IT IS TIME TO RETURN

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first. Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.” Revelation 2:4

The time has come for each of us to take a step back and analyze our relationship with Christ. It is time to see whether we have continued along the path he has set before us or have we strayed. It is time for us to be sure that we have enough oil in our lanterns so that when Christ does return, we will be able to follow him to the wedding feast. It is time for us to return to the way we were when we first accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We should be forever joyful and grateful for his presence in our lives and for his healing power that runs through us daily. We should be grateful for our Jesus who willingly died upon that cross so that we could live. We should return to the happiness, the beliefs and the faith we had when we were first born into Christ. Yes, it is time to return. We are living in the season and our Lord is going to return soon. We do not know the time nor the day, but we do know the season. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

Daily writing prompt
What could you try for the first time?
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OUR SHIELD IS ALIVE AND WELL!

” Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6

Our protection that is given to us in this world is not a fairy tale. It is not something that is included in a book written by man, but it is alive and well. Our shield is our God in heaven. He is watching and waiting for you and me to come to him and ask him for his help. He has given us promises and the bible tells us that every word of God is true and that every promise is unfailing. We must take his word for what it is, the truth. We must not try to add to it, so that we can twist and turn it in ways to help us accomplish our own ideas and goals. We must stay the course and pray for understanding, pray for patience, pray for wisdom and pray that our God accomplishes his goal with us included. He loves us and will protect us. We must, however, go to him, pray to him and praise him. We must keep our focus on his plan and not ours. We must build our faith and then live our faith. With complete faith and strength in our God in heaven he will shield us from pain and suffering. He will protect us. We must believe and then receive! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

Daily writing prompt
What principles define how you live?
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BE PATIENT!

” Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper it only leads to harm. Psalm 37: 7&8

It is so easy in the world today to become angry and impatient with way things are going. There is evil everywhere. There are things happening that are just unspeakable. People are thinking and carrying about themselves and think nothing of others. There is persecution, murders, raping, stealing, lying, cheating, and so many other atrocities that are happening. Yes, all of these evils have happened for thousands of years. But today, they are not being hidden. The evil is wide open and there are no excuses. Many fear for their existence. If we confront someone and do not agree with their thoughts it is not uncommon for arguments to begin and injury or murder to take place. Everything as it was known before has been turned upside down. We are living in an ugly world, one that we no longer recognize. Israel has now been brutely attacked and antisemitism is openly displayed in the world which now includes some in our American government. Yes, it is easy to become angry and want to retaliate but our Lord tells us to patiently wait for him to act. We are not to worry about what is happening. We are not to get angry or rage at those who perform such horrible acts of violence, even though we are to let our beliefs known. We are to wait upon the Lord. He is in control, and he has a plan that is already in place. It is not easy to be quiet. It is not easy to wait. It is not easy to trust or to have a faith that is stronger than our worldly wishes. But as we pray and praise our Lord, we must put complete faith in what his word tells us to do. We must listen and learn from him. He will give us wisdom and understanding. As we pray for patience, he will provide us with strength and love for each other that will hold us together like glue. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What have you been putting off doing? Why?
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OUR ANCHOR!

” Therefore, we who fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. Hebrews 6:18 & 19

The definition of an anchor is that of “a heavy object attached to a rope or chain used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom”. Without an anchor to hold a boat or ship in place it will swing wildly or even float away. You and I are much like that ship or that vessel. Without something to hold us in place we will begin to drift away. Sometimes we may begin to do things that are unsafe and put others in danger. Our lives will have no meaning to it. We will do things as we see fit and satisfy our own desires. We see many in this world fulfilling their own evil desires and actions. The bible tells us that our anchor is strong and trustworthy. It will not fail us. Our anchor gives us hope and a trust for our future. We can have a great confidence in our Lord God, who is our anchor. Our God is trustworthy and never fails. He has given us promises for our lives that, if we trust and believe, will fill us with understanding, wisdom, faith and the confidence to continue to move forward in times of trouble. He loves us and will not fail us! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

If you have not accepted Jesus as you Lord and Savior, please pray this prayer: “DEAR LORD JESUS, I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER AND I ASK FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS. I BELIEVE YOU DIED FOR MY SINS AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD. I TURN FROM MY SINS AND INVITE YOU TO COME INTO MY HEART AND LIFE. I WANT TO TRUST AND FOLLOW YOU AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR.” IN JESUS NAME, AMEN

Daily writing prompt
When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?
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KEEP WATCH AND PRAY!

“Keep watch and pray so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing but the body is weak! Matthew 26:41

Since the time of Adam and Eve there has been evil in this world. However, in the world today, we see things happening that have never taken place before. The evil has become so widespread and encompassing. Confusion now reigns. We don’t know who and who not to believe. There is only one way to be conquers in our lives today and that is with God’s Holy Word. Everything we see or hear should be taken directly to the bible and compared to what God says about it. If it does not line up with his words and thoughts, then we should run away from it. We must be alert in the way we live our lives. We should never be lazy and do things without first checking with our God in heaven. Jesus is coming soon but until he does God has given us tools to be able to become overcomers and to live lives that are representative of him. He has given us his son Jesus who died for us. He has given us his Holy Spirit to help guide us along the way. He has given us faith that we must continue to strengthen and use. We must stay watchful and continue to be faithful in our prayer time with him. If we do, we will be successful and be able to live through the temptations presented to us in this life. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

Daily writing prompt
If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to?
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IT IS ALL UNDER CONTROL!

“Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” Hebrews 2:18

” So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This Hight Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testing‘s we do, yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4: 14-15

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and Spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:12-13

Nothing in all of creation is hidden from our God in heaven. He knows not only our innermost thoughts and desires, but he also sees everything as he laid it out in the beginning. The evil of this world is being allowed to run rampant. But you and I can rest assured that our God knows exactly what is happening. He is in a war and you and I as his children are in this war as well. As human beings it is extremely difficult to watch the terror and the atrocities that are happening all over the world. It is hard to believe that these things represent a portion of our God’s overall plan. But they do. Our Lord Jesus Christ went through all of these things when he was on earth. He walked in our footsteps and knows our feelings and our thoughts. He knows what it is to be persecuted, to be spit upon, to be threatened, to have pain in his body, to fear and to die. He has been there and done it for us. We live in a world today that requires a faith so strong that nothing will allow it to waver. Our only hope is Jesus Christ. No matter the threats or the evil actions of those around us or throughout this world, we must not surrender our faith in Jesus. Even in the process of death our faith is required to remain strong. There is no doubt that our Lord is returning soon. He will not allow these evils to continue and harm his children. His plan is about to culminate, and we are to be a part of it. We are to keep our eyes looking upward and expecting miracles and answers to our prayers. Our God in heaven loves us and will never allow us to fail! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.
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THE KING IS COMING!

” For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity- the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.” 1 Timothy 2: 5-6

There are constant troubles and turmoil in the world we live in. There is a great war that has been taking place for thousands of years. There is a war that most of humanity does not recognize or believe. There is a great spiritual war taking place in the spiritual world between good and evil. You and I are in the middle of this war. The devil wants to hurt God as much as possible and will use each of us against him if we allow him to. Our God in heaven has such a love for each of us that he gave his one and only Son to die for us. He put him on this earth to go through all of what we are going through and then to die on that humiliating cross so that you and I can have life with him in eternity. We must, however, believe and receive. We must read the bible and pray to understand it’s every meaning. We must live our lives in such a way that we show we are a part of his family and that we are fulfilling his plan for us. That is not easy. We are constantly under fire from evil. We are tempted, we are driven to lie, doubt and cheat. We are weak and vulnerable. Without our strength in our powerful God in heaven we often succumb to evil. Jesus is the way and the only way to where we want to be. Our relationship with him must become rock solid and never wavering. As a part of this humanity, we are going to fail. We are going to falter. But God has given us a way out. He has given us Jesus. As we pray each day and ask for forgiveness, he does forgive us as we repent of the sin we partake in. He does wipe our slate clean so that we can move forward with him by our side. Our King is coming soon. The time gets shorter with each passing day. Don’t be left behind. Love Him, praise Him and dedicate each day to Him. Accept Him as you Lord and Savior! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

FAITHFUL TO THE VERY END!

” For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” Hebrews 3:14

As I reflect back to when I was first saved, I remember that there was nothing that could stand in my way when it came to announcing the salvation message. I was on fire. I wanted everyone to know the message and the true meaning of what Jesus went through for me. As the years have passed, I see that there have been times when that fire has not been as bright as when I first accepted Jesus. There are many reasons for that but each and every reason can be overcome by a strong faith and trust in my Lord. As a baby Christian I did things without thinking and even sometimes I did things that may not have been wise. But my God was there to always protect me. He always picked me up and helped me learn from my unwise decisions. As I have grown over the years, I hope I have become a little wiser, but I must always remember that when I fail my God is always there to pick me up. I have learned that failure is not always a bad thing. I have learned more from failing than I have from succeeding. The Lord has shown me that I must not be afraid to fail. I cannot let fear block me from telling the story of salvation. I may be ridiculed or persecuted but I must move forward. I must stand up with faith, and trust what my God tells me. I must not allow my fire to burn out, but I must keep it burning. For when I have finished my journey, I will share in what belongs to Christ! I will share in his wonderful presence and loving arms. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
Who are your favorite artists?
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THE GOD OF THE LIVING AND NOT THE DEAD

“So, he is the God of the living and not the dead.” Matthew 22:32

” Such people claim to know God, but they deny him by the way they live.” Titus 1:16

Our Lord Jesus lives. Our God in heaven is the God of the living and not the dead. He is the God of those who believe in his righteousness, his promises, his love and joy and peace. He is the God of those who, when they sin, go to him for forgiveness. When they are sick, they go to him for healing. When they are well, they go to him with praise. He is the God of those who practice the lifestyle of his godly characteristics and believe they receive because he is their source. There are many in today’s world who say they are Christians, but their lives reflect a lifestyle that is very different from that of obedience to our God. They say one thing and do another. They follow the ways of this world and so this world becomes their God. It is important that we produce fruit. It is important that we become successful in Jesus. It is important that we depend on and listen to the Holy Spirit of God. It is of great importance that we build our faith each day so that we can be resistant to the devil and his schemes. God is the God of the living and not the dead. We must be alive in Christ Jesus and dead to the world by not succumbing to its ways. Stay strong is Jesus and live forever! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite hobby or pastime?
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OUR HOLY ANGELS

” Therefore, angels are only servants- spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.” Hebrews 1:14

There should never be a time that we feel alone or unforgotten. Our God in heaven has so many ways of showing us his love and understanding. When we are in dark places in our lives, we should always remember that God has provided us a way out. When we are sad, when we are angry, when we are in turmoil or even when we feel as though the whole world is against us and there is no way out, we are able to turn our eyes on Jesus knowing that he is the answer and the way. Hebrews 1:14 tells us very plainly that there are angels that are interjected into our lives. They are spirits that serve our God and are sent to care for each of us who have accepted and believe in Jesus. There are many things that happen in this world that we just cannot explain. Things that happen without reason. I believe God’s holy word. I believe him when he tells me that he sends angels to take care of me. I believe I have a guardian angel that stands beside me and helps me through struggles of all kinds. I believe every word that my God in heaven tells me. He does not lie. He never changes. He is always the same and has been from the very beginning. He loves me and will not hurt me. He will protect me and care for me. I love you Jesus! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

Daily writing prompt
What would you do if you lost all your possessions?
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CALLED BY G0D, TRAINED BY GOD AND ORDAINED BY GOD

“Unseal my lips O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.” Psalm 51:15

Each of us is a part of God’s plan. We have been called by God, trained by God and ordained by God. He provides for our needs in order to spread his word to others. He opens doors and gives us the words to say. He puts us in the right places at the right times. We are not called by the world or by the thoughts of those around us. We are to be called and motivated by his word and work toward the goal of spreading his word. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Daily writing prompt
What’s a topic or issue about which you’ve changed your mind?
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LIVE BY THE SCRIPTURES

” All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. ” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The mighty scriptures with which our Lord has blessed us are the living and breathing words of our God in heaven. We are not only to read his scriptures each day, but we are to live within them. They are a guide for righteous living, they are a teaching tool to show us the right way, and they are used to prepare us for what is to come and for what has already happened. When things of this world become too burdensome, we are directed to his scriptures for answers. They give us comfort, peace of mind, strength and help us in faith building. They are answers to our prayers and become miracles in our lives. Our God’s scriptures are real and never failing. They are dependable and everlasting. They are the true and faithful answers from our God in heaven! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

WORK HARD

“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.” 2 Timothy 2:15

As Christians we are not to be idle in the way we live our lives. We are not to be careless with the way we live, talk or think. We are to consistently be filling ourselves with the true word of God which in turn allows us to receive from him all of his promises. He will give us strength to live each day and the wisdom to overcome things that we are unable to figure out on our own. Our faith will continue to grow in love, truth and strength. We will begin to think like Jesus and live as testimonies to his great love for us. We are to work hard as followers of Jesus and never let down. We must stay strong in our faith and believe that we receive! God in heaven is our true source and not the things around us. Continue to build upon your faith foundation and stay strong in Jesus! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

SURVIVAL IN THE EVIL WORLD

” We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ will be revealed.” Titus 2:12-13

Our Lord is very clear in explaining how we are to live and survive in this world that has turned to evil. It is important that we always stay connected to our Lord in every situation. We should pray to him asking for wisdom and guidance. We should live our lives with him always on our minds, which will lead us to living a righteous life. We should stay focused on the end result. We should keep our eyes open and continue to look for the wonderful and lifesaving day when our Lord and Savior is once again revealed to the world. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

MORNING, NOON OR NIGHT!

” But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me morning, noon or night. I call out in my distress and the Lord hears my voice.” Psalm 54: 16-17

Talking with our Lord is not reserved for a special time of the day or a special day of the week. He is available to us at all times. He is available to us in the morning, at noon or in the nighttime. He is available to us in our bad times and our good times. It makes no difference the reason or the situation, our Lord God in available to us. He is there to hear us and answer us. All we have to do is begin to talk with him. We can talk with him by formally kneeling and praying or by just starting a conversation. He is always there, and he is always listening. So, let us not forget to have our conversations with the Lord when we need to. We can be at peace by talking with him and knowing that he is listening and hearing us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!

FOCUS ON THE TRUTH

” But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.” 2 Timothy 4:5

If our faith is strong and our focus is on Jesus, then we will have no fear in our work for the Lord. When our focus is on the end result (Jesus) then we see nothing else. We pay no attention, nor do we fear those persecutors around us. We know the truth and the truth sets us free. Even though those around us may throw rocks or even threaten our lives we will not fear, nor can we fear. The love of Christ will overwhelm us and keep us within his loving arms every day of our lives. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

NEVER FEAR!

” Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:11

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

We are not to fear. We are to be strong and move forward with persistence and courage. There is no fear in love. When others come against us, because we are spreading the good news of our Lord, we must be able to dig deep and listen to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Our God in heaven has not left us defenseless but instead with great power. That power entails faith, love, gentleness, and self-discipline. If we have fears, doubts or worries we can be sure that the devil is attacking. Those things are never associated with the love and courage given to us by our Lord Jesus. We are to walk in faith and trust while pursuing the righteousness of our God. We are to use the gentleness of our Lord in winning others to Christ. We are to stay on the path he has put us on keeping our focus on him and not problems that are thrown in our way. We are not to fear but instead we are to stay strong and encouraged. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

GOD IS NEVER LATE BUT ALWAYS ON TIME. I AM COMING SOON!

“For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all Kings and Lord of all lords.” 1 Timothy 6:15

Our God in heaven has a plan. His plan has been in place since the beginning, and we can rest assured that all things within his plan are good for his glory. For centuries people of this world have declared that our Lord is returning soon. Some have even gone as far as to predict the day and the time. As true followers of Christ we all understand that even Jesus does not know the exact time or date. Only God the Father knows! We are, however, to recognize the season and we are in the season. All prophesies have been met and the time is near. We are to be watchful and always prepared. Our God has a plan, and we must recognize that our Lord in never late. He is always on time! Praise the Lord in all things!

LIVE AS TRUE FRUIT!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:5

An apple tree produces apples. A lemon tree produces lemons. An olive tree produces olives. These are all products of the kinds of trees they come from. When we live in the Spirit of God, we are to produce a certain kind of fruit as well. We are to live with love, joy, peace. patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We cannot produce any kind of evil when living in the Spirit. It is impossible. It is when we stray from our Lord God in heaven that we begin to wander into areas that produce other types of fruit. We may find ourselves involved in types of anger, jealousy, inappropriate language, sexual misconduct or other types of evil from the world we live in. We must remember that we do live in the world, but we are not of the world. We are children of the living God in heaven. If an apple tree produces a bad apple that apple is thrown away and of no use. It is the same with us. However, our Lord God is gracious and loving. He gives us the opportunity to repent and ask for forgiveness. We should live our lives with the consistency of all the characteristics of our Lord. He loves us unconditionally. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

BE AN EXAMPLE!

” Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

” Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:16

As believers in Christ Jesus, we are to be living examples. We are to live our lives in such a way that represents our Lord in love, faith and purity. We must stay close to his word and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We must never lose focus. We must never be far from his word which contains his mighty promises for our lives. We must scrutinize our own teachings to be sure that we never waver from the truth. Others are watching us closely. Some will follow the way we teach and live. We must be sure that our teachings and our lives, lead those who are following us, in the right direction. Our faith must be strong. Our trust must be unwavering. Our lives must be living testimonies to these holy truths. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

FAITH!

“But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit of the righteous for which we hope.” Galatians 5:5

Our faith is the center of our hope in Jesus Christ. It is by faith that our hope becomes reality. It is by our faith that our trust in Jesus becomes a fortress. It is by faith that we are able to live our lives without fear of what is to come or what is already upon us. It is by a strong faith that we are able to conquer the realities of this world, the hardships, the sorrows and the dangers that confront us each day. Our faith is the glue, that holds everything we believe in, together. Without faith we have nothing to hold on to. We are but mere mortals wandering in a lost world with no hope or future. Our faith must stay strong and without a chink in its armor. We must pray. We must praise him. We must have a faith that allows us to believe what we receive because our God in heaven is our total and everlasting source. We must always be building our faith. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

CLING TO YOUR FAITH!

” Cling to your faith in Christ and keep your conscience clear.” 1 Timothy 1:19

We are to cling to our faith. We are to hold on tightly. We are to study and learn his word and live our lives within its boundaries. Our faith is the foundation of our lives. Without it we have nothing to hold on to. But with it there is hope, joy and peace. Never let go of your faith. Instead, build upon it and continue to make it stronger. Our lives are so much more with a strong faith than without faith. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

CARRY OUT YOUR MINISTRY

” Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” Colossians 4:17

We all have a ministry. All ministries are not the same, but they are all very important. Some may be ministers of God’s word, some may be evangelist who preach and teach across the world, some may be elders or deacons of the church. Some may be those who pray for the needs of those around them and still others may be Sunday School teachers or those who are fearless and stand before evil and testify of God’s holy promises. We all have a ministry, and it is important that we know what that ministry is. The Lord opens doors and gives us opportunities each and every day to do something on his behalf. We must stay alert and strong in the Lord. We must stay prayed up and continue to trust him everyday. We must stay strong in his word and know his promises. We must put on the armor of our God each day before we walk out into the world. Ask God what he wants you to do and then do it. There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear. If we live each day in Christ Jesus, then fear will flee from us. Be fearless, stand up and fulfill your ministry in Jesus! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ALWAYS!

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:10

Our God in heaven sent us the precious Holy Spirit to live in us in order to help and to guide us. When we listen to the Holy Spirit, we are living our lives in the way God wants us to live them. The atmosphere around us reflects his love and care for all of those around us. We are to pray at all times with his presence being displayed through our love for others. When we pray, we should pray with the conscience awareness of the Lord’s presences encompassing us. We must pray with faith and with complete trust in him. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

HOPE!

“ALWAYS BE JOYFUL. NEVER STOP PRAYING. BE THANKFUL IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR THAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU WHO BELONG TO CHRIST. ” 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18“

“DO NOT STIFLE THE HOLY SPIRIT. DO NOT SCOFF AT PROPHECIES, BUT TEST EVERYTHING THAT IS SAID. HOLD ON TO WHAT IS GOOD. STAY AWAY FROM EVERY KIND OF EVIL.” 1 THESSALONIANS 5:19-22

When faced with persecution and even death, how could Christians of the first century remain faithful to their Lord? The answer is simple: hope. Though the world around them was hostile and often appeared to be winning the battle, these Christians could stand firm because they knew the end of the story: Jesus Christ and his saints would be victorious in the end. We are not living in the first century but in the end times. You and I as Christians are facing persecutions and may even face death. Are we as prepared as those of the first century? It takes great faith and trust in our God in heaven to be sure of what we hope for. We must surround ourselves with his holy word, continued prayer and continued praise even in times of desperation. We must not give in. We must not look defeated, talk defeated or feel defeated. We must be joyful in all things. It is important that we test everything that is said against the Word of God. We must hold on to our faith and not let go. There is a time coming very soon that our faith will be greatly tested. Our trust in God will be stressed and the voice of the Holy Spirit will be shouting to us the things we must do. We must, however, listen and listen carefully. We must put into action the directions given by the Holy Spirit for our lives. We must hold onto what is good and stay away from evil. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

FOCUS ON JESUS!

” BUT LET US WHO LIIVE IN THE LIGHT BE CLEARHEADED, PROTECTED BY THE ARMOR OF FAITH AND LOVE, AND WEARING AS OUR HELMET THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR SALVATION.” 1 THESSALONIANS 5:8

” For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive, when he returns, we can live with him forever.” 1 THESSALONIANS 5:9-10

Our Lord loves us more than we can ever understand. His plan has been in existence for thousands of years. He has given us promises, wisdom and strength along the way. He is returning soon. It doesn’t matter whether we have died in Christ or whether we are still living in Christ, his death on that cross assures that we all will be with him forever. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD!

” Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for him to act.” PSALM 37:7

There are many times that we find ourselves talking way too much and not listening. We are to pray to God in heaven and we are to praise to him all of the time. However, we are also to take time to be still before the Lord. We are to listen carefully as he answers us. A conversation is a two-way street. There is talking and listening. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own thoughts and words that we forget that our God in heaven also talks and that we must listen. Talking with the Lord does not have to be a formal prayer. We are to have conversations with him about our concerns and thoughts. The Lord sometimes reminds me that I talk too much and must listen. Our Lord has a plan, and we cannot fulfill his plan if we are not paying attention to what he is saying. Our Lord is faithful, but we must take time to be quiet in order to accept his faithfulness. He is our refuge and our answer. I find that when I put him first in my life that I always go to him first with my concerns. When I do, he comforts me with his love and understanding. He loves us very much and he holds all of the answers. We must, however, do our part and listen. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

THE PURPOSE!

“Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.” 1 THESSALONIANS 2:4

What is your purpose when getting up in the morning? What are the first things you do? Our purpose in life is to do one thing and that thing is to love and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are not to set out each with the purpose of pleasing our fellow man. We are not to set out each day to please the way the world thinks. Our first thoughts each day should be of our God in heaven. Our eyes should be trained upon him and nothing else. Our trust should be in him each day with the faith that he is beside us, inside us and walks before us. If we truly trust in him, he will help and guide us throughout our day. He will pick us up when we make a mistake. He will remind of his promises and his support for us each day. We are to live life for him and for him alone. We are to live our life with conviction and the purpose we are given. We are to be a loving testimony on behalf of Jesus. We must stay focused and walk with him and not from him. Life on this earth can be extremely hard if we allow it to be. But with Jesus leading us we are able to stay within his love and direction. Our purpose? Focus on each day with the love and guidance of our Lord Jesus! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

BE JOYFUL IN ALL THINGS!

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice! ” Philippians 4:4

Worry and stress are terrible things. They rob us of many things. They demand all of our time, all of our strength and they rob us of our joy. They deter us from the freedoms our Lord has given us. They call God’s promises, lies. They deceive us and hurt those around us. So, how to we become full of joy, especially when we are furiously being attacked by the devil and the world around us. We pray in the Spirit constantly. We read and meditate on God’s Holy Word constantly. We praise our Lord in all things, constantly. We find and learn of the mighty promises our God has given us and we keep them close to our hearts, minds and souls. We keep joy in our hearts because we keep the Lord Jesus in our lives. It is quite natural and inevitable, that if we spend 16 hours daily of our waking hours thinking of the affairs of the world and 5 minutes in thinking about God- this world will seem 200 times more real to us than God. Instead of worry and stress make God your total resource. If you are at your workplace and you feel the need for prayer, then stop and pray. Learn to be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. He knows what you need. Make no important decision without including the Lord. Stay confident and trust him in all things. He is our life. He is the reason we live our lives. The Lord is returning soon and will make this world the place he intended it to be. You and I by following Christ Jesus can make our lives the way he intended us to live them, with joy and peace of mind! Rejoice always, again I say rejoice! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

ALWAYS BE ENCOURAGING!

” Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:28

Being the person that God wants us to be is not easy. There is a force in this world that is working hard to block every wholesome move we try to make. Some believe that because we are Christians, we are weak and allow others to walk all over us. There is a fine line between being weak and being strong in the Lord. As a believer we are not to allow the devil or anybody else run roughshod over us. We are to be prepared by knowing his word and clothing ourselves with the armor of God. Each day is a battle. We are to be an encouragement to others. We are to be patient, loving and caring for those around us. We should be able to lean upon the promises of God and trust them to be honored by God. We are stay positive and not negative. Sometimes this is not easy, and I consider myself to be the worst offender. Sometimes, as humans, we cross the line and say things that should not be said. It is at those times that we need to go to our Lord in prayer and ask for forgiveness. We should ask for him to give us the strength to move forward in a positive way and not one that will create ill will. We must keep in mind that there will be times when others will do things that are not in line with God’s Word. It is then that we must show our love and patience and pray to the Lord for help. Living as an encouragement to others is not easy. It takes hard work and a lot of one-on-one time with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!