Harvest Time

 Happy Sunday!

"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."(Genesis 8:22 Amplified).

One of the content creators that I enjoy watching on YouTube has been harvesting various fruits and vegetables from her garden.  She is well versed in her growing zone, first frost date, and what the plants look like when they have "gone to seed".  She is excited to see items producing especially when she didn't think they would.  If you think green beans, cabbage and corn come from a can, you will be surprised to see how much work must be done during harvest season. LOL!

Jesus compared the Word of God to seeds being planted in the hearts of men.  He often spoke of the great harvest of souls.  John 4:34-36 says, "Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me, and from finishing his work. Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields of HUMAN SOULS are ripening all around us, and are ready now for reaping. The reapers will be paid good wages and will be gathering eternal souls into the granaries of heaven! What joys await the sower and the reaper, both together!"(Living Bible). 

Jesus always used parables and stories that incorporated things the listeners were familiar with.  For example he told this parable in Luke 12:16-21, "A wealthy man owned some land that produced a huge harvest. He often thought to himself, “I have a problem here. I don’t have anywhere to store all my crops. What should I do? I know! I’ll tear down my small barns and build even bigger ones, and then I’ll have plenty of storage space for my grain and all my other goods. Then I’ll be able to say to myself, ‘I have it made! I can relax and take it easy for years! So I’ll just sit back, eat, drink, and have a good time!’”  Then God interrupted the man’s conversation with himself. “Excuse Me, Mr. Brilliant, but your time has come. Tonight you will die. Now who will enjoy everything you’ve earned and saved?” This is how it will be for people who accumulate huge assets for themselves but have no assets in relation to God."(Voice).

How can we make sure we have assets in heaven?  Great question.  I'm so glad you asked.  Matthew 13:23 says, "The good ground represents the heart of a man who listens to the message and understands it and goes out and brings thirty, sixty, or even a hundred OTHERS into the Kingdom.”(Living Bible).  Jesus said, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”(NLT).

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."(Matthew 6:33 NLT).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Bless The Lord

 Happy Sunday!

"O my soul, come, praise the Eternal with all that is in me—body, emotions, mind, and will—every part of who I am— praise His holy name.  O my soul, come, praise the Eternal; sing a song from a grateful heart; sing and never forget all the good He has done.  Despite all your many offenses, He forgives and releases you. More than any doctor, He heals your diseases. He reaches deep into the pit to deliver you from death. He crowns you with unfailing love and compassion like a king.  When your soul is famished and withering, He fills you with good and beautiful things, satisfying you as long as you live."(Psalm 103:1-5 Voice).

The Psalmist commanded his soul to "Bless the Lord".  There are times when we need a little motivation, and inspiration.  Many times we have to encourage ourselves.  Don't worry we are in good company in this, King David had to do the same.  1 Samuel 30:6 says, "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David ENCOURAGED himself in the Lord his God."(KJV).

To stay encouraged we must Glorify God, remain Thankful, and Think on and Imagine Good things.  Glorifying God is easy.  Bring to remembrance who He is and what He has done.  In the early 1990's I made photo copies of prayers from the book called, Prayers That Avail Much by Germaine Copeland.  It belonged to my Aunt Theaha.  Later a dear friend, Nancy bought me my own leather bound copy! One of the prayers involves the names of God.  Rehearsing the names encourages me and reminds me of how God has been all of these in my life.  For example, Jehovah Jireh means My Provider; Jehovah Shalom means My Peace; Jehovah Rapha means My Healer; El Shaddai means the Breasted One Full of Blessings.  I could go on but I hope you see the benefit of Glorying God.

To stay encouraged we must remain thankful.  Saying Thank You is not outdated or out of style.  I still send hand written Thank You Cards, and just yesterday I received the most beautiful hand-made Thank You card from my niece, Gretchen.  In 2 Timothy 3:2 the Apostle Paul wrote to his son in the ministry, Timothy.  He described what people would be like in the end times, "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, UNTHANKFUL, unholy,"(KJV).  Don't be like these people.  Instead, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."(1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV).

To stay encouraged we must think on and imagine good things.  Philippians 4:8 says, "And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: 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."(Living Bible).  It's been said that our lives are going in the direction of our dominant thoughts.  Don't miss this!  What you think, you will become.  That's why it's important to know what God's Word says about you, and to agree with what he has declared.  Forget about all the negative that has been spoken to you or about you.  Think on GOOD things.  Imagine them.  See yourself healed, prosperous, and joyful.  Jesus said, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."(Mark 11:24 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

God is NOT a Liar!

 Happy Sunday!

"True, some of them were unfaithful, but just because they broke their promises to God, does that mean God will break his promises? Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is not. Do you remember what the book of Psalms says about this? That God’s words will always prove true and right, no matter who questions them."(Romans 3:3-4 Living Bible).

Don't miss this!  God's Word will always be true no matter who disputes it, disparages it, or disbelieves it.  That's very, very Good News considering all the bad news in the world.  If you have questions, ask God.  The Apostle James was inspired to write, "And if, in the process, any of you does not know how to meet any particular problem he has only to ask God—who gives generously to all men without making them feel foolish or guilty—and he may be quite sure that the necessary wisdom will be given him."(James 1:5 Phillips).

Are you worried about tomorrow?  Jesus said, "Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ That’s what those people who DON'T know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need."(Matthew 6:31-33 Easy-to-Read Version).

The Apostle Peter encourages us, "Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries. Most importantly, be disciplined and stay on guard. Your enemy the devil is prowling around outside like a roaring lion, just waiting and hoping for the chance to devour someone."(1 Peter 5:7-8 Voice).  God is a GOOD father.  Clear your mind of any bad memories of other fathers, and see Him as the Perfect, Loving, Caring, and Providing Father He is.  The Amplified Version of verse 7 says, "He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."

Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah and the wonderful things His anointing would do for us. Here are just a few of them, "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."(Isaiah 61:3 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

He's The Light

 Happy Sunday!

"You, Lord, are the LIGHT that keeps me SAFE. I am not afraid of anyone. You PROTECT me, and I have no fears. Brutal people may attack and try to kill me, but they will stumble.  Fierce enemies may attack, but they will fall. Armies may surround me, but I won't be afraid; war may break out, but I will TRUST you."(Psalm 27:1-3 CEV).

Are you afraid of the dark?  In the modern world with street lights, headlights, and motion sensors we rarely experience total darkness.  If you are privileged to live in the country or in wide open spaces without light pollution you may experience darkness, but hopefully you enjoy great views of the stars and planets as well.  This first scripture reminded me of the stories my mother-in-law told me about walking home after dark in Mississippi.  Just hearing it frightened me.  I always imagined vicious animals or bad people lurking in the darkness.  I am so glad to have been born when I was. We even have flashlights on our phones. LOL!

The psalmist recalled how God was his light and his salvation.  GOD is our light and our salvation as well.  1 John 1:5 says, "This is the message God has given us to pass on to you: that God is Light and in him is no darkness at all."(Living Bible).  Don't miss this! Light reveals things, and shows us the way.  Light dispels darkness, and will keep evil away.  He is also our salvation.  You remember the word salvation means wholeness: nothing missing, nothing broken. Psalm 34:19 says, "The good man does not escape all troubles—he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one."(Living Bible). 

Knowing that God is our Light gives us courage and hope. The psalmist said, "Life will go well for those who freely lend and are honest in business. They won't ever be troubled, and the kind things they do will never be forgotten. Bad news won't bother them; they have decided to TRUST the Lord."(Psalm 112:5-7 CEV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia