As you read this, I suggest you have a look in the mirror. Tell the person staring back at you that they are beautiful, fearfully, and wonderfully made, tell them that they were chosen and set apart. Let them know that they are the child of a King. Tell them that their life has a purpose and no weapon formed against them will prosper. Look at yourself and know that you are that person and you are looking at a miracle! You do not have to believe me; this comes from God who cannot lie. We can choose to believe what the Word says, or we can believe what the world says. Knowing who we are and Whose we are, determines how we live our life, now and for eternity. 

“But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1) 

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14) 

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;” (Peter 2:9) 

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me,” saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17) 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) 

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me,” saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17) 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) 

“God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19) 

Believers should always be quick to encourage one another. We should keep ourselves lifted and encouraged as well. How can we encourage someone else if we are feeling discouraged and hopeless ourselves? It is impossible to pour out of an empty cup. In these troubling times it is easy to get discouraged, but the promises of the Lord give us hopeful expectations. The waiting can be hard, and the pain is real, the hurt is real, whatever the situation or circumstances you may be going through is real. But God is realer. (I made that word up) But you get it, He is bigger than anything we may be going through. We know that God is going to show up, we may not know when, but we know His timing is always perfect. We know that He will never leave or forsake us. And we know that no matter what it looks or feels like, God is in control. We may not see Him working but He is always working on our behalf.  

“We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14) 

“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14) 

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1) 

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8)  

“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3) 

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25-26) 

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (1 Corinthians 1:20) 

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) 

If there is an area of death in your body, the Lord says to you in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life”. If doctors have told you that you may die, the Lord says in Dueteronony 30: 29, “I am your life and the length of your days”. If you are feeling overwhelmed and fearful, the Lord says in Genesis 15:1, “Do not be afraid. I am your shield”. Whatever you may be dealing with, physically, emotionally, mentally, or financially, and you are feeling weak and discouraged, the Lord declares to you in Exodus 15:2, “I am your strength and your song”. Remember the promises of God and be encouraged! He sees our heart and knows when we are hurting. Even when we do not have the words to cry out, he hears our silent cries for help. And we can be confident that help is on the way. We may not know how, when, or where, but we can be certain that God is our way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, and our light in the darkness. And while we wait for His perfect timing, the Holy Spirit is within us to comfort, uplift and encourage us. He constantly reminds us of who and Whose we are. Remember the promises of God and be encouraged so that you encourage others. Love and Blessings…   
 
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-8)   

This journey we are on called life sometimes throws us an unexpected curve ball. It hits so hard that it can disrupt our life. It can happen at any time to anyone. The truth of the matter is things happen in life which can really affect us, especially when we don’t see them coming. We may become fearful and anxious, certain that it is the end of the road. I have come to the understanding that it is not always what it looks like, it does not have to be the end of the road, just a bend in the road. Whenever we think it is the end, when we feel weak and in need of a friend, we can go to God with our anxiety and fears. We can cry out to Him without pretense or pride. And He will comfort us, letting us know it is not the end, He is God and He has a much bigger vision and a better plan.

“When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” (Psalm 34:17)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

We must all face the dark, unpleasant experiences in this fallen world. We live in a world full of sin and satan rules the earth. But because Jesus is with us, we can turn to the Light and find hope and comfort. Because God is greater, we can also experience beautiful things in life. However, we have to keep moving to see them. Life is a journey; there is pain, storms, and rain. But there is also sunshine, laughter, and joy. Unfortunately in this life, we can’t have one without the other. But we can have peace no matter the circumstances through Jesus Christ.

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)“For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:4)

While we may not have all the answers, our God does, and we can trust Him that He will work all things out for our good. He will help us get through everything. He is our strength, our refuge in times of trouble. When disaster rages around us, His love will comfort and protect us. In Him our hearts will find healing. Trust God. Dismiss any negative thoughts immediately and do not allow any negative words to come out of your mouth. Speak life. Keep moving forward in spite of what it looks like. We must not be afraid to allow God to use the circumstances of life to strengthen us through our weakness, so that He can be glorified.

“For whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.” (1 Peter 3:10)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“Then God will give you peace, a peace which is too wonderful to understand. That peace will keep your hearts and minds safe as you trust in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7-9)

“I can do all things through him who give me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

Some days or seasons we want to hit the pause button, stop life for a moment and just breathe. Pausing life so we can breathe is not an option, life goes on. However we can pause for a moment, exhale, pray, and trust God as we move forward. Our faith must be bigger than our fear! Remember, it is not the end, just a bend in the road. God will give us a renewed courage and strength to keep going. Love and Blessings…

I know absolutely nothing about automobiles. There is a saying that you do not have to know everything (and no one does even though some people may think they do), but the smart person knows who to go to for what they need to know. Although I know nothing about cars, I know who does. I may not know what is wrong but because I drive it, I know when something is not right. Same with our father God who made us. He knows when we are not right, and it is only Him who can fix what is wrong. God, our Spiritual Mechanic is who we go to when we breakdown.  

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27) 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) 

Every morning God refuels us with breath of life and new mercies to start the day. If we allow Him, He can change, rotate, and balance our life. When we are broken, damaged or defective, He can repair us. Whatever malfunction we are experiencing, body, soul, or mind, Jesus can fix it! If we allow Him, God will mold and rebuild us. The best part is Jesus already paid the price for us, so it is all free! Because of Jesus we have an eternal warranty.

“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4)

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Auto detailing keeps a vehicle in its best condition, removing stains and dirt from the vehicle’s interior and polishing the exterior so it will be blemish free. When God gives us a detailing, He starts from within. We can clean up on the outside all we want, but nothing changes unless it comes from within. When God cleans us on the inside, it ensures that our integrity and soundness is intact. This is important because our structural integrity is essential to the survival of others, if we fail in our Christian duties, others can go down in flames along with us. When we allow God to work within us and through us, we will fulfil our purpose for which we were created.

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:7) 

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) 

“So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4) 

I have never heard of an automobile that lasted forever, not needing a tune-up or some type of maintenance. As followers of Christ in this fallen world, we may get discouraged, we may feel tired and weary, we may not know how or what will happen next, we may fall short. The question is do you know who to go to when you feel this way? The answer is we go to the One that will supply all our needs, Jesus Christ. The One who will pick us up when we fall and renew our strength. How joyful it is to have God as our Master Mechanic who keeps us tuned up for eternal life! Love and Blessings… 

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”(Romans 3:23) 

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) 

“And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)  

“but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) 

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) 

 “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:2)

A financial crisis, a relationship heartbreak, job problems, family issues, the death of a loved one, a troubling diagnosis, this fallen dark world, whew chile! At times life can seem like you are in a wildfire, which is constantly spreading. While the pain and suffering seems never-ending, the good news is we can get through the fire. We can come out not burned or even smelling like smoke! How do we accomplish that? We get through, with the strength and peace that we receive from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus said that we would have troubles in this world. And scriptures tell us, not only does the world bring trouble, but we have a battle going on within. A battle that starts in our minds. Even after we believe and accept Jesus as Lord, our sinful nature remains, and that nature is an enemy of the Spirit of God. Which means we have to contend with a spiritual battle, flesh against spirit. And the battlefield is our minds.  

“Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7) 

“For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.” (Romans 8:7) 

“The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” (Galatian 5:17) NLT 

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

Is there hope? There is if you are in Christ, because then He is in you. And because He lives inside of us, we can receive calm, peace, and strength from God even in the fires. God and His Word is what keeps the fires of this world from consuming us. The Bible tells us that we are to renew our minds in Christ. The reason being because real change can never happen if we don’t change our way of thinking and how we view the world. Your thoughts lead to actions. Change first takes place in the mind. Renewing our minds is important because it allows us to set our thoughts and affections on things above, instead of on earthly things. When our mind is renewed in Christ, we are able to focus on what is truly important, our relationship with God, others, and our eternal home. Also, when we renew our minds and fill them with the truth of the Bible, we are better equipped to make wise decisions and live in a way that pleases God. Renewing our minds enables us to stand firm against the lies of satan, who will try to deceive and distract us with the fires of this world. With the help of God, we can transform our minds. We must spend time with Him and fill our minds with the Word of God, meditating on scripture daily. This is how we protect and strengthen our minds. This is how we get through the fires of this world! 

“The renewing of our minds is not an instantaneous transformation but a lifelong process, and we must give ourselves to it if we ever hope to see the fruit of Christ’s redemption in our lives.” ___Dierich Bonhoeffe 

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20) 

“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2) 

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8) 

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) 

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) 

I am reminded of the three Hebrew boys; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Daniel 3:1-30) King Nebuchadnezzar decided to make sure his authority continued to rule by unifying the races and nations under him with a common religion and image to worship. This was not a problem for other nations, who believed in more than one god, they just added this idol to their list of idols to worship. The Jews, however worshipped God and only God! The King had a dedication service to introduce the golden image, and everyone knew that they must bow before it or be thrown into the furnace. The political powers who led in worship were to be the first to bow before the image. Daniel’s three friends were numbered among the political leaders, thanks to Daniel’s recommendation and the promotion given them by King Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 2:48-49) However, during the celebration, the King was informed that the three Hebrew boys were disobeying his order to serve his gods and worship the golden image. They were summoned by the King, and he ordered them to either worship the golden image or be immediately cast into the blazing furnace. This is what the three boys said, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O King. But if not, be it known to you, O King that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” The King was furious at their refusal and ordered that they be cast into the furnace. By this time the furnace was so overheated that the flames of the fire killed the men who tossed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace and was astonished. He said “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Then the King came near to the door of the furnace and said, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!” And all the people gathered around and saw that the fire had not burned their bodies, their hair was not scorched, their trousers not damaged, they did not even have the smell of fire on them! Don’t you love how God showed up and saved them and how He got the glory, even from King Nebuchadnezzar! These young men obeyed God by not bowing down even with the threat of being thrown into the fire. They trusted God to save them, and He did! We know as King Nebuchadnezzar discovered; God is faithful to His people. He will deliver us from the fires of life. God is bigger than any problem or situation we may be facing and there is no fire He can’t put out or walk us through!

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:4-5) 

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) 

When we focus on God and His Kingdom, the fires don’t necessarily go away, although they sometimes do, but as the Hebrew boys said, even if they don’t, we know God got us. And when we know that God has us, worry, anxiety, and stress take a backseat to our faith in God. I encourage you to continue to have faith and perseverance through the fires of life. Do not faint or grow weary. God is there with you, and He won’t leave your side! Love and Blessings…

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3) 

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalms 68:19)

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4) 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never com to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”  (Lamentations 3:22-24) 

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) 

This life is full of parasites that can suck the life out of us if we let them. It seems every day we are ducking and dodging these parasites. They can even be found in our homes, where we should be safe. I am not speaking of insects. I’m talking about spiritual parasites. To name a few, there is low self-esteem, jealousy, lying, despair and guilt. There is immorality, corruption and greed. There is fear, who nurses itself in your thought life, feeding off your inner struggles and hang-ups. And last but just as deadly is our past, which is hard to let go. I could go on, but you get my point. These parasites will attach themselves to our life and destroy our purpose. They will paralyze us and keep us from moving forward. We all have had to deal with these parasites at one time or another. Spiritual parasites can destroy our souls. If we allow them, they will literally suck the life out of us. The devil uses these parasites to try and defeat us. He uses them through our families, coworkers, neighbors but especially our minds. Spiritual parasites love our minds because that is where the spiritual battle begins. Scripture tells us not to be ignorant of the evil’s devices.  

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:9)

If we are honest we will admit that there have been times these spiritual parasites have attached themselves to us or someone we love. The devil will use them to put doubt in our minds about who we are, who God is and how much He loves us. We have to be careful not to open ourselves up to them. We must keep our focus on God and His promises. We must live by the fruit of the spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23) Martin Luther King JR said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.” When we allow the light of Jesus to shine on us and within us, spiritual parasites will die. The light of Christ chases away all darkness! Spiritual parasites hate light because they come from darkness. The good news is we serve a God that is greater than the enemy and his parasites. This same God will give us the strength to reject, overpower, and defeat the enemy’s parasites. Yes, they may come for us, in our mind, in our homes, at the workplace, even in our relationships, but if we stand strong in the Lord they will eventually die. Because the Light overpowers darkness.  

“Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.” (John 12:46)

“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” (Micah 7:8)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

We cannot rid ourselves of these spiritual parasites on our own. We need Jesus to do so. The light of Christ is our only hope. I encourage you to press on and continue to seek the light first and foremost. Darkness (spiritual parasites) may win the occasional battle but will eventually lose the war. We have the power through the Holy Spirit to release the grip of the devil and his parasites. God’s Word and the Holy Spirit provides us with all the weapons we need!  Love and Blessings…

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)

“For it is You who light my lamp; the Lord my God lights up my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28)  

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)

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Why is it that we are slow to show mercy to others, but we are thankful for the mercy Jesus shows us every day? Why is it so hard to extend mercy but expect it when we are on the receiving end? God’s mercy is available for everyone. We all need that same mercy from each other and for each other. If mercy were a picture, it would be Jesus Christ. Why is it so hard for believers to represent and duplicate Him when it comes to showing mercy? Have mercy please!  

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).  

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:36)

“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:49)

The dictionary defines mercy as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. The biblical definition of mercy also relates to forgiveness and withholding punishment. But the Bible goes beyond that. God shows His mercy for those who are suffering and by caring about those in distress. God acts from compassion, forgiveness, and kindness. Even when the Israelites turned their backs on God and worshipped false idols, when they finally returned to Him, crying for help, God showed mercy. He didn’t destroy them but provided and cared for them. When someone uses, abuses, or hurts us, it is easy to say they don’t deserve our kindness, compassion, forgiveness, or our help in time of trouble. The enemy will be quick to remind us that they hurt us, that they should not have been hardheaded, that they are not grateful, or that they should not have taken us for granted. Well God can say those same things about us, but He still shows us mercy. And He does not show us mercy because we deserve it. It is because of His love for us. How can we say we love our brothers and sisters and not show mercy? We can all agree it is difficult to be merciful to someone who has hurt or harmed us or someone we love. It can be done, we just cannot do it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit. We can start by allowing Him to guide us. We must practice spiritual discipline by studying the scriptures, prayer, and spending time in His presence. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to walk in the image of Jesus. Only then will we be able to be led by our spirit man and not our flesh. Only then will we be able to show mercy even if we feel it’s not deserved.  

“For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.” (Isaiah 14:1-2)

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:36-37)

“But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.” (John 16:7)

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

God’s Word says in Ephesians 4:31-32 that we should be kind and merciful, forgiving others as God forgave us because of Christ. Although there is little mercy in today’s society, as disciples of Christ, He instructs us to show mercy by giving people what they need, not what they deserve. Have. Mercy. Please! Love and Blessings…

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)

There is no improvement except through change. That applies to our physical being and our spiritual being. Change does not happen overnight. It is a process. First we must stop blaming the devil for everything that happens in our life. The scripture tells us we have power over the enemy. It is our choice to give it to him. Secondly God does not force us to do right or wrong, we get to choose.

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

We also have the choice to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and receive salvation. It is a free gift, we are not saved by our works but once we are saved, God expects us to be working. We are supposed to be the light in a dark world! We can be the light, or we can stay in the darkness. This too is our choice.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

After we receive salvation, it takes a renewing of the mind to live in this world and not be a part of its darkness. The change starts within. Sometimes we can lose our momentum. Meditating on the scriptures encourages us in our pursuit of change and lets us know we are heading in the right direction. We must evaluate our attitudes. (Philippians 2:14-15, Philippians 2:5-6)) First of all do you have the desire to change? (Romans 12:1-2). Are you pleasing God or are you more concerned with pleasing yourself and people? (1 Thessalonians 2:4, John 5:30). Is your faith stronger than your fear? (Matthew 21:21). Do you know your purpose and are you actively working on it? (Romans 8:28, Proverbs 16:3). Are you living one day at a time, or are you allowing yesterdays and tomorrow’s troubles sap you of today’s strength? (Matthew 6:34). Are you working on your thought patterns? That which holds our attention determines our actions. Are you thinking about the right things? (Philippians 4:8). Are you repeatedly acting on positive habits to overcome negative ones? (Deuteronomy 6:5-9) Are you associating with people who will help or hinder your walk with Christ? (James 4:4, Philippians 4:9). Are you receiving daily strength from God’s Word? (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Are you praying daily and specifically about your attitude? (James 5:16). Are you continually in tuned with the Holy Spirit? (1 John 4:4, Joshua 1:8)). He is our helper. We cannot change on our own.  

“Put off your old self which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16)

I urge you to study and meditate on the scriptures above. Only when we stay connected to Jesus and His Word, will we begin to think, and act like Him. Spending time in His presence is how we become the light in a world of darkness. The choice is yours. Love and Blessings…

Do you know that when we praise while going through, situations can change, and chains can be broken? Most importantly we can be changed from within, which will change our perspective on the situation. The Bible tells us that God makes the sun shine on the evil and the good, just as He sends the rain on the just and the unjust. That is because God is good and merciful, and we know that all good things come from Him. The Bible also tells us that the cause of all misery, sickness, death, and every evil thing that happens is satan and sin. Because believers live in a sinful world, we are not exempt from tragedy and pain. I was asked the question, “Why does it matter if I accept Jesus Christ and live righteous if I’m going to have the same issues as unbelievers?”  

“so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one,” (Ephesians 6:16)

It matters because as believers we walk by faith, not by sight. It matters that we live righteously and represent Christ because sometimes our actions are the only Bible some people will ever read. When we are going through if we react the same as unbelievers, what are we saying? Are we just speakers of God’s Word or do we live our life in such a way that it represents what we speak? I am reminded of Paul and Silas in the Book of Acts. While they were jailed and chained, they never stopped praying, singing, and praising God. This is what the Bible tells us in Acts, “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.” (Acts 16:25-32) God turned the situation into a blessing. That is why it matters that we know Christ!  

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

“Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord” (Psalm 150:6)

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

It matters because trials and suffering hit differently when you have someone to share them with. Someone you can depend on not just in the good times but the bad as well. Someone who will let you cry, vent, and not judge your faith. Someone who will just sit with you even when you don’t feel like talking. Someone who will accept you just as you are but is willing to stick with you while you change for the better. Someone who will never leave or forsake you. Someone who loves you so much that they would take all your pain and suffering and die for you. Someone who can give you the gift of eternal life. If you have someone on this earth who can do some of those things, you are blessed indeed. But there is no one who can do ALL of those things ALL of the time for ALL of us except for Jesus Christ. It matters because God is love and there is no greater love!  

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

Why does it matter if we live righteously while still going through storms and difficulties? Because this life is temporary. Jesus has promised us an eternal home where there will be no more pain and suffering. Our suffering now is nothing compared to what we have to look forward to. When we are going through the enemy will try to discourage our walk with God. But take heart and know that God is in control. The process may be challenging but it’s never a path of defeat, only victory. Love and Blessings…

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:3-6)

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13)

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelations 21:4)

The heart is a symbol for love. I read somewhere that the heart is the locus of physical and spiritual beings, and represents the central wisdom of feeling as opposed to the head-wisdom of reason. I agree because the heart can be compassionate and understanding, however it can also lead you into a path of destruction. The heart is definitely complex.

Scripture tells us to guard our hearts. It also tells us that the heart can be deceitful. Hmmmm, deceitful is not “good”. A “good” heart leads us to righteousness. I believe the best way to guard our hearts and keep it from being deceitful is to surrender it to Jesus. When we give our hearts to God, we stop worrying about all that we can’t control. We slow down, we begin to trust, we let the little things roll off our backs. We know that our heart is in a safe place, and we can find comfort knowing God will never break or leave it. I am thankful that God looks at the heart of man and not the flesh, because if the heart is right, God can help us change the flesh. If we make a genuine effort to strive for a “good” heart in all our interactions, even with our enemies, the Lord will hear our prayers when our hearts break from the troubles of this world or from someone we love. Thank God that Jesus will always be there to comfort and heal our broken hearts. There is a song that asks the question, where do broken hearts go? The answer is to Jesus. My prayer is that we all be known to God as David was, a man after His own heart. We all know that David was not perfect but what set him apart was that his heart was pointed toward God. Love and Blessings…

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet”
(Proverbs 4:23-27)

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
(Samuel 16:7)

“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” (Acts 13:22)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
(John 14:27)

I have always had strong willpower. If I set my mind to do something, you better believe I can do it. HOLD UP! WAIT A MINUTE! For the most part this statement is true, I do have strong will power, however, God has taught me that even the strongest willpower is not sufficient without God’s power. He is our True Power Source! At one point in my life, I thought if I didn’t do it, it wouldn’t get done, or at least not be done right. I believed I could accomplish whatever I put my mind too. In my mind I was superwoman. Now you may ask what’s wrong with that? Nothing except for the fact that (I) depended only on (me) and when (I) accomplished what (I) set out to do, (I) patted (myself) on the back. There’s nothing wrong with being confident in yourself. There’s nothing wrong with believing in yourself. However, I had to learn it was not just about me, myself and I, I needed other people. The Bible says we need each other. Romans 12:4-5 states, “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” I especially needed to depend on God because the reality is that on our own, we can do nothing at all, not even breathe. Most importantly, I had to learn that all the glory belongs to God. I learned all this once I developed a relationship with God but if I am honest, God had to allow me to be taken down a notch or two first. Once I released the pride and self-righteousness, I was able to surrender and depend wholeheartedly on God. Surrendering to God is the best decision we can ever make!

“Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Our willpower can only take us so far without the power of Jesus. We must begin and end with Him who has the real power to change whatever we desire to change. His power within us allows us to accomplish more than we can ever imagine. No door can close that He can’t open. He is greater than any problem or circumstance we may face. When we realize that our God is all powerful and we give Him complete control of our life, we can be confident and not sweat the big or small stuff. We really can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. God’s got the power!  
 
“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Job 26:14)

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:6)