Who are you Serving ?....

“So Samuel said to all the Israelites, ‘If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’” (1 Samuel 7:3)

I have to look seriously at who – or what – I am serving. I can be easily deceived if I am not regularly submitting myself to the Lord my God. There are many things I can serve in this world, none of which honor Jesus. I can serve money, other people, and addictions to various substances or activities. I can even serve an addiction to people if what they think of me is more important to me than what the Lord thinks of me.

I can also become a servant to my emotions. It is so easy for me to become overwhelmed by my feelings, and when I do, I can begin to quickly bow down to them. When anger rears its ugly head in me, it is all too natural for me to lash out at my husband or the nearest loved one. However, the Lord says in His Word:

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1) 

When I feel discouraged and overwhelmed by a task that is before me, it is simple for me to say, “I just can’t do this!” But the Word of the Lord speaks differently:
If I have exploded at my husband or failed to do something that I gave my word I would do, I may feel that I am unworthy of the Lord and feel that He can never forgive me. However, if we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, this is not the Truth. According to God’s Word: 

If I have exploded at my husband or failed to do something that I gave my word I would do, I may feel that I am unworthy of the Lord and feel that He can never forgive me. However, if we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, this is not the Truth. According to God’s Word:
The Lord lets us know that we are forgiven andcontinuously cleansed from all our sin when we come to Him and lay our sin at the foot of His cross:
The Lord lets us know that we are forgiven andcontinuously cleansed from all our sin when we come to Him and lay our sin at the foot of His cross:

“I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.]” (Philippians 4:13, Amplified Bible)

“If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]” (1 John 1:9, Amplified Bible) 

“‘But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.’” (Matthew 6:33, Amplified Bible)

Thank you, Blessed Savior, that You forgive all of my sins, and that You cast them as far away from me as the east is from the west. Help me to always follow and seek after You alone, and to give up any and all idols that I may be serving and to place You firmly on the throne of my life. In your holy and precious name, I pray. Amen.

Presence of God....

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5  

God’s assignment for Joshua might have caused him some concern. Being the successor to Moses was no small task. Through Moses, God had turned the waters in Egypt into blood, parted the Red Sea, destroyed the Egyptian army, and miraculously fed the nation for forty years. God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and gave him His law. Joshua must have wondered how he could follow Moses. 

 To erase any doubt, God assured Joshua that Moses’ accomplishments had all been due to God’s presence. Joshua grew confident because the same God who walked with Moses now walked with him (Josh. l:6). 

 As you read the accounts of God’s miraculous work through men and women in the Bible, you may wonder if God still performs such miracles today. Be assured that the same God who walked with Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Peter, James, John, and Paul now lives within you. No power can defeat the God who guides you. The God who blessed them is just as capable of working out His purposes through your life. The same God who gave them victory over seemingly invincible enemies, who provided for them when their own resources were insufficient, and who guided them in their decisions, is prepared to work as powerfully in your life today. The heroes of the faith had one thing in common: They were all ordinary people with no power of their own. The difference is the mighty presence of God. Times may change, but the effect of God’s presence remains the same.

Powerless....

And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Judges 16:20 One of the signs of a heart that has shifted from God is the absence of spiritual power. If you are like Samson, you will not be immediately aware that God’s power has left you. Only after he tried to defeat his enemies did Samson recognize that something was wrong. He went against the Philistines as before, expecting their swift defeat. But this time the Philistines easily prevailed over him. If you allow sin to creep into your life, if you refuse to obey your Lord, if you do not reconcile with those who have hurt you, your spiritual vitality is waning. You may assume everything is fine, but when you pray, answers do not come as they once did. You once had a positive effect on those around you, but now your influence is negligible or even harmful. Your life once brought reconciliation, but now you experience problems in your relationships. Those around you who have relied upon your strength are discovering that you are not as helpful to them as you once were. Your lack of spiritual power is not crying out for attention; but you are seeing subtle changes in your spirit and in your relationship with God. How can you stop this spiritual decline? You must regularly repent of any sin. You must invite God to search your life to see if there are attitudes, relationships, or activities that need to be removed. You must fervently obey His will. If you walk with God in this manner, you will grow in spiritual strength and be used mightily by Him.God bless you all!!!

I Am What I Am....

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10, ESV)

I grew up watching Popeye the Sailor cartoons. He would sing, “I am what I am and that’s all that I am”. How would you fill in this blank, “I am _______________”?

Some may name their profession. I am a counselor. I am a teacher. I am an accountant.

Some may give their names. I am Mary Smith.

Some may list their role. I am Sarah’s mother. I am Ian’s wife.

Some will describe their appearance or ethnicity. I am redheaded. I am Latina.

Some will admit their faults. I am fat. I am depressed. I am an alcoholic.

Whatever is at the forefront of our minds will likely dictate how we answer. It is how we define ourselves. But, how many of us would say first and foremost, “A child of the living God who is forgiven and loved”?

Paul was not part of the first group of handpicked disciples. In fact, he had been one of their main persecutors. But he doesn’t deny his past—the good parts or the bad. Instead he states that God has covered his past with His grace. God took Paul with all of his experiences, education, ethnic background, and beliefs to mold him into the bridge between the Hebrew and Roman worlds. Through Paul, who was both Hebrew and a Roman citizen, God spread the Gospel throughout the Empire and beyond its borders. Paul was the perfect man for the task in spite of his flaws and mistakes.

Our gracious Lord does the same for each of us. Whatever you are today, God’s grace can not only cover it but use it to His glory. Don’t let all your past experiences, mistakes and you’re your triumphs be in vain. Give all your talents, failures, desires and dreams to the Almighty. He knows you better than you know yourself, and loves you even more. - PTC

Precious Father, I am your creation. You know me inside and out, and knew me even before I was a twinkle in my mother’s eye. You know my faults, my failures, my good points, my successes and my past mistakes. But you also know my potential. Only You can take it all and make good of it. Today, I place myself in Your hands to use me as You will to Your glory. I am what I am, because I am Yours—forgiven and loved through Your Son’s sacrifice on the cross. Amen.

Treasures in the Sand Box.....

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Yesterday my grandson dug up “treasures” in his sand box. We both knew the little cars were in there because I had carefully covered them over lightly so he could have the fun of re-discovering each one.

This morning I thought of that as I looked into God’s word and saw two amazing treasures that I knew were there all along. Digging them out again I re-discovered the shining truths that simply blessed my heart.

”May the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

“May the GOD OF PEACE, … equip you with everything good for doing His will, and my He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus.”

(Hebrews 13:20 & 21)

May the God of Hope & Peace fill you with all you need today – and more – as you simply trust Him to do just that!

Father God,

We so often take Your familiar word for granted. Thank you that You continue to help us dig out Your treasures. May we walk in today with a joy and confidence, a peace and assurance that is steady and amazing because we have freshly uncovered the wonderful timeless truth of Your word. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, 
you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you 
an example that you should do as I have done for you 
- John 13:14-15 (NIV)

Marriage is like a symbolic foot washing. 

• Putting on servant clothing 

• Laying a towel over your arm 

• Gently washing away the dust on your spouse's feet 

• Quietly drying them with warmth 

• Warmly touching and kissing 

• Laying down your life for your spouse/family 

• Doing all this with a smile, humility and grace 

This World Is My Home....

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.’”(Jeremiah 29:4-6)

Perhaps you are familiar with these lyrics written by Jim Reeves:

This world is not my home I’m just a passing through,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you.
If heaven’s not my home, then Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

It’s a comforting song to sing, especially when the cares of everyday life threaten to submerge us into the blackness of the sea. The prospect of heaven, of living eternally with the Friend like no other, is like light at the end of a tunnel.

If any group had reason to long for heaven’s joy, it was the Jewish people enduring the trials of exile. In the poetry of the psalms we read that, “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion”.

But God had a message and a purpose for His children. They were not to sit in idle grief, removing themselves from their neighbors, uninvolved in the country in which they found themselves. They were not to live in movable tents, ready to escape at any moment, but instead to “build houses and settle down.” The building of houses, the planting of gardens and the eating of their produce indicates a long term view. Not only were they to avoid living in a “holy huddle,” but they were specifically asked to “work for the country’s welfare” (The Message).

The people of God, living in rich fellowship with their Heavenly Father and in loving community with each other, will have influence and impact on their surroundings. At least for now, this world IS my home.

Father, Remind me that while Heaven is the promise of tomorrow, You have placed me here in this place for a reason. Help me to see the ways I can bring Your love to the people right in front of me today. Amen

Born of God....

"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9)

John continues to hammer the truth into our hearts. To believe in God or as he now phrases it – to be born of God – means we have been changed. Listen to John’s description of those who are born of God:

• everyone who does what is right has been born of Him (1 John 2:29)
• no one who is born of God will continue to sin (1 John 3:9)
• he cannot go on sinning, because he is born of God (1 John 3:9)
• everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:7)
• everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1)
• everyone born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:4)
• anyone born of God does not continue to sin (1 John 5:18)

No difference remains between word and deed.Belief and action become perfectly united. The new life God brings breathes consistency. This is the miracle of rebirth!

In his gospel, John quotes Jesus saying, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) Jesus describes a spiritual process. “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:6-7)

Deadened by sin, my true self – my spirit – requires regeneration. Being born of God refers to transformation of the spirit brought about by God’s Spirit.

God in heaven, I believe Your Spirit has the power to change me. Show me how to live in the reality that I have been born of God. Amen

Be a Good listener....

Ten Ways to be a Good Listener in Marriage....        

• Don't jump to conclusions 

• Don't give unsolicited advice 

• Don't change the subject until he has finished the subject 

• Make verbal responses such as, "I see", "Really", Uh Huh", to show you're paying

  attention. 

• Turn off the TV 

• Put down the dishcloth, book, hairbrush, etc. 

• Encourage him to tell you more 

• Let the telephone ring if he is in the middle of telling
  you something 

• Don't ask him to hurry 

• Don't act bored 

ABC's of a Healthy Marriage

The ABC's of a Healthy Marriage

• A Allow for Diffrences 

• B Be Loving 

• C Communicate Daily 

• D Date Regularly 

• E Evaluate Your Past 

• F Forgive 

Promises of God....

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!” (Psalm 68:1)

The Word of God is filled with promises from Genesis to Revelation. As children of the King, in covenant relationship with Him, all of these promises belong to us. Think of it this way, if you signed up to be a member of some sort of an association, there would be a clear statement of what the “benefits” of belonging to that association would be. It would also be clear what your part of the contract was in order to qualify to receive those benefits. When you do your part, the association is duty bound to deliver what it has promised, and you certainly would expect it to do so.

My favorite list of the promises of God is in Deuteronomy 28, where there is a clear statement of what is required of us, “to diligently obey the voice of the Lord and to observe carefully all His commands,” and then clearly states the results we can expect when we follow through. Sometimes it seems like it is easier to expect a man to follow through on contracts, than to believe God to uphold what He has promised to His covenant children through His Word.

Mark 11:23 states that whatever we ask for, if we believe we receive it, we will have it! The Greek translation for the word “receive” means “to take it.” It is an action and expectation on our part that when we have fulfilled the requirement to obey, we can believe and expect the promise to manifest according to the covenant relationship we have with God. Remember, His promises are “Yes and amen”. (2 Cor. 1:18-20) Obey His voice and expect Him to faithfully deliver according to His Word.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)

Father in Heaven, Teach me to trust that You will deliver on Your promises. Don’t let me waste a single hour in doubt, but instead through obedience and prayer to know You will do what You promised. Amen

Answered Prayer....

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” (Jonah 3:1)

I am part of the single women’s group at my church. We have a Potluck in the Parlor on the second Sunday of each month. The week before one of these luncheons, I woke up in the middle of the night thinking how women are inclined to pray for their brother, their sister, their parents, their children, their friends. Most of us are prayer warriors and happy to be. But God kept drumming through my brain we are so busy praying for others, we forget to pray for ourselves.

We believe God knows our heart so why ask out loud for our desires? I started to wonder, are our needs more insignificant than those of others? God gave me the idea that at the luncheon I should ask every woman what prayer she needed for herself—not for the family, friend or pet. During that week, I felt like I was living out Jonah 3:1, “…the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” Only for me it was a second, third, and forth time. The urge came strong.

But my doubt crept in. I thought, “It’s such a simple thing, did I hear Him or was it some silly nighttime thought?” But His voice kept saying, “Just do it.”

The day of our lunch arrived and I still found my flesh doubting His call but with the strong, continuous call, I felt I had to follow the command. Towards the end of the potluck, in a lull of silence, there came an opportunity. I spoke up and explained what God placed on my heart. I received nodding heads when I said that women often pray and do for everyone else and neglect to themselves. The request was for each woman to share something she needed prayer for, something for herself.

I noticed that two of the women were misty-eyed so I started the sharing at the opposite side of the group. One by one, each woman shared a personal need. It quickly became obvious that God had a plan; I was only the instrument. When one of the teary-eyed women took her turn, she blurted out, “This is an answer to my prayer.”

Relief flooded my heart. I did what God asked in spite of my doubts and now I knew why. These specific women needed to share something personal with their sisters in Christ. At the end of sharing time, one of the teary women told me that all week she had needed to share her issue with someone. She had been thinking she would ask me for a minute after the luncheon. But instead, God meant for her to share with everyone in the group. Her issue was something two of the other women had experienced. I had not. If she had shared with me only, I wouldn’t have offered the sound counsel that these other woman gave.

We had a blessed time of sharing, giving sound advice, and lots of encouragement. I thought it was just a simple thing, but God’s plan is always sublime. It was a solid reminder to me that if the Holy Spirit talks, I need to listen and obey, and not doubt and turn away. I shudder to think of the blessings that would have been missed if I’d not done what He asked.-PTC

Father in Heaven, Incline my ear to listen for Your voice. When You speak, let me respond with the words of Samuel, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” I don’t want to miss out on the blessings You want to do, for me and through me. May I be quick to listen, and quick to act. Protect me from doubts so that I may serve You better. Amen

Be Peacemaker: God knows our Heart....

Be Peacemaker: God knows our Heart....: Proverbs 21:1-2 (AMP): 1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He will. 2 E...

God knows our Heart....

Proverbs 21:1-2 (AMP):

1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord as are the watercourses; He turns it whichever way He will.2 Every way of man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts. 

Verse 1 This is one of my favorite faith-building verses because it tells me that God has the power to change the hearts of men, even kings. This is easy for God, who can change the course of great rivers. It is important to know this, because if the devil stirs up evil in someones heart against me, I know that the Lord can change that persons heart. I am thankful that I learned this truth early in my walk with God! I have watched God turn nasty situations around many times in my life. Frequently, the very people the enemy used to come against me later apologized for their behavior.

One of the greatest lessons that the Lord taught me is to immediately turn to Him in prayer whenever a problem comes up in my relationships with people and ask why it is happening. First, I examine my own heart. I ask God if any of my actions or attitudes caused the problem, and if I need to ask forgiveness or change anything. I have learned to humble myself first before God and then before the angry party. If I am not at fault in a situation, I am careful to maintain an attitude of love and respect toward them, and trust God to defend me. Ive seen hearts softened toward me when I practice overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:19-21) and took the position of trusting Him to defend me, even as Jesus did (1 Peter 2:21-23). Contention comes from pride (Proverbs 13:10). If we humble ourselves and refuse to be contentious, God will defend us. He will take bad situations and turn them into something good for us, which brings glory to Him!

Verse 2 People do what is right in their own eyes, but God looks into our hearts to see what motivates us. Good deeds may be done out of the desire for mans approval or attention rather than out of love and the true desire to serve. Sometimes our deeds may not appear worthwhile to others, but if we are obediently serving God, He is pleasedand that is all that really matters. A mother who stays home to raise her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord may be derided by other women set on pursuing their careers. However, God looks at the commitment of the stay-at-home mom as she ministers to her children and is well pleased, seeing the heart of a mother who puts her children before herself. It is not wrong for women to work outside the home; some women have no choice, being the sole providers for their families. However, the point is that God sees our hearts and judges us by what He finds there. We can rely on God absolutely, for He is omniscient (knows all things), omnipresent (everywhere present at the same time), and sovereign over all things.

I came across this devotional and it spoke to me personally so thought of sharing with you as well.......

God Bless You

God's Wish List....

Do you have a wish list? Is it filled with dreams you aspire to see come true, places you want to visit, milestones you hope to reach in your lifetime? There is nothing wrong with having a wish list however, some of the items might be selfish desires. I wish to do this, I hope to go here and there, I want to buy this and that, etc.

I wonder if God has individual wish lists for each of us? Perhaps every time we receive and obey truth, pass a test, grow in His likeness, and do what He asks, He gladly checks the item off. According to God’s word, there are certain things He wishes to see us accomplish. God’s Wish List may look something like this:

_____Your Name____

• Received the gift of salvation through My Son Jesus (John 3:16, Revelation 21:6, 22:17)

• Continuously seeks Me in prayer (Ephesians 6:18)

• Meditates on My word (Psalm 1)

• Is maturing in the fruit of My Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

• Seeks first My kingdom and righteousness (Mathew 6:33)

• Is steadfast in the renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2)

• Puts on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17)

• Is growing in faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love (2 Peter 1:5-8)

• Is using and sharing spiritual gifts effectively (Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

• Will receive crowns (1 Corinthians 25, 2 Timothy 4:8, Revelation 2:10, 1 Peter 5:4)

• Will inherit rewards (Mathew 25:34, Acts 20:32, Colossians 3:23-24)

Just imagine God smiling down at you each time He witnesses your spiritual growth. He wishes for all His children to grow in the likeness of His Son while here on earth. As you diligently seek to do your part, God does his. Out of His great love for you, He pours buckets of mercy, favor, blessings, grace, joy, peace, healing, and protection into your life from His vast storehouse in heaven. Before preparing your wish list or bucket list seek God’s insight. You might be surprised how different your list looks when you include Him and maintain an eternal perspective in all things. - PTC

Heavenly Father, I come to you wishing to grow in your ways. May I not be selfish in seeking my own wish list, but instead seek to obtain and accomplish all that pleases you. Holy Spirit I ask that you would help me remake my wish list so it is fitting to the new person God is turning me into. In Jesus name, Amen

Treasure from Junk....

I have friends who can look at an old dilapidated end table at a flea market and envision what it would like with a little tender loving care. But when I look at that same old table, I tend to see something that really should’ve been hauled off to the dump a long time ago. I struggle to see the beauty in junk. And I can’t help but wonder if that is the way that God sees me – just a piece of junk.

But then, I think of Peter.

Peter was one of Jesus’ closest friends. Just before Jesus died Peter proclaimed to all the disciples that He would go with Jesus to the death.

“Simon Peter asked, ‘Lord, where are you going?’

And Jesus replied, ‘You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.’

‘But why can’t I come now, Lord?’ he asked. ‘I’m ready to die for you. (John 13:36-37)

Then just hours later, Peter denied Jesus, not once but three times! How devastated Peter must have felt! Was there anything worse than disowning Jesus?

I wonder if Peter felt like he should be hauled out with the garbage? I’m sure he felt that there was nothing redeemable in him. But after the resurrection, Jesus went to Peter, fixed him breakfast and asked Him not once but three times if Peter loved Him. And from that moment on, Peter is different.

Peter becomes a powerful spokesperson for the gospel of Jesus Christ and God uses him in mighty ways. What Peter saw as junk in his life – his biggest failure – was what God used to make him stronger, more determined to follow Jesus and proclaim the Good News to the world.

God took Peter’s junk and turned it into treasure.

When I look at my life, the mistakes, the poor choices, the failures and the damage I’ve caused in my own life and in others, I see a huge mess, a pile of junk! There is no way I can envision anything good coming from it. I see nothing redeemable in me.

But just like God did with Peter, He sees something beautiful in my pile of junk and accepts the challenge of turning my mess into something He can use. Look at what Ecclesiastes 3:11 says in the New Living Translation, “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”

Isn’t that amazing? God sees our junk and He uses it to make something beautiful! We, as finite beings, cannot see the whole scope of God’s plan. We only see the here and now, the failures, mistakes, and regrets but God uses them to accomplish His great plan for us.

Look at what God does in nature: He changes an unsightly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly and an ugly duckling into a magnificent swan. If He can do that to a caterpillar or an ugly duckling, think what He can do with you!

Father, When I think of the junk in my life it’s so tempting to want to hide from You. Remind me that You see it all anyway and that the best thing I can do is come to you quickly, confess and repent and let You work freely in my life. May I be quick to come to You and eager to believe that You see beauty in me, even in my messy places. Amen

-PTC

God Said....And it was so....

And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.’”(Genesis 1:3)

The first chapter of Genesis tells the story of creation. A pattern quickly emerges as we read the account. First God speaks; then whatever He says happens. Sky, seas and dry ground, plants and trees, sun, moon and stars, sea creatures, birds and animals of every kind appear at the sound of God’s voice.

“And God said, ‘Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water…And it was so.”(Genesis 1:6 &7b, NASB)

Over and over, the words repeat, “And/Then God said…And it was so” (Genesis 1:6-7, 9, 11, 14-15, 24, 29-30)

God spoke the world into existence. His word is fact. Consider what that means for us, in the twenty-first century.

God is powerful. If it took only the word of His mouth to create the universe, can any problem we face thwart His purpose for our lives?

God is faithful. Unlike us, God’s words and actions are perfectly united. What God says, He will do. “God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19)

Holy and Almighty God, I praise You, Lord, Creator of heaven and earth. Your power and Your faithfulness go far beyond my comprehension. All creation stands before me as an example of Your greatness. Help me to remember that You still speak. I want to trust You and not be afraid. Keep me in Your unfailing love. Amen

Strong Foundation.....

I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:47-49)

It’s amazing how children’s fairytales from long ago mimic the parables Jesus spoke of in the Bible. The tale of the Three Little Pigs aligns with Jesus’ teaching about building our lives on a solid foundation. The story illustrates the outcome of the wise and foolish builders found in Mathew 7 and Luke 6.

Before the three little pigs left home to find their life’s fortune in the world, their mother told them, “Whatever you do, do it the best you can”. Sadly, the first two little pigs took the easiest way and built their homes out of straw and sticks. However, the third little pig was wise and built his house out of bricks. As the story unfolds, the big bad wolf huffs, puffs, and blows the first two houses of straw and sticks down. The two little pigs run to their brother’s house built of brick, and the wolf was unable to blow it down. Eventually, the wolf flees the scene and the three little pigs survive! The moral of the story is that the third pig listened to his mother’s wisdom, obeyed her advice, and built his life upon a solid foundation in order to survive.

The foundation you build your life up on determines how well you hold up during the storms of life. The unexpected huff might play havoc on your health, the surprising puff may claim your career and finances. The startling blow may literally bring your entire home to the ground. Do you have rock solid faith to handle one of these impediments? If you are apprehensive, it is never too late to build a stronger spiritual foundation which will strengthen you for whatever life hurls your way.

Jesus teaches that we must be wise and build our lives on a solid foundation. In Mathew 7:24-27 He says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Your relationship with Christ will stand the test of time. Getting to know Him better and applying the truths found in the Bible to your life will continue to strengthen your foundation. Anything else will fall away like a sandcastle that washes away when the tide comes in.

Dear God, Help me to build my life on a solid foundation based on your word. Holy Spirit help me to hear, listen, and apply truth into my life so that when the storms of life surface I do not loose my footing. In Jesus Name, Amen

Kingdom Citizenship....

On 4th July , most Americans celebrate independence. Flags are fly, families gather, and fireworks fill the night sky. We do this to show appreciation for our American citizenship and to honor those who sacrificed to provide our freedoms.

You may be celebrating Independence Day. Or perhaps you’re a citizen of one of the other great nations of the world. No matter where you live, if you believe in Christ, then we’re fellow citizens. You see, we share a citizenship in the kingdom of God.

The word kingdom simply means “rule.” So kingdom of God refers to the Lord’s complete rule and authority. He certainly reigns in the hearts of His devoted followers.

Today, we understand this in a spiritual sense. But Matthew 25:46 proclaims that the Enemy will be defeated in the future and the enemies of God will be removed from the world forever. At that point, Christ will establish His physical kingdom in the new heaven and the new earth. And, as kingdom citizens, all believers will reside there together.

Nations and nationalities are important. But they are not eternal. To be an effective citizen of God’s kingdom, you must look beyond your country’s borders and view the world through the eyes of God. Then, you’ll see your brothers and sisters, friends, and countrymen in the new kingdom, the realm where we’ll all celebrate together.

Step Out....

“When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’”. (Mathew 8:1-2, NKJV)

Jesus had just come off the mountaintop with his disciples having spent much time teaching them. Multitudes (meaning tens of thousands) began to follow Jesus, and in the midst of all this, a leper came out from the crowd and worshiped Him.

This leper was unique. In desperate need to come in contact with Jesus he somehow was able to overcome his many discouragements and reach out for the only One that could give Him any hope to a hopeless condition.

I’ve often wondered what it took for him to worship Jesus while in that condition. He hadn’t yet been healed, nor did he have a promise of healing. He worshiped in spite of his circumstances and made himself vulnerable in a crowd of people that deemed him dirty, diseased and unclean.

He was hungry for a touch from God, however, I am convinced he worshiped Jesus not because of what he could get from him, but because he recognized Jesus for who He was.

God desires to touch us and takes delight in bringing us healing. Our desperation for Him, like the leper who left the crowd, usually manifests itself through bold and extravagant action.

God always honors faith and is moved by our worship. Sometimes it takes leaving the place we have lived in for so long, and stepping out in faith no matter what others say so we can attain the promises of God on our lives.

Father, Your word says that I can approach Your throne of grace with boldness. In times when I am embarrassed to come to you or fearful to follow because others might mock me for it, remind me that your invitation to come always stands. Draw me close to You. Amen

why do i live by my feelings?

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.” (Psalm 112:7, Amplified Bible)

What does it mean for my heart to be “firmly fixed”? I confess, my heart has a tendency to live by its feelings. I hear a scary news broadcast and I immediately begin to worry about the future. I don’t see God answering my prayers the way I think He should and then doubt that He is good. I have a difficult conversation with my husband and immediately go to the long laundry list of things he’s done wrong over the years. I begin my day with God but then don’t give Him another thought. I see a beautiful jacket at the store and impulsively buy it even though we don’t have the money.

Why do I live by my feelings? Why is my heart not “firmly fixed” on God alone? I want to live that way but find my heart to be capricious. Could it be that I don’t really trust God the way I say I do? Have I taken my eyes off of what is true and focused on my feelings instead?

In Lamentations 3 the prophet Jeremiah does the same thing. He’s angry with God. Listen to what he says in the first part of this chapter.

“He has walled me in, and I cannot escape. He has bound me in heavy chains. And though I cry and shout, he has shut out my prayers. He has blocked my way with a high stone wall; he has made my road crooked.”(Lamentations 3:7-9, NLV)

“He has made me chew on gravel. He has rolled me in the dust. Peace has been stripped away, and I have forgotten what prosperity is. I cry out, “My splendor is gone! Everything I had hoped for from the Lord is lost!”(Lamentations 3:16-18, NLV)

The prophet Jeremiah wallows in his bitterness and pain for twenty verses. It’s easy to see how his thoughts are spinning around and around in his head, causing him to spiral downward into a pit of self-pity.

Ever been there?

But in Lamentations 3:21 things change. It’s as if a light shines out from the words on the page, cutting through the darkness. Listen to what he says, “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this…” He stops the downward spiral and chooses to remember.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’” (Lamentations 3:22-24, NLT)

What is Jeremiah doing here? He is choosing to take his eyes off his feelings and circumstances and to put it on the TRUTH. In spite of the way he feels, God is good. His love never ends and His mercies are new each day.

I don’t know where you are today, if you are struggling in the pit of despair, or if you’re living every day with a seemingly impossible situation. Wherever you are, God’s desire for you is that you trust Him and that your heart be firmly fixed on Him.

He wants you to know that His love never ends and His mercies never cease. Rest in that today, my friend. Give Him your anxious thoughts, your fears, your anger and your bitterness. He’s big enough to handle it. Then fix your eyes on Him.

Be Ready To Recieve Blessings....

One day, two men were walking home. All of a sudden, it started to rain. Really hard. Because both of them didn’t have an umbrella, the two guys got soaking wet.
After a few minutes of torrential rain, 


The first man cursed. “God, what have I done to deserve this bad fortune?” he growled, hurling his fist to the sky. “Why are you punishing me? I’m minding my own business here, walking home, when You had to make it rain!”. 


But the second man’s response was totally different. He began to skip, dance, and sing like Gary V in a concert. “Yeepee! Life is wonderful!” he hollered.With venom in his voice, the first man asked, “What are you so happy about? Can’t you see we’re wet as frogs in a swamp!” The second man said, “My dear friend, I’m a farmer. The rain is nourishing my crops. I will have a bountiful harvest this year!”

It was the same rain, the same amount of water pelting their bodies, but the two men had two very different reactions. Why? Because one person prepared for the rain and another didn’t.


There is always an avalanche of blessing that will flow into your life. Financial blessings. Spiritual blessings. 


They pour like a rampaging river over you. But will you be ready for their coming? If you won’t be ready, you’ll just curse. But who will praise? The person who has planted great seeds in his life. How will you do that?

Here are the three kinds of seeds that you need to plant:

1)  Seeds of Desire 2)  Seeds of Belief 3)  Seeds of Action 

God wants to bless you abundantly. But you need to learn how to be ready to receive those blessings.

God's Perscription....

As you put God first in your possessions, passions and past, He will heal your heart and restore your life. He will set you free! Enjoy God today. Live not for the moment, but IN the moment. 

This perscription will help you fight against such diseases as bitterness, malice, greed, and pride. Sometimes these things creep upon us and we aren’t even aware that we have become enslaved.

Let your heart beat for an amazing quality of life. We don’t know the future, but we know the One who does.

Romans 6:6 says, “We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin.”

There it is. This is God’s prescription.We all have choices to make. We have amazing opportunities, with God’s help, to better our lives. We have possessions to take care of, passions to pursue, and a past to let go of. We can proclaim as Isaiah did, “Don’t think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Do you not see it?”

Take some time to evaluate. Slavery is not an option. We have freedom….do you see it?

Father God, help us to take all our desires and dreams and make them Yours. Guide us to be all we can be so we can live in a freedom we never thought possible. Thank you for taking our slavery to the cross. Because of that our possessions, passions, and past are put in the proper perspective. In the all-powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

God is Near....

The God I know has a soft heart toward His children. He adored us long before we considered His existence. He is thrilled that we long to know Him. He meets us on whatever road we travel, never turning to walk away or giving a list of rules we must first follow.

God never plays hide-n-seek. So seek Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, to allow you to jump into those waiting arms, so you can finally feel the embrace you so hunger for.

God, When I feel far from You remind me that You are so close You can count the hairs on my head. Help me to feel Your love. Teach me how to receive it. Amen