Happy Sunday!
Have you ever been nosy? Curious? Inquisitive? Have you ever wanted to read a private letter, or email? You can tell me, I won't tell anyone. Just asking this question made me think of my Great Aunt Elizzie, and laugh. She told me that she always wanted to know what was going on in the family. Children back in her day were sent out of the room, or out of the house when the adults wanted to have a private conversation. She would go outside, and then go under the house and listen to her hearts' content. Have you ever seen a house in the country sitting up on cinder blocks? That's what I'd envision every time she'd tell me about it. I'd also envision spiders, fire ants, and other bugs being under the house, but I guess getting the "tea" was worth the risk.While reading the Word, I realized that the epistles while written to specific churches give us insight into their lives, and the things they did. Think about it. The Apostle Paul for instance was writing to the Philippians and mentioned how it had been a while since he'd received their last love offering. He also gave them the secret to living a joyful, and happy life. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is WRONG in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the RIGHT way to live."(Easy-to-Read Version).The Apostle Paul wrote, "How grateful I am and how I praise the Lord that you are helping me again. I know you have always been anxious to send what you could, but for a while you didn’t have the chance. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the SECRET of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power."(Philippians 4:10-13 Living Bible). Don't miss this! The Passion Translation says verse 13 like this, "I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty."When we understand that the power of Jesus Christ abides in us in the person of the Holy Spirit, we can be confident that we can overcome ANY difficulty. Jesus said, "I have told you all this so that you may find your peace IN ME. You will find trouble in the world—but, never lose heart, I have conquered the world!”(John 16:33 Phillips).Love and prayers, Cynthia
Happy Sunday!
Happy Father's Day! I'm so thankful for the wonderful fathers that read Happy Sunday each week! It's privilege to know fathers that love their children and grandchildren, and are responsible, protective, and caring. Our Father God has set the ultimate example, and has given the Holy Spirit to help when we need it. Luke 11:11-13 says, "Some of you are fathers, so ask yourselves this: if your son comes up to you and asks for a fish for dinner, will you give him a snake instead? If your boy wants an egg to eat, will you give him a scorpion? Look, all of you are flawed in so many ways, yet in spite of all your faults, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to all who ask!"(Voice).Don't miss this! Jesus is talking here. He asks, "How much more?" How much more will our Heavenly Father do for us? Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do FAR MORE than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes."(Living Bible). Psalms 4:6-8 says, "Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say. “More, more.” I have God’s more-than-enough, More JOY in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep. For you, God, have put my life back together."(Message). Ain't God Good? 1 John 4:4 says, "Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives IN you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world."(Amplified).I'm so thankful He's a Good, Good Father.Love and prayers, Cynthia
Happy Sunday!
"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation."(Psalm 91:14-16 KJV).Don't you just love Psalm 91? I do. It's full of great promises for the people of God. God gives us a list of all the things he will do for us when we abide in Him. Deliverance - "I will deliver him" - "When his people pray for help, he listens and rescues them from their troubles."(Psalm 34:17 CEV).Exaltation - "I will set him on high" - "So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time."(1 Peter 5:6 Message).Answers - "I will answer him" - "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened"(Matthew 7:7-8 KJV).Companionship - "I will be with him in trouble" - "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.(Hebrews 13:5 KJV).***More Deliverance - "I will deliver him" - "He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me."(Psalm 18:17 KJV).Honour - "and honor him" - "If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me [to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying] and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."(John 12:26 Amplified).Long Life - "With long life will I satisfy him" - "If they serve and obey him, he will make them successful and they will live a happy life."(Job 36:11 Easy-to-Read Version).Salvation - "shew him my salvation" - "You have shielded me with Your salvation, supporting me with Your strong right hand, and it makes me strong."(Psalm 18:35 Voice).That's GOOD News!Love and prayers, Cynthia
Happy Sunday!
"Look for the rainbow, and remember My promise. With it I sign the covenant I have made between Me and all the living creatures residing on the earth."(Genesis 9:17 Voice).In 1990, Coach Bill McCartney founded "Promise Keepers". The group focuses on helping men live with integrity. I first heard about them when my uncle, Lee A. Green Sr. attended one of the gatherings. In our humanness we often need help staying on the straight and narrow. But aren't you glad God never has a problem keeping His promises? Numbers 23:19 says, "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?"(KJV). In Isaiah 55:11, God says, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."(KJV). Maybe a little back story would be helpful. The inhabitants of the earth had become so evil. Genesis 6:5-7 says, "God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, “I’ll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I’m sorry I made them."(Message). "BUT there was one person whom the Lord could not let go of—Noah—because this man pleased Him."(Genesis 6:8 Voice). Another translation of verse 8 says, "But Noah was different. God liked what he saw in Noah."(Message).So Noah spent many, many years building an ark to God's specifications.The rains came, the people and all living creatures that were not in the ark were destroyed. After the floods receded, God made a promise to Noah, and all the living creatures on earth. He used the rainbow as a reminder to Himself and also to us. He vowed that the entire earth would not be destroyed again with water. Don't miss this! It won't be destroyed with water, but it can and will be destroyed. The Apostle Peter wrote, "They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word. Then God’s word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the Final FIRE. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics."(2 Peter 3:5-7 Message). OUCH!The Apostle Peter called it the "final fire". Have there been other fires? I'm so glad you asked. Long after Noah, God became friends with Abraham. God decided to share some information with His friend. Genesis 18:20-21 says, "So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are utterly evil, and that everything they do is wicked. I am going down to see whether these reports are true or not. Then I will know.”(Living Bible). Abraham had heard the reports as well, and he had family living there. So he began to bargain with God. He asked, “Lord, when you destroy the evil people, are you also going to destroy those who are good? Wouldn’t you spare the city if there are only fifty good people in it?"(Genesis 18:23-24 CEV). He went back and forth with God until he got down to 10. "Finally, Abraham said, “Please don’t get angry, Lord, if I speak just once more. Suppose you find only ten good people there.” “For the sake of ten good people,” the Lord told him, “I still won’t destroy the city.”(Genesis 18:32 CEV).Well, the cities were destroyed. So God couldn't even find 10 good people to justify saving them. Each book of the Bible has a representation, or type and shadow of Jesus. Jesus is our "Ark" of safety. When we accept Him we are protected from the coming calamity. The Apostle Paul said, "For in Him we live and move and have our being;"(Acts 17:28 Amplified). Sounds like a safe place to be.Love and prayers, Cynthia
