GREATER

 Happy Sunday!

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because GREATER is he that is in YOU, than he that is in the world."(1 John 4:4 KJV).

Does this scripture encourage you?  I hope so!  It encourages me in so many ways.  First, the Apostle John wasn't teaching a Children's Church, but he referred to the readers as "Little Children".  When we are Born Again, we are the children of God.   We can be as close to God as little children.  "Jesus called a small child over to him and set the little fellow down among them, and said, “Unless you TURN to God from your SINS and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, anyone who HUMBLES HIMSELF as this little child is the GREATEST in the Kingdom of Heaven."(Matthew 18:2-4 TLB).

Second, the Apostle understood that there are some unsavory characters in the world.  There are obstacles that we face, and issues will arise.  He wrote, "My dear friends, don’t BELIEVE everything you hear. Carefully WEIGH and EXAMINE what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God COMES from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world."(1 John 4:1 Message).   Mark 4:24 says, "And He said to them, be careful what you are HEARING. The MEASURE of THOUGHT and STUDY you give to the TRUTH you hear will be the measure of VIRTUE and KNOWLEDGE that comes back to you—and MORE besides will be given to you who hear."(AMPC).

Don't miss this!  We have a part to play in the Greater!  The Apostle Paul told Timothy, "STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY dividing the word of truth."(2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).  Study the Bible and learn the Truth.  Then do what James 4:7 says, "SUBMIT yourselves therefore to God. RESIST the devil, and he will flee from you."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

By Grace

 Happy Sunday!

"God saved YOU by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is NOT a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."(Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT).

"Once you were DEAD because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, OBEYING the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is THE spirit at work in the hearts of those who REFUSE to obey God.  ALL of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.  By our very NATURE we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

BUT God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us SO much, that even though we were dead because of OUR SINS, he gave us LIFE when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he RAISED us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 

So, God can point to US in all future ages as EXAMPLES of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as SHOWN in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus."(Ephesians 2:1-7 NLT).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

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