Month: June 2018

Monday 6/11 ~ Let your heart yearn with them

On By In discouragement, emptiness, faith, healing, LossLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 11 (6/11), is Job 6:11 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-new“What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects that I should be patient?”

Many people use the expression, “patience of Job.” But he had on-and-off patience, for he was very sick. By descriptions he gave of himself ~ sores, rancid breath, low voice, partial blindness, skin turned hard and black, bloating, nightmares, extreme pain, unrecognized by his closest friends, some believe he had a grotesque form of elephantitis leprosy.

What did he need from his friends? He surely didn’t get it, for they spent their time trying to prove that he had sinned and God was right to be punishing him. His reply? “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all! Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?” (Job 16:2f).

So how do we comfort someone who feels utterly hopeless? We certainly don’t put the blame on them, nor do we tell them it’s “all in your head’ or to “snap out of it”. We can share times when we felt hopeless. We can weep with them. We can hold their hand. We can sit with them in silence. We can pray aloud for them. (Some people have never heard their name mentioned in a prayer.)

And we need to let them talk. Sometimes they will say things they don’t mean in the long run, but at that brief moment, they do. Or sometimes they need to talk through things they are unsure about. They may even say contradictory things.

At one time Job said, “Surely, O God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household…God assails me and tears me in his anger and gnashes his teeth at me” (16:7f). But another time he said, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand upon the earth…I myself will see him with my own eyes ~ I and not another. How my heart yearns within me” (19:25f).

Do you have a very sick friend?  Let your heart yearn with them.

~~~BUYLINK to eBOOK and Discount PAPER: http://bit.ly/Hearts-Afire

.

#illness, #dad, #sickness, #loss, #discouragement, #hope, #denial, #depression, #healing, #hospital, #funeral, #prison, #faith, #emptiness, #Job, #Christianity, #Bible, #Scriptures

Sunday 6/10 ~ In the clutches of poverty

On By In InspirationalLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 10 (6/10), is Proverbs 6:10f as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-Cover-KINDLE-Thumbnail-New“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest ~ and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.”

Oh! This scripture really comes to the point, doesn’t it? Perhaps during difficult economic times for some people, this can be a gentle reminder. If you can’t work for money, you can work for free. There is always work to do as a volunteer either in an organization or just by yourself. All it takes is for you to look around.

Well, if you’re already in the clutches of poverty, what will volunteering do to help the situation? People will notice you. They will notice your work ethic, and your cheerfulness, and your thoughtfulness. They just might tell people looking for someone to hire. And in the process, you will have helped others. That in itself can make you feel rich ~ even if you’re not.

~~~BUYLINK FOR eBOOK and discount PAPER: http://bit.ly/HeroesAlone

.

#poverty, #job, #salary, #pay, #fired, #laidoff, #economy, #employer, #employee, #money, #volunteer, #workethic, #rich, #Christianity, #Bible, #Scripture, #litnon

Saturday 6/9 ~ When you are desperately low, your job is just to hang on

On By In death, discouragement, emptiness, Loss, persecution, victory, weakness2 Comments

The scripture for today, June 9 (6/9), is Job 6:9-8 found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00-Hero Alone-COVER-KINDLE-LgThumbnail“Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off!”

Job was suffering terribly. The Bible says he had sores all over his body. There were other symptoms listed elsewhere in Job that indicate he had a form of leprosy. Now he just wanted to die.

When we get into a life problem that seems hopeless, do we just give up and say, “God, I can’t go on like this. Just take my life right now. It’s too hard. I can’t do it anymore”?

God knows what you are going through. God knows that Satan is attacking you. When things are desperately low, your job is just to hang on. It often takes God time to shift around a lot of other people’s lives in order to alleviate your pain.

Remember, God hurts just as much when you suffer as when he watched his own Son suffer on the cross. His Son’s suffering accomplished something wonderful for others. So too, someday your suffering will somehow in some way accomplish something good. And ultimately, just by surviving, Satan loses and God wins.

This too will pass. You may not think so, but it will. You may think you will never smile again, never want to go around people again, never sing again. But you will. Just like Job did.

~~~BUYLINK to eBOOK and discount PAPER:  http://bit.ly/HeroesAlone

.

#endofrope, #deadend, #attacks, #persecution, #illness, #troubles, #problems, #suffering, #giveup, #Bible, #Christianity, #Scriptures

Friday 6/8 ~ Physical acts with spiritual outcomes

On By In InspirationalLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 8 (6/8), is Romans 6:8 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-Thumbnail“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

We all want to live with Christ, but how do we die with him? Earlier in this same chapter, God inspired the writer to say this: “We died to sin….don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead…we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:2-4).

So, just as Christ did a physical action to die for us, we do a physical action to die with him. And just as Christ’s physical death overcame spiritual death, so our physical action overcomes our spiritual death. Then we are born again, or as this verse says, we “live a new life”

Some say this is water salvation. But it is no more water salvation than the cross was wood salvation. We live in a physical world and God has us sometimes do physical things in order to obtain a spiritual outcome. Our singing praise songs is a physical thing, but it is no less spiritual in its outcome. Our eating the Lord’s Supper is a physical thing, but it is no less spiritual in its outcome.

Something to think about.

~~~BUYLINK for eBOOK and discount PAPER:  http://bit.ly/ShadowDeath

.

#death, #crucifixion, #worship, #baptism, #praise, #psalms, #HolyCommunion, #LordsSupper, #spiritual, #physical, #Christianity, #Bible, #Scriptures

Thursday 6/7 ~ May you have enough

On By In attitude, blessings, humility, Inspirational, joyLeave a comment

Sorry, submitted the wrong date yesterday, so today we will do 6/6 ~

0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-thumbnail-newThe scripture for today, June 6 (6/6), is 1st Timothy 6:6f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

Still, don’t we all do it? Compare what we own with what our neighbor owns? Work and strive to gain more and more?

A long time ago, a man wrote a book called, How to Want What You Have. He emphasized that, to people who are never content with what they have, happiness is always right around the corner. If we could just buy that object, or get that house, or obtain that promotion. But once we get it, we are only satisfied briefly before happiness slips away again, and we decide we would truly be happy if we could buy yet another object, or get yet another house, or obtain yet another promotion. And so we live our lives.

Let us dare to look around us today and tell ourselves, “I have all I need.”

~~~BUYLINK for eBOOK and discount PAPER: http://bit.ly/2uBUGeF

.

#happiness, #stuff, #things, #houses, #promotions, #money, #power, #prestige, #Christianity, #Bible, #Scripture

Wednesday 6/6 ~ My boss is unfair, but I need the job

On By In attitude, discouragement, Enemies, humility, Inspirational, problemsLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 7, is Ephesians 6:7 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

03-Naaman'sMaid-ThumbnailCover“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.”

God had just previously said that we were to obey our earthly masters (bosses). But, as hard as you try, sometimes what you may be told to do is very hard to do, especially if your boss is rude, or someone was promoted ahead of you, or you feel like s/he is being a “slave driver.”

At times like those, do what is asked of you anyway, knowing that you are really doing it for God. The next verse says, “because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”

What you do as an employee in a difficult situation does not go unnoticed. God sees and God will reward you.

–BUYLINK to eBOOK and discount PAPER:  http://bit.ly/2JDQYaG

.

#wisdom, #bosses, #jobs, #employment, #promotion, #scrouge, #Christianity, #Bible, #Scripture

 

Tuesday 6/5 ~ I don’t like anyone telling me what to do

On By In attitude, humility, judging, problems, ScriptureLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 5, is Deuteronomy 6:5 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

02-Noah-KindleThumbnail“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Jesus said this is the greatest of all the commandments (Mark 12:29). He didn’t say that any of the Ten Commandments were. He chose one of the over 600 Commandments God gave to Moses in the Old Testament. It might have been lost in the crowd, but Jesus called it out and gave it special attention.

Although we no longer keep the Old Testament Law of Moses, we do have the New Testament Law of Jesus. There aren’t as many commandments, but there are some. Sometimes Jesus’ law repeats something in the Old Law such as the one above. But it was his choice what to carry over, not ours.

Some people don’t even know they’re obeying any of the Laws of Moses. Well, then, all we have to do is read that Law and see if we recognize anything we’re doing. Some people have ritualized themselves “to death”. 

On the other hand, do we love the Lord our God enough to keep all of the commandments of Jesus or do we say the church is too modern now to keep certain ones and, besides, we don’t believe in any commands at all?  We do not tell our parents, “I love you, but you have no right to command me to do anything.” We do not tell our government, “I’m going to drive on any side of the road I want because I’m not going to obey any of your commands”.

Let us not be like the clay telling the potter what to do (Isaiah 64:8). Let us love the Lord our God with ALL our heart, soul and strength. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands” (John 14:15).   Commands does not mean someone is trying to hold you down; commands means, “I love you and want you to be safe.” Give it a try. Life just might get a little better.

~~BUYLINK to eBOOK or discount PAPER:  http://bit.ly/HeroNoah

.

#commands, #orders, #laws, #rebel, #parents, #teachers, #trafficLaws, #safety, #guide

 

Monday 6/4 ~ Have you ever walked away from God?

On By In attitude, discouragement, emptiness, forgiveness, loveLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 4, is Psalm 6:4 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 8-ComeFlyWithMe-Cover-Thumbnail-New“Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.”

Have you ever walked away from God then couldn’t figure out how to make a turnaround and get your life back on track? Are you there now?  Stop! 

Stop whatever you are thinking and feeling and considering.  Look behind you.  God is a gentleman and will never force himself on you. When you turn away from him, he turns away from you.  But, oh, how he misses you.  He wants you back so you can feel his love again. 

All you have to do is stop everything and call for him to come get you. “Turn, O Lord! Turn! Deliver me!”

Why would God be so good to someone walking away from him? Because he loves you and is always listening for your voice. His love is unfailing.

 

~~BUYLINK for eBOOK and discount PAPER:   http://bit.ly/2tukMA0

.

#troubles, #problems, #forsaken, #alone, #pardon, #breaking, #turning, #returning, #WalkingAway, #mercy, #sorry, #Christianity, #Bible, #Scriptures

 

Sunday 6/3 ~ Baptism? What in the world for?

On By In Death of Jesus Christ, forgiveness, victory, worshipLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 3, is Romans 6:3f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-1st Century Worship KINDLE-COVER-Thumbnail“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life….because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”

Oh! Baptism does all that? Some people say no, but God says yes. Indeed, in baptism we obtain a new life ~ are born again. And in baptism we are freed from sin ~ forgiven. Look at it this way: Just as Jesus died carrying our sins on himself, we die to our sinful nature ~ the part of us that sins and doesn’t care. Then just as Jesus was buried in his tomb, we are buried into his death in our watery tomb. And just as Jesus came up out of his tomb the Savior, we come up our of our tomb the saved ~ with “a new life” and “freed from sin.“

Everything works together beautifully ~ hearing, believing, confessing, dying to sin, being baptized into Christ Jesus. What an honor and privilege we have been given to imitate what he did for us!  

~~~BUYLINK to eBOOK and discount paper:  http://bit.ly/worshipfirst

 

 

 

Saturday 6/2 ~ Too busy to be inconvenienced?

On By In attitude, discouragement, good works, judging, loveLeave a comment

The scripture for today, June 2, is Galatians 6:2 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-Cover-KINDLE-Thumbnail-New“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

In case you’re thinking people should take care of their own problems, you are right. But the term “burdens” here refers to overloads.

The main reason this is hard to do is that taking on someone else’s overloaded burdens upsets your daily routine and our peace of mind. It is inconvenient. 

Just remember, it is always inconvenient for those people to have an overload of burdens. They don’t want them. Many times they didn’t ask for them. But, even if they did ask for them with foolish acts, can we not roll up our sleeves and help them out for a little while (not forever)?

You do not have to take on all their problems. But you can give them relief of some of the basic problems so they can concentrate on the more serious ones.  If they need a babysitter, find one for them. If they don’t have decent clothes to go to work, take them to Goodwill.  If they’re behind financially, buy them a tank of gas.  If they haven’t written their parents for a year, sit with them while they write that letter. Take their overburden from them.

What if Jesus had said, “Hey, it’s not my problem! Those people on earth mess up their lives all the time. Why should I leave the comforts of heaven to live among sinners and misery?” But he didn’t say that. Thank God he didn’t say that.

Inconvenient for him to take our overloaded burdens to his cross? Yes. Did he want to do it? No. But he did what was necessary to rescue us. Do we really and truly want to be like Him?

~~~BUYLINK to eBOOK and discount PAPER:  http://bit.ly/500GoodWorks