FAITH BEYOND FACTS!

7-1-2022. . . .FAITH BEYOND FACTS!

"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. (Heb 11:3 NKJV) 

Archaeology, Anthropology, Paleontology and other discovery sciences (as wonderful as they are) glean their knowledge from the study of things that exist or once existed. Great knowledge and facts have been obtained this way!  However, to understand the true origin of all things requires faith beyond facts!  

PRAYER: Lord, by faith we know and understand all things.  No science could ever inform us as well as your word can.  Thank you for your word.  Amen.  

Ps 33:6-8. . . .By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.   He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses.  Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. NIV

HANG IN THERE!

6-30-2022. . . .HANG IN THERE! 

"Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember your reward!  You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised." (Heb 10:35-37 TLB)  

We've come to far to give up, in, or out and to turn around now!  No, it is not always easy, but it is worth the fight!  Hang in there, for the greater blessings and reward are in front of us!

PRAYER: Lord, sometimes it gets really really hard to keep trusting you.  Not because of You, (for you are faithful) but because of the insecurities within us.  We want to be in control!  (As if we know and can influence the outcome of our affairs)  Have mercy on us and give us your peace as we submit both willingly and unwillingly to your will.  Amen!

Heb 10:32-34. . . .Don't ever forget those wonderful days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you kept right on with the Lord even though it meant terrible suffering.  Sometimes you were laughed at and beaten, and sometimes you watched and sympathized with others suffering the same things.  You suffered with those thrown into jail, and you were actually joyful when all you owned was taken from you, knowing that better things were awaiting you in heaven, things that would be yours forever. TLB

DON'T SWEAT IT!

6-29-2022. . . .DON'T SWEAT IT!

"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.  (Mal 3:11 KJV) 

No matter what you do, there will always be outside forces whose sole purpose is to destroy your (produce) fruit. Their success is based upon their ability to create distractions that result in loss of focus.  God says however, don't sweat it!  Stay focused!   I got this!  I will repel everything and everybody that comes against you.  Nothing shall hinder or abort the manifestation of your divine purpose! 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always having our back!  Help us stay aligned with your will and purpose.  Amen!

  

Prov 16:7. . . .When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. (NIV)

AT THE HEART OF IT!

6-28-2022. . . .AT THE HEART OF IT!

"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Rom 10:10-11 NIV)  

One's mouth cannot confess what one's heart does not believe.  Listen carefully to the confessions of one's mouth to quickly discern the beliefs of one's heart.  

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for changing our hearts in such a way that allows our beliefs and our confessions to match.   Amen.

Matt 12:34-35. . . .O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  KJV

DIVINE IMPERATIVE!

WHO IS QUALIFIED!

6-24-2022. . . .WHO IS QUALIFIED!

". . . .He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."  (John 8:7 KJV) 

Who is qualified (even proverbially) to cast stones at anyone; although their sin is obvious to all?  None of us!  Our vision seems to always be 20/20 when viewing the sins of others, but somehow skewed when viewing our own.  The blood of Jesus cleanses all of us from unrighteousness.  If He alone who is qualified cast no stone, why then should we!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the blood that cleanses us from all unrighteousness.  Having been cleansed, help us to loving lead others to their source of cleansing.  Amen.

 1 John 1:8-10. . . . If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.  But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. [And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.] If we claim we have not sinned, we are lying and calling God a liar, for he says we have sinned.  TLB

WE’LL NOT BE ONE OF THOSE!

6-23-2022. . . WE’LL NOT BE ONE OF THOSE!

“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.” (Ps 147:1 KJV)  

Comely…….an uncommon word meaning ‘fitting…pleasing or suitable.’  If it is fitting, pleasing and suitable to praise God, then conversely, it is unpleasing and unsuitable or fitting not to praise Him!  Yet sadly, days, weeks, months and perhaps even years go by without one utterance of praise from the millions of people that belong to Him!   Let's not be one of those!   Praise is what we will always do!

Prayer: Lord, I’m so grateful to you for everything. You are awesome! When I think on who you are, your love and kindness towards me, my lips can’t help but give you praise!  I will bless your name forever! Amen.

Ps 113:1-3 . . . . Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised. KJV

LINE IT UP!

6-21-2022. . . .LINE IT UP!

"And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will.  And if we really know he is listening when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us." (1 John 5:14-15 TLB)  

When our request aligns with His will, we can then ask what we will and with great anticipation expect to receive it!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for hearing us and willingly granting us every request that is in line with your will!  Keep us in your will!  Amen.

Ps 84:11. . . . 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. KJV

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

THE REAL WORK OF FAITH!

6-17-2022. . . .THE REAL WORK OF FAITH!

"If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, and you say to him, "Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty," and then don't give him clothes or food, what good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn't show itself by good works is no faith at all-it is dead and useless."  (James 2:15-17 TLB)  

When it is in our power to help someone, we should help them without hesitation.  When God allows us to see a need, it is not a time to wax deep and spiritual, it is a time for us to respond with action.  This is the real work of our faith.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for supplying all our need according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Help us to use our blessings to be a blessing to others in their time of need.  

James 2:18. . . . But someone may well argue, "You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can't prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act." TLB

LIFE LESSON!

6-16-2022. . . .LIFE LESSON!

"Don't criticize, and then you won't be criticized.  For others will treat you as you treat them.  And why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a board in your own?  (Matt 7:1-3 TLB)  

Life lesson 102 is one we would all do well to learn and live by.  "Love your neighbor as yourself; treat others as you would want to be treated!"

PRAYER: Lord, help us to live together in peace and harmony always.  Amen.

Matt 22:37-39. . . . Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.   And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. KJV

DON'T PLAY. . . .TRUST!

6-15-2022. . . .DON'T PLAY. . . .TRUST!

"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."  (Heb 11:6 KJV)  

Trusting God is not like playing games of chance where one wishes and hopes to win, but more often then not, doesn't!  Trusting God is believing Him beyond what we see (we walk by faith not by sight) until what we expect manifest!  Don't play. . . .TRUST!

PRAYER: Lord, our faith and trust is in you.  We will not weaver because we know your word is true and will always manifest your will!  Our faith and trust remains always in you!  Amen.

James 1:5-7. . . .If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that. If you don't ask with faith, don't expect the Lord to give you any solid answer. TLB

GOD GETS THE CREDIT AND THE PRAISE!

6-14-2022. . . .GOD GETS THE CREDIT AND THE PRAISE!

"I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints." (Ps 52:9-53:1 KJV)  

God gets the credit and the praise for everything good in our lives!  Every time it looks like the situation or circumstance may not work out, God does His work again!  Hallelujah!  It prompts a praise when you really think about it.  He never fails to show Himself strong on behalf of those that really love Him.

Prayer: Lord, you are amazing!  You never fail!  You always come through in ways we never expect, but are always grateful for.  I praise you today and always.  Amen!

Ps 63:3-4 . . . . Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.   Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. KJV

NAVIGATE LIFE!

BACK TO BASICS!

6-10-2022. . . .BACK TO BASICS!

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.  Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." (Prov 3:1-4 NIV)   

Life has no road map, but if we follow some basic principles we will successfully navigate our way through it!  Follow His plan. . . .Get back to basics!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for ordering the steps and stops of our life.  Help us to stick to the plan and the basic principles you have set our for us.  Amen.

Ps 37:23-24. . . .The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. 24 If they fall it isn't fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand. TLB

.FAVOR WHEN NEEDED!

6-9-2022. . . .FAVOR WHEN NEEDED!

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor 9:8-9 NIV) 

God rewards our faithfulness and generosity with favor when needed!  In the times that we forget and wonder how we are going to work things out, God reminds us that He has reserved favor for us and will release it to us at the needed time!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for reserved favor!  Amen.

2 Peter 1:3-4. . . .For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! TLB

E X P E C T A T I O N!

6-8-2022. . . . E X P E C T A T I O N!

"See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (Isa 43:19 NIV)   

God never runs out of ways of making a way!  Therefore, we should never be without 

 E X P E C T A T I O N!

Prayer: Lord, you are a way maker!  Thank you for continuously making ways for us!  Amen.

Rom 8:31. . . .What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? KJV

ALL WILL BE WELL AND GO WELL!

6-7-2022. . . .ALL WILL BE WELL AND GO WELL!

"Then the Lord said: "The good figs represent the exiles sent to Babylon. I have done it for their good.  I will see that they are well treated, and I will bring them back here again. I will help them and not hurt them; I will plant them and not pull them up.  I will give them hearts that respond to me. They shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with great joy." (Jer 24:4-7 TLB) 

God's full commitment to His people is unquestionable.  His divine purpose will be completed in spite of times of displacement, disappointment, and down right disobedience on our part.  When we turn to Him with fully surrendered hearts, He will ensure that all will be well and go well with us!

PRAYER: Lord, thank for your unquestionable commitment to us and our well being.  Your mercy and grace is amazing!  For this we continually give you praise.  Amen!

Lam 3:21-24. . . . Yet there is one ray of hope:  his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord's mercies that have kept us from complete destruction.  Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day. TLB

BELIEVE GOD!