Archive for the 'Religion' Category
There are many people in this world that wish they would never go through any trials or tribulations and wish life was just a breeze and a delight. Thankfully, God in His infinite wisdom knows that for us to have character and development in life, we must go through certain situations to be strengthened and equipped to continue through life in a successful way just as God wishes. If you are going through tough times in life, be encouraged and know that God is simply strengthening and equipping you for something far greater than these temporary pains that are necessary for your growth and development.
I hope you are encouraged by today’s message.
THE REEF
Don’t worry if you have problems!
Which is easy to say until you are in the midst of a really big one, I know. But the only people I am aware of who don’t have troubles are gathered in little neighborhoods. Most communities have at least one. We call them cemeteries. If you’re breathing, you have difficulties. It’s the way of life. And believe it or not, most of your problems may actually be good for you! Let me explain.
Maybe you have seen the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the reef.
On one tour, the guide was asked an interesting question. “I notice that the lagoon side of the reef looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and colorful,” a traveler observed. “Why is this?”
The guide gave an interesting answer: “The coral around the lagoon side is in still water, with no challenge for its survival. It dies early. The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, storms — surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of its life. As it is challenged and tested, it changes and adapts. It grows healthy. It grows strong. And it reproduces.” Then he added this telling note: “That’s the way it is with every living organism.”
That is how it is with people! Challenged and tested, we come alive! Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow. Physical demands can cause us to grow stronger. Mental and emotional stress can produce tough-mindedness and resiliency. Spiritual testing can produce strength of character and faithfulness.
So, you have problems — no problem! Just tell yourself, “There I grow again!”
(Author Unknown)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
James 1:2-5 “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.”
Proverbs 3:5-8 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil. Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.”
Psalm 90:12-16 “Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom. O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for Joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us see your miracles again; let our children see your glory at work.”
Psalm 118:5-9 “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; He will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in people. It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in princes.”
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry
March 14 2010 | Bible and Blog and Christianity and Church and Devotions/Devotionals and Faith and Family and God and Grace and Hope and Inspirational and Jesus and Life and Love and Mercy and Opinion and People and Personal and Philosophy and Quotes and Religion and Spiritual and Theology and Thoughts and Uncategorized | No Comments »
We Have a Living Hope
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In God’s great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a living hope, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.45 God’s power protects you through your faith until salvation is shown to you at the end of time.6 This makes you very happy, even though now for a short time different kinds of troubles may make you sad.7 These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold, which can be proved to be pure by fire but will ruin. But the purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is shown to you.89 And you are receiving the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls. Now we hope for the blessings God has for his children. These blessings, which cannot be destroyed or be spoiled or lose their beauty, are kept in heaven for you. You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in him. So you are filled with a joy that cannot be explained, a joy full of glory.
Hope is both a strong belief and the anticipation that something good is going to happen. When our goals are not achieved, we may experience discouragement, which over time can turn into depression and even despair—the absence of hope.
How can we remain optimistic in the face of unmet expectations? First, we’re to remember the reason for our confidence: our relationship with Jesus. At salvation, we were born into a living hope (v. 3)—God made us a “new creation,” and we are no longer in bondage to the old sin nature (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV). His Spirit lives within us. We have been made co-heirs with Christ, and our true home is in heaven with Him. Nothing can alter our familial connection with the Lord.
Second, to maintain a positive outlook, we must spend daily time in the Scriptures. Romans 15:4 says that the Bible was written to give us encouragement and hope. The Psalms can be especially helpful in difficult times because they express the feelings we have and also tell us about the comfort available from God.
Third, we rely on the Lord’s faithfulness. Trusting in Him will never disappoint us because all of His promises are yes in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Believers should not react to trials as the world does. We’re to live by faith—“being sure of what we hope for ” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). When circumstances overwhelm you, shift your focus to the Lord. Read the Scriptures to find encouragement, and be reminded of what is yours in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-8).
(devotional by Dr. Charles Stanley from In Touch Ministries)
March 12 2010 | Bible and Blog and Christianity and Church and Devotions/Devotionals and Faith and Family and God and Grace and Hope and Inspirational and Jesus and Life and Love and Mercy and Opinion and People and Personal and Philosophy and Quotes and Religion and Spiritual and Theology and Thoughts and Uncategorized | No Comments »
Glynnis Whitwer, Senior Editor P31 Woman, Speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
There are many things that secular organizations can do just as well as the church. They can build homes, feed the hungry and clothe the poor. But there’s one area the church should excel in, and that’s extending grace.
Grace is a foreign concept to the world. We learn early that we are graded and judged on our performance. There is no free lunch. We must earn our own way. And it’s every woman for herself.
But along came Jesus and He introduced the world to a different way – God’s way. Jesus began many of His parables with these words, “The Kingdom of heaven is like …” Then, Jesus proceeded to tell a story that turned the economics of the world upside down. After all, what shepherd would leave 99 sheep alone to search for one? How can a few coins given by a widow be of more value than the donation of a rich man? And what about the father who willingly welcomed a once-rebellious boy home with a party?
God’s grace to His children is completely unmerited love and forgiveness. It is an extravagant love that defies our human understanding.
While our soul longs for grace, we are confounded that it could actually be extended to us. But even more difficult to comprehend, is that it is also extended to those who offend us.
Grace is a gift, and cannot be earned. In his book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace,” Philip Yancy said, “None of us gets paid according to merit, for none of us comes close to satisfying God’s requirements for a perfect life.”
This truth can transform our relationships. You see, if God offers grace to us, then we should offer grace to others. As we represent Jesus to a broken world, we can best reflect His character by extending grace – unmerited love and forgiveness.
The hardest place to extend grace is often in our own homes, beginning with our spouse and children. But it’s the best place to start living out the higher calling of Christ.
My prayer for today:
“Heavenly Father, thank you for your extravagant love toward me. Thank you for your great sacrifice so that I can approach your throne of grace and receive mercy. Forgive the times I have not shown grace to another. Help me be more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Application steps:
Consider how God has given grace to you. Identify those ways.
Reflection points:
What comes to mind when you hear the word “grace”?
Can you think of a time when you either performed an extravagant act or were the recipient of one? Share how you felt and what was the response.
There are many areas where we are not given grace, including: secular culture, graceless religion and parents who fail to offer loving acceptance. Have any of these been a factor in your life?
Can you think of something good in your life you received but did not deserve?
Have you neglected to show grace to someone in your life? What should you do about that?
Power Verses:
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (NIV)
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (NASB)
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV)
II Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. (NASB)
Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (NIV)
March 09 2010 | Bible and Blog and Christianity and Church and Devotions/Devotionals and Faith and Family and God and Grace and Hope and Inspirational and Jesus and Life and Love and Mercy and Opinion and People and Personal and Philosophy and Quotes and Religion and Spiritual and Theology and Thoughts and Uncategorized | No Comments »
Psalm 25:2
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Gail called herself a good Christian. She read her Bible, prayed daily, attended church every Sunday, and pitched in whenever her church needed her. God seemed to be a very real part of Gail’s life, and yet, whenever her faith was put to the test, she seemed to give up. Her answer for everything was, “Well, God couldn’t be bothered with me, I suppose.” The truth was, Gail was afraid to put her full faith in God, for fear He might let her down. Her feelings of unworthiness blocked her from putting her trust totally in God. Trust takes time. We need to practice putting our trust in the Lord, but when we do, we find a new confidence that He will be faithful to us. The more we trust, the more we are convinced that our trust is well placed. The key to trust is to try. Try putting your faith in the Lord, and watch wonderful things happen.
Prayer: Assist me as I try to let go of my doubt and fear and put my trust in You. I sometimes become my own worst enemy, Father. Save me from myself. Amen.
(devotional from Christianity.com – Wisdom from the Psalms)
March 07 2010 | Bible and Blog and Christianity and Church and Devotions/Devotionals and Faith and Family and God and Grace and Hope and Inspirational and Jesus and Life and Love and Mercy and Opinion and People and Personal and Philosophy and Quotes and Religion and Spiritual and Theology and Thoughts and Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
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1 Peter 1:3-9
