James 3: 17

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy." ~ (James 3: 17)

 

 

 

Be blessed by His love today family. Amen.

True Motives!

John 3:25-30
"Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease."

"JOHN'S FOCUS WAS SET ON JESUS' FULFILLMENT OF MESSIAHSHIP!"

"JOHN PURPOSED IN HIS HEART TO BUILD GOD'S KINGDOM, NOT HIS OWN!"

"HENCE, IT BECAME VERY EASY FOR HIM TO STEP ASIDE WHILE JESUS ACCOMPLISHED HIS WILL ON EARTH!"

Question of the Day:
"ARE WE WITH GOD OR AGAINST HIM?"

The true motives of our heart will be known by whether or not:
"WE FIND JOY IN WITNESSING THE LORD WORK THROUGH US & OTHERS!"
"OR IF WE FEEL WE SHOULD BE THE ONES GETTING THE RECOGNITION THAT BELONGS TO THE BRIDEGROOM!"

Job 34: 19 FAVORITISM

"God is not partial to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of His hands." ~ (Job 34: 19)

 

 

 

FAVORITISM - the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another.

Acts 10: 34

"Then Peter began to speak, 'Now I understand that God doesn't show favoritism." ~ (Acts 10: 34)

Lord, give us eyes to see people as You do, never placing a higher value of one person over another on the basis of status or any other measurable form. Amen.

Let us love!

2 John 6

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love."

Today, if you need a reminder of what love is;

"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..."

"AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS, WE ARE TO DISPLAY THIS KIND OF AFFECTION TO THOSE AROUND US!"

In doing so;

"THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE THE CHRISTIAN CIRCLE WILL BE DRAWN BY THE GENUINE DISPLAY OF OUR AFFECTION!"

Also;

"THOSE WHO ARE WITHIN THE CHRISTIAN CIRCLE WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO DROP THEIR GUARD IN VULNERABLE SITUATIONS & TRUST GOD FOR THE OUTCOME!"

"THE LOVE OF GOD HAS ONLY ONE AGENDA!"

"TO BRING HEALING & RESTORATION TO A LOST & HURTING WORLD!"

"GOD'S ULTIMATE DISPLAY OF LOVE WAS SACRIFICING HIS SON, JESUS, ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS!"

"GOD'S CONTINUED PLAN OF DISPLAYING & PROCLAIMING THAT SAME LOVE TO THE WORLD IS THROUGH JESUS' FOLLOWER'S!"

"WE, AS CHRISTIANS, HAVE BEEN COMMANDED TO LOVE!"

"NOT AS AN ACT OF LEGALISM!"

"BUT AS A GENUINE DISPLAY OF THE LIFE-TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE CROSS!"

"HUMANITY IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF LOVE!"

"LOVE IS DISPLAYED IN THE FORM OF GRACE & MERCY!"

"THEREFORE, TODAY, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER, THAT THE WORLD MAY SEE & RESPOND TO GOD'S LOVE IN US!"

"HAVE A BLESSED DAY, FAMILY!"

John 14: 6

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." ~ (John 14: 6)

 

 

 

Thank You Lord for being specific. We thank You for not being 'a way,' but 'The Way.' Thank You that we don't have to be confused about other faiths or teachings. You cleared all that up with John 14: 6. Amen.

2 Timothy 2: 7 & Hebrews 13: 8

"Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all of this." ~ (2 Timothy 2: 7)

&

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." ~ (Hebrews 13: 8)

FOOD!

Romans 14:19-20

"So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food."

"FOR THE SAKE OF FOOD..."

The word "FOOD" can be understood as anything that is pleasing or desirous to one's personal preference.

With this in mind, let's take into account what the Scriptures are exhorting its readers to do.

They are telling us to;

1- "SEEK WAYS TO MAINTAIN AN ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FEEL WELCOME & UNAFRAID!"

2- "SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO LIVE OUT THEIR FAITH BOLDLY!"

3- "DON'T LET PERSONAL PREFERENCE BECOME A HINDERANCE FOR OTHERS!"

4- "DYING TO SELF, AT TIMES, REQUIRES THE LAYING DOWN OF ONE'S PERSONAL DESIRES FOR THE SAKE OF SOMEONE ELSE'S BENEFIT!"

Many times, we insist on our "RIGHTS" & fail to acknowledge the rights of others.

We prefer to "VOTE" in our own favor, rather than "SUBMIT" to God's Redemptive Plan.

"WE TEAR DOWN THE WORK OF GOD BECAUSE WE REFUSE TO GIVE UP A SELFISH DESIRE!"

"THE WORK GOD MAY BE DOING IN SOMEONE'S HEART IS HARMED BY A CHILDISH ACT ON OUR PART!"

Prayer:

"LORD, MAY SOULS BE MORE DESIROUS TO US THAN OUR FOOD!"

"MAY WE ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION YOU HAVE GIVEN US HERE ON EARTH!"

Romans 8: 16

"The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are children of God."

~ (Romans 8: 16)

 

 

 

"Don't get confused between what people say you are and who you know you are."

~ Oprah Winfrey

Start at the Cross!

John 20:21-22

"So Jesus said to them again, “PEACE BE WITH YOU; AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, I ALSO SEND YOU.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT."

"OUR STARTING POINT DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR DESTINATION!"

"IF WE START AT SELF, THEN SADLY, SELF WILL ULTIMATELY FOCUS ON SELFISH THINGS & CAUSE US TO REBEL AGAINST THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST!"

"WE WILL INSIST ON OUR NEEDS BEING MET & IGNORE THE NEEDS OF OTHERS!"

"BUT THIS IS NOT THE PATH THE LORD DESIRES FOR US TO CHOOSE!"

Jesus said;

"COME TO ME!"

"I AM THE WAY!"

"I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD!"

This means that;

"OUR STARTING POINT IS JESUS!"

"WHEN OUR STARTING POINT IS JESUS, THEN OUR FOCUS WILL BE TO COMPLETE THE TASK HE HAS GIVEN US!"

"WE WILL DESIRE HIS LORDSHIP & TEND TO THE NEEDS OF THE MANY ABOVE OUR OWN!"

"KNOWING WITH FULL CONFIDENCE THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL SUPPLY ALL OUR NEEDS AS WE TAKE CARE OF HIS BUSINESS HERE ON EARTH!"

Psalm 119: 169

"Let my cry reach You, Lord; give me understanding according to Your Word." ~ (Psalm 119: 169)

 

 

 

Amen.

Christ in Us!

Matthew 5:6-12

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

"IF SALVATION IS NOT OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE, THEN OUR MOTIVES DO NOT ADVANCE GOD'S KINGDOM!"

"OUR RESPONSE TO OTHERS WILL REVEAL OUR TRUE CHARACTER!"

"RESTORING SOMEONE TO CHRIST MUST BE THE REASON 'WHY' WE APPROACH THEM.

We must never be bent on:

"GETTING OUR POINT ACROSS!"

"BEING RIGHT!"

"WINNING THE ARGUMENT!"

"DISPLAYING MORE KNOWLEDGE THAN THE OTHER PERSON!"

"HAVING THE LAST WORD & SO ON!"

"GODLY CHARACTER WILL DRAW PEOPLE TO US & ALLOW OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD!"

We cannot display "CHEAP GRACE!"

We must offer "GRACE THAT REFLECTS THE CROSS!"

A grace that offers:

"COMFORT, HEALING, RESTORATION, PEACE, FREEDOM, JOY & RECONCILIATION!"

"JESUS CHRIST IN US, DESIRES TO SHOW HIMSELF THROUGH US!"

1 Corinthians 14: 33 CONFUSION

"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."

~ (1 Corinthians 14: 33)

 

 

 

CONFUSION - 1. lack of understanding; uncertainty. 2. the state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something.

1 John 4: 1

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." ~ (1 John 4: 1)

 

 

 

Try and try to confuse us as the devil and this fallen world may, we serve the True God. Grant us understanding, confidence, and boldness in our faith Lord. Amen.

Matthew 20: 27

"And whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave." ~ (Matthew 20: 27)

Lord, forgive us. So very often we place our own desires and cares ahead of others and ahead of You. Amen.

Colossians 1: 18

"He is also the head of the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything." ~ (Colossians 1: 18)

 

Praise be to our God! Amen.

After the Cross!

John 16:33

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

As Christians, we will all have to bear our own cross.

I can't carry your's & you can't carry mine.

Though we can help one another out as much as possible, each one of us has the responsibility of completing his & her own task here on earth.

We can not blame anyone else if we fail.

We can not shift our responsibility on anyone else.

"WE, AS CHRISTIANS, HAVE TO BEAR OUR OWN CROSS!"

With this cross, comes trials.

With this cross, comes troubles.

At times, we will be persecuted for our faith.

At times, we will be abandoned by our closest friends.

The point is that:

"STRUGGLES WILL CONTINUE TO COME YOUR WAY BECAUSE AS A CHRISTIAN YOU ARE SWIMMING UP-STREAM!"

"AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE LIVING OPPOSITE OF THE CURRENT WORLDVIEW!"

"YOU ARE LIVING A GODLY LIFE IN AN UNGODLY WORLD!"

But today, I would like to encourage you with this reminder:

"BE BOLD FOR JESUS!"

"BECAUSE AFTER THE CROSS, COMES THE RESURRECTION & AFTER THE RESURRECTION, ETERNITY AWAITS YOU!!!"

"NEVER STOP LIVING FOR JESUS, BECAUSE TRUE LIFE IS ONLY FOUND IN HIM!!!"

"TAKE UP YOUR CROSS & CARRY IT!"

"DON'T DRAG IT ANY LONGER!"

"DON'T LET THE STRUGGLES OF LIFE WEAR YOU OUT!"

"IN CHRIST JESUS, YOU HAVE ALL THE STRENGTH YOU NEED TO FULFILL YOUR GOD-GIVEN MISSION!"

1 John 4: 19

"We love, because He first loved us." ~ (1 John 4: 19)

 

 

 

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." ~ T.S. Eliot

2 Chronicles 18: 4

"Then Jehoshaphat added, 'First seek the counsel of the Lord." ~ (2 Chronicles 18: 4)

 

 

 

Question of the day: How often do we simply act impulsively in our flesh, without seeking God's counsel?

Matthew 6: 33 FIRST

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

~ (Matthew 6: 33)

 

 

 

FIRST - being before all others with respect to time, order, rank, importance, etc.

Tell It!

Matthew 16:24-27

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds."

"The inescapable conclusion is that Jesus taught that those who would follow Him were to love Him to the point of giving their lives for Him if necessary. He would be the center of their living and might become the cause of their dying. Self-centered living, even if apparently benign, was to have no place among His followers. Jesus' terms of service are such that no one following Him can live a life ultimately centered upon self, family, houses, lands, comforts, familiar circumstances, social advancements, security, or even fulfillment in ministry."

By John V. York (Missionary)

"IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS!"

"WE WERE SAVED & CHOSEN TO FULFILL GOD'S MISSION OF REDEMPTION!"

"IF WE FAIL TO FOCUS ON OUR GODLY CALLING, WE WILL LOSE OUR PASSION FOR THE LOST & REGAIN A TASTE FOR THE THINGS OF THE WORLD!"

Today, I would like to challenge everyone to:

"BE MISSION-MINDED!"

"AS LONG AS THERE IS BREATH IN OUR LUNGS, OUR PURPOSE IS YET TO BE ACCOMPLISHED HERE ON EARTH!"

"LET'S TELL THIS WORLD ABOUT JESUS!!!"

Leviticus 23: 35

"The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work." ~ (Leviticus 23: 35)

 

 

 

Scripture shows us that there is something special and honored about being first, and first is what You are to be in our lives always, Lord. Amen.

Acts 5: 29

"Then Peter and the apostles replied, 'We must obey God rather than men." ~ (Acts 5: 29)

 

 

Thank You Lord for placing the courage to defy and using people like the Hebrew midwives, Jeremiah, Balaam, Peter, Paul, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, and now Kim Davis to be examples to us as Christians that we are to serve You above all others. May Your good and perfect will be done Lord. Amen.

Exodus 1: 17

"The Hebrew midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live." ~ (Exodus 1: 17)

Our "leader" may have declared this to no longer be a Christian nation, but we are still a God-fearing people. Christ be with you. Amen.

Show & Tell!

Romans 10:17

"So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ."

"WE CAN HARM OTHERS BY OUR CONDUCT OR BY THE WORDS WE SPEAK!"

"EITHER WAY, WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR NEIGHBOR!"

"IT MAY NOT BE OUR CHOOSING!"

"BUT IT IS OUR GOD-GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY!"

"THE LORD DESIRES FOR US TO BE A LIGHT TO THIS WORLD!"

"WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO WITH THAT GIFT IS TOTALLY UP TO US!"

Personally, I choose to serve Jesus & lead others into His presence.

Because I know that in His presence there is freedom, healing, forgiveness, joy, restoration, comfort & eternal life!

"FOR GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!"

"THE ONLY THING MAN HAS TO DO FOR HIS CIRCUMSTANCES TO TURN AROUND IS COME TO JESUS!"

"THERE IS GREAT HOPE IN JESUS!"

"BUT NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW UNLESS WE TELL THEM!"

"THEREFORE, GO & TELL THE WORLD THAT JESUS IS THE ANSWER!"

"BETTER YET, GO & SHOW THE WORLD THAT JESUS IS THE ANSWER!"

"BE THE LIGHT YOU WERE INTENDED TO BE!"

James 4: 17

"If anyone, then knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." ~ (James 4: 17)

"One has not only a legal, but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws." ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Look to Jesus!

Jude 1:24-25
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

"IF JESUS IS NOT THE ONE YOU LOOK TO, THEN YOU ARE LOOKING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION!!!"

"SET YOUR GAZE ON JESUS TODAY!"

"HE HAS THE ANSWERS YOU ARE SEEKING!"

Daniel 6: 10

"Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house; and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously." ~ (Daniel 6: 10)

 

 

 

Praise be to God. Amen.

He will see you through!

Hebrews 6:19-20

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

"JESUS IS THE ANCHOR OF OUR SOUL!"

No matter how hard the winds may blow!

No matter how loud the storms may roar!

No matter how high the waves my rise!

No matter, No matter!

"JESUS IS THE ANCHOR OUR OUR SOUL!"

"HE TELLS THE WINDS TO BE STILL & THEY ARE CALMED!"

"HE REBUKES THE STORMS & THEY ARE SILENCED BEFORE HIM!"

"HE RISES ABOVE THE WAVES & THEY BOW TO HIM!"

When you make Jesus the Captain of your ship;

"YOUR SHIP WILL NEVER SINK!"

"THE FLOODS WILL NEVER OVERTAKE YOU!"

More importantly;

"THE PEACE THAT YOU HAVE FROM JESUS WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU!"

Today, I would like to encourage you to:

"REMAIN IN THE BOAT!"

"DON'T JUMP SHIP BECAUSE THINGS GET ROUGH!"

"JESUS WILL LEAD YOU THROUGH THE STORM!"

"YOU WILL REACH YOUR DESTINATION BECAUSE GOD'S DESIRE IS FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY WITH OTHERS FOR HIS GLORY!"

"JESUS IS THE ANCHOR YOUR OUR SOUL!"