And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. Deuteronomy 6:18

 

I can honestly say I have been truly blessed by God. He provided me a positive environment in which to grow up, learn about God’s faithfulness and He led me into a career of 30 plus years that now yields a new chapter of life in my retirement.

 

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in  your heart, whether you would keep His commandments. Deut. 8:2

 

I’d like to compare my combined years of college and career with the Israelites (God’s chosen people) release from Egyptian slavery and into the promised land. Prior to God’s blessing though, they had to endure 40 years in the wilderness. God used that time to test them to see if they would humble themselves and follow in obedience. I know through this period of my life; God certainly used this time to test my faithfulness and obedience to Him. Yes, there were times of setbacks and failures, but God always provided grace and mercy to receive me back. Each time was a learning lesson and my faith grew with every experience.

 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised if faithful. Hebrews 10:23

 

As we are about to enter this new year, let’s start afresh by remaining faithful to the Lord in all things, do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, so we may go and possess the good land of God’s blessings He has promised to those who love Him. Happy New Year!  

 The Lord is good,

A stronghold in the day of trouble;

And he knows those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7

 

If you are a child of God, you typically go to God when trouble comes your way. Today’s verse reminds believers that He is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble. God is your rock and without him helping you navigate this life, you surely will sink.

 

And Jesus said to him “O you of little faith, why did you doubt”? Matthew 14:31

 

I recall the story of Peter, who wanted to walk on water to Jesus (Matthew 14:22-33). He started out well as he stepped out of the boat and onto the water, but the waves were fierce and he doubted his faith to come to Jesus on the water, he sunk. Yet, Jesus rescued him even when his faith waned.

 

Maybe you trust God in certain circumstances of your life, but when the battle gets fierce, do you still trust Him to continue walking in faith? He knows your heart, He knows if you are “all in” to trust Him when trouble comes. He wants you to walk on water of faith. Trust Him every step in every storm you face in life and He will see you through it. Does He know you will trust Him today?

 

 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24

 

As you approach the end of this year, you might have some ideas on what you’d like to see improved in your life in the new year. Maybe it’s lose weight, find a better job, save more money or even become debt free. Self-improvement is always a great idea and many usually start off well, but within a few weeks or months, the desire to change subsides and interest in lost, leaving you feeling guilty for failing to obtain your goal.

 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

 

I encourage you to include God in the equation. Whatever your goal is, ask God to help you achieve success by staying in the race til the finish line. God will help you overcome the hurdles you face, all the while your focus is on Him and not your problems, frustrations and discouragements you encounter each day as you move closer to that goal.

 

With your focus on Him at the finish line, encouraging you to keep moving, you’ll get there; better, stronger and with more faith in your Savior, as He yells out: “Well done my good and faithful servant!” Go for the finish line! God bless!

 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

 

The character traits of a person are usually developed from a young age, which are influenced by the environment they grow up in and the people who have influence over them. While many people are blessed to grow up in a positive living environment, others are exposed to a negative environment which is clear by the amount of chaos in today’s world.

 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

 

Maybe you are one of those who did not have the best environment to grow up in and you struggle with selfish desires, negative thinking and always argumentative with others. You can slowly change that by transforming your mind after the characteristics of Christ. A deep and personal relationship with Jesus Christ is key to changing your mindset. Through reading the bible, prayer and seeking after the will of God, you will see a change in your perspective, a change of heart, and slowly, you will develop the character traits found in today’s main scripture, Colossians 3:12.

 

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3:14

 

It all starts in the mind and heart. Once you transform your thinking into a heart after Christ, change will occur and you’ll see attitudes of anger, hate and frustration dissolve and transform into a spirit of love for others, yourself and God.

 

 

 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives and who seeks finds and to him who knocks it will be opened. Luke 11:9-10

 

From a very young age until you take your last breath, your life will be full of questions and request for help. What will I do with my life, help me learn so I can pass this test, what is the right retirement plan, how can I care for my parents? These are just a few examples of questions and request for help that will follow you through life. The struggle is very real when asking and seeking help. How can you find your way?

 

Today’s passage comes from the very lips of Jesus Christ. Ask, and it will be given, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. God loves His children and He wants to provide you the best possible answers and help needed as you navigate the challenges of life. Only by growing in your relationship with Him through consistent prayer, digging into His word (bible) and living obediently, will He reveal the answers to life and provide the help you need.

 

Looking back over my life, I can recall numerous times when I had questions, God provided the answers I needed. When I ran out of options, He came through to help me get to where I am today. I can truly say God has been my compass every step of the way and I live with no regrets. You can too, when you put your faith and trust in Him. He’s got a vision and plan for your life, when you seek after His will, He will sustain you and provide a life full of blessings, wisdom and spiritual awakening. Seek Him everyday for life’s questions and help. God bless!

 So he (Simeon) came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him upon his arms and blessed God and said:

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel. Luke 2:27-32

 

As described in Luke 2:25, Simeon was righteous and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel (meaning: May I live to see the Messiah) and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. All of those years, coming into the temple to praise God all the while waiting to see the Savior, Jesus. At last, his request was fulfilled and His spirit rejoiced, the Savior had arrived to save mankind.

 

There are people today looking for the Savior. They need to experience the saving grace of Jesus, they need a living hope as they navigate life, and the only way to see Jesus Christ is by the example you set in your walk with the Lord and sharing your faith. Take time to share the amazing story of Jesus Christ’s birth and purpose for His existence on planet earth. Share the good news today with friends and family. God bless and Merry Christmas!

 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 

Christmas time is special for a child. They wait in eager anticipation of what gifts they’ll receive. A child is very sensitive to people’s treatment of them and the gifts they receive is evaluated by the importance of their life in the person giving the gift. I’ve seen it, they scan the room for other children’s gifts and if theirs is not as big or special as someone else, then they feel hurt and less important. Although that’s not an attitude of thankfulness, it is the only tool a child has developed in them to evaluate their importance. 

Sounds pretty immature, but the truth is, as adults, we sometimes feel cheated by other family members. We feel hurt when our own children don’t spend as much time with us as they do other family members, we recognize our importance in the family tree by the gifts received and quite often find our feelings hurt when things don’t measure up. Can you relate? 

Sadly, these hurt feelings distract you from the importance of the real reason for Christmas. The Son of God was born to give His life for you to have an eternal relationship with your Creator! There is no other gift or value of time spent with someone than the gift of God’s love. Don’t fall victim to the emotions of the holidays, walk through this holiday with a heart of gratitude for the One who gave His all for you to live in harmony with God. 

While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 

If you’ve ever experienced the Lords work in your life, you know that He reveals His plan as you follow along in obedience. Joseph and Mary, the parents of Jesus Christ, had the honor of welcoming Jesus into this world, by angelic notification. God’s plan to save mankind was through His Son, Jesus Christ. Joseph had a choice to break off his engagement as Mary was a virgin, yet pregnant. He chose to be faithful and follow through with God’s plan. 

When God does a work in your life, He will make it clear to you what He asks of you. Your willingness to follow Him assures Him that He is the true love of your life, and not influenced by others. Sometimes His plan involves great sacrifice on your part, but is necessary to encourage you to be “all in” and not just partially. God blesses obedience, partial obedience is disobedience. Think about that for a moment. 

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 

What has God called you to do as a child of God? You are part of the body of Christ, working together with others, to accomplish His plan to share the love of Christ with a lost and dying world. God will equip you for His request, all He needs you to do is surrender your will to His and He will bless you beyond measure. God bless friend!

 ¹¹ And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk ^[a]properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11-14

If you knew something bad was about to happen, you would prepare yourself for the moment of concern, wouldn’t you? God led me to today’s scripture and although it was written over 2,000 years ago, it can be applied to today. We live in a world where good is considered evil and evil is accepted as good. By biblical standards, society is unraveling at a rapid pace and there seems to be no stopping it. 

Jesus said, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:44

 Many people have tried to determine when Jesus Second Coming will happen, but the one thing will be clear, it will happen at a time when no one expects (1 Thessalonians 5:2-4). For the child of God, you must live in a manner worthy of your calling. God saved you through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The world needs to see Him living in you daily, so those outside the faith can see The Way to Jesus. The way to do that is to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”. Who will see Jesus in your life today?

 Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

I have a family member facing a big decision whether to sell their house and buy one that suits their needs. With inflation increasing, interest rates climbing, and the inventory of homes in their price range limited, they question their plans to move forward. As my wife shared with me their concerns, today's passage came to mind. 

My response in this equation is to trust God. He has ways of closing doors for His children that He knows won't be in their best interest. And He will in turn open a door to His perfect plan for you to follow through. Staying prayed up daily, seeking His wisdom and walking in obedience will assure you His perfect plan will prevail. Believe me, I've seen Him do this in my life, over and over, and He has NEVER left me high and dry. He will do the same for you. 

Trust God in every decision of your life so you'll always reap the best of His blessings. God bless. 

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

Nothing is more refreshing than having a delicious meal. Between Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, many stomachs will be full. This is my favorite time of year, something I always look forward to, especially sharing it with family and friends. 

Today's passage gives hope for those who've accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. He fills your life with a promise to never leave, nor forsake you. He provides a healthy balance of love, grace and hope for each day. It's your decision whether you feed on His blessings or do life by your own strength. 

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 Get you much needed fill of Jesus today. God bless. 

 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

 

If you have a job, you know there are policies and procedures in place to help you do your job the proper way. As you become familiar with them, your mind recalls what to do as you work through the day, making your job less confusing and more efficient.

 

Today’s verse gives great advice for navigating the daily life of a Christian. The word of God provides sound wisdom and direction to keep you safe from the pitfalls of this world. You are chosen by God to be set apart from the world and be a light for those who wander in the darkness (1 Peter 2:9). The only way you will have the wisdom to be set apart is to study and memorize scripture. By doing so, the Holy Spirit recalls verses you’ve read to help you when right decisions need to be made.

 

I share an example. My grandmother Nedra was laying in bed one night watching my grandfather breath as he slept. You see, he had congestive heart failure and his time was short on earth and grandmother knew it. She wanted to spend every minute with him. As she lay there worried, the Holy Spirit whispered in her heart, “Be still and know that I am God”. These sweet words, which are found in Psalm 46:10, comforted her that night, where she was able to fall back asleep knowing God had everything under His control.

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

 

Living as a child of God, in this fallen world, can be challenging if left on your own to figure things out. Read and study God’s word, fill your heart with His wisdom, so the light of His words will guide you daily. God bless!

 Be angry, and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your wrath. Ephesians 4:26

 

Have you ever been angry at someone? Maybe it was for good reason, possibly they offended or hurt you in some way. Whatever they did, anger was the result of the conflict. Today’s passage pretty much says it’s ok to get angry, but don’t let it result in sin, and definitely don’t carry it to bed with you.

 

What is sin in the presence of anger? Hate. Hate is just the opposite of love and God makes it very clear there is no place in your heart for Him when your heart if full of hate (Matthew 5:21-22). God is love and He expects you to forgive your offender through the power of His love working in your life. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12)

 

Hurtful words. Some people, when angry, use tough words in the heat of the moment, which do not bring glory to God (James 1:19-20). It sets you back for a moment in your relationship with God and oftentimes will tarnish your witness. Be careful what you say when angry: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger Proverbs 15:1.

 

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 19:11

 

Whither it’s a co-worker, friend, neighbor or your spouse, find it in your heart to love that person and give God the glory when you temper your anger towards someone. Keep yourself in check the next time someone makes you angry and God will bless you in that moment of tension.

 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. James 3:13

 

A person’s character is developed by years of his up brining, beliefs he has gained over the years and personal convictions. All of these added together produce that person’s character. Today’s passage gives insight to one who has ingrained their life in God’s word and has a personal relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Good behavior is one character trait of a child of God. But, there are many outside the faith who are “good people”. The difference is their source of wisdom and reasoning. James 3:14-16 says: But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. Someone who has not entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ is self-seeking. They do things their own way. Their reasoning is opposite of God’s standard of living. It doesn’t take long after talking to a nice person to recognize where their source of wisdom is gained.

 

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18

 

Godly character is developed over time. Once saved, the source of wisdom should come from God’s word and prompting of the Holy Spirit, who lives in every believer. The people you keep close to you should have these character traits, so together you can develop a strong spiritual bond, thus thwarting the devil’s attempts to divide and conquer.

 

Your character matters in this life and is influenced by the people you associate with and the source of knowledge and truth you seek after. Seek after Godly wisdom and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). God bless!

 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:7-10

 

We typically keep our house clean throughout the week. Our hands touch the vacuum cleaner once a week and take the trash out almost daily. But there is one thing that always seems to be neglected, the baseboards. Those rascals that line the house sit there and accumulate dust. After a few months, one of us gets on our knees and cleans them. I’d call that a deep clean.

 

Probably for the most part you try to live your life in a God honoring way. But like me, I’m sure there are areas of your life that quietly accumulate a less noticed sin that never crosses your mind until it’s heavy on your heart. Today’s passage gives some great advice to deep clean your soul. Getting on your knees and praying to God, with tears and mourning, for the buildup of sin that you have failed to acknowledge and ask for God’s forgiveness. Once you begin this prayer, the Holy Spirit works to remove the guilt and shame through tears of a sorrowful heart, and once again your soul is restored. Once restored you become a more useful vessel for the Lord. 

 

Those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuael 2:30

 

Honor God by deep cleaning your soul today. He is ready to forgive and cleanse your heart so you can walk unhindered by the entanglement of sin. God bless!

 ..and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:19-20

 

The Apostle Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ to anyone and everyone who would listen. His ministry and words spread across the globe and encouraging believers of places where their faith is tested by other religions and governments who seek to wipe our any existence of Jesus Christ. Paul’s words were written while he was in chains, bound because of his preaching, but that didn’t stop him from proclaiming Jesus Christ.

 

As you read and think about his condition, you are grateful you aren’t in chains because of your faith. But are you really free? Even with the freedoms of America, certain work places, neighborhoods and local communities’ frown upon sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The peer pressures of these places to “hush” Jesus, in fact put you in chains. Think about it. Can you think of places where sharing your faith in public would not be socially accepted? If so, you are no freer than Paul himself.

 

Chains and the severe punishment he took upon himself never stopped him from spreading the news of Jesus. If you find yourself in one of those “socially unacceptable” places to share your faith, maybe it’s time you open your mouth boldly for the sake of Christ. Most likely God has placed you right where the message of hope needs to be shared. Pray and think about it today and ask God to give you the confidence and boldness to share your faith as an ambassador in chains. God bless!

 No temptation has overtaken you except such as common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

 

Flip Wilson was a famous comedian who had a saying “the Devil made me do it.” He blamed the devil for the wrong things done in his life. Sounds like a good excuse, maybe you’ve even thought or said this. Let’s take a closer look at whose responsible for sin in your life.

 

As a child of God, you have the Holy Spirit of God living inside of you. His holy presence does not tolerate sin and cannot be within its presence. Yet, your body still has the fleshly desires bent towards the wickedness of the world. God’s Holy Spirit works to shield you from acts of sin. Today’s passage states “with temptation will also make a way of escape”. That exit door of every sin you encounter will always be available to you. It’s up to you to vacate the firebox you’ve found yourself in by the lure of Satan.

 

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

 

Drawing closer to God by starting your day in prayer, avoiding those paths you know lead you to sin and seeking God’s help when facing temptation will help you steer clear of disaster and by claiming the blood of Jesus Christ, the devil will have no choice but to flee. God bless!

 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Sprit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6:8-9

 

Would you consider the various aspects of your life stable, in good standing by today’s standard of living? A good paying job provides financial resources to have nice things and to live a comfortable life. Those are all good and well, and quite honestly, God most likely had His hand in your circumstances that has permitted you to live a comfortable lifestyle. The question is, what have you done to return some of His blessings?

 

It’s very easy to get caught up in the stuff of this world. Every form of entertainment is out there, just waiting to receive your financial support. But the truth is, it only lasts as long as your enjoyment of that pursuit or until it wears out. Like most things, they come and go and only provide a memory.

 

Today’s passage provides a positive investment that offers eternal rewards and they never wear out. When you invest your time, financial resources and pursue God’s calling for your life, your focus on worldly things becomes less important and you begin to see the real purpose for your existence. God doesn’t expect you to have a boring life. He wants you to get the most out of life, but with the right focus, the right perspective, so you will find fulfilment in His blessings. And those blessings never disappoint but feed your soul to desire more of His goodness.

 

This world and the things in it are suspectable to corruption and failure. Invest yourself in the Lord and you’ll find eternal rewards waiting on you as you enter the gates of Heaven one day! God bless!

 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

 

The Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to the church of God, which was in Corinth. The main theme of this letter was to encourage believers in Christ to live in the midst of a corrupt culture, by living the example of Christ, just like Paul. Paul wrote, “imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ”. A bold statement, but Paul was loyal to Jesus Christ and his entire life was devoted to the One who transformed his life into one of the most influential persons who modeled life after Christ.

 

If you had to explain Jesus Christ to someone outside the faith, could you do it by how you live? Would others see a difference in your life in comparison to those outside the faith? As a child of God, people watch you to see how you react, how you live your daily life by the actions you take, words spoken and interaction with others.  

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

 

The world needs to see the grace, mercy and love of Christ. They need to see how living a life of Christ sets them free from the bonds of sin’s slavery. The world needs to see Jesus through your life. Will you be loyal to the One who saved you and is transforming your life into His image? God bless!  

 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive. Psalm 124:2-3

 

Psalm 124 was written to give recognition to God for saving the people of Israel from their enemies. The Israelites are God’s people (Deuteronomy 7:6-8) and still today He has kept His promise to protect them from their enemies. They can truly say “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side”.

 

As a child of God, you too can share in this same promise that God is on your side. Philippians 4:13 comes to mind when I think about the Lord being on my side, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me”. By faith in Jesus Christ, you have the ability to overcome your enemies, have strength to endure temptation and live a life pleasing to God. God provides all the resources you need to have a successful journey through this brief time on earth. Praising God for His goodness, even in the most dire situations, will grow your faith and give God the recognition He greatly deserves.

 

Whatever you are facing today, just know that He is on your side and without Him, it’s impossible to stand up to the Goliaths that come before you. Trust God with every aspect of your life and you too can say….”if it had not been the Lord who was on my side, I would have lost the battle”.

 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

 

It’s 1 AM and you are awake, thinking and worrying about a certain situation that faces you and you try your best to figure out a way to either resolve it or avoid it. When you exit bed, you are in a hurry to get to the very thing that kept you awake all night. Tired and weary, you begin to address it, only to find out it was not as heavy as you thought at 1 AM. Sound familiar? Yes, I can say this has been me on many occasions during my career. Worried about things outside my control at 1 AM.

 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; Philippians 4:6

 

What I learned is God wants to be a part of the equation. He longs to hear your prayers for guidance and help. And when you make time for God, He takes the heavy burden of worry and anxiety and gives them His fullest attention. And the beautiful thing about God’s intervention, He uses the very thing that worries you to bring out something better in you and restores your faith in His perfect will for your life (Romans 8:28).

 

…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

 

Peace can be obtained in every circumstance when you give it to God and wait for His perfect response. God bless!  

 For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past. Psalm 90:4

 

Have you ever known someone who always runs late? They never make it to work on time, or to special events, and they’ll probably be late for their own funeral (that is a joke). People have their own time tables and when they do show up, to them, they are right on time. Maybe I’m speaking of you?

 

Well, many believe God can be slow to answer prayers and take action when action is needed. Today’s passage gives a glimpse into His world that never operates by a clock, everything runs on His eternal vastness. God knows each and every situation you encounter, His Holy Spirit lives inside each child of God, so He knows the pressures you face. Yet, He choses to respond when best and it always runs the course of His will for your life.

 

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:4

 

Maybe you are asking for God to intervene in something and according to your view point, He needs to act now. Put your faith and trust in Him as you lift your request into His throne room and patiently wait on Him. He will respond and give you His best. God will never leave you short handed for the things you need in life and what slips away was never meant to be there in the first place. God bless!

 

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

 

I love this time of year, the leaves turning colors, the cooler weather and football. Over the season I’ve watched quite a few football games and have been surprised by the number of penalties each team has accumulated. There is even a web site that tracks each team’s penalties and currently the Denver Broncos have the most for 2022. Each penalty, moves them further from the goal and hurts their ability to win each game.

 

Well thankfully God doesn’t keep score of our penalties (sins). As a child of God, He forgives sin through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Confession of sin admits our wrongdoing and He forgives, removing them from as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). That’s the good news. Unfortunately, Satan continues to keep score and He is always using them against you to hold you back from achieving the successful life Jesus has called you to live.

 

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

 

 The only way to achieve a successful life in Christ is to draw near to Him, through daily bible study, praying consistently throughout the day and turning completely away from the path that leads to the sins that plague your life. When you keep Christ close, Satan has no opportunity to squeeze in-between you and Jesus to whisper the penalties of your past. Keep Christ close in your daily walk and your movement towards the goal will never be hindered. God bless!

 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; So the Lord God of hosts will be with you. Amos 5:14

 

Life can be complicated at times, at the hands of our own actions. Have you ever made poor choices that resulted in a complete mess of your life? Maybe you engaged in a wrong relationship, took on a financial debt you couldn’t pay back or found yourself in a conflict with someone and now have to go to court to face your accuser. At times like this, one can feel hopeless and without a clue how to dig themselves out of this pit. Does this sound familiar in your situation?

 

Today’s verse, found in the book of Amos, gives a simple solution to the path forward: seek good and not evil. Right now you might be thinking what a mess you’ve made, and quite frankly you will probably live with the consequences of poor choices for a long time. But, it doesn’t make sense to continue in the path of wrong doing. The best way out is to pray and pursue good, even if it’s painful. It starts with being humble, accepting your wrong-doing and seek the best way to right the wrong. When you do, your outlook changes, people see the change in your life and hopefully, over time, opinions will change and trust will redevelop.

 

Life is full of choices, but the best way to steer clear of trouble is to always seek good and not evil. The Lord God will be with you when you chose right over wrong, every time! God bless!   

 Therefore do not case away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. Hebrews 10:35-36

 

One of Satan’s greatest weapons for Christians is doubt. He does his best to create feelings of uncertainty and doubt about your eternal salvation, thus making you less effective in living out God’s will and purpose for your life. As a result, you will miss out on God’s blessings. So how can you block out Satan’s static?

 

One way to help filter out his lies is to pray and study God’s word. These two necessary resources will open a direct line of communication between  you and God, which the truth of your eternal security will be confirmed by God’s promise to received you unto Himself, by accepting His grace and mercy through Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross. As you read the bible, your mind becomes full of God’s promises, which will provide a shield of truth to the lies of Satan.

 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

 

If you’ve received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you are saved for all eternity. Now go live for Him daily, without fear or doubts about your eternal security.  

 

 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. Mark 10:15

 

This time of year children are expecting to receive toys for Christmas. As parents struggle through department stores, their children beg for certain toys, reaching out to grab what they can get. Standing inside the buggy they beg their parents for a toy. I’ve experienced this first hand and to see their excitement when they receive it is heartwarming.

 

From the very words of Jesus Christ, He spoke today’s passage. As a child of God, you’ve got to ask yourself, does your relationship with Him have the same enthusiasm as a child in a toy store? As adults living in today’s world the pressures and demands of life can easily distract you from a childlike faith in Jesus Christ. You might go through all the motions of a Christian, but the true connection with Jesus Christ is missing. How can you have a childlike faith?

 

A deeper relationship with Jesus comes over time. Through prayer, bible study and having a obedient heart will allow you to recognize the void you have and the need for Him to help you in your daily walk. Time and time again, I have seen the hand of God working in my life, which simply reinforces the fact that I need Him, I long for His presence and without Him I’m simply going through the motions, missing out on His best.

 

Ask God to put that childlike faith in you and seek after Him in all areas of your life. Commune with Him through prayer and bible study and you will too see the need, the desire to know Him on a deeper level. God bless!

 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

 

The process for construction begins with a need. A need for a building to serve a specific purpose and its location is critical for the success of the business. Once the construction starts, all the pieces come together in an orderly fashion and eventually it becomes a fully functional building to meet the needs of the owner.

 

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:9

 

As a child of God, you were appointed a place on earth to serve a specific purpose for God’s kingdom. Even before you were born, God knew the plans He had for you (Jeremiah 1:5). He placed you in the perfect environment for your growth. From an outward appearance, it might not seem perfect by any means, but it was meant to grow you and guide you down a specific path so you’ll be prepared for your purpose. As the pieces of your life come together, so does the progress of God’s work and thus you become a living testament of God’s love, grace and mercy to all of mankind.  

 

If anyone’s work, which he has build on it endures, he will receive a reward. 1 Corinthians 3:14

 

Where are you in God’s construction project? His work never ends; so if you are at the beginning stages or nearing the end, continue in your work for the Lord. His purpose for your existence is to serve Him and help others find their way into the kingdom. Serve Him well; for each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work 1 Corinthians 3: 13.

 Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it, it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! This special time of the year provides many opportunities to show our gratitude of God’s blessings by sharing with others what He has provided. And God has provided plenty to you and I and everyone who enjoys the benefits of living in this land of freedom.

 

As you celebrate God’s goodness today, be mindful of the many men, women, and children who are in need and ask God to open your eyes for the opportunity to share a portion of your overflow to them. Your willingness and obedience to give will return back to you more blessings than you could earn by your own merit. God has a way of multiplying your dollars, your time, and your prayers to benefit someone other than self.

 

And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. Matthew 25:40

 

You’ll never run out of blessings when you invest them in the Lord. God bless!

 For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:10-11

 

Generally speaking, I believe people want to live life to its fullest. The means by which people get there hass a fine line between good and evil. Today’s scripture provides sound advice for those who desire life to be good by being truthful and turning away from evil. Nothing gained by wrong intentions will ever last and eventually your negative actions will be exposed, either here now or upon the day of judgement. Either way, it’s best not to do others dirty. It will come back on you.

 

The bible is full of proverbs and advice on seeking a peaceful life. Living a God pleasing life will never harm you, but will actually bless you in multiple ways; living in peace with others and finding favor with God. I can’t think of two better things to strive for in life than peace and God’s approval.

 

As you charter new territory on a daily basis, seek to do right, speak well of others or don’t speak at all, and most of all think about what brings honor to God. You’ll never have regrets when you live life to the fullest in the eyes of God’s approval. Blessings!

 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12

 

As a child of God, you might feel the pressure to conform to the ways of the world. There are things in this world meant to distract you from the truth of God’s word and Satan knows what trick is best to catch you off guard. Living for Jesus is a daily struggle to walk in righteousness and not fall off the narrow pathway He provides each day.

 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

 

You might be going through a difficult trial right now. The testing of your faith is on and the decisions you make from early morning til you lay down at night will determine your faithfulness. It might seem overwhelming at times, but God is faithful and just, and will give you the strength to navigate the difficulties and trials life throws at you. You already have victory in Jesus Christ, so carry on, knowing your strength comes from the Lord and you will win today’s battles. God bless!

 Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. Colossians 3:2

 

Your brain is the control center of your life. Everything that your body does, starts in the brain. Every heartbeat, every breath, every desire, every movement….ect. It all comes from the brain. As your brain keeps you alive, it also processes your data received and affects how the body responds. In fear your heart rate goes up and the body tenses, when happy a smile is generated and a feeling of joy overcomes you.

 

So, the real question today, why consume yourself with things of this world that will eventually pass away (1 John 2:17). Today’s passage reminds us that as Christians, our thoughts should be focused on God, not this world. After living 50 plus years I can tell you there is no gold nugget in this world. The benefits of living by faith, not by sight, in the Lord, has brought me more blessings and joy than anything I’ve experienced on earth. He will bless you for keeping your brain focused on the great things He offers.

 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

 

A life that follows in the footsteps of Jesus Christ starts in the mind. As you begin to develop and grow your mindset towards Him, your life will resemble more a Christlike character and people will truly notice the changes, opening up the opportunity to share your faith. Start today by putting aside the things of this world and ask God to fill your mind with His goodness so you can be the light in this dark world. God bless!

 Jesus mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it”. John 2:5

 

The setting for Jesus miracle turning water into wine; found in John 2:1-11

Jesus and His disciples were invited to a wedding. Jesus’s mother was there as well. As the wedding feast went on, the servants ran out of wine. Jesus’s mother approached Him with the concern, He in turn instructed the servants to fill six water pots with water, and in the process turned that water into the best tasting wine of the night (John 2:10). By this time Mary knew what her son could do to resolve the problem and asked for His help, and He clearly saved the day.

 

…that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5

 

Maybe you are lacking something in your life that has dwindled down to nothing. Relationship, finances, employment, health, the list is endless, but it’s important to you. Why not bring your request to Jesus today. If He can turn water into wine, He can turn nothing into something with a little faith on your part.

 

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

 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22

 

Yesterday I experienced an answered prayer. It was a specific prayer and the circumstances could have gone one way or another. God in His ability to answer prayer, allowed something to happen that resulted in my prayer being answered. Truly it was God’s signature and once again assured me that God is in the business of answering the prayers of His children.

 

You might be thinking that the second part of today’s verse is conditional. If you do what He says, He will answer your prayers, otherwise you are not going to experience His help. Truth is we all sin and fall short. No one is worthy of God’s help. But through the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ, you are washed clean so He can commune with you and hear you when you cry out  to Him. Yes, walking in a manner pleasing to Him is important, but His love is not conditional.

 

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that is we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14

 

If your request is something outside His will for your life, you can bet He won’t give it to you. He is like any father who only wants the best for His children and won’t give you anything that will harm your witness or relationship with Him. When you ask God for something, you can have the confidence His response will be in your best interest. Trust Him with every request! God bless!

 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. Psalm 86:6

 

When you have something heavy on your heart, what do you normally do? For most, it’s pick up the phone and contact someone very close, so you can share with them your burden. And for the most part, the person receiving your cries for help will offer some form of assistance either by action or words, but is that truly what you need?

 

When you lift your burden to the Lord, He already knows in advance what’s heavy on your heart and is waiting to receive your call for help. When you acknowledge to Him your needs, you become more keenly aware of His presence and within time can witness His awesome hand working in your situation. Sometimes He might appear slow to respond, but know He is working behind the scenes to bring the best result possible.

 

The next time you encounter trouble, call out to God. He will respond with help, far beyond what your closest friend can offer. Trust Him with today’s journey and the Lord will direct your steps so you can delight in your way.