Bread of Life, JIL

“Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6

The presence of the Lord is with us in all situations. The Holy Spirit lives in us and is speaking to us in our times of need but we must focus and listen. However, when we are struggling, we sometimes stray from his presence and begin to put our focus on our problems and not what he is telling us. Our thoughts must consistently be with our Lord. We must concentrate on his words and not our own. It is his presence that give us the strength we need to get through each day. You and I must remember that we can do all things, but it is through Christ Jesus that we must act. For Philippians 4:13 tells us, “we can do all things through Christ Jesus who give us strength.” So, we should not worry because worry harms our body and our soul. Instead, we should go to our God in heaven and ask for help. We should receive it and believe it and then be sure to thank him and give him all of the glory he so richly deserves. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus possessed me.” Philippians 3:12

It becomes difficult to move forward when we are in a crisis. It is much easier to hold up somewhere like a dark room and begin to feel sorry for ourselves. However, Jesus has not chosen us to be cowards or to be one of those who suddenly begins to think of their own problems and desires. He has provided us the tools to be able to stand up in adversity and move forward. We are to press on toward his Kingdom. We are to look past our own troubles and look to what others are experiencing. We are to be faithful to His Word and help those who need help. We are to be prayer warriors and of those who show compassion for others who are going through experiences for which they are not prepared. We are members of his army and are to never lay down or give up. The Holy Spirit resides within each of us and continues to give us each the strength we need to press on. He continues to increase our faith and to give us the confidence to help those in need along the way. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

” Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” 2 Corinthians 2:15

As each day comes and goes so does much turmoil and trouble. It is through all of this that we are able to see how our Lord is strong and provides us with his wisdom and understanding. As we read his Holy Word each day our faith grows. We are able to hear his words and see his example is every sentence we read. Praying to him, praising him and meditating on his every thought, allows our faith to grow and become the Christ-like fragrance our Lord expects from us. It matters not how busy we are or where our thoughts may wander, each day must include our prayers and praise to God in heaven. With that he provides us with his promises and actions for our lives. As we water our faith each day with the sprinkling of this Word our faith grows and with that we grow into that Christ-like fragrance. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“Be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3

“You must have the same attitude as Christ Jesus had.” Philippians 2:5

“Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world of crooked and perverse people.” Philippians 2:15

There is no better training than when we go through adverse times. It is in these events that we practice our strength and faith in Jesus. We have been told how to act in bad times, but do we always do it? We are to be like a shining light that shines in the darkness. We are to shine brightly for all to see. Even in times of persecution we should still have the same attitude that Jesus had. He knew his mission and we know ours. He was here to show compassion and to show the way to eternal life. You and I are an extension of his life. We too, are to show compassion, especially to those who do us wrong, and continue to serve. We must shine with the same attitude as Christ and always be ready to serve others. We must maintain his message and allow others the chance to choose Jesus. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

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

“Above all, you must live as a citizen of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.” Philippians 1:27

Jesus is Lord. There is no other and our lives should reflect that fact. In everything we do and all that we say we should do it for our Lord God in heaven. Our lives on this earth are to be lived in such a way that we are looked upon as different. We are to be looked at in a way that reflects the values of Christ Jesus and not the values of this world. This is difficult because of persecution from those around us. However, as we live our lives for Christ, we become stronger and stronger in the eyes of heaven. We are being prepared for our eternal existence with our God, and as we do, we become witnesses to those in this world who desperately need Jesus in their lives. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

” Be persistent in your prayers for all believers.” Ephesians 6:18

Praying is not easy. To pray an earnest prayer, we must believe and receive from our Lord all that he promises and provides to us. We must pray continuously and stay in contact with our Lord God consistently. We are told in Ephesians 6:18 to be persistent in our prayers. We are to continue to pray and never give up! It is important to train ourselves to keep our God in heaven first in our thoughts. It is He we should go to in our troubles. It is He we should go to when we are persecuted. It is He we should praise and give glory to all of the time. When we keep our Lord in our sights and always depend upon him, then it becomes easy to pray an earnest prayer and do so with conviction and belief in his answers! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

” They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!” Ezekiel 33:32

” Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:16

The Holy Bible is much more than a book. It is not just full of hollow words that lead us through a lot of stories, many of which are very fascinating. The Holy Bible is the living, breathing word of God. It is alive and working in the world today. It is only useful in our lives if we act upon what it tells us to do and how to live. There are many who hear the Word, but it falls upon deaf ears. They never act upon the Word and then wonder why God is not active in their lives. We are to take God’s Word literally and apply his instructions to our lives. We are to pray and ask for his help to understand his ways and their application in our lives. We must hang onto every word and not let go. If we don’t, then we will find that our lives are just full of worry, anger, and sickness. Yes, we are human, and we step into a lot of holes and fall. We make a lot of mistakes but nothing that cannot be fixed by Jesus. Our Lord tells us that if we accept him as our Lord and Savior and live our lives to the fullest in Jesus that he will surround us with his protection and grace. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

” The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18

There is not a time when Jesus is not by our side. He walks with us when we forget he is there. He walks with us when we forget to pray and ask for his help. Whenever you are having a tough day, always remember that Jesus is beside you. Remember that he has already defeated the powers of this world so that you and I can walk without fear, doubt, and worry. He has already walked in sadness so that we are able to overcome it and return to a joyful heart. Jesus loved us when he went to that cross. We must remember that the story does not end there. It just begins. He loved us then and he loves us now! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Psalm 147: 11

Whenever God’s children read his Holy Word and then act upon it, our Lord God in heaven in delighted. He is happy when even just one shows sincere love for his many acts of kindness. His face shines with happiness when we look to him for direction and put our faith in his many promises. Let us always show our dedication to Him while we live our lives on this earth. Let us pray to him for understanding, praise him for his answers and constantly meditate upon his words for our lives. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command and they came into being.” Psalm 148:5

Praising the one who created us is vital to our relationship with him. There is nothing that he has created in this world that is hindered from praising him. The sun, the moon, the heavens, fire and hail, snow and clouds, and the wind all obey his mighty commands. The mountains and the hills, the trees and all animals are to praise the Lord. Praise is important to our God, and we are to obey his commands and give him praise at every opportunity. Prayer is important to us and our Lord will answer our every request, but praise to our Father in heaven is most important for what our God does for us everyday. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.” Ephesians 3:19

“He counts the stars and calls them all by name.” Psalm 147:4

It is impossible for us to understand all of the greatness of our Lord God in heaven. Scripture tells us that he counts all of the stars in heaven and even calls them by name. If he knows each star by name, then he knows you and me by name as well. It is through our Savior Jesus that we are able to show our love to him. We must understand that the greatness of our God, the brightest light in all of the heavens, is impossible for us to totally understand. It is by faith, trust and love of him that we survive. Without those three characteristics we cannot live in his love. No matter what we are going through God has a purpose for it. Let us all keep our faith strong and walk in the brightest of lights! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

” It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:5

” God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:9

Each and every one of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior have been rescued from the deepest of pits.  Because of God’s gift of Jesus, and our acceptance and belief in him, we have been lifted from the evils of this world and transported to the safe and loving arms or our God in heaven. We should praise God on every occasion for his great gift!  PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“All praises to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

Praising our God in heaven is one of the most important things we can do. I have learned that praising him before each prayer is helpful and brings me even closer to him than ever before. Our God is all about praise. The scriptures tell us that he is a jealous God and one who desires to be praised for all of the good and great things he does. He wants us to praise only him, and not things of this world! He is God and there is no other. As born-again Christians we have accepted Christ Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. It is through Jesus that God hears our praises and our prayers. Let us all praise him for there is no other God! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

” And a voice from heaven said, ‘ You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy. ‘ ” Mark 1:11

” Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God.” Ephesians 1:11

Jesus was the dearly loved Son of God. God has given us all a chance at a new life by walking on the path to Christ Jesus. When our steps walk this path, we receive the same love that God bestows upon his one and only Son. To many, this is hard to understand and sometimes even seems foolish, but God is very plain when he tells us that because we are united with Jesus, we will receive an inheritance from God. That inheritance is where are steps are to take us. That inheritance is eternal life with our great God in heaven! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

” What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.” Galatians 6:15

It is easy to become complacent in this life. We begin to settle into worldly ways and our lives become examples of this world. However, God gives us an opportunity to change our focus. We have a chance to grasp onto his thoughts and desires for our lives. He gives us Jesus! When we meet our Savior, our lives begin to change because we are now associating with the greatness of God himself. We are becoming transformed into a new creation, one that stands out in the world and looks different and acts different. This change in focus and change in our thoughts and actions, are necessary for us to live lives here on earth that are to be much like heaven itself. So, whether we have perfect lives in this world or whether our lives are just one problem after another, we must never forget that our transformation into what God wants us to be, should be our focus. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable.” Romans 12:1

When we live our lives as a sacrifice to our God in heaven we are doing so through our trust and faith in him. When we give our all, we are giving our bodies and our lives to him to control and take care of. He will guide us and protect us in every situation. Whether we find danger or whether we find sadness or whether his joy overcomes us, he is beside us always. We must believe and receive because our God never fails! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“ So, all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of faith.” Galatians 3:9

“ For the scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life’. ” Galatians 3:11

When we plant a garden, we must make sure that our new plants have enough fertilizer and water, each of which make the new plants grow. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are planting a seed that will grow into a new life. We must make sure that we give it the nutrients of God’s Word and the sprinkling of faith to make sure the new life grows into a productive and useful plant for Christ Jesus. We must nurture our new life with consistent study of what God’s wants and desires are for us, and with much prayer and praise to our God in heaven. When we do these things consistently, we will produce a new life that is exactly what God has intended for us. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“My cup overflows with blessings” Psalm 23:5

Blessings from our God are out there for us to cling to each day. Some of them go unnoticed while others we grab onto and ride the great wave of God. But there are many other times where we see the blessing, and want to accept it, but instead get entangled in the ways of the world, so we turn our backs and go on living our lives as normal. When we recognize that God wants to bless us, that he wants us to live our lives in the safest and most comfortable ways possible on the earth, it is then that we take hold and listen to his directions and live his way and not our own. Our cup overflows with blessings. How many are we leaving in the cup and not taking hold? PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.” Matthew 27:5

When Jesus walked this earth his life to most was just a fleeting moment in time. To many of his enemies he was just another one of those rebel rousers. He was just another who was causing problems. To them, thirty pieces of silver was plenty to pay for the life of Jesus. In their minds he was nothing more than a homeless person wandering around the countryside telling strange stories and trying to get the crowds roused. However, to Judas, once he saw of the mistake he had made, reality set in. He had turned the Lord Jesus over to be crucified. It was he who was responsible and there was nothing he could do to make it right. He had succumbed and chosen the way of the world. As you and I look at Jesus we see much more than thirty pieces of silver. We see God. We see salvation and forgiveness and healing. We see the real life, the life everlasting that is on its way. The world is still working and trying to take Jesus away from us, but we must stay strong and continue to build our faith and trust in Jesus Christ! If we do, we will be saved and be on our way to a life forever in the arms of our God in heaven. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

Every morning that we wake up we are reminded that another day has been granted to us by our God in heaven. It is a day the Lord has made, and we are to have joy in it. No matter the troubles we may encounter we are to look deep into God’s Holy Word and try to understand how we are to represent him. We are living in the Great Dress Rehearsal. We are to begin to live our lives here on earth as we will live them in heaven. We must put God first; give him much praise for all things he has given us and pray to him often. For as we prepare for our transition to heaven we are reminded of his love for us and the sacrifice he made by giving his son, Jesus, to die on the cross so you and I have the opportunity to be included in this Great Dress Rehearsal. So, let us all put on our proper clothing and move forward in Jesus! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

” Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from the evil world in which we live.” Galatians 1:3-4

The message that God wants us to receive is one that is simple and exact. We must recognize that Jesus went to the cross for us, and with this one act he saved us from the evils of this world. He gives us a breath of fresh air and a life everlasting with him in heaven. All that we must do is accept him as our Lord and savior. It really is a simple message, that is sometimes so messed up by the world, that those who try to accept it become engrossed in man-made traditions and other worldly activities. It is worth our efforts to read Galatians 1: 3-4 and meditate on the simple message that God wants us to receive. As we believe and receive, everything that God has for us will fall into place. Through hard times and good times, he will be with us through them all! PRAISE THE LORD I N ALL THINGS!

” We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that we are actually strong.” 2 Corinthians 13:9

Sometimes we must hit rock bottom in order to reach a point where we realize we need help. There are times in life when there is no other source for the strength we need than Jesus Christ, himself. Many in the world consider a relationship with Christ to be crack in the armor. They see it as a weakness. However, it is that relationship that strengthens us through direct communication with our Lord in prayer. Jesus is our rock. He cannot be broken, and he cannot be moved. It is through our weaknesses that his strength shines to the world! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.” Proverbs 12:25

Would you rather be around someone who is cheerful and full of positive comments or around someone who is down and out and who is full of anger, depression and negative thoughts? As followers of Christ Jesus, we are to follow in his footsteps. Jesus was not negative in his thoughts and desires for those around him. Instead, he was always spreading the truths of God in heaven and trying to build those around him up. He was always casting out evil and healing others. You and I are to walk in the steps of Jesus. We too, are to build others up and not tear them down. We are to know God’s word and spread it to the world. In doing so, we too will see evil run away and joy set in. Let us all spread God’s holy word to the world around us! JESUS IS LORD! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

” My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

” For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

It is very easy to fall into a sense of false security. When things are going well for us, we sometimes forget how we got there. We forget the things that God has done for us. We forget how he raised us up out of the pit of destruction and into a place of peace. It is in our struggles that we most often go to God. It is then that we realize we need his power and strength in our lives. It is then that we need his comforting words and his direction. We may sometimes wonder why we are struggling but it is in those struggles that God’s strength is on display. The next time you have problems remember that God is about to show his strength. We must have strong faith and believe that we receive. Our God in heaven never fails us! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.” 2 Corinthians 11:23

Paul had many trials and tribulations in his journey in Christ. His belief and trust in the Lord helped him to plow through and continue his walk without allowing doubt or fear to stop him. He was able to overcome the pain and the fear by his close relationship with Jesus. You and I are no different. As we move through life it is important that we continue stay close to Christ. He is our redeemer, our safety net when we falter, our source of faith that overcomes fear, sadness and doubt, and our strength in times that seem unbearable. With Jesus we can do all things. Just as Paul was able to overcome his many obstacles, we too, are able to do the same. We must keep our praises going upward to God in heaven along with prayers and our confessions of faith. We must remind ourselves that we are able to plow through because God is by our side. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20

When we accept our Lord Jesus as our personal Savior, we have a solid foundation to build upon. There are no cracks or spaces that may cause problems to our building process. It is our responsibility to begin to build upon that foundation. We are to not only spread his mighty word by telling others of his saving grace, but we are to live our lives in such a way as to demonstrate our faith to those by whom we are surrounded. We are not perfect, but we are to live in such a way that will show others the experience they also can have in Christ Jesus. There is no doubt that our life on this earth is so much greater with Jesus than without him. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.” Psalm 91:14

By definition, trust is a firm belief in the reliability, truth, or strength of someone or something. As we live in this world our trust becomes dependent upon our eyes by seeing what we need to believe. If we can’t see it, touch it or smell it then we are unable to believe and trust in it. With Jesus, it is just the opposite. We must trust first and then we will be able to see and understand. This is not an easy assignment. It is one that demands study of God’s word and much prayer. Practice makes perfect, so the saying goes. With Jesus, staying close to him each day makes our trust in him stronger and our faith to begin to sprout. PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

“His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalm 91:4

If you were given a treasure map and told that at the end of this map there was a great treasure, you would probably follow it exactly as it instructs. Well, God has given you a treasure map, one that entails his everlasting promises. It is one that will save you, heal you, forgive you and help you to live a life on this earth that will be pleasing to God in heaven. In Psalm 91:4 our Lord gives us a map to all of these things. He plainly tells us that his promises are our protection. It is important to search for his promises in his word. They are wealth to our lives, our faith and our trust in him. Each one is a blessing and needed for our living in this world. If you claim these promises your life will be one of peace, understanding and wisdom. CLAIM THEM! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!

” Satan, who is the God of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.” 2 Corinthians 4:4

It is very unfortunate that there are those who exist in this world who have been blinded by the ways of the devil. He makes imitations of what our God wants and sells them to those who have decided to live in this world rather than to live for Christ Jesus. Their lives consist of self-seeking attitudes and the things of this earth. What they believe and what they seek may seem unbelievable to us, but they are real. Their actions cause us to strengthen our faith and seek our Lord with a greater desire. Our faith in Jesus becomes the center of our life as we must battle the evils of this world. We must remember always that Jesus is Lord! PRAISE THE LORD IN ALL THINGS!