Happy Sunday!
"Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like."(James 1:22, Message).
The King James Version of this same scripture says, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."(KJV). Don't miss this! It is possible to deceive yourself. I know, I know it sounds preposterous! Why would you want to lie to yourself? Aren't there enough lies and liars in the world already?
Earlier in the week, the Holy Spirit led me to Revelation 21:8. In the previous scriptures Jesus declares that He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Then he declares the those that overcome will be His sons, and He will be their God. Then he gets to verse 8 and begins to paint a picture of those who do not overcome. He says, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."(KJV). Not a happy description to say the least. I noticed that he specified "ALL Liars". He didn't do that to the other words. Makes you wonder why he wanted to ensure we know that all liars are doomed.
Proverbs 6:16-19 gives some insight into how God feels about telling lies. "The Lord HATES these seven things: eyes that show pride, tongues that tell LIES, hands that kill innocent people, hearts that plan evil things to do, feet that run to do evil, witnesses in court who tell LIES, and anyone who causes family members to fight."(Easy-to-Read Version). The religious leaders were bent on killing Jesus, and he told them, "For you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a hater of truth—there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars."(John 8:44, Living Bible).
Let's not forget Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5: 1-7 says, "Once a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira fully cooperating, committed fraud. He sold some property and kept some of the proceeds, but he pretended to make a full donation to the Lord’s emissaries. Peter: Ananias, have you allowed Satan to influence your LIES to the Holy Spirit and hold back some of the money? Look, it was your property before you sold it, and the money was all yours after you sold it. Why have you concocted this scheme in your heart? You weren’t just lying to us; you were lying to God. Ananias heard these words and immediately dropped to the ground, dead; fear overcame all those who heard of the incident. Some young men came, wrapped the body, and buried it immediately. About three hours had passed when Sapphira arrived. She had no idea what had happened."(Voice).
Don't miss this! God loves a cheerful giver.(2 Corinthians 9:7). It was his property, and his money. Ananias didn't have to give it. But he wanted to be recognized for his big giving. Jesus warned us about this, "“Be careful! When you do something good, don’t do it in front of others so that they will see you. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."(Matthew 6:1, Easy-to-Read Version).
You know times have changed because it wouldn't have taken 3 minutes for people in the crowd to upload the video of Ananias dropping dead to Instagram. But the scripture says, 3 hours later Sapphira made it to church. Not knowing what had happened to her husband, she lied too, dropped dead, and was carried out. Moral of the story..." What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself"(Ephesians 4:25, Message).
Don't lie to anyone, especially yourself. Michael Jackson sang about talking to the man in the mirror and asking him to change his ways. Dr. Fred Price said, "Whatever you are anywhere, you should be everywhere". I encourage you to speak the Word, and always speak the Truth.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, August 2, 2020
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Don't Say It If You Don't Mean It!
Happy Sunday!
“Because a loveless world,” said Jesus, “is a sightless world.
If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we’ll move right into the neighborhood!
Not loving me means not keeping my words.
The message you are hearing isn’t mine.
It’s the message of the Father who sent me."(John 14:23-24, Message)
I read this passage in several translations and they are all Good! You should check them out. I use the BibleGateway App because of the numerous translations to compare and enjoy. These scriptures make the point that when you truly love the Lord Jesus Christ, you will do what he says. You will obey. It immediately made me think of the movie, B*A*P*S. In the scene where James is expressing his love for Mickey. He tells her how he loves her, and wants the best for her. Then she exclaims, "Don't say it if you don't mean it!"
Can't you just hear Jesus saying the same thing? Don't say it if you don't mean it! It's not about whether you smoke, or chew, or hang around with folks that do. Well, at least not fully. It's about the weighty matters. Are you loving others? Jesus said, "Your strong love for each other will PROVE to the world that you are my disciples.”(John 13:35, Living Bible). Don't miss this! He did not say we would be recognized for our attire, our blessings, or our religious habits. This current temporary situation brought on by Satan and the virus has proven that the church is not a building, but a group of people. We were instructed to GO into all the earth preaching the Gospel. That means everyday, not just on Sunday, we have a chance to shine.
The Apostle John wrote, "If anyone says “I love God,” but keeps on hating his brother, he is a liar; for if he doesn’t love his brother who is right there in front of him, how can he love God whom he has never seen?"(1 John 4:20, Living Bible). Let that sink in. People can be hard to deal with. I know first hand.
I'm in Customer Service. But no matter how ugly people act, we are commanded to love.
Thankfully, God has given us His love with which to love others.(Romans 5:5). And he reminds us that he has loved us through thick and thin. Romans 5:6-8 says it this way, "Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him."(Message).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
“Because a loveless world,” said Jesus, “is a sightless world.
If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we’ll move right into the neighborhood!
Not loving me means not keeping my words.
The message you are hearing isn’t mine.
It’s the message of the Father who sent me."(John 14:23-24, Message)
I read this passage in several translations and they are all Good! You should check them out. I use the BibleGateway App because of the numerous translations to compare and enjoy. These scriptures make the point that when you truly love the Lord Jesus Christ, you will do what he says. You will obey. It immediately made me think of the movie, B*A*P*S. In the scene where James is expressing his love for Mickey. He tells her how he loves her, and wants the best for her. Then she exclaims, "Don't say it if you don't mean it!"
Can't you just hear Jesus saying the same thing? Don't say it if you don't mean it! It's not about whether you smoke, or chew, or hang around with folks that do. Well, at least not fully. It's about the weighty matters. Are you loving others? Jesus said, "Your strong love for each other will PROVE to the world that you are my disciples.”(John 13:35, Living Bible). Don't miss this! He did not say we would be recognized for our attire, our blessings, or our religious habits. This current temporary situation brought on by Satan and the virus has proven that the church is not a building, but a group of people. We were instructed to GO into all the earth preaching the Gospel. That means everyday, not just on Sunday, we have a chance to shine.
The Apostle John wrote, "If anyone says “I love God,” but keeps on hating his brother, he is a liar; for if he doesn’t love his brother who is right there in front of him, how can he love God whom he has never seen?"(1 John 4:20, Living Bible). Let that sink in. People can be hard to deal with. I know first hand.
I'm in Customer Service. But no matter how ugly people act, we are commanded to love.
Thankfully, God has given us His love with which to love others.(Romans 5:5). And he reminds us that he has loved us through thick and thin. Romans 5:6-8 says it this way, "Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him."(Message).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, July 19, 2020
What do you know?
Happy Sunday!
Daniel 11:32b says, "but the people that do KNOW their God shall be strong, and do exploits."(KJV).
I'm sure you've heard someone say that they "know" someone else in the biblical sense of the word. The word "know" is defined as "having developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with". When we know God, the Word promises we will be strong and do exploits. Another translation of this scripture says, "But the people who know their God* shall be strong and do great things."(Living Bible).
My mother used to say you should learn something new everyday. What have you learned today? What have you learned this week? What have you learned this month? What do you KNOW? Even learning things about yourself qualifies. During our months of quarantine and isolation we have time for introspection. We can revisit hurts of the past and see how they have affected us mentally, and emotionally. We can acknowledge feelings and thought patterns and allow time for healing and make changes for a better future. We can organize, purge, and clean our environment. We can stop procrastinating and do the things on our lists. Well, at least some of the things on our lists. Proverbs 4:7 says, "Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment."(Living Bible).
Dr. Mike Freeman, Pastor of Spirit of Faith Christian Center in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, recounted going to the local community swimming pools as a child. The shallow end would be so crowded that you couldn't really move without bumping into another person. One day he noticed the deep end was empty. He determined to learn how to swim. After learning to swim he never had to deal with the crowded shallow end of the pool. He had space to enjoy the water. He discovered that "if you learn a little more than the average person you can distance yourself from the crowd". Don't miss this! This is applicable to every area of life.
Ignorant people say, "what you don't know can't hurt you". Actually, what you don't know can kill you! God does not want us to be ignorant. He wants us to, "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth."(2 Timothy 2:15, Amplified). It may not seem like much but what you are learning today will place you miles ahead of those who refuse to learn.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Daniel 11:32b says, "but the people that do KNOW their God shall be strong, and do exploits."(KJV).
I'm sure you've heard someone say that they "know" someone else in the biblical sense of the word. The word "know" is defined as "having developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with". When we know God, the Word promises we will be strong and do exploits. Another translation of this scripture says, "But the people who know their God* shall be strong and do great things."(Living Bible).
My mother used to say you should learn something new everyday. What have you learned today? What have you learned this week? What have you learned this month? What do you KNOW? Even learning things about yourself qualifies. During our months of quarantine and isolation we have time for introspection. We can revisit hurts of the past and see how they have affected us mentally, and emotionally. We can acknowledge feelings and thought patterns and allow time for healing and make changes for a better future. We can organize, purge, and clean our environment. We can stop procrastinating and do the things on our lists. Well, at least some of the things on our lists. Proverbs 4:7 says, "Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment."(Living Bible).
Dr. Mike Freeman, Pastor of Spirit of Faith Christian Center in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, recounted going to the local community swimming pools as a child. The shallow end would be so crowded that you couldn't really move without bumping into another person. One day he noticed the deep end was empty. He determined to learn how to swim. After learning to swim he never had to deal with the crowded shallow end of the pool. He had space to enjoy the water. He discovered that "if you learn a little more than the average person you can distance yourself from the crowd". Don't miss this! This is applicable to every area of life.
Ignorant people say, "what you don't know can't hurt you". Actually, what you don't know can kill you! God does not want us to be ignorant. He wants us to, "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth."(2 Timothy 2:15, Amplified). It may not seem like much but what you are learning today will place you miles ahead of those who refuse to learn.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Making Him Happy
Happy Sunday!
Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(KJV).
Do you want to please God? I mean is pleasing God your life's goal? Please is defined as "cause to feel happy and satisfied". Do you want to make God happy? Do you want him to be satisfied? Christians love to quip about God saying on their final day, "well done my good and faithful servant".(Matthew 25:21). But do you wake up everyday with the goal of pleasing God in everything you do?
I know, I know. It seems daunting unless you remember, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."(Philippians 4:13, KJV). And it can seem impossible with out the help of the Holy Spirit. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."(Acts 1:8, KJV). Jesus further encouraged us by saying, "For with God nothing shall be impossible."(Luke 1:37, KJV).
I've often said I am so blessed to be quarantined with my daughters. We understand each other, enjoy being together, and know how to enjoy time alone in our own rooms. There is only one disagreement. We disagree about which Disney Princess is the best. I've always been drawn to Cinderella. Not only could her nickname be Cindy like mine, but I always felt our stories were intertwined. A hard childhood, but a fabulous future...that's for me! I love Snow White because she could clean a house inhabited by 7 men. That girl had the juice! LOL. My daughter, Christina loves Belle from "The Beauty and the Beast". That story will preach, as my sister Jacque always says. It reminds us...don't disregard the lowly, don't fall for the curse, it's Ok to sacrifice your life for the one you love, it's good to be smart, reading is fundamental, and it is best to see people for more than face value. God said, "for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."(1 Samuel 16:7, KJV).
My daughter Crystal loves all things Cinderella. Good, bad, or indifferent she has seen and owned almost every Cinderella movie. She has even seen the Broadway rendition when it came to Chicago. She relates to the story of redemption and hope that things will be better like Jeremiah 29:11, "“I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future."(Easy-to-Read Version). She also loves the songs and there are days I walk past her room and hear her singing. From the Rodger's and Hammerstein Cinderella, she loves the song, "Impossible". If you Google it we prefer the Whitney Houston and Brandy version. Check out these lyrics that are so appropriate for today, "But the world is full of zanies and fools; Who don’t believe in sensible rules; And won’t believe what sensible people say; And because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes; Keep building up impossible hopes
Impossible things are happening every day!"
Don't miss this! Impossible things are happening every day! Faith is what our dreams are made of, and having faith in God to do it is what makes Him happy. 1 Peter 5:10-11 says, "Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does."(Message).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(KJV).
Do you want to please God? I mean is pleasing God your life's goal? Please is defined as "cause to feel happy and satisfied". Do you want to make God happy? Do you want him to be satisfied? Christians love to quip about God saying on their final day, "well done my good and faithful servant".(Matthew 25:21). But do you wake up everyday with the goal of pleasing God in everything you do?
I know, I know. It seems daunting unless you remember, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."(Philippians 4:13, KJV). And it can seem impossible with out the help of the Holy Spirit. "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."(Acts 1:8, KJV). Jesus further encouraged us by saying, "For with God nothing shall be impossible."(Luke 1:37, KJV).
I've often said I am so blessed to be quarantined with my daughters. We understand each other, enjoy being together, and know how to enjoy time alone in our own rooms. There is only one disagreement. We disagree about which Disney Princess is the best. I've always been drawn to Cinderella. Not only could her nickname be Cindy like mine, but I always felt our stories were intertwined. A hard childhood, but a fabulous future...that's for me! I love Snow White because she could clean a house inhabited by 7 men. That girl had the juice! LOL. My daughter, Christina loves Belle from "The Beauty and the Beast". That story will preach, as my sister Jacque always says. It reminds us...don't disregard the lowly, don't fall for the curse, it's Ok to sacrifice your life for the one you love, it's good to be smart, reading is fundamental, and it is best to see people for more than face value. God said, "for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."(1 Samuel 16:7, KJV).
My daughter Crystal loves all things Cinderella. Good, bad, or indifferent she has seen and owned almost every Cinderella movie. She has even seen the Broadway rendition when it came to Chicago. She relates to the story of redemption and hope that things will be better like Jeremiah 29:11, "“I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future."(Easy-to-Read Version). She also loves the songs and there are days I walk past her room and hear her singing. From the Rodger's and Hammerstein Cinderella, she loves the song, "Impossible". If you Google it we prefer the Whitney Houston and Brandy version. Check out these lyrics that are so appropriate for today, "But the world is full of zanies and fools; Who don’t believe in sensible rules; And won’t believe what sensible people say; And because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes; Keep building up impossible hopes
Impossible things are happening every day!"
Don't miss this! Impossible things are happening every day! Faith is what our dreams are made of, and having faith in God to do it is what makes Him happy. 1 Peter 5:10-11 says, "Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does."(Message).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Hidden...
Happy Sunday!
Psalm 119:11 says, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."(KJV). Have you ever wondered why we need to hide the Word? I would think the Word could be left out in the open anywhere. Didn't your grandmother have that 16 pound family Bible out on the coffee table? We generally hide our valuables, our money, and our secrets. The Message Translation of this same scripture says, "I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt." That's so good!
In Matthew 13, Jesus taught the Parable of the Sower. He described how quickly the enemy comes to steal the seeds of the Word before they can germinate in the soil of our hearts. Our enemy knows that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."(Romans 10:17, KJV). He does whatever he can to keep us from hearing the Word, and if we do hear it he causes distractions, and tries to keep us from understanding it. Think back before COVID-19 and restrictions on large gatherings. Can't you recall being in church, and the Word getting really good and interesting? Then all of a sudden and baby starts crying, your neighbor decides to get up and go to the bathroom, or a late comer to the service is ushered to your row? I can remember so many instances like this. That was the Devil distracting you from the Word you needed for your well-being.
Thank God for CDs, DVDs, and Streaming Services that allow us to go back and hear what we missed, and listen again, and again. I have so many little notebooks with years of sermon notes. They still bless me. I can pick them up and go back years and the Word is always still relevant. Our enemy is a liar. He is like most proficient liars, he does a very good job. Our only defense is the Truth. Jesus prayed for us, and said, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."(John 17:17, KJV). Don't miss this! The Word of God is the TRUTH. Truth is the only antidote for lies.
Get the Word, hide it in your heart, then guard it like you guard your precious jewelry. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life."(Voice).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Psalm 119:11 says, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."(KJV). Have you ever wondered why we need to hide the Word? I would think the Word could be left out in the open anywhere. Didn't your grandmother have that 16 pound family Bible out on the coffee table? We generally hide our valuables, our money, and our secrets. The Message Translation of this same scripture says, "I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt." That's so good!
In Matthew 13, Jesus taught the Parable of the Sower. He described how quickly the enemy comes to steal the seeds of the Word before they can germinate in the soil of our hearts. Our enemy knows that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."(Romans 10:17, KJV). He does whatever he can to keep us from hearing the Word, and if we do hear it he causes distractions, and tries to keep us from understanding it. Think back before COVID-19 and restrictions on large gatherings. Can't you recall being in church, and the Word getting really good and interesting? Then all of a sudden and baby starts crying, your neighbor decides to get up and go to the bathroom, or a late comer to the service is ushered to your row? I can remember so many instances like this. That was the Devil distracting you from the Word you needed for your well-being.
Thank God for CDs, DVDs, and Streaming Services that allow us to go back and hear what we missed, and listen again, and again. I have so many little notebooks with years of sermon notes. They still bless me. I can pick them up and go back years and the Word is always still relevant. Our enemy is a liar. He is like most proficient liars, he does a very good job. Our only defense is the Truth. Jesus prayed for us, and said, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."(John 17:17, KJV). Don't miss this! The Word of God is the TRUTH. Truth is the only antidote for lies.
Get the Word, hide it in your heart, then guard it like you guard your precious jewelry. Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life."(Voice).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, June 28, 2020
Faith vs Feelings
Happy Sunday!
"Then the ten spies who had incited the rebellion against Jehovah by striking FEAR into the hearts of the people were struck dead before the Lord. Of all the spies, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive."(Numbers 14:37-38, Living Bible).
Have you ever thought about this? The 10 spies were only providing the facts they uncovered on their 40 day tour of the Promised Land. They said, "“We arrived in the land you sent us to see, and it is indeed a magnificent country—a land ‘flowing with milk and honey.’ Here is some fruit we have brought as proof."(Numbers 13:27, Living Bible). This was a fact. They said, “The land is full of warriors, the people are powerfully built, and we saw some of the Anakim there, descendants of the ancient race of giants."(Numbers 13:32-33a, Living Bible). That was also a fact. But then they left the facts and moved over into their feelings. They said, "We felt like grasshoppers before them, they were so tall!”(Numbers 13:33b, Living Bible). Don't miss this! They felt. Feelings are defined as, "an emotional state or reaction; a belief, especially a vague or irrational one".
The TRUTH was God promised them the land, and He described it to them meticulously. God proved that He could give them victory in tough situations at the Red Sea. They saw Pharoah and his entire army drowned. God proved that He would feed them even in the wilderness where there were no Wal-Marts or Convenience Stores. What the 10 spies really did was call God a Liar!
When we murmur and complain we are saying that our situation is too hard for God. We are calling God a Liar. Jeremiah 32:27 says, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"(KJV). Romans 8:31 says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"(KJV). Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"(KJV). Now, don't let the enemy condemn you! We have all been guilty of leaning on our feelings and forsaking the Word of God at some point. But today is the day for us to change!
We must always place FAITH above our feelings. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(KJV). Another translation of this scripture says, "It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him."(Message). How can we know that God cares for us? Great question. I'm so glad you asked. We know God and His Character by spending time with Him and His Word. Like any intimate relationship, it takes time to get to know the other person. The closer you get to them the more you know about them. James 4:8 says, "Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands; you have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart, because your mind is split down the middle, your love for God on one side and selfish pursuits on the other."(Voice).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
"Then the ten spies who had incited the rebellion against Jehovah by striking FEAR into the hearts of the people were struck dead before the Lord. Of all the spies, only Joshua and Caleb remained alive."(Numbers 14:37-38, Living Bible).
Have you ever thought about this? The 10 spies were only providing the facts they uncovered on their 40 day tour of the Promised Land. They said, "“We arrived in the land you sent us to see, and it is indeed a magnificent country—a land ‘flowing with milk and honey.’ Here is some fruit we have brought as proof."(Numbers 13:27, Living Bible). This was a fact. They said, “The land is full of warriors, the people are powerfully built, and we saw some of the Anakim there, descendants of the ancient race of giants."(Numbers 13:32-33a, Living Bible). That was also a fact. But then they left the facts and moved over into their feelings. They said, "We felt like grasshoppers before them, they were so tall!”(Numbers 13:33b, Living Bible). Don't miss this! They felt. Feelings are defined as, "an emotional state or reaction; a belief, especially a vague or irrational one".
The TRUTH was God promised them the land, and He described it to them meticulously. God proved that He could give them victory in tough situations at the Red Sea. They saw Pharoah and his entire army drowned. God proved that He would feed them even in the wilderness where there were no Wal-Marts or Convenience Stores. What the 10 spies really did was call God a Liar!
When we murmur and complain we are saying that our situation is too hard for God. We are calling God a Liar. Jeremiah 32:27 says, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"(KJV). Romans 8:31 says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"(KJV). Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"(KJV). Now, don't let the enemy condemn you! We have all been guilty of leaning on our feelings and forsaking the Word of God at some point. But today is the day for us to change!
We must always place FAITH above our feelings. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(KJV). Another translation of this scripture says, "It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him."(Message). How can we know that God cares for us? Great question. I'm so glad you asked. We know God and His Character by spending time with Him and His Word. Like any intimate relationship, it takes time to get to know the other person. The closer you get to them the more you know about them. James 4:8 says, "Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands; you have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart, because your mind is split down the middle, your love for God on one side and selfish pursuits on the other."(Voice).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Who's Your Daddy?
Happy Sunday!
Happy Father's Day! Matthew 5:48 says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."(KJV). The Message Translation says it this way, "In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created IDENTITY. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
Perfect is defined as "having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be; absolute; complete". Don't miss this! If God is your father, you should be as good as it is possible. You should look like Him, walk like Him, and talk like Him. Matthew 5:16 says, " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."(KJV).
Did you know there are only two spiritual families on earth? And only two fathers? You are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body. Whether you realize it or not, you are in one family or the other. Jesus rebuked a group of people and said, "For you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a hater of truth—there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars. And so when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe it!"(John 8:44-45, Living Bible).
Who's your Daddy? Who are you resembling? Jesus described how God's children should be identified, "However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your IDENTITY as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil."(Matthew 5:44-45, Passion).
Fathers are Essential! During this COVID-19 adventure, we have reclassified what jobs are essential. Celebrities and sports stars have taken a back seat to the cashier, the trash man, the first responder, the nurse, and the doctor. Those that can save a life, and improve our daily lives have moved to the forefront. But fathers should always remain essential. A father gives his child their identity. We love our mothers and we know they have held it all together, but as a daughter I wanted a relationship with my father. I wanted to hear praise from his lips. I wanted to know that I was wanted, and not rejected. Thankfully, I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior. He not only forgave my sins: past, present, and future. But I was adopted into His family. Ephesians 1:5 says, "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!"(Living Bible). He did it because he wanted to, because he loves me. Not because the state forced him to love me or care for me, but because he is a Good, Good Father.
I'm so thankful to know some amazing fathers! Their children are So Blessed to have them! If by chance, your father was not what he should have been don't lose heart. Our Heavenly Father can step in and fill the empty spaces. He will provide everything you need in this life and the next.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Happy Father's Day! Matthew 5:48 says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."(KJV). The Message Translation says it this way, "In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created IDENTITY. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
Perfect is defined as "having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be; absolute; complete". Don't miss this! If God is your father, you should be as good as it is possible. You should look like Him, walk like Him, and talk like Him. Matthew 5:16 says, " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."(KJV).
Did you know there are only two spiritual families on earth? And only two fathers? You are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body. Whether you realize it or not, you are in one family or the other. Jesus rebuked a group of people and said, "For you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a hater of truth—there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars. And so when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe it!"(John 8:44-45, Living Bible).
Who's your Daddy? Who are you resembling? Jesus described how God's children should be identified, "However, I say to you, love your enemy, bless the one who curses you, do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your IDENTITY as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil."(Matthew 5:44-45, Passion).
Fathers are Essential! During this COVID-19 adventure, we have reclassified what jobs are essential. Celebrities and sports stars have taken a back seat to the cashier, the trash man, the first responder, the nurse, and the doctor. Those that can save a life, and improve our daily lives have moved to the forefront. But fathers should always remain essential. A father gives his child their identity. We love our mothers and we know they have held it all together, but as a daughter I wanted a relationship with my father. I wanted to hear praise from his lips. I wanted to know that I was wanted, and not rejected. Thankfully, I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior. He not only forgave my sins: past, present, and future. But I was adopted into His family. Ephesians 1:5 says, "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!"(Living Bible). He did it because he wanted to, because he loves me. Not because the state forced him to love me or care for me, but because he is a Good, Good Father.
I'm so thankful to know some amazing fathers! Their children are So Blessed to have them! If by chance, your father was not what he should have been don't lose heart. Our Heavenly Father can step in and fill the empty spaces. He will provide everything you need in this life and the next.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
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