"Jesus Loves Me"

People say I am strong and have a great perspective. I don’t see myself as strong.  And I don’t think about perspective much either.  I just go through each day walking in God’s wisdom the best way I know how.
 

I learned a song as a child in Sunday school. “Jesus Loves Me.” The words run through my mind sometimes even at my age. They go like this:  Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak but He is strong.  Yes Jesus loves me!  Yes Jesus loves me! Yes Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.

That song reminds me of a few things. Jesus does indeed love me. Later I learned how much.  You’ve heard this verse many times. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever would believe in him should not perish but have ever lasting life.”  John 3:16

Little ones to him belong. I found out that we must have the faith of a little child to enter the kingdom of God.  What is the faith of a child like?  A simple, loving, trust that what God says he will do, he will do. Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 

I have also learned that when I am weak, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.   He is strong.   He says in Matthew 11:28-30 NLT - Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Won't you call out to him today?   He love you, you know?

*Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

 

*I Peter 5:7 NLT

 

 

 

Response Required

 

Luke 13:10 -13 NIV  On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,

and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

Can't you just picture it?

Jesus sees a poor woman crippled with an infirmity for 18 years!
He wanted to heal her, but notice.. he required something of her.
He called her to him, now she was faced with a decision.
I wonder did she think, "Do I step closer or stay here?"
For sure her condition depended on her response!

Is God dealing with you about something? Writing that letter, sending that card, making that phone call. Perhaps giving up a bad habit?   Do you sense a "Do it!  Do it Do it!" going on in your heart? What's stopping you? God calls us out of our comfort zone so He can do something wonderful in our lives.  Fear stops us in our tracks, like a dear caught in the head lights. But faith, on the other hand requires a response.  What are you waiting for?

Acknowledge Him in all of your ways and He will direct your paths.
Pray about it and if that sensation is "do it!", as long as it lines up with the word of God.... do it!

Dealing with Anger

Most of us deal with anger often. It is a passionate emotion, that if not kept in check can cause us to act out in a way that is not becoming for a believer in Christ and can be harmful to others.

Anger begins when we feel we have been wronged in some way.  Or Perhaps we may have done something that produced undesirable effects. Its the "my way" mentality.

Anger becomes harmful when we give into it. We can get so angry that we raise our voices, say hateful words, and behave rashly. And words can never be taken back.

As believers is it wrong to become angry? Of course not we are human and God has blessed us with a wealth of emotions. Happiness, gladness, sadness, and many others as well.

Ephesians 4:26 Gives us some insight about anger;   And don't sin, by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry. NLT  (emphasis mine). We are going to get angry sometimes. Boy, I sure do! But we can't let it control us.

 How to we gain control over our anger? 

1. Take a minute before you  do or say anything!
(James 1:19 NLT Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.)

2.  Trust God and don't rely on your own wisdom or opinion.
(Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.)

3. Pray!
 (Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.


 4. Keep your chin up! He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it!*

 *And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Phil.1:6

Power of Words -They Can Hurt

Proverbs 18:21 NLT The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

James 3:8 NLT but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

Luke 6:45 NLT A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Who hasn't been guilty of rash words. I know I have spoken hateful and angry words many, many times. I bet you have too. We all have. And we can't even help it in our own strength and ability. Yet, words do indeed hurt. Once an unkind word is said, the damage is already done. Think about some of the things we say. "You always...", You never...",  "You are...", or "I wish...", "She, they, he..." And we no doubt will mess up again because we aren't  perfect people.

.  We speak what is in our heart or the place of our emotions. Emotions can be happy or sad, mad or glad and many places in between. But there is hope for us. If we take time to store up, treasure or memorize scriptures our hearts become changed. We are able to draw, not on our own strength or vocabulary, but on the Word of God! *

Prayer: Father please grant me the desire to treasure your word and keep it in my heart and mind. Lead me to passages that will come to me and be my rescue, that I might not sin against you, no matter what I am going through. In Christ's name, amen.

* See Psalms 119:11 for further study.

Ps. 119:11 ESV I  have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Think Before You Speak

Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking;
the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.  (Emphasis mine)

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Proverbs 16:32 Better to be patient than powerful;
better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

Have you ever been in a conversation and someone constantly interrupts you? Or have you ever been in a conversation and constantly interrupted the speaker? Have you ever been around someone who always has a comment. They seem to have the answer to every problem, or situation, perhaps they even finish your sentences and have a comment ready? Or perhaps you've been in a situation when someone has a melt down and goes on a rant. Let's face it, we all do it sometimes. We all need work in this area or at least I know I do!

Proverbs has a lot to say about godly conduct. When we are in a conversation we need to be patient and consider carefully what we say. To be patient is better than to rule a city!  Conversations can be very passionate. Words however can never be taken back.

Prayer: Father please help me to be in control of myself in every conversation.  May my words and thoughts be pleasing to you, and helpful to others. *


*Scripture reference Psalms 19:14

 

 

Comforting Others by our Conduct

I Thessalonians 3:7-8 So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.

 

We can encourage others when going through difficult times. It’s all in how we conduct ourselves. We may not even be aware that we are a source of encouragement. But, when we are weak, and allow Jesus to be our strength others do indeed notice.

Even the apostle Paul was encouraged when he was going through a difficult time, because he saw the Thessalonian believer’s faith and steadfastness.

It is important to remember that we do not good works to be seen by men, but rather that we do good works so that men may see. *

Prayer: Father whether we are going through seasons of peace and contentment or through difficult times help us to stand steadfast in our faith that we may please you and encourage others.

*Scripture reference Matthew 5:16

 

Unity and Peace

Unity and Peace

Ps. 133:1 Behold how good it is and how pleasant it is when all the brethren dwell together in unity.

Ephesians 4:1-4:3 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

 Prayer: Father I ask that you would help me to live my life that is worthy of my calling to love and follow you. Help me to be humble and gentle. Help me to bear with other’s faults as others must bear with mind. Please let me make every effort to be in unity and peace in my home, and in my church.

Praying for the Faithful

I Thessalonians 1:2-3 NLT We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.


As I studied some of these words this is what I found.

Faithfulness : every undertaking that is done with devotion to the task as a result of  belief in and strong conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ and the source of our eternal salvation.

Work: that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking

Labor: intense labor united with trouble and toil, weariness, hardship and fatigue.

Love: love that is unconditional, laying one's life down. putting other's before self.

Patient: constancy, endurance, steadfast, persevering.

Hope: confident expectation, the thing hoped for



 Shouldn't we remember those who are so faithful?Think about pastors, teachers and missionaries and the devotion and conviction that drives them forward. Think about the hardships and fatigues that they suffer. Remember them putting others before themselves and doing their own thing. Their constant perseverance and steadfastness. And their unshakeable hope.

I know of a pastor who visited a member of his congregation on his birthday, in the middle of the night, because he got an urgent call. Was that not an example of  unconditional love? What if our pastors didn't come to church? Most pastors come to church even if they are sick, in pain or extreme fatigue. Why do they do it? They do it because they hope and are confident that the Lord is able to work through them that we might grow in our faith and that others will receive salvation through the gospel that they preach.

Prayer:
Father thank you so much for those who are faithful in your work. Grant them strength and rest. Let their work produce fruit for your kingdom.  Let them  receive unconditional love and the resources they need to continue their work.. Let them grow in their faith and revelation so that we might also grow in ours. Keep them in your tender care. In your precious name, amen.

Specks, logs, judging,

Specks, logs, judging,

 

Matthew 7:3-5

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?

How can you think of saying to your friend, friend ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

 

Luke 6:37 Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

 

My prayer: Lord please help me to examine myself. Show me how to represent you well. Teach me how to walk in your ways and in love. Because I know that by my love all men will know that I am your disciple.