Trust and Obey

 Happy Sunday!

"And remember, it is a message to OBEY, not just to listen to. So don’t fool yourselves. For if a person just listens and doesn’t obey, he is like a man looking at his face in a mirror; as soon as he walks away, he can’t see himself anymore or remember what he looks like. But if anyone keeps looking steadily into God’s law for free men, he will not only remember it but he will do what it says, and God will greatly bless him in everything he does."(James 1:22-25 Living Bible).

Like any good parent, God wants us to listen, and obey.  He only has our best interest at heart, and he knows that our enemy only wants to steal, kill, and destroy us.(John 10:10).  The Children of Israel wanted to be like other nations. They begged for a king.  God allowed them to have a king.  Their King Saul started out on the right path, but he later disobeyed God.  He thought his way of doing things was better, and more logical.  Proverbs 14:12-13 says, "There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell.  Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak."(Message).

After King Saul disobeyed God, the Prophet Samuel confronted him.  "Samuel replied, “Has the Lord as much pleasure in your burnt offerings and sacrifices as in your obedience? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. He is much more interested in your listening to him than in your offering the fat of rams to him."(1 Samuel 15:22 Living Bible).  Don't miss this!  Doing what God says is even more important than offerings.  Makes sense that the Apostle Paul would say, "I could give all that I have to feed the poor, I could surrender my body to be burned as a martyr, but if I do not live in love, I gain nothing by my selfless acts."(1 Corinthians 13:3 Voice).  Jesus said, "If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you."(John 14:15 Message).

The songwriter wrote, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey".

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Stay Joyful

 Happy Sunday!

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.  And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."(Philippians 4:6-7 Amplified).

The Apostle Paul was great at encouraging others!  It's important to remember that he was a prisoner during the times that he wrote the letters that make up a good deal of what is called the New Testament.  He was familiar with opposition but he knew how to be joyful.  He knew that it is possible to have joy no matter what you may be facing.  He wrote, "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!"(vs 4-5 Message).

His prescription for Joy is Pray Right, Think Right, and Live Right! 

Pray Right - There are many kinds of prayer.  It's important to know which kind of prayer is needed at any given time.  In verse 6 he mentions, "prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."(KJV).  For example, when using the Prayer of Faith(James 5:15) you would not repeat the prayer again, that would reveal your lack of faith.  But daily you would thank God that what you asked for is already accomplished(Mark 11:24).  And when praying for the salvation of another person, you can repeat a prayer because you are not in charge of their will.  Your can daily bind Satan, who is the god of this evil world, and declare that the blinders he has used to make them unable to see the glorious light of the Gospel that is shining upon them be removed, and that they will understand the amazing message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is God.(2 Corinthians 4:4 Living Bible).

Think Right - How you think, and what you think are a matter of life and death.  Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:"(KJV).  Job said, "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me."(Job 3:25 KJV).  The Apostle Paul knew this, and encouraged the believers to, "Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about."(vs 8 Living Bible).  Don't miss this!  He didn't say everything had to be going your way to think positively.  It may take effort on your part, but do what you need to do to keep your mind and thoughts on good things.

Live Right - Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."(KJV).  1 John 3 :8 says, "The devil has been sinning since the beginning. Anyone who CONTINUES to sin belongs to the devil. The Son of God came for this: to destroy the devil’s work."(Easy-to-Read Version).  In verse 9, he goes on to say, "Keep to the script: whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me—do it—and the God of peace will walk with you."(Voice).  I like that this version says, "script".  It makes me think of an actor.  The word "Hypocrite" is defined as "a person who ACTS in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings".  Living Right means acting right, being right, and doing right based on the Word of God.

How can you stay full of joy this week?  Glad you asked!  Pray Right, Think Right, and Live Right!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Please Don't Send Me To Africa

Happy Sunday!

Happy Independence Day!

I accepted Jesus as my savior as a 5 year old child at First Baptist Church of Chesterfield.  I believed the Bible stories taught to me by my parents, my Sunday School Teacher, Mother Gertie Moore, and my Pastor Reverend Theoplis Peoples Jr.   But even more than this, I believed the testimony of a Missionary from Africa, named Steven.  In my little heart, I knew that someone needed to go help the people in Africa. I didn't know it was a continent with many countries back then.  But I had no desire to go to Africa myself.  They were collecting money to buy food for the people, and dolls for the little girls.  I thought, "What kind of place could they be in where little girls like me didn't even have dolls?"  I had a plethora of dolls, even enough for my little brothers to play with and bite the toes off of my Barbies. LOL!  I understood even at a young age, that this place that I was blessed to live in, is a GOOD place.  I laughed years later when Scott Wesley sang the funny song, "Please Don't Send Me To Africa".  I will do everything you ask me to right here Lord.  I must say, I have changed my mind and there are several African nations I would like to visit someday.  I have some very special friends, and several ministries in Africa I'd like to visit in person.

Fast forward many years, and I still believe that this is the greatest country on earth.  Have I been hurt?  Yes. Have I had things, and years stolen from me? For sure! Have I been passed over, looked over, and disregarded?  Of course!  But do I blame a whole nation for my misfortune, my sadness, or inconvenience?  NO!  I thank God everyday that I am here and that I have the freedom to live a godly life.  I have the freedom to make choices, and changes.  I still believe that I can "Be All That I Can Be", and that no one on earth can stop me but me.  The Apostle Paul said, "I do concentrate on this: I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal—my reward the honour of being called by God in Christ."(Philippians 3:13-14 Phillips).

We are so blessed.  Even if you consider yourself poor, millions upon millions in the world consider what we have to be riches.  What other country are people risking life and limb to immigrate to?  Others can often see what we have overlooked.  The Psalmist said, "I will bless the Lord at ALL times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."(Psalm 34:1 KJV).  Do you think the psalmist never had a bad day?  Do you think everything went well in his life?  Think again.  Drop down to verse 6, and he says, "I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the Lord saved me from all my troubles."(CEV).  Dean Martin sang, "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You".  It's so true, but do you realize that you are loved?  John 3:16 says, "For God SO Loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."(KJV).

The Message Translation says it this way, "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him."(John 3:16-18).

Celebrating Independence Day!  Celebrating Life!  Celebrating Jesus!

Love and prayers, Cynthia