Knowing who belongs in your life
(borrowed)
Knowing Who Belongs in Your Life
‘…Those you allow to remain will become… thorns in your sides…’ Numbers 33:55
Earthquakes result from two tectonic plates on a fault line shifting against one another, then lurching in opposite directions. And that’s what happens when you bond with the wrong people. It’s why God instructed the Israelites concerning the hostile nations in the Promised Land, ‘Those you allow to remain will become… thorns in your sides.’ When a relationship is not working, when your efforts to rehabilitate it have failed, acknowledge it. Sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and admit that instead of lifting them up, they’re dragging you down. Releasing somebody doesn’t mean they’ll never improve, it just means God is better suited to the job. Be careful around those who are always trying to make you feel guilty for not ‘being there’. Only God can always be there! There’s a difference between helping somebody and carrying them. Your help may actually be a hindrance. Why should they even try, if you’re always there to do it for them? Your need to be needed could be getting in the way of their need to grow. Step back and let them walk on their own. Not everybody will be happy when you do that, but they’re not supposed to be. Jesus said, ‘Woe to you when all men speak well of you…’ (Luke 6:26 NKJV). Don’t let fear of criticism overwhelm your common sense. People don’t take confrontations well, but this is a matter of survival. Every relationship is for a reason, and a season. Discern those who belonged in your past, from those who belong in your life now.
Get Your House in Order
Get Your House in Order
Matthew 24:36
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
Although we don’t like to think about it, and most of us surely don’t live like it, we are living in the last days. The Bible tells us in Matthew 24:37-39, “but as the days of Noah were, so shall the coming of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of man be.”
This is so true. We seem to not take the teachings and prophecies of the Bible very seriously. We live as we want, and everything that is worldly encourages it. Television, movies, and music all promote violence, drinking, drugs, homosexuality, pornography, and anything else you can think of that is strictly prohibited and spoken against in God’s word. People tend to think that if someone “famous” endorses it by living that type of lifestyle, and are prosperous, then it’s okay. Well, it’s not okay, and on that last and final day, we will have to answer for all that we’ve done, all that we’ve said, all that we’ve thought.
The saying “get your house in order” is not referring to our physical dwelling place, but rather our spiritual lives. We, and that includes me, need to start thinking of the physical and eternal consequences of our actions. Do you want to be at that “meeting around the throne”, or do you want to be where the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:44), and where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 24:51)? What wrongs have you committed against someone that you need to right? What sins have you committed that you have not repented of? Are you still holding a grudge against someone that hurt you years ago? That’s one thing I’m guilty of. Sometimes it’s so hard to let go of that anger. Do you catch yourself wishing that something bad would happen to that person, or do you catch yourself trying to exact revenge on that person? Revenge is not ours to take. “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) I don’t know about you, but I want to be counted among the faithful few that will be able to hear God say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
The time is now. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Don’t you think God is giving us, and has given us, many warnings? Look at all the things that are going on in this world today. These things can’t be taken lightly, nor can we “get religious” only when things like this happen, and drop it when everything seems to return to normal. It’s going to be in one of those normal times that something could happen to drastically change your life. Why don’t you join me in doing what 2 Peter 1:10 says, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, ye shall never fall.”
Always on Time
Always on Time
Isaiah 55:8; Galatians 4:10
In our fast-paced world, just like the Burger King slogan says, we want everything “our way, right away”. We want instant wealth, and instant solutions to our problems. Forget “good things come to those who wait”. We want everything in an instant. But, sometimes instant doesn’t always mean better.
With God, things are not always instant. He does things His way, and in His own time. There’s nothing we can do to rush Him, either. God is never late, though. He’s always on time. Let me take you back in time to several instances where God was right on time…
In Daniel 3:23-25, God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego from the fiery furnace. While in the midst of the fire, the king noticed them walking around, with nothing wrong with them, and with a being described as being in the form of the son of God.
SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO—DELIVERED, AND RIGHT ON TIME!
In Daniel 6:12-22, Daniel was cast into the den of lions for refusing to heed the king’s decree of not praying to any God for 30 days, except the king. Because of the stand he took, God protected Daniel by sending an angel to shut the mouths of the lions, and no harm befell Daniel.
DANIEL—DELIVERED, AND RIGHT ON TIME!
In John 11:43-44, after being dead four days, Jesus raised Daniel from the dead. Yes, Jesus could’ve been there to prevent Lazarus’ death, if He had so chosen. But, He decided to wait two days before He left for Judea, where Lazarus lived. Why, you ask? In order to glorify God, that’s why.
LAZARUS—DELIVERED AND RIGHT ON TIME!
There are many more instances in the Bible where God delivered, and right on time. His time, though, not our time. So, the next time you’re feeling discouraged about your situation, and feel as if God has abandoned you, just remember the deliverance stories mentioned in this newsletter, and others in the Bible. If He did it for them, I know He’ll do it for you.
Just like the Dottie People’s song says, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always right on time!”
Goodness AND Mercy by Aleysha Proctor
Goodness AND Mercy!
Psalms 23:6a “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!”
I once heard a pastor say that God’s goodness will give you the blessings that you don’t deserve and His mercy will keep off of you the punishment that you do deserve!
God’s goodness is described as His bounty (prosperity, provisions and richness) to whomever He chooses to show His goodness to. In many scripture passages, we see God’s goodness AND His mercy showing up at the same time.
In 2 Samuel 11, King David has taken another man’s wife (Bathsheba) and she conceives a child by him while her husband is away on the battle field. David then brings her husband home and tries to get him to go home and spend some time with his wife. When Uriah, her husband, doesn’t do as David hopes he will, he then has him placed on the front line of the hottest battle to make certain that Bathsheba becomes a widow and then he can have her as his own wife.
When the prophet Nathan spoke to David about his sins in 2 Samuel 12, he spoke in a parable about a rich man with many flocks taking a poor man’s one little lamb for his own. King David becomes angry and says whoever has done this will surely die! And Nathan said, “King David, you are that man!” He then points out how God has been GOOD to him by saying in verse 7, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!” Get that! God said if after all of the blessings I’ve already showered you with wasn’t enough, I would have given you MUCH MORE! That’s God’s Goodness giving David things that he didn’t deserve!
Then here comes God’s mercy towards David, in verse 13b it says, “And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” That’s God’s Mercy – keeping the punishment that he did deserve away from him!
It’s no wonder that King David said in Psalms 23, “SURELY, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!” Surely! As in being a done-deal. Imagine that! As we go about in our daily lives, God’s goodness AND mercy are following right behind us! God showing His goodness by giving us what we don’t deserve, and extending His mercy to us by keeping off of us what we do deserve.
As a Believer in Christ, it’s not either/or, it’s BOTH!
© Aleysha R. Proctor 2009
Life’s Stumbling Blocks
Life’s Stumbling Blocks
Matthew 11:29-30
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
On my desk at work sits a card that is part of a collection called Recipes for the Soul. It’s entitled “Bumpy Road Ahead” and it reads, “In order to endure, you will need resilience and discipline.” It also includes a phrase from a man named Jack Penn that says, “One of the secrets of life is to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks.”
That phrase is so true. It’s a given that at sometime in our life, we will come upon many stumbling blocks. They will come at us in the form of heartache, trials, tribulations, and many other forms. But, we shouldn’t let these stumbling blocks hinder us from moving forward in our lives, or from enjoying the many blessings God has bestowed upon us.
If you are in the midst of a time where it seems like there is nothing but stumbling blocks, I urge you to be strong and hold on to God’s unchanging hand. Things will get better. You will fall, but all you have to do is get right back up. God is there waiting for you with outstretched arms. He never intended for us to face the trials of life alone. He wants us to come to Him, lean on Him, and let Him take care of it all.
Let me leave you with some words from some of my favorite gospel songs. First, as James Bignon tells us, “There is a blessing on the other side of through and that what God has in store for you is better than what you are going through.” Secondly, Donnie McClurkin tells us, “When you’ve done all you can do, you just stand.”
The Power of Jesus
The Power of Jesus
Ephesians 3:20-21
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Are you currently bound by the chains of sin? Are you sick and can’t get well? Are you plagued by doubt and worrying about things that you really have no control over? Are you struggling to find your place in life? Are you lost and searching for that one thing or one person that can make your life a little more bearable?
If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then look no further. The answer to everything is JESUS—His power, His grace, His mercy, His love. Nothing more, nothing less. For every situation that we face and every trial and tribulation we must suffer, if we just look to the One who is our constant source of help (Psalms 121:1), everything will be okay.
According to Paul in II Corinthians 12:9, Jesus tells him that “my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul further went on to say that “most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Jesus may rest upon me.”
The same is still true today. His grace is all that we need, all that we will ever need. In this day and age, we tend to solely rely on the things of this world to make our life better (or so we think anyway), hardly ever stopping to think that is only because of the power of God & His Son Jesus that we have all of the things that we have. I know it’s hard for some to believe in something or someone we can’t see or feel, but trust me, He’s there and He’s ready and willing to bless us with all that we need, and sometimes even the things we want.
I know firsthand about the power of Jesus. He has brought me through so many things and I know He will continue to do so.
The power of Jesus—all that we’ll ever need.
Anchored
Anchored
2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Hebrews 6:19
“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;” (II Cor. 4:8-9) “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that veil within;” (Hebrews 6:19)
Times are tough, and sometimes it seems that every waking moment, we have a new problem to face. And sometimes, it seems like the trials and tribulations we must face come back to back, and are more than we can bear.
I know that there are many times that we feel as if we’re in the middle of a storm-tossed sea, with no hope in sight, but there is hope. Grab hold of The Anchor; the one that will never fail and the one that is always there. Grab hold and don’t let go. Let the anchor become so embedded in your soul that nothing or no one can steer you off course.
Even with Jesus Christ as your anchor, don’t think trials and tribulations won’t come your way. The storms will come, and your faith will be tested. You’ll feel as if you’re the only one having hard times.
But just hold on and don’t let go. You’ll soon realize that your Anchor is steadfast and secure. He will bring you through even the toughest of situations. Not only is Jesus our anchor, He’s the light at the end of the tunnel. He’s our hope, our reassurance. He’s our deliverance and our redeemer. He’s our protection and our savior. He’s all we need to make it through.
The anchor is there, all you need to do is stretch out your hand, grab hold, and never let go!
A message for you from God
‘I knew you before time began. I know how many hairs are on your head. Like parent, like child, you’re created in My image. I have plans for you. I’ve also given you the ‘gifts’ needed to fulfil them; and what I give, nobody can take away. But don’t neglect them; exercise them, and stir them up daily.
Rest assured, I’ve started a good work in you and I’m going to finish it. I always complete what I begin. My Word concerning you is forever settled, and My commitment to you is unending.
In this life you will have challenges, but cheer up; I’ve robbed satan of his power to control you and the world of its power to destroy you. When you’re in trouble remember, I’m present to help.
Give Me your burdens and I will sustain you. When you’re stressed out and worn down by the pressures of life, lean on Me. I will be your rock, your fortress, your deliverer and your strength. Even though you fail from time to time, you won’t be discarded because I am upholding you.
But a word of caution: don’t take advice from those who are spiritually blind and don’t hang out with sceptics. Delight yourself in My Word and, like a big oak tree growing by a river, you’ll prosper in all you do.
Author unknown
Simply a Christian
Simply a Christian
Luke 16:19-31
World-renowned doctor. Hot-shot attorney. Superstar athlete. Singing sensation. Consummate actor/actress.
During the course of your life, was it once your dream to become one of the occupations listed above? For me, it was to be a hot-shot attorney and to be the first black, first female president. I wanted everyone to know who I was. I believed that being rich and famous would solve all of my problems and I would be on easy street. But, by watching the very public lives of those in the limelight, I’ve realized that even though they may be rich and famous, that doesn’t exclude them from having problems. There are so many who turn to drugs to deal with the pressure. Some have emotional breakdowns, some resort to theft, and some just simply end their lives because they can’t deal with all the pressure.
I’m nowhere near being famous, nor do I want to be. When I’m introduced to someone, I don’t have a list of accomplishments and accreditations that I ramble off in hopes of impressing them. I simply say my name is Renee Williams, and I am a Christian. No more, no less. I don’t flaunt my accomplishments (what few there are) because I don’t want, nor do I need, the praise of men. All that I do is for God’s glory and honor. No earthly reward is greater than the heavenly award we’ll receive on that great day when we are accepted into our eternal home with God.
Everything else will pale in comparison to the mansion, robe and crown that is waiting for us if we only serve God and obey His commands.
Now, there is nothing wrong with aspiring to do better. I still have dreams and aspirations, but they all involve serving God, spreading His message, and furthering His kingdom. No matter what happens in your life, if your dreams don’t come true and you end up working a job you said you never would, never be ashamed! Do your job to the best of your ability and always conduct yourself in a manner pleasing to God. Even though He is the Son of God and left His home in glory, Jesus came down and performed acts of servitude, with the most recognized act being that of Him washing His disciples feet (John 13:5-15). When Jesus came to earth, He could’ve done any job and been anything that He wanted to, but He chose to be a carpenter. His main reason, though, for coming to earth was “to be about His Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). This should be our main focus in life also.
Simply a Christian. No more, no less. All that we ever need to be.
Some poetry for thought
I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven’s door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp–
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, ‘What’s the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How’d all these sinners get up here?
God must’ve made a mistake.
‘And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber – give me a clue.’
‘Hush, child,’ He said, ‘they’re all in shock.
No one thought they’d be seeing you.’
JUDGE NOT!!
Remember…Just going to church doesn’t make you a
Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.
Every saint has a PAST…
Every sinner has a FUTURE!
