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Accept God’s Challenge :)

With so many hurt and injured during these riots, it’s hard sometimes to remember that there are many African Americans who are NOT participating in them. Rather they are at home with their families, at work, at church… They want the same things for their children as we want for ours: faith, freedom and family. Happiness and good health. And we all, each and every one of us, want our children to be safe and to receive a good education and the skills they will need to one day go in pursuit of their own dreams.

So as difficult as it may be, we need to remember that not all of the protestors intend harm. Many of them just wanted to be heard. And many African Americans are not participating in them at all.

Personally, I think of the many African Americans I go to church with, I can’t picture any of them hurting another human being-for any reason. They are people I look up to; they are filled with faith and kindness, and they are inspiring. And God loves each of them!

God made us all. Different colors. Different gifts. Different ways. Even different languages. And if we love God, we must love all of His creations. And we should enjoy the differences, not fear them!

In the Bible, it says that, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” (Luke 6:32 NIV)

It’s true that loving every creation of God can be a challenge, but it’s supposed to be.

Accept God’s Challenge today ?

God Is As Just As He Is Merciful

We live in difficult times, and they will get worse before they get better. And that is why it is so very important to remember that God is Merciful and Just. As we look around this world, we see so many innocents hurt and it will seem that those that hurt them – got away with it. But no one ever “gets away with anything”. Because God is as Just as He is Merciful. God alone knows the heart of each individual; He alone knows their intent. We don’t. And that is why we need to leave Justice to God and Trust in Him. I promise He is Trustworthy.

As for us who believe, true believers will receive God’s Mercy through Jesus Christ. And not just at the end, but now. So don’t be afraid to bring your troubles to the Lord. He wants you too. If we have lost a a person we love, if someone is sick, if we have lost our job, if we are worried about how we will feed our family. Bring your worries to Jesus, He will help you!

And perhaps most importantly, bring your worried heart to the Holy Spirit. He loves you too and He alone can give you the peace that only God can give. It is the Holy Spirit that can make you feel safe and secure in these troubled times. Jesus can give you Rest, the Holy Spirit can give you Peace.

Thank you Father God ?

Feed Your Faith

“We are what we eat”-Feed Your Faith! ?

Ever heard that saying before? The same goes for faith as well. Our faith will be strong if we “feed” it right. For some, that may mean turning off the TV. For others, it may be ending a certain relationship. And for still others, it may be as simple as spending more time in God’s Word, Prayer or playing Christian music on the radio station ?

Nothing, and I truly mean nothing, is as important as keeping your faith in Jesus strong and healthy. And it will be, as long as we “feed” it right ?

Protect Your Faith! :)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”, Psalm 119:105

“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him…” –2 Thessalonians 3 14 KJV

During these difficult days, it’s easy to become confused as to what is right and what is wrong. Even the most faithful among us – struggle.

But the Bible tells us what to do in those circumstances. First it says that we should pray. Seek God’s Counsel. Read God’s Word. Seek the help of a wise and genuine Believer. And that is what we need to do.

But then, if we still struggle, we need to do as the Bible says. Surround ourselves with those who truly follow Christ. And only those who truly follow Christ. And yet as the Bible says, count not those who do not believe as the enemy, for God loves them too!

The times we live in will grow even more difficult, but God’s Faithfulness to those who believe in His Son Jesus Christ will remain 🙂

This Is Not Your Home-Heaven IS!

As we look around and see the changes brought by both the virus and the riots, it’s hard for many of us not to become downcast. But this is not our home. Heaven IS ?

Sometimes we need to take a break from all of the world’s strife. And it’s okay to do so. When Jesus said He would “give us rest”, He meant it ?. So take a break, and take a moment to imagine your future-in Heaven for all Eternity with Jesus, our Father and the Holy Spirit. You will make it!

Imagine Heaven, And Then Imagine Yourself There ?

Heaven is such an amazing place, but difficult to describe.

But there is one thing I can promise you, Heaven is as Real as the earth on which we stand. It’s not some cloud, or some misty place. It’s the Garden of Eden. There is life. There is laughter, lots of it. And there is pure joy, pure peace and pure love. There are people that we love. There are deep friendships that last forever. There are rivers and hills. There are flowers and fruit. There are dogs! There are things to do, adventures that will never tire you but only brings you happiness. You will never feel sick, anxious, or tired or lonely. It is the Grand Adventure with all the fun that implies, but none of the fear, worry or hardship. And there are awesome hugs!

The closest I can come to describing it in this world’s terms is that it is like the joy of all of your firsts combined, with all of the joy but none of the fear. The first time you rolled down a grassy hill, the first time you spun around in the falling snow, the first time you jumped in the pool. The first time you rode a bike downhill with the wind in your face. The first time someone you love smiled. The first time you were hugged. All of the joy, none of the fear.

How any one or any place can give perfect joy, perfect love and perfect peace at the same time is beyond me, but that is what Heaven is like. That’s what Jesus offers, forever!

I wish I had better words to describe Heaven for you. City of Lights as been used. And although it seems trite, it is true. Filled with Rainbows, the “streets of gold” are created by God’s Light. A golden sun light so beautiful we simply can’t imagine how beautiful it really is. Rainbows, God’s Promises, fill the land. Each more beautiful than the last. Rivers with sun shining on them, so crystal clear that you can drink straight from the river. Trees and meadows, mountains, flowers and fruit everywhere, just waiting for you. Picnics and walks. Running like the wind and never growing weary. It’s simply amazing, just like God’s Grace.

Imagine a world where every wish is taken care of before you even wish for it. A world where there is no pain, no hurt, no worry and no fatigue. No medicine. No rushing. No struggle to just get up. A body that works perfectly.

Only joy. And peace. Only beauty and love. A beauty so amazing that you could just spin around and around, and spin around some more, drinking it in forever. And if you did only that, it would be enough! But there is so much more! Grand adventures, spending time with the people you love. Meeting new friends. Being fearless, not courageous in the face of fear as we are here on earth, but truly not having any fear. Can you imagine? This is Heaven.

And there is work in Heaven. If you can call it that ?. For it is work that never tires you, never rushes you, and always contributes to something you really care about and enjoy. Work that you want to do. Work that you love.

And there are friendships in Heaven. Real Ones. The kind that fills you up until you are overflowing. Friendships that never cause you pain or heartache. Friendships that never end and give you only joy and strength.

Many people think that Heaven is just some mystical place, but is as real as the earth you are standing on right now.

You will walk, you will run and you will see that people you love and those who love you!

You will never be cold or tired again. You will fly like the wind, with the sun warming you all the way through.

And the best part, you will spend your days with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, in the Presence of God forever!

So get ready for absolute joy! Because that is what Heaven is ?

Welcome Home 🙂

You Will Be Okay

Do Not Grow Tired Of Doing What Is Good!

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”, Galatians 6:9, New Living Translation

That we are living in difficult times is clear. And sadly, times will grow even more difficult before they get better. Many ask, what can we do? We can do what is “good”. Love God, love your neighbor. Take care of our families, help a neighbor bring in their groceries, smile at someone at the store, call someone who is lonely, encourage someone who is downcast… The list is endless, as are the rewards. Being kind to another human being is truly its own reward. So don’t stop, don’t give up.

The journey is long, but it ends in Heaven for all who believe. We are truly Blessed.

Justice

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/31/fires-light-up-washington-dc-on-third-night-of-george-floyd-protests?CMP=oth_b-aplnews_d-1&fbclid=IwAR3d0uz4b1YRLVM7gsz34xVd4fa3o0G4RD5fVfkROMN5_v7ntBIB-HSyvkg

I read articles like this and I can’t help but feel angry. I read other articles about a woman being beaten by a board and fists, still others about police officers being beaten and injured, and I am angry. I saw a video of a man that was just kicked and beaten over and over, and I am angry. I read still another article that said over 50 Secret Service Agents were injured last night. In still another article they said that the White House actually turned off their lights. According to the article, they usually only do that when a President dies. Thankfully our President is still very much alive. But I think about the terror his wife and son must have faced when they were rushed to the “bunker” one night. And I am angry.

There are many that seem to think that Christians should never feel angry. That’s just not true. The attacking of innocent people should make us all angry.

But as Christians, that does not mean we should act on our anger. We can pray about it. We can ask our Lord to remove that anger, just as we can ask the Holy Spirit for the discipline not to act on it. The way of the world is not our way. We answer to a Higher Power, we answer to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

What we can do is support our police officers who risk so much to keep us safe. We can support and pray for those in elected office. We can pray for each other. And when we ourselves are overwhelmed by anger and frustration we can remind ourselves, that Justice will come one day.

But we also need to remind ourselves, that Justice belongs to God and God only.

Leading By Example

I found this great quote in my Bible:

“The way to stimulate and provoke others unto good works is to strive to outrun them in the race.”

It was in the Record of Christian Work from May 1909. Funny how really good advice never changes 🙂

There is freedom in repentance

…for all the past is left behind 🙂

“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:22”-from 40 days in the Word “