Did you know Jesus longs for you to have a relationship with him? He does! Whether your life is one filled with sorrow, pain and shame or good times, happiness and no worries, he gave his life for you. He gave his life to close that gap between us and God. We are not holy, God is. We are not perfect, God is. In order for us to approach God, there needed to be a sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus was that sacrifice. He loves each of us so much that he was willing to die on the cross so that we could one day be with God in heaven. It is a gift, a free gift - all we have to do is ask Jesus to forgive us and change our lives.
No matter what your life has been like, no matter what you have ever done, Jesus loves you and wants you to believe in him. He will forgive whatever you've done but you have to ask him. He gives hope and peace. Without Jesus there is no hope of life after death. Heaven is real - so is hell. By not asking Jesus into your life you are choosing hell.
Look up John 3:16, it's real. So is Jesus. Talk to him today!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Encouragement for the New Year
Joshua 1:5-9
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
The Lord spoke to Joshua, the man who had served Moses, after Moses had died. The above passage is what the Lord said to Joshua to encourage him because now Joshua would take Moses' place in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.
These words of encouragement still apply to us today. How amazing it is to know that God emphasizes that we should not be afraid but instead to take heart and know that He is with us always and will be our strength and provider of courage.
Make this your mantra for this year. God will give you all the power, temerity and endurance you will need to face all that will come your way in the upcoming year. Face the year boldly knowing your Lord is with you!
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
The Lord spoke to Joshua, the man who had served Moses, after Moses had died. The above passage is what the Lord said to Joshua to encourage him because now Joshua would take Moses' place in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.
These words of encouragement still apply to us today. How amazing it is to know that God emphasizes that we should not be afraid but instead to take heart and know that He is with us always and will be our strength and provider of courage.
Make this your mantra for this year. God will give you all the power, temerity and endurance you will need to face all that will come your way in the upcoming year. Face the year boldly knowing your Lord is with you!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Lord Sees the Heart
1 Samuel 16:7: “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
We can look like the perfect Christian on the outside, but the Lord knows what’s hidden behind that shiny veneer! We want to do the right things, make the right choices, say the right things and think the best thoughts. But we are human and we do fail. Those around us may not see that, but Jesus does because he sees what others can’t – he sees right into our hearts.
The Lord will always know our hearts. He’ll always know the thoughts we have, what our intentions are. The good news is that He forgives when we confess and ask to be forgiven, and he creates a new heart within in us. (Psalm 51:10)
Talk to Him, confess to Him what He already knows, and get your new heart today.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Be Holy
1 Peter 1:15-16: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live with the ability to resist sin, to kick temptations in the knees and knock them off their feet while we remain standing in faith. In Christ we have been sanctified to live holy lives, to live for Him - worshipping Him, praising Him, loving others and telling them about Jesus.
The next time you face a temptation, remember the One who said "Be holy because I am holy", and remember that means the Holy Spirit is there to help you live above sin.
The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live with the ability to resist sin, to kick temptations in the knees and knock them off their feet while we remain standing in faith. In Christ we have been sanctified to live holy lives, to live for Him - worshipping Him, praising Him, loving others and telling them about Jesus.
The next time you face a temptation, remember the One who said "Be holy because I am holy", and remember that means the Holy Spirit is there to help you live above sin.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Hope
Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
This is one of my favorite
verses because it has more than one promise. Those who have hope and faith in
the Lord will have new strength. Do you ever feel like you just can’t go on?
Whether that feeling is emotional or physical, God will renew you. You can go on farther with more energy
because you rely on Him. He loves us
with more love than we can imagine and He wants us to go to Him with our needs, no matter what the need is. So, when we are facing times that just seem to suck the life from us we can, and should, go to Him.
When we ask for His help, and do things in His
power rather than our own, our batteries will always be charged enough to do what
needs to be done. We can go on and on without wearing out.
Friend, I am asking you
today to put your hope in Jesus Christ! He will sustain you and he will strengthen
you, giving you what you need each day. But much more importantly than that, He alone can give you eternal life in
His presence.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Self-Control
I have a weight problem, and I have been trying to eat
better. I come up with all kinds of solutions to better eating habits but have been unsuccessful. I
realized today that I haven’t been asking God to help me with this. Trying to do it on my own is absolutely not
working.
That made me wonder how many other things I’ve been trying
to accomplish in my own power rather allowing God to help. He does want us to ask him for help in
living right for him. Eating righ and taking care of our bodies is part of living right. When we try to do
things on our own, we’ll end up frustrated.
Self-control is part of the fruit of the spirit, so if we have the Holy Spirit, we can ask for help!
Today I am asking God for help, and I’m taking Him with
me through my day.
Are you asking God for help? Don’t delay – He’s ready to hear
from you.
Monday, September 19, 2011
JOY
Corrie ten Boom. When I think about joy, she comes to mind. Corrie was able to find pure joy in the midst of some horrible circumstances in her life. When the man she thought she would marry showed up at her door to introduce his finacee', she was heartbroken but got back into studying the bible and continued her pursuit of bible teaching in which she found great joy. A bit later in life, her family began helping Jews & protecting them from the Nazis. Her home became part of the underground that helped to relocate Jews. Those who could not be safely relocated were hidden in the ten Boom home. In her 50s, her daily life included drills in the middle of the night and at meal times that would ensure that if the Nazis showed up at the door, the Jews could "disappear". Their goal was one minute to have the people hidden with no evidence left of their presence - evidence like an extra fork left on the table, a trail of food, an empty but warm mattress. In the midst of this constant stress, Corrie found joy in the Lord, joy in spite of the circumstances of daily life. Four years after Germany invaded Holland, Corrie, her father, brothers and sisters were jailed for harboring Jews. Her father died. Eventually, she and her sister were sent to a concentration camp. The others were released.
Why the history lesson? Because Corrie's circumstances didn't include happy things. Her life was filled with persecution and danger. In spite of the danger, in the camp she continued to share the love of Jesus, even to a Nazi lietenant. Her joy was in the strength of the Lord. Her joy wasn't in her circumstances, but in the knowledge that Christ was her salvation, and regardless of the circumstances of her life, she had everything she could possibly need - the joy of eternity with her heavenly Father.
Why the history lesson? Because Corrie's circumstances didn't include happy things. Her life was filled with persecution and danger. In spite of the danger, in the camp she continued to share the love of Jesus, even to a Nazi lietenant. Her joy was in the strength of the Lord. Her joy wasn't in her circumstances, but in the knowledge that Christ was her salvation, and regardless of the circumstances of her life, she had everything she could possibly need - the joy of eternity with her heavenly Father.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Jehova Rapha
Psalm 147:3: He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.
That is one of my favorite verses. It sustained me when I was going through a very painful time in my life during which I became a Christian.
I can tell you that God does heal! He will heal all of your wounds, all of them. He is Jehovah-Rapha, The Lord Who Heals. He heals all - all of our hurts and all of our sins.
1 Peter 2:24 says: " He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed." All of those decisions in the past, all pain caused by our own actions and those of others - all healed - healed by His wounds.
Over the years as I have given all my troubles to the Lord, I have been healed. It may take some practice to give all things to Him and leave them at His feet, but that is what we are to do. Leave your broken heart, your sadness and shame over past things, your anger, your fear - leave it all at His feet. Jehovah-Rapha will heal you and give you peace.
That is one of my favorite verses. It sustained me when I was going through a very painful time in my life during which I became a Christian.
I can tell you that God does heal! He will heal all of your wounds, all of them. He is Jehovah-Rapha, The Lord Who Heals. He heals all - all of our hurts and all of our sins.
1 Peter 2:24 says: " He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed." All of those decisions in the past, all pain caused by our own actions and those of others - all healed - healed by His wounds.
Over the years as I have given all my troubles to the Lord, I have been healed. It may take some practice to give all things to Him and leave them at His feet, but that is what we are to do. Leave your broken heart, your sadness and shame over past things, your anger, your fear - leave it all at His feet. Jehovah-Rapha will heal you and give you peace.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
LOVE
I once had a Christian friend, Ruth Ann. She was raised in a Christian family, and why she chose me for her friend is beyond me. Perfectly understandable that she was MY best friend, because anyone who knew her loved her. But I was far from being a Christian, and didn't know what true Christianity was about. Ruth Ann did though. The kindness she showed me, in spite of my obvious sins, was really remarkable. She was such a great example of a Christian woman, and I'll never forget a single thing about her. She had a way of presenting things so that a person never knew they had just been admonished. Ruth Ann treated people like the most adored of family members. She treated me that way, even though my sins were obvious to all. I believe that Ruth Ann had the heart of perfect love toward others. The love of God was definitely alive in her, as was His sanctifying grace.
Do you have a Ruth Ann in your life? Or are you a Ruth Ann to others? I believe we each have the capability of this love as we move along in our journey; it comes from the relationship we have with Him as we grow to be moe like Him. The more we love Christ, and grow to be like Him, the greater our love for other will be. Ruth Ann was like that, and Christ's love glowed in her.
When you go to your Father in prayer, ask Him to empower you to love others like Jesus did.
Do you have a Ruth Ann in your life? Or are you a Ruth Ann to others? I believe we each have the capability of this love as we move along in our journey; it comes from the relationship we have with Him as we grow to be moe like Him. The more we love Christ, and grow to be like Him, the greater our love for other will be. Ruth Ann was like that, and Christ's love glowed in her.
When you go to your Father in prayer, ask Him to empower you to love others like Jesus did.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Jehovah-Rohi
Jehovah-Rohi - The Lord My Shepherd
I love this name - Jehovah-Rohi. Why do I love it? Shepherds loved and watched over their sheep. The shepherd protected the sheep, even leaving all behind to find one if one strayed. I have a Shepherd and my Shepherd won't leave me. Jesus tells a story of the shepherd leaving ninety-nine sheep behind to find one sheep that was lost. In Ezekiel God said "I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace." God is my shepherd!
A shepherd was responsible around the clock for his sheep. Every day he would get up early to take the sheep to a place of pasture. He would make sure they had plenty of fresh water, which meant traveling through the day to the source of water. He would watch them all day long - he watched constantly to keep the sheep safe. If one did get away from the group, the shepherd searched until he found the sheep and brought it back. He made sure to get the sheep back home safely at night even counting them to make sure all were there. At night he watched to make sure they were safe from wild animals. The next morning it all started again.
Jehovah-Rohi does these same things for me. He watches, provides, protects, and stays with me. That's why I love this name. I am blessed to have my own shepherd.
I love this name - Jehovah-Rohi. Why do I love it? Shepherds loved and watched over their sheep. The shepherd protected the sheep, even leaving all behind to find one if one strayed. I have a Shepherd and my Shepherd won't leave me. Jesus tells a story of the shepherd leaving ninety-nine sheep behind to find one sheep that was lost. In Ezekiel God said "I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace." God is my shepherd!
A shepherd was responsible around the clock for his sheep. Every day he would get up early to take the sheep to a place of pasture. He would make sure they had plenty of fresh water, which meant traveling through the day to the source of water. He would watch them all day long - he watched constantly to keep the sheep safe. If one did get away from the group, the shepherd searched until he found the sheep and brought it back. He made sure to get the sheep back home safely at night even counting them to make sure all were there. At night he watched to make sure they were safe from wild animals. The next morning it all started again.
Jehovah-Rohi does these same things for me. He watches, provides, protects, and stays with me. That's why I love this name. I am blessed to have my own shepherd.
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