What's Your Perspective?

Your perspective on any situation can make all the difference in your results!

To see what I mean, take a look at Joshua and Caleb and the ten others that were sent by Moses to spy out the promised land! When they returned, they painted a picture of an abundant land--so bountiful that they described it as "flowing with milk and honey!" But their perspectives totally influenced the outcome.

Ten of the men warned of the "giants" and sure defeat if they entered. They saw themselves as mere grasshoppers by comparison! But Caleb wanted to go up immediately and possess it. Caleb said they could "well overtake" them.

The ten argued based on all they could analyze by their five senses. Joshua and Caleb knew that "if the Lord delights in us then He will bring us into this land.... The Lord is with us; fear them not!"

The people of Israel believed the words of the ten rather than Joshua and Caleb. In the end, only Joshua and Caleb were allowed by God to enter the promised land! It's a great record that you can read in Numbers 13 and 14.

The ten looked at the situation and were full of fear. They saw sure defeat because they were outsized and outnumbered. Joshua and Caleb looked at the same situation and saw sure victory. They knew the Lord was with them and would give them the land, just as He had promised their forefather Abraham.

Their perspectives made all the difference.

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." Proverbs 29:25.

Every promise of God is true and He is faithful to His Word! He will never leave us nor forsake us. So no matter what the circumstances tell you, look to Him. What does He say and promise in His Word? For that is the best perspective of all.

"And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith (or believing)." 1 John 5:4b

Fear Not!

"Fear not!" the angel said to Zacharias and to Mary and to Cornelius and to Paul. God Himself said, "Fear not I am with thee," to Isaac and to Israel. And the Lord said to Joshua, "Fear not, neither be thou dismayed."

On many occasions, Jesus Christ told individuals and groups to "fear not."

Clearly, God does not want His people to be afraid!

This world will throw endless things our way to cause us to be afraid--the latest news, bad turns in the economy, a multitude of diseases. Has anyone ever tried to make you afraid? Or have you ever been in a frightening situation?

The Bible tells us that "the fear of man brings a snare." Doubt, worry and fear can keep us from having God's best. And fear "has torment." Fear can ensnare or trap you. So rather than fear, we can choose to trust God and go to Him to supply all our need and to strengthen us with might by His spirit in the inner man.

Psalm 118:6 says: "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?"

And Psalm 34:4 declares: "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

And in I John 4 we learn that "perfect love casts out fear."

Let's remember each day that God will never leave us nor forsake us and that He will supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. The fear of man brings a snare...so rather than be "snared," I will seek the Lord and He'll hear me and deliver me from all my fears!

We can trust in God and believe His promises, living without fear no matter what gets thrown our way.

Loving One Another

1John 4:7-9
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

God loves us SO much and has sent His wonderful Son Jesus Christ to be our complete savior.
Because we have received Christ in us, the gift of holy spirit, in the new birth, we can walk with the love of God.

Ephesians 5:1, 2:
Be ye therefore followers [imitators] of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

God has put all Christians in the body of Christ as it has pleased Him. We are precious in His sight. Let's love one another, as Christ has loved us.

Happy Birthday to the Church!!!

It's been way too long since I posted! Sorry about that, folks...

Today is Pentecost Day. The "birthday" of the Church. It was on Pentecost that the gift of holy spirit was given and people were first born again. What an awesome day!!!

See Acts 2 for details! Then, check out what the first century church did in the rest of the Book of Acts. Wow! And to think that God hasn't changed, and the new birth hasn't changed, and we have the ability to walk with God with all nine manifestations.

1Co 12:7-11:

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one [one is a pronoun referring back to "profit"--for one profit] is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally [one's own - idios in Greek] as he [the man] will.

Every person who's born again of God's spirit...every Christian...has the ability to operate all nine manifestations, but for the most part we've just not been taught. We have power to live with, to help others with...and it's so amazing, so awesome to be able to bring deliverance to others because of what Christ accomplished for us, and what God gave on the day of Pentecost!

Jesus Christ was not kidding when he said, in John 14:12, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." The gift of holy spirit gives us that ability.

God's love for us is so amazing! Have a great day walking with God! And,
Happy Birthday!!!

The Resurrection Makes All the Difference!

What you believe about Jesus Christ is of utmost importance! If we believe God's Word, we know from our study of it, that the resurrection makes all the difference! Prophets of old and Jesus Christ himself foretold of his death and resurrection.

Matthew 12:40:
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mark 8:31:
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

In the Book of Acts, the Christians repeatedly taught about Jesus Christ and the resurrection. The Messiah was to be the Son of man (and Son of God) whom God would raise from the dead. People needed to know that it was accomplished!

We see the example of Peter on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:22-24:
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Acts 2:31-33:
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father therpromise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

And Peter also spoke of the resurrection when he and John healed the lame man at the Temple gate.

Acts 3:11-20:
And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.

Even the Apostle Paul, when he was on trial before King Agrippa, spoke of the resurrection!

Acts 26:22,23:
Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

Why is it so important? Because without the resurrection, Jesus Christ was a great prophet but not the redeemer. He fulfilled the law; he was our complete Savior; he was the Passover Lamb (I Corinthians 5:7b), sacrificed once and for all.

Hebrews 10:10 and 14:
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all....
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

And now there is a new covenant in the new birth.
Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be saved, or made whole.

Romans 10:9,10:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved [made whole].
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be born again. I Peter 1:23

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are justified. Romans 3:20-26

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have peace with God. Romans 5:1,2

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we can be spiritually minded and walk by the spirit. Romans 8:1-11

Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is hope for today...because God will do as He has promised. Philippians 3:19.

And there is Hope for the future. I Corinthians 15: 52-58 and I Thessalonians 4:13-18.

We could all use some hope, regardless of our circumstances! I encourage you to take a little time and look up the scriptures that I have not printed out...It will bless you abundantly!!

We are so very blessed because of what Jesus Christ accomplished. Thank God for His wonderful Son, for the resurrection, and the greatness of all the new birth holds!

May you walk today with great joy and peace, in knowing and believing God's Word.

Today's the Day! Believe God's Word NOW...

Sometimes it is amazing how quickly time seems to fly by! We've gone from the Super Bowl to the Elite Eight so quickly. During that time, I have been a student in an amazing class on the Bible! It was such a joy! And I have had this subject on my heart and mind for many days now...and that subject is time.

We all have the same amount of time every day. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not here yet, so we need to make the most of today by believing God's Word!

God's Word is true today! And dwelling on the past can hold you back.

In Philippians 3:13 and 14 Paul wrote by revelation:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Just what was "behind" the apostle Paul? He came from the well-educated, well-positioned, accomplished elite, as he explained in the context.

Philippians 3:4-7:
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Considering the culture he lived in, he was esteemed the best of the best. And he gave up the conditions and accomplishments of his past to serve Christ. "Forgetting those things which are behind" is like declaring them null and void. Have you ever voided a check? No one can cash it; it has no impact on your account. It's as if it weren't written.

Our past accomplishments and failures don't have to impact our lives today. We can follow Paul's example; we can determine to declare the things of our past null and void and stand on God's Word today.

Have you ever watched the runners in a relay? As they approach the next runner, are they looking behind themselves? Of course not! That would slow them down. Instead, they are reaching forward, to pass the baton. And as the final runner approaches the finish line, he presses forward to cross the tape first.

Our basis for victory today depends upon our believing God's Word now. And as we do that, we "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

We are righteous today because we are freely justified by his grace (Romans 3:24-26).

We are filled with power from on high today (I Corinthians 12-14).

God desires to supply our need (Philippians 3:13) and bring our heart's desires to pass (Psalm 37:3-5).

By living every day to the fullest for God, we will walk from victory to victory regardless of what life throws our way!

Colossians 3:23, 24:
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

I John 5:4:
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith [or believing].

Let's continue believing God's Word, pressing toward the mark, the finish line, of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus! Today's the day!

So Much Better than the Super Bowl

The week has flown by since Super Bowl Sunday. Some people will remember every detail, every statistic. Others will remember every ad! But even Super Bowls fade away.

As for me, when I hear the word "super," I always think of Romans 8:37:

"...in all these things we are more than conquerors [or superconquerors] through him that loved us."

Super Bowl? Superconqueror! Superconqueror me, superconqueror you, superconquerors all who are born again!
I'm so blessed that I really do always think of that! It comes from years of remembering this verse in difficult times, of believing God's Word. Do you need strength in time of need?

The context here states, starting in verse 35:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?"

That would cover a bad economy, lack of food, afflictions, danger, persecution.... Can anything separate us from the love of Christ?

It continues:

"As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors [or superconquerors] through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, now things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Talk about super! We are superconquerors because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us.

When we are born again we receive holy spirit, power from on high. We have been redeemed and justified, and we can walk in newness of life, manifesting God's power and in fellowship with Him.

So no matter what life brings our way, we can rely on God and claim His deliverance according to His Word. Truly nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and we are SUPERCONQUERORS through Him who loved us!

(And that truly is so much better than the Super Bowl.)

God Loves You (& me, too)!

God's love for us is so amazing! Here are just a few verses that tell us of His great love!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. --John 3:16

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.... --I John 3:1

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. --3 John 2

But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 4:19

What a wonderful God who loves us so much!

January 20, 2009

On this historic day, whether your politics are conservative or liberal or somewhere in between, it's great to do as God's Word says in I Timothy 2:1,2:

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. [KJV]

God bless the USA!

God bless you!

This is my first post, and I am thankful that I can be here and share God's Word. I'll try to keep my postings short and interesting and full of the light of God's Word. Because God's Word is truth and it is light. The Word of God brings hope and help and great joy and peace as we believe it. In studying the Bible we get to know God and His wonderful Son, our lord and savior Jesus Christ.

So I hope to share some wonderful truths from God's Word, the Bible, that will help you and bless you and brighten your day.

Until next time,
May God bless you!
MJG