2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

 

Think About It

Ephesians 4:29-32 (New Living Translation)

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has  forgiven you.

Keeping my eyes on him

when I'm thinking "how am I going to make this work out" I need to stop and say - "no - Jesus how are You going to make this work out?"

In the natural sometimes things/situations in our life do not appear so good.  Maybe it's our job, finances, trouble in the home or even church, a child not going in the direction that you know they should be going.  A loved one that is lost, emotional and physical pains.  We become overwhelmed with stress and worry.  Why is it so hard for us to remember that our God is bigger than all of our troubles?  Did Jesus die on the cross for us to feel constant worry or sorrow?  Did he not come so we could live and not be bound by fear?  He rose again! so we could be victorious not victims! Our reward is in Heaven - not on this Earth.  That is our hope!  

If we can not truly believe that "God will make a way where there seems to be no way" then where is our faith?  What do we have faith in?  What or whom do you put your trust in?  Is it the one knows tomorrow?  Is it the one who knows the plans he has for you - plans that are good - the one that wants to give you a future and hope?

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Does that verse say "you know, or your friends or family know the plans he has for you"?  NO - it says HE knows.  Now that doesn't mean we can not seek advice or wise council.  God will place people in our lives at the appropriate times to give us a word and when he does we will get confirmation from him to follow those words.  

I write this as a reminder to myself today - a reminder of God's truth!  Not the truth as the world may see it, not the truth that I see in the natural.  I believe in a God that is bigger than my circumstances, bigger than my bank account, bigger than my storms.  If I don't have complete faith and believe then I have put God in a small box.  I have put limits on him as to what he can do in my circumstances.  Do we serve a God that has no boundaries, no limits?  That can exceed what we hoped or asked for?  YES - and we can not forget these things! for when we do the enemy has won! and that is not an option :-)

 

Isaiah 55:8-13 (New Living Translation)

 ⁸ “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
      “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
 ⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
      so my ways are higher than your ways
      and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

 ¹⁰ “The rain and snow come down from the heavens
      and stay on the ground to water the earth.
   They cause the grain to grow,
      producing seed for the farmer
      and bread for the hungry.
 ¹¹ It is the same with my word.
      I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
   It will accomplish all I want it to,
      and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
 ¹² You will live in joy and peace.
      The mountains and hills will burst into song,
      and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
 ¹³ Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
      Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
   These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name;
      they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

Philippians 3:17-21 (NLT)

 ¹⁷ Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. ¹⁸ For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. ²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. ²¹ He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Kim Walker, Sing My Love

Patience, Love and Kindness

In our own frustrations, impatience and anger with others take a moment to think about how patient God is with us. Really think about how patient God is with us! Could we ever be so loving, kind and patient? I challenge us all before we open our mouths or take any action FIRST pause and think about how our Holy Father would want us to respond. He is always there for us and he's made it so easy for each generation because he NEVER changes. The instructions remain the same. His word was and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. There are so many things in our life that need to be "updated" or "revised" or "new and improved". I am so thankful that I serve a God that will always be "the latest and greatest". Even though his word never changes - he can constantly change you and refresh you. Each day his word can have new meaning for you!

Want to be amazed?.....Dig deeper into God's word

Psalm 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Isaiah 11:2 (King James Version)

 2And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Matthew 12:32 (New Living Translation)
32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Acts 4:31 (New Living Translation)
 31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
Acts 5:32 (New Living Translation)
32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

Acts 8:17 (New Living Translation)
17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 11:16 (New Living Translation)
16 Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

TAKE TIME TODAY TO READ GOD'S WORD - DON'T JUST WAIT FOR THE PASTOR TO DO IT FOR YOU ON SUNDAY!