What are you expecting?

 Happy Sunday!

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, BE STRONG and immovable. Always WORK enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever USELESS.”(1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT).

Don't miss this!  God knows what you've done for the Kingdom, and others!  He doesn't miss anything!  He's a Giver and as the old song said, "You can't beat God giving, no matter how you try!"

What are you expecting?  Psalm 62:5 says, "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my Expectation is from him."(KJV).  The psalmist acknowledged that his expectation was from God.  Well then, what is God's expectation for you?  Jeremiah 29:11 gives us an idea, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an Expected end."(KJV).  God wants the best for you, and you should want the same.  

1 Peter 5:7 says, "You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern."(Phillips).  Isn't that a beautiful translation and reminder?  You are HIS personal concern.  He's thinking about you right now, and he's got plans to take good care of you.  He's constant like the seasons, and he's faithful to His Word!  The Apostle Paul gave us the key, "Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have."(Easy-to-Read Version).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Focus

Happy Sunday!

"Yes, everything else is WORTHLESS when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my LORD. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could GAIN Christ and become ONE with him. I no longer count on my OWN righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through FAITH in Christ."

"For God’s way of making us RIGHT with himself depends on FAITH. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty POWER that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will EXPERIENCE the resurrection from the dead!"

"I don’t mean to say that I have ALREADY achieved these things or that I have already REACHED perfection. But I PRESS on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. NO, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved IT, but I FOCUS on this one thing: Forgetting the PAST and looking forward to what lies AHEAD, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."(Philippians 3:8-14 NLT).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Rehearse, Repeat, and Memorize the Promises of God

 Happy Sunday!

"I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart, so I won’t sin myself bankrupt." (Psalm 119:11 Message Translation).

It is so beneficial to Rehearse, Repeat, and Memorize the Promises of God. 

So often we can be blinded by our personal needs, our personal problems, and the trials of our life.  All the while there are others in the world who would love to have the blessings and opportunities that we enjoy. There are others that could use what we have been given to excel and succeed. Luke 12:48 says, "The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through IGNORANCE, he’ll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!" (Message Translation).  Don't miss this!  The KJV version says it this way, "For unto whomsoever much is GIVEN, of him shall be much REQUIRED: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."

The Apostle Peter wrote, "His divine power has given us EVERYTHING we need to experience life and to reflect God’s true nature through the knowledge of the One who called us by His glory and virtue. Through these things, we have received God’s great and valuable promises, so we might escape the corruption of worldly desires and share in the divine nature." 2 Peter 1:3-4 (Voice Translation). God has given us GREAT and VALUABLE PROMISES! 

Romans 8:16-17 says, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (King James Version).  When we accepted Jesus as our Personal Savior we became the children of God, and joint heirs with Christ. All of the PROMISES and blessings given to Christ are now available to us. We accept all of this by Faith. SEARCH the Word for yourself, FIND those promises and STAND on them by Faith. Remember, "God is not a man—He doesn’t lie. God isn’t the son of a man to want to take back what He’s said, or say something and not follow through, or speak and not act on it." Numbers 23:19 (Voice Translation).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

How To Be Happy and Enjoy Life

 Happy Sunday!

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"(1 Peter 3:18 KJV).

The Word of God is more than enough!  Any circumstance or situation has already been addressed in the Bible!  When you have questions, God has answers.

1 Peter 3:8-17 says, "FINALLY, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a BLESSING. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant YOU his blessing. 

For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to ENJOY life

    and see many HAPPY days,

keep your tongue from speaking evil

    and your lips from telling lies.

Turn away from evil and do good.

    Search for peace and work to maintain it.

The EYES of the Lord watch over those who do RIGHT,

    and his EARS are open to their PRAYERS.

But the Lord turns his face

    AGAINST those who do EVIL."

NOW, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?

BUT even if you suffer for doing what is RIGHT, God will REWARD you for it. 

So don’t WORRY or be afraid of their threats. 

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your HOPE as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.

Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a GOOD LIFE you live because you belong to Christ.  REMEMBER, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit."(NLT).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Do you really believe? - by Barry Bennett

Happy Sunday! 

It's a good day to have a good day!   Hope you are well and enjoying life.  You know I love to share lessons from Barry Bennett.  He always blesses me and gets me thinking.  What we BELIEVE and what we SAY are the foundation of our lives.  The Bible says, " DEATH and LIFE are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."(Proverbs 18:21 KJV).   Hope this encourages you too!

Do you really believe? - by Barry Bennett

Do you really believe that God wants you to have an abundant life? (John 10:10)

Do you really believe that God rejoices in your prosperity? (Ps. 35:27)

Do you really believe that God wants you to have enough to provide for your family? (1 Tim. 5:8)

Do you really believe that you should have more than enough to send missionaries around the world? (Rom. 10:15)

Do you really believe that God has enough for you to pay your taxes? (Mt. 22:21)

Do you really believe that God wants to give you good things? (Mt. 7:11)

Do you really believe that God wants you to help the poor? (Prov. 19:17)

Do you really believe that righteousness brings increase to your life? (Ps. 84:11)

Do you really believe that God loves a cheerful giver and will multiply his seed sown? (2 Cor. 9:6-11)

Do you really believe that God wants your needs to be met? (Mt. 6:33)

Do you really believe that God wants to do exceeding, abundantly more than you ask or think according to the power that works in you? (Eph. 3:20)

Many MISS OUT on God’s abundance because they simply don’t believe that He is THAT GOOD! Rather than concentrating on the evil, lack and pain in the world, focus on God and His LIMITLESS provision. There is seed in your life that is waiting to multiply. Will you sow it? If Christians would sow God’s grace into the world there would be less evil, lack and pain.

Your words, thoughts, actions, talents and resources are seeds that can transform lives. Do you really believe it? - by Barry Bennett

Love and prayers, Cynthia

No Excuses

Happy Sunday!

"Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So, they will have NO EXCUSE when they stand before God at Judgment Day.  Yes, they KNEW about him all right, but they wouldn’t ADMIT it or WORSHIP him or even THANK him for all his daily care.  And after a while they began to think up silly ideas of what God was like and what he wanted them to do. The result was that their FOOLISH minds became dark and confused. Claiming themselves to be wise without God, they became utter fools instead. And then, instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they took wood and stone and made idols for themselves, carving them to look like mere birds and animals and snakes and puny men."(Romans 1:20-23, Living Bible).

Don't miss this!  Even the earth and sky declare that God is real, and that He should be given our worship and praise.  I love to attend worship services in person, and I know the Word instructs us "not forgetting to gather as a community, as some have forgotten, but encouraging each other, especially as the day of His return approaches."(Hebrews 10:25, Voice).  But I'm also so thankful that I can get the Word on radio, television, YouTube, Facebook, podcasts, CDs, DVDs, and so many other ways.  If I have question, I can Google it.  Everything we read on the Internet is not true, but so very much is.  If I'm reading something and don't understand a word, I can look it up.  I can also read another Bible translation to get a better understanding. 

Jesus described the Kingdom of Heaven as, "a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey."(Matthew 25:14-15, KJV).  Another translation says it this way, "It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left."(Message).  The first two servants were conscientious and managed the master's money well.  But the last servant, "the man who received the $1,000 dug a hole in the ground and hid the money for safekeeping."(Living Bible).  

You've heard the story before, the master rebuked the last servant and said, "You wicked and LAZY and idle servant! Then you should have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what was my own with interest."(vs 26-27, Amplified). 

Don't be like that lazy servant.  Take advantage of every opportunity you have to manage, steward, and increase what God has given you.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Worry Is Always Future

Happy Sunday!

I love to share messages from ministers that bless me.  The message is from Brother Bob Yandian and it's entitled, Worry Is Always Future".  I first heard Brother Bob in the 1990's.  A dear friend, Pat Smith shared a box of ministry cassette tapes with me.  Those tapes encouraged, strengthened, and exposed me to some of the greatest bible teachers past, and present. Of course, in our technological world you don't have to rely on cassette tapes.  You have the privilege of YouTube, Podcasts, Blogs, and so many other ways of getting the Word.  I hope you enjoy this one.

Worry is Always Future by Brother Bob Yandian

"And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"(Exodus 17:3, NKJV).

The children of Israel had only been in the wilderness a few days when they came to a place where there was no water to drink. They began to complain to Moses, blaming the situation on him. They also decided that they had God’s plan all figured out. God had brought them to this spot to kill them!

Let’s examine the stupidity of this argument. The Israelites had been in captivity for four hundred years in Egypt. Despite the oppression, their population continued to increase. When Moses returned to Egypt to deliver the children of Israel, God protected them from ten plagues and death while the Egyptians suffered, and many died. God parted the Red Sea for them to travel across safely and even drowned the Egyptian army behind them. And God did all this to bring them to this one spot and kill them?

You have probably done the same thing. You have looked at your bills, your lack of food in the cupboard, and your overdue mortgage bill and cried, “I’m going to die right here!” Stop and think about what you have just said. God saved you many years ago, filled you with His Holy Spirit, healed your body, performed miracles for you and your family many times, and supplied all of your needs on more than one occasion. Has God done all these wonderful things in your life to bring you to this spot and watch you die?

When facing a tragedy or trial, it is easy to lose sight of all of God’s blessings that have brought us to this point. WORRY is always future. When you worry, you are saying that even though God has taken care of you every moment of every day, somehow tomorrow He will fail because His grace ran out today. But the truth is that the God Who has always taken care of you will not fail you tomorrow, next week, or next year. He will continue to walk with you and provide until Jesus comes.

David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). Why wait until you are old to look at God’s faithfulness in hindsight? Look forward now in faith and expectancy knowing that God will continue to provide for you and will never fail.

Yours in Jesus Christ, 

Brother Bob Yandian

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Don't Be Scared!

 Happy Sunday!

"They hated the heavenly Light because they wanted to sin in the darkness. They stayed away from that Light for fear their sins would be exposed and they would be punished. BUT those doing RIGHT come gladly to the Light to let everyone see that they are doing what God wants them to.”(John 3:20-21, Living Bible).

Even though I don't do scary movies, when I read this scripture I thought of the movie, Poltergeist and the phrase, "Carol Ann come to the light".  LOL!  I must have heard it somewhere, because I have never seen the movie.  I watched the clip from this portion of the movie today, and it was actually comical.  In the shadows, and in darkness there is fear and uncertainty.  But in the light there is understanding and clarity.  Have you ever laid in bed and thought you saw a figure in the room with you?  Then you turn on the light to see that it was just your coat hanging on the door.  I have.  I felt really silly for laying there in the dark contemplating what I would use to defend myself from the imagined intruder.

2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."(KJV).  God doesn't want us to live in fear.  No fear of the past, present, or future.  He wants us to know who we are in Christ, and that we have authority in the Name of Jesus. 

Hebrew 2:14-15 says, "Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and FREED all who COWER through life, SCARED to death of death."(Message).  Don't miss this!  Jesus' perfect work fixed things!  We don't have to worry!  We don't have to fear!

OK, so you don't think this applies to you?  I know it does!  You don't have to fear starting your own business.  You don't have to fear moving to another city.    Your don't have to fear telling the truth.  You don't have to fear making a mistake.  Life goes on even after mistakes.  Each day comes with new mercies, and fresh opportunities.  Pastor Randy Morrison always says, "If you don't die, you are going to live".  Sounds so simple, and it is.  Decide to live.  Decide to make each day count.  Decide to live fearlessly.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Time Is Life

Happy Sunday!

Psalm 90:12 says, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."(KJV).  

Have you ever stood in front of the microwave complaining about 3 minutes taking so long?  I have!  But I can remember life before microwaves.  My mother-in-law, Minnie Pruitt would cook her whole Sunday dinner on Saturday. Then after church, we didn't head over to Applebee's.  We went home and waited for the food to be warmed in the oven, or on the stove top.  Have you ever thought you didn't have time to complete a task but spent hours on social media before you even knew it?  I have!  Yes, I also remember the time before social media.  If I wanted to see the pictures from your vacation in Kokomo, I'd have to wait at least a week for you to get them developed at the Foto Mat, then come to your home to view them.  Have you ever put off something that could have easily been done today, only to find that it was more difficult later?  Yes, I have.  Breakups, dishes, laundry, and exercise all come to mind.  Even though we have so much technology to make things faster, we still don't value time as we should.  And we waste precious time and spend it unwisely.

Psalm 90:12 encourages us to number our days.  Another translation says, "Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should."(Living Bible).  Don't miss the last part, "help us to spend them as we should".   Time is money, but more importantly time is LIFE.  We are spending our time, our days, and our lives as currency.  

Ephesians 5:11-16 says, "Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people WASTE their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,

Climb out of your coffins.

Christ will show you the light!

So, watch your step. Use your head. MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY CHANCE YOU GET. These are desperate times!"(Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

LIONS Plural!

 Happy Sunday!

This is a Re-Post from August 2019!  Enjoy!

Years ago, and for a period of time, I stopped listening to Gospel music after I heard a soloist proclaim that Daniel put his foot on the neck of the lion in the lion's den.  I can't find that in scripture.  Can you?  But what I do find in scripture is this, "Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of LIONS. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee."(Daniel 6:16, KJV).  Don't miss this!  There were lions plural.  So if it was as the soloist sang, what were the other lions doing while Daniel had his foot on the one singular lion?

Ok, so you think I'm being unreasonable, and nit-picking.  I most certainly am not!  The visual of one lion diminishes the significance of the true miracle that occurred for Daniel.  God delivered Daniel from an impossible situation.  This was so serious the scripture says the king couldn't sleep that night.  The Bible says, "Then King Darius went back to his house. He did not eat that night. He did not want anyone to come and entertain him. He could not sleep all night."(Daniel 6:18, Easy-to-Read Version).  Daniel was not a lion tamer.  He was a good man falsely accused and sentenced to death for praying.  

It happens all the time, are you guilty?  Do you lose sight of the tremendous MIRACLE WORKING POWER of our God?  Are you disappointed because things didn't work out like you thought they would, so you secretly stop trusting God?  Our God is an AWESOME God!  He has not changed!  He is still TRUSTWORTHY.  

What really happened?  So glad you asked!  Let's read Daniel 6:19-23.  "At daybreak the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. As he approached the den, he called out anxiously, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve so loyally, saved you from the lions?” “O king, live forever!” said Daniel. “My God sent his angel, who closed the mouths of the LIONS so that they would not hurt me. I’ve been found innocent before God and also before you, O king. I’ve done nothing to harm you". When the king heard these words, he was happy. He ordered Daniel taken up out of the den. When he was hauled up, there wasn’t a scratch on him. He had TRUSTED his God.”(Message).

In case you were wondering if those lions were vicious, "The king gave yet another order; this time he demanded that those who accused Daniel of wrongdoing be captured and thrown into the lions’ den—but not only them—their wives and children too. As they were being pushed into the den, before they even hit the bottom, the lions jumped on them, overpowered them, and crushed their bones in their powerful jaws."(Daniel 6:24, Voice).  Ouch!

Don't let unbelief creep in in any way, not even in a seemingly harmless song.  Our Powerful God specializes in miracles, signs, and wonders!  His Word is truth!

The Psalmist proclaimed, "Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven."(Psalm 119:89, KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Hell? NO!

 Happy Sunday!

" I am amazed that you are turning away so soon from God who, in his LOVE and MERCY, invited you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ; you are already following a different “WAY TO HEAVEN,” which really doesn’t go to heaven at all. For there is NO OTHER WAY than the one we showed you; you are being FOOLED by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ."(Galatians 1:6-7 TLB).

I'm very observant.  I often see things and wonder why it is as it is.  I recently noticed a street called, Brimstone in a nearby subdivision.  When I think of brimstone, I think of the judgement that fell on Sodom and Gomorrah in the Old Testament.  I would never expect to see it as a street name in a quiet neighborhood.  But perhaps, it's a subtle reminder that Hell is real and it's a destination we should avoid at all costs.  

Jesus spoke of Hell many times.  In Matthew 25:41-43 He said, "Then I will turn to those on my left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal FIRE prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry and you wouldn’t feed me; thirsty, and you wouldn’t give me anything to drink; a stranger, and you refused me hospitality; naked, and you wouldn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’(TLB).  Don't miss this!  Jesus said, Hell was not made for humans!  It was prepared for the Devil and his bunch!  But if we refuse Jesus, we will be doomed to a place that was never prepared for us!

Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in HELL.  What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more VALUABLE to God than a whole flock of sparrows."(Matthew 10:28-30 NLT)

Jesus said, "Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires TOTAL attention."(Matthew 7:13-14 Message).  The Good News Translation of that same scripture says it this way, "Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to HELL is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate to LIFE is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it."

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

Happy Sunday!

"Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the ONE who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust." (2 Peter 1:3-4 Message)

We become the sons and daughters of God when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. John 1:12 says, "Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them." (The Living Bible)  

Now that we have accepted Jesus three things happened.  

1)  God has Signed for you - Just like we sign for packages or new car leases, God signed for us with the precious blood of Jesus.  1 Peter 1:18-19 says, "God paid a ransom to save you from the impossible road to heaven which your fathers tried to take, and the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver as you very well know. But he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God." (The Living Bible)

2)  God has Sealed you - You have God's seal of approval!  Not because you are good, but because he is GOOD! Ephesians 1:13-14 says, "It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life." (Message)

3)  God has Delivered you - God delivered you from a life of sin! Galatians 1:3-4 says, "Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we’re in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!" (Message)

What's going on in heaven? So glad you asked.  All the focus is on Jesus!  The elders, and the creatures and the angels are all in awe of him.  Revelation 5 says, they worship Jesus continually and fall on their faces in reverence and say "Amen".  Amen means "so let it be".  It's a simple but effective prayer.  Until we get to heaven, we can worship Jesus right here on earth and we can agree with the Word of God and say AMEN.  Amen to health and healing, because the Word says, "by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)  Amen to prosperity and abundance, because the Word says, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" 2 Corinthians 9:8 (KJV)  Amen to faith and wholeness, because the Word says, "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)

Yes, and Amen!  Love and prayers, Cynthia

EVIL and UNBELIEVING

 Happy Sunday!

"Well, Moses did a fine job working in God’s house, but he was only a SERVANT; and his work was mostly to ILLUSTRATE and suggest those things that would happen later on. But CHRIST, God’s faithful Son, is in COMPLETE charge of God’s house. And WE Christians are God’s house—HE LIVES IN US! —if we keep up our courage firm to the end, and our joy and our TRUST in the Lord.

And since Christ is so much SUPERIOR, the Holy Spirit warns us to listen to him, to be careful to hear his voice TODAY and not let our hearts become set against him, as the people of Israel did. They steeled themselves against HIS LOVE and complained against him in the desert while he was testing them. But God was PATIENT with them forty years, though they tried his patience sorely; he kept right on doing his mighty miracles for them to SEE.  “But,” God says, “I was very angry with them, for their hearts were always LOOKING somewhere else instead of UP to me, and they NEVER found the paths I wanted them to follow.”

Then God, full of this anger against them, bound himself with an oath that he would never let them come to his place of rest.

BEWARE then of your own hearts, dear brothers, lest you find that they, too, are EVIL and UNBELIEVING and are leading you away from the living God. Speak to each other about these things EVERY day while there is still TIME so that none of you will become hardened against God, being BLINDED by the glamor of sin. For if we are FAITHFUL to the end, trusting God just as we did when we first became Christians, we will SHARE in all that belongs to Christ.

But NOW is the TIME. Never forget the warning, “Today if you hear God’s voice speaking to you, do not harden your hearts against him, as the people of Israel did when they rebelled against him in the desert.”(Hebrews 3:5-15 TLB).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

You Choose

Happy Sunday!

"And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for ME and my house, WE will SERVE the LORD."(Joshua 24:15 AMPC).

Moses was dead, and Joshua was the new leader.  He didn't tiptoe around the issues with the Children of Israel.  He reminded them that God has given us free will, we get to choose.  He doesn't force us to serve, honor, love or obey Him.  We get to choose.  After all that God has done for us, you would think the choice would be easy.  Romans 2:4 says, "Don’t you realize how PATIENT he is being with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see that he has been waiting all this time without punishing you, to give you time to turn from your sin? His KINDNESS is meant to lead you to repentance."(TLB).

I ran across this poem, and it's so fitting.

"You are the person who has to decide.

Whether you'll do it or toss it aside;

You are the person who makes up your mind.

Whether you'll lead or will linger behind.

Whether you'll try for the goal that's afar.

Or just be contented to stay where you are.” - Edgar A. Guest

Have a positive, powerful, and prosperous week!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Oldie, but Goodie!

Happy Sunday!

Happy Father's Day to all the awesome fathers! Shout out to my Daddy, Perry A Woods, Sr.! 

This is a Re-Post from June 2012.   Bishop Alexis A. Thomas has gone home to be with the Lord, but back then he reminded us that we should be grateful for the people in our lives that taught us about God and made sure we attended church services whether we liked it or not! When I think of my Daddy, I think of First Baptist Church of Chesterfield in Chesterfield, Missouri. As Martha Stewart says, "That's a Good thing!"

Bishop Thomas preached, "Are You Balanced?" He used Ephesians 6:4 as his reference scripture. You know I love the opportunity to read the Word in several translations. It makes it so clear.

• Message Translation - "Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master".

• New Living Translation - "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord".

• GOD'S WORD Translation - "Fathers, don’t make your children bitter about life. Instead, bring them up in Christian discipline and instruction".

Parenting is challenging! Proverbs 22:15 says, "Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough-minded discipline". (Message Translation) I don't know about you, but periodically I replay things I've done or said to my children in my mind. I think, "I wish I'd done that or said that differently". Unfortunately, we can't go back for a do-over. But there is hope for those of you with young children. In everything we do, we need balance. The King James version of this scripture says, "Nurture and Admonition". Nurture means chastisement and discipline. Admonition means dialog, instruction, and counsel.

Even those of us without young children or without children at all, we need balance too! Balance between our work and our personal life. Some nights I dream about work, isn't that sad! I need balance! I need to find a happy place where I can leave work at work and enjoy time away from work! It comforts me to know that God "will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation". - 1 Peter 5:10 (Good New's Translation) I need balance in my finances. I need balance in my diet and exercise. I'm doing better and I thank God..."And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns". - Philippians 1:6 (New Living Translation)

Are you balanced?

Moving toward greater balance this week! Love, Cynthia

Bored?

 Happy Sunday!

"Then, knowing what lies ahead for you, you won’t become BORED with being a Christian nor become spiritually dull and indifferent, but you will be anxious to follow the example of those who receive ALL that God has promised them because of their strong faith and patience."(Hebrews 6:12, Living Bible).

Because of their strong faith and patience, the people in the previous scripture received all that God had promised them.  Don't you want everything you are promised?  Of course you do!  You don't go in and order a fully loaded vehicle and then accept a stock model with manual windows.  You want what you were promised, what you ordered, or what you paid for.  Jesus paid it all!  He paid for your life, healing, wellbeing and prosperity.  Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was hurt because of us; he suffered so.  Our wrongdoing wounded and crushed him. He endured the breaking that made us whole.  The injuries he suffered became our healing."(Voice).  

Psalm 78:41 sheds some light on why the Children of Israel missed out on the Promises of God, "Again and again they turned away and tempted God to kill them and limited the Holy One of Israel from giving them his blessings."(Living Bible).  WOW!  What were they doing that made God so angry?  I'll tell you what they were doing, and we sometimes do these things as well.  Murmuring and complaining, speaking against their leaders, and doubting if God would provide for them.  

The Apostle Paul offers a bit of encouragement for us, "Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household."(Galatians 6:7, Phillips).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

FEARLESS

Happy Sunday!

"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)

Luke 21:26 describes a time to come when, "People will be so frightened that they will faint because of what is happening to the world."(CEV).  In every generation there are things that can produce fear.   Watch just 15 minutes of your local news broadcast and you can be tempted to fear!  Fear of carjacking on the street, fear of nuclear war, fear of economic hardship, and fear of the side effects of a medicine you need to survive are just a few.  Revelation 21:8 tells us that the "FEARFUL" will spend eternity in Lake of Fire.  We definitely don't want to be there forever, and ever.  How can I live a life without fear?  I'm so glad you asked!  Romans 10:17 tells us that, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God."(KJV).  

To live a life without fear, we must "lean on, rely in, and trust the Word of God"(Psalm 37:3, AMP).  To live a life without fear, the Word has to be more than just ink on a page.  The Word has to be "hidden in our hearts" so that when we are tempted to fear the Word rises up to squash it.(Psalm 119:11).   1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.(KJV).  Another translation of this scripture says, "Love contains no fear—indeed fully-developed love expels every particle of fear, for fear always contains some of the torture of feeling guilty. This means that the man who lives in fear has not yet had his love perfected."(Phillips).  Don't miss this!  When we understand and accept the fact that we are loved by God, we can live without fear.

As children we learned and sang, "Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me.  Yes, Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so!"   Why did we have to repeat it so many times?  We repeated it then, and we repeat it now because our enemy the Devil is constantly lying and telling us that we are not loved, that we are not lovable, and that no one really cares about us.  Jesus described Satan as the "Father of Lies". (John 8:44).  He lies about everything!  Don't let him fool you!  If he's telling you anything, it's a lie.  And if it's not a full lie, he's bound to have twisted some truth by adding a lie.  Think about when Jesus was in the wilderness.  The enemy tried to tempt Jesus by perverting the Word.  “Jump off,” he said, “and prove you are the Son of God; for the Scriptures declare, ‘God will send his angels to keep you from harm,’ . . . they will prevent you from smashing on the rocks below.”(Matthew 4:6, Living Bible).   He was taking Psalm 91:11-12 out of context.  It says, "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."(KJV).  Jesus didn't waste time arguing with the Devil, "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."(Matthew 4:7, KJV).  

Dr. Bill Winston said, "Any Believer that will not be AFRAID will always conquer. The anointing that will flow will guarantee success!"    Fear Not!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. - Matthew 10:26(KJV)

And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. - Matthew 10:28(KJV)

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. - Matthew 10:31(KJV)

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. - Luke 12:32(KJV)

Bless Others

Happy Sunday!

This is a Re-post from May 2017!  It falls right in line with what Pastor Tiff Shuttlesworth preached at our church this morning.  I hope you enjoy it!  Happy Memorial Day!

Many years ago, I began to pray..."Lord help me to be a blessing to everyone I come in contact with!"  I still pray this and I'm so grateful that as I have prospered, and I am able to do more.  I think I've always been a giver, and giving is so much more fun when the range of gifts and blessings to others expands.  Now before you send me a link to your third cousins ex-boyfriends Go Fund Me page, let me say I've learned the hard way that giving must be inspired or led by the Holy Spirit.  I once had an attitude with God, after giving time and resources to a few ungrateful and seemingly heartless individuals.  Yes, don't worry he can handle it!  He said to me, not audibly but I really know it was the Lord..."I didn't tell you to give THEM anything!"  Ouch!  When I thought it over, the warnings were there.  I bypassed the leading of the Holy Spirit and did what I thought was right.  Yes, we are promised in Luke 6:38 that when we give, it will be given back to us in a corresponding manner to which we gave.  We are also assured in the Word, that being WISE is better than money.  Proverbs 16:16 says, "Wisdom is worth much more than gold. Understanding is worth much more than silver."(Easy-to-Read Version).

People will always remind you that prosperity is much more than money.  Yes, of course, prosperity is physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial.  Even though each of these are important, much more falls on the financial.  If we are honest, we probably have a list of all the things we would do if the money was right.  Jesus often spoke about money and our relationship with things.  His ultimate theme was "Being Blessed to Be a Blessing".   We often miss this theme especially in the story of the "Rich Young Ruler".  Matthew 19 tells the story. The young man comes to Jesus and asks, "Teacher, what good deed can I do to assure myself eternal life?"   Jesus told him keep the commandments.  The young man boasts that he'd kept them all his life.  You know how we do..."Oh, I have always been saved.  I've been in church all my life!"  But as the old church members would say, "You ain't living a nickles worth of nothing!"  Jesus could see through the facade!  He knew the young man just wanted to buy his way in.  His trust was in what his money, and the security, and position it could provide.  Jesus had nothing against financial prosperity.  He later told the disciples,  “Let me assure you that no one has ever given up ANYTHING—home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or property—for love of me and to tell others the Good News, who won’t be given back, a HUNDRED times over, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—with persecutions!  All these will be his HERE on earth, and in the world to come he shall have eternal life."(Mark 10:29-30, Living Bible).  If the young man had stayed around long enough, he would have found out that you "can't beat God giving, no matter how you try!"

I'm personally working on giving MERCY and understanding.  I'm trying to give the spiritual and emotional support others need.  My co-workers and my children laugh at how random people just want to talk to me.  Yes, even crazy people in public.  They don't know I can cast them demons out!  LOL!  People are hurting, they are often misunderstood.  They are lonely! They are fearful.  Psychologists and psychiatrists are being paid for what we share for free.  Yes, there are times when I don't want to be bothered and try not to make eye contact.  But there are times when I allow the Holy Spirit to lead.  Those times brings great joy.  It's what great songs and poems are written about...that perfect moment when you are in the right place at the right time with the right information and the right understanding and you do the right thing!  Colossians 3:22-25 says, "Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work."(Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

GOD is waiting on you...

Happy Sunday!

Trust in God totally OR God takes his hands off! - Dr.  Bill Winston

When I heard this quote, I thought about a person trying to save someone who is drowning.  Perhaps, you have already been warned about trying to rescue a drowning person.  In panic, the drowning person will instinctively grab onto and push up on anything they can.  Sadly, many times, the one trying to rescue another ends up drowning!  God is trying to save us from Poverty, Sickness, and Death!  But if we insist on doing it our way, God will allow us to drown in our mess.   

Oh, I know what you are thinking..."God is merciful, He's sovereign, He's in control."  Yes, you are correct!  But most importantly, God is TRUE to His WORD!  He will NEVER contradict His Word.  He gave man DOMINION in this earth, after losing that dominion to Satan, Jesus came and RESTORED our Dominion and Authority.  NOW we are responsible to RECIEVE what has already been provided.  GOD isn't waiting to do anything.  He's waiting on US to do what we have been COMMANDED and receive the Blessing.  

BUT many of us would rather BLAME God, the government, or our families for where we are, and what we have.  This thinking is nothing new, Isaiah 45:9-10 says, "Woe to the man who fights with his Creator. Does the pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with him who forms it, saying, “Stop, you’re doing it wrong!” or the pot exclaim, “How clumsy can you be!”? Woe to the baby just being born who squalls to his father and mother, “Why have you produced me? Can’t you do anything right at all?” (Living Bible).  Sounds foolish, doesn't it?

God will not do anything that he has told YOU to do!  Stop praying and telling God to go to the hospital!  He told you to, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure the lepers, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!"(Matthew 10:8, KJV).   Stop telling God to go to the prisons and help the homeless!  Jesus said a certain group of people would be recognized one day.  They will be the people 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).  

God is a SPIRIT.  He determined that to do business legally in the Earth you must have a physical body!  That's why Jesus had to come in the flesh!  You have a physical body, and you have work to do!  He has given us the tools to change our lives and our world.  I know.  It's daunting...but God did not give us a spirit of fear! (2 Timothy 1:7).   Fear short-circuits your Faith!  Faith is the only thing that will defeat the enemy.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

LISTS

 Happy Sunday!

We love lists!  Every magazine cover I see has at least one list.   "Ten Steps to Great Abs", "Five Ways to Know He Cares", and "Seven Steps to a Happy Life" and on and on and on!  My Mother loved to leave us lists of chores that had to be done before she arrived home from work.  My children can attest to the fact that I have created similar lists in my child rearing days.  Even the Bible is full of lists.  Psalm 1 lists the description of a Blessed Man..."Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God."(Easy-to-Read Version).    Proverbs 6:16-19 lists the seven things that God hates..."These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:  A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,  A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren."(Amplified).

So often I just wonder if there is a quick one step method that will cover all the bases.  Obedience is a great starting place!  When King Saul sinned, God instructed the Prophet Samuel to tell him, "Behold, to OBEY is better than sacrifice..."(1 Samuel 15:22, KJV).  Now before you brush me off and stop reading, even the Apostle James saw a need for simple obedience.  He compared our disobedient tongues with animals in nature, but even the animals can be tamed and learn to obey!  James 3:7-8 says, "For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."(KJV).  Now thankfully, when we submit our tongues to the Holy Spirit in obedience, they can be tamed and used to bless ourselves and others.  Obedience is the key, and it's not hard to do!  1 John 5:3 says, "Loving God means doing what he tells us to do, and really, that isn’t hard at all."(Living Bible).  

Years ago, Dr. Bill Winston preached a series entitled, "Christ in You" with the subtitle, "Fulfilling Your Dominion Mandate".  When Adam sinned against God he lost several things.  He lost fellowship, he lost assignment, he lost provision, and he lost his mind.  What a SAD list!  But Jesus came to get all of our stuff back.  What Jesus did for us is not just a sweet story to recant on Resurrection Sunday.  Jesus paid the price needed to get us back to Dominion!  You are meant to dominate!  Situations and circumstances are not supposed to dominate you!  You do have the upper hand, it's the Hand of God through the Anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Dr. Winston said, "Don't you dare complain when you are dominated!  Dominate!"   2 Corinthians 2:14 says, "Now thanks be unto God, which ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place."(KJV).   Don't miss this!  We are designed to WIN all the time!  We have access to the Unlimited Potential of God!  We can LISTEN and OBEY, and WIN!   Start where you are.  OBEY God when he says, "Don't lie."  Get to work on time, be the best employee they've ever had!  OBEY God when he says, "Give!"  He's responsible for the getting and he promises abundance.  Luke 6:38 is true!  "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."(NASB).   OBEY God when he says love your enemies.  Hating people is like a self-inflicted wound.  They continue on their way, while you are get stuck in the mud of what they did to you.

We may always have lists, but obedience can change our lists to lists of gratitude and thankfulness...like "One Million Ways God Has Blessed Me".

Love and prayers, Cynthia

"Get your Angels out of the Unemployment line!"

 Happy Sunday!

"Don’t forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!"(Hebrews 13:2 Living Bible).

What is the ministry or assignment of Angels?  Great question! I'm so glad you asked!

Angels are assigned to PROTECT us.   Psalm 91:11-12 says, "For he orders his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will steady you with their hands to keep you from stumbling against the rocks on the trail." (Living Bible).  Do you remember the story of Daniel?  Targeted by haters, thrown in the lion's den. The next morning when the king ran out to see what had become of Daniel, Daniel replied, "My God sent his ANGEL and shut the lions’ mouths so that they couldn't hurt me. He did this because he considered me innocent. Your Majesty, I haven’t committed any crime.”(Daniel 6:22 God's Word Translation).  Don't take this story for granted.  Those same lions devoured Daniel's accusers.

Another time the King of Syria was out to get the Prophet Elisha. Elisha's servant went out and discovered they were surrounded by the Syrian Army.  Elisha told his servant, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."(2 Kings 6:16 KJV).   He prayed that the servant's eyes be opened. The servant looked again and saw, "The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!"(2 Kings 6:17 Message).

Angels RESPOND to the Word of God.  A pastor once said, "Get your angels out of the unemployment line!"  Angels respond to prayers that line up with the Word!  When you speak the WORD you give the angels something to work with. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Words have power in matters of life and death, and those who love them will savor their fruit."(Voice).   

Angels are sent to MINISTER to you.  Did you hear that?  These are not little fat babies with wings! The normal response to seeing an angel was fear and dread. Every time an angel appeared to a person in the Bible the angel had to say, "Fear not!"  The prophets saw angels and fainted or fell as dead men.  Angels are fully equipped, capable, and strong enough to do what must be done! Hebrews 1:14 says, "Did God ever say to any of the heavenly messengers, "Sit here, at My right hand, in the seat of honor; and I’ll put all Your enemies under Your feet?" No, of course not. The heavenly messengers are only spirits and servants, sent out to minister to those who will certainly inherit salvation."(Voice). 

How can I put my angels to work?  Great question! Get the WORD in your mouth and speak it OUT LOUD.  If you are experiencing financial difficulty, don't moan and complain about how broke you are! Speak out loud..."The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack."(Psalm 23:1 AMPC).  Are you having problems at work or in your business? Speak the Word...Psalm 1 says, "those who follow the Lord and obey..."Everything they do is successful."(Psalm 1:3 Easy to Read Version).  Are you sick? Speak the Word to your body...“Through His wounds, you were healed.”(1 Peter 2:24 Voice). 

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Time Sensitive

 Happy Sunday!

The Word of God is Time Sensitive.  If you ever search your Bible App or Google for the word "now" you will be amazed at the number of scriptures that advise us and encourage us to do things now!  Hebrews 3:15 says, "But NOW is the time. Never forget the warning, “Today if you hear God’s voice speaking to you, do not harden your hearts against him, as the people of Israel did when they rebelled against him in the desert.”(Living Bible).  Even our ancestors encouraged us to "not put off for tomorrow what you can do today".   They harvested their fruits and vegetables and immediately did the work to preserve them for later use. The recycling and conservation groups would have you think that caring about the earth is something new, but our ancestors never wasted anything.  They even found a use for the scraps. What do you think chitterlings are?  LOL! It's proof that they used that pig, from the rooter to the tooter.  I remember shelling or hulling peas and butter beans with my grandmother in Macon, Mississippi.  The regular pea hulls could be given to the pigs, but the butter bean hulls would be poured in the road to disintegrate.

God is not wasteful!  When he gives us something he expects us to use it.  It's the enemy the coerces us to procrastinate.  He already knows that there are times and seasons.  He even knows that his time is running short.  Revelation 12:12(b) says, "for the devil has come down to your spheres, and he is incredibly angry because he knows his time is nearly over."(Voice).  Jesus stressed the urgency in a parable in Luke 12.  The rich man was having a conversation with himself.  Selfishly he plotted on how to build bigger barns and store up more treasure for himself.  But in verses 20 and 21, it says, "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).  In the King James Version, it calls this man a fool!  That's pretty harsh considering Jesus commanded us to never call anyone a fool.  Matthew 5:22 says, "But here is the even harder truth: anyone who is angry with his brother will be judged for his anger. Anyone who taunts his friend, speaks contemptuously toward him, or calls him “Loser” or “Fool” or “Scum,” will have to answer to the high court. And anyone who calls his brother a fool may find himself in the fires of hell."(Voice).  That's strong but think about it from God's viewpoint...every human was created in the image and likeness of God.  So everyone, even the ones that get on your last nerve, have purpose and destiny.  Of course, some people will never live out their God given destiny, but it's not our place to judge their relevance or capabilities.  To call them a fool is to pronounce a curse on them and that is not allowed.  Now don't go too far to the left or right on this.  The Bible provides numerous examples of what fools do.  You have to be able to recognize foolishness in order to avoid it.  Psalm 14:1 says, "That man is a fool who says to himself, “There is no God!” Anyone who talks like that is warped and evil and cannot really be a good person at all."(Living Bible).

We must recognize the facts but believe the truth.  The fact may be that you have no money in your wallet, but the truth is God supplies all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19).  The fact may be that you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, but the truth is you have already been healed by Jesus' stripes. (1 Peter 2:24).  The fact may be that you feel lonely and alone, but the truth is God will never leave you or forsake you, and he puts solitary people in families. (Hebrew 13:5, Psalm 68:6).

Pablo Picasso said, "Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone".   It's time to get what belongs to us!  We have suffered long enough without it. Galatians 3:13-14 describes it like this, "the Anointed One, the Liberating King, has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. It was stated in the Scriptures, “Everyone who hangs on a tree is cursed by God.” This is what God had in mind all along: the BLESSING He gave to Abraham might extend to all nations through the Anointed One, Jesus; and WE are the beneficiaries of this promise of the Spirit that comes only through faith."(Voice).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

RAISED from the DEAD

 Happy Resurrection Sunday!

"But IN FACT, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the FIRST of a great harvest of all who have died."(1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT).

The Word speaks for itself.  I could never say it better.  

"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ DIED for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.  He was BURIED, and he was RAISED from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.  After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.  Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.  For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.  So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the SAME message you have already believed.

But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is USELESS, and your faith is useless.  And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.  And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is USELESS, and you are still GUILTY of your sins.  In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!  And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world."(1 Corinthians 15:3-19 NLT).

"So you see, just as DEATH came into the world through a man, now the RESURRECTION from the dead has begun through another man.  Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.  But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then ALL WHO BELONG TO CHRIST will be raised when he comes back."(1 Corinthians 15:21-23 NLT).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

ARE YOU AN HEIR, OR A SERVANT? - By Barry Bennett

 Happy Sunday!

"So hear my final words, my friends. Now that I have warned you about what’s ahead, keep up your guard and don’t let UNPRINCIPLED people PULL you away from the sure ground of the TRUTH with their lies and misunderstandings. INSTEAD, GROW in grace and in the true KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Anointed, to whom be glory, now and until the coming of the new age. Amen."(2 Peter 3:17-18 Voice).

ARE YOU AN HEIR, OR A SERVANT? - By Barry Bennett

The heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all. (Gal. 4:1).

Redemption has recreated us, transformed us and translated us! We are a new creation seated with Him in heavenly places. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ! We are heirs of the kingdom, heirs of salvation, heirs according to the promise and heirs of the grace of life!

Even the most recent believer is an heir. However, it is possible to be an heir and not have a clue about being ‘lord of all.’ We must GROW in the grace of God and LEARN how to live in the Kingdom. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.” (1 Pet. 2:2).

Telling a babe that he is an heir doesn’t have much meaning. A newborn prince will one day be king, but right now he is a baby just like every other baby in the kingdom. His future is SETTLED but his present is ordinary. He needs to grow. He needs to learn and be educated in the workings of his kingdom.

So it is in the Kingdom of God. While the gospel has made us lords of all, very few ever grow into an understanding of what that means. Some remain babes their entire lives. The incredible potential of their new identity is never discovered or released into the world. They differ nothing from a servant.

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, (Eph. 4:13-14).

It’s time we LEARN, GROW and STEP into our role in Christ. Babes (though they be heirs) will never reign in life. Make up your mind to grow into all that Jesus has created you to be!  - By Barry Bennett

Love and prayers, Cynthia