Morew Faith, Than Fear

Good Morning!! Even if it appears pointless, continue to believe and have faith. One day when Jesus was surrounded by a multitude, a distressed ruler of the synagogue named Jairus pushed his way through the crowd and fell at His feet. With great urgency he pleaded with the Lord to come to his house. His little daughter was dying, and he knew that the Lord could heal her. Jesus, who was full of compassion, immediately went with him. But on the way, a woman with a chronic disease "came behind Him in the crowd and barely touched His garment" (Mark 5:27). Recognizing her need, by a touch of faith, He stopped to heal her. Just then Jairus received the sad news that his daughter was dead. Jesus, sensing his deep disappointment, said to him, "Do not be afraid; only believe" (v.36).

"Don't worry.  Just have faith!"—Mark 5:36 (AAJE)

Sometimes in our own trials of faith, we experience disappointment and despair. It appears useless to continue to believe. We may feel the need to take things into our own hands. We wonder, What's the use of believing any longer? This is the point at which we are so often defeated,...yet this is also the time when victory is at hand. Are you discouraged today and ready to give up? Jesus would say to you, "Don't despair. I won't fail you. Only believe!" Your faith will be rewarded.

Faith expects from God, what is beyond, all expectation.

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Holy Spirit, help us to choose faith over fear, let our focus be on God and His Word. Let us not forget the promise of God; that we are not alone, nor forsaken. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

"The things that make God most dear to us, are not the great big blessings, as much as the tiny things,...because they show His amazing intimacy with us."

Get Renewed, So You Can Renew

Good Morning,...I'm hoping you have a great and blessed week! I ask myself, "if someone spent the whole day with me, how would they feel at the end of the day,...worn out or built up?" That's the kind of question I began to think about, after listening to a DVD of Clark Hutchinson, talking about relationships. He said he has noticed three kinds of relationships: draining, neutral, and replenishing. Hutchinson pointed out that Jesus experienced all three kinds of relationships. Those that exhausted His energy were perhaps the most common in our Lord's earthly experience, for He spent much of His time giving. He healed the sick, encouraged the downtrodden, and taught the masses. We know that sometimes He must have been worn out by these experiences. He often went away to pray and renew Himself (Matt. 14:23; Luke 5:16).

Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.—John 12:2,3 (NIV)

Some of His relationships were probably just casual contacts. But the replenishing ones encouraged Jesus. They were relationships with people such as Mary, Martha, and Lazarus,...whose love and presence uplifted the Him. How do we relate to our friends, acquaintances, and family members? We can add to their lives a measure of happiness by giving them a chance to talk,...encouraging them,...and suggesting life's brighter side. So now I ask you this question; Do we leave people drained or replenished?

To get the most out of a relationship,...put all you can into it.

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Father God, replenish our strength and energy,...that we may be able to refresh others.
 

"The things that make God most dear to us, are not the great big blessings, as much as the tiny things,...because they show His amazing intimacy with us."

Where Is Your Passion?

Good Morning and A Very Happy Friday!!! TGIF - Thank God I'm forgiven ! "I have no pleasure in you." This was the Lord's stinging rebuke to His people through the prophet Malachi (1:10). God was angry with their careless, shoddy methods of worship. The animals they brought for sacrifice were not acceptable to Him because they were not the best of the herds and flocks. Instead, they offered stolen, lame, and sick animals (v.13). 

"When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?" says the Lord.—Malachi 1:13 (NIV)

While we may not be showing this degree of contempt toward God, sometimes we are too casual in our worship. A friend of mine made this observation about herself: "When I shop for simple things like soap or butter, I hardly think about it. But when I'm looking for a blouse to match a skirt, I shop very carefully. I go from store to store until I find exactly what I'm looking for." Then she added thoughtfully, "I should pay that same attention when I am worshiping God. But sometimes I approach Him as casually as if I were shopping for a box of Kleenex." During worship services in our churches, we may fail to give God our full attention. We rush in late. Our thoughts wander. We need to discipline our minds so that we are not focusing on yesterday's cares or tomorrow's responsibilities. When we worship the Lord with all our heart, He will be pleased with us.

At the heart of true worship,...is worship from the heart.

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"What can kills your passion (for the Lord)?

Think about it in the context of marriage,...lack of interest, indifference,
and being too busy to take time to be together destroys passion,...distraction is a passion killer."

(Extravagant Worship, Darlene Zschech, p. 177)

"Before we lose patience with others, we need to stop, and think how patient God has been with us."

Hang On, and Hold On

Good Morning!! We've all seen load-limit signs on highways, bridges, and elevators. Knowing that too much strain can cause severe damage or complete collapse, engineers determine the exact amount of stress that various materials can safely endure. Posted warnings tell us not to exceed the maximum load. We also have our load limits, which vary from person to person. Some people, for example, can bear the pressure of trial and temptation better than others; yet everyone has a breaking point and can take only so much.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.—1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

At times, circumstances and people seem to be pushing us beyond what we can bear. But God knows our limitations and never allows any difficulties to enter our lives that exceed our strength and ability to endure. The wight He allows is to make us stronger, not to break us. This is especially true when we're enticed by sin. According to 1 Corinthians 10:13, "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able." So when trials and temptations press down on you, take courage. Remember, your heavenly Father knows the limits of your ability to stand up under life's pressures. Draw on His strength; no temptation will ever be greater than that!

If we yield to God,...we won't have to give in to sin.

It was no accident that Joseph spent years as a slave, then a prisoner in jail,...before he was ready to be exalted to a prominent position and be used by God.
Storms have a way of teaching us what nothing else can.

"Before we lose patience with others, we need to stop, and think how patient God has been with us."

Favor

Good Morning!! I know a few women who have testified, "I was diagnosed as having inoperable cancer, but I trusted God to heal me and He did." Yet there were so many others in the same situation and with just as much faith have fervently prayed,...and yet,...they died. I'm nearly sixty now, I still feel strong, I'm moderately active, and in reasonably good health. But I know of other Christians, my age and younger, who are coping with so many severe physical problems, or have simply died. Does God heal only those with a strong faith?...Is good health a sign that God loves one person, more than another who isn't well?

Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.—Jeremiah 10:23 (NIV)

Hebrews 11 answers these questions with a resounding "No!" It tells of devout believers who were persecuted. Some were miraculously delivered, while others were imprisoned, tortured, and slain. But all of them are cited equally for their faith. The issue then and now is not God's love or the strength of one's faith but God's sovereignty and wisdom. Some of my Christian friends believe they know God better than if they had been healed. They testify of having grace for each day, and they anticipates the day when they will be given their resurrection body. God's ways are different. Accepting this is the first step to a stronger faith in Him.

God tries our faith,...so that we may try His faithfulness.

Father in Heaven, we thank you for the season of favor that we enjoy, and any and all success that goes with it. Don't let us forget that it is UN-earned, Don't let us be like the friends of Job, thinking; it's a matter of our righteousness, and someone else's sinfulness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"Before we lose patience with others, we need to stop, and think how patient God has been with us."

Life After Death

Good Morning My Friends,..Just Hold On! Before Jesus left this earth, He promised to prepare a special place for those who love Him (John 14:2-3). Years later He spoke to His disciple John in a vision, giving him as much detail as man's finite mind could grasp. Since then, God's people have pondered with eager anticipation "a new heaven and a new earth," where there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain (Rev. 21:1,4).

He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."—Revelation 21:5 (NIV)

When we are released from sin's curse, we will serve God without weariness (22:3-4). We will see Jesus and be like Him (1 John 3:2). Thinking about these joys moved the renowned English physician Thomas Browne (1605-1682) to write, "When we begin to talk about life after death, we're like two infants in a womb discussing the nature of their future life. The difference between our present knowledge and an understanding of what it will be like to share God's glory is no less great than what exists between unborn babes and a man at his peak. . . . As Christians, we know it is indescribable and thus we can rejoice, but it will be even greater than our wildest imagination." In life's darkest or most joyous moments, let's never forget that the best is yet to be.

 

The greatest joy on earth is the prospect of heaven.

Father God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son,...and the perfect example that He provides. Jesus is the way, and the light. Amen.

 

"Before we lose patience with others, we need to stop, and think how patient God has been with us."

Dare We Ask, Why Me?

Good Morning!! It's a new week with new trials and new chances.  Many of us struggle a long time before coming to the kind of acceptance, that allow us to stop saying " why me?"...and instead say "why not me?"  Tragedies and accidents deceive us with their subtle logic. We ask, "Why me? If God controls everything and we're trying to please Him, why hasn't He kept us from trouble?"

He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.—Job 2:10 (NIV)

Satan, expected Job to trip over that same question. He tried to make the case that people who trust God's goodness have only a fair-weather faith. But Job showed the strength of God's hold on his heart. When Job's wife urged him to curse God and die, he said, in effect, "Why should I be exempt from suffering? Why not me?" Although Job did struggle for answers, he came to a sense of acceptance as he recognized God's greatness and wisdom. He reaffirmed his confidence in God to do what was best. When we stop saying, "Why me?" and start saying, "Why not me?" we take the first step to glorifying God in our trials.

Afflictions become blessings,...when blended with acceptance.

Lord, we love You, and we accept that You alone are in charge. And if You allow it, who are we to fight it. We ask to be use, but we don't get to say how. Amen.

"Before we lose patience with others, we need to stop, and think how patient God has been with us."