Tag: Love

Rejoice Always

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

A time of discomfort and unsettling can so easily become our everyday norm. We get a sense of our feelings at being lost,
not knowing how to get out of what we are in. It’s like a window we get to take a glimpse out of.


We settle in the dirt, settle in the ugly and meanness of what society has become. It’s almost ok for someone to yell at you, belittle you, it’s almost ok for them to put you in the ground with no feeling of wanting to get back up. I witness day in and day out that as a society it’s acceptable to curse and shame one another.


I ask when did we loose our compassion? When did we loose humility? Our humbleness? Integrity? Love? The love that God provides every single moment of our day.
It’s like we have forgotten who gave us this day you are already regretting. This is the Day the Lord has made, rejoice in it. our Almighty God, our Awesome God has provided, written, walked, and faught through the day you are doubting.

HE has given you life, gave His only Son our Savior Jesus Christ because he loves you that much. HE gave his only son so that you can live with him in his kingdom. You can have a crown of jewels placed upon your head, you can walk streets of gold, He has prepared a place for you already in His kingldom. You just have to accept Jesus, welcome him into your heart, and begin your walk with Him. I promise the tangled up mess that you feel every day will disappear and light will become your new normal.

In Him: We Are Forgiven

It’s a fact: Satan tries to remind us of our past mistakes, our past sins and intimidating us that they are not forgiven. We then if we believe those lies begin to step back, become weak or even retreat from God in shame.

But we have this promise 👇🏼

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrightesouness”

We have a responsibility to confess, bring them into the light and repent from them.

“…he is faithful and just.”

It’s not because we were faithful to come to him that sets us free, it’s because when we do come to him, he is faithful and just.

It’s all because of what happened at Calvary that sin has no power over the believer.

Today remind yourself that because he has risen we no longer have to be that person. That sin no longer has a hold on you. You stand today forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness — holy in his sight!

There is a Plan for You

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Romans 8:28-29 NKJV

Some of us from time to time we may think about our future. Maybe it’s a goal or a desire that you haven’t seen fulfilled yet and the thought keeps nagging you. It feels like at times you missed the opportunity or the setbacks put you off track. Maybe it was a relationship and things didn’t work out like you wanted it too. 

When our future looks bleak and we ask, “What is my purpose in life? Why am I here? I just want out! Am I any good to anybody? It all looks so hopeless.” We are looking at our world system credentials, our world system status as a person, and for the encouragement that comes from the world.

 It isn’t your responsibility to plan your future. That has been planned before your life began (remember He saw every day of your life before you were born). You are being conformed to His image. Every incident, every setback, every disappointment, every unexpected tragedy are to be used to further His purpose of conforming you to His likeness in your life and in my life.

It may seem that God’s plan are interrupted but hold fast to the promise that God is working behind the scenes. And to believe that all things work together for good for those those who love God.

Where is Your Faith?

so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:5

We are living in strange times, who would’ve thought that some virus could devastate the economy? It has shaken every part of our world as we know it. Our jobs, our families and more than that it has shaken the economy. And for some it has shaken a lot of things that you would’ve never thought possible. What will you be left with when all of this goes away? Will you have more money than before? Will you have your job? What will remain when the dust settles? or more importantly, will you be moved by this storm? Or will you take refuge in the Lord?

Paul reminds us in Hebrews 12:27 “This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken — that is, things that have been made — in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.”

Every distraction that has been the priority, our careers, our lives has been shut down. And we have been driven back to the basics of family and faith. I believe that God sometimes has to shake our world to re-focus our priorities in order to wake us up and for us to realize that He is our priority.

So where is your faith? Is it in man, money, possessions?

Or is it in Christ alone?

God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power – to overcome the obstacles  and love – to help others and sound mind – ability to not panic, make wise choices, to choose faith over fear. – 2 Timothy 1:7

Cultivating a Heart of Thankfulness

Studies have shown that being thankful improves our physical and emotional health. Holding on to feelings of thankfulness boosts our immune system and increases blood supply to our heart. Daily guided exercises or the habit of keeping a weekly gratitude journal can increase our alertness, enthusiasm, and energy, and improve our sleep. People who describe themselves as feeling grateful tend to suffer less stress and depression than the rest of the population.

LUKE 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance.

  • ITS COMMON TO SEE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAS THE SAME OUTLOOK AND THE SAME ATTITUDE OF A CONDITION HUDDLED TOGETHER. 
  • LIKE NEGATIVE NANCY, DEBBIE DOWNER, PESSIMISTIC PAT, AND A FEW OTHERS WERE THERE.

 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” (DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?) 

SOMETIMES WE ARE NOT PRESENTED WITH A QUESTION FROM GOD BUT AN ACTION AND THAT ACTION IS THANKFULNESS, PRAISE AND HONOR!

HE WANTS TO SEE OUR HEARTS REACTION TO A MIRACLE OR A BLESSING. 

PSALM 86:12-13

“I will give thanks to you with all my heart, O Lord my God. I will honor you forever because your mercy toward me is great.”

And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 

  • (STOOD AT DISTANCE) IT WAS LAW THAT THEY HAD TO KEEP A DISTANCE BETWEEN OTHERS. JESUS IS STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM. RELIGION KEEPS US FROM GIVING THANKS, RELIGION KEEPS US FROM BELIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE.  

16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” 

THE LEPERS WERE WANTING HEALING BUT ONLY ONE CAME BACK WITH A SOUND OF PRAISE! 

BE THANKFUL. IF WE ARE NOT CONTENT AND GRATEFUL FOR WHAT WE HAVE AND WHO WE ARE, THEN WE ARE NOT LOVING GOD AS WE SHOULD. 

EMBRACE TRUST RATHER THAN CONTROL

THE BEGINNING OF REBELLION IS A THANKLESS HEART.

Faith/Fear

faith or fear

 

Elijah flees from Jezebel 1 Kings 19:1-18

19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
The Lord Speaks to Elijah
9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a] 13 And when Elijah heard it,he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

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After Elijah killed hundreds of the Baal prophets after the account on Mount Carmel where Elijah shows the prophets of Baal that the only living god is Jehovah. With Ahab seeing the incident, he then told of the massacre to Jezebel. She then sends a messenger to Elijah, confronting and making death threats.

Jezebel claimed that she would kill Elijah. But why didn’t she send troops instead of only a messenger? Just like the enemy’s accusation. They are all false and without power. What makes us think that it is more powerful than us? Without knowing the Word, one could fall, but there is a remedy and that is the power of Jesus!

All of this happened at Elijah’s spiritual peak, whenever there is about to be victory, watch out because that’s when the enemy is going to hit you the hardest, why? Because it is of God, anything that God gives you the enemy wants to take it away, he wants your life to be miserable.

Where will faith lead you? It led Elijah into a cave. But before we start pointing fingers at Elijah. Let’s examine ourselves. When we don’t get what we want, do we pout or jump up and down? No one likes playing the waiting game, I know I don’t. What about the job offer that never came up or you are still there at that place of employment but yet the position never came open. What is it in your life that has made you been in the cave. Is it fear?

ENEMY’S THREATS ARE EMPTY

Once we start to learn his strategy of how he works against the believer, we have a better understanding how to come against him. Only with the Word, the Bible is our only line of defense; to quote and to know scripture. When Jesus was tempted, did He just walk away? Or just tell the Devil “leave me alone”? No, He used the Word. We are called to contend with the faith but yet without knowing the Word how do we stand firm in the Word of God? We won’t be able too. God has defeated the enemy, it is our duty to be firm in the resurrecting power of Jesus Christ and not fall.

This is why we must have a continued deposit of the Word of God and not lean on our own understanding. We may think we know it all but when the enemy comes are we going to ignore the temptation or the circumstance or call on God for the wisdom that we can only achieve from and that is the Word of God.

2. THE EFFECTS OF FEAR

Fear always leads one away from the Will of God
Faith always lead one toward the Will of God
Fear will hold you back
Faith will push you forward
Fear isolates
Faith motivates
Fear steals your joy
Fear condemns you
Elijah was lodged in a cave; fear isolates the believer thinking that it is impossible to get out of. It makes you think about the current situation that is at hand. Why did I do this? Or Why do I have to go through this.

When we let fear control our life instead of faith. The outcome isn’t going to be great. Trust in God.
1 John 4:18

8”There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

 

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A Prayer of Urgency

uI’ve been praying more than I ever have because I have been asking God more than ever to create in me a burden for the lost. And I’m starting to get His attention. I’m feeling an urgency to pray more, not that I have to but I’m wanting to. For Him to create in me a pure heart and actions that follow.

A couple of days ago God had directed me to Matthew 9:13 “For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Got it God! I asked Him ” Show me what this really means…in Gary terms.” He spoke ” I AM Mercy.” God is love, and love comes from God. Like the prodigal son who went away for a while, lived his life the way he wanted to and found out that the grass isn’t greener on the other side. God, just like a parent who would want His child back uses His people who are in Him to call out to those who are lost. Simple, but some of us have a hard time with this.

We become busy bees losing track of the time. We have to ” Work while it is day; night is coming, when no one is able to work.”

On a Thursday morning at 6 a.m. out of no where my computer started playing worship music. I staggered into my office still half asleep to turn it off. The presence of God was strong but I was so tired and did not feel like praying. As I began to walk back to my bed God spoke to me and said ” I am coming very soon.” Should I have prayed? Of course but that bed sounded pretty good and the comforts of life got to me that time. What does all this mean? It means that God so desperately loves His children so much that He wants them to be saved. It’s not God’s will that any should perish but have everlasting life.

GFJ