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!