🏳️‍🌈✝️ Looking For God?

Written by Martha Noebel

 

01/01/2018 

 

 

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As I do each year, when the New Year rolled around, I looked to see what would be said in the Christian world about the New Year. I expected to hear preachers reminding us that we are in the “Last Days.” I looked at various Web sites for articles about “The End Times” and how it related to the year and found nothing. It was rather quiet, a scary kind of quiet. Nothing was being said to make me feel that anyone was thinking about the Lord’s return.

 

We are told in Scripture that the Lord is going to come again for those who are looking for Him. Second Timothy 4:8 states that He is coming for all who love His appearing.

 

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.” Matthew 24:44, KJV

 

Have we stopped looking for the Lord’s return? Have we forgotten how important it is to live a life pleasing unto God? Have we forgotten how necessary it is to tell as many people as we can about the love of God and their need to know Him? It’s important to stay focused on God. We should not be so caught up with the “things of this world” that we forget what really matters.

 

"The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." Romans 13:12-14, New Living Translation.

 

In our churches, we are finding those who only want a bless me sermon taught to them. How can I be blessed and the it’s-all-about-me mentality is seemingly permeating those in Christian circles today. But it’s not about us; it is about God. Second Timothy 4:3-5 (The Book) gives us clear instructions:

 

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you.”

 

I guess my Pentecostal background is driving me to want to be reminded of the Lord’s soon return, or is it? I don’t ever want to forget that we must be anxiously looking for His appearing. I want to live a life pleasing unto the Lord and to be ready when He comes. I want to be busy making sure that everyone who wants to know that God loves them, has the chance to find out. God loves us so much.

 

“Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:15-16, New Living Translation

 

Let’s be aware of His soon return. Let us be watching and waiting as we live our lives, we want to be ready.

 

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6, NIV

 

More from CBN, here

🏳️‍🌈✝️ A Glimpse of God’s Glory

Suzanne Benner

01/01/2018

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“Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’” - Mark 9:7

Sometimes we wrestle with listening to God. His way seems too hard, the reward too far away, the cost too high. Our current struggles dim the reality of heaven and eternal life with God.

As Jesus neared the end of His ministry on earth, He told His disciples that He would suffer (Mark 8:31). They would suffer too. In fact, everyone who wanted to follow Jesus must deny themselves, put to death their sinful nature and walk as Jesus did (Mark 8:34).

Then Jesus provided Peter, James, and John with a powerful reason to listen to Him. Jesus gave them a glimpse of His glory. Jesus led them up a high mountain. Jesus changed before their eyes. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became dazzling white. As Jesus glowed like lightning, Elijah and Moses appeared with Him.

The sight terrified Peter, James, and John. A cloud enveloped them and they heard a voice. God spoke: Listen to Jesus because He’s My Son, whom I love.

Matthew (17:1-9), Mark (9:2-9) and Luke (9:28-36) all record this event, known as The Transfiguration, so that we can glimpse God’s glory, too. All the New Testament writers proclaim that Jesus is our Messiah. Jesus died, rose again, and ascended into heaven. God promises that Jesus will return one day and take us to be with Him.

Understanding that Jesus is God’s Son, the One who saves us, compels us to listen to Him.

Thank you Jesus, for giving me glimpses of your glory. You are my Creator and my Redeemer. I worship you as my only Lord. When I see you as you really are, I want to listen to you. You know what is right and best for me. Amen.

Go Deeper — Meditate on the power and character of God. Write out why God’s power and character give Him the authority to command us to listen.

More from The Life, here

🏳️‍🌈✝️ Don't Fight the trials and struggles, God will use them to make you stronger in 2018

Neil Vermillion

01/01/2018

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^"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble in dread before them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”Deuteronomy 31:6  

Don't think because there's a struggle God isn't with you.

 

As humans we want to seek the path of least resistance, the path of ease and comfort. It's logical for us to think this way. 

 

The trouble with this kind of thinking is that many times the path we need to travel is filled with trials, struggles, and hardships. 

 

If we're not careful we could miss the very path God has for us because we're looking for the path of comfort instead. 

 

Many times we feel if there is a real struggle, for some reason God is not with us. But the truth is, he is with us always, and he has told us in his word he will never leave us (Deuteronomy 31:6). 

 

Of course, it's still logical to feel God has abandoned us when we don't feel him, or when we feel persecuted or when we are going through a trial of some sort.

 

Even in these times we must remember God is with us always. He will never leave us.

 

And though there is a struggle, God is right there with you, right by your side every step of the way.

 

So remember nothing ever happens without a struggle. Don't think because there's a struggle #God is not with you.

🏳️‍🌈✝️ First Things First

Written by Apostolic Faith Church

01/01/2018

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My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. – Psalm 5:3

My husband had promised me a trip to the beach to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I was looking forward to two or three days of relaxing and doing our favorite things: antique shopping and searching for old books. 

I was less than gracious when, on the morning of our departure, he mentioned that he first needed to take the older man who lived across the street to shop for groceries and food for his many cats, to the church to empty waste baskets, and then drive the Sunday school van to the service station to fill the tank with gas. After that we would leave. I determined that we would not reach the coast until noon, and by then we would both be exhausted and ready to stop for the day (since we usually get up at 4:00 a.m.). I was jealous for the time he would spend doing other things first.

Suddenly, it dawned on me how selfish I was being. My husband was trying to help others while I was only thinking of myself. At the same time, a penetrating thought occurred to me: How often in the mornings have I put off my time with God while I took care of other things first? I might make up the bed, start a wash, empty the dishwasher, call my sister, make out my bills, water the flowers, write a letter to someone . . . and then give my time and attention to God. It seems there is always something else to do first, and God gets the time that is left over. 

Leftovers are not what I want to give to a Father who has been so good to me. Right then, I determined that God would no longer get my leftover time. I would put God first by committing my day to Him before other tasks can distract me.

Letting God be at the top of our priority list is the best way to begin a morning. He will be right by our side during all of our daily activities, and the rest of the day will go much smoother! It means putting His will before ours, and surrendering to His direction and purpose for our lives. It means putting Him first!

🏳️‍🌈✝️ Times Gone By

Written by Missey Butler

 

01/01/2018 

 

 

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Every New Year’s Eve, one of the most common English-speaking songs people sing is a song called “Auld Lang Syne.” Isn’t it funny how it’s possible to sing a song all your life and have no idea what it means?

 

It turns out that “auld lang syne” is a 17th-century Scottish song written by a man named Robert Byrns. His transcription of the words “auld lang syne” means “times gone by.” So when we sing this song, we are saying, “We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet for the times gone by.”

The other day I was thinking about this well-known song, and I couldn’t help but begin to do a little reminiscing myself.

 

I got to thinking about just how awesome it is to finally reach a place in life when you can honestly be thankful for everything.

 

I mean everything. All the good, the bad, and the ugly. The whole shah bang! Everything that has ever had the fortune or misfortune of passing through the curtains of my life!

 

I am more and more convinced, that until we truly believe God really does work out everything in conformity with the purpose of his own will, (Ephesians 1:11) we will never be ready for the next round of the growth process.

 

A very well-known scripture in the book of Romans articulates this remarkable truth very well when it says:

 

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28 NLT

 

If you count yourself as being numbered among the “called out” ones, who also happen to be “head over heels” in love with God (which by faith, we all can be) you will soon find yourself beginning to see things in a new and marvelous light.

 

It’s part of that promise given to us in Matthew:

 

“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light." Matthew 6:22 NLT

 

Then when we ultimately come to the realization that God is after one thing, and that one thing is “us” giving “Him” EVERYTHING, then (and only then) will we gladly, without hesitation, partake of that cup of kindness … yet for the times gone by!

 

As Dame Julian of Norwich said so well, “The fullness of joy is to behold God in everything.”

 

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

 

More from CBN, here

🏳️‍🌈✝️ Adjusting Your Pace-of-Life in 2018

 

Written by Katy McCown

01/01/2018 

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“But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’” Luke 10:40 (ESV)

 

I’m not a morning person.

 

I never have been. During my school days, I woke up at the very last minute to dress and brush my teeth before hurrying out the door. I usually reduced breakfast to dry cereal in a cup that I shoveled in my mouth once I jumped in the car.

 

But some days, I acted the polar opposite. On a rare occasion, I’d pop out of bed before the sun came up and be ready for the day, long before anyone else. These were usually field trip days. A break from the norm, an exciting adventure! Those were the days I looked forward to, and my morning routine proved it.

 

In our key verse today, we find Martha preparing for a break from the norm. It’s festival time in Israel, and Martha is busy with all the surrounding details that come with it. Festival time was a big deal. It was appointed by God and carried specific directives about how, when and where to celebrate.

 

Then there’s Mary, Martha’s sister, who seemed completely oblivious to the added demands of this big moment. While Martha hustled and bustled, Mary “sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching” (Luke 10:39b, ESV).

 

Mary’s actions seem insignificant on the backdrop of the big festival at hand. Martha certainly thought so. Yet, the Bible records a different perspective.

 

In response to Mary’s choice to slow down and sit at Jesus’ feet, our key verse says, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me’” (Luke 10:40).

 

First of all, can’t you just see Martha with her hand on her hip, tapping her foot? Oh my goodness, she’s throwing a temper tantrum at Jesus! I love how Jesus does not appear to point His finger at her and usher a stern, “No ma’am!” Instead, He gets straight to the heart of the matter.

 

Jesus exposes Martha’s heart and the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. Then He turns to Mary simply sitting near Him and calls it good.

 

Did you catch that? Scripture labels the “big” moment a distraction. Jesus points to the “small” moment as the good portion.

 

Our days are filled with things that excite us and things that feel dull and mundane. Sometimes we pace our days according to the agenda before us. The big moments pull us out of bed and usher us full-speed ahead, while the small moments call for us to linger and perhaps enjoy one more cup of coffee. But sometimes, I think we get it backwards.

 

From the perspective of God’s throne, I don’t know if big and small moments even exist. Instead, every moment is “from him and through him and to him,” (Romans 11:36a, ESV).

As we begin this new year, let’s approach every moment as one God has appointed for His glory. Let’s leave room in the pace of each day to linger in our quiet time listening to Jesus. Let’s slow down … even when we feel pressed by life’s seemingly “big” moments to neglect what we perceive as small.

 

Eventually I learned to become a morning person. Now, when I wake up I choose not to catalog the day’s events and decide if I want to get up or go back to sleep. Instead, I start by talking with my Lord. My time with Him sets the pace for the day, and that alone makes getting up worth it!

 

Lord, I give You this day. I’m excited for all You have planned for me today. I trust You will use every moment, big and small. Help me to adjust my life to Your priorities. Set my pace so it complements, not competes with, Your purposes. Help me to walk in step with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Truth For Today

 

Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (NKJV)

 

Proverbs 16:9, “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” (NKJV)

More from Proverbs 31 Ministries, here

🏳️‍🌈✝️ BELOVED, YOU ARE RIGHT ON TARGET

Rainbow Pastor David

01/01/2018

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BELOVED, YOU ARE RIGHT ON TARGET.  Openness to My Presence is all about faith:  believing that though I am invisible, I am both Real and really with you.  This is foundational to knowing Me.  However, there is also an art to knowing Me.  It is very personal, because each of My followers has a unique relationship with Me, comprised of all your communication with Me, your love for Me, your receptivity and responsiveness to Me.

Sometimes when you are seeking My Face, My Presence becomes more real to you than the space-time moment you occupy.  The reality of My glorious Being outshines your current circumstances and lifts you above them.  You feel free, and your spirit soars with Me.  You rejoice in Me and are strengthened by that divine Joy.  Thus, you enjoy glimpses of heaven while continuing to dwell on earth. 

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1