TRUST JESUS AND BE STRONG AND BRAVE!

 

Teach me to follow, Lord, and lead me on the right path because of my enemies. Don’t let them do to me what they want.

People tell lies about me and make violent threats, but I know I will live to see how kind you are. Trust the Lord! Be brave and strong and trust the Lord.

Psalm 27:11-14

As a follower of the Lord, you will have enemies. That has always been part of the deal. Satan himself is the chief enemy of those who follow Jesus. So when you find yourself accused of things that are false and you are the target of violent threats, it may indeed be evidence that you are walking in the steps of Jesus!

When you finally decide to become obedient to something you believe Jesus wants you to do, prepare yourself for the attack. It will come, and you must get ready with the Word of God in your heart and mind, so you can resist and not give in to discouragement.

These verses from Psalm 27 tell us we must “Trust the Lord and be brave and strong.” When you trust Jesus, it is only then you can be BRAVE AND STRONG! 

Never lose heart because Satan directs his attacks towards you. If you are being obedient to God, they will come.

Be concerned if you claim to be walking with Jesus and the Devil doesn’t care!

“Lord, Jesus, give me the courage to obey Your Word today and every day as long as I live here on earth. Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever! Amen.”

EAGER TO LISTEN TO JESUS

 

 

 

 

 

Each day, Jesus kept on teaching in the temple. So the chief priests, the teachers of the Law of Moses, and some other important people tried to have him killed. But they could not find a way to do it, because everyone else was eager to listen to him.

Luke 19:47-48

Are you one of those who wants to have Jesus killed or are you “eager to listen” to Him? When Jesus walked the earth, the chief priests, teachers of the law and other “important people” were not the ones who most wanted to hear what He had to say.

Jesus talked about how to love your enemies and how to forgive them. He watched with His disciples a woman who put everything she had to live on in the offering box at the temple. It was only two small coins, but Jesus said it was more than all the other contributions. Jesus also said that those who follow Him should first take up their cross! And He told them that suffering would come with discipleship.

Choose to be EAGER TO LISTEN to Jesus! Don’t seek to become a Chief Priest, a teacher of the law, or an important person. Let the Words of Jesus sink deep into your heart.

“Jesus make me eager to listen to You. Let Your Word lead me today on the path You have chosen for my life. Praise Your Holy Name now and forever! Amen.”

Assisted Living

 

 

 

You have now come to Mount Zion and to the heavenly Jerusalem. This is the city of the living God, where thousands and thousands of angels have come to celebrate. Here you will find all of God’s dearest children, whose names are written in heaven. And you will find God himself, who judges everyone. Here also are the spirits of those good people who have been made perfect. And Jesus is here!

Hebrews 12:22-24a CEV

More than a decade ago, I spent three weeks in Ethiopia. The opportunity came up quickly and less than a month later; I flew to Addis Abbaba to help a dear friend with a book project. He wrote a book about the rapid spread of Christianity among Muslims.

Yes, there will be many people in Heaven who began their lives here on earth as part of the Muslim religion. You will meet many, if not all, of them when you get to Heaven!

You will also meet followers of Jesus you read about in the Bible. And the angels, don’t forget about them. But when you get to Heaven, you will not meet Jesus for the first time. The way to get to Heaven is to meet and have faith in Jesus while you are still on this earth.

The Bible says in Colossians 1:27, “Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s glory.”

When you put your faith in Jesus, He comes into your life. Living by faith in Jesus is the best example of “Assisted Living.” When Christ is in you, you have the power to be victorious in every circumstance, every day! You may be old and you may be frail, but with Jesus in your heart, you are certain that Heaven will be your home forever.

“Lord Jesus, the closer I get to the Day of Your return, the more I need to trust you, every minute of every day! Praise Your Holy Name now and forever, Amen!”

Lord Please Come After Me

"I am your servant,
but I have wandered away
    like a lost sheep.
Please come after me,
because I have not forgotten
    your teachings."

Psalm 119:176

When a poor man wanders away from those who know him and even love him, it is easy for him to become part of the “homeless” population of a big city. Often, no one will even look for him.

But if that same man is named in the will of a “rich” person who dies, everything changes. The person in charge of the estate will search far and wide to find the heir. 

Did you know God named you in His will?

I Timothy 2:4a says, “God wants everyone to be saved.”

When Jesus died on the Cross He made “God's Will” available to every man, woman and child on earth! 

Sometimes, even after you walk daily with Jesus, you may wander. Psalm 119:176 is a prayer suitable for every servant of the Lord to utter to God:

“I am your servant,
but I have wandered away
    like a lost sheep.
Please come after me,
because I have not forgotten
    your teachings.”

“Lord, I say it again. Please come after me and bring me back to You today. Praise Your Holy Name, now and forever. Amen.”

 

 

COUNT DOWN TO ETERNITY

  

 

“God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.”

Philippians 1:6 CEV

    There is a big difference in you working for God and God working through you. When you “work for God” you may or may not be trying to accomplish something according to His Will. But when God works through you, every breath you take, every step on your walk, every move of your hand, and every word you utter has the Power and Will of God behind it!

    Even you will be amazed when you recognize the mighty work of God happening right in front of your eyes.

    When will that miraculous fellowship with God stop here on earth? Not until the Day that Jesus returns! Then His work through you will be complete. It will be done. Perhaps Jesus will once again say, as He did on the Cross, “it is finished.”

    If today is the Day of the Return of Jesus, He will still work through me and through you until the moment we hear the Trumpet and see the sky roll up. It will be the most amazing moment in all of history!

    The “Count Down to Eternity” may only have a day, an hour, or even a minute left until Jesus returns. But God still wants to use you, your heart, your hands, and your words to bring another lost sinner to Him!

    “lord Jesus, may I never stop being available to You, now and forever! Amen.”  

 

MESSAGE OF THE HEAVENS!

 

 

The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. They don't speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world.

Psalm 14:1-4

A mother and her baby begin to communicate very early without words and without a sound. The most intimate relationships on earth do not require speech! When you look up at a starlit night and see the work of God displayed beautifully across the sky, He is declaring a Message for all to see. What is the Message of the Heavens?

When you watch a master-carpenter build a house out of pieces of wood and nails, the sawing and banging begin to gradually take the shape of a house. And then they blossom into the beautiful flower of a house suitable to be called "Home" by anyone. 

Looking up into the Heavens is a tour of places that the Master of all carpenters built. And He decided to let us look up every night and see His work. 

You don't have to read the Bible to know that God is real and that His creation is Glorious! God's Message of the Heavens is: "I AM alive and I AM here!" The message of the Bible is: "JESUS is the Way and the Only Way to the FATHER."

So, you cannot hide from the Reality of God. You see His Glory in the Stars and in everything He created all around you. Let His Glory lead you to seek Him and know Him today!

"Lord God, You are the Creator of everything there is. You designed and built every star and every galaxy that fills our nightime sky with wonder. And then You sent Jesus to pay our debt and to be the Savior of everyone who turns to Him. Praise Your Holy and Righteous Name, now and forever. Amen."  

 

 

Hot Coals of Heaven!

 

The Scriptures (also) say,

“If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat.

And if they are thirsty, give them something to drink.

This will be the same as piling burning coals on their heads.”

Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.

Romans 12:20-21

When someone proves himself or herself to be your enemy, your humanity will want to strike a blow and defeat or even destroy the one who plots you harm. But the love of God through the person of Jesus Christ calls you to care for their needs!

And when your response is love instead of hate, the Power of God Almighty flows through your veins and pours out on the head of your enemy. The Hot Coals of Heaven ignite the fire of the Holy Spirit to consume the Evil and plant seeds of Righteousness!

And then love's new life can sprout in the heart of one who was your enemy.

“Lord Jesus, give me the Grace to love even those who hate me. May Your Eternal Power flow into the hearts of all who open themselves to be filled with Your Spirit. Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen.”