Month: February 2019

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
James 1:19 NIV

This is an amazing verse. If we could all practice this one verse so many problems and issues that arise between people could be handled much better. Challenge yourself to think before you speak. Amen.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV

What is Faith? What does Faith look like? Life can and will, throw at you, all and any attempt to divert you from your Faith. Our faith is so important and that is why satan prowls around trying to destroy you. When we are lacking in faith we leave an opening, a crack for satan to pull us away from God. Have you ever had troubles, prayed, and then when it doesn’t right itself you blame God? I have. We often time treat God like he is a jeanie in a bottle. Satan loves that. Have faith even in the storm, have faith even if the trouble doesn’t right itself. Have faith because you BELIEVE! Aemn.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1 NIV

Why face things alone? Often times when something goes wrong or we gur hurt. We take it on ourselves. We carry the burden, the stress, the pains and hurt. Why? We have a father who will take that on for us. Place your troubles on him. Dwell in his shelter. Allow him to easy your pain. The Almighty is like a shadow, always there. It’s time you trust in him with all your heart. Amen.

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:35-37‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This is a powerful message! I know I am guilty of my words getting the best of me. However, I think many Christian’s today, forget that in the end we are going to be judged. We will face our father… So powerful is the line… “Our words will either acquit us or condemn us”. Ask yourself. If you were to be arrested today for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? I would like to hope the answer for me would be yes. However, I think God is call for more. What are you going to do?

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
1 John 2:15 NIV

This is powerful. Where do you place your value? Is it in money, your career, maybe friends, or maybe it’s  in your looks. When we place our values in other things,  this is when we lose sight of what is important. Our Father! If you wish to know where your value is. Just ask yourself, would your world collapse, would flip out,  if you lost your job, lost your friends, lost your money, or maybe if something affected the way you looked? To much stock is being placed in the wrong areas. It is time we place our value in the lord. Amen

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18 NIV

Life is full of distractions. Work, kids, house, money, messes, phones, TV, etc.. the list is a mile long. Love is more than the words being said or texted. Love is more than just an assumption of knowing, “they know I love them, right”. Do they know? Nothing, nothing should take away from our ability to share our love. Not your phone, not your stress, not the kids, not work, nothing. Yet that is exactly what we do. Your tired so you don’t kiss your spouse or say the words. The kids drag you all over for the day so you draw away from the one you love. Work was stressful so you internalize it and become quiet or short tempered. Live in truth, live in love and your world will be brighter than it ever has. For the next week, challenge yourself to love as you may never have. Amen.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

Greater than Faith and even greater than hope is LOVE. Really think about this. We know faith is huge, but here God is saying that even greater that is love. So now ask your self how is love shown, given, shared, and expressed? Now ask yourself do you love as you should? Is love the greatest in your life? Or is heart a little hardened so you get short and frustrated often? I know I can love stronger and I am sure you can too. Amen.

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:44-45‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Who here can say, yes I have loved my enemy? I can’t say I have. This to many Christians is probably a truly tough thing to do. However when we do the benefit is supernatural.  What good does anger bring, nothing but a hardened heart. So if you are someone who holds on to your hurt, holds on to those who harmed you, hurt you, were mean to you. Let go, trust God,  and love them, pray for them. This does not make their life better. Instead you will awaken to what God had planned for you. Amen.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10 NIV

I believe we all desire to be and do good. We dont seek out to be disruptive or destructive. Unfortunately life has a way of throwing curveballs at us which can derail us from our walk with Christ. Emotions or feelings are just one example of such a derailment. Being honest, I have allowed my emotions/feelings to overshadow Gods will. When my anger or frustration about things builds up, that’s when I don’t allow Gods will dictate my actions and that is not pleasing to our Lord. Submitting to the word is what is going to help me grow. By submitting, when I face those moments of emotion or feeling I will hear Gods voice and it will drive my actions. GODS WILL IS JOY AND PEACE. Amen.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Matthew 6:24 ESV

We all want things, need things. A new car, better house, clothes, the latest trend, you name it the list can be endless. There is nothing wrong with that however when those things get in the way of your joy, your pursuit of christ, your love for another. That is when it switches from being just innocent thought. Look into your life and see if there is some want or need that holds you back. Keeps you from joy, happiness, love, passion, and pursuit of Christ. If so, take notice and pray. Amen.