Praise the Lord
“ But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” Luke 18:8
” Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21
Always stay in tune with the Lord Jesus. Never let him to become second in your life. He should always be first!
Reading and Meditation: 1 John Chapter 5
PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
Please visit our website at: breadoflifeconversations.wordpress.com for all messages and readings.
” And this is what God has testified; He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the son does not have life.” 1 John 5:11
Jesus is eternal life. Go to him, accept him and live through him!
Reading and Meditation: 1 John, Chapter 5
PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“Even if you feel guilty, God is greater than your feelings, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:20
Please take the time to read 1 John chapter 3. Meditate and pray.
PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS !
“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they may stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-24
Some of the most famous people in the world have had lives that were unbearable. Many have gone to drugs to find the help they need and others just give up with some giving up their own lives. No matter what road they go down they usually are convinced, at one time or another, that they are perfect. They work so hard to be perfect in their occupations that they forget they are human and not God. So, when they fail, they fall hard. It is so important to remember that God loves us more than we can understand. He tells us plainly that he is always with us. He tells us that when we stumble, we will never fall because he will catch us. Sometimes this becomes hard, to not only understand, but to accept. Our focus must stay on our Lord and Savior. If we continue to pray, read his holy word and meditate upon it, he then becomes real to us. He becomes a part of us and a part of our lives. The Lord does not want us to fail. If we make a mistake, he is always there to forgive us and help us dust ourselves off. We must stay focused, strengthen our faith and believe in the truth he gives us! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” Luke 12:31
“So, don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
We see commercials all of the time on television trying to sell us life insurance. This insurance is to help us give our families financial security when we are no longer residing on this earth. There are many in this world today who do a great job of securing their families, should they pass on, and this is a very wise thing to do. But they forget the most important policy of all. Our God has provided to us an insurance policy that will not only cover us when we die but also while we continue to live in this world. If we take the time to seek him, we will prepare ourselves for eternal security and at the same time prepare our families for the same benefits. You see, with belief, trust and great faith in Jesus, the Lord gives us great benefits while we live in the world and when we die. The costs for these benefits are to recognize our sinful nature (that we are a sinner) and accept Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, accepting his death, resurrection and shed blood as our saving grace. After we accept Jesus into our lives we will begin to change and that change will help us to dig deeper into his trust, his many truths and faith. We will be given opportunities to live our lives as Jesus lived his, in love for others, joy and servitude. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!
“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.” Psalm 35:5
If the animals of this planet are not from God, then who?
If the gifts of science and technology are not from God, then who?
If Jesus is not the Son of God, then who?
If the moon and the stars are not created by our God, then Who?
There are so many questions that have been and will continue to be asked. Who gives us the sight to see and the air to breath each day? Who developed our bodies so perfectly that we are able to move, see and talk? If the bible is not the living and breathing word of God, then what is? As Christians we have been given hope that we are saved by the grace of God. As we read and study the bible it begins to seep into our body and minds. We are able to believe and strengthen our faith because of the way the Word of God develops us and trains us. There have been prophecies that were prophesied thousands of years ago that have now come to fruition. Everything that Jesus told his apostles in his last days have come true. He healed the sick and help the crippled to walk and the blind to see. He was hung on a cross but raised on the third day. If it ain’t God, then who is it? PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!
“But we are looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:13
Just as a young teenager getting a license and then receiving the keys to the car for the first time, we also have been given a key that gives us access to the freedom we once felt in getting to drive that first car. Jesus is the key to heaven. He has given us rights to the key by belief. By believing he has the power, by believing he died for you and me and by believing he rose on the third day. All of the belief that we are to have, develops into faith, faith that will help us to live our lives here on earth with the power and strength of Jesus. And once our time is up on earth, our spirit will be able to enter heaven and be with Jesus. It is up to us to not drop the key. If we drop it, we then become susceptible to entertain the things going on around us. It is wise that we put the key on our key ring of faith and use it to help us to live lives that show the wisdom of Jesus living in us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“If someone claims,’ I know God’, but does not obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:4-6
Do you know God? If you do, are you living your life in this world by showing the ways of Jesus? 1 John 2: 4-6 tells us plainly that we are to live our lives according to the ways of Jesus. We are to follow his floorplan when building our relationship and our faith in him. It is through the knowledge we are given and the faith to live in that knowledge that allows us to live our lives worthy of saying “I know God!” Pray, listen, believe and receive. Stay close to him and he will stay close to you! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!
” So, after you have suffered for a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” 1 Peter 5:10
” Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:17-18
Our price for salvation is small in comparison to the sacrifice our Lord gave for us. We are told that we will have troubles in this world. We will have to go through persecutions and sorrows. However, we have been given the strength and support to get through all things. Jesus tells us that even though we must go through these troubles we will be restored and strengthened. Our Lord has sent to us the Holy Spirit. We are the residence of our strength and support. He lives in us and all we have to do is listen and be doers of what he tells us. He gives us the Holy Bible to direct us, and prayer to stay in total communication. It is important that we stay focused on strengthening our faith, belief, grace and knowledge. We must stay on the right path and not wander. The evil one is talented in his evil ways. He lies in wait with his and deception and lies, which can be convincing and penetrate our soul if we allow it to happen. We must keep our feet firmly planted on God’s path and continue our walk with him. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“Work hard to enter the door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.” Luke 13:24
“For you are a slave to whatever controls you.” 2 Peter 2:19
If the words of Jesus, in Luke 13:24, do not have a resounding affect upon you, then you may want to examine your focus and priorities. With billions of people in this world, we should understand that most of them are going to hell. These are not just those who create heinous crimes, but it means all who have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. For we are a slave to whatever controls our lives. Is it Jesus who controls your life? We sometimes get lulled into the concept, that if we are not a criminal, then we are okay. But that is not how Jesus presents it. There are many who think they are headed in the right direction because they are going to church every Sunday and understand there is a God in heaven. Then during the week, they go out and return to the ways of the world. If they have not truly accepted the ways of Jesus, they will think to the very end that they are headed in the right direction. However, they will be denied entrance to our God’s heavenly Kingdom if they haven’t accepted and believe in Jesus Christ. The time is growing short. It is running out faster than most are willing to accept Jesus and change their lives. The time to accept Him is not “later today”, or “tomorrow”. The time is now! Don’t be like those in the days of Noah and think His coming is just a fairy tale. Don’t gamble against God. He is the truth and the answer to it all. Only he knows the time and the day. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!
“ The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.” Psalm 33:15
“Trust him and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.” 2 Peter 1:3
Our God in heaven has prepared a way for each of us to reach our goal of living our lives in a godly manner. He has developed a plan that we are to be acquainted with and use as we live our lives. In his plan, he gives us the strength each day to set out on a journey, though it may be planned by us, it may become a journey that is covered with dense confusion, tribulations of many kinds and struggles of great intense. He gives us wisdom, faith, trust, patience, knowledge and the understanding we need to navigate through each day. God’s plan is to help us and not abandon us. He loves us more than we are able to understand. He is with us, beside us, inside us and leading the way before us. He has given us his Holy Word, the bible, to help us to understand, not only what his tools are, but how we are to use them. Our life has been planned for us, but we often get off the path and wander into our own difficulties leaving him to stand back and watch us struggle. We must pray and praise him daily! We must read his word and meditate on it daily. If we do, we will find ourselves on the right path for living a godly life. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!
When Jesus died upon the cross, he left a very strong message to those remaining upon this earth. This message was to be spread throughout the generations to come. That message was of salvation. When Jesus walked the earth, he was asked for many things, and he gave to the people many things. He gave them healings, blessings and love. But most of all he left them with hope. He left them with the hope that God in heaven was a caring and loving God. He also left them with his great and merciful name, the name of Jesus. His name is the key to our God in heaven. It is by this name that we are able to communicate with God and are saved. However, there is one stipulation. We must believe. We must truly accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and ask him into our hearts. With that in mind I leave you today with the opportunity to accept Jesus. Please bow down and give him your heart and total existence. Please pray this salvation prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that you died on that cross for my sins and rose from the grave to give me life. Please forgive me and come into my heart. I accept you as my Lord and Savior!
In the name of Jesus, Amen!
It is now important that you find a bible believing church that will help you to grow in Jesus. Read the bible daily with prayer, asking for understanding and wisdom. Become acquainted with his righteous ways and believe in all that he says! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“Trust our lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” 1 Peter 4:19
To those who follow Jesus, those who have been saved by his shed blood, and desire to follow him, know that the meaning of trusting in God, is a firm, confident reliance on His character, his promises, and his power. It is this trust that allows us to replace the worldly way of depending upon ourselves and others to get us through our troubles and problems. However, even as Christians, we find ourselves having troubles in the area of trust. We have been taught since childhood to trust things that we can see and touch. Our earthly lives depend upon our senses to help us to live our lives. But when we begin to live in the unknown, (the spiritual world), our earthly senses continue to be valuable for our lives in the earthly realm, but we now begin our journey of trusting in what we cannot see. As we read his Holy Word, meditate upon it and pray, we see the many promises he has given us. According to 1 Peter 4:19 God never has, nor will he ever fail on a promise. We must never allow doubt, worry or fear to steal away our faith and trust in the God who created us. We must continue to be active in prayer, praising his glorious existence, and praising him for the gift of his Holy Word. We are not to just read the words of the bible, as we read a book. Instead, we are to put our trust and faith into action. We are to prayerfully read his word, asking for understanding and wisdom. We must take the first step of faith and then he will hold up those promises so that we can grasp onto them. We must continue to build and strengthen our faith and trust in God in heaven. Jesus is our key. We will never be disappointed. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!
“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:7-8
Whether Jesus returns in the rapture or whether we die a natural death we must be prepared. It is time to pray earnestly. It is time to be specific in the way we pray and how we pray. God has told us that he will answer us if we just ask. It is time to pray for those who are sick and those who are disabled. It is time to pray for those who need protection and those who need help physically, mentally, financially, emotionally and spiritually. It is time to look at others in a different light. It is time to see people in the way Jesus did when he walked this earth. It is time to have compassion and love for those around us. No matter what you may be going through, take the time to get on your knees and let the Lord know what you need and how you feel. Ask him for his love to be immersed within you. Ask him for his understanding and knowledge. It is time. Our lives could end in the next few moments. Be prepared! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS.
“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7-8
Whether the Lord Jesus returns tomorrow or in 50 years from now, it is important for us to remember that whether we die a natural death or we get caught up in the rapture, someday we all are going to stand and face him. It will a glorious day and one that we all look forward to. For that reason alone, it’s important that we know the way we should live our lives here on earth. It is sometimes not easy to love others. There are those who are mean, angry, and just really hard to like. However, we are told that we are to love those who hate us. We are to do good for them and not look to return evil for evil. Our life on this earth is a training ground for our lives in heaven. Just as there is hate in this world there will be none in heaven. There will be no lies, no cheating, no anger and no backstabbing in heaven. We as followers of Christ are training for our time in glory. Are you preparing? PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!
“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace and work to maintain it.” 1 Peter 3:10-11
“But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Luke 11:28
It is easy to set back and wonder how living a life with God in control works. It is not easy to live that life. There are those in today’s world who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior but who continue live lowly lives that are controlled by fear, worry and doubt. As followers of Christ, we are to live lives of joy, peace, love and strength. To live that life we must first become firmly acquainted with him. We must do more than just read a verse each day from the bible. We must do more than pray self-seeking prayers. We must read his word every day and put it into practice. We must read chapters and meditate upon them. We must pray as we read and ask for his understanding to penetrate our minds and our souls. We must not only understand his word, but we must be able to trust in it. Our faith in what he tells us, and our faith in the promises he gives us, must grow within us daily. Our trust in his love and words will be nurtured in our minds and our thoughts as we live each day. Each day it is important that we take something from his word and begin to live it in our own lives. If we do this, not only will our faith begin to grow, but we will begin to become living bibles to those around us. We will begin to care for others, as the love of Jesus will soak within us and will overflow and flow directly to others. However, we must be persistent and consistent. We must put our Lord first in our lives. If we do, our lives will flow smoothly and not allow the troubles of the world to overwhelm us. We are to live our lives for Christ and not for ourselves. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!
“He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered a physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18
What a deal you and I have received. Just imagine for one minute if you had to suffer the same fate Jesus suffered for the sins you have committed in your life. Imagine the pain of the lead tipped whip creasing against your back. Imagine the pain of the spikes being nailed into your hands and feet. What would you do? Would you continue with the pain of it all and then hang on you cross to die a slow and humbling death? Or, would you give up and become satisfied with a place in hell. Without Jesus, we would all be in that situation. The time is now to lay your life down for Jesus. Just accept him. The time is getting short. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
Prayer is communication with our God who sits in heaven. It is he who has given us the greatest promises that can be given. It is he who created the world and allowed each of us to exist upon this earth for the time he has given. It is he who directs our steps if we allow him to. The one thing that we must not do is give up on prayer. Our only consolation in life is through our God in heaven. It is his love that we must trust, and it is his actions that we must have faith in. We must ASK. We must SEEK. We must KNOCK.
“ And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks , the door will be opened.” LUKE 11:9-10
PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“Let the Godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him.” Psalm 33:1
“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you.” 1 Peter 2:21
When Jesus walked this earth, he was not accepted well. He spoke about how he came to divide the world and not to bring peace within it. He told us how there would be divisions within families and divisions in relationships. However, as he continued to walk toward that cross every day, he never threatened retaliation to any of those who opposed him. He kept his focus and continued a straight line to the death that he was to endure for you and me. You and I do not have an easy road ahead of us. There will be and there will continue to be hard times as we walk toward Jesus. We too, are not the threaten retaliation to any who oppose us. Instead, we are to be peaceable and live our lives with calmness, peace of mind and the love of Jesus. We should praise God in heaven through all situations where we find ourselves fighting. He promises those who believe in him that he will protect us and save us from more than we can handle. Just as Jesus was to handle his death on the cross so are we to be able to handle the cross he has given us to bear. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
” When you call on me, I will answer.” Psalm 91:15
“So, get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for his nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” 1 Peter 2:1-3
When we pray, our Lord God in heaven listens to us. He not only hears our requests but knows them beforehand. He is willing and ready to answer our every need. As new Christians it is sometimes hard to understand how God works. However, we do know we are to live like him. Our desire should be to be like him in every way. However, as humans we make mistakes and sometimes drift back into our old lifestyles. When this happens, he will be there to pick us up and put us back on the right path if we only ask. Our God knows our every thought and every desire. But he has given us a free will and when we fall, he wants to hear from us. It is you and me who must initiate the conversation and then allow him to act on our behalf. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:7
“ For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23
Salvation is a gift from God. There is no greater gift than what he has given to those who believe and receive his salvation through the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation does not mean your life will be trouble free. It does not mean that you are above those around you. It means that you trust in the living God and that your life will reflect his values and actions. He is the truth and the way. There is no other. If you have not received Christ as your Lord and Savior, our Lord invites you now to bow down before him and recite 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. Amen.
I pray that you now find a bible believing church and begin to live your life in a Christ-like manner. Read and meditate on his word. Pray to him often and listen carefully for his answers. Our Lord is returning soon. Be prepared!
PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL SITUATIONS!
“If any of you want to be my followers, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
“It is by his great mercy that you have been born again, because God raised Jesus from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3
Just as Noah, his family, and the animals that God brought to him, were saved through the great flood, so will be those who accept Jesus, be saved in these end days. Our God does not want anyone to perish, so there is still time to come to the Lord for salvation. Each day that passes is another day closer to the second coming of Jesus. Each day that passes is another day lost in the fog of this world and another opportunity for salvation passing by. The time is now! It is by God’s mercy that he sent his Son as a sacrifice for you and me. It is now our decision to make, as to whether we follow Jesus into eternity or follow the devil into hell. The time has come, if you have not already done so, to stop living for yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. It is time to climb into the loving arc of Jesus for safety as the end of this age ends. Our salvation is at hand! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“The Lord is my Shepard; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows and leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” PSALM 23
” Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you.” Psalm 37:5
We are to humble ourselves before the Lord. As we stand before him each day, we must remember that he is Lord, and we are his children. He has the answers, and we have the questions. As we stand and bow before him let us all:
In these last days there is not a time when we should not be close to Jesus. As troubles mount up in this world, we as children of God have the power and the strength to stand before Kings and testify about our Lord. We have a duty to pray and allow our God in heaven a chance to shine through us. We must be able to stay within the limits our Lord provides to each of us and remember that he will give us the words to speak and the strength to stand. These last days will be eventful and full of things that we may not be accustomed to. However, we have been chosen for this time. We have been given the Holy Spirit to reside within us and to guide us through these last days. Jesus is going to return soon. All things appear to set for his return. But until he comes, we are to continue to speak loudly about the salvation message and prepare others for his exciting return for all of his children. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
” Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your hearts desires.” Psalm 37:4
As we travel through life we meet many obstacles along the way. Some are small and some are very large and intimidating. It doesn’t seem to matter to our Lord God in heaven just what our problems are, he is ready to help us. The issue for us is that we sometimes must wait for our answers. He doesn’t act within our timeline; he acts within his. There are two things that we must be able to do. The first is to not fear. We must trust in him to do what he has promised. If we ask for anything within his will we will receive it. There should be no doubt in our being that God lives up to his promises. The bible tells us that he never fails on a promise. With that, we should be able to rest within his arms of comfort while we wait. The second thing we must do is be patient. As we wait courageously for his answer we must take delight in him. We must praise him and give him glory for his wonderful deeds in our lives. We should thank him for the answers to our prayers and for the work he does in our lives. We should always give way to his thoughts and his words in our lives rather than our thoughts and words. The Lord God above gives us peace of mind, and it is wise for us to believe, receive and thank him for his promises and gifts. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
” What good is it dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? ” James 2:14
” So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.” James 2:24
” Just as the body is dead without breath, so also is faith dead without good works.” James 2:26
Faith is an important part of our life. Without it we are helpless as Christians. It is by faith that we believe there really is a God in heaven. It is with faith that we believe our God will pick us up when we fall and put us back on the right path. It is by faith that we believe our God is able to perform miracles in our lives and healings that heal the blind and crippled. It is by faith we believe that our sins are forgiven, and we are restored through our repentance. Faith is of great importance to us, but we must understand that our faith must be stamped with the seal of action in our lives. We must live our faith. We must believe without doubt and be able to stand upon that belief with sound actions that prove it. We must live our lives in such a way that our faith is brought out for others to see and not just hear. James 2:26 tells us that as the body is dead without breath so also is faith dead without good works to support it. We must build upon our faith daily. We do that with reading God’s Holy Word, prayer and putting what we learn into action. We must continue to push through times that seem so bad that nothing can help us. We must push hard our faith when life seems useless to us. Our faith is complete when we live it. It is to become not just a part of our lives but to become our life that we live daily. Let us all put our faith into action so that those around us will be able to witness our beliefs and the truths they produce. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:26
” And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business- eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building- until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be business as usual right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Luke 17: 28-30
The time for our Lord Jesus to return is close. All prophesies have been met; all conditions are taking place as scheduled. However, there is still time to spread his message of salvation so that those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior have the opportunity to do so. He has given us forewarning. We are to know the season but not the time nor the day. The season is now. Just as the leaves fall from the trees in the fall and the oak trees drop their acorns before the winter snows, we also are seeing signs of things to happen before his coming. We are in the season! We must work harder than ever before, because once his period of grace is over, he will come and take his children with him and unleash his anger upon the world. The time is now! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.” Hebrews 12:28“
“Your faith has healed you; go in peace.” Luke 7:50
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.” James 1:12
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.” James 1:22
Receiving from our God, building our faith in Christ Jesus, being patient in our trials and temptations and being a doer of God’s word, are all actions that must become a part of us, as we follow our Lord here on earth. In order to do any of the above we must not allow doubt to enter our thoughts, because if we do, the doubt will turn our hopes, our faith and our actions into nothing more than words. It is important that we live for Jesus. Our world must be turned around so that everything we do and say is a building block for others to build upon. We are to become a part of God’s Word just as his Word is to become a part of us. We cannot have one without the other. We are the Word of God to many people. Many do not read the bible and don’t know what is ask of them for salvation. It is by our actions, our words and our thoughts that they are led to see and learn about Jesus. It is by our actions that they may begin to ask questions and be led to Christ for salvation. As we pray, we must ask for guidance in our own lives. We must ask for understanding, wisdom and knowledge that will help us to increase our own faith and strength. We must become a part of God’s Word so that God’s Word will become a part of us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“ May the grace of God be with you all.” Hebrews 13:25
As I read God’s Holy Word every day, I sometimes wonder how far short of the finish line I am. I strive in my heart to be close to the Lord. I pray every day, multiple times, that I become stronger in his Word and that my faith inches closer to where it needs to be. However, I look at those in the past who have been so dedicated to Him. I look at his disciples, and also those throughout history, who have given their very lives because of their faith. Where do I stand when it comes to my closeness to Him? Jesus tells us that he did not come to this earth to make peace but instead his presence would cause divisions. As I look back into history and also look ahead to what is to come, I see clearly those divisions. In some cases, there have been such bad feelings between right and wrong that some have died for worshipping his name. I sometimes wonder how I would react if my life were on the line. As I wonder about these things the Lord reminds me that he is always with me. He will never let me be crushed under pressure I cannot handle. If I were put in those life-or-death situations the grace of my God in heaven would continue to be with me. I believe he would give me the courage I would need to overcome. I believe he would help me, strengthen me and never let me feel the fear of death. The devil is good at throwing doubt and fear in our path. He is good at making us feel that we will fall short of God’s finish line. There is nothing farther from the truth. We would all be wise to continue to pray each day, meditate upon his word and continue to give him all of the praise we can muster up. Our God loves us, and he did not give his son to the world for nothing. He sacrificed his only Son so that you and I could live. We must believe we receive because God in our Source, and our Source is never-ending. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
“Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” Hebrews 12:15
Just what is bitterness? It involves anger, disappointment, and being treated unfairly. According to the Bible “it involves emotion stemming from perceived injustice or hurt, evolving into a festering resentment, anger, and ill will, that can poison one’s spiritual life and relationships.” Bitterness is a poison. It is ruthless, and if not destroyed and thrown out of our lives, it can destroy the very essence of our relationships with others and even with our God in heaven. Jesus, as he walked this earth, had many opportunities to allow bitterness to grow within Him. However, he took the high road, and instead of growing bitter, he forgave those who did bad things to him. What Jesus did was the harder of the two options. It is difficult to forgive someone who does something bad to you. But that is what Jesus did and that is what he wants us to do. If we allow for evil bitterness to ingrain itself in us, then we are allowing the devil to win the battle. With poison in our system, we are unable to communicate honestly and unable to communicate with the love that Jesus presents to us. It may be time for us to begin to evaluate our lives. Take out the microscope and look for the evils that are hindering your relationship with others. Take the medicine of praying every day for God’s help. Take time to listen to the Holy Spirit as he communicates with you. Bitterness is a poison that will contaminate our every thought, word and deed if allowed to. Be strong and take the time to honor God by forgiving instead of carrying a grudge. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!
