“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”
Matthew 6:26 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.6.26.nlt
God knows exactly what I need and he provides it at exactly the right time. I have seen it. I am witness to his perfect timing and provision. I have been a follower of Christ for 45 years and I can tell you, directly, of the faithfulness of my Lord. When I am at my lowest point emotionally, spiritually, or physically, God shows up. He never lets me suffer beyond what I can endure. Yes, he allows some pain and suffering in my life. I know myself. I need that pain and suffering so I turn to him. I need a constant reminder to rely on the power of the creator to overcome the evil in this world.
God has provided for all my needs. No matter what your situation, God will do the same for you. God's love is with you. When you turn to him, he will be there. I can not imagine, I don't want to imagine, leading a life without God in the center. There is so much hate. There is so much evil in this world. We are surrounded by a sinful and fallen world. We can't survive on our own. It won't be our political leaders, it won't be our community, our family, or our friends, that will save us. God is the answer. We will thrive, not just survive, the more we rely on Jesus. I pray you will turn to him, now.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Search for the ONE!
“We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.10.5.nlt
The number of obstacles placed before people to keep them from knowing God is overwhelming. Satan is working full time to keep us quiet and to harden the hearts of the lost. It seems our cause is hopeless. The media finds all our faults and makes them into today's headlines. Right now Joel Osteen is being attacked. I don't know the truth, but I know the world is watching and even the wrongful perception is hurting our message. Every sinful thought and ineffective deed is used against the gospel message. Barrier pop up everywhere when we take even the slightest step of the path of our Christian walk. We need to continue to destroy those barriers. The more obstacles thrown at us, the more we need to increase our efforts. The more we are persecuted, the more we are isolated from the worldview, the more bold we need to be to share the message of Christ. Our lives need to reflect the love of Jesus. We need to speak the word but our actions need to match our words. We need the power of Jesus to guide us and lead the battle before us.
No matter the hopelessness of our world, we need to search for the one, the one person open to the love of our savior. My whole life is about bringing EVEN One person to the love of Jesus. Sure it would be wonderful save hundreds, thousands, or more, but we need to start with just one.
Dear Lord, forgive me for my ineffectiveness and letting my own impure thoughts get in the way of bringing people to know you. Give me strength of purpose. Give me your power to overcome satans onbstacles so I can bring others to know you. I love you Lord and want nothing more than to serve you with my life. Amen!
2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.10.5.nlt
The number of obstacles placed before people to keep them from knowing God is overwhelming. Satan is working full time to keep us quiet and to harden the hearts of the lost. It seems our cause is hopeless. The media finds all our faults and makes them into today's headlines. Right now Joel Osteen is being attacked. I don't know the truth, but I know the world is watching and even the wrongful perception is hurting our message. Every sinful thought and ineffective deed is used against the gospel message. Barrier pop up everywhere when we take even the slightest step of the path of our Christian walk. We need to continue to destroy those barriers. The more obstacles thrown at us, the more we need to increase our efforts. The more we are persecuted, the more we are isolated from the worldview, the more bold we need to be to share the message of Christ. Our lives need to reflect the love of Jesus. We need to speak the word but our actions need to match our words. We need the power of Jesus to guide us and lead the battle before us.
No matter the hopelessness of our world, we need to search for the one, the one person open to the love of our savior. My whole life is about bringing EVEN One person to the love of Jesus. Sure it would be wonderful save hundreds, thousands, or more, but we need to start with just one.
Dear Lord, forgive me for my ineffectiveness and letting my own impure thoughts get in the way of bringing people to know you. Give me strength of purpose. Give me your power to overcome satans onbstacles so I can bring others to know you. I love you Lord and want nothing more than to serve you with my life. Amen!
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
He didn't do it.
“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.5.21.nlt
When you make a mistake that affects someone else, you need to make it right. I wish this were the norm. Many people can't even get to the point of admitting a mistake. They certainly don't have it in themselves to correct it. Saying your sorry is just the beginning of the conversation. Healing begins when we say we are sorry, for both people. We are responsible for the pain of others through our sinfulness. We can't just let that pain remain. We need to do more than just say we are sorry in order for complete healing to occur. We need to show by our actions the depth of our sorrow.
With Christ he accepted the punishment for something he didn't do. We did it and he suffered for it. We can try but we can't even make it right. Christ doesn't care that we make it right. He accepted it before we even thought about accepting responsibility for our sin. We are made right through Christ. I am thankful. I know my sin has deeply hurt my loving Heavenly Father. I beg his forgiveness and he discards that sin like a filthy rag. Praise God for his wonderful love and the forgiveness he gives me throughout my life.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.5.21.nlt
When you make a mistake that affects someone else, you need to make it right. I wish this were the norm. Many people can't even get to the point of admitting a mistake. They certainly don't have it in themselves to correct it. Saying your sorry is just the beginning of the conversation. Healing begins when we say we are sorry, for both people. We are responsible for the pain of others through our sinfulness. We can't just let that pain remain. We need to do more than just say we are sorry in order for complete healing to occur. We need to show by our actions the depth of our sorrow.
With Christ he accepted the punishment for something he didn't do. We did it and he suffered for it. We can try but we can't even make it right. Christ doesn't care that we make it right. He accepted it before we even thought about accepting responsibility for our sin. We are made right through Christ. I am thankful. I know my sin has deeply hurt my loving Heavenly Father. I beg his forgiveness and he discards that sin like a filthy rag. Praise God for his wonderful love and the forgiveness he gives me throughout my life.
Monday, August 28, 2017
Another Year Older!
“And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,”
Titus 2:12 NLT
http://bible.com/116/tit.2.12.nlt
Well, I'm a year older. Birthdays are amazing. It always humbles me to hear from those that care about me and sometimes I hear from people who just pretend to care. But, I'm blessed either way. As a matter of fact, I am not too worried about those people that wish me happy birthday out of some type of social obligation. I love them anyway. I know from the proof of their lives the other 364 days how much they care.
It's great how God changes our heart through out our lives if we let him. I have done some crazy things in my life that I'm not proud of. I've treated family and friends poorly, fallen from grace, and let my sinfulness rule my life. But God is helping me turn from those sinful activities and really continues to fill me with a desire to serve him. I am completely devoted to him. I am trying to live in this evil world with his wisdom and his righteousness inside me. I'm trying. I'm not there yet, but I'm on my way. When I let his love take over, thats when life really gets fun. I feel freed from having to do dumb things. I am free to live life without being affected by the negative , hateful, selfish, sinful people that impact my life. Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!
Titus 2:12 NLT
http://bible.com/116/tit.2.12.nlt
Well, I'm a year older. Birthdays are amazing. It always humbles me to hear from those that care about me and sometimes I hear from people who just pretend to care. But, I'm blessed either way. As a matter of fact, I am not too worried about those people that wish me happy birthday out of some type of social obligation. I love them anyway. I know from the proof of their lives the other 364 days how much they care.
It's great how God changes our heart through out our lives if we let him. I have done some crazy things in my life that I'm not proud of. I've treated family and friends poorly, fallen from grace, and let my sinfulness rule my life. But God is helping me turn from those sinful activities and really continues to fill me with a desire to serve him. I am completely devoted to him. I am trying to live in this evil world with his wisdom and his righteousness inside me. I'm trying. I'm not there yet, but I'm on my way. When I let his love take over, thats when life really gets fun. I feel freed from having to do dumb things. I am free to live life without being affected by the negative , hateful, selfish, sinful people that impact my life. Praise God! Praise God! Praise God!
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Lewis & Clark
““But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT
http://bible.com/116/isa.43.18-19.nlt
It's easy to forget what God has done in my life. I have traveled this Earth for 57 years and I have seen his mighty hand throughout my life. But, it's nothing compared to the future and what he is about to do. He's leading me to something new. I can't wait.
In my Design Your Life Seminar, I shared an example about Lewis & Clark. We forget they didn't have a map of where they were going. There were no maps of the great northwest. The only thing they knew was a direction and a desire for adventure to "See what was out there". They carved a pathway through the wilderness, found food, made friends, and explored. All the while they kept heading Northwest. Oh, to be an explorer like that.
I have no idea where I am going to be in three years, or five, or ten. I do know which direction I'm going. I'm following Jesus. He is my "Native Guide". He is my constant companion and we are on a wonderful adventure. The last few months have brought about change in my life. My passions are in flux. The important things of the past seem less important now. God is directing my attention elsewhere, the path is opening in a new direction. Praise God! I can see. The change has already begun!
Isaiah 43:18-19 NLT
http://bible.com/116/isa.43.18-19.nlt
It's easy to forget what God has done in my life. I have traveled this Earth for 57 years and I have seen his mighty hand throughout my life. But, it's nothing compared to the future and what he is about to do. He's leading me to something new. I can't wait.
In my Design Your Life Seminar, I shared an example about Lewis & Clark. We forget they didn't have a map of where they were going. There were no maps of the great northwest. The only thing they knew was a direction and a desire for adventure to "See what was out there". They carved a pathway through the wilderness, found food, made friends, and explored. All the while they kept heading Northwest. Oh, to be an explorer like that.
I have no idea where I am going to be in three years, or five, or ten. I do know which direction I'm going. I'm following Jesus. He is my "Native Guide". He is my constant companion and we are on a wonderful adventure. The last few months have brought about change in my life. My passions are in flux. The important things of the past seem less important now. God is directing my attention elsewhere, the path is opening in a new direction. Praise God! I can see. The change has already begun!
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