Monday, May 26, 2014

Upheld by God's Righteous Hand!

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Imagine straying from your father, rebelling, becoming homeless and ending up in jail.  That is the story a new friend, Josh, shared with me two weekends ago.  You see, my friend made mistakes that were costly and left him alone and forsaken.  He was released from jail and returned home to his father who accepted him with open arms and some pretty strict restrictions.  He faced some tough challenges but soon found himself with the opportunity to come home to his Spiritual father.  He gave his life to Christ, surrendering to him and repented from his sins.  He began a new journey that would lead him to marriage, the mission fields of Africa and Ecuador and the blessing of a son.  

There is a lot more to Josh's story, but just the little I've shared speaks to God's amazing grace and ability to transform us from fearful and dismayed to strengthened and upheld.  God will uphold each and every one of us with his righteous hand, all we have to do is come home to him.  Just a little advice to go!

P.S. Josh will graduate from Cornell Law School next December and return to Arizona to practice law wherever God leads him.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers!



Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A2G: A Benefit Plan Like No Other!

Psalm 103
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

God offers us a benefit plan like no other, one that ensures eternity for all who sign up.  With so  many disheartened people suffering because of the daily challenges at work and home, there is a need for a new benefits plan, one that only God can offer.  Psalm 103 provides us with benefits unlike no others, we simply have to sign on the line that says, I believe!

Benefits:

  • Forgiveness is available through sincere repentance and the practice of unconditional forgiveness.  You have to practice it to receive it.  
  • Healing is provided for physical, emotional and spiritual ailments.  You need only to faithfully request it and believe.. 
  • Redemption is promised, He will buy back of your issues, your pain, your sadness, and more; He will restore you to whom he intended you to be.  
  • He Crowns us, beautifying us as we become a new creation worthy of all his promises with the old things passing on as we learn to let go!
  • Satisfaction is guaranteed, like the eagle is renewed you are renewed to the status God intended for you filling you with a spirit of joy that never ends.  They that wait upon 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


Monday, May 5, 2014

Fighting Discontentment, A Worthy Battle!


I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks Himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels. Isaiah 61:10 

This is the day that The Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24

Pray for me!  Recently the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about how often I neglect God's word, failing to live it each and every day.  It is easy to live in discontentment focused on all that is wrong; the challenges at work, at home, and in your spiritual walk.  Before you know it, the obstacles become so difficult that you find yourself sounding and acting as a defeated person.  Somehow the fact that you are surrounded by numerous blessings bypasses you and you reflect a spirit of discontentment believing that everything is wrong and subject to criticism.  


Thank God for the faithful servants he utilizes to speak to our lives and to help us battle the lies of the enemy.  In my case a friend patiently lsitened to my complaints and then asked the key question, "so tell me about what is going right"?  Right then and there God began to move my spirit reminding me of all the blessings he placed in my life.  Several days later I heard a message on the subject of discontentment and thought, there He goes again reminding me to stand up and rejoice.  Finally, yes I am a bit slow, I turned on the television and heard a message on defeating the spirit of discontentment and knew it was time to stop complaining and strart rejoicing.  Wow, what a difference when you can start the day by rejoicing and being glad for the gift of salvation, for the robes of righteousness, and the ornaments that he bestows upon us.  Yes, this is the day The Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it!  Just a little advice to go!