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