Laura Story - Blessings
Isaiah 26:3-4 "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock."
Have Faith!
Sometimes we face uncertain circumstances that leave us feeling like we are flying a plane in the fog, with no understanding of the controls. If we over correct the steering, we could end up spiraling out of control and crash. That’s when we are reminded of who the pilot of our life is- God. He is the author and finisher of our faith. God does not change and is perfect in character. He is trustworthy and faithful in His love for us even when everything else looks bleak.
Hebrew 12:2 “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.”
Abraham is called the spiritual father of all those who have faith, (Romans 4:11) even though at times he may have ran ahead of God’s plans and caused himself some harm. God wants us to have a change of heart & trust in Him. This is produced by God’s spirit and leaves us seeking praise from our Father, not man. (Romans 2:29)
Romans 4:3 “For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."
Romans 4:18a “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping…”
Romans 4:13-14 “Clearly, God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God's law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God's promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.”
Romans 4:20 “Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.”
This world is passing away with everything we see, so we need to keep our hope in only One person to help us through it all- Our Father in heaven. He is so worthy of all praise.
1 Corinthians 7:31 “Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.”
Hebrew 11:1 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.”
Thank you Father that you love us the way that you do! oxox
Hebrew 12:2 “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.”
Abraham is called the spiritual father of all those who have faith, (Romans 4:11) even though at times he may have ran ahead of God’s plans and caused himself some harm. God wants us to have a change of heart & trust in Him. This is produced by God’s spirit and leaves us seeking praise from our Father, not man. (Romans 2:29)
Romans 4:3 “For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith."
Romans 4:18a “Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping…”
Romans 4:13-14 “Clearly, God's promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God's law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God's promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.”
Romans 4:20 “Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.”
This world is passing away with everything we see, so we need to keep our hope in only One person to help us through it all- Our Father in heaven. He is so worthy of all praise.
1 Corinthians 7:31 “Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.”
Hebrew 11:1 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”
Isaiah 41:10 “Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.”
Thank you Father that you love us the way that you do! oxox
Love Them Like Jesus - Forgive
Life can be inconveniently complicated. God will put people in our path that can be hard to deal with and let us down. Sometimes our faith in people can be damaged by unfair circumstances & painful relationships, but we can be assured that God has a plan.
I can’t help but think of the servant who wouldn’t forgive, even though he had been forgiven much. Here is the question he was asked; Matthew 18:33 “Shouldn't you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?'
Mat 5:44-48 “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
God had compassion on the people of Nineveh when they were in spiritual darkness and sent Jonah to help them find the way. Jonah struggled with helping these evil people but God helped him learn through the experience. Just read Jonah 4.
God is working on our hearts all the time. Here is God’s command to us.
Mar 12:30-31 “And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."
So how do we follow Jesus & love others, even when some relationships hurt.
Luke 6:35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.”
We are called to love the unlovable and heap coals of goodness on them.
Romans 12:20-21 “Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
Romans 5:7-8 “Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
In His unfailing love, God had a plan for all of us that sin. Love them like Jesus.
I Am New - Jason Gray
Rom 3:22-26 "We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus."
Lifesong - Casting Crowns
Philippians 2:17 "But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy."
Philippians 3:14 "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."
As I grow in the Lord, I pray to be more like Jesus and live for the Lord.
Matthew West - My Own Little World
Romans 12:9-10 "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."
Distress- Will Soon Be Gone
Have you ever had multiple troubles happen to you all at once? Recently, we lost a large investment & a storm came knocking off part of our house also causing damage to the roof. One of our vehicles was damaged from the hail storm so we went to get estimates. While we were dealing with this, we found out our tires are worn out and they need replacing. We have sold everything we can think of to take care of things. Cutting out extras & even getting rid of our family pets. Debt is not something we want anymore of, so we don’t want to use more debt to fix things. Add to that the usually relationship struggles in life. I am sure you could tell a story or 2 as well. Life can be very trying at times.
In times like these, I find comfort in God and His Word.
2 Corinthians 4:8 "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair."
Remember the Enemy wants to steal peace in our life and rob us of our faith. John 10:10 “The thief's (or Enemies) purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My (or Jesus’) purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
Jesus came to satisfy in ways that the world can’t. John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.”
The Lord can see around the corner but we can’t. God has plans for good. Do we know God well enough through His Word to know His character? Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
He can send a storm to help us avoid harder circumstance ahead. Hardship can sometimes be better than success because we can learn so much during adversity. This can give us first hand knowledge and wisdom we might not have understood without the hardship. God can allow havoc for many reasons; sometimes it’s to show our need for Him so we don’t depend on ourselves, but His power.
Deuteronomy 8:16b, 17-18a “He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.' Remember the LORD your God. He is the One who gives you power to be successful…”
Pray for God’s help during distress. God can see the sincerity of our heart. David cried out for God in Psalm 143 and was loosing hope, paralyzed in fear. But he recalled how God had helped in the past and praised God for His ways. David trusted God and asked the Lord to guide him as he gave himself to the Lord. He asked God to rescue him and teach him God’s will for a firm footing. He thought about God’s unfailing love and found peace and confidence once again.
Where do we go for strength and confidence in hard times? Look up Ephesians 6:10-18 and learn about putting on the full armor of God for protection against the Enemy.
And when this trial is over, tell others of God’s goodness. Each trial will help equip us more and more with faith for the next battle.
Mark 5:19 “But Jesus said, "Go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been."
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
In times like these, I find comfort in God and His Word.
2 Corinthians 4:8 "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair."
Remember the Enemy wants to steal peace in our life and rob us of our faith. John 10:10 “The thief's (or Enemies) purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My (or Jesus’) purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
Jesus came to satisfy in ways that the world can’t. John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.”
The Lord can see around the corner but we can’t. God has plans for good. Do we know God well enough through His Word to know His character? Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
He can send a storm to help us avoid harder circumstance ahead. Hardship can sometimes be better than success because we can learn so much during adversity. This can give us first hand knowledge and wisdom we might not have understood without the hardship. God can allow havoc for many reasons; sometimes it’s to show our need for Him so we don’t depend on ourselves, but His power.
Deuteronomy 8:16b, 17-18a “He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, 'I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.' Remember the LORD your God. He is the One who gives you power to be successful…”
Pray for God’s help during distress. God can see the sincerity of our heart. David cried out for God in Psalm 143 and was loosing hope, paralyzed in fear. But he recalled how God had helped in the past and praised God for His ways. David trusted God and asked the Lord to guide him as he gave himself to the Lord. He asked God to rescue him and teach him God’s will for a firm footing. He thought about God’s unfailing love and found peace and confidence once again.
Where do we go for strength and confidence in hard times? Look up Ephesians 6:10-18 and learn about putting on the full armor of God for protection against the Enemy.
And when this trial is over, tell others of God’s goodness. Each trial will help equip us more and more with faith for the next battle.
Mark 5:19 “But Jesus said, "Go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been."
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 “For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
Trust God, Not Money
This would seem the opposite of the way people live today, but it can bring great peace. Do you long for things you don’t have? Does it feel like you’re the only one that can’t go on trips, repair your house or go shopping? After all, Joseph, Job and David were men of God and they had money, so why shouldn’t we too? This is the place that Satan loves to find us. But God says in Luke 3:14b “be content with your pay." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:29 “For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” This is not our final destination.
I believe God asks us to be content with what we have to show how we trust Him by faith. This thankfulness also stops the Enemy from manipulating us by way of greed, lust, desire for power or through fear of insecure finances. If we have less, we tend to fear or covet. If we have more, we can become prideful and want more power. This can lead to forgetting generosity or enslaving others. Satan is up to a lot of evil & wants to destroy our trust in God & our relationships.
In Ezekiel 28, Satan is referred to as the King of Tyre. He was beautiful, powerful and rich but he fell away from God. Ezekiel 28:16-17 “Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.” Be mindful of this…. 1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
This is what God would rather see …Luke 3:11 “John replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry."
1 Timothy 6:6-9 “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”
Let us not be prideful if we do have much. James 4:13-16 “Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going …..to make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? …What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about “your own plans”, and all such boasting is evil.”
Instead…..Colossians 3:23-24 “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”
Philippians 4:12-13 “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
I believe God asks us to be content with what we have to show how we trust Him by faith. This thankfulness also stops the Enemy from manipulating us by way of greed, lust, desire for power or through fear of insecure finances. If we have less, we tend to fear or covet. If we have more, we can become prideful and want more power. This can lead to forgetting generosity or enslaving others. Satan is up to a lot of evil & wants to destroy our trust in God & our relationships.
In Ezekiel 28, Satan is referred to as the King of Tyre. He was beautiful, powerful and rich but he fell away from God. Ezekiel 28:16-17 “Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings.” Be mindful of this…. 1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
This is what God would rather see …Luke 3:11 “John replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry."
1 Timothy 6:6-9 “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”
Let us not be prideful if we do have much. James 4:13-16 “Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going …..to make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? …What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about “your own plans”, and all such boasting is evil.”
Instead…..Colossians 3:23-24 “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”
Philippians 4:12-13 “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
He Loves Us
Romans 8:38-39 "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Dry Bones- Idolatry
Ezekiel 37:4-5 “Then He said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, 'Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!”
Ezekiel was given a vision of dry bones representing the people of Israel. They had lost hope and thought their nation was finished. The people of Israel had been worshiping idols and doing other things that separated them from God. So the Lord allowed havoc to occur on them, knowing that all of this would turn Israel back to Him.
Sometimes we too can make idols in our life that rob us of God’s blessings. We can make idols of people in our life, think we “need” the latest and greatest gadget, be trapped by pride or feel like we must do our favorite hobby more than other responsibilities. All of this can lead to unknowingly separating ourselves from God or making Him fit into "our" plans. It’s important to remember that this world is not our kingdom. That our time and resources now, can be put into our future home.
Colossians 3:2 “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
Hebrews 13:14 “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”
It is so easy to become dry bones that feel hopeless when we fill our time with everything but God.
Jesus is the bread of life and the living water. Be filled up with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill you with all that you truly need.
Act 20:32 "And now I entrust you to God and the message of His grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those He has set apart for Himself.”
John 6:33 “The true bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
John 7:38 “Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"
Let's not become dry as bones, loose hope or let idols run our life. Let the One who gives life be whom we surrender our will to. Invest in marriage, kids, and others. We need to surrender control to God over our money, family, hobbies, & pride.
Isaiah 52:9-10 “Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the LORD has comforted His people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has demonstrated His holy power before the eyes of all the nations. All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.”
Ezekiel was given a vision of dry bones representing the people of Israel. They had lost hope and thought their nation was finished. The people of Israel had been worshiping idols and doing other things that separated them from God. So the Lord allowed havoc to occur on them, knowing that all of this would turn Israel back to Him.
Sometimes we too can make idols in our life that rob us of God’s blessings. We can make idols of people in our life, think we “need” the latest and greatest gadget, be trapped by pride or feel like we must do our favorite hobby more than other responsibilities. All of this can lead to unknowingly separating ourselves from God or making Him fit into "our" plans. It’s important to remember that this world is not our kingdom. That our time and resources now, can be put into our future home.
Colossians 3:2 “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
Hebrews 13:14 “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”
It is so easy to become dry bones that feel hopeless when we fill our time with everything but God.
Jesus is the bread of life and the living water. Be filled up with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill you with all that you truly need.
Act 20:32 "And now I entrust you to God and the message of His grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those He has set apart for Himself.”
John 6:33 “The true bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
John 7:38 “Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"
Let's not become dry as bones, loose hope or let idols run our life. Let the One who gives life be whom we surrender our will to. Invest in marriage, kids, and others. We need to surrender control to God over our money, family, hobbies, & pride.
Isaiah 52:9-10 “Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the LORD has comforted His people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has demonstrated His holy power before the eyes of all the nations. All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.”
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus for Everything
Have others disappointed you lately? Have you seen behaviors or beliefs that seem out of line to you? Have you been under a lot of stress? These are all flashing red lights to refocus our attention on our Heavenly Father because He is working behind the scenes.
Disappointment can be stemmed from a lack of confidence in our Fathers way of handling things. Are we putting our faith in others, circumstance or in the Lord? Are we patient with God just as He has been with us? God has good things in mind during good times and bad.
If we see injustice, that could be God wanting us to pray. Maybe it’s the actions of someone who is lost. The lost haven’t found their way yet. We can’t expect perfect people & people will never satisfy us. When we see others we care for being set in their ways and not concerned for others, it can be so hurtful. But we must decide to either be the victim or the victor in the circumstances. Do we continue to allow hurt to rule over us or do we seek the Lord to help us with His love and comfort? Maybe there is something we can do by taking the first step towards reconciliation.
Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”
It is a big temptation to fall into sin when we are close to someone. We can use our words to tear down what we see and only end up making things worse or we can join in the wrong doing. If you start feeling like you are heading into sin in frustration, take a break and pray before you say something you will feel bad about later.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”
Proverbs 15:1-4 “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping His eye on both the evil and the good. Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”
Proverbs 25:19 “Putting confidences in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.”
Jeremiah 17:5-8 “This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Lord, help us keep our eyes on You for every need, your timing is always perfect. May we not rely on others or our own understanding, but on Your Love, Compassion, Provisions & Grace.
Disappointment can be stemmed from a lack of confidence in our Fathers way of handling things. Are we putting our faith in others, circumstance or in the Lord? Are we patient with God just as He has been with us? God has good things in mind during good times and bad.
If we see injustice, that could be God wanting us to pray. Maybe it’s the actions of someone who is lost. The lost haven’t found their way yet. We can’t expect perfect people & people will never satisfy us. When we see others we care for being set in their ways and not concerned for others, it can be so hurtful. But we must decide to either be the victim or the victor in the circumstances. Do we continue to allow hurt to rule over us or do we seek the Lord to help us with His love and comfort? Maybe there is something we can do by taking the first step towards reconciliation.
Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”
It is a big temptation to fall into sin when we are close to someone. We can use our words to tear down what we see and only end up making things worse or we can join in the wrong doing. If you start feeling like you are heading into sin in frustration, take a break and pray before you say something you will feel bad about later.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”
Proverbs 15:1-4 “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping His eye on both the evil and the good. Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”
Proverbs 25:19 “Putting confidences in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.”
Jeremiah 17:5-8 “This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”
Lord, help us keep our eyes on You for every need, your timing is always perfect. May we not rely on others or our own understanding, but on Your Love, Compassion, Provisions & Grace.
For His Glory
No one is qualified for God's service, but who will obediently carry out His work? Jesus is the only one who never sinned but He asks us to be His body- the church. He chooses to live in us, make us His temple & work through us. It's the Lord we were made to please and He will equip us for His missions.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work."
2Pe 1:3 "By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence."
Act 4:13 "The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus."
Exodus 34:34-35 "But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the LORD had given him, and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face."
Life is short, have you been passing up the opportunities God has given you? What is it that God has put on your heart, to do for His Glory?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work."
2Pe 1:3 "By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence."
Act 4:13 "The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus."
Exodus 34:34-35 "But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the LORD had given him, and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face."
Life is short, have you been passing up the opportunities God has given you? What is it that God has put on your heart, to do for His Glory?
Take a Load Off
Have you heard the song “Momma said there'd be days like this”?
I am sure we have all had one of those overwhelming weeks? I mean a combination of difficulties all mixed together that can be so discouraging. We are doing the best we can to be kind-hearted, patience, and loving but we're so worn out that we say words or cop an attitude that was never intended. We find ourselves feeling weak emotionally, physically & spiritually. We want to keep doing good & help others but feel like there’s not much left to give. This can lead to a feeling that we've disappointed someone or even God? Well Jesus has the solution to our problems.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
A yoke is a wooden beam used between a pair of oxen to allow them to pull a load. Who’s yoke are we pulling? God promises rest. Are we trying to carry burdens that Jesus didn’t ask us to?
Psalm 37:7a “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act.”
We are only called to do what we can and walk in His ways, He will help with the rest. Our Savior did not ask us to take His place as Lord to others, so we don't have to worry about doing His job. When we realize this, we can let go of all that Satan is entangling us in with guilt.
Psalm 118:5 “In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and set me free.” Have you prayed for the Lord to come and help set you free?
Don’t give up on doing good, even when you feel beaten down for not living up to other people’s expectations. The enemy wants us to give up so that we are paralyzed and stop doing the will of God. Eat right by feeding on the Word of God and exercise in the race of life as we continue to walk on God’s path.
Colossians 3:10 “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.”
Galatians 6:9 “So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.”
I am sure we have all had one of those overwhelming weeks? I mean a combination of difficulties all mixed together that can be so discouraging. We are doing the best we can to be kind-hearted, patience, and loving but we're so worn out that we say words or cop an attitude that was never intended. We find ourselves feeling weak emotionally, physically & spiritually. We want to keep doing good & help others but feel like there’s not much left to give. This can lead to a feeling that we've disappointed someone or even God? Well Jesus has the solution to our problems.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
A yoke is a wooden beam used between a pair of oxen to allow them to pull a load. Who’s yoke are we pulling? God promises rest. Are we trying to carry burdens that Jesus didn’t ask us to?
Psalm 37:7a “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act.”
We are only called to do what we can and walk in His ways, He will help with the rest. Our Savior did not ask us to take His place as Lord to others, so we don't have to worry about doing His job. When we realize this, we can let go of all that Satan is entangling us in with guilt.
Psalm 118:5 “In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and set me free.” Have you prayed for the Lord to come and help set you free?
Don’t give up on doing good, even when you feel beaten down for not living up to other people’s expectations. The enemy wants us to give up so that we are paralyzed and stop doing the will of God. Eat right by feeding on the Word of God and exercise in the race of life as we continue to walk on God’s path.
Colossians 3:10 “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.”
Galatians 6:9 “So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)