Through the valley

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord , and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord .

Adversity, trials and tribulations are unavoidable periods all individuals experience. It is often during the wilderness seasons of distress when we seek to comprehend God’s plan and guidance in our lives.

Whilst in your wilderness or valley you might experience a range of emotions and thoughts that must immediately be checked so that your faith will properly align with God’s guiding power in your life.

As a Christian one should expect to enjoy the abundant life of Jesus Christ, but shouldn’t be naïve in believing that trials will not occur. That is one thing we should expect, especially when one is truly living as an ambassador for Christ. Weapons may be formed against you but thanks be to God that they WILL NOT Prosper!

During some of the most challenging moments in life remember that God guides you:

In a career setback

When an unexpected health report is disclosed

In a financial setback

When in-laws, relatives and family members ignore, scowl and exclude you

In the midst of an unexpected pregnancy

During the challenges of conception

Through the loss of a loved one

In revealing toxic relationships, business partnerships and associations

When individuals attempt to bully and intimidate, only because they are jealous and insecure

When a college professor challenges your Christianity beliefs and values

By disclosing the character of colleagues who’ve clandestinely worked together to disqualify you for a promotion

When colleagues discount your ideas

When family, friends and loved ones misunderstand you

When you feel lonely (remember you are not alone, God is with you)

In Pressure

After the rejection letter, notice and statement

During the challenges of God-honoring relationships

When you are forced to relocate and start over

When new opportunities and breakthroughs appear

Although adversity shows up, be encouraged that God knows all and He will never leave you nor forsake you. God is guiding you and ordering your steps in the midst of the pressure, pain, heat and discomfort you currently face. Be mindful today that God is working everything out for your good, because you love him and have been called according to his purpose.

Even in the most intense seasons of life, God guides us and is producing something in us that will fulfill his overall purpose in our lives.

God guides You!

When the Bottom Falls Out

When the Bottom Falls Out

What is hope?

According to Mr. Webster, it means to cherish a desire with an expectation of fulfillment. Hope is a confident anticipation of good. It is not just wishful thinking or thinking positive. It is not the same as saying, “Well, I hope so.” Hope is as solid as a helmet, but no helmet will protect you from danger if you have laid it aside. When we lose hope we lose the battle.

You may feel like your world is crashing in around you, but you must be able to say to yourself, “Something good is about to happen.” Many times you won’t feel like it. You may feel abandoned, and have no idea at all how you’re going to make it. You’re going to have to reach deep into God’s resources, because no one has any reserves of their own to keep moving forward.

The whole thing is a heart battle and there are three typical responses to pain or rejection that deaden our hearts:

We move away from people and God.
We move toward some other source of relief or acceptance.
We move against others.
In order to learn to hope again, one must go back to their ABCs, to their foundations. I figured out three core values: (1) God is good all the time; (2) “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28); and (3) something good is just about to happen.

Hope is vital to your well being. How can you start to find it again?

Evaluate your responses to your pain. Get help to find your way past automatic reactions such as bitterness and despair.
Figure out the core values of your life.
Put on your “helmet of the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8), which protects your soul and spirit.
Prayer:

Father, I present myself to you in Jesus’ great name, and I declare that you are the source of my life. In you I live and breathe and have my very being. Take me on a journey to a place where hope is no longer deferred but where fulfilled desire becomes a tree of life. As I come running into your arms of redemptive love, do what only you can do. Only in you can all things be made new. Amen.

Brokenness

You are feeling brokenhearted and bound: entangled in webs of discouragement.

Pick up the pieces of your broken heart—scattered all around you—and bring them to Me.

Place them on the white linen cloth I provide, and wait in My healing Presence.

Sit still in My holy Light while I cleanse you from binding webs of discouragement.

Look into My Face and see the great Love I have for you. Because My Love is limitless, I never run out of compassion.

When you feel on the brink of giving up, remind yourself of My great faithfulness:

I never give up on you!

Though your disappointment is real,

My Presence with you is even more real.

Stay close to Me as I work on mending your broken heart.

Of course, your repaired heart will not be exactly as it was before, but in some ways it will be much better.

Your renewed heart—stripped of its cherished hopes—will have more space for Me.

See also

Isaiah 61:1;

Psalm 123:2; Lamentations 3:22, 23;

Psalm 51:10

SITUATION UNDER CONTROL

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Genesis 50:19 - 20

Life is full of unexpected situations. A pink slip. A spouse announcing his or her intention to leave. A child in trouble. A job transfer. A heart-stopping lab result. A church split. Events like these suddenly sweep us up and carry us along. Only God knows where we’ll end up.

This is the lesson of Joseph’s life. And it is the message of Joseph’s lips. Sold into slavery as a teenager by his jealous brothers. Falsely accused of attempted rape. Thrown into an Egyptian dungeon. Forgotten. Where is God in all this chaos and injustice?

Answer: Watching. Weaving all these jumbled, seemingly random events together into a purposeful, beautiful whole. And just when we think evil really has won, God orchestrates the ultimate plot twist. Joseph is inexplicably rescued from the depths and set in a position where he is able to save his speechless brothers and devastated father.

Our great challenge each day is to look beyond our circumstances to the One who controls all things. As you listen to, read or watch the news today, use it as a springboard for worship. Thank God that in the reports of chaos and evil, he is working out his good purposes in the world and in your life.

PRAYER

Lord, help me trust your way and your time when it comes to …

WORK FOR IT

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 10:4

The Bible is very clear about the difference between someone who is poor and someone who is merely lazy. Many people have nothing because they make no effort to help themselves. This is unacceptable. Yet, there are a lot of lazy people in our society.

This issue often becomes political when it’s actually a Biblical issue. God expects us to work with all of our skills to provide for our family. Then we are to teach our family to provide for themselves, and that should continue into future generations. To instill this value in our children and help them appreciate the difference between laziness and hard work, it’s a good idea to work together as a family to accomplish chores and other projects around the house.

Getting your children involved may slow down a task a bit or mean that something isn’t done exactly as you would have liked it. But remember, that’s okay because in the long run you are teaching them how to work. Focus on the big picture. That’s most important. 

PARENTING PRINCIPLE

Give a child everything, and they will never stop taking. Teach a child to work, and they will never stop giving.

POINTS TO PONDER

• How do you define a hard worker?

• What age-appropriate chores are your children learning?

• What is a way that you could work together more as a family?

Your New Life With Each Other

Colossians 3:12-17


12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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The Bible says there are three reasons you have to let go of your past and the people who’ve hurt you, and the reasons have nothing to do with whether that person deserves it or not.
You have to forgive those who’ve hurt you because God has forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13 says,

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you

Colossians 3:12-17

Your New Life With Each Other
If you want to be a forgiving person, you need to first accept the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ.

The Bible said that God came to Earth in human form in Jesus in order to forgive everything that’s ever been done wrong.

He paid for it so we don’t have to. That’s Good News.
You have to forgive those who’ve hurt you because resentment controls you.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:9,
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Don’t become angry quickly, because anger is foolish.
Resentment makes you miserable, and it keeps you stuck in the past.
And when you’re stuck in the past, you are controlled by the past.
Every time you resent something, it controls you.

We hang onto stuff that hurt us 5, 10, or even 20 years ago
Things in our past that we allow to hurt us to this day.
That’s stupid.

Don’t let it happen. We keep running those old tapes.
Your past is past. You’ve got to let it go.
You have to forgive those who’ve hurt you because you’re going to need more forgiveness in the future.

Colossians 3:12-17 (KJV)

Your New Life With Each Other

Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15,
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Forgiveness is a two way street. You cannot receive what you are unwilling to give. Someone once told John Wesley, “I could never forgive that person!” Wesley replied, “Then I hope you never sin.”
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2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (KJV)
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
“God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.
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Colossians 3:12-17 (KJV)
Your New Life With Each Other
Nearly 60 years ago, five American missionaries headed to the rainforest of the eastern Amazon in Ecuador to make a second visit to the Huaorani tribe, which anthropologists said was the most vicious, violent society on the face of the earth. They had a culture of killing, and studies showed 60 percent of the tribe died by homicide.
As soon as the missionaries got out of the plane, they were speared to death by members of the tribe. The brutal murders made news around the world and the cover of Life magazine, Time, and Newsweek. Many newspapers reported the deaths of these men, who included Nate Saint and Jim Elliot.
A couple years later, Elisabeth and Valerie Elliot, wife and daughter of Jim, and Rachel Saint, sister of Nate, moved into the Huaorani village to show love and forgiveness and minister to the people who had killed their family. Eventually, Mincaye, the leader of the tribe, and the five men who participated in the missionary murders all became Christians.
The kind of forgiveness that Elisabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint modeled doesn’t make sense until you have been forgiven by God. Once you’ve experienced it, how do you forgive? You do the four things that these women did: Relinquish your right to get even.
Romans 12:19 says, dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Colossians 3:12-17 (KJV)
Your New Life With Each Other
Leave it up to God. He’ll take care of it, and he’ll do a much better job than you ever could.
Respond to evil with good.
How can you tell when you’ve completely forgiven someone?
You can actually pray for God to bless the person who hurt you.
The Bible says, “
Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Ask God to bless the people who ask for bad things to happen to you. Pray for the people who are mean to you.
Repeat these steps as long as necessary.
Peter asked Jesus in Matthew 18:21-22,
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Sometimes forgiveness has to be continual. Rescue others with the Good News of God’s forgiveness.
Colossians 3:12-17 (KJV)
Your New Life With Each Other
Conclusion:
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20,
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
“God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.
What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world.
And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace.
We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message.
We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God.”
Alter Call

The Cure for the world

 Leviticus 17:11

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

I was talking to a pastor friend of mine about all the chaos currently going on in the world

 I asked what he thought and he said we have a problem and it comes down to saved and unsaved

Jesus loves the little children all the children of the world Black and yellow, red and white

They're all precious in His sight Jesus loves the little children of the world

As Christians we have the cure for the world

The timeless words of the song

Nothing But the Blood was written by Robert Lowry in 1876. More than 140 years later, Christians still sing the hymn with conviction, resounding the eternal truth that it is nothing but the blood of Jesus

Jesus gave His blood, His life, a ransom for many. He poured out His soul unto death.

For IT IS THE BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL."

(Hebrews 9:22)  ”And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission”

The blood of Jesus is salvation, healing, and eternal life. No matter what you struggle with in this life, no matter what your hurts, habits and hang-ups are, there is absolutely nothing that the blood of Christ cannot defeat.

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

The blood of Jesus, to the Christian, these words are some of the most beautiful ever spoken.

It was His blood, not as it was in His veins, but as it was poured out, that affected the reconciliation.

God is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

   This hymn  points us to life  

(1) What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

And he washed us from our sins in His own blood: This is what happened when Jesus loved us at the cross.

He washed us - cleansed us from the deep stain of sin, so that we really are clean before Him. This is worth praising Jesus about.

If we understand our own deep sinfulness, this seems almost too good to be true.

We can stand clean before God, clean from the deepest of stains.

No wonder the same Apostle John also wrote, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

In His own blood: If there were any other way to wash us from our sins, God would have done it that other way.

To wash us in His own blood meant the ultimate sacrifice of God was his Son.

God wouldn't do it this way unless it was the only way.

(2) What can make me whole again?

1 John 1:7

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”

Oh! Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; No other fount I know,

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

He must be our source and our hearts desire

I was guilty, I had been weighed on the Scales of life, my short comings & character Defects have held me back  

But when Jesus came in where there was no hope, now there was light

Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

My cries had woken the master, he heard my voice and when you cry out to him he hears yours also

For my cleansing this I see   for my pardon this my plea—Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Hebrews 13:20

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

The God of peace will give you every good thing you need so that you can do what he wants.

God is the one who raised from death our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of his sheep.

He raised him because Jesus sacrificed his blood to begin a relationship of true love for us all, a love that never ends.

Because of Jesus, the priest will do this to make you pure and wash away your sins.

Then you will be clean to the Lord.

He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin.

He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven

Romans 5:1-9

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Nothing can for sin atone,

Naught of good that I have done,             nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Naught of works, ’tis all of grace

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

This is all my hope and peace,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

This is all my righteousness,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Who could make me free from the burden of sin?

Who could make me free from your passion and pride?

Who could make me much whiter than snow?

There's power in the blood,

Conclusion:

How sweet the sound when we rejoice

To every broken heart and every wounded soul

New life begins on the streets of gold

There is no mistaking the fact it is nothing but the blood of Jesus

And it for this reason I sing

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

God Can Deliver

1 Samuel 17:37

David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

God Can Deliver

In times of crises, it's easy to feel like God can't deliver. To bolster your faith, consider the biblical accounts of when God delivered His children from their afflictions.

In 1 Samuel 17:37, David knew he could defeat Goliath because God had already saved him from a lion and a bear.

In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused the king's edict to bow to his idol, and continued to worship God. As a result, they were thrown into a fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. But God delivered them so completely from this ordeal that they didn't even smell like smoke! He even showed up with them in the fire!

Daniel is another example of God's willingness and ability to deliver. Thrown into the lion's den for praying to God, Daniel knew such deliverance that he came away from the ordeal unscathed while his enemies were completely vanquished (see Daniel 6).

Do you notice a trend here? God can deliver His children out of any circumstance. Know today that His power to deliver is bigger than your problem.

Prayer : God, time and time again, You have delivered Your children from trouble, and I know You won't fail now. You are more than able to deal with my situation, so I trust in You.

The way you think. By James MacDonald

If you really want to see improvements in any and every area of your life, it is crucial that you learn to change the way you think!

Proverbs 23:7 says: As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.

That’s why this is such a foundational message for the body of Christ—who we are is determined by how we think. 

And friend, this change in our minds doesn’t come by trying harder. It’s not about yelling louder or being filled with condemnation. It’s all about getting the right mindset—a Godly mindset— in order to produce a long-lasting transformation. 

Maybe you’re reading this and you can relate. 

Maybe you’ve tried everything you can to improve that situation, fix that problem, live up to that promise, or accomplish that dream . . . but you feel like you’ve fallen short. 

If so, I want you to hear this very clearly . . . 
 

It’s not too late to change your mind!
It’s not too late to experience victory!
It’s not too late to live with joy!
It’s not too late to see real, tangible change!

All of us have areas of our life that we’d like to change. Maybe it’s your marriage, your business, or your relationship with God. But if we all want to change, why is it so hard? You see, it’s not about yelling louder, trying harder, or being filled with condemnation. It’s all about getting the right mindset, a Godly mindset. And when that happens, long-lasting transformation follows!

 

Friend, change is not dependent on trying harder. Real change comes when you choose to embrace a Godly mindset because the way you think affects everything. I want to invite you to request the resources below so that you may experience the victory of lasting change in your life beginning today.

—James MacDonald

GET THINK DIFFERENTLY

• Think Differently 128 page study guide from Pastor James with powerful teaching and instruction throughout

Dead in trespasses and sins! Yet Alive In Christ

Ephesians 2:1-10

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Here Paul affirms two essential truth`s

1.   we are all born with an evil nature powerless to stand against our tendencies toward sin and failure

2.    God is rich in mercy and love and even though we are far from him and entrapped by sin God graciously reaches out to us with love and mercy

God wants to forgive us and give us the power to rebuild our lives through the work of Jesus Christ God has already conquered the power of sin and death

When we admit that we need God's help and ask him to act on our behalf that empowers us to overcome the problems and dependencies of this life

1 Corinthians 10:13(KJV)

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Sin is the death of the soul. A man dead in trespasses and sins has no desire for spiritual pleasures.

A state of sin is a state of conformity to this world.

Romans 12:2(KJV)

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Wicked men are slaves to Satan. Satan is the author of that proud, carnal disposition which there is in ungodly men; he rules in the hearts of men.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

From Scripture it is clear, that whether men have been most prone to sensual or to spiritual wickedness, all men, being naturally children of disobedience, are also by nature children of wrath.

What reason have sinners, then, to seek earnestly for that grace which will make them, of children of wrath, children of God and heirs of glory!

God's eternal love or good-will toward his children, is the fountain whence all his mercies flow to us; and that love of God is great love, and that mercy is rich mercy. And every converted sinner is a saved sinner; delivered from sin and wrath.

The grace that saves is the free, undeserved goodness and favour of God; and he saves, not by the works of the law, but through faith in Christ Jesus.

Grace in the soul is a new life in the soul.

Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved ;)…2:8, 9 for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul; he lives a life of holiness, being born of God: He lives, being delivered from the guilt of sin, by pardoning and justifying grace.

Sinners roll themselves in the dust; sanctified souls sit in heavenly places, are raised above this world, by Christ's grace.

The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners heretofore, encourages others in after-time, to hope in his grace and mercy.

Our faith, our conversion, and our eternal salvation, are not of works, lest any man should boast.

These things are not brought to pass by anything done by us, therefore all boasting is shut out.

All is the free gift of God, and the effect of being quickened by his power.

It was his purpose, to which he prepared us, by blessing us with the knowledge of his will, and his Holy Spirit producing such a change in us, that we should glorify God by our good conversation, and perseverance in holiness.

We may feel like we are not good enough to be an example for others.

We may realize that we need other people but find it hard to believe that our story of deliverance could help anyone else.

The Apostle Paul said,"

Romans 12:4-5

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being Many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another"

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We need to see that God has a purpose for our life. God created each of us with abilities and talents,

If you isolate any one part of the body and examine it apart from its proper place among the other members, It may seem odd and useless. 

And so it is with us we need to find a place where  our talents and abilities can be used to help others. Doing this will show that we have gained an honest understanding of who God created us to be. He loves us and wants us to help each of us realize our place in the body

Life’s relationship with the future

By faith Abraham when he was called obeyed to go into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance and he went out not knowing whether he went by faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise

Dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise for he was looking for the city which has the foundation who's builder and maker is God

Hebrews 11:8-10 (KJV)

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

By faith Moses when he was grown up refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season

Looking for the greater riches of Christ then the treasures of Egypt for he looked on to the recompense of the reward by faith

Hebrews 

11:24-27 (KJV)

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses grew up and became a man. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 

He chose not to enjoy the pleasures of sin that last such a short time. Instead, he chose to suffer with God’s people. He did this because he had faith.  He thought it was better to suffer for the Messiah than to have all the treasures of Egypt. He was waiting for the reward that God would give him.

Moses left Egypt because he had faith. He was not afraid of the king’s anger. He continued strong as if he could see the God no one can see.

Man cannot live without faith

Life’s relationship with the future is an affair not to be walked alone I once thought it was but life is a continuous adventure into the unknown

Abraham and Moses trusted God and walked accordingly

Life`s experience would have unknown issues they could not foresee

Typical of all the great lives they have adventures that only God can show you how to face faith is the first word necessary to walking through the journey we call life “I feel the time in my face”

Every one of us must understand each playing days work if we are to do it well

Life demands faith the more one sees what venturesome risk he takes every day what labor and sacrifice he invests in hope of a worthy outcome

With what great causes he falls in love with

Until at his best he is willing for their sake to have hazard fortune and happiness in life itself the more he sees that the soul robust in service with his character is faith

Oh God who hasn't encompassed the test with so much that is dark and prep and lacing yet you have set within us light enough to walk by faith and enable us to trust Yet with all our iniquities we steadfastly refused to follow.

When we learn to hear your voice and to become loyal to all the truth we know and seek we learn to walk by faith as your holy spirit guides our  conscious so that we may come at length the perfect light in there and find our world in harmony

Since we have planted or feet in your word we have become so full of believe in change that we know not what a day may bring forth grant that we may use with diligence you’re appointed spawn of time

Since we are so feeble faint and foolish leave us not to our own devices not even when we pray thee

Plant thorns about our feet touch our hearts with fear give us to know rest apart from the least we lose our way and missed the happy gate

A letter for the journey

We must understand that we are chosen by God that he will take hold of our hand while we walk along this pathway and journey

Galatians 3:14 (KJV)

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Romans 3:29-30 (KJV)

Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (KJV)

For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:

But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh King of Egypt.

We are sojourners threw this life chosen by God the journey of life will

Lead us to the final and true home as long as we are obedient and

attentive to the spirit following the doctrine of Christ

1 Peter 1:1-5 (KJV)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time

Greetings from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.To God’s chosen people who are away from their homes—people scattered all over the areas

God planned long ago to choose you and to make you his holy people, which is the Spirit’s work.

God wanted you to obey him and to be made clean by the blood sacrifice[a] of Jesus Christ.

We are a living Hope;

These blessings are kept for you in heaven. They cannot be ruined or be destroyed or lose their beauty.  God’s power protects you through your faith, and it keeps you safe until your salvation comes. That salvation is ready to be given to you at the end of time.

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17(KJV)

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

The Unseen Battle

There is an unseen battle going on in a realm that we don’t even understand.

We don’t see it.

We don’t feel it.

But there is a spiritual war in other dimensions between good and evil, between God and Satan, between angels and demons.

And the fact is, you’re caught right in the middle. If you’re a child of God, Satan hates you. And he wants to mess you up.

Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

When you send up a prayer, there’s often a battle over how it’s going to be answered. While you’re in the waiting room, Satan starts throwing darts at you

The Battle Is Real!!!!!!

The dart of doubt, the dart of discouragement, the dart of disappointment, the dart of delay, the dart of depression.

The Bible says to be aware that he’s going to try to get you down.

The truth is, the Bible doesn’t tell us much about the spiritual warfare that’s going on behind your prayers.

But we do get a glimpse of it in the book of Daniel.

Daniel had a vision of an angel, who said, (Daniel 10:12-13).

“Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding.

I have come in answer to your prayer.

The [evil] angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia”

Are those the wildest verses you’ve ever seen? It says

That Daniel had a prayer that wasn’t answered for a while, and he was starting to get discouraged.

The angel showed up and said, “I’m here to give you the answer.

We heard it from day one, but we’ve been in a battle over this, and it was such an intense battle that Michael the archangel had to come down and help me with this battle so I could come and tell you that the answer is on its way.”

The same thing is sometimes happening when you are waiting on your answer from God. You can’t know what kind of intense battle is going on over your prayer, but you can remember this: A delay is not a denial. 

When an answer to prayer is delayed, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to be answered. It just means God is fighting for you.

Don’t be discouraged. Keep praying!