Video - Lisa Bevere: Never Enough

Do you sometimes feel that you put too much pressure on yourself? I think we've all been there. Christian author/speaker Lisa Bevere talks about battling the nagging feeling she had never done enough right. Some good food for thought here. Enjoy!  ~Eve

God Has Vowed...

"An honest heart is open to the Word."  - A. W. Pink

We are the recipients of many vows. Some may be written or unwritten. And, if we stop and think about it for a moment, it becomes clear that the soundness of our society is really quite dependent on promises made and received with uprightness.

For example, the medical profession vows to treat us with the best of their skills, our police and fire department promise to do their best to protect us, even marriage vows are designed to enhance a couple's lives together, and offer security and strength to one another.

If vows were to suddenly become void and null, there would literally be chaos in every area of life. Vows help to establish who we are and demonstrate our integrity. By vows or promises we let others know where we stand, and where we are coming from. In turn, our vows are noted and accepted by them.

As with many things, there are risks involved in, both, receiving and making promises. Which is why we must practice caution whenever they are used. Of course, all of this pertains to vows made between you and I. It is quite a different thing altogether when we talk about the vows of God.

The life of faith is life of learning about the vows of God and having self-assurance in his faithfulness. He has promised to love us with an eternal love (Romans 8:35-39). We can depend on this. God has also vowed to forgive and cleanse our sins (Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 1:7).

Our Heavenly Father has vowed to save all who come to Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30). He receives all comers no matter how forlorn, hopeless, educated, rich, poor, etc. We are all included in this invitation, as long as we come to Jesus Christ in faith.

Our Lord has promised rich blessings to those who trust him enough to be tithers (givers) (Malachi 3:10). Now, don't get me wrong. God isn't dependent on us for anything. But, some may ask, "If this is so, then why does He ask us to tithe?" Many people jump off the wagon and run when it comes to the subject of tithing.

It is just possible that God is trying to show us that the true way to enjoy what He has provided is to give it back to Him. After all, God does own everything, does He not? By keeping it all to ourselves, and using it in whatever way for our own purposes, we shortchange God.

If we can reach the point where we can trust God on a physical and economic level, then we can trust him more fully in the spiritual department. Or in simple terms, when we cooperate with God, he will pour out his blessings on us!

Moving along, our Father has vowed to reward those who pray (Matthew 6:6). This part of the Sermon on the Mount illustrates this truth beautifully (Matthew 6:5-13). We only rob ourselves of God's rich treasures when we fail to follow our Lord's instructions on how to pray properly.

And lastly, He has vowed to reward his faithful servants after we come into our eternal home (John 14:1-3; Revelation 22:12). Eternal life is the gift of God. Heaven isn't a reward; it is the gift of our Father to those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Once we enter heaven, our Lord will reward us for our faithful service here on earth.

It is important to see that the vows given by God are not anything like the weak, unpredictable promises we exchange with one another. God's promises are eternal and steadfast. His word is unbreakable and dependable. Best of all, we can trust in Him anytime and in any circumstance.

Scripture: Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Titus 1:2; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 10:9

Prayer: Dear God our Father, open our eyes to see the vision that you have for each of us, amen.

God bless you,

Yvette

Jesus, Our Direct Link to God

"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

There are many obvious truths in Scripture. Yet, of all of these, none strike a louder or more resounding chord than Jesus Christ as Mediator between us and God. God, who is boundlessly holy, will not permit us to approach him as we are. But in the name of Jesus we may humbly and confidently do so, for he is our Mediator.

Being both divine and human, Jesus Christ is perfect as our Mediator. He is intimately familiar with our sinfulness, weakness, imperfections, and temptations; and with the best means of delivering us from all of these afflictions. We can safely count on him as a dependable guide to heavenly glory.

Our Mediator is perfectly holy (Hebrews 7:26). As such, sinners cannot join him until they are saved from sin. However, you and I are saved. I point you to Matthew 1:21 (KJV) where the angel of the Lord said to Joseph, "Thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins."

Christ, our Mediator, is full of compassion for the human race. Even so, his respect for the honor of God is so great that he will not save those who stubbornly live and die in sin. Possessing both Divinity and humanity, he regards one as much as the other. In addition to this, it is as much his plan to secure the Divine glory as it is to save the world.

In order to avoid satisfying ourselves in things that are hateful in his sight, while beholding his infinite love, we should always keep these thoughts in mind. Taking all we have discussed into consideration, we must conclude that Jesus Christ is more than qualified to mediate between men and God.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 4:6; John 1:18; John 7:29

Prayer: I thank you, Lord, for the wonder of myself, and for the wonders of all your creation, amen.

May your day be blessed!

Edie

Don't Lose Heart!

"He will never ever fail us."  - Crystal McDowell

As we all well know, the holiday season can definitely be stressful. What with all the excessive commercialism, its focus on spending money and gift-giving, along with having that "perfect" social activity, it's no wonder. These factors, and others, can and do lead to stress, anger, and even depression in some.

Of course, we can feel overwhelmed any time of the year. We all go through taxing ordeals during the course of our daily lives, such as: sitting in traffic, caring for elderly parents, etc. I get my electric bill and it stresses me out! Maybe we just need that little hug, or comforting word to let us know that everything is going to be alright.

Did you know that there are some really good helps in the Bible? God does care about us. Here's just one example of what I'm talking about. Psalm 34:18 (KJV) says, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." There's a lot of reassuring information in this one verse. You just have to dig a little to get at it.

Interestingly, "them that are of a broken heart" occurs frequently in scripture. It refers to a circumstance or circumstances when a burden, or heavy load seems to be on the heart. This can include when the heart seems to be squashed by sin or sorrow; and outlined to describe an awareness of deep guilt, misery, and trouble.

The key part, I feel, is in the opening of the verse, "The Lord is nigh." This tells us that God is prepared to listen and help us out. We are never alone. He is close-by each and every one of us. Man cannot say this of other men. Only God can offer this type of comfort to us.

A "contrite spirit" is one that is crushed or trampled on. Stressful situations can play some pretty mean tricks on our mental, emotion, and physical well-being. Just living day to day can be trying enough. The added pressure of the holidays can easily throw gasoline on this fire.

While others may turn away from us during times of our greatest need, God never will. Another comforting thought is that God is well aware of what we are going through. He knows the history of our hearts. Who better to turn to? The resources of God are there anytime we need them, 24/7.

Please, if you are undergoing or encountering feelings of serious depression, I strongly encourage you to seek professional help. This, however, does not change anything with God. His love for you and I is boundless and unconditional. Nothing makes Him happier than helping us when we need it (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 9:9; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:13; Matthew 11:28-30

Prayer: Dear Lord, inspire us to live as you would have us live; and to walk in your presence, amen.

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Thanksgiving Holiday 2017 (U.S.)

***Notice*** To all of our devoted friends and followers of the Coffeehouse Bible Ministry blog, in observance of the Thanksgiving (U.S.) holiday we will return on Monday, November 27th.

Over this holiday, our ministry traditionally takes part in various church and community activities. We have much to be thankful for, and feel it is our responsibility to share these abundant blessings with others. Many of us will travel to be with our families and loved ones. And as we gather together, let us remember those less fortunate in our petitions to God.  

It is by the loving graciousness of God, our Father that we have been able to help send His Word around the world. We thank Him first and foremost. We are also very much thankful for all of you, and keep you in our prayers always! So, on behalf of our amazing ministry blog writers and staff, I wish each and every one of you a safe, healthy, and blessed weekend!  ~Eve

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good;
his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.

– Psalm 100

Be Thankful in Every Circumstance

"No matter what our circumstance, we can find a reason to be thankful."  - David Jeremiah

A person was once stranded on a deserted island. He spent a day fasting and praying for his rescue, but no help came. Then it occurred to him to set aside a day of thanksgiving and praise. No sooner had he done this than help arrived at last.

You see, from the moment he began to acknowledge his gratitude to God, mercy was graciously restored to him. The Lord heard the voice of his praise.This illustration clearly demonstrates the importance of, and our obligation to acknowledge and express our thankfulness to God in all things.

Praise offers the believer assistance in his trials, as we see here. But, it is also his ally afterward. There are some excellent examples in scripture of individuals who understood the significance and impact of imparting thanks to God. See: Psalm 59; Daniel 6:10; John 11:41; Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26.

Contrary to what some think, giving praise and thanksgiving is not limited to special occasions, times of emotional extremes, or the most saintly. Nothing could be further from the truth. And while we're on the subject of thankfulness, we mustn't forget the object of it all: God. He should always be our No. 1 priority.

We must hold fast that God is the Father of the universe. He is the Giver of all the blessings which we receive, and all that we perceive around us. To Him we must certainly present our thanks because all things are His. Of which, He has generously provided for our enjoyment, being freely distributed to us through His unbiased goodness.

We should be always in a habit of thankfulness, and prepared for actual thanksgiving whenever providence requires it. We all know how easy it is to take things for granted, to let them slip further and further back into our thoughts. Soon, all we have left is just a whisper of what was once a loud proclamation.

Thanksgiving should always find a place in all our petitions to God. We need to distinctly recognize His special gifts to us. We should be thankful in every situation; never stopping to give our praise and gratitude. An important point to add is that our thanksgiving must be honest. If you do not feel grateful, don't force it or fake it.

There is no bad time for being thankful. We receive favors all the time, therefore we owe God thanks every minute. God is Our Father, and our Creator. He is the Great Provider; omnipotent and omnipresent.

And whether you choose to do it in a large group, or alone in your room, praising God takes very little time out of our day. Yet, the benefits we receive from God are immeasurable and priceless.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 107:1; Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 116:12; Psalm 31:19

Prayer: Dear God, help me to grow in trust, that I can more readily put myself into your hands, being confident that everything will be okay, amen.

May your day be blessed!

Marcie

Yes, God Is!

"One of the main ways we move from abstract knowledge about God to a personal encounter with him as a living reality is through the furnace of affliction." - Tim Keller

There are some things in life that are quite discernible or obvious. For example, it is evident that there is water in the ocean, a variety of life exists here on earth, and that we undeniably grow older with each passing year. Very few would debate these points.

On the other hand, it isn't that easy when the topic of discussion pertains to the existence of God. Needless to say, it can get very lively, very quickly. I suppose it's because we humans are not satisfied with anything less than the clear, incontestable, indisputable truth. We want to see it to believe it.

Fair enough. But, here's another bump in the road; and depending on who you are, it might be a real big one. No one can either prove or disprove the existence of God. I am just being honest. As a matter of fact, the Bible tells us that God's existence depends on our definite acceptance by faith that He does (Hebrews 11:6).

Of course this topic has been discussed innumerable times in the past. There is no quick and easy way to a unanimous agreement, and there won't be one here, either. However, we can bring attention to some things for consideration regarding the existence of God, our Creator and our Father.

We all have an innate or natural awareness of God. It is only later on that opinions and feelings change. Things may happen over the course of our lives that affect the way we feel or see things. For example, the pleasures of life and/or sinfulness may screen out God from it.

Sickness, disease, or the approach of death might compel us to remember Him. No matter, God created us, body and soul. That is, he created our amazing bodies with its senses and abilities. He also created the soul, immortal and destined for happiness and glory in the presence of God.

As Creator, God has a special interest in His work; and that is us. But, He is so much more than our Creator. This can be confirmed in the opening line of the Lord's Prayer where we find that He is "Our Father." And as such, He obtains our love and confidence.

This comforting thought motivates us to "walk in His sight," trusting in His attentiveness, providence, and help. Like any other father, it is His parental responsibility and joy to look after us, His children. We may rest assured that we won't be neglected or forgotten (Isaiah 49:15).

As was previously mentioned, the existence of God can't be proved or disproved. We must accept by faith that He is (Exodus 3:14). Sure, God could appear before all of us right now, proving his existence to everyone if he wanted to. But by doing so, there wouldn't be any need for faith (John 20:29). And isn't that the whole point?

Scripture: John 4:24; Titus 1:2; Genesis 1:1; Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 44:6

Prayer: Dear Lord, inspire me to live in your presence every day, in order that I may share your outlook and do the ordinary things of life in an extraordinary way, amen

May God richly bless you!

Claudette

Forgiveness..? Who me..?

"No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself incapable of forgiveness." - John Bunyan

"Forgiveness is easier for God to give than for man to receive."

Forgiveness cannot be accepted by every one. Why? If someone says she forgives me, I can only accept her word if I believe that I need her forgiveness — that is, if I'm conscious that I have offended her and done something wrong.

But, if I'm totally sure that I haven't hurt her, I refuse to put myself on the same level as someone who has been forgiven. I'd set aside her forgiveness, refuse to take the benefit of it, and look her in the eye claiming to have as much right to forgive her as she has to forgive me.

Now, taking this same line of thought, let's relocate this comparison from earth to heaven, and examine the forgiveness that comes from God. The only way we can receive forgiveness from God is by accepting it as sinners, knowing what we've done wrong, and have confessed to and hated it.

No one likes to admit they are guilty of sin. But, we are only kidding ourselves; believing an illusion. You're probably familiar with those fitness step counters that people wear to count the number of steps they have walked over the course of a day.

What if there were a sin counter that we could clip on in the morning, and then go on with our day. I guarantee that we would be absolutely stunned at the number of sins we commit in just one day, whether consciously or not! Too many have this mental attitude about sin: if we don't see it, we didn't do it.

There are a lot of people out there who go through their entire lives disregarding sin, or believing that it's someone else's problem and not theirs. This is what I like to call the "sleepwalk of sin." You just keep going on and on, and the sins keep piling up, until one day... And it will!

Forgiveness..? Who me..?

It's time to wake up! God is shaking you right now; trying to snap you out of your self-imposed "sin" stupor. He is also holding out his hand, offering you forgiveness. But he can't force you to take it, you have to do that on your own, my friends.

Scripture: Luke 23:34; Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 6:1; Psalm 130:3; Hebrews 10:17

Prayer: Dear Jesus. lead me to never judge people; instead may I accept others as they are, knowing together with our differences, we build up your Kingdom, amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Blessed Is He Who Remains Dedicated

"Our motto must continue to be perseverance. And ultimately I trust the Almighty will crown our efforts with success."  - William Wilberforce

Undoubtedly, today's world is full of negatives, such as: stress, danger, uncertainty, discord and a great many others. On the other hand, there are good amounts of the positive, too. However, it is mostly the negative or bad things that disrupt our lives and grab our attention.

Everyone has had the wind knocked out of their sails, or has suffered a setback. While these life experiences may vary in strength or intensity, they nonetheless are common to all of us. Some turn to drugs, alcohol, or worse in search of needed courage to cope.

But these are only temporary remedies that simply patch and not repair the problem. When they do occur we must somehow find the fortitude to press on, or persevere. We must seek a longer-lasting solution to help us traverse the deep valleys we encounter in life. And what better source than God (Jeremiah 31:25).

We are told in James 1:12 (ESV) that, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." This encouraging verse provides us with the conviction to undertake whatever bumps we might encounter.

Sometimes we wonder whether our actions do any good or not. Here we are told right from the start that our perseverance is not futile. It is good to be assured that perseverance is a blessing. For sure, this promise alone might serve us well enough, but there is more.

We receive a special compensation for our righteous suffering, God has has promised that we will wear the crown of life for eternity. Let me clarify this. The crown of life is not eternal life. Nor can it be earned or retained by our good works. It is an exclusive reward for those who hand everything over to Him in times of trial.

Thus, a major goal for the Christian, in his suffering, should be to gain God's approval, and by his blessedness receive the crown of life. The tested Christian will be a crowned one, and the crown he wears will be life and joy to him and will last forever. For our steadfastness we will receive a future reward that comes not as a debt, but as a gracious promise.

Scripture: Romans 12:12; Revelation 3:11; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 10:36; 1 Chronicles 16:11

Prayer: Holy Father, be the foundation on which I build my life, and provide me with Your strength that I may always endure any troubles wherever they may find me, amen.

May God bless you always!

Amanda

The Indispensability of Prayer

"Prayer delights God's ear; it melts His heart; and opens His hand. God cannot deny a praying soul." - Thomas Watson

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Prayer is not a hard requirement, it is the natural duty of a creature to its creator, the simplest homage that human need can pay to divine liberality." How many times have we been reminded about the importance of prayer?

The fact that this topic is brought up repeatedly tells us that it has to be a high priority item. Though we may have good intentions, the majority of us are not very good at praying on a consistent basis. The plain, honest truth is we could use some help with it.

The apostle Paul shares some good basic advice about prayer in Colossians 4:2 (NIV), "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Let's examine this verse a little closer and I'm sure that you'll find some great takeaways to enhance your prayer life.

The verse opens stressing "devotion" in prayer. We can come up with many excuses for not praying, that's no big secret. But there are no special credentials or spiritual expertise required for prayer. If you have the time to watch television, or stand in line to buy a large, caramel macchiato, you have time to pray.

Devotion means that we must not only begin praying, but continue and never give up. Prayer is not a one-time-only event! Paul then tells us to be "watchful" or to pay attention when we pray. Stay focused, and don't get distracted or side-tracked. Pray earnestly, conveying your needs to Christ (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9).

Prayers must also be serious in manner and to the point. No halfhearted, weak-kneed prayers. Take care not to get too wordy or drone on. Not only might one lose their train of thought, but you could be making it easier for worldly temptation to weasel its way into your prayers.

Naturally, impassioned prayer ought to include gratitude, as the verse ends with "thankful." Unfortunately, it is easier to grumble or complain about having to pray than to be thankful for it. Sin, too, can corrupt our prayers through deceitfulness and our own shortsighted hearts.

Times of duress can cause us to forget to give thanks to God when we pray. Yet, we must be mindful not to do so. After all the One who has offered us salvation has also graciously provided numerous ways in which to display our gratitude to Him. The best and most effective being prayer.

We should be thankful for blessings already granted, things that are delayed until a more favorable time, and things that God deems not useful or even detrimental to us. Regular prayer is the preferred method. Steadiness and consistency shows our dedication to it; that we are genuinely sincere.

I would like to take "the importance of prayer" and add the adjective indispensable before the word importance. It's amazing how the inclusion of this one simple word amplifies the element of urgency to prayer in our lives. Therefore, we must never forget its significance.

In conclusion, the One who has offered us salvation has also graciously provided numerous ideas in which to display our gratitude to Him. The best and most effective, without a doubt, being prayer. It truly is indispensable or vital to our lives.

Scripture: Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Jeremiah 33:3; Psalm 34:17; Jeremiah 29:12

Prayer: Dear Lord, inspire me to live in such a way that I help to bring out the best in others, amen.

May the Lord bless you!

Shawna

Video - Michele Cushatt: The Nearness of God

Keynote speaker and author Michele Cushatt, A three-time cancer survivor, she is a woman who has faced unimaginable physical pain. Here she briefly talks about the presence of God during those difficult times. Definitely worth a listen!  ~Eve

Don't Be So Quick to Condemn!

"God has chosen us to help one another." - Smith Wigglesworth

We are all quite aware that the world is chock full of temptation and pitfalls, just waiting around the corner for the unwary.That's exactly why we must constantly be on the alert; no one is safe or exempt from sin. But no matter how well prepared we can be, we all manage to somehow step in it from time to time, and need help.

Yes, as believers in Christ we are supposed to know about sin, and be better prepared for it than those who aren't. But sin doesn't pick and chose who it's victims will be. Believers or non-believers, every one one of us is fair game; every one a potential victim.

However, this doesn't excuse Christians from providing a helping hand to a person that stumbles because of sin. It is our duty, as such, to offer assistance. In far too many instances, the "every-man-for-himself" syndrome reigns supreme. We are "relieved that we are not that guy" or take the "better-him-than-me" option.

Clearly, this is not a very pretty look for those who call themselves believers in Christ. Whether a devout follower of Christ or a skeptic, we all partake in this fallen nature; are exposed to, and share, the same impulses and inclinations to sin (Ephesians 2:3; Romans 8:5). So what should we do when we are ambushed by sin?

The apostle Paul addresses this and offers guidance as how to handle it in Galatians 6:1. The last thing we should offer is condemnation. Seriously, we've all been there so let's not be so quick to start throwing stones, as many of us are prone to do! Fortunately, we can turn to scripture for better advice (John 8:7; Matthew 7:1).

In this case, Paul offers a better way. We can help in the form of "the spirit of meekness" or a gentle way. It's not right to kick someone when they are down. In fact, when confronted with such a situation we should see it as an opportune time for our own introspection. It is up to us who are spiritual to get them back on the right track, with gentleness and dignity.

My dear friends, sympathy can be found in our meekness; love without weakness; and holiness without pride. We may not be able to raise souls up in a great group, but we can take care of one person at a time. And by our humble actions, we just might point the cynic to the Savior (2 Timothy 2:25). Amen!

Scripture: James 3:13; Psalm 25:9; Colossians 3:12; 2 Timothy 2:24; Matthew 5:9

Prayer: Holy Father, may You open our eyes to see the vision that you have for each of us, and lead us to grow in confidence in who we are, and in the faith, amen

Have a blessed day!

Marcie

Hypocrisy, the Unconscious Sin

"Gladly we desire to make other men perfect, but we will not amend our own fault." - Thomas a Kempis

Hypocrisy is something we can do without knowing that we are doing it. Think of it as a curtain or shade that blocks the view our own evil actions, yet still allows us to point the finger of condemnation at others. Of course, it can occur unintentionally, but seriously, we humans can be pretty good at fooling ourselves.

With hypocrisy, if we do something sinful, we tend to forget about it. But all the alarms are sounded if we see someone else doing the same thing! Even sadder is that we make no connection that we are guilty of the same sin. Sin is sin no matter how it is heated up and served.

Our human character, being weak and pliable as it is, is easily converted into a dishonest, insincere mess. We might even find displeasure in, or be resentful of, others who do the same thing. So what do we do? We self-justify our hypocrisy by calling out the perceived hypocrisy of others (Luke 6:42).

Two basic elements fuel the sin of hypocrisy: human weakness and self-deception. I think about the child who sneaks a cookie from the cookie jar when no else is looking. He thinks he got away with something because no one saw him do it. And that is where many find themselves with the sin of hypocrisy.

In reality, it is foolish to think we are getting away with something. But, I think you know where I am going with this. In Paradise Lost, John Milton's epic 17th century poem in blank verse, he wrote this about hypocrisy, "For neither man nor angel can discern hypocrisy, the only evil that walks invisible, except to God alone."  

There is no hiding our actions from God. Hypocrisy may be a smoke screen for our own sin, but God's eyes can peer right into our very hearts (Jeremiah 17:10). We should never accept sin, especially in our own lives. However, be aware that it can creep into your life at any time. Now's a great time to do a heart check for hypocrisy! You'll be glad you did!

Scripture: Galatians 6:3; Job 8:13; Matthew 6:1; Titus 1:16; 1 Peter 2:1

Prayer: “Lord God, give me such love for you and for others that it will blot out all hatred and bitterness.”  by Dietrich Bonhoeffer


Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Our Belief In God and Jesus Christ

"Without doubt the mightiest thought the mind can entertain is the thought of God." - A. W. Tozer

A 2013 Harris Poll found that 68% of U.S. adults said they believe Jesus is God or the son of God, down from 75%. While this may sound surprising to some, it seems to follow the trend of a general decline in believers of God.

According to the same poll, only 74% of Americans believe in God, an 8% decline since 2009. There are many reasons as to why this is so; far too many to go into at this present time. But I think that it provides an excellent opportunity for a little self-examination of our own.

First of all, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is God (John 10:30; 14:6). That's a good thing because by admitting our belief in God, we, by this acknowledgement, are then obligated to examine carefully and impartially the historical evidence on which Christianity stakes its claim. What better place to start than the Bible!

This is where it gets tricky.The supernatural nature of God having been here on earth and interacting with us, is a major stumbling block for many when asked if they believe in Christ. If this one thing were removed from the table, there would be no difficulty for them in believing (John 18:6).

By doing so, it would be no more difficult to believe in Him than to believe in Elvis Presley or Napoleon Bonaparte. Allowing the thought that Christ was merely a typical human who was born, lived, and died as the rest of us takes away any barrier that stands in the way of an unbeliever's belief in Christ (John 14:7).

However, this would make Christ conform more to what the unbeliever finds more acceptable. Obviously this cannot be possible. A Christ stripped of the supernatural is not the Christ whom the Gospels invite us to believe in. In fact, no such person ever existed.

If God truly is what we believe Him to be, then of course with Him all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). In addition to that, it would be totally reasonable to think that He should reveal Himself to us, proving through many absolute truths that God is indeed who He says He is.

Scripture: Hebrews 2:9; Ephesians 4:10; Matthew 3:17; 1 Timothy 4:10; John 8:28

Prayer: Dear God, You are my heavenly Father, the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I praise you with all my heart, amen

All glory to Jesus forever and always!

Ashley

Beware The Crooked Truth!

"The gospel is not speculation but fact. It is truth, because it is the record of a Person who is the Truth."  - Alexander MacLaren

Throughout history, there have been deceitful and immoral individuals who have tried to influence or shape the Word of God to serve their own purposes. For example, some individuals may hijack Scripture for their own personal benefit, or abusive churches and cults that twist Scripture to give more authority to the leadership and keep the members under their control (Jude 1:4).

Therefore, it is extremely important that the Christian be vigilant and informed so that they may be less susceptible to deception and seduction by these sinful corruptors. Obviously, the strongest weapon we can arm ourselves with is to familiarize ourselves with scriptural truth. If a person is strongly grounded in God's Word, it is difficult to be tempted by false teaching and doctrine (Colossians 2:8).

In the event that we are confronted with those who attempt to sway our hearts and minds with their erroneous and disdainful teachings, we should follow the example of Jews at Berea and examine their words with patience and candor, "And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth" -Acts 17:11(NLT).

The world is a dangerous place for the unwary and ill-prepared Christian. Jesus was well aware of this and served this warning to his disciples, “Listen! I am sending you out just like sheep to a pack of wolves. You must be as cautious as snakes and as gentle as doves" -Matthew 10:16 (GNT). We must fill our hearts and minds with Christ. In this way we will be less vulnerable to attacks against the principles which Jesus taught and desires us to share with others (Matthew 11:28-29; Mark 16:15).

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Romans 1:16; John 5:39-40; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Ephesians 5:11

Prayer: Dear Lord, strengthen me against irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge;  and help me to stand firm in Your trustworthy word, amen.

May your day be blessed,

Edie

Video - Sheila Walsh: The Place Of Peace

Christian evangelist, author, and inspirational speaker Sheila Walsh looks to a crazy day in the lives of the apostles to see how Christ brings freedom internally and externally. Enjoy!
~Eve

Through Our Faith in Jesus Christ...

"I believe the promises of God enough to venture an eternity on them."  - Isaac Watts

When we see or hear the word benefit(s), it gets our attention. The word usually implies something good, comforting, helpful, or advantageous. Benefits and perks are things we consider when seeking employment, choosing where to live, do business, or place our money.

Benefits are also be applied to our relationship with Jesus Christ. There is/are the benefit(s) in knowing or having faith in Him. What might they be? There are far too many to include them all here, but I can mention a few, for example: We receive Jesus and as a result become part of His family.

Anyone who believes in Christ is given eternal life, which includes spending eternity with Christ in heaven. We are forgiven of all of our sins (Psalm 103:3). And, can find comfort in Him during times of trial and tribulation (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Remember, it is faith that brings these benefits out of Jesus and enables us to share them all.

The only thing that stands between us and the many benefits of knowing Christ is unbelief. Unfortunately, there are many who refuse to see or understand this. Unbelief denies Jesus Christ. It shuts the only door of hope by which we can secure salvation. Unbelief pushes us away from the benefits of Jesus Christ.

It is important to hammer on the fact that the benefits of Christ can only be obtained through faith. No gracious blessing ever goes out of Christ to the soul except by way of faith. Jesus clearly demonstrated this to the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:28. Everything is possible for one who believes (Mark 9:23).The Savior never refuses anything when faith is practiced!

Scripture: John 11:25; Ephesians 1:13; Acts 11:17; Romans 1:16; Galatians 3:22

Prayer: Dear God, You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well, amen. -Psalm 139:13-14

May the Lord bless,

Shawna

Preciousness and God

"In proportion to the size of the vessel of faith, brought by us to the Lord, is the measure we draw out of His overflowing grace."  - Assorted Authors 

Precious is a fairly common word that we use frequently in casual conversation. We might refer to a baby or small child as precious. Family heirlooms, old documents and photos could also be considered precious. And why not? The word precious means: highly esteemed or cherished; of great value.

Throughout the Bible, our attention is directed toward many things being precious, too. Take for example the Psalmist who speaks of the graciousness and mercifulness of the Lord as being precious -Psalm 36:7 (KJV). In Psalm 49:8 (KJV) he describes the redemption of the soul as precious.

The very thoughts of God toward his people are precious as mentioned in Psalm 139:17 (KJV). Even the death of Christians (the saints) is precious to God -Psalm 116:15 (KJV). The saints, who are the body of Christ or the Church are called the "precious sons of Zion" who themselves are precious as fine gold -Lamentations 4:2 (KJV).

The New Testament points out "precious promises" as in 2 Peter 1:4 (KJV), "precious faith" in 2 Peter 1:1 (KJV), and "the precious blood of Christ" -1Peter 1:19 (KJV). 1 Peter 2:7 (KJV) presents us with the preciousness of the Redeemer. I could continue on with many more references but I feel that my point is made.

Whether we speak of God's lovingkindness, our redemption, or His love for all who believe in Him, preciousness and God go hand in hand. And, as one reads through the pages of the Bible, it quickly becomes apparent just how significant this one word (precious) is to the eternal story of our redemption and salvation.

Scripture: Isaiah 43:4; Jeremiah 15:19; Proverbs 20:15; Romans 5:8; James 2:8

Prayer: Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts and work, now and for evermore, amen.  -Mother Teresa

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

The Religion of My Savior

"Try to give up the idea that religion comes to us by chance, or by mystery, or by caprice. It comes to us by natural law, or by supernatural law, for all law is Divine."   - Henry Drummond

Religion shines her heavenly into our eyes, enlightening our judgment, as it surely and steadily guides our understanding along the path of truth. Where did I come from? What is my purpose here? What is my destiny? What or who is God? Are we His creation? How should we pay our respects to, and worship Him? are just some of the many uncertainties we struggle with on the way.

All are excellent questions, which therefore should be answered simply, clearly, and reliably. But don't expect answers to these questions from unassisted reasoning. None can be given. This is distinctly proven by the fact that the heathen philosophers from long ago, who though considered educated and knowledgeable, immersed themselves in the most disgraceful foolishness.

Even modern-day, proud and vain intellectuals, refusing to admit divine revelation as a guide in their search for truth, have blundered just as badly, if not worse. If we query our own intelligence and understanding, what answer do we get? None. The appropriate answer can only be found in the teachings of the Religion, which was founded by the Son of God.

We should then give thanks to our Savior. He is the Light and Truth that shines upon the world, dismissing the darkness of untruth and false beliefs. Heavenly Father it is Your grace alone that makes us holy and wise. Only you can reveal to us where we came from, what our purpose here is, what our duties to You, others, and ourselves are, what our ultimate destiny in eternity is, and so on.

Dear friends, if you love wisdom and care deeply about the truth, listen to the divine Religion of our Savior without any added flaws or omissions. It is the source of light to the mind, and an infinite wealth of peace and comfort to the conscience. As we have been told, "...I am the LORD your God, and that there is no other;" (Joel 2:27).

Scripture: Colossians 2:8; Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:8; 1 Peter 3:15; 1 Peter 1:8

Prayer: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me, amen.   - Galatians 2:20

May God bless you always,

Amanda

On The Existence of God

"A god who let us prove his existence would be an idol."  - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

It has been said that the existence of God is the foundation of all religion. The whole building creaks and shudders if the foundation has been compromised. Without any doubt, we must believe that He is, and that He is who he said He is before we can seek Him out, praise, worship, and love Him.

Therefore, it is necessary that we know why we believe; that our belief is based on undeniable evidence; and that we are able to give a better reason for His existence than to say that our parents or Bible teachers told us so. We might as well pronounce, "There is no God," if we have nothing else with which to support our belief.

So that we may be more fully convinced of, and grounded in truth, I offer up a few thoughts to ponder on this topic. All nature displays the existence of its creator. We may not easily see it, but we detect this truth illuminated in all creatures. The entire universe exhibits the character and stamp of an almighty and omnipotent God.

Universal agreement or the idea of a God is found among many nations. It's found in the language of every country and region. Even the most despicable idolatry suggests a Deity. All nations no matter how savage and immoral have confessed some god. This universal conclusion of mankind is no other than the voice of God. There is no speech or language where this voice is not heard.

God can be seen everywhere in creation. We only have to look at our beautiful world as proof of His glory. Remember, the world is a sacred temple. And it is important that we should fear or respect and honor God always. Keep the words from Isaiah 45:6 in your heart, "...I am the Lord, and there is no other."

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6; John 20:29; Psalm 19:1-4; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Psalm 14:1

Prayer: Dear Lord, may You always be in my heart and Your goodness guide my thoughts, words, and actions, amen.

May God richly bless you,

Claudette

We Are In Subjection to God

"Since therefore all things are ordered in subserviency to the good of man, they are so ordered by Him that made both man and them."  - Stephen Charnock

After watching the news on television or reading about it, I sometimes think to myself, "Is it possible that God somehow messed up when he created us?" Maybe it's just me being depressed or angered about all the bad worldly events, but one really does have to wonder.

To be fair we have to consider whether we can truly place the blame on God for this mayhem. Let's take a look at some things that may help make sense of this. First off. Hebrews 2:7-8 and Genesis 1:27-28 present us with clues about what we are meant to be.

God gave us the capability of dreaming and aspiring to climb higher. We were programmed with this God-given, built-in capacity to make dreams come true. To keep pushing the limits to see how far we can go. And that's exactly what we do.

However, the down-side of this is that sometimes we can become vain, self-serving, and even destructive. We start acting like gods and forgetting about God. It's important to remember that God made man in his own image, but a little less than divine (Hebrews 2:9). Plus, he gave us free will.

This is what we are. God made us right, but we went wrong. God made Adam perfect, but Adam fell, and every last one of us since then has fallen. As soon as we are old enough to make choices for ourselves we begin making wrong choices.

You have to wonder, "Why didn't God just make us so that we couldn't sin?" Well, if he had, we wouldn't be in the likeness of God with freedom, correct? We'd be like robots without any choice whatsoever. Instead, we were given freedom but became slaves, made kings and became servants. The image of God has been disfigured.

God put the works of his almighty hands in subjection to us, but we so easily forget that all things are in subjection to Him. We see examples of this everyday in politics, social injustice, treatment of our environment, and our allocation of natural resources; to point out a few that come to mind.

Who could possibly get us back on track, set us straight, deliver us, and show us how to be what we were meant to be? Romans 7:24-25 answers this question: Jesus, Christ Our Lord. In other words, we must have Christ in us (Colossians 1:27).

God created man to be someone, but man messed up. It's not a hopeless case, however. With Christ in us we can become the people we are meant to be. Man was made like God, but man is not God. Only Jesus Christ in us can make us who we are supposed to be in relationship to God.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15; Colossians 1:17; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 3:9;  Colossians 1:16

Prayer: Dear God, I am deeply grateful that You have made me in Your image and likeness, and that You always hold me in Your loving embrace. Show me to how love You with all my heart, soul, and with my whole mind, amen

God bless you!

Melinda