We must choose to put our tongues to good use because the default position consists of murmuring, complaining, anger, etc. If you doubt the truth of this statement ask the Lord to make you aware of what is coming out of your mouth and He will show you, He showed me. Everywhere I have ever lived people complain about the weather, complain about prices, complain about politics and complain about their jobs. I know what you are thinking, so what, that's harmless, ah, but that is not true, for every murmur about the weather, prices, politics, jobs, there are many more unspoken complaints in our hearts and minds. Matthew 12:34; "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart."
What would our day be like if we deliberately put a guard on our mouth not to complain but instead our mouth spoke; encouragement, praise to God, and thanksgiving? First of all our day would be much better because our focus would shift from us to God, our focus would shift from what we don't have, to the blessings we do have.
Much like the child that is given so much at Christmas or for "just because", none of it matters because we trained them to have a sense of entitlement! Then they grow up with that belief that they deserve the best and they deserve it now! This country is drowning in credit card debt for many reasons not the least of which is the idea that possessions bring happiness. How else can we explain lifetimes filled with endless shopping sprees?
Just for fun take a piece of paper and write down a list of the top 25 things you are truly thankful for, take some time to do this. The things that didn't make it to your top 25 do you really need any of them, did they meet the need inside of you? Or were you already craving something else before you even unloaded the must haves from your car? The items on your top 25, were children on it, your health, and your friends?
I don't remember where this quote came from but I've never forgotten it. What if tomorrow morning all that you had was gone, EXCEPT for the things that you had told God you were thankful for yesterday? What would you have left? Who do you think would have the most the next day, the super rich, or the one living paycheck to paycheck?
Every good thing in your life and in mine, yes every good thing, comes down from the Father of lights. James 1:17 MSG; "Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light..."
Father God, forgive me for my murmuring and complaining, give me a thankful heart for all the blessings You have provided, and deliver me from greed and prideful entitlement.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37 NLT
Several years ago a very dear friend of mine and I had a discussion about today's Title verse. We also discussed how dangerous gossip about others is in any group let alone in the body of Christ. As a result of that conversation I wrote a satire on judgmental attitudes, unforgiveness, gossip and slander in the church. The name of it was Rebel Ram and Ego Ewe.
Two sheep who amuse themselves every Monday by discussing the latest gossip they picked up from the prayer requests that were mentioned in their Sunday school classes. Sadly some prayer requests are thinly veiled items of gossip the sheep want to spread.
Rebel and Ego, as their names reveal are very critical about the other sheep, they mock the way they dress, if one sheep shows up on Sunday morning wearing Jimmy Choos hoof covers, they judge them for spending all that money that could have been given to the benevolence fund!
They mock the sheep that speak up in Bible Study, while gossiping about the ones that never speak up! Their tongues speak death, gossip, and lies where ever they go. They are so unhappy in their own wool that they put every one down thinking that will make them feel better. But of course all that does is make them more miserable, you can't spew all of that hate and jealousy without it destroying you from within.
Fortunately for Rebel Ram and Ego Ewe they began reading God's Word and they saw themselves as they truly were, and they didn't like it! God's Word does that, it is a mirror that does not lie! James 1:23-24 says "For if you listen to the Word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like."
But Rebel and Ego listened to the Word, Romans 14:4; "Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive His approval." They were convicted by this Word and others and they repented and sought forgiveness.
These two sheep saw themselves and the Word of God transformed their minds. We are each one sinners, saved by the grace of God believing in the Lord Jesus Christ! And Christ is the only Judge and when He returns the second time He will judge the whole earth. We as His sheep are to love one another, build one another up, forgive each other, worship and serve God in unity!
We are to pray for one another, give to one another as each has a need and so fulfill the command of Jesus Christ. "This is My commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:12-14.
Two sheep who amuse themselves every Monday by discussing the latest gossip they picked up from the prayer requests that were mentioned in their Sunday school classes. Sadly some prayer requests are thinly veiled items of gossip the sheep want to spread.
Rebel and Ego, as their names reveal are very critical about the other sheep, they mock the way they dress, if one sheep shows up on Sunday morning wearing Jimmy Choos hoof covers, they judge them for spending all that money that could have been given to the benevolence fund!
They mock the sheep that speak up in Bible Study, while gossiping about the ones that never speak up! Their tongues speak death, gossip, and lies where ever they go. They are so unhappy in their own wool that they put every one down thinking that will make them feel better. But of course all that does is make them more miserable, you can't spew all of that hate and jealousy without it destroying you from within.
Fortunately for Rebel Ram and Ego Ewe they began reading God's Word and they saw themselves as they truly were, and they didn't like it! God's Word does that, it is a mirror that does not lie! James 1:23-24 says "For if you listen to the Word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like."
But Rebel and Ego listened to the Word, Romans 14:4; "Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive His approval." They were convicted by this Word and others and they repented and sought forgiveness.
These two sheep saw themselves and the Word of God transformed their minds. We are each one sinners, saved by the grace of God believing in the Lord Jesus Christ! And Christ is the only Judge and when He returns the second time He will judge the whole earth. We as His sheep are to love one another, build one another up, forgive each other, worship and serve God in unity!
We are to pray for one another, give to one another as each has a need and so fulfill the command of Jesus Christ. "This is My commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:12-14.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1
In Psalm 139:16 NLT says; "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." God knew you before you were born, He knows the length of your life and He has it recorded in His book. That's right your name, and the number of your days and God has them recorded, and all of that took place; before you were born!
"We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent Me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over." John 9:4 MSG. Since no one knows the day that holds their last sunshine how much more should we, like Jesus, concern ourselves with the work that was given us to do? Night time could be closer than any of us think and once it comes we are out of time to do anything! The time for you and me to complete the purpose God has for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11.
As I take some time to meditate on what could be remaining to do in my life that I know because God's Word tells me, that His will is applicable to all regardless of our individual purposes. So here goes, if as you are reading this you knew that today was your last day, what would you do?
* Have you delayed asking Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, to come into your heart and be Lord over your life? Today is the day if you hear His voice do not harden your heart.
* Is there anyone that you have not forgiven? It doesn't matter what they did, it isn't important if they never asked for forgiveness...forgive them now, today.
* Is there someone in your life past or present who has made a difference for good? It might be a family member, or a teacher or a pastor, or friend, or even a total stranger. If you haven't thanked them yet, do it today, while you still can. Reach out and encourage them as they encouraged you.
* Don't leave this earth without encouraging someone yourself. Be an agent for good in someone else's life. Encourage your grandchildren, your sons or daughters and their mates, your husband or wife.
* Most important of all don't go before the presence of God empty handed. Fulfill the great commission as found in Acts 1:8. Share the Good News of Jesus Christ with someone who is lost, pray with them to be saved and born again. Don't put this off another day for today may be your last day or the last day of the person God wants you to share Him with.
One thing that is burning in my heart right now is the importance of immediate obedience to do what God tells us to do when He tells us to do it! Remember, He has all of our days written down in His book, He knows the years, months, weeks, days, hours and minutes, even seconds remaining, so when He prompts us to reach out and do any of those things listed above or any other thing, do it now while you have breath remaining in you and the sun is still shining...
"We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent Me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over." John 9:4 MSG. Since no one knows the day that holds their last sunshine how much more should we, like Jesus, concern ourselves with the work that was given us to do? Night time could be closer than any of us think and once it comes we are out of time to do anything! The time for you and me to complete the purpose God has for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11.
As I take some time to meditate on what could be remaining to do in my life that I know because God's Word tells me, that His will is applicable to all regardless of our individual purposes. So here goes, if as you are reading this you knew that today was your last day, what would you do?
* Have you delayed asking Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, to come into your heart and be Lord over your life? Today is the day if you hear His voice do not harden your heart.
* Is there anyone that you have not forgiven? It doesn't matter what they did, it isn't important if they never asked for forgiveness...forgive them now, today.
* Is there someone in your life past or present who has made a difference for good? It might be a family member, or a teacher or a pastor, or friend, or even a total stranger. If you haven't thanked them yet, do it today, while you still can. Reach out and encourage them as they encouraged you.
* Don't leave this earth without encouraging someone yourself. Be an agent for good in someone else's life. Encourage your grandchildren, your sons or daughters and their mates, your husband or wife.
* Most important of all don't go before the presence of God empty handed. Fulfill the great commission as found in Acts 1:8. Share the Good News of Jesus Christ with someone who is lost, pray with them to be saved and born again. Don't put this off another day for today may be your last day or the last day of the person God wants you to share Him with.
One thing that is burning in my heart right now is the importance of immediate obedience to do what God tells us to do when He tells us to do it! Remember, He has all of our days written down in His book, He knows the years, months, weeks, days, hours and minutes, even seconds remaining, so when He prompts us to reach out and do any of those things listed above or any other thing, do it now while you have breath remaining in you and the sun is still shining...
"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts. says the LORD. And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 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." Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
I'm not really sure when God first revealed the Title Scripture to me but it became the foundational nugget of truth that led me to the realization that the times that I doubted God were the times that I was bringing Him down to the level of my brain and its understanding! If God is small enough to fit into my brain no wonder I had doubts!
Let me explain, our brains are wonderful of course, for God created them! But they are finite, God is infinite!! Our brains are limited to understanding and relating to the things we can see, hear, taste, smell and touch! Our brains are also capable of going above and beyond those five senses into belief in God, and His Son Jesus Christ through the avenue of faith.
But it cannot stop with belief in God, we must seek Him in His Word to know Him and His ways, if we don't do that then we are limiting God with boundaries that only exist in our minds! What a dangerous and foolish way for a believer to live! Is it any wonder that so many people that call themselves Christians are living way below what God has planned for them, they don't know the Scriptures and so they remain as they were when they got saved. How sad, they don't have much of a prayer life because they have no idea what God can and will do!
There are certain passages in Scripture that are "must reads" for those believers that long to know and see God as He truly is. Of course we can never know Him completely, but we have enough revealed to us in His Word, that if we studied those passages it would be enough to conquer all the doubt, fear and anxiety in everyone of us!
Is your idea of God small enough to fit into your brain? Do you run to the Internet for information rather than seek the One who put wisdom into the mind of man? Do you base your decisions on the advise of man rather than the One Who made you, the One Who has a plan for your life? Then please seek God in the following Scriptures and allow His truth to permeate your mind and saturate your soul. If you meditate on Him as revealed in just the following two portions of Scripture you will find and discover that your God is Amazing, Glorious, All Powerful, Magnificent, Majestic and Holy!!!
Job chapters 38 thru 40 I read at least 12 times a year. Those chapters are great to share with your children, everyone can relate to a sunrise, sunset, and ocean waves, but who is Sovereign over them? The LORD!! Learn about various animals in Job 39 and 40, Who made them, Who cares for them, Who is constantly observing them?
Isaiah 40:3-31 reveals the greatness of God; "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in." Isaiah 40:22. Read the first sentence again, He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth...The book of Isaiah was written over 700 years before Christ, close to 3000 years ago. When Columbus discovered America in 1492 people of the world still believed that the earth was flat! How big is your God now...
Let me explain, our brains are wonderful of course, for God created them! But they are finite, God is infinite!! Our brains are limited to understanding and relating to the things we can see, hear, taste, smell and touch! Our brains are also capable of going above and beyond those five senses into belief in God, and His Son Jesus Christ through the avenue of faith.
But it cannot stop with belief in God, we must seek Him in His Word to know Him and His ways, if we don't do that then we are limiting God with boundaries that only exist in our minds! What a dangerous and foolish way for a believer to live! Is it any wonder that so many people that call themselves Christians are living way below what God has planned for them, they don't know the Scriptures and so they remain as they were when they got saved. How sad, they don't have much of a prayer life because they have no idea what God can and will do!
There are certain passages in Scripture that are "must reads" for those believers that long to know and see God as He truly is. Of course we can never know Him completely, but we have enough revealed to us in His Word, that if we studied those passages it would be enough to conquer all the doubt, fear and anxiety in everyone of us!
Is your idea of God small enough to fit into your brain? Do you run to the Internet for information rather than seek the One who put wisdom into the mind of man? Do you base your decisions on the advise of man rather than the One Who made you, the One Who has a plan for your life? Then please seek God in the following Scriptures and allow His truth to permeate your mind and saturate your soul. If you meditate on Him as revealed in just the following two portions of Scripture you will find and discover that your God is Amazing, Glorious, All Powerful, Magnificent, Majestic and Holy!!!
Job chapters 38 thru 40 I read at least 12 times a year. Those chapters are great to share with your children, everyone can relate to a sunrise, sunset, and ocean waves, but who is Sovereign over them? The LORD!! Learn about various animals in Job 39 and 40, Who made them, Who cares for them, Who is constantly observing them?
Isaiah 40:3-31 reveals the greatness of God; "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in." Isaiah 40:22. Read the first sentence again, He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth...The book of Isaiah was written over 700 years before Christ, close to 3000 years ago. When Columbus discovered America in 1492 people of the world still believed that the earth was flat! How big is your God now...
Monday, March 12, 2012
"The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." Psalm 37:23 NLT
The longer I serve the Lord the more convinced I become that God is more interested in the "little" acts of kindness shown to others in our daily lives than in the so called big things we do that are public. Matthew 6:1; "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven."
Today's Title verse says "God delights in every detail of their lives." God is intimately involved in the details of our lives; He sees and hears you in prayer for others, He watches as you write a card of encouragement to someone He put on your heart. He listens as you speak His Word to another to strengthen them, to remind them of God's faithfulness, as you encourage their heart. He watches as you give your tithe, as you give to needs that He has made you aware of. He carefully observes as you share the gospel with the lost. And the angels of heaven rejoice when a lost soul is saved. God watches when no one else does! God eyes are on you when you tell your children about Jesus Christ, when a husband loves his wife, when a wife shows respect for her husband.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:42 NLT; "And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew 25:37-40 "Then these righteous ones will reply, Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You? And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me."
The other day I read a previously recorded interview of Mother Theresa. The interviewer asked how she could live day in and day out among the dying poor in Calcutta? She replied, when I lift a homeless leper in my arms and carry them to our home, I begin to take off their filthy wraps and clean what is left of their hands or feet or face and as I am doing this, all the while I know that it is blessed Jesus that I am touching!
That is the key to any service public and private, we are prompted by the love of Christ and with the knowledge that to reach out to another in His name is to touch and minister unto Him. Then, with eyes only on Him it removes the temptation to spotlight yourself, it strips us from craving the applause of men, because our motivation is to please God alone. Complaints that all too often accompany service fall away because we no longer expect anything from anyone else, least of all praise.
Be faithful in the small details, in the hidden service, satisfied with the knowledge that as you touch others in His name, one by one you are touching Him.
"God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another...Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11.
Today's Title verse says "God delights in every detail of their lives." God is intimately involved in the details of our lives; He sees and hears you in prayer for others, He watches as you write a card of encouragement to someone He put on your heart. He listens as you speak His Word to another to strengthen them, to remind them of God's faithfulness, as you encourage their heart. He watches as you give your tithe, as you give to needs that He has made you aware of. He carefully observes as you share the gospel with the lost. And the angels of heaven rejoice when a lost soul is saved. God watches when no one else does! God eyes are on you when you tell your children about Jesus Christ, when a husband loves his wife, when a wife shows respect for her husband.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:42 NLT; "And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew 25:37-40 "Then these righteous ones will reply, Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You? And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me."
The other day I read a previously recorded interview of Mother Theresa. The interviewer asked how she could live day in and day out among the dying poor in Calcutta? She replied, when I lift a homeless leper in my arms and carry them to our home, I begin to take off their filthy wraps and clean what is left of their hands or feet or face and as I am doing this, all the while I know that it is blessed Jesus that I am touching!
That is the key to any service public and private, we are prompted by the love of Christ and with the knowledge that to reach out to another in His name is to touch and minister unto Him. Then, with eyes only on Him it removes the temptation to spotlight yourself, it strips us from craving the applause of men, because our motivation is to please God alone. Complaints that all too often accompany service fall away because we no longer expect anything from anyone else, least of all praise.
Be faithful in the small details, in the hidden service, satisfied with the knowledge that as you touch others in His name, one by one you are touching Him.
"God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another...Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners." Isaiah 61:1 NASB
Liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners, this is the heart of God revealed, to set His people free, liberating those who are held captive; literally as well as emotionally and physically! And He tells us all about this liberty in His Word. "Sanctify them in the truth, Your Word is truth." John 17:17. "If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32. Praise God!!!
Freedom is a good gift from God! I love the fact that He will never stop until every shackle, every bond, every lie has been destroyed in our lives! Read the following examples of liberty.
Freedom from physical bonds. A woman who had suffered for 18 years, bent doubled over, came into Jesus sight; "When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, "Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!" Then He touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!" Luke 13:12-13 NLT.
Freedom from anxiety. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27.
Freedom from sin (including addictions). "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life." Romans 6:22.
Freedom from fear. "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.
Freedom from evil and the Evil One. "Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons." Mark 16:9. Read for yourself the account as written in Luke 8:27-28, 33 & 35. "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4.
Freedom from fiery furnace. In Daniel 3, three young Hebrew men were cast bound into a fiery furnace, the preincarnate Jesus joins them in the midst of the furnace and the three walked out of the furnace, free of shackles, not a hair singed, not even the smell of a fire was on them, they were free! (Daniel 3:21,23-25)
Freedom from prison. The apostle Peter; Acts 12:5, 7, 11. The apostle Paul and Silas; Acts 16: 23-26.
Thank You Lord for freedom and liberty that are found in Your Word, that are ours in Jesus Christ! Don't stop until we are totally free to be Your bond servants!!!
Freedom is a good gift from God! I love the fact that He will never stop until every shackle, every bond, every lie has been destroyed in our lives! Read the following examples of liberty.
Freedom from physical bonds. A woman who had suffered for 18 years, bent doubled over, came into Jesus sight; "When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, "Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!" Then He touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!" Luke 13:12-13 NLT.
Freedom from anxiety. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27.
Freedom from sin (including addictions). "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life." Romans 6:22.
Freedom from fear. "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.
Freedom from evil and the Evil One. "Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons." Mark 16:9. Read for yourself the account as written in Luke 8:27-28, 33 & 35. "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4.
Freedom from fiery furnace. In Daniel 3, three young Hebrew men were cast bound into a fiery furnace, the preincarnate Jesus joins them in the midst of the furnace and the three walked out of the furnace, free of shackles, not a hair singed, not even the smell of a fire was on them, they were free! (Daniel 3:21,23-25)
Freedom from prison. The apostle Peter; Acts 12:5, 7, 11. The apostle Paul and Silas; Acts 16: 23-26.
Thank You Lord for freedom and liberty that are found in Your Word, that are ours in Jesus Christ! Don't stop until we are totally free to be Your bond servants!!!
Friday, March 9, 2012
"Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD, God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16 NASB
Today's Title verse is my life verse. For my Lord leads me to His Word and I devour it. And now His Words, Scripture, is the joy and delight of my heart! I am so thankful to be called by God, not because I earned it, far from it, but because it pleased God to do so! Speaking of me, one godly young lady in my church told her husband, when she talks about the Word she is absolutely giddy! Guilty as charged!
Today I was thinking about how I would like my life to look in the remaining time that I have left on planet Earth. It has nothing to do with age, the truth for everyone of us is, before we were born God wrote down in a book the number of our days, Psalm 139:16.
Billy Graham has been quoted as saying; "Finding God's purpose for your life and doing it is one of life's greatest joys!" Amen!
God has a plan for each person that is born, and just as none of us is alike, so too are His plans all unique to us. "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." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT.
First and foremost I desire to keep the greatest commandment and the second. "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37,39.
A life characterized by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord to all, saved and lost alike. Sharing the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ thus fulfilling Jesus last spoken command on earth; "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses..." Acts 1:8.
Always striving to "excel still more" 1 Thessalonians 4:1,10. Filled with zeal in keeping His commandments; Ezra 7:23. On fire for God in serving Him; "Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11 Amplified.
My prayer is to live a life that is obedient to Christ and to His commands. "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." John 14:15,21.
My goal is to be able to say as my Lord Jesus said to His Father, the words of John 17:4; "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do."
John 17:4 is also my prayer for each and every member of my family for I know that if they glorify God and accomplish the purpose He has for their individual lives that they will have lives full of meaning, purpose, joy, peace, sacrifice, grace and goodness!
Today I was thinking about how I would like my life to look in the remaining time that I have left on planet Earth. It has nothing to do with age, the truth for everyone of us is, before we were born God wrote down in a book the number of our days, Psalm 139:16.
Billy Graham has been quoted as saying; "Finding God's purpose for your life and doing it is one of life's greatest joys!" Amen!
God has a plan for each person that is born, and just as none of us is alike, so too are His plans all unique to us. "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." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT.
First and foremost I desire to keep the greatest commandment and the second. "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37,39.
A life characterized by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord to all, saved and lost alike. Sharing the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ thus fulfilling Jesus last spoken command on earth; "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses..." Acts 1:8.
Always striving to "excel still more" 1 Thessalonians 4:1,10. Filled with zeal in keeping His commandments; Ezra 7:23. On fire for God in serving Him; "Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11 Amplified.
My prayer is to live a life that is obedient to Christ and to His commands. "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." John 14:15,21.
My goal is to be able to say as my Lord Jesus said to His Father, the words of John 17:4; "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do."
John 17:4 is also my prayer for each and every member of my family for I know that if they glorify God and accomplish the purpose He has for their individual lives that they will have lives full of meaning, purpose, joy, peace, sacrifice, grace and goodness!
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