💖 Northwestlife ~ Aug, 2026: Gentle Statements

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

Matthew 25.31-46

Sheep, Goats & Eternity

Jesus said this in today’s reading:

32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

Sheep and goats and as I said, may not look that different on the outside.

Last month when we read through the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5, 6, 7), we talked about 7.21-23:

²¹“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²²Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’²³And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Look at verse 22. These people were doing “Christian” things. They were sitting in our pews, part of our small groups, serving in ministry … but Jesus will say, “I never knew you …”

How can we know we will be counted with the sheep and not the goats? How can we know we’ll spend eternity with Him?

Self-Examination & Eternity

If religious activity and outward moral behavior don’t necessarily prove that we truly belong to Him, what are the marks of a genuine believer?

According to Pastor John MacArthur, there are nine conditions that prove genuine saving faith. I’m going to include his list here with a couple of comments after each one. If you would like to read his entire article including seven things that do not prove genuine saving faith you can click here.

Nine Conditions that Prove Genuine Saving Faith

1. Love for God

This is genuine love for God Himself not what He can do for us. It’s a love that pursues His glory and while lived out imperfectly desires to please Him (2 Cor. 5.9).

2. Repentance from Sin

Pastor MacArthur says, “If we say that we love God, then we will hate whatever is an offense to Him. Sin blasphemes God. Sin curses God. Sin seeks to destroy God’s work and His kingdom. Sin killed His Son.”

If we love God and belong to Him there should be a growing hatred of our own sin shown through confession and repentance, not just sorrow but a turning away from sin.

3. Genuine Humility

Jesus said in Matthew 5.3-5, blessed are the poor in spirit,” “blessed are those who mourn” and “blessed are the meek.”

Those who are “poor in spirit” understand they are spiritually bankrupt. We can’t come to God based on our own goodness. We understand there is nothing in us worthy of God’s love. If we belong to God, we will mourn and experience brokenness over our own sin (Lk. 15.21). True saving faith is humble and dependent on God not prideful or self-reliant (Matt. 18.3).

4. Devotion to God’s Glory

Paul told the Corinthians, “… whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10.31).

Again, while imperfectly, our desire should be to give others the right opinion of God and to bring Him glory.

5. Continual Prayer

Humble, believing, private prayer will be part of the life of a genuine believer.

6. Selfless Love

Jesus said the two great commandments are to love God and love others (Matt. 22.37-40). Saving faith results in not only love for God but love for those He has placed in our lives (Jn. 13.35; 1 Jn. 3.14, 4.9) and even strangers (Lk. 10.25-37).

If we don’t truly love God and other believers, it’s unlikely we’ll spend eternity with them.

7. Separation from the World

While we should have a love for lost people that drives us to pray, give, and share the gospel, we should not love the things of the world (1 Jn. 2.15).

8. Spiritual Growth

We may grow are different rates but true believers are growing and producing fruit (Matt. 12.33; Jn. 15.1-8), becoming progressively more like Christ (Phil. 1.6).

9. Obedience

Though we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2.8-9), we are saved for good works (Eph. 2.10). Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14.15). True believers can and will sin but if we can sin as a lifestyle, if we believe obedience doesn’t matter, we should question the genuineness of our faith.

Getting Personal

Speaking for myself, I know I fall far short in these areas. But I know that God continues to work in me (Phil. 1.6). He uses the tests and trials in my life to help me see where I am not like Him so I can change and grow (Rom. 8.28-29; Jas. 1.2-4). And He uses His Word through preaching, teaching, and my own reading to convict me of sin and point me toward righteousness.

How about you? Do you see these characteristics in your life? If not, I hope you’ll cry out to God, ask for His help to understand the gospel and His grace to understand what He wants you to see, whatever that might be. He wants you to know whether or not you are ready to spend eternity with Him.

Soul Survivor

Friendships

by Chuck Swindoll

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

The world in which one person lives is too limited and restricted. When rubbing shoulders with another, we gain a panoramic view, which allows us to see the whole picture. "As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man" (Prov. 27:19). That's so picturesque! People provide a clear reflection of what is in the heart. A mirror goes only skin deep. The counsel of a friend reflects what is down inside.

I'm talking about people who love you too much to let you play in dangerous traffic. They also love you too much to let you start believing in your own stuff. When they spot conceit rearing its head, they say so. But they also love you too much to let you be too hard on yourself. Like Jonathan with David, they are messengers of great encouragement.

"He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm" (Prov. 13:20). That statement is not a verse written to teenagers in high school, though it certainly would apply. I clearly remember my high school years, don't you? Many of us ran around with others who were tougher than we, so we could cover up our own feelings of inadequacy. My mother kept saying to me, "Charles, every time you run with the wrong crowd, you do wrong. When you are with the right crowd, you do right." Her counsel is still true. If I were to run with the wrong crowd, I would be tempted to do wrong.

And it doesn't stop when we turn twenty. It goes on into adult years as well. If you choose a wrong set of co-workers, you'll practice wrong things in your business. If you choose a wrong set of friends, you'll practice wrong things in your social life. Run with those who do drugs, and you'll wind up doing the same.

But—the flip side—those who walk with the wise learn from them. You need someone who will say, "I'm not sure how healthy that is. I'm glad you asked me. Let's talk about it." And that person will help point out the traps you could fall into if you keep tracking in that direction.

Other eyes, more perceptive and objective than ours, can see traps that we may fail to detect.

When You Hope In A Lie

Micah 1-3:

Losing Hope

Like many in our culture today, the people in Micah’s time rejected God’s truth (Micah 2.6). They dismissed the prophets as “prattlers” or babblers. But God said the real “babblers” were the false prophets who told people what they wanted to hear (Micah 2.11). Furthermore, God warned them of a time when their false prophets would be exposed for the fakes they were and discredited, leaving the people with no hope, because they had put their hope in a lie (verses 6-7):

6 “Therefore you shall have night without vision,
And you shall have darkness without divination;
The sun shall go down on the prophets,
And the day shall be dark for them.
7 So the seers shall be ashamed,
And the diviners abashed;
Indeed they shall all cover their lips;
For there is no answer from God.”

Deception is one of Satan’s oldest tricks. Jesus called him the “father of lies” (Jn. 8.44). Just as he did in the garden where Eve put her hope in his lies, he often plants seeds of doubt by asking, in effect, “Did God really say …?”

Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’? (Gen. 3.1).

But sooner or later he simply calls God a liar:

4 Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ (Gen. 3.4-5)

He’s Still a Liar

There is no end to the lies people place their hope in today. Lies such as:

“The Bible was written for people in another day and time. This is a different world so it has no application for our lives today.”

“The Bible was written by men who wanted to keep women in their place or control the behavior of others.”

“The Bible doesn’t condemn homosexuality. It’s fine within a loving, committed relationship.”

“The Bible is just a book of nice stories.”

“There is no God. You can live any way you choose and not answer for it.”

The truth is God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13.8). Though the Bible was penned by men, it was inspired by God (2 Tim. 3.16; 2 Pet. 1.20) and is the plumb line by which we are called to live our lives (2 Tim. 3.17; 2 Pet. 1.2-4; Rom. 1.18-23). And God will judge every lie, either now or when those who promote them stand before Him (2 Pet. 2.4-8).

More Subtle Lies

There are other more subtle lies that can cause even believers to become disillusioned or angry at God. Many have a misunderstanding of God’s character, a lack of understanding of how He works to grow us spiritually, or other forms of bad doctrine. If you’d like to read more about this subject, you might check out one of these posts:

“The Nasty Downside of Bad Doctrine”

“Legalism & the Prosperity Doctrine”

“What Is the ‘Whole Counsel of God’ & Why Is It So Important?”

Where is Your Hope?

So, where is your hope? Is it firmly fixed on truth? When we hope in God, it’s a hope that does not disappoint:

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom. 5.1-5

Grace Is The New Math

from~Bittersweet

by~Shauna Niequest

"If arithmetic is numbers, and if algebra is numbers and letters, then grace is numbers, letters, sounds and tears, feelings and dreams. Grace is smashing the calculator, and using all the broken buttons and pieces to make a mosaic.

Grace isn't about having a second chance: grace is having so many chances that you could use them through all eternity and never come up empty. It's when you finally realize that the other shoe isn't going to drop. ever. It's the moment you feel as precious and handmade as every star, when you feel, finally, at home for the very first time.

Grace is when you finally stop keeping score and when you realize that God never was, that his game is a different one entirely. Grace is when the silence is so complete that you can hear your own heartbeat, and right within your ribs, God's beating heart, too.

I use to think that the ability to turn back time would be the greatest possible gift, so that I could undo all the things I wish I hadn't done. But grace is an even better gift, because it allows me to do more than just erase: it allows me to become more than I was when I did those things. It's forgiveness without forgetting, which is much sweeter amnesia"

6 Good Prayers From the Epistles

Prayer should be spontaneous and natural, so please don't think that these prayers are meant to replace your daily conversations with the Lord.

But praying Scripture also has benefits because it's God-breathed - 2 Timothy 3:16.

The following prayers from the New Testament Epistles give you a good starting point when praying for yourself or others.

1. A prayer for deeper understanding of our walk with the Lord and His great power in our lives:
Ephesians 1:16-21

2. A prayer for strength, unity and deeper understanding of God's love and power within us:
Ephesians 3:14-21

3. A prayer to understand God's will and grow in knowledge, endurance and patience:
Colossians 1:9-14

4. A prayer for love, knowledge, insight, and discernment:
Philippians 1:9-11

5. A prayer that our faith will lead us to live worthy lives:
1 Thessalonians 1:11-12

6. A prayer to be equipped for doing God's will:
Hebrews 13:20-21

Each Scripture is linked - why not click one right now and pray it for yourself or someone else?

See more about praying Scripture HERE. You might also enjoy
6 Reasons to Pray Colossians 1:9 and 10 Good Prayers from the Psalms.

A Kick In The Guts

by Berni Dymet

Psalm 103: 8,17 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him...

Have you ever had someone kick you in the guts - you know, that sense that you've had the stuffing knocked out of you. People, circumstances, and then - then the world seems like such a bleak place.

I was just spending some time this morning praying for you. May sound weird - but I do, I pray for everybody who hears these short spots. And I just felt to tell you this one thing:

God is merciful and gracious. He's slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The sort of love that never fails. Yeah, but how much does He love me?

Well, here's the answer.

As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love towards those who fear Him. In fact that love is from everlasting to everlasting...for those who fear Him.

As high as the sky, as far as eternity; that's how much He loves us - you and me.

Just thought you might need to hear that today.

Healing Bridge

When my Dad died, I could not cross that bridge, for the bridge was broken. I had to find a way to go around, back to the loved ones who thought I had abandoned them. My loved ones were always in my sight~in my heart. The Lord led me to build another bridge across. A bridge of reformation, where strife, bitterness, and unforgiveness, where peace looked like indifference to them, will not be allowed. In this completion for myself and my loved ones, it would not have been completed without the Holy Spirit and God's gracious direction. This is why the name of MY bridge is~"Healing"~gm.

Knowing the Voice of God

John 10.1-23: Knowing & Following Here in chapter 10, in one of His seven “I am” statements, Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd” (v. 11). But Jesus didn’t just make that claim. He explained the proof and the benefits. The Proof Jesus compared a true shepherd with a mere hired hand. He said a shepherd lays down his life for the sheep but a hired hand, someone who isn’t truly invested, runs off when trouble comes. Five times in this passage He said He lays down His life for His sheep (vv. 11, 15, 17, 18). He was primarily speaking of the cross where He would lay down His life for our eternal salvation. But, if all that wasn’t enough, as the Good Shepherd, He also looks out for us when Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy (v. 10). The Benefits So, what are the benefits? The benefits are salvation, security, and His loving care (v. 9). He promises us an abundant life, not just in heaven, but here and now (v. 10). But that abundance is not what some claim. That is riches and a problem-free life. In fact, it’s something much better. It’s kingdom living including peace, joy, and confidence in His care. It’s the assurance of our salvation. It, also, means that we know Him and He knows us (vv. 4-8, 14, 14). We have a relationship with the Creator of the universe, the Savior of our souls. Part of that “knowing” is recognizing His voice. In verse 4 He said: And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. As we follow Christ, by reading His Word and obeying His commandments, we grow in our ability to “know His voice” and by contrast to recognize the voice of a stranger (Satan, v. 5). We become more and more discerning about the truth and recognize the enemy’s lies. Knowing the Bible isn’t enough though, we must also “follow” the truth that we know. Knowledge without doing doesn’t bring a deeper knowing, it brings delusion (Jas. 1.22). Is That You, God? So, how can we know if we are hearing from God? Go to the Bible. What does it say about your situation or potential decision in His Word? God will not lead us contrary to His written Word (Tit. 1.2). If we are one of His, we can know His voice, but the more time we spend reading and meditating on His Truth, the more clearly we will know and the more we will recognize a voice that is not His. God will sometimes speak truth to us through sermons and other teachings, through our consciences, through people, and even through circumstances, as well. But if it is Him, it will never contradict His written Word. DONNAREIDLAND

Refusing To Listen To God Is The Ultimate Foolishness

In my recent reading of Jeremiah, I noticed a key theme in the book: God’s judgment on his people for failing to listen to (obey) him. In fact, the word “listen” appears in the ESV translation of Jeremiah 45 times (“hearken,” “obey,” or something similar in the KJV), more than in any other book of the Bible, and more than in every book of the New Testament combined. From the very first page of the Scriptures, we learn that our God is a God who speaks. God’s speech sets him apart from false idol gods who have a mouth but cannot speak. The responsibility of God’s people is to listen to their speaking God. Listening to God is a mark of righteous character and covenant faithfulness. Here are a few insights on listening to God from the book of Jeremiah. Listening involves both hearing and doing God’s word. When my wife says, “You don’t listen!” she usually means, “You don’t pay attention!” When a parent says, “You don’t listen!” he usually means, “You don’t obey!” God wants us to carefully pay attention so that we can fully obey. Listening is synonymous with obedience in Jeremiah: “I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, ‘I will not listen.’ This has been your way from your youth, that you have not obeyed my voice” (Jer. 22:21). Listening to God’s true voice is essential in a world where many false voices are speaking. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord” (Jer. 23:16). Every day, we are flooded with media that contains false messages, often delivered in the name of the Lord. Those who are not in tune to God’s voice are more likely to be tossed to and fro by deceptive doctrines. It is impossible to listen to God when our hearts are unclean. “Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it” (Jer. 6:10). An uncircumcised heart cannot listen. Circumcision is used as a symbol for a clean heart: “Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts” (Jer. 4:4, cf. Jer. 9:25-26). We listen to what we love. We may need to work harder to listen (disciplined or dutiful obedience), but we need our hearts to be changed and our wills to be melted so that listening to God’s Word comes more naturally and more easily (delightful obedience). If we do not listen to God, God will not listen to us. Jeremiah impugns God’s people for failing to listen, then records God’s message to them: “Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them” (Jer. 11:11). God even tells Jeremiah, “do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble” (Jer. 11:14). Peter warns that if husbands do not listen to God’s voice by loving their wives, their prayers will be hindered (1 Pet. 3:7). Children often listen better to their earthly fathers than God’s children do to their heavenly Father. Some children are rebellious, but many are obedient. This is the point of the story of the Rechabites, who refused to drink alcohol because their fathers instructed them to abstain. God contrasts them to the Israelites: “The command that Jonadab the son of Rechab gave to his sons, to drink no wine, has been kept, and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their father’s command. I have spoken to you persistently, but you have not listened to me” (Jer. 35:14). Refusing to listen to God is the worst kind of stubbornness. God says, “every one of you follows his stubborn, evil will, refusing to listen to me” (Jer. 16:12). “Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction” (Jer. 17:23). God grieves, “They have turned to me their back and not their face. And though I have taught them persistently, they have not listened to receive instruction” (Jer. 32:33). Jeremiah 7:13 laments, “when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer.” God is surprisingly patient with those who do not listen. “You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets” (Jer. 25:4). Jeremiah told the people, “For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, to this day, the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened” (Jer. 25:3). God’s judgment came after twenty-three years of persistently speaking to stubborn children who refused to listen. It is dangerous to test the patience of God, but I am thankful for his patience to me. Refusing to listen to God is the ultimate foolishness, since it ends in our own harm. “Yet you have not listened to me, declares the Lord, that you might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm” (Jer. 25:7). This may be the key point in the book. Refusing to listen to the God who speaks is exposed as the ultimate foolishness, since it results in our own ruin. God is especially faithful to discipline his children when they do not listen; this is one of the signs that we are true children (Heb. 12:3-11). But those who refuse discipline will eventually face judgment. God eventually judges those who refuse to listen. There comes a day when God’s patience runs out. The results are disastrous: “Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered” (Jer. 35:17). God has good plans for us, but if we refuse to listen, he will not reward our disobedience. What is true for the nations is true for us: “if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it” (Jer. 18:9-10). If we hear God’s word, but only obediently listen when it is convenient, we will be undone. This is a key in Chapter 42, which tells the story of Johanan and the remnant of Judah after most were taken away in the Babylonian captivity. He asks Jeremiah to pray to God on behalf of the people and pledges, “Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God” (Jer. 42:6). But when Jeremiah prays, God tells him the opposite of what Johanan was hoping to hear. God said, “Don’t go to Egypt; don’t be afraid of the Babylonians; I’ll protect you; if you go to Egypt, I will destroy you” (paraphrase). But since God’s word was not what Johanan wanted to hear, he insisted, “You are telling a lie. The LORD our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there” (Jer. 43:2). God’s word could not have been more clear. But Johanan refused to listen. God destroyed him and his insolent companions. This is how many people “listen” to God’s word. They are willing to hear, but they are not willing to obey when it is inconvenient. Instead, they look for every possible excuse to obscure and dilute the plain voice of God in Scripture. God is patient with those who do not listen, but his patience eventually runs out. Refusing to listen to God is the worst kind of stubbornness and the ultimate foolishness, since it ends in our own harm: certain judgment by the hand of the Almighty. The next time that you read the book of Jeremiah, try highlighting every occurrence of “listen,” “hearken,” “obey,” or similar words. But most importantly, actually listen! Lord, help us to carefully pay attention to your words and totally obey your voice. Give us ears that are quick to listen and hearts that are diligent to obey.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be Anxious For Nothing~

That weight can get pretty heavy at times and there may come a point when it becomes too much to bear any longer. That’s the beauty though because, in the moment when you surrender your burden to God, He will gladly step in and give you a hand. Let Him in and let Him take over on the things you can’t seem to muster up the strength to do. God loves you so much, and whatever you want from Him, believe in your heart that He will follow through on His promises. You’re never a victim, you’re a precious treasure of God Himself. Jesus will carry you, and you will survive through the grace of God’s love. Richard Partheymuller

For those of us who really never had a “dream”

"Sometimes life unfolds in shades of gray, No vivid visions to chase or display. No starry-eyed hopes or grand schemes, just the quiet rhythm of everyday dreams. Dreams need not be lofty or grand, they can be simple, like grains of sand. A warm cup of tea on a chilly day, or the sound of rain tapping on the window pane. Perhaps your dream is to find a cozy nook, where you can lose yourself in a favorite book. Or maybe it’s the laughter of loved ones near, that fills your heart with joy and cheer. Dreams don’t always come with fanfare, they can be found in the ordinary, everywhere. A quiet walk in the park, hand in hand, or the taste of homemade cookies, oh so grand. So if you’ve never had a big, bold dream, fear not, my friend, for life is still a beautiful stream. Embrace the small moments, savor each one, and know that sometimes the simplest dreams are the most fun."💝author unknown~

Speak Life Over Yourself

elliemontt: When you repeat negative thoughts about yourself, you’re agreeing with lies. But when you choose to see yourself through God’s eyes, you walk in freedom. You begin to realize you have gifts no one else has, a personality uniquely designed for your purpose, and a life woven into God’s bigger story. You don’t need to look like anyone else, think like anyone else, or succeed like anyone else in order to matter. God chose you as you are. So the next time insecurities rise up, speak truth instead. Remind yourself of who created you and why. Speak life over yourself. Stand firm in your worth. And let God’s voice be louder than every lie that tries to diminish the beauty of who you are.

Good Morning Girls Resources~Corinthians

Chapter 11

There are some in the church who will disguise themselves as servants of God, but they are really false teachers. They may have a good appearance, but they are not of God. Instead, they are like Satan who disguises himself as an angel of light. Satan knows that believers love the light. We love goodness and truth so he doesn’t present himself as dark and evil, but instead as an angel of light, so people will be drawn to his lies.

We need to beware of accepting preachers, teachers, authors and speakers just based on their outward appearance or eloquent speech. Some follow false teachers and end up deceived because they do not know God’s word. We need to study the Word, so we can discern between what is true and what is false. How are you making sure you are not following a false teacher? Are you careful to examine a new preacher, teacher or author to be sure they are not a false teacher?

Chapter 12

Paul had a “thorn in the flesh” to keep him from becoming prideful and to keep him dependent on God. He said that it came from Satan, but God used it for good. The Lord was more concerned with his power being displayed through Paul’s weakness, than with removing the thorn. Instead of removing it, God gave Paul more grace and more strength to keep going.

We do not know if Paul’s thorn was physical, spiritual or emotional, but we do know that it hurt, and that Paul had prayed and asked the Lord to remove it. God allowed him to suffer with this thorn, so that God’s power would be seen through his weakness. Do you have a thorn in your life that has humbled you and been used by God to reveal his power in your weakness? How have you experienced God’s grace in the midst of your suffering?

Chapter 13

In Paul’s final words to the Corinthians, he tells them to rejoice. They should have joy because they have a relationship with the living God. He encourages them to comfort one another, agree with one another and live in peace with one another. All of these things take two to accomplish and so he challenged them to do their part. And then finally, he reminded them to always remember that the God of love and peace is with them. They are not alone.

As we close out our study in the book of 2 Corinthians, I want to encourage you to first rejoice. Choose joy and be glad that you have a relationship with God. Then consider, are you doing your part in the church to comfort other believers? How could you do this more? And are you doing your part to live in peace with other believers? It may be difficult, but it is good and pleasing to the Lord. God is with you and he loves you. Keep walking with the King!

You Don't Have To Live With Guilt

“A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.” Proverbs 28:13 (TLB) God is always ready to give you another chance. That’s a foundational piece of Christianity. We’ve all been irresponsible. We’ve all screwed up. The Bible tells us, “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT). You’re not meant to go through life with a guilt trip about all the ways you’ve been irresponsible. Guilt destroys your confidence, damages your relationships, keeps you stuck in the past, and even hurts your health. I read a report a few years back that said 70 percent of people in the hospital could leave if they knew how to resolve their guilt. God wants far better for your life than that. You don’t want to live with guilt. And here’s an important truth to always hang on to: You don’t have to. Instead, God wants you to live with a sense of promise and hope. He can even bring good out of the foolish decisions that you’ve made if you’ll give those failures to him. How do you do that? Admit to God you’ve made a mistake. It doesn’t surprise him. And it won’t change his perception of you. When you take this step, here’s what you can expect from him: God forgives instantly. The very moment you admit your sin to God, he forgives you. God forgives freely. You don’t need to earn it, and you’ll never deserve it. God forgives completely. He wipes your sin absolutely clean. The Bible promises that a “man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance” (Proverbs 28:13 TLB). If you’re mired in guilt and shame, then you’ll likely perpetuate whatever problem you have. You’ll tell yourself that you blew it, so you’re bad. Since you’re bad, you believe you’ll blow it again. It’s a nasty cycle we often can’t seem to escape from—at least not on our own. You need a power beyond yourself. You need a Savior! You need to let go of your guilt and live in the freedom of God’s forgiveness. Rick Warren

How To Be A Light In This Dark World

Do you ever wonder if your little light will be snuffed out by the dark world around us? All of us will face seasons where the darkness will try to overtake us and extinguish our fire. It may be as a result of our own decision, circumstances beyond our or choices of those we love, or events beyond our control. However, we are not helpless. Our light can still shine in this dark world. We must learn how.

Isaiah 58:10

Be the Light

We can be a light in this dark world. However, we must remember where the light originated and then step out with a willing heart, choosing to be a light and go. Don’t for a moment think a small little flicker won’t make a difference. It will!

Maree Dee

Does Being Good Matter?

Soul Survival

Proverbs 28.6:

Does It Really Matter?

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

But it doesn’t always seem that way.

In Psalm 73 the psalmist looked around and saw the ungodly prospering and, at one point said, “Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain …”

Have you ever felt that way? Like you are being good for nothing and that it doesn’t really matter?

Maybe you’re remaining sexually pure and are waiting on God’s choice of a mate, while people all around you are getting married, including those who have lived immoral lives.

Maybe you just get by financially while you see unbelievers prospering. Or while you have integrity on the job, others get promoted.

Maybe you took your kids to church and tried to raise them right, yet they have chosen to go their own way.

Things like that can be discouraging in the short run, but as Psalm 73 goes on:

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.

As someone said, the ungodly have about 15 minutes in relation to eternity to get all the gusto, all the pleasure, all the money, and all the success, they can. Because one day, often sooner than any of us think, it’s all over! What will it be worth then?

Dr. Nicolas Ellen says, if you can stay in a pattern of sin without experiencing God’s judgment, then your judgment will come at the end. Think about that for a minute.

And Jesus told a parable that illustrates that point.

The Rich Man & Lazarus

In the New Testament Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:

9 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.20 And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22 Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.
23 In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’

It was too late for the rich man. Things looked good for him on earth, but that was it. There was no second chance to get it right. This is an important truth to remember when we are tempted to envy and self-pity!

Who Have I in Heaven but You?

On the other hand, as the psalmist remembered:

25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works (Ps. 73).

Corona and Jesus Return

Many wonder what the corona crisis means in light of the end times. Is this the end of the world? Will Jesus come back now?

Jesus told us: No. Not yet.

Just the beginning

In Matthew 24, Jesus says that crises just like the one that has gripped the world today will precede his Second Coming. Yet he warned, that we should not be alarmed when we hear about wars, or when famine and earthquakes hit the earth (or in today’s terms: economic and political unrest). All these are just “the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:8).

The Coronavirus then also is only the beginning. More is to follow. But what?

Crises, persecution and betrayal

According to Matthew 24:9-13 those crises will eventually be followed by an increased persecution of the believers, even to the point that they will betray one another.

When following Christ really costs, then only those who are willing to pay the price will remain faithful. And those who are willing to pay the price will preach the gospel unashamedly. They have nothing more to lose.

But even persecution serves a purpose towards the Second Coming. Here is why:

“Birth pains”

Jesus calls the crises and persecution “birth pains”. The use of the term “birth pains” to illustrate what precedes the Second Coming is crucial:

The nearer the birth, more intense and more frequent birth pains become.

Likewise, the crises of the end times will also get increasingly intensive and frequent, the closer we get to Jesus’ return.

Birth pains force the birth. As soon as they set in, they put an abrupt end to the mother’s comfortable life and force a season of intense pain on her, from which she cannot escape. Her body is working with all its capacity to birth the baby.

Likewise, the crises will wake us up from our comfortable life, our pursuit of pleasure and our lukewarm spiritual state. As the crises intensify, especially persecution will push the body of Christ to work towards Christ’s Second Coming.

When will the end come?

How do we work towards Christ’s return? Jesus gives us a clue in verse 14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then will the end come.” The end will come, once the gospel has been preached to all the world!

While now we may be embarrassed of preaching the gospel, or afraid of losing our job, or causing family friction – when one day living for Christ comes at a cost, those who are willing to pay the price, will gladly preach the gospel and rejoice to be found worthy to suffer for him (see Acts 5:41).

Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus!

Crises and persecution will shake us up from our complacency that is so prevalent in the western Church today. And the worse it becomes, the more we will long for Christ’s return – and do everything to fasten his coming.

Then we will say wholeheartedly: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

Today, most of us frown at the thought of Jesus’ return. We don’t ever long for him to return soon. Because there is no need for it – life is going well, we enjoy a high standard of living and we feel at home on this earth.

We have forgotten what distinguished our heroes of faith: “By faith he [Abraham] sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country… because he waited for the city … whose builder and maker is God.“ (Hebrews 11:10) Abraham understood he was only passing through. Our generation who grew up in peace and prosperity is yet to understand this.

We’re here for a purpose. On a mission.

The Great Commission

Our mission is stated in Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Let’s be honest with ourselves: are we really fulfilling this mission? Are we preaching the gospel to all the world – at least to the people around us?

We are all called to evangelise – not just the evangelism team, or those famous evangelists who draw large crowds or have a large TV audience. It is our mission to reach people with the gospel – each in our own way, using the gifts and talents at our disposal. Some can evangelise by preaching to large crowds. Others by engaging in apologetic debates. Others through the creative arts – singing, dancing, painting, crafting. And yet others by a friendly chat. We all have talents, gifts and skills that we can use to advance the Kingdom of God.

Sojourners on a mission

Maybe this corona crisis will be the first of many, to shake us up and help us realise: this world is not our home and we should not get too comfortable in it. We are sojourners with a mission – to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Read also Psalm 91. Intimacy with God. – Maybe God is using this season of isolation to call us into intimacy with him.

Our Family Prayer~

Precious Lord hear my plea,

Keep me closer to Thee.

Guide and protect me each day.

Forgive my impatience and anxiety.

Keep me calm and focused each day.

Bless my children one and all,

Be they big or small.

Guide and protect them each day,

In Jesus name I pray.

Give them courage, strength and patience,

To face each challenge in their day.

Fill their hearts and homes with Thy Holy Spirit.

Let them know that you are always near,

And there is nothing really to fear.

I want my children to Pray each day,

Forgive, Love one another and be Kind,

We are Family.

Let The Circle Be Unbroken

Amen

Love Forever,

Mother, Grandma Faith and GG

2013

Things You Need to Do That Will Heal Your Broken Heart

If you’re reading this, I’m guessing your heart is broken and you’re grieving, not the death of a person but the death of a relationship. I’ve been where you are and I know the fear you’re feeling comes from wondering if—you’ll ever feel like yourself. You’ll ever trust again. You’ll ever love or be loved again. You’re wondering if you’ll ever be happy again. I want you to know, you will. You will heal and you will be happy again. But be patient with yourself. Grieving takes time … it’s a process without a timetable. It’s something you walk through, not around or over. You have to live it out one day at a time. The following is a list of things I actually used as I walked through my own season of heartbroken grief. I believe they can help you walk through yours… Things You Need to Do That Will Heal Your Broken Heart 1. PRAY! Pray again and pray some more. Cry out to God. He knows what you’re going through. He understands and He will help you. Ask the Lord to comfort you and give you His strength and peace. And as hard as it may seem … ask Him to help you forgive the person who broke your heart. I remember how letting go of the pain seemed impossible. I knew I needed God’s help. So, I turned to the Psalms and prayed… Father, I am sad and tired. Make me strong again as You have promised. (Based on Psalm 119:28) Father, Your Word says You hear our prayers when we call out to You for help … it says You rescue Your children from their troubles. It tells me that – You are close to the brokenhearted and rescue those whose spirits are crushed. I need Your help and Your healing touch. (Based on Psalm 34:17–18 Father, You understand what I’m going through. You know what it’s like to be rejected. I trust Your perfect and unfailing love. Please heal my broken heart. Amen. 2. Turn to God’s Truth and Trust His promises. God never rejects or betrays His children when they come to Him for help. Never! His promises are true! He proved every single one in and through Jesus. It’s hard to function when grief is overwhelming. I remember struggling to accomplish even the little things and going through the motions of life in a numb fog. By God’s grace, He guided me to grab my Bible and for the first time in my life, I read it … not for knowledge but with a hunger in my heart. I spent every spare moment in the Word with the Lord, allowing Him to fill me with His truth and promises. Promises like… He gives strength to those who are tired and power to those who are weak. Isaiah 40:29 I can do all things through Christ because He gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 And the one that became my life verse… My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Psalm 73:26 And knowing He was able to hold me close and give me strength, help me to… 3. Breathe and Take Time to Heal. Broken hearts don’t heal over night any more than broken bones do! Accept the fact that healing will take time. Get counseling if you need it. Find a wise friend who has walked this path before you … who will walk alongside you giving you hope and encouragement. You may have friends who don’t understand … that’s okay. This is your life, your journey … ask God to surround you with people who will simply be with you not try to fix you. I like the following quote because even when the steps are small and the progress is slow … if you’re moving forward, you’re heading in the right direction. “Take all the time you need to heal emotionally. Moving on doesn’t take a day. It takes a lot of little steps to be able to break free of your broken self.” Author Unknown Something I needed to remember was to… 4. Stop Reliving the Painful Memories. Repeatedly reliving painful memories only robbed me of peace, contentment, and joy. But I’ll be honest with you, this one was really hard for me. I kept wondering … What if I hadn’t said this; what if they hadn’t done that. What if! I’m not going to tell you it’s easy, it’s not. But there is an important truth to remember… you and I get to choose what we think about. Negative thoughts and painful memories will inevitably come to mind … the enemy loves to taunt and discourage us with them but we get to decide how long we will allow them to linger and upset us. One of the things I learned to do was to… Set grieving appointments. I gave myself 15-30 minutes each day, to feel big and express painful emotions. I could cry, rant, stomp my feet, or punch a pillow. Whatever I needed to release what I was feeling. When the time was up, I’d take a breath and tell myself to let it go for that day. Then … when negative thoughts upset me, I’d remind myself that I would deal with them later at my appointment. And when negative thoughts tried to derail me, I do my best to remember the following truths… Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. Proverbs 4:23 Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 5. Do Things that Make You Happy It’s easy to believe that feeling happy somehow denies your pain and grief. It doesn’t. Do things that bless you … things you love will help you heal. Go out for coffee with a friend. Take a walk in the park. Buy yourself flowers. Eat a piece of chocolate. Make a list of your favorite things to do and check them off … one by one. “Today I choose to let go of pain, hurt, resentment, sadness, guilt, and negativity that I’ve been holding onto and allowing to control my life. Today I choose happiness and above all love.” ~Author Unknown 6. Surround Yourself with Love Don’t let your broken heart define you. Spend time with people who love you. Allow the people who do love you to fill your joy tank. Pour yourself into the people God has placed around you. Look for someone to help … someone else who needs hope and encouragement. “Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people’s souls.” Melody Beattie Friend, God is greater than your helplessness and hopelessness. He is able to heal your broken heart. He understands the pain of rejection. You can give the pieces of your broken heart to Jesus and let Him help you heal. I’ll admit that occasionally painful thoughts still pop into my head but that doesn’t mean God hasn’t healed my broken heart. All it means is that it’s time to repeat these six steps and trust God to once again give me His perfect peace and fill me with joy. The One who holds the universe in the palm of His hand loves you! He is able to give you everything you need. He will heal your broken heart! He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! Psalm 147:3–5 We would love to pray for you. You can leave your prayer requests here… Deb Wolf

When You Try Trusting God & Things Get Worse

Exodus 5 & 6: A Lot Worse! Perhaps you’ve been there. You surrendered your life to God or you made a decision to turn and go God’s way in some area or you stepped out in faith trusting God. And then things started to go wrong! I wonder if Moses felt the same way. He had returned to Egypt to do what God had told him to do … from a burning bush no less. But when he and his brother, Aaron, went to Pharaoh to demand he let the people go, things didn’t turn out so well! In fact, things got worse! A lot worse (Ex. 5.1-9)! You might be thinking, “Well, at least God warned Moses and told him that things would eventually work out.” That’s true, but He has, actually, told us the same thing: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Rom. 8.28-29). That verse assures us that during those times we can keep trusting God because He’s working everything out for our good and His glory. But if we’re going continue trusting God when faced with painful trials, we must know some things. The Good Even when we know God promises to use all things for good, it’s hard for us to understand how that’s possible when it doesn’t look or feel good. But look again at verse 29. The good we often don’t see is the molding and shaping He’s doing to conform us to the image of His Son. James said it this way: 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (Jas. 1.2-4). No one wants to go through hardship for nothing but we can rejoice in knowing that God’s purpose is not to hurt us but to perfect and mature us. His Promise to Those Trusting God God through the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Cor. 10.13). “… that you may be able to bear it.” He’ll give us all the grace we need. Even if things get worse before they get better, we can know that God won’t allow a trial to be greater than we can handle if we keep trusting Him and respond in godly ways. A Spiritual Battle We should remember that we are in a spiritual battle (2 Cor. 10.3-4). But we don’t have to fight through the hard times on our own or even in our own strength. We can pray and rely on the Holy Spirit: 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Rom. 8.26-27). So instead of giving up, we can keep trusting God knowing that He is at work strengthening us and working on our behalf. God is Good Another reason we can keep trusting God is that God is good (1 Chron. 16.34; Ps. 145.9) and that all His plans for us are good (Jer. 29.11). So, when we’re struggling and when trusting God is hard, let’s remember these 4 things. 4 Things to Remember When Trusting God is Hard God can and will use all things for good. It’s a spiritual battle but we’re not in it alone. God won’t give us more than we can handle if we keep our eyes on Him and respond His way. God is good, holy, and perfect; we can trust Him, even when things seem to get worse. DONNAREIDLAND

Psalm 35 of David

Psalm 35 Of David. 1 Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. 2 Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. 3 Brandish spear and javelin[a] against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.” 4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. 5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away; 6 may their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. 7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me, 8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin. 9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation. 10 My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.” 11 Ruthless witnesses come forward; they question me on things I know nothing about. 12 They repay me evil for good and leave me like one bereaved. 13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, 14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. 15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing. 16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;[b] they gnashed their teeth at me. 17 How long, Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. 18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you. 19 Do not let those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. 20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land. 21 They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it.” 22 Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent. Do not be far from me, Lord. 23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord. 24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God; do not let them gloat over me. 25 Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!” or say, “We have swallowed him up.” 26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. 27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” 28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long. Footnotes Psalm 35:3 Or and block the way Psalm 35:16 Septuagint; Hebrew may mean Like an ungodly circle of mockers,

Colossians 3:23-25

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites."Colossians 3:23-25

Whatever we do, we're to do it with an eye not only on this world but on God's kingdom. There will always be some consequence for our actions, sooner or later. This is a spiritual law. This is why God has no favorites; all are subject to the spiritual law that what you sow you will reap. The thing is, the consequences, both good and bad, are not always immediate. We will receive an inheritance, and we will be paid back for wrong. All is future—sooner or later. Consequences are inevitable; make sure you receive the good ones!

—Diane Eble

Quieter~

"Listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom." Job 33:33 ~ My word for 2026 is, Listen.....with the "t" as the cross. Why? It flips the switch in my head and heart to: Keep me from running ahead of the Lord. It allows me to go from worry to concern. It allows me to put myself in other's circumstances. It reminds me not to take others' burdens upon myself. It reminds me that I cannot change or save anyone. It reminds me to go to God in prayer. It reminds me to be a warrior. It allows me to stay calm. I could think of many other reasons but those are the main reasons. In Christ, Northwestlife ~

Enjoy The Now~

John 12:35–36 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them. ~ Many today are exposed to the Gospel message. They hear that Jesus died for their sins and rose from the dead to give new life in Him. But if they decide to reject the Gospel and reject new life in Jesus, they won't find a place for repentance anywhere else. Why not? Because Jesus is the one and only way to forgiveness and new life. Once they reject Him, forgiveness and life can't be found anywhere else. ~ Andrew Farley

If Only~

Each of us has to decide many times each day whether to do good or to compromise on what we know to be right – to honour God, or turn our back on Him. It’s kind of sobering when you think it like that, because all too often we don’t think about things much at all. We just react the way we’ve always done. Someone annoys us and we follow the well-worn path either of snapping at them or detesting them in silence (whatever our poison happens to be). But whether we choose to honour or to dishonour God in that moment, either way there are consequences. The whole of the Old Testament is the story of Israel’s struggle to honour God and failing miserably time and again. After a very long period of turning their backs on Him by worshipping idols and forsaking justice and mercy, God allowed them to be invaded by the Babylonians and exiled into slavery for seventy years. But that was never what He wanted for them. Isaiah 48:17,18 The LORD, the Saviour, the Holy One of Israel, says, “I am the LORD your God. I teach you for your own good. I lead you in the way you should go. If you had obeyed me, then peace would have come to you like a full flowing river. Good things would have come to you again and again, like the waves of the sea. If only they’d honoured and obeyed Him, God’s blessings would have kept coming at them like the endless waves of the sea crashing on the shoreline. But they hadn’t, so they had to live out the consequences of their sin. Our choices have consequences. That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today. Berni Dymet

Psalm 18

For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord. He sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: 1 I love you, Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield[b] and the horn[c] of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. 4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. 7 The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. 9 He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 10 He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky. 12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. 13 The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.[d] 14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy, with great bolts of lightning he routed them. 15 The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of breath from your nostrils. 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. 20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I am not guilty of turning from my God. 22 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. 23 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. 24 The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. 25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, 26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. 27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. 28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. 29 With your help I can advance against a troop[e]; with my God I can scale a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 32 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35 You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. 36 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. 37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. 38 I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. 39 You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me. 40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight, and I destroyed my foes. 41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— to the Lord, but he did not answer. 42 I beat them as fine as windblown dust; I trampled them[f] like mud in the streets. 43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people; you have made me the head of nations. People I did not know now serve me, 44 foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me. 45 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. 46 The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! 47 He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, 48 who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. 49 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. 50 He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever.

2 Peter 1:5-8: Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sandpaper People

Mary Southerland
Have you noticed how sandpaper people seem to love drama and create it everywhere they go? They also love a good fight, live to evoke angry reactions and are fierce warriors who are determined to win every battle initiated by their downright irritating personalities.

I have learned an important maneuver for dealing with difficult people. Combat is impossible when one of the parties involved has laid down his or her weapons and chosen peace.

We live in a world filled with angry people who are constantly rubbing each other the wrong way. Sandpaper people. And while it is true that everyone gets angry from time to time, it is just as true that everyone can learn to effectively control and manage his or her anger.

God created us with the capacity for strong emotions. Like any gift from God, our emotions can be used for good or they can be misused for bad.

Sandpaper people not only have an uncanny knack for knowing where emotional buttons are located, they honestly think it is their purpose in life to push every single one of them.

Our first reaction to the incessant and calculated button pushing of a sandpaper person is usually angry retaliation, a response that neither honors nor pleases God.

God calls us to a peaceful resolution. When it comes to difficult relationships, God does not want or expect us to declare war.We are to control our emotions instead of allowing them to control us.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 12:18, “As much as is possible, live peaceably with all men.”

In other words, we need to set our mind on peace – not winning.

Gentle Statements

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We Should Remember~

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Calm~

Heart And Soul~

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

Matthew 25.31-46

Sheep, Goats & Eternity

Self-Examination & Eternity

Nine Conditions that Prove Genuine Saving Faith

1. Love for God

2. Repentance from Sin

3. Genuine Humility

4. Devotion to God’s Glory

5. Continual Prayer

6. Selfless Love

7. Separation from the World

8. Spiritual Growth

9. Obedience

Getting Personal

Out The Front Window~

Friendships

When You Hope In A Lie

Losing Hope

My Life~

Living My Life

Grace Is The New Math

Saying "yes" to things that make your heart feel full~ painting by gloria~gjmcreations~

Journey~

Encouragement~

Comfort

Rest In~ The Peace That Passes Understanding

Encouragement~

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Out The Front Window~

Colossians 3:23-25

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6 Good Prayers From the Epistles

It's Never Too Soon~

A Kick In The Guts

Just Breath~

Be Still

Always

Believe It In Your Heart

Forgive Them