Nothing Can Separate Us

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does the Lord love us less when we have trouble or go through tough times? Does He love us less when we have no food or a place to stay? What about when danger is all around us and even our very lives are threatened by disease; does He love us less? Can anyone or anything drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? No! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins can separate us from the love of Christ! Jesus loves us and because He does we cannot be separated from our Master’s embrace. As the scripture says, we will be killed every day because they hated Him.

Lord, allow your love to reach us and heal us. Don’t let us doubt Your love for us because of our situation or circumstances.   Cast out the fear of abandonment. We believe in You and Your Word in Romans 8: 35 – 39, that none of these things can ever separate us from You. Thanks for being with us during tough times and thanks for letting us know that we can never be separated from You!

The Lord’s Prayer

I love this version of the Lord’s Prayer from the Message Bible.

“Our Father in Heaven,

Reveal who You are.  Set the world right; Do what’s best — as above, so below.  Keep us alive with three square meals.  Keep us forgiven with You and forgiving others.  Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge!  You can do anything you want!  You’re ablaze in beauty!

Yes. Yes. Yes!”

Time to Rest

God finished His creation work in six days and on the seventh day He rested.  Genesis 2:2. God made the seventh day (the Sabbath) holy.  The Sabbath is a sacred day that is to be set aside for rest and remembrance of what God has done.  Whatever day of the week your Sabbath is, God commands that it be a day of rest from work and time to remember all that God has done?

We must take out time to rest and remember.  When we do not, we lose focus, direction, health, peace, and balance.  We do not get ahead by working all the time; we set ourselves back.  Why?  Because we were not created to work all the time…we are made in Gods’ image and even He rested.  Take out time from work to enrich your life by resting.  It will provide an opportunity for healing, reflecting and thankfulness.    Time to rest.

A Lesson on Kindness

If people, you know, can be kind, can you imagine how kind God can be? I love this definition of the act of being kind: having or showing a gentle nature and a desire to help others: wanting and liking to do good things and to bring happiness to others. In Matthew 7:11, Christ shares with us the heart of Father God. God wants to give good gifts to those who ask of them from Him! We know how to ask for good gifts from our parents, spouse, children, and friends. However, we fall short of asking for good gifts from God.

This morning, a mom offered to drive not just her son but mine and another boy, to indoor baseball. The weather is cold and snowy. So this lady often offers to taxi the boys around. I thanked her and noted how she is always so kind in her offerings. I thought about this mothers act of kindness and then remembered the kindness that our Heavenly Father shows us constantly. At first I cried, and asked God to forgive me for not thanking Him for the many acts of kindness that He does for us every day! I admitted to God that sometimes I take His acts of kindness for granted because I have grown to expect Him to do them each day. This made me very sad. I told the Lord that I would thank him for His kindness toward me.

I thought about how God gently corrects us when we are wrong. He teaches us right ways. He desires to help us as we learn His ways. He even gives us the Holy Spirit to help us live right. God promised never to leave us, not even when we struggle as a result of our disobedience. Rather, He told us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us. He wants to do good things for us. He wants to give us good gifts. He said He would supply all that we need. In reflecting on God’s kindness toward me, I began to praise Him—For showing me how much He loves me. For giving me the truth about His kindness and for forgiving me for not having remembered all that He has done for me.

I prayed and asked God to help change me. To help my heart to see his kindness and to thank Him for all that, He does for me. When I finished thanking God, he asked me to pray for the God things that He has…because He wants to give them to me. I carefully crafted my prayer to be sure I was asking for only the things He knows good for me. What a lesson on kindness.

Thank You, Lord.

Great News!

When you find a good sale, a nice restaurant, the best doctor—you tell others about it so they can benefit from a ‘good thing’ too. Likewise, I am enthusiastic and ecstatic about sharing with you the Great News of God’s love!

God loves you more than anyone does!  He loved us so much that He paid the price for our sins to be forgiven by giving His Son Jesus to die in our place.  Anyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life—not a continuation of this life but a life where there will be no death, no sickness, enemy, evil, or sin.  He cares about you and He wants you to give ALL your worries and cares to Him.  Give God your worries, stresses, and daily struggles, this shows Him that you trust Him with your life.  Nothing can separate us from God’s love!  God is present with you today; he is strong and mighty—He is there to save you!  He would walk out on you.

Accept God’s love for you!  Do not resist Him, do not push Him away…He loves you!

John 3:16

1 Peter 5:7

Romans 5:8

Zephaniah 3:17

Impossible Things Can Happen!

Impossibilities exist in our lives.  Some are physical, others are emotional, many are financial, and there are mental challenges.  Impossibilities mean something cannot be done–it can’t happen! Impossibilities leave us feeling hopeless and in despair.  No use, no future, doomed.  Sad.  ALL WRONG! For God’s children there is hope!  And our impossibilities become God’s opportunities for miracles! The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.  1 Corinthians 10:13 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28 Lord help our unbelief!  Help us believe in Your Word as we experience the things that seem like impossibilities in our lives today.  We just learned today that You are greater than what seems impossible.  Another great story in the bible that demonstrates this is found in 1 Samuel 29: 1-11. What seemingly impossibilities would you like God to do in your life or the lives of others today?  Believe!

Engage the world with Gods Love

Awe…what good am I if I stay in my prayer closet and never use what I have gleaned from my relationship with God to share His love to the world?

We cannot grow tired of praying for someone or something to happen.  We must be persistent in prayer, never losing hope just because we do not see an answer.  We must believe God when He says that He hears and answers prayer.  1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 John 5:14

God is always listening…to our prayers, to our complaining, to our silence.  So He knows the best time to answer our prayers.

Expect God to answer your prayers, look for His answers.  Look for the opportunities today to share God’s love, which you have already experienced, to others.  Let non-believers know that Jesus saves.  Remind Christians of their hope in Him.  God lovingly draws us to Him and we should by love and kindness draw others to Christ.

Let our life be an example of Christ that reaches out to the lost, hurting, sick and weak—constantly pulling them toward Christ their Savior, Deliverer, Healer, and Strength.

Look for ways today to engage this world by sharing God’s love today.  Colossians 4: 2-7

Just as you are…

You have everything you need today to accomplish great things. Maybe you did not accomplish what you intended to last year. Perhaps you fell short, of your goal. Not to worry…today is a new day and a New Year! You have everything you need to accomplish great things for God.

God often uses simple things to accomplish great tasks in this world. As long as you are dedicated to God, He will use you to do great things for Him. No matter how little you may have today if you commit what you have today, to be used for serving God; He will take the little you have and do great things with it!

God used a staff by Moses to work miracles before Pharaoh. He used Joshua’s trumpet to flatten the walls of Jericho. He used a small stone of David’s to defeat Goliath. He used two fish and five loaves of bread to feed a crowd of over 5,000 people with leftovers. Do not despair today God can do great things with you and the little that you may have.

What do you have that God can use today…do not worry about what you had, but bring what you have today to God. Commit it to Him to be used for great things! Dear Lord, we thank you that you do not require of us the things we do not have in order to serve You. You will accept what simple, little things we have today, if we commit those things to be used for Your purpose. Take what we offer You today, and do great and mighty things with it Lord. Take our lives, as simple as they are, and use us for Your glory. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen

Reflections of 2014

Perhaps 2014 was a year you would rather forget. Perhaps it was one of your best years yet! Whatever thoughts you may have about 2014, I thank God that you are reading this blog today. If you are reading this blog, you have the opportunity to see a better 2015!

I leave with you a couple of key scriptures that helped build a rock solid foundation for me to stand on in 2014 that will carry me into 2015:

  • I had to believe with all my heart that, “All things happen to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.” Romans 8:28
  • I challenged myself to whether or not I really loved the Lord. Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23
  • I sought the Lord often for myself as well as others. Reminding God of His Word which says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
  • I had to Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Not because I felt like it, but because it is the command of the God. Philippians 4:4
  • Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. When I did not know what to do or where to go…I thank God that He had an answer for me in the Bible. Psalm 119:105
  • Everyday was not filled with tears. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
  • Though I could not see God, I loved Him; and even though I do not see him now, I believe in Him and I am filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. Inspired by 1 Peter 1:8
  • Despite my tragedies, God has caused me to triumph. Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ and who maketh manifest through us the savor of His knowledge in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14
  • And now I know, that God has plans me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

The Impossible…

Do you believe God will do the impossible to make His promises come true? Isaiah 49: 24-25 says, God will prove to the world that He is God by doing the impossible. Think about it…you must know what God has promised us before we can hold Him to His promises. You have not because you ask not. James 4:2. You don’t ask because you don’t know that it’s available to you. Who having lived with his father and mother knows not their inheritance? If you live with God and He in you, then you will know the inheritance that’s due you! God goes out of His way to make His promises come true!!