Under The Wings Of God

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2015
Chapters: Psalms 90-94
Message Title: Under The Wings Of God

Hello My Friend,

We may not realize it, but the things that we go through, the trials and affliction, especially when they are unexplained, may have nothing to do with us, but those around us. Even though every person is responsible for their own actions, we still suffer under someone else's. Sin rarely causes just the one in sin to suffer, it affects everyone around them. You get enough people living immoral and corrupt lives and it's going to start affecting our cities, and eventually our nations, which is why just about every country is facing some kind of judgment today. While we cannot avoid being in the midst of judgment, but we can get under the wings of God for His protection. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” - Psalms 91:1-4.

In the blink of an eye, everything we see will vanish, it will all be a vapor, in fact, we will be a vapor here on earth anyway. We cannot know how long we have here, but we can make a difference, we can trust God and walk in His ways. “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” - Psalms 90:4-9,15-17.

Things happen suddenly and unexpectedly, we cannot do anything about our past, but we can do something about now, after all, that is why God gives us now, there is no guarantee of tomorrow. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” - 2 Peter 3:9-11.

It is our job as saved, born again Christians, to show the world Christ through our actions, and our actions need to be those that are pleasing to God if we want them to truly see Christ in us. We are not perfect, we are going to mess up, the pressures of this world will get to us, but we can show Christ through us, and we will be blessed for that. “For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” - Psalms 92:4-8,13-15.

When we live for Christ we shine, not like false Christians do, as you cannot see Him through them, but like true Christians do. True Christians are those who read and follow the Word of God, not rewrite it, not omit the parts they do not want to follow, but they become hears and doers of His Word. Again, they are not perfect, but they follow the perfect one. We cannot stop judgment, but we can live in a way that pleases God and shows His Son through us. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1,2.

It's not always the heathens that cause judgment, many of God's very own are at the center of His judgment. God has and will always chasten His own before He goes after the heathens first, but His mercy always keeps us from that total destruction. “The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.” - Psalms 94:11-18.

It is by the mercies of God that none of us get the punishment we deserve for our actions, God at any time could destroy anyone for even denying His existence, yet His mercy is upon all. Now, His grace is another thing, that is what saves us from the punishment we deserve. Grace is the unmerited favor of God, the rewards He gives us even though we deserve a punishment. We are saved simply by knowing A, B, C, A: Admitting we are sinners, B: Believing that Jesus died a sinless death on the cross, was buried, and three days later arose to defeat death, and C: Confess that we cannot be saved without Him and need Him. What we do after we are saved is another story, no, we cannot lose our salvation, but we can be chastened, and we are if we live in a way that God does not care for.

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:8-13.

Today's Prayer: God, Everywhere we turn it's evident that Your judgment is upon the earth, and Your Son will be here sooner than we think. Thank You for Your mercy and grace to save a sinner like me through my belief and faith in Your Son, and thank You for not giving me what I really deserve. Lord, I want to live in a way that is pleasing to You, lead me and guide me, keep me looking to Your Word on how to do that and not to anyone else who may lead me astray. Give us the strength to endure the afflictions we face as Your judgment unfolds, keep us safe and protected, and let us be a godly testimony of Your Son living in us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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When We Do Not Hear From God

Date: Friday, June 26, 2015
Chapters: Psalms 86-89
Message Title: When We Do Not Hear From God

Hello My Friend,

God loves to hear His children talk to Him, He loves to hear praise, adoration, confession, our complaints, and our pleas. There are times in our lives when we talk to God and hear Him right away, and yet there are times when we do not hear from Him for days or even months. It's during the times we do not hear Him that we need to be remind ourselves that He is working and to never stop praying. “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” - Romans 8:24-26.

Sometimes we do not hear from God because there is something in our lives that is hindering Him from speaking. Now, this does not have to be sin, it could be something that He wants us to do, but has not. God never leaves us, He's always on stand by waiting for us to come to the realization that we are hindering Him. Stop and think about the things that are going on, is something or someone hindering God, if we can honestly admit that, it's time to make things right with Him. “Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” - Psalms 86:1-7,11.

I am going to be honest and tell you that I had been conversing back and forth with my ex-boyfriend for years, praying and hoping that God would bring us back together. That stopped God from hearing me, He was not going to let me fall into that trap again. Well, I can say now that October of last year I finally came to that realization and now God has increased my work, made me a Sunday School teacher, and even brought a new man into my life. We must let go of things that hinder us if we want to see Him work in our lives. “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?” - Job 9:2-4,11,12.

Sometimes we do not hear from God because we may not be serious about what we are asking, perhaps we are half-hearted about it or a lack faith. Don't give up, God knows our needs well before we ask, He just wants us to cry out to Him whole-heartedly. “O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.” - Psalms 88:1-5,13-15.

While we only need faith the size of a mustard seed to see God move mountains for us, if we have any doubts that He cannot or will not do it, He won't. He wants our complete faith in Him, even if it is the size of a mustard seed. Until He knows we have faith, He will not hear us. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” - Hebrews 11:1-3,6.

Perhaps the most important reason that God will not hear us is because we may not be saved. In order for God to even acknowledge our prayer, we first need to know His Son Jesus Christ, as our Saviour. He'll wait until we bow our heads and ask Him to save us, believing, before He will hear our prayers. This is not something new, even in Old Testament days they had to believe in the Saviour, whom by the way is mentioned all throughout the Old Testament. One being God describing His Son coming through David's seed, and the promise He makes to all who believe. “Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” - Psalms 89:27-34.

This is the promise God makes to all who believe in His Son, eternal life, He will never leave them nor forsake them. Of course, we suffer for sin should we back off from Him for a time, but He will never destroy us. That my friend is what God's mercy and grace is all about, it's the favor of God with only one string attached, His Son, who died for us to save us from our sins, death, and hell. Only when we are saved can God hear our prayers and even our confessions. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” - 1 John 5:1-4,20.

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for loving us so much that You want constant contact with us, You want to hear or pains, our sorrows, our joys, and praises to You, and You definitely want to hear our pleas. Sometimes we hinder You from hearing us as well as speaking to us, Lord, lead us and guide us, reveal anything that hinders You from speaking to us. Give us the wisdom to figure out anything that might be keeping You from listening to us, and the strength to walk away from it. In Jesus” name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Judging Righteous Judgment

Date: Thursday, June 25, 2015
Chapters: Psalms 81-85
Message Title: Judging Righteous Judgment

Hello My Friend,

With all the talk about transgenders and homosexuality becoming the norm and something quite brave to come out and admit to the public, it's inevitable that we have to talk about this among the Christian community. I for one hate talking about this stuff because it causes a huge debate and a backlash on me, but the truth must be told. Christian or not, we are being influenced and brainwashed into believing that all this is normal, and to be fair, immorality among the heterosexuals is just as bad. So, what do we do when every time we turn around we are being forced to comply with society or face persecution? We do what God would have us do. We can avoid confrontations by being tasteful and respectful to everyone, but we must use the right judgment when dealing with those who, quite frankly, are just trying to use us as an example in their crusade to condemn Christians. “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” - John 7:24.

Believe it or not, God does speak to us one on one, on these matters, especially through His Word, He may have used Holy Spirit inspired men to pen down His thoughts, but He tells us every day what He wants from us and the grief He feels when His people do not listen to Him. “Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!” - Psalms 81:8-13.

How do we expect God to feel when people are doing the very things that He is against, men and women literally making drastic changes to themselves as if He made a mistake in who He chose them to be. Does God love them? Of course, He does. Does He condone their behavior? Absolutely not. It's a sin just like adultery, idolatry, and lying. Convincing ones self or being encouraged to believe that God made them that way is absolutely absurd, that is a mind full of self rejection and or corruption caused by someone else. Since God will never force Himself upon anyone and they continue believing the lies they are telling themselves, He gives them up.

“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” - Romans 1:24-28.

There are many, many people who believe in God and are saved, and yet continue to live in a way that God would disapprove of. From unmarried couples living together to homosexuality, they are justifying their actions by their faith in Christ. Now, by no means does being a homosexual take away ones salvation, but trying to justify what they are doing as if it was something from will cause them some suffering. Those who reject the Word of God, and change it into something that condones sinful behavior create a false god, and God takes notice to it as well. “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.” - Psalms 82:1-5.

There are millions of churches teaching and allowing sinful behavior to take place, and disregarding all of it as if it is something from God. It's one thing to live in sin, we are free to live as we want, saved or not, it's another to teach others to do it, and there will be consequences for doing so. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” - Revelation 22:18,19.

God does not despise those who are living these drastic lifestyles, after all they do not know any better, it's what they believe. We are not despise them either, we are to love them as Jesus does. In our efforts to love them we might just find a few who will open their hearts and are searching for the truth. “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” - Psalms 84:1-5,11.

While many hearts are hardened toward God that live these lifestyles, there are a few who will open up to Him. While it may seem like it's impossible to see them turn their lives around, but nothing impossible with God. Our flesh is full of corruption, it longs for things that are led by our emotions, and if we continue to walk in those emotions we are sure to fall into sin. That's where we need to thank God for His mercy and grace, we do not deserve it, but He gives it freely to those who believe in His Son. He may get angry at all the sin, but He never stops loving His creation. He is always right there waiting for us to come to Him. “Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” - Psalms 85:4-10.

Today's Prayer: God, As the world gets more corrupt, help us to keep our eyes on You and Your truths, let us not look to the right or left, but keep straight ahead looking to You. Lord, give us Your power to walk in Your ways, let us not use our emotions to guide us, but the Holy Spirit. Give us thee strength to stand up to those who judge us for standing by You, and give us the wisdom we need to handle all this corruption that is thrown in our faces. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Step Up Christian

Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Chapters: Psalms 78-80
Message Title: Step Up Christian

Hello My Friend,

There are Christians all over the world quite content with living in the world, they rewrite the Word of God to try to justify their behavior as something that God allows. If you haven't noticed, God's judgment has begun, and He's not angry at the ones who do not know Him, He's angry at those who do and do nothing. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” - 1 Peter 4:1,2,16-18.

This is not something new, since God created man people have been trying to justify sin, but God's not done with us yest, He still manages to keep a few of His faithful around to remind each generation that they need Him.
“Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.” - Psalms 78:1-8.

To the world, Jesus is some man of God that died on a cross for something He did not do, but to the saved, born again Christian, He is much more than that. Jesus is their Saviour, the sinless, only begotten Son of God who took every sin to the cross with Him, and not only saved their soul from death and hell, He arose three days later to prove that sin or death cannot separate Him from those who believe. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” - Romans 3:23-26.

There are churches that claim to worship God, yet not a mention of sin or the blood that Jesus shed for the remission of sin even gets acknowledged. “O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.” - Psalms 79:1-9.

The problem is too many Christians afraid to stand up to the truth are letting the world in God's house, and now the world is taking over the churches. By the way, these are not churches that are God's, these are merely of the devil to keep the truth from being revealed. It's much easier to appeal to the flesh than it is to God's truths. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” - Romans 1:28-32.

We who know the truth cannot just sit there and be quiet, we are not saving ourselves or anyone else from any kind of repercussions amounting from keeping our mouths shut. Granted, we do need to speak in a way that is non-judgmental, after all God is the only judge, but we cannot keep silent about the judgment we are facing. God is not going to hear us until we step up and be the truth they need to hear. “O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” - Psalms 80:4,14-19.

Every day someone in the world questions why a Christian or man of God has done something they themselves do and condemn them. In reality they are not condemning the person, they are condemning God, and everyone else who is truly faithful to God. Instead of playing at their level, it's time we play at God's level, we are going to lose so friends and even family in the process, but people need to know the truth and hear it from us. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” - Matthew 16:24-28.

Today's Prayer: God, You are very clear to us that salvation only comes from our believing and receiving Your Son, and that nothing we do can renounce it. You are also very clear that You want Your children living in a way that reflects Your Son so that others can come to know Him too. Lord, give us Your power to live by every Word You have given us and let us not be ashamed to tell the world that we do. Help us be bold and declare Your Son to a world that is set out to destroy Your truths. Put Your hedge of protection around us and keep us safe from those who will try to stop us, give us the wisdom we need to handle them, and let us not become weary in well doing. In Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Making U-Turns In Life

Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Chapters: Psalms 74-77
Message Title: Making U-Turns In Life

Hello My Friend,

As Christians, it can be hard to find purpose or meaning to the constant disappointments in life as well as the struggles we face. Sometimes we get a glimpse of something coming from the hand of God and we are eager, we talk to Him a little more, praise Him a little more, and get a little pep to our step as we see our prayers being answered right between our eyes. Then all of a sudden we hit a complete stop and not only that, make a u-turn, and find ourselves questioning whether it was God in the first place. Can I tell you that God does answer our prayers, and He does better than we even anticipate. It is the devil that places doubt in our heads and makes that u-turn in the first place. We can stop the devil in his tracks by remembering all that God has done for while we are waiting for Him to answer that specific prayer. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” - Colossians 3:15-17.

Sometimes when we hit a u-turn it can seem as though God is angry with us, that we must be doing something wrong. We call out to Him all day long and are still no closer to figuring it out, and it can seem as though He does not even hear us. We can learn a lot from the Psalms in seeking some sort of understanding from God. “O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom. For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” - Psalms 74:1-4,9-12.

Quite often the reason for the u-turn may have nothing to do with us, but those around us. Perhaps God is trying to reach someone or many people through us and the only way He can do it is by flipping things around on us. I know it can seem mean and cruel sometimes, but think about this, where would we be if we were the ones doing what they are doing. Christ turned our lives around, and somehow others have gotten away from Him and are struggling, they need us to show them that He has not left them. Once we see that we are not doing anything wrong and stop condemning ourselves we will see things improve for us. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” - 1 Peter 4:14-16.

Did you ever make a wrong turn and found yourself way out of your way, you have to make a u-turn to go back in the right direction? This is what happens when we try to over analyze things. We must realize that the more we question ourselves and keep questioning God, the further we are going to get from our destination. “Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.” - Psalms 76:7-11.

Presents, you know we can give tithes, offerings, and all sorts of things to show God that we love Him and are thankful for all that He has given us thus far, but the one gift He longs for is to be feared. Fearing God means to honor and respect Him, to trust and believe that all things work together for good. Until we make that u-turn ourselves and start believing that God hears our prayers and will give us what we are asking, we will start to see things turn back around. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” - Matthew 21:21,22.

Quite often, when things do seem like they are moving further and further away from us that is when we start to cry out to God in a different way, wondering where He is. “I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.” - Psalms 77:1-10.

Doubt, this is our infirmity, our sin, and as long as we keep doubting we are not going to see things turn back around. Let me tell you, the devil loves to play with our heads more than anything, he loves to keep us bondage to doubt. It's time we stop doubting God and ourselves, there is a reason why God tells us not to lean on our own understanding, we just keep making it worse. It's time to put away doubt for good and see things turn around, it's time to lean on God's understanding and not our own. Think about this, is what you are seeking from God good for you, is it something that you know has God's hand in it? If you can answer yes to those questions than the hardest part is just waiting once we make our own u-turn back to our trust in God. “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” - Proverbs 3:3-6.

Today's Prayer: God, I admit to You something that You know has been the source of the u-turn, I admit that I let me own understanding come between us. Instead of trusting You when everything was falling into place, I trusted my own reasoning and because of that I am struggling right now. God, I am sorry for over analyzing things, and allowing doubt to control me. Lord, lead me and guide me, revive my spirit and make me whole again. Give me wisdom to know how to turn things around, and let me not make a wrong turn again. Give me Your power to fight off the devil and his constant attempts to keep me from seeing Your hand in answering my prayers exactly as I am asking, and beyond that. In Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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When Confusion Comes

Date: Monday, June 22, 2015
Chapters: Psalms 71-73
Message Title: When Confusion Comes

Hello My Friend,

Confusion, it is a state of disorder and wondering, sometimes life can get confusing, full of disorder and wondering if there will ever be an end to the chaos. The world loves to put confusion into the minds of Christians, and the reason why is to get them to doubt God and turn from Him. Guess what? They may seem to care and want good things for you, but it's all a visage, a mere image that looks good from a distance, but when you get closer is plain evil. “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” - James 3:13-17.

I have always been a person who loves everything to in order, so naturally when the slightest thing throws me off my schedule I get confused and frustrated easily. Confusion gets the best of us, and it can sure stop us in our tracks, but we do not have to let it get to us. We have something that no one else in the world has that ends all confusion, and that is the Word of God. To the world, God's Word is just another book, some fable or fairytale, but to the Christian, it is the life blood of them, literally. No other book ever written or will be written gives life to a dying soul, no other, and no other book has the breath of the only living God upon it. The world is full of confusion, God is not, and He will use His people to make things more clear.

“In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.” - Psalms 71:1-5,16-18.

God gives a command to every soul, believe in and receive my Son if you want to live, but not everyone will obey that command. There are people in this world, those who call themselves Christians, who deny those who accept Christ from enjoying any kind of excitement on the world, this includes celebrating Christmas and Easter. They go on to say that God chooses who receives His Son, and that only they will be saved from death and hell. Okay, this is nothing, but confusion, and let me tell you, mess with the Gospel, you mess with God, and must face severe consequences. Here is the truth, every person born is born with free will, that means while God does command all of us to be saved, we have the free will to obey or not. No one can force us, not even God, to accept His Son, we all must believe and receive Him willingly. And that is what we, who know the truth are to tell the world until God takes us home. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10.

Every person, and I mean ever person, kings, presidents, pastors, teachers, sales men, bar tenders, drug dealers, and everything in between must stand before Jesus and give an account of all the things they did while they were here. Every knee will bow, this has been the truth since God created everything and it will never change. “Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.” - Psalms 72:11-14,17-19.

While there are all walks of life in heaven right now, the most precious to God here on earth are the ones who are not proud, the ones who admit they have sinned, the ones who do not boast about themselves as if only their lives matter. It's the ones who humble themselves, admit they have done wrong, and know that none of their works will ever save them from an eternity in hell. It's the ones who believe in the God of Israel and the God of every nation who sent His only begotten Son to save them. All lives matter to God, no one is better than anyone else, we are all the same. Only those who believe in Jesus will be saved, redeemed from all the deceit, all the pain and sorrow caused by sin. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans 3:10-12,23,24.

There are times in every Christians life when they see those living in the world, with no thought of God, and get confused as to why they have everything, and we struggle making ends meet. God knows how we feel, and that is exactly why He reminds us of why we remain faithful to Him, even when it seems we have nothing to show for it. “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” - Psalms 73:1-5,21-28.

The life of a Christian is never picture perfect, in fact, it comes with more heartache than joy sometimes, but if we look deeper into the matter we will see clearly. People of the world, those who reject Christ, have their fun and their treasures right now, but when they face Jesus it's another story. As much as I like things in order, I know that God is sure to keep allowing messes, not to punish me, but to bring me closer to Him. He does the same for all His children so that when we are at our weakest, He is the one who gets the glory for making us strong. We can do absolutely nothing in our own strength, but we are mighty under God's. “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” - Isaiah 40:28-31.

Today's Prayer: God, Confusion comes when I stop looking to You and focus on all the disorder in my life, forgetting that Your hand is in all the chaos. Thank You for reminding me that You are my strength, and that You renew it when I allow You to use it for something good. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to endure the lemons, give me Your wisdom to keep me from being confused, give me the patience to wait, and give me Your strength to endure the chaos. In Jesus' name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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Relief From The Storms

Date: Sunday, June 21, 2015
Chapters: Psalms 68-70
Message Title: Relief From The Storms

Hello My Friend,

Storms, they come no matter what season we are in, they can come at any time, and they can stop us in our tracks. Some storms just get us wet, while others down right drench us. No matter how much we prepare for storms, when they hit they impact us in some way, but we can find relief from the storms, that relief is Jesus. “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” - Mark 4:37-41.

Storms of life are just like storms of the seasons, they don't last long, but they do have an impact on our lives. We can learn to endure them and use them as guides to remind us that God is still with us in them. “Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.” - Psalms 68:9-11,19-21.

As Christians we are prone to give encouragement to others when they are in the midst of their storms, but when we get into our own, we are not so great at finding our own. It's always easier to take care of others and leave ourselves drowning, but God will not let us drown, He's right there with us. “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.” - Psalms 69:1-5,17,18.

God will not suffer us to the point that we drown, yes, we are going to get drenched sometimes in our storms, but He is always right there with the life preserver. “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” - Luke 17:33.

Even when Jesus was here He had to weather storms, they never worried Him, but He did become weary of all those who rejected Him. In an amazing prophesy we get a glimpse of Him being in the cross, and the suffering He would face in order for us to be saved. “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.” - Psalms 69:20-23,27-29.

No matter what storms we face in life, as saved, born again Christians we must remember one thing, we are saved. Even if they kill us, we are still saved by the grace of God through the very own storm that Jesus faced during His death, burial, and resurrection. People make mock us for having put our faith in Christ, but they are the ones who will be sorry when they face Jesus Himself. When we get to the point that we think the storm is going to take us, never forget that God will stop the storm. “Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.” - Psalms 70:1-5.

May times we face storms simply for us to remember that we need God, and when He pulls us through He gets the glory for making it happen. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” - Romans 8:27-30.

Today's Prayer: God, It's not always easy to be right in the midst of the storm that I am, but I know I can weather it because You are with me. Lord, give me Your power to endure the rainy days and the thunderstorms of life. Give me the strength to stand, the wisdom to know how to handle the storm, and the patience to wade it out until it clears and You get the glory for the rainbow that will show up after the storm. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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