Do You See The Difference-Be Careful!

As a kid I liked to do those puzzles where you had to find the differences in the two pictures. I would search for hours trying to find the difference. My challenge to you today:

Take a look at the pictures below, do you see the differences? 

 

 

Jesus says, in Matthew 24:4-5, "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

So what does Satan use for bait? Think about it…

 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, … 1Peter 5:8-9

Have a good week and always remember to look  up !                                                                            

Are You Bait???

Years ago our Ohana group did a 12 week study on John Bevere’s, “The Bait of Satan.”  Interesting title don’t you think? I hadn’t thought about this book or the study for that matter in many years.  Sometimes things just happen for a reason. I started thinking of this book when my cousin posted the cover of the book on Facebook and said she was looking for the book to read. I told her I thought I had the book and would send it to her, as it turned out I didn’t. But it was during this search that got me thinking I could send her a YouTube link of one of  John Bevere’s sermons and I actually found one on the Bait of Satan. 

While listening to this sermon, John Bevere mentions Luke 17:1. It says this, Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  (NKJV; emphasis mine)

The Greek word for offense in this translation is skandalon which means a trap, stick, or to snare. When I heard this I went WOW! Satan uses anything to trap us, to snare us and to cause us to become what he wants us to become or believe what he wants us to believe. It’s so easy to begin to blame yourself when something happens when in reality it’s Satan setting that trap for us to fall into. I fell into his trap many times  this week and quickly repented when I realized I had. 

So what does Satan use for bait? Think about it…

 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, …                                                                        1Peter 5:8-9 

Have a wonderful week and always remember to look up!

Hope!

Sorry it's been awhile since the last post-busyness has gotten in the way-so forgive me. This week I want to share one of my favorite quotes. I hope you like it as well as I do-be blessed.

Don’t you know that day dawns after night, showers displace drought, and spring and summer follow winter? Then, have hope! Hope forever, for God will not fail you!-Charles Spurgeon

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

Have a good week and always remember to look up!                                                                            

Four Simple Words

New Years Resolutions... Did you make one? I didn’t, but I decided to start the New Year and pray everyday that I can say a new phrase. It’s simple, only four words and it’s something you can hold on to and to find comfort in it.

The busyness of life or our worries tend to push it to the side but we need to make saying this a habit.

So my challenge to you is for you to say this simple phrase in response to whatever   happens to you.  It’s hard to do when things are crashing down around you– but say it anyway.

My new phrase:

“I trust You, Jesus”

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:7-10

Have a good week and always remember to look up!

Lean Not

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

That verse is what I have been saying over and over this past week. It’s a verse we can hold on to, one that strengthens us each time it’s said.

I don’t understand a lot of things that happen, but what we must learn from this passage is this:

When something happens to us or around us, through God’s word we learn to trust in Him that there are times we may think we know what’s happening but in reality God has the plan, he sees the bigger picture and our job is to trust him and acknowledge that His will be done no matter what the outcome or the circumstance.

And Romans 8:28 tells us;

And we know that in in all things God works for he good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

“lean not on your own understanding”... God’s got the plan, we trust him and we acknowledge his ways are better than ours.

Have a good week and always remember to look up!

Take Heart!

Last week Pastor Gary Simons gave us a message on living from victory to victory not  crisis to crisis, the scripture he used was from John 16:33. It says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Jesus is telling us to take heart with an exclamation mark !.

He’s encouraging us to be brave and courageous, that what ever we may be feeling is not lost, but to keep hope.

I for one, need that reminder. I for one, need to live victory to victory knowing that God will give me peace in midst of the storm.

⁴ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1John 4:4

Have a good week and always remember to look up!

Having Compassion

Yesterday I stood at the front of our local market and handed out brochures for Operation Christmas Child. My goal was to try to get our community involved in this ministry. The longer I stood there the heavier my heart became. As people walked by I asked, “would  you like to pack a shoebox for a needy child”? Their reply was pretty much the same, no thank you. But what got my attention was how it was so easy to say no, not now. My whole being wanted to cry out– WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO, NOT NOW? THIS WORLD IS HURTING AND YOU SAY NO-WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? You say no yet comment on how beautiful the tree standing by the door is.

I think you get the picture on how it was. I really came close to tears a few times.

I was reminded of Jesus so many times as his heart cried out for the people of this world and how he was moved with compassion. I know what I felt yesterday doesn’t compare to what Jesus must have felt and probably still does.

 

³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Matthew 9:36-37

 

Have a good week and remember to always look up!