Good-bye Until September 2016!

"We reach a certain stage of fellowship with Christ, in spiritual apprehension and moral attainment, and find great joy in it. But this seems to fade, until we become conscious that we are called to something higher. The Lord is gone before us to prepare the next resting-place. Then everything depends upon our response. We may stay where we are, becoming more and more torpid in spirit. Or we may, in Paul's phrase, "press on." If we do this, we find the Lord meeting us and leading us to the next resting-place." - William Temple

What an incredible year this has been! There is nothing more satisfying, both spiritually and emotionally, than helping spread the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. It is our deep love for Our Lord and Savior that motivates and energizes us to, as Paul declared, "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

And you, beloved followers of our ministry blog, have played a huge part, too. You have kept us inspired, energized, and on our toes throughout the year. We extend our sincerest gratitude for allowing us the opportunity to share His Word on a regular basis with you. Thank you!!

I cannot thank enough all of the staff, ministry members, and wonderful writers who have contributed their time, talent, and love for Christ; all of whom help make our blog possible. Woo-hoo! Awesome job, ladies! But now comes the hardest part...saying good-bye to you for the summer.

As we have done for the past several years, our ministry blog takes a summer hiatus until September. It is a well-deserved, temporary break from our online responsibilities. By doing this, we allow our ministry the extra time to undertake other pursuits, such as: presenting and/or participating in conferences, teaching, and working in partnerships, among many others.

We, here at The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry have been blessed in so many ways. The Holy Spirit has always been kind to us, providing a gentle nudge, or word when we need it. I pray that He will continue to guide and support our ministry with mercy and grace.

During our time away, our archives will be available to use as God moves you. We look forward to return refreshed, and ready to go this September. Until then, on behalf of all of us here at The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry, we wish you a happy, safe, and blessed summer!

On behalf of all of us, God bless you!

~Eve

*** We will return September 2016! ***

We Can All Learn from Ruth's Example

"The paths of the LORD are true and right,..." - Hosea 14:9 (NLT)

There are many great women in the Bible. Their lives, though separated by time and place, all have a common thread: their love for God. Mary, Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, and others speak to us across the ages. The lessons we can learn from them are as fresh as if they happened last weekend.

I'd like to place the focus of my message on one of these special women, Ruth, and what her life of devotion imparts to us today. Interestingly, the book of Ruth stands out among the other inspired books in that one cannot find a single instance of cruelty or sinfulness there.

You'll also not find one victim of vengeance and violence. Which you have to admit is unusual. Instead, the book contains examples of virtue, courage, faith, dedication, love, sorrow, and loyalty. Maybe that's why I love reading about her so much. She accomplished a great deal while avoiding the pitfalls that were the undoing of so many others in the Bible.

If you have never read the book of Ruth, and even if you have, here's a few highlights of her story. The book of Ruth is the story of two widows. It speaks about famine, prosperity, and separation in the unfamiliar land of Moab. Additionally, it tells about homesickness and Naomi's (her mother-in-law) decision to return to her native land of Israel.

I feel that many people have a special affinity for  this book because it documents the most beautiful confession of human love in all literature. And it recounts a beautiful commitment to God by a pagan woman. As an added bonus, it has a happy ending as Ruth is welcomed into the heritage of Israel and the genealogy of Jesus!

Without a doubt, the book of Ruth is full of good counsel for us all. One could literally spend a lifetime harvesting all of the wonderful material it contains. However, I'd like to select just a couple of the key topics and share them with you today.

First, one of the biggest things that we can take away from reading about Ruth is that God has a plan for each of us. On every page of her book there is evidence of the providence, or the foreseeing care and guidance of God.

Her life could very easily had taken a totally different course, if, for example: her in-laws Elimelech and Naomi had not gone to Moab; her father-in-law and his sons had not died; Naomi had not returned to Bethlehem; Ruth had not gleaned in the field of Boaz, to mention a few.

God's hand is involved in every life-changing event of Ruth's life. If she had not submitted to God, she probably would have lived and died in a land where people did not serve Jehovah. What we can extract from Ruth's experience is that when we place ourselves in God's hands, he will bring his plan to fruition in our lives.

Secondly, in Ruth we observe the power of human choice. Naturally, there are many factors that come into play when confronted with a life-changing decision, such as one's background, education, culture, experience, and so on. Ruth, who was a pagan, had to make such a decision upon the deaths of her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law.

Naomi had decided to go back home, as there was nothing to keep her in Moab now that her husband and sons were dead. She graciously told her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, that they were no longer obligated to her, and should seek new husbands and lives for themselves.

Orpah, not wanting to leave her pagan homeland and all that she knew, decided to part ways with Naomi and remain in Moab. Ruth decided to stay with Naomi and commit herself to Naomi's God. She never regretted it or looked back. Her decision was final and irreversible.

What a tribute Ruth's decision was to Naomi. It had been her life and love for God that had endorsed God to Ruth. As in Ruth's life, we all confront difficult decisions at one time or another. And, making the right choice is not easy. For some, it's easier to simply stay put than stressing out over it.

It can definitely be hard to let go of the familiar world we know. But what we can learn from Ruth's life is that if we commit ourselves to the Lord, with conviction and devotion, happy endings can take place in our lives, as well.

Scripture: Psalm 27:14; Galatians 6:9; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Lamentations 3:25-26; Isaiah 55:8-9

Prayer: Dear Jesus, no matter what decisions I am confronted with today, I will seek Your guidance and advice first. You always know what is best for me, and I find comfort and security in Your words. Amen

May the Lord bless you always,

Katherine

Things To Consider: What Does God Expect From Us?

"No one can be a good Christian who does not with holy zeal set out to know, delight in, and live by the Word of God!"  - John R. Rice

Another happy Monday to you!

You've probably heard this before, but I'll say it again: "It's not easy being a Christian!" Some may think that once you come to Christ, the hard work is over and it's all blue sky from that point on. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Paul encountered this problem with the church in Philippi. This was the first Christian church established in Europe, which by the way, happened to have been founded by him. Within ten years it had proven to be a blessing. Meanwhile, Paul was now a prisoner in Rome.

Presently, the church ran into a problem with some disunity within its members. There was complaining, grumbling, and some quarreling going on with its members. (Nothing new here, right?) Paul heard about this and it really hit him hard. The once model church was now falling apart, and he was so far away.

You know, it's not good for God's people to bicker, argue, and get on each others case. This type of behavior is not very Christlike at all. As a matter of fact we are commanded in the Word of God to walk in unity, openness and humility (Philippians 1:27; Ephesians 4:3).

Now, I use the predicament of the church in Philippi to showcase some points. The church was in deep trouble, so the Philippian Christians reached out to Paul for some help. The church sent Epaphroditus, a trusted member, to tell Paul what was going on. Needless to say, Paul became upset with the news.

Being a prisoner, Paul couldn't go back and straighten things out in person, so he communicated with them through letters. Somewhere along the line, the church lost sight side of what it should be doing. In other words, it wasn't meeting up to its expectations. These expectations were not just something that Paul came up with for them, either. They were God's expectations of His people.

Are you aware that God expects us to live like Jesus while we are alive? It's true. Of course, I'm not saying that we could ever be perfect, but we should try our best. Let's face it, God has the right to have expectations from us. He did make a huge investment in our lives by giving the blood of His Son Jesus on the cross to save you and I. You could say that we belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9)

It is these expectations that Paul speaks about in Philippians 2:12-16. In Philippians 2:12-13,  he discusses the expectation of the Christian's work. Notice how he uses "work" here. It doesn't mean work to be saved. or work to stay saved. Our salvation is ours because it was His first. He planned, purposed, pursued, and pressed it on our hearts!

It (salvation) became ours when we placed our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is this salvation that, when received, buries the past, changes the present and insures the future. It doesn't get better than that! But we can't just sit on it. We must "work" our salvation; we must complete it, or carry it to its conclusion as we grow into spiritual maturity.

Philippians 2:13 tells us that the Holy Spirit gives us understanding as to what the will of God is for our lives; and that He creates inside of us a desire to carry that will out. This is how the Christian life works. God reveals His will to us and we follow Him in obedience (John 5:19-20). Simply put, He shows us what to do and we go out and do it! Isn't that why He saved us (Ephesians 2:10)?

Moving along to Philippians 2:14-15, Paul talks about the expectation of the Christian's walk. Naturally, we are to walk in obedience. That means no grumbling, complaining, belly-aching, or whatever! Like that familiar slogan: "Just do it!" Disobedience is what kept Israel wandering around in the desert for 40 years. When the Lord speaks, He expects us to obey!

We can break up Philippians 2:15 into two parts. The first part of the verse reminds us to walk in opposition of the world. That is, harmless and without hypocrisy or pretense. Whether they agree with you or not, no one should be able to look at your life and call you a hypocrite. We must be straight and true at all times.

The second part of verse 15, tells us to shine, to light the way for others. to reflect the light of Jesus to those in darkness. And finally, Philippians 2:16 piggybacks on this thought telling us that the Christian is to "hold forth the word of life," or take the faith we have been given and share it with others. If you have been saved, be a light for Him. Let God shine through you!

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12; Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:7; 1 John 4:16; Hebrews 12:14  

Prayer: Dear Jesus, as I go out into the world today, may I be an example of what being a follower of You looks, talks, and acts like. I am not better than anyone else, I'm just someone who loves You and desires to share Your love with others. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Friday Faith Check-up: Let God Help You

"When you have no helpers, see your helpers in God. When you have many helpers, see God in all your helpers. When you have nothing but God, see all in God. When you have everything, see God in everything. Under all conditions, stay thy heart only on the Lord." - Charles Spurgeon

Everyone needs help or assistance every now and then. Certainly the amount and type of help one needs varies from situation to situation. But, nonetheless, people do need help. Most of us have those we can trust to come through for us when the need arises. Family, friends, and other reliable sources usually fit the bill.

Jesus came here to help us, too. He explained his purpose for being here when he said, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Clearly, this is more than just helping us change a flat tire, feeding the cat while we're gone for the weekend, or moving furniture around the living room.

But, do you want to know something? Some people need Jesus and don't even know it. I know this might sound surprising but it's true. Maybe they're waiting for him to walk up to the front door and knock. Until that happens, many opportunities to know Christ pass them by. And not until things get ugly does it occur to them that help was there all along.

Look at Saul of Tarsus, who may be more familiar to you as the apostle Paul. He gave every indication of having all he needed: religiously, politically, educationally, and so on. But one day he discovered his greatest need hadn't been realized (Acts 9:3–9; 22:6–11; 26:12–18). As I said, we wait until our lives get messy before a bell goes off in our heads.

Sometimes we need the Lord and are only subconsciously aware of it. This is the feeling that something is amiss and that little voice in our head is sounding off, but we need more input to act on it. Take Nicodemus, for example. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. Besides being a religious leader, he was well educated and politically oriented. You'd never think that he had any religious needs.

People would say that he had it all together. But something must have been bothering him enough that it compelled him to privately come to Jesus one night (John 3:1-2). The real issue that brought Nicodemus to Jesus was probably the tugging he felt in his soul as he heard about or watched Jesus in his ministry. Sadly, many have never been sufficiently exposed to his message to feel conviction. They know something isn't quite right and need help identifying what it is.

Others have this subconscious feeling that they need the Lord, but don't know how to find him. Maybe they were once closer to him, and don't know how to get back. But, Jesus wants to help us find our way back to him. Still, there are those who need help and never expect to find it.

Zacchaeus, a crooked businessman and corrupt politician, was one such person. Like many of us today, we start off with good intentions, but then our lives take a wrong turn. He needed help, but never thought he'd ever find it. Then he heard about Jesus. And when the opportunity to see him came up, he took the chance. His life would never be the same after that (Luke 19:1-10).

Finally, there are those who need help and sincerely seek it. Is this you? If so, I hope that my message has inspired you to bring your needs to Christ right now. Come to the Lord and experience the difference he can make in your life. Many have already accepted his offer of help and have never regretted doing so (Psalm 118:8).

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10; Exodus 14:14; Proverbs 3:5-6; John 14:14; Psalm 54:4

Prayer: Dear Lord, may I start every day with Your Inspiration, Help guide me with Your loving care in all I do, and never let me be separated from You. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye

Despair May Knock Us Down...But Not Out!

"The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me.'" - Billy Graham

The apostle Paul was well aware of the rough road faced by Christians. He knew that there would be troubles no matter where they would go. Paul expected trials and tribulations from all sorts of people; both good and bad, false brethren and weak believers, too.

He also knew that compared to spending eternity with Christ, all the suffering here, while only temporary, is purposeful (2 Corinthians 4:17). We are never truly free from trouble. Sometimes it appears that just as one calamity passes, there is another looming on the horizon (2 Corinthians 4:10).

Even though things may seem dismal, we must press ahead because there is always hope. Paul said as much in 2 Corinthians 4:8: "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair..." As Christians, we are going to get our lumps, we will be scarred, be accused and abused, but we must not cave in.

I like the two words in this verse: perplexed and despair. Despair means "the complete loss or absence of hope." By itself, it means that we are, as they say, "left hung out to dry" or abandoned, without direction in this harsh, temporal world.

Perplexed, as used in this verse, implies that much like a champion fighter, the Christian can take a hard punch, and may get knocked down; but is not knocked out. He back on his feet, ready to continue the fight (Wow! My husband will be proud of me for remembering all that!)

Additionally, I cannot stress the importance, for us as believers, to know that though our friends may even turn against us, and we may face persecution by enemies, God will never leave us. As 2 Corinthians 4:8 points out, though troubles may surround us, we are not without hope, or a way out.

And although we may be confused, or at a loss for what to do next, God is always with us, both in the spiritual and temporal sense. We mustn't despair. J. R. R. Tolkien, in The Fellowship of the Ring, said: "Despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not."

The believer in never gives in. We know that with God on our side, we can rise above anything the world throws at us (Romans 8:31). "Despair" literally means: no hope. Guess what! Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, has put a big, bold, red stripe right through the word. The word "despair" cannot hurt us, nor can it rule our lives. His life, death, and resurrection has proven that once and for all.

Scripture: Psalm 34:17-20; Romans 15:13; Philippians 4:19; Proverbs 30:5; Joshua 1:9

Prayer: Dear God, "I am ready to give up; I am in deep despair. I lift up my hands to you in prayer; like dry ground my soul is thirsty for you” Amen.  -Psalm 143.4,6 (GNT)

Have a blessed day!

Shayla

Video - Beth Moore: Rejecting God's Encouragement

Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore illustrates how we can refuse to receive Godly encouragement. Great information for all!  ~Eve

What Do You Pray For?

"I know of no better thermometer to your spiritual temperature than this, the measure of the intensity of your prayer."  - Charles Spurgeon

The simple fact is this: God truly wants us to pray. In fact, He asks us to (Matthew 7:7). If one takes the time to search through the Bible they can find plenty of supporting evidence of this. For example, the Lord's Prayer is exclusively petition, or prayer (Matthew 6:9–13). Knowing this, we can feel confident and motivated to pray.

I feel at times that people shy away from, or avoid prayer because, unfortunately, prayer gets misused. Prayer should never be used as a ticket to receive favor in material things, to exact revenge, or go against God's will in any way. These things only serve to mess up our intentions, and throw our prayer life into total disarray.

But, what do we pray to (petition) God for? It's not as difficult as it may seem. I'd like to share some suggestions which I hope you might decide to incorporate in your prayer time. Perhaps the most obvious petition to make to God is that of the forgiveness of your sins. We should "...approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Pray to be delivered (saved) from temptation and Satan's power (Matthew 6:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13). This is not a one-time only event. Our battle with sin and temptation rages everyday of our lives. Believe me, we need all the help we can get. Life can get pretty crazy, and it's easy to get lost. Therefore, pray for God to show you the right way (Psalm 143:10; Colossians 1:9-10).

As with any type of battle or fight, our fight against sin, temptation, and Satan can leave us pretty beaten up and exhausted. That's why we need to pray to God for strength (Ephesians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 12:9). Our world is hurting right now. Acts of violence, war, and political unrest have definitely taken their toll.

We should pray that God will help us love one another (1 Thessalonians 3:11-12); pray for the Lord's help in our sickness (James 5:16); pray for anything that is God's will (1 John 5:14-15); and pray for the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Acts 8:14-15).

It's also perfectly fine to pray for anything we need (Philippians 4:6, 19). However, it's not okay to approach God as a wishing well and prayer as just a coin to toss in it. God will provide what we need because He knows just what we need (Matthew 6:25-34). Whether our prayers are answered is up to Him. Even so, our petitions should always be sincere and purposeful. God will take care of the rest.

Scripture: Psalm 34:17; 1 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 11:6; John 15:7; Jeremiah 33:3;

Prayer: Holy Father, in prayer I approach You in humility, faith, and trust that You will guide and protect me, and that I will treat others as You have taught me. Amen

May God bless you always!

Brandi

Things to Consider: Our Salvation Is Important

"Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way."  - A. W. Tozer

Happy Monday to you!

No matter where we live, or what we do, we as Christians all have a common connection. It really doesn't matter whether one is a seasoned follower of Jesus Christ, or a new believer, we all have this thirst or hunger to know as much about Jesus as we can. I think that's just awesome!

I'm often asked to speak and/or teach, which I totally love doing! One of the most asked about topics, without question, has to do with our salvation. And why not? You have to admit, it is one of those things that can certainly make you lie awake in bed at night, staring at the ceiling!

This week, I'd like to try making salvation a little less daunting for you, if I can. To begin with, think about salvation as “a rescue from bondage or danger.” Many times the Bible uses salvation and saved when talking about worldly, physical liberation such as the apostle Paul's in Philippians 1:19.

More often than not, however, salvation is used in reference to eternal, spiritual deliverance (Acts 16:30-31; Matthew 19:24-25). So, what are we saved from? According to the Christian doctrine of salvation, we are saved from God's judgment (wrath) of sin (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). Sin has separated us from God. The consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Both are not good!

At this point, the game should be over, right? Hang on a minute! Biblical salvation concerns our deliverance or rescue from the bad effects of sin. Better yet, the removal of it. Who exactly does the saving? God does. You see, only He can remove sin and save us from the penalty of sin (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5).

Okay, so now we know that only God can save us, or set us free from sin. How does He do this? Referring back to the Christian doctrine of salvation, God has set us free through Jesus Christ (John 3:17). Basically, our salvation was secured through Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection (Romans 5:10; Ephesians 1:7).

We can learn through reading the Bible that our being saved (salvation) is the gracious, undeserved gift of God (Ephesians 2:5; 8). Isn't this incredibly wonderful! It is given to us freely and lovingly by Our Heavenly Father. We can't buy it, trade for it, or earn it. It is exclusively available to us only through our faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).

It's very crucial that we place all of our trust solely in Jesus Christ as the payment for our sins. As such, if we believe in Him, we will not perish (John 3:16). Which leads us to our final questions for today: "How can I be saved and what do I need to do?"

The Bible tells us that in order to be saved we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). Jesus Christ died for us and our sins. His death and resurrection made you and I acceptable to God. All we have to do is receive, in repentance and faith, the salvation that is offered by God (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Without a doubt, there is no more important issue than where we will spend our eternity after we leave this world, otherwise known as our eternal destiny. Thankfully, the Bible is generously clear on our salvation (Acts 16:30; 31). Now, how about you? Are you saved..?

Scripture: John 1:12; Mark 12:30; John 15:5-6; John 15:10; Psalm 119:160

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Be with me today, and be my support. Every day is a blessing in Your name. I pray that I may set a good example of Your teachings to this hurting world today. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Friday Faith Check-up: Always Put God First In Your Life!

"We have little control over the circumstances of life. We can't control the weather or the economy, and we can't control what other people say about or do to us. There is only one area where we have control--we can rule the kingdom inside. The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart."  - Warren Wiersbe

It's quite easy to get sidetracked when it comes to our faithfulness and trust in God. When we have the wind at our backs and it's smooth sailing we never give it a second thought. But the minute our lives take a sudden turn it's, "Woe is me. Where's God when you need Him!" I think most can relate to this because that's simply our nature.

He knows the chances of our bailing out at the first sign of trouble is pretty good. Thankfully, God is very patient with us. And, unlike ourselves, God is always faithful and keeps His promises. I may be stepping out of line, but I say that a huge problem, when it comes to our relationship with God, is that we don't put Him first. This causes a lot of our misfortune.

The Bible is full of people who also thought they could do it all without any help from God. The list is a long one, for sure. On the other hand, the list of those who put God first in their lives is much shorter, which makes my job a little easier this week. One such biblical character is King Hezekiah of Judah. His is an example of a life lived with God as number one.

We can find his story in 2 Kings 16:20-21; 2 Chronicles 28:27-32:33; and Isaiah 36:1-39:8. Additional mention of him can be found in Proverbs 25:1; Isaiah 1:1; Jeremiah 15:4; 26:18-19; Hosea 1:1; and Micah 1:1, as well.

Interestingly, his father, King Ahaz, didn't set a very good example. He was the complete opposite of Hezekiah. Whereas, Hezekiah maintained a close relationship with God, his father Ahaz was an evil, self-serving person. In fact, Hezekiah was more passionate for God than any of his ancestors.

The end result of this is that because King Hezekiah put God first in his life, ahead of everything else, God helped him to flourish and thrive (2 Kings 18:6-7). On many occasions Hezekiah and all of Judah were threatened by invaders (2 Kings 18:13; 28-35; 19:10-12), and God protected them every time (2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chronicles 32:33).

King Hezekiah's is, for the most part, an ideal life of faithfulness and trust in the Lord. His faith was deeply rooted and strong. The reward for his trust in God was answered prayer, success in whatever he did, and astounding victories over his would-be conquerors.

In similar fashion, we should all follow King Hezekiah's blueprint for placing God first in our lives. Many of you have tried living your life without Him at the forefront. He may even allow you to have a go at it for a while. But at some point the wheels will fall off, the tank will run dry, and then you'll cry out, "Woe is me. Where's God when you need Him!"

It doesn't have to be that way, though. Read through King Hezekiah's story and see how much different a life lived with faithfulness and trust in God can be. But, this only works if we place Him first overall in our lives. I think Hezekiah would be very proud of you!

Scripture: John 10:10; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Galatians 6:9; Nahum 1:7; Deuteronomy 28:47-48 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your patience and presence in my life. may You will always be first, above all else, in my life. I need your love and mercy for without them, I am surely lost. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye

Our Inheritance Awaits Us in Heaven

"Our true and genuine wisdom can be summed up as the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves."  -John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

In our Bible studies we frequently discuss mercy, grace, salvation, and justification. However, there is something else, equally as important, that gets either minimal attention, or is skipped over altogether.

What is it? Our inheritance in Christ! For example, Ephesians 1:11 (KJV) says that, "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:" We can also find mention of it in Colossians 3:24 and Hebrews 9:15, as well.

What is this "inheritance" that is indicated to us here? Perhaps a little background check on the word is needed before we go on. The Greek word for inheritance is: kléronomia (klay-ron-om-ee'-ah). It's a feminine noun derived from the masculine noun kléronomos (klay-ron-om'-os) which means: an heir, or an inheritor.

Kléronomos is used in the Old Testament when speaking about the gift of God to His chosen people; this gift being the Promised Land. Thus, it is an inheritance, or an heritage. Kléronomia is used in the New Testament. This refers to an inheritance, possession, or share, either in the present sense or in the future; and is the form we will be focusing on today.

In respect to the question above, the "inheritance" is "heaven." This is everything God has promised you and I in salvation. We can even take this a step further by saying that we have been born again to an inheritance that can never die, decay, or dim. And, it awaits us in heaven (1 Peter 1:4).

The apostle Peter points out four important qualities about our inheritance. Due to time and space considerations, I will very briefly present them to you, with the hope that you might wish to explore this topic of our inheritance in Christ further on your own. Now, with that being said, let's continue!

First, our inheritance in Christ is permanent and enduring. It can never be subject to corruption or waste away (Matthew 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:23). Secondly, our inheritance in Christ is perfect and unblemished. Unlike what we know here on Earth, it is free from any imperfection or flaw (Hebrews 7:26; Revelation 21:27).

Thirdly, our inheritance in Christ is everlasting. It is a never-ending possession. We are familiar with the way things dim or deteriorate over time. Since our inheritance is not of this temporal plane it is not subject to this (Revelation 21:5).

The fourth quality of our inheritance in Christ is stored away. It is being held in Heaven for us. We each have a crown of glory being kept in Heaven with our name on it. Our true inheritance is reserved for us in our true home (Hebrews 11:10; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14).

Having been "adopted" by God, we are all part of His family. As such, we've been guaranteed, or promised an inheritance from Him. Thus, it is this heavenly heritage that is both His purpose and will for us (Romans 8:17; Ephesians 1:11). How do we receive the "promise" of our inheritance? It's received by hearing the word of truth and believing in Christ (Ephesians 1:13).

It may be hard to believe, but there are many who don't give any of this much thought. Once we understand and appreciate the glory that waits for us, we are better prepared to withstand whatever storms may blow in our lives. We can then offer God praise during our darkest days because of His assurance that we will receive everything He has promised (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24; Acts 20:32; Titus 3:7; Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 1:3

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the blessings you have presented in my life. You've provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. To You I give my praise always. Amen

Have a blessed day!

J.J.

Do You "Fear God?"

"The fear of God is a Christian's safety; nothing can in reality hurt him. Plunder him of his money — he carries about him a treasure of which he cannot be despoiled. "The fear of the Lord is his treasure." Cast him into bonds — yet he is free. Kill his body — he shall rise again. He who has on the breastplate of God's fear, may be shot at — but cannot be shot through."  -Thomas Watson

Fear is a natural instinct. It has served man well throughout the ages. Undoubtedly, lessons learned by experiencing fear have helped us survive as a species from generation to generation. But there is another type of fear, too.

This fear is known as "the fear of the Lord," as mentioned in the Bible (Proverbs 2:5). It's different from the fear we are familiar with. There are two important features about it that are worth mentioning. First, the fear of the Lord is considered beneficial and something to be encouraged. Secondly, it is harmful to us and must be overcome.

Now, fear of the Lord doesn't really mean that we should cower in fear of Him. It's more of a worshipful or obedient respect of the power and glory of God. The total acknowledgement of all that He is comes through knowing Him. This means all of His attributes, including His wrath and anger.

There are many, many blessings and benefits that come with the fear of the Lord. We can select a few to illustrate our point. Psalm 111:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and leads to good understanding. Proverbs 19:23 says that it leads to life, rest, peace, and contentment; is the fountain of life (Proverbs 14:27); and provides us with safety and security (Proverbs 14:26).

The other side of fearing God is not profitable to us at all. This type of fear is better known as the "spirit of fear" mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7, and does not come from God. It is a spirit of fearfulness and timidity which is not beneficial in any form. There are, however, going to be those times when we are afraid and the "spirit of fear" takes over. What then?

That's the when we need to trust in and love God completely (1 John 4:18). Look, no one is perfect. God is quite aware of this. In fact, He has made a point of generously sprinkling encouragement against fear all through the pages of Scripture. From Genesis to the book of Revelation He is constantly whispering in our ears to "Fear not" (Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 10:31; Psalm 56:11; Job 13:15).

What have we learned about the fear of the Lord today? We have been shown that we should respect and obey God; and not to be afraid of Him. The Bible tells us that God loves each of us, our relationship being fortified and assured through Jesus Christ.

Does that mean that we call all run wild in the streets treating God less than He deserves? Certainly not! We need God to help us make wiser decisions. This happens when we fear Him (Proverbs 9:10). Fear of the Lord changes our lives in that we don't keep living our own way, but rather, in the way God has taught us in His Word.

Scripture: Joshua 4:24; Ephesians 5:21; Psalm 34:11; Genesis 20:11; Luke 12:4-5  

Prayer: Dear Lord,  I pray that I may be a good servant to You. And that I may always speak with love, be willing to be led on the paths of justice and peace, and learn and grow to be more like You. In Jesus name. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Makinzie

Things to Consider: Grace, Is What God Has Done for Us

"Grace does not depend on what we have done for God but rather what God has done for us. Ask people what they must do to get to heaven and most reply, "Be good." Jesus' stories contradict that answer. All we must do is cry, "Help!"  - Philip Yancey

I hope that your weekend went well, and that this coming week will be a blessed and fruitful one! We hear a lot about the good news of God's grace. In fact, this is the gospel message in a nutshell. But, if you ask people what grace is and what it does, you'd more than likely get an assortment of different answers.

When one talks about all of the special aspects of God's character, there is one in particular that stands out. It is grace. God's grace is closely entwined to His love, mercy, and benevolence. Some very basic definitions might be: "God's favor to those not worthy of it" or "God's act of kindness upon those unfit for it, or undeserving of it."

God can do many things for us. Among these is His willingness to forgive our sins and generously bless us, even though none of us deserves any of it. The great Princeton theologian Benjamin Warfield said as much about grace: "Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving."

If we are to attempt any understanding of grace, careful consideration of who we were without Jesus Christ and who we are with Him is necessary. We, that's all of us, were born in sin (Psalm 51:5), and were also guilty of not adhering to God's holy laws (Romans 3:9-20; 23; 1 John 1:8-10).

Along with this, we were enemies of God (Romans 5:6, 10; 8:7; Colossians 1:21) who deserved to die (Romans 6:23a), were unrighteous (Romans 3:10), and were certainly in no position to justify ourselves (Romans 3:20). We were a spiritual train wreck happening in slow-motion; heading toward everlasting punishment.

But then something truly wonderful and special occurred! God reached out to us in grace. I don't have to tell you what a big deal this was. His grace is what saves us (Ephesians 2:8). As I mentioned before, it's the core of the gospel (Acts 20:24). God's "grace" is what gives us victory over sin (James 4:6), and provides "eternal encouragement and good hope" (2 Thessalonians 2:16),

More than once, the apostle Paul recognized grace as the principle reason for his to being brought to Christ as an apostle (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 3:2, 7), And why not? After all, Jesus Christ is the manifestation of grace and truth combined (John 1:14).

Clearly, grace truly is a gift to us (Ephesians 4:7). We owe nothing in return, there is no cost to the recipient, it is ours forever, and because the giver selflessly and willingly covered the cost for us, this enables us to reap its full benefit free of charge (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The Bible imparts to us that grace is totally unmerited, or undeserved. No matter how many good deeds we do, or how saintly we live our lives, we can never earn it. Sorry to disappoint you if you've been keeping score (Romans 4:4; 11:5-6; 2 Timothy 1:9-19). You can check this out yourself if you like at Romans 5:8-10.

Grace doesn't come to an end once you and I are saved. Our Heavenly Father continues to be gracious to us for the duration of our earthly lives. He is always working within and upon us. However, we can't just sit on our grace. We must also extend it to others. serve them, and use our spiritual gifts to build up the church (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 3:2, 7; 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10).

I'll close today with some final thoughts. We should be filled with gratitude for the loving-kindness, favor, and grace of our God. If not for His grace, we'd all be doomed since all have sinned. Therefore, look to God's grace; and submit to the authority of the gospel for your salvation.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 2:11; Acts 15:11; John 6:44; Galatians 2:20

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for your deep love for us; thank you for your unconditional love! You died for us while we were still sinners. And though we did nothing that was worthy of your sacrifice, you did it anyway because You love us that much. May You continue to demonstrate the magnitude of Your love to our hearts, and the power of Your truth. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Friday Faith Check-up: Our Salvation Is Assured

"The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise."  - D. L. Moody, "Day by Day with D.L Moody," Moody Press

Guarantees are commonplace with many things we purchase today. They are offered with big-ticket items, such as: automobiles, appliances, and home electronics. Many popular, smaller items come with guarantees, as well. For example, health and beauty products, dairy products, produce, even clothing.

I personally like this particular definition of the word guarantee, it is "an assurance that another’s obligation will be fulfilled, or something presented as such security." Simply put, The strength of a guarantee comes from whoever or whatever stands behind it. We should be able to trust the guarantor, or the person who made guarantee.

We have all have had our share of experiences regarding guarantees. Some good, others, well, not so much. It's these experiences that, either gain our trust or not, make us more cautious and/or skeptical about guarantees. Perhaps a softer, kinder word for guarantee is assurance.

It basically means the same thing, just less harsh, or scary. This week, we shall talk about such an assurance, or guarantee that was mentioned by the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:6. Though guarantees are not uncommon, as I mentioned earlier, this one is indeed uniquely different.

But first a little background is needed. Paul wrote the book of Philippians as he anticipated his release from prison in Rome. The main purpose of this thank-you letter was to show his appreciation and love to the Philippians for their continued help and support, and also to encourage their growth.

In this verse (Philippians 1:6), Paul makes a daring statement concerning the salvation of the Philippian believers. His declaration makes it crystal clear that a person can enjoy total assurance of salvation. He is telling them that this assurance means we are not just saved, but that the Lord will sustain that condition forever.

Remember, I said that this offer of assurance was especially different? This assurance is given to us by Jesus Christ. And as such, this guarantee of our salvation cannot expire or be taken away. It means that nothing will ever be able to change this fact! I challenge you to find a similar earth-shattering, life-changing assurance anywhere else. Please let me know if you do!

Let's ponder all of this for a moment. For you and I to know that we are saved is awesome in and of itself. But, on top of that, regardless of what else happens in life, nothing will ever be able to change that fact. Talk about a blessing without compare. Wow! We all need this measure of assurance, but sadly, too many of us don't ever gain it.

Now, if we look closely at our verse (Philippians 1:6), Pauls states three facts, in regards to salvation, which offer us assitance in reaching that place of peace. Hopefully, this will help answer the question that is begging to be asked, "Can we be sure salvation will last?" 

We'll start our investigation of Philippians 1:6 here. First, let's talk about the beginning, or commencement of salvation (...that he who began a good work in you...). Salvation is a work that God started long before we ever arrived on the scene. Think in terms of eternity past (Ephesians. 1:4-6; Revelation 13:8; 17:8).

Since we could never do this for ourselves, He does it for us as a work of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Thus, when we are saved because of this work of glory, we become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:7) and partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

Secondly, "...will carry it on to completion..." tells us that our salvation is ongoing; that we are a work in progress. You see God has a plan, and that plan is to make each of us like Jesus (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). We also have the power of Christ inside of us made possible by his crucifixion (Galatians 2:20).

Every good story has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. So it is with our salvation. The last statement "...until the day of Christ Jesus," is a powerful one. If you recall, I mentioned that God has a plan for us. In the end, God plans on the redeemed coming home (John 17:24; Romans 8:28-39). This is God's promise, or guarantee to us (John 6:37; John 10:28). The ultimate guarantee!

Ladies and gentlemen, no one else can any of this for us (Ephesians 3:20). No one! Now, can we be sure that salvation will last? Looking back at Philippians 1:6. we can see that our salvation is in God's hands every step of the way. Therefore, without any doubt, it's extremely safe to say that we can count on His power to save us, and keep us that way.

Scripture: Psalm 60:5; Luke 9:24; John 12:25; Mark 12:30; Psalm 6:3-4  

Prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive me of all my sins. I also believe with my heart and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye

Commitment to Christ Has a Cost

"More than once Jesus deliberately addressed certain issues that quickly diminished the number of onlookers. It was commitment that thinned the ranks." - Chuck Swindoll

We make or engage in commitments of one kind or another practically every day. There are work commitments, relationship commitments, family commitments, school commitments, social commitments, and so on.

I suppose you could say that commitments are just another part of living life. The word commitment can be defined as: "The act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself." Making a commitment increases both the worth and risk of something.

When one makes a commitment it should not be taken lightly. Likewise, when you or I make a commitment to follow Christ it should definitely be taken seriously. Many treat coming to Christ as a one-time exercise in faith; the baptismal being the final act, then we're done! But, wait! There's much more to it than that.

Jesus, himself, pointed this out to his disciples after they had  followed him out into the desert for some relaxation away from the crowds not far from the city of Bethsaida (Luke 9:23). For all who would choose to follow Him, there is a cost to be paid. He laid out the price and terms in clear, large-size print (Luke 9:24-27)!

Jesus always drew big crowds wherever he went. But, most followed him only because of what they thought he was in their minds. They thought he was the Messiah who would usher in the restored kingdom and free them from Roman oppression. For a while, even his own disciples started believing the hype that the "kingdom was coming soon" (Luke 19:11).

After Jesus began teaching about his own death at the hands of the Jewish leaders and Gentile rulers, his celebrity ranking took a serious drop. All of this shocking talk about his death, and the possibility that he really wasn't who they thought he was, caused many to reject him. They just couldn't exchange their own ideas, plans, and desires for His.

They weren't faithfully committed to Him. They only wanted to follow Christ as long as it was on their terms; without any commitment on their part. There were also three people mentioned in Luke 9:57-62 who appeared willing to follow Jesus. But, after some questioning, he found their level commitment was not really there. They didn't realize how much it would cost them to follow Jesus.

I know we've been talking a lot about "costs" here. He tells us in Luke 9:23; Matthew 16:24; and Mark 8:34 to, "Take up your cross and follow Me." This is where the "cost" kicks in. What does it "cost" to follow Jesus Christ? If you think you're ready to commit, or "take up your cross," you'll need to sincerely consider the following possibilities:

Choosing to follow Jesus might cost you some friendships. Choosing to follow Jesus might isolate or cut you off from your family. Choosing to follow Jesus might damage or destroy your reputation. Choosing to follow Jesus might mean losing your job. Choosing to follow Jesus might cost you your life.

I know this all may all sound extreme, but these are actually consequences in many parts of the world today. Let me also point out that these things might not necessarily happen to you if you choose to follow Christ. They are just some items to carefully weigh in your mind if you are willing to "take up your cross."

A commitment to Jesus means that you have to do it everyday. You must be willing to give up your hopes, dreams, possessions, and in some cases, even your life for the cause of Christ. In order to be called His disciple you must be willing to take up your cross (Luke 14:27). There's no other way, no short-cut, or back-door.

There was a television commercial several years ago for a major credit card in which the tag line was "Priceless." Jesus followed His call of death to self with the gift of life in Christ (Matthew 16:25-26). If you are ready to make your commitment to Jesus Christ, the reward is well worth the sacrifice, the reward truly is "priceless."

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3; Hebrews 11:6: Psalm 143:10; Matthew 6:33; Psalm 37:5

Prayer: Dear Lord,  Thank you for bringing my spirit up to where it is now. I commit my spirit into your hands. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and let me breathe the air of your presence. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Sara

Video - Beth Moore: Treasuring Up

Another great message from Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore. She shows how God sometimes shows us things that we need to "treasure up" in our minds for future purpose. Enjoy!  ~Eve

God Has a Plan For You!

"He can only keep those who have handed themselves over to Him." - Watchman Nee

God's plan is for each of his children (you and I) to be filled with His Spirit. Only when we, as children of God, live under the control of the Holy Spirit are we able to obtain the full measure of the Spirit, and work hard in the power of it. To help us understand this exciting truth, there are several significant assumptions, or beliefs, that I feel we should be aware of.

We need to be aware that: every sincere baptized believer has received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38); every believer has been baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13); every believer has received the seal of the Holy Spirit, which indicates God's ownership and identifies us as the children of God (Ephesians 1:13); and, every believer is commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

We can see many examples of these truths in the Bible. John the Baptist was declared to be one who would be filled with the Spirit (Luke 1:15). The 120 in the Upper Room were filled with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:3-4). Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8). Stephen worked in the fullness of the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:8). Our Lord was continuously filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1).

You might be a little confused as to how this works. Perhaps I can help clarify this for you. First of all, we are not empty containers. The Holy Spirit isn't something tangible like water, gravel, or sand. The Holy Spirit is a divine person. So, for us to be full or filled with the Spirit means to be controlled by the Spirit. Think of Him as the pianist and we are the piano.

Therefore, for us to be filled with the Spirit is to: be empowered by the Spirit (Acts 1:8); be taught by the Spirit (John 14:26); be guided by the Spirit (John 16:13); reap the harvest of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23); and properly use the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12-14). This is all well and good, of course, but how is one able to experience the Spirit-filled life?

We have to accept the fullness of the Spirit by faith (Galatians 3:14). It's the same response we make when we receive Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior; by faith. We don't receive the Holy Spirit as some reward for our spiritual excellence, or as a result of self-denial and self-discipline. You can do these things and still not experience the fullness of the Spirit.

Too, we must present our bodies to the Lord as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2). We are to recognize and respond fully to the truth the Holy Spirit has come to live within us. We are to present ourselves as holy dwelling places, totally given over to the purposes of God for our lives. Also, if we want to keep the fullness of the Spirit, we need to confess and forsake every sin the Holy Spirit reveals to us. He will point out what is not acceptable.

Finally, the Spirit-filled life is a life in which we deliberately follow God's will and let Him fill us with his fullness and use us for his glory (1 John 3:24). The Spirit-filled life is a part of your birthright as a child of God. It is both a privilege and responsibility. Let Him accomplish his will through you.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Titus 3:5-6; Ephesians 4:30; John 16:13

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to always to be positive in my attitude; and that I may search and find the best in people and situations. Help me to take away the good out of all that happens. Amen

May God always bless you!

~Eve

Things to Consider: The Danger of Spiritual Pride

"Spiritual pride is the most dangerous and the most arrogant of all sorts of pride."  -Samuel Richardson. 

When Jesus accepted the dinner invitation by Simon, the wealthy Pharisee, he knew full well what he was getting into. In the Pharisee's mind, he invited Jesus over partly because of his own curiosity, and partly to hear Jesus' thoughts on Old Testament teachings. Perhaps, also thinking he might be able to trip up this Galilaean teacher, or at the very least find fault with him (Luke 7:36).

Being a Pharisee, meant he was probably very familiar Jewish law and traditions. Therefore, it was somewhat odd that he didn't offer Christ the most basic courtesies upon Jesus' arrival at his home. Keep in mind, the culture of the time had straightforward customs of hospitality. None of which were extended to Jesus here.

Now, having just reclined at the table and began their meal a most unexpected thing happened! An uninvited "woman in the city," or harlot, who had heard that Jesus would be there, made her way into their presence. She carried an alabaster box with her (Luke 7: 37).

There was a good possibilty that she had experienced a life-changing event after having listened to Jesus preach. She felt the need to thank him personally, and now the opportunity presented itself to do so. The only way she had of doing this would be to wash and annoit his feet. Thus, the contents of her box contained a sweet ointment for that purpose.

She walked behind Jesus as he reclined, his feet behind him. In this way, she did not have to look at Christ in the face and interrupt his meal. She was all set to perform a very customary act in those long ago days (1 Samuel 25:41). Standing behind him crying, she began to wash his feet with her tears.

The woman dried off Jesus' feet with her hair, and kissed them. Simon must have been more than a little confused by all of this. As he watched her lovingly apply the oil to Christs' feet, no doubt he wondered how Jesus could let a woman of her repute approach and touch him in such a manner. Not surprisingly, Jesus knew what Simon had been thinking. What an opportune time to teach a lesson. And he did (Luke 7:40-47)!

Let's contrast the two main characters. We have Simon the Pharisee , well-versed in Jewish law, an upstanding citizen and religious leader, pillar of the community, and an all-around model citizen. Then, we have the "woman in the city," the uninvited dinner guest. She was a lowly-woman of the streets, a prostitute, and on top of that, a woman in a very, male-dominated society.

But, here's the big difference. And it made all the difference to Jesus. Simon was the typical, high and mighty Pharisee who knew all the laws and followed them to the letter. He could quote Jewish law frontward and backwards. And, he looked down at anyone that was not up to his standards.

On the other hand, the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and annoited them was anything but. However, she did have one major thing going for her that Simon did not. She had faith and love for Jesus, which she didn't hesistate to display. It was her sincere demonstration of her faith and love that prompted Jesus to forgive her sins (Luke 7:44-48).

Likewise, if not careful, we can easily be snared by the same trap as Simon the Pharisee. His "spiritual pride" blinded him as to how he viewed himself, it caused him to underestimate the character of this woman, plus it impeded him from understanding Jesus. We may look great on the outside, but inside we're spiritually dead.

Jesus doesn't want "spiritual robots" who think they're better than anyone else. That's not what He taught. Jesus message of faith in Him, repentance of sins, forgiveness, and love for each other is not that complicated. It worked then, and it still works today. Don't let "spiritual pride" stand in your way!

Scripture: Job 13:2; Leviticus 26:19; Ephesians 4:17; Job 37:24; Jeremiah 9:24 

Prayer: Holy Father, I pray that my own pride will never overshadow my relationship with You, or toward others. May I always be humbled by your unconditional love, mercy, and grace. Amen

May God bless your day!

Hailey

Friday Faith Check-Up: Live Free from Fear with God!

"Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the high tower of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God."  - Hannah Whitall Smith

Life can be pretty scary. When we were young, and growing up in a still new and mostly unfamilar environment, there were plenty of things to be frightened of. Some were real, but most were figments of our developing perspectives of the world, and imaginations. For most, we had supportive and understanding family members who comforted and explained things to us.

As we grew into adulthood, we found there were new things to be afraid of. Responsibilities made it a little more difficult to simply shrug off these fears. Things like raising a family, mortgages, car payments, job stability made our lives more complicated. Yes, a hug and and an understanding ear are still welcome. But, the fear of life, of the unknown, is harder to simply explain away.

Fear is a constant companion throughout our lives. We can't get escape it, nor can we ignore it. It can be a teaching tool that demonstrates risks and dangers to our lives. Or, it can be a big wall that keeps us from moving forward; stunting or stifling our enjoyment of life. It may appear that there are few things we can do, other than just dealing with fear. However, we have a powerful ally in our corner who is ever ready to help us.

Earlier, I mentioned how important it was as a child to have someone who would comfort and guide you whenever you experienced fear. Usually, it was a parent, or someone older, who helped us out then. Having said that, our Lord provides this same loving and comforting feeling to us wherever we are in our lives. He offers us a life free from fear and worry.

Some might ask, "Is there a catch? What's the deal?" There is no bargaining, or fee to pay. All we have to do is learn to lean on Him (Proverbs 3:25, 26). That's it! Now, I have to say, that might sound like crazy talk to some people. Many have been on the losing end of bad relationships, or in uncomforable situations where trust and faith have been left in tattered pieces.

But, we're not talking about leaning on another "person" as we are accustomed to. This is God, we are talking about. Our Lord! And, certainly for some this is a leap of faith; letting down one's defenses, and exposing your vulnerabilities. But, that's exactly how He wants us to come to Him, as an innocent, trusting child (Matthew 18:3).

With God behind us, we have nothing to fear (Matthew 10:28-31). We never have to worry about being left alone, or abandoned in our time of need. Whatever our fears are, they can never be bigger than God. He alone provides what we need to overcome our fears, doubts, and anxieties (Hebrews 13:5, 6). God tells us to "Fear not!"

If left unchecked, fear can run rampant in our lives, causing chaos and destruction. It can lead to unfulfilled lives, and hinder our abilities to integrate socially, and grow emotionally. A fear of living is not really living, is it? God desires each one of us to live a good, Spirit-filled life without the stress that accompanies fear (Psalm 34:9).

It's quite natural to have fear. It is one of the emotions that makes us alive. Fear is also necessary in that it helps to keep us alive. As it pertains to our Christian lives, we would not become strong, mature, God-fearing Christians without fear to test our faith (1 Peter 5:7).

So, while we can't always depend on others to help us whenever fear strikes, we can always depend on God. We can always have complete confidence in our relationship with Him, Only He provides the confidence we need to face our fears head-on and conquer them (Ephesians 3:12).

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 27:1; Romans 8:31

Prayer: Dear Lord, what can I be afraid of when You are with me? What can fear do to me, when You lead the way? May You always be my guiding light through the darkest paths, and let no fear stand in my way to You. Amen

Have a blessed and safe weekend!

Kaye

God's View On Hatred

“In time we hate that which we often fear.” -William Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra

Racism, bigotry, mob-like behavior, political divisiveness, and slow-action between government and public agencies fuel much of the hatred we see today. Hatred is a fluid emotion that changes its level and type depending on different factors. Therefore, there really is no easy answer as to the reason for all of this hate.

Naturally, some will disagree with this. And yet, if it isn't any of the above, then what is it that drives our blatant hatred of each other? The Bible has a thing or two to tell us about hate. Maybe it might be beneficial to look at hate from a biblical viewpoint.

Let's draw a line down the middle of the page and add two headings: Positive and Negative. According to the Bible there are "positive" and "negative" sides to hate. We'll examine the "positive" side of hate first. Psalm 97:10a tells us that we should, "Let those who love the Lord hate evil...”

If our relationship with God is healthy, and we are right with Him, then it is justifiable to hate those things that God abhors. You see, the closer we walk in fellowship with the Lord, sin becomes more evident and obvious to us. This includes both inner and outer sin.

That's why it hurts and angers us so much when we see spiritual hypocrisy, glaring unbelief, ungodly behavior, and God's name being slandered. As we grow with God, we come to understand His attributes and love His character. This in turn permits us to be more like Him, hating whatever goes against His Word and nature.

Now, let's turn to the "negative" side of hate. We are more familiar with this "hate" as the one that is directed against others. This is the "hate" that we discussed at the beginning of today's message. It is ugly, unsettling, and can sometimes be deadly.  The Lord mentions this hatred in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:22; Matthew 5:23-26).

Needless to say, God isn't very fond of this kind of hate. It is so detestable in His eyes that if a person hates, he or she is said to be walking in darkness, not in the light (1 John 2:9; 11). Even worse is the person who professes to be a follower of Christ, but continues to espouse hatred toward others (1 John 4:20). This person is a liar who, though may be able to fool others, isn't fooling God one iota!

In closing, hatred is a toxin that eats away at our hearts and minds. It destroys us from the inside out. Thus, we must be vigilant when it comes to hatred. It can spring up inside of us at any time (Hebrews 12:15). Hatred can also drive us apart in our relationship with God and other believers.

We all need to carefully follow the Lord's advice, and confess every sin that would separate us from Him no matter how big or small. In this way, He will faithfully forgive us as He has promised (1 John 1:9; 2:1).

Scripture: Romans 12:19; Luke 10:27; Psalm 11:5; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 5:5

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that my heart will not be consumed by anger and hatred. Also, help me to follow your example as I interact with others. Let me be compassionate, patient, and forgiving towards all whom I may meet during my day. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Judy

Video - Stormie Omartian: The Prayer that Changes Everything

We all know how powerful prayer can be in our lives. But...is there more to it? Are we missing something? Best-selling author and speaker, Stormie Omartian discusses the hidden power of praising God in this information packed video message. Enjoy!   ~Eve