When we see old friends, we often say “I’ve been thinking about you,” or “You’ve been on my mind a lot lately,” or maybe, “I’m thinking goods thoughts for you.” Our God is always thinking about us, always waiting to listen to us. Jeremiah 29:11 says. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” It’s comforting to know we are always on His mind. God bless you!
Take Comfort, and Give it
Most of us have faced loss, and many of us are facing it now. It is during those times that we need to be comforted, and as Christians, we also need to be comforters. Scripture gives us guidance on both; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God.” If we see someone who is hurting, we should reach out and be a comfort to them. Amen? God bless you!
Seasons of Life
The older we get, the faster time seems to go by. Ecclessiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” It is in the final season of life that we have the time to live every day completely in the presence of God, experiencing the peace which comes through faith in him. In this season, we can take time to pray while growing into a closer relationship with God. Maybe the primary purpose of aging is to discipline us to become wiser and more fully committed to the important things of life as stewards of God. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, let’s serve him in every season. May He bless you today!
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
How many of us remember our mothers insisting that they hold our hand when we crossed the street or inside the store? How about asking our dads for help on a science project? Even though our parents may no longer be with us, we still have that love and support. Isaiah 41:13 says, “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” He will always be there to guide and protect us. God bless you!
We Have the Power We Need
I think we can all agree that power can be used for good and bad. We only have to look at the state of politics to see the bad. Many men in scripture used the power given to them by God for bad, but I am reminded of one who used God’s power in a good way. When Elijah went up against the prophets of Baal, he called upon the power of God to destroy their idol. Psalm 77:13b says: “who is so great a God as our God?” We also have the power of God’s grace to do good things. All we have to do is ask in faith, amen? God bless you!
Patience in the Face of Frustration
It is frustrating when traffic is backed up for miles on the interstate; it can be irritating waiting at a green light when the car in front of us doesn’t move because the driver is playing with their phone; how about standing in the deli counter line for a sandwich when the customer in front of us can’t make up their mind? Fortunately, we have scripture to guide us through. Proverbs 15:18 teaches, “A wrathful man stirreth up strife, but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” We are called to love, not anger. Romans 12:12b reminds us to be patient in tribulation. I think having to wait gives us time to focus on God, amen? God bless you!
A Cure for Burnout
Are you ever so tired that you feel you just can’t do it anymore? The official term is burnout. We all live such busy lives, full of work, home activities, church duties; sometimes, we feel like there is just not enough of us to go around. We have scripture to guide us through those times: Isaiah 40:29 says, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength” and Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The next time we feel burnout, let’s all lean on Him, the one who renews us! God bless you.
God is Our Helper
As believers, we are not left to our own ability or strength to live according to God’s will and purpose. It is really God’s divine power and grace that enables us to have the desire and the ability to live in alignment with His plans. God’s work within us involves both our desires (“to will”) and our actions (“to act”). He shapes our hearts, aligning our desires with His, and empowers us to take practical steps that reflect His good purpose. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” This verse holds a profound truth about the Christian life and the role of God’s grace in our daily walk with Him. We can have confidence that God is faithful to complete the work He has started in us. Christian life is not solely dependent on our own efforts or willpower. It is a partnership between us and God, with Him being the primary source of transformation and empowerment. It is through His grace and the work of His Spirit that we are able to grow in holiness, exhibit godly character, and fulfill the purposes He has for our lives. God bless you today!
Love at First Sight
It was love at first sight! That’s a common expression used when we first see our newborn child, but we also feel that love before we even see the birth of our babies. God loves us before we are born. He felt that way about Jeremiah when he said, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.” Loving without seeing is a common trait among Christians. Even though we have not seen him, we believe, and love him, and 1 John 4:19 says, “We love him, because he first loved us.” Imagine how much greater that love is going to be “when our Jesus we will see.” God bless you!
Give from the Heart
All of us have blessed with various measures of success; some with much, others with some. A recent message talked about giving from the heart. If we see someone in need, we should respond in Christian love according to our ability. Sometimes, it might be a financial gift, other times an encouraging word or sentiment. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” As a member of the family of God, if we see a need, we should try to fill it, not for an expectation of being paid back, but for the sheer joy of doing something in Jesus’ name. He is our reward. God bless you!
