by Jessica Finney
Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
It says multiple times in scripture that we should love one another as Christ loves us. When we truly love someone, we do not want any harm to come to them. Not to say that we don't hurt other unintentionally sometimes, but it should not be our motive.
I believe that anyone can say the right words to tell someone they love them, but if we don't show them with our actions, then what are we trying to prove? It is like the husbands/boyfriends that supposedly love their wives/girlfriends but they beat them. How can you love someone and physically harm them? That isn't how God is. He brings good out of our bad. Not to say that He won't allow things to happen for consequences to our actions, but He loves us enough to forgive us and to not beat us up for our actions.
This week let's try to show God's love through us by trying to encourage someone with word and action.
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the love that you show for me. I pray that you help me love others as you do, that I might bring more people to You. Show me the ones that need an encouraging word or an action. Show me what you want me to do so I can show others Your love. I love you Lord, In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Let Us Not Grow Weary
by Jessica Finney
Have you ever done something you knew was what God wanted you to do, but you just got tired of doing it?
It is so easy to fall in the trap of the devil and feel we aren't getting the "pat on the back" we think we deserve. We can also feel we aren't getting the help we want, or we have just done it so long we feel we aren't doing any good.
It says in Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary, while doing good for in due season we shall reap if we do not loose heart."
The Lord talks a lot about reaping and harvesting. I believe this means if we keep our eyes on God and continue to do as God wants us to we will bring others to Him because we will be reaping what we sow.
Matthew 9:37, "He said to His disciples "The harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few."
People are waiting for us to show them Christ, but too often we let ourselves get in the way.
This next week let's try to encourage each other to not grow weary doing good but to continue to show the love of God to the world.
Lord, help me be who You want me to be. Let me lead others to You by showing You through me. Help me to remember that I don't need man's applause but need to bring them to You. Thank You for Your strength that You give us each and every day. In Jesus name, Amen.
Have you ever done something you knew was what God wanted you to do, but you just got tired of doing it?
It is so easy to fall in the trap of the devil and feel we aren't getting the "pat on the back" we think we deserve. We can also feel we aren't getting the help we want, or we have just done it so long we feel we aren't doing any good.
It says in Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary, while doing good for in due season we shall reap if we do not loose heart."
The Lord talks a lot about reaping and harvesting. I believe this means if we keep our eyes on God and continue to do as God wants us to we will bring others to Him because we will be reaping what we sow.
Matthew 9:37, "He said to His disciples "The harvest truly is plentiful but the laborers are few."
People are waiting for us to show them Christ, but too often we let ourselves get in the way.
This next week let's try to encourage each other to not grow weary doing good but to continue to show the love of God to the world.
Lord, help me be who You want me to be. Let me lead others to You by showing You through me. Help me to remember that I don't need man's applause but need to bring them to You. Thank You for Your strength that You give us each and every day. In Jesus name, Amen.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Waiting on the Lord
by Jessica Finney
Waiting on God to tell us what He wants us to do is not easy. It says in Isaiah 40:32 "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with eagles, they shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not grow faint."
To me that means that God know our limitations, so sometimes waiting for His timing is just getting us the rest that we need and helping us to get equipped for what He wants us to do. Once He lets us know, it usually is something we would have never imagined.
It also teaches us patience and lets us see how strong our faith really is. I don't know about you, but mine sometimes fails terribly.
I am a planner. I want to know what I am doing about every minute of every day and every year. I start getting worried and nervous if plans aren't going well, even though God has showed me time and time again that some of the best moments are the ones that weren't planned out.
I believe during times like that God is reminding me that it isn't about me, and I need to put my trust in Him alone. His plan is so much better than mine, and His ways are the only ways I should desire.
I always want to be in His will, but I am like a child sometimes and don't want to wait for the answer; I want it now.
But how much better off our lives would be if we just waited on the Lord and loved Him enough to show that we are willing to wait, however long it takes.
Dear heavenly Father, Thank you for guiding us and growing us while we wait on You. Please help me with my faith because I can't do anything without You. Help me to not be impatient and try to get ahead of you. I want to show You that I love You enough that I will wait for your answer. I know that it will be better then I could ever imagine. In Jesus name, amen.
Waiting on God to tell us what He wants us to do is not easy. It says in Isaiah 40:32 "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with eagles, they shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not grow faint."
To me that means that God know our limitations, so sometimes waiting for His timing is just getting us the rest that we need and helping us to get equipped for what He wants us to do. Once He lets us know, it usually is something we would have never imagined.
It also teaches us patience and lets us see how strong our faith really is. I don't know about you, but mine sometimes fails terribly.
I am a planner. I want to know what I am doing about every minute of every day and every year. I start getting worried and nervous if plans aren't going well, even though God has showed me time and time again that some of the best moments are the ones that weren't planned out.
I believe during times like that God is reminding me that it isn't about me, and I need to put my trust in Him alone. His plan is so much better than mine, and His ways are the only ways I should desire.
I always want to be in His will, but I am like a child sometimes and don't want to wait for the answer; I want it now.
But how much better off our lives would be if we just waited on the Lord and loved Him enough to show that we are willing to wait, however long it takes.
Dear heavenly Father, Thank you for guiding us and growing us while we wait on You. Please help me with my faith because I can't do anything without You. Help me to not be impatient and try to get ahead of you. I want to show You that I love You enough that I will wait for your answer. I know that it will be better then I could ever imagine. In Jesus name, amen.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
The Slow Fade of Sin ~ Part 2
by Charity Pence
Sin has been a part of our world from the beginning. Satan enticed Eve to eat forbidden fruit, and she in turn enticed Adam to eat. Genesis 3:6 says, "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate." By reading the entire passage we see what really happened there. Satan fooled Eve. He knew what would happen once she ate of the tree. But did he share that information? Of course not. Instead, he showed her all the great things the fruit had to offer, nothing else. You know something? Satan still operates the same way today. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
Sin is deceiving. Sin often looks pleasant; we believe it will make us feel good or bring about something beneficial. The path of destruction runs far, however. The lustful thought that turns into an affair can destroy a marriage. A lie at work or an immoral business decision forces one out of work which may lead to bankruptcy or prison. An addiction destroys the one addicted and those around him/her. There are consequences for our sins. The consequence we should be most concerned with, though, is the separation from God sin brings about if we let it.
Are you ready for the good news? Romans chapter 6 can be difficult to grasp, but it is worth reading. Verse 14, one of my favorites from this chapter, offers the following assurance: "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Throughout the chapter, we come to see that by believing Jesus to be our Savior, accepting what He has done for us, and turning our lives over to Him, we are set free from the curse of sin. That is wonderful news! It means sin has no power over us unless we give in to Satan.
In order to deflect Satan's attacks, we must protect ourselves. How? By putting on the armor of God. Gird your waist with truth. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Take the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. (See Ephesians 6:11-20)
Keeping a close relationship with our Heavenly Father offers the best protection. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10. God offers His strength to us so we can resist temptations. But we have to strive to remain close to Him. And when we do mess up, we must repent. God forgives us when we admit our wrongs. "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Psalm 34:18.
God loves us, and I hope you understand how much. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believer in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. 1 John 4:10 further states, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His son to be the propitiation of our sins." God's love is nothing short of amazing. After all, He not only knew how sin would entice us but also prepared a way for us to still enjoy eternal fellowship with Him. Hallelujah!
Still looking for instruction? Open your Bible. God's Word is filled with instruction and knowledge. The Bible is not just a book of stories or information. It's a journey. One which will take you directly to your Heavenly Father and away from sin.
Dear Heavenly Father, help us all to get this, to take this message to heart. Show us where we have taken the wrong steps. Convict us and show us Your truth. Cover us with your security so that the devil's attacks bounce away harmlessly. You have sacrificed your son for us. Help us to understand how powerful your love for us. Thank You for never forsaking us. I love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sin has been a part of our world from the beginning. Satan enticed Eve to eat forbidden fruit, and she in turn enticed Adam to eat. Genesis 3:6 says, "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate." By reading the entire passage we see what really happened there. Satan fooled Eve. He knew what would happen once she ate of the tree. But did he share that information? Of course not. Instead, he showed her all the great things the fruit had to offer, nothing else. You know something? Satan still operates the same way today. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8.
Sin is deceiving. Sin often looks pleasant; we believe it will make us feel good or bring about something beneficial. The path of destruction runs far, however. The lustful thought that turns into an affair can destroy a marriage. A lie at work or an immoral business decision forces one out of work which may lead to bankruptcy or prison. An addiction destroys the one addicted and those around him/her. There are consequences for our sins. The consequence we should be most concerned with, though, is the separation from God sin brings about if we let it.
Are you ready for the good news? Romans chapter 6 can be difficult to grasp, but it is worth reading. Verse 14, one of my favorites from this chapter, offers the following assurance: "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Throughout the chapter, we come to see that by believing Jesus to be our Savior, accepting what He has done for us, and turning our lives over to Him, we are set free from the curse of sin. That is wonderful news! It means sin has no power over us unless we give in to Satan.
In order to deflect Satan's attacks, we must protect ourselves. How? By putting on the armor of God. Gird your waist with truth. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Take the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. (See Ephesians 6:11-20)
Keeping a close relationship with our Heavenly Father offers the best protection. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10. God offers His strength to us so we can resist temptations. But we have to strive to remain close to Him. And when we do mess up, we must repent. God forgives us when we admit our wrongs. "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." Psalm 34:18.
God loves us, and I hope you understand how much. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believer in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. 1 John 4:10 further states, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His son to be the propitiation of our sins." God's love is nothing short of amazing. After all, He not only knew how sin would entice us but also prepared a way for us to still enjoy eternal fellowship with Him. Hallelujah!
Still looking for instruction? Open your Bible. God's Word is filled with instruction and knowledge. The Bible is not just a book of stories or information. It's a journey. One which will take you directly to your Heavenly Father and away from sin.
Dear Heavenly Father, help us all to get this, to take this message to heart. Show us where we have taken the wrong steps. Convict us and show us Your truth. Cover us with your security so that the devil's attacks bounce away harmlessly. You have sacrificed your son for us. Help us to understand how powerful your love for us. Thank You for never forsaking us. I love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
The Slow Fade of Sin ~ Part 1
by Charity Pence
I love the song "Slow Fade" performed by Casting Crowns. Each time I listen to this song, I am reminded of how quickly, and sometimes unintentionally, we can slip into sin. Reflect for a moment on the following lyrics:
It's a slow fade
When you give yourself away
It's a slow fade
When black and white are turned to gray
And thoughts invade, choices are made
A price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just may be sinking
The path to sin may sometimes be like a fork in the road. There are two clear directions we may go, and we make a conscious choice. However, more often sin is like a road that gradually takes us further and further from our Heavenly Father. We start on the path with what we believe to be a minor sin. But the longer we travel that road, the more comfortable we become with that sin. And then the sin grows into something bigger. Before we realize what happened, we've travelled so far from where we began, we cannot see where we started.
It's like a thought, or a fantasy. We toy with an idea we know is wrong, but we let it play in our minds until we're comfortable. And as the lyrics say, "the journey from your mind to your hands is shorter than you're thinking." Thoughts become actions.
It's like a lie, or an omission of the truth. We get used to leaving out certain details until we suddenly find ourselves telling flat out lies. Yet it isn't sudden. It's a process we've allowed to take place.
The slow fade can take place with any sin. A glimpse at an indecent photo can lead to an addiction to pornography. "Playing around" with a particular substance such as alcohol or drugs can lead us to require more and more of the substance to be satisfied. And as our lives begin to crumble, we wonder how we came so far.
Proverbs 5:21-23 offers the following warning: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray."
We need to realize how serious the slow fade of sin can be. However, we are not without hope. We are not lacking in instruction. We are not destined to go astray. Our Heavenly Father who loves us and knows us better than we know ourselves has given us His Word; that is where we find instruction. And in God, we find strength to resist temptation. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you. Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength." Psalm 26:3, 4.
Dear Heavenly Father, how easily and quickly we allow ourselves to stray when we do not keep our hearts and minds on You. Please forgive us the sins we've allowed ourselves to grow comfortable with. Help us to see what we are doing. Convict us when sin, regardless of how trivial we may think it is, tempts us. Give us strength to prevent ourselves from straying further away from you. We need you, Lord. I need You. Thank You for never forsaking us. Help us to reflect on this message and to understand the consequences we may face if we do not turn away from the path we've chosen. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Part 2 will be posted next week. What to expect:
~How a close relationship of God protects us
~How to guard ourselves from the evil of Sin
~How to use God's word as daily instruction
~The importance of repentance
~God's great, never ending love for us
I love the song "Slow Fade" performed by Casting Crowns. Each time I listen to this song, I am reminded of how quickly, and sometimes unintentionally, we can slip into sin. Reflect for a moment on the following lyrics:
It's a slow fade
When you give yourself away
It's a slow fade
When black and white are turned to gray
And thoughts invade, choices are made
A price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just may be sinking
The path to sin may sometimes be like a fork in the road. There are two clear directions we may go, and we make a conscious choice. However, more often sin is like a road that gradually takes us further and further from our Heavenly Father. We start on the path with what we believe to be a minor sin. But the longer we travel that road, the more comfortable we become with that sin. And then the sin grows into something bigger. Before we realize what happened, we've travelled so far from where we began, we cannot see where we started.
It's like a thought, or a fantasy. We toy with an idea we know is wrong, but we let it play in our minds until we're comfortable. And as the lyrics say, "the journey from your mind to your hands is shorter than you're thinking." Thoughts become actions.
It's like a lie, or an omission of the truth. We get used to leaving out certain details until we suddenly find ourselves telling flat out lies. Yet it isn't sudden. It's a process we've allowed to take place.
The slow fade can take place with any sin. A glimpse at an indecent photo can lead to an addiction to pornography. "Playing around" with a particular substance such as alcohol or drugs can lead us to require more and more of the substance to be satisfied. And as our lives begin to crumble, we wonder how we came so far.
Proverbs 5:21-23 offers the following warning: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths. His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray."
We need to realize how serious the slow fade of sin can be. However, we are not without hope. We are not lacking in instruction. We are not destined to go astray. Our Heavenly Father who loves us and knows us better than we know ourselves has given us His Word; that is where we find instruction. And in God, we find strength to resist temptation. "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you. Because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength." Psalm 26:3, 4.
Dear Heavenly Father, how easily and quickly we allow ourselves to stray when we do not keep our hearts and minds on You. Please forgive us the sins we've allowed ourselves to grow comfortable with. Help us to see what we are doing. Convict us when sin, regardless of how trivial we may think it is, tempts us. Give us strength to prevent ourselves from straying further away from you. We need you, Lord. I need You. Thank You for never forsaking us. Help us to reflect on this message and to understand the consequences we may face if we do not turn away from the path we've chosen. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Part 2 will be posted next week. What to expect:
~How a close relationship of God protects us
~How to guard ourselves from the evil of Sin
~How to use God's word as daily instruction
~The importance of repentance
~God's great, never ending love for us
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