2 John 1:8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.

“Hold the line” is a statement used by the military, encouraging the soldiers to prevent the enemy from breaking through the line of ground they've taken. That line requires soldiers to be brave and sometimes sacrifice their life in the heat of battle. 

Today's verse encourages Christians to stand their ground, not wavering in faith, from the workings of Jesus Christ and His disciples, who've given their lives to spread the gospel message. You are blessed to have the resources for life through God's word and His Holy Spirit.

You might be sitting comfortably and feeling safe in your environment, but don't let that freedom you enjoy give way to Satan. He will do all he can to wreck your faith and hold you hostage in fear from sharing the gospel truth with those are still in the dark, searching for a light. God never intended for you to sit by in idleness. 

Hold the line! The battle still rages today and it's up to you to keep advancing the message of hope. God bless. 

 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

 Have you ever failed God by doing something totally outside His will? The feeling of guilt and shame can be a heavy burden, even for the most devout Christian. Peter was a good example of this when he denied knowing Jesus Christ three times as He was being persecuted. The bible says after Peter realized what he had done, he went out and wept bitterly. Do you think he feared Jesus would reject him? Do you fear Jesus would reject you for a sin you’ve committed?

 Today’s verse gives assurance for each child of God that even in times when we fail Jesus, He still loves us and remains with us. Why? Because upon acceptance of Jesus Christ into your life, you receive God’s Holy Spirit. His Spirit resides in you (Romans 8:16)! So, if He is in you, how could He deny Himself? He can’t and He won’t. You are His forever, throughout all eternity. No matter how badly you sin, you’ll never loose your salvation.

 Now that doesn’t give you free reign to go out and sin. No, you are a new creature, created in Christ Jesus for good works; the works of the Lord. Walking in obedience with Him daily, and when you do sin, you immediately seek His forgiveness. You live in a fallen world. The temptation to sin is great, but His Spirit helps in your weakness and by His power you can overcome any obstacle Satan throws at you.

 Don’t let your failures question God’s love and acceptance of you. His love is unconditional, that is why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, here in the first place, to be that atonement for your sins. Embrace your freedom and walk in confidence knowing you are a child of God, forgiven and loved, even when you are at your weakest. 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

 One of my favorite things to do in retirement is make writing pens out of various woods. I order pen kits, which provide detailed instructions on how to make the pen from cutting and shaping the wood, and putting all the pen’s components together. If I miss one step in the process, the entire project could be a total loss and waste of my time.

 If you have a few years of life under your belt, you probably think you’ve got things figured out. You know what works and doesn’t and you pursue things that you believe will benefit your life. Poor choices or mistakes can cause a lot of pain, agony, and time wasted. But do you know there is a better way of navigating life?

 Today’s verses in Proverbs 3:5-6 provides a simple basis for the Christian’s life. Trusting God in all areas of your life and following His lead, by faith, will ensure your pathway through this life will have a solid foundation. Yes, you’ll still make mistakes, but those will be used to grow your faith and dependence upon the Lord. You stand a better chance at living a fulfilled life by following and trusting God than you do on your own. Why not start today, and every day, trusting God to direct your steps. God blesses obedience and He has plenty to share with you!

 

 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

 The other day I was in my workshop and listening to the news (which was probably not a good idea). There was nothing good said and I actually began to feel anxiety over what I heard. Finally, I turned off the news and started listening to Christmas music (good choice). The rest of the day I sang Christmas songs, even after leaving my shop.

 What steers your thoughts and emotions? If you are like most people, it’s the things you read, hear, see, and the conversations you engage with others. These experiences replay over and over in your mind. This can be good or bad, depending on what you allow into your mind. Today’s passage provides a structure for what you should feed your mind and heart.

 These things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9

 Do the movies you watch, books you read, music you listen to, and conversations generate praise and honor God? If so, continue. If not, maybe it’s time to change the channel, pick up a book on Christian living, and find friends who can provide beneficial conversations. When you do, your mind will focus on the qualities in todays passage, Philippians 4:8. And best of all, you will experience a peace in this troubled world. God bless!

 

 

 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

 Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have plans to share the day with family and friends. As a child of God, you have much to be thankful for in your life. Jesus Christ paid for your sins, eternally securing you a place in Heaven with His family. Until that glorious day, you are gifted with God’s Holy Spirit. Not alone, you have the incredible presence of your maker right there within you. Through faith, you have been gifted with what few have found: hope for tomorrow, security in this life, and most of all a love that comes with no conditions.

 Today’s passage is a great reminder that in your journey with Jesus Christ, thanksgiving should abound. Having a thankful mindset creates an awareness of God’s blessings, and your eyes begin to see His hand working in your life, which strengthens your faith, as you develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ. A spirit of thanksgiving benefits your life in many ways, and today is a good time to begin that mind transforming attitude that should prevail in your life.

 If you’ve got Jesus Christ, you’ve got all you need to be thankful for on this special day of Thanksgiving. If Jesus Christ isn’t a part of your life, click the following link for more information and choose to accept Jesus today, you’ll be eternally thankful! God bless!

How can I accept Jesus as my personal savior? (compellingtruth.org)

 

 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:14

 Years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. From the moment of my diagnosis the doctor put me on some medicine to help control my blood sugar. Thinking it would work, I didn’t change my eating habits and continued to eat donuts and other sweet foods that I enjoyed. Over time, my diabetes has gotten worse and now I’m having to take insulin daily. The medicine is the solution, but it won’t work unless I get serious about doing better. To this day I still struggle at times, but slowly trying to change my diet for the better.

 Today’s verse gives every Christian the perfect solution for abstaining from sin, make no provision for it. Just like my lifestyle change with diabetes, to overcome sin’s temptations, you have to stop going places, doing things, and looking at things that stimulate a desire for your specific sins. We all have our weaknesses, and admitting your sin problem and desiring to make lifestyle changes is a must if you are going to overcome them.

 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 temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

 God has taken care of the sin problem through His Son’s death on the cross, providing a spiritual connection with Him through His Holy Spirit. That gift of His Spirit will guide you daily, warning you when on the pathway to sin and provide a way out. It’s up to you to chose that exit door.

 

Satan uses sin to make you feel less worthy of God’s love and forgiveness. Choose to make a lifestyle change by putting on Jesus Christ daily and shielding yourself from the things, people and places that entice you. You can do it with God’s help, and He will richly bless your obedience! God bless!

 Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. Genesis 24:26

 Yesterday I did some work for my church. The tasks I had to accomplish were a bit challenging, but they had to be done. To prepare I prayed for God’s guidance and soften hearts as I sought to do His will. As I went from one location to the next, God opened the doors of opportunity and the day was productive. As I accomplished each task, I made sure to thank God for His goodness. I truly believe that kept the momentum up as I came home feeling positive about future tasks.

 Today’s passage comes from the story of Abraham who called upon his servant to find a bride for his son Isaac. He sent him to his homeland and gave specific instructions on how to find this special woman. This servant asked for God’s help and to his amazement, things played out perfectly, and he brought back Rebekah for Isaac. The servant on several occasions bowed his head and worshiped the Lord, giving thanks for His goodness.

 Just like you, God loves it when we acknowledge Him in the good times of life. He is the provider of all good things and worshiping Him should always be part of the equation. When you do, God multiplies His blessings in your life. I can assure you of this, as I’ve been witness to God’s blessings when I worshiped Him at every accomplished task. To take it one step further, worship Him even in the bad times of life, because He uses those challenging moments to strengthen your faith in Him (James 1:2-4).

Give credit where credit is due, worship God daily! God bless!