You Must Choose

Happy Sunday!  

Happy New Year!

“This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can OBEY it."

“Now listen! Today I am giving you a CHOICE between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will LIVE and MULTIPLY, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy."

“But if your heart turns away and you refuse to LISTEN, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy."

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you LOVE and OBEY the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”(Deuteronomy 30:11-20 NLT).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Great JOY

Happy Sunday!

Merry Christmas!

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."(Matthew 2:10 KJV).

Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden, saw one son kill the other son, and experienced sadness and death.  These are things that no parent, and definitely no Loving God wants to see their child go through.  BUT God had a plan.  Genesis 3:14-15 says, "And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."(KJV).  It took 42 Generations, but Jesus came to earth, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died a criminals death, and rose again from the dead!  This is the Gospel, the Good News, that brings us great joy!

Isaac Watts wrote, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n and nature sing,
and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing."

Knowing that Jesus has come, and will soon come again should bring us great joy!  There's Hope!  We don't have to wait for joy in the sweet by and by!  We can have joy, healing, prosperity and wholeness in the nasty now and now!  We can enjoy what Adam and Eve forfeited; Heaven on Earth!

How can we have Heaven on Earth?  Great Question!  I'm so glad you asked!  Jesus said, "If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."(John 15:7 Amplified).  The NLT version says it like this, "But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!"  Don't miss this!  The Words we hear and the Words we speak will determine the kind of life we ENJOY! 

"For a man’s words depend on what fills his heart. A good man gives out good—from the goodness stored in his heart; a bad man gives out evil—from his store of evil. I tell you that men will have to answer at the day of judgment for every careless WORD they utter—for it is your words that will acquit you, and your words that will condemn you.”(Matthew 12:35-37 Phillips).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Be KIND Like God

 Happy Sunday!

"Don’t you see how wonderfully KIND, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his KINDNESS is intended to turn you from your sin?"(Romans 2:4 NLT).

The Apostle Paul encourages us in Ephesians 4:32, "And be ye KIND one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."(KJV).  What does it mean to be kind?  The Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines it as, "Disposed to do good to others, and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress; having tenderness or goodness of nature; benevolent; benignant".   Such a beautiful definition!

God is KIND, and he wants us to follow his example.  Ephesians 5:1-2 says, "Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance."(Amplified).

One of my personal Christmas traditions is listening to James Brown's Soulful Christmas album!  Don't laugh!  No one can beg Santa Claus to go straight to the Ghetto like James Brown!  One song is entitled, "Sweet Little Baby Boy".  In his own unique way James Brown reminds us of the greatest kindness anyone has ever shown us!  God leads by example!  Romans 5:6-8 says, "Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him."(Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Get Acquainted

 Happy Sunday!

"Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at PEACE: thereby GOOD shall come unto thee.

Receive, I pray thee, the LAW from his mouth, and lay up his words IN thine heart.

If thou RETURN to the Almighty, thou shalt be BUILT UP, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

Yea, the Almighty shall be thy DEFENSE, and thou shalt have PLENTY of silver.

For then shalt thou have thy DELIGHT in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall HEAR thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

Thou shalt also DECREE a thing, and it shall be ESTABLISHED unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

When men are cast down, then THOU shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person."(Job 22:21-29 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Every Detail

 Happy Sunday!

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."(Psalm 37:23 NLT).

God cares about every detail of our lives!  Don't miss this!  Our enemy wants us to think that no one cares, and nobody knows what we are dealing with!  BUT that's a lie!  God has already said, "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."(Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).

Whose report will you believe?  Proverbs 3:7-8 says, "Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have HEALING for your body and STRENGTH for your bones."(NLT).  Philippians 4:19 says, "My God will supply ALL that you need from his glorious resources in Christ Jesus."(Phillips).  Psalm 84:11 says, "For the Eternal God is a sun and a shield. The Eternal grants favor and glory; He doesn’t deny ANY good thing to those who live with Integrity."(Voice).

Psalm 115:14 says, "The Lord shall INCREASE you more and more, you and your children."(KJV).  1 Peter 2:24 says, "He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds YOU ARE HEALED."(NLT).  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are ALIVE and REMAIN shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we EVER BE with the Lord."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Show Me The Power!

 Happy Sunday!

"For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s POWER."(1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT).

We Christians are expected to walk by Faith, while the world walks by sight and by the flesh. Signs and Wonders are given by God to get the attention of the world.  John 6:2 says, "A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick."(NLT).  Don't miss this!  When Jesus healed them ALL, word got out and multitudes came!  Don't think this ended with Jesus either!  Acts 8:5-6 says, "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, HEARING, and SEEING the MIRACLES which he did."(KJV).

In Acts 1:7-9, "Jesus said, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.  But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth". And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."(KJV).

"Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows NO Favoritism.  In every nation he ACCEPTS those who fear him and DO what is RIGHT. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with POWER. Then Jesus went around DOING GOOD and HEALING all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."(Acts 10:34-38 NLT).

What has this got to do with us?  Great question!  I'm so glad you asked!  The early Believer's were called Christians because they went about doing what Jesus had done.  He has given us His Power and Authority and He expects us to be His agents in the world!  Just as he told the Disciples, He tells us through His Word, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."(Matthew 10:8 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

No BOTOX Needed

 Happy Sunday!

"How wonderful to be WISE, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person’s face, softening its harshness."(Ecclesiastes 8:1 NLT).

Have you ever seen someone and thought, "They've had a hard life"?  Have you ever seen a person who is happy now, but used to be sad?  Sure you have.  You may have even said, "Something is different about you! You look younger!"  The Voice Translation says it like this, "Wisdom brightens the countenance of the face, and SOFTENS hard lines etched in the face."(Ecclesiastes 8:1).  No need for BOTOX when Wisdom is available! LOL!

Wisdom is "the right use or exercise of knowledge".(Websters Dictionary 1828).  Don't miss this!  Wisdom is knowing how to properly use the knowledge you have.  Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me."(NLT).  Knowing God is the most important thing.  Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."(KJV).

Dr. Bill Winston has a prayer on his web site that includes these phrases, "always in the right place at the right time, with the right information and the right understanding".  Read that again if you need to!  That's Wisdom!  That should be our prayer.  We want to be open to learn, and capable of using what we learn!  We should be the BEST in everything we do!  Daniel is a great Biblical example.  The Word says, "And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them TEN TIMES BETTER than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm."(Daniel 1:20 KJV).

Proverbs 4:7 says, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Fighting to Keep Your Healing

 Happy Sunday!

"This is what the Lord says: “Bad things will happen to those who put their trust in people. Bad things will happen to those who depend on human strength. That is because they have stopped trusting the Lord."(Jeremiah 17:5 Easy-to-Read Version).

The Gospel is always Good News!  There comes a time when we need a reminder that there are some bad things in the world!  The old saints used to say we won't always walk around on "flower beds of ease"!  Brother Kenneth Hagin used to say, "Blessings and Good Things weren't just going to fall on us like ripe cherries falling from a tree!  We have our part to play in the grand scheme of things.  We are in a battle.  The Apostle Paul encouraged us, "Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, just as I do; and as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot SATISFY the one who has enlisted you in his army.  Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the Rules or is DISQUALIFIED and wins no prize. Work hard like a farmer who gets paid well if he raises a large crop. Think over these three illustrations, and may the Lord help you to understand how they apply to you."(2 Timothy 2:3-7 Living Bible).

Don't miss this!  Suffering for the Gospel doesn't mean we have to accept everything that comes our way!  Acts 10:38 says, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing GOOD, and Healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."(KJV).  Jesus healed everyone, and the Bible tells us those that were sick were oppressed by the Devil!  God didn't put sickness on people to teach them anything!  The Devil puts sickness on people to "steal, kill, and destroy" them.(John 10:10). We are not the sick trying to get healed, we are the well fighting to keep our healing!  Jesus already paid the price for our Healing!

Isaiah 53:4-5 says, "He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us COMPLETELY WELL."(CEV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

No Waste

 Happy Sunday!

"So, my dear brothers, since future Victory is SURE, be strong and steady, always abounding in the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted as it would be if there were no resurrection."(1 Corinthians 15:58 Living Bible).

Have you ever felt like your time has been wasted?  Sure you have!  A contractor didn't show up or complete a job.  A co-worker or teammate didn't do their portion of the assignment.  It's happened to most of us!  You may even feel you wasted time in some relationships.  BUT the Apostle Paul gives us GOOD News!  Nothing we ever do for the Lord is wasted!  

Hebrews 6:10 says, "God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it."(Message).  Galatians 6:7 says, "Make no mistake: God can’t be mocked. What you give is what you get. What you sow, you harvest."(Voice).  Don't miss this!  We tend to think of this in the negative, but let's be positive. ALL the GOOD that you have sown into the lives of others you will harvest.  Bishop Otis A. Eanes of the Illinois Southeast Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ used to say, "People don't have to do anything for you!"  If someone is kind to you and shares what they have with you, that's a Blessing!  

Matthew 6:2-4 says, "So, when you do good to other people, don’t hire a trumpeter to go in front of you—like those play-actors in the synagogues and streets who make sure that men admire them. Believe me, they have had all the reward they are going to get! No, when you give to charity, don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be secret. Your Father who knows all secrets will REWARD you."(Phillips).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Don't Faint!

 Happy Sunday!

"We wish you could SEE how all this is working out for your benefit, and how the more grace God gives, the more thanksgiving will redound to his glory. THIS is the REASON why we NEVER collapse. The outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength. These little troubles (which are really so transitory) are winning for us a permanent, glorious and solid reward out of all proportion to our pain. For we are looking all the time not at the visible things but at the invisible. The visible things are transitory: it is the invisible things that are really permanent."(2 Corinthians 4:15-18 Phillips).

I searched in the Bible App for the word, "faint".  This scripture was one of the results.  It can be easy to let the day to day issues of life get you down!  So many things are happening in our world, and even in our families.  The Psalmist said, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  He had good reason to faint, collapse, or give up BUT he had HOPE!  He Expected to SEE God's Goodness NOW in this Life!  

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."(John 14:1 KJV).  It's possible to live worry free!  Jesus gave us the steps: Believe in God, and Believe in Me!  If we believe GOD we will believe His Word.  Jesus is called the Word.  To live in a troubled world and not be troubled we must have the Word.  No, not just a Bible on the coffee table in the living room, we must have the Word hidden in our hearts.(Psalm 119:11).

1 Peter 5:7, "Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you."(Living Bible).

Love and prayers, Cynthia 

Think

 Happy Sunday!

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an OFFERING. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even THINKING. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily RECOGNIZE what he wants from you, and QUICKLY respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."(Romans 12:1-2 Message).

Have you ever watched something, or heard something and thought, "What were they thinking?"  Of course, we all have.  People do strange things.  Many times without "thinking".  God wants us to think!  He wants us to be alert, and aware.  He has given us His Word, The Holy Bible to help us but sadly many see it as just another book!  ALL of the things we see happening in the world today have been spoken of in the Bible.  Jesus said, "When the Son of Man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived."(Matthew 24:37 CEV).

How were things when Noah lived?  Genesis 6:5 says, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was ONLY EVIL continually."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  Before the Flood, humans were just like the Apostle Paul said they would be in the end times.  2 Timothy 3:1-5 says, "You may as well know this too, Timothy, that in the last days it is going to be very difficult to be a Christian. For people will love only themselves and their money; they will be proud and boastful, sneering at God, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful to them, and thoroughly bad. They will be hardheaded and never give in to others; they will be constant LIARS and troublemakers and will think nothing of immorality. They will be rough and cruel, and sneer at those who try to be good. They will betray their friends; they will be hotheaded, puffed up with pride, and prefer good times to worshiping God. They will go to church, yes, but they won’t really believe anything they hear. Don’t be taken in by people like that."(Living Bible).

I can't speak for you, but I'm endeavoring to Believe what I hear from the Word of God.  When we truly believe the Word, we will live  it and speak it.  John 14:21 says, "The one who loves Me will do the things I have commanded. My Father loves everyone who loves Me; and I will love you and reveal My heart, will, and nature to you."(Voice).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Don't Be Useless!

 Happy Sunday!

"He says to the vineyard keeper, “Look at this tree. For three years, I’ve come hoping to find some fresh figs, but what do I find? Nothing. So just go ahead and cut it down. Why waste the space with a FRUITLESS tree?”(Luke 13:7 Voice).

The very first command God gave to mankind is found in Genesis, not in Exodus with the Ten Commandments!  Genesis 1:22 says, "And God blessed them, saying, Be Fruitful, and Multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth."(KJV).  Being fruitful or productive is important to God. Multiplication is important to God.  So many of the parables Jesus used to teach the people revolve around productivity, performance, and increase.  For example, The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30.  An employer gave three amounts to his employees based on their ability.  Two of them increased the amounts and when the employer returned they had multiplied what they were given and were commended!  The third refused to be fruitful, and hid what he was given. 

"You’re a Wicked, Lazy servant!’ his master told him. ‘You say you knew that I reap where I never sowed and collect where I never laid out? Then you ought to have put my money in the Bank, and when I came out I should at any rate have received what belongs to me with interest. Take his thousand pounds away from him and give it to the man who now has the ten thousand!’ (For the man who has something will have more given to him and will have plenty. But as for the man who has nothing, even his ‘nothing’ will be taken away.) ‘And throw this Useless servant into the darkness outside, where he can weep and wail over his Stupidity.’(Matthew 25:26-30 Phillips).

Strong words were used in the rebuke of this man!  Words we never want associated with us.  How can we be Fruitful?  Great Question!  I'm so glad you asked!  2 Peter 3:18 says, "But grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all glory and splendid honor, both now and forevermore. Good-bye."(Living Bible).  Another translation of this scripture says, "But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!"(Amplified).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

ISRAEL!

 Happy Sunday!

"Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near."(Mark 21:28 Amplified).

Jesus gave us hints about what to expect in the Last Days.  We don't have to be  caught off guard!  We have the Word of God and it's full of prophetic insight about the times we are living in!  Psalm 83:1-5 says, "O God, don’t sit idly by, silent and inactive when we pray. Answer us! Deliver us! Don’t you hear the tumult and commotion of your enemies? Don’t you see what they are doing, these proud men who hate the Lord? They are full of craftiness and plot against your people, laying plans to slay your precious ones. “Come,” they say, “and let us wipe out ISRAEL as a Nation—we will destroy the very memory of her existence.” This was their unanimous decision at their summit conference—they signed a treaty to ally themselves against Almighty God!"(Living Bible).

It won't end like the enemies of God expect!  The Psalmist went on
to say, "Utterly disgrace them until they recognize your power and name, O Lord. Make them failures in everything they do; let them be ashamed and terrified  until they learn that you alone, Jehovah, are the God above all gods in supreme charge of all the earth."(Psalm 83:16-18 Living Bible).  AND it won't end for you like your enemies think either!  What should we be doing in light of all that is happening in our world?  Great Question!  I'm so glad you asked!  Hebrews 10:23-25 says, "We must HOLD tightly to the HOPE we say is ours. After all, we can TRUST the one who made the agreement with us. We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer."(CEV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Be Happy!

 Happy Sunday!

" God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago."(Matthew 5:11-12 CEV)

Jesus called our enemy, Satan, the Father of Lies! In John 8:44 he says, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."(KJV).  Satan's favorite weapon is deception!  He wants to convince people that he is the good guy, and that God is evil!  BUT we won't be deceived!

God is Always GOOD!  God has a good plan for us!  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future."(Easy-to-Read Version).  In light of this, what can we do to make our lives easier when we are lied on, cheated, talked about, and mistreated?  Great question!  I'm so glad you asked!  Jesus said, "Be happy and excited!"(Matthew 5:12 CEV).

That's right do the exact opposite of what the enemy and the world expect you to do!  Don't cry!  Don't lament and say, "Woe is me!"  Rejoice that you are the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and you are on the path to a great reward!(2 Corinthians 5:21).  Don't be fooled either!  You don't have to wait until you get to Heaven to get your reward!  Jesus said, "Everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms to follow me will get much more than they left. And they will have eternal life. Many people who are first now will be last in the future. And many who are last now will be first in the future."(Mark 19:29-30 Easy-to-Read Version). Now that's Good News!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace?

 Happy Sunday!

"Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace? Then learn to KNOW him better and better."(2 Peter 1:2 Living Bible).

Responsibility is sometimes an unpopular word.  BUT it shouldn't be, especially for Christians.  God repeatedly offers us His Best and requires us to do our part.  We are responsible to Study the Word to "show" or prove that we are workmen that don't need to be ashamed.(2 Timothy 2:15).  The Prophet Hosea was inspired to warn us that we can be destroyed if we lack knowledge.(Hosea 4:6).

I don't want to be destroyed!  Do you? The Apostle Peter tells us what we can expect when we get to know God and His Word better.  "For as you KNOW him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character."(2 Peter 1:3-4 Living Bible).  Now that's Good News!

The Psalmist said, "I will move past my enemies with this one, sure hope:  that with my own eyes, I will see the goodness of the Eternal in the land of the living."(Psalm 27:13 Voice). Don't miss this!  God desires to Bless us here in this life!  Blessings, prosperity, and healing are not just for the sweet bye and bye.  They are not just for Heaven!  They are for NOW!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Be Strong

 Happy Sunday!

"Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God."(Ephesians 6:10 Voice).

I always remind you that God is Good!  When he commands us to do anything he also provides us with all that we need to accomplish it.  He commands us to Love one another.(1 John 4:7).  And he gives us His Love to use.  Romans 5:5 says, "All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with HIS LOVE."(CEV).  He commands us to GIVE, and He supplies us with something to give.  2 Corinthians 9:10 says, "For God, who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on good crops to harvest and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest."(Living Bible).

He commands us to be Strong, and he gives us strength and might!  Webster's Dictionary 1828 defined Strength as, "Firmness; solidity or toughness; the quality of bodies by which they sustain the application of force without breaking or yielding. Thus we speak of the strength of a bone, the strength of a beam, the strength of a wall, the strength of a rope. In this sense, strength is a passive quality, and is opposed to weakness or frangibility."  Don't miss this!  It is often easier to understand what something is by discovering what it is not.  Strength is not weakness!  God is not weak!  We are the children of God.  John 1:12 says, "But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name."(Amplified).

The Apostle Paul tells us how we can stay strong no matter what we face.  Ephesians 6:13-18 says, "So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.  But to do this, you will need the strong belt of TRUTH and the breastplate of God’s approval(RIGHTEOUSNESS). Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of PEACE with God.  In every battle you will need FAITH as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. And you will need the helmet of SALVATION and the sword of the Spirit—which is the WORD of God.  Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere."(Living Bible).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Fear Not

 Happy Sunday!

"Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I AM Your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."(Isaiah 41:10 Living Bible).

Moses was dead.  God basically told Joshua to snap out of it, stop grieving, and get moving!(Joshua 1:2).  God said, "Don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed."(Joshua 1:8 Message).

Each day we also need to keep moving.  We have to resist the urge to be paralyzed by fear.  We have God's commandment to "Fear Not"!  We must meditate on God's Word day and night!  Then when trouble comes we will be prepared to stand, and fight the Good Fight of Faith.(1 Timothy 6:12).

Fear Not!

Psalm 46:2   "So we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea."(Living Bible).

Psalm 118:6   "The Lord is on my side, and I am not afraid of what others can do to me."(CEV).

Proverbs 3:21-16  "Have two goals: wisdom—that is, knowing and doing right—and common sense. Don’t let them slip away, for they fill you with living energy and bring you honor and respect. They keep you safe from defeat and disaster and from stumbling off the trail. With them on guard you can sleep WITHOUT FEAR; you need not be afraid of disaster or the plots of wicked men, for the Lord is with you; he protects you."(Living Bible).

Matthew 10:26   "Do not be afraid of those who may taunt or persecute you. Everything they do—even if they think they are hiding behind closed doors—will come to light. All their secrets will eventually be made known."(Voice).

2 Timothy 1:7   "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."(KJV).

1 John 4:18   "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love."(Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Make Today Count

 Happy Sunday!

Jesus said, "You will hear of wars, and you will hear rumors of wars, but you should not PANIC. It is inevitable, this violent breaking apart of the sinful world, but remember, the wars are not the end. The end is still unfolding. Nations will do battle with nations, and kingdoms will fight neighboring kingdoms, and there will be famines and earthquakes."(Matthew 24:6-7 Voice).

One day last week I woke up with a specific song on my heart.  I fondly remember it from childhood.  The song is entitled, "Make Today Count" by Doris Frazier and The Fiddmont Singers.  It took a while to find it online, but I did.  I will include the link below.  The lyrics are, "Open your eyes, and look around you. Be not surprised, at what you see.  People of all nationalities being tossed on life's stormy seas.  If they'd just drop and anchor when storms begin to mount. Think not of tomorrow, but make today count."

It is possible to look around and become fearful, depressed, overwhelmed and sad.  BUT Jesus told us frightening things would happen before the end of the world.  HE also said, "Fear Not, let not your heart be troubled, and don't panic!(Matthew 10:28, John 14:1, Matthew 24:6).  Don't miss this!  If Jesus commands us to do something then it must be possible for us to do it!  It would be cruel to tell us about all the things to come and not tell us how to deal with them.  Isaiah 26:3 says, "He will keep in PERFECT PEACE all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn OFTEN to the Lord!"(Living Bible).

The song goes on to say, "Each day I live, I'm truly grateful.  Thank God for each sunrise I see.  All around me people are dying. Thank God that spared me.  For God is the only day giver, He alone knows the amount. Think not of tomorrow, but make today count."  How can we Make Today Count?  Great Question!  I'm so glad you asked! Jesus said, "So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble."(Matthew 6:34 Amplified).  Don't worry!  1 Peter 5:7 says, "Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you."(Easy-to-Read Version).

Luke 6:37-38 gives us a good example of how to start making each day count.  "Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”(Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Make Today Count...
https://youtu.be/O8GrQgqOlAg?feature=shared