Remember How Far You've Come

Don't obsess about how far you have to go.

Baby steps have always gotten you there. Minute by minute. Hour by hour. Day by day. Praise God that He has given you a hope and a future. Glory in the Lord that you trust in Him with all of your heart and you choose not to rely on your own understanding, that you acknowledge him in all that you do and that He is directing your paths.  

Jeremiah 29:11

Proverbs 3:5-6

Recount how far you've come.

Don't forget how your faith has grown and how God has done remarkable things in your life. Remember how your prayers have improved and how they change things. Recall that you are much closer to God through Jesus Christ than you've ever been. Reminisce about your journey with God and that you have a history of miracles in Him. 

James 5:16

Psalm 145:18

Rejoice in it everyday.

Thank God for the peace that surpasses all understanding. Revel in the fact that God has given you good talents and skills. Be overjoyed that all things are possible to him who believes. Celebrate your uniqueness in Christ Jesus, that He is The Author and the Finisher of your faith, that you can do nothing without him and that He is able to bring to perfection all that concerns you. 

Philippians 4:7

Mark 9:23

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Can The Bible Help Me?

I cannot stress to you enough the importance of reading the Bible scriptures at least once per day.

Read:

• even though you don't understand most of them,
• even though many of them don't seem to pertain to you,
• even though some of them make you angry,
• even though they often make no sense to you,
• even though you are often tired,
• even though most of the time you don't want to,
• even though you don't see why you need to
• even though you feel or see no change happening.

I cannot stress to you enough how the scriptures show up in your spirit, your mind and your heart exactly when you need them, when no person or no thing can help you.

The scriptures are alive. They are living. They are infused with God's Holy Spirit.

Open the Bible each day and read something:

• If you don't know where to start flip the pages and let them fall open where they may. Begin to read there.
• Look at the names of the Books of the Bible and pick a name that resonates with you, that you like. 
• Read a sentence, a paragraph or a Book. It doesn't have to be a certain length of reading. 
• It doesn't have to be a set time but try to choose the same time whenever you can. 

That's the only effort that you have to make to receive the powerful help that Our Heavenly Father freely gives to us through the powerful scriptures.

It may take a while for you to begin to receive the transformation and remarkable help that The Bible offers but keep reading it. You will see that you will get the most important help when you most need it.

I wrote this short post in 2024: Why Read The Bible Daily?

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Christian Bookmarks To Print

Use these printable faith bookmarks to fill your life with reminders of Christian living. 

Surround yourself everyday with products that invite in The Holy Spirit, Our Comforter and Guide.

Spend your money on merchandise that glorifies God Our Father and Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior. 

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Print these inspiring bookmarks onto heavyweight paper or card stock, cut out, laminate or leave as is, punch holes to add optional tassels or charm dangles. They encourage anyone to remember the promises of God. 

These Christian bookmarks to print can be used in collage, journal designs, altered art, paper crafting, book arts and other creative techniques.

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A Prayer For Our Enemies

Dear Heavenly Father:

I thank you for giving me the strength to be able to pray for my enemies.

I know that this strength comes through you placing your love in my heart.

Your love covers a multitude of sins.

Your love is the avenue for me to love the unlovable in others.

Have mercy on those who use me with hatred, Dear God.

Forgive those who practice malice towards me.

Forgive them, Father, for the sake of your Dear Son's sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary.

I have forgiven them and will continue to forgive them in Jesus's name.

Send your Holy Spirit to bear upon them so that they can learn the truth about what Your Christ has done for them.

Save their souls.

For my enemies who are saved, give them a deeper commitment to Christ Jesus.

Give them a new commitment to seek your face, Father, and to obey you in all things.

In the name of Your Lamb and The Only Savior of Mankind, I pray.

Amen.

Matthew 5:44

Luke 6:27-36

Ephesians 4:32

Smiling Through Difficult Times

Remembering our knowledge of God and His Word will help us to smile in the most distressing of circumstances. Why? We know that there is nothing that can separate us from God's love. (Romans 8:38) He has given us major promises and he will fulfill them. 

We are able to smile when we are distressed, sorrowful, depressed or discouraged. If not smile, at least feel hopeful. (Romans 15:13) We can proclaim, Thank you Lord for joy unspeakable and the peace that surpasses all understanding. We know that the joy of the Lord is our strength, and He keeps us in perfect peace because we choose to keep our minds on Him. 

I feel better immediately when I remember what I already know about the goodness of God. What about the times when I just don't feel like remembering and quoting those truths? That's another story but one that is also filled with Kingdom of God success. Christian hope is based on the spiritual facts that we know. No matter what it feels like, looks like, tastes like, sounds like or smells like, nothing is too hard for God. (Jeremiah 32:17) 

In other words, when we choose to walk in our reborn spirits instead of in the flesh, we can experience hope again. This is the choice that we make over and over, until Jesus comes back. We can break out into a smile and have hope in difficult times, despite challenges.

Guiding with Grace: How to Offer Compassionate Christian Advice

We all do it, judge others by comparing their lives to ours. We don't mean to judge but through our comments it can sound like we are. The comments we make are often because we think that we have the answers for others' issues.

We are on the outside of their lives looking in. It can give us a more pure perspective. Still, none of us have the answers to another person's problems, even though we think you should or should have done it like I did. That doesn't mean that it would have worked for him/her.

Sometimes, we are so concerned and so badly want others to do well that we come off as judging when we make suggestions. We forget that we have issues that, should we share them, others would want to give swift answers to also. We would then understand how some of our responses sound. 

We don't always listen carefully when others ask for opinions or suggestions. Because of this, we can be guilty of giving the same answers over and over, cliches, standard comments, time-worn suggestions, etc.  People already know the stock answers and are seeking more than that. 

Platitudes are not working for them anymore, if they ever did. They feel judged when they are callously told to do more of what they have been doing, such as believe, accept, hope, adapt. There are, however, two things that will help if suggested, even if they are already doing them.

The only perfect answers to give anyone are to read the Bible more often and study it more deeply. The second suggestion is to pray more candidly to God, to be more honest as never before. Those are answers that will help anyone and everyone. 

If the praying and Bible reading is not helping, then the only perfect answer is between that person and God. God will have to reveal, through His Holy Spirit, what the answer is to their dilemma. We can only give comforting sympathetic or empathetic, unique words of faith. 

While it is motivating and encouraging to us to give advice, we must be careful that we are not discouraging and overwhelming others with ultimatums of performance. Our comments, suggestions and guidance should uplift, inspire and edify through God's grace. Ephesians 4:29

How To Live In Moderation As A Christian

Moderation may mean different things depending on to what we are referring. Some think of modesty in dress, how not to dress in overly-embellished and revealing attire. Others prefer modesty in environment, choosing simplicity in living rather than ostentatious decor. 

There is also modesty in attitude towards life's ups and downs. I am learning to develop modesty in experiencing life's blessings and challenges. The Holy Spirit is leading me to not be overly excited about blessings nor excessively concerned about challenges. I know that His desire for me is to remain on an even keel no matter what each day brings. 

While I can always be thankful for God's blessings that flow, I am not to be so caught up in receiving from Him that I forget that the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour. I Peter 5:8 I am not to be so excited about any accomplishment that I forget to put on God's whole armor. Ephesians 6:10-17 

When difficulties surface, I can feel concerned but I am not to sink down into the dumps and feel defeated. I am not to forget that all things work together for good to those who love God. Romans 8:28 I am not to be so distressed that I forget that if God is for me, how can anyone succeed against me? Romans 8:31 

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing but in everything, by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:4-8

The 1st part of that scripture passage can pertain to being peaceful during blessings. The 2nd part can pertain to being peaceful during tribulations. When we let our moderate attitudes and lifestyles be seem by others, and when we do not worry about anything but go to God with all requests, we will live on an even keel. We will be even-tempered and at peace. 

So, whatever moderation means to you, the essence is the same. It is behavior that reflects self-control, high self-esteem, respect for self and others, moderation in all things, peacefulness and self-confidence. It is a holiness that is not contrived by our flesh to repel others. It is a holiness and righteousness that is a shining reflection of our transforming relationship with a loving God.

Did Abraham Laugh At God?

I give Brother Prince credit as the only teacher I've ever heard (through years and years of listening regularly to many) who shared that Abraham also laughed. Other teachers only share that Sarah laughed. Abraham laughed at first and even in God's face. The Bible tells us that he fell onto the ground laughing, and God said to him, You will TOO have a child. Read it for yourself. Genesis 17:17

Read something else in the Bible other than your fav scriptures everyday. You don't grow in Christ through reading the same scriptures. Read the entire bible so that you can be transformed and strengthened. The Holy Spirit that lives in you will help you to rightly divide the Word of Truth and discern all of the scriptures, if you indeed know that you love God and are called according to his purposes.

While some like to push it forward that Sarah laughed while omitting that Abraham did also, I think it is worse that Abraham fell on the ground laughing, while he was communing with God. I've waited for so long to hear a minister give Abraham his due detraction for laughing at the promise of God. Brother Prince is not afraid to tell the truth. God bless him and his entire family and ministry more and more!

Hope That Makes No Sense (But Works) | Joseph Prince Ministries

Aging And Faith

Age brings change, no doubt, but it is said that we automatically accept that certain things will happen when we grow older, that we accept them as a given. Much of it is all in the minds, say psychologists. Some say we get what we expect. Others insist that we can't stop the hands of the clock nor advancing time, or its effects on our bodies and minds.

Well, I believe both. I believe that if we replace, with positive words, the words about what we feel is unavoidably negative, it can effect change. Though it won't change the inevitable, it can counteract it for a time and make life more hopeful and enjoyable.

I do believe that because of fear, resignation and lack of vision, we accept situations, conditions, disabilities and sicknesses that we might not have had to suffer. Essentially, we can also create them with our consistently hopeless thoughts and words. When they pertain to health, doctors call them psychosomatic illnesses. When they pertain to situations in our lives, I call them creating what we repetitively fear. These are facts to seriously consider.  

It is better to work on building our positive, God-inspired attitudes everyday and to turn our thinking and speaking habits to what the Word of God declares. Our thoughts and words will then line up to produce a hopeful, healthy future for our remaining time here on earth. It's not easy for our depressing ways of thinking and speaking to change, but it is possible. 

Jesus said,

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes. Mark 9:23

In Proverbs we are told,

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

And in Matthew,

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. Matthew 15:18

Obey God And Prosper

We often think about having all that we need and perfection in the New Heaven and the New Earth. Why try so hard to build up a much better life now? We're all going to leave this earth anyway, so why try to do so much better in this dark and dying world? If it's all prepared for us later, what can we expect here? Are we entitled to prosper and do very well here in this earth?  I read in the Bible that the blessings of the Lord are not only for the world to come, but for this world as well. Luke 18:29-30 

One reason to reach out and claim all that God provides here is that we can inspire others to follow Christ when our lives visibly improve. A second reason is that we feel more like worshipping and praising God when we see improvement in our lives. Thirdly, we can leave a better legacy for our children. 

Another important reason is that how we learn to access and utilize God's provision today will have a direct bearing on our positions and rewards in the New Life in Eternity. This is because as we grow closer to God here and learn to relate and receive from him, we are increased spiritually. God always grows us spiritually as he blesses us materially, physically and mentally. Our acquiring here also stores up riches in Heaven.

Christian author and pastor Joseph Prince said God's desire is for us to realize health and provision. Like The Widow and The Syrian in the Bible, we will have to let The Provider into our innermost abodes and do as we are told to realize the miracles of provision and healing that we are entitled to today.