This weekend has definitely put me up to the challenge of living in Christ’s perfect peace! Here in Kentucky covid has hit its highest again, and schools are shut down. Thankfully, my children our homeschooled.
The roads are less busy, and even Walmart here does not have its typical over crowded shoppers. With all that is happen in the world, we still can walk in God’s perfect peace. The scripture says it so very well here…
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
When we purposely place are trust, hope, and focus on Jesus, He gives us His peace! Let’s take a look at these verses here also…
Philippians 4:6-8 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
That verse above, should have you shouting Hallelujah! When we give every care over to God, our hands our free to now pick up Christ’s perfect peace!
As we go through this week, remember to keep our focus on Christ. Give everything over to Christ in prayers and allow God’s peace to guard our hearts and minds. He is able, when we keep our minds on Him.
Christmas is literally days away, and I am determined to remain rooted in the true meaning of the season! And if you’re anything like me and have family and children to shop for, the true meaning of Christmas can quickly be drowned out, by the task of shopping for others. From a list of my children’s Christmas wishes, to the phone constantly ringing only to hear the dreaded question, “what do you want for Christmas?” I dread this question because I never know what I want. Then there’s the picking out of the tree, buying the lights, and all the other trinkets, only to have my two-year-old destroy it or my cats playfully knock the ornaments off the tree.
But this year, I’m determined to stay anchored to truth, because even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas, the true meaning shines brightly! It was the day our Messiah, our Saviour, was born. Our God came to earth in the flesh to redeem us from the curse of the law, so that we might be saved through Him and receive the greatest Gift of all, “Freedom”! The freedom obtained through the shedding of His blood, which bore all of our sins! That is why I celebrate Christmas. I give the gifts because God was a gift to me! I put up our tree to remember that Jesus, like the evergreen tree, is our everlasting God. Install those lights with the knowledge that Jesus is the light of the world.
As Christmas approaches, and presents are being open, and family gathers around to partake of our Christmas meals; remember the reason we celebrate, and the reason we choose to remember Christ`s birth on this special day! For that day our Savior was born!
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
The other day my husband and I went grocery shopping at our local Walmart. That evening my husband wanted to purchase a jar of peanut butter. As we searched different aisles to find it. I remembered to glance up and read the posted sign above, that listed what items can be found in that specific aisle.
As I looked up, there on the sign posted above, hanging from the ceiling, was the word Peanut Butter! To find what we needed, I just had to “look up for the answer”.
Look up! This is the word The Holy Spirit dropped into my spirit as I picked up the jar of peanut butter. The very thing I was searching for was in easy reach, as I got my eyes up, and now could read the signage, that was always there! Oh, if only we had looked up sooner, we would had found what we needed more quickly, and have not wasted so much time searching row by row.
If we could just look up from depression! If we can just look up from lack! If we could just look up for God`s direction! If we could just look up for His healing, we would see were God is leading us to, to find what we need.
Looking up took my focus off my surroundings and focused it on to the signage. God wants our eyes to look up and see that our help comes from Him! Whatever we may be going through, when we look up to God, He is able to clearly direct our steps.
Psalm 121
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him
A Song of Ascents.
121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth and even forever more.
Have you ever felt like all hell has broken loose? If so, then you feel my struggles today, dealing with events that are out of my control! All I can say is, “Pray”! Pray for wisdom to get through legal matters that seem to be piling up, pray for my sanity as I sit here and try to encourage myself in the Lord, just as King David did when all hell broke loose in his life. Pray for favor, mercy and a just judge. Pray for peace within the storms.
Even though today seems to be so chaotic, I still have my HOPE! I rather face another day, knowing I have Jesus to help me through it, then trying to do it alone. So today, if you come across this post, just pray for me! Pray according to 1 John 5:14.
1 Samuel 30(NIV)
David Destroys the Amalekites
30 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.
3 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.
Today, continue to run this faith race. Lace up those shoes and trust the vision that God has given you and hold onto it in faith! What God has started; He is faithful to complete! What dreams He has placed in your heart; they will come to pass!
God never fails, you can trust Him at his word!
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Yesterday, I started my bible reading in the book of 1 John. I try to get my daily bible reading in before all my kids are awake. If you have kids, especially toddlers, then you know the struggles of finding that quiet time! My studies took me to the subject of living a Christian life, a life that is one of righteousness.
Here is what I got out of my studies from yesterday…
Christians should “not” be intentionally practicing sinning, if they confess that Jesus, his precious Holy Spirit dwells within them. Someone who practice sinning, is a person who knows something is a sin, but continues to do it. They an unrepentant heart, in which no truth is in them.
A Christian can fall into sin; however, they will see their error, repent and turn away from that behavior, having a repentant heart, and truth of righteousness is in them. They are living this Christian life by faith and have completely surrendered their life over to Christ.
Note these verses…
1 John 3:5-95 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
What are your views on living a Christian life? How do you keep your life in line with righteous living? Do you set aside time to study the word of God daily? I would love to hear your views on this subject, drop your comments below.
Sometimes the best words are the unspoken words. It’s better to hold our peace then try to correct a fool.. let’s take a look at these several verses…
Proverbs 9:8 Do not correct a scoffed, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Proverbs 17:27-28 He who has knowledge retrains and is careful with his words, And a man of Indians wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper) 28 Even a [ callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is consider wise; when he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible and a man of understanding.
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Remember we are to choose our words carefully. Holding our peace is a great virtue!
Have the kind of faith that can walk on water. Yes, a faith that believes that God can do what seems to be impossible!
Peter had a moment of great faith, the kind of faith that can walk on water, but allowed it to be shaken by the depths and turmoils of the raging waters.
The Bible says, that day before Peter walked on the waters, that the sea that their ship was on, was in the midst of a storm. Peter looks out into storm and sees Jesus walking on water towards their boat. (God always shows up right on time) Not knowing if it was Jesus, Peter said “Lord, if that is really you, command me to come out onto the water.”
Can you imagine being Peter and asking God, “Lord if that is really you out there standing in the midst of this seas. Command me to come out to you and walk on water? “ ( If you don’t already know the story of Peter, please see Mathews 14:24-32)
Jesus commands Peter to come out unto the water and Peter takes His first great steps of faith, but just those steps of faith did not last very long. Unfortunately, Peter allowed doubt to creep into his thoughts.
When Peter began to doubt God’s command, Peter began to sink. But oh how loving our God is, He stretched out His hand and pulled Peter back up, helping Peter even in the midst of his unbelief. Jesus then says” O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”( Mathew 14:31)
I can imagine Jesus’s caring response. I can imagine Jesus maybe saying to Peter, “do you not know how far your faith can take you, if only you just believe in me?” I see Jesus, gently reminding Peter, that all things are possible through Him, if we just believe! I can see Jesus reminding you and I today these very same things, to Just believe.
Today, whatever God has called you out unto the waters, Just believe! Let God’s love, His mercy and compassion be shown through those steps of faith. Have the kind of faith, that walks on water. Don’t allow doubt, unbelief and the cares of the world to drown out your faith! Have faith to walk on water!
Note these verses… Matthew 14:27-32 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Have water walking Faith, in Jesus! Have a blessed day, Love Sis Rashida
I am a mom to eight children, yes it’s not a typo, but eight beautiful blessings.
So, as you can already guess, I got some experience with training up my children to follow God’s way. In the Bible, there is a promise in the book of proverbs, that if we train up our children in the way they should go, when they are older, they will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Let me start with the books of Proverbs. Proverbs is a book of wisdom and wise teaching. It was written by King Solomon the wisest man to ever live. The Bible says, Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave it to Him. The wisdom written in the book of Proverbs is from God, given to Solomon.
Note these verses: 1 Kings 3:7-9 7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an [a]understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
Back to this verse, when you train your child on how to live right, make right choices, live for God, and seek out God, these are lessons that they will hold onto for the rest of their life. However, we have to do our part and install truth into our children. we have to train our children in Christ.
Will a child ever stray from truth, from on what you have taught them? Yes, some will, but what you have taught them will always be with them! Your children will have to make that choice just like you and I to go back to the training of righteous, that was taught to them! The training never leaves them!
Look at it like this…
When you were taught to ride a bike. It took a few lessons of stumbling and falling but you finally got it. After learning how to properly ride your bike as a child, you rode it daily. However, as you got older, you rode less and less of your bike, till one day you just put it completely aside.
Have you forgotten how to ride a bike twenty years later? Of course not, you still remember all the training you receive, all you have to do is get back on it and ride!
Just like our children, they will never forget the truth that we have taught them, and some just need to get back on that bike of truth and ride again!
Today keep the faith! Write this verse down, pray over your children, that what you have taught them will awaken in their spirit! That they will have a zeal and fire for righteousness again, that they will be that lost sheep that will return to God!
Keep the faith!
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Imagine that you have never ridden in an automobile in your life. In other words, your car, truck, SUV, minivan etc., is all a new concept to you!
Not only have you never driven in one. But you also have never seen one in your entire life span! You are now told, that this unique contraption, has the ability to take you from point A, to point B, in a fraction of the time. After a few practice trips, you’re ready to put your faith in this automobile to test. You have now learned to accelerate your faith!
Just like our faith in Jesus, it has to be put to work. It has to be tested, practiced, and relied upon to get you where God wants you to be. We have to put your faith in Jesus, to works!
If we never have faith to step on the accelerator, our vehicle will never leave its parking place. If we never put our faith to work, we will never reach the place God has for us. If we never read our bible, how can our faith grow? (See Romans 10:17)
God wants us to have faith in Him! He wants us to Press in! Trust Him to get us where we need to be. Not only that, God wants us to trust Him, in every area of our life. He wants are faith to accelerate!
Has God spoke to You lately?
Has Christ asked You to push forward in Faith in Him?
Has Christ asked You to trust Him at His word to accomplish what He has sent you to do?
Let`s see what God`s word says…
James 2:14-17 (AMP)
Faith and Works
14 What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.] 15 If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and lacks [enough] food for each day, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace [with my blessing], [keep] warm and feed yourselves,” but he does not give them the necessities for the body, what good does that do? 17 So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].
Today, press your accelerator of Faith! Trust God to take you, to the place He has prepared for You. Put your faith to works!
Graced With Beauty For Ashes 