Happy Sunday!
Where will your future come from? by Barry Bennett
If you are like me, you think about the future. You try to imagine what is in store for your family, your job, your living situation and your health. Normal people desire a happy, prosperous future. But is there anything we can do about it?
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45)
In every heart there exists a ‘treasure.’ This treasure can consist of good or evil. Proverbs 4:23 tells us; ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.’ Why is the heart so important? Because the heart is the true source of man’s life and future. It is the heart that decides whether we live by the Spirit or by the flesh. It is in the heart that thoughts are conceived, emotions are nurtured or ignored, and actions are born.
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” (Mt. 15:19)
In other words, your future resides in your heart. Your future consists of thoughts, words and actions that have yet to be expressed. You can allow your heart to be a warehouse for the past; a storehouse of the hurts, the anger, the offenses, failures and memories that you choose to live from. Or, it can be a factory of faith for the future. Your treasure can consist of the promises of God, your identity in Christ, a vision of success, the expectation of goodness and mercy and the actions of kindness. In your heart reside the ‘issues of life.’
You are the creator of your future. You have sovereign control over your thoughts, words and actions. How you respond to the circumstances in this fallen world is up to you. Fill the treasure of your heart with the seed of God’s Word and decide to create an overcoming future. - Barry Bennett
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Joys of Life
Happy Sunday!
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”(Psalm 16:11, KJV).
This is one of my favorite scriptures. Another translation of this scripture says, “You have let me experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasures of your own eternal presence.”(Living Bible). I’m so very thankful the God has let me experience the joys of life...this life and eternal life.
Last week, I was blessed to be able to travel to Japan with my daughter, Christina. It was more than amazing! She taught Conversational English in Himeji, Japan to High School, College, and Community students for 2 years. She’s been back home in the USA since August of last year. We went to Himeji to celebrate the wedding of her dear friend, Kana.
Her friends, students, and colleagues were loving, considerate, and thoughtful. They all echoed the same sentiment. They love Christina and continued to tell me how “lucky” and blessed I am to have such a wonderful daughter. I’m so very thankful to my Father God for bringing us to this point. We have not always had an easy life, but God has always been faithful! I thank him for bringing us through, and prospering us to do what seemed unimaginable at one time.
Another favorite scripture is...Ephesians 3:20. It says, “Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,”(Amplified).
Enough said.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Monday, March 18, 2019
Got Word?
Happy Sunday!
I'm challenging my students in Children's Church. If you have ever been my student, you will be familiar with the fun, and the fabulous prizes. Today a few of my students recited the Books of the Bible in order, and one recited Psalm 91. It was inspirational and the level of competition has been increased.
Psalm 91:14-16 says, “Because he clings to Me in love, I will rescue him from harm; I will set him above danger. Because he has known Me by name, He will call on Me, and I will answer. I’ll be with him through hard times; I’ll rescue him and grant him honor. I’ll reward him with many good years on this earth and let him witness My salvation.”(Voice). What awesome promises are contained in the Word of God! I'm working hard to encourage my students to love the Word, and understand that the Bible is not just a book.
In John 6:63, Jesus said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE."(KJV).
"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he’s asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things."(1 Peter 3:8-12, Message).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
I'm challenging my students in Children's Church. If you have ever been my student, you will be familiar with the fun, and the fabulous prizes. Today a few of my students recited the Books of the Bible in order, and one recited Psalm 91. It was inspirational and the level of competition has been increased.
Psalm 91:14-16 says, “Because he clings to Me in love, I will rescue him from harm; I will set him above danger. Because he has known Me by name, He will call on Me, and I will answer. I’ll be with him through hard times; I’ll rescue him and grant him honor. I’ll reward him with many good years on this earth and let him witness My salvation.”(Voice). What awesome promises are contained in the Word of God! I'm working hard to encourage my students to love the Word, and understand that the Bible is not just a book.
In John 6:63, Jesus said, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE."(KJV).
"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he’s asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things."(1 Peter 3:8-12, Message).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Don't Forget!
Happy Sunday!
"The Eternal your God promised your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you this land. When He brings you into it, you’ll live in beautiful and spacious cities you didn’t build. You’ll have houses filled with good things waiting for you—cisterns to hold water already dug out of the rock for you, and vineyards and olive orchards that you didn’t plant. You’ll have all you want to eat and more. When this happens, be very, very careful! Don’t forget it was the Eternal who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves."(Deuteronomy 6:10-12, Voice).
Don't forget who brought you out!
So many scriptures encourage us to remember, and not forget all the good things that the Lord has done. Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, "Don’t let the excitement of being young cause you to forget about your Creator. Honor him in your youth before the evil years come—when you’ll no longer enjoy living."(Living Bible). We are prone to forget. But meditating on the good things and recalling them can encourage us, and strengthen our faith.
Lamentations 3:20-22 says, "I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on HOPE: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left."(Message).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
"The Eternal your God promised your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that He would give you this land. When He brings you into it, you’ll live in beautiful and spacious cities you didn’t build. You’ll have houses filled with good things waiting for you—cisterns to hold water already dug out of the rock for you, and vineyards and olive orchards that you didn’t plant. You’ll have all you want to eat and more. When this happens, be very, very careful! Don’t forget it was the Eternal who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves."(Deuteronomy 6:10-12, Voice).
Don't forget who brought you out!
So many scriptures encourage us to remember, and not forget all the good things that the Lord has done. Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, "Don’t let the excitement of being young cause you to forget about your Creator. Honor him in your youth before the evil years come—when you’ll no longer enjoy living."(Living Bible). We are prone to forget. But meditating on the good things and recalling them can encourage us, and strengthen our faith.
Lamentations 3:20-22 says, "I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed. I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on HOPE: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left."(Message).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)