When I was younger, I struggled with keeping a positive outlook for the day when I woke up in the morning. I always seemed to dwell on the burdensome tasks and the negative things before me. I struggled with this for a long time. When I rededicated my life to Christ, I found a peace that had been missing in my life; a joy that would carry me on through my day. I learned not to take life for granted and to thank God for ALL the little things as well as the big things. As I began to read and study the Bible more, I ultimately came across this wonderful scripture that sums up what I’m trying to say:

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. In some cases, it's not just what you think about, but how you choose to think about it; a matter of perception. So remember Philippians 4:8 and CHOOSE to think on the good things! Leave that negativity to itself. God Bless You and Keep you Today! 🙂

I Peter 5:8 says the devil is your adversary; he is as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour. He’s been compared to a thief, and Jesus says in Matthew that "the thief come to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that you may have life more abundantly." That is the key, knowing where your blessings come from. If it is not of God, then it must be of the devil; there is no other spirit. Anything that comes from the devil comes at a cost; a cost most of us are not willing to pay once we know what it is.

Job 13:15 –A Suffering Way

When allowed, the devil will bring the worst upon you; such as the case with Job who reminds us that walking this walk can be a suffering way. The Study Bible says: “We are not meant to know or understand everything. Some things are for God alone to comprehend and direct, according to His sovereign will. Our response should be to accept in faith what he sends us. Even when we suffer, we can trust God.” Job 13:15 says… though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him...” We know that all things happen for a reason and a season- see Ecclesiastes chapter 3. But the good news is plenty when you have peace in Christ Jesus.

For encouragement, read James 1:12,

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. also from Psalm 30:5 "...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." What does the devil have for me? Absolutely NOTHING! It doesn’t matter anyway, because I don’t want it and he can’t beat God giving anyway! As 2014 comes to a close, I thank God for all that He has done for me this year, the good along with the not so good. All the trials and tribulations and the blessings on the other side of each one of those. I have definitely gained strength, a Peace I cannot fully explain and a closer walk and bond with my Precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Be encouraged, keep the faith and stay in the race. There is Joy on the other side! God Bless You and Keep You in the Center of His Will

Scripture of Subject: Psalm 27:13

¹³ I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ¹⁴ Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. David was confident, he had great faith, and more importantly he believed- take note:        “I had fainted..” Had David not believed in the goodness of the Lord, he says we would have fainted, in other words, given up, quit, dropped out of the race. But his belief in the Almighty God strengthened him and he was encouraged to carry on and wait on the blessings he was sure to come! Be encouraged and stay in the race. It’s all according to how you believe.

Are we living in the last days?-

Sure, trouble is all around, trials and tribulations abound, but understand what the Bible says in  II Timothy 3:12  “... and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” This could mean trouble in your marriage and relationships, stress at work or school, even animosity among family and people you fellowship with. The enemy will find all kinds of ways to attack you. But God CAN see you through! Be Encouraged! Remember that Jesus says in Matthew 5:11-12  ¹¹“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. ¹² Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way”. A great scripture for encouragement is James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

God can see you through, but it’s all according to how you believe!

 

What is Love?

The Apostle Paul defines Love in I Corinthians 13: 4-7 (King James uses the word Charity’)  ⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. – NLT This definition is important because of the passage detailed in Mark 12:28-31. In this reading, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment. Take note of the 31st verse as it is key: ³¹ And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Jesus makes reference to Leviticus 19:18. Remember that Leviticus is considered the Law Book, so that reference has even more importance; not just a commandment, but law. This same passage is noted in Matthew 22 and Paul makes reference to the law in Galatians 5: 13-14 . Now this is the third time (Biblical number) the law is mentioned- Love thy neighbor as thyself. Breakdown that statement ‘as thyself’, in other words: Love yourself

• How can you truly love others if you don’t love yourself- misery loves company. Subconsciously you may work at bringing others down – depression, drama, etc.
• Love Yourself – Not in vanity but in the true spirit of the word defined earlier in I Corinthians 13:5 as noted above: ...It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged

Examine that last sentence “…and it keeps no record of being wronged” What does that mean? Do you agree God is Love? Well examine yourself, repent of your sins, trust and BELIEVE that God has forgiven you and move on…Love keeps no record of being wronged” When you get rid of your hang-ups and love yourself, the love of Christ in you will abound! Making you more than capable of loving your neighbor Who is my neighbor? Even the scribe asked Jesus of this in Luke 10:29 Jesus' reply in Luke 10:30-37 details the story of the Good Samaritan. When reading this passage you come to understand your neighbor could be a complete stranger. Finally in closing I leave you with Romans 13:8-10 :  ⁸ Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. ⁹ For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ¹⁰ Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Verse 10 is the key and worth repeating: ¹⁰Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  Love your neighbor and be blessed!

Scripture of Subject: Luke 9:23

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

I put the emphasis on the word daily; why? Because Jesus says, and I’m paraphrasing Matthew 6:34 - Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. It is also common phrase among Christians to say:  tomorrow is not promised. When we rise in the morning and our brains come online, we start thinking about the tasks of the day. We’re trying to live a Godly life, so we start our day with prayer and hopefully some of the Word. We then start to form our schedule for the day; work, school, chores, errands, family, friends, etc. We then get reminded of what needs to be done tomorrow and next week; and then there are those unexpected requests: “Sweetheart, can you stop by the store please, on your way to pick up…” (Phew) When we think about ALL these things, it is easy to become overwhelmed and feel burdensome. So when I think about ‘take up your cross daily’, I focus on the day at hand because Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34- ‘³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  ³⁴Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. So when your day feels like a week, weighing heavily on your minds; that’s the time to ask the Lord Jesus to help you bare the weight. Now be encouraged and remember to take up your cross daily   We would like to know what it means to you to 'take up your cross daily'. Click on Leave a reply and  post your thoughts in the box.