Rewarder

 Happy Sunday!

"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."(Hebrews 11:6 KJV).

I grew up watching "Westerns", movies and television shows portraying the lives of Cowboys.  Generally, it was good versus evil.  The good guys would be out to get the bad guys, and many times there was a reward involved. The signs would be posted.  "Wanted Dead Or Alive" with the value or price on the head of the wanted individual.  Finding these criminals was never easy.  There were long hot dusty rides on horseback, primitive meals over campfires, and gunfights.  But the one responsible for the capture would receive the reward.  I bet you are wondering how I got way over there after reading this scripture.  God is a Rewarder!  He rewards us for doing, living, and being right or righteous.

Jesus told the people, "Here is the bottom line: do not worry about your life. Don’t worry about what you will eat or what you will drink. Don’t worry about how you clothe your body. Living is about more than merely eating, and the body is about more than dressing up."(Matthew 6:25 Voice).  Don't miss this!  He didn't say these things are not important.  He said there are other things that are MORE important.  Matthew 6:30-33 makes it a little clearer, “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."(Message).

Take time to do a search.  The word reward is all over the Bible.  God rewards those who do right, and he also rewards those who do evil.  I definitely want to stay on the right side for the good rewards!  Don't you?

Love and prayers, Cynthia

GO

Happy Sunday!

"The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It’s written,

I’ll turn conventional wisdom on its head,
I’ll expose so-called experts as shams.

So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered stupid—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation."(1 Corinthians 1:18-21 Message).

Psalm 18:30 says, "Everything God does is perfect; the promise of the Eternal rings true; He stands as a shield for all who hide in Him."(Voice). No matter what we think or how we feel, God's way is perfect.  He has a plan and His plans always succeed.  He determined that preaching would be the way that men and women would hear about the saving power of Jesus.  That's why it's so important that we tell others about Jesus.  Jesus commanded us to do it, "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).

Maybe, you're thinking, "I'm not a preacher!"  Sure, you may not be a part of the 5-Fold ministry: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.(Ephesians 4:11). BUT you are still required to tell others about Jesus.  Jesus said your life should be a daily sermon to those around you.  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."(Matthew 5:16 KJV).  We also have the opportunity to partner with ministries that are doing the things Jesus said were important.  Remember Jesus applauded those that did the following things, "For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes;  naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me."(Matthew 25:35-36 Living Bible).

Let's get going!

Love and prayers, Cynthia 

Transformed

Happy Sunday!

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity."(Romans 12:1-2 Phillips).

God is all about proof!  If you believe and trust Him there should be evidence in your life.  Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."(John 14:15 KJV).  I enjoy renovation shows, and most things with Before and After pictures.  It's encouraging to see how a house, a car, or a human body can be transformed.  But any transformation requires action.  For a house it may require gutting the interior, rebuilding walls, replacing flooring, and painting. For a car it may require replacing parts, fabricating other parts, sanding and painting.  For a human body it may require a change of mind, exercise, a change in eating habits, and refusing things that are detrimental to health. 

Romans 12:1 in the Living Bible says, "And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy—the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?"  Sacrifices in the Old Testament had to be perfect.  No blemishes, no defects, and no injuries.  The Prophet Malachi rebuked the people for not bringing their best to God.  “When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you’re trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn’t that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you."(Malachi 1:8 Message).

We don't have to bring live animals to God anymore because Jesus became the Ultimate Sacrifice.  BUT God wants our lives.  When we give Him our lives he blesses us exceedingly abundantly more than we can ever ask, think, or imagine!(Ephesians 3:20).  He renovates, and improves our lives and everyone can see the Before and After!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Daily Choices

 Happy Sunday!

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you that today I have set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Oh, that you would choose life; that you and your children might live!"(Deuteronomy 30:19 Living Bible).

The Commentary included with the Voice Translation says, "Covenants between two people are typically witnessed by a third party. If one person doesn’t live up to his obligations and tries to argue that it was not necessary, the other person can then appeal to the witness to confirm the original terms of the agreement. Moses calls on the sky and the land to be the witnesses here. They will always be around to testify about the covenant terms that were offered to the people and how they agreed to them."  The heavens and the earth are still around and watching, and hearing the choices we make. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."(KJV).

Choosing life is a daily exercise!  Jesus said, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;  Men's hearts FAILING them for FEAR, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."(Luke 21:25-26 KJV). The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."(2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).  Daily we have to choose to trust God, and not fear. 

God has given us a Holy Cheat Sheet.  We have the Bible full of Godly Wisdom, and human examples of what will work and what will not work.  It's like an open book test.  But sadly open book tests don't make it easier for the students if they never read the book.  2 Timothy 2:15 says, "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."(Amplified).

Finally, Deuteronomy 30:19 says our choice affects our children.  Most parents want the best for their children.  I remember talking to my Great Aunt Pearl. She talked about getting Hostess Snack Cakes for her children.  She said, "I wanted MY children to have them too!"  Not sure who the other children that had them were, but she didn't want her children to miss out.  I got to enjoy the snack cakes when I visited them on Ramsey Lane.  God promises that when we choose life, we will live and so will our children. John 10:10 says, Jesus came to give us abundant life.  He wants the best for us, but he won't force it on us...we have to choose it.

Choosing Life Daily.

Love and prayers, Cynthia