Tag: believe

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Questioning God’s Love

People today often question how a loving God could allow bad things to happen so I would like to answer a bit of that.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV

There is a real enemy on this earth, the devil, and he causes and manipulates people and circumstances for evil. God has given us power over all the works of the enemy. And when we get to heaven all will be perfect. No devil, no evil.

I have heard this question asked on several occasions, I’m sure you have too. “How can a loving God send good people to hell?” The answer in their minds appears to be hard and calloused and anything but loving. Jesus addresses that in His teaching.

 “You can enter true life only through the narrow gate. The gate to hell is very wide, and there is plenty of room on the road that leads there. Many people go that way. 14 But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 ERV

No one has ever gone to hell for the bad things they have done but everyone will go to hell for the one thing they haven’t done.

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31

We have to remember that God has the ability to look at the heart while we only look at the outward appearance. It’s only God who can know if someone has accepted or rejected the sacrifice that His Son made for the forgiveness of sin. Good people can’t work their way to heaven, they must have a Savior. On the other hand, bad people can’t be so bad to have God turn them away.

Remember the criminal on the cross. He had a death-bed conversion.

“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you begin ruling as king!’ 43 Then Jesus said to him, ‘I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” Luke 23:42-32 ERV

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9 KJV

“This is what the Scripture says: ‘God’s teaching is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.’ It is the teaching of faith that we tell people. 9 If you openly say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved. 10 Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in him, and so we are saved. 11 Yes, the Scriptures say, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” Romans 10:8-11 CEV

With salvation our whole life is changed. We become new creatures in Christ, we get a heart transplant removing a heart of stone and giving us a heart of flesh and we get our minds washed as they are renewed by God’s word and we no longer conform to this world ways but we are transformed in our thinking, a new mind set.

God’s love is unconditional and reaches to all. Do I question God’s love? No, it’s perfect!

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We Are Human Beings

As I sit here this morning, I realize again that God’s design for me is that of a human “being”.

We are all created in His image and He is not a god of inactivity or silence. Our heavenly Father is active, He is constantly in process of being. The Hebrew names for God tell us He is Lord God Almighty, our provider, our shepherd, the Living God, our peace, our Father and more.

Our Father has made Himself available to us every day and in every situation. Jesus showed that during His life on earth. He was involved; he attended weddings, funerals, dinners, feast days. He was at the bedside of the sick, in the streets with prostitutes, tax collectors, and the outcasts of society. He could be found at the seashore with fisherman and in the Temple with the religious leaders. He came to be involved.

Is it any wonder that we are called human beans beings? We are called to be His ambassadors on this earth. We are to be examples of His love and goodness. Let’s look at a few other things we are called to be.

“Be” still – Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

“Be” quiet – But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:33

“Be” ready – But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. I Peter 3:15

“Be” obedient – If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Isaiah 1:19

“Be” rich – Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; I Timothy 1:17-18

“Be”lieve – Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23

There’s only thing the Lord doesn’t want us to be, we are not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

What is God asking you to “Be” today? More than anything He wants you to be available!

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In God We Trust

Watching the nightly news can either make you cynical, fearful or it can be an opportunity to build your faith. There seems to be very little truth but instead truth is replaced with speculation, accusation and fabrication. No wonder the Bible says that in the last days men’s hearts will fail them for fear!

“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 26 People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. 28 So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” Luke 21:25-28 NLT

We are to put more value and trust in God’s word than that of the news commentators, the financial experts, the medical elite and the military strategists. Trust the one who knows the beginning from the end. Trust the one who knows the number of hairs on your head and sees a sparrow when it falls.

Everyone of us have a Bible in our pocket or our purse; it is small, round and shiny. We should take it out and read it – read it several times each time and remind ourselves “In God We Trust”.

“If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us. 32 He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for all of us. So now with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. 33 Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one! God is the one who makes them right. 34 Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died for us, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. 35 Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love? 36 As the Scriptures say,

“For you we are in danger of death all the time.
People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.”

37 But in all these troubles we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us. 38-39 Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39 ERV

There is such an enormous effort being made to silence the teaching of godly principles, Christian morals and faith in Christ. Without God’s word people lose hope, fear prevails and deception runs unchecked. With God’s word we find hope, courage and truth.

Let God’s word be our final authority!

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will not pass away.” Luke 21:33 NLV

In God We Trust!

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God Knows Your Name & Your Need

I have a list with the names of family, friends and acquaintances in my prayer journal.

I began talking to the Lord about the different names on that list this morning. Some of you I know have personal needs and so I was praying about those. But then I came to some of your names and I didn’t know what particular need there is in your life.

As I was hesitating in what to pray I felt the Lord say “It’s ok. You know their names, I know their needs.”  I love that about God. He knows all about us.

“When you pray, do not say the same thing over and over again making long prayers like the people who do not know God. They think they are heard because their prayers are long. 8 Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. ” Matthew 6:7-8 NLV

Look at the Apostle Paul. In the letters that he wrote to the different churches he always let them know that he was praying for them.

“ I thank God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

“ In our prayers we always thank God for you. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 1:3

As I said, sometimes we know how to pray for a specific need and other times we just need to let the Holy Spirit direct our prayers because we lack the understanding for what is needed.

“Also, the Spirit helps us. We are very weak, but the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself speaks to God for us. He begs God for us, speaking to him with feelings too deep for words. 27 God already knows our deepest thoughts. And he understands what the Spirit is saying, because the Spirit speaks for his people in the way that agrees with what God wants.” Romans 8:26-28 ERV

A couple weeks back I had sent a friend a text early in the morning to tell her that I was praying for her. She responded back and gave me some specific needs that were immediate.

We were in the truck and on our way to an area where there was no cell service. Her text was the last that came in for several hours. I was disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to tell her that I was now praying specifically for those needs.

The Lord reminded me that although I couldn’t communicate with her that I could certainly pray on her behalf and that He wasn’t limited by a weak cell signal. He was moving to meet her needs.

God is so good!

What a privilege it is to pray for others. What a joy it is to know that our God isn’t deaf but He hears and answers our prayers.

” I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God. I write so that you will know that you have eternal life now. 14 We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say. 15 He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him.” I John 5:13-15 ERV

We have God’s word so we know what He wants for us and we can pray for those things to come about in our lives and the lives of our friends and family. We can even join in prayer for those we don’t know personally.  Again, all we may know is a name but God knows their need.

Jesus is our example for life. He took every spare moment to pray. The night he was arrested and taken to be crucified He was in the garden praying. He was praying for himself and his followers and he was praying for us too.

“I pray not only for these followers but also for those who will believe in me because of their teaching.” John 17:20 ERV

We are those who have believed because of the teaching of His disciples. Jesus prayed for us  and now that He is in heaven He continues to intercede on our behalf.

Prayer is conversation with the Father. When someone we know or love comes to mind let’s talk to the Father about them.

Remember, we know their name and He knows their need.

 

 

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