Because He Said So

Good Morning!! We are secure in God's hands, because He has promised that He will never stop loving us,...and nothing could ever happen to make Him change His mind. We can be secure in God's promise to work all things together for our good,...and in knowing that suffering tremendous hardship is not a sign of His lack of love for us. His love will always see us through. And we can be secure in knowing that after a relatively miniscule time on this earth, we will spend forever in a perfect Heaven with Jesus.
...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:39 (NIV)
Just because you're experiencing some difficult times right now, don't let the enemy convince you that it's because God doesn't love you. Jesus went through extremely difficult times here on earth to. Just because He loves us so much,...He even chose to suffer and die on the cross for our sins. 

 

God's Word assures us that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from His love.
He said we would have problems on this earth, but he also promised that with his help we can overcome those problems.

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Thank You Lord, for Your Love! Thank You for giving Your life on the cross for us. Help us be more mindful that even though things are difficult right now,...You are with us, You are loving us and that You will work all things together for our good. Amen.

" Live the Christian Life in the same way you began it,...believing and trusting in Christ Jesus."

Where Is Your Faith?

Good Morning!! Security means different things to different people. Some feel secure if their health is good, others if their finances are strong, still others if they are surrounded by a loving family and friends. But depending on any earthly people or things can result in disappointment. Suppose you work for a company many years, building up a healthy retirement fund that you are depending on for security in later life. Just before your 60th birthday, the company bankrupts and the retirement fund is no more. Or it may have been placed in your marriage,...and the love, intimacy and security that it implied. And now that's over, and you doubt that you'll ever have it. If your faith has been in that retirement plan, or marriage, you are most likely devastated and fearful for the future.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
If we recognize that God, is our real source for whatever we need, we can rest in the assurance that He has a plan, even when we don't see it,...and that He will take care of us. We just need to keep going forward, doing what we can do,...and trusting in Him for the rest.

 

Nothing takes God by surprise. We might not always see, or understand, His plan,...but we can move ahead, knowing that He has everything under control.

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Father, forgive us for the times we've depended on other people and things, only to lose hope when they let us down. Help us to remember that You are our source, and that You are unchanging and totally trustworthy. Thank You for supplying all our needs. Thank you for taking care of us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

" Live the Christian Life in the same way you began it,...believing and trusting in Christ Jesus."

Our True Identity

Good Morning!! God has a purpose for each of us. We are not always able to grasp a vision for that purpose, because of the limitations that have been placed on us, as far back as we can remember. Our parents, teachers, communities, peers, as well as the circumstances in our lives, all influence our opinion of our ability to see ourselves as God does. 

 

Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.—2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)

Our true identity is found in Jesus Christ. He wants to bring about the necessary changes in us that will bring His vision for our lives to pass. The more we spend time with Him, the more we will begin to see ourselves through His eyes and according to His purpose and what He has designed and determined us to be.

Whether it is ordinary or extraordinary we can do all things through Jesus Christ who enables us,...don't be afraid to seek the vision God have for your life.

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Stop wasting time worrying about what others say or think of us,...only what God says, truly matters.

" Our hope is that; the joys of Heaven will more than compensate for the difficulties of earth."

Pray Until It Passes

Good Morning!! Not sure why, but today I remembered my grand-daughter crying out in the night,...afraid of the storm. Thunder boomed and lightning flashed. She said she was afraid that the wind might sweep her away in the darkness. I tried to comfort her as the windows rattled and the wind howled against the house. Nothing worked,...until she had the security, of crawling into bed with us.

[Nothing] in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:39 (NRSV)

That night, I saw first-hand, what the disciples felt as a storm came upon them on the Sea of Galilee and their boat was tossed by the waves. Now, as then, Jesus offers us peace in the midst of our storms. Calling on His name, and remembering the assurances in scripture, give us courage in the midst of all adversity.

The good thing about storms is;
that they will always pass.

O' God, thank You for simple prayers, and for the peace You give,...when we are afraid of our storms. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying,...Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we foregive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

"People, places, events and things pass in and out of our lives,...what we're left with is whatever we've chossen to keep.There is where we have placed value."
(Bulletin)

We Are Helped, To Be A Help

Good Morning!! People struggling with low self esteem, depression, or any one of so many, life-controlling problems, tend to isolate themselves. Getting out of the black hole where life revolves around untruths,...and putting on a new life of light, is a battle. And God tells us not to face the battle alone. Along with trusting Him and asking the Holy Spirit to empower us, we are to motivate each other and spend time together. We need to choose and resolve that we will help and encourage one another to go on in the Christian life until we live in the light daily. And then we need to continue encouraging each other and praying for each other. 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.—Hebrews 10:24, 25 (NIV)

Coming out of that isolation and allowing others to help and encourage us is a vital step in recovery. Not only should we allow others to help and encourage us,...but we should encourage them as well. "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."(Philippians 2:4) Let us be faithful to meet together,...to pray for each other,...to encourage each other,...to admonish each other in love,...to help each other.

One of God's most precious gifts to us is the opportunity to lean on,...and reach out to,...other brothers and sisters in Christ.

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Father God, forgive us for sometimes being "me" focused. For hiding out from others in the family of God when we're struggling. For not reaching out to them when we see them in need. Help us to motivate each other to love and good works. In Jesus' name. Amen.

" Our hope is that; the joys of Heaven will more than compensate for the difficulties of earth."

Who We Really Are

Good Morning!! Yesterday I kinda touched on the fact that the self-identity of a person caught up in their troubled life, involved a sense of worthlessness. Some of the surrounding characteristics of these people, can include feeling angry, helpless, hopeless, isolated,...even suicidal. Yesterday we saw that freedom from these feeling comes by faith,...seeing ourselves as children of God, His shining stars. So how do we move from the worried to death, to being at peace? We already know it can't be done by willpower alone,...so what does? 

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,—1 Peter 1:3, 4 (NIV)

We may wonder how our faith can grow and become a channel of God's gift, of everything we need. In Romans 10:17 KJV, Paul writes that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." In other words, faith is strengthened as we study and meditate on God's Word,...and allow truth to become the core of what we believe. Only then can we begin to see ourselves through God's eyes: forgiven, righteous, precious,...created for a purpose.

The revelation and power of the Holy Spirit, working through our faith is the only thing that can set us free.

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Father God, help us grow in faith as we focus on You and Your Word. Help us to fully believe that Your promises are for us and to reach the point where we begin to see ourselves as You see us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

" Our hope is that; the joys of Heaven will more than compensate for the difficulties of earth."

Accept The NEW You

Good Morning!! What makes us, us? I believe our childhood experiences contribute to our present makeup, along with our bio-genetic and spiritual history. In our struggle to overcome  mental issues, we need to remember that while our psychological and bio-genetic past cannot be changed,...our spiritual condition can. If we draw our identity from the negative symptom cluster around us (feeling angry, helpless, hopeless, isolated and perhaps even suicidal) rather than from our true identity as a "new creation in Christ Jesus," then we are continually being sucked into a black hole of despair,...and easily trapped in a self-reinforcing belief system, like some self-fore filling prophecy. Saying; I'm worthless, there is no hope,...keeps us from believing or seeing a way out.

 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"—2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

 

When our lives begin to revolve around a self-identity that is based on faith, and formed by the Bible, we can begin to overcome all form of depression. Then, instead of seeing ourselves as worthless, we can begin to view ourselves as a child of God,...shining stars. Now the characteristics revolving around our new self-identity, based on our faith in Christ, can include surrender to God's purpose;...human kindness,...pure love,...goodness,...reaching for truth, courage,...and fortified with a determination to keep on going.

 

True healing begins, as we come to understand that our problem is not anger, or childhood abuse, or any of the many bad situations that we find ourselves in,...but our self-identity as a worthless person.

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Father, help us to stop focusing on the swirling symptoms of our circumstances that surround us like debris around a black hole. Help us instead to focus on Your Son, and what He has done for us. Help us to remember that we are new creations in Him. Amen.

" Our hope is that; the joys of Heaven will more than compensate for the difficulties of earth."

We Have A Good Shepherd

Good Morning!! Those who know sheep describe an animal with limited intelligence, timid but stubborn, easily frightened, given to wandering, and totally unable to defend itself. The Bible likens us to sheep and Jesus to the shepherd. A good shepherd cares for his sheep. Jesus is the good shepherd,...He guides, protects, and provides for his sheep an abundant life.

 

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.—Psalm 23:1 (NIV)

 

All this shepherd does for his sheep comes from the love He has for them. Four times Jesus says, "I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:11, 15, 17, 18). His is a sacrificial love. He gives his life willingly to save the sheep because they belong to him.

 

Is Jesus really your shepherd? Why would you not follow Him?

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Sweet and Holy, Spirit of God, stir our hearts to follow our Good Shepherd today and every day. Amen.

" Our hope is that; the joys of Heaven will more than compensate for the difficulties of earth."

Just Ask

Good Morning!! Sometimes we want to take the easy way out,...even though we know it is not the right way. We all make choices on a daily basis. We decide what to wear, what to eat, where to go and how to respond to people and to situations,...should I give an honest answer, even though it might keep me from getting what I really want?...should I forgive this person who hurt me so badly, even when I don't think they care?...should I tell the cashier she gave me too much change,...even though they seemed so rude?
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this:—Psalm 37:5 (NIV)

At times, we can feel as though we don’t have the need, or strength, to make the right choice. The good news is that we don’t have to be alone in the making of any choices. God is standing by, wanting to help us,...He is just waiting for an invitation. He knows what is best for us,...and He wants to guide us into right choices,...and give us the strength to make them.

We don't have help, only because we have not asked,...and we refuse to accept any.

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Lord, You know about the choices we struggle with. Please help us to know the right thing to do,...and then give us the strength to just do it. Thank You for not allowing us to go it alone. Amen.

 

" Instead of being set apart to God, many so-called Christians have become too comfortable in our society, or simply doing as the world does."

Anger, For Good?

Good Morning!! Anger: right or wrong? The answer is that anger is right,...but it can be wrong. Anger; is God-given emotional energy,...designed for good. Right anger against injustices and wrongdoing in our communities, can motivate us to do something positive about the situation. Our wrong anger can, and often does, lead to sinful acts of selfishness, unkindness or even aggression. It is our responsibility to use our anger-induced energy in positive ways,...even if it just motivates us to remove ourselves from a bad situation.

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.—Ephesians 4:26, 27 (NIV)

The Bible tells of many times when anger was a positive force for good. Moses' anger when the Israelites worshiped idols resulted in their repentance.(Exodus 32:19-35)  Jesus' anger motivated Him to clear abusers from His Father's temple (house). (Luke 19:45-48)

The next time you feel angry,...remember that it doesn't have to be a bad thing,..it's our choice

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Father God, forgive us for the times we've used our anger in sinful ways, instead of as a positive force. Help us control our thoughts and actions,...and learn to use our anger in positive ways. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

" Instead of being set apart to God, many so-called Christians have become too comfortable in our society, or simply doing as the world does."

What's Really Behind The Anger?

Good Morning!! One vital key to controlling anger is to correctly identify the cause. Sort out what you did, and what others did, to produce the anger. Sometimes the incident that seems to trigger the anger is not actually the root cause. For example, if you get angry because your car stopped on you, are you really angry that the car quit working?...or are you afraid of being late and facing whatever that brings with it? Or maybe you are angry because if the car is broken,...meaning you'll have an additional financial burden, and of the stress that it might carry.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.—James 1:5 (NIV)

First try to learn to accept responsibility for your anger,...and then try to locate the true cause of it. A variety of needs such as insecurity, fear, pride, loneliness, inferiority and as I mentioned the other day; unrealistic expectations can all cause us to feel anger. You might get angry with a friend who attempts to encourage you to take on a new challenge. You accuse them of being pushy,...when in fact, it may have been something you indicated you'd like to do, but are afraid to try,...a fear of failure.

If you struggle with anger, ask God to give you wisdom and insight,... ask Him to help you identify the real source of your anger, and then to deal with it appropriately.

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Holy Spirit, we need Your help, Your wisdom. Help us to understand our anger, so that we may overcome it. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

 

" Instead of being set apart to God, many so-called Christians have become too comfortable in our society, or simply doing as the world does."

Be Slow To Offend

Good Morning!! One key to controlling our temper, is to have realistic expectations of others. No one is always wrong,...or right, all of the time. It is wrong to expect others to always be happy and helpful. None of us can be "up" all the time. We all have times that we are sick, stressed or just plain tired. And, right or wrong, these things do affect our moods. We need to remember that other people are affected by these same things. They may have reasons for their seemingly rude or insensitive behavior.

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.—Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

Let's try to avoid getting offended whenever people don't respond or act the way we think they should. They might just be having a bad day. We also need to remember that everyone and everything, does not just exist for our convenience or purpose. We will control anger better if we don't say things like "I can't stand this …" or "They better never …" These statements lock us into emotionalizing rather than thinking.

Don't let everything bother you to the point that you "lose it" over other people's behavior. Show other people the same kind of understanding, we'd like to have on our challenging days.

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Holy Spirit, help us not to expect others to be perfect or to always do things our way. Move us to be more willing to overlook offenses,...to see people's hearts, and be sensitive to their needs. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

" Instead of being set apart to God, many so-called Christians have become too comfortable in our society, or simply doing as the world does."

Back Away

Good Morning!! The sin of proximity is not the same for everyone. What may constitute an occasion for sin for one person, may not even tempt another. We all have our triggers that, if pulled, will likely lead us to acting on our impulses. We need to learn to avoid these sin traps,..and remove ourselves from the things we know push our buttons. If you don't want to get burned, watch yourself around the stove.

In you, Lord my God, I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. I put my trust. Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.—Psalm 25:1, 2, and 18 (NIV)

Doing this requires making decisions, and taking action before we are confronted with the situations that exploit our weaknesses. If we can recognize these occasions for sin, and learn how to avoid them, we will have greater chance of being more Christ-like,...and victory against the sin.

Life is change, not everything is meant to last,...know when to let go, and trust God.

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Father God, we really want to do what’s right. We realize now, however, that we can’t do it on our own. Forgive us for our failures. Teach us how to avoid circumstances, people, and things that would move us to sin. Then, give us the strength to stay away. Help us to live in a way that reflex and pleases You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

" When we walk in the Spirit, when the Spirit controls us, He produces joy in our lives just as He produces love."

What About Me Lord?

Good Morning!!  How long, Lord? Have you every had to ask God that question?...How long until my prayer is answered? How long until things get better? How long do you want me to do this without seeing any results?When is my time going to come? When Joseph was sold into slavery and later spent years in prison, he must have asked, "How long, Lord?" When Moses led the Israelites round and round in the wilderness, he surely thought, "How long, Lord?" When Noah was ridiculed for more than 120 years while he built an ark on dry land, he had to have wondered, "How long, Lord?"

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.—Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV)

Yet, while each one of these godly heroes may have asked "How Long Lord?",...they never stopped trusting God. They feared (respected) Him enough, to continue obeying Him,...even when it seemed as if they had been forgotten, and that all hope was gone.

Remember; God loves us. He has good plans for our lives. His timing is always perfect. We must keep on, as others before us have,..."Trusting God."

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Father God, help us to honor You, by trusting You and being willing to move when You say so. Even though we get discouraged at times, help us remember that You are in control,...and that Your way is the best way,...Your time the best time. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

" When we walk in the Spirit, when the Spirit controls us, He produces joy in our lives just as He produces love."