The Lord Can Heal You

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the

 LORD has anointed me to bring good news to

the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening

of the prison to those who are bound."  

Isaiah 61:1

According to Isaiah 61:1, Jesus has His heart set on helping three different groups of people. See them there? The poor, the brokenhearted, the captives. Who are these people? They're us! If you haven't figured out that you're that person yet, then you're not ready to get what it is He has to offer. But if in your heart you're saying, "You're right - I see myself there," then hang on. Christ has something phenomenal to offer you.

He offers good things to humble people.

The first specific people in this passage that need help are the poor. Some translations say afflicted. A good translation from the original Hebrew would be humble. This humility thing isn’t a surprise. In Matthew 5:3 Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit," that is, people who aren't always 100% out for themselves. Are you the kind of person who lives your life for others and don't always think about what's best for you? You say, "Well I'd like to be, but then who is going to take care of me?" God is! This verse tells us that God takes care of the humble who will let Him meet their needs. Christ brings the good news - but you must be humble to hear it.

He offers healing to the brokenhearted.

Is your heart broken? This word describes people who have been hammered by some devastating blow. This difficult circumstance may have scarred you emotionally. There might be a profound sadness to your life because of something terrible that happened in your past. Isaiah 61:1 says that Christ came into this world to bind up the brokenhearted. Like a doctor attending a broken limb. Like someone ministering salve over an open sore to bring soothing and comfort to some emotional pain that's part of your life. Even here Jesus is "the great Physician." Now how great is that?

He offers to set the captives free.

If you've had a week of failure and feel trapped in a cycle of sin/confess and sin/confess and sin/confess then you know what it's like to be held captive. You are so tired of that same old sin. "When will that ever be gone from my life?" What you desperately need is some freedom. If you are chained to some sin, Christ wants to break that cycle in your life and bring release from that bondage and give you freedom. I tell you in Jesus' name that is what He came into this world to do - to bring freedom to those held captive to sin.
 
(Via Walk in the Word)
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn

Responding to Tough Times

Tough times have a way of separating the “wheat” from the “chaff.” That is, when two people face similar dilemmas, one grows closer to God, bears spiritual fruit, and becomes more peaceful. The other, meanwhile, becomes anxious, bitter in spirit, and full of secret doubts about the Lord’s faithfulness. The difference has to do with how each one responds to hardship.


We all know that hardship is part of life. Becoming a Christian does not change that fact (John 16:33). What shifts is our understanding of God’s sovereignty—nothing touches our lives unless He permits it. The Lord allowed a murderous king to pursue David for years (1 Sam. 23). But the fugitive responded to adversity with faith and called God his stronghold and refuge (Ps. 59:16).

We are confronted with challenges for many reasons. God intends for them to grow our faith, change our perspective, or deepen our compassion. Sometimes believers reach heaven before they understand why they’ve had to endure suffering. But whatever the trial or God’s intention for it, He is available to help us in our affliction (Ps. 46:1). We can turn toward Him for comfort, guidance, and support. Or we can get angry and resentful that we are not being rescued from our shadowy valley (See Ps. 23:4).

When affliction strips away every crutch, one has only the Lord to depend upon. Can you think of a better position to find yourself in than to be undergirded by our faithful and sovereign God? Though some people are destroyed by that kind of situation, others are built into stalwart believers.

(via Dr. Charles Stanley)

Be Blessed!

Dawn

Overcoming Trials

Moses had some tough times in his long life. He fled from a murder charge, spent years in the desert, stood toe to toe with a king who scorned him, led a grumbling nation through 40 years of hardship, and saw those same people run hot and cold in their allegiance. Yet once Moses learned the secret to dealing with trials, he faced every one courageously.


Though he returned to Egypt with an unmistakable call from the Lord (Ex. 3:10), appearing before Pharaoh must nonetheless have been intimidating. And Moses had to plead with him ten times for the release of the Israelites. The ruler was not fazed by locusts or convinced by boils or softened by water turning into blood. In fact, he made life even harder for the slaves by forcing them to find their own brick-making materials. In turn, the Hebrews heaped ingratitude on their leader.

In spite of all the opposition, Moses kept returning to the palace until he had achieved God’s purpose—the release of His people. As the former prince led the exodus from Egypt, “he endured as seeing Him who is unseen” (Heb. 11:27). With a stack of trials behind and despite a hint of more to come leading this unruly people, Moses moved forward, aware that he was walking in God’s presence.

God had pledged to be with Moses every step of the way (Ex. 3:12). The Israelite leader fixed his focus upon that promise and the One who made it. He had the wisdom to trust that I AM (v. 14)—the eternal sovereign of the universe—would guard his way and bring him victory over trials.

(via Dr. Charles Stanley)

Be Blessed!

Dawn

When You Don't Know

We don't always know what to pray in every given situation. That is when the Holy Spirit will help you, even interceding for you.


Romans 8:26–27 tells us, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will" (NLT).

What is God's will?

We as humans are always in interested in the here and now—what will benefit us temporarily.

God, however, sees things a bit differently. He is also interested in the "bye and bye" and the eternal.

In other words, God has a bigger plan than my personal happiness in the given moment. He desires my holiness as I am conformed into the image of Jesus Christ.


First things first

It is interesting that following Romans 8:27 is Romans 8:28, which says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

I often say, "People don't read what follows Romans 8:28."   Romans 8:29 tells us, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

We need to read Romans 8:26–29 to get the whole picture!


Let's put this all together, because this is showing the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Allow me a very loose paraphrase/interpretation:

There are times when we are overwhelmed with the way life is going. We are so distressed that we don't even know how to pray, so we just sigh or groan. But the Holy Spirit takes these groans and sighs and turns them to prayers to the Father.

No matter what is happening, God is going to take your present circumstances and bring good out of bad. But His ultimate goal is take all that happens, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, and make us more like Jesus. Because that is the objective and endgame for every believer.

One other thing: I have found that happiness does not come from seeking it, but from seeking God. If you dedicate your life to being happy, it's doubtful you ever will be.

But if you focus instead on being holy—on being the person God has called you to be—you will find personal happiness as a byproduct of having your priorities in order.

When we get to heaven one day, all of this will make sense!    Randy Alcorn, in his book Heaven, writes, "Seeing God will be like seeing everything else for the first time. Why? Because not only will we see God, He will be the lens through which we see everything else–people, ourselves, and the events of this life."

Be Blessed!

Dawn

The Pattern of Powerful Prayer

9) Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we have continued praying for you, asking God that you will know fully what he wants. We pray that you will also have great wisdom and understanding in spiritual things 10) so that you will live the kind of life that honors and pleases the Lord in every way. You will produce fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God. 11) God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient. 12) And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father who has made you[a] able to have a share in all that he has prepared for his people in the kingdom of light. Col. 1: 9-12 (NCV)


Praying effectively isn’t something we all naturally know how to do—for most Christians, it must be learned. In fact, one of the disciples who had walked with Jesus asked for help in this area (Luke 11:1).

So often we hear requests to bless, protect, and provide for a person. While these are fine to ask of the Lord, there is another, more powerful way to pray. When we speak to Him using Scripture, our conversation contains the authority of almighty God.

The apostle Paul wrote today’s passage to the Colossian church. From this, we know the specific requests he brought before God concerning his brothers. These are applicable to us today as well. Let’s focus on the first two requests today and the remaining four tomorrow.

First, Paul asked for the believers to understand God’s plan for their lives. Now, the Lord often does not reveal everything at once, but He gives seeking hearts enough information to trust and follow His way.

Second, the apostle prayed that the Colossian Christians would conduct themselves in a manner worthy of Christ and pleasing to Him; Paul longed to see their lives prove consistent with their true spiritual identity. A follower of Jesus is evident to other people because of lifestyle and spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).

One of the greatest gifts we can give is to lift a person in prayer. And there is no more powerful way to do this than to speak Scripture on his or her behalf. Colossians 1:9-14 is a beautiful example of a passage to pray as we bring loved ones and ourselves before God’s throne.
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn

The Storms of Life

When life gets hard, we tend to get upset and wonder how soon the difficulty will end. But God wants us to focus on Him in times of trouble. As we do, we will discover He is doing important spiritual work during these “storms.”


Beliefs. The Bible contains what we need to know about our life in Christ and following Him. When circumstances are beyond our control, what we really believe will surface. The depth of our faith in God’s character and promises will become evident, as will any doubts or uncertainties we may have. For example, Joseph revealed strong belief when he acknowledged that God intended his hardships for his good (v. 20). There are bound to be times when we don’t succeed—like Peter, whose fear led to denying Christ—but we should think of trials as opportunities to grow and deepen our faith.

Transformation. As God’s children, we are to live our lives in a way that displays Christ’s character. But we are more like jewels in the rough, aren’t we? The heavenly Father can use the storms of life to transform us into His Son’s image.

Comfort. This blessing is not only for us but also for others. Our Father comforts us in our sufferings and asks that we share what we have received with other people (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

Difficult times can come from our own mistakes, the schemes of the Enemy, or the hurtful actions of others. They can even be ordained by God. Regardless of the source, our Father works in them to benefit us and to bless others. What testimony about Him can you give to a hurting world?
 
BE BLESSED!
 
DAWN

The Best Gift

13) So these three things remain: faith, hope,

and love. But the best one of these is love.

1Cor 13:13

Have you ever noticed how easy it is for us to allow ourselves to get sidetracked by things that aren't even a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of eternal consequences? We all can tell horror stories that we have either experienced personally or have heard from someone who was there about churches splitting apart over the color of carpet, the shape of the chandeliers, the style of music, the pastor's salary, building programs, or any number of things that in the context of eternity are utterly meaningless.

This is exactly what motivated the Apostle Paul to write one of the most, if not the most beautiful passages in the entire Bible: I Corinthians 13. We know these four paragraphs of Paul's letter as "the love chapter," but many people don't realize the context in which it is placed. The gist of I Corinthians 13 is that if we as followers of Jesus Christ do not have love as our overarching goal, aim and passion, then we are worthless to the world and to the Kingdom.


The Corinthian Church had many problems, and one of them was that people were using the gifts of the Spirit, and tongues in particular as some sort of spiritual merit badge. Those who exercised the gift of tongues felt they were more spiritual than others, which apparently caused other people to seek earnestly after that gift so they, too would be considered spiritual. In chapter 12, Paul states clearly that God gives a variety of spiritual gifts to people so the church can function well. Just as the eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you" we cannot say that one gift is more important, or spiritual than another.



At the end of chapter 12, Paul says, "I will show you a more excellent way." His next paragraph (what we know as Chapter 13) begins with, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal..."

Here is what Paul is saying to you and me in those four brief paragraphs: All of the things that we would use to boast of our goodness, our spirituality or advance the Kingdom are meaningless and worthless unless love rules our lives and our actions!

Want to be a spiritual giant? Let God's love consume you and guide everything that you do. See the world - and the church - through the eyes of Jesus and with the heart of God the Father. Love others as you are loved.

That is the most excellent way.

(via Alan RIley)

Be Blessed & Be A Blessing to One Another!

Dawn

Self-Control in All Things

"But put on the Lord Jesus

Christ, and make no provision for the flesh,

to fulfill its lusts."

 Romans 13:14

In ancient Greece, every year before and after the Olympic games were held, the Isthmian games took place in the city of Corinth. Those who won would receive a wreath made out of pine. No doubt those who participated in these games trained rigidly as the athletes of our day do for the Olympics. It takes strict discipline, sound eating habits, rigid training programs, a burning desire to win, and a persevering commitment to the task to prepare for an athletic event of this caliber. Those who compete at this level run to win, and in order to win, they must discipline their bodies. Self-control is a key component for victory.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul alludes to these athletic competitions when he says,

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

Paul says that it makes no sense for a boxer to punch the air. His goal is to train so that he can land his punches, knock down his opponent, and win the match. In the same way, it makes no sense for a runner to deviate from the course and go for a stroll through the country. His mission is to stay on track within the boundaries and cross the finish line before everyone else. Winning will require self-control in all things, from the training and preparation to execution and performance on race day. Spiritually it makes no sense to view life as haphazard or to approach it carelessly. God has called us all to run a race, and we are in it to win it, or at least we should be. Paul viewed his commission to share the gospel as even more intense and serious than the training of a world-class athlete. He knew that a race has only one winner, and he lived the Christian life as if he wanted to get the most rewards possible for the sake of Christ.

What helps makes an athlete successful is the same thing that contributed to Paul's spiritual discipline- self-control. Paul speaks of disciplining his body to the point of making it his slave. The Greek word from which we translate the word self-control implies mastering fleshly passions and sensuous lusts. Just as an athlete has to discipline his mind, will, emotions, and body in order to perform at the highest level, a Christian must discipline his thoughts, behaviors, attitudes, and actions in order to bear abundant spiritual fruit. Self-control means that we don't make any provision for the flesh and its lusts (Romans 13:14). We don't do anything to aid and abet self. Rather, we yield to God by faith Who by His Spirit will enable us to live as new creations in Christ rather than as those who are enslaved to sin. We have been set free from being slaves to sin (Romans 6:6), and self-control is thus the process of continuing to reckon by faith that we are indeed free. This freedom will enable us to live out the fruit of self-control, which is discipline. A Christian who runs to win will thus be committed to studying God's Word, to meditating upon it, to praying, to serving, and to doing all that Christ has commanded us.

Too many Christians, either out of ignorance or a lack of faith, continue to live as if they are slaves to self. Their lives become mired with self-gratification, self-seeking, self-absorption, and self-righteousness. They might be able to control some behaviors, but they are themselves controlled by others. The beauty of self-control is that it is the absolute opposite of selfishness. It is the ability to, no matter what the circumstances, stand firm in righteousness, remaining strong in faith.

Life will riddle us with encumbrances, and Satan will fire temptations at us more often than we like. Self-indulgence gives into a little sin here and there, and self-righteousness abstains from sin for the purpose of glorifying self. Self-control, on the other hand, makes self a non-issue and serves Christ as Master over all areas of life. When this fruit of the Spirit is manifested in the lives of believers, they will be able to resist temptation, persevere under fire, and finish the race strongly. This requires discipline by the power of the Spirit so that we don't become disqualified in our Christian race due to sin. Sin saps the power of God working in and through us. If we want to win the crown of life, which is much greater and longer-lasting than the pine wreaths given to the Isthmian winners, we must have self-control.

We may never be professional athletes, but we can be world-class Christians if we have self-control in all things. Let us run to win, exercising the discipline characteristic of a champion.
 
Be Blesed!
 
Dawn

Refocusing Life on Jesus

4 )Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5) “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15: 4-6

Today’s passage encourages us to stay connected to Jesus. The image of Him as the vine and believers as the branches helps us understand that apart from Him, we can do nothing. It is possible to accept His salvation yet still act out of the “flesh,” distracted or separated from His direction and power. All believers find their focus wandering at times, but some have strayed so far that it’s hard to see their way back.

If you find your heart loyal to something besides Christ, it is vital to acknowledge that this has happened. Identify which attitudes or activities are drawing you away from Jesus. Then repent and get whatever help is necessary to set aside diversions, insecurity, worldly desires, or anything else that draws your attention away from the Lord.

Once the distraction is gone, refocus on Jesus by reading the Word, praying, learning from biblical messages, and spending time with godly friends who will encourage you. After living outside of God’s best for a while, it can be hard to discipline yourself to function as the Lord desires. But He promises to walk by your side to strengthen you and supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19)

As Hebrews 12:1 urges, let us “lay aside every encumbrance . . . and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”


Don’t delay. Acknowledge any area, sin, or stronghold that is keeping you from living passionately and fully for Christ. Following His plan—with His strength—is the way to peace, joy, and contentment in life. Ask for His help and commit to action. There is nothing like living “at full throttle” for God.
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn

Fragrant Fruit

"Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising

to God, which is recognized by those on the way to

 salvation as a life-giving perfume."

 2 Corinthians 2: 15-16

Every moment of the day, each decision you make, every choice and every thought is a chance to produce fragrant fruit.

In Paul's letter to the Galatians he passionately gives them counsel on how to live freely and solely motivated by God's Spirit. We often need these types of firm reminders because we are constantly in a struggle, a tug-of-war with The Holy Spirit and our sinful nature.

Paul says, look just make it a habit to walk and live in the Holy Spirit. Let it control and guide you in everything you say and do. If you do that, then you are guaranteed to produce fragrant fruit.

Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear fruit by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me. -John 15: 5

He then warns us of the self-interest root in all of us that is always antagonizing the Holy Spirit, just as the Holy Spirit is always in conflict with our selfish, sinful, rancid fruit nature.


In fruit farming, careful attention is given to pollination, fertilization, pruning and pest control.


Pollination/Fertilization: the transference of pollen by flowers in order to reproduce. Without pollination, flowers may bloom abundantly, but will not bear fruit.

Pruning: to cut off or cut back to insure the production of high quality fruit.

Pest Control: the regulation or management of pests because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's health.


You can just about imagine where this is going. There are times we will come across people who are blooming abundantly, but bearing rancid fruit. They don't have the character/nature of Christ. They need to be fertilized, pruned and controlled by The Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 7 we are given what to look for in false prophets and preachers, but I'd like to think the same would apply to all of us, Wherefore by their fruit ye shall know them. I once heard someone say, no we are not to judge, but we are to be fruit inspectors.


Galatians 5 reveals the inspected results of rancid fruit, which are: moral and spiritual impurity, adultery, fornication, vulgarity, lust, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, envious rivalry, vengeful anger, rebellion, murder, drunkenness and desiring vain glory. Those who indulge in such will not inherit Christ's will, purpose and intent for their life. They will not manifest his nature.

For the nature of God is love and the foundation of His Word is, Love others as you love yourself. I am convinced that if we produce love, the other fragrant fruits will follow. They all intertwine, one producing the other: joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.

Make sure our fruit is fragrant and not rancid.


Be Blessed!

Dawn

What is Falling From Your Tree?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

 patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness

and self-control."

Galatians 5:22-23a NIV

Most grade schools do not go into detail when teaching a child about trees. The lesson is usually broken down into parts of a simple tree. This lesson includes exploration of the trunk, branches and leaves. As they read books and explore the world around them they learn that different trees bear different fruits. They discover the apple, orange and pear tree. They learn about fruits being green, ripe or spoiled. They learn that some trees continually bear good sweet and ripe fruit and others are known for the rotten and spoiled fruit that fall from them.

As disciples of Christ when we decided to follow Jesus we signed up to be trees. Each tree bearing the fruit of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Gal 5:22). These fruits take their individual times to ripen and show forth in our lives. Some of us may have more patience than others. However, that does not mean we do not continue to prune the branch on the patience limb and wait for God to manifest it. Gentleness may not be your strong suit but you know it is a fruit that must come from your tree. Being a person of peace and kindness are fruits and by this people will know you are a disciple of Christ (Matt 7:20).


If you are a person who saps the joy from any situation or you struggle to show love on a daily basis it is because your tree is bearing bad fruit. In this life we encounter situation that act as pesticide to our tree, making it look pretty on the outside but spoiling its taste. The ones receiving your fruit get a sour, bitter and unpalatable encounter with someone who professes to be a disciple of Christ.

Where many go wrong in their walk is trying to constantly TELL others about their lives as a Christian. If you are living your life bearing the fruits of the spirit it will be obvious to your fellow man that you are walking in the footsteps of Jesus. No need for a bumper sticker or a t-shirt announcing your status as a believer. Those things are superficial and can be purchased by anyone. Authenticity comes from others seeing you helping your brother or sister in Christ. It comes from you having self-control when you really want to let the store clerk know how you really feel. People are always taking note of how you respond when you are not in your “church clothes”.

The ways to rest assured that your tree continues to bear good fruit is to prune your branches and water your roots. Pruning in the human life includes removal of things that hinder us from growth; negative influences that choke out the sunlight (Christ) and hinder the water (the Word of God) from getting to our roots. This process may not be easy but it is definitely worth it to make sure that you remain a good tree bearing good fruit.

(via  Sonique Sailsman )


Be Blessed!

Dawn

The Personality of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a divine person, the third person of the Godhead. You will never understand the Holy Spirit if you think of Him simply as a force or a wind. Like God the Father, He is spirit and He has a distinct personality.


The Godhead functions like a corporation. God the Father is the president and chief executive officer. Jesus is the executive vice president and director of operations. The Holy Spirit is the field representative. All three are God, but all have different functions.

Paul says in Romans 8:27 that the Holy Spirit is a person: "Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Notice that the word Spirit is capitalized-as it should be-because it is referring to the Holy Spirit and not man's spirit. The phrase, the mind of the Spirit, indicates that the Holy Spirit has a mind. If the Spirit has a mind, it presupposes that He also has a will. Paul adds in 1 Corinthians 12:11: "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."

The Holy Spirit not only has a mind but also a will. Isaiah 63:10 indicates that the Holy Spirit has feelings and can be grieved: "But they [the children of Israel] rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them."

You cannot experience grief if you do not have a personality. So the Holy Spirit has a mind, a will, and emotions, just as we do. But we must not stop here. We will also find that the Holy Spirit helps, teaches, guides, and comforts, as well as performs other functions.

HELPER, TEACHER


John 14:26: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

Christians have a divine Helper in the person of the Holy Spirit. He teaches us and reveals to us the things of God, supporting us in innumerable ways.

GUIDE


One phase of His help is in guiding the Believer. He guides us by speaking to our spirits, not our minds. Christians can trust that the Holy Spirit will never lead us into the wrong thing. John 16:13 reveals: "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."

If the Holy Spirit led you to marry your spouse, be thankful. He would never lead you to the wrong person. Often you can tell couples who did not listen to the Holy Spirit before they got married because they wind up divorcing. If He led them to marry, and they divorce that would mean the Holy Spirit did not know what He was doing when He put them together and this is simply not true.

COMFORTER

In Acts 9:31, we see another aspect of the Holy Spirit: "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied."

The Holy Spirit is here to comfort us. One of the names used in the original King James Version of the Bible to describe the Holy Spirit is the Comforter. In fact, a Greek term often applied to the Holy Spirit is the word Paraclete, or Paracletos, which means "advocate," "intercessor," or "one called alongside."

Just like throwing a bucket of water on a fire can quench the fire, you can do the same thing to the Holy Spirit by actions and attitudes that are inconsistent with what the Believers as a body are doing. This is one reason why I get on the congregation about being late for Sunday service. When we come together in one place, God considers us as one entity. Any thing one person does that is contrary to what the group is doing can hinder everyone else. That person is quenching the Holy Spirit.

Space does not permit me to discuss the Holy Spirit's divine qualities, such as being everlasting (Hebrews 9:14), being omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10), being omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10), doing divine works (Genesis 1:1-3), the ability to raise the dead (Romans 8:11), and so forth.

All these and more are the attributes of the Holy Spirit.

Strength Training

Strength Training

By Dr. David Jeremiah

Scripture Of The Day: "Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."  

Ephesians 6:10 (NKJV)

In the late 1880s, you would have been astounded to see a small Canadian man lift a platform holding 18 men and weighing 4,337 pounds. Louis Cyr became known as the strongest man in North America and Europe. Strongmen spend their lives conditioning their bodies so their strength shouldn't surprise us.

What should surprise us is the strength of a different kind of strongman who never worked out with weights. Yet, he fasted and fought the Devil and won in the desert. And after 40 days, power like the world had never seen exploded from Him: "Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit…and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region" (Luke 4:14).

News spread so fast because Jesus was "healing all kinds of sickness…torments…demon-possessed" (Matthew 4:23-24) with "the power of the Spirit," the same Holy Spirit who lives in each and every Christian today. The gift of God is for us to live with a power greater than that of human strongmen. No believer in Christ should be a spiritual "90-pound weakling." Christians need to flex the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Christian's "muscle"-waiting to be flexed, exercised, and employed in every moment of the believer's life. Scripture shows us that "the power of the Spirit" is the strength behind God's strongmen and strongwomen through the ages: Micah the prophet was "full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might" (Micah 3:8).

Mary was overshadowed by the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). The disciples turned the world upside down after being told, "you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" (Acts 1:8). God anointed Jesus "with the Holy Spirit and with power" (Acts 10:38). Paul performed "mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God" (Romans 15:19).

You may think, "The Holy Spirit would never give me that kind of power and strength. Who am I?" Who you are is exactly the point: a person indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. In fact, if you do not have the Holy Spirit within you, you are not a Christian to begin with (Romans 8:9-11). But because you are a believer, you have the strength of God in you just waiting to be made manifest in your life.

Your battles are no less serious than the battles fought and won by Scripture's strongmen. Your need for power and strength is the same: "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).

Bodybuilders strengthen the muscles in their bodies. But what about spiritual muscles? You become stronger spiritually as you allow the Holy Spirit more control in your life. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). If your heart, soul, and mind "muscles" are strong, then you will be strong.

You can love God with your mind by thinking on pure and praiseworthy things (Philippians 4:8); with your soul by obedience (Psalm 119:167); with your heart by keeping it pure (Matthew 12:35; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22). When you love God with all your mind, soul, and heart, you will also love Him with all your strength-which will no longer be your strength but His.

You don't have to lift 18 men to demonstrate the power of the Spirit. The only requirement is to acknowledge your own weakness, "for [His] strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God stands ready to grant you His strength through the Holy Spirit. But, you must seek it (1 Chronicles 16:11). The greater your faith, the faster fear is replaced by strength (Psalm 27:1; 2 Timothy 1:7). Strength takes time and courage (Psalm 27:14; 31:24). But…

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength...mount up with wings like eagles…run and not be weary…walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). So "mount up with wings like eagles" because God's "righteous right hand" upholds you (Isaiah 41:10).


Be Blessed!

Dawn

The Pattern of Powerful Prayer

Read Colossians 1:9-10a

Praying effectively isn’t something we all naturally know how to do—for most Christians, it must be learned. In fact, one of the disciples who had walked with Jesus asked for help in this area (Luke 11:1).

So often we hear requests to bless, protect, and provide for a person. While these are fine to ask of the Lord, there is another, more powerful way to pray. When we speak to Him using Scripture, our conversation contains the authority of almighty God.

The apostle Paul wrote today’s passage to the Colossian church. From this, we know the specific requests he brought before God concerning his brothers. These are applicable to us today as well. Let’s focus on the first two requests today and the remaining four tomorrow.

First, Paul asked for the believers to understand God’s plan for their lives. Now, the Lord often does not reveal everything at once, but He gives seeking hearts enough information to trust and follow His way.

Second, the apostle prayed that the Colossian Christians would conduct themselves in a manner worthy of Christ and pleasing to Him; Paul longed to see their lives prove consistent with their true spiritual identity. A follower of Jesus is evident to other people because of lifestyle and spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).

One of the greatest gifts we can give is to lift a person in prayer. And there is no more powerful way to do this than to speak Scripture on his or her behalf. Colossians 1:9-14 is a beautiful example of a passage to pray as we bring loved ones and ourselves before God’s throne.

(via Rev. Dr. Charles Stanley)
 
Be Blessed!!!
 
Dawn

The Name with Power

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your

God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless

who takes His name in vain." 

Exodus 20:7

Commandment number three of the Ten Commandments tells us not to take God's name in vain. The words "in vain" mean empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. So to take God's name in vain means to say it in a way that is empty, idle, insincere, or frivolous. And one of the most obvious ways this is done is through the use of profanity.


We all have heard people use the name of Jesus to punctuate a point. I have even said to people who do this, "Be careful. He might answer you some time." Interestingly, I never hear the names of various religious leaders or so-called gurus being used when someone is angry or upset.

So why do people, including avowed atheists, use the name Jesus Christ in this way? I believe that in their hearts, they know there is power in that holy name. Sure, they are taking it in vain. They are violating the third commandment. But in a way, they are acknowledging the existence of God. Otherwise, why invoke the name of a God you don't believe in? Why say the name of a person you don't think ever existed? Why say His name? Because there is power in that name. And when you say it, people pay attention.


Philippians 2:9–11 reminds us, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."


The name of Jesus has power. God wants us as His followers to never take His name in vain, but to honor it instead.
 
Be Blessed & Be  A Blessing to One Another!
 
Dawn

God’s View of Mankind

Even in His sovereignty, God can only become involved in the affairs of mankind to the extent that we as free moral agents (having the ability to choose) submit to the authority of the Lordship of Christ and begin to pray and live the will of the Father in the Earth realm as laid out in scripture. Therefore, be ye imitators (followers) of GOD (Eph 5:1).



To understand the purposes and ways of the Lord, we need to comprehend His perspective of mankind. So often, we rely on our human viewpoint instead of trying to see ourselves through His eyes. All that He does on earth is guided by His care and love for the human race. Consider three elements of God’s perspective of humanity:


Created in God’s image. Of all the creatures that the Lord fashioned, only the man and woman were made in His image. They had a mind, will, and emotions as well as a spirit, which enabled them to worship and relate to God. Being sinless and perfect, they were destined to live forever in intimate relationship with their Creator.

Corrupted by Sin. But an act of disobedience broke their relationship with the Lord. The divine image was marred by sin, which infiltrated human nature and corrupted every person born thereafter. Mankind stood spiritually dead, without hope, and condemned before a holy God.

Worthy of Redemption. Yet the Lord considered them worthy of restoration. Through the redemptive work of His Son, all who believe in Jesus are made spiritually alive again, and the broken relationship between God and man is reconciled. One day—in heaven—sin will be no more, and a perfect environment will be reinstated.

Amidst life’s pace and trials, we easily lose sight of divine viewpoint. When we’re overwhelmed by criticism, trouble, or suffering, it’s vital to recognize our worth in the Lord’s eyes. That realization can energize our service and renew our love for the One who gave Himself to bring us back to God.
 
Be Blessed & Be A Blessing to One Another!
 
Dawn

The Key to Life’s Good Things

1) I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.
2) I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.
3) Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
4) I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
5) Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
6) In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
7) For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
8) Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
9) Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.
10) Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, 
but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Psalm 34:1:10


Most men and women desire “the good life,” which they picture as a measure of material success, a minimum of troubles, and a degree of happiness. To achieve this dream, some people live simply in a quiet setting, while others work long and hard to amass financial security. Yet, satisfaction and contentment remain elusive for many. That’s because the real key to the good life is to seek hard after our heavenly Father.

In pursuing the Lord, we are to have a relationship-oriented goal—that is, to grow in intimacy with Him. Increasing our knowledge and understanding of His character will deepen our connection to Him.

As we study God’s Word, His Holy Spirit will open our minds and hearts so that we can comprehend the Lord’s beauty and perfection. That will lead to our rejoicing over His kind, compassionate nature and the depth of His love for us (Eph. 3:17-19). Our minds will be in awe of His just and merciful character that enables Him to be both a righteous judge and our all-sufficient advocate (Job 16:19).

The better we know the Lord, the closer we will want to draw near. What’s more, studying His commands and implementing them in our life will also strengthen our relationship with the Creator.

The key to the abundant life is found in pursuing God. He wants us to know Him in increasing measure, give Him first place in our lives, and do what pleases Him. Then He will give us the good things of life—namely, everything that fits into His plan and purpose for us.
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn

Without Excuse

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, f

or its purpose is to keep people from having excuses,

 and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 

Romans 3:19

The Bible tells the story of a man who came to Jesus and said, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17). Jesus said, "You know the commandments: 'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother' " (verse 19).

"I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young," the man replied. The Bible tells us that Jesus looked at this man and "felt genuine love for him" (verse 21). I wonder if Jesus laughed a little to himself. This man was arrogant. Identified as the rich young ruler, he was in a position of authority, but he was young. He had climbed the ladder quickly and was probably feeling very good about himself.

Jesus quoted the law not to justify this man, but to show him the truth. If he had been honest with Jesus, he would have said, "Oh, Lord, I have tried to keep these commandments, but I fall short, and that is why I am talking to You." But he didn't.

He failed to recognize that the commandments were not given to make us righteous; they were given to show us that we are not righteous. Romans 3:19 says, "Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God."

The law is like a moral mirror. It shuts our mouths and opens our eyes. It condemns but does not convert. It challenges but does not change. It points the finger but can't give mercy. And it drives us to Jesus, who has the answer we are looking for.
 
Be Blessed!
Dawn

I Choose to Trust

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am

 your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will

uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

Trust is the antidote to anxiety; it's the resolution of worry and the destruction of fear. Trust is the act of my will to give my burdens to God. It's like a muscle - as you exercise it, trust gets stronger.

Trust is walking forward moment by moment, having rolled your burden onto God. You've no doubt said, "I gave it to God once, but here it is again in my grip." When you sense that you've taken it back again, get back on your knees, get the burden back on God, get on your feet again, and continue to trust.

When you off-load your burden on God, you can pick up a promise from His Word. Second Peter 1:4 tells us that "he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world." There are literally hundreds of promises that apply to your specific burden. God's Word is filled with treasure.

I'm claiming Isaiah 41:10 right now for a burden I'm leaving at God's feet. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." There it is! God is doing this whole thing with one hand tied behind His back. He's not stressed or strained. He's not worried about what to do. He has absolutely no capacity limits!

Isaiah continues, "Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you'" (vv. 11-13).

Take a moment to read that awesome promise again. Trust means you anchor your heart in the reality of God's awareness of your situation. He sees more than you can ever see. God, who loves you and is committed to you, will not disappoint you now or in the future if you put your weight fully on Him.
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn

The Source of Our Strength

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 (NIV)


Devotion:


When we arrived at her hospital room she was in the bed, looking very weak and frail. I fought back the tears as I watched her lie there, helpless to beat the disease that had waged war on her body. I found myself wanting to do something for her, but there was nothing I could do except wish to the depths of my heart that I could infuse her with the strength she needed to carry on.    But my strength held no power for her.

Later that day, I looked to God's Word for comfort. I came across some verses that seeped into the little cracks in my heart that so needed to be filled with something sweet of God. Those verses were Deuteronomy 11:8-9, "Therefore, be careful to obey every command I am giving you today, so you may have strength to go in and take over the land you are about to enter. If you obey, you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors and to you, their descendants..." (NLT).

In this passage, through the mouth of Moses, the Lord instructs the Israelites about their soon-to-be entrance into the Promised Land. He reminds them of all the miracles and amazing things that happened during their journey. Based on their history of disobedient actions, God knew they were easily tempted and distracted - which caused them to lose spiritual strength.

Here in Deuteronomy, we find the Lord warning the Israelites about losing sight of their priorities. He reminds them that the only place they will find the strength to enter into what He had promised was through obedience to Him. The Lord also wanted them to understand that their strength could not come from merely desiring to be good, simply believing He exists, or by carrying out rituals or sacrifices in His honor. It would result from obedience to Him and His words. In fact, in verse 18 the Lord says, "So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine" (NLT). They drew their strength from full and wholehearted obedience to the Lord's commands.

God also wants us to understand the importance of obediently walking with Him every day. He desires that we obey Him in the big things, but also in the small daily things. In doing so, He infuses us with spiritual strength. That strength equips us to handle the tough situations which we feel are far beyond our human level of strength, regardless of whether we are in a hospital bed or standing beside one.

This daily obedience is where we find emotional strength to walk in His peace when we face doubts and fears; strength to walk in His joy when we cannot find any reason to be joyful; strength to stand firm in our faith when things seem hopeless; and strength to be strong when the painful things of life take their toll.
Whether we need strength to comfort a loved one who is hurting or strength to overcome an adversity of our own, a life focused on obedience to God taps into the strength we need to carry on.

Each time we get out of bed we have a choice to make - where will our strength come from to face the day ahead? Will we rely on ourselves or will we rely on God?

Even if our physical weakness is a reality, we can be spiritually strong by keeping our hearts focused on the only true source of unending strength.

Dear Lord, please hold me up today. Give me strength. Help me to lean on You. I am tired and weak and need Your strength today to face these hard situations and the pain in my heart. Draw me closer to You in the midst of this. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


If you have been trying to walk through your life in your own strength, confess this to God and ask Him for His strength. Admit that you cannot carry life's burden on your own and lay those things at the foot of the cross.


Reflections:



Have I been trying to live life in my own strength?

Are there days when I am focused on what I cannot do, instead of focused on what God can do?

Power Verses:

Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)

1 Chronicles 16:11, 18, "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always...So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine." (NIV)

Be Blessed!
 
Dawn

People Reaching People

"So faith comes from hearing, that is,

hearing the Good News about Christ."

 Romans 10:17

It is worth noting that no person in the New Testament came to faith apart from the agency of a human being. Have you ever stopped and thought about that? We can find example after example.

There was the Ethiopian (see Acts 8:26-39). There are many ways that God could have reached this man from a distant country. He could have sent an angel to meet him. Instead, the Lord sent an angel to Philip and told him to go. So Philip went and proclaimed the gospel to that man, and he believed.

Then there was the Philippian jailer (see Acts 16:27–34). God could have reached him in many ways. Instead, He allowed Paul and Silas to be incarcerated and to ultimately proclaim the gospel, bringing that man and his family to faith.

We can think of Cornelius, a man who was searching for God (see Acts 10). An angel spoke to him and told him he needed to meet a man named Simon Peter. The angel explained where to find him. The angel could have given him the gospel. But God chose to use Simon Peter.

What about Saul? While it is true that he was converted through an encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, his conversion was sandwiched between experiences with two people who influenced him. First, it was the witness of Stephen that softened Saul's heart and made it receptive to the seed of the Word when he was confronted by Jesus Christ. Afterward, God sent Ananias to follow up on Saul and pray for him to receive the power of the Holy Spirit.

So you see, God used people.   We all have our special God-given talents- - And He wants to use you!

Be Blessed!

Dawn

The Forgiveness of Our Sins

1) With all my heart I praise the LORD,  and with all that I am I praise his holy name! 2) With all my heart I praise the LORD! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3)The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick,  4) and protects us from death. His kindness and love
are a crown on our heads. 5) Each day that we live, [a] he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle. Psalm 103: 1-5 (CEV)

Over the years we've all heard Christians say, “I think I have committed the unpardonable sin.” Their body language showed the tremendous burden of guilt they carried. Perhaps this describes you or another believer close to you.

Based on the authority of scripture, I can tell you without reservation that God loves you, and He’s forgiven everyone who has trusted Christ as Savior. The Bible says:

• Jesus’ blood paid our sin debt in full, and He obtained our full pardon (Matt. 26:28). Every sin—without exception—is covered (Col. 2:13-14).

• Forgiveness is given to everyone who believes in Jesus (Acts 10:43) and remains available to all believers (1 John 1:9).

• Our pardon for sin is based on the riches of our Father’s grace, which always exceeds the offense (Eph. 1:7; Rom. 5:20).

• God doesn’t count past, present, or future transgressions against us (2 Cor. 5:19).

To reconcile us to Himself, God sent His Son to die in our place. He accepted Christ’s sacrifice as payment-in-full for our transgressions. Forgiveness is solely on the basis of our relationship with Jesus, not on our behavior. Because of our faith in Christ’s completed work on the cross, we can be assured that we have received and will continue to receive His divine mercy.

Scripture reassures us that there’s no sin beyond the scope of God’s pardon. This isn’t a license to sin (6:Rom. 1-2). Rather, it should produce in us a passion for holiness. If you are struggling to accept God’s forgiveness, read over these verses, and be thankful for such a great gift.
 
[via Pastor Charles Stanley]
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn

The Purpose of a Testimony

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

 in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Romans 5:8

When you tell other people about what God has done for you, you are sharing your testimony. A testimony is when you share your story of how you came to faith. Every Christian has a testimony.

Some Christians have dramatic testimonies where they tell of being delivered from a life of drug addiction or crime or some sordid deeds. Other Christians don't have testimonies that are quite as dramatic—but they are just as significant.

I like to hear how people came to Christ, but I don't like it when people go into gory details about their past. Then there are testimonies where people tell how much they have given up for Jesus. They'll say things like, "I gave up this and that for Jesus. I have made such sacrifices for the Lord. I have done it all for Him!"

Your testimony is not about what you gave up for Jesus. It's about what He gave up for you. Don't share what you have done for Jesus. Share what Jesus has done for you. Jesus is the one who has done the work. It is Jesus whom we are proclaiming.

A good, strong testimony will lift up (exalt and hold in high regard) what Christ has accomplished. The fact of the matter is that all of us were sinners hopelessly separated from God, traveling in the same boat on our way to hell; and the same gospel (the Good News of Jesus Christ) came and transformed us. As believers, that is the testimony we all have.

Jesus said, " if I be lifted up from the Earth I will draw all men unto me." ~ John 12:32
 
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing to One Another!!
 
Dawn

A Passion for the Lost

Question: 
Are we committed to effect change in our lives and in the lives of others? At the end of the day, will our lives matter? Will we have made a difference?



The apostle Paul had something essential for effective evangelism: a God-given burden for those who did not know Jesus Christ. In his case, the burden was for his own people, the Jews. He cared. It burned inside him.


General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once said that his desire, had it been possible, would be to dangle his evangelism trainees over hell for 24 hours. That way, they could see the reality that awaits those who do not know Jesus Christ.

That wouldn't have been necessary for Paul, who spoke of his love and burning passion for unbelievers. I think it is there for us in Scripture so that we don't become so obsessed with our own struggles and spiritual growth that we forget about people who need to know Christ.


I think Paul makes an amazing statement in Romans 9 when he says, in essence, "If it were possible, I would give up my hope of eternal life so that others who do not know could come to faith." That's a pretty dramatic statement.

As believers, you and I have a responsibility to those outside the church—those outside the faith. If God's love is really working in our lives, it should motivate us to do something for Him.

Do you have a God-given burden for those who do not know Jesus Christ? If you don't, do you want one?

If you pray that God will give you this burden, then be careful. The results could be life-changing. You just may be surprised at how quickly He answers you.
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn

God’s Pathway of Goodness

4) Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. 5) Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me.  All day long I put my hope in you.  6) Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.  7) Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.  Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.
8) The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.  9) He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.   10) The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.  11) For the honor of your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins.  12) Who are those who fear the Lord?  He will show them the path they should choose.  13) They will live in prosperity nothing missing/lacking, and their children will inherit the land.   14) The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.  He teaches them his covenant.  15) My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. Psalm 25:4-15 (NLT)

Although the Lord showers His goodness on all men, the ability to perceive and enjoy it is limited by a refusal to reverence Him as God. To experience the fullness of His kindness, we must honor Him by choosing His pathway of submission and obedience. The Lord will never withhold good from those who walk uprightly with Him.

In love and wisdom, the Father has specifically designed a pathway for each of His children. Because no two people are alike, each path will look different. What may be best for one person may not be good for another. Comparison of God’s ways in different lives will lead only to discouragement and misjudgment. We have neither the wisdom nor the eternal perspective to understand why the Lord leads some people down paths of pain and hardship, but we can know that He is always good.

Every step on God’s pathway represents a deliberate choice to follow Him. By looking around instead of fixing our eyes on Jesus, we may start thinking that we are missing out on some really good experiences or possessions. If we leave the Lord’s course to follow a path that looks better, we will forfeit His good blessings and discover, as Adam and Eve did, that any other way leads to loss.

Take time periodically to ask yourself, Am I on the path the Lord has chosen for me, or have I taken a detour to follow another direction that looks good? To build our own course and ignore the goodness and abundance of His pathway is foolishness. God alone knows the way we should take.
 
Be Blessed!
 
Dawn