1/31/2017

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. –Philippians 4:4

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content–Philippians 4:11

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. –Philippians 4:13

1 Simple Step That Can Save Your life…

It always amazes me when people talk about God, Jesus, and the Bible that they think there are so many hoops they have to jump through. People say, there’s no way I can be a Christian. There’s too many rules, you have to be perfect. Perfect? Now, there’s a tall order.

No where, in my Bible, have I ever found the “perfect” rule.

Even Jesus said, why do you call Me good, there is only one that is good and that is God. If Jesus, who was perfect, can say that, well then, there is hope for us after all.

The 1 step that can save your life. Trust in Jesus Christ and ask for His forgiveness. It says so right there in Romans 10:9 to be exact(among other places in the Bible), true story, look it up. Ok, but how do I do that, you ask? Well, right in the back of my Bible there is a prayer.

When you are ready to save your life, just read it.

Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways. I believe You died for my sin and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven.

I want to turn from my sin and ask You to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day on, I will follow You by living a life that pleases You. Thank You, Lord Jesus for saving me. Amen.

 

1/30/2017

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. –Psalms 124:8

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. –Philippians 2:3

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. –Philippians 2:10-11

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. –Philippians 2:13

 

1/29/2017

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.–Ephesians 6:10

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. –Ephesians 6:16

It’s Hard

Today while I was reading and typing up the verses to post, the realization hit me that, more times than not, these verses step all over my toes, as the old expression goes.

God always finds a way to point out, to me, right where I am struggling, and what I need to do to fix it, and help me on the journey to be the person that He wants me to be. I mean, I want to be good, be kind, be tenderhearted, be forgiving.

Key words there “want to be”  but just because I want to be, doesn’t mean that is what I end up being. 

It’s hard when, you feel, you have been wronged, or that someone has hurt your feelings, taken advantage of you, whatever the case may be, to just be kind and forgive them.

To be nice, to not defend yourself, or lash out and do what you feel would equal the score, so to speak.

But if we pause for a moment and give inventory to ALL the things we have done in our lives to offend or hurt others, and yet God forgave us those trespasses.

Then why do we get so mad, angry, upset, etc, when someone comes along and hurts or angers us? What is the saying about shoe being on the other foot?

The more I read my Bible, the more I find that I don’t get so hurt or angry.

It would be a lie to say that I don’t get hurt or angry because I do, sometimes daily but more and more it’s not as severe, or volatile, or long-lasting. I have done wrong things in my life, wronged others, myself, and to probably people that I didn’t even realize I was hurting, and yet God loves me and forgave me.

He only wants me to do the same for others. He wants us to show everyone in this world, all our brothers and sisters through Him, the same love and forgiveness that he has shown us.

Forgiving trespasses that we feel someone has committed against us, not only helps us, it helps the person that we feel hurt us. Forgiving keeps you happy, succeeding,  and growing. It allows you to focus on the good things that you have in your life and not the little things that, in the long run, really don’t matter.

We can’t control what people do to us, but one thing is for sure, we can control how we react to it, and the control we let it have on us. In doing so we share the love and forgiving that God has given to us.

1/28/2017

One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. –Ephesians 4:5-6

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. –Ephesians 4:31-32

 

1/27/2017

It is time for Thee, LORD , to work: for they have made void Thy law. –Psalms 119:126

Order my steps in Thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. –Psalms 119:133

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. –Ephesians 2:8-10

Giving

Todays verses seem to be all about giving. Giving freely to those who need it, with no expectations of what this will gain me down the road.

We’ve all heard this right, its better to give than receive, what comes around goes around, and miraculously there it is right in the Bible.

I don’t think I always knew how to give or what to give, I barely had enough to get through the day, how was I suppose to give? If I did give, it wasn’t freely, there was always the expectation that I’ll get something in return.

The reality is, we all have something to give.

“But I don’t have money” so, give your attention, listen to someone, give your time, a hug, a smile, a compliment, words of encouragement, a shoulder to lean on, etc. There are all kinds of ways that we can give to others that are in need.

Need isn’t always money. Sometimes people (even the richest people you know) just need someone to be there for them, for whatever they may be struggling with in their lives.

Money is not always the answer to everyones problems. If someone doesn’t feel good about something in their life, money isn’t going to help that.

Sometimes, it is money. Someone can’t pay a bill, their car breaks down, something has happened and an unforeseen cost has popped up. If we can help that person, help them.

Like I said, I’m not rich, so, I understand the choice between the electric bill and groceries. There have been times where I saw a person struggle, and then I would struggle about whether to help them because I needed the money too. And it never failed that if someone needed $5.00 and I gave them the $5.00, I would need that $5.00 and think to myself, see if you hadn’t given them that money you would have it now.

The more verses I read, it helped me realize that, yes, I was giving but not giving without regret or expectations. It was hard, and it certainly didn’t happen overnight but as soon as I started giving freely, I started receiving freely.

I started looking around asking, where is all this coming from and why? Again, the more verses I read, I realized, I was reaping what sowed.

The best gift of course, is just loving everyone.

An ounce of love goes a long way. If we could love everyone we meet, this world would improve.

If we can’t love everyone we meet then just don’t hate them, and move along. Try not to wish them ill, argue, judge or condemn them.

Try to see God in that person.

While they are doing whatever it is that is making you not feel love for them, (to yourself) say a prayer for them, bless them and move along.

You will be surprised with the results.

The results it has on you, and you might be surprised at the results it has on them. One thing’s for certain, you will leave that encounter feeling positive, and happy, instead of irritated and angry.

In that respect, you are giving not only to that person(even though they don’t know it), and you are reaping what you sowed.

1/26/2017

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. –Deuteronomy 15:10-11

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. — Galatians 5:13

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. –Galatians 6:9-10

Monday,1/25/17

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and all thy soul. When thou art in tribulations, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shall be obedient to unto His voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which He sware unto them. –Deuteronomy 4:29-31