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

Preach, Reprove, Rebuke, and Exhort

 Happy Sunday!

"I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with INTENSITY; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple. You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant."(2 Timothy 4:1-5 Message).

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to his son in the ministry, Timothy.  BUT God inspired them to be written so that we could also benefit from them.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be PERFECT, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."(KJV).

Verse 2 in the King James Version says, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine."(2 Timothy 4:2).  Four instructions for all of us.  First PREACH.  Jesus said, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and TEACH them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world."(Matthew 28:18-20 CEV).  Second REPROVE.  Reprove is defined as "To charge with a fault to the face; to chide; to reprehend".  Proverbs 13:24 says, "He who withholds the rod [of discipline] hates his son, But he who LOVES him disciplines and trains him diligently and appropriately [with wisdom and love]."(Amplified).  Don't miss this!  If you truly love someone you will tell them the truth!  Love always involves hate.  When you love people, you will hate what is killing them, hurting them, or sending them to Hell!

Third REBUKE.  Matthew 8:26 is a good example of the word rebuke.   It says, "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and REBUKED the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."(KJV).  The storm was out of order!  Jesus didn't debate with it, He told it to "Shut Up"!    Fourth EXHORT.  Exhort is defined as, "to encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit or courage."(Websters Dictionary 1828).  Hebrews 12:6 says, "The Lord corrects the people he loves and disciplines those he calls his own."(CEV).  Because He loves us he corrects us, but he doesn't leave us there sad and broken!  He encourages us to do better.  He gives us boldness to obey.  He cheers us up, and gives us courage.

That's GOOD News!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Getting It All Back!

 Happy Sunday!

"And I will restore or replace for you the YEARS that the locust has eaten—the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the crawling locust, My great army which I sent among you.  And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame."(Joel 2:25-26 Amplified).

I love the WORD!  But that's no secret to you!  I really enjoy these scriptures in the KJV.  It made me look up the various insects that are mentioned.  The Cankerworm, the Caterpillar, and the Palmerworm are insects who one after another would fully decimate a garden, and crops.  Most of us are so far removed from agriculture.  But before produce reaches the Piggly Wiggly it has to be planted, nourished, watered, protected from too much sun and bad weather, and protected from pests.  So God used these agricultural terms that the people were familiar with to describe what they had experienced in life.

In John 10:10, Jesus says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  Three attacks from the enemy, and three insects devouring the harvest.  Can't you just see it in life?  Time eaten up by illness, time wasted on strife and unforgiveness, and time spoiled by poverty!  BUT Fear Not!  No matter what has been stolen from you it can ALL be restored! How much is a year worth?  Can you do the Math?  We may not be able to quantify it, BUT God can!  Matthew 10:30 says, "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered."(KJV).  Numbered, not counted!  He knows exactly what is happening with hair #101,230 at this very moment!

In 2 Kings 8:4-6 we are given an example of Restoration of Years!  "And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.  And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, RESTORE all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now."(KJV).  The Living Bible for verse 6 says, "everything she had owned was RESTORED to her, plus the VALUE of any crops that had been harvested during her absence."  Now, that's GOOD NEWS!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Walk By Faith

 Happy Sunday!

"So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever."(2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Message).

Just for a moment, think of the most stressful time in your life.  During that period of time you may have felt there was no way you could make it, and no way for you to survive.  BUT thankfully here you are today!  You made it!  You didn't give up!  Everything we are experiencing now is temporary, subject to change, guaranteed to change.  Change is inevitable!  My employer says, "Change Energizes Us!" 

The Psalmist experienced many things.  Even in the Psalms that begin in despair, suddenly the writer remembers the Goodness of God and immediately the tone changes.  Psalm 27:13 says, "I am expecting the Lord to RESCUE me again, so that ONCE AGAIN I will see his goodness to me HERE in the land of the living."(Living Bible).  Don't miss this!  God desires for us to enjoy life here on earth!  He created everything for His Children, not for the Devil and his agents. 

Psalm 84:11 is a good scripture to memorize and confess, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: NO GOOD THING will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."(KJV).    Hebrews 11:1 says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the CERTAINTY that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."(Living Bible).  2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight:"(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

P.S. - I laughed with my Best Friend about how people say that they  are praying for you.  Most of it is just a praying hands emojis! LOL!  I really do pray for everyone that reads this blog and I know that God hears me.  1 John 5:14-15 says, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we KNOW that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."(KJV).  My prayer for you is general; that you will know the Lord, accept His plan for your life, be healed, and prosper.  If you would like for me to agree with you on specific concerns, let me know. I'm just a comment away.

Hold Fast!

 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 wasted time?  Are you wasting time now?  The Apostle Paul encourages us to use our time wisely!  He assures us that nothing we ever do for the Lord is ever wasted. 

Don't give up!  Hold on!  HOLD FAST!

"Prove all things; HOLD FAST that which is good." - (1 Thessalonians 5:21 KJV)

"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and HOLD the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." - (2 Thessalonians 2:15 KJV)

"HOLD FAST the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." - (2 Timothy 1:13 KJV)

"HOLDing FAST the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."(Titus 1:9 KJV)

"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we HOLD FAST the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end."(Hebrews 3:6 KJV)

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us HOLD FAST our profession."(Hebrews 4:14 KJV)

"Let us HOLD FAST the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"(Hebrews 10:23 KJV)

"HOLD FAST till I come."(Revelation 2:25 KJV)

"Behold, I come quickly: HOLD that FAST which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."(Revelation 3:11 KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia