God's Promises

As I drove to Waimea on Saturday, there was the biggest rainbow I think I ever saw.
I was reminded of God’s promise through the rainbow and said a big
“Thank-you, Lord”. But something else came to mind after I said that, and I thought how easy it is for us to forget God’s promises.
His word is full of his promises and he has never broken one of them. They are as real today as they were when He spoke them.

Pastor Gary Simon’s message is part 2 on 1Corinthians 13. This chapter is about love and patience and kindness but the gem in this chapter is God’s promise to us. A promise telling us these virtues are His and He promises to be these things for us.

Psalm 103:17

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—

Jeremiah 31:3
...“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Have a wonderful week and let the Lord lead

Just a Reminder

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all Together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17

Not sure about you, but I think I need to copy, print and put this on my refrigerator. It’s something I need to be reminded of daily..


Have a good week and let the Lord lead

Intimate Answers

God answers prayer in many different ways and sometimes He answers in the most intimate loving way that only a caring Father does.
Yesterday was a very hard day for me. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders and I felt very alone.
As I searched for something cleaver to write about this week I found the following and knew automatically it was God speaking to my heart.

While Praying One Day A Woman Asked,
Who Are You, Lord?”
He Answered, “I Am”
“But Who Is I Am?” She said. And He Replied…”I Am Love, I Am Peace, I Am Grace, I Am Joy, I Am The Way, Truth And The Light…
I Am the comforter, I Am Strength, I Am Safety, I Am Shelter, I Am Power, I Am The Creator, I Am The Beginning And The End, I Am The Most High" The Woman With Tears In Her Eyes Looked Toward Heaven And Said,” Now I Understand, But Lord, Who Am I?” Then God Tenderly Wiped The Tears From Her Eyes
And Whispered, “You Are Mine.”

Isaiah 45:5
I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God…

Isaiah 49:16
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.


Have a good week and let the Lord lead

His Word, His Love

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV).

The above verse is one of my most favorite and treasured verses. Our desire should be to love the Lord with a love as deep as the love He has for us, and to do that requires intimacy through prayer and devotions. His word is His love letter to us filled with every promise there could ever be.


Have a good week and let the Lord lead

Making a Difference

Like me, you may feel you aren’t making a difference. You may be growing tired and weary and want to give up. But God has placed in you a desire to reach His people. A desire to build His kingdom.
I want to encourage you and say that you do make a difference.
Take for instance the following:

That donation check you send to help someone in need- changes lives.
That one can of food you donate at our food drive or store- feeds a person.
That one hug you give a child may save his life….or
that one teaching in Children’s Church could lead to a salvation.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Also:

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10

Have a good week and let the Lord lead

Hope is on the Way

Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope.

A lot of times I think we view hope as an emotion, when in reality it’s a process. The above passage makes it clear that in order to get to hope we need to endure suffering. Suffering is part of life. We endure heartache and disappointments– that’s just the world we live in. But it’s how we choose to handle the hardship. We can either give up or press on. Pressing on in our times of trouble develops perseverance. Eventually perseverance becomes part of our character which makes us who we are. Our character can then become light in the dark because Jesus lives within us and it is living in Him that produces hope. Hope is not a feeling or wish, it is knowing deep down inside that you can get through anything as long as you have Christ by your side.

If you are going through times of trouble– remember this;
Hope is on the way!


Have a good week and let the Lord lead!

Shine!

Today marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Has it been that long? I came across something that Max Lucado wrote right after the attack and would like to share some of it with you.

"Grant those who lead us wisdom. Have mercy on the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe. Look kindly on Your church. For two thousand years You've used her to heal
a hurting world. Do it again, Lord. Do it again!"

We are the church Max Lucado writes about. We are here to help heal a hurting world. Matthew 5:13-16 from the Message Bible says this:

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Are you shining?

Have a good week and let the Lord lead!