What matters the most to you? Do you give any thought throughout the day if God is pleased with what you have said or done? Was it your best? Did it bring glory to God?
Wherever you go, you are in His presence. As a Christian, He is within you. You may be quenching Him, but He is there. He is with you in every step you take. He hears every word you say.
So God is there within you. Don’t nurture any anger. He feels your anger. God (Matt. 5:5).
God knows your name. Call on Him to forgive and cleanse your heart. He is the one who can raise you up to do great things in serving Him.
Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days of your life is the day that you were born and the day you find out why.”
So what purpose did God make you for in this world?
John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.
If you are not spending time with the Lord, you may not recognize His nearness or question who you heard. “Was it the Lord or me?” Beloved, know Him before you need Him.
When you do not recognize the Lord’s love and care, this can damage your heart. Your heart can become hardened toward the things of God, especially His word.
Being in this state makes it harder to love others. So loving Jesus causes our love to be complete in others.
Isaiah 49:15-16 Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will never forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.
Remember, those nails went through the palms of His hands for our sins. Where your name and my name were inscribed. How can we not love Him and spend time with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alexander Raleigh once said, “God is love…he puts his love into promises to give our dull minds something to look at, and our unready hands something to hold.”
God has given us so many words of hope and love. There are a few we need to keep in our hearts no matter what is going on.
Titus 1:2 …in the hope of eternal life, which God, who can not lie, promised long ago.
John 14:2 NAS In My Father’s house are many dwelling places, if it were not so, I would have told you, for I go prepare a place for you.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His lont begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
A lot of people take promises out of the bible and try to accomplish their desires. Our desire should be on Jesus Christ. Our desire should be on loving and pleasing our Lord Jesus Christ.
John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” We need to change that to “Ask not what God can do for you, but what you can do for Him.”
God is the one that came to earth as the man Jesus, who suffered terribly for you and me. Now He is in heaven and has prepared a place for us. Jesus deserves our love and devotion because he knows each of us personally. That is the reason God made us. He made us so we could experience His perfect love. He died for us so His blood could cover our sins. He did this so we could enjoy that love.
I have felt this love by accepting Jesus as my Savior. My love for Him grows, but I’m sure I have only touched only the hem of His perfect love. With only that, I wish I could touch others and they somehow feel this love for a moment. <ay they would realize the love and promises that Jesus offers.
But we can only be a mouthpiece to a world where love seems to slip through the fingers of so many people. Beloved, ask God to put more love in your heart of Him. He already loves you. Life can steal your love for Jesus and others. Also, the more you love Jesus, the more you can love others. Just focus on Jesus. Other promises will come.
Buffalo fleeing Photo by Diana Burbridge
We think the above buffalo was fleeing from a grizzly bear. He ran down the hill behind him, then jumped into the river, swam some, and got out on my side of the river. He did not appear to be afraid of me. But I did not push him. I took a few pictures and left. I believe this is one of the pictures that God set up for me.
ROMANS 1:25 For they exchange the truth of God for a lie…
My Note: People will believe lies to reinforce their own selfish beliefs.
ROMANS 1:32 And, although they know the ordinance of God,l that those who…
My Note: Humans were created in God’s image and have a basic moral nature and a conscious.
ROMANS 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
My Note: One can easily mistake God’s patience for approval. You must pray constantly for God to point out our sins, so He can heal them. God’s eventual judgment is certain.
ROMANS 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
My Note: God’s wrath is a result when His grace is rejected.
READ ROMANS 2:12-15
My Note: People are not condemned, not by what they do not know, but by what they do with what they know.
READ ROMANS 2:21-27
My Note: It is easier to tell others how to believe that to behave properly ourselves. It is easier to say the right words that to allow them to take root in our hearts.
ROMANS 2:21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one should not steal, do you steal?
My Note: They learned the law well and learned how to excuse their actions but condemn others.
ROMANS 2:23-24 You who boast to the Law, through breaking the Law, do your dishonor, God? For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written.
If you claim to be one of God’s children, your life should reflect what God is like. When you disobey God, you dishonor His name, and people may even speak against God because of you.
My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who are having trouble overcoming a sin or obedience, have hope. Every time you feel yourself slipping, pray. You must keep your spirit elevated, that being, close to Jesus.
As Christians, we are promised to be partakers in the divine nature of GAod. This divine nature has all that a believer needs for life and godliness.
We can attain godliness through the knowledge of Christ. The more knowledge, the closer walk is attained. with intimate knowledge brings spiritual power and growth.
We are commanded to apply all diligence to our precious faith and to supply moral excellence to spiritual knowledge by the Holy Spirit, and with knowledge, self-control, and with your self-control, perseverance, and with perseverance, godliness; This list ends with believers caring for other Believers and this brotherly kindness with agape love.
With these qualities, you are fruitful in the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. Awe should work hard in cultivating and having these virtues keep one spiritually elevated in his life. In the latter days, believers will be surrounded by many things that pull them away from Christ. One must be single-minded to endure the adversity that will come. I do believe that has begun as birth pangs.
These virtues are divided into two groups. The first virtues deal with your relationship with God. The last two deal with your relationship with other believers. But both involve your inner life. This all begins with our faith in Jesus and ends with our godly love toward others. But we must grow in each of these virtues or we become ineffective. Many remain baby Christians. Jesus does not want unproductive Christians. We are to grow in grace and knowledge.
If a person is not growing, he is to make certain about his calling (v10). In other words, make sure you are a Christian. There should be evidence in their life that they are a Christian.
Christians, they will have a rich welcome into the kingdom of Jesus Christ when the time comes. Peter knew his time was short when he wrote these letters. Peter wrote these with agape love. Peter wanted them to be the best that they could be for Christ. I am 77 years old. This life has passed quickly. Don’t let yours pass without you being the best you can be for Christ.
Have you pulled off to a “Scenic Lookout” and while standing there it is as though God comes on the breath of a breeze filling you with His presence? It awakens you to His presence carrying His love and peace.
This experience is unexpected by most. A Christian walking with the Lord encounters these moments often. If they are walking close to the Lord, the moment is enhanced.
Those that do not know the Lord, still feel something. That place within them that is reserved for God is stirred. That, in itself, will cause the question to rise, “Who made all of this? Who created all of this? But one can reject God a few times or more and not feel a stirring at all.
We see a glimpse of God in Nature. His invisible power is made known in nature. In nature, we see His character, from tender to all-powerful.
We are without excuse in our rejecting God for nature itself proclaims Him.
Romans 1:20 CSB states:
For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him. I Corinthians 2:9 NRSV
Back in the 1980s and 90’s, I had so many hopes and dreams. One was a nice barn for my horses. A barn made of wood and metal. I even asked for a barn up in heaven instead of a mansion.
One night, I had a dream that I was in heaven. I was standing at the end of a barn. My back was facing most of the barn while I faced the last six stalls. I felt that maybe those were stalls for my horses. I had six horses at the time.
I turned around and saw more stalls. Maybe 100 stalls altogether. But this stable was not made of wood and metal. It was made of emeralds and sapphires. The floor was somewhat white in color.
When I woke, I thanked God for having a better imagination than I did.
Years have passed since that dream. I lost two mares when they were in their 30s. A few weeks ago, I lost one of my beloved stallions, Chairo. He broke his hip. I purchased him and his mother when he was about a week old. He was in his late 20’s, so he gave me many special moments. Moments designed by God. Do you stop at the end of your day and think back to remember moments where God renewed your spirit? Where God gave your spirit new breath.
Our family saw the play “Esther” at the Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson, Missouri. The play keeps the youngest children’s attention, with camels, horses, donkeys, and birds flying overhead. Why would they not be attentive?
God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but you see Him working in the background, even though a large number of Jews had not returned to Israel. God is working in the background of our lives. This book shows God’s protection and mercy for His people. The Jews include Esther in their writings, so they will know how the “Feast of Purin” began.
Historical records do mention Xerxes, but not Esther, Mordecai, or Shaman. Xerxes and his large harem in Susa are mentioned in other historical records. His fits of rage along with his drinking parties were noted. Now we know why Esther was so afraid to approach him.
Let this book encourage you of God’s faithfulness. God placed Esther in a position to help before she was needed. Esther was placed in a position in one step. Joseph’s position had many steps that took years. Just have your spirit and heart ready.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to THEE, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Thy lovingkindness, Answer me with Thy saving truth.
14 Deliver me from the mire, and do not let me sink; My I be delivered from my foes, and from the deep waters.
15 May the Flood of water not overflow me, And may the deep not swallow me up, And may the pit not shut its mouth on me.
16 Answer me, O LORD, for Thy lovingkindness is good, According to the greatness of Thy compassion, turn to me.
17 And do not hide Thy face from Thy servant. For I am in distress; answer me quickly.
18 Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies!
19 Thou dost know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; All my adversaries are before Thee.
Here is one of David’s prayers of distress. He is petitioning the Lord for help. He felt as if he would drown in his troubles to the point of death. He was overwhelmed. David did not ask for help because he had done something good. He asked God out of His lovingkindness and mercy. David reminded God of His compassion.
Do family member you love and pray for do not ask you to the family events because you love Christ? It is not because you may share what Christ has done that week in your life, but that they may want to drink or do other things that may make them feel guilty about doing so, if you are there.
Or do you love Christ and love serving Him and then become disabled? But they laugh and say things like, “See God does not care”, or “There is no God.”
This list is endless. We can endure this list knowing Christ is with us. Christ did on the cross except for the time when Jesus asked in Mark 15:2, “My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?
In Luke 23:24 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 6:22 (NAS) Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.
Spock of “Star Trek” would say this is illogical. I am to be happy if people hate me? The answer is yes if it is “for the Son of Man’s sake. Beloved, remember that you have the Holy Spirit to help bring you joy in these situations and all of heaven standing behind you.
