God is With You 24/7

Lord, there is nothing that is going to happen to me today that you and I can't handle together!

My friend, God is in control of every circumstance in our lives! Even when we mess up, God is not found saying 'wow, I didn't see that coming'. There is nothing that can surprise Him; He never sleeps; He knows your every thought; and your every move before you even do them. ~ Psalm 139

God is with you 24/7! He is aware of your presence! The question is 'Are you aware of His presence in your life?

Help me Lord to live every day for you, to be aware of your presence in my life 24/7.

Comfort Those Around You

We can all identify with pain and sorrow in our lives; therefore, comfort those around you as God has comforted you!

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.'.

May the Lord comfort you in your time of affliction!

What drives your Life?

My friend, What is driving your life? Is it the temporal things of this world or eternity? Colossians 3:2 'Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth'.

The Lord has given each of us twenty-four hours in a day, no more no less. How we spend the time in that day is up to us. One thing to think about is if at the end of the day you cannot see one thing that was done for Christ, that day is a wasted day. Face each new day seeking God's will for your life! Don't leave God out of your plans! Today is the most important day of your life, don't waste it - live it for Christ. Rejoice and be thankful for the day Christ has given you.

Forgiveness

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. ~ Psalm 86:5

Thank you Lord for your Forgiveness and for your Lovingkindness! Praise your Holy Name!

Glorify Christ through our Actions

One of my favorite verses is Titus 2:3-5 'the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things -- that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.'
No matter what age you are, you are a walking example to those around you. I remember when I was single, I would watch other married couples, both saved and unsaved and saw quite a few things that I said I would never do when I go married. You know, Nagging doesn't get us anywhere and who cares who left the cap off the toothpaste, it is not worth arguing over and causing disunity in the relationship. As we see in Titus, we are to show reverence and not be slanderers. I don't know how many times I would here someone tearing their spouse down - just not acceptable according to Scripture! We are to build each other up, not tear down and this can be applied to all age groups not just married couples. When we show reverence and honor to those around us, Christ is glorified. When we show dishonor, we dishonor God. Remember, we are always being watched as to how we handle circumstances and how we act. Be obedient so that the Word of God may not be blasphemed.

The Lord Establishes our Steps

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9.

This verse has been of great comfort for years as we give our lives over to our Lord knowing that He has a plan and purpose for each of His children. But, when we continue on and read Proverbs 19:21 this brings extreme encouragement: 'Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.'

Not only do we know that God has a plan and purpose for each of us, but He is in control and His Purpose will stand firm! We need to be in His word daily as it empowers us in every aspect of our lives. As we draw closer to God, we will be more in tuned to the direction God wants us to go! Live each day as unto the Lord!

Fear Not!

The Lord is on Our Side! Someone once said 'Jesus often spoke of Christianity as a banquet but never as a picnic.' How true that is! He never said the Christian life was going to be easy. When Christ is Lord of our lives and we fear only God, we need not fear the threats, opinions, or actions of our enemies.
Psalm 118:6 'The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?' As Christians, we are faced with trials and we are tempted to give in to our fears, but if we make Christ Lord of our lives, we never need to fear men or circumstances. We need to trust God to protect us and to meet our every need. We need to trust that He has a plan and purpose for our lives. When we seek first the kingdom of God as it says in Matthew 6:33 and we present our bodies as living sacrifices not conforming to this world as it says in Romans 12:1-2, we will not be satisfied with anything less than the will of God in our lives. Living totally for Christ.

Everyone needs forgiveness!

We need to forgive those around us just as God forgives us!
C.S. Lewis said ~ To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. ~

Sometimes it seems really hard to forgive, but think about how God has forgiven you and use Him as your example. My friend, It tells us in 1 John 1:9 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'

Yes God promises to forgive us, but I want to make it clear that this promise is Not a license to disobey God! Remember what it cost God to forgive our sins. That's right ~ Forgiveness is Not Free! Christ died a painful death on the cross for our sins and paid the penalty for us! This should make us want to live godly lives that are pleasing to the Lord.

We can all use Encouragement!

The Christian life is often described as running as race. During the course of that race there are many ups and downs and many obstacles that have the potential to throw us a curve. As you near the end of a long race, your legs ache, your throat burns, and your whole body cries out for you to stop. This is when friends are most valuable; their encouragement helps you push through the pain to the finish line.

In the same way, Christians are to encourage one another. A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can mean the difference between finishing well and collapsing along the way. Look around you; Be sensitive to others' need for encouragement, and offer supportive words and prayer. Make a difference in someone's life, be an encouragement that strengthens their Christian life. Help them to say with the Apostle Paul: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ~ 2 Timothy 4:7

Hold on to Jesus!

When you are in the depth of the trials in your life and you feel as if you are being sucked into the heart of the river of life, take courage my friend; When you feel as if you are hanging on for dear life, remember, Jesus is the captain of the boat and He will guide you through the River of Life.

When trials come as it says in James 1:2 “when” not “if”, Hold onto Jesus. It is through the trials of life that your faith grows as we see in James 1:3 'knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.' When life is going smooth, we don't go to our knees, It is when the trials come that we fall to our knees praying and asking for God to help. It is through those trials that our faith grows as we learn to trust God to meet all our needs knowing that He is in control. Hold on to Jesus my friend, He will never let you down!

Acceptable to the Lord

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
~ Psalm 19:14

Stop Gossip!

Like a fire, the tongue can heat things up. Proverbs 26:20 says 'Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.' James 3:5 also says 'So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!' If no one were fueling it, the fire would go out; the strife would cease.'


Fire can be very destructive just as the tongue can. Fire burns and hurts, and our words can burn and hurt. Fire spreads, and the more fuel you give it, the faster and farther it will spread. The tongue can spread hurtful gossip and the more fuel you give it the faster it spreads. The sad thing is, words can break hearts and destroy reputations.

Instead of using the tongue for destruction, we can use it for edification. We see in Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

Choose to put the fire out! Don't listen to or spread gossip!

Walking with our Lord!

God loves us so much; He wants to be the center of our lives. He wants us to put our full faith and trust in him as we walk in this world so that everything we do brings glory to him. Colossians 3:17 'And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him'.

My friend, we are here for a short time and as we journey through this life we are to walk a godly walk. We should be of one mind living in unity with compassion, tenderheartedness, and humble-minded as it says in 1 Peter 3:8. We need to Trust in the LORD with all our heart and do not lean on our own understanding but In all our ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct our paths. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 God directs our paths, carries us through the trials of our lives giving us the help and support we need, and has given us the abilities we need to do the tasks He sets before us. Walk daily with the Lord, giving Him the honor and glory for everything in our lives.

Seek God's Presence Daily

We often run to God when we experience difficulties as we seek God's deliverance and protection. David said in Psalm 27:5 'For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.'.

My friend, David was able to say this because he not only sought God in the time of difficulties, but sought His guiding presence every day! When he experienced the difficult times, he was prepared to handle any test because he was in God's presence already. We too can be prepared as David was. Many of our problems could be avoided or handled far more easily by seeking God's help and direction not just when troubles come but before they come on a daily basis.

Walking Daily with the Lord

Oh my friend this saying is so true! It's NOT about How Far you go in Life...It's WHO you Walk with!
Listen to what the Apostle Paul said: Philippians 3:7-8 ' But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ'

Walking Daily with our Lord Jesus Christ is what will empower you to face each day. All else is Rubbish as the Apostle Paul said, Only what is done for Christ will last in the end. God Bless you my friends as we walk daily with the Lord Jesus Christ together.

Live a Transformed Life

As Christians, our lives should be different than those in the world! Romans 12:2 tells us 'Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.'

The believer is to live a transformed life; that is, he is to walk day by day renewing his mind more and more. Don't fill your mind with the garbage of this world, allow the Holy Spirit to focus your mind more and more upon God and spiritual things. As Christians, we are not only to love the Lord with all our heart, but with our mind! Choose to live a transformed life!

His Ever Loving Presence

When you feel as if you need help, remember God's ever loving presence in your life.

HELP ~ His Ever Loving Presence ~

Isaiah 41:10 says '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'.

God speaks with tenderness; Fear not, for I am with you: not only within call, but present with you! God is with you 24/7, call upon His name and He will Help you!

Free Gift of Salvation!

Thank you Father for the Gift of Salvation!
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him".

My friend, God loved us so much that He gave the ultimate sacrifice for us!
Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love.

1 John 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

1 John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Live each day in Remembrance of Gift that God gave and live Each day for Him!
Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

If you have not yet accepted this Free gift, you can do it Now!
"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Confess Today my friend and make Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior of your life!
Here is a sample prayer:
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my personal Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen." ~

For more information, click on these links:
http://changedlivestoday.com/_webimages/knowinggod.html
http://PeaceWithGod.jesus.net/

If you accepted this Free gift today, Please let us know, we would like to share in this glorious time with you as you begin your new journey with Christ.

Joy Centers on God

These are such comforting words in James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” Remember, James was writing to Persecuted Christian Jews. They were not living the easy life. Saul of Tarsus was going house to house pulling Christians from their homes and throwing them in prison. James compassionately exhorts them, knowing that at this time they are going through these trials, he says count it all joy.


This is a remarkable command—we are to choose to be joyful in situations where joy would naturally be our last response. Does this mean that we are to laugh through our trials? Absolutely Not! Trials come in all shapes and forms, from financial problems, health issues, moral issues, accidents, to the loss of loved ones and more. They can be small trials to huge life changing trials. James is encouraging us to have pure joy in the very face of trials, He is not asking us to pretend to be happy.

My friend, rejoicing goes beyond happiness it is an inner peace that only God can give us. Happiness centers on earthly circumstances and how well things are going here. Joy centers on God and his presence in our experience. It is possessing a spirit of joy, an attitude of joy and perseverance as we face the trials in our life. This joyful attitude comes from knowing as we see in James 1:3 that God is allowing this trial in our life for a reason and purpose. That you can see the trial through His eyes and know that He will see you through it and that there is a greater purpose beyond ourselves that we are going to embrace. For further info on how to turn trials into triumphs, click this link where you can watch a video, listen to audio version or read the notes : http://empoweredbiblestudy.sermon.tv/Book_of_James/2239549

Walking with the Lord

Living a Life that is pleasing to the Lord ... The Apostle Paul encourages us to live our lives for Christ in Colossians 1:10 'So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

At the time Paul wrote to the Colossians there was a lot of false teaching going around and he wanted to encourage the believers to walk worthy of the Lord, thus they would be equipped so as to please the Lord in all things in their walk. In order to know the difference between the false teachings, Paul encouraged them to study and grow in their knowledge of God's word. It is the same with any relationship, we need to spend time with the person in order to get to know them just as we need to study God's word to know more about Him and His will for our lives. We are to study and learn until the knowledge of His will just floods our lives—floods us to such a degree that doing His will flows out into conduct and behavior. As we walk with the Lord our lives will bear fruit.

Peace for a Restless Heart!

My friend, is your heart restless? You can find peace in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:7 'And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'

This is not a temporary peace my friend, it is a peace that only Christ can give you and it is a peace you will find in your life when you walk with the Prince of Peace.

God isn't Finished With Me!

Sometimes we can get discouraged in our Christian walk, but don't be discouraged my friend, remember that God won't give up on you as He promises to finish the work he has begun.
Philippians 1:6 'For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.'

God is Not finished with us yet ... The Greek word for 'perfect it' means that God would carry on the work which he had begun to completion. It is an intensive form of the word, meaning that it would be carried through to the end. God would not abandon us or the work that He began in us.

God is always working within the life of the believer building in us the character and person He wants us to be to fulfill His plan for our lives. The work is never complete as long as the believer lives on earth, so keep pursuing a growing relationship with God. Be in God's word daily! As we study God's Word, our personal relationship with God grows deeper and deeper, It empowers us to live for the Lord in every aspect of our lives. Live for Christ ~ He won't give up on you!

Go Where Christ Leads

Do you like to be in control? Are you a detail oriented person who loves to plan out each day, as well as your future, as to what you will be doing? Listen to what James has to say about this matter in James 4:13-16: Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you should say,"If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.


My friend, life is short! We need to seek God's will as we plan out our lives. Remember God has a plan and purpose for our lives that we may not always see. So as changes come to our schedules, take it in stride and see where God is leading you. Relinquish control to God.

Live For Christ!

Lord, help me to live for you, for you died for me! 2 Corinthians 5:15 'He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf'

This verse says it all! Do Not live for yourselves, Live for Christ with every breath you take! Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, mind, and soul! ~ Matthew 22:37

Do Not Worry ~ Trust

Trusting God for each new day! Scripture tells us: So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~ Matthew 6:34

My friend give each day to the Lord! As Matthew tells, Don't be preoccupied with tomorrow and it's affairs as each day has enough trouble of its own. Leave tomorrow and it's needs in God's hands. Live for today and what God wants to do through you. God is sufficient to meet each new day's needs.

Be a Living Example!

We have faith in a living God, and so if we truly accepted Christ into our hearts then it cannot help but manifest itself outwardly.


Let me given an example: One day there was a man who walked past this Church everyday, but one day he decided to go in. The Pastor saw him and ask what brought him to their Church. The man preceded to tell him that he knew a man that had a very violent temper and then suddenly he was like a new person and his spirit was calm. He said when he asked the man what changed his life, he said he became a Christian and his whole life was transformed. "I want" he said to the Pastor, "the power that did that for him".

My friend, we may be the only Bible someone reads. We are to be examples to those who are lost. If we profess to believe in Christ, but keep living in sin, then we need to re-evaluate what we really put our faith in. If we truly have Christ within us and have truly accepted Christ into our hearts, then our lives will manifest it through a changed life.

James 1:22 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves". We need to Walk the Talk!

Seek God's Will Daily

In this world we cannot live the Christian life on our own strength. David knew this all to well! In Psalm 143:10 we see David asking the Lord for His guidance. To keep grounded we too need to seek God's will daily...

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! ~ Psalm 143:10

Finished Race Well

Will we be able to say with the Apostle Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. The Apostle Paul greatly suffered for Christ's sake as he penned about some of his persecutions in 2 Corinthians 11:23-30

Fellow Jews had beaten Paul with 39 stripes on 5 different occasions. The law of Moses limited such punishment to 40 blows, but Jewish custom permitted only 39 lest a miscount go beyond what the Law allowed. Deuteronomy 25:3 “Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight."

The Gentiles also sentenced Paul to a beating with rods three different times. He was stoned by his own people. At Lystra Jewish rebels persuaded a mob to illegally stone Paul; afterward they dragged him outside the city leaving him for dead as we see in Acts 14:19. He was shipwrecked and many of his journeys he faced danger. Acts 20:23 “except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.”

You can go on and on talking about Paul’s sufferings for Christ. The point to note is Paul’s faithfulness through all his sufferings; Nothing turned him away from Christ or his ministry. Christ had called him to preach and minister, and he would not be stopped except by death.

We need to evaluate our lives and make sure that we can say with Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ~ 2 Timothy 4:7

Be Ready! Look up! Live for Christ!

Well done good and faithful servant! Oh these are the words we all want to hear as we stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It is not about working for our salvation but about being able to stand before Christ and know you did your best for Him. I know I don't want to stand before Christ and say that I didn't do my best! What you do for Christ, what you do with the opportunities that He has given you is what is going to last in the end. As Pastor John Piper said, 'Don’t waste your life. God isn’t interested in your seashell collection, he is interested in what you did with the opportunities He has given you.'

Deuteronomy 30:19 “... I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days ...”

My friend, Choose Life! Live every moment for the Lord! He is returning soon, it could be any time; there is nothing that has to happen before He returns. Be Ready! Look up! Live for Christ!

God is Our All in All

For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building ~
1 Corinthians 3:9

God is the source of all. This is seen in the Greek text; God's name comes first in this verse three different times: God's fellow workers, God's field, and God's building. All is of God; God is all in all.


We labor together in that work which God has given us to do, living every day to the honor and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. A laborer who does not labor is a paradox. A farmer who does not labor does not receive the reward at harvest time; There is nothing to receive. Not only do we labor for God, but we are also the field which God cultivates. A field does not exist to lie unused; It exists to bear a harvest. If we are living godly lives then our lives will show godly fruit. The house which God builds, he intends to dwell. God lives within us 24/7!