When you walk in obedience to Jesus, you experience obstacles, hate, persecution, or physical attack. Nonbelievers are not tolerant of believers. Sinners dislike Christians because it draws attention to their wrongdoing. 

 Those who doubt God's existence live their lives committing ungodly acts. They do not believe that heaven, God, or eternity exist. They are sure earth is natural, and power and wealth are plentiful on earth, so that is what they recklessly work to attain by any means necessary.

 We share in God's suffering when persecuted for our beliefs. The crucifixion happened because people doubted the gospel and who His Father was. People laughed at Him and questioned Him. They nailed Him to a cross, yet He never denied His Father. When you experience similar attacks, learn the art of rejoicing. You live right when others recognize your walk in obedience and see Christ in you. 

 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." 

Pastor Warren—

“Let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1 (TLB)

 One of the signs that envy is in your heart and needs to be eliminated is that you constantly use this phrase: “It’s not fair.”

You know what that phrase sounds like: “It’s not fair that he gets to do that and I don’t!” “It’s not fair that it’s easy for her and not for me.” “It’s not fair that their kids got the award and mine didn’t.” “It’s not fair that they can afford that vacation and I can’t.” 

 Envy is actually a battle with God. You’re in a fight with God every time you envy. When you envy, you’re saying, “God, you blew it. You didn’t do it right. You didn’t have the brains enough to make me the way I ought to be. If you really loved me, you wouldn’t have made me me; you would have made me somebody else.” 

 And God says, “Huh? If I didn’t make you you, you wouldn’t exist!”

The problem is this: When you envy, you don’t trust God. You don’t believe that he has your best interest at heart. You don’t believe that he knows more than you do about what’s best for you.

 You don’t have some things in life because God knows a reason that you shouldn’t have them. There are some talents God did not give you. There are some opportunities God does not give you. And there are some experiences in life you don’t get.

 You can either shake your fist in anger—or trust God. God is smarter than you, and he knows better.

 God has given each of us a race to run. You can’t run anybody else’s race, and no one else can run yours. You can either run the race God has given you, or you can make up your own race. Most people choose to make up their own race in life and then wonder why they hit dead ends. Instead, God wants you to run the race that he has for you. He custom-designed a plan for your life. When you focus on God’s race, you won’t need to worry about the race everybody else is running. You won’t be bothered by the crowds that are cheering or jeering in the stands. You’re living for an audience of one: God.

 July 24, 2024

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
-Leo Buscaglia

 It is easy to underestimate the power of simple acts of kindness or their impact. A gentle touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, can  be received by someone who is in a dark place in life. You may be the angel sent_ to shed light into their darkness. Although we believe it can be unsafe to show a person kindness, your spirit may sense that persons energy and feel they are in a dark place.

We must not overestimate the power of acts like these—you are not going to solve anyone's problems with a listening ear, or completely turn their lives around with a smile_ but we must not underestimate the power of these acts to lift the spirit of another who may feel alone.

 The things that turn people's lives around generally are a bunch of good things together, and our smile or compliment will be a part of a greater whole, a whole that gives someone hope or peace, and that would be incomplete without our contribution.

 Mr. Buscalgia quote reminds us that we do have power to help others, to make them feel good about life and living. And if we do have that kind of power in our hands, shouldn't we use it more?

September 21, 2018

Ask God for strength and courage that you may not be fearful.  Fear is an enemy, it will cause you to see trouble when there is none. Carrying the weight of daily living, along with the craziness of the world, all of us are affected by the negative energy. When someone says they are not, they are in denial. No matter how strong you are, continuously receiving negative energy takes a toll.

 If you follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, you will learn that He was always present in life’s chaotic moments. Not the cause, but the Master that turned chaos into calm. When He is for you, nothing can successfully come against you and succeed. Think of Daniel in the lion’s den, Jonah in the belly of a whale, and one of the most memorable stories from the book of Matthew. Jesus and the disciples were on a boat in the middle of a storm, the disciples had their faith being challenged and they began to doubt. They awakened Jesus and asked.. Master, doth thou not care that we perish? Oh, yea of little Faith. Jesus, softly said, Peace.. be still.

 We can conclude that Jesus has authority over the elements of nature.  Jesus has authority over—sickness, demons, death, and sin. That covers everything that may enter your life and is proof that you are never alone. No reason to fear, it is fear that shows a lack of faith. Be strong in the Lord and stay prayed up. He has a plan for you and it shall come to past.

 He is not just a king over the people of Israel; rather, He is king over all living beings as well.  Simply ask God to help you live fearlessly and to cover you in the blood of His Son, JESUS.

August 18, 2018

When you hesitate, or take time to reconsider, it can derail what you are working to accomplish. There will be opportunities available to you that will require immediate action and if you hesitate, the prize is lost. These are the situations that require a constant state of preparedness on your part. You may believe that great thought and analysis is required, but your life’s journey has prepared you for anything that crosses your path. Your life’s journey_ is your guide for living your best future.

 Family, public education, church, neighborly togetherness provided a solid foundation of preparedness. You were taught information, you learned to think and formulate your own opinions, you learned the value of God’s gifts. If you continued to college or the military, you learned discipline, responsibility and independence. The education you received through the “World University,” has given you tools that are invaluable. Tools needed to answer any knock on the door and move forward.

 There will be times when you will need to pause, analyze data to make a professional decision that impact others. Life allows that, but in the world of transition and uncertainty, you may be faced with a mandatory evacuation, a job transfer, or a WOW opportunity that is your dream... you are prepared and must make quick decisions.

 Life requires it.

 October 5, 2018

Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

It has always been to our advantage to wait patiently on the Lord. Regardless of your situation, no matter how heavy the burden_ when you take it to the Lord in prayer_ there is peace. Walking with the Lord does not mean you won’t feel lost, but He gives you “HOPE” that hard times and situations_ will pass.

 In this life, you may get bumped and bruised, but that does not mean that you are forgotten or alone. Imagine how boring it would be if you had everything you wanted and needed.. more money so that you have no bills, the perfect spouse and children, and the perfect job. The richest people in the world get bored with what their wealth allows them to have and do and some venture outside the norm to find pleasure.

 There is no perfect life, there may be some people who have less struggle, lighter burdens, and good relations, but nobody has it all. That is how God created the earth and all inhabitants, He wanted us to need Him. He wanted our life to be filled with variety so that we learn, grow and develop spiritually. He knew that we would have challenges beyond our ability to solve them, He created humans to live interdependently, but for all to be dependent on Him. 

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding. He knows everything, sees everything, evildoers shall be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.