HAPPY WEDNESDAY!
Today's scriptures are about trusting the Lord to supply all of our needs. This has always been a true statement from the beginning of time, but for some reason most of us don’t trust Him with all of our heart. God understands that, so we go through a number of test and trails, to prepare us for our blessings. Today's scriptures lead off with a partial verse from Genesis 22, which tells the story of when God tested Abraham. It’s written: One day God called out to Abraham and told him: “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (vs. 2) What would you have done, if God said this to you? Personally, my first reaction would’ve been to think that I was going crazy. I’d then immediately say, "the devil is a liar", and keep moving forward, but that's just me. Abraham on the other hand, was a brave soul, it isn't written anywhere that he questioned God, nor second-guessed His command, he just packed up his son, his supplies, and headed toward the mountains. Moses took his "only son", whom he loved dearly, and laid him on an alter that he built, took out his knife, raised it in the air and without a blink of an eye, was about to sacrifice his only son. At that moment: ...the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (vs. 11-12) Abraham, out of faithfulness, still gave his burnt offering with a clean animal, and he called that place "The-LORD-Will-Provide" (vs. 14). What an enormous amount of faith and trust Abraham had in God! Although it isn't written here, I'm sure he went through feelings of fear, anger, remorse, sadness, and much more, but through it all, he still trusted in the Lord to supply His every need. This is a true example of what Dr. Stanley's meant when he said, "Obey God and leave the consequences to Him". The scripture goes on to say: Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (vs. 15-18) How awesome is this? Abraham inherited so much, just because he trusted the Lord to supply all of his needs, through a simple act of obedience. We too are rewarded this way everyday, when we have just a little faith in God. God asks us to follow some rather simple rules, love Him, love each other, and trust and believe in His son Jesus Christ. When we're obedient to these things, we have the opportunity to go to Him and ask for anything, within His will, and it'll be provided to us. The everyday blessings that we take for granted all come without us even asking. Clean air to breath, shelter, clothing, food, etc., will all be there, when we trust Him. Jesus said: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matt 6:31-34) I urge you to try and minimize life's evil distractions, because when we fail one of God's many test and trials, we get knocked off the narrow path of righteousness, and we lose out on many blessings. What if Abraham would've said to God, "I will not kill my son", because he did have a choice? He would've missed out on one of the most tremendous blessing man has ever received. Trust in God requires us to give up "self", and take on the mind of Christ. If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior, then you're truly missing out on the greatest thing that will ever happen to you. Most importantly, you will not inherit the kingdom of God. A little trust will get you a long way, so pray and ask for Salvation today. If you don't know how, please contact me, and I'll pray with you. My favorite verses today are: Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death. (Psalm 33:18-19)
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Daily Devotional Day & Night
HAPPY TUESDAY!
Today's scriptures are about remembering God after our blessings. We receive so many blessings from God on a daily basis, that it's sometimes hard to acknowledge them all. Having good health and strength is a gift, let alone having our necessities like food, shelter, transpiration, employment, etc. Counting our blessings daily is necessary, because acknowledging that everything we have in this life is given to us by the grace of God, helps us stay humble. God promises that He'll never let the righteous fall, and that whatever we ask He'll give. I’m a living witness, who will testify that those two things are true. However, God knows our heart, our maturity level, and where we're trying to be in our faith walk. How many times have you prayed for something, was blessed with it, and never thanked God for it? In addition, when you received those blessings, how did you bless others or uplift the kingdom of God? Just imagine that your child asked you for a car on their sixteenth birthday. You buy it for them because they've been working hard, and doing well in school. Once they get that car, they never say thank you, start messing up in school, and never offer to help around the house. How would that make you feel? We treat God like that more often than we realize, and then when things go wrong in our lives, we question Him. How many times have you asked God "why me", or "what am I doing wrong"? I can’t count how many times I've prayed those prayers. It's written: A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. (Prov. 28:20 NIV) I’m sure most of us have dreamt of winning the lottery, or building an empire, with so many riches, that we’d never have to want for anything. There's nothing wrong with that, but what matters is what we tend to do with those riches. My Pastor preached about patience this past Sunday, and he mentioned the scriptures, “the last comes first, and the first comes last”, “those who mourn will be blessed”, etc. Those types scriptures pertain today’s topic as well, because God knows what the love of money and material abundance could do to a human being. Our flesh is weak, and to have anything at out disposal could potentially be damaging to our soul. We must grow to a point where we are wise enough to seek God in all things, and adequately manage the little things in our lives, before we could manage earthly wealth. We must learn to work hard, and give freely, putting aside our own selfish ambitions. We should be able to praise God in our struggles an in our triumphs. Learning His ways, and being content with what we have is worth more than any amount of money in the world. God expects us to be like that teenager with their first car in the beginning of our Faith walk, but eventually we must grow and mature. He’s working within us, to accomplish just that. He wants us to have our hearts desire, and is willing to bless us with whatever we need to be happy, but what constitutes happiness? There are so many of us who walk around sad and upset, without a valid reason. We've been blessed with the greatest gift known to man, Salvation through Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit in our heart. That fact alone should bring us joy, peace, and happiness, all the days of our life. All we need to do is consult our Holy Spirit to find out what we should pray for, and ask God in Jesus Name, and it's as good as done. Live your life with gratitude, thanksgiving, and praise on your lips at all time, and watch God work. I'll leave you with this: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7) If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior, that's the first thing you should ask God for, and with Him comes access to all of the riches in Heaven and on earth. Thank Him everyday for the blessings past, present, and those to come, and cast your nets out into the water, and watch the multitude you'll be blessed with (John 21:1-14). My favorite verses today are: Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; ... then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God: ... for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:11-12, 4,18)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455265&dtype=Scripture
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I love you!
Today's scriptures are about remembering God after our blessings. We receive so many blessings from God on a daily basis, that it's sometimes hard to acknowledge them all. Having good health and strength is a gift, let alone having our necessities like food, shelter, transpiration, employment, etc. Counting our blessings daily is necessary, because acknowledging that everything we have in this life is given to us by the grace of God, helps us stay humble. God promises that He'll never let the righteous fall, and that whatever we ask He'll give. I’m a living witness, who will testify that those two things are true. However, God knows our heart, our maturity level, and where we're trying to be in our faith walk. How many times have you prayed for something, was blessed with it, and never thanked God for it? In addition, when you received those blessings, how did you bless others or uplift the kingdom of God? Just imagine that your child asked you for a car on their sixteenth birthday. You buy it for them because they've been working hard, and doing well in school. Once they get that car, they never say thank you, start messing up in school, and never offer to help around the house. How would that make you feel? We treat God like that more often than we realize, and then when things go wrong in our lives, we question Him. How many times have you asked God "why me", or "what am I doing wrong"? I can’t count how many times I've prayed those prayers. It's written: A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. (Prov. 28:20 NIV) I’m sure most of us have dreamt of winning the lottery, or building an empire, with so many riches, that we’d never have to want for anything. There's nothing wrong with that, but what matters is what we tend to do with those riches. My Pastor preached about patience this past Sunday, and he mentioned the scriptures, “the last comes first, and the first comes last”, “those who mourn will be blessed”, etc. Those types scriptures pertain today’s topic as well, because God knows what the love of money and material abundance could do to a human being. Our flesh is weak, and to have anything at out disposal could potentially be damaging to our soul. We must grow to a point where we are wise enough to seek God in all things, and adequately manage the little things in our lives, before we could manage earthly wealth. We must learn to work hard, and give freely, putting aside our own selfish ambitions. We should be able to praise God in our struggles an in our triumphs. Learning His ways, and being content with what we have is worth more than any amount of money in the world. God expects us to be like that teenager with their first car in the beginning of our Faith walk, but eventually we must grow and mature. He’s working within us, to accomplish just that. He wants us to have our hearts desire, and is willing to bless us with whatever we need to be happy, but what constitutes happiness? There are so many of us who walk around sad and upset, without a valid reason. We've been blessed with the greatest gift known to man, Salvation through Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit in our heart. That fact alone should bring us joy, peace, and happiness, all the days of our life. All we need to do is consult our Holy Spirit to find out what we should pray for, and ask God in Jesus Name, and it's as good as done. Live your life with gratitude, thanksgiving, and praise on your lips at all time, and watch God work. I'll leave you with this: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7) If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior, that's the first thing you should ask God for, and with Him comes access to all of the riches in Heaven and on earth. Thank Him everyday for the blessings past, present, and those to come, and cast your nets out into the water, and watch the multitude you'll be blessed with (John 21:1-14). My favorite verses today are: Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; ... then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God: ... for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:11-12, 4,18)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455265&dtype=Scripture
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I love you!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Daily Devotional Day & Night
HAPPY MONDAY!
Today's scriptures are about God's pardon of our sin. What a mighty God we serve! He’s above anything we could ever think of, and loves us more than anyone ever could. When we sin against God, and chose evil over His goodness, it grieves His heart (Gen. 6:1-7). Take a few moments and think about the Love of God. He created us to do great things, and we're so unique, that we each have something special to bring to His kingdom. He knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb, and we were chosen to live out all eternity with Him. Think of how it might make Him feel when we deliberately live in evil and wickedness, with no regard for what He's asked us to do. No parents want their child to grow up to be an alcoholic, drug addict, or a mean and evil person. When your child is born you look at them with love and hope. You do your best to nurture them and make sure they have all they need, but when they fall off of the path that you've worked so hard to help them achieve, it hurts. If they end up being ungrateful and rebellious against you, that hurts even more. Now apply those principles to the almighty God in Heaven. I know this is a much-used verse, but it’s the key to life, so lets take a moment to examine it. I want you to read this aloud: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) His love doesn't stop there, though eternal life is the greatest reward we could ever ask for. Even those who never do a good deed, sin every day of their life, could receive it, if he asked with a clean and contrite heart. Jesus was sent to do much more. It's written: Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38:39) All of this is possible through the grace and mercy of God. Sin causes disconnection, but Jesus brings reconnection. Sin leads to strife, anger, bitterness, remorse, depression, sadness, heartache, pain, and death, but Jesus gives us the power to overcome it all, and truly “live”. God is always waiting with open arms to receive us, and working to make us better, by creating in us a clean heart and a right Spirit. He reminds that we're "nothing but Dust", and He understands our frailties, so out of love He'll forgive us of our sins each time we ask. Not only will He forgive, but also when we repent, sin’s forgotten. He won't hold those things against us, because that would be condemnation. It’s written: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) Now say this aloud three times, “All God wants from me is love”, how profound is that? God doesn't require that we be perfect little Angels, because that isn't possible, however, He expects us to love and respect Him enough to follow His will. He wants to carry the spirit of humility and admit when we're wrong, ask for forgiveness, and make a conscious effort to change. That's good enough for Him, and He requires us to expect the same from others. Forgiveness is a two way street, and when we practice this selfless act, it allows us to understand that we're not perfect. Every parent thinks their child is the best child ever created, well God thinks that about every one of us, because we're created in His image, and He knows our heart. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, then your sin will continue to weigh heavily on your life, and everything in it. Allow Jesus to give you freedom, because sooner or later it will catch up to you. If you’re a Christian, but haven't had an honest conversation with God, confessing your sins, and asking Him to forgive you and give you the strength to repent, then you need to have that conversation today. Don't put it off until tomorrow, because tomorrow holds sin of it's own. Make it a habit, and enjoy being lighter and free. My favorite verses today are: Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455264&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
Today's scriptures are about God's pardon of our sin. What a mighty God we serve! He’s above anything we could ever think of, and loves us more than anyone ever could. When we sin against God, and chose evil over His goodness, it grieves His heart (Gen. 6:1-7). Take a few moments and think about the Love of God. He created us to do great things, and we're so unique, that we each have something special to bring to His kingdom. He knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb, and we were chosen to live out all eternity with Him. Think of how it might make Him feel when we deliberately live in evil and wickedness, with no regard for what He's asked us to do. No parents want their child to grow up to be an alcoholic, drug addict, or a mean and evil person. When your child is born you look at them with love and hope. You do your best to nurture them and make sure they have all they need, but when they fall off of the path that you've worked so hard to help them achieve, it hurts. If they end up being ungrateful and rebellious against you, that hurts even more. Now apply those principles to the almighty God in Heaven. I know this is a much-used verse, but it’s the key to life, so lets take a moment to examine it. I want you to read this aloud: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) His love doesn't stop there, though eternal life is the greatest reward we could ever ask for. Even those who never do a good deed, sin every day of their life, could receive it, if he asked with a clean and contrite heart. Jesus was sent to do much more. It's written: Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38:39) All of this is possible through the grace and mercy of God. Sin causes disconnection, but Jesus brings reconnection. Sin leads to strife, anger, bitterness, remorse, depression, sadness, heartache, pain, and death, but Jesus gives us the power to overcome it all, and truly “live”. God is always waiting with open arms to receive us, and working to make us better, by creating in us a clean heart and a right Spirit. He reminds that we're "nothing but Dust", and He understands our frailties, so out of love He'll forgive us of our sins each time we ask. Not only will He forgive, but also when we repent, sin’s forgotten. He won't hold those things against us, because that would be condemnation. It’s written: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) Now say this aloud three times, “All God wants from me is love”, how profound is that? God doesn't require that we be perfect little Angels, because that isn't possible, however, He expects us to love and respect Him enough to follow His will. He wants to carry the spirit of humility and admit when we're wrong, ask for forgiveness, and make a conscious effort to change. That's good enough for Him, and He requires us to expect the same from others. Forgiveness is a two way street, and when we practice this selfless act, it allows us to understand that we're not perfect. Every parent thinks their child is the best child ever created, well God thinks that about every one of us, because we're created in His image, and He knows our heart. If you don't know Jesus as your Savior, then your sin will continue to weigh heavily on your life, and everything in it. Allow Jesus to give you freedom, because sooner or later it will catch up to you. If you’re a Christian, but haven't had an honest conversation with God, confessing your sins, and asking Him to forgive you and give you the strength to repent, then you need to have that conversation today. Don't put it off until tomorrow, because tomorrow holds sin of it's own. Make it a habit, and enjoy being lighter and free. My favorite verses today are: Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455264&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
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I love you!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Daily Devotional Day & Night
HAPPY THURSDAY!
It seems like there isn’t enough time to accomplish all I need to accomplish, in one day. I need to learn how to focus on one thing at a time. I heard a preacher say recently, "The enemy of accomplishing one goal is another goal". He mentioned an article he read about Thomas Edison, and the creation the light bulb. Mr. Edison didn't think he was smarter than everyone else, but he maintained his focus on one thing, day in and day out, until he mastered it. He was never down about his many failures, but he said that they gave him ideas on what to try differently the next time. I thought that was so profound, considering what I'm struggling with right now. I think faith and optimism go hand and hand, and even babies fall down numerous times before they’re able balance themselves and walk. If you're in the process of soul searching, and making some life changes, take the one thing that interest you the most, and focus on that, until you perfect it, then move on to the next thing. I hope this helps someone other than me, I write by the Spirit so someone needs to hear it. Enjoy your evening, and be blessed family!
Today's scriptures are about keeping our focus on the things above. Focus seems to be the new theme in my life lately, because I know firsthand, that when I lose focus, calamity breaks loose. If you're anything like me, which I think most people are, you have to make a conscious effort to stay focused on the task at hand. To live like Jesus requires complete focus on God, and the Kingdom of Heaven. If we aren't focused, we'll easily be swayed by evil. Remember Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matt. 7:13-14) This is reminds me of the famous circus act, the tight rope. In order to avoid distractions, while walking on this thin piece of rope, many feet in the air, the tight rope walker must maintain a point of focus. If he takes his eyes off of that focal point, he'll fall. He must have confidence in his ability to keep his balance, as well as in the apparatus he works with. When we initially start on our faith walk with God, that narrow path Jesus was talking about, is similar to a tight rope. The distractions of the world are many, and if we lose our focus on the Kingdom of God, we will backslide. As we grow, it gets easier and easier to stay that path. In order to maintain a good level of focus, we must develop discipline. After all you can't have focus without discipline. Jesus constantly preached about denying yourself, and following Him. After a long days work, we don't always want to come home and read the bible, or spend time in prayer and meditation, because we're tired. On Sunday mornings, after a long Saturday, we don't always want to get up and go to Church, we’d rather sleep in. When someone has hurts us, we don't always feel like turning the other cheek, we want to hurt them in return. Christianity isn't all about blessings and gifts, it requires real work. To focus on anything requires real work, let alone trying to be a disciple of Christ. Did you know that you're a Disciple? Jesus commanded us to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19). Think about the twelve who walked with Him, and the amount of dedication, discipline, and focus they showed. Read any book in the New Testament and learn the ways of John, Peter, Luke, Judas, Stephen, Paul, and the others. All of these men served Jesus up until the day they took their last breath; well after Jesus went on to sit at the right hand of God. They never took their focus off of Heaven, which allowed them to endure life, lead, and help save so many souls. Their lives have an impact on each of us today, and will continue, way after us. That couldn't have happened had they took their focus off of God. We should always keep in mind that this life is temporary, and we will pass on some day, so we're not only working to enjoy life here on earth, but for all eternity. When we look at the people who are not saved, their lives may seem glamorous and fun, but in the end they're empty and lost. It’s our job to help get them on the right path, but we can’t if we’re not focused, it’s like “the blind leading the blind”. It's written: Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off. (Prov. 23: 17-18) I'm begging you to take some time and reevaluate what's most important in your life. If you wrote a list of your life's goals, where would God fall on that list? If God isn't number one then you need to change your focus. The only way to do that is by Salvation through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus you receive the Holy Spirit, and when you focus on His words, and following His lead, you're on the right path. My favorite verses today are: We faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455260&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
It seems like there isn’t enough time to accomplish all I need to accomplish, in one day. I need to learn how to focus on one thing at a time. I heard a preacher say recently, "The enemy of accomplishing one goal is another goal". He mentioned an article he read about Thomas Edison, and the creation the light bulb. Mr. Edison didn't think he was smarter than everyone else, but he maintained his focus on one thing, day in and day out, until he mastered it. He was never down about his many failures, but he said that they gave him ideas on what to try differently the next time. I thought that was so profound, considering what I'm struggling with right now. I think faith and optimism go hand and hand, and even babies fall down numerous times before they’re able balance themselves and walk. If you're in the process of soul searching, and making some life changes, take the one thing that interest you the most, and focus on that, until you perfect it, then move on to the next thing. I hope this helps someone other than me, I write by the Spirit so someone needs to hear it. Enjoy your evening, and be blessed family!
Today's scriptures are about keeping our focus on the things above. Focus seems to be the new theme in my life lately, because I know firsthand, that when I lose focus, calamity breaks loose. If you're anything like me, which I think most people are, you have to make a conscious effort to stay focused on the task at hand. To live like Jesus requires complete focus on God, and the Kingdom of Heaven. If we aren't focused, we'll easily be swayed by evil. Remember Jesus said: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matt. 7:13-14) This is reminds me of the famous circus act, the tight rope. In order to avoid distractions, while walking on this thin piece of rope, many feet in the air, the tight rope walker must maintain a point of focus. If he takes his eyes off of that focal point, he'll fall. He must have confidence in his ability to keep his balance, as well as in the apparatus he works with. When we initially start on our faith walk with God, that narrow path Jesus was talking about, is similar to a tight rope. The distractions of the world are many, and if we lose our focus on the Kingdom of God, we will backslide. As we grow, it gets easier and easier to stay that path. In order to maintain a good level of focus, we must develop discipline. After all you can't have focus without discipline. Jesus constantly preached about denying yourself, and following Him. After a long days work, we don't always want to come home and read the bible, or spend time in prayer and meditation, because we're tired. On Sunday mornings, after a long Saturday, we don't always want to get up and go to Church, we’d rather sleep in. When someone has hurts us, we don't always feel like turning the other cheek, we want to hurt them in return. Christianity isn't all about blessings and gifts, it requires real work. To focus on anything requires real work, let alone trying to be a disciple of Christ. Did you know that you're a Disciple? Jesus commanded us to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:19). Think about the twelve who walked with Him, and the amount of dedication, discipline, and focus they showed. Read any book in the New Testament and learn the ways of John, Peter, Luke, Judas, Stephen, Paul, and the others. All of these men served Jesus up until the day they took their last breath; well after Jesus went on to sit at the right hand of God. They never took their focus off of Heaven, which allowed them to endure life, lead, and help save so many souls. Their lives have an impact on each of us today, and will continue, way after us. That couldn't have happened had they took their focus off of God. We should always keep in mind that this life is temporary, and we will pass on some day, so we're not only working to enjoy life here on earth, but for all eternity. When we look at the people who are not saved, their lives may seem glamorous and fun, but in the end they're empty and lost. It’s our job to help get them on the right path, but we can’t if we’re not focused, it’s like “the blind leading the blind”. It's written: Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off. (Prov. 23: 17-18) I'm begging you to take some time and reevaluate what's most important in your life. If you wrote a list of your life's goals, where would God fall on that list? If God isn't number one then you need to change your focus. The only way to do that is by Salvation through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus you receive the Holy Spirit, and when you focus on His words, and following His lead, you're on the right path. My favorite verses today are: We faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455260&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Daily Devotional Day & Night
HAPPY WEDNESDAY!
I'm grateful for the Lent season, and happy I decided to follow this religious tradition. Being "in the wilderness" has allowed me to understand much. As well as challenged me to focus on the ways and teachings of Christ, and really strive to be like Him. Jesus was an extraordinary man (still is), who had all of the answers to living a peaceful life. In some cases He taught in parables, but this was meant to challenge us, and help us relate is teachings to "real life" experiences. Have you started reading the Gospels yet? I've started reading the book of Luke, and once I get started I can't put it down. The stories come alive, and I'm discovering so much more than I did before. The miracles and wonderful wisdom He shared, are awesome, so trust your Holy Spirit to guide you through this process. Get started tonight, if you haven't already, I promise you’ll will learn more each time you pick it up. Enjoy the rest of your day, and be blessed family!
Today's scriptures are about trust over logic. I talk about this subject with friends frequently, because it's important that we know that God doesn't always work according to the world’s logic. We’re led in ways we never thought possible, and we find ourselves questioning God, instead of trusting Him. He's equipped us with salvation through Jesus Christ, the Holy Bible, and step-by-step guidance by the Holy Spirit, so why the lack of trust? The real key to a life full of peace, joy, and happiness lies in three simple things, trust, love, and obeying God. The world works on the logical, and most people believe that everything is black and white, but what constitutes black and white? Logic is defined: reason or sound judgment, as in utterances or actions. It's acknowledged that we're in spiritual warfare, which consists of good versus evil. When we awake to see a new day, our main goal should be to follow the will of God, and create some good in the world. We can do that on many different scales, from something as small as smiling at someone who looks like they're having a bad day, or by stopping to help someone who appears stranded. It could go deeper with our professions, volunteer work, church affiliations, etc. Now logic says if we do good things we get good things in return. Even the bible says, "we reap what we sow", but what, how, and when, we should expect that good that we reaped, to be sown, remains a mystery to us. Isn't it logical that if we work our job eight hours a day, five days a week, the following week we should receive a pay check for forty hours of work? God doesn't totally work that way, He wants us to put our trust in Him, and work to store up our treasures in Heaven. He’s in control, so we must trust Him for everything, everyday, because our main commandment is to love Him. Trusting God to take care of our every need, without any tangible evidence of His existence, is a huge way to show Him love. Knowing in our heart of hearts that there is a God, and trusting Jesus Christ as our Savior, is what will get us into Heaven. No amount of good deeds, money, or power could do it. Let's look at the story of the Jesus and the rich young ruler: Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. (Luke 18:18-23) Now does this story sound logical to you? Do you think Jesus is literally saying you can't be rich and go to Heaven? Jesus was able to read this young man's heart, and so He knew that he would trust his money, more than he trusted God. Jesus simply challenged this man to make a decision, whether logical or not. Ultimately choosing God is all that matters. We do have moral rules to follow, so that's why Jesus named the Ten Commandments, but overall faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is most important. It's written: “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30). We're expected to make mistakes in life, so I urge you not to sweat the small stuff. Be diligent in learning the ways of Christ, growing in the wisdom of God, and making a conscious effort to change you sinner ways, but trust in God first, and He'll make sure you do the ladder. Trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and He'll spend the rest of your life proving His love to you, and He only asks that you do the same. My favorite verses today are: Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62:8)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455259&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
I'm grateful for the Lent season, and happy I decided to follow this religious tradition. Being "in the wilderness" has allowed me to understand much. As well as challenged me to focus on the ways and teachings of Christ, and really strive to be like Him. Jesus was an extraordinary man (still is), who had all of the answers to living a peaceful life. In some cases He taught in parables, but this was meant to challenge us, and help us relate is teachings to "real life" experiences. Have you started reading the Gospels yet? I've started reading the book of Luke, and once I get started I can't put it down. The stories come alive, and I'm discovering so much more than I did before. The miracles and wonderful wisdom He shared, are awesome, so trust your Holy Spirit to guide you through this process. Get started tonight, if you haven't already, I promise you’ll will learn more each time you pick it up. Enjoy the rest of your day, and be blessed family!
Today's scriptures are about trust over logic. I talk about this subject with friends frequently, because it's important that we know that God doesn't always work according to the world’s logic. We’re led in ways we never thought possible, and we find ourselves questioning God, instead of trusting Him. He's equipped us with salvation through Jesus Christ, the Holy Bible, and step-by-step guidance by the Holy Spirit, so why the lack of trust? The real key to a life full of peace, joy, and happiness lies in three simple things, trust, love, and obeying God. The world works on the logical, and most people believe that everything is black and white, but what constitutes black and white? Logic is defined: reason or sound judgment, as in utterances or actions. It's acknowledged that we're in spiritual warfare, which consists of good versus evil. When we awake to see a new day, our main goal should be to follow the will of God, and create some good in the world. We can do that on many different scales, from something as small as smiling at someone who looks like they're having a bad day, or by stopping to help someone who appears stranded. It could go deeper with our professions, volunteer work, church affiliations, etc. Now logic says if we do good things we get good things in return. Even the bible says, "we reap what we sow", but what, how, and when, we should expect that good that we reaped, to be sown, remains a mystery to us. Isn't it logical that if we work our job eight hours a day, five days a week, the following week we should receive a pay check for forty hours of work? God doesn't totally work that way, He wants us to put our trust in Him, and work to store up our treasures in Heaven. He’s in control, so we must trust Him for everything, everyday, because our main commandment is to love Him. Trusting God to take care of our every need, without any tangible evidence of His existence, is a huge way to show Him love. Knowing in our heart of hearts that there is a God, and trusting Jesus Christ as our Savior, is what will get us into Heaven. No amount of good deeds, money, or power could do it. Let's look at the story of the Jesus and the rich young ruler: Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. (Luke 18:18-23) Now does this story sound logical to you? Do you think Jesus is literally saying you can't be rich and go to Heaven? Jesus was able to read this young man's heart, and so He knew that he would trust his money, more than he trusted God. Jesus simply challenged this man to make a decision, whether logical or not. Ultimately choosing God is all that matters. We do have moral rules to follow, so that's why Jesus named the Ten Commandments, but overall faith in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is most important. It's written: “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30). We're expected to make mistakes in life, so I urge you not to sweat the small stuff. Be diligent in learning the ways of Christ, growing in the wisdom of God, and making a conscious effort to change you sinner ways, but trust in God first, and He'll make sure you do the ladder. Trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and He'll spend the rest of your life proving His love to you, and He only asks that you do the same. My favorite verses today are: Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62:8)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455259&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Daily Devotinal Day & Night
HAPPY TUESDAY!
Today's verses are about having consolation through God, during times of affliction. What are the first things you do in times of tribulation or affliction? Do you: a) shut down and become recluse, b) take on numerous tasks in hopes of to ignore the pain, c) lash out at the people around you, or indulge to bad habits, or d) go to God in prayer, meditate on His promises, and praise Him for the lessons learned? We all know that the good "Christian" answer is D, but that isn't always our first reaction. The human mind is built to try and rationalize everything before making decisions, and when experiencing certain levels of tribulation. We can react in many different ways, depending upon our level of grief, as well as our maturity level in our Faith walk. I’m a firm believer of the “Five Stages of Greif” theory, which states that when we experience loss, or trauma of some sort, we experience affliction in phases. The stages of the "grief cycle" are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Most Pastors, counselors, or Psychoanalyst teaches the HALT theory, and these simple principles are meant to help us physically and mentally endure grief. We're more prone to depression and/or a lack of faith, due to affliction, when we're Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and/or Tired. When we're going through hard times it's important to eat healthy and often, avoid things that may cause anger, stay connected with family or friends who are positive, and get the proper amount of sleep. This takes care of your physical and mental health, but above all of that, you must feed your Spirit. God allows us to be tested and afflicted for many reasons. The most common reason is for refinement, in hopes that we'll learn from our mistakes, and/or strengthen our weaknesses. He also tests our maturity, because if you can be faithful with little, He'll bless you with much. In addition, our faith is assessed through tasks that require great trust in God. He must be sure that we're ready before we're called. The only way to be prepared for tests of endurance is to consistently stay in the Word of God, because your Spiritual health allows you to stay on top of the mental and physical. The Holy Bible holds the weapons to defeat the enemy, and the promises to sustain the heart. A strong prayer life is necessary to get through everyday life, because the enemy is betting on you to fail. However, ignoring him, while being subconsciously aware of his presence, allows you defeat him every time. Your energy is much better spent on the Lord, learning His principles, building a strong bond, and allowing Him to feed you the wisdom needed to excel in life. Whether you consider yourself a child of God or not, you're sure to be tested, but trust God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, which is more powerful than anything we could endure. He urges us to come anytime, anyplace, and for anything, and the most critical time to seek Him is in times of affliction. Paul reminds us of this faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim. 2:11-13) If you don't know Jesus as your Lord Savior please pray that prayer today, and when you do, you and Jesus become one. Life could be hard with God, but I could only imagine how much worst it is without Him. Let me know if you need someone to pray with you. My favorite verses today are: Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455258&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
Today's verses are about having consolation through God, during times of affliction. What are the first things you do in times of tribulation or affliction? Do you: a) shut down and become recluse, b) take on numerous tasks in hopes of to ignore the pain, c) lash out at the people around you, or indulge to bad habits, or d) go to God in prayer, meditate on His promises, and praise Him for the lessons learned? We all know that the good "Christian" answer is D, but that isn't always our first reaction. The human mind is built to try and rationalize everything before making decisions, and when experiencing certain levels of tribulation. We can react in many different ways, depending upon our level of grief, as well as our maturity level in our Faith walk. I’m a firm believer of the “Five Stages of Greif” theory, which states that when we experience loss, or trauma of some sort, we experience affliction in phases. The stages of the "grief cycle" are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Most Pastors, counselors, or Psychoanalyst teaches the HALT theory, and these simple principles are meant to help us physically and mentally endure grief. We're more prone to depression and/or a lack of faith, due to affliction, when we're Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and/or Tired. When we're going through hard times it's important to eat healthy and often, avoid things that may cause anger, stay connected with family or friends who are positive, and get the proper amount of sleep. This takes care of your physical and mental health, but above all of that, you must feed your Spirit. God allows us to be tested and afflicted for many reasons. The most common reason is for refinement, in hopes that we'll learn from our mistakes, and/or strengthen our weaknesses. He also tests our maturity, because if you can be faithful with little, He'll bless you with much. In addition, our faith is assessed through tasks that require great trust in God. He must be sure that we're ready before we're called. The only way to be prepared for tests of endurance is to consistently stay in the Word of God, because your Spiritual health allows you to stay on top of the mental and physical. The Holy Bible holds the weapons to defeat the enemy, and the promises to sustain the heart. A strong prayer life is necessary to get through everyday life, because the enemy is betting on you to fail. However, ignoring him, while being subconsciously aware of his presence, allows you defeat him every time. Your energy is much better spent on the Lord, learning His principles, building a strong bond, and allowing Him to feed you the wisdom needed to excel in life. Whether you consider yourself a child of God or not, you're sure to be tested, but trust God and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, which is more powerful than anything we could endure. He urges us to come anytime, anyplace, and for anything, and the most critical time to seek Him is in times of affliction. Paul reminds us of this faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim. 2:11-13) If you don't know Jesus as your Lord Savior please pray that prayer today, and when you do, you and Jesus become one. Life could be hard with God, but I could only imagine how much worst it is without Him. Let me know if you need someone to pray with you. My favorite verses today are: Now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455258&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Daily Devotional Day & Night
HAPPY MONDAY!
We have 20 more days until Spring, and it brings rebirth, and new attitudes. We'll also celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, speaking of, how's your wilderness Journey going? We're only 12 days into it, and I'm feeling better than ever, praise God! Continue your self-exploration, and dedication to the love of Christ. Miracles will happen, I promise. Jesus said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matt. 16:24) Keep this one thing in mind, life is a journey, but better served when we consciously walk with Jesus every day. Enjoy the remainder of your day, and be blessed family!
Today's scriptures are about the Love of God. Love is such a wonderful thing. He loves us despite our flaws, and will remain in love with us for all eternity. The Apostle Paul defines love as "The Greatest Gift", in one of his letters to the people of Corinth. He writes: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails... (Cor. 13:4-8 NIV) Don’t all of these things represent God to the fullest? God is love, that’s why our major commandment is to “Love Him with all of our heart and soul”, and that's it. We can fail at everything else, but Love exceeds all bounds. When you love something or someone you treat them with the utmost respect and kindness. When dealing with them, you're patient and meek, always thinking about their wellbeing, and how you could contribute to their happiness; that's how God treats us. He's always open when we call out to Him, and He anxiously awaits our fellowship. He created us for Him, to love and cherish, and watch us grow into leaders and servants of Christ. He also requires us to love one another, because we are a reflection of Him. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, He enters our heart, mind, body, and soul, and we become infested with Love. When we continue to feed our souls with the fruits of the Spirit, and give love freely, we'll notice a change in our attitude, and in the level of our inner peace. Realistically, having the mindset of "loving my neighbor as myself", could be risky in this world, if not careful. Not everyone is a Christian, or has our mindset. Oftentimes, if we open our heart to the “world”, and expect the same in return from “it”, we could end up hurt, used, and scorn. I'm sure all of you could relate, because earthly love isn't the same as Godly love, there’s a big difference. As you grow in your faith walk, you love people despite their flaws, and start to be able to look through their flesh, and see their heart. I feel like I am a big ball of love, and I've learned to accept that about myself. Some call it optimism, or say I have a "dreamer" mentality, but it's truly a gift from God. Sometimes I get angry because of my forgiving heart, and perceive myself as a pushover, gullible, or a softy, but I know my limit. I choose to see the best in people, and I know that everyone has some good in them, because they're created in God's image. The Holy Spirit has given me decrement, and helps me avoid evil, and that connection gets stronger everyday. I try to live by the principles Jesus teaches: “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." (Luke 6:27-32) Now in these verses, Jesus isn't teaching us to allow people to run over us, we cannot be foolish (remember wise as serpents, gentle as doves?). However, He's telling us not to worry about the people who try to wrong us, because we're only doing what God commanded us to do. These people have their rewards, remember to “obey God, and leave the consequences up to Him” (~Dr. Charles Stanley). If you have someone in your life that's consistently hurting you, get rid of him or her completely, because that's not what God's love is. If they slapped one cheek, you gave them the other and the slapped that one too, you're all out of cheeks, forgive them and move on. Your love is better served on something else. God gives us the option to choose Him, yes He loves everyone, and offers Eternal life to all, but He doesn't make you choose Him. That's the beauty of the saying, "If you love something let it go, and if it's true love, it'll come back to you". Have you strayed away from God and are ready to comeback? He's been waiting on you the entire time, and all Heaven will rejoice when He receives you. Pray and ask for His forgiveness, and accept it, repent, and move on in His love. If you have never confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, don't worry He loves you too. Say a prayer asking Jesus to save you, and it's done, just like that. That's what real love feels like. My favorite verse today is: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 NKJ)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455257&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I truly love you!
We have 20 more days until Spring, and it brings rebirth, and new attitudes. We'll also celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, speaking of, how's your wilderness Journey going? We're only 12 days into it, and I'm feeling better than ever, praise God! Continue your self-exploration, and dedication to the love of Christ. Miracles will happen, I promise. Jesus said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matt. 16:24) Keep this one thing in mind, life is a journey, but better served when we consciously walk with Jesus every day. Enjoy the remainder of your day, and be blessed family!
Today's scriptures are about the Love of God. Love is such a wonderful thing. He loves us despite our flaws, and will remain in love with us for all eternity. The Apostle Paul defines love as "The Greatest Gift", in one of his letters to the people of Corinth. He writes: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails... (Cor. 13:4-8 NIV) Don’t all of these things represent God to the fullest? God is love, that’s why our major commandment is to “Love Him with all of our heart and soul”, and that's it. We can fail at everything else, but Love exceeds all bounds. When you love something or someone you treat them with the utmost respect and kindness. When dealing with them, you're patient and meek, always thinking about their wellbeing, and how you could contribute to their happiness; that's how God treats us. He's always open when we call out to Him, and He anxiously awaits our fellowship. He created us for Him, to love and cherish, and watch us grow into leaders and servants of Christ. He also requires us to love one another, because we are a reflection of Him. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, He enters our heart, mind, body, and soul, and we become infested with Love. When we continue to feed our souls with the fruits of the Spirit, and give love freely, we'll notice a change in our attitude, and in the level of our inner peace. Realistically, having the mindset of "loving my neighbor as myself", could be risky in this world, if not careful. Not everyone is a Christian, or has our mindset. Oftentimes, if we open our heart to the “world”, and expect the same in return from “it”, we could end up hurt, used, and scorn. I'm sure all of you could relate, because earthly love isn't the same as Godly love, there’s a big difference. As you grow in your faith walk, you love people despite their flaws, and start to be able to look through their flesh, and see their heart. I feel like I am a big ball of love, and I've learned to accept that about myself. Some call it optimism, or say I have a "dreamer" mentality, but it's truly a gift from God. Sometimes I get angry because of my forgiving heart, and perceive myself as a pushover, gullible, or a softy, but I know my limit. I choose to see the best in people, and I know that everyone has some good in them, because they're created in God's image. The Holy Spirit has given me decrement, and helps me avoid evil, and that connection gets stronger everyday. I try to live by the principles Jesus teaches: “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them." (Luke 6:27-32) Now in these verses, Jesus isn't teaching us to allow people to run over us, we cannot be foolish (remember wise as serpents, gentle as doves?). However, He's telling us not to worry about the people who try to wrong us, because we're only doing what God commanded us to do. These people have their rewards, remember to “obey God, and leave the consequences up to Him” (~Dr. Charles Stanley). If you have someone in your life that's consistently hurting you, get rid of him or her completely, because that's not what God's love is. If they slapped one cheek, you gave them the other and the slapped that one too, you're all out of cheeks, forgive them and move on. Your love is better served on something else. God gives us the option to choose Him, yes He loves everyone, and offers Eternal life to all, but He doesn't make you choose Him. That's the beauty of the saying, "If you love something let it go, and if it's true love, it'll come back to you". Have you strayed away from God and are ready to comeback? He's been waiting on you the entire time, and all Heaven will rejoice when He receives you. Pray and ask for His forgiveness, and accept it, repent, and move on in His love. If you have never confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, don't worry He loves you too. Say a prayer asking Jesus to save you, and it's done, just like that. That's what real love feels like. My favorite verse today is: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 NKJ)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455257&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I truly love you!
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