Month: September 2018

“Your Faith Speaks more than Your Words!”

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What people witness in your life resounds more than the words that are coming out of your mouth.  Evidence of belief; proof of faith is the visual representation that most want.  Many mistake others as not wanting what we have or not wanting the faith, yet they haven’t seen enough of it in action to provoke them to seek after what we say we have.

So, the old phrase still rings true today: “Seeing is believing.”  To a world lost, who have no hope, they look for a ring of hope they can grab onto to prevent them from drowning in the deep abyss of the darkness of this world.  They want a way out.  Many don’t want to sink deeper into despair, deeper into the unknown where there is no light to guide the way.  They want to see what you say you see.  They want to feel what you say you feel.  They want what you say you have but do they see it currently active in you to propel them from wanting it to actually seeking for it?

Your faith speaks louder than your words.  Paul told the church at Thessalonica, “Your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.” 1 Thessalonians 1:8.  If necessary I believe Paul would have testified on their behalf, he would have spoken up for them to assure others of their faith.  But, their faith was so active, their faith was so alive and in operation that he didn’t feel a need to speak at all.  Their faith did the talking for them.  Their faith is what people noticed, not the words they spoke from their mouths.

A lot of people do a lot of talking these days and sometimes it’s hard to decipher truth from fiction.  Jesus gave us a key that lines right up with what Paul wrote in his letter.  Jesus said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits,” Matthew 7:16.  If one comes upon a tree that has apples growing upon it then they are to assume it is an apple tree.  The same is true with a life of faith.  What they see coming out of you, or as Paul referred to as “gone out” is what matters the most.  You can say that you are an orange tree but if I see apples then I will classify you like an apple tree.  If you say that you have great faith but all I see is the opposite than I will not view you as having great faith.  I will mark you by what I see.

Your faith matters in this world.  More importantly, your faith on display matters to those around you so much that one should not have to speak up or testify for you, all they should be able to do is look at your faith in action and mark you as a person of faith.

“Whatever!”

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Whatever is a word
used with disregard;
it comes as an answer
when life seems hard.

Whatever is a comfort
I take to heart;
a word I treasure
when life falls apart.

 Whatever covers
all my pain and sorrow.
Whatever sows seeds
of hope for tomorrow.

Whatever, no matter
what the burden is,
I cast them to Him,
and now they are His.

I don’t have to worry,
I don’t have to fear;
shouldered upon His love,
whatever the frets, they disappear.

 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you,” 1 Peter 5:7

“You Make a Difference to God!”

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God is after you, dear friend, in a good way.  He loves the masses, but the individual heart He wants to hold as His own.

There are so many things in our culture that can evoke an inferiority complex in people.  The barrage of advertisements that make one feel less than if they don’t have what others are offering.  The seemingly picture-perfect life displayed on the feeds of social media, causing a longing for what they appear to have, making one feel they don’t measure up to some invisible criteria.  The comparison factor of success that is too much alive in this world which causes many to believe they will never be what another is.

That’s good because God created you and me to be us!  The masses that come to Him don’t negate the fact that He wants the individual heart – He wants the individual life – He wants the individual you!  You make a difference to God!  You are important to God!

God will leave the ninety-nine sheep in the wilderness to go after that one which is lost because that one is special to Him (Luke 15:1-7).  That one is cared about by Him.  That one is loved by Him and He wants that one with Him because to God, they make a difference.  God finds joy in just that one heart that will turn to Him, repent, and enter into blessed fellowship with Him.

When the individual heart turns to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, it puts a smile on God’s face and makes the angels rejoice (Luke 15:10) because despite what the world tries to make us believe or feel, each one of us makes a difference to God.  You are valuable to God and He loves you more than you could ever know.

Inspiration:

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”  – Psalm 139:14

“Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” – Matthew 10:31

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” – John 1:12

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” – Jeremiah 29:11

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

You are uniquely loved by God.  You make a difference to God!

Photo: Pixabay/DreamPixer

“Be a Promise Accepter!”

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“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen, unto the glory of God by us,” 2 Corinthians 1:20

 It’s back to school time around here. Each school year starts out brand new. New backpacks, new supplies, new clothes; along with new hopes and dreams with the anticipation of promise lingering in the air. This is going to be a wonderful year!

By the end of the first month of school, children and sometimes parents too, start looking forward to days off, delayed openings due to weather and such. The reality of the daily grinding and horse race schedules overshadows the promise that was once felt. Instead of realigning oneself to keep hold of the promise that was once felt in the atmosphere, we begin to gripe and complain. Looking forward to the end of the school year, or at least Christmas break for some relief becomes the new goal.

Often times, we treat the promises of God in the same manner also.

He gives us this wonderful volume (the Bible), filled with sixty-six books. And in each of those sixty-six books therein is packed with “more.” God has “more” for you than this. Line upon line and precept upon precept tells us how much He cares for us, loves us, and wants more for us. The Bible starts way back in the book of Genesis with promise. And, it goes all the way through to the end of Revelation. How does it end? With promise! “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen,” (Rev. 22:20-21). That’s a promise!

Unfortunately, as it is with the school year so it is in life. In the beginning, when the promise is fresh we are ecstatic. Then, as the everyday issues begin to settle in it starts to wear on the assurance that once was, leaving one to do nothing but constantly focusing on the end. Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” (John 10:10). He doesn’t desire for “life” to be something tolerated. Rather, He wants it filled. And with that, there is the anticipation of something better.

Promise!

Promises only work when one accepts it. You can quote it all that you like, but unless it is internalized as a hopeful thing in the life of each of us, it does absolutely no good. Many people can read of the promises but they can’t believe in them for themselves. Only seeing with the eyes but never touching. They never experience the greatness that God wants to do. That’s not God’s intention for you. “For all the promises of God in Him are yea.”  That means “YES!” Now, it may be just me but when I see the words “all,” and “promises,” and “God,” and “yes,” I get excited! If you are in Christ, God says yes to every promise that comes with that salvation. Yes!

Won’t you accept it today? Yes!

I don’t have enough space or time here to even begin to list what He has in store for us. And, the half has not been told. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him,” (1 Cor. 2:9). The promises are there in His Word. All you have to do is believe it and receive it!

Be a promise accepter today. Go through the Bible, find verses that speak to you right now, highlight them, and write them down or whatever you do to remember a verse, then, lay hold of it as your personal treasure. Let them be your source of strength when life doesn’t feel as “abundant.” Accept what He said anyhow. Step out in faith, holding on to those precious promises for dear life.

” . . . BUT GOD!”

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“BUT GOD” really says it all, doesn’t it? 
Somehow or another when life gets turned upside and you can’t see your way clearly, … BUT GOD!  Hurts, troubles, and turmoil knock on your door and you didn’t think that you would make it, … BUT GOD!  Love, loss, and disappointment with people left your heart broken and in shattered pieces, … BUT GOD!
God is our answer to everything that life can throw at us.  God is our solution for every attack of the enemy.  God is our peace when chaos seems to invade every crevice of our being.
No matter what you face today, trust God to compassionately love and care for you and see you through to the other side because life can look a little crazy sometimes,  … BUT GOD!

Inspiration:

“Faith is all about trusting God even when you don’t understand His plan.” – Joel Osteen

“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 2:5

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

“Keep the faith. The vision is always for the appointed time. Be patient, prayerful and wait for the fulfillment of your visions.” – Lailah Gifty Akita

“Relying on God has to start all over everyday, as if nothing has yet been done.” – C.S. Lewis

“Remembering the goodness of God in the past, will help us in seasons where it’s harder to see Him.” – Esther Fleece

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10

“But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.”  – Psalm 31:14

It’s because of, … but God!

 

“Stand For Truth!”

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“He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness…” Proverbs 12:17

There is a lot being said and there is a lot not being said on truth.  Confused?  Let me explain.  In the secular mindset, there are many who have rallied to challenge and deny the idea of absolute truth.  The idea that one way or one specific train of thought is right for all men is a little too much for them to grasp.  Instead, they promote the idea that truth is only relevant to one’s understanding of the matter.

Whereas, on the other hand, those who proclaim they are bearers of the truth, who have found their understanding of life, faith, and purpose based on what truth declares about them, are eerily silent.  This is one reason, one of the greatest reasons we have witnessed a shift in the atmosphere.  The declaration things seen as wrong are now seen as right, and things that are right are now viewed as wrong in the eyes of many.  And, many truth-bearers remain silent.

Silence is a killer of a nation.  Silence allows things to go unchallenged.  Silence gives people permission to carry on as is without regard to consequence.  Consequences that not only the individual involved must experience, but also how it seeps into the very fabric of our culture staining it forevermore.

Think of your life today.  What would it look like if those who stood for truth in our history remained silent?  We have a voice and we should be heard.  Whether in actual speech or in the actions of our daily lives, as Christians, people should know where we stand.  When they are around us they should know what behaviors and ideas are acceptable.  They should know because of our affiliation with Christ, “We don’t play that!”  “That’s unacceptable and I will not be a part of it.”

Alas, many of us are sending the world too many mixed signals.  Sometimes we profess to want to go right and we turn left.  Or, we say we want to go up but end up supporting the causes of them that go down.  We have confused the world and have become confused ourselves in the process, making the value of the truth we stand for appear watered-down.

“He who speaks truth declared righteousness…”   Truth falls in line as an attribute of God.  “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent…” (Numbers 23:19).  He can’t do anything but support that which is just because that is who He is.  “Righteousness and justice are the habitation of your throne: mercy and truth shall go before your face,” (Psalm 89:14).  In essence, he who chooses to stand for truth chooses to stand for everything God believes in and is.  You become a supporter of His causes.

The Bible tells us,  “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not,” (Galatians 6:9).  All we have to do is stand for truth.  It’s like the old westerns we grew up watching where good always wins (even if it doesn’t presently seem so).

No matter what the world may be doing, you and I must keep doing what is right.  There is an absolute Truth!  He is God!  Everything that is right begins and ends with Him.  So, when we stand for truth, we stand for Him and I can’t think of a better place to be.