I didn't see visual proof of the death of Osama Bin Laden, yet, I do believe that he was in fact, captured and killed. I have never seen the wind blow, however, I felt it as soon as I opened my front door this morning. None of us have ever seen gravity in action, yet we firmly believe that we wont start to levitate any time soon. As far as I know, no one has ever been able to get anywhere near the sun, yet, we are taught that it is approximately 92.96 million miles from the planet Earth. It is so easy for us to believe these simple, yet unseen thruths. This makes me wonder why it is so easy for us to doubt the word of God......
I can honestly say that for the LONGEST time, I was caught up in disbelief and doubt. I questioned everything, even the things of this world. I was suspicious, I lived in doubt and I entertained so much confusion. Those of you who know me, know this to be so very true. I believed in all the wrong things. I made terrible decisions, based upon my inner turmoil. I went to church when I felt like it, but I didn't wholeheartedly believe the words spoken inside of those doors. I am so glad that the Lord finally got my attention and proved to me just how wrong I had been. In this aspect, I can relate to someone from the Bible.....
Doubting the word of God and disbelief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are actions which have been displayed by humanity all the way back into Biblical times. Most of us have heard of Doubting Thomas. He was an apostle, a discilple of Jesus Christ, who was not present at the resurrection. His story is told in John 20:24-29. Thomas, doubted the resurrection and found it hard to believe when others told of having seen the risen Christ. However, after seeing the resurrected Jesus and being offered to touch the wounds in his side, Thomas firmly believed! This resulted in the following promise of Jesus to us all, "Blessed are those who have not seenand yet have believed."
It is my prayer today that I continue to grow in faith and belief. Let me take You at your Word regardless of how things might seem. Let me trust You even when I lack understanding. Grant me the grace to trust You and You alone! Thank You!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
THIS IS FOR EVERYONE
Let me start by saying, I did not write this in order to verbally attack any one particular person. I also want to say that, I KNOW that I am BY NO MEANS PERFECT and I do not claim to be. I try my best to encourage others by sharing my past, my present and my hopes for the future. However, I happen to be somewhat disturbed, perplexed and amazed this morning. My 'note' for today might be somewhat lengthy, but it is my hope that you bear with me and please remember....I didn't write this as a means of verbal attack. I see it as a truth that WE ALL, EVEN MYSELF, NEED TO HEAR!
Regardless of who you are, I feels sure that you know a SUPER CHRISTIAN, someone who by all appearances is totally for God and can quote scripture like a first grader can sing their ABC's. You might have seen this person at the mall, at a restaurant, at the post office, at church or even on Facebook. Don't get me wrong, it is my desire to 'grow up' to be somewhat of a SUPER CHRISTIAN, but only if my words, ways and ALL my actions line up to the word of God!
It doesn't matter who you are, where you live, how you were raised or to what demonination you belong.....NO HUMAN BEING IS BETTER THAN THE NEXT......Not one of us is perfect. We were ALL born as sinners and NEVER lose that sinful nature. That puts us ALL on an equal plane. We cannot PICK and CHOOSE who we wish to like, tolerate or encourage.....NOT IF WE ARE A CHILD OF GOD, AS WE PROFESS! Yes, it seems as though I am being ugly this morning. Yes, it would be easy for me to really go off. Yes, I am reling upon James 3:1-18 to tame my tongue at this very moment.
My writing is somewhat lengthy this morning, and I hope that you don't happen to lose interest. I have searched a few scriptures this morning and have a few things to say regarding each one that the Lord laid upon my heart. They are as follows:
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth
We often have a huge disparity between what we SAY and what we DO, myself included. Believing and behaving go hand in hand. Confession of the word is USELESS if our actions prove otherwise. Wouldn't it be HORRIBLE if on the day of Judgement, God used the very same scriptures that we are so quick to quote yet slow to apply to our very lives, as a means of condemnation???? People, we must ALL be so very careful!
............OUR WALK MUST MATCH OUR TALK...............
Isaiah 29:13 These people draw near with their mouths, and honor me with their lips, but have removed their hearts from me
This scripture really speaks for itself. Plain and simple, in black and white. If we walk in darkness, no matter which sort, WE DO NOT HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us
Again, plain and simple....in black and white...If God said it, I believe it and that settles it!
The next scripture is going to be the last one that I include here today. I saved the best for last. 1 John 2:9, "He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness, even until now." Love for our fellow brother/sister in Christ is evidence of our salvation. How can we cry, "Lord, Lord, have mercy on me......yet, choose to not have mercy upon others? It does not matter what you say with your mouth if your heart is filled with hate for another....IT IS JUST THAT SIMPLE! How can someone claim to love an 'invisible' God when they do not even love His created children?
Not one of us is BETTER than anyone else. We cannot pick and choose WHO to accept. When we stand before the Lord on the day of Judgement, we will be held accountable for ALL our actions. I dont know about you, but I need to keep this fact in mind!
Regardless of who you are, I feels sure that you know a SUPER CHRISTIAN, someone who by all appearances is totally for God and can quote scripture like a first grader can sing their ABC's. You might have seen this person at the mall, at a restaurant, at the post office, at church or even on Facebook. Don't get me wrong, it is my desire to 'grow up' to be somewhat of a SUPER CHRISTIAN, but only if my words, ways and ALL my actions line up to the word of God!
It doesn't matter who you are, where you live, how you were raised or to what demonination you belong.....NO HUMAN BEING IS BETTER THAN THE NEXT......Not one of us is perfect. We were ALL born as sinners and NEVER lose that sinful nature. That puts us ALL on an equal plane. We cannot PICK and CHOOSE who we wish to like, tolerate or encourage.....NOT IF WE ARE A CHILD OF GOD, AS WE PROFESS! Yes, it seems as though I am being ugly this morning. Yes, it would be easy for me to really go off. Yes, I am reling upon James 3:1-18 to tame my tongue at this very moment.
My writing is somewhat lengthy this morning, and I hope that you don't happen to lose interest. I have searched a few scriptures this morning and have a few things to say regarding each one that the Lord laid upon my heart. They are as follows:
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth
We often have a huge disparity between what we SAY and what we DO, myself included. Believing and behaving go hand in hand. Confession of the word is USELESS if our actions prove otherwise. Wouldn't it be HORRIBLE if on the day of Judgement, God used the very same scriptures that we are so quick to quote yet slow to apply to our very lives, as a means of condemnation???? People, we must ALL be so very careful!
............OUR WALK MUST MATCH OUR TALK...............
Isaiah 29:13 These people draw near with their mouths, and honor me with their lips, but have removed their hearts from me
This scripture really speaks for itself. Plain and simple, in black and white. If we walk in darkness, no matter which sort, WE DO NOT HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us
Again, plain and simple....in black and white...If God said it, I believe it and that settles it!
The next scripture is going to be the last one that I include here today. I saved the best for last. 1 John 2:9, "He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness, even until now." Love for our fellow brother/sister in Christ is evidence of our salvation. How can we cry, "Lord, Lord, have mercy on me......yet, choose to not have mercy upon others? It does not matter what you say with your mouth if your heart is filled with hate for another....IT IS JUST THAT SIMPLE! How can someone claim to love an 'invisible' God when they do not even love His created children?
Not one of us is BETTER than anyone else. We cannot pick and choose WHO to accept. When we stand before the Lord on the day of Judgement, we will be held accountable for ALL our actions. I dont know about you, but I need to keep this fact in mind!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
WONDERFULLY MADE
A banana will never look like or taste like a strawberry. The North Pole doesn't have nor will it ever have the same climate as Florida. A sofa will never become a stove. A pond will never become an ocean. My foot will never accomplish the same function as my heart. My brown eyes will never become blue. The list goes on and on. I am sure you get the picture. I am who I am. You are who you are. Each one of us is different and we will never be the same. Imagine how boring life would be if we were all copies of one another?
There have been times in my life when I was very insecure. I thought that everyone else had more important things to say, better ways of doing it and greater outcomes from their efforts. These thoughts led me to doubt my own self worth, caused me to feel inadequate and left me uncertain as to my own abilities. I see today that I was battling my own insecurities. Insecurity is horrible. It leads to jealousy, selfishness, competitiveness and overcompensation. Insecurity does serious damage. It robs our soul. destroys relationships and steals our joy.
Assuredness, self love and confidence, on the other hand, adds to our lives and builds strong foundations for ALL of our relationships. Security comes from within. We must never compare ourselves to others. Psalm 139:14 tells us this by stating, 'you are fearfully and wondefully made.' We are all unique. We must all take time to reflect upon our very own God given abilities and strengths. We must be open to the leading and the direction of God in our lives, even if it sometimes means to be still and silent. We must do this in order to receive the full amount of blessings that the Lord wishes to rain down upon us.
Lord, let me take time out of my life today in order that I might receive ALL that you have for me. Let me not be insecure, let me not compare myself to others. Let me realize that I AM WONDERFULLY MADE and that there is NO ONE ELSE QUITE LIKE ME. Thank you Jesus for your love. Thank you for making us all unique. Let me grow in the confidence that I can receive only from YOU!
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them
There have been times in my life when I was very insecure. I thought that everyone else had more important things to say, better ways of doing it and greater outcomes from their efforts. These thoughts led me to doubt my own self worth, caused me to feel inadequate and left me uncertain as to my own abilities. I see today that I was battling my own insecurities. Insecurity is horrible. It leads to jealousy, selfishness, competitiveness and overcompensation. Insecurity does serious damage. It robs our soul. destroys relationships and steals our joy.
Assuredness, self love and confidence, on the other hand, adds to our lives and builds strong foundations for ALL of our relationships. Security comes from within. We must never compare ourselves to others. Psalm 139:14 tells us this by stating, 'you are fearfully and wondefully made.' We are all unique. We must all take time to reflect upon our very own God given abilities and strengths. We must be open to the leading and the direction of God in our lives, even if it sometimes means to be still and silent. We must do this in order to receive the full amount of blessings that the Lord wishes to rain down upon us.
Lord, let me take time out of my life today in order that I might receive ALL that you have for me. Let me not be insecure, let me not compare myself to others. Let me realize that I AM WONDERFULLY MADE and that there is NO ONE ELSE QUITE LIKE ME. Thank you Jesus for your love. Thank you for making us all unique. Let me grow in the confidence that I can receive only from YOU!
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
MODERN DAY SLAVERY
Regardless of who you are, where you live and how old you might happen to be, I feel quite sure that you have heard of the concept of slavery. The word slavery brings to mind Hebrew slaves, Egyptian slaves or more recently in history, African slaves. We all learned about slaves in school. We have read about slaves in the Bible. We are quick to be thankful that slavery no longer exists. But does it? It is my belief that modern day slavery is thriving in this world today.
I can only speak for myself, but for many years, I was a slave. My slavery was self imposed, but it was truly binding. I was enslaved by addictions, fear, regret, anger, distrust and disbelief. I was enslaved by my reputation, self-image and lack of self worth. I know others who have been and still are enslaved to some of the things I just mentioned. I know others who are enslaved as well. Some are enslaved by money, power, social status and material possessions. It all boils down to being enslaved by sin.
Just as the Hebrews, the Egyptians and the Africans were locked into slavery, I was too. I know how they must have felt. I woke up into my slavery, I spent my days in bondage and I went to sleep at night knowing that my slavery would greet me again if and when I woke up the next day. It was a miserable existence. Existence being the key word. I was only existing!
I am so thankful that the Lord saw fit to remove the bondage of slavery from my life. He picked me up and destroyed the chains which had held me captive for so many years. He turned my sorrows into happiness and replaced my tears with smiles. My slavery tried to destroy my life, but the Lord stepped in and gave me a future. Today, I see my past for exactly what it was.....a testimony of God's saving grace and power!
No matter who you are or what you are going through, the Lord sees it all. He hears your cries. He knows your struggles. He is waiting patiently to set you free from any slavery which may exist in your life. He did it for me, He can and He will surely do it for you as well.
Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world
I can only speak for myself, but for many years, I was a slave. My slavery was self imposed, but it was truly binding. I was enslaved by addictions, fear, regret, anger, distrust and disbelief. I was enslaved by my reputation, self-image and lack of self worth. I know others who have been and still are enslaved to some of the things I just mentioned. I know others who are enslaved as well. Some are enslaved by money, power, social status and material possessions. It all boils down to being enslaved by sin.
Just as the Hebrews, the Egyptians and the Africans were locked into slavery, I was too. I know how they must have felt. I woke up into my slavery, I spent my days in bondage and I went to sleep at night knowing that my slavery would greet me again if and when I woke up the next day. It was a miserable existence. Existence being the key word. I was only existing!
I am so thankful that the Lord saw fit to remove the bondage of slavery from my life. He picked me up and destroyed the chains which had held me captive for so many years. He turned my sorrows into happiness and replaced my tears with smiles. My slavery tried to destroy my life, but the Lord stepped in and gave me a future. Today, I see my past for exactly what it was.....a testimony of God's saving grace and power!
No matter who you are or what you are going through, the Lord sees it all. He hears your cries. He knows your struggles. He is waiting patiently to set you free from any slavery which may exist in your life. He did it for me, He can and He will surely do it for you as well.
Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world
Monday, October 24, 2011
IT IS FOR A REASON
Have you ever had a nagging feeling that something just wasn't right? Have you ever felt an urgency to tell someone else about this feeling, but didn't quite know how to bring it up? Well, a friend of mine recently experienced these feelings and was kind enough to share her concern with me. Her actions clearly exhibited her gift of discernment and I can't help but tell you about it today. Thanks....you know who you are.
I am including a message she posted here on FB in which she expressed her care and concern. Here goes:
Ok...I dont want you to think I'm nuts or anything and You know I dont know anything about your life other than what I have seen on facebook...so I am in no way trying to be nosey....but, I do want you to know that I woke up praying for you last night & you have been on my mind all morning. Just be careful and take care of you....don't let anyone trick you into thinking they are good when they are really just evil on the inside...(Even someone close enough to sit down at the kitchen table for a heart to heart.) There are so many people that carry decietful spirits and they dont even realize it. I know you already know that...
My friend had no idea about any of the details of my life when she sent that message two weeks ago. In fact, she was reluctant to even send the message. However, I am glad that she did. I wont go into details here, but the Lord clearly placed the gift of discernment upon her heart at that particular time. I am thankful for her obedience to the spirit of the Lord. I urge others to do the same. When God tells you to do something, it is for a reason.....even if everything on the surface seems to be fine.
I am thankful this morning for discernment of the spirit. Discernment is defined as.... the activity of determining the value and the quality of a certain subject or event. It goes past the mere perception of something. Those with discernment possess wisdom and good judgement....I define discernment as a loving gift, given by God Almighty to those who truly seek His ways! Everything is not always what it seems to be on the surface. Satan is the great manipulator...he knows our weaknesses, he knows how to get us down...We are part of an unseen spiritual warfare...ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD...If God lays someone upon your heart, please follow His lead, like my friend did the other day. You never know how powerful your prayers might actually be!
1 John 4:1 Bleoved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world
Psalm 119:125 I am your servant, give me discernment that I may understand your statutes
I am including a message she posted here on FB in which she expressed her care and concern. Here goes:
Ok...I dont want you to think I'm nuts or anything and You know I dont know anything about your life other than what I have seen on facebook...so I am in no way trying to be nosey....but, I do want you to know that I woke up praying for you last night & you have been on my mind all morning. Just be careful and take care of you....don't let anyone trick you into thinking they are good when they are really just evil on the inside...(Even someone close enough to sit down at the kitchen table for a heart to heart.) There are so many people that carry decietful spirits and they dont even realize it. I know you already know that...
My friend had no idea about any of the details of my life when she sent that message two weeks ago. In fact, she was reluctant to even send the message. However, I am glad that she did. I wont go into details here, but the Lord clearly placed the gift of discernment upon her heart at that particular time. I am thankful for her obedience to the spirit of the Lord. I urge others to do the same. When God tells you to do something, it is for a reason.....even if everything on the surface seems to be fine.
I am thankful this morning for discernment of the spirit. Discernment is defined as.... the activity of determining the value and the quality of a certain subject or event. It goes past the mere perception of something. Those with discernment possess wisdom and good judgement....I define discernment as a loving gift, given by God Almighty to those who truly seek His ways! Everything is not always what it seems to be on the surface. Satan is the great manipulator...he knows our weaknesses, he knows how to get us down...We are part of an unseen spiritual warfare...ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD...If God lays someone upon your heart, please follow His lead, like my friend did the other day. You never know how powerful your prayers might actually be!
1 John 4:1 Bleoved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world
Psalm 119:125 I am your servant, give me discernment that I may understand your statutes
Thursday, October 20, 2011
SELF IMPOSED
We have all experienced hurt. We have all experienced pain and hardship in one way or another. Problems come in every shape and size, be it financial, emotional, incarceration, addiction or simply, just problems in general. I dont care who you might happen to be, in some sort of way, you have had a problem or two throughout the course of your life. If you are anything like me, you have had more than your share of ups and downs, ins and outs, joy and sorrow, poverty and wealth. What makes me somewhat different from many of you is that most of my problems have been...........SELF IMPOSED!!!
Yes, I said it....THE MAJORITY OF MY PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN SELF IMPOSED! I have no secrets to hide, no one else to blame and no excuses! Every hardship, every struggle, every wrong turn I took....was due to poor decision making and selfishness. As I have said before, I was once ashamed of my actions and of the person I allowed myself to become. These days, I see the past for exactly what it was...all part of God's plan to bring me to where I am today. I can appreciate joy, because I know sadness. I can laugh because I have known tears. I can love because I have known hate. I can appreciate a peaceful lifestyle because I have lived through many nightmares. I have always heard that the sweetest victories come after a defeat....well, I can testify to the validity of that statement. I made it through countless storms.....but only through the forgiveness, the grace, the mercy and the love of God!
The scope of your problems might not go to the extremes of mine, but, I am here today to tell you that no matter what you might be facing, no matter what you might be going through, dont give up. There is light at the end of every tunnel. We serve a God who loves and cares for us all. The blueprint for our lives was planned BEFORE we were even formed in the womb. Bring your hardships to the Lord with an honest and repentive heart. Trust God...live for Him...recognize the fact that without Him, you are nothing and have nothing. Allow the Lord to cast your sins into the sea of forgiveness. No sin is too great...no past is too sordid...Bring your pain, sorrows, fears and worries to the foot of the cross...experience the freedom that comes from knowing the Lord!
Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning
Yes, I said it....THE MAJORITY OF MY PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN SELF IMPOSED! I have no secrets to hide, no one else to blame and no excuses! Every hardship, every struggle, every wrong turn I took....was due to poor decision making and selfishness. As I have said before, I was once ashamed of my actions and of the person I allowed myself to become. These days, I see the past for exactly what it was...all part of God's plan to bring me to where I am today. I can appreciate joy, because I know sadness. I can laugh because I have known tears. I can love because I have known hate. I can appreciate a peaceful lifestyle because I have lived through many nightmares. I have always heard that the sweetest victories come after a defeat....well, I can testify to the validity of that statement. I made it through countless storms.....but only through the forgiveness, the grace, the mercy and the love of God!
The scope of your problems might not go to the extremes of mine, but, I am here today to tell you that no matter what you might be facing, no matter what you might be going through, dont give up. There is light at the end of every tunnel. We serve a God who loves and cares for us all. The blueprint for our lives was planned BEFORE we were even formed in the womb. Bring your hardships to the Lord with an honest and repentive heart. Trust God...live for Him...recognize the fact that without Him, you are nothing and have nothing. Allow the Lord to cast your sins into the sea of forgiveness. No sin is too great...no past is too sordid...Bring your pain, sorrows, fears and worries to the foot of the cross...experience the freedom that comes from knowing the Lord!
Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
IT IS IN OUR NATURE
Imagine for a moment that you have been bitten by a visicous dog. Would you be cautious about going anywhere around that same dog ever again? Suppose you had an allergic reaction to seafood and it resulted in hospitalization. Would you order boiled crawfish the next time you happened to go to a restaurant? I am willing to bet that anyone reading this 'note' would answer both of the above questions with a definite NO. Several months ago, I wrote a 'note' entitled, "Trust Not In Man." Once again, I feel led to write a little bit more regarding this topic. It is a subject we all need to keep in the forefront of our minds.
I am not writing this as a personal attack upon anyone, that is not my style. However, I feel the need to remind everyone today that regardless of who, what, where, when or how......PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE AND EVENTUALLY, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THEY WILL LET YOU DOWN. We all make promises we either do or do not intend to keep. We say we are going to do one thing and end up doing the complete opposite. We start out strong and fade away. We usually dont set out with harmful intentions, but we often do in fact end up hurting others by our actions. No matter what our intentions may be, we all share this tendency. Sooner or later, in one way or another, we have all offended or hurt people we supposedly care about....It is in our nature.
There is only ONE pure, perfect friend, who loves us tremendously and will always keep His promises. Our Bible does not lie....God's promises are never broken. The love of God is constant. We can rely upon His friendship, His trustworthiness and His neverending consistency. He and He alone will never leave us, nor forsake us. His promises held true in both the New and the Old Testaments and are still holding true for us today. Trust not in man...put your faith in the Lord...for He truly cares for both me and for you!
Psalm 146:3 "Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help"
I am not writing this as a personal attack upon anyone, that is not my style. However, I feel the need to remind everyone today that regardless of who, what, where, when or how......PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE AND EVENTUALLY, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THEY WILL LET YOU DOWN. We all make promises we either do or do not intend to keep. We say we are going to do one thing and end up doing the complete opposite. We start out strong and fade away. We usually dont set out with harmful intentions, but we often do in fact end up hurting others by our actions. No matter what our intentions may be, we all share this tendency. Sooner or later, in one way or another, we have all offended or hurt people we supposedly care about....It is in our nature.
There is only ONE pure, perfect friend, who loves us tremendously and will always keep His promises. Our Bible does not lie....God's promises are never broken. The love of God is constant. We can rely upon His friendship, His trustworthiness and His neverending consistency. He and He alone will never leave us, nor forsake us. His promises held true in both the New and the Old Testaments and are still holding true for us today. Trust not in man...put your faith in the Lord...for He truly cares for both me and for you!
Psalm 146:3 "Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help"
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
MY ACTIONS
I have problems. Anyone who might happen to read this does too. It is what we choose to do about our problems that sets each one of us apart and makes us different from everybody else. No matter who you might happen to be, I feel sure that at some time or another, you have been forced to make a decision whether to help someone else who has a problem as well. People need one another at times. We make daily decisions regarding our treatment of others. To help or not to help...to be there for someone or not...to get involved or to turn away.
Our Bible talks about a group of people called Samaritans. They were a mixed group of people who were considered somewhat inferior to others. They were considered second class citizens. In Luke 10:30-37, we are told about The Good Samaritan. In this chapter of the Bible, a certain man had the misfortune of falling among thieves, who stripped him, robbed and wounded him and left him for dead along the roadside. A priest and a Levite, both considered to be 'holy' people came upon this helpless man and on both occasions, crossed the road in order to avoid even recognizing his presence. The Samaritan came along and not only recognized that the man needed help, he responded to the situation and immediately got involved. The Samaritan chose to help, bandaged his wounds, brought him to an inn and paid for the expenses.
Jesus tells us to do likewise. It does us no good to appear to be socially acceptable. To be seen at church and to be recognized as a Christian is not enough. Nice clothes, nice cars and good looks mean nothing. It is our inside appearance that matters the most. Each day, we are given opportunities to reveal our true identity. Will we choose to be like the Levite, who to all outward appearances was great? Or will we choose to be a Samaritan, somewhat inferior, but, with compassion for others?
It is my prayer today that I truly exhibit love, care and compassion for others. Let me not be seen as a Levite, caring for my own personal gain. Let my heart be tender, let my ways be humble, let others see Jesus through my actions and my words. Lord, let me be more of a Samaritan.
Luke 10:33 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion"
Thanks for reading my 'note'
Love,
M
Our Bible talks about a group of people called Samaritans. They were a mixed group of people who were considered somewhat inferior to others. They were considered second class citizens. In Luke 10:30-37, we are told about The Good Samaritan. In this chapter of the Bible, a certain man had the misfortune of falling among thieves, who stripped him, robbed and wounded him and left him for dead along the roadside. A priest and a Levite, both considered to be 'holy' people came upon this helpless man and on both occasions, crossed the road in order to avoid even recognizing his presence. The Samaritan came along and not only recognized that the man needed help, he responded to the situation and immediately got involved. The Samaritan chose to help, bandaged his wounds, brought him to an inn and paid for the expenses.
Jesus tells us to do likewise. It does us no good to appear to be socially acceptable. To be seen at church and to be recognized as a Christian is not enough. Nice clothes, nice cars and good looks mean nothing. It is our inside appearance that matters the most. Each day, we are given opportunities to reveal our true identity. Will we choose to be like the Levite, who to all outward appearances was great? Or will we choose to be a Samaritan, somewhat inferior, but, with compassion for others?
It is my prayer today that I truly exhibit love, care and compassion for others. Let me not be seen as a Levite, caring for my own personal gain. Let my heart be tender, let my ways be humble, let others see Jesus through my actions and my words. Lord, let me be more of a Samaritan.
Luke 10:33 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion"
Thanks for reading my 'note'
Love,
M
Monday, October 17, 2011
SIMPLE TRUTHS
For the past two weeks, I have been away from home and have not been consistently writing my daily 'notes' here on FB. I had plans on writing one today as an inspirational message for a friend of mine who had recently been involved in a terrible car accident. Thoughts and words had formed in my mind, but all of a sudden, the entire direction of my 'note' changed completely. Details are not important, but, I was sharply reminded that PEOPLE LIE....PEOPLE WILL TALK ABOUT YOU....BEWARE OF THE EMENY WHO CALLS HIM/HERSELF YOUR FRIEND!
In the past, I gave others plenty of reasons to dislike me. I was never surprised to find that I was the topic of conversation. In fact, I had come to expect it. Sad, but true.....These days, its a different story. I make it my business to give others a reason to like me, to be a positive influence and to be considered a true friend. I was really surprised today when I discovered that someone, a supposed 'friend', had been talking about me in a horrible way, telling outright lies which stemmed from jealousy and envy. Be careful who you trust......Not everyone who is a friend to your face will be the same friend when your back is turned. These are simple truths that we all need to remember.
Our Bible has many scriptures which warn us about deceit at the hands of others. Proverbs 6:16-19 specifically lists six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. James 4:11 says, "Do not speak evil of one another." In Exodus 23:1, we are told, "You shall not circulate a false report." Proverbs 10:18 tells us that "whoever spreads slander is a fool." People really can be a wolf in sheeps clothing. Not everyone is what they seem.
It is never easy to accept harm inflicted from others. It is difficult to turn the other cheek. It is very hard for me to keep my mouth shut and to not try to retaliate. The Bible tells us to pray for those who intentionally set out to hurt us. That is what I am going to do today. My prayers go out to this person and I ask that others join me in doing so. God knows the name.
Thank you!
Thanks for reading my 'note'
Love,
M
In the past, I gave others plenty of reasons to dislike me. I was never surprised to find that I was the topic of conversation. In fact, I had come to expect it. Sad, but true.....These days, its a different story. I make it my business to give others a reason to like me, to be a positive influence and to be considered a true friend. I was really surprised today when I discovered that someone, a supposed 'friend', had been talking about me in a horrible way, telling outright lies which stemmed from jealousy and envy. Be careful who you trust......Not everyone who is a friend to your face will be the same friend when your back is turned. These are simple truths that we all need to remember.
Our Bible has many scriptures which warn us about deceit at the hands of others. Proverbs 6:16-19 specifically lists six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. James 4:11 says, "Do not speak evil of one another." In Exodus 23:1, we are told, "You shall not circulate a false report." Proverbs 10:18 tells us that "whoever spreads slander is a fool." People really can be a wolf in sheeps clothing. Not everyone is what they seem.
It is never easy to accept harm inflicted from others. It is difficult to turn the other cheek. It is very hard for me to keep my mouth shut and to not try to retaliate. The Bible tells us to pray for those who intentionally set out to hurt us. That is what I am going to do today. My prayers go out to this person and I ask that others join me in doing so. God knows the name.
Thank you!
Thanks for reading my 'note'
Love,
M
Thursday, October 13, 2011
MANNA
I feel sure that no one reading this has starved to death. I also feel sure that even though times may have gotten hard for you, somehow, you have always made it through any storm which may have come your way. At times, you may have also gotten somewhat short on cash and might have even fallen behind on a few bills. You might have wondered how you were going to make it. Bill collectors might have come knocking on your door. But.....somehow, you made it through your struggles if you are able to read this today.
If you have ever experienced struggle, you are not alone. People have struggled since the beginning of time, which brings me to my point today. Back in the times of the Old Testament, the Isrealites encountered many struggles in the wilderness, on of which was lack of food. In response to this struggle, God appeared to Moses and proclaimed that He had heard the complaints of His children and that He would provide and meet their every need so that they would know that He was their God (Exodus 16:10-12). God allowed manna to fall from the sky. Manna fell with abundance, enough to feed the people of Isreal for the entire 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. God provided simple rules to Moses regarding the use of manna. The Isrealites were to gather only enough manna for their immediate consumption and could only collect extra the day before the sabbath. If any excess manna was collected, it quickly began to stink and bred worms. Of course, some people tried to collect extra, while others didnt collect enough.....much like people do today.
We all serve a God who is ready, willing and more than able to supply our every need. We are a blessed people. Our needs WILL be provided. However, just like back in the day of the wandering Isrealites, we still have a tendence to hoard...to covet...and to be selfish. Literal manna quickly began to stink and bred worms. The manna we tend to store today also has such tendencies. Think about it for a moment.....money, for example...to store it up, to hoard it and hide it...might not actually stink, but the actions taken to accumulate alot of it would have a foul smell, a bad odor. Anything we tend to hoard can be seen as modern day manna....something provided for us by God, yet used by us in an ungodly manner.
Think about your actions for a moment. Are you using what God has given you as a means of meeting your needs, or are you storing it up only for it to stink or to become foul and offensive. We need to let God be God in our lives. We need to remember that He is our mighty provider...that He knows what is best for us.....that He alone is our God!
Exodus 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people should go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not."
If you have ever experienced struggle, you are not alone. People have struggled since the beginning of time, which brings me to my point today. Back in the times of the Old Testament, the Isrealites encountered many struggles in the wilderness, on of which was lack of food. In response to this struggle, God appeared to Moses and proclaimed that He had heard the complaints of His children and that He would provide and meet their every need so that they would know that He was their God (Exodus 16:10-12). God allowed manna to fall from the sky. Manna fell with abundance, enough to feed the people of Isreal for the entire 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. God provided simple rules to Moses regarding the use of manna. The Isrealites were to gather only enough manna for their immediate consumption and could only collect extra the day before the sabbath. If any excess manna was collected, it quickly began to stink and bred worms. Of course, some people tried to collect extra, while others didnt collect enough.....much like people do today.
We all serve a God who is ready, willing and more than able to supply our every need. We are a blessed people. Our needs WILL be provided. However, just like back in the day of the wandering Isrealites, we still have a tendence to hoard...to covet...and to be selfish. Literal manna quickly began to stink and bred worms. The manna we tend to store today also has such tendencies. Think about it for a moment.....money, for example...to store it up, to hoard it and hide it...might not actually stink, but the actions taken to accumulate alot of it would have a foul smell, a bad odor. Anything we tend to hoard can be seen as modern day manna....something provided for us by God, yet used by us in an ungodly manner.
Think about your actions for a moment. Are you using what God has given you as a means of meeting your needs, or are you storing it up only for it to stink or to become foul and offensive. We need to let God be God in our lives. We need to remember that He is our mighty provider...that He knows what is best for us.....that He alone is our God!
Exodus 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people should go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not."
Thursday, October 6, 2011
WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF THIS
Most of my 'notes' are happy and encouraging. I try to stay away from words of condemnation. However, my writing for today has weighed heavily on my mind since yesterday afternoon. A friend of mine said she is amazed by the fact that people will greet you, hug you, shake your hand, smile and even say I love you at church, but fail to even acknowledge your presence anywhere else in public. Think about this for a minute......I feel sure you can identify with those words. I find this very disturbing....I always have...I always will...These actions go completely against the Word of God!
Many people turn away from churches due to this sort of behavior. We should all be ashamed. In one way or another, we are all guilty of this. Speaking for myself, I have cut through a store more than once in order to avoid particular people, not because I was angry or upset, but simply as a means to avoid having to speak. Isn't that horrible. We shouldnt be this way. According to one study I found, there are 59 "ONE ANOTHERS" found in the New Testament alone. By 'one anothers', I am referring to commands regarding our treatment of one another, from the words of Jesus Christ....
In John 13:34, when we were told to love one another as He has loved us, I dont think it meant to love one another only inside of a building of worship. I dont think Romans 12:10 meant for us to show brotherly love only on Sunday or Wednesday. When we were told to greet one another with a holy kiss in Romans 16:16, were we told to pick and choose who, where, or when? We also love to quote Philippians 2:2, "being of one mind and one accord." In the Bible, when the believers got in one mind and in one accord, miraculous signs, sights and wonders took place. We often grumble about the lack of blessings in our daily lives.......I wonder if this might be the cause???
Let's all remain mindful of this!
Many people turn away from churches due to this sort of behavior. We should all be ashamed. In one way or another, we are all guilty of this. Speaking for myself, I have cut through a store more than once in order to avoid particular people, not because I was angry or upset, but simply as a means to avoid having to speak. Isn't that horrible. We shouldnt be this way. According to one study I found, there are 59 "ONE ANOTHERS" found in the New Testament alone. By 'one anothers', I am referring to commands regarding our treatment of one another, from the words of Jesus Christ....
In John 13:34, when we were told to love one another as He has loved us, I dont think it meant to love one another only inside of a building of worship. I dont think Romans 12:10 meant for us to show brotherly love only on Sunday or Wednesday. When we were told to greet one another with a holy kiss in Romans 16:16, were we told to pick and choose who, where, or when? We also love to quote Philippians 2:2, "being of one mind and one accord." In the Bible, when the believers got in one mind and in one accord, miraculous signs, sights and wonders took place. We often grumble about the lack of blessings in our daily lives.......I wonder if this might be the cause???
Let's all remain mindful of this!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
THERE IS NO SUCH THING
Did you grow up believing in fairy tales? Have you searched for Snow White, Prince Charming or wished to be Cinderella? Do you ever see others as having a perfect life and wonder why yours isn't? Have you ever felt like you aren't 'good enough' or unworthy of love and respect? Well guess what???? You are not the only one. No matter who you are and no matter how you might live.....just know that you are not alone.
We are all imperfect people. Some of our problems might be bigger than that of the next person, but regardless of all that..... NO HUMAN BEING IS PERFECT.....There is no such thing!
Speaking for myself, awhile back, I was having a really hard time dealing with some of my actions in the past, decisions I had made and the general idea that I would never be considered 'good enough'. I have been blessed to have several people who have always believed in me, even when I was at my worst and lowest point. One of these people in particular brought up a very important point and shared 1 Samuel 16:7 with me at a point when I needed to hear it the most. This scripture reminds us that, "The Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." This scripture has ever since been burned upon my heart and into my mind. I think of it often and believe its words completely. Thank you for pointing this out to me.....you know who you are!
Isn't it amazing to know that God loves us all anyway...no matter how imperfect we might happen to be! He knows we are not perfect....He knows that we have and that we will sin. We are not and we will not EVER find perfection...not in ourselves and not in others either! Through Jesus Christ, we all have the ability to approach God for the redemption of our sins. Our sins are not a reason for us to stay away from God. In fact, our sins are a sign to us that we need to draw closer to Him. In God's home, we are forgiven, we are accepted, we are loed! Through the blood of Jesus Christ, our hearts, bodies and souls are washed clean......and for this, i am so very grateful this morning.
1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his pshsical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outard appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
We are all imperfect people. Some of our problems might be bigger than that of the next person, but regardless of all that..... NO HUMAN BEING IS PERFECT.....There is no such thing!
Speaking for myself, awhile back, I was having a really hard time dealing with some of my actions in the past, decisions I had made and the general idea that I would never be considered 'good enough'. I have been blessed to have several people who have always believed in me, even when I was at my worst and lowest point. One of these people in particular brought up a very important point and shared 1 Samuel 16:7 with me at a point when I needed to hear it the most. This scripture reminds us that, "The Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." This scripture has ever since been burned upon my heart and into my mind. I think of it often and believe its words completely. Thank you for pointing this out to me.....you know who you are!
Isn't it amazing to know that God loves us all anyway...no matter how imperfect we might happen to be! He knows we are not perfect....He knows that we have and that we will sin. We are not and we will not EVER find perfection...not in ourselves and not in others either! Through Jesus Christ, we all have the ability to approach God for the redemption of our sins. Our sins are not a reason for us to stay away from God. In fact, our sins are a sign to us that we need to draw closer to Him. In God's home, we are forgiven, we are accepted, we are loed! Through the blood of Jesus Christ, our hearts, bodies and souls are washed clean......and for this, i am so very grateful this morning.
1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his pshsical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outard appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
DOES THIS APPLY TO YOU?
No matter who you are, no matter what your beliefs, I feel sure you have heard the following two statements:
~Honesty is the best policy
~To thine own self be true
Neither of these sayings are found in the Bible. However, the concept of both of these statements can easily be associated with a common theme throughout both the New and the Old Testaments. My 'note' for today is about honesty... when dealing with ourselves and when dealing with others.....something we all need to practice daily.
It is so easy to become dishonest with ourselves. Sometimes, we find it convenient to mask our true feelings, to 'fake it til we make it' and to be misleading when it comes to dealing with others. We might even become quite convincing. It is when we do this that we allow ourselves open for all sorts of misery and heartache. Lies build upon lies and the mask gets harder to wear. Various addictions and behaviors quickly become a crutch when we withold the truth from ourselves. These problems start out as an escape, but quickly become a burden, an encumberment, our very own cross to bear......
God didnt create us to be misleading to ourselves and to others. He gets no glory from us when we practice deceit. By being dishonest, we only end up hurting everyone involved. We create our own mess. Our relationship with others is what we make of it. The first four Books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are very descriptive in telling us how we must do in order to live a Godly lifestyle. The four Gospels are an effective roadmap to follow in order to make it to heaven. Even the slightest dishonesty can keep us out of heaven. We must follow the directions and remain pure at heart. This is something we all need to remember.
Luke 6:31 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
~Honesty is the best policy
~To thine own self be true
Neither of these sayings are found in the Bible. However, the concept of both of these statements can easily be associated with a common theme throughout both the New and the Old Testaments. My 'note' for today is about honesty... when dealing with ourselves and when dealing with others.....something we all need to practice daily.
It is so easy to become dishonest with ourselves. Sometimes, we find it convenient to mask our true feelings, to 'fake it til we make it' and to be misleading when it comes to dealing with others. We might even become quite convincing. It is when we do this that we allow ourselves open for all sorts of misery and heartache. Lies build upon lies and the mask gets harder to wear. Various addictions and behaviors quickly become a crutch when we withold the truth from ourselves. These problems start out as an escape, but quickly become a burden, an encumberment, our very own cross to bear......
God didnt create us to be misleading to ourselves and to others. He gets no glory from us when we practice deceit. By being dishonest, we only end up hurting everyone involved. We create our own mess. Our relationship with others is what we make of it. The first four Books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are very descriptive in telling us how we must do in order to live a Godly lifestyle. The four Gospels are an effective roadmap to follow in order to make it to heaven. Even the slightest dishonesty can keep us out of heaven. We must follow the directions and remain pure at heart. This is something we all need to remember.
Luke 6:31 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
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