Nothing Is Too Hard for God

Sometimes life can seem a little overwhelming.  But regardless of what's going on in your world, God is right there with you and He will take care of you. God is always there for His people.

As Moses was nearing the end of his life, he told the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." God was with Israel as they entered the promised land; and as long as they looked to Him and trusted Him, He delivered them.

God wouldn't abandon Israel and He won't abandon His people today.  Hebrews 13:5 reminds us again that God "will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  He still wants His people to face life with great boldness, knowing that He is there. 

Romans 8:35 asks,  "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" And the reply comes resoundingly in verse 37.

Romans 8:37-39:  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 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.

Whatever is causing you anxiety today, God can handle it. Absolutely nothing can separate us from His love, and nothing is too big, too hard, or too scary for God.

God promised Abraham a son when he and Sarah were "well stricken in age."  It was impossible. Sarah laughed at the idea, but the Lord knew better. What did He have to say about it?

Gen 18:14  Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Even though it was impossible for Abraham and Sarah on their own, Isaac was born because God promised them a son. God is faithful to His Word, and Abraham believed God.

Romans 4:19-21:  And being not weak in faith [believing], he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Abraham knew the condition of his own body; he knew the condition of Sarah's womb. He could have focused on that, but then he would have staggered at the promise of God.

Instead, he focused on the promise of God, knowing that God would bring it to pass. He was totally convinced that God would do what He had promised--no doubts, no worries, full assurance. Now that takes presence of mind!

We want to be fully persuaded too.  Is anything too hard for the God Almighty? Nothing is too hard for the Creator of heaven and earth. He said so Himself.

Jeremiah 32:27  Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?  

Just as God brought to pass His promise for Abraham, He will bring His Word to pass for you. Remember, what is impossible for man is simple for God. And God is able and willing to do what He's promised.

We can go boldly to God and cast our cares on Him. We can be "more than conquerors through him that loved us" by believing God's promises. He wants us to prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper (3 John 2). So let's go to God's Word and allow it to dwell in us richly. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Nothing is too hard for God.

What Hope! What Joy!

We have one great hope in this life, and that is the return of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.  Our God is a God of comfort and hope. We can rest in His love in times of trouble.

In I Thessalonians 4 we find the words that God gives us to remember when a loved one has passed away, telling us to "comfort one another with these words." We'll let the scriptures speak for themselves.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18:

¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

People wonder about life after death; and even among Christians, beliefs will vary. But when we look at God's Word, these verses from I Thessalonians resonate with comfort and love. Those who "sleep in Jesus" and who are also called "the dead in Christ" shall rise first. We who are alive at his coming (wouldn't that be exciting!) shall not prevent, meaning precede, them.  "We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

What a comfort to know that the day is coming when we'll see our loved ones again and we'll "ever be with the Lord!"
I Corinthians 15:52 adds to this:

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

It will happen so fast--"in the twinkling of an eye!" Now that is exciting! What an amazing, joyful reunion for all those in Christ. What a great time to look forward to with positive anticipation. That's our hope!

Our wonderful God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."  The invitation is open to whosoever believes in him. 

Romans 10:9 and 10 tell us:
⁹ 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.

¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

It's by grace that we're saved and by grace that we have such a wonderful hope. Jesus Christ was the complete sacrifice for our sins and the consequences of sin. And today we can live for God, knowing that Christ is coming back, and what a day of rejoicing that will be!

Thankful Every Day

The Thanksgiving holiday has come and gone. But every day should be a day of thanks. God has done so much for us all! He is our all-loving, all-powerful, ever-faithful heavenly Father who delights in our praise. And when we are thankful, our heart is also glad.

Today we're not required to make sacrifices of thanksgiving as they were in the old testament, but the giving of thanks continues.  God wants us to be thankful and to sing praise unto Him, and it pleases Him when we do!

Psalm 95:1-3: O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Psalm 100: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 147:7:  Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.

Some days, we may not feel like being thankful, but there is always something to be thankful for: God will never leave us nor forsake us; if we've "made our bed in hell," He is still there; if we've messed up, His mercy endures forever; when we look to Him, we know that His truth endures to all generations. He will always love us. We're the apple of His eye, His precious children.

Psalm 69:30-32: I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

Let your heart live by seeking God; praise Him and be glad! What a simple way to turn a day around when needed or to add joy and rejoicing when things are going well.

The greatest thing we have to be thankful for is explained in Romans 5.

Romans 5:8-11: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Praise God that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from our sin and reconcile us to Him.
Now we can walk as sons and daughters of God and enjoy a close personal relationship with Him.

2 Corinthians 9:8,11:  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work....

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

God is making all grace abound toward us! Our souls, our lives our enriched day by day. We can keep looking to God and praising Him, through thick and thin, for He is ever faithful and loves us!
Thanksgiving Day or any day, all thanks and praise and glory go to God, our loving heavenly Father!

What Do You See? What Do You Say?

We can face life head on, look it square in the eye, and meet it with God's Word.

Caleb and Joshua did just that. Moses sent them to spy out the promised land along with ten others. All were leaders of their tribes. All saw the same things as far as what was literally before their eyes. But what they focused on was far different, and the impact on their lives greater still.

After 40 days of scouting in the promised land, they returned and reported back to Moses.

Numbers 13:27-29:And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

It was a land of abundance with walled cities and strong people. They all saw this. They saw grapes so large it took two men to carry a cluster; they saw pomegranates and figs. They also saw strong people and fortified cities. But what did they focus on?

Caleb and Joshua remembered God's promise. This was the land He would give to the children of Israel, and they saw everything in light of that promise. Nothing was bigger than that!

Numbers 13:30:
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

He was bold! He was ready! And he knew God had promised it to them. He quieted everyone down and told them, they were "well able to overcome it."

And yet ten that went with him, seeing exactly the same scenario, saw it completely differently. And they jumped in to set the record straight, according to what they saw.

Numbers 13:31-14:1:
But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

The people could have believed they were "well able" as Caleb had said. But they chose instead to believe the ten, that they were "not able." They cried all night, they murmured against Moses and Aaron, deciding they would have been better off to die in Egypt. It's amazing how fast fear and negatives can spread, how quickly things can get blown all out of proportion.

Ultimately, because of how they saw the situation, because of what they said about it, the ten and all who believed them died in the wilderness. Of their generation, only Caleb and Joshua were allowed by God to live in the promised land.

They saw the same land, the same crops, the same walled cities and the same strong people. But Joshua and Caleb saw it all in light of God's promised; He would give this land to them. There was abundance; there were cities already built; it was going to be theirs. Any people, no matter how strong, no matter how big, were much smaller than God Almighty. He was the same God who brought plagues to Egypt and delivered them from bondage, healing them and delivering them.

He is the same God today. Whatever we are facing in our lives, we can face it head on. We can look it square in the eye and face it with God's Word. Whatever the situation, nothing is bigger than God Almighty. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth and He loves us. We can go to God's Word, know His promises and stand upon them.

I John 5:4b: And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith [believing].

Keep standing on God's Word and the victory is yours. What a glorious life He has given us!

An Extraordinary Life

God wants us to have an extraordinary life, one that is more than abundant and blessed. Jesus Christ made this clear.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

When Jesus Christ said he came that we might have life and have it more abundantly, he was talking about every part of our lives. The word "life" here is the Greek word zoe and refers to life in all its manifestations, fullness of life.

Times come with difficulties and challenges. He's told us here that "the thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." God's adversary, the devil, will try to steal, kill, and destroy. BUT the victory is ours through Christ! The adversary may try to steal your peace, your joy, your confidence in God. He may try to rob your relationships of closeness, or may see to it that you have your things literally stolen from you. None of those things are God's will for you, and so He sent His Son.

But what does that mean to me? What does it mean to you? God has given so many promises that are ours through Christ. Through believing in Jesus Christ, we can receive the everlasting life promised in John 3:16 and become sons and daughters of God. Romans 10:9 and 10 tell us how.

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.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

God's Word is full of wonderful promises which He will always fulfill in our lives. He desires that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. As we walk in the light of God's Word, every aspect of our lives can be more than abundant, with victories in adversity, peace in the midst of turmoil, hope and joy when times are tough.

Romans 8:35-37: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
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 through him that loved us. 

Life more abundant and more than conquerors? Yes, this is a great life to choose! Yes, it's a joy to walk in the light of God's Word--not perfect, but walking.

Romans 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

May you be filled with joy and peace in believing today, knowing that God is a God of hope and His desire for us is life that is more abundant.

The Best Freedom

                                           --Thanks to my wonderful daughter Elizabeth for another great post!

True freedom, the best freedom, comes from God Almighty. And in John chapter 8 we learn the great key to being made free.

John 8:30-32

“And as he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

So, what is it that sets us free? Truth.

And if it is the truth that sets us free then what is it that has the ability to hold us in slavery? Lies.

Truth sets us free, but lies hold us in bondage.

Not lies that we tell to others—but lies that we believe about God, about situations we find ourselves in, and the lies we believe about ourselves.

These lies are things that directly conflict with the truth God lays out in His Word.

Just like the Jews in this record, we have also believed on Jesus Christ. In order to be set free we must know the truth. We must also do what Christ instructs and continue in his Word.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

We are told in God’s Word to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, not leaning on our own understanding of the situations we find ourselves in. When we acknowledge him in all our ways, he will direct our paths.

When we fail to do this, when we fail to acknowledge God in all of our ways and choose to forsake his understanding of situations in favor of our own we can become distracted and lose sight of the truth that can set us free—especially when we find ourselves in what appear to be the most troubling of circumstances.

Psalm 73

“Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.”

We see in verse one that the psalmist knows God is good to Israel, to those who are of a clean heart. And yet in verse two we learn that his feet were almost gone and his steps almost slip. Why? Because he is envious of the wicked and all he can focus on is their prosperity. His focus on the wicked’s prosperity causes him to question what good it has been for him to follow God, cleansing his heart and washing his hands, if all day long the wicked prosper while he is plagued.

vs. 15

“I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

The situation is too painful for the psalmist to understand UNTIL – he goes into the sanctuary of God, until he returns to God’s understanding of his current situation.

vs. 21

“Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.”

The psalmist realizes he has been a fool in being ignorant of the knowledge of God. But has his ignorance changed God? Has his ignorance caused God to turn away? No.

vs. 23

“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.”

We too can have our hearts and our flesh fail. Sometimes we too lose sight of what God’s Word says about us or about situations we find ourselves in, but this never changes God. What His Word declares about us does not change. His promises toward us do not change.

Romans 8:38-39

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 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.”

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

If we do find that we have let our thoughts stray away from God’s Word, we can return our thoughts to what God says is true.

Romans 12:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

We can be transformed by renewing our minds and our thoughts back to the things of God’s Word. It is how we will prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God for our lives.

Phil 4:8

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Think for a moment with me about what thoughts go through your head. What are your thoughts about? What do you choose to think about every single day? What do you choose to think about yourself? What do you choose to think about situations you find yourself in?

Here are a few things that God thinks about you:

• Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth [shows and clearly proves] his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God loves you. So much in fact that while you were yet a sinner Christ died for you.

• Colossians 2:10 “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

You are complete in Christ. You lack nothing.

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

You are a new creature. The old things are totally gone.

These things are all true about you now. These are all ways God sees you now.

Here are a few things that God’s Word says about God:

• Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

God will never leave us nor forsake us. He is our helper today. Now.

• Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

• Psalm 145:17-19  “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.”

• Mark 10:27  ^“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

These things are all true about our God today. In all times and in all areas of our lives, we must turn our eyes to God. We must turn our eyes to God and His Word when times get rough and when our lives seem rotten.

Psalm 42:5 “ Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

We must put our hope in God. We must remember what God has put in His Word about us, about himself, about the situations we find ourselves in, and about the world that exists around us.

II Cor. 10:3

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:”

There is a spiritual battle that rages around us and that we will always be a part of. Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to be sober and vigilant “because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

But that is no reason to be afraid.

John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The devil roams about attempting to steal and kill and destroy. But Jesus Christ came so that we might have more than abundant life. By his death and resurrection we have the gift of Holy Spirit, giving us victory in every battle.

II Corinthians 10:4 & 5

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

God’s Word tells us that we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are to bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. We are to work to bring our thoughts into alignment with what God’s Word says.

As we grow in our knowledge of God’s Word, we can come to recognize those things which conflict with God’s Word and then choose to instead to believe the TRUTH. Believing the truth about what God’s Word says about you and I is what can set us free. This is what can ALWAYS give us hope.

Ephesians 4: 21-24

“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

What ever it is that might be holding you back from every truth of God’s Word, put it off. Put off the lies. Put off the distractions. Turn your eyes away from your troubles and back onto the Word of God. Put off the old man and walk in the victory of the new.

God's Love Prevails

--Many thanks to my daughter Liz for today's post.

God’s love is for you and God’s love prevails.

Mark 12:28-31

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Jesus Christ makes it perfectly clear. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind and we are to love our neighbors as we ourselves. These are the greatest commandments.

But let me propose a question to you:

How can you expect to properly love your neighbor as yourself if you don’t love yourself first?

As born again sons and daughters of God, we know we have many things promised to us in God’s word, but sometimes, it might be hard for us to believe we personally deserve God’s promises in our lives.

Perhaps we have done something or are doing something we know is not in accordance with God’s word.

Perhaps we have caused someone to suffer pain.

Perhaps someone has caused us suffering.

Now, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to recognize when we are out of alignment with God’s Word—but any of these or a number of other things can create thoughts of shame, guilt, self-condemnation, and unworthiness. These things create a hindrance to our receiving God’s great love. In order to properly love ourselves, we must be able to accept and believe that God’s great mercy, peace, abundance, joy—and most importantly God’s love—are for us.

I John 3:20

“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

Even when our very own hearts are condemning us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. No matter how we see ourselves, no matter what we have done or what has been done to us, He sees us as righteous and accepted through the accomplishments of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3-7

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him

in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

We are holy and without blame before God. In love, God predestinated us to be his children, according to the good pleasure of his will. We are accepted in the beloved, or in the beloved one, Jesus Christ. This is how God perceives us and there is nothing we can do to change that fact.

Our God is now and always was a God of great compassion and mercy.

Lamentations 3:21-23

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

In the Old Testament, they did not have the ability to be reconciled to God that we have, they did not have the savior we have in Jesus Christ and yet we can see time and time again that God was understanding, compassionate, and merciful.

Psalm 103:8-19

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;”

That God is still our God; and He is still just as understanding, compassionate and merciful to us, even in our most desperate hours.

Psalm 62:8

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”

When we are in need, God wants us to feel that we can come to him and take refuge in Him, unafraid, even if our hearts are condemning us.

Hebrews 4:14 – 16

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Jesus Christ understands what we face when we come up against temptations. He is our high priest and he is not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. He has been there. He understands. This is the savior God has given us. We don’t have to be afraid to come boldly unto the throne of grace…despite our pasts, despite our presents, despite our mistakes, despite our shortcomings, despite any condemnation in our heart. God wants us to know that we can come boldly unto the throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1 Peter 5:7 tells us God wants us to be “casting all our cares upon Him (God).” Why? “because he cares for us.”

Just how much does God care for us?

Psalm 139:1-10

“O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

God knows us so deeply that he is acquainted with all of our ways. He cares for us so much that there is nowhere we can go, no situation we can find ourselves in, and nothing we can do which can prevent Him from always being able to be there, leading us and holding us by His hand.

Ephesians 2:4-9

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

God’s mercy for us is so rich than he sent his only begotten Son to die on our behalf while we were still dead in our sins. This was not because we were or are so wonderful, it was not because we were or are so perfect in carrying out his word…it was and is the gift of God. We will never be saved by our own works, or our own ability. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow it is always by grace that we are saved through faith or believing.

Colossians 1:12-14

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins”

Through Jesus Christ’s blood, we have redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. Again, we have that forgiveness not because of our own works, but because we have believed. We have been made righteous without works.

What does it look like when God forgives someone who has been made righteous without works?

Romans 4:6-8

“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

To impute something to someone is to credit something to them or to lay responsibility for something on someone. When God forgives us, it means that he will never, ever credit our sins against us ever again. He will never, ever bring them up and attribute them to us. God does not think of you as the sum total of your past mistakes and failures, he thinks of you as one of his children.

This is how God wants us to also think of ourselves.

Philippians 3:12-14

“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.”

We are told to forget those things which are behind. You might think, 'Well wait a minute, how can I forget something?' We can choose to forget those things which are behind by choosing to not dwell upon them when they come to our remembrance, to not replay them over and over but instead to reach forward to those things which are before and to think about ourselves according to what God’s word says about us.

Philippians 3:15

“Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

God will help us in this effort and if in any thing we are otherwise minded, God can and will reveal that unto us.

God’s will for your life is not for you to sit in the mistakes and pain of your past or your present, in brokenness, or in defeat. God’s will is not for you to wallow in shame or guilt or self-condemnation. God wants you to have a happy, prospering, joyful life now. Let’s press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

                                                                                   

Why Expect Miracles?

Why expect miracles? Because God truly wants the best for you and He has promised it.

Sometimes we talk ourselves out of God's Word and think we should settle for less. Maybe that's what we see in the examples around us, or maybe that's what we've experienced before. But God has something to say about this.

2 Corinthians 10:5:
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Let's lead those less-than-best thoughts obedient to Christ. Instead of thinking defeat or despair, think God's promises.

God's Word says:

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

1 Peter 2:24:
Who his own self [Jesus Christ] bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

2 Corinthians 9:8:
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Proverbs 3:5,6:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Philippians 2:13:
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

These are just a few of the great promises of deliverance, prosperity, health and hope in God's Word.
And God is always faithful to do what He has promised. Let's not talk ourselves out of it.

Let's stand on His promises, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.By walking in His light we can look forward to many miracles in 2013 and every year to come.

2013...A Great Year to Believe God!

Are you ready? It's a great year, a great day, a great moment to believe God!
Are you ready to walk in love? Are you ready to know God's power in your life?
Are you ready for peace reigning in your heart? Are you ready for miracles?

This is going to be great!
                                more to come... 

Take It Easy...

Have you ever been too hard on yourself? I know I have. I've thought, for example, I haven't done this or I haven't done that or why do I keep making the same mistake or even I just can't seem to get it right. Yikes, I'm worn out just thinking about it!

When that happens, it's time to go to God's Word and see what God thinks about you!

1John 3:1-2:  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Now THAT is some kind of love! That's amazing.

Ephesians 1:4-6  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Uh-oh, wait a minute. If I'm "chosen in Him" and "holy and without blame before Him in love," maybe that is what I should be thinking instead. In the face of any faults or insecurities, I'm still chosen in  Him and "holy and without blame before Him in love."

He even "made us accepted in the beloved." Wow, since He made me that way and He accepts me, maybe I better take it easy on myself.

It's time to bask in God's love. Just sit back and relax and languish in His love. He's not condemning His children; Jesus Christ died for us and carried our sins to the cross.
Aaaahh! Now that is something to think about. That is something to tell yourself the next time all those other pesky thoughts try to sneak in.
Make it a great day with God!

God Won't Give Up on You

No matter how dark the days, no matter how long the struggle, God doesn't give up on His children. God is always merciful to us!

Psalm 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

God's mercy is His withholding of merited judgement. We deserve it, but He withholds it! So no matter how many times we may stumble, God is ready, willing, and able to be merciful to us.

Psalm 136 is a fantastic psalm, with "his mercy endureth for ever" in every verse! You might read it once and think, "well, that's nice" but it might not really sink in. You might even read it again and start pondering that this still applies today. But by the time you read it in all 26 verses, there's no denying that God's mercy truly endures forever. I highly recommend reading it aloud to yourself whenever you need a nice mercy-filled pick-me-up.

God is always ready to forgive. For those who are born again, it's as simple as going directly to our heavenly Father and asking forgiveness.

1John 1:6-9:  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"Cleansed from all unrighteousness" is as good as it gets. This isn't 90 % cleansed. This isn't forgiven except for that one time. This is 100% absolutely, totally cleansed from all unrighteousness. Jesus Christ is our absolute savior. 

We have great joy when we walk in fellowship with God and His Son Jesus Christ.

For those who are not born again yet, they can confess the savior from sin, Jesus Christ, as lord and believe that God raised him from the dead, in order to be saved. This is the greatest new beginning of all!

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.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

No matter who you are or what situation you are in, God won't give up on you. Go to Him with your burdens. Great is His faithfulness, and His mercy endures forever!

Don't Give Up on God

Have you ever had trouble really expecting an answer from God?  Maybe your situation just seems too drastic-- too many years of dealing with the same problem, something the world considers irreversible, perhaps even something you have never considered asking God for previously.  Well, God has an answer for you if He has promised it in His Word.

Numbers 23:19: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

When you are facing a difficult situation, search out the promise of God that applies to you. Then no matter how daunting your situation may be, declare God's Word regarding it!

Hebrews 10:23:  Let us hold fast the profession [confession or declaration] of our faith [believing] without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.)

And remember, your past experience does not govern your current results.

Philippians 3:13,14: 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.

Don't count on the past; stand on the truth of God's Word.  He is faithful who promised!

In Case of Emergency...Go to God

What would be the most important thing to know, in case of emergency?

 I dare say there is no one answer to that question, but here are some great responses from the scriptures!
When we go to the scriptures, we know clearly that God is always there for us. 
And He's not here to punish us; He's not here to mock us; He is here to help us!

Hebrews 13:5:
...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Psalm 46:1:
...God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Not only will our wonderful God never leave us, but He wants to help us.
Is Almighty God bigger than absolutely every kind of trouble? Yes He is! And He is our merciful, powerful Heavenly Father! His promises are sure and true, and God is faithful.  If you are ever tempted to doubt His mercy, turn to Psalm 136, which has His mercy in every verse.  Here is just the beginning of that wonderful psalm.

Psalm 136:1-4: O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

God Almighty sent his Son because of His great love for us.  As Jesus Christ himself said in John 3:16 and 17,
"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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

So, in case of emergency, whatever the emergency, we can turn to God. He always loves us and is always with us.

Psalm 62:1,2,7,8:
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

When we see "selah" in the scriptures, God is telling us to "consider these things."  And truly these are great truths to stop and think about, to let sink in and make a strong part of our hearts! 

We can know and be assured that, in case of emergency, we can go to God! He wants to help us; He will never leave us nor forsake us; He is our very present help in time of need!

Anxious? God has a better idea!

If you had a choice, would you choose being anxious or peaceful?  I've got some great news for you! We have a choice.

Philippians 4:6,7:  Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

How many times a day do we have an opportunity to be anxious and stressful?  Maybe I should be anxious about a difficult situation at work or school? What about that nagging relationship that is always difficult? Or a car that never wants to run? Or even the economy? In the context of Philippians, Paul was in bonds; some Christians were teaching Christ out of contention and strife; they were not being likeminded on God's Word. And even though some preached Christ out of love, surely all that contention would justifiably cause mental distractions and anxiousness.

But according to God's Word, what should we be anxious about? NOTHING.

Then what can we do instead? We can choose to turn to God in prayer.  "...but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

"In every thing," not just some things. God isn't just for Sundays; He cares about every part of our lives, every day of our lives. Is it mundane or dramatic; is it minor or cataclysmic? Whatever the situation, God does not want us anxious; He wants us to pray.  "By prayer and supplication" indicates by general prayer to God and by requests for specific needs.  We can do this "with thanksgiving" when we understand just a few things about prayer.

1John 5:14-15: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

First of all, we want to pray according to God's will.  Then we know He hears us and whatever we ask, according to His will, we receive.  God's Word tells us God's will.  So as we pray according to what He has promised us in His Word, we know, not question or doubt, that we have our answer.

Jesus Christ taught that in order to receive answers to prayer, we must believe.

Matthew 21:22:  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

So when we are faced with being anxious, instead we can go to God with requests for specific needs, according to what He has promised us in His Word.  As we believe His promises, we know we have the petitions we desire of Him.  Of course we do it "with thanksgiving!"

Philippians 4:7:  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Aahhh, the peace of God!  It is more excellent than every way of thinking and it "shall keep [guard] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Be anxious?  Not necessary. Every day, every year, God has a better idea!

Rejoicing and Being Glad!

Any day, any time, we can choose to rejoice and be glad.

Psalm 9:2:
I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

On any given day, we can turn our thoughts to God, His great love for us and all that He has already done for us through His Son Jesus Christ, and we can rejoice and be glad! The Psalms speak repeatedly of rejoicing and being glad.

Psalm 31:7, 8:
I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

What a wonderful pattern for our own joy and praise to God.
When we have trouble, God makes a way where there is no way. He will deliver us; He supplies our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Psalm 32:10, 11:
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

God's wonderful mercy endures forever!

Psalm 90:14:
O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Every day, regardless of our circumstances, there is much to rejoice about, for the spiritual truths are far greater than any earthly circumstances.

Psalm 40:16:
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.

It is repeated again in Psalm 70.

Psalm 70:4:
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

What a wonderful thing to focus on! What a great perspective to have!
If your day is less than great, God is greater! We can turn to Him and seek Him and He will hear our prayers.

Psalm 118:24:
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

No Matter What ... God Loves You!

Does life ever seem just too busy, just too frustrating, just too daunting?

No matter what is going on in life, always remember God loves you.

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

Romans 8:38-39: For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 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.

Always know God is there for you and hears your prayers.

Hebrews 13:5b: For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1Peter 3:12: For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

1John 5:14, 15: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Because of the work of our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we have been justified freely.

Romans 3:24: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Always know when you turn to Him, God forgives you and gives you a new beginning. God is "rich in mercy," as we see in Ephesians 2:4, and has made a way for us when we fail to walk according to His Word. It's pretty simple and it's really true.

1John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And your new beginning is at hand. Just remember:

Philippians 3:13,14: 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.

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

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

So no matter what is going on, never give up. God wants us to give all our burdens to Him!

1Peter 5:6,7: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

He cares so deeply for us that in the next verse we are warned that the adversary may want to "devour" us, but we can resist, or stand against, him and be victorious.

1Peter 5:8,9: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Everyone has their challenges, but we resist the adversary and he will flee from us (James 4:7). We can stand together as Christians, walking in love.

1Corinthians 15:57,58: But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

And finally,

1Corinthians 16:13,14: Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Let all that you do be done in love. (NASV)

Always remembering, God loves you and always will.

Facts of Life vs Truth of God's Word

God's Word is truth, as we learn in John 17:17, when Jesus Christ said to God, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

John 8:31,32:
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

As someone once said to me, "that's a mighty big IF." IF we continue in God's Word and believe it, this great truth of God's Word makes us free, even when faced with daunting and defeating facts that life throws at us. It makes us more than conquerors through life's toughest situations, truly making us free.

Let's look at some examples.

Suppose the facts of life tell you that the economy is lousy. Right now, that is a fact. Maybe jobs are hard to find; maybe bills are hard to pay.
BUT the truth of God's Word tells you in Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." That is the truth!

The competition is on between the facts of life and the truth of God's Word! Which one you choose to believe is up to you.

The facts of life may tell you that an illness is untreatable or perhaps that it is manageable but incurable.
BUT the truth of God's Word tells you in 1 Peter 2:24, "Who his own self [Jesus Christ] bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

"By his stripes ye were healed" it says, a promise for you accomplished by Jesus Christ, and it's the truth! The challenge is on...which to believe, the discouraging facts or the bright and shining truth of the promise of God?!

The facts of life may tell you that you can't sleep at night. After all, you had trouble all those other nights.
BUT the truth of God's Word tells you in Psalm 4:8, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. " And in Proverbs 3:24 it says, "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet." Peace and safety and sweet sleep are promises and the truth!

If the facts of life are leaving you anxious and concerned, the truth of God's Word tells you in John 14:27 that Jesus Christ said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

This is not given as man gives: no strings attached here; no changing his mind and wanting it back. The truth is that he has given us peace. So which to believe? Facts or truth?

And God urges us in I Peter 5:7 to cast "all your care upon him; for he careth for you." God will never leave us or forsake us!

So day by day we have the choice: the facts of life vs. the truth of God's Word! Which will we believe? Each one of us gets to choose for himself. I'm going for the truth; how about you?

In the next post, we will look at some keys to make this happen in our lives.

What a joy to be able know God's promises and to know that the truth shall make us free!

Believing the Truth!

What a statement Jesus Christ made when he said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

There is breadth and depth to that statement that I could not begin to cover here. If you asked me how that statement could be practical, I would immediately think of the great deliverance that comes with believing in Jesus Christ.

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 [delivered or made whole].
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

What could be more practical than being saved, made whole, receiving everlasting life, and being made righteous! Good-by condemnation, hello joy and peace!

You can also look at that John 8:32 and know that no matter what life throws your way, God's Word is truth (John 17:17) and God's promises will come to pass when you believe them.

Mark 11:12-14: And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he [Jesus Christ] was hungry:
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Jesus would have known it was not time for the fully developed figs. Jesus Christ went to that fig tree looking for the small sweet edible buds that precede the full fruit. Snacking on the buds was considered a delicious snack. If the buds were not there, then there would be no fruit later that year. But Jesus Christ made a bold declaration! Let's watch as the story unfolds.

Mark 11:20,21:
And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

The tree dried up and died from the roots up, overnight! Peter was astounded, and Jesus Christ taught him a profound truth about believing God.

Mark 11:22,23: And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God [other translations could be "believe in God" or "believe God"].
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

In the context of these verses, we know that Jesus was referring to believing God, even if it is as huge as saying to the mountain, "Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea."

This is too amazing! Could that really be true? Yes! Then, what are the keys? Look back at the verses, and you will see: Believe God. Say it. Do not allow yourself to doubt in your heart, but rather believe that those things which you say, according to the truth of God's Word, shall come to pass. And you shall have them. Just keep it in the perspective of God's Word and what God says is available, because that is the truth.

The record continues.

Mark 11:24:
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

The word translated "receive" is the Greek word lambano, meaning to receive into manifestation or to take or get hold of. "What things soever ye desire" in this context refers to"believing God." So it only applies to what God has made available. But how can we know this? By going to His Word, the Bible, and learning what He has made available to us.

It's like walking up to the teller window at the bank and withdrawing some of what has been deposited in your account. God has already made the deposit--that would be what He says is available in His Word! And when we pray and believe, without doubting in our hearts, we "shall have them."

So no matter what life throws your way, the truth of God's Word will make you free. Learn the promises of God to you, believe them, say them, refuse to doubt in your heart--and you "shall have them!"

A Wise Man Built His House upon a Rock

The Lord Jesus Christ knew his followers would need a firm foundation in life. They spent time with him, heard him teach, and followed him for a variety of reasons. So in 2 lengthy teachings that are recorded, he spent time teaching them about living God's Word. And then he laid down a startling and challenging truth. What did they really want for their lives?

From the sermon on the mount:
Matthew 7:24-29:
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

A similar record from the sermon on the plain:
Luke 6:46-49:
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

We build our house upon a rock as we believe and do the written Word of God. Jesus Christ is no longer here in the flesh; we can't walk with him, hearing him teach in person. We must go to the Bible to learn in order to do. Many people will tell you what they think God's Word says or means, but it's important to go to His Word for yourself, so that you know that you know.
This is a noble thing.

Acts 17:11-12:
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

It's important to take that time to study and know; and then to think about what we think about, in order to do what the Bible says.

2Timothy 2:15:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Does this take some time? Sure, but it's worth carving out that time.


Ephesians 5:15,16:
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Redeeming the time is planning for those minutes so they don't get stolen away. The same word was used of buying out all the produce in the market before it even opened. Here it is "buying" that time to take time for God.

When we take this time to spend time in God's Word, we have His Word fresh in our minds. People need something to believe; we need something to believe. And we, of course, want to believe God's Word!

James 1:22-24:
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

That's quite a picture! Pretty sad really.
but God's Word continues.

James 1:25:
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Deuteronomy 7:9:
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

God will keep His Word, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Hebrews 13:5b-6:
for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

How firm is our foundation? As firm as we know God's Word and do it! We carve out that time for God and then see to it that we do what His Word says.
As it says in Nehemiah 8, the joy of the Lord is our strength. Our lives are built upon a rock as we hear and do God's Word. And no matter what life throws our way, we need never fear.

No Power Outages with God!

In my hometown, everyone is gearing up for a big winter storm with lots of ice and snow headed our way. If you have a generator, you've been warned to get it ready just in case the power goes out. Aren't we glad that God never has a power outage?! And to think that He has filled us with His power! Even if the power that runs the lights, TV and fridge goes out, God's power never goes out!

After Jesus Christ was resurrected and before he ascended into heaven, he told his disciples that he would send the "promise of the Father" and that they would be "endued [or clothed] with power from on high."

Right before Jesus Christ ascended, he told his followers:

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Every born again believer receives this power in the new birth. What a wonderful heavenly Father to bestow His love in such a great way! It truly is power from on high and enables us to do signs, miracles and wonders.

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.

Praise God for His great grace to give us such power in the new birth! We can learn and grow in our walks with Him, manifesting this power as we believe His Word. And just think, no power outages when it comes to God's power!