Tag: Inspiration Christian article

Scripture graphic with 1 Peter 4:8 about love covering a multitude of sins, Christian encouragement, and healing grace.

The Healing Power of Love

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“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

Love, in earnest, can be a balm to a heart broken by the bruises this life sometimes leaves. Earnest love simply gives; it does not demand perfection or dwell on faults but looks to the heart within each person. It is concerned with the person on the inside, without basing rash actions and feelings on outward stumbles from grace.

Do you know one who can use this covering love in their life? Has a life been touched by error and negativity? Could they use the heart of another speaking to them, “I’m still here for you.”

God’s steadfast love rescues, restores, and covers us. As such, we, who were once recipients, are now dispensers and have the power, through love, to lift another from their struggles.

Real love works through patience and is very kind toward others (1 Corinthians 13:4). It does not keep records of every wrong committed (1 Corinthians 13:5). Instead, it releases offences over and over again (Matthew 18:22) and just continues to love.

Have you ever been denied this kind of love from the Father? The answer is no. Time and again, we have sought His perfect love to forgive our many wrongs, and by His grace and mercy, He did (Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 10:17).

Now, we are to be glad vessels ready to pour out to others the same love we have received, for “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends” (Proverbs 17:9).

Is there a heart waiting to be on the receiving end of this type of love today? Let go of everything else and love like Jesus loves. You may help heal the brokenness of another.

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

In You

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Friends, in you the living God has imparted His Spirit. In you, is what the world longs for though they don’t know it yet. In you, the Son has come to dwell. In you, the richest gift of heaven has been bestowed. In you, is that spoken of Glory from on high. In you, through Christ, is the fullness of God: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

~Word for Life Says

More Than Noise

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“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

“Roses are red, Violets are blue…” is the beginning of many poems regarding love. Going back through history with many versions attached, these words declare verbally (and sometimes funny), how one feels about another.

But I will tell you, while words are nice and sweet and can edify (Proverbs 16:24; 25:11; Ephesians 4:29), there is no substitute for love produced through action.

Substance. Making a difference. The Christian life is so much more than just talking and telling. It is more than sounding off. It is love with motion behind it outflowing from one’s being into the lives of others.

With God, love is the number one principle because He is love (1 John 4:16). As those who have been adopted by His grace, love should be our natural response to others as well. It’s the emblem of our Heavenly Father, not carried about on our chests or in words only, but seared upon our hearts that propel us forward.

Love is our regulator.  It governs how we behave and treat one another. It serves as a thermometer to measure that we are fervent in the things that God is fervent for.

Love is about serving like Christ did (and we all know what His love looked like, John 3:16). It is about using what God gifted you with to help one another under that same umbrella of love He operated in.

Since that’s exactly how God does everything, under love, we too should be imitators of our Father.  Outside of it, we are “nothing.”  It doesn’t matter how important one thinks their gift or contribution is, if love is not the motivator, then the gift is empty.  That box has nothing to offer the world except a bunch of extra noise; or, as Paul puts it, “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”  

I don’t know about you, but I want to be more than noise, more than fluff.  I want to have substance working at the core of my gift.  I want lives to be changed and hearts to be lifted through what God has placed in me.  This should be the attitude of every Christian.  Not to get ahead, but to make a difference.  Being a vessel so filled up with love and anointing, mixed with His special stuff He put on the inside of us so that we could help shift the atmosphere for some and help steer them on a course closer to God.

This can only happen if love is operating at the helm.

Jesus once encouraged His disciples by telling them, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith,” (Mark 11:23).  Yet, Paul says you can “remove mountains” all you want, but if love is not what’s lifting your faith to do that than forget about it. Although the action may be carried out, the core of it doesn’t mean anything.

Paul was not by any chance contradicting what Jesus said because everything Jesus did from birth to death was done through love, and His disciples are always expected to follow in His footsteps.

Neither is Paul denouncing doing things for others such as one who would “bestow all . . . goods to feed the poor” or the sacrificing of oneself (he gave the example of being “burned”); but what he is saying is that without love, it will not last; it will not make the difference that He is looking for and it will not please God because we are told, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men,” (Colossians 3:23) and that can only be done through love.

Later, Paul wrote another letter to the Corinthian church that says, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him,” (2 Corinthians 5:9).  Everything must be “accepted of him.”  But, without love (charity) all our works and gifts put together add up to a big, fat zero.  There is no gain or “profit” from it.

The world we live in today needs more than talk, more than noise. They need to see, feel, and experience the substance of love in action through those who have been redeemed by love in action.

Today, look for ways to be more than noise. Look for ways to be that force of love in action for another.

Blessings~

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.

Translated

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“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).

Ah, my friends, a mighty move took place at the moment of salvation. Physically, your position and status of life may not look different, but spiritually, you were translated. You were taken from where you were and placed in a better position. You were taken from the power of darkness and delivered to the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who you were identified as before no longer exists spiritually. While in this world there may be remnants, consequences, or residual effects from the previous walk, but in the spirit, we are free. In this new life, those identification markers do not exist. The things that bound you or tried to attach themselves to you are subdued under the power of God because now you are His. Now, you breathe the breath of each day differently. Now, your walking and thinking patterns do not follow those previous footsteps. Now, there is freshness. Now, you are a member of a new family. Now, you are a part of a kingdom that will never fail, nor will it ever fade. Eternally, you have been translated there.

Now, our souls are happy. Now, even if it doesn’t seem so conditionally, our spirits have been liberated to new life. Now, because of what He has done, we cannot help but “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12).

The move has taken place. And thanks be to the Lord Jesus Christ “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14), has secured this translation for us.

Text Free Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

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

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

You Have the Power to Go! | Answering the Call

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“And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” Judges 6:14

Gideon heard the message but he felt unqualified. He supposed he was inadequate for what God called him to do, stating that his family was “poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” Judges 6:15.

Have you ever been there? Questioning your ability to do something beyond your normal scope of operations?

You are not alone. Many struggle daily with feelings of overwhelm, believing that this is just beyond my personal capabilities.

But can I tell you, where we see inability, God sees a victor in the making.  Where we see someone who can’t, He sees someone who can. Where we feel we would lose, God sees one who is built to conquer. It is not, nor has it ever been about what we see, think, or can do within ourselves.  It’s all about what God can do through us.

Gideon going up against the Midianites (read Judges 6:1-8:21) and winning against his enemies with an unusual victorious battle plan seems just as ludicrous as a skinny teenage boy like David going up against a great warrior like Goliath (both were outmatched and outsized).  But, anytime God places a call on someone’s life, He doesn’t measure their ability to do the job by the individual.  He doesn’t measure it by some fantastic gift they have in them, or their stature, or anything else one might use to determine the probability of success on the outside.  God measures it by what He knows He can do through that life on the inside; that person who will just “go” at His calling.   

The victory He had in mind for Gideon was so great that it was going to be as if “one man” (Judges 6:16) took down a whole army.  In our walk of faith, we must take our eyes off what we can do and focus more on what God can do through us, answer His call on our lives, and just “go”, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” – 1 Timothy 1:9

My friend, you can do this. His holy Word reminds us:

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;” – 1 Peter 2:9

And let us also remember:

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” – Romans 11:29

Fret not thyself…

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“Fret not thyself because of evildoers…” Psalm 37:1

When wrong is called right, and those that do right seem to suffer, what do you do?  When adversity comes because of wicked advancement, how does one respond?

As it is often true in life, how we see things with our natural eyes; they do not tell the whole story of what is.  The truth of what is is that it may seem that prosperity belongs to those who pursue greatness and success at the expense of others, but they are the most pitiful of all.  What they climb to achieve on the backs of others will soon wither and fade with time.  “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Therefore, in all that we see, the psalmist encourages us not to become worried.  The fate of the wicked is set: “For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb” (Psalm 37:2).  But you, my friend of faith, are to “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (Psalm 37:3).

You are to “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4).

You are to “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5).

God sees you: “The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever” (Psalm 37:18).  And God is here for you: “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble” (Psalm 37:39).  Therefore, fret not thyself.

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.

Throwback Thursday – Happy Thanksgiving!

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Hashtags have found a way into our lives and in our standard of communication.  These keywords or lettered initials are used for several reasons.  They increase the probability of likes on a post or picture.  They can link you to others who are expressing the same interest in a particular subject or person.  At other times, they make a statement without going too deep into content.

One of my favorite hashtags I see people use is #tbt (Throwback Thursday).  When you see these, people are sharing stuff that you may not have been privileged to see before.  Perhaps it was a photograph from an exotic honeymoon vacation many years before you met the individual.  Or, how about when people share pictures of themselves as babies or young children.  I like to look at these the most and compare their features to what I see today and mark the resemblance, and so on.

Throwback Thursday gives us a view to people’s past.  These moments shared are often joyful and heartwarming, bringing out the “Aww!” of nostalgia.

The more I think about it, the more it came to me that our Thanksgiving celebrations are like those throwbacks we see posted in social circles.  For it is at Thanksgiving, if we are nothing else, we are grateful.  When our minds take in the year we just went through – all the Lord God has brought us through, we are grateful.  When we see His hands working in things for which we had no control, we are grateful.  When we look back over our lives, when we take our own trips down memory lane and see His deliverances, His help, His love and mercy, His grace and anointing at work in our lives, we are grateful.  When we see those snapshots of where we have been and compare them to where we are now, we are grateful.

For at Thanksgiving, a time in our history, we set aside this day to express gratitude and thankfulness for what the Lord has done for us.  We enjoy a feast of good food.  We enjoy fellowship with family and friends (even if some of it is done virtually this year).  We come together for the reason of celebrating with like minds and like hearts.

While this year those gatherings may look different and the feasts for some may seem smaller or not quite what you are used to, let’s keep the grandness of this day – the reason for its purpose front and center: thankfulness for all God has done for us.

During this Thanksgiving, this throwback Thursday, reminisce on God’s faithfulness through this year and through your life.  In your mind’s eye, allow yourself to wander and spend some time on those beautiful snapshots, those past moments, those photographs of your life, and be reminded of His faithfulness at work.

And, while many of us can’t meet or come together as we usually do, we have those good memories of great love and times shared in the past.  We have the love and memories from our Heavenly Father and the love and memories of those blessed souls He has placed in our lives that we call family and friends.

Today, as I look back, I am thankful for so much.  In the little details and the grand adventures, I am thankful.

I have had times of tears and times of joy, but knowing God is still with me today and He has an even greater plan beyond what we see for this day or even for this year – I am thankful.

No wonder David wrote, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth,” (Psalm 34:1).  There will be some times that are harder than others, but it is God who sustains us and protects us, and loves us through it all.  Therefore, we praise.  Therefore, we still give Him thanks!

I pray that however this Thanksgiving finds you, it will find you in the peace and love of the Lord above all.  Blessings to you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.