“Well have you ever…had a #car break down?….had your #house broken-in and trashed?….had on-going #mischiefs around you?” Today if you watch the news you see people in turmoil, and I see my neighbors and even my own family plagued with events beyond our control. “Who you gonna call?” You may have had a similar experience of calling many professionals in their fields that have no interest in your restoration or they make appointments but never show up ! Ps.142:1″O LORD I CALL UPON THEE; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call!” Dah.. start putting first things first. This time I check the meaning of the word ‘maintain‘ which is-to continue to hold in the hand…to persevere in…to carry on..to support…to sustain…to uphold…to defend. I go to God’s Word first…Psalm 140 “12.I know that the LORD WILL MAINTAIN (hold in His hand) the CAUSE OF THE AFFLICTED.. 1.Deliver me, O LORD from the evil man..4.Keep me from the hands of the wicked..141:8,10.Let the wicked fall into their own nets. -I take refuge in the LORD..140:6. I said unto the LORD, THOU ARE MY GOD; hear the voice of my supplication, O GOD, the LORD, the strength of my salvation.” This is on whom I have and will call for HE hears me and maintains my existence ! I’m not whistling in the dark. (I cannot even whistle!)
Author: Barbara Jones
LIVING GOD #GIVES YOU NEW HEART
Around #Valentines’ Day we see beautiful #hearts displayed everywhere! I can remember when the most hearts I saw were in the school room where we would all exchange Valentines. Today with all the advertising for commercial gain, we see hearts of all sizes and colors supposedly representing our affection for another by sharing our heart with them. As a young girl, I wanted someone to give me a “beautiful red satin heart box filled with chocolate” It was a nice dream that never came true, but I did get a cardboard one! Why am I telling this, because I have received a beautiful new heart from the King of all Kings – my Lord and Savior. This heart is filled with His never ending, everlasting love. What a treasure! “The LORD GOD said, ‘When I shall be honored in you before all peoples’ eyes I will cleanse you and I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I WILL TAKE AWAY THE STONY HEART within you and I WILL GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH.” Ezekiel 36:23-26 Have you received your new heart this year? 1John 3:16 “Receive the LOVE OF GOD, because He laid down His life for us..18. Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth encouraging our hearts before Him.” Please accept the new heart which God is giving to you filled with His abundant love. This is my Valentine which I am sharing with you!
THE LIVING GOD #LOOKS
Does our appearance matter to others? Evidently marketers believe our looks all need improving and their product can make us more pleasing in the eye of the beholder. Will their special #soap, #hair product, #makeup, #food supplement, #vitamin, or latest #fashion item make us more acceptable by others? Could be that we can all use some refreshing! We like to be complimented by others, but what does God think when He looks on us? Does God look at you? “GOD SEES not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART” 1Sam.16:7 (GOD’s Word gives us the prescription for a clean heart which can remove restless complaint, anger, anguish, and terror! Ps.55) “If you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS, and will believe in your heart that GOD has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . .whoever believes on *Jesus shall not be ashamed. For their is no difference between the Jew and the Greek for the same Lord is over all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom.10:9-13 What does GOD SEE as HE LOOKS in YOUR HEART? May you say along with David, “I will praise thee, O LORD, with MY WHOLE HEART; and show and tell all they marvellous works.” Now that’s GOD’s PRESCRIPTION FOR YOUR HEART to have a living eternal Makeover that is pleasing and acceptable in His eyes.
LIVING GOD #LOVES
#Love means different things to so many of us. Things happen in life that can scar ones perception of love. #Abuse, lies, deceit, loneliness, abandonment, tragedies, storms, illness are just a few of the things in life that block our acceptance of love. Are you missing love in your life? Do you desire true love? Today I would like to share some scriptures from God’s Holy Word speaking on love. Jesus said in John 15:9 “Just as My Father has love Me, I have also LOVED YOU, ABIDE IN MY LOVE.” John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is WHO LOVES ME: and he WHO LOVES ME SHALL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, and I WILL LOVE HIM, and will disclose Myself to him.” John 16:27 “the FATHER HIMSELF LOVES YOU, because YOU HAVE LOVED ME, and have believed that I came from the Father” John 3:16 “For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that Whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” Romans 13 tells us that we are to express love toward others, “You shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself “ Do you even like yourself? I find that only God can shine through my darkness. I desire to have His presence and love shining through my flawed demeanor.
THE LIVING GOD #RECONCILING
Are individuals in #America ready to be #reconciled? To reconcile is to be friendly again; to be brought back to harmony; to reunite; to conciliate! #Propitiation and reconciliation have primary reference to the person offended as stated by Webster’s dictionary. Do you recognize your hardened demeanor covered by stress? Not only are these attributes defined by Webster, but the Holy Word of God is very articulate on HIS RECONCILING. How do I know? 11Corthinthians 5:17-20 tells me, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; all things are become new. All things are of GOD, WHO HAS RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF BY JESUS CHRIST, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; that GOD WAS IN CHRIST RECONCILING THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF, not charging their trespasses unto them; but has committed unto us the word of RECONCILIATION. Now we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beg you by us: we pray that you on behalf of Christ will be RECONCILED TO GOD.” May we be citizens walking together receiving God’s grace with patience, kindness, and love by the word of truth and God’s power !
THE LIVING GOD #ACCESS
Today we are privileged to have access to so many #privileges that were seemingly unattainable earlier in my life. When I was learning to #drive in the early 50’s in a wood-framed 40’s station wagon with a stick shift, no power steering, and a/c was rolling down the window, I could not have foreseen the advancements made in technology. At about the same time TV was becoming available for limited hours of the day, or you could observe a test pattern – (now replaced with nonsense) When racial discrimination was observed then by many schools, I chose to attend Wayland Baptist College (now University) my freshman year and was privileged to share classes with the Ojos and Bamajokos from Nigeria who later became political leaders there. I believe that the campus atmosphere and classes we attended showed us access to Bible Truth through example and teaching on our young impressional lives. While completing my B.S. degree at Hardin Simmons University the space challenge was blasting off giving us access beyond the known. I have seen many cultural changes, new inventions, and more access through computers than I could fathom in my lifetime. With a new year upon us, what new challenge/opportunity will we have? Actually you’ve heard it said, ‘What’s old is new again’ Ephesians 2:12-22 is a wonderful new beginning – “Remember when you were separated from Christ….excluded..having no hope and without GOD in the world, but now in Christ Jesus you ..have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall….to reconcile them both in one body to GOD through the Cross, by it having put to death the enmity . He came and preached Peace to YOU who were far away and Peace to those who were near for through Him we both have OUR ACCESS in ONE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER.”
THE LIVING GOD #SPEAKS
NEWS ALERT… Can you trust the #news #feeds that you read or hear today? Has truth been seen through the eye of the beholder or just adjusted to uphold the position needed to advance his agenda? When our grandson was about four yrs. old, he would tell us his encounters with his younger sister. Then he would say, “I tell the trooth (truth)” I was sure he was telling the truth on the part he told, but what was the rest of the story as his little sister was not talking. Which reminds me of an exchange written in the Bible between Pilate and Jesus in John 19..Pilate asks if Jesus is a king and Jesus speaks, “You say that I am a king and I say I was born for this cause I came into this world so I should bear witness unto the truth and everyone that is of the truth understands my voice” Then Pilate asks, “What is truth?” Jesus speaks- “God’s Word is Truth” John 17:17 After reading the rest of the incounter, we realize that Pilate goes before the enraged crowd to say that he found no fault in Jesus..(what was the rest of the story).. he listened to the massive cries of the rioters to crucify Jesus. Pilate chose to follow the crowd’s choice by releasing Barabbas a robber instead of following the true words which Jesus spoke. Today we are bombarded with words and opinions, so how can we make correct decisions? Everyone seems to think they are experts and need no instructions; however, they want their view to be seen and heard no matter how distasteful the matter. I personally remember an old saying, “Silence is golden”; however, when only half truths are spoken = the silence can be deadly. Jesus still speaks to us through His Word today if we choose to listen. JESUS SPEAKS, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in ME you may have peace. In the world you shall have trouble: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
THE LIVING GOD #WISDOM
With the new year upon us, are you in need of wisdom to make right decisions? I know I am. You maybe trying to solve a dilemma over #money, a #mate, #clothing, #food, #protection, #education, or better #health? Where do the leaders turn for advice? With all the choices that are made daily, where do you turn for advice? You may ask your mate, a friend, a financial advisor, a teacher, a doctor or watch instructors on TV/internet. These advisors may give you even more choices for you to ruminate. I personally have found and trust the best advice which is GOD’s WORD. ” We speak wisdom among them that are mature: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the WISDOM OF GOD in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which GOD ordained before the world unto our glory: but as it is written Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD has prepared for them that love Him.” 1Corth2:5-9 “GOD has chosen the foolish things of the world to confuse the wise; and GOD has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; but unto all that are called are in CHRIST JESUS who of GOD is made unto us WISDOM, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.”1Corth1:27,30 May this new year be a time for us to fulfill what is recorded in vs. 31 “according as it is written, He that glories (boasts) let him glory in the LORD.” A deceased friend used to say, “He must toot his own horn or it will not be tooted” Which words will you put into action — Wisdom of God or Sayings of Man?