Walking by Faith

Good Morning,

Thought for today

“And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them from the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh” (Jude 22,23). They say that the more concerned you are about others, the less your own problems will seem, and it is true. They are correct. Every faithful Christian needs to be aware of this very important fact when he or she is being mocked and treated shamefully, or even when dealing with illness or disease: As Christians, we have much more of true value than those who are not. Do not ever regret the choice you made and do not ever trade away the hope you have for something so much less, even if it glitters of silver or gold. Do not envy the mockers who may seem so proud and invincible. Instead, be merciful to them. Pray for them. They are in such great need. If they do not awake soon, the fire will get them. You will never stand taller than when you try to snatch him or her from the flames of hell. As hard as it may seem at time, to pray for those we find it hard to pray for, it is a command, given by our Creator. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. ” (Jude 24,25).

Lord God, thank You for impressing it on my heart to pray for those I find it so hard to pray for. Draw me closer to You today, hold me fast and help me to be more merciful to the lost. In Jesus name, amen!

Blessings in Christ

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Good morning,

Thought for today

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). Name recognition is something sought after and stems from a selfish ambition of wanting a better name than others. Sadly, our society harbors an attitude of selfishness to the point that desiring name recognition replaces owning a good reputation. People are now paying the price for their attitude of selfishness and individual name recognition. The typical American worker works simply because it’s a job, a way to make money, a way to get ahead of everybody else. He doesn’t believe in the product he is helping to make. The result is at or below the average and excessively below the standards. The American gets caught up in demanding a pay raise and goes on strike. He gets so furious with the company that he takes out his frustration in his work. Consequently, results are poor work habits and an utter despising of the work that he does. Then, we as greedy, possession-hungry consumers go quickly into debt to obtain these products to proudly display to our friends. This behavior is no wonder because our selfish dog-eat-selfish dog world demands it. Paul says we need to seek diligently to be approved unto God, to do good work for the Lord. Next, Paul answers why we are to be diligent, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal; ‘The Lord knows those who are His, ‘ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ . . . therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:19,21). Why are we to do good work? Because we have a name, a name recognized by God above. The child of God has a name already recognized by God and that through proper living before God, we will have a good reputation among our fellow man. If that is not being a success, then what is?

Lord God, thank You  for all You have blessed me with, one being my job. Help me to keep good work ethics and to pray for those I work with that they too would have good work ethics and to not  get caught up in name recognition before ethics and good behavior. I do pray for those who are unemployed and in financial hardship, some caused by their own bad habits, and others by the ripple of the economic downfall. Thank You for the name You have given me as Your child in Jesus Christ, and it is in His name I pray, amen!

Blessings from our house to yours

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Good morning,

Thought for today

“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble and he brought them out of their distress.” (Psalm 107:28)  Trouble can come suddenly and unexpectedly, and many times it sure does. The psalmist talks about trouble coming aboard ship in the sea. The storms arise quickly. They are beyond our control. That only gives us one real option, to cry out to the Lord in prayer. God is able to calm any storm anywhere. “He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed,” Psalm 107:29. The storms of life come to us suddenly. We have the same option as the psalmist, to cry out to the Lord in prayer. He is there in the time of our trouble.
1. God wants to help us in time of trouble because he loves us (Psalm 107:31). Therefore, we should have no reluctance to call upon him in prayer.
2. He is more than able to lift us out of any trouble (Psalm 107:41). All things are possible with God. Nothing is beyond the power of His omnipotent hand. His whisper stills the storm.
3. He uses the storms of life to humble us, that we may realize our dependence upon Him (Psalm 107:39). Circumstances may change quickly, yet. the Lord our God rules over all.

Lord God, thank You for hearing my cry in the time of trouble and distress. Nothing in my life is beyond your sovereign control. I am in awe in the many ways You have kept me. And what amazes me the most, is why You, a Holy and Loving God, would even consider, dipping Your hand down in to the muck and mire of sin, pulling me up and washing me clean with the blood of Your precious Son, Jesus Christ, and it is in His name I come before You, amen!

Blessings

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Good morning,

Thought for today

“Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,’ Jesus told him, ‘you will never believe.” (John 4:48) During the ministry of Jesus, people clamored to see miraculous signs and wonders. Human nature has not changed. Jesus did many miracles in his ministry, yet so many of the people refused to believe that He was the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus fully understood unless they were born again, they would not see the kingdom of God. The Spirit of God must change our hearts. Only He can take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts open to God. Even at the cross, the crowd cried out for a miraculous sign. They shouted, “Come down from the cross. Then we will believe.” Jesus refused their demand for a miracle in order to do the Father’s will. He didn’t come down from the cross. He came up from the grave, pretty incredible. This is the Gospel that saves sinners. Those who believe not the Gospel will not be saved, no matter how many miraculous signs and wonders are seen. Our faith is not based on what we see, but what God says. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God,” (Romans 10:17). “We walk by faith, not by sight,” (2 Corinthians 5:7). We all remember doubting Thomas. He refused to believe, unless he saw with his eyes. Then Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe.” Faith is an abiding gift of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts, not by seeing miraculous signs and wonders with our eyes.

Lord God,  I praise you for changing my heart through the work of the Holy Spirit within me. I believe that Jesus is the Christ according to Your word. I desire to live by faith, not by sight, through Christ my Lord. Amen.

Blessings abounding in Christ

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Good morning,

Thought for today

“For when God made a promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself.” (Hebrews 6:13) In Bible days, when men entered into covenant with one another, they swore by an oath in the name of their God. Covenant oaths were a matter of life and death. If a man broke the oath promises, he died as a covenant breaker. If he lied, he died. In days done by, promises were made and kept by a handshake or a note, even written on a torn off piece of paper. After my father died, we had to empty a 100 year old house in upstate NY, there we found many such notes. Some for selling or trading of livestock, feed, etc. Would not go these days. God has sworn by an oath certain promises to all who believe. He could not swear by a greater. He swore by himself. God cannot lie nor die. He is the eternal God who has made marvelous covenant promises to his children. He is the God of all truth. When we stand on his promises, we are standing on the promises that cannot fail. All the promises of God in Christ are yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). Amen is a covenant word that means “so be it.” It shall be, because God has promised with an oath.

• God’s oath is to cleanse us from all sin through Christ (1 John 1:7).
• God’s oath is to never leave nor forsake the believer (Hebrews 13:5).
• God’s oath is to give the Holy Spirit through Christ (Acts 2:38-39).
• God’s oath is everlasting life for all who believe in Christ (John 3:16).

Lord God, I receive all that you have promised me in Christ. Your oath is my confidence. Your covenant is my assurance through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Blessings in Him

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Good morning,

Thought for today

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.”(Jeremiah 17:7) Years ago, you would walk into a restaurant, and there would be a sign by the cash register, “In God we trust, all others pay cash.” I got a good chuckle out of those words, nevertheless they are so true. It is dangerous to put all of our trust in people, not trusting in the Lord first and foremost. As a matter of fact, it can bring a curse in our lives to trust in man in the place of God. Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord,” (Jeremiah 17:5). To be cursed is to be cut off from the blessings of God. To trust in man in the place of God is idolatry. It always brings the curse. To trust in the Lord is to hope in the Lord. Hope has to do with the future. Our future is in the hands of God. Jeremiah uses a vivid illustration for the man who hopes in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the waters (Jeremiah. 17:8). He need not be worried about the drought in the future. He has planted his life in the right place for the seasons of life to bring forth much fruit. Trusting in the Lord is an issue of the heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,” (Jeremiah. 17:9). Unless the Lord changes our hearts, there is no hope. David understood this when he wrote Psalm 51. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me,” Psalm 51:10. A clean heart, created by God, can trust in the Lord.

Lord God, thank You for Your Word and the hope and encouragement it provides. Create in me a clean heart, to trust in You always and in all things. Cause me to never trust in what man has to offer, but in You, the Author and Finisher of my faith. In Jesus name, amen!

Blessings abound

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Good morning,

Thought for today

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (I Thessalonians 5:16). There are three distinct sounds mentioned by Paul that will occur at the moment of Christ’s appearance in the sky. First, the Lord’s shout. What will he say? I do not know, maybe He will say what mom use to say when she woke us up; “Rise and shine”. Second, the voice of the archangel will join in. That would be Michael (Jude 9). Finally, there will be the sound of the trumpet of God (I Corinthians 15:52). No one will sleep through that. Not even those who have been dead for two thousand years. We are assured that we will be with Jesus forever. “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus shall we always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” (I Thessalonians 4:17,18). Are you afraid of flying? Better get over it. The phrase “caught up” is where we get the idea of “rapture” from. As far as a “secret rapture” that some believe in, I have no idea how it could be secret with all that trumpet blowing and shouting. At any rate, it involves all the righteous being “caught up” into the air to meet Jesus. It is then that He will take us home to that place He has prepared (I Corinthians 15:23-26). There we “shall always be with the Lord.”  I used to be so afraid of dying, but since my new birth, I would welcome it. Do you think the Lord will come today? Yes? No? Maybe?  Then you better be sure you are ready.

Blessings in Christ

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Good morning,

Thought for today

Psalm 23 is “the Shepherd’s Song” “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” A little boy quoted, “The Lord is my shepherd, I’ve got all I want.” Both work. And we should feel the same way. The Psalm is divided into 3 parts,  the Shepherd provides (verses 1-3), the Shepherd protects (verse 4), and the Shepherd promotes the flock (verses 5-6). Think of it this way, our grazing, our groping, and our glory. Verse 2, “He makes me to lie down…” Only a contented sheep will lie down. Verse 3, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness…” The shepherd never drives the sheep. He wins their confidence, and they desire to follow him. An Israeli tour guide use to point this fact out to his groups, until one day he saw a man driving his sheep. He asked, “I didn’t think a shepherd ever drove his flock, but lead them?” The man answered, “You’re right, but I’m not a shepherd. I’m a butcher.” Satan is the butcher who drives, forces, and beats the sheep. And when the footing gets dangerous, and the flock passes through “the valley of the shadow of death”, the Shepherd is right there to protect His flock. He leads them all the way to glory, exalts them over their enemies, fills their cup to overflowing, and they live forever in the house of the Lord. What a deal. Verse 6 sums it up, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” Did you hear about the husband and wife that had 3 children? They thought to name them “Surely”, “Goodness”, and “Mercy”… but the parents worried they would follow them all the days of their lives. Now in contrast to this, our Lord, WANTS us to follow Him all the days of our lives.

Lord God, thank You that You are truly my Shepherd, my Protector and my Provider. Thank You for the times You make me lie down when wanting to get my attention when I need to just rest. Thank You also that my cup is neither half full nor half empty, but overflowing day after day. What more could I ask, but to follow You all the days of my life, amen!

Blessings in Christ

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Good morning,

Thought for today

“By faith Moses …. choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasure of sin,” (Hebrews 11:24-25) Moses made a choice that most people would think is totally foolish. He left the security and pleasure of Pharaoh’s palace to suffer with God’s people. The world cannot understand a choice such as this one. It was a defining moment in Moses’ life. He fulfilled God’s purpose and calling on his life. Moses made a choice based on God’s calling on his life. God not only has a calling on preachers and missionaries, He has a calling on the lives of all of His children. “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable,” Romans 11:29. What is God’s calling on your life? What is God’s calling on your life?  God gives us spiritual gifts to fulfill our calling. When we know our spiritual gifts, we are called of God to use them for His glory. Romans 12:6-8 mentions seven ministry gifts. All believers are called to minister and serve God by serving others. Moses was gifted by God as a leader. He was called to lead the people of God. He chose to follow God’s gift and calling on His life. Moses made his choice by faith and not by fear. The motivation of our choices is so important. We may be tempted to make our choices out of fear or frustration. Moses was not fearing the wrath of the king. If we are afraid of what others will say or do, we are making our choices through fear. Moses chose by faith to do God’s will. His faith was based on the word of God to him. Certainly, none of us have such a dramatic, burning bush experience. Nevertheless, God has sent His Word to us. The Bible was written for more than a history lesson. It is the word of God to us for all the choices of life.

Lord, grant me the faith to choose the right course for my life. Help me to overcome the frustrations and pain of my choices. Help me to know by faith, what Your calling on my life is, and without a doubt, grab it and run with it. This is my prayer in Jesus name, amen!

Be a Blessing to others

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Good morning,

Thought for today

“For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” (Malachi 3:6) (I used to think this was pronounced, Ma-la-chee, as in Italian) Our  God is immutable. He never changes. In a world where the only thing that is certain is that nothing is really certain. What a comfort it is to know that God is faithful and changeless. God is an anchor in a sea of constant changes. But don’t get the wrong idea. God is immutable, but that doesn’t mean He’s immobile. His standards and principles never change. His motive never changes. His faithfulness never changes. His character never changes. But God is quick to change His means and methods when necessary. He’s always doing a new work. Here is a good way I have heard it put, “God is timeless, but He is also very timely. His motives are forever changeless, but His methods are forever changing.” Seasons change, times change, people change, circumstances change, the ocean floors are ever changing, promises change, but God does not. His character, His morals, His promises and His love, NEVER change. We need to be ever thankful for that. Amen?

Lord God, thank You for Your many promises given in Your Word. Thank You that You do not change as do things of this world. You are always faithful even when I am  not. You are always loving even when I am not. You are always forgiving even when I am not. I want to be more like You and want to know You so much more than I do. This is my prayer in Jesus name, amen!

Blessings abound

 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)