Category: God’s Promises

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Good Thoughts

The Apostle Paul said this: “Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

8 Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. 9 You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.” Philippians 4:7-9 CEV

Think on good things. Keep pure thoughts and peace will be the by-product.

“It is better to live right and be poor than to be sinful and rich. 17 The wicked will lose all
of their power, but the Lord gives strength to everyone who is good. 18 Those who obey the Lord are daily in his care, and what he has given them will be theirs forever. 19 They won’t be in trouble when times are bad, and they will have plenty when food is scarce…

21 An evil person borrows and never pays back; a good person is generous and never stops giving. 22 Everyone the Lord blesses will receive the land; everyone the Lord curses will be destroyed. 23 If you do what the Lord wants, he will make certain each step you take is sure. 24 The Lord will hold your hand, and if you stumble, you still won’t fall. 25 As long as I can remember, good people have never been left helpless, and their children have never gone begging for food. 26 They gladly give and lend, and their children turn out good.” Psalm 37:16-26 CEV

These thoughts, good thoughts, came flooding in this morning when I read this one verse, “Be wise! Remember this and think about the kindness of the Lord.” Psalm 107:43 CEV

Make it a great day – think on these things. The Lord is kind!

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Rock Solid Truth

Growing up I would hear preachers say, “God said, I believe it, that settles it”. They were saying this to confirm their faith in the Word of God, however, that saying isn’t quite true.

This is the truth that we see – God said it, that settles it! Whether I believe it or not, God’s word will always be true and perfect.

“ Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Romans 12:2 CEV

The world outlook is becoming increasingly dark. Calling good evil and evil good – it’s amazing! So we who are believers in Christ need to stand tall on God’s word!

“The Lord’s teachings are perfect. They give strength to his people. The Lord’s rules can be trusted. They help even the foolish become wise. 8 The Lord’s laws are right. They make people happy. The Lord’s commands are good. They show people the right way to live. 9 Learning respect for the Lord is good. It will last forever. The Lord’s judgments are right. They are completely fair. 10 His teachings are worth more than pure gold. They are sweeter than the best honey dripping from the honeycomb. 11 His teachings warn his servants, and good things come to those who obey them. 12 People cannot see their own mistakes, so don’t let me commit secret sins. 13 Don’t let me do what I know is wrong. Don’t let sin control me. If you help me, I can be pure and free from sin. 14 May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19:7-14 CEV

Father, Your word is my daily bread. It gives me strength when I am weak. It gives me wisdom when I need answers. It gives me rest when I am weary. It is life giving water to my soul; You are the giver of life. Your word gives me hope for each day and joy to replace my sorrow.

“Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it was built on solid rock, and so it did not fall.” Matthew 7:24-25 CEV

Thank you Father that your Word is perfect and trustworthy. It is rock solid truth!

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All I Need

This morning as I was praying a verse came to mind and when I looked it up I realized I had never thought of this as an “in Christ” verse before but there is was.

“My God will meet your every need out of his riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus. 20 Let glory be given to God our Father forever and always. Amen..” Philippians 4:19 CEB

In Christ, every need I have has already been met.

He became my sin so that I could have His righteousness II Corinthians 5:21

He took stripes on His back so that I could be healed Isaiah 53:5

He told me to come boldly to his throne to find Help (Him) in time of need Hebrews 4:16

He became my strength when I am weak Philippians 4:19

He became my peace when things around me are in chaos. Philippians 4:6-7

He gave me a cup that runs over and abundance when the enemy is trying to steal, kill and destroy Psalm 23

He gave me wisdom when I asked for it James 1:5-6

As I am sitting here and thinking about what my day has in store, I know that in Christ, He has already supplied all that I need!

That’s a good thing!!

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Listen Up!

This morning, I found myself reading parts of the Bible that I have read repeatedly for the last 30+ years. And believe it or not, those verses are as exciting to me now as they were then.

I never get tired of reading the Bible because it is the living word of God. The Apostle Paul said this: “ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 ESV

And Jesus said this: “15 You people who hear me, listen!… 28 “Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. 30 Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.” Matthew 11:15-30 ERV

In verses 16-27 of Matthew 11 Jesus was pointing out the hypocrisy and criticism of the religious leaders. They were critical of one another, of John the Baptist, and of Jesus and His miracles.

Jesus’ message was “Listen up! My teaching will give you rest from all your striving. It will give you peace and freedom from worry. My teaching is easy to accept”.

When I first began to really study God’s word I had a lot of misinformation to unlearn. Mine was a works based mentality. If I did enough good things, the Lord would be pleased with me. If I didn’t, watch out, “you never know what God will do”.

So, the first thing I had to do was saturate my thinking with the Father’s unconditional love.

As I said I spent months reading and re-reading the same portions of Scripture every day. Faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing the word of God. My faith in God’s love grew until I became CONVINCED that nothing could separate me from the love of God!

Time does not permit for me to print out these verses so I will trust you to look them up for yourselves. Read them and let the Holy Spirit make them real to your heart.

Numbers 23:19, Psalms 91, Psalms 103, Psalms 143, Psalm 145, Romans 8, Ephesians 1:16-23, Ephesians 3:14-21 and Colossians 2:5-20.

Let me close with this from Romans 8.

“ What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? 32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else? 33 If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? 34 Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. 35 Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? 36  It is exactly as the Scriptures say,

‘For you, we face death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered.’

37 In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:31-39 CEV

So listen up! Learn from the teaching of God’s word and find rest!

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Living A Balanced Life

Have you ever been asked to make a list of your personal assets and liabilities? Maybe you’ve applied for a bank loan or were starting a business and so you had to sit down and diligently list everything you owned and everyone you owed. It can be a bit overwhelming to see those two columns staring back at you in black and white.

Reading Romans this morning I came across the Apostle Paul’s list and he got it from Jesus.

He said we should be indebted to LOVE!

Jesus said the same thing when He said that we should love the Lord, our God, first and foremost and then love others as much as we love ourselves.

Working on removing debt from our lives is an admiral and honorable thing but there should always be one debt that stays, the debt to love.

“You should owe nothing to anyone, except that you will always owe love to each other. The person who loves others has done all that the law commands. 9 The law says, “You must not commit adultery, you must not murder anyone, you must not steal, you must not want what belongs to someone else.” All these commands and all other commands are really only one rule: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” 10 Love doesn’t hurt others. So loving is the same as obeying all the law.” Romans 13:8-10 CEV

Love balances on both sides of the spread sheet. It is an asset of the highest order, but it is also a debt, although not a liability.

Who in your life needs your love today? Your spouse, your children, grandchildren, your parents, co-workers, friends, casual acquaintances or a stranger on the street?

Look for opportunities to go into debt today, it will make your life richer!

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Time for A Campout

Dave and I have been planning some summer camping trips. The first outing in our rooftop tent was great! Burros and all.

We’ll have a couple more opportunities this summer and our anticipation is great.

Do you like to camp?

As a kid I grew up camping with my folks. In the different places we lived there were always lakes or rivers close by. We would go for the day, the weekend or even a couple weeks at a time. Fishing, campfires, hot chocolate, card games, marshmallows and the stars! So peaceful and life was simple and unhurried.

Awe yes, I love camping.

One of my favorite places to camp spiritually is in the Psalms and my favorite campsite is Psalm 119. And then in that campsite my favorite spot is verses 97-104.

“O, how I love Your Law! It is what I think about all through the day. 98 Your Word makes me wiser than those who hate me, for it is always with me. 99 I have better understanding than all my teachers because I think about Your Law. 100 I have a better understanding than those who are old because I obey Your Word. 101 I have kept my feet from every sinful way so that I may keep Your Word. 102 I have not turned away from Your Law, for You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet is Your Word to my taste! It is sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 I get understanding from Your Law and so I hate every false way.” NLV

With Memorial Day coming up many of you will be getting away for a camping trip or wishing you could. Why not take time today to camp by a stream of living water, rest in the grass of green pastures and enjoy the warmth of the Son?

God’s word is a great place to campout and enjoy the Creator!

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Growing a Tree of Faith

It seems that about every 2 or 3 years the Lord has me do a teaching or two on faith and unbelief.

I often hear folks say, “I wish I had more faith or I wish my faith was bigger or stronger”. This morning I would like to share a couple of thoughts on “Faith” and “Unbelief”. Imagine you are holding a coin in your hand right now. One side of the coin is faith and one side is unbelief. The outcome in the situations of your life are directly affected by the side of the coin that you are looking at.

There are many Scriptures when Jesus addressed “Unbelief” in the hearts and minds of those that he was ministering too.

In Matthew 13 it says that Jesus couldn’t do any mighty works in his own hometown because of their unbelief. In Mark 9 the man who had a demon possessed son brought him to Jesus for healing. Jesus answered if thou canst believe all things are possible to him that believeth and the father responded Lord, I believe – help thou my unbelief. After Jesus set the boy free his disciples came and asked:

“‘Why could not we cast him out?’ 20 And Jesus said unto them, ‘Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.'” Matthew 17:19-21 KJV

Jesus didn’t say that it was because of their “little” faith or even lack of faith but because of unbelief. He then goes on to say that with faith as little as a grain of mustard seed, nothing would be impossible to them. And as a side note when Jesus said “this kind” goes not out but by prayer and fasting, He was talking about the unbelief.

Faith simply put is our belief that God not only can do but will do those things that He has promised.

When we give our life to Christ and are born again, we are given faith as a part of our new nature. Romans 12 says that God has given us “the” measure of faith and then in Galatians 5, Paul tells us again that faith is a fruit of the Spirit.

We can all agree it takes faith to get saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith”.

Faith, believing that God will do what He says He will do, and grace, God giving us what we don’t deserve and can’t earn on our own. This was the time in our life that our faith in God was the smallest and yet it was enough to create the greatest miracle – salvation.

So now, what situation has you focused on unbelief. Go to God’s word, find His answer, feed your faith (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God) and it will cause your unbelief to shrink.

“But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for him.” Hebrews 11:6 CEV

Focus on faith and let unbelief die. “Mustard seed” faith is more than enough to move mountains.

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Get In Touch with God

turn the radio on!

I hope I’m not the only one who grew up listening to Gospel Quartets. If I am, I’m sorry you missed it. It was a regular part of our Sunday evening services at the church my family attended.

Those memories tie in with yesterday’s blog on experiencing the presence of God. Tuesday, I happened to be in town, Dave was at the dentist. As I was driving from one location to the next, I turned the radio on. This is not the norm when Dave and I go somewhere together because we always seem to have so much to talk about.

Anyway, a song came on the radio that was so powerful that it filled the car with the presence of the Lord. I wanted to pull over and just let the words penetrate my soul without the distraction of traffic. I couldn’t do that, so I looked up the lyrics once I got home. (song by Chris Brown, Elevation Music and Brandon Lake, I Know A Name)

I know a name that can silence the roaring waves
I know a name that can empty out a grave
I know a name, it’s the only name that saves
And it’s worthy of all praise

I call You, Jesus
I call You, I call You Healer
Risen and reigning in power
Something comes out of the grave
Every time I call You, Jesus
I call You, I call You Savior
Worthy of glory forever
Something comes out of the grave
Every time I call Your name

When we speak the name of Jesus, dead things come to life. We receive new life – old things pass away and everything becomes new! The grave is no match for the power in the name of Jesus.

“ Peter said, ‘I have no money, but what I have I will give you! In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!’…16 You see and know this man here. He has been made strong through faith in Jesus’ name. Yes, it is faith in Christ that has made this man well and strong. This man is standing here in front of you all.” Acts 3:6-16 NLV

“Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.” Colossians 3:16-17 CEV

There is power in the name of Jesus. Power to change lives, heal the sick and even raise the dead.

“‘ I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name [[a]as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.'” John 14:11-14 AMP

The miracles that Jesus did gave honor to His Father and Jesus wants our lives to glorify the Father as well.

There’s a gospel song that says, “Get in touch with God, turn your radio on”. I tell you it was sure true for me. We can experience God’s presence anywhere we go.

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Still Standing

I was thinking this morning. What keeps you grounded when life’s storms have your boat rocking? …hmmmm and the storms will come – health, finances, accidents, death, divorce, family issues or physical storms (tornadoes, blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes). Where do you find peace and safety?

Peter was in a physical storm and he learned that he would sink or walk based on one thing – the Word of God. Jesus said “Come” and on that one word direction from the mouth of the Son of God, he walked.

If we are going to be grounded, we have to be standing on the word of God. It is the only sure and firm foundation.

“Grass dies and flowers fall, but the word of our God lasts forever.” Isaiah 40:8

” Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35

“Whoever hears these teachings of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall because it was built on rock.” Matthew 7:24-25

“ That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.” Ephesians 6:13 ERV

There’s an old hymn that I love to sing, it was written in 1876 by Russell Carter.

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,

through eternal ages let his praises ring;

glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,

standing on the promises of God.

Refrain:

Standing, standing,

standing on the promises of Christ my Savior;

standing, standing,

I’m standing on the promises of God.

2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

by the living Word of God I shall prevail,

standing on the promises of God.

(Refrain)

3. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,

bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord,

overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,

standing on the promises of God.

(Refrain)

4. Standing on the promises I cannot fall,

listening every moment to the Spirit’s call,

resting in my Savior as my all in all,

standing on the promises of God.

(Refrain)

Stand on His Word – it will never fail. When the battles are over we will still be standing!

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Stand Up to Fear

I love that we have the story of Gideon in the Bible. He is the poster child of transformation. Going from fearful farmer to valiant warrior, all because he had an encounter with the Lord.

I think what I love most about this story is God’s faithfulness. He lovingly encouraged Gideon each step of the way. The Lord didn’t become impatient or frustrated, instead He gave continued instruction and showed His commitment to direct Gideon and deliver Israel.

After Gideon asked the Lord for proof of His willingness to lead him and Israelites, Gideon stepped out with the army but look where they went.

“ Early the next morning, Gideon and his army got up and moved their camp to Fear Spring. The Midianite camp was to the north, in the valley at the foot of Moreh Hill. 2 The Lord said, “Gideon, your army is too big. I can’t let you win with this many soldiers. The Israelites would think that they had won the battle all by themselves and that I didn’t have anything to do with it. 3  So call your troops together and tell them that anyone who is really afraid can leave Mount Gilead and go home.” Judges 7:1-3 CEV

They went to “Fear” Spring. God had a purpose for going there; remove fear from the camp. Everyone that was afraid was sent home. Twenty-two thousand soldiers left, only ten thousand remained.

Fear is persistent. It tries to wear us down, it’s goal is to defeat us and keep us from being who God created us to be.

“God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.” II Timothy 1:7 CEV

“Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Philippians 4:13 CEV

“ Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love takes away fear. It is his punishment that makes a person fear. So his love is not made perfect in the one who has fear.” I John 4:18 ERV

God was not only working in Gideon’s life but also in the lives of the men who remained. The men needed to be alert, ready for battle.

“Gideon,” the Lord said, “you still have too many soldiers. Take them down to the spring and I’ll test them…6 Three hundred men scooped up water in their hands and lapped it, and the rest knelt to get a drink. 7 The Lord said, “Gideon, your army will be made up of everyone who lapped the water from their hands. Send the others home. I’m going to rescue Israel by helping you and your army of 300 defeat the Midianites.” Judges 7:3-7 CEV

Victory doesn’t come because of great numbers or worldly prestige. It comes from faith; trusting in God’s word and His purposes. It comes when we stand, firmly planted on God’s promises.

“ I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 CEV

Stand up to fear; we defeat it not in our own efforts but by placing our trust in our God who never fails!

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