Overcoming And Bouncing Back

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7

One of the most amazing stories of bouncing back is the story of Job in the book of Job. All the junk he went through and all the more reason to want to give up, yet he hung in there. How many of us when faced with crisis after crisis after crisis would have the will to continue? There are often times purpose in the pain. Nowhere are we promised a life of ease with no problems. Trials are used to grow us and shape us and more importantly to help patience take root. 

The ultimate goal of life is in fact living for Jesus and preparing for our heavenly kingdom. This earthly home is so very temporary yet how many people feel it is the end all. The very short duration of life here compares nothing to what lies ahead. Sometimes life is sprinkled with trouble, pain, grief, and heartaches. The key is to not let those consume you and realize you are in a training ground for heaven. 

Are you enduring something now you feel you can not take anymore?  There are lessons to be learned in suffering. Those who endure till the end have a crown of life for them if they have asked Jesus to be Lord of their life. Do you know the best is yet to come? 

PRAYER: Even in trials Lord I need to say thanks for the things I learn during the hard times. Help me to shine my light for you in good times and not so good times. I am aware Satan would have me give up and I do not plan to. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LOVE MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOUR SORRY....HUH!!

 

This may make a great movie line from the seventies but is has no bearing in real life relationships. If you have hurt somone you love, be it a spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, or friend you need to admit it and go to the person and restore this relationship. Sometimes people mess up and some people have trouble asking forgiveness and saying they are sorry. If you are the one who has been hurt by someone you are close to, you can choose to dwell on it or you can move on. True, it is not right when someone has done something and will not admit they have hurt you, but to dwell on it only causes a huge divide. Eventually if it happens to be in a marriage relationship you may need counseling for this issue as it can not continue to be buried if there is an underlying cause.

If you know you have hurt someone and you claim to be a Christian ask yourself what would Jesus do? We all know the answer to that. He would admit his mistake and seek to heal the relatioship before it was wounded any more. Many fights in marriages could be avoided if the couples truly prayed together and read their Bibles together and would admit it when they were wrong. The real culprit in all arguments and misunderstandings is the enemy Satan trying to divide and destroy because that is his specialty.

Sometimes you may have hurt a friend and they refuse to want to be your friend anymore. You have to move on. Pray for the person. Try to love them regardless of how they feel about you.

Most all types of relationships could be wonderful and happy and strong if people did not always try to get their own way. If all of us who claim to love Jesus and follow Him would stop each day and pick up that instruction manual, otherwise known as the Bible, there would be much less conflict. If husbands would treat their wives like Christ treated the church, there would be a much lower divorce rate. If people would put the other person first all the time and think of nice things to do, that would help as well. If you are just starting out a new marriage, begin the right way and make it a point to not take each other for granted, ever! Read the instruction manual and read it together. Take time and read Ephesians Chapter 6 and 1 Corinthians 13. Choose to love and choose to forgive.

If you are reading this and some type relationship you are in seems to be a one way battle all you can really do is pray. Keep seeking Christ. Keep reading your Bible. Try to control the urge to fight or yell as then Satan has you right where he wants you . Overcome evil with good it says in Romans 12:21. As hard as it is sometimes when you are hurt you have to throw off anger. Just think of this as spiritual warfare. Satan is the author of lies, deception, hate, confusion and every evil work. God is all about love, peace, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, mercy, self control and grace. Satan is out to kill, steal, and destroy. We have a choice. We can choose to love and forgive or we can choose to be angry, hateful, vindictive and give Satan more power in our lives.

What is your choice today? Joy, love. peace, forgiveness and moving on or hatred, anger and bitterness? Matthew 5:44(NIV) simply says 'But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' Now just go and do it with God's strength!

PRAYER:Lord Jesus I know you made me to love and show mercy to others. I know in life people may hurt me but I can choose to fight and be angry or I can choose to let it go and move on. I can choose to harbor hate and anger or choose to be kind to those who may want to mistreat me. It is hard, so I need your strength Lord. I know Lord we are in a battle between God and the devil. Fighting is not a fruit of the holy spirit but love is. I choose to love, regardless. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below for a powerful song to get your weekend started off right.

http://youtu.be/GsjJmk7tdk4

WHY?

 

Why do bad things happen in life and lots of times to very good people? I do not know the exact answer to that but I do know that the Bible says in John 16:33(NIV) 'I have told you these things so that in me you might have peace. In this world you will have trouble but TAKE HEART for I have overcome the world.'

In the aftermath of what appears to be a terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon people wonder "why". No one has that answer but this horrific and unthinkable tragedy will have good stories associated with it too. Many are now fearful and confused and just in a daze over how this event unfolded on of all days in Boston, Tax Day, Patriot Day. The mastermind behind an attack such as this needs our prayers too. Love overcomes evil all the time. Romans 12:21(NIV) says 'Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.' The solution is not to hate but the solution is to pray. Matthew 5:44(NIV) says 'But I tell you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'. Proverbs 24:17(NIV) reminds us 'Do not gloat when your enemy falls , when they stumble do not let your heart rejoice.'

When I read that verse above I wonder if God loved Hitler and others tyrants who do so much evil. I guess the answer is yes since he loved sinners. We are all sinners not all to the magnitude of being a dictator and killing people. Pray and ask God to help you pray for evil people.

You can be an overcomer. It is hard to grasp the magnitude of this tragedy on American soil. So what do we do now? Do we not go to things such as Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, Disney World, NASCAR, World Series, or many places large crowds of Americans gather. If you are a runner do you stop going to road races and marathons? We need to continue living life as normal and keep praying.

In the aftermath of a tragedy such was what just occurred in Boston we tend to want to fear or it is easy to perhaps glue ourselves to the television as the tragedy unfolds. I did this during The World Trade Center tragedy. I could not stop watching. It is a discipline to back off from the news and instead pray.

Let me leave you with one simple Bible verse and that is found in Luke 18:1(NIV) which says 'Pray and never give up.'

PRAYER: Lord Jesus in many countries life is filled with terror and destruction. We in the United States have not had too much worry or concern over this until a few years ago. Father give us courage to continue with our life and trust in you and not lead a life of fear. Also give us your love for others even evil people. In Jesus' name. Amen.

CHRISTIANS...A HATE GROUP...SAY WHAT??

Who would have ever imagined our own government trying to classify those who love Jesus and love their country a threat or a hate group? It is absurd, but this is exactly what is occurring subtly here in these United States of America, and many people who are ill informed think I am crazy for even saying such a thing. We may not be in the very "last days " but we indeed are approaching at a much swifter pace. I have been asked to not write about "politics" but guess what? Politics are mentioned in the Bible not in the Democrat or Republican sense but in things like rulers, kings, laws, taxes, morals. It is all in there! The church-state thing is totally been taken out of context and reported over and over again til people believe a lie and distort the facts. The people are supposed to be free to worship without government intrusion not the other way around.
This is how the enemy works when trying to take out one of the most God fearing nations on Earth. He spreads his lies, deceit, and trickery. He can get people to "buy into" his schemes. That is his speciality. God's speciality is truth,love, and overcoming lies. Satan is referred to as the "father of lies" and indeed he truly is. (Read John 10:10).

In our modern day he can even get church goer's to jump on his bandwagon so to speak. We are definitely in a battle of good and evil and right versus wrong. Spiritual warfare is in full swing.
Even something as simple as getting angry is not something from God. Think about that awhile.

Disagreeing with someone on an "issue" does not equate to the very strong word "hate" but today that is what is happening when we as believers speak our religious convictions and are told we are hateful. On the contrary, we are convicted and believe the word of God and feel love for those souls being led astray by the tricks of the enemy. Satan's mission is total destruction and he does work overtime to accomplish what he sets out to do.

God is more powerful than Satan but sometimes it is easier or more "with it" to believe a lie. Many laugh or mock at the notion of Satan, but let me tell you that he is very real and he is out to take you and I down with whatever method he can. That is why it is so very crucial to know the word of God and do not just expect one hour on Sunday to make you okay because it can not. If you go to school and only listen to lectures but do not do the rest of the work at home you more than likely will fail. You see what I mean?

In Ephesians 6:10-20 it speaks of this battle of good and evil. It says 'Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.'

Be a light in this dark world around you. Matthew 5:11-12(NIV) says 'blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and say all manner of evil against you because of me.Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven. For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'

We know the times are tough and we know the enemy is out to tear us to shreds but we also know that God wins in the end.

PRAYER: Father I thank you for loving me and helping me know how to answer people if they should make fun of me on account of you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Click on link for one awesome song!

http://youtu.be/dRAQ7XCJefQ

NEVER, IMPOSSIBLE, WON'T HAPPEN, IT'S OVER, NO CHANCE

 

What do hearing the words above stir up in you? They are words lacking any hope. When you speak negative your mind is set up to be negative. What about the scripture that says 'nothing is impossible with God?' (Luke 1:37)

A person who gets in this kind of mindset feels hopeless. There is always hope as there is always God. When you think negative all the time and do not believe good things can happen then they probably won't. Worry and fear of the future do nothing but increase one's blood pressure. After this last election many Americans started feeling less than hopeful. The great country they know and love and the freedoms they have enjoyed are in danger of extinction. Worrying over this scenario will not help matters. Whatever is troubling you today you have to pray and never give up. (Read Luke 18:1). Almighty God is totally on our side and against evil. He may allow evil at times for His purposes.

So the words above, which are the title of my devotion today, are words that should not be in our vocabulary because they certainly aren't part of God's. Instead words of faith, hope, trust and encouragement should replace them. Stand firm, stay strong, and keep believing no matter what is troubling you today.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus many times I get scared even though your words say to not worry about mere men and what they can do. I know at times you may allow bad things to get my attention. Father forgive me when I have ever been complacent about evil and not take a stand. I fear not though as I know you are with me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link below to hear a wonderful worship song:

http://youtu.be/FqXZD_z3eCc

SATAN'S TOOLBOX

 Our chief enemy is Satan,aka the devil. He has an arsenal of tools he uses to try to cripple Christians. Some of these are doubt, defeat, despair, depression, worry, comparison, fear, lies, tricks, critical spirit, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, anger, abuse, hurt, self pity, jealousy, hatred,bitterness, sickness and I am sure you could add to this list. These are his  tactics to get us off course and feeling hopeless. He weaves a web to destroy and torture us and to get our eyes off Jesus. We defeat Satan by the word of God and the power of our testimony it says in Revelation 12:11.

Remember you need to talk out loud to the enemy, the devil, and remind Him God is in control, not Him. Fear and worry are two of his specialities. He can literally get us so focused on a problem or situation we feel powerless. The good news is we have plenty of power to defeat him through Jesus.

The Bible says in Isaiah 54:17 that "no weapon formed against me shall prosper."  That is a promise to believe in.

 Will you be victorious in the power and authority of Jesus or allow Satan to make you powerless and weak? Start today and use the best tool yet in a Christians' toolbox and that is the word of God! Read it daily,  study it, claim its' promises and let it guide you through the ups and downs of life. Satan has no authority over you so do not let Him destroy you.

 PRAYER: Thank you Lord that I can use the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God to come against the enemy, Satan. I will not allow him to distract me and get me down in the dumps. I will rise up each day Lord and praise your name. I know when I praise you the devil has to flee. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link below to worship the Lord and defeat the enemy.
http://youtu.be/xi0yLRX4d2M