"He Leaves A Sign"

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus".  Acts 4:13

When my grandchildren were little and would come to visit, after they left it was obvious that they had been. Every time they would come and go from my house there was evidence that they leave behind. There were still signs that they had been here-- a scooter in the yard, dirty cereal bowls, toys on the floor, lip prints on the mirror, etc.  

I want to ask you a couple of questions this morning.  If you say that Jesus is in your life (you are a Christian) then that means His presence dwells within you.  Is there any evidence of that?  Is there evidence that He is "in the house"?  As a Christian we should have a daily encounter with the Lord-- it is called our prayer time.  In prayer we meet with Him in a special way.  As we do, He ministers to us, enlightens us, directs us and transforms us.  When you come out of your time of prayer (prayer closet, war room, whatever you call it), is there any evidence in your life that you have been with Jesus?  

His presence always leaves a "sign" behind.  Read the New Testament.  Everywhere Jesus went lives were changed, touched and transformed.  It was obvious that Jesus had been there.  The same should be said of us.  It should be obvious to others that Jesus is with us and has been with us.  There should be some "sign" of His presence.  That sign is a transformed life.  Therefore, there should be some change in our attitude, in our actions and reactions, in our conduct, in our treatment of others, in our love level, and so on.  My grandchildren left signs of their presence.  Why wouldn't Jesus leave signs that He has been with us?   

Have a great day.  Is there any sign in your life that you have been with Jesus?   
 

"Late's Not Always Better"

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)"  2 Corinthians 6:2

I am a little late this morning in getting the devotional out, but "better late than never".  We have all heard that said.  With some things that is true.  It is better to be a little late in sending out the devotional than to not send it out at all.  It is better to show up late to an event than not to show up at all.

But that philosophy isn't accurate all the time.  It doesn't apply to everything.  Your salvation is one of those things that you cannot apply this way of thinking to.  If you wait too late, you will not have salvation.  You will never receive it. 

Some think they can wait until they are at the end of their lives-- after they have done all that they wanted to do and accomplish.  Some think that they can wait until their "death bed"-- many people don't have that opportunity.  Some think that after they leave this life they will get a second chance-- that is false. 

If you don't receive Jesus as your Savior while there is still time.  If you are thinking about waiting.  If you are putting it off.  One day it will be too late.  You will never have it.  Don't be late.  Don't let the end of your life come without having received eternal life.  There is no "better being late" when it comes to your soul.

Have a great day.  Better late than never does not apply to your salvation.  If you wait too late to receive salvation it will be too late and you will never receive it.    
 

"The Lord Helps Us"

"....The Lord is my helper..."  Hebrews 13:6

There are many sayings that we have and think they are scriptural.  One is-- "The Lord helps those who help themselves".  This is not a scripture.  It isn't even true.  The truth is-- "The Lord helps those who can't help themselves". 

None of us are able to "help ourselves".  When it comes to salvation and eternal life, we can't help ourselves.  We can't save ourselves.  We can't work enough.  Do enough good.  Be righteous enough.  It took God sending His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die for our sins that made it possible for us to be saved.

There is no area of accomplishment in our lives that we can take credit for.  It is the Lord who gives us the power to get wealth.  It is the Lord who gives us health and healing.  It is the Lord who gives us wisdom.  It is the Lord who directs our steps-- we don't have that ability.  It is the Lord who gives us strength to continue on when we want to quit and give up.  It is the Lord who goes before us making the crooked paths straight. 

He imparts to us and infuses us with the help that we need when we need it because we are helpless on our own apart from Him.  Only the fool and the wicked would say that they don't need His help and they can do it on their own.  Only the misinformed believe that He will help them as long as they are trying to help themselves.  I for one am thankful that this is not the case.  I need His help because I can't help myself.... and He knows that.

Have a great day.  The Lord helps those who can't help themselves.    

For further reading: 
"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day". (Deuteronomy 8:18)

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me". (2 Corinthians 12:9)

"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps".  (Jeremiah 10:23)

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing". (John 15:5)

"Your Daily Inheritance"

(NOTE:  In the CB entitled- "Rearranged Plans" the scripture reference should have been Exodus 13:17) 

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints".  Ephesians 1:18

The Bible tells us that there is an eternal inheritance laid up for those who are born again and serve the Lord.  But we also get to enjoy the benefits of that inheritance here and now.  This morning when you woke up, you woke up to an inheritance- a spiritual inheritance.  That inheritance includes peace, strength, grace, mercy, benefits, provision, etc.  It is all available to you-- it belongs to you.  The question is, "What are you going to do with your inheritance today?". 

Are you going to use it?  Are you going to hold on to it for another time, or a rainy day?  Are you going to ignore that it is there?  The Lord daily loads us with benefits.  They are there for the asking.  They are there for us to use.  They are there to help meet the needs that we have.  For example, when you face fear today, are you going to "withdraw" peace from your inheritance and get rid of the fear?  Or will you let peace "set in the bank" and allow fear to take over?  If you need strength today, will you make a withdrawal on your inheritance and use the strength that is available for you? 

This inheritance you have is inexhaustible.  It is there for you to use.  It has been provided for and paid for fully by the blood of Jesus.  God doesn't intend for you to let it sit there unused.  It is a gift from the Father to you.  He wants you to "cash it in" and use it in order to walk in abundant life each day.

Have a great day.  Are you withdrawing from your inheritance each time you need it, or are you letting it just sit there?   

For further reading:
"Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ".  Colossians 3:24

"For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God".  Ephesians 5:5

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time".  1 Peter 1:3-5

"Rearranged Plans"

"And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt".  Numbers 13:17

When things don't go according to your plans, when appointments are changed, when you are delayed, when a meeting is cancelled, how do you react?  What type of attitude do you get?  Most of us get frustrated, angry, critical, mad, anxious, worried or irritated.  Is this the attitude we should have if we are a born-again Christian?  What should our attitude be?

We say we trust the Lord but do we when our plans seem to be "rearranged".  The Bible says that the Lord directs our steps.  We either believe this or we don't.  If we do, our attitude will be different than the one I described earlier.  If He is directing your steps, then instead of getting angry about a canceled appointment maybe it means that you didn't need to go.  Instead of getting frustrated because traffic delayed you from getting to a meeting on time, maybe it was God's way of protecting you from an accident that morning.  I'll never forget the time several years ago that my husband was to have a certain medical procedure.  We made the early trip out of town to the hospital.  We filled out all the paperwork.  He was prepped for the procedure.  Then the doctor came in and said they weren't going to do it that day we would have to reschedule it.  Honestly, it was frustrating.  Making the trip unnecessarily was an inconvenience.  We felt like the time was wasted, etc., etc.  But later we discovered that the reason things were delayed was because they may have done a procedure on him that was not necessary.  Because when we had the test later, all was fine. 

I am sure you have your own similar story.  Delays that worked for your good.  Interruptions that prevented you from being hurt.  Cancellations that put you at the right place at the right time. These things aren't just happening to us, they are happening for us--- for our good, on our behalf. 

So, the next time you are tempted to get a bad attitude over things not going according to your plan, stop and thank the Lord that your steps are directed by Him and He is leading them down a perfect path whether you can see it as such or not.

Have a great day.  Rearranged plans don't just happen to us, often God is behind them working them together for our good.   

"A Dangerous Intersection"

"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me".  2 Corinthians 12:8,9

We would all agree that Paul was a man of faith, right?  He had a close intimate relationship with the Lord.  The Lord did miracles through him.  He wrote most of the New Testament.  He suffered for the cause of Christ.  He had spiritual revelation and was even caught up into heaven.   Yet, when he prayed for the thorn in his flesh to be removed, it wasn't.  He even prayed three times and it remained.

Prayer is not some sort of "magic formula" that we say and instantly, automatically our requests are answered and answered exactly the way we want.  When we pray and the outcome is not as we had hoped, when the situation does not change, when God gives us an answer that we weren't expecting, we find ourselves at a "dangerous intersection". 

Do you ever wonder why many people who were once sold out to the Lord have now turned from Him?  One of the reasons is because they came to this "intersection".  The Lord didn't answer in the way they wanted or thought He would so they weren't willing to accept it as His will. Instead they got angry and bitter toward Him.  Which led them to turning from Him. 

When God doesn't answer like we want Him to, or think He should, we have to make a choice-- which direction at this intersection will we take.  Will we accept the will of God and know that His grace is sufficient, His strength will there for us and all things will work together for our good?  Or will we get angry at Him and turn from Him?  Paul chose to accept the will of God and continue on.  As a result, the power of God rested upon him.  Which direction will you choose?

Have a great day.  When you come to the place where God's will is contrary to the answer you wanted to hear, will you continue to walk with Him or turn from Him?
 

"Waiting Is Working"

"And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up".  Exodus 40:36,37

Many of God's people are in a place of waiting.  They are waiting for the Lord to move them into their next assignment, their destiny, the place of ministry or the plan He has for them.  They are waiting on His timing before they can make the next move forward.

It's in these times of "waiting" that we must be careful and guard against getting frustrated, anxious, impatient and the temptation to "move out" and "do something".  That is one of the hardest things for most of us to do-- be still and wait.  We want to be doing something for the Lord.  We want to be working.  We find it hard to sit still and, as we think, "do nothing". 

Let me encourage you this morning that it is just as much an act of obedience to do nothing as it is to do what He tells you to do.  Waiting is as much the will of God as working is.  The children of Israel, when they were in the wilderness, were told to keep their eyes on the cloud-- the Presence of the Lord among them.  They were instructed not to move on in their journey if the cloud remained still.  They were instructed to move and go forward to another place when they saw the cloud move.  They were following the Lord--- even when the Lord wasn't leading them to move.

The safest place on earth is in the will of God.  The will of God is not always about going, working or doing.  The will of God is as much about being-- being still unless He has told you to go.  So, rest in the Lord; don't get frustrated; don't be anxious; don't get condemned and feel as if you are doing nothing for Him; don't have the mentality that says loving the Lord means you have to constantly be doing something for Him.  When He wants you to move, He will let you know just like He did the Israelites.  Trust in the Lord.  Wait upon the Lord.  Be at peace in Him.  Learn what He wants you to learn by waiting.  Be still and just enjoy His presence until HE gives you the orders to move. 

Have a great day.  Our doing nothing but waiting on the Lord's timing to move is as much obedience to the will of God as our always having to do something for Him. 

"Peace Before Or After?"

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee".  Isaiah 26:3

The key to keeping in peace is keeping your mind on the Lord.  When situations arise, you can either keep pondering the situation or ponder the greatness of the Lord.  You can either fear the situation or trust the Lord.  You can either allow the situation to consume you and overwhelm you or you can turn to the Lord.  You can either focus on the problem or focus on the Lord.

When the disciples were in the boat during the storm that threatened to drown them, they focused on the storm.  They forgot the words of Jesus that they were going to reach the other side.  As a result, they became fearful.  The disciples were afraid, but Jesus was in the back of the boat asleep.  When they woke Him, He calmed the storm and peace returned to the sea.

During the storms of life, which would you rather be like--- the disciples who had peace after the storm or Jesus who had peace during the storm?  It is possible to have peace during the storm.  (That is what the Lord wants for us.)  Storms will always come to our lives, they will always threaten to destroy us, they can stir fear in our hearts, they may last longer than a night, but we can still have peace while they are raging.  Jesus did.  If He is living in your life, then know this-- He still has peace today, He is the Prince of Peace.  Allow His peace which passes understanding to give you peace during the storm.  You do this by keeping your heart and mind focused on Him, on His word, on His promises and on His power instead of the storm.

Have a great day.  Would you rather have peace during the storm or after it has passed?

"A Voice In The House"

"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet...". Isaiah 58:1a

A pastor friend of mine called me a while back and was telling me how the Lord protected him and his family during a tornado.  He took his family into the hall of the house and there he prayed for the Lord's protection, quoted scriptures and encouraged his family by reminding them of what God had said in His Word.  Then he made a statement that leaped out at me.  He said-- "he was the voice in the house" during the storm.  He was the one voice for them all that called out to God above the storm, above the fear and above the situation that was taking place around them.   

There has to be a "voice in the house" when we are going through difficulties.  There has to be a voice to remind us of God's goodness, faithfulness and promises.  There has to be a voice to encourage us.  Someone has to proclaim and say what the Lord says.  Someone has to lift up their voice in praise.   Someone has to quote the scriptures to the circumstances.  Someone has to cry out to and call upon the Lord.  We can't be quiet.

Our own nation's history has taught us that there has to be a voice for things to change or to make things happen.  Behind every worthy cause there has been a voice.  The Founding Fathers had a voice against the King of England in order to bring about our independence.  The Civil Rights movement had a voice in its leaders to bring about equality for all men and women.  The Bible records that God sent a voice, Moses, to Pharaoh to let His people go.  God used a voice/shout to bring down the walls of Jericho.  God sent a voice in John the Baptist to prepare the way of the coming Messiah.  In the end of time the Spirit and the bride lift up their voices with an invitation to come and take of the water of life freely. 

We can't keep quiet when the storm is raging, when the enemy is fighting, when sickness is attacking, when the fire is burning, when the lions are roaring, when the situation looks hopeless.  We must BE the voice in the house and call out to God, praise Him, declare His goodness and speak His word. 

But we can't be the same kind of voice as Eve who carried on a conversation with the enemy.  We must follow the example of Jesus who "voiced" to the devil in the wilderness-- "It is written".  Jesus was the voice in the boat-- "Peace Be Still!".  Jesus had a voice at the cross that secured our salvation-- "It is finished!" Be the voice in your home.  Be the voice which speaks to the situation.  Be the voice that speaks life, freedom and victory.  Don't stay quiet.  Speak to those things.  Open your mouth, the word of faith is in it.  Speak to that mountain.  Be not silent.

Have a great day.  Is there a voice in the house? 

"Blessed But Not Exempt"

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience". James 1:3

I take issue with those who teach that because we are a Christian we will never go through any trouble or problems.  If we do, they accuse us of having a lack of faith or sin in our lives. 

I want to make it clear this morning-- Christians are blessed; blessed by the Lord.  His blessings are upon our lives.  They even chase us down and overtake us.  But just because I/you/we are a Christian, just because the Lord's blessings are upon us, doesn't mean we are exempt from trouble.  If so, what are we to do with the words of Jesus Himself who said, "In the world you shall have tribulation" and "it rains on the just and the unjust"?

What are we to say to the Apostle Paul who said-- "Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches". (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) This was Paul's testimony of his own life experiences.  Will you tell him that he has sin in his life or no faith?  How many of you have raised the dead?  Healed the sick?  Cast out devils?  Been persecuted for the cause of Christ? 

What about all of those whose names and life stories are recorded in the "Hall of Faith"?  Are we to accuse them?  The Bible says their faith was so great that the world wasn't even worthy of them. (Hebrews 11)

How is it that we don't understand that the Bible is talking about the Christian when we read the words:  "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh". (2 Corinthians 4:8-11)

Don't get me wrong.  I believe we are blessed.  We are not under the curse.  I believe in healing, deliverance, abundant life, goodness and mercy follows us, no weapon formed against us shall prosper and we have victory through Christ Jesus our Lord.  But we can't take away from the whole truth of the Word of God.  We have to "rightly divide" it. The truth is-- clouds have rain, roses have thorns, night follows day and Christians aren't exempt from trouble just because we are blessed.... no matter how strong our faith is. 

Have a great day.  Just because we are blessed doesn't mean we are exempt from trouble.  And it doesn't mean we don't have faith.   
 

"Holding On To Jesus"

"But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose".  Mark 9:27

I woke up with a song on my mind:  "I'll keep holding on to Jesus, I'll keep holding on to Jesus.  I'll keep holding on to those precious nail scarred hands.  I cannot see the way too clearly, and my path becomes so weary.  I'll keep holding on to those precious nail scarred hands".

Life is not always a bed of roses.  It is not always easy.  Sometimes it is hard and rough.  Sometimes life throws us a curve ball.  Sometimes it brings pain, grief and sorrow.  Life is unpredictable.  It is subject to change-- it can go from a really good day to an awful day in a split second. 

So, what do we do in the highs and lows of life?  In the ups and downs?  In the good and in the bad?  In times of joy and times of pain?  In times when our faith is being sorely tried?  In times when we are on the top of the mountain or down in the valley?  What do we do when the storm rages, the fire burns, the lion's roar and the earth is shaking beneath us?  We do what the lyrics of the song encourage us to do--- we keep holding on to Jesus!  We keep holding on to Him no matter what.

Whatever you are going through, keep holding on to the hands of Jesus.  They are the same hands that reached out and saved Peter when he was sinking in the sea.  They are the same hands that touched blind Bartimaeus and gave him back his sight.  They are the same hands that held the little children when the disciples tried to send them away.  They are the same hands that touched the lepers and healed them.  They are the same hands that were nailed to the cross so that you could be forgiven of your sins and receive eternal life.   

What are you holding on to for help?  Your money?  It won't help-- riches take wings and fly away.  Your own understanding?  It is limited.  Other people?  They are flesh and blood just like you are.  The system?  It will fail you.  The only hands that will never let you go and will hold on to you in the worst storm, the deepest pain, the most horrific tragedy and in the darkest pit are those precious nail scarred hands of Jesus.

Have a great day.  What are you holding on to for help in life?   I'll keep holding on to those precious nailed scarred hands.        

"Visit The Prisoners"

^"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me."  Matthew 25:35,36

This verse admonishes us to minister to people in their time of need-- in hunger, in thirst, in sickness, in prison, to the stranger.  I want us to look at the part about visiting those who are in prison.  I have had a jail ministry in the past, and I have gone to the prison on a few occasions and preached.  I've had friends who are actively involved in prison ministry-- that is their particular calling.  Not all of us are able to go to the jailhouse or prison and minister to the inmates.  But we all are able to go to those who are in "prison".

There's more than one kind of prison.  Not all prisons are made of brick, mortar or steel.  There are people who are being held prisoner who are out walking around freely, and not behind bars. They are all around us.  They are in our families, among our friends, our fellow employees, our school mates and even our neighbors.

The ones I am talking about are being held as a prisoner to sin.  They are prisoners of addictions such as alcohol, drugs and pornography.  They are being held a prisoner by fear, condemnation, remorse, depression, anxiety, grief and guilt.  These are the ones we can go to.

We need to be going to these prisoners.  We need to be proclaiming liberty to these captives.  Jesus came to set the captive free.  He came to open the prison doors to those who were bound.  He breaks every chain. He destroys yokes.  He destroyed the internal prisons.  He defeated the power of sin so that it has no hold on us any longer.  He pulls down strongholds.  He has the keys to open any and all prison doors that we may be locked up behind-- whether it is in our minds, our emotions or some besetting sin. 

No, you may not be able to go to prisoners at the local jail or state prison, but you can go and preach deliverance to those who are being held as prisoners behind bars we cannot see.

Have a great day.  I was in prison and you visited me.  Jesus sets captives free.  Are you letting the prisoners know this?

"Whether I Live Or Die"

"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's".  Romans 14:8

This scripture has been on my heart for quite some time.  I have decided to make it my new "life scripture"-- or my "motto".  It sums up the whole of our Christian life-- those who have received Christ and made Him Lord of their lives.  We are the Lord's.  If we have been born again, we belong to Him.  Our life is no longer our own.  If I am alive-- I belong to Him.  If I die-- I belong to Him.

When we realize that we truly belong to the Lord, in life and in death, then let come what may, we don't have to be shaken, destroyed or defeated by it.  I don't have to worry; He has my life-- it belongs to Him.  If storms rage against me, if sickness touches my body, if pain comes upon me, if enemies rise against me, if the mountain is looming over me, if the waters try to consume me, if failure is taunting me, if death is waging war for me, if confusion tries to oppress me, if a bad report tries to shake me, if the ungodly attack me, if a weapon is formed against me, etc., I can still say, "It is well", because I am the Lord's. I have surrendered my "here and now", as well as my "eternity" to Him, so He has my life and every moment in His hands.    

I belong to Him so He will either deliver me, heal me, protect me, provide for me, make a way for me, or take me home.  Whatever happens I am in a win, win situation because if I live, I am His and if I die, I am His.  Whatever comes your way, don't be fearful or anxious about it.  Whatever happens-- good, bad or otherwise-- you belong to Him so it will be all right.

Have a great day.  Whatever happens to you in life, even if it brings death, you belong to the Lord, so it is well.   

"As Much Now"

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"  Romans 8:31,32

These are some of those verses that you need to read and reread, listen to what it is saying, meditate on it, renew your mind with it and absorb its meaning.  The Lord God did not spare even His Only Beloved and Begotten Son for you.  He sent Him to die so that you could live.  He sent Him to give His life as a ransom to pay for your sins.  Since eternity past, the Father and Son had never been separated.  The Son is the Greatest Love of the Father.  Yet, He gave Him up to come to earth and be crucified for you.  You who was a sinner.  You who was an enemy of God.  You who was living in rebellion against God.  You who was a blasphemer of God.  He gave Him for you who was self-centered, self-seeking, not God-seeking, a rejecter of God, an opposer of God and a hater of God.

If God did this for us before we received Him, loved Him, followed Him and surrendered to Him, in order to have us as His children, then why do we think that He would do less for us now that we are in His family?  Why do we think that He won't bless us, meet our need, take care of us and give us all that He has promised after we have come to Him? 

Does He love us more before or after our acceptance of His Son?  Does He love us more before we surrendered our lives to His Lordship than He does after?  Does He love us more as rebels against Him or as faithful loving children?  We act like He loved and was willing to do more for us before our salvation than after.  We act like now that He "has us", He has abandoned us and stopped caring about us.  This simply is not true.  He loved us so much then as to give up His Son for us, and He loves us so much now as to give us all things freely through His Son.

Have a great day.  God didn't love you more when you were living away from.  He loves you just as much now that you are His.     

"The Storm's In The Book"

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen".  John 21:25

There were so many things that Jesus did while He was on earth that if they were all written down there are not enough books to contain them.  The Bible says of itself that it was written by holy men of God as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.  That means that the Lord made sure that the things we really needed to know where written down for us in the Bible-- since it was too much to write everything. 

One account that He made sure that was in there was the account of the disciples in a boat on the sea when the storm came up and threatened to destroy them.  You know the story I am talking about.  Jesus was in the back of the ship asleep, and they woke Him up to save them from drowning. 

I, for one, am so thankful that the Lord placed that account in the Bible because it gives me hope, comfort, peace, faith and reassurance when I am going through a personal "storm".  We all face storms of some sort, no matter who we are.  Some storms are physical, financial, emotional, mental, in our relationships, and so on.  This story lets me know that when I face storms, I am not alone.  Jesus is with me.  It lets me know that He can take care of the storms.  It lets me know that He has power and authority over the storms that rage.  It lets me know that He can speak peace to my storm and it has to cease.  It lets me know He cares about me and will take care of me.  This is why I said I was thankful-- thankful it was written in the Bible so that I could be encouraged by it.   

Have a great day.  Whatever storm you are going through, God made sure we would know that He is greater and in control of the storm you are facing.
Scripture references:  Mark 4; 2 Timothy 3:16