Listen And Live!

Happy Sunday!

"Fools die because they refuse to follow wisdom. They are content to follow their foolish ways, and that will destroy them. BUT those who LISTEN to me will LIVE in safety and comfort. They will have nothing to fear.”(Easy-to-Read Version).   

I have decided to live in the safety and comfort that God provides to those who listen.  Sure, I've been foolish and lived according to the pattern of the world in the past...BUT I have committed to CHANGE!  I want everything God has prepared for me!  I will not be a fool!  

Let me tell you a secret!  "No one can stop you but you!"  Did you get that?  Read it again!  You are your own problem!  I know, I know...we have lived for so long in the victim mentality.  It's not my fault...it's the color of my skin, it's because my father didn't raise me, or it's because they didn't pick me to play softball on the elementary school team!  Get over it!  There are people in this world succeeding that have had horrific and unimaginable adversity.  Don't let the Devil trap you in past offenses.  There is one thing that Jesus said is impossible.  Bet you thought nothing was impossible.  Luke 17:1 says, "Then said he unto the disciples, it is IMPOSSIBLE but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!"(KJV).  Did you get that?  Jesus said there will always be opportunities to be offended!  That means there will always be people motivated by Satan available to hurt you, tempt you, and make life interesting!  But just because it is offered, you don't have to accept it!  Jesus is our perfect example.  Even on the cross, he refused to be offended.  He said, "Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”(Luke 23:24, Easy-to-Read Version).  

How do I start?  Great question!  Romans 12:1-2 says, "So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."(Message).  

This involves changing your thinking.  Proverbs 3:5-12 says, "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!  Your body will glow with HEALTH, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.  Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over."(Message).

God's Word is his voice!  Get in the Word...memorize it for your own good!  When the Devil tries to attack you there may not be enough time to find the scripture you need!  It's better to have your sword ready before the battle!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

I'm Praying For You!

 Happy Sunday!

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being CONFIDENT of this very thing, that HE which hath begun a GOOD work IN you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"(Philippians 1:3-6 KJV).

Confident.  Certain.  Sure.  These are the words used in various translations of this scripture passage.  The Apostle Paul was writing to the Church in Philippi and he began with encouragement.  It's wonderful to know that someone remembers you and is praying for you.  Well, at least it is for me.  I remember a song was popular in churches for a while.  The lyrics said, "Somebody prayed for me, had me on their mind, took the time to pray for me.  I'm so glad they prayed, I'm so glad they prayed, I'm so glad they prayed for me!"

The Apostle Paul didn't bellyache about what he was going through.  He wanted the Believers to know that all of the adversity didn't stop the ministry, it actually caused it to grow.  He wrote, "I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually PROSPERED. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about HIM. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah."(Philippians 1:12-14 Message).

Don't miss this!  Your example and your testimony are enough to strengthen others!  When they see the obstacles, you made it through, they can believe that they can make it as well.  Psalm 27:13 says, "I will move past my enemies with this one, sure hope: that with my own eyes, I will see the goodness of the Eternal in the LAND of the LIVING."(Voice).

Love and PRAYERS, Cynthia

Remember...

 Happy Sunday!

"But thou shalt REMEMBER the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get WEALTH, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day."(Deuteronomy 8:11 KJV).

The Word of God repeatedly tells us to remember! I believe God knows how easy it is for us to forget.  Some things we purposefully forget because they remind us of sad times or hard times, but we can go back to the Word to remind us of what we must remember.  In Deuteronomy 8, God reminds the people of all that he had done for them.  He encouraged them with the promise of blessings they would experience in the Land He was giving them.  Then he WARNED them what would happen if they forgot.

"So it’s paramount that you keep the commandments of God, your God, walk down the roads he shows you and reverently RESPECT him. God is about to bring you into a GOOD land, a land with brooks and rivers, springs and lakes, streams out of the hills and through the valleys. It’s a land of wheat and barley, of vines and figs and pomegranates, of olives, oil, and honey. It’s land where you’ll NEVER GO HUNGRY—always food on the table and a ROOF over your head. It’s a land where you’ll get iron out of rocks and mine copper from the hills."(Deuteronomy 8:6-9 Message).  

I was listening to a few young co-workers talking about growing up poor. What they described didn't sound like poverty to me!  I didn't burst their bubble with the stories of my mother feeding six children one can of pork and beans with a pack of hot dogs diced up in them.  I didn't mention times when the electricity or house phone was off, and life still moved forward.  We are so Blessed!  There are still people in the world with dirt floors, and some of the poorest people in the USA would be considered rich in other countries.  God wants us to prosper.  Psalm 35:27 says, "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  It brings God pleasure when YOU prosper!  Why does God want you to prosper?  I'm so glad you asked!  He loves you!  You are his favorite child!  He sent Jesus to pay the price for you to have abundant life! He's not mad at you!  Lamentations 3:21-23 says, "Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day."(TLB).

Deuteronomy 8:19-20 tells us what will happen if we forget.  I'm praying that we don't forget.  “Don’t ever forget the Lord your God. Don’t ever follow other gods or worship and serve them. If you do that, I warn you today: You will surely be destroyed! The Lord is destroying other nations FOR you. But if you stop LISTENING to the Lord your God, YOU will be destroyed just like them!"(ERV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Childlike

Happy Sunday!

In John 16:33, Jesus says, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"(Amplified).

Most people love babies.  Well, at least we love other people's babies.  We can love on them, smell their necks, and give them back to their parents.  Have you ever noticed that the world around them can be chaotic, but they can sleep as if nothing is happening?  Perhaps, that's what we really enjoy about babies...seeing peace in action.  The baby is forced to trust the people in whose care they are placed.  They must trust that their parents and care takers will be loving, compassionate, and forgiving especially when they make smelly messes.  They must trust that they will be given sufficient provision and kept safe.

We are the Children of God, not the adults of God.  Jesus rebuked the disciples for trying to prevent the children from coming forward in the crowd to be blessed.  He said, "Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” (Mark 10:14, Message).  Don't miss this!  It's so simple, not complicated at all.  Proverbs 3:5-8 says it this way, "Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely; never depend upon your own ideas and inventions.  Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish, and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead. And don’t think you can decide on your own what is right and what is wrong. Respect the Eternal; turn and run from evil. If you depend on Him, your body and mind will be free from the strain of a sinful life, will experience healing and health, and will be strengthened at their core."(Voice).

Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You."(Amplified).  The God's Word Translation of this scripture says, "With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed, because they trust you".  Amen.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Obligatory

 Happy Sunday!

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."(Matthew 28:19-20 KJV).

I heard the word, "Obligatory" used in a message today.  Perhaps, I'd heard it before, but I couldn't recall it.  I looked it up quickly, as if to say, "Is that really a word?"  YES, it is.  It's defined as, "required by a legal, moral, or other rule; compulsory:"(Merriam-Webster).  Then I wanted to know what things might be obligatory for us Christians.  In the Old Testament the Ten Commandments stood out, and in the New Testament we are commanded to Love, and to tell others that God loves them too.

It made me think of the Andre Crouch song entitled, "Tell Them".  The first stanzas say, "Tell them.  Even if they don't believe you. Just tell them. Even if they don't receive you.  Oh, tell them for me. Tell them for me please.  Please, tell them for me. Tell them that I love them, and I came to let them know. Tell them. When it seems, you are forsaken. Just tell them. Though it seems you are earthly shaken. Oh, tell them for me. Tell them for me please. Please, tell them for me. Tell them that I love them."  

In John 15:13, Jesus says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."(KJV).   LOVE is an action word!  Knowing what a great gift we have received should motivate us to share the Good News with others!  Sure, some won't want to hear it, and some won't believe you.  BUT tell them anyway.  2 Timothy 4:2 says, "Tell EVERYONE God’s message. Be ready at all times to do whatever is needed. Tell people what they need to do, tell them when they are doing wrong, and encourage them. Do this with great patience and careful teaching."(ERV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

SASH = Separating from All Strong Holds!

 Happy Sunday!

"And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold SASH across his chest."(Revelation 1:13 NLT).

I'm BACK! Did you miss me?  Did you miss Happy Sunday?  I was traveling last week and arrived home too late, and too tired to send Happy Sunday!  Next time, I'll get it together before the trip!

My Pastor referred to this scripture today.  He was reminding us that Jesus is not like the weak pitiful depictions in artwork, and on jewelry!  He is no longer on the cross.  He is Risen and seated at the right hand of the Father. (1 Peter 3:22).  It made me think of the children's song from years ago, it was entitled, "Jesus Ain't a Baby No More!"  Do you remember that song?  LOL! When the Apostle John described Jesus in the Revelation, he is strong, bold and powerful!  That's what Jesus wants for US!  In Ephesians 6:10, The Apostle Paul said, "Finally, my brethren, be STRONG in the Lord, and in the power of HIS might."(KJV).   2 Peter 1:3-4 says, "EVERYTHING that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, PERSONALLY and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific PROMISES to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust."(Message).

Revelation 1:3 says that Jesus is wearing a gold sash across his chest.  This reminded me of the message Pastor Zorina Ann Brown shared with us last Saturday!  We've seen sashes.  Miss America, Miss Universe, The Black Student Union, and so many other groups wear sashes to represent their accomplishments, teams and nations.  Jesus is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the Alpha and Omega.  We Believers are a part of the Body or Christ and have the authority to use the Name of Jesus but so often we are living beneath our privilege and hiding the unique gifts God has given us through Christ.  Some snagged tooth people from our past told us that a certain thing was impossible for us, or going to a certain place or level was not meant for you!  You are a woman, or you are Black, you're too tall, or you are too short!  The Devil has probably whispered to you that you can't recover from that mistake, or that divorce, or the loss of a loved one!  Pastor Brown encouraged us to use SASH as an Acronym.  SASH = Separating from All Strong Holds!  We must detach ourselves from all negativities and ask, "What does the Word say?"  Then we must determine to allow the WORD of God to be the FINAL Word!

The BIBLE says, "Let the weak say, I am STRONG."(Joel 3:10 KJV)

The BIBLE says, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye WERE HEALED."(1 Peter 2:24 KJV).

The BIBLE says, "Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to OBEY what is written there. If you do this, you will be WISE and SUCCESSFUL in everything you do."(Joshua 1:8 Easy-to-Read Version).

The BIBLE says, "I shall not die, but LIVE, and declare the works of the Lord."(Psalm 118:17 KJV).

The BIBLE says, "Seek the Kingdom of God above ALL else, and LIVE righteously, and he will give you EVERYTHING you need."(Matthew 6:33 NLT).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

FOLLOW the Instructions!

 Happy Sunday!

I don't know about tomorrow,

I just live from day to day.

And I don't borrow from its sunshine,

For its skies may turn to gray.

And I don't worry about my future,

For I know what Jesus said,

And today He walks beside me

For He knows what lies ahead

Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand

But I, I know, I know, I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds, who holds my hand - Ira Stanphill

Do you remember this song?  Or songs like it, that remind us of what the Word of God tells us!  It's so comforting and refreshing to know that God cares for us and he has our lives in his hand.  There is so much happening right now in our lives and in our world.  Uprisings, wars, violent attacks, political campaigns, and I-Phone 17's.  If we aren't cautious, we can become overwhelmed.

That's probably why the Word says, "Don’t FRET or WORRY. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."(Philippians 4:6 Message).

2 Kings 4:1-44 is full of life applications.  A certain woman comes to the prophet with a problem.  Her husband has died and left her with massive debt.  The creditors are coming to take her sons away to be slaves.  The prophet asks her, "What do you have in your house?"  What a great question to ask today?  What do you have in your house?  Do you realize God has given you everything you need to succeed?  It's in your house!  It's in the unique person he created you to be.  Acts 10:34 says, “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open."(Message).

All the woman had was a container of oil, the prophet gave her these instructions.  "Here’s what you do,” said Elisha. “Go up and down the street and borrow jugs and bowls from all your neighbors.  And not just a few—all you can get. Then come home and lock the door behind you, you and your sons. Pour oil into each container; when each is full, set it aside.  She did what he said. She locked the door behind her and her sons; as they brought the containers to her, she filled them. When all the jugs and bowls were full, she said to one of her sons, “Another jug, please".  He said, “That’s it. There are no more jugs.” Then the oil stopped. (Message).  The woman was able to SELL the oil, PAY her debts, and LIVE off the rest. 

What can we get from this?  Glad you asked.  Do what GOD told you!  No need to explain to your neighbors.  Keep the process secret, lock the door to naysayers, critics, and haters!  There will be plenty of time for testimonies when God brings you out!  DON'T THINK SMALL!  The prophet instructed her to get lots of pots or vessels.  Do you realize that she determined the size of her blessing by the number of vessels she was willing to collect?  We quote it all the time..."exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think". (Ephesians 3:20).  Exceeding means to surpass others; excel or be superior.  Abundantly means plentiful, profuse, and numerous.  Above reminds me of Deuteronomy 28, "The head and never the tail!"

Selah.

Love and prayers, Cynthia