WHO ARE YOU?
Tag: Christ
He is Faithful and Loving
Scripture: Mark 12:30-31
30) “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the second: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 31) There is no other commandment greater than these.”
When we are searching for God’s will in our lives, it begins with the two Scriptures above. Reading the above, it takes all we are to love God. Your heart, soul, mind, and strength is required. When I began this journey, I will say that my mind and heart were there sometimes, not all the time because I wouldn’t have made some of the choices that I did. However, as I continue to follow the leading of Scripture, I have come to know God better and better by His Word, and the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus.
God is faithful to His promise to never leave us nor forsake us. He has given us His Word and His Spirit on this journey. I cannot say everything was easy. I cannot say I didn’t cry any tears or didn’t have my own pity party. What I can say is that God has seen me through and continues to do so. He is faithful and loving.
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An Anchor for Change
Today I want to talk about change. The only constant is change. Circumstances don’t remain the same. They change, for better or for worse. However, they do change. When I reflect on my life, I see major changes and minor changes. My question is how much impact do you want to have when the changes occur?
When we make choices in our lives, do we make them with regard to changes that may occur? I have pondered change for myself. My heart’s direction is to impact my faith. Change it for the better. Strengthen it and grow it. Why? Because my faith will see me through when the changes come that are out of my control.
My faith helps me with the loss of family, friends and other things that impact me. My faith in God is the rock that anchors my soul. I have discovered that I can get through anything that occurs with God at the helm. It is not my intent to make it seem like it is so easy. Faith in God takes surrender and consistency, no matter what it looks like. I would like to add to the point that some may say that it is better to have control of everything by your own standards. That may seem to work for a while, however, things will change. When things are out of your control, what is your anchor? What do you hold on to when no matter what you attempt to do isn’t working out the way you want it to?
My faith in God is through the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Savior and my Lord. Is everything down pat? Of course not. I will say that is my direction though. This journey of life is not easy, sometimes not even clear. However, through it all, God says He will never leave us nor forsake us. God gave His one and only Son so that this life of mine would be better. And, not only this life but the next one in eternity. What is your anchor?
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Keep Pushing Forward
As we enter 2023, the mantra remains the same for us all. Keep pushing forward in Jesus Christ, no matter the circumstances. Even when things are going well, there is a need to stay prayed up and focused on Jesus. There is an enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.
John 10:10 – “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
Walking with Jesus gives us wisdom, courage and strength so that we are not blindsided. There are times when we are not aware that there is a force in the background in our lives trying to take us out.
Walking with God is about trusting Him and believing His Word for your life. His promises are yes and Amen. Look to the future through the Word of God.
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,“ says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
This is one of my favorite Scriptures. If you have read a few of my posts, you will see that I refer to this Scripture often. Why? Because it gives me peace. It builds my trust in God. Through Jesus Christ, God has already proven that He loves us. If He has already given us eternal life, would He not even more be faithful to us to give us life more abundant?
John 10:10 – “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
Repeating his Scripture, there are two sides to this coin. Jesus came to give us a better life here also. He didn’t say He came to erase every trial or every challenge. In growth, we have a better life. Growing in Him…in grace.
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Resignation Tendered
Happy New Year! to all my readers. Hope this year brings you peace; the peace of Jesus as well as all the blessings He has for you. My hope is even more in Jesus because He brought me into another year with health, sanity, family and friends as well as purpose.
I wanted to share with you something I read that reached out to me. Hence, the title of this post. This statement was shared in a devotional by Andrea Chatelain from YouVersion (Trust Me). The statement is not exact but the point was made. “I resign from the self-made post of control freak and trust God to lead no matter the consequences.” Each level we attain in this journey requires this commitment. My resignation is now tendered. God through Christ Jesus my Lord is my rock, my strength, my hope, and my life. Not saying I don’t miss the mark sometimes but I press on towards the hope of His calling.
This sentence hit home. As we continue on this journey, acceptance is required that we are not in control. Truly, good success comes from the Lord. Whether we are looking for success in our families, our marriages, our businesses or relationships in general. I read this yesterday, 01/01/23. It resonated so that I will have a reminder in several places. When things are not going as I plan, I will have reminders to adjust my perspective.
Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)
God truly wants the best for us. The hope and goal for 2023 is that this Scripture becomes even more of an anchor than it already is for me. My encouragement today is that you develop your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. As the past several years have gone by, we see the chaos the world brings. Personally, I will take the peace of Jesus since I am not in control of anything but my responses.
John 14:27 – I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (NLT)
Blessed and prosperous New Year to all!
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Jesus is the Reason for the Season
Beginning with Thanksgiving, this is the season most get excited about. However, as we venture deeper into the season for Christmas, let us remember those who are feeling lonely and desperate. We cannot fix their problems. However, we can let those close to us know that we care about them and are there for them. The tricky part is to remember that we are not able to fix everything wrong in their but to help with the loneliness. Sometimes, being present is the key to helping others get through this time of the year. There is always hope.
God’s mercy and grace is renewed every morning. Today there is a cloud but tomorrow the sun will shine. Our hope is in Jesus. I would like to encourage all those feeling lonely that God is for you and with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Have you accepted Christ?
Romans 10:9-10 – 9)If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10)For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you saved.”
It is good to know that when family and friends are no longer there for you, God is and will always be. I am a believer and truly know that God is real in my life. I believe He will change your life. It is your choice. Choose this day whom you will serve.
Joshua 24:15b – “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
Happy holidays to all and remember Jesus is the reason for the season!
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Another Precious Ponder
Self-Discipline
This post is about self-discipline. However, I did want to make sure to add information about the difference between self-discipline and self-control. We understand that self-control is being able to control our temperaments and lustful desires.
Self-discipline is about correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement. Self-discipline is focusing on areas that need to change and incorporating those things that propel us toward those changes. It is about applying the tools that you learn so you do life better. Incorporating self-discipline influences self-control.
2nd Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” The NLT replaced “a sound mind” with “self-discipline”.
The reference Scripture for 2nd Timothy 1:7 is Romans 8:15
Romans 8:15 – “So you have not receive a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now, we call Him, “Abba, Father.”
Self-discipline takes work on your part to do the inventory and see what needs to change. However, “we can do all things through Christ.” My encouragement today is that we can work on our selves. We can apply what we learn so that we can live abundant lives. Jesus came that we might have abundant life. He did His part so that we can do ours.
Be blessed.
Incorporating self-discipline influences self-control.
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Peace
Expounding on peace from my post on Monday, I want to encourage looking for the real and eternal peace, the peace of God. This peace is founded on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. John 14:27 – “I am, leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” NLT
Two of the critical elements of this peace from Jesus is trust and faith. You have to have faith in the words of Jesus and you have to trust that He keeps His word. When compared to the fragile and unstable peace of the world, this is the real thing. The peace of this world is not stable. Here today, gone tomorrow. The peace of God is never-changing and eternal. How can you question something unchanging and eternal?
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” NLT
Real peace takes commitment to Christ. Reading the word of God daily keeps me focused on Jesus. My peace is based on reading and knowing His word; trusting that He keeps His word; and, that He will bring it to pass in His time. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” This is a promise from God and the promises of God are “Yes, and Amen”. He “will keep in perfect peace”. No question.
Are you looking for “real” peace?
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He Loves Me
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”
As I sit and ponder this, I realize that there are many times the choices I make are not the best. However, the Scripture above tells me that even then, God is working out the good for our benefit. I do give God the praise and glory today because no matter what He loves me and is always looking to give me what’s good for me in spite of my humanity.
This Scripture also gives me rest. Not saying I want to make the wrong choices. When I do though, God is right there making sure by His protection that it works out for my good. This is not to say there won’t be consequences. They may very well be there. He is still right by my side to make sure that I get through them. The comfort of God’s love for me is everything.
I would like to encourage you today. No matter what, God is with you. His word states that he will never leave you nor forsake you. Psalm 9:10 – “Those who know your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You.” David wrote a good portion of the Psalms. His relationship with God is an excellent example of what that means. David was not perfect. He was repentant and humble when he did make some bad choices. And, he did.
God lets us know that making wrong choices doesn’t remove His love for us. His word shows us by the testimony of those gone before us. Stay the course because you can’t do anything He doesn’t know about or isn’t aware of.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God. And thank God for that!
Romans 8:35-37
Verse 35 – “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
Verse 36 – “As the Scriptures say, “For Your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”
Verse 37 – “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loves us.”
