God LIKES Me!

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

We are in the Facebook generation. It can be a good tool but also can be hurtful and a time waster. I like it as a way to connect with family and friends and find lost friends. My primary reason for remaining on it is to get the word of God out through my daily God's Lemonade Stand where I have a 'page' people can 'LIKE' or see it on my wall if they are my 'friend'. 

The concept of clicking the little 'thumbs up' icon found after each post on Facebook, can almost become an addiction if we allow it to. Checking back and forth to see who 'LIKED' your post could in fact hurt feelings if you got to into the whole thing. Let's say you got no response from a certain picture you posted. Then what? Do you allow that to set your value and worth? 

God loves and likes you more than any Facebook friend. He likes you and loves you no matter what picture you post or what comments you make. You are His beloved. You were made to glorify Him. Just repeat "God LIKES me!" 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I am so thankful for your unconditional love and acceptance of me. Help me to only care that you love me and all the other Facebook 'likes' are secondary. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Help My Unbelief

 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

I know of people who doubt God or Jesus because their prayers weren't answered. Perhaps a friend or family member died. Maybe a prayer has still not been answered. Whatever the case, because of a situation, a person may choose to not follow God at all or barely at all. To me this is sad because you are either for God or against Him, no halfway.

Jesus wants us to pray and not stop. Some may find this quite foolish, but the alternative is to follow the world and the ways of the enemy, which is Satan. Yes Satan is not a cartoon character. He is the power of evil and darkness of this present world we live in.  When we do not follow or believe God we give him a foothold in our life.

I don't know about you but I choose to believe and keep on believing as I know sometime I will see the glory of the Lord and for that I can not wait.  Who do you choose?

PRAYER: Help me to be patient when I pray Lord and know your ways are beyond my understanding and you have a plan better than any I could dream up. Comfort those who have a hard time believing. Let them feel your presence in their lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Shhhh!

Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:4

Your reward is from God so if that is the case why do some feel they have to announce their good deeds or charity to others? Maybe inferiority or wanting to impress?  The best reward is when you do something for someone either anonymously or do it and do not tell others. The Bible talks about this too when fasting not to go tell everyone but to do it between you and God. Even when praying it says to not draw attention to yourself. The whole thing is about God, period. It is not about us. We are to remain humble in all walks of life. If we have a degree from an impressive University it is not necessary to let everyone know. When you win an award those who need to know will know. It impresses me to hear of military heroes who do not think they deserved a particular award. Humble people will always be exalted. We gain nothing by trying to make ourselves look good or important to others. 

If you have trouble keeping silent about accomplishments ask God to create in you a truly giving and humble heart. Anytime you get the urge to brag give God the glory. All we have is from Him anyway. 

PRAYER: You truly are King of kings and Lord of lords. To you be all glory, praise and honor. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Ding

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.' Matthew 6:19

Anyone who has ever had a brand new car or truck knows the feeling the first time someone opens their car door and slams it into your shiny new flawless bodywork. You come out one day and there it is staring you in the face. The infamous 'ding'. You were so careful where you parked often walking long distances to keep your car looking like new. Never the less, with all those precautions it was bound to happen. Perhaps a thoughtless person or a complete accident. It is not new anymore. 

My thoughts when this recently happened to me was first I was blessed to be fortunate enough to have a new vehicle. Then I thought about God wanting us to be good stewards of our possessions here on Earth but on the other hand not let them consume us and make us OCD. I realized that being mad or upset would not make this little indentation pop back out so I had to deal with it. There are worse things in the big scheme of things. 

 

Do you ever let your possessions control you? As I said before we need to take good care of things God has blessed us with but not let them become idols or gods in our lives.I have in the past broken a favorite coffee mug and get sad but then think to myself, get a grip Becky and move on, Whatever it is that is controlling you why not turn it over to God. Let Him manage the little 'dings' of life. 

PRAYER: Thank you for abundant blessings you have given me. Help me Lord to not allow my 'stuff' to control me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Oh I Am So Angry!

          Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.  James 1:20

Have you ever uttered those words from my title or thought them to yourself? People can be angry for a variety of reasons. Harboring  resentment from a divorce. Someone has hurt you for no apparent reason. You were wrongfully sued. Perhaps accused of something you never did. Issues from your past. Each person can probably give further examples. Still if anger is not dealt with and controlled, it can even lead to someone dying in worst case scenarios such as what we saw in Ferguson, Missouri or in domestic abuse cases that end in a murder.

Anger really is not the answer but forgiveness is.  The enemy wants fights, disputes, hatred, gossip, and hurt. God wants love, peace, kindness, and mercy. Maybe you think a person deserves something. Did JESUS deserve to be hung on a cross? Anger can also lead to a life of bitterness. If bitterness is in your heart it is hard to have love at the same time. Whatever it is someone did to you, let it go, move on. Ask God to help you to forgive as that is the ultimate goal, not harboring hatred. 

What do you need to do to let God's love fully envelope you and allow you to forgive? That is a question only you can answer. You know that is what God wants  for you and those around you. 

PRAYER: Lord you are good and your mercies endure forever. I choose to not harbor resentment against anyone who has ever hurt or wronged me. It does no good and only allows me to not really truly love like you want us to love. Give me strength to do this. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Truth Does Set You Free

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."John 8:32

 We are sadly a world full of cheaters and liars. Cheaters and liars are controlled by demonic forces. Those forces weave their way into all facets of life ever so subtly over time till one day it is hard to distinguish a truth from a lie. Lies are a product of the devil. Truth is from God. Good and evil. Right and wrong.

How do you know how to tell the difference or how do you insure you don't fall into Satan's captivating trap? I mean he is working in our government, in some churches, in the institution of marriage, in the schoolhouse, on the streets, in the news media.  in the television and motion picture industry and in many places you never suspect. Not totally truthful, misspoke, unclear, fib, are words used in place of saying a person lied.Lying is one of the seven things God says He hates.(Read Proverbs 6:16-17).

Stay grounded in God's word to clearly be able to have your senses exercised of right and wrong, good and evil. And pray for those being misled by evil spirits who do not like the truth. 

 PRAYER: Lord Jesus forgive me if I have ever fallen captive to the enemies tricks to lure me and deceive me. Protect me from falling for his schemes. Help me recognize a lying tongue. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

I Smell Bacon! Yum!

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15

As I stopped for gas about a week ago before church and exited my car to pump the gas, I could smell the wonderful fragrance of bacon frying. Perhaps from the motel breakfast room close to the station or the breakfast restaurant across the street. Never the less it was pleasurable and made me smile. 

This made me think of today's verse about being the 'aroma' of Christ. Am I being that kind of aroma that makes others smile and draws them closer to the kingdom or am a a stinky soured rag that is laden with mildew? Each of us who knows Christ should  ask ourselves if we are drawing others closer to the kingdom by our 'aroma' or making them run and hold their noses. Our fragrance is to be pleasurable not in the sense we put perfume or after shave on, but in the sense that the Spirit of God living in us is shining through drawing others closer to wanting to know Christ personally. 

Examine yourself and change what you need to in order to have a 'pleasing aroma' to attract others closer to God.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father I want to be so filled with the fragrance of you that others want to ask why I am like that. Help me never smell like soured rags or stinky baby diapers but to have your aroma all around me. In Jesus' name. Amen.