Please pray for my son Alec. He has been sick for over a month. Sounds like a cold. He had antibiotic for 10 days, then it seemed perfect for a week then it came back worse. Canada has socialized m... View MorePlease pray for my son Alec. He has been sick for over a month. Sounds like a cold. He had antibiotic for 10 days, then it seemed perfect for a week then it came back worse. Canada has socialized medicine, so it takes forever to figure out the problem.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
We have the greatest gift of all... View More“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
We have the greatest gift of all! We can talk to the God who created everything! And he will respond. It may not be what we want or how we expect it, but it is the best way for us. Like our own children who tend to think they know better then the parent, God dose know what is best for us. We have a 9 year old who thinks he is an adult. He thinks his choices are better then the ones we set out for him. Once in awhile we will let him experience the consequences of making a bad choice. We as created people by God do the same and often God will let us experience the consequences of our actions. I can be a very prideful person at times, thinking I am more then I am. Recently I was heading out to a clients and thinking how good and skillful I must be to have such a large client. I was feeling pretty good about my self unlit God burst that bubble. With out Him, I am nothing and know nothing. My skill is from God not anything I did. I need to pray often and give God all the glory. In good times and bad. Around my house I like to say, great leaders lead from the knees. When we humble our selves, God will lift us up.
Pray: Lord, thank you for reminding me I owe everything to you. Everything can fail me in my life, but you never will. Draw me to my knees often. Continue to teach me your ways and lead me. I pray my heart is open to receive your instructions.
In Jesus name
Amen
“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons ... View More“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
James 2:18-24 ESV
If we say we trust Jesus, do we demonstrate that? We say that we are Christians, but is this what our lives demonstrate? We are not saved becase of anything we do, but if we are saved, can we do nothing? Is there any such thing as a lazy Christian? I am a Christian becase of what Jesus did, but dose it end there? Am I moving forward in the power of God? There are times I doubt my self until I remember my testimony and see where I was to where I am.
“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your... View More“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.”
James 1:21-24 ESV
This is so important for all believers to here. I talk to people about Jesus and I here often that pretty much every person knows someone who calls them selves a Christian, but don’t walk the walk. We are viewed in the same light as everyone else, no wonder people don’t want to serve the God I serve! If we look like everyone else, why would they? We should stand out in a crowd and be different. Our lives should represent the Power of God! We should live blessed lives not cursed. Each week we go to church, we have a large cross in the window, but how do i behave mon-sat? How do I treat my family? How do I treat my neighbours? How do I talk? People are watching even if we don’t see them. We must be a Christian and not say we are a Christian. There is a big difference.
To make this as practical as possible, consider these examples. Going to the gym does you no good unless you exercise. Buying your vitamins does you no good unless you take them. Having a seatbelt does you no good unless you buckle it. And owning a Bible does you no good unless you obey it.
Pray: Lord, help me be a better servant. Give me the boldness to speak your word with conviction. Lead me where you want me and use me how you can.
In Jesus name
Amen
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted... View More“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
James 1:12-15 ESV
It dose not take much to lure us away. All we need to do is say yes to sin and join Satins side. We can not be both, on Gods side and the devil. Yes we are all sinners in need of a Saviour, but this dosnt mean we live in sin. As we mature in our faith, daily sinning should be less and less each day while blessing should increase. We should be able to look back and see a change in our sinful behaviour. With God, we should always be moving forward. This dosnt mean trails won’t come and bad things won’t happen. We cannot always control what happens, but we can control the response. Now if we make sinful decisions, then expect sinful results. God never sends us situations to keep us down. All good things come from God, so if it is not good, guess where it comes from?
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold ... View More“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Psalm 51:10-12 ESV
This was part of my reading today. Words I need to listen to. Do we really expectancies the Joy of our salvation? We were saved from an eternal punishment with a price no one can pay! This should excite every Christian. Each day we wake, do we thank the one who allows us another day? Are we excited to be in a church service and fellowship with other people? Or do we take at for granted? One thing I learned from some churches locking the doors was we should never take stuff for granted becase it can be taken away. We are the church, not the building, but some people never returned. Each day is a gift from God. Fellowship is a gift. Reading the bible and being able to pray to the one who created us is a gift.
Today is a holiday for many people, spend it reflecting on all the gifts we have from our Father above.
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
Colossians 3:5 ESV
I think, at least for my self, id... View More“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
Colossians 3:5 ESV
I think, at least for my self, idolatry is a powerful sin we fight often. The good news is, we can and will overcome by the Word of Gods. When Jesus was tempted for 40 days, He had the power to blast the devil away, but He used Gods word to defeat temptation. The same weapon Jesus used, we have today. Idolatry is anything that takes our attention away from God. For every person this looks different. Jesus said things like, “all who look back are not worthy of the kingdom of God”. Or “love your neighbour as your self”. Now some may not have a large outreach, but we all have neighbours. Even though Jesus was referring to all people as neighbour, let’s simplify and say people closet to you. Do you tend to your neighbour’s property like you own? Do you invest in lives of other people like your own? Jesus gave everything for us, what do we give to others. When our life comes to an end, and it will, what is our legacy? I do not want people to say, ”he was a nice guy. I want people to say, “he pointed people to Jesus”. Or “we saw Jesus in him”. During my church going life over the past 10 years, I was fortunate enough to have spiritual leaders that demonstrated this very thing.
Pray: Lord, thank you for the people you put in my life. I am very blessed to know them. I can not list names as I might miss one, but it started with the Pastor of HPAC. That was my true rebirth. Guide and direct me to your word always. The only source for answers and the power to resist and defeat sin. I know what idols I still need to deal with, help expose them to the light and not keep them hidden. Thank you Jesus
In Jesus name
Amen
““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys... View More““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
I try and keep this in mind with everything I do in life, but I fail more often then I like. Everything I have is from God, so that being said, I should also give so I can be the blessing to others. I try to live like today is my last day on earth, but a fail often. Thank God for His grace! Thank you God that I don’t have to work for salvation. That work has already been done. Thank you Jesus that you love me no matter what and in my very sinful state, you meet me right where I am. All I do, I do for you, and even though I fail, you lift me right back to my feet again. Like John said, “I am not worthy to untie your sandals”, yet you made me a son of a king.
Pray: Lord I am so thankful you are always with me, even when my feelings don’t feel it. I can trust every word you say despite my feelings. You are my God and King and you saved me from Hell, a place of eternal torment becase sin can not be in your presence and must be punished. Thank you that you took on that punishment for me.
In Jesus name
Amen
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