Video Lesson | God Calls Us To Cherish Our Body | Beth Moore

In this culture we are often made to hate our bodies and who we are. This makes it harder to become who we are in heart, soul, and mind. Granted, this has always been a problem, but our modern media, especially, has raised the bar ever higher. 

Today we are relentlessly exposed to "body-types" that are hopelessly unreachable. Most of which can, and do, cause many problems for both women and men alike!

© Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore

As Beth Moore, American Anglican evangelist, author, and Bible teacher, calls to mind in this short video lesson "the Bible tells us that our bodies are marvelous and that we should not make idols out of them." 

Let's begin today asking God to help us cherish our bodies. Treat your body like a temple, but don't obsess over it! Be tender and warm with how you treat and view your own body. 

May God richly bless you,

~Eve

Walking By Faith | The Perfection and Truth of God's Justice

"Do not let your heart become troubled by the sad spectacle of human injustice. Even this has its value in the face of all else. And it is from this that one day you will see the justice of God rising with unfailing triumph."  - Pio of Pietrelcina,  Italian Capuchin friar, priest (1887–1968)

Oftentimes we see injustice happening in the world and wonder, "Where is God's justice in all of this?" We must understand that there is a difference between God's justice and human justice, of which the latter is what we are most familiar.

The difference lies in the fact that human justice can be defective and unreliable, while God's justice is flawless, unbiased, and everlasting. Even if we were to stop here, it's already quite obvious why human justice could never match God's.

In the Bible, God is described as the ultimate judge who implements justice with wisdom and fairness. Deuteronomy 32:4 emphasizes the perfection and righteousness that is innate in divine (God's) justice.

Another characteristic of God's justice is His omniscience. He is ever vigilant and is aware of the genuine intentions within our heart (1 Samuel 16:7). This spiritual insight assures that His judgments are founded on complete understanding.

Compare this to human judgments, which tend to be confined and shallow. Additionally, God's justice is often interwoven with His mercy. Nonetheless, he is impartial and must punish sin. Yet even so, God also ensures a way to salvation through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25-26).

For a moment, let's turn our attention to human justice. In comparison to God's justice, human justice is a method designed by humanity to preserve order and remedy misconduct and offenses. This, however, makes it intrinsically restricted.

For we are too easily influenced by our own human perceptions, prejudices, and deficiencies. And although these systems (human justice) attempt to demonstrate standards of fairness and equity, they often disappoint because of our imperfection.

In short, human justice is earthly and often mechanical, taking action to fix things after they occur. Whereas, God's justice is provident and eternal, embracing both the present-day and the future.

There is no question that human justice is a vital part of societal order, but it is restricted by our human flaws and weaknesses. On the other hand, God's justice is immaculate, unbiased, and infinite, founded in His divine nature and includes both impartiality and mercy.

Scripture: Leviticus 19:15; Psalm 89:14; Ecclesiastes 3:16; Isaiah 30:18; Matthew 23:23

Prayer: "Dear Lord, I pray for those who are suffering from injustice, that they may find comfort and strength in You. I trust in Your perfect plan, and believe that You will bring about Your righteousness in your own time. Amen."

Sincerely with the Grace of God,

Sloane

Weekend Spiritual Insight | Pointing Fingers Solves Nothing!

"Life changing repentance begins where blame shifting ends."  - Timothy Keller, American Presbyterian pastor, preacher, theologian (1950-2023)

As of this writing, events around the world appear to be deteriorating. Political unrest, international conflict, financial instability, and threats of annihilation rule the day. Sadly, for us here on earth, it's business as usual.

No one should be surprised. What we're seeing today is no different than any other time throughout history. Granted, there are periods where things seem to calm down for a bit, then something stirs things up, and the cycle repeats.

Yes, one could place the blame on another country, another religion or ideology, another political organization, another people, etc. That's easy enough to do. We've always been good at "pointing fingers."

"We could point fingers at one another all day" is an old idiom that signifies blaming or accusing one another for a problem or snafu. It brings to light the ineffectiveness of bickering instead of concentrating on a corrective action (Proverbs 21:2).

Unlike others, I'm not trying to present myself as both judge and jury on this particular subject. My intent here is to show what the Bible has to say about it. And as you might have figured out, the Bible speaks negatively about it.

The scriptures teach that one should take responsibility for their own actions, and make a sincere attempt at reconciliation instead of accusation. They also strongly encourage directly handling problems with the other party, while refraining from public shame or blame.

Included below are a few examples from the Bible:

• Proverbs 6:12-19 supports the idea that using one's body (such as pointing fingers) to damage or hurt another is considered a negative behavior.
• Isaiah 58:9 implies that the "pointing of fingers" is rude and/or disrespectful behavior that impedes or delays spiritual growth and God's blessings.
• Hosea 4:4 strongly alerts against "pointing fingers" and blaming others, asserting that it will bring about spiritual obstacles and destruction.
• Matthew 7:3-5 uses the analogy between a speck in a brother's eye in contrast to a plank in one's own eye to emphasize the importance of self-examination before making judgment against others.

"Pointing fingers" at each other makes it too easy to pass on the blame to someone else without incurring any personal risk, and avoid having any responsibility or accountability. 

This world in which we live is marred by sin. We, ourselves, suffer in kind. As such, it's not too difficult to lay the blame on someone or something when we are distressed or grieved.

Of course there are occasions when another party may disrupt or infringe upon our life of their own volition. In these instances, the Bible, too, provides measures we can take to correct the problem (Matthew 18:15–17).

Nevertheless, we must never get into the bad habit of scapegoating or blame-shifting others for our problems. If you have truly done something wrong, then take responsibility for whatever role you played in it (Galatians 6:5). Never let blame become second nature!

Scripture: Proverbs 6:34; Proverbs 28:13; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 2:1; James 1:14

Prayer: "Dear Lord, may I remember that Your forgiveness and grace are always available, and that I should never resort to blaming others to make myself feel better or justified. Free me from the cycle of blame and help me build healthier relationships instead. In Your name, Amen." 

May God richly bless you,

~Eve

Remedy Discouragement with God's Encouragement!

"The Christian's chief occupational hazards are depression and discouragement."   - John Stott, British Anglican pastor and theologian (1921-2011)

Everyone is familiar with discouragement. It commonly occurs when we've pinned our hopes on something or someone, and then the bottom falls out. This shared human experience affects even those of us with strong faith. 

Discouragement can leave us feeling unmotivated, lethargic, apathetic and spiritless, among other things. One may even believe that they have fallen into a deep, dark hole from which there is no escape. 

Unquestionably, feelings of hopelessness and despair can be overwhelming loads to carry. Mercifully, the Bible acknowledges that discouraging situations in life can, and do, result in these issues. 

And if you think you're alone in your discouragement, you couldn't be further from the truth! Scripture contains a long list of individuals who endured discouragement, including: Elijah, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Job, Hanna and Esther!

As stated above, discouragement can manifest itself in many ways. What can the Christian do when it does? During times of "discouragement" we need not look any further than the Bible for helpful "encouragement" and inspiration.

A good starting point is to focus on God's divine nature and promises. Recall His goodness, think about God's past blessings and faithfulness, and importantly, His steadfast love (Lamentations 3:22-23).

It's also essential to devote oneself to His promises, and believe in them even when things seem discouraging (2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Joshua 1:6). Of course, always include prayer, Bible reading, and casting your cares upon Him.

Other helpful advice worth mentioning is to persevere and not give up, put forth an unyielding spirit against negativity, find inspiration in the Lord, continue serving Him in work or ministry, and just be honest with God about your despair.

In the matter of discouragement, we've all been there. God understands what we're going through, and always offers His comfort and strength. Moreover, some also find the support of a trusted friend, counselor, or pastor to be helpful as well.

Don't let discouragement prevent you from living! Instead, think of it as a formative process and use it for spiritual and personal growth. Give your problems to God through prayer and trust in His care. He is standing by waiting to hear from you (Psalm 55:22).

Scripture: Joshua 1:9;  Psalm 56:3; Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:26 

Prayer: "Dear Lord, show me through this discouraging time and remind me that I'm not alone. Help me trust in your plan for my life, even when it's unclear to me. Fill me with your peace and hope, and help me see You in my life. Amen."

Blessings always,

Shelby

Video Message | How Jesus Can Be Your Safe Harbor | Beth Moore

What does it mean that "God is our safe place to be?" Beth Moore, American Anglican evangelist, author, and Bible teacher, explores this topic here in this short clip from a longer teaching series. 

Most understand that it can't guarantee that we won't ever experience anything bad in our lives. In fact, we've probably known faithful people have have undergone deep suffering, including Jesus Christ.

© Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore

Jesus is all powerful, and will come back to judge the world…and yet, He is also your safe harbor. Come learn with Beth Moore about what it means for Jesus to be your safe harbor during every trial and hardship of your life.

As always, Beth shares some very good information to help us all in our walk with Jesus Christ. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and spend a few minutes to hear a good Word!

May God richly bless you,

~Eve

Does God Expect Perfectionism..?

"A heart perfect with the Lord is not sinless perfection, nor flawless obedience, but sincerity of intent and desire to do God's will."  - Keith L. Brooks, author and founder of the American Prophetic League of Los Angeles (1888-1954)

One of the most frequent questions I'm asked is this, "Does God expect us to be perfect?" I can see where this might cause some concern and even fear in some. But perhaps I can help ease some of the anxiety about it today.

One of the biblical truths is God receives us in our current state. He understands us completely; that is, He knows us inside and out. This includes all of our failures, sins, and bad tendencies. Nothing is hidden from Him!

The late Billy Graham once said, "If God required us to be perfect, then no one—absolutely no one—would ever be able to be a Christian! We’re all sinners, and no matter how hard we try, we still sin and fall short of God’s standard."

You see, God does not expect us to be spotless or immaculate in this life. Yet even with all of our serious issues He still loves us. And not only that, He desires to forgive us and invite us into His family. 

The Bible opposes "perfectionism," while stressing God's grace and His acceptance of flawed humans by way of their faith in Jesus Christ. When we attempt to be perfect we are trying to do something that only God can do.

It's fair to say that by thinking "perfectionism" is even possible, we are setting ourselves up for failure in a big way. Some might confuse being righteous with being perfect, but they are two different things altogether.

Righteousness, which is encouraged, includes living a life that demonstrates good moral character and following God's will. While perfectionism means being totally faultless and living in a state of moral excellence and wholeness. 

With its focus on self-reliance and the fear of failure, perfectionism is seen as a deception that inhibits spiritual progress and the development of relationships. Consequently, it's by the grace of God, and not human perfection, that our relationship with Him is based on.

When we maintain a mindset of perfectionism, we are only promoting stress and anxiety on ourselves. This in turn, leads to a life filled with discontent and disappointment, of which God definitely does not want for us.

As the gospel declares, we are unable to save ourselves. We need a Savior, and that’s why Jesus came. God will save us if we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ in faith for our salvation, imperfections and all. There is no other way. 

Finally, God doesn't expect perfection from any of us. Nor does He expect us to attain ultimate and infinite, saintliness in this life. He would prefer to see us work toward moral and spiritual growth, than an appearance of sinlessness.

Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:31; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 3:12

Prayer: "Dear Lord, I thank you that your love is not based on my perfection, but instead your perfect love for me. Remind me that my identity is found in you, and not in my own achievements. Help me to ease the pressure to be perfect and to accept myself as you accept me, imperfections and all. Amen."

May the grace of God be with you,

Andrea

Weekend Spiritual Insight | There Is Only One True God!

"Anything in life can serve as an idol, or a counterfeit god."  - Timothy J. Keller, American Presbyterian pastor, preacher, theologian, and Christian apologist (1950-2023)

To help understand the concept of a counterfeit or "false god," a concise explanation of what this means is in order. The term is commonly connected with "idolatry," the worship of idols or images. 

However, it can also include any thing or concept that we worship more than God in our lives. In today's context, we think of "false gods" as objects into which we place our faith and devotion, but have nothing to do with Him.

These can encompass many things, including, but not limited to: material possessions, social position, power, fame, pleasure, even self-reliance. It also involves anything that diverts you away from your relationship with God.

With the advent of technology, specifically the internet and then social media, we've seen a rise in people seeking instant gratification, and the dissemination of political ideologies. Both of which can easily be added to the list above.

Many false gods are also mentioned in scripture, for example: Baal, the Canaanite storm god, and Chemosh, the chief god of Moab. Still, the Bible emphatically condemns the worship of any false gods and/or idols, while stressing the one true God.

We have the ability to break from the hold of false gods and idols. First, we must admit that it is unrestrained and then denounce it in its many forms. This is a product of Satan and not of God! True fulfillment will never be achieved by following this course of falsehoods.

"For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." - 1 John 2:16 (NIV) 

Then, it is crucial that we turn our attention toward God and to others. When we completely focus our love on Him and other people, there will be no place in our hearts for anything else but the One True God!

Scripture: Exodus 20:3; Psalm 115:4-8; Isaiah 43:10; Matthew 24:24; 2 Peter 2:1

Prayer: "Dear God, provide me with discernment to recognize the truth and protect me from the deception of false gods. Lead me on the path of righteousness and help me stay strong in my faith. In your name I pray. Amen."

May God richly bless you,

~Eve