Christ despite your
limitations. Although you have struggles, those around you and so many other
persons in the world have even more significant hurdles than you. An open heart
for Christ is heartbreaking for all the people of the world who are struggling.
Every hour you can seek God's power to help you become a greater witness to
others. Pray daily for God to give you His power to help you carry the burdens
of others. With the Lord's help, you can show others how every trial is a time
when His love can beam out the most. In your heart, earnestly desire for His
love and grace to pour down upon all people. In your heart, earnestly long for
the touch of the Holy Spirit to descend upon all people. In your heart,
earnestly desire for all people to feel the Holy Spirit's touch of love. Use
all your energy to walk the straight and narrow path during your times of
burden so others may see Christ's light shining out from your life. Use every
part of your life, especially the trials, to glorify His name more fully.
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Lifting One Another Up Through Our Burdens
Galatians 6:2---Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
One of
the best ways of being sure we bear one another's burdens is always to be
unselfish enough and concerned enough about others to carry their loads. A
selfish person does not take the burdens of others unless made to do so. A
giving person always looks out for others. An unselfish person always seeks out
the burdens others are carrying. A generous person can put others first. The
act of charitable giving and receiving assures mutual burden-bearing. To bear
another person's responsibility, we must be willing to unselfishly give and
receive love, caring, kindness, and compassion. To take another person's
burden, we must be ready to unselfishly help others carry their load in life
and be willing to let others help us take our load. To bear another person's
burden, we must be willing to listen to the problems, cares, and worries. To
take another person's responsibility, we must be willing to ask others if there
is anything we can do after listening. To bear another person's burden, we must
be willing to give 110% of our efforts in helping others. When we take another
person's responsibility, we must be aware others become stronger when we help
them become more substantial. When we bear another's burdening, we must
remember others become weaker when we prevent them from shouldering the burdens
and responsibilities we all must carry. Helping another person take their
commitment is a great deal different than having another person's load for
them. In assisting another person in carrying their burdens, we must recognize
there are some burdens each of us must carry on our own. Persons of every age
learn maturity and responsibility when carrying their duties, not when others
have obligations for them. Persons of every age become strong enough to bear
the burdens of others by first learning to be unselfish.
Monday, June 21, 2021
Be Content
Hebrews 13:5 and 6—Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
As a boy
growing up, I enjoyed going to a neighborhood grocery store with my granddaddy.
Granddad would buy bread and a few slices of cheese and sandwich meat. A nice
man who worked at the store would always say some kind and encouraging words to
us as he carefully sliced the cheese and meat. I remember hearing granddad talk
about the great depression when there was no cheese or meat and very few
groceries. Those were difficult times, and even now we see that certain items
can be scarce through a pandemic. The Bible calls us to be thankful for and
content with everything we have. Our family, health, meals we can share with
loved ones, and of course life itself— all are precious gifts from the Lord.
But discontent, greed, or fears don’t allow us to appreciate and treasure the
precious gifts of life entirely. We don’t know what the future holds. We might
have to go through difficult time’s worse than the one we find ourselves in
now. But as the children of God, we are assured of his endless love and care.
The Lord himself is our helper in this challenging life.
Sunday, June 20, 2021
Times of Tribulation
John 16:33---These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Everyone
has bad times in life. No one is immune from adversity. For some people, the
trouble may come late in life, and these people are devastated. For other
people, bad times surround them at birth, and adversity follows them for life.
We all must understand bad times fall on a person's life regardless of their
race, creed, economic status, age, or origins. We must never expect the good
times to roll on forever. We must never expect good times to come to us and
stay forever. If we expect the good times to roll on forever, we will be in
shock when disaster strikes or bad times fall upon us. Our willingness to admit
bad times do happen enables us to prepare our heart, mind, and soul in advance
for what may come. Indeed, the person who trains in advance today for the bad
times in the future has a decided advantage when bad times fall. In addition,
the person who prepares in advance for bad times has a greater sense of
well-being and security during good times. We must not delude ourselves into
thinking everything will be cozy in the future. A construction manager in parts
of the world where lousy weather strikes should prepare for bad weather
conditions. A person who needs to fight traffic jams every day should prepare
for their adverse traffic by leaving at an appropriate time. Knowing bad times
may fall does not need to make us unhappy. Understanding and preparing in
advance for adversity can give us peace, happiness, and security no matter what
happens to us in the future.
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Helpful Answers
Psalms 4:1---Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer.
We all
want answers. In every circumstance, God has more answers than we have
questions. At the very center and core of our hearts, God gives us constant
access to His love, wisdom, and solutions. His knowledge gives us the answers
we need. Many of the questions we ask come about because we believe we are
helpless over circumstances in our life. In God's infinite wisdom and love, He
readily shows us we are not powerless. In God's infinite love, He readily shows
us we are not hopeless. Within our hearts, God speaks to us and gives us all
the answers we need. Within our hearts, we find His truth to help us through
the valleys of life each day. In His love, we are silent, for we have no
questions compared to His wisdom and love. Many times, as we think, meditate,
and pray to God each day, we find we have had His answers within us all along.
We know He is constantly answering us and helping us.
Friday, June 18, 2021
Angels Among Us
Hebrews 13:2---Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
I was
walking home from school on a cold winter day. I took a shortcut through the
woods and lost my way. It was getting late, and I was scared and alone, but
then a kind older adult took my hand and led me home. Now, Momma could not see
him, oh, but he was standing there, and I knew he was the answer to my prayers
in my heart. Oh, I believe there are angels among us sent down to us from
somewhere up above. They come to you and me in our darkest hours to show us how
to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with the light of love. When life
held trouble times and had me down on my knees, there’s always been someone
come along and comfort me, a kind word from a stranger to lend a helping hand,
a phone call from a friend to say I understand. Isn’t it kind of funny at the
dark end of the road that someone lights the way with just a single ray of
hope? Oh, I believe there are angels among us sent down to us from somewhere up
above. They come to you and me in our darkest hours to show us how to live, to
teach us how to give, to guide us with the light of love. There were so many
faces, showing up in the strangest places, to grace us with their mercy in our
time of need. Oh, I believe there are angels among us sent down to us from
somewhere up above. They come to you and me in our darkest hours to show us how
to live, to teach us to give, to guide us with the light of love. To guide us
with the light of love!
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Instant Gratification
1st John 2:16-17--- For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
We live
in an age of instant gratification. None of us are immune. We want instant
answers to prayers. We want instant works by God. We want instant tangible
physical power from God. We don't want to wait on God to do things in His time.
We don't want to sweat to get what we want. We live and want excess. We live
and want to be pampered. We want a parent to look out for our every need. It is
time to grow up. We are grown-up means we hold off on what we want. Being
grown-up means we don't get what we want, and we then go on and do the job
anyway. Being grown-up means, we sacrifice. Teaching a child to sacrifice is
one of the greatest lessons any parent can teach because there is no progress
in a person's life without sacrifice. No person, society, church, organization,
or social entity can endure without sacrifice.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Always Praising
Psalm 89:15--- Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
To praise
God with our mouth can be nothing more than noise. However, genuine praise
happens when we praise God with our heart, mind, soul, and life. Some people
are incredibly good at praising God with their mouths. Other people have the
spark of His divine love in their life who praise God with their life. Praising
God with our mouths is essential. But, praising God with our life is even more
critical. The person who praises God with his or her life is like salt upon the
earth, adding their seasoning in unseen ways. What a blessing and song of
praise it is to live a life of praise to God! What a blessing and joy it is
when God sees us live a life of praise to Him. May all the days of your life be
spent praising God first by how you live, then by what you speak. Your world
needs to see you give God's light in the darkness. Your world needs to see you
give praise for Christ's hope, providing praise for His forgiveness, and giving
praise for His love.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Adversity And The Light
Psalm 91:1-2---He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Can
adversity lead to the Light? Any hardship, any hurt, any heartache, any
illness, any sickness, any infirmity, any obstacle of any kind has a spiritual
component. This spiritual component can lead to the Light and the love we call
God. The belief any adversity can lead to God is a belief you can prove to
yourself to be true. The belief any trouble can lead to God will transform any
adversity in your life into an opportunity to find Him. When proven to
yourself, this belief becomes specific knowledge God will lead you to Christ as
the Light of the world. When you see Christ as the Light of the world in your
adversity, you will then find Christ the real essence of victory under any
circumstance.
Monday, June 14, 2021
Knowing The Will Of God
1 John 2:17---The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
You know
right from wrong because you know His will. You have always known right from
wrong because of deep, deep, down you know His will. There is so much to know
about the Lord. Never deny His will for you, even when you want to be in
denial. Never escape His will for you, even when you want to escape. Never run
away from the truth of His will, even when want to run away…even when you
already know His will deep within your soul. Never think there is a mystery
about His will when there is no mystery because you know His will already.
Sunday, June 13, 2021
Getting In Touch With God
Psalm 119:151---Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.
To be one with God in this life, you need a way of accessing God, but there is no easy way to access God. You need a way of calling Him on the telephone, but your telephone does not reach His kingdom in Heaven. On earth, you access God by being honest with Him. You access God by pouring out everything in your life before Him, without knowing if He will respond to you before you pour out your life. To be one with God, you need faith before you ever require God to give you anything in return for your trust. To be one with God, you need to admit (to yourself and Him) you are a sinner. To be one with God, you need to tell God you are sorry for crucifying His Son. Achieving oneness with God can require personal honesty with God, causing you to do painfully honest work with your heart, mind, and soul. To be one with God, you must kneel at the foot of His cross so you can hear His voice of compassion, love, and understanding.
Saturday, June 12, 2021
A Touching Story
A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy. They slowed down and looked back. They all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with Down's syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." All nine linked arms and walked across the finish line together. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down, we know one thing. What matters most in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What truly matters in this life is helping others succeed, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.
Friday, June 11, 2021
A Resurrected Body
1st Thessalonians 4:13-18---But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
We are so robed in the flesh that we see through the eyes of flesh. God’s greatest desire is for us to see with spiritual eyes. Not long ago, I concluded that no matter how close to God we may get, there are always questions about specific topics. One such question since we see so much cremation now after one dies now is whether it is a sin to be cremated after death? I have never found any Scripture to teach that it is. I realize that some will say because Jesus was buried in a tomb that we should be buried too. But then the question comes, What about those who burned to death in the towers or those buried at sea? Listen, God has never lost one of His sheep; He knows where every one of them is. Notice the Scripture says Comfort One Another with These Words, but our flesh causes us to question. I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep. Those who have also died who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: A Resurrected Body.
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Doing To Much
Luke 10:42---but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Some
people would feel they are living a diminished life if they did not live an
over-committed life. Constantly living like you are putting out "brush
fires" is a lifestyle hurtful to you in a significant way. This lifestyle
becomes a dependent/co-dependent lifestyle when over-committing from a sense of
weakness or powerlessness. Even when weakness and powerlessness are not issues,
some people lead a "too busy" life. Piling up commitments in our life
to the point where we run ourselves ragged is not helpful to us, others and is
not a blessing to God. To healthfully maintain our soul, we are to live in
peace and harmony with God. Over-committing is not a way to live in peace and
harmony with God. We have more things on our agenda than we can also take away
from our efficiency because we can easily miss doing what is essential.
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
A New Day Is Coming
Philippians 3:20-21---For our conversation is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
We do not belong here on Earth, in a world caught up in sin
and rebellion against God. When we become children of God, our home is in
Heaven. If you have accepted Christ and you feel out of place here on Earth,
now you know why. However, there is a new day about to come. It makes no
difference if you see this new day watching down from Heaven or looking up from
Earth, for the greatness of this day, overwhelms all other concerns. As we wait
for this new day about to come, we stand in joy. We stand to wait in eager
anticipation for this new day. No matter where we are when the new day comes,
we will all be there one way or another. This new day is the day Jesus returns.
We may be standing in the joy of Heaven. We are on the Earth with soaring
hearts and sailing spirits at first sight of Him. When Jesus comes back, all
things will be under His control, and at that moment, our old bodies will be
gone. When Jesus comes back; we will get a new and glorious body that will
never ache, fade, get sick, or die. Praise God. A new day is about to come.
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
A Life Filled With Light
John 1:7-9---The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
All of us carry darkness in our life. We have the darkness
of sadness, pain, loneliness, sinfulness, and memories we want to forget.
However, Jesus can fill all of us with His Light. We come to the foot of His
cross and find in His most tragic moment an eternal light for our souls. The
Light of Christ is not like the burning Light of the sun. The Light of Christ
is not like the blinding Light of bright Light made by humankind. The Light of
Christ is a light of love taking away all of our darkness. In the emptiness of
our life, there is a bright light filling up the void. Christ's Light of love
fills up our gap. When we accept Christ into our heart and life, our heart,
mind, and soul are filled to overflowing with His Light and love. Although we
can't understand what being filled with overflowing means physically, we are
filled with overflowing in supernatural terms with Christ. In Christ, there is
no darkness, and when we take Him into our lives, we are filled with Him, and
our darkness disappears.
Monday, June 7, 2021
Joy, A Way Of True Life
1 Peter 4:13---But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
No way can you have a life full of joy. No way can you have
joy in all the pain, suffering, problems, and other stuff we have to live with
or live through. Ah, but the secret to whole life, especially a life full of
joy, is to live despite the darkness. Instead of living in reaction to the
dark, live despite bad things happening and live before bad things happen. Win
Christ's prize by reacting to pain by praising God. Win Christ's prize by
responding to problems by praying to God. Win Christ's prize by answering to
darkness with hope by keeping the flame of hope alive within you. Despite all
the stagnation and sometimes desperation put upon you by the dark, construct
and build as God wills. In the heart of God, there is always a joy. To have a
life full of joy, have a heart full of God despite the pain, suffering,
problems, and stuff we have to live through. In the heart of God is all joy;
when you say, "Please Lord, let your joy be in me," then He will
answer you, and He will place His happiness within you.
Sunday, June 6, 2021
Defining Biblical Visions And Dreams
Acts 2:17--- And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
According to the dictionary, a dream is either;
(1) A group of ideas or images in our mind during sleep, or
(2) A wild or vain fancy.
Dreams are also thought of in negative terms when it comes
to daydreaming. Daydreamers are talked about and considered odd or
unproductive. Granted, there is no place or reason for people not doing their
job. That kind of thinking and definition gives dreams a lousy image, no pun
intended. However, dreaming can and should be a constructive and beneficial
activity when we dream right and dream in God's Spirit. We can define productive
dreaming as seeing in your mind's eye a picture of the future. What you put
into your view of the future is a choice you can make before you start the
dreaming process. Great works for God do not grow on trees. Excellent results
for God usually begin with a dream or vision in someone's heart, mind, and
soul.
Saturday, June 5, 2021
THE BURDEN IS REAL
I posted this several months ago. While COVID appears to be getting a little more under control, many are still suffering and I lost a family friend who will be buried today from it. The following still holds true;
Today I find myself broken and burdened for our country and its leadership. I can’t help but wonder if any are seeking the Lord in decisions. I find myself burdened for our leadership and those families who have been devastated by COVID-19. Many have asked if I think this is God’s judgment on America. Friend, you must remember that we live in a fallen world, and when sin entered, death and disease entered as well. I believe that God takes the opportunity to use and work sickness like this together for His good. As I write this, I find myself heartbroken for those God has placed under my care to shepherd.
Somehow I don’t know what to do, so I pray. Several, including myself and Marta, my wife, have suffered from this terrible virus already. Some are staying at home sheltered and shut-in. What trying times we are seeing. Yes, the burden is real. But then comes to mind the words of a song that we use to sing in church, “Trials dark on ev’ry hand, And we cannot understand, All the ways that God would lead us To that blessed Promised Land; But He guides us with His eye, And we’ll follow till we die. For we’ll understand it better by and by.” God has a perfect plan, and He will see it through. While He sees it through, I will cast this real burden on Him, for I cannot carry it alone. The Bible says, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1st Peter 5:7)
Prayer is the key that unlocks the door to heaven, and it is time to seek God like never before and then to TRUST HIM COMPLETELY!
Friday, June 4, 2021
Thursday, June 3, 2021
A Letter to the Weary from Jesus
Matthew 11:28-30--- Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Life can
be full of challenges at times. But no matter what we face, we can be assured
that God is always with us. He knows our way. He cares. And we are never alone.
Dear Child, I heard you cry last night. I was there in the darkness when the tears slipped down your face and your heart broke within you. Did you think I didn’t see and didn’t care? Do you really think I don’t know how tired and weary you really are? Child, I’ve been with you when life has dealt its bitterest blows. I’ve watched you handle all the sorrow and all the pain. But you are weary now, and I can see the broken spirit and the faded hopes and dreams. Please don’t forget that I care. My touch and caress can restore and mend your broken heart and kindle the flame of hope once more within you. Let Me love you. Take down the barricades around your heart and lean on Me. I am not tired and I am not weary and I have the strength enough to carry you if you will let Me. You are not alone, and you have never been, for I am your friend and I will never, ever leave your side. Trust Me!
Your
Friend, Jesus
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
CHOICES TO MAKE
Joshua 24:15---And if it seems evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Life for
many people is like riding a raft down a river without any poles or oars. For
many people, life runs to extremes. The circumstances of life can be like
riding on raging rapids or being stuck in a stagnant pool with no movement. An
essential truth of life is that either you control life or life will control
you. There is, for many people, no choice over their circumstances, and they
have no voice to express their pain. An eighty-five-year-old person in a
nursing home, it would seem, has few options about life. However, there are a
few choices a person confined to a nursing home can make. A nursing home
resident can love God, love others, and pray. The reality for every person is
that life will handle you if you don't have a handle on life. There is always a
choice about how you will be.
You may
not have a choice about what you do in a circumstance, but you do have a choice
about the kind of person you are. You may be caught on a raft on a raging river
with no control over where you are, but you can control how you respond to that
circumstance. The great tests of life are the tests that require humility,
courage, love, compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. You control the result of
your test. You pass or fail based upon what you desire. You have a choice about
being a child of God. You have a choice about loving God with all your heart,
soul, and with all of your might. You have a choice about accepting Christ into
your heart and life.
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
A Deep Faith
1st Peter 1:7---That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it is tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Faith results in having a guiding light in our lives, which the Holy Spirit produces. Many of the decisions we make every day, even the decisions of seeming insignificance, require wisdom. Wisdom is not something with which we are born. Wisdom is acquired. Deep faith produces a hunger to know about God and how to live our life according to His guiding Hand. Deep faith makes within us a starting point for acquiring wisdom. Persons of faith should always want to do the right thing. We should always want to do what God wants from us. As we hunger and thirst to do the right and the smart thing, we acquire wisdom.
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