Being the victim of a power outage can be humbling. One minute you have lights and heat, and then quiet, stillness. As a Christian we have the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s always available. But when we neglect it and do our own thing, the power wanes and at times can be snuffed out. It’s a sin to grieve the Holy Spirit. This is a part of God. Stay tuned into God. Get to know Him. Many people who do not really know God nor fully understand the scriptures, try to live out of their own strength and …
Stalled at Uncomfortable Places
Life can sometimes be frustrating. I get it. As a Christian, your first “go-to” should be prayer. But when our prayer request doesn’t meet our timetable, we try and go it alone; take matter into our own hands. We find our circumstances lingering for days, weeks, maybe even years. Seek God first and everything else will fall into place. He sees your heart. He knows your needs. Don’t get hung up on what’s not going right, but put your focus on His goodness and what’s going well. Just because we don’t see immediate changes, doesn’t mean that God didn’t hear …
Justice
Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. Dishonesty is the opposite. But, justice rules in the end. No one likes to think of God as an angry, mean God, but He will not let sin go unpunished. History shows that justice will eventually come to all. Because of the law of justice, we receive blessings when we obey God’s commandments. The law of justice also demands that a penalty be paid for every sin we commit. Jesus paid that penalty for us. Do the right thing, always. Trust in God to bring the justice …
Rear View Mirror
Ever notice how much bigger the front windshield of a car is in comparison to the rear window? It’s much more important to be able to see what’s ahead than what’s behind us. As it is with life. We need to be looking ahead to the future, instead of dwelling on the past; what we left behind. It’s ok to remember the days gone by, just don’t stay there. Put your hope and future in God’s hands and quit dwelling on the past. Because doing so can cause us to get stuck where we are. Stop repeating the same …
Relentless
There will be some who dismiss you; reject you or even abandon you. Broken promises and neglected commitments will make you weary, but there is a God who is watching and waiting to pick up the pieces and heal your heart. God has a fierce love for His people. He’s relentless in His pursuit for you and me. When the world rejects you, turn to God. Rejoice in God’s relentless pursuit of your heart. God will never give up on you as long as you seek Him in your daily walk through life. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 – “Rejoice always, …
Building Confidence
Have you ever watched a child whose upbringing has been supported and loved, face a challenge? Their past experiences have prepared them that they can do anything if they put their mind to it. Shouldn’t we all act like God’s children? If you truly have a relationship with Christ, you will have the confidence to face anything life launches your way. My hope is in Christ alone. And even though there are days when my self-confidence is fading, I can trust God to build me up. Jeremiah 17:7 – “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose …
Are your dreams greater than your memories?
I heard someone ask this question, and it stirred something inside me. Do I still possess the dreams I had last year? Ten years ago? We’ll always have our memories to reflect on the good times. But our dreams need to be in constant check. Stop day dreaming and give your plans to God. If your dream falls into God’s Will for your life, then consider yourself blessed. God wants good things for us. And our dreams—when authentic and based on a relationship with Him—actually point to the fulfillment of our vocation. The desires of our hearts are often there …
God’s Curriculum
Not one of us is alike 100%. Even twins have a distinct difference. This is just like God’s plan for each of us. He may be blessing me with time and friends, while He’s blessing others with knowledge and wealth. Try not to compare your life to someone else’s. His plans are sure, true, and faithful. This doesn’t mean that you will never experience problems or trials in life, but you do have an eternal future in Christ spiritually. God’s plan for you is to prosper and grow spiritually in Christ in the very situation you are in …
Faith
There have been seasons in my life when time seemed to stand still. Anxious to see a situation turn around, yet all was quiet from God. But I pressed on. I trusted Him in everything. Things may not have happened in my timing and that’s ok. My God is a God of miracles. I’ve seen it before and I know I’ll see them again. Faith is so important because it is the means by which we have a relationship with God. Having faith in Jesus Christ means relying completely on Him—trusting in His infinite power, intelligence, and love. It includes …
Obedience is a Time to See God at Work
I have been through many trials in my life. Some have been heart wrenching, difficult and stressful. But there was one thing that was constant through all of this, and it was my faith in God. I often didn’t know how He would get me through it, but I knew He would. Obedience to God is confirming that you are in agreement with His plan. It may not be in your timing, but God always delivers His children through every trial, every battle and every heartache in this life. Obedience teaches us trust. Obedience is an act of …
Answered Prayers
We all know there’s no such thing as a ‘genie in a bottle.’ But some often think that they can ask God for anything and He’ll give it to them. We go against the nature of God when we ask for something in His name and it’s not in His will. I’ll admit it’s hard to ask for something and say, “only if it’s your will for me, God.” Knowing good and well, that even if it’s not His will, I want it anyway. God knows our past, present and future. You have to believe that whatever the …
Fellowship
I like my alone time with God. Soaking in those private moments help me realize how small I am and how big He is. But fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ is like a lifeline to me. I need it and when it’s missing, I feel a part of me has been taken away. God called us to gather together, to love one another and to lift each other up. Stay connected with your church family. Fellowship builds unity and the church is to be united. No matter where we are in our faith, fellowship provides …