Month: September 2024

Hope for Less-Than-Fair-Days

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Joy is not a passing fling for the believer. His heart is ever rejoicing because the God of all heaven instills in him the ability to find a reason to praise regardless of the season one is encountering. Be it sunny skies or rainy days, the seed of praise still grows in the heart of His, and their joyfulness cannot be sequestered. Even if the skies or tides do not turn in our favor, God above all, is still worthy to be praised.

As noted in “Singing in the Rain,” dreary situations may come, and times of trouble and hardship can arise, but our hope for these less-than-fair days, and every day, is in our Heavenly Father. Therefore, whether sloshing through the rain of affliction or traipsing through the meadows of peace, we can say, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” Psalm 43:5.

Our hope is in God who never changes even if our situations do.

“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Call for the King!

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Our King is not so high that He cannot hear. Our King is not so secluded behind palace walls that He doesn’t see the plight of His people. Our King has granted us an open access policy to reach Him when hard times weigh us down. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” (Hebrews 4:16). Therefore, we cry out, “Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call,” (Psalm 20:9, NKJV).


Adapted from “The King to My Rescue!”

Who are you going to listen to? | Words to Live By

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Many will try to speak verbally or non-verbally and suggest that you can’t. But when God is leading you and He puts His stamp of approval on your destiny; nobody, and I mean nobody, can reverse what God has ordained over you. Your job is to determine who you’re going to listen to.

“For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” Isaiah‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬

“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

‬”Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6

Rooted

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I have about twenty-seven baby strawberry plants in my house. This year it was time to remove the old ones and the new ones I wanted to start are a different variety I wanted to try because I was not pleased with the previous variety I had or its production.

To prepare them to grow properly and eventually to go outside and overwinter, I had to start them inside where the temperature was more reliable and even. Another key factor to starting them inside is root development. For them to thrive, survive the winter, and eventually be productive growers next spring, they need to develop a strong root system.

I would say having a strong root system is a vital component of the Christian life for us to thrive and be productive, also.

Friend, we will not be all that God has called us to be in not taking great care for what we are established in and getting caught up in every little thing that comes our way. Our firm foundation is in Christ alone, and it is in Him that we must well plant our Christian root system.

Colossians 2:7 admonishes us to be, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith…”

There are many swaying doctrines, but only one Christ. There are many thoughts and theories, but only one way of truth (John 14:6). If it is not Jesus, it is not our right source. If it is not our right source, it will not properly encourage the healthy growth that we need. Where there is no growth, the plant and our walk of faith will be stunted and/or eventually die off.

But the one who is properly rooted will be fed, nourished, supplied, thrive, grow, and eventually produce a mighty harvest.

We are meant to grow.

We are meant to produce more and more fruit.

Our Christian life is all about Jesus because Jesus is the reason for our Christian life. He is the central reason and the center of our faith that we are to bring everything else back to.

Don’t let the questions and uncertainties of this life stunt your growth. Place your roots deep in Jesus Christ alone, my friend, and you will grow.

Pray, Pray, and Pray Some More | A 1 Minute Word of Encouragement

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Thank You, God, that You have given us this position of prayer, this place of power where we can not only lay our burdens down but also intercede for others in our lives. We can pray for the unsaved status of souls, petition heaven for healing or hurts, and seek answers for the help we need. A place where God, our Heavenly Father, has given us permission to come and unload it all before His holy throne.

When we fall on our knees, we fall before the only true King of all eternity. In that place, we open our hearts and pray.

Therefore, don’t stop. Pray, pray, and pray some more. Never give up. God hears and is attentive to the praying heart of His children: “𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓖𝓸𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝓶𝓮; 𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓿𝓸𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓻𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓻. 𝓑𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓮 𝓖𝓸𝓭, 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓱 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓻𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓻, 𝓷𝓸𝓻 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓬𝔂 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓶𝓮.” 𝓟𝓼𝓪𝓵𝓶 66:19, 20

Text Free Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Eternity Focused | Words to Live By

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“𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒏.” 𝑳𝒖𝒌𝒆 21:36

There is a future, a time to come that will reach beyond all we see today. Our hope is for that day. We live this Christian pilgrimage for that time. Our promises were never to be completely fulfilled or satisfied in our natural life. But in eternity, more than we could ever conceive with our human intellect will be ours as we lay down the burdens of these days forever and step into glory the natural man cannot fully comprehend. Watch for that day. Be ready for that day.

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Matthew 24:42

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Mark 13:33

“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

“And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:37-40

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4

“Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” Isaiah 51:11

Beautifying the Temple

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“And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty…” 2 Chronicles 3:6

The house of God, have we lost our wonder and respect for such an edifice? The specified place designated for drawing near to His holy presence. The place ordained by His Spirit for the saint to come and be refreshed, and to learn what thus saith the Lord. The place for the sinner to find refuge if he will but hide himself in the salvation offered there.

Solomon did everything in his power to beautify this sacred space. Other kings had other gods with other buildings of worship. But for the King of all kings, and the one and only true living God, Creator of all, he knew he could not do enough to honor the Holy Presence there. Yet, he would do what he could because God deserved this and more for this designated meeting place.

The wonder and respect for the Lord God over all compelled him to lay out the best of the best to honor Him.

But Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19), speaking of His body regarding His death and resurrection. Paul goes on to say, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you…” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Are we taking such care as Solomon did in beautifying and honoring the temple? How are we caring for the temple within?

My friends, whether we be in a building we designate as the house of God, or be it the temple within, let us remember to bring honor to the place where God’s Spirit dwells. Never lose the awe and wonder over such a sacred assembly.

Take away anything that mars the beauty, stop any practice that brings dishonor and replace it with ornaments of grace (Proverbs 3:22), remembering we are “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:10).

May we bring our own precious stones of praise and honor to beautify His house.

In the finiteness of our humanity, Father God, You deserve so much more glory, honor, and praise.

Text Free Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

Do Your Best | Motivation Monday

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“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Colossians 3:23

In Matthew 25 there is the parable of the talents. Some were productive and some were not. The ones who were, the master blessed with even more. The one that wasn’t lost everything.

We only get out of this life what we put into it. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully,” (2 Corinthians 9:6). I believe this principle can apply to every area of our lives.

Too many are looking for blessings without putting their best foot forward. Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

God honors the persistence and diligence of those who work to put their best foot forward: “For the labourer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7). He rewards those that do their best. Whether in the parable of the talents or in Colossians 3:23, when we do our best, heartily, and bountifully, we can look forward to reaping the best.

If you don’t like what you have been reaping, check to see what you have been sowing. Have we been half-stepping or given it our all, “as for the Lord?”

Life can be overwhelming sometimes. Ask God to help you with your daily schedule and the work you must do and DO YOUR BEST TODAY! Don’t let your talents go to waste!

Text Free Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Change Your Perspective

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“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4

Is the glass half empty or half full? This question determines whether one is a pessimist or an optimist.

How we view things determines how we categorize them, and how we categorize them determines how we deal with them.

For those in the early church, the persecution they encountered could have been categorized as disastrous. The afflictions they faced brought real suffering, and decisions had to be made for individuals to leave their homes and places of comfort and flee. But in the fleeing, something amazing happened: Their faith went with them.

The cause of Christ that burned within refused to be extinguished. Rather, through the hardships they dealt with, it found a place to grow.

In the scattering of the faithful, more people were introduced to Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The situations you face today may not be pleasant, and you may not fully understand how it can work out for your good (Romans 8:28), but God does, and He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Ephesians 3:20).

Father God, I may not understand everything I encounter today, but I know that You always have my best in mind, and it is in Your hands I place my trust. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, I pray, AMEN.

Come to the garden, and pray.

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Luke 22:44

There, in the thick of the trees with the sounds of evening settling around Him, our Savior knelt, pouring His all out in prayer.

So desperate were His pleas, so anguished was He that His sweat flowed as great drops of blood from His very being.

His example shows the importance of coming to this sacred place. No one is too big or too small to bypass this hallowed meeting.

There is a call for all to come to the garden and pray.

God-assignments have been entrusted to us which cannot be performed unless supported by fervent prayer.

Strength, encouragement, hope, and purpose can be found in this meeting place. Deliverance and healing can be received here. That which seems unclear can receive divine wisdom, instruction, and revelation in our moments of petitioning and supplication.

The garden of prayer awaits and whatever it is your heart is holding, being ready to pour, this is your place, your moment of release. Here, with an open and believing heart, you will find what you need.

“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” Luke 18:1

Image by David Yonatan González Aburto from Pixabay