Little by Little...It All Adds Up!

Micah 6:8 NIV...He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. It was only when God let me see my own sin and how it broke His heart that I began trying to be an instrument for His purposes. When we begin to answer the question..."What breaks God's heart?"...We can begin the first step to becoming instruments of change for those things that are important to God. In the Christian life...the little things matter...not with regards to salvation...that’s already settled if we're in Christ. But when it comes to growing in God’s grace and deepening our relationship with Him...it’s the small...daily acts of love that serve as steps toward a more fulfilling relationship with God. Realizing the need to focus on the small things....and consistently spend time daily in God’s Word...sure does help in finding ways to show His love to others. It’s the small acts that will help us grow in big ways!

Who Defines Us?

We are constantly in danger of letting the world define us instead of God. It is only natural to shape our self-image by the attitudes and opinions of our parents, our peer groups and our society. It is only when we define ourselves by the truths of God’s Word rather than the thinking and experiences of the world that we can discover our deepest identity. The Scriptures exhort us to look to Christ, not to self, for the solutions we so greatly need. To genuinely believe and embrace the reality of who we have become...as a result of our faith in Christ...demands consistent discipline and exposure to the Bible. It also requires fellowship and encouragement in a community of like-minded believers. http://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/march-2014/how-to-be-conformed-to-christs-image/?SOURCE=BD143YDV2&utm_source=DecDevo3.12.14&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=DecisionDevotional

Our Help....

“Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8). There is a spiritual solution for the problems in our country today, and there is a spiritual solution for the problems in our life, too. God has told us to call upon Him in our day of trouble. We need to believe the Word of God and then act on it. God has the answers we are looking for. He will give us the happiness and fulfillment we seek...and much more. Happiness is found in a relationship with God. “Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!” (Psalm 144:15 NKJV)

Who Do We Think We are Foolin'

We may be able to fool others...even ourselves...but we won't ever fool God! No matter how hard we try! <>< Just sayin' We may fool ourselves into believing that we can simply bury our wrongs and go on, without ever having to admit them. In time, we all discover that those deeds we thought were buried once and for all were actually seeds. They grow and bear fruit. Eventually we have to deal with a crop of consequences and face the fact that self-deception doesn't work to our advantage. Galatians 6:7-8 KJV: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Since we can't ignore God and get away with it anyway, we might as well come clean and be forgiven. 1 John 1:8-9 KJV: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Best is Yet to Come

We've either been there...or will be there...one day.

We've either been there...or will be there...one day. Think about some of the most painful times in your life...times that you felt like "this will never end." Look at where you are now versus where you were then. Hopefully you can relate to what I'm trying to express here. Man...it's tough sometimes...taking those evil...vicious blows thrown at you from what might even have been someone really close and a major part of your life at one time...a friend or even family. Someone that you would have never ever expected would try to cause you pain and difficulty. Whether it's mental..physical...or even bearing false witness. The devil is struttin' swiftly and relentlessly across this earth consuming individuals and families...using his evil powers to succeed...but only temporarily. Don't give up or give in. KEEP THE FAITH! It will all come out in the wash! TRUTH PREVAILS! Grow your relationship with Jesus Christ and remember: Pain enables us to grow and mature spiritually in ways that nothing else can accomplish. Acts 9:15-16 NIV But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” God’s good plan for our life includes pain and difficult times! That doesn’t mean God is the source of all hardship in our life. We may experience attacks from the forces of evil in this world, or people may hurt us with evil motives. But God’s supreme authority means that His good purpose overrules all of those evil motives. He’ll even use those terrible things done to us out of evil motives to produce spiritual growth in our life. Years later, Paul wrote, “And no.t only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3-5). Re: Parts from Time with God and My Thoughts As Well

You Never Know.....

Follow up from this morning's post.... This has really been on my mind lately. Sometimes we miss opportunities that might would help others turn their life around, to help point them in the right direction to their Eternal Destination. "Don't take it for granted everyone has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour!" I know it took someone close to me, in my life to encourage me by sharing God's every chance they got. If it wasn't for "My Brother" sharing God's Word with me, only God knows which way I would be heading today. We never know who we might touch...turn around, get to thinking, wake up, etc. "with God's help" by using whatever gift God has given us to share His Word with others-whether it's through our actions, our words, financially, etc. We need to ask God to show us and help us to develop and use whatever His Will may be. There are so many of us...in need! God wants all his people to participate in worship. He also wants his people to avoid envying the gifts of others...but to instead be content. You may not be a master musician, a prophet, or a teacher...but God appreciates whatever you have to offer. Develop your special gifts so you can offer them in service to God. Romans 12:3-8 NIV For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 1 Corinthians 12:29-31 NIV Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Putting it All Together

1 Corinthians 12:15-16 NKJV..."If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?" If you've been alive for any amount of time, you've probably witnessed the strange things people will do to be "unique". Between hairstyles...clothes or body art, people want to be noticed for their differences. Any church that is living biblically will not be a factory of sameness. God's Word describes the body of Christ as different people with unique talents and abilities coming together with a single purpose in mind. He has created each and every one of us with special gifts that can be used for His glory. So instead of seeking out differences to hold against each other, let us use our differences in an effort to build God's Kingdom. Christian unity...does not mean uniformity or "sameness". Think about it like this....A puzzle is made up of many pieces...of many shapes...many sizes....and many colors...you just have to put them in the right places to complete it.

Simple as that!

Worth the wait!