STAND IN FAITH!!

Do  you have faith?Even a tiny bit?Faith Is important in many areas of life. First let me define faith. According to Webster's it means loyalty, fidelity to ones' promises, belief and trust and loyalty to God, and having a strong belief.

You have faith when you get in an elevator that it will not plunge to the ground. You have faith in the floor of a building that it will not cave in. If you are married you have faith in the love and loyalty of your spouse to you only. In the Bible it says in Hebrews 11:1 that "now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen."  You have faith that when you pray God hears your prayers. You have faith that when you die if you asked Jesus into your heart you will be in heaven with him for eternity.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says "we live by faith, not by sight." In Hebrews 11:7 speaking of Noah it said "By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." Most everyone has heard the story of Noah and seen Hollywood's portrayal of it in 'Evan Almighty' but just imagine being spoken to by God and trying to get those close to you to believe you. It would take an immense amount of faith.

Hebrews 10:23 says "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Also in Matthew 17:20 it says "He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." A good faith verse I like is Romans 4:17 says "As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations.  He is our father  in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were." The last part is the part I like when it says "call things as not as though they were." Stop being a dooms day thinker. Say out loud, "Lord I do not know how you are going to deliver _______but I know you will". (Fill in a name in the blank).

 I heard a saying once that said "Believe receive,doubt,do without."  That is good to remember when it comes to faith.What are you believing for today?

 PRAYER: Lord I trust you for the areas in my life that sometimes I do not understand why they are happening. I believe that you are in control and have an awesome plan for my life. Help me to demonstrate that faith to those around me. In Jesus name. Amen.

STORMY LIFE??

As I sit writing this devotion today there are storms outside which a good deal of America needs right now. Storms in life come to all of us. It is how we deal with these times that matters. When you become a Christian that does not mean your life is going to be a bed of roses or your family is all going to be perfect by human standards. In James 1:3 it says "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." We at times have to look beyond the 'storm' and look for the 'rainbow'. All storms will end. You have to ask God what it is he wants you to learn from the storm you are experiencing.


What storms are going on in your life right now? Maybe you are just getting over a storm. If you know of someone going through a hard time be there for them. Be an encouragement and a comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says "who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Sometimes when we go through things maybe God is allowing it so somewhere down the road you will have the ability to help someone else endure a hard time. When you go through a trial it is not pleasant but it helps to strengthen you. Romans 5:3-5 reminds us "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

The storm may be a prodigal child, a divorce, a lost job, being hurt by a friend, addiction to drugs or alcohol, being sued, a health issue, loss of property, bankruptcy, a death, to name a few. Whatever it is God can get your through it. Isaiah 43:2 is a great verse of hope for those suffering through some issue in their life and it says "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."

God will not allow you to be alone. He is the one to turn to. Do not turn to a horoscope, a fortune teller, or some other means to get comfort and advice. Run to him. Pray to him. He alone can strengthen you and get you to the glorious rainbow waiting for you.


PRAYER: Father God there are times things happen I do not understand. There have been times I have caved in and been fretful or even angry at wondering why something has to happen the way it does. Lord I give you my life or that of a family member in a struggle and I ask for understanding and strength to go through this storm and know there is a rainbow waiting and everything is going to be okay. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link below to worship the Lord in song:
http://youtu.be/uHdcyue0bSw

FRIENDS MATTER

I often write in a local coffee shop and see folks like myself on their computers. Others are reading the paper or a book. Some people are meeting business associates. Yet others are meeting for job interviews. Then my all time favorite that brings a smile to my face are those there who are friends getting together meeting to chat and catch up! Last week one day as I wrote I saw a young woman outside on her phone who later came inside and gave a hug to an elderly woman perhaps waiting on her. It was so refreshing to see the generations visiting with each other.

As a military member and now a military wife most of my close friends end up being like family. Everywhere we have lived I have had friends who are 'locals' or 'civilians' in addition to my military 'family'.  In a few cases the locals with relatives in the area were not that interested in making a close friendship which I find sad, probably as they were busy with their family in the area.( Now there have been exceptions a few of which are in my prayer group with me now.) The point is friendships are worth the investment of time.

For anyone who has ever been 'shelved' by a formerly close friend it is very puzzling, it hurts and is hard to get through. Even when you try to get back into the persons' life they ignore your attempts or show little interest. The point is if this has happened to you to forgive these people and try to move on. Concentrate on those friends who do want to be in your life. Do not wait for a friend to make the first move. The saying goes, "if you want to be a friend you have to show yourself friendly."

There are always ways to make new friends too. You can volunteer. Perhaps visit a nursing home. Maybe start up a conversation at the gym you go to. In  Bible study make the effort and invite someone to have coffee. There are even meet up groups here in my area where people meet up who share common interests such as hiking, knitting, biking, etc.  

Make an effort to connect with former friends in the area too and drop a note to a friend out of the area. Treat your friend like you would want to be treated. Love like Jesus loves and forgive them for their shortcomings as we all have them Don't hold anger or bitterness in your heart for past failures. If you say you love Jesus then act like it.

The Bible mentions lots about friendships. Proverbs 18:24 says "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."  Today thank the Lord for the friends in your life, past, present, and future. I am not talking about racking up Facebook friends but true friends you are willing to invest time and energy in. When you go about your day smile at those around you. To some that may be the closest they come to feeling the love of a friend all day. Maybe sit down today and write a letter to a friend you have not seen in a while. Try a real letter with a stamp or better yet pick up the phone.Above all when with your friend put your phone away or turn it off and give your friend your undivided attention. A novel idea in this age where we feel we have to be connected or else the world falls apart.

What can you do today to be a friend?

PRAYER: Lord I love my friends. Each person in my life is there for a reason. Help me show love to friends near and far and forgive those who have hurt me whether they know it or not. In Jesus name. Amen!

Click on link below and be blessed:
http://youtu.be/oOCJAVlESEo

SNEAK ATTACK

Usually attacks against a country by another are total surprises. Take Pearl Harbor for instance or the attacks on the World Trade Center. No one really expected these things to happen. Some evil things happen and are very subtle and catch even countries like the USA by surprise. 

Thorns remind me of evil in how you do not see them when you are weeding your garden and a lovely innocent looking plant has them and before you know it, ouch, you have just been pricked by one. That is how the enemy works on people. He makes things look good. He lies and deceives. Satan in  scripture in 2 Corinthians 11:14 is referred to as an 'angel of light'.

The enemy is like that. He works through his subjects,  whom he has already deceived, to lie to and  trick even more innocent people. It is like Adolph Hitler who wanted total control of his people and killed the ones he did not like and dominated the rest. Do not hate the person but hate the devil and the evil in the world.

 

We in this country need to be careful. We need to pray for those leaders who seem to be wanting total control. Many people do not believe it as they are deceived themselves. Currently we are in a battle of good and evil. This is intense spiritual warfare. Look around you. Many freedoms are being threatened yet many do not seem to believe it. It is not a political thing or a Republican or Democrat thing but it is about the freedom to worship God and keep this nation as it was founded based on principles in God's word. Why is it others can voice their anti Christian opinion but believers and people of faith are mocked and ridiculed?

 

Psalm 33:11 could not be any clearer and it says "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance". My problem is how a person can say "God Bless America" then condone and make a law it is okay to kill God's creation in the womb or force a Christian medical professional to kill a baby when it is against his conscience? How can a person vote for someone who thinks nothing about that ,is beyond my understanding. When a leader stands up and declares we are no longer a Christian nation it makes you wonder why we might be having a severe drought. Something to ponder.

Recently  a U.S. Christian corporate executive had the courage to stand up for traditional marriage and has been called hateful. Since when is believing God's word hateful? No one said this man hated anyone! He simply stated his convictions under The First Amendment which he is entitled to.

Many well meaning people do not see the attacks on our rights taking place but they are in fact being trampled upon and threatened on a daily basis. Evil likes it when the people are unaware and they can run over us. Things like taking away freedoms are very subtle and before you know it tyranny and domination are the order of the day. Many here in the USA laugh at the notion that we, the supreme power, could ever be dominated and even by our own leadership.

When it comes to religious freedom, even some college campuses are being told their Bible clubs can not meet on campus. This is real. I am not making this up. Little by little little things are taking place taking freedom away from people and putting it into the hands of government.

 

We are to pray for our leaders and those in authority. We know God is in control and ultimately knows the 'big picture' so we need to trust him but we also do not want to be ignorant of Satan's schemes to destroy one of the greatest nations on earth. We became great because our founders kept God first. Little by little ungodliness crept into places of high power and men and women were allowed to be in office who named the name of the Lord but that is all they did. Perhaps they mentioned a denomination they belonged to but never said the word Christian. Some in public office today are even atheist! God's name is an offense and stumbling block to many. Christians are called intolerant and hateful yet those who say that, are intolerant of us!

 

If you name the name of Jesus you should believe and follow what is in God's word. None of us are perfect by any means but there is right and there is wrong and there is good and there is evil. 1 John 4:1 says "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

 

Some have asked that I not get 'political' or they did not want to read my blog anymore. God is political. He cares about our country. Much is written about kings and those in authority right in his word. We know there is a force of good and evil and we know Satan has the power to be cunning and trick many. We have to be alert.2 Corinthians 2:11 says "in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." 

One thing to keep in mind in all this is we are not to hate or be mad at someone but to pray for them. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

 

Proverbs 29:2 says "When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan."  When there is unrighteousness going on Christians need to speak up or suffer the consequences. Proverbs 28:15 says "Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people." Ecclesiastes 10:6 says "Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones."

 

Let me leave you with one final scripture found in Proverbs 14:34 and it says " Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."  Do not look to a man to save you or the government to save you but look to Jesus who is in control of all!

 

PRAYER: Lord Jesus help me to not be deceived by trickery and evil in the world around me. Keep my eyes open and help me speak out in love against any evils I see in my world around me. Help me Lord remember to pray for those who lead us. In Jesus Name. Amen.

 

NOTE: Excellent website to check out which is nothing to do with government but is independent is www.presidentialprayerteam.org . 

MY GOLD MEDAL

If you had to say what your gold medal would be in what would you say? Comically I could say mine would be the sport of 'Jumping to Conclusions'. Now this is a funny  illustration but may make you think about this area.

Is there  some little habit you have that you know is not really taking you higher and perhaps needs God's help to remove from your life? Perhaps there is an area of your life you have not totally surrendered to the Lord that is getting in the way of you being all God wants you to be? Maybe it is gossip. How about worry? Do you act ashamed of Jesus and your faith around certain people or are you authentic with everyone? Do you have a problem with honesty and integrity? What about judging others? Maybe it is lust? Is there a lack of love in your life? Maybe a revengeful spirit? Whatever it is, it is maybe time to surrender your 'gold medal winning performance' in that area of struggle to the Lord and let him reshape you into what He wants you to be.

Romans 12:1-2 is one of my favorite verses and it says "Therefore I urge you brethren in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices , holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any  longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good, perfect, pleasing will."

Whatever it is that is dominating your life that is keeping you from being more like Christ,God is ready to transform you if only you will ask.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I know at times I act like someone who does not fully trust you when I display worry, fear, anger or start to be dishonest in some area. Father it is my goal to be shaped into your image in all areas of my life. I surrender to you today the area of (fill in the blank). In Jesus name. Amen.

OLYMPIANS! NOW THERE IS DEDICATION!

We in the world are now enjoying the summer Olympics from London and  in awe of the athletic feats of these dedicated athletes. For an athlete to even get picked for the team and then to reach the podium for one of three medals takes a life of hard work, sacrifice, discipline and dedication. You do not become world class by doing something half way.It takes  dedication!
Athletes on a minor scale have to stay fit for the sports they enjoy . You can not just sit on a couch  for months and months then expect to get up and go complete a 10k race. It just will not happen. Discipline and dedication are the keys.

If only we could be as dedicated and devoted to our Bibles and knowledge of Jesus as we were to other things we like whether it is sports, working out, a hobby, or your job. Just think if you were to have a passion for Christ and want to know him better there would be no stopping for winning the gold medal of sorts in your spiritual life. You would be able to better cope with struggles that are bound to come your way.

1 Corinthians 9:24 says "do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. "  I like to run and used to run in lots of races and would always focus on what was ahead of me and not the people behind me. Keep looking towards the finish line of life and not turning around and rehashing the past. Stay focused on Jesus.

Let me leave you  with a verse from Isaiah 40:31 which says " 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 they shall walk and not faint."

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I want to be trained in Godliness and not be a flabby Christian. Help me to utilize the  tools at my disposal, such as my Bible to learn more about you and how to live a Christian life. I know Satan will get me to make excuses for not picking it up daily but I resist him in The name of Jesus as he has no power over me. In Jesus name. Amen.

MESS UP LATELY?

Everyone has times in life when they mess up or make errors. Errors on paper or errors in judgement or errors that separate you from God. There is not one single person that has not made mistakes. This past week I for one made a few errors in writing my blog and three kind friends let me know. No one is perfect except God.


Why do we point the finger and talk about certain people and their sins? A reminder, Romans 3:23 says "We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory." "Well yeah but so and so is a prostitute or committed adultery and that is way worse". Yes it is bad but it is not worse or beyond God's healing and forgiveness.

Matthew 7:3 tells us "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" Instead of condemnation, those who you think are doing the 'worst sins' in your estimation, need love and prayer. Also something to remember and memorize in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 6:11 "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God".

Stop for a minute and meditate on the goodness of God and how we do not deserve  his love at times because of how we act or treat others. Is Sunday the only time you even think about Jesus? You should let the love of Christ dwell in your hearts and help to change your life 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We are all capable of sinning and messing up.


The next time you think you are so great and someone else has messed up worse remember it says in Ephesians 2:8 "By grace you have been saved -through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God". Just thank the Lord he is there willing, ready and able to forgive you and cleanse you if you only ask Him. 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness". Keep in mind when you point at someone to find fault the other fingers on your hand are pointing back in your direction.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you that you can redeem and restore. Father help me to not be guilty of thinking I am so wonderful and others are worse sinners. Help me to pray for others and to remember any of us is capable of slipping up. That is what the enemy wants us to do. It is wrong to judge others so help me to keep a tight rein on my tongue and to only use my words for blessing not judging. In Jesus Name. Amen .

Click on link before to worship the Lord in song:
http://youtu.be/66zqQBxhUDA