“Take it to the Cross!”

August 15, 2023August 13, 2023Leave a comment

Every worry and every fear, take it and leave it at the foot of that blood-stained banner that was raised for our freedom.

Every doubt and every hurt, take it to Him who is stretched wide upon those old rugged beams to experience fully the troubles we face.

Every sorrow and every tear, take it to Him whose nail-pierced hands flow with a life poured out for you and me. He that endured the pain of the piercing knows of the rejection, the betrayal, and the indecency of evil we all face in this life. He knows this and more for in His bearing, He held the crushing weight of all sin upon those beaten and slumped shoulders even as His heart cried out to the Father the agony of separation.

There is nothing we feel that He hasn’t already felt.

There is no experience so unique to us that He has not already carried the weight of.

There is no trouble we face that He hasn’t looked in the eye and gained the victory of it on that cross.

On that cross, He became authority and victor over all. His kingship may have been inscribed in writing by man: “And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS,” (John 19:19), but God declared Him Ruler over all through His atoning sacrifice of the blood on that cross (Revelation 1:5; Romans 3:25; Matthew 28:18).

Whatever you are facing, take it to the cross and trust Him who was hung there so that you may rise to a life of victory today!

Why take it to the cross?

It’s the place where the King would suffer for our healing: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5

It’s the place where reconciliation takes place and hostility is put to death: “He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.” – Ephesians 2:16, CSB

It’s the place where we find the truest form of peace: “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” – Colossians 1:20

It’s the place where our sins were blotted out: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” – Colossians 2:14

It’s the place where we are given the opportunity to lay down the dead and pick up a life of righteousness: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” – 1 Peter 2:24

And, it is the place where we experience true love: “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

Take it to the cross today!

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“Embracing the Promises of God!”

August 7, 2023August 7, 2023Leave a comment

Are you just saying, “AMEN!” to the preacher and the message, or are you really getting into an agreement with the words coming forth from the mouthpiece of God? Do you think the songs that are sung, which carry His good word and lift your soul, do you think they are just to make you feel good for a moment, or are they truths binding themselves on your heart because you can see with eyes of faith what God really wants to do in your life? Do you think the words written in that Holy Bible are just a collection of tales to temporarily inspire you or are they moments in the lives of others God is using to show you that He can do the same thing for you?

It’s one thing to hear messages, read the Word, and listen to the songs about the promises of God, and it’s another thing to grab hold of them for yourself and believe with a fervent grip that they are for you, too. Embracing God’s promises is saying, “I may not have it now, but my faith is tied to what God already spoke over my life. With my physical eyes, it may not currently be before me, but with my spiritual eyes, I am persuaded that God will do what He said He would do, and I embrace that truth! I choose to hold on to what God said over all else!”

Embracing is active participation in claiming the promises of God for your life. God gave mankind a will and He won’t force you to believe His promises, but oh how sweet it is if you do. He puts it out there, and many times He gives evidence that it will happen (and sometimes He doesn’t), but it is up to each individual heart to not only accept it but to hold on to what He spoke for dear life. That’s why Hebrews declares, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” (Hebrews 10:23; emphasis mine). The word “us” in that verse tells us that it is our responsibility to lay hold of everything concerning our faith God speaks, including His promises. If you believe that God is faithful, then believe He will faithfully follow through with all He spoke concerning you!

God will do His part without fail. When the unwelcome interruptions of life come, our job is to keep on embracing that truth when facing whatever is before us. Today, get a hold of the promises of God for your life and refuse to let them go.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13

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“You Make a Difference to God!”

August 3, 2023August 2, 2023Leave a comment

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 causes 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!

I am a lifter…

August 2, 20236 Comments

I am a lifter.

I am an encourager.

I am a builder of my brother.

I am a minister to my sister.

I am an agent of hope to the downtrodden speaking words of inspiration about His freedom.

I am a promoter of grace, sharing words of deliverance with my war-worn sibling of the spirit.

I am a supporter of peace who chooses to use the mouth and the words God gives me to speak light, life, and love.

We are to speak “that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29

Photo: Pixabay

Look to the Fathers

August 1, 2023Leave a comment

I recently attended an event where the fathers of our organization were looked to, recognized, appreciated, and honored for their contributions to the faith and the church body. In an age, where sadly, there seems to be an absence of good, godly role models, I am reminded, currently speaking, that we are never without wholesome examples to pattern our lives and walks of faith after.

In the Bible, the children of Israel did not always have current, good representatives to follow. King Hezekiah, for example, had the wicked King Ahaz as his biological father. But as Hezekiah grew and came to reigning as king at the age of twenty-five, he didn’t follow in his birth father’s footsteps. Through him, a great reformation took place in the land because his heart was stirred to do more and for that, he looked to better examples. 2 Kings 18:3 says, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.”

Hezekiah reached beyond the experience of those around him and those who raised him to find a good life to pattern his ways after. And yes, David, like all humans, had his moments of weakness and frailty, but in the end, was still dubbed a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). David’s heart was directed toward God and this is what Hezekiah wanted for himself and for the people.

He recited to the people the evil their fathers have done (2 Chronicles 29:6-9; 30:6-9) and pled with them to return to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel – the same God who the faithful fathers followed and not the practicing of current affairs or political influences.

Even if one is devoid of what we would call a good example in their present life and circumstances, we have what the Bible calls a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:) whose lives we can look to as a holy example to follow after. And of course, Jesus Christ is the litmus test that everyone should judge their steps by and seek to represent in their own lives and order their steps after (Hebrews 12:2).

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” Philippians 3:17

“His Footsteps, Our Pathway!”

“Hunger!”

July 31, 2023July 26, 2023Leave a comment

A rumbling in the tummy would be easy to satisfy for some. But, what of the hunger for something greater?

All hungering is not bad. All hunger shows there is a lack somewhere that needs to be filled. All hunger says I have something in me that needs to be satisfied.

For that, I say, hunger on! For only when one is truly starving for more than what they currently possess do they allow that gnawing desire to push them to find a source of fulfillment.

Who doesn’t want a life characterized by fulfillment? Who doesn’t want to feel completely satisfied? Especially when it comes to our spiritual walk; a walk that says, in everything I have Lord, if You’re not in it, then I am empty. My life is nothing.

If the hunger is for more of the glitter and gold of this life then it is truly to be better without. For that hunger can drive you to places and things that will leave your soul starving. But, my friends, if it is more of Him that’s your desire, come, partake, and be satisfied for “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled,” (Matthew 5:6).

Let your desire drive you toward God. Let Him be the only quencher of your longing for everything.

Run! Grab Him that is the Bread of Life (John 6:35), and eat. Take your fill and don’t stop till you look at Him through the eyes of eternity, and say, now soul, you are full. For you have taken of Him fully and fully you shall live forevermore.

Father God, fill us up with more of You. Let everything that You are, be the satisfaction that everything in us is looking for. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

“God Puts Gladness in My Heart!”

July 29, 2023July 26, 2023Leave a comment

Circumstances don’t dictate a child of God’s joy.
Daily things can and will happen that will throw
us for a loop, but the joy we have in Him is real.
The joy that we have in God cannot soon be
shaken by the cares and the drama of this life.
The joy we have in Him will stand the test of
time.

Times of increase is wonderful. Times of
blessings are great. But, the greatest thing we
could ever experience is that gladness in our
hearts that God puts there because we have
experienced Him for ourselves; because we are
in a relationship with Him. No matter what’s
going on today, hold on and remember, “The
joy of the LORD is your strength,”
Nehemiah 8:10. What a great feeling!

“Lead Me.”

July 28, 2023July 26, 2023Leave a comment

Lead me to the cross where
I can lay my burden down.
Lead me to Him who will
never let me drown.

Lead me to the Rock
that is higher than I.
Lead me to the One who
bottles the tears I cry.

Lead me to Him who knows
all my cares and sorrow.
Who holds my future and
all of my tomorrows.

There, I find solace in
the grip of His embrace.
So, lead me where I can rest
from this exhausting race.

He’s my source and my shield;
my covenant and mercy.
Lead me to God, whom I love
to the bursting.

When life is overwhelming and
I don’t know what to do,
Lead me to Your arms, O Lord.
Lead me to You.

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2

Father God, we need You. We cannot find the strength or wisdom on our own to properly care for the things and adversities we face. But this we do know, You are our Rock. You are the peace we find in the midst of all that overwhelms us. Take us by the hand and lead us to You – our safe sanctuary, our hiding place, from all these storms that blow our way. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!

“Watch What You Eat!”

July 25, 2023July 24, 2023Leave a comment

What we put into our bodies matters. The foods we eat can either help or hinder our health. Sometimes, in our house, we stop at fast food restaurants to eat, but it is not an everyday occurrence. I value what goes into my body. Is every food choice the best choice? No, but I try to make it a point to have the majority of what I eat be of nutritional value; to be something that will build me up and not tear me down.

Our spiritual lives work in the same manner. We are what we eat, spiritually. If all that we ever digest is the negatives of this world then we are robbing our spirit of the vital nutrients that can increase our awareness and spiritual health. The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” (Rom. 10:17). What we assimilate in our being is what will be produced in our spirit and in our lives.

God’s word has everything we need. A daily diet of letting Him speak to us through His word, through His preachers and teachers will enrich our spiritual lives and make us stronger in Him. When adversity and the storms of life arise, His word, which has already been deeply instilled in us pops into action and carries us through to the other side.

We need God’s word every day. We need it to grow. We need it to learn. We need it to increase our faith. We will never be the healthy Christians that we need to be if we leave the word of God out of our daily routines. God’s word will build you up and make you stronger in Him. Many are diligent about their natural health but watch what you eat spiritually. It can make the difference between spiritual health and spiritual sickness.

It’s a Promise!

July 24, 2023July 24, 2023Leave a comment

“I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth,” Genesis 9:13

This morning I was reminded of a day long ago when I woke up feeling, well . . . . blah!!! That day, I had a headache, no energy, and not feeling really with it. It had been a hard week and it took its toll on my body. That day, and the original post I wrote, came to mind this morning and I decided to share some of it again here.

I remember looking for something to wear and I reached into my closet and pulled out a white shirt (black and white shirts are a standby for me because they usually don’t have to be ironed 🙂 – telling on myself, I know). But, even though it didn’t need to be ironed, I put it back declaring, in my dreariness that day that I needed a pop of color.

As I was going through the drudgery of ironing my pop of color, I wondered if that’s why God made His covenant with Noah and all the earth in the form of a rainbow. After the rains and the storms of life, after the hardships and turmoils, after being tossed about to and fro, maybe we all need that promise in a pop of color. We all need that beautiful and colorful covenant to gaze upon to let us know that despite what we are going through, God’s got this and His promises never fail (Joshua 21:45).

Today, I don’t know where life may find you or what you are going through. I don’t know if you have rain and storms with the possibility of seeing a physical rainbow at the end. I don’t know how your day begins or ends, but God does. I don’t know how it will all turn out, but our Heavenly Father is still watching over His children. He is sovereign, beautiful, and perfect in plans (Jeremiah 29:11), and He does all things well.

Friends, the rainbow is just one of the beautiful reminders of God’s hand and promise in our lives. Never are we left to fight these circumstances alone (Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 13:5). Never are we left without the assurance we have in our God who is for us (Psalm 56:9; 118:7; Romans 8:31). So today, if you need it, here is your promise in a pop of color.

Blessings ~

Word For Life Says…

God's Word for Your Life Today!

Tag: Encouraging Bible Verses

“Take it to the Cross!”

Take it to the cross today!

“Embracing the Promises of God!”

“You Make a Difference to God!”

Inspiration:

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

I am a lifter…

Look to the Fathers

“Hunger!”

“God Puts Gladness in My Heart!”

“Lead Me.”

“Watch What You Eat!”

It’s a Promise!

Take it to the cross today!

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

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