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.

Christian Father's Day Gifts

 

God Loves You Dad And So Do I

Order my Father's Day design as a printable image at Draw Nigh To Hope Shop.

Create wall art, greeting cards, tags for gift wrapping, journals, etc., by printing this father's day artwork from your own home printer. In blues, oranges, yellows, greens and white.

You Will Receive 5 (five) JPEGs Artwork and 1 (one) PDF In A Zip Folder, 300 Dpi Image Files For Crisp Printing, plus the Graphics Agreement file, the Draw Nigh To Hope Info files and a coupon offer file.

Order this version of the design on 38 POD products, from wall art to cell phone covers to bed linens and more, at the Redbubble Shop.

Also available is a 2nd version of the Redbubble Shop design, 39 POD products, from wall art to cell phone covers to bed linens and more.

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The Words Of Your Mouth

That Tongue! The power of life and death. Choose life. Choose to speak positive words. Choose to speak the scriptures. Choose life. Choose to be quiet. Choose to speak faith. Choose life. Choose to cut it short. Choose to shut up. Choose life. It's the difference between positive and negative words. 

That tongue of yours can create or it can destroy. It can build up or tear down. It can heal or it can hurt. Your tongue can do what it does to others but mostly, it is doing its thing to you.

Negative quotes. Negative statements. Negative clichés. See them for what they are. Negative pronouncements that bring things to pass. Those depressing things that your mouth says creates what it says. Whether you know it or understand it or accept it, your words create. They bring things to pass. 

Whether idle words or words spoken on purpose, those words, fragments and sentences create stuff. What does this mean? It means that your words are valuable because you are valuable. You have the power to create life or death. You have a wealth of power. The power of life and death is in your tongue. 

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

Will God Bring Me Friends?

Mom was lamenting that her nail polish did not match her blouse, after all. The color looked different outside and she was quite annoyed. To quell her unrest, I said that it was okay, that probably no one would notice. 

Throwing up her hands, she said jokingly but seriously, No one notices me anyway. I soothingly replied, People will notice you more when you start going out to more places other than just to the doctor.

Though the Lord can direct a new friend to arrive at wherever we are, it's good to make a habit of getting out. Go to the places that you like and some new places along the lines of what you like to do. If you like to do nothing, go to a place and do nothing. Sit, look and smile. 

Say a simple prayer in faith before you go. Continue to go whether you meet anyone at first or not. Go for your own encouragement and to be ready for the Lord to bring new friends into your path.

The scripture ....we should not stop gathering together with other believers....(Hebrews 10:25 God's Word translation) can also encourage us to go out in the hopes of making friends. If you want a friend, go out and be friendly. If you want to have friends, go out to meet friends.

Trust God to lead wholesome, positive, spirit-filled people into your path. He'll lead Christians to you so that you can receive strength through their strong faith. 

He'll lead non-Christians and babes in Christ to you so that you can be a source of strength to them. How exciting it will be to be giving and receiving strength through new friends.

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Image Credit: Active Rain