Our Father

Happy Sunday!

Happy Father's Day!

"I write unto you, FATHERS, because ye have known him that IS from the beginning. I write unto you, young MEN, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little CHILDREN, because ye have known the Father.

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."(1 John 2:13-15 KJV).

Christianity is the only religion where the God, is called Father.  Our God, the True and The Living God is our Heavenly Father.(1 Thessalonians 1:9).  He created families from the beginning and He set Fathers as the leaders and heads of the household.  He considered everything and even made a way for outsiders to be Adopted and Grafted in to His huge family!  Ephesians 1:5 says, "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!"(Living Bible).  And Romans 11:17 says, "But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree, some of the Jews, have been broken off. And you Gentiles who were branches from, we might say, a wild olive tree, were grafted in. So now you, too, receive the BLESSING God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in God’s rich nourishment of his own special olive tree."(Living Bible).

The Apostle John wrote to the Fathers and said they have KNOWN God!  The word "know" generally denotes intimacy.  When we get to know the Word of God, we are getting to know God.  He wrote to the young men because they are STRONG.  Ephesians 6:10 says, "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."(KJV).  Strength both physical and spiritual is needed every day!  He wrote to them because the Word of God abides in them and they are able to overcome the world.  Don't miss this!  The Bible is not like every other book on your bookshelf!  Jesus said, "the words that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE."(John 6:63 KJV).

Fathers are important!  Fathers are necessary.  Fathers are a God Idea!  God always has the best ideas!  Luke 1:17 speaks about John the Baptist, and has an interesting ending.  "John himself will go ahead of the Lord and make people ready for his coming. He will be powerful like Elijah and will have the same spirit. He will make peace between FATHERS and their children. He will cause people who are not obeying God to CHANGE and start THINKING the way they should.”(Easy-to-Read Version).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

See and Hear

 Happy Sunday!

"We, of course, have plenty of WISDOM to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it’s not POPULAR Wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. 

God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes DEEP into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the OLDEST—what God determined as the way to bring out his BEST in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. 

The experts of our day haven’t a clue about what this ETERNAL plan is. If they had, they wouldn’t have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. 

That’s why we have this Scripture text:

No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this,

Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—

What God has arranged for those who LOVE him.

But you’ve SEEN and HEARD it because God by his SPIRIT has brought it all out into the open before you."(1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

The Right Time Is NOW

 Happy Sunday!

"As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then IGNORE it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”  Indeed, the “right time” is NOW. Today is the day of salvation."(2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NLT).

I've heard parents lament about seeing their children playing with an empty box or carton while the expensive Christmas Gift sits nearby untouched. What must our Heavenly Father think and feel to see us broke, busted, and disgusted when He "generously gives us everything for our enjoyment"?(1 Timothy 6:17 Phillips).  Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:"(KJV).  Don't miss this!  Ignorant people say, "What you don't know can't hurt you".  BUT what you don't know can actually kill you!

The Psalmist said, "I gain understanding from your instructions, so I hate anything that leads people the wrong way. Your WORD is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take. Your LAWS are good and fair.  I have promised to obey them, and I will keep my promise."(Psalm 119:104 ERV).  

A commentary on Proverbs 3:13 says this, "God knows well what He is doing. He has established rewards for living wisely: A happy, long life. A good reputation. Guidance when you need it most. Health. Success. Even, dare we say, fatherly discipline. These are just a few of the benefits accompanying God’s wisdom."(Voice).  Proverbs 3:13 says, "Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from God’s WORD and life’s experiences],"(Amplified Classic).

Don't ignore God's Gift!  Open the Bible and "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth."(2 Timothy 2:15 Amplified Classic).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

One Ray of Hope

Happy Sunday!

Happy Memorial Day!

"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.  My soul claims the Lord as my inheritance; therefore I will HOPE in him.  The Lord is wonderfully GOOD to those who wait for him, to those who seek for him. It is good both to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."(Lamentations 3:21-26 Living Bible).

For verse 21, the NLT Version says, "Yet I still DARE to HOPE when I remember this:"  The Prophet Jeremiah was crying out about many of the trying experiences he faced earlier in this chapter.  BUT suddenly he remembered how Good God is!  He reminds himself that each day is a New Fresh Opportunity from the Lord.  It reminded me of Hebrews 11:6, "But without FAITH it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a REWARDER of them that diligently seek him."(KJV). 1 Timothy 6:17 say, "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor TRUST in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly ALL things to ENJOY;"(KJV).

Dare to Hope that this week will be amazing!  Enjoy the goodness of God in the Land of the Living!  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).   Mark 10:29-30 says, "And Jesus answered and said, "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold NOW in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Liar, Liar

 Happy Sunday!

"We believe men who witness in our courts, and so surely we can believe whatever God declares. And God declares that Jesus is his Son. All who believe this know in their hearts that it is true. If anyone doesn’t believe this, he is actually calling God a LIAR because he doesn’t believe what God has said about his Son."(1 John 5:9-10 Living Bible).

I know I have mentioned this many times, how my Mother called the television the "Idiot Box".  During childhood our television viewing was limited.  When we were privileged to watch television, it was shows she liked.  Perry Mason was a favorite.  If you are too young to know about the show, I'll fill you in.  Perry Mason was a successful Defense Attorney who wisely solved cases and always revealed the true criminal.  It may have been our first exposure to liars.  I was always amazed that the criminals would place their right hand on the Bible and swear to tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! But they would still easily lie.  It always makes me think about Revelation 21:8 that says, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and ALL LIARS, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."(KJV). OUCH!

Why did God through the Holy Spirit make a distinction about liars?  Great Question!  I'm so glad you asked!   "If God were your father,” said Jesus, “you would love me, for I came from God and arrived here. I didn’t come on my own. He sent me. Why can’t you understand one word I say? HERE'S WHY: You can’t handle it. You’re from your father, the Devil, and all you want to do is please him. He was a killer from the very start. He couldn’t stand the truth because there wasn’t a shred of truth in him. When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies. I arrive on the scene, tell you the plain truth, and you refuse to have a thing to do with me. Can any one of you convict me of a single misleading word, a single sinful act? But if I’m telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone on God’s side LISTENS to God’s WORDS. This is why you’re not listening—because you’re not on God’s side.”(John 8:42-47 Message).

The Word of God is His Testimony!  He is TRUTH!  When he says, "You will not die, but live", he can be trusted(Psalm 118:17).  When he says, "He will supply all your needs", you can rest on that promise(Philippians 4:19).  When he says, "His plans are for your good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" you can bank on it.(Jeremiah 29:11).

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"(Numbers 23:19 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Not Forsaken

Happy Sunday!

Happy Mother's Day!

"I once was young, now I’m a graybeard—not once have I seen an abandoned Believer, or his kids out roaming the streets.  EVERY DAY he’s out giving and lending, his children making him proud."(Psalm 37:25-26 Message)

You've probably heard these sayings, "I'm not new to this, I'm true to this" or "Been there, done that, and got the T-Shirt".  Both meaning that this is not my first life experience or the first time I've faced an issue or adversity.  The Psalmist was able to testify from his long life and experiences that God never abandons His Children!  Later the Prophet Isaiah said, "Weapons made to attack you won't be successful; words spoken against you WON'T hurt at all.  My servants, Jerusalem is yours! I, the Lord, PROMISE to bless you with Victory."(Isaiah 54:17 CEV).

GOD is Faithful!  GOD's Word is Truth!  GOD loves you more than your Mother can or ever could!  He's concerned about everything that concerns you! Philippians 1:6 says, "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work IN YOU would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."(Message).  1 Peter 5:7 says, "LET him have all your worries and cares, for he is ALWAYS thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you."(Living Bible).

Don't miss this!  You have to LET God have your worries and cares!  He won't force you to hand them over!  He won't snatch them away!  He gave you Free Will.  He respects your right to choose!  Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “Today I am giving you a choice of two ways. And I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses of your choice. You can choose LIFE or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose LIFE! Then you and your children will live."(Easy-to-Read Version).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

The Easy Answer

 Happy Sunday!

"Your WORDS are what sustain me; they are food to my hungry soul. They bring joy to my sorrowing heart and delight me. How proud I am to bear your name, O Lord."(Jeremiah 15:16 Living Bible).

I watched a Bible College graduation this evening.  The Valedictorian mentioned how one of the Pastors often encouraged them that the Word of God is the answer to any question, conundrum, or issue.  She recalled thinking, "It can't be that simple!"  But over the last few years she found that it is very simple!  It seems too easy, too good to be true!  It seems as if there should be 50 Steps to a Good Life, or an overwhelmingly hard process but it's not!  The Prophet Jeremiah knew it, King David knew it, and Jesus knew it!  My Mother-in-Law Minnie Pruitt used to say, "The Word is SO simple a child can understand it and a fool has no reason or excuse for error!"

The Psalmist said, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."(Psalm 119:11 KJV).  The Living Bible version of this scripture says it this way, "I have THOUGHT much about your words and STORED them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin."((Psalm 119:11 Living Bible).  Jesus said, "It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The WORDS (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life."(John 6:63 Amplified).

Think of it this way, if you have a prescription drug or a supplement it will do you no good if it stays in the bottle.  You have to open the bottle, and take it regularly.  Some medications must be taken BID(Twice Daily) or TID(Three Times a Day).  What would your Dr. say if you decided to take the medicine your own way?  He may be speaking at your funeral if you decide to do it anyway you like!  The Bible says, "My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my WORDS. Don’t let them out of your sight. Never stop thinking about them. These WORDS are the Secret of Life and Health to all who discover them. Above all, be careful what you THINK because your thoughts control your life."(Proverbs 4:20-23 Easy-to-Read Version).

What Word are you standing on this week?  I have so many, but one of my favorites is, "God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others."(2 Corinthians 9:8 CEV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia