Don't Be Useless!

 Happy Sunday!

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

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

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

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

Love and prayers, Cynthia

ISRAEL!

 Happy Sunday!

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

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

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

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Be Happy!

 Happy Sunday!

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

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

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

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

Love and prayers, Cynthia

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

 Happy Sunday!

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

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

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

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

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Be Strong

 Happy Sunday!

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

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

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

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

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Fear Not

 Happy Sunday!

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

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

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

Fear Not!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Make Today Count

 Happy Sunday!

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

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

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

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

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

Love and prayers, Cynthia

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