How Can I Control My Anger?

When you feel anger coming on, pray, 

"God, right now, I need your peace. Please soothe my mind. I feel you replacing my anger with patience. I thank you for this gift of quiet.

Let your restraining, healing hand be upon me today, Lord. Help me to meet every situation calmly and with control."

 

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:6 (KJV)

Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

Philippians 4:6 (GNT) 

Do not be over-anxious about anything, but by prayer and earnest pleading, together with thanksgiving, let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God. 

Philippians 4:6 (WNT) 

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) 

Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. 

Philippians 4:6 (NIRV) 

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 

Philippians 4:6 (MSG)

How many times has God told us, in His Word, not to worry, but to turn worrying thoughts into prayer? Stop what you are thinking and doing right now, or at any time of worry, and tell it all, tell the truth, just as you were thinking it, to God.

It takes a lot of effort and practice to defeat useless, persistent and harmful anger. Whether it has a valid reason or not, most of the time it can't help us, or anyone else. It can easily destroy, rather than build up. Most of the time, it is bad for our emotional well-being, bad for our physical health, and bad for our spiritual growth. So, you've got to defeat it, with God's help, if you sincerely want to be healed, and be a help to others. You can do it, with God's help.

Scriptures: BibleStudyTools.comBibleStudyTools.com
Images: Pixabay.com Free Images
Anger Prayer: Triumph Over Life's Toughest Problems, Norman Vincent Peale, A Guideposts Outreach Publication, GuidepostsFoundation.org

 

James McDonald On What Is Prayer

James McDonald Said:

Prayer is the process of getting spiritually ready to receive what God already wants to do.

Something to think about, huh? If you want to learn more about praying effectively and what it means to obtain what you want and need through God, listen to his message.

Some ministries of James McDonald:

Watch "Why Don't We Pray?" TV broadcast 

Walk In The Word With James McDonald website 

Harvest Bible Chapel 

Act Like Men Conference 

Harvest Christian Academy

Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

How Do I Get Rid Of My Guilt Feelings?

Guilt is most definitely not from God.

Why would it be when Jesus Christ of Nazareth paid it all?

We either believe it, or we don't.

If we find that the truth behind that is not manifesting in our day-to-day thinking, then we'd better step up our daily Bible reading, and praying without ceasing.

God expects us to take responsibility for our actions, not only those that affect others, but our actions that adversely and negatively affect us, as well. Often in this earthly life, we even have to live with the consequences of our actions, for God does not always change the outcomes. He is, however, always there to help us to live through the results in the positive way that he would have us to. He can take bad results and cause them to eventually benefit us, if we will allow him to.

It is extremely difficult to see how God can and would do this for some situations in life. We point to evidence that we feel shows that we have never benefited from hurtful and distressing situations in our lives. Sometimes we have benefited, and don't realize it. Regarding other circumstances, God has not yet provided us with the benefits. Sometimes the benefits may not even come in this life, I believe. However and whenever we experience these benefits, God's word is true. He is not a man that he should lie. He keeps his promises, forever and forever. He always has, and he always will.

Responsibility is paramount, guilt is useless. God never punishes us for anything un-Godly and un-beneficial that we have caused, because Jesus took our punishment, past, present and future, once and for all.

If you would like to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior. Come into my heart, and save me. I was born in sin and you died for me so that I can know God and not be blamed anymore. Thank you for my new life. Show me the way to turn away from bad things and help me to understand. I don't have to fear death anymore, and thank you for Eternal Life.  

 

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Draw Nigh To Hope

What CAN We Change That Will Bless Us?

My great-grandmother was a three-time widow, who appeared to be very unhappy towards the end of her life. As I continued my genealogical research, my heart went out to her. How neglected and unloved she must have felt by God. She was blessed to find a new husband three times, only to find herself left alone in the end. Existing day after day, and though fit, caring for an elderly sister, and herself being elderly and alone.

As I thought back on the few times I remember being in her presence, I can see now what part of the reason could have been why she appeared cold and stand-offish. In fact, the last time I saw her, she looked simply dejected and miserable. She was born in the late 19th century, and married my grandfather's father in her 20's. By the time she was 61, he had died, she had married again and her 2nd husband died. A few years after that, and sometime between when I was born and my first memory of her, she had married her 3rd husband, who died before I remember him. Though I'd heard about 1 or 2 of her marriages, I'd only known her as a single woman.

As my heart ached for her, I thought about how it is these types of turns in life that cause many to feel that God does not care, that he does not love them. Some say in their hearts, "Afterall, why would he bless me with husbands who die and leave me? And here I am alone in the end. In the end, I have been left with years of loneliness, drudgery and boredom. No one to help me in my declining years, and  I have my single sister to care for. How cruel and unfair life has been to me!"

I don't know my great-grandmother's thoughts during that time. These are my general guesses on how anyone may have felt. From her demeanor when I knew her, it did not appear that she was happy, upbeat and optimistic. Not until I was well into my adult years, in fact, fairly recently, did I come to understand the course of her marriages, and how it must have been for her to endure it.

Sometimes life just beats us down, and we become tired, period. But we should start early claiming all that the Bible says that God feels for us, and all that he wants us to think and have. Why? Because his love and promises are in spite of life's twists and turns. Some have more sorrow and suffering than others. Things never seem to work out for many, and they can't catch their breath before another crisis happens. It doesn't just rain, it pours for so many Christians, and often the torrent of trials don't seem to let up. Does all of this negate God's love for each individual? No! Does it mean that he has forgotten us? No! Does that mean that his Bible is worthless? No!

There are going to continue to be problems, sorrows, disappointments and devastation in this world, until it is over for all of us, living and dead. We may have dreams fulfilled, and we may have happiness at every turn, and we may not. None of us knows as we live, what will happen. We do know that his Word is always true, dependable and everlasting. We know that there is always an answer in Christ, and that we can always ask and receive, seek and find, knock and the door will be opened for us by God.

It is good to start early, and no time is too late, determining in our hearts and minds what the end of our lives will be, no matter when that will come. No matter what our situations or conditions, we can determine that the joy of the Lord will be our strength as we live and age. We can live out the conviction that he will keep us in perfect peace  because our minds will be continually on him.

We can grab hold to and confess joy unspeakable, because our hope is for something more than what we are living. We can confess that we live in the peace that surpasses all understanding, because we know that God said he loves us no matter what. He has our best interests at heart, though all looks like disaster. It is not easy, but our tending to these things will help us to present different personalities and attitudes than the ones displayed by those who are consumed by the sorrows of life's downturns.

My heart truly breaks for those who have successive sorrows in life. We don't know why some have to endure these types of things, and others do not. Anyone who comes to the altar of God, though, has something to bring, however different than the other. I don't know what my great-grandmother thoughts were about her life's course. I do know that had she been immersed and focused on God's love and glory, she would have been more able to reach out to others, and even alter some parts of the course of her life.

Some things we can never change, but we don't know what we can change unless we have the physical strength, the mental and emotional fortitude, and the spiritual growth to try. I truly believe this. None of us who love the Lord can have the exact, perfect life that we desire here in this fallen world, but we can grow in him everyday. His everlasting love can flow through us and out to others. He even helps us, for moments at a time, to forget our sorrows in favor of helping others with theirs.

I am sorry that the end of my great-grandmother's life was not better. Was it meant to be? Is it what she wanted? I doubt it. By the time I knew her, she was too old and tired to care. I have felt that way sometimes, and I'm not the age she was when I knew her. I am not professing that I can do better than her, because they say we all do the best that we can with the life that we are handed. That's why I say it's never too early to grab this life by the horns. Rather than determining to accept and react to what comes our way, work with God to make changes.

We are either resigned and have given up, or we are resistant to defeat and are always planning for the best, for what we really want, now and towards the end. There is a way to make life more of how we really want it to be, to make whatever changes are necessary to attain that. As we work with God to bring it about, we present a certain face to the world, one of true love, never-ending hope and Godly happiness. We cannot change everything, like the death of my great-grandmother's 3 husbands. The important question is, what can we change that will bless us, and make a difference in the way that we treat others?

 Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

Have A Nice Sunday & Remember That God DOES Care!

...and a nice holiday.

Remember that God always has our best interests at heart,

no matter what it looks like, sounds like or feels like.

He loves us, and that's why we love him!

 

____________________________________

Image Credit: QuotesGram

WHY Am I Blamed For What Adam And Eve Did?

When I was a teen, I didn't want to have anything to do with the things of God. It began to infuriate me when I heard the story of Adam and Eve. Why am I being judged for something that two people did eons ago, I thought angrily! What they did was just not my fault! I felt an unfair, unjust burden hanging over my head.

Because I was repeatedly warned about sin from the standpoint of The Ten Commandments, and how Hell would be my eternal home if I made any slip-ups, I felt hounded and blamed for something that I did not do. 

I would ponder with disgust, Is that ALL that this Jesus and God stuff gave me? Is that all that the Bible gave me to look forward to was eternal punishment for someone else's wrong turn? 

My adult life took damaging twists and destructive turns and having no one else to help me, I turned to that God that I'd learned about. Why I turned to someone whom I did not trust, and through whom I felt condemned is a story for another time.

I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart. I wanted to be saved, to live as a Christian. As I grew in the Lord, I began to understand more about what Jesus did for us at Calvary. 

It is true that the failure of Adam and Eve is not our fault. It has just not been explained in that way. That is the reason that God provided a way out of the unfair condemnation. No matter how much we hate it and don't want it to be that way, it is a sentence passed on to us through the continuance of human life. 

What that errant couple, who possessed free wills, did when they made the poor choice, horrendously affects our lives today and eternally. God loves us so much that he determined that this will not stand. Though the human life that he created will live on, the evil that influenced the downfall will not.
 
In his love for us, he provided a plan of redemption, a way to restore the connection to him that Adam and Eve's choices severed. Because it is not your fault nor my fault, he provided a way out of the sentence that no one likes to hear about. He sent a Savior, someone to right the wrong done by evil spiritual beings. 

That Savior is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Through the bloodline of Adam, we all inherited death or separation from God. Alternatively, Sacred Blood had to be given to restore our inheritance of life or connection to God.

The only thing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, what God offers through his Son, takes away from us is that unfair condemnation that we inherited by being born into this world. We all are descended from that tainted bloodline of the original, fallen couple. 

Alternatively, we each have the equal opportunity to have our bloodlines restored to purity by receiving God's provision for redemption. It's as simple as that. We each can go from an inherited darkness and eternal death to a restored light and eternal life. 

God is a good Father and a wonderful God! What loving father would let his children live in eternal darkness for something that is not their fault? If he could in any way prevent it he would. God is the ultimate loving Father. He recognizes our unfair condition. Afterall, he is the owner of creation. 

He is the Most High God, the Only Wise God and the One True God. He asks for one thing from any who wants the unfair judgment lifted: 

• confess that we are born into sin,
• that we can't help ourselves, 
• accept that we need to be saved, 
• and accept that his Son is the only Savior.

The condition that we find ourselves in when we learn about God is certainly unfair. That God, in his love, has provided a way out. Adam and Eve had a choice through their free wills. They made their choices. You, who have a free will, have a choice. You don't have to stay with theirs. You don't have to stay with the darkness that you were born with. 

Do what they didn't do. Choose life. One day God is going to restore it back to the way it was meant to be on the original Earth. It's there in the Bible! Read it! Read about the upcoming New Heaven and the New Earth. There will be no more evil influence either. Don't you want to be there? Don't you want to walk in the light with God and reign with Jesus, His Son?

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not die

but have eternal life.

John 3:16 GNT

 But God put his love on the line for us

by offering his Son in sacrificial death

while we were of no use whatever to him.

Romans 5:8 TMB

If you would like to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God and that you died for me so that I don't have to live in darkness anymore. Save me so that I can live in the light of Our Heavenly Father. Help me to understand and grow as a Christian. I know that I don't have to fear death anymore. I have moved from darkness into the light. Thank you, Jesus, for Eternal Life. 

Now tell someone about what you have done.

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

******

Scriptures: BibleStudyTools.com
Image: Pixabay.com

Three Strikes And Satan Is Down! For A Season

He also uses trials to promote us higher into his benefits, so that along with our own blessings, we can better benefit others and glorify his name.

So I swallowed, ignored the pinprick of irritation,

and decided not to.

I made a comment in a craft forum, and someone else commented on my comment. She gave a definition of the word artisan and somewhat refuted my comment. She was not the OP and the dictionary def of the word had nothing to do with my point. I felt annoyed and wanted to comment back. I was going to say that I know the definition and that was not my point. I wondered if it really mattered. I had heard that we should choose our battles. This means to weigh the value of locking horns with someone, which I knew could happen. So I swallowed, ignored the pinprick of irritation, and decided not to.

So I squeezed my eyes shut and decided not to do it.

A little later the desire to challenge her returned. It just popped up. The devil is always busy. I was miffed, and wanted to tell her that I did not need her to post the definition of that word. I thought about what Jesus had said though about being a peacemaker. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. I wanted to be called a child of God. I was really annoyed, but I wanted to be a peacemaker, so I squeezed my eyes shut and decided not to do it.

Later that day I felt the desire to confront her. It was stronger. It was so ridiculous that even I, the one who was feeling it, was able to step back and objectively ask what in the world?! Why is this back! Why is it stronger!!! I defeated it earlier!. I asked myself why I wanted to attack her, what was my goal, and what did I expect to accomplish. The idea of pride came up. I did not think about that word then, but an idea. In retrospect the word pride has appeared. Don't ask me how the word and the idea are different, lol. It's a psychological thing.

So I gritted my teeth, and decided not to.

I also knew from experience that confrontations like this can go on and on, exploding into something that causes destruction. That is the plan of the devil and his fallen angels, to lead us blindly down the path of destruction, like ignorant sheep to the slaughter. From a little thing to an atomic bomb, that's always his goal. I remember thinking this is a test. So I gritted my teeth, and decided not to, that it wasn't worth it. Then the pressure lifted.

It was a pressure that I was enduring. I see that now. A strong pressing, a heavy bearing, a subtle prodding. Almost irresistible. It left, and it was like a swirling, rushing breeze came in and twirled around me. I felt free. I felt like I could take deep breaths of fresh air. I felt released. As I write this I know that it is over, and that feeling to reprimand her will not return. I can truly ignore the post.

This experience reminds me of the temptation of Christ, who defeated Satan's three challenges with the Word of God. The third time Jesus resisted, that miraculous lying wonder left him for awhile. I didn't use the word of God, though I know many scriptures by heart, but I did use God's principles and one of the Beatitudes. My strength came from reading the Bible everyday, and through prayer committing my day to God, everyday.

It seems like a small thing, but these little skirmishes do matter. Being able to recognize them and who is behind the pressure that we feel to attack is important. God uses these trials to show us where we are in our growth. He also uses them to promote us higher into his benefits, so that along with our own blessings, we can better benefit others and glorify his name.
I feel great that that pressure is gone. I feel relief and I feel that I was successful. I must not stop, and rest on my laurels. The devil never rests, but neither does God. That fallen angel Lucifer was defeated, and left Christ for a season only. The opportunities to grow are never-ending.

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called the children of God.

 Matthew 5:9 KJV

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Luke 4:13 KJV

If you would like to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior as it says in The Bible. Come into my heart, and save me now. I confess all of my sins to you and believe that you died for me so that I can come to know God. I believe and I receive all that you have for me. Thank you for my new life. Show me the way and help me to understand. Thank you that I don't have to fear death anymore, and that I have eternal life in you. 

Scriptures: BibleStudyTools.com 
Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

FOR THE CHRIST-CURIOUS: God Loves And Keeps His Word

At God's timing, we will know the reason for it all.

God loves us, no matter what is happening all around us, and to us.

There is a reason for all of it, and one day, when it is time for God to abolish evil, we will know the reasons. I thank Him that when that time comes, it won't matter to me and many others all the reasons why. We will be ecstatic that the New Heaven and the New Earth have come, and we can live in the presence of God forever and ever.

In the Bible, the story of Noah and The Ark says that he was faithful for decades in warning people that God's plan would be carried out. God had made a promise that he would wipe the face of the earth clean, but he gave all people a chance to escape the terrifying event.

The people who did not believe God continued with their unGodly lives,...

laughing at Noah, secure in their belief that it was all a myth. They were strengthened in their unbelief, because so much time passed with nothing happening. Noah continued to hold fast to his belief, and just as God had promised, in the end he and those who chose to believe with him were saved. Unfortunately, only his children and their spouses believed.

Today, many, many people, possibly the majority of peoples, believe that the story of Noah, and the Bible itself are myths. They believe that all that Christians like me say are myths, delusions and fantastical fiction.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 NKJV

If you would like to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior as it says in The Bible. Come into my heart, and save me now. I confess all of my sins to you and believe that you died for me so that I can come to know God. I believe and I receive all that you have for me. Thank you for my new life. Show me the way and help me to understand. Thank you that I don't have to fear death anymore, and that I have eternal life in you. 

____________________

Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

Scripture: BibleStudyTools 

Christian Non-Biased Thoughts On Racial Misunderstandings

This graphic and the serious social questions that it poses was posted at Facebook by Domenic Colangelo of Phoenix, AZ.

I read it at least 3 times because it sounded so important. It sounds like 3 groups or 3 opposed factions are locking horns in the monologue, though it is all about race relations. Realizing that we all have strong convictions, I wanted to respond from as non-biased of a position as possible. So I decided to put aside my convictions, annoyances and frustrations and speak in a way that will help ALL people. That meant that I had to retreat into my Christian re-born spirit, and speak from a Godly viewpoint, rather than from a fleshly, worldly one.  This is my answer to his questions, and to a hurting world:

A lot of them are coming from people who covertly and overtly don't want to change from their attitude against others. No matter how much it is explained, they don't WANT to understand.

From my Christian viewpoint, most of us can pray that Good will overcome in all situations; but we know from God's Word that the world is on a downward track, and that there WILL be a final, preordained end to every bit of it. Until then, we each should think GOOD and do GOOD, and not allow ourselves to be drawn into divisions and warring factions.

Remain neutral in all things and spread the Love of God, which is impartial. Most of all, allow ourselves to be more used of the Spirit to present the question of SALVATION to others. The time is fast approaching, no matter how long the world has already been going on, for God to wrap it up. Until then, a lot more worse things are to happen more rapidly, whether you and I are here, or not. We can always do GOOD, but the world can do nothing but become worse. God does not lie. He has no need to. His Word tells us what to expect.

We should be leaving a legacy of Jesus Christ everywhere that we can, so that if we should leave before Jesus comes, we will have left something for those who are still here to grab hold of. Our younger relatives should have our legacy of hope in Jesus Christ to remember when we are gone. The younger we are, the more people we can touch, as the Lord leads, because naturally we have more time.

We can continue to think GOOD and do GOOD, to be lights in this dying world, but we cannot make this world into a Utopia. That task is reserved for God, by God; and he will do that at the end of time, when time is no more, when he has sent Jesus back again, and he has put an end to evil and everything and every being associated with it.

Pray without ceasing.

 

Image Graphic Credit: Domenic Colangelo, Phoenix, AZ.

"Lord, I Just Want To Give Up, But Nothing Shall Be Impossible To Me."

 

Most of life is starting over, you know.

 

Have you had a big disappointment lately? Did something not work out, or did something change for the worse? Did someone let you down, or were you counting on something that did not develop? Does life just seem overwhelming at times? Do these things leave you feeling sad, lonely, depressed or hopeless? Do you just feel like not trying again? I'm sorry. Most of life is starting over, you know. We go to bed. We get up, and we start again. It certainly can be exhausting, and sometimes we just want to give up.

 

At times like that, all I have is The Word.

 

I felt that way a couple of times over the last 48 hrs. I said, "Lord, I just want to give up. It's too much. It's too hard. I'm just tired." At times like that, all I have is The Word, and I am always grateful when I feel like reading it, because there are times when I don't. Thankfully, those are few and far between.

 

It shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to me.

 

I always feel better when I just open the Bible and read, even if I still have to face a mountain. His word tells me that if I shall say to this mountain be removed and cast into the sea, it shall be done. If I shall say to this mountain remove hence to yonder place, it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible to me.

 

This power is available to me.

 

I may not yet be able to grasp the manifestation of that in my everyday life, since daily issues can seem to proliferate, and seem so overwhelming. But, I feel better just knowing that this power is available to me.

 

There Is No Rock Like Our God! 

If you would like to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior as it says in The Bible. Come into my heart, and save me now. I confess all of my sins to you and believe that you died for me so that I can come to know God. I believe and I receive all that you have for me. Thank you for my new life. Show me the way and help me to understand. Thank you that I don't have to fear death anymore, and that I have eternal life in you.

Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

God Is The One Who Is Winning Thank God

God is not a man, who would need to lie. You are safe, though you may feel distressed.

If you believe that God is for you and supporting you, then who can ultimately succeed with their plans against you? What evil influence means for bad against you, God is turning in to good for you. Despite the fact that it seems like all negative, damaging, destructive, distressing and evil forces leveled against you are winning,

God is the only one who is winning.

If you are connected to God through rebirth in his precious Holy Spirit, and growing and becoming more rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus, you are winning too. Those who are living in the darkness in which you used to be, who are allowing themselves to be used as instruments of harassment, mistreatment, conflict, exploitation, oppression and abuse in your life, think that they are winning. They are gleeful that their evil devices seem to be succeeding. Even to you sometimes, it seems like they are winning at every turn.

But rest assured, if you know God, and are drawing nigh to him daily, and seeking his face, then God is winning.

If God is for you, who can be against you. In the end, who is able to succeed against God? If Lucifer was not able to defeat God, then how could your enemies ever be able to? Why fear what man can do against you, or to you. Eventhough the problems, issues and afflictions may be very difficult, and seem at times to be unbearable, somehow, sometime, eventually, sooner or later, it is going to work out for your good. What is happening is not good. It is not God's will for your life, but he is allowing it to happen. This is very hard to accept in many circumstances. Remember that God knows the end of it, whatever that end may be and whenever it may come, and he has planned for the result. This suffering is going to be used to bless you in some magnificent way. It will be magnificent whether the blessing is small or large, and whether it is here, in this life, or the next.

If you read his Holy Word, you know that we have promises from God, and God is not a man, that he would need to lie. You know that there are promises designed to manifest in this world, in this life, and those that will be delivered when you are gone from here, and living with God forever and forever. His Word says that he who delivered up his Son for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things? You know that the blessings of God are also for this world, as well as the world after this one. We don't know, as we are living here, what blessings we will receive along our life course, and which ones will be given in the New Life.

So, continue to open yourself up to all of God's blessings, today and everyday, the blessings that come in good times, and the blessings that come in bad times. Remind yourself in the most difficult of times, and never forget, that,

If God be for you, who can be against you?

Who can ever succeed against you, really?

Scriptures: Romans 8:31, 32
Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

No Rock Like Our God

Neither is there any rock like our God.

Was finishing up my morning devotion, and arranging the pages of my Bible that's falling apart, when it fell open to I Samuel 2. Verses 1-2 blessed me so much that I made this scripture graphic to encourage you too!

God bless you with a special type of encouragement today! Believe and receive, in Jesus' name, whatever your need is! No one can stop you. If God be for you, WHO can be against you? In other words, who can succeed in their plans to discourage, defeat, depress, hinder, destroy or oppress you when you know God? Who can succeed with these evil plans against you? No one. They have not won, they will not win, they cannot win, though sometimes it may appear to be so. They will fall into their own traps, while you are rejoicing in your Lord.

There Is No Rock Like Our God! 

If you would like to be sure that you are Saved, say this simple prayer:

Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, and the only Savior as it says in The Bible. Come into my heart, and save me now. I confess all of my sins to you and believe that you died for me so that I can come to know God. I believe and I receive all that you have for me. Thank you for my new life. Show me the way and help me to understand. Thank you that I don't have to fear death anymore, and that I have eternal life in you.

Scripture Graphic: Artsy Craftery Design Studio

Background Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

Praying For Public, Private And Unknown Souls

~ Pray For Mercy From God For That Soul To Be Saved, If There Is Any Chance At All ~

Some Christians are devastated about the untimely passing of Prince, and wonder about the condition of his soul. Once a person, whose salvation we wonder about, has passed on, the only thing that we can do is pray for mercy from God for that soul to be saved, if there is any chance at all for that to happen after death. The person may even have already been redeemed, and we had no evidence of it.

~ We look at a person's lifestyle and judge that they could not possibly have been saved. ~

Many Christians, most probably, believe that it's too late to be saved once the last breath is drawn, and that a person has to have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior before he/she dies. There are also some Christians who believe in a pergutory, a place where the departed soul that is unsaved can go to work out their salvation. There has always been much controversy and scripture-slinging misuse of God's word about it. Christians also believe that the members of some denominations or Christian groups have a better chance at becoming saved than others, even when they believe similarly. We look at a person's lifestyle and judge that they could not possibly have been saved. No way, man.

~ We don't know what has happened in her/his heart at any given time. ~

The truth is that even if a person has never given a public testimony about being Born Again, and even if their life does not reflect it, we don't know what has happened in her/his heart at any given time. We also don't know how long is the time between the drawing of the last breath and the traveling of the spirit on to its destination, and what may or may not happen during that time. Man thinks he knows so much, when basically he knows nothing.

~ Pray for God to have mercy on the soul of anyone who has passed on. ~

We all have special feelings for certain ones, and celebrities and public figures make it easy for us to forget others. We should practice, at all times, to be moved by the condition of the souls of every human being on this earth. I remind myself of this, and shift my focus when some well-known, popular person passes on. This is one of the largest areas where we can pray without ceasing, to pray for the insurance of salvation of everyone that we know, that we hear of, that we see, that we learn of, that we like and that we don't like, everyday, before they leave this earth. Pray for God to have mercy on the soul of anyone who has passed on, along with Prince. That will help ease our sorrow, and remind us to always focus on being prepared. Our time could be up here, or Jesus could return any moment.

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Understanding And Harnessing The Mind As Ron Carpenter, Jr. Teaches

I was listening to and watching Ron Carpenter, Jr. teach, in his series about the MindWorld, about our understanding of enemy activity in our lives. I felt pressed to share some of his outstanding quotes with you. Like Joyce Meyer's Battlefield of the Mind series, I believe in teachings that draw the Christian's attention to the importance of working with the Holy Spirit to take control of and harness the mind. I believe that success as a growing Christian comes through understanding and applying this basic and critical principle.

I do plan to read Pastor Carpenter's book The Necessity of an Enemy, and listen to all of his MindWorld series of teachings. His understanding helps the growing Christian to practically apply the principals of God to every area of life. Here are some of his quotes from the book The Necessity of an Enemy:

"Learning how not to get too high on life's highs or too low on life's lows will help keep you stable."

"But poverty has nothing to do with income; it has everything to do with thinking. Poverty isn't a financial state of affairs. It's a state of mind."

"If you give a cash windfall to someone who's been poor throughout life, the money will quickly vanish. If you leap over several levels of financial responsibility and strength, you don't learn how to be wise with your money."

"Faith comes by hearing, not by seeing. Most people think the opposite of faith is doubt. Not true. The opposite of faith is sight. The enemy wants you to live by something that you saw, something that contradicted what God said about you."

"If you can beat it in your mind, you can beat it in your life."

"If you are passively living life, it's going to pass you right by and your enemies will tear you to pieces."

Here is more info about Pastor Ron Carpenter, Jr., where to buy the book and where to listen to the teachings on Youtube. You should read the reviews at Amazon, Goodreads or anywhere you can find some. Decide for yourself if his book and teachings about this subject can benefit you. Some comments, as usual for anyone who writes and teaches, are quite degrading and critical. Others are appreciative. Make your decision yay or nay, pray, and be led by God's Spirit in you. Don't be moved solely on what others say. Use those opinions as a guide.

About Ron Carpenter, Jr. - http://is.gd/GsKkzm


Website & Church: Redemption http://is.gd/bUkZ7C

Book The Necessity of an Enemy: Amazon - http://amzn.com/B004Y89PJQ

Youtube Lessons:

The Necessity of an Enemy part 1 https://youtu.be/1utOKCNdp9Y

The Necessity of an Enemy part 2 https://youtu.be/sGje5Dkq3sk

The Necessity of an Enemy part 3 https://youtu.be/6wIE4ZYwew8

The Necessity of an Enemy part 4 https://youtu.be/3EbWEzy-pyU

The Necessity of an Enemy part 5 https://youtu.be/0ugWodvlzlU

The Necessity of an Enemy part 6 https://youtu.be/5fnkNfdL8Vk

The Necessity of an Enemy part 7 https://youtu.be/Kf9idUovoVU

The Necessity of an Enemy part 8 https://youtu.be/bnXHTYvuIa4

Image: Pixabay.com Free Images

Quotes: The Necessity of An Enemy. (c)2012 Ron Carpenter, Jr. Waterbrook Press:Colorado.

It Will Pay Off

 
Whenever you feel overwhelmed, go apart and read a little of the Bible. Even if you don't feel like it, and you just don't think you can, do it. You'll feel better. Just as you have, I also have asked why God allowed certain hard things to happen in my life, especially things involving my son when I was raising him. So much seems unfair. Some Christians say that we should never ask God why, but it is hard not to when we have suffered significantly throughout life.

God understands our hurt and frustration. Usually, there is no answer at this time for what seems senseless and unfair. But we, who choose to love God, believe that there is a reason for these things, because the Word tells us so. We hold on because there WILL be an end, whether we die or experience the Rapture first, and we don't want to be left out. We want to be with God forever and ever, so we hold on, through the pain of daily life in this world. We know that if we keep reminding ourselves of our faith in The One True God, the God who provided the Savior Jesus Christ for us, it will pay off in the end, and all pain and tears will be wiped away, forever.

HAPPY EASTER! HE IS NOT THERE. HE AROSE!!!

Bible Images: Pixabay.com
Church Image: Artsy Craftery Studio, "Village Idyllic" watercolor detail

The Rock That Is Higher Than I

When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock

that is higher than I. For thou has been a shelter for me,

and a strong tower from the enemy.

 (Psalm 61:2-3 KJV)

Trust Jesus today to place you in a position to receive all of the help, provision, support and assistance that is available to all who love God with their hearts, minds and spirits. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father, but by Him.

You can live by that same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, for He is alive today. He is even now at the right hand of his Father, our God, continuously interceding for us, until all evil will be done away with for good.

You don't have to be afraid. You don't have to be alone. You don't have to be defeated.  The God of all Hope will fight battles for you, and set your feet upon high places. 

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.

He cares for those who trust in him.

(Nahum 1:7 NIV)  

If you want to be sure that you are saved for Eternity, and that you have all of the help that is available to those who love God, accept Jesus, His only Son, as your Savior today. There is no other. Say a simple prayer to Jesus. Use these words, or use your own words:

Jesus, come into my heart now and save me. I believe that you are God's Son and the only Savior of the world. I want to be a child of God and to live for Eternity with you. Show me how to live a new life for the rest of my years here on Earth, and to care about the things of God. Thank you for breaking the hold over me of everything that is not good. I believe that I am in God's kingdom now, that old things have passed away for me, and that all things have become new. Thank you for showing me how to receive all that God has for me, and how to be a blessing to others. Amen.  

Image Credit: Pixabay.com
Text On Image: Artsy Craftery Studio

 

Grab Hold To Courage Today

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

(Psalm 31:24 KJV)

Just ask The Lord God for courage to face what is before you. Courage is yours for the asking and receiving. We often don't have it in ourselves to face with strength the trials, sorrows, disappointments, requirements, tribulations, unfairness, rejections, horrors and struggles in this earthly life. God, in his mercy, that is not always evident, has provided help for us. He has opened the door for us to come to him at any time of the day or night, in our minds. Our minds are often very weak, and we just don't feel like coming to God's open door, even if it's just a thought away. The thoughts of this life and what many of us face every day overwhelm us. As long as we know, without a doubt, that we trust in the Lord, we know that we have help in any time of need. It may not seem like it at times, but our faith requires that we believe it. With that ever present belief will come change.

  

Ask him for courage today, and receive your strength. You may not feel it, but it will rise up and enforce in your circumstance God's power, and the power of all of his angels in Heaven, who encamp around you, because you have a Holy fear or reverence and appreciation of the Most High God, the Only Wise God, and the One True God.

Have You Made Jesus Christ your Savior? Have you wondered about it? Longed for it? Played around with the idea of becoming a Christian? Have you wondered if God could and would really ever help you? God the Father has made it possible for you to come to him and be saved forever in only one way, through accepting his only Son, Jesus Christ, as your Savior, and the only Savior of mankind. Choose to believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so that you can be safe in God's kingdom, safe in his loving arms. That's it. No matter what all of the different denominations and Christian organizations call it, it is the same. Say with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead for you, for each of us who choose to believe, and you shall be saved. Then you can go confidently before God at any time, and know that he hears your prayers and will always answer, according to his will, because you acknowledged his Son. You will never again have to fear death, because Jesus conquered it at God's request.

Image: Pixabay.com free images

You'll Feel Better Right Away

One of the most wonderful things about God's Word is its ability to remind us of the help, love and abundant provision that we have.

~

When we don't feel like reading, and we're not feeling particularly faith-filled, if we will just pick up something and begin to read, we'll be refreshed. This uplifting and renewal can come from Christian books, pamphlets, devotionals, scripture cards, and even song books,

not only from the Bible. 

The Holy Bible, however, is the best book to incorporate into our daily schedules. His Word restores and invigorates. It is everlasting and endures to all generations (Psalm 119:89-90).

 ~

So pick up something of God, and start reading, even if your heart is not into it. You'll feel better right away.

Image: Pixabay.com free images

Scripture text added by: The Handmaid