Spiritual maturity is one of our heavenly blessings "in Christ Jesus." Our heavenly Father desires that all His children develop in this blessing of maturity: "that we may present every man perfect [mature] in Christ Jesus."
You have heard the old saying, “What goes around, comes around.” More valid words were never spoken when talking about encouragement. We all need encouragement – especially during tough times. Those “tough” times can come in all shapes, sizes, and forms and can vary from person to person. Give hope!
The Lord delights to give heavenly spiritual insight to the humble of heart, not to those who trust in their own wisdom and prudence. "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes'" (Luke 10:21). This picture of spiritual children humbly trusting in the Heavenly Father to reveal His ways fits perfectly God's pattern for living by grace. This pattern is humility and faith.
Remember that the same Christ who tells us to say, "Give us this day our daily bread," had first given us this petition, "Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Let not your prayers be all concerning your own sins, your own wants, your own imperfections, your own trials, but let them climb the starry ladder, and get up to Christ Himself,
I Will... If it is God's Will...
It's good to have goals, but what good are goals if we leave God out of them?
When the cares of your heart are many, there can still be joy and peace in your being. There may be confusion and strife around you, but you can be strong and calm.
There is something about this season that causes our souls to ache for closeness to our Savior and the renewed life He brings. We need Jesus now more than ever - for our broken selves and our broken world. Be praying for the Church of Jesus Christ and all the ministries this Easter season.
Salvation is an act of God. It is initiated by God, wrought by God, and sustained by God.
~Billy Graham~
Today, the Lord seeks you out to give comfort and confidence when you go through trials...and when your faith is questioned. Stand boldly and declare His goodness.
Mary and Martha knew the agony of death but they also knew the victory of life.
Jesus is the Lord of life!
Casey Kendall 4-4-18
What you put into your minds, will go into your hearts.
~Raul Ries~
I always get a little concerned whenever a person asks, “How can God do this to me?” Blaming God for something that’s happened only reveals a general ignorance of world history. The reason things on earth are so messed up is that when humanity rejected God, Satan was given control of the world and its systems. Sin and rebelliousness remain the main problems to this day. And the consequences have been horrific.
In every situation, God has called us to represent Him to the people. We are to love the Lord and love His people, no matter how contentious they may be. If He loves them so should we.
Jesus set the precedent by dying for us —and resurrecting. Through Him, we experience hope, new life, beauty, and the love that will nourish and carry us through the end of our days and into eternity. Spring is here. Time to start celebrating new life and the Resurrection!
Jesus doesn't demand anything of us that He didn't first demonstrate for us. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We serve Him because He demonstrated His love for us through service. He taught us how to pray, how to live under the power of the Holy Spirit, how to overcome temptation, and how to deal with arrogant and prideful people... and He taught us by example.
In the Cross, sin is cursed and canceled. In the Cross, grace is victorious and available.
~G. Campbell Morgan~
Christian, let your heart rejoice, for you are "accepted in the beloved"--what do you have to fear? Keep a smile on your face! Live near your Master; live in the suburbs of the Heavenly City; for soon, when your time has come, you will rise up to where Jesus sits and reign at His right hand; and all because the Lord Jesus was made "to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." BY ALISTAIR BEGG
There is no other way to be saved, Come to Jesus!
No Other Way Out of Town
Wabush, a town in a remote portion of Labrador, Canada, was completely isolated for most of its [existence]. But [finally] a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it. Wabush now has one road leading into it, and thus, only one road leading out. If someone would travel the unpaved road for six to eight hours to get into Wabush, there is the only way he or she could leave —- by turning around.
Each of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin. As in Wabush, there is only one way out -- a road built by God himself. But in order to take that road, one must first turn around. That complete about-face is what the Bible calls repentance, and without it, there’s no way out of town. -- Brian Weatherdon
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