PERECT

Happy Sunday!

I knew a woman who would become depressed around the Christmas Holiday if there was no snow!  She lived in an area of the country where snow was not common in December.  Movies, books, and traditions had convinced her that a perfect Christmas had to have certain specific details!  Now that I've lived in numerous states with varied climates, I wish I could have encouraged her to move to a place like Minnesota, Indiana, or Iowa where snow at Christmas is almost guaranteed! 

The story of the birth of Jesus Christ was perfect, even though the circumstances were not!  Don't miss this!  The ruler decided to tax the people, and it required Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem!  Traveling so close to her delivery date couldn't have been easy, and they were traveling on foot or by donkey.  Then they arrived and the Inn was full!  No Internet or phones to call ahead and get a reservation!  Then the baby arrived and Mary used what was available!  She swaddled her baby in strips of cloth and place him in a manger! (Luke 2).  

How was this perfect?  I'm so glad you asked!  The Prophet Micah gave this prophecy hundreds of years before Jesus was born, "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come FROM you on my behalf."(Micah 5:2 NLT).  God used Caesar Augustus to get them to Bethlehem at the perfect time to fulfil the prophecy.  God himself prophesied to Satan in Genesis about Jesus Christ, "From now on you and the woman will be enemies, as will your offspring and hers. You will strike his heel, but HE will crush your head.” (Genesis 3:15 TLB).  1 John 3:8 says, "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For THIS PURPOSE, the Son of God was manifested, that he might DESTROY the works of the devil."(KJV). 

Jesus came to save us and to destroy the works of the Devil!  Jesus came to give us a Hope and a Future! (Jeremiah 29:11).  He came to fix the mess that Adam got us into, and He's still interested in, "Seeking and Saving the lost!"(Luke 19:10).  Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will PERFECT that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever—forsake not the works of Your own hands."(AMPC).  

Merry Christmas!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Good VS Evil

 Happy Sunday!

"The wicked become angry when they see this. They grind their teeth in anger, but then they disappear. They will NEVER get what they want most."(Psalm 112:10 Easy-to-Read Version).

What is making the wicked people angry?  Good question.  I'm so glad you asked. Reading the entire 112 Psalm will explain why the wicked are so angry.  Psalm 112 describes a Godly, God-fearing, God-respecting person and the wonderful life God provides for him.  Verse 1 says, "Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who fears the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with obedience], Who delights greatly in His commandments."(Amplified). 

Why would the wicked hate the good?  Well, the Apostle James described it like this, "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn’t it because there is a whole army of EVIL desires within you? You want what you don’t have, so you kill to get it. You long for what others have, and can’t afford it, so you start a fight to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. And even when you do ask you don’t get it because your whole aim is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure."(James 4:1-3 Living Bible).

Psalm 37:4 says, "Do what the Lord wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire."(CEV).  You and I are probably more familiar with the King James Version of this scripture, "Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart".  We never have to worry about the wicked, we just want to live our lives in a way that makes it clear that we are not the wicked ones.  Jesus said, "A good tree does not produce bad fruit. And a bad tree does not produce good fruit.  Every tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. You won’t find figs on thorny weeds. And you can’t pick grapes from thorn bushes! GOOD people have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are EVIL have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts."(Luke 6:43-45 Easy-to-Read Version).

"If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies."(1 Peter 3:10 Living Bible).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

In Earth, as it is in Heaven

Happy Sunday!

When did God create you?  When did God create everything, you would need for life and godliness?  I know what you are thinking!  Cynthia, why are you asking these silly questions?  But are they really that silly?  Do you realize that some people are approaching God as if he created them and failed to consider that they would need food, clothing, shelter, college tuition, and transportation!  People are praying and asking God to do things for them that he has already done since the foundation of the world!   The great evangelist, T.L. Osborn once said, "Much prayer time is wasted by people asking God for two things that He will NEVER do:  1) To do what He has already done.  2) To do what He has told them to do."   Don't be that person!  Work through these questions for yourself.  Get your personal theology straight!

God created us to dominate in the earth realm!  Our ancestor, Adam messed up, but God always had a plan!  He is never reactive, but always proactive.  He's even called Jehovah Jireh, which means God sees ahead of time and provides!  Even in Genesis, there are prophetic promises of the good ending he planned for mankind.  God created everything you will ever need long, long ago.  Hebrews 4:3 says, "For only we who believe God can enter into his place of REST. He has said, “I have sworn in my anger that those who don’t believe me will never get in,” even though he has been ready and waiting for them since the world began."(Living Bible).    Did you see that?  Faith is necessary to see the resources and provision of God!  Dr. Bill Winston said, "Faith for the Promise, is in the Promise.  Faith goes into the Eternal realm and gets what we need!"  It's like a heavenly bank account.  Everything you will ever need is there.  But just like an earthly bank account, there are procedures and guidelines in place in order to make a withdrawal.  Don't get mad at God because your transaction was denied due to insufficient Faith.

God wants you to do exploits!  Daniel 11:32(b) says, "but the people that do KNOW their God shall be strong and do exploits."(KJV).  He gets no Glory when we do small things that require no Faith.  He created you to reign as a king and a priest on earth.  Revelation 5:10 says, "You made them to be a kingdom and to be priests for our God.  And they will rule on the earth.”(Easy-to-Read Version).  I know the old church focused on Heaven.  Heaven is great, I've got lots of loved ones there.  But heaven is not the ultimate goal.  God wants us to bring heaven to earth.  OK, so you think I made that up?  Read it for yourself.  You can probably quote it from memory.  Matthew 6:9-13 says, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in EARTH, AS IT IS in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  God wants the earth to look like heaven!  It might be helpful if we knew what heaven really looked like, right?  Revelation 21 says, there's no death, no crying, no darkness, no fear, no poverty, no sickness, no hunger, and no thirst.  Makes perfect sense that Jesus would say, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."(Luke 4:18-19, KJV).  He came to set things right.  We are his ambassadors and agents in the earth; sent to continue the work he began!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Unusual Thanks

 Happy Sunday!

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."(Philippians 4:4-7 KJV).

Thanksgiving Day ushers us into the Holiday season.  We rush right past it on our merry way to Christmas.  Sometimes we are thoroughly consumed with "me".  What will I get?  What will I buy?  What will I cook?  What ugly sweater will I wear to the company Christmas Party?  It can all produce quite a bit of anxiety.  

The Message Translation of this passage says, "Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as CLEAR as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. HELP them see that the Master is about to ARRIVE. He could show up any minute!  Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life".(Philippians 4:4-7).

Don't miss this!   "It’s wonderful what happens when CHRIST displaces worry at the center of your life".    The Lord Jesus Christ can displace worry, anxiety, and fear.  Dr. Carlos T. Brown once said, "Hope pulls us in one direction, and fear pulls us in another direction".  It's possible to be pulled APART by life, and in this life! God wants us to be changed from within not pulled apart.

Thankfulness is being "courteously respectful" to God!  When we respect God and come to him in modesty and gratefulness he can change us, and change our circumstances.  We must remember to be thankful for the UNUSUAL.  Do you have a sink full of dirty dishes?  Be thankful that you have food to eat.  Are there beds to be made, and clothes to be washed?  Be thankful that you have a place to live and comfortable bed.  Be thankful that you have numerous choices and are not limited to the clothes on your back.  Does your child run out of the house leaving the door wide open?  Be thankful your child can run, play, and is growing!  Do your parents need extra help, and care in their homes?  Be thankful that they are still with you, and that you have the opportunity to bless them!  Do you have to leave early in the morning to fill up the gas tank?  Be thankful that you have a car, and that you have the funds to fill the tank.  Be thankful that you have a job to go to!

I could go on and on...but I think you get the point.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."(KJV).  The Living Bible says, "No matter what happens, always be THANKFUL, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus".

No matter what happens, I'm giving thanks!  I'm so thankful for you!  Thanks for receiving, reading, and responding to these messages for more than 12 years!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Honor

Happy Sunday!

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."(Ephesians 6:1-3 KJV).

This scripture does not say, "Honor your good father and your sweet mother" or "honor your supportive, loving father or encouraging mother".  God just says honor them so that things will go well for you, and you will have a long life.  Don't miss this!  It's not really about them, it's about US and our children after us.

Dr. Hart Ramsey once said, "We expect people to give us what they don't have”.  Think about it!

Do you realize that there are no perfect fathers in the Bible?  Do you need time to think back to Sunday School lessons?  Take as much time as you need.  Jacob played favorites, and gave Joseph a coat of many colors.(Genesis 37:3).  Lot was willing to give his virgin daughters to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah that wanted to rape the two visitors(angels) that came to rescue he and his family.(Genesis 19:8).  Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, that the first person to meet him when he returned safely from battle would become a sacrifice.  Sadly, his only daughter was the first one to come out of the house to meet him.(Judges 11:30-31).  God is the ONLY perfect father, and the perfect PARENT.  He is the example that we all should follow.

It's important that we allow the Holy Spirit to help us process what we have experienced.  God knows what we really need to be all that we can be.  He can use everything that our parents were, are, and are not to benefit us in this life.  When we honor our parents, we honor the choice that God made in order to get a special gift into the world...you are that GIFT. 

Love and prayers, Cynthia 

Don’t Worry!

 Happy Sunday!

"Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."(Philippians 4:6 Message).

It's comforting and refreshing to know that God cares for us and he has our lives in his hand.  There is so much happening right now in our lives and in our world.   If we aren't cautious, we can become overwhelmed.

2 Kings 4:1-44 is full of life applications.  A certain woman comes to the prophet with a problem.  Her husband has died and left her with massive debt.  The creditors are coming to take her sons away to be slaves.  The prophet asks her, "What do you have in your house?"  What a great question to ask today?  What do you have in your house?  Do you realize God has given you everything you need to succeed?  It's in your house!  It's in the unique person he created you to be.  Acts 10:34 says, “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open." (Message).

All the woman had was a container of oil, the prophet gave her these instructions.  "Here’s what you do,” said Elisha. “Go up and down the street and borrow jugs and bowls from all your neighbors.  And not just a few—all you can get. Then come home and lock the door behind you, you and your sons. Pour oil into each container; when each is full, set it aside.  She did what he said. She locked the door behind her and her sons; as they brought the containers to her, she filled them. When all the jugs and bowls were full, she said to one of her sons, “Another jug, please.  He said, “That’s it. There are no more jugs.” Then the oil stopped. (Message). The woman was able to sell the oil, pay her debts, and live off the rest. 

What can we get from this?  Glad you asked.  Do what GOD told you!  No need to explain to your neighbors.  Keep the process secret, lock the door to naysayers, critics, and haters!  There will be plenty of time for testimonies when God brings you out!  Don't think small!  The prophet instructed her to get lots of pots or vessels.  Do you realize that she determined the size of her blessing by the number of vessels she was willing to collect?  We quote it all the time..."exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think".(Ephesians 3:20).  Exceeding means to surpass others; excel or be superior.  Abundantly means plentiful, profuse, and numerous.  Selah.

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Don't Feel Sorry For Yourselves

 Happy Sunday!

"In this all-out match against SIN, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So DON'T FEEL SORRY for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,

    but don’t be crushed by it either.

It’s the child he loves that he disciplines.

    The child he embraces, he also corrects.

God is EDUCATING you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only IRRESPONSIBLE parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for TRAINING and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can TRULY LIVE? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s HOLY BEST. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it PAYS OFF big-time, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves MATURE in their relationship with God.

So don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!

Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise, you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears."(Hebrews 12:11-17 Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia