But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16

 

No one can truly measure the pain and brokenness of a parent who loses a young child. They carry within them the void of that child’s life. Repeated thoughts of wishful memories playout, only to feel heartache and sadness with the daily emptiness they feel.

 

If there is any temporary relief of pain, its to know that your sweet child is in the holy presence of Jesus Christ. No more pain, no more sickness, only a transformed spirit wrapped within the love of Christ. Although their time was short lived, their life was not outside God’s plan. And through your loss, God has paved a difficult but purposeful journey for your life. Your heart loves like no other.  You are a gift and a blessing to those who know you and are impacted by your life.

 

“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18

 

The same God who has embraced your child is the same God who lives inside your heart. Through your devotion to Him, your love is passed through the Father, to your precious child. Stand firm on the promises of God that He will go with you until you are reunited with your loved one in Heaven! God bless!

 

 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

I have to admit, I have had a heavy heart for the people of Ukraine. As Russian soldiers move in across their country, tearing it apart, and destroying the lives of its citizens, my prayers are for their people. As sad as the news is, I’m encouraged to hear of their bravery. Thousands of every day citizens are taking up weapons to defend their country. These brave souls are willing to die for their country, including their leader. Although the odds are against them, they have made it difficult for the enemy to achieve success without a fight.  

You might not know it, but there is a battle going on around the world that is much darker and more violent than what’s happening in Ukraine. The devil and his demons are working to destroy the work of God throughout the world. Christians in many countries are paying the ultimate price for their belief in Jesus Christ. Brutal attacks on Christians in radical Muslim occupied countries are ongoing every day. Communist countries, such as China and North Korea (just to name a few) put Christians through horrible torture and even take their lives. I read about their stories through a special group, The Voice of Martyrs, who support Christians around the world. And the stories of their bravery against the evil forces of darkness give me hope in my faith.

Paul’s message to the Christians in Corinth, still stands true for today’s Christians, “stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” God bless America, the country that provides us freedom of religion and openness to share the gospel with others. The cloud of evil’s darkness will one day hover over America. Are you willing to defend your faith? Pray for God’s protection over this nation, pray for the people of Ukraine, and most of all pray for those persecuted Christians, for they are true soldiers of faith on the battlefield defending the faith we live each day in this country. God bless!  

Sharing a devotion from In Touch Ministries by Dr. Charles Stanley

Starting something new can be difficult. Whether it’s a job, a relationship, or a big move, new beginnings come with great uncertainty and require mental, physical, and spiritual preparation. Thankfully, believers have everything they need to face the unknown.

Before the crucifixion, Jesus promised the disciples wouldn’t be left alone—the Holy Spirit would come to live within them. In fact, being indwelled by God’s Spirit would be better than having Jesus Himself in the flesh. As He told them, “It is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7). 

In addition to having the best possible guide, we’ve also been assured that God will supply our needs and equip us to do His will (Philippians 4:19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). So we can confidently move forward with new endeavors, knowing that the Lord will continue to lead and help us. And while most of us would prefer to see the entire path ahead, we can rest in the certainty that God will be present at every turn.

Think about it

• What needs are you worried God won’t meet? Take a moment to tell Him about them.

 

 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

 

How content are you with your life? Are you happy with what you posses or do you always look for something better? Do you feel cheated out of things because others have more than you? We live in a commercialized world that targets people’s mind and pocketbook, with the enticement and entitlement to have more, buy more, and live in the poshest comfort. Although there is nothing wrong with wanting to live a comfortable life, it can become an addiction to have more.

 

For the child of God, it’s important to keep a healthy balance of needs vs. wants. God provides for His own by blessing them with resources to live. Finding contentment with those blessings brings honor to God. It shows you appreciate what He has provided and your dependence upon Him takes your relationship to a higher level. I truly believe we over comfort ourselves to the point that we lose our dependence upon God, thus miss the blessings He desires to give.

 

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Philippians 4:11

 

The disciple Paul lived in times of comfort and in times of much need. But through every minute of the day, his dependence was on the Lord and not the worldly things. Through his experiences, he developed a strong relationship with God, lived his life in pure obedience and was the example of today’s verse.

 

How about you? Can you reshape your thinking and find dependence upon the Lord to meet your every need? If you do, you’ll experience more blessings and joy in the times of plenty and times of less. God bless!

 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

 

If there is one thing I can promise you, if God has brought you to something, He will make a way through it. God oftentimes uses the difficulties we face to shape and mold us into a more trustworthy and faithfully strong child of God. Only through dependence upon the Lord will you find strength to overcome the obstacles life throws at you.

 

God’s promise to never leave nor forsake you is real. He has given you the Holy Spirit, who resides in you, who prays on your behalf, who provides wisdom, who convicts when you are headed toward disaster and best of all secures the relationship He has established with you. It’s forever, never to be taken away.

 

Whatever you are facing today, just know that God has allowed it to come into your life to make a better you. Although it may be painful and you might feel a loss, trust me when I say, your losses provide great gain of God’s blessings when you come out on the other side, stronger than before. Trust that God will equip you for the days and weeks ahead. 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

 

When you look at a piece of handcrafted furniture, you see the beautiful wood, with its shiny surface, bold color and the craftsman’s marks of edging and patterns. If you look even further, you’ll see how each piece is joined together, held tightly with screws, and/or glue, and interlocked for a firm and secure fit. It takes time and effort to cut each piece and make everything come together to produce a beautiful work of art.

 

The same is true for the Christian life. As each day passes, you add various circumstances, events, blessings that mold and shape the person you are at that moment. You learn from life’s lessons and hopefully make tomorrow a better day. God is the author of your life. He knows how every minute of every day will go for you and allows the various pieces to come together to result in a productive and obedient child of God.

 

Our responsibility is to use those pieces to do the work of the Lord. People should see a difference in you. The inner joy of Christ should shine outward. Unfortunately, some of the bad days hinder our faith and we lack the joy and usefulness God has developed in us. That’s when we must turn our troubles over to the Lord and ask Him to help us with the flaws and difficulties of life. God may have to work in your life to make it fit, which might result in some painful work of His hand, but He will accomplish His work through you to make a better you, a stronger you and a more beautiful you.

 

Trust what God is doing in your life. He brings together all the pieces, good and bad, to result in a beautiful creation! God bless!

 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

 

So here is a crazy thought. If you had one “get out of jail card”, would you commit some type of crime, free of punishment? Maybe it would be to sucker punch your enemy, steal the car you’ve always wanted or walk in a bank and take as much money as they have on hand. Ponder that for a moment.

 

Sadly, many Christians, take advantage of their salvation to indulge in sinful behavior. This free from sin’s punishment status can take a child of God into some dark places of sin, enveloping them into satan’s web of deceit. Jesus Christ never intended for His suffering to provide you a pathway to live in disobedience, yet still come out with the belief you are forgiven. Purposeful sin has no place in God’s presence, Galatians 5:19-21.

 

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24

 

Upon accepting Jesus Christ into your life, a change should happen. Everything about you in how you live, act, talk, think, should be a work in progress to transform your way of living into that of holiness and obedience. Yes, you (and myself) will struggle. Our flesh is weak, but our true heart’s desire is to please God for what He provided through His Son’s sacrifice on our behalf. It’s important to stay grounded in God’s word and be in a constant state of prayer so your life will reflect the true character of God.

 

Your sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. What you do with your freedom is important. Use it to experience the true freedom to live for Christ and love others, work against sin and not partake of it’s poison. Be that person who will be welcomed into Heaven with, “well done my good and faithful servant.” God bless!

 

 

 Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord chase them. Psalm 35:5

 

Do you have enemies in your life? Unless you’ve isolated yourself from the world, there most likely is someone out there who doesn’t have your best interest in mind. Those daily brushes with them can make life uncomfortable and you wish and even pray God would simply remove them from your presence forever. If that were the case, there would be no one left on planet earth! Think about it!

 

In the bible, David had many enemies, most notably King Saul, who had it out for him. At one point, King Saul rounded up 3000 of his best soldiers and sought after David to kill him and the 600 who were with him (1 Samuel 23:7-24:22). David had to resort to living in caves and feared greatly for his life. Can you imagine having 3000 soldiers seeking to destroy you?

 

Today’s verse comes from a passage in Psalm 35 which David asked the Lord to fight against his enemies and protect him. He was very specific in his request. If you read the passage linked above in 1 Samuel, you’ll see that God provided a point in time when David had the opportunity to kill Saul, yet he showed him grace and the two were able to communicate and bring a halt to Saul’s desire to kill David.

 

“The Lord is farm from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29

 

Your enemies don’t stand a chance when you pray for God’s intervention. Trusting that God’s plan to bring resolution to your enemy’s attacks might take a while, even years, but through time, He will make a way to provide room for grace and mercy and even restoration. Pray for your enemies and seek after God’s will for your situation. God hears your prayers!  

 

 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

 

During the peak of the Covid pandemic, most of us got a taste of worshiping God on Sunday, sitting on the sofa at home in our pajamas. The comforts of home were nice, but oftentimes too comfortable to stay focused on the message broadcasted through various forms of media outlets. It simply wasn’t the same as coming together in God’s house, worshiping God with fellow believers.

 

Since then, the church doors have opened, and some pews filled, but some still remain vacant and you wonder what’s happened to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We do know that some have passed in the pandemic, some with weakened immunities are remaining cautious by staying home, yet others have made it a habit of staying home…quite possibly not even tuning in to church services any longer.

 

If you are reading this blog, I strongly encourage you to get back to church and worship God with your fellow Christians. From the friendly fellowship with others, to songs of praise and obtaining a nugget of wisdom through the preacher’s message, all these things combined feed the child of God wisdom and encouragement to live out their faith on a daily basis.

 

“For where wo or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

 

If you truly want to experience the presence of God, go where He is today, at your home church. You won’t regret the effort it takes to leave the comforts of home and gather in unison to receive God’s blessing and wisdom on the first day of the new week. Start it off right in the house of God. Blessings friend!

 

 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6

 

There is an old saying: “you get back what you give”, is quite true. When you invest yourself, your talents, your finances, into something worthwhile, it will usually bring back something good in return. Making this world a better place through your acts of kindness reward not only the recipient, but yourself.

 

Today’s verse sheds light on giving of yourself, your talents and finances. Oftentimes people hold back the abundance to make themselves feel secure when times get thin. Looking at it in the spiritual sense, God owns it all and He is the One who provided that abundance you hold so tightly.

 

As a child of God, you are commanded to give, and not just your finances. When you entrust everything you give (time, talents and finances), God has a way of multiplying the return on your freely given resources. Trusting in Him to help you deliver God’s goods to others through your generosity will help you ease the temporary control you have over what He’s given you.  The more you give, the more blessed you’ll be in life.

 

Giving opens the door to showing the light of Jesus to a dark world. Trusting God to supply all your needs will help you develop a generous spirit. Through it all, your generous sowing of God’s blessings will reap bountiful rewards here on earth and in Heaven. Go and sow bountifully today! God bless!

 

 But beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

 

I don’t know if UPS has adopted this verse as their mission statement, but the last three packages I received were past the scheduled delivery date. This left for one past due gift and a lot of frustration on my part as I wait for the items I ordered. Has anyone else experienced this issue? Once you hit the “purchase” button, its completely out of your hands.

 

As Christians, we put in our prayer request and expect a relatively quick response from the Lord. But, that doesn’t always happen the way we wish. God is on a different time table than we have on planet earth. I can assure you though, His timing is always perfect. His delayed response does several things for us:

 

It teaches us patience. “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4 The wait time develops character as we wait upon the Lord’s response. Good things don’t happen right away, they take time to develop and grow. Your faith and trust in the Lord doesn’t just grow over night. It takes time, but on the other end of that long timeline is delivery of God’s promise to take care of us and meet our needs according to His will.

 

Teaches us to trust Him. I think back a number of years ago when my mom wanted to sell her house and move into town to be close to her mom. The house sat on the market for over a year and we all wondered if it would sell. One day mom had an offer and at the same time a beautiful home came up for sale just one block away from my grandmother’s house. God’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Believe me when I say, God hears your prayers. Once received, HE puts a delivery date on it, so you’ve simply got to trust His timing to be the best for your situation.

 

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17  Friend, whatever you have lifted up to the Lord in prayer, trust in His timing and allow the wait to develop your faith,  knowing His timing is best. God bless!

 

 

 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5

 

The question has been asked by many: how will those outside the faith come to know Jesus? The short answer is, they wont unless someone tells them. One way you can share your faith is by how you live your life. Today’s passage has a simple message: live out your faith for others to see.

 

Trust me, people watch people, especially Christians, in how they behave, especially in difficult times. Keeping your behavior in check can be challenging when you encounter various trails and rough patches throughout the day. But you must not allow the outside circumstances to influence your behavior. Trust me, I speak from experience. I’m always working on my patience…..and I can tell it has a long ways to go. But, I’m slowly working towards transforming my inner self to reflect the character of Christ.

 

How is that accomplished? Through much prayer, reliance of the Holy Spirit to guide my day and studying the bible. Without its wisdom, I’m like a ship with no navigation at sea, tossed here and there without purpose or mission.

 

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:6

 

You have the tools to live out your faith. Use them to be a living testimony of what Christ has done and is doing in your life. People will ask the source of your joy and contentment, be ready to give them the words they need to hear. The Holy Spirit will give you those words when the time comes, just live out your faith. God bless!  

 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Peter 4:12-13

 

Do you ever feel like there is a target on your back? You go through the day, encountering one painful circumstance after another, without any sight of relief. If you are a Christian, you are in the eyesight of satan’s weapons, meant to cause you pain and misery. His intentions are to discourage you and weaken your spiritual strength. Why? Because the joy of the Lord is your strength. If satan can disrupt your joy, your focus turns from Him to your troubles.

 

The best way to fire back is to give praise to the Lord. As a Christian, you are his child and He has your back. When you focus on praising Him, you shield yourself from those flaming arrows so you can keep the momentum of your spiritual journey moving forward and not withdrawing. God will bless you when you keep up the fight to endure through life’s struggles and spiritual attacks.

 

When you feel like waiving the white flag of surrender, look to God and praise Him for His goodness. Find positive blessings in the middle of the attack; they will give you footing to forge ahead. Praise is the shield that protects and builds your faith. Use it today as you battle on behalf of the Lord. God bless!  

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths Proverbs 3:5-6

 

As I’ve aged and technology has grown, I tend to rely on its resources, specifically navigation through GPS. I simply plug in my intended destination and it provides the best route. Today’s navigation systems evaluate traffic in real time and offer changes to routes to avoid disruptions in travel. I’ve been down some back roads, made many turns and even had to take long roads, but eventually I arrived where I planned.

 

The Christian life is very similar, except we don’t need to rely on technology to direct us down the right path. We have instilled in us the Holy Spirit of God, a living navigator, who always has our best route in mind. When we encounter trouble or disruptions in life, He helps us through those rough patches, oftentimes taking us through them, rather than around the problem. But, during each mile, He keeps us in the proper lane. If we look to Him and not our problems, we will get through them successfully, and most likely grow from the difficulty.

 

What issue faces you today? You probably have in mind how to respond. Don’t look at the difficulty, look and listen to how God wants you to respond. By trusting His voice, you put the responsibility on Him as long as you remain obedient to His direction. God has today’s route mapped out. Are you willing to trust Him? Trust Him with all of your heart and He shall direct your paths! God bless!

 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love doe not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope somewhere in this day you will feel the love and appreciation from someone special or those who are close to you and have much appreciation for your presence in their lives.

 

As you get to know someone, you might develop a love for them. Today’s passages provide a true example of what genuine love looks like. In this crazy world driven by social media and it’s advertisements, the definition of love can become blurred and only measured by emotions. True love goes beyond the emotions and is still standing when the greatest storms and rough patches hit.

 

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sin.” 1 Peter 48

 

I can say, without a doubt, my experience with genuine love is found in my relationship with my wife. She loves fervently and without hesitation provides grace and mercy to me when needed. I am a very blessed husband to have her in my life. My prayer is you have someone who is anchored in love and shares the same in your relationship. It’s a beautiful thing.

 

If you want true love for your life, put Jesus at the center of everything you do. He is love. Everything in His character resembles the lasting love that few can find on this side of eternity. Keep Him front and center in your life and you will know what love looks like in your relationships and interactions with other people. Happy Valentines Day!

 

As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you. Isaiah 66:13

 

One year ago today my mother, Linda Lou Barr, crossed over into eternity with the Lord. I can only imagine her entry into this beautiful Heaven. Without a doubt, I’m sure it’s her “happy place”. She lived her life in preparation for this new residence. Her life was lived by a strong Godly foundation and she loved and cared for me and my sister with every ounce of her being.

 

Today’s verse perfectly describes my mother. I recall when I went through a very difficult time in my life; every week mom would send me a card with a note of encouragement that went on for months. Every time something happened in my life, good or bad, mom was always there to see me through it. And what’s truly special, I was adopted by my mom and dad. God had a special home for me and He couldn’t have done a better job placing me in the loving hands of my mom and dad. I am truly blessed.

 

Although I miss my mom, and at times I deeply grieve her departure, I feel this total peace and comfort knowing she is in the presence of the Lord. It’s a peace like no other and I’m so thankful to have that intimate relationship with the Lord. Through my relationship with Him, I connect to mom on a spiritual level now and it’s that relationship that makes it all good.

 

I’m sure if mom was still here today, she’d like this Facebook post and maybe provide a few words of encouragement. Until we reunite in Heaven, I can embrace God’s comforting love, just like you provided me through the years while here, being the best mom I could have ever asked for! Love you mom!

 For thus says the Lord God of Israel: “The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.” 1 Kings 17:14

 

I recall a time in my life when I was single and money was tight. On one occasion I found myself with a $20 bill in my wallet and 7 days til payday. Thankfully I had filled up my gas tank so I could get to work that week, but I didn’t know how I was going to buy groceries.  I prayed and asked God to help me. A little while later I happened to look inside my fridge and the inside was full of food. Do you know I carried that $20 bill in my wallet for 3 weeks before I had to spend it! God provided for my needs.

 

There is a fascinating story of Elijah who was instructed to stay with a widow for a period of time (1 Kings 17:8-16). The widow, who was very poor and had one son, had barely enough flour and oil to make bread to feed themselves, much less one additional person. Yet, God provided just enough bread and flour to feed all three.

 

There are times in life, when I believe God allows our resources to dry up to just a handful. He does this to provide an opportunity to show us what He can do with what little we have. And EVERY SINGLE TIME, He sustains. He multiplies our resources, by our faith, to meet our needs. He never lets the bin dry up enough that He can’t take something as small as a mustard seed of faith and multiply it to a bountiful supply of blessings.  Every day of my life God shows me His love through provisions He provides. He has never let me down.

 

Maybe you are struggling with just a little. Maybe your limited resources are money, love, shelter, food, clothing, or health. Look to God, in faith, to take your handful of _________ and make it last til God’s blessings rain down on you once again. God has the power to turn one small portion into a bin full. Trust Him today with your handful. God bless!

 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

 

Have you thought about your commitment to Jesus? How committed are you to His way of life? Human nature usually takes our mind back to the old ways, the ways we are comfortable with, the way that works easy for us. Yet, our old ways and old thinking don’t line up with God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8). Jesus was pretty clear that anyone who accepts Him, is not fit for the kingdom if they keep desiring the old way of life.

 

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:3

 

Maybe you struggle with a sin that seems to follow you like a ball and chain, wrapped around your life or you find it difficult to develop the Fruits of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23. It’s a great parallel that Jesus compares our attachment to Him as hands to a plow. It’s hard work maneuvering that plow through the dirt, turning up new soil. But it is necessary if you want a crop that produces good yields. Same is true for a child of God, you must remain committed to the Lord, serving Him without question. When you make that commitment, everything else has no purpose in your life; only what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report and praiseworthy.   

 

Its time to take hold of the plow and break new ground for your life, so God can produce a yield of spiritual blessings through your commitment to live the life He has called you to through Jesus Christ.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

 In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3

 

Today I just want to drop a reminder. NO matter how difficult life is this side of eternity, we have the hope and bright future of a new home, a beautiful mansion, and the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, waiting for us. Some of the difficult struggles we face in this life are actually faith builders for our new home and new body in Christ.

 

If you are struggling today, thank God that He is busy preparing your home. It might be a long time till you receive your entry, but the wait and blessings will certainly be worth it. Thank God for what He is doing in your life, here and now, and how it’s preparing you for an eternity of joyful bliss with Him forever! God bless!

 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!” Acts 8:20

 

Ever find yourself in a retail store and saw something you really wanted, only to be told its not for sale. The owner placed it there as décor for people’s enjoyment. I feel that way when I walk into a Cracker Barrel and look at all the décor suspended from the ceiling and walls.

 

Today’s passage comes from Acts 8:9-25 where a man named Simon had a lot of money and ability to amaze people by his magic tricks. He saw people receive the Holy Spirit and wanted this for himself. He offered his money and was basically told salvation isn’t for sale. Peter slammed him pretty hard and even went on to say: “You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.” After some correction, Simon asked for God’s forgiveness and cleansed his heart of the poisonous beliefs that held him captive to money.

 

What can you learn from this brief story? Money will go only so far. Some of the best blessings from God don’t have a price tag. It comes by living the life God has called for you. Self-sacrifice, surrendering your will for His, giving your time to help others, devoting time to pray for others, the list is endless. If you are truly in tune with God, His Holy Spirit will direct you to action, not money, to grow and benefit the kingdom of God.

 

Find ways to bring glory and honor to the Lord outside of your checkbook and see the results of your commitment go further and more meaningful. God bless!

 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. Matthew 20:34

 

I find it interesting that one of the last miracles Jesus performed before His death was giving sight to two blind men as recorded in today’s passage. Was this just happen stance? I don’t think so. The bible references the eyes as a lamp to the body. If the eye is good, your whole body will be full of light (Matthew 6:22).

 

Sight is one of the most important parts of the human body. It allows you to see where you are going, take in the beautiful sights of this world and most of all it is the doorway to your heart. What you permit your eyes to see, transforms your thoughts. That is why its so important to read and take in the wisdom of God’s word. It feeds the mind with lifesaving truths; it protects you from the dangers of falsehood and most of all it shows you the love of God. The more you read, the fuller your lamp oil becomes, keeping your light shining even in the direst of times.

 

If you have sight, thank God for His provision and use it wisely in this life so you can witness the very things you have read and studied over the years. God bless!

 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:16-17

 

When was the last time you can say something good happened in your life? Maybe you received a promotion at work, afforded a new car purchase, your child received special recognition for his accomplishments or maybe you just had a good day without the troubles of life disrupting your joy. Did you take credit for the good thing that happened?

 

God has a way of dispensing blessings at just the perfect time. His blessings sustain your faith in Him, they encourage you when down and they oftentimes give you a sense of purpose. Whatever they do for you, they are part of God’s plan for your life. How you receive, acknowledge and utilize those blessings aligns you for future ones. They are like edges on the side of a mountain, as you climb, they give you something to grab hold to as you move upward through life.

 

The process of blessings should first be awareness. Keeping an eye out for the good things is essential; it keeps you from focusing on the bad things. When they do happen, you should recognize their source; not all good things come from God alone. The devil will often use a good thing to steer you off course or plant a seed of pride in your heart. Upon understanding the blessing is authored by God, thank Him and seek out His purpose for the blessing. Once you do that, your vision to reach beyond your current place on the mountainside will be more visible.   

 

God’s blessings will always help you in life. Recognize their source, be thankful and always look for their purpose as you climb the mountainside of life. God bless!

 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1-2

 

As a child in elementary school, one of my favorite TV shows was Star Trek. Each show had drama and excitement that sparked my interest in space. The crew of the Starship Enterprise were my heroes and I wanted to imitate them. I recall acting out parts of the show with my friends on the playground at school. To this day a small part of me still loves the excitement of space travel and keeps me looking at the stars.

 

Today’s scripture encourages us to imitate God. Not imitate His power, but the character traits He displayed through His Son, Jesus Christ. The only real way you will transform your mind to be an imitator of Jesus is to read the bible and understand His character. Not too far into your study, you will realize His entire nature is seasoned with love. God sent His Son to earth for that very reason, out of love for mankind (John 3:16).

 

Why imitate Jesus Christ? Because the world needs to see the love of Christ in hopes of brining more people into the family of God. Your witness is like a bright light shining into the darkness (Matthew 5:16). People tend to focus on light, not the expanse of darkness. So, by imitating Christ, by how you live, you are displaying the light and love of Christ for people to look to and find their way to salvation.  

 

You might be thinking to yourself that you haven’t lived a life worthy of following due to many failures and spiritual disasters. That’s ok, Jesus Christ came to redeem the lost, and your transformation into a child of God is a living testament of what His unconditional love can do for even the most vile sinner.

 

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” 1 Peter 3:15

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

 

“I can’t do this” was a common statement I made when I first became a supervisor at my work. The pressure to perform consistently in an ever-changing world made it seem impossible to maintain a steady flow of productivity. Where did this pressure lead me? To Christ! I found that if I started my day off praying at work, actually walking around the building in prayer, I surrendered my plan and strength to Christ and He has always made a way for me through the daily challenges and struggles of overseeing my staff and our responsibilities as a team.

 

But, I have to admit, there are days when I feel completely overwhelmed and question why God has allowed a tidal wave of adversity to sweep over me. As a result, I cling even more strongly to Christ and hunker down in prayer, oftentimes on my knees at my desk chair, to seek His strength and wisdom for the moment of crises. I can tell you He comes through each time. The key is for me to continually keep my focus on Him, so He can orchestrate the challenges at hand.

 

Maybe you are feeling zapped physically and spiritually by the challenges of life. Turn your focus from your problems and look to Jesus Christ for strength and help. The outcome might not be as you planned, but His plan always is best and will prepare you for the next wave of adversity.  Your weakness is an open invitation for His strength to accomplish all things through Christ. God bless!

 Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being on one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:2-3

 

Yesterday I talked about the blinding effects of pride and how it’s difficult to see the needs of others when you put yourself first in everything. A child of God must always have a humble, serving spirit if they are to minister to the needy.  One special ministry that my wife and I are involved is the “Good Sam Ministry”. It’s a special mission where a community of caring people come together on a Saturday to fill plastic bags with food items to give to school children. Counselors in our local schools keep an eye out for kids who appear to have limited resources at home and provide a bag of food on a school day to keep them fed over a weekend.

 

In my opinion, the most powerful part of this ministry is seeing dozens and dozens of people attend these once-a-month gatherings to fill 800 plus bags, in about 30 minutes. People from all walks of life; young and old, all races and even financial status pull together an assembly line of love for their community. It’s powerful, it’s spiritually uplifting and it’s a mission that is fulfilled every month.  A group of like-minded people who come together in love to serve a community can do so much when the need is seen and acted upon.

 

I strongly encourage you to be a part of a special ministry in your community to show support and the love of Christ. There are so missions outside the walls of your home you can become involved in that will make a huge impact on the lives of others. Find one today, or join us on Saturday, February 5, at the Good Sam ministry in LaGrange, Georgia. God bless!

 

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:16

 

The other day I was at a local coffee shop when I overheard a customer telling the barista all of the changes she wanted to make to her beverage. After her complex order was received, he shook his head and asked her to repeat herself so he wouldn’t mess it up. I remember a time, a long while ago, when you got what was on the menu and there were no substitutions. No doubt, we live in a self-serving society.

 

As a child of God, it’s important to check for prideful ways that can hinder and tarnish your witness. When you align yourself before others, you put those less fortunate souls behind you, leaving no room for you to show compassion and the character traits of Christ. It doesn’t take long to read through some passages in the bible to realize Jesus made time for others, completely humbling Himself by serving mankind. Can you say your life represents that giving spirit?

 

“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 hypocrisy.” James 3:17

 

If you see that pride has come between you and your fellow man or woman, it’s time to take a number and step to the back of the line, where you can see people’s needs, to serve them and leave no one untouched by the love of Christ.  God bless!  

 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:6

 

The technology they put into new cars these days is amazing. Many of them have multiple features to help the driver avoid accidents and stay the proper lane. My new car does these things (if I engage the safety button), and honestly it can be annoying, but it works. There is only one thing it lacks, a sense of direction. It will keep me driving safely, but it doesn’t know my intended destination. I am ultimately responsible to make sure the car goes where I need it to.

 

If you think about it, we live in a world overloaded with technology to help you make decisions, study certain topics, communicate with others around the world, heck you can even remotely start your car from anywhere if you have the App. What’s an App? LOL

 

As a child of God, you MUST be very careful with the convenient technology of today. Satan will use it to overload your mind with many options, leaving you to make blind decisions without seeking the truth in God’s word. Think about it, what do you spend more time reading, Facebook or The Bible? Social media can provide an avenue for Satan to pollute your mind with false doctrine, misguided thinking and steer your emotions right off the path God laid out for you.

 

Message for today: stay awake at the wheel of your mind. There is plenty of information about navigating life in the bible. The majority of social media doctrine is personalized and not always accurate. And just a side note, the backside operations on most of these social media sites are meant to redirect your thoughts. One documentary that addresses this issue is “Social Dilemma” on Netflix, check it out.  God’s on a roll with the keyboard this morning, take heed in what He is saying through this blog…..”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement. Hebrews 9:27

 

The Mondy morning news, for our local community, was not good. In one city a young 15 year old boy was accidently shot and died, here locally a woman was murdered by her boyfriend.  Tragically both of these victims were in the prime of life, death came unexpectedly.

 

While living life, its hard to comprehend our death. We often avoid talking about it, so not to wish it upon ourself too soon. But, the reality is, our designated date and time inches closer with every minute that passes. Are you prepared for the end?

 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

 

You may not think beyond your time here on earthy, but you should. Eternity is never ending and your time on planet earth is just a drop in the bucket to the time you’ll spend on the other side. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

 

If Heaven is your intended destination, its time to know Jesus Christ and what He has done for you. The Son of God, completely sinless, Jesus lived a life of 33 years on planet earth, providing a glimpse of God’s character and love to mankind, documented in the bible. He died by a painful death of crucifixion, as payment for your and my sins. Three days later He rose to life, defeating death.

 

Acceptance of God’s gift of forgiveness and assurance of eternal life in Heaven is one simple prayer. Pray something like this….Dear Lord, I know I am a sinner. I believe in Jesus Christ and what He did for me. I confess my sins to you and ask for your forgiveness. I want to accept Jesus Christ into my life and live for you every day. Thank you for saving me. If you prayed that prayer, your name is written in the Lambs book of life, with an open invitation to Heaven upon your exit from this life. Walk with the Lord daily by reading His word, living it in obedience and share the good news of your hope with others. God bless!