Listen To Your Helper

Good Morning!! As Christians, we have the marvelous yet mysterious experience of having the Holy Spirit as our companion and guide,...even though we can't see Him.

The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn't speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and will let you know what is going to happen.—John 16:13 (AAJE)

Jesus promised His disciples that when He left this earth, He would send Someone else to be with them. "The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you." (John 16:7). The words here translated "Help, Helper" or "Comforter" means "called to one's side or aid." Bible scholar W. E. Vine says that they signify Someone who can be to us what Christ was to His disciples. Though He's invisible to our eyes, the Holy Spirit is with us every day, just as Jesus walked with His disciples on earth. He keeps us honest, focused, and encouraged so that we too can glorify Christ,...if only we will listen and obey.

The Father gave us the Spirit,...to make us like His Son.

O' Lord, help us to be more open to the leading of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

" Until we allow the Lord to fill our cups daily,...we will never Live Abundantly."

Perpare For Purpose

Good Morning!! What is it, that God wants of me? What is it, that I want of God? Asking and discovering the answers to these two questions will help you find and live God's plan for your life. Don't compare yourself to anyone other than Jesus. He is perfect, and your example of how to give, live and love. You'll never successfully build a house using car plans.

so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,—Colossians 1:10 (NIV)

When we live according to God's design, we will be successful in carrying out His plan for our lives. As the apostle Paul prayed, may we be "filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (v.9). And then, may we live accordingly.

To truly know life's purpose, we must first know life's Creator.

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Holy Spirit, make us ready, so that when we hear God's call, we can answer and follow with love, joy and obedience.
 In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

" Until we allow the Lord to fill our cups daily,...we will never Live Abundantly."

Truth Honors God

Good Morning!! Truth is essential to building a good relationship, whether in the workplace or home. Truth-telling builds lasting trust. As I tell my children, "If you tell a lie about one thing, it will be tough to believe you about anything." "Rather than love, money or fame, give me truth." What a difference it would make in our world if that theme were heard as often as those catchy and memorable advertising jingles by Coca-Cola or McDonald's.

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.—Psalm 2:6 (KJV)

There are hundreds of reasons to support the idea, that telling the truth is best for us and for society, but the most vital reason is that it honors God. Truth is at the heart of who He is, and it is how He wants us to interact with others. Throughout the Proverbs,...a book that clearly gives us God's thinking about moral and ethical principles, the standard of truth is held high. We find statements such as these: "He who walks with integrity walks securely" (10:9). "The truthful lip shall be established forever" (12:19). "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord" (12:22). Truth cannot be refuted. It never grows old. It never has to be retracted. It never fails. It is the language of God.

Nothing holds as much power as truth.

Holy Spirit, help us to never be afraid to tell the truth, and honor our God. Let us always fear God, more than the world's reaction to the truth. In Jesus' name, Amen.

" Until we allow the Lord to fill our cups daily,...we will never Live Abundantly."

Be Slow To Judge, And Quick To Help

Good Morning!! We often judge people by the way they look or dress, or by what kind of car they drive. We need to be careful whom we trust, but that doesn't mean we should dismiss everyone who doesn't look or dress like a movie star. Most of us are reluctant to trust complete strangers, and yet we could find them to be angelic. (believe me, I've been on both sides of this fence)

Some of them were supposed to be important leaders, but I didn't care who they were. God doesn't have any favorites!—Galatians 2:6 (AAJE)

People come in all sizes, colors, and conditions. Before we set aside those who don't match our personal standards, we need to remind ourselves that our Creator doesn't play favorites (Gal. 2:6),...neither should we.

First impressions are misleading
For we do not know the heart;
We can often be mistaken
Since we only know in part. —Fitzhugh

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Holy Spirit, help us to always, look at others through the eyes of Christ.

" Until we allow the Lord to fill our cups daily,...we will never Live Abundantly."

Know When You Need Help, And Ask

Good Morning!! "God helps those who help themselves" The concept is so familiar that most people think it must be somewhere in God's Word. Actually, the Bible doesn't say that at all. It tells us just the opposite: God helps the helpless. When you read the Gospels, you find that Jesus did not refuse to help the helpless. He did not withhold forgiveness and compassion from those who acknowledged their sin. He did not turn away from those who had no power to change. In fact, the people who distressed Him most were those who thought they didn't need any help at all.
So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.—Hebrews 4:16 (AAJE)

God's thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9), and He sees things differently than we do. We see our own limited ability to deal with problems,...He shows us our weaknesses to teach us to rely on His strength. We take pride in our successes and begin to think we don't need God's help,...He allows us to fail, so He can teach us that true success comes through His grace. Are you feeling helpless today? "Come boldly to the throne of grace" to find help in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

God helps those who know they are helpless.

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God's grace is available for all those, who recognize that they cannot help themselves.

" Until we allow the Lord to fill our cups daily,...we will never Live Abundantly."

Don't Let Them Win

Good Morning!! Cynics suspects the worst even in the best of people. They can see more evil through a keyhole, than others see through an open door or window. In Psalms 116, the psalmist had nearly succumb to this danger. He evidently had enemies who were out to get him, with vicious lies and rumors. The attacks were so unjustified and his desperation so deep that he thought he would die. In his loneliness and agony he concluded that there was no one he could trust.

I said in my haste, "All men are liars."—Psalms 116:11 (NKJV)

We see here; that the psalmist's enemies nearly defeated him,...not with knives, but through verbal attacks. And the greatest danger came not from the lies told about him, but from their effect on his soul,...and his walk with the Lord. Beware of cynics, and cynicism. Avoid making snap judgments about others while under stress, as the psalmist did,...even though he eventually realized that his attitude was wrong. God delivered him, and replaced his cynicism with vibrant praise. The Lord can and will do the for us.

Cynicism is a virus that attacks the spirit, and breaks down our relationship with others,...and with God. 

Holy Spirit, As hard as it maybe, don't allow us to hold all accountable for what a few have done,...It only hurts us and our Heavenly Father in the end. Amen.

 " Think on the things that are of God,...and always give thanks."

Security and Significance

Good Morning!! To feel loved and valued,...nearly every wish or want, that we have can be summed up by these two things. Security and significance are the two most essential elements of good emotional health. If we feel we are safe from harm, as well as safe from rejection and loneliness, we are blessed with the first of two essentials. Additionally, if we know that we are viewed with affection and appreciation by at least some of the people who matter to us, that gives us a sense of value,...and the second piece of the puzzle. But know this; even the best of human love is insufficient to give us the security and significance, we truly need.

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.—Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

Why? One reason is that man's life is fleeting. People grow old and die, and love can eventually come to an end. Another reason is that in personal relationships, we know that people are often sinful, fickle, unfaithful, with motives of their own. We need the eternal love of God, who is love. He views each of us as priceless. And the gospel reveals that we have such love in the Person of God's Son,...Jesus Christ. His love will never let us go.

Our greatest security is found in the eternal love, of the eternal God. 

Sweet Spirit of God, direct our love, hope, and faith, in the One and Only God, our Father. Amen.

" Think on the things that are of God,...and always give thanks."